Bay 12 Games Forum

Finally... => Forum Games and Roleplaying => Roll To Dodge => Topic started by: Harry Baldman on November 18, 2015, 10:47:17 am

Title: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 18, 2015, 10:47:17 am
Our Salvation

You are in a bath, naked, surrounded by warmth and fully submerged. You do not see anything, but you do feel warmth. You feel squirming. You feel scratching and nibbling.

You sit up sharply as if awakening from a dramatic nightmare, and the dozens of rats you share this bath with flow around you, their squeaks rising to a cacophony as the disturbance ripples through them, the collective smell of their stirring nearly overpowering your senses. You emerge above rat-level and gasp for breath, trying to free yourself of the clutches of this strange trap. Your hands go for the rough wooden edges and you push yourself out of the rat-filled tub, landing on cold stone and spilled rodent in equal measure, crushing some of the latter with a sickening squelch as each and every bone of their bodies breaks in one fell swoop.

You feel disgustingly filthy, perhaps mildly diseased, but your eyes go around the darkened dungeon that you appear to have shown up in. This fails to assuage your concerns.

In a circle around the lit center of the room where a ceiling grate casts a gridlike shadow on a small circle of light stands a man in a sack cloth robe, and around him on the floor are splayed out two similarly-robed corpses, their heads missing and their necks horrifically mangled, still discharging large amounts of blood. The man himself looks scarcely better, with blood trickling out his ears and tear ducts, his pupils dilated to the point where his eyes look solid black, the fingers on his hands twisted and broken into infinitesimal pieces. And yet his face shows a grim sort of satisfaction, his breathing shallow and incredibly quick.

Around him, in the less lit parts of this place (which you would feel confident calling a particularly dinghy inner sanctum) are five tubs arranged in what would make the basis of a perfect pentagram if anybody could have been bothered to draw one. One was yours, but there are four others here, too - people like you. Regular, mostly clean people like yourself, minutely scratched and just as naked and confused. The corners of the room you cannot see, but as your eyes start to adapt you think you can make out that it really isn't much larger than the circle - looks squarish, about 7 or 8 meters to a side.

"OUR SALVATION!" shouts the man, accidentally spitting more blood over his chin as he opens his mouth, raising his arms partially as he twirls around to take a look at each of the five, stopping at you. "I WELCOME YOU TO," he starts to say, but stumbles, the turn having given him a touch of vertigo, "oh, I..."

You expect him to straighten himself out, and he clearly does too. But instead he just lingers lopsidedly for a second, then with a small moan falls on his face on the floor littered with chunks of skull and brain matter. Some of the rats draw closer to the fallen corpses and begin nibbling, not being the sorts to waste any time.

You exchange vague glances with the others, and conclude that they have absolutely no idea either.

Spoiler: What's this? (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Character Sheet (click to show/hide)

The Players
penguinofhonor - Eileen Minett, Vinyl Collector
Xantalos - Jack Daniels, Karate Man
Toaster - Thomas Minstep, Insurance Agent
TopHat - Oscar Wilde, Chemistry Teacher
DoctorMcTaalik - Rindle Fischgartner, Evolutionary Biologist

The Waitlist
LordBrassroast - Ed MacDougal, Bartender
LordPorkins - P. Diddle Porkinsticks, Insane Hobo
SaberToothTiger - S. D. "Smooth" MacGroove, Disco Person
crazyabe - Alexander Artemis Jones, Architectural Engineer
mcclay - Henrique Jackson, Lumberjack
wipeout1024 - Anna Denderson, Seamstress
TheBiggerFish - Alice Thompson, Writer

The Dead
AkumaKasai - Robert Johnson, MLG - dissolution
NAV - Benny Calverly, Barber - dissolution
Dermonster - Eric Codeburn, Computistics Specialist, Child of the Sun and Moon - murdered by his brother-sun
AoshimaMichio - Leif Erikson, Mastermind, Party-Shaman of the Moth Clan - dissolution
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Heroic Fantasy RTD
Post by: Dermonster on November 18, 2015, 11:23:18 am
Name: Eric Johns- CODEBURN. Eric Codeburn. yes.
Occupation: Computer repa- I MEAN COMPUTISTICS SPECIALIST.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Heroic Fantasy RTD
Post by: NAV on November 18, 2015, 11:43:47 am
Name: Benny Calverly
Job: Barber
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Heroic Fantasy RTD
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 18, 2015, 12:04:14 pm
Name: Leif Erikson
Occupation: Miner
Description: Stereotypical big nordic viking guy. Blonde hair and full beard.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Heroic Fantasy RTD
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 18, 2015, 01:50:23 pm
Name:Robert Johnson
Occupation: He's never had a job, and spends most days playing video games.
Description: Pale, greasy-haired, and slightly overweight. He has long brown hair and a beard, which he only trims every few months.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Heroic Fantasy RTD
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 18, 2015, 02:36:44 pm
Name: Eileen Minett
Occupation: She collects vinyl records.
Description: Short, with short, dark brown hair and round glasses.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Heroic Fantasy RTD
Post by: Xantalos on November 18, 2015, 02:44:43 pm
Name: Jack Daniels (his parents had a bad sense of humor)
Occupation: Works at a karate studio.
Description: Tall, a little thin, but muscled from the workouts. Dark brown hair and eyes. Kinda unshaven, hair's a bit long.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Heroic Fantasy RTD
Post by: Toaster on November 18, 2015, 02:48:32 pm
Name: Thomas Minstep
Occupation: Insurance Agent
Description: Mid forties, balding, and slightly pudgy, he looks exactly like the kind of stereotypical insurance agent you picture; the kind who goes straight home from work and has zero personal life.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Heroic Fantasy RTD
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 18, 2015, 03:31:39 pm
Spoiler: Sheets Saved For Posterity (click to show/hide)

A few moments have passed. It doesn't get any less awkward. The rats are swarming over the bodies on the ground, and the fallen man is stirring jerkily as the writhing pile on his back begins to grow bigger, nascent rat gods fighting for dominance in their emerging kingdoms, squeaks and skittering filling the room with an unpleasant, yet almost mesmerizing din.

As your eyes adapt to the darkness, you start to pay attention to the edges of the sanctum, the walls being stacked nearly to the ceiling with moldy pots, moldy things in said pots, spiderwebs complete with tragically deceased owners enveloping these pots and the things in them. The corners make for a nice change of pace, with each of them stacked with quite a lot of the exact same thing as far as you can tell - one has a great pile of bricks, another hosts a collection of ancient-looking drapes. The third has many massive sacks - an upturned, ripped one reveals its contents to be some kind of coinage. And the last corner seems to have a vast supply of jugs filled with really long, thin black sticks.

In the darkness in one of the corners you spy a door. At least you'd think it was a door - the shape's about right. Although you don't like the look of the writing on it - it's the words "Be Staying In Away" written in something faintly luminescent and even more faintly green, the letters being clearly legible even at this distance from the door.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: TopHat on November 18, 2015, 03:57:57 pm
Name: Oscar Wilde
Occupation: Chemistry teacher
Description: coming soonish
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Dermonster on November 18, 2015, 06:17:26 pm
Grab and examine a stick. Also a sack of coin.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 18, 2015, 07:46:41 pm
His survival-game instincts kick in, and Robert begins searching high and low for any and all potentially useful items.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Dermonster on November 18, 2015, 08:12:36 pm
Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 18, 2015, 07:46:41 pm
His survival-game instincts kick in, and Robert begins searching high and low for any and all potentially useful items.

Lazy!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on November 18, 2015, 08:35:20 pm
Name: Rindle Fischgartner
Occupation: evolutionary biologist

Waitlist please.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: LordBrassroast on November 18, 2015, 08:56:51 pm
Can I get on the waitlist?

Name: Ed MacDougal
Profession: Bartender
Description: Like Moe from The Simpsons, except Scottish and a wee bit violently insane.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 18, 2015, 10:07:49 pm
This place is terrible. I grab a stick and start hitting rats with it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 18, 2015, 11:56:55 pm
Pull the welcoming guy up and give him few good slaps accross his face.

"This is not time to fall asleep. Where we are, how you got us here and what the hell you want form us?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 19, 2015, 01:13:45 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 18, 2015, 11:56:55 pm
Pull the welcoming guy up and give him few good slaps accross his face.

"This is not time to fall asleep. Where we are, how you got us here and what the hell you want form us?"
Really, you're slapping him? He's already tied up and tortured half to death. I doubt he can register any more pain at this point, especially not a half-assed pat on the face.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 19, 2015, 01:25:13 am
((Tied up? I did read Harry's descriptions five times and didn't see any mention about that. And "torture" seems to be self-inflicted.))

"Half-assed pat?" Leif stands up towering above Robert. "You wanna feel how hard miner can slap someone?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: NAV on November 19, 2015, 02:04:29 am
Benny rushes to check on and help the fallen man.
"Are you okay, what happened?"

Then he looks at the big guy who desperately needs a trim.
"Please don't, th-there's no reason to hit anyone."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Nunzillor on November 19, 2015, 02:04:48 am
((Looks amusing!  PTW.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 19, 2015, 03:10:38 am
Quote from: NAV on November 19, 2015, 02:04:29 am
Benny rushes to check on and help the fallen man.
"Are you okay, what happened?"

Then he looks at the big guy who desperately needs a trim.
"Please don't, th-there's no reason to hit anyone."

"I can tell you few good reasons. One, I effing hate rat baths. Two, we have been kidnapped. Three, my palm itches. Four, back of my palm itches. Five, he needs some sense slapped into his head."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 19, 2015, 08:34:03 am
At best you'll mildly surprise the guy, and at worst you'll give him a concussion. Don't slap him.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 19, 2015, 09:29:16 am
Spoiler: Sheets for Posterity (click to show/hide)

Quote from: Dermonster on November 18, 2015, 06:17:26 pm
Grab and examine a stick. Also a sack of coin.

You step over to the long black sticks and retrieve one carefully from the pot. It has a sandy sort of texture, and from its lightness and thinness you get the feeling that it's probably not an ordinary stick by any means. Smells a little funky, too. A hint of ash beneath a distinctly medicinal scent. One stick is about the length of your arm, and it is only by delicate handling that you think you manage not to break it.

Holding on to the stick, you proceed over to the sacks of coin and ponder the possibilities of lugging one around. Putting down the stick on the ground, you grab one of the smaller ones and hoist it over your shoulder, ignoring the vicious complaints this produces from your back and knees. One must learn to subdue base impulses of self-preservation when there's mad cash to be made.

Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 18, 2015, 07:46:41 pm
His survival-game instincts kick in, and Robert begins searching high and low for any and all potentially useful items.

You look at the vast array of pots on the ground and immediately realize that there's likely to be absolutely nothing of value in them, and so you go straight to the bricks instead. They do look a tad peculiar. You head over to take a look, grabbing a brick off the top. They're not clay as you would expect - instead they're some sort of reddish rock speckled with black. And they have something etched into them. An inscription. It's not immediately legible, but...

... huh. It's a bit of a lively inscription. Swims around before your eyes, the letters looking desperately familiar for a moment before a certain, easily recognizable shape is attained, the letters settling into the word WATER. The word sticks in your mind in all its exquisite blandness, lingering at the edge of your lips as you set the brick down and take another one. This one says the same thing, as do all the others as far as you can tell.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 18, 2015, 10:07:49 pm
This place is terrible. I grab a stick and start hitting rats with it.

As the other guy steps away from the pots you run up and grab a stick from it, and charge at the vicious rats in the center of the room. You start to swing the thing at them, but it snaps in half under its own weight from the swing, leaving you looking a little silly as you stand over the writhing mass of rodents, which politely writhes away from you, suspecting you to be up to no good. A few rats squeak disapprovingly in unison from atop the pile.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 18, 2015, 11:56:55 pm
Pull the welcoming guy up and give him few good slaps accross his face.

"This is not time to fall asleep. Where we are, how you got us here and what the hell you want form us?"

You lift him up from the ground with ease, scattering the rats that have swarmed over his prone form - man's probably half your weight, if that, and give him a good, hard slap. Some blood escapes his nose as something pops within his skull. You slap again, and his head lolls to the other side. A third slap makes some teeth slip out of his mouth. Seems like he's not made out of very stern stuff.

And now your hand is filthy from slapping him, too. Ugh. Figures he'd have to fall face down into gore. You wipe it on the back of his robe, figuring he probably doesn't mind. As you get most of the gore off, you hear a nasal, male voice from above.

"Are you people done yet?" it goes, and you look up. Above the ceiling grate you spy an upward-going tunnel, at the top of which you see a darkened, thin silhouette of a man. "Getting tired of waiting here!"

Quote from: NAV on November 19, 2015, 02:04:29 am
Benny rushes to check on and help the fallen man.
"Are you okay, what happened?"

Then he looks at the big guy who desperately needs a trim.
"Please don't, th-there's no reason to hit anyone."

You'd say the man's about as far from okay as you've ever observed anyone be and still remain in one piece. You'd also say he needs rest and recuperation, because you sure as hell don't know any medicine that could fix this. You're not a doctor or anything, but you'd also say slapping him is only likely to loosen more of his bones and organs. Frankly, you're not sure he could even hear you if he was conscious, what with the bleeding from his ears.

Your examination is interrupted by the sound of a man talking through his nose from above.

"Are you people done yet? Getting tired of waiting here!"

You look up, and in the sunlight's glare coming from the well-like tunnel above the ceiling grate you spy an indistinct silhouette of a man.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 19, 2015, 10:51:48 am
Believing the word to be a magical spell, Robert attempts to draw power from some sort of inner mana-reserve, or whatever the hell he has, and speak the word. Failing that, he attempts write the word with whatever makeshift writing tools he can find.
Speak the word aloud. If that does nothing, write it down.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 19, 2015, 11:27:01 am
Escape! Well, hopefully.

"We've got to get out of this room." I shove the gross man away from the center of the room and start stacking bricks below the grate to climb up on.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 19, 2015, 12:23:06 pm
Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 19, 2015, 08:34:03 am
At best you'll mildly surprise the guy, and at worst you'll give him a concussion. Don't slap him.
"Too late."

Quote from: Harry Baldman on November 19, 2015, 09:29:16 am
"Are you people done yet? Getting tired of waiting here!"
"Yes, we are very much done! Thanks for asking! Wanna help us up? And get a bath ready. This place is filthy!"

Shouting up with sarcastic tone in my voice. Evaluate sanity of relieving the guy in my hand of his clothes and wearing it myself. Either way, drop him and clean my hand properly on his clothes. Terrorists do not need gentle treatment.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Dermonster on November 19, 2015, 12:25:24 pm
Grab a brick as well, toss it in the sack. Examine possibilities of grabbing another, smaller sack of gold for use as a flail. Then Indicate willingness to exit to grate man.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: LordPorkins on November 19, 2015, 02:55:21 pm
I MUST JOIN THIS

P. Diddle Porkinsticks
Occupation: Insane Hobo
Description: His face is relatively normal looking, except for a beard that is parted into 5 curly strands. His hair is in mini-pigtails. He is covered in bodily hair. He usually is clutching the empty bottle of "The best Grog ive ever had!" The bottle is named Scrumples
Quirks: His bloodstream is so alcohol-saturated he is impervious to all naturally occuring diseases. Also his last taste bud died 15 years ago

The exact second anyone finds any sort of alcohol, i will leap from the shadows, backhand them, chug the booze and immediately join the storyline
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: NAV on November 20, 2015, 03:34:41 pm
After donning one of the sacks to preserve his modesty, Benny helps the woman stack bricks to escape.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 20, 2015, 04:20:27 pm
Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 19, 2015, 10:51:48 am
Believing the word to be a magical spell, Robert attempts to draw power from some sort of inner mana-reserve, or whatever the hell he has, and speak the word. Failing that, he attempts write the word with whatever makeshift writing tools he can find.
Speak the word aloud. If that does nothing, write it down.

WATER, you say. It stings a little as you say it. Perhaps it does not like you using it so lightly.

You walk over to the pot full of sticks and break off the end of one easily. Feels sandy and crumbly, and a blacker stick you haven't seen in your life. Purposefully you step to the nearby wall and begin vandalizing it with your word, but the small writing piece crumbles in your hands, leaving black stains all over your fingers. Now they smell like medicine and ash, which you must grudgingly admit is preferable to the scent of agitated rat.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 19, 2015, 11:27:01 am
Escape! Well, hopefully.

"We've got to get out of this room." I shove the gross man away from the center of the room and start stacking bricks below the grate to climb up on.

WATER, you hear. You're not sure what that might be referring to. Hopefully not the rain. The drainage here seems nonexistent.

You try and push Mr. Erikson out of the way, finding him deeply objectionable, but he refuses to budge, merely giving you a stern look. You push for a few moments more, but it is of no use. As such, you elect to make him the base of your tower. Solidity of this sort should not be wasted. Grabbing an armful of bricks - they're much heavier than they look, and they certainly did not have the look of feathers to begin with - you start stacking them at his feet as he rants at the ceiling grate, fashioning the rough equivalent of a staircase that would hopefully lead up to his shoulders, from which reaching the grate ought to be simple. He even kindly kneels down to relieve the unhelpful man of his robe and rub his hand on his naked flesh, which you fail to question in the face of the wonderful opening for your ascent that it provides.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 19, 2015, 12:23:06 pm
"Yes, we are very much done! Thanks for asking! Wanna help us up? And get a bath ready. This place is filthy!"

Shouting up with sarcastic tone in my voice. Evaluate sanity of relieving the guy in my hand of his clothes and wearing it myself. Either way, drop him and clean my hand properly on his clothes. Terrorists do not need gentle treatment.

Your last request is cut off by sudden WATER, but the silhouette up top appears to get the gist anyway.

"You are done! Grand! Open the grate then and I'll throw you down the chain!" shouts the silhouette. Finally someone agreeable. You drop the man you're holding on his face again so as to not mess his clothes up further, and evaluate briefly whether his robe would be sufficient to cover your naked body, and quickly reason that it would indeed. Ripping off the robe with your bare hands you tie it around your hips as a thick skirt, the spattering of blood and bone you left on the inside providing your soft bits with much-needed warmth even if a few bony splinters poke you here and there. Nothing you're not used to, at any rate.

Once the skirt is quite done and you find yourself looking positively stunning once more, you notice that the terrorist's now-naked body has remained largely clean, so you wipe your gory hand on his back in a bold stroke, getting the gristle off reasonably well.

Quote from: Dermonster on November 19, 2015, 12:25:24 pm
Grab a brick as well, toss it in the sack. Examine possibilities of grabbing another, smaller sack of gold for use as a flail. Then Indicate willingness to exit to grate man.

Attempting to hold the sack with one hand is a risky proposition. Putting it down in the hopes of lifting it again is a riskier one. So you go with the former and fetch one of the bricks, wondering what's got Mr. Johnson so excited. Standing there for perhaps a moment too long looking at it, you notice there's something written on it.

"Water". How odd. WATER, your better instincts and also the whole room somehow attempt to correct you, but no, you're pretty sure it's "water". Might be worth something, you never know. You chuck it in your bag and seize it once again in two hands. Your spine begins to plot elaborate revenge for your crimes against it as you go back for another sack to hit people with, and you find a minutely smaller-looking one that you think will do. Letting the other bag rest on your back you go for the one on the ground, and somehow manage to lift it and hoist it over your other shoulder.

It occurs to you that this shouldn't be possible, and physics promptly agrees as your knees buckle and you fall, the combined weight of two full potato sacks of coin mashing you into the ground and liberating a small amount of indeterminate stuffing from you. It is quite exquisitely painful.

Quote from: NAV on November 20, 2015, 03:34:41 pm
After donning one of the sacks to preserve his modesty, Benny helps the woman stack bricks to escape.

You take the upturned, ripped sack full of coin and take a few moments to scoop out its contents, not being a fan of getting gold on your giblets. This is too slow for your liking. You would like them to flow more like WATER, and so you must increase the flow. With your teeth and fingernails you tear the hole bigger and bigger until it goes from end to end, and you remove fully half the bag, letting the coinage spill on the ground, the rattle and clink of gold against gold making a very joyful noise.

That done, you survey the two halves of the bag, noting that one appears to have only one hole while the other one has two, but one seems to be both tied into a nasty-looking knot as well as probably a bit too small for your generous hips. Dejected, you examine the 17463 gp you so carelessly spilled on the ground, and contemplate if rolling in it would help make the situation better.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Dermonster on November 20, 2015, 04:45:06 pm
Empty one sack, tear holes in sack, wear sack. Only grab one sack, but empty it enough that I can climb out. climb out?

I don't know what's happening.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 20, 2015, 04:54:18 pm
Attempt to find a stick that isn't charred.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 20, 2015, 06:05:42 pm
Are those coins really gold? Once the chain is lowered, climb up and wonder if this new guy's clothes would fit me better. Maybe lift him against a wall?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: NAV on November 20, 2015, 06:09:19 pm
"What a mess"

Benny sits in a corner and attempt to avoid the incompetence bug by not doing anything that requires any skill. Except breathing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 21, 2015, 07:37:52 am
I grab a black stick and open the grate to climb out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 21, 2015, 11:06:32 am
Quote from: Dermonster on November 20, 2015, 04:45:06 pm
Empty one sack, tear holes in sack, wear sack. Only grab one sack, but empty it enough that I can climb out. climb out?

I don't know what's happening.

You harness the spirit of the rat and begin to tunnel into one of the sacks currently resting atop you heavily - the burlap is tough indeed, but no match for persistent application of teeth and determined clawing. Displacing coin as you move in, you clamber into the sack of coin, letting the gold inside envelop you comfortably. The tactile sensation of riches feels priceless.

But you do not tarry one moment longer than needed. Continuing your semi-escape, you create three more holes, and through the resulting four you pop your limbs out of the sack, then undo the top of it with your fingers, letting your head emerge as well.

Having made this sack your own, you get up with a lovely jangle, standing atop a pile of coin you had to scoop out in order to fit yourself inside. A man in the shape of a limbed loot bag - a mimic of a mimic, in a sense.

Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 20, 2015, 04:54:18 pm
Attempt to find a stick that isn't charred.

You search through the sticks in the pots, testing their structural integrity, but find that they all appear to be made of the same crumbly, medicinal-smelling stuff, and each time you break one for testing purposes you accidentally manage to get some on your fingers and, what's worse, even inhale a bit of the dust by the end. It feels much stronger on your mucous membranes, you have to admit. You would describe the odor and texture of it as "unpleasantly choking".

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 20, 2015, 06:05:42 pm
Are those coins really gold? Once the chain is lowered, climb up and wonder if this new guy's clothes would fit me better. Maybe lift him against a wall?

You go and grab a coin from the ground and bite down on it. This leaves an imprint of your teeth on the thing, so you'd say it's probably gold. Has the right look to it as well. Doesn't look particularly used, though. Pondering this, you stick the coin down your skirt and go back to the grate, waiting for the chain to come down.

And it does! It comes down slightly short of the ceiling grate, presumably anchored to some structure up top that you cannot see. And the grate itself appears like it would be a tight fit for a house cat to simply squeeze through - you will presumably need another method.

Quote from: NAV on November 20, 2015, 06:09:19 pm
"What a mess"

Benny sits in a corner and attempt to avoid the incompetence bug by not doing anything that requires any skill. Except breathing.

The sight of Mr. Codeburn effectively commandeering a sack of coins for use as a combined clothing and loot storage solution fills you with a creeping sense of inadequacy.

However, you do not fail at breathing yet. So perhaps there is hope.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 21, 2015, 07:37:52 am
I grab a black stick and open the grate to climb out.

You grab yet another of the black sticks and poke at the ceiling grate. A single poke does not do the trick, nor does another. You poke more decisively and the stick breaks in half, being about as brittle as a sugar cube and just about as thick. The grate appears to not be the sort that is easily lifted either, being three times the diameter of your average manhole cover.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: LordPorkins on November 21, 2015, 11:09:57 am
I promptly Chug another Bottle while in the great Waiting line of the Forums 8)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 21, 2015, 12:20:24 pm
Open the grate then. Other people here may prove essential for the task, so using them as a tool may not be too conservative.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Dermonster on November 21, 2015, 12:56:11 pm
Stick weird water brick in sack. Leave, damnit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 21, 2015, 01:00:20 pm
Find an empty sack, put a few handfuls of gold in it, then tie off the end. It should look like a crude flail now, with the gold retained in the end of it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: NAV on November 21, 2015, 02:54:32 pm
Get up and try again to fasion some sort of garment out of a sack. Stay as far away from the big violent shouty guy as possible.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 21, 2015, 08:08:10 pm
Hmm... it's like sugar? I take a bite of the broken stick.

((Also are our rolls hidden or are we just taking actions that don't warrant a roll?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Toaster on November 22, 2015, 12:37:41 pm
((I believe Mr. Baldman likes hidden rolls.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: crazyabe on November 22, 2015, 12:54:40 pm
PTW
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 22, 2015, 01:20:01 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 21, 2015, 12:20:24 pm
Open the grate then. Other people here may prove essential for the task, so using them as a tool may not be too conservative.

You notice a handy little pile of inscribed bricks set up next to you, and stand atop it to get some good reach. You still need to rise on the tips of your toes to get a good handle on the grate, but you just about manage it.

You pull, but the grate refuses to budge. So you push - the grate rises a bit, but only a slight amount, then moves no more. You pull it back, then push it up, but neither configuration appears to provide you with a handily escapable opening. Quite the dilemma, you find. A true test of your might and intellect.

As you think, however, Mr. Codeburn comes along and lifts you up to a slightly better position, then rotates you around roughly two and a half times, at which point the ceiling grate comes loose. Mr. Codeburn then puts you down next to the pile of bricks and proceeds to effortlessly climb up the chain, his gold-laden, sack-covered form disappearing from sight within moments, leaving you standing there with ceiling grate in hand.

Quote from: Dermonster on November 21, 2015, 12:56:11 pm
Stick weird water brick in sack. Leave, damnit.

You grab the inscribed brick and place it in your sack tunic, then turn your gaze upon the shenanigans in the center of the room, where Mr. Erikson is trying and failing to open the ceiling grate. From the thoughtful look in his eye you quickly decipher that if you leave the matter to him, you can expect to leave this room next week at the earliest. So you step over and place your arms around his hips, producing a light squelch as the skirt conforms to his body. You then lift him off the pile of bricks as he hangs on to the grate and start to ponderously step around him in a circle.

The grate, currently pushed upward, twists readily along with the rotation of Mr. Erikson, and comes free after two and a half full revolutions. At this point you put down Mr. Erikson and give him an unimpressed look before standing up on the pile of bricks yourself and jumping to grab the chain, ascending through the power of your hands alone as the rest of the room looks on in confusion.The climb concludes uneventfully as you reach the surface, where you see that the chain seems to have been tied around a stone pillar. This being established, you take in the rest of the surroundings.

You now appear to be standing in a dusty courtyard, not a blade of grass to be seen in the thoroughly stomped dirt all about. There is a lot of clearance between you and the unmarked wooden buildings hugging the tall, forbidding stone walls as well as the large, intimidating stone structure at one end of the yard you would presume to be the keep. Quite a few people are walking about, and in their faces you can see many different shades of utmost displeasure. Well, except the ones that glance in your direction - those simply look a bit confused at who this man wearing a sack might possibly be.

"And just who the hell are you supposed to be?" a small man mostly hidden from examination by an unfavorable combination of sandy-colored hat, unkempt black beard and at least two different, mismatched cloaks asks from behind you. "You're not one of the minders," he adds, but more in a tone of idle curiosity than outright suspicion.

Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 21, 2015, 01:00:20 pm
Find an empty sack, put a few handfuls of gold in it, then tie off the end. It should look like a crude flail now, with the gold retained in the end of it.

You search among the sacks of gold, but find none that are empty - the improbability of such a thing strikes you as overwhelming. How are there no empty sacks here?

Clearly they must be somewhere nearby, you reason soundly as you root through the webbed-up pots lining the walls. Surely they could not have left no sacks empty at all. Perhaps among the drapes, you start to intellectually reach as your hands go through the moth-eaten fabrics piled up in another corner. You regard the inscribed door, but figure that sacks are of insufficient importance to bother telling anyone to be staying in away of them.

In the end you stand there completely mystified. There is something you are missing here. Of this you are absolutely certain.

Quote from: NAV on November 21, 2015, 02:54:32 pm
Get up and try again to fasion some sort of garment out of a sack. Stay as far away from the big violent shouty guy as possible.

Now that you have taken a breather, you let the big violent shouty man have his field day with the ceiling grate and try once more to build yourself a sack garment, keeping in mind the lessons you learned in observing Mr. Codeburn. You sit down next to the other sack he had and begin to nibble on its rough burlap, producing a small tear within a minute or so. You carefully insert your hands into it, then begin to rip open a hole... has to be large enough to fit you. You carefully rip, then tear for a bit longer, then for just a little bit more... and then a little more, then you let the ends meet, just like your mother taught you, and voila! You now have two more useless halves of a burlap sack!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 21, 2015, 08:08:10 pm
Hmm... it's like sugar? I take a bite of the broken stick.

You wouldn't go so far as to say it's like sugar. There are similarities, of course, like the way it seems to be some form of crystalline substance forced into a familiar geometric shape by unknown sorcery, and the way aggregates of both tend to crumble if subject to minute amounts of physical stress. Flavor-wise, though, this stick tastes like spreading numbness in your mouth combined with possibly temporary loss of the ability to taste. Combination with saliva appears to produce considerable thickening. Complete loss of any sensation in mouth shortly follows, leaving a completely dark spot in your overall perception.

With all this in mind, you thoughtfully elect not to swallow.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Dermonster on November 22, 2015, 01:43:16 pm
"Name's Eric Codeburn, I'm from the future except sideways. Everybody else down there is either dead, naked or an idiot, pick two. Can you tell me where the ever living hell I am?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: NAV on November 22, 2015, 02:19:45 pm
Maybe I could tie those 4 half-sacks together into some sort of loincloth or tunic. Try imagining the burlap as extremely poorly kept hair that I am attempting to style, that might help.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 22, 2015, 02:48:44 pm
Partially empty a sack of gold, leaving a few handfuls of gold in it. Tie off the end with the gold in it, making the sack into a crude flail.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 22, 2015, 03:09:31 pm
"Hmph."

Climb up. Point at the most authorative figure around and say: "I demand immediate access to local bathing facility and you will provide it to me! Also I demand clothes."

Should access be granted, proceed to the bathing facility and clean up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 22, 2015, 03:56:39 pm
"Seems like potent stuff. It might come in handy." I dump out a bag of gold, stuff as many sticks as I can in it, and climb out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: SaberToothTiger on November 22, 2015, 06:05:23 pm
Spoiler: Not that serious. Hint, hint. (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: crazyabe on November 22, 2015, 06:24:05 pm
Spoiler: Character Sheet For Thou Waitlist (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 22, 2015, 07:52:51 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on November 22, 2015, 01:43:16 pm
"Name's Eric Codeburn, I'm from the future except sideways. Everybody else down there is either dead, naked or an idiot, pick two. Can you tell me where the ever living hell I am?"

He looks around, his cloaked form shuffling this way and that.

"Anglefork Castle. Less specifically, the High Realm of Benzerwald," he says, then raises his arm to point over the castle walls. "Out there's stoats. In here's hunger and waiting."

He regards you for a moment, clearly formulating a thought. As it crystallizes, he offers some polite inquiries.

"You'd be one of them demons the minders were summoning? Asking 'cause you look a mite weird."

A moment later Mr. Erikson comes out of the hole and starts making demands of the cloaked individual, which takes up his attention quite thoroughly. A good thing, too, as it lets you be fully aware of an incoming half-full bag flying your way from down the hole - not one to be surprised by a mere sack twice, you catch it easily, and throw it back down with some annoyance before your better nature can dictate otherwise to your finely honed reflexes.

Quote from: NAV on November 22, 2015, 02:19:45 pm
Maybe I could tie those 4 half-sacks together into some sort of loincloth or tunic. Try imagining the burlap as extremely poorly kept hair that I am attempting to style, that might help.

Considering carefully the geometries and intricacies involved, you are sorely tempted to try and fashion a loincloth that would tempt with its improbability out of the four halves - however, your fingers fail you, and immediately afterward so does your confidence. You remain seated, staring dejectedly at the pile of burlap and failure in front of you. Here you are, still naked and largely worthless in the face of all these other people making something of themselves. It is all too reminiscent of barber college.

Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 22, 2015, 02:48:44 pm
Partially empty a sack of gold, leaving a few handfuls of gold in it. Tie off the end with the gold in it, making the sack into a crude flail.

You set about the laborious business of scooping out the generous bounty of gold from a nearby sack, and eventually manage to nearly empty one. All that gold sure is heavy. With all that done, you tie off the end and give the resulting mostly empty potato sack a good swing, and it feels about as elegant and combat-effective as you'd expect a mostly empty sack to be, which is to say little to not at all. You are going to need some serious savagery to kill anyone with this, that's for sure.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 22, 2015, 03:09:31 pm
"Hmph."

Climb up. Point at the most authorative figure around and say: "I demand immediate access to local bathing facility and you will provide it to me! Also I demand clothes."

Should access be granted, proceed to the bathing facility and clean up.

You climb out of the hole in no time at all, and find yourself in a dusty courtyard of a highly fortified, if perhaps not very vibrant castle occupied by a variety of people in varying states of dissatisfaction. Next to you stands Mr. Codeburn and also a very wrapped-up sort of man whose features are difficult to make out beneath an array of cloaks, hat and beard. He seems to exude the most authority and also happens to be pretty close by, so you make a demand of bathing facilities and clothes of him. You figure he has to have plenty of the latter at least if his appearance is any indication.

"Sure," he shrugs, looking around for a moment, his cloaks tangling a little. "Go find some, yeah. You could use a bath, looks like."

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 22, 2015, 03:56:39 pm
"Seems like potent stuff. It might come in handy." I dump out a bag of gold, stuff as many sticks as I can in it, and climb out.

You dump one of the bags of gold right out, eliciting a sigh of terrible proportions from the nearby Mr. Calverly, then steal as many of the black sticks as you can in it - which, as it happens, are all of the ones still in the pots. The bag turns out to be only half-filled after all this, though, which is quite a fine thing indeed, as it allows a very elegant solution to the issue of getting it out of this hole. Namely, you just hurl it up along the tunnel, feeling mighty pleased with yourself as it flies flawlessly out of this dank dungeon. Hot on its heels, you start ascending the chain.

You are understandably quite disappointed when the bag comes plummeting back down when you are only halfway up, landing on the dungeon floor with a hundred tiny cracks as the sticks within break into uncountable pieces.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 22, 2015, 09:18:48 pm
"Well, most of a stick will have to do."

I climb out and look for some clothes.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: Dermonster on November 22, 2015, 09:58:25 pm
"Okay so first things first, what's with the bricks? They did some weird stuff I'm not quite sure I fully comprehended."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: crazyabe on November 22, 2015, 10:00:09 pm
Quote from: crazyabe on November 22, 2015, 06:24:05 pm
Spoiler: Character Sheet For Thou Waitlist (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: NAV on November 22, 2015, 10:32:01 pm
Give up on clothing and ascend through the hatch.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 22, 2015, 11:52:42 pm
"Effing terrorists... You! Guide me to the local bathing facility and prepare me some clothes!"

Make demands again, pointing random person who's not the person I made demands first time. Make him/her guide me to the baths. If he/she is not willing, then give her/him few encouraging slaps. Hopefully I can get to bathing this time.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: You All Meet Naked In A Basement
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 23, 2015, 12:44:54 am
Exit the tunnel and request directions to the nearest weapon shop.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 23, 2015, 11:45:54 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 22, 2015, 09:18:48 pm
"Well, most of a stick will have to do."

I climb out and look for some clothes.

You climb out of the hole into the courtyard of Anglefork Castle, and waste no time conversing with the common folk. Instead you go and look for a place that could provide you with some clothing - the keep seems the obvious direction, so you head toward its large front door, which is fortunately entirely open. The door guards, a respectable, middle-aged pair of red-nosed women you'd probably have trouble telling apart, give you a puzzled look, but do not try to stop you from entering. After all, you are clearly unarmed and probably mean no particular harm.

The keep's interior is pleasantly spacious, but carries in it an overall air of utter austerity. Dirty wooden floors, dark stone walls, only the bare minimum of daylight able to make its way in through the ridiculously tiny windows. All the torch brackets and candelabras appear to be empty, and in fact you can spot a few areas where torch brackets are conspicuously missing by virtue of being torn from the walls. And if anything, it actually feels colder in here than outside.

You head up the central set of stairs and take a left down a particular corridor, barely able to see anything as you get further from the exterior walls, and you only manage to orient yourself by a light shining from a room at the end of the western wing. You step carefully on the creaking floorboards and peek into the lit doorframe.

The room is a very nice one, or at least so you would suppose from the way that the nicer bits of bedroom furniture appear to have been pushed about to make room for a clearly appropriated table from a far cheaper origin. Upon it are two goblets and a green, upturned bottle of what you assume to be wine. Around it sit two people - an elderly, affable-looking man wearing a formidable set of whiskers and a set of noble clothes, while opposite him sits a teenaged, fair-haired girl, barefoot and wearing a long white nightdress. Both are dull-eyed and clearly very drunk - the man in particular seems to be half-asleep and about to slip right to the ground, and the girl is staring out into emptiness wistfully.

As you consider leaving politely, the girl turns her head your way. "Need something?" she asks thickly, slurring her words. "The Crown provides, as you can see," she looks down at the bottle, smiling weakly.

Quote from: Dermonster on November 22, 2015, 09:58:25 pm
"Okay so first things first, what's with the bricks? They did some weird stuff I'm not quite sure I fully comprehended."

As Mr. Erikson gives up you resume your questioning.

"Bricks?" the man asks, puzzled. You show him your inscribed brick, presuming there's a fancy word for it or something.

"That's one of the things them minders keep in the chamber?" he asks after a moment's examination. You nod. "In a big pile?" he asks, and you nod again. The shrouded man strains his think pan for a moment.

"Nope," he says after a few seconds' thought. "Can't say I know anything about these. Anything true, anyway."

Quote from: NAV on November 22, 2015, 10:32:01 pm
Give up on clothing and ascend through the hatch.

You head over to the center of the room, having accepted perpetual nudity, and jump for the chain. You don't manage to reach it, so you jump again, and find you are very far off the mark still. Stepping over to the pile of bricks, you do a jump off that, and your hand grasps the chain tantalizingly before it slips out of your grasp, sending you tumbling along the room into a particularly moldy set of pots and jugs that shatter at your mere touch, filling your back with a wide assortment of clay shards and unspeakable ancient filth. As you sit there miserably, you emit one last great sigh as Mr. Johnson makes a running jump off the bricks and grabs hold of the chain much more securely than you do.

As the chubby fellow flails and pants his way up the chain, his sweat dripping down even after his naked body disappears from sight, you start to wonder how exactly you're going to die down here. Thirst, you bet. It's always thirst in these situations.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 22, 2015, 11:52:42 pm
"Effing terrorists... You! Guide me to the local bathing facility and prepare me some clothes!"

Make demands again, pointing random person who's not the person I made demands first time. Make him/her guide me to the baths. If he/she is not willing, then give her/him few encouraging slaps. Hopefully I can get to bathing this time.

You wander up to a woman carrying a bucket of water, her hateful expression indicating that she's probably one of the serving folk, and demand that she guide you to the nearest baths. She looks up at you, stopping in her tracks, looking at you incredulously for a second.

"Get your own bloody clothes, you filthy idjit," she replies, and you decide you cannot let this slide. You prepare your hand and give her an elegant slap to the face. She bares her teeth and pours her icy cold bucket of fresh well water all over you. You shriek like a little girl and reflexively punch her in the gut, which she takes as a sign of escalating hostilities, stepping closer without delay and giving you a very hard knee to the left kidney. You curl up and tackle her against a wall, knocking the air out of her, and she brings an elbow down on your spine, causing you to fall on your knees in pain. You start to bite her in the hip very sharply as she starts punching you in the head rapidly, and this goes on for a good ten seconds until you feel something poking into your back. You pause in your determined biting and turn around to look what that's about.

Behind you are three guards - two solid women that you think must have rushed over from the keep's door, and a tall, thin, elderly guard who seems to have emerged from one of the buildings. One of the door guards is currently pressing a very sharp-looking spear into your back.

"Fighting in the castle is strictly prohibited," says the tall, thin man in a very dull, even voice.

"This dirty idjit started it, slapped me right across the gob. Thinks he's some lord, he does!" the woman says indignantly, half-punching, half-kicking you off herself in short order as you are distracted. The guardswoman pokes you over to the wall.

"I saw it, yes," the woman menacing your back with the spear nods.

"Mm-hm," the tall guard nods, and you can almost hear him making a mental note. The water on you evaporates steadily, giving you an incredible chill. You also feel a mite dizzy from all the blows to the head you just received. "Has the offender anything to say for himself?"

Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 23, 2015, 12:44:54 am
Exit the tunnel and request directions to the nearest weapon shop.

You decide to brave the chain, and after Mr. Calverly makes a thorough fool of himself you make a very difficult running jump off the pile of bricks and barely grab on to the chain. And you must say, climbing up a chain does look a lot easier in a game. You grunt and pull and flail and occasionally scream as you push your underutilized body to the limit, sweating a day's worth of water as you climb upward, and eventually... eventually you make it out, flopping nakedly on the dirt as you pant with exhaustion. Mr. Codeburn and a nearby shrouded man look at you in slight confusion, but you don't let that get you down. Today you've shown physical prowess unlike any you've ever displayed in life, and now it is time for some 30, 60 or perhaps 180 minutes of rest as you catch your breath and try not to vomit.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Dermonster on November 23, 2015, 12:45:54 pm
"Okay, so let's backtrack a bit. Demons? Minders? What? Why?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 23, 2015, 12:52:33 pm
Snicker and pull the chain up behind me. Ask someone for directions to a blacksmith.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 23, 2015, 12:55:41 pm
Pfft. That cold is nothing for a man who hacks holes in frozen lakes and swims in the afromentioned hole in middle of winter.

"By Odin's grey beard, all I want is a bath! It offends me greatly that you deny me fullfillment of this simple desire! I have pieces of someone's brain touching my privates and I want to clean it very soon!"

I will find the bathing facility and bathe in it. Anyone stopping me from doing that will have to face fury of neo-viking whose cleanliness is being denied.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: NAV on November 23, 2015, 03:34:39 pm
Climb!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 24, 2015, 09:20:10 am
Dear god yes, I need something to help me deal with all this shit. "Don't mind if I do," I say, and I join the couple drinking.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: LordPorkins on November 24, 2015, 10:29:41 am
HUZZAH! From the Depths of the Shadows i leap! Slapping the bottle from Honor's Hand, i proceed to Chug it. I then look for more bottles

(In Reality i was captured in a smaller  sub-cell, but upon smelling booze managed to tear the bars out with my bare hands in desperation.)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 24, 2015, 10:41:23 am
Quote from: Dermonster on November 23, 2015, 12:45:54 pm
"Okay, so let's backtrack a bit. Demons? Minders? What? Why?"

The man sticks a finger in his beard, scratching his chin weakly within in the brambly depths of hair as he considers how to reply.

"Demons, yeah, that's you," he says. "And the minders - they think things and they happen. Dunno how, but it works. They run the place, doing minder things. Couldn't tell you what those'd be, but they work. Usually. Nominally."

He steps closer to the pit you climbed out of, looking down intently.

"So yeah, your job is to go out there and kill all the stoats. There's like six hundred of them, and they got spears, swords, axes, bows and catapults and whatnot. It's something of a sticky situation," he shrugs without looking directly at you. "I'm sure you can do it, though. Or at least give us a good show before they come in and kill us all, eh?" he winks at you. "'Sides, you ate our minders and we didn't have a better plan than letting them do whatever."

He pauses for a moment more, trying to think of more compelling reasons for you not to devour his soul on the spot.

"Why, I bet you could even convince the priest to remodel the chapel to your liking if you want. Not like the bloody sun and moon are stepping down to help us any, right?"

Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 23, 2015, 12:52:33 pm
Snicker and pull the chain up behind me. Ask someone for directions to a blacksmith.

You feel inordinately pleased with yourself as you pull the chain up, breathing heavily in between ceaseless bouts of snickering, and leave poor Mr. Calverly down there among the gore and the rats. You observe him make a valiant jump or three for it, and are sorely tempted to dangle the chain a little to tempt him to try a couple more times, but instead you go with letting him keep a little of his dignity. Perhaps you'll come back later and crush that, too. Wouldn't that be just delicious?

That done, you turn to the shrouded man and ask him where the blacksmith is. He points toward a particular wooden building on the west side of the courtyard, and you swagger over that-a-way immediately, going in and preparing to spend your money on a shitty wooden sword to get your ATK up a miniscule amount.

Or, rather, you attempt to go in, but the blacksmith's door is locked and bolted. The windows appear to be boarded up from the inside, and a steady stream of smoke is billowing out of its chimney. Putting your ear to the door, you think you hear a rhythmic banging of steel on steel. Seems like the blacksmith's busy in there.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 23, 2015, 12:55:41 pm
Pfft. That cold is nothing for a man who hacks holes in frozen lakes and swims in the afromentioned hole in middle of winter.

"By Odin's grey beard, all I want is a bath! It offends me greatly that you deny me fullfillment of this simple desire! I have pieces of someone's brain touching my privates and I want to clean it very soon!"

I will find the bathing facility and bathe in it. Anyone stopping me from doing that will have to face fury of neo-viking whose cleanliness is being denied.

You start to rant wildly as the three guards watch and listen. You don't think they're on-board with the proposition. As you are about three-quarters through, one of the guardswomen stabs you in the side with the spear with a slight look of disgust on her face. The others look at her in slight shock, and she seems confused for a moment before she looks down at the spear and your extremely painful stab wound.

"Oh!" she says, looking at you apologetically. "Wrong end," she says, and the elderly guard chuckles affably, the other guardswoman merely shaking her head as she frowns.

They then proceed to use the blunt ends of their spears to bludgeon you into a much more responsive state, and haul you off to the dungeon while you alternate between odd invocations of pagan gods and inarticulate sounds of pain. Finally you are tossed into a small stone cell, where you remain on the cold ground for a good moment, bleeding a little less (but only a little) than you would expect from such a beating.

You are only slightly roused when you hear a low sigh emanate from a nearby corner.

Quote from: NAV on November 23, 2015, 03:34:39 pm
Climb!

You run, skip and jump up, and you are absolutely sure you are going to make it this time... when suddenly the chain gets pulled up, slipping from your grasp, netting you another bum-first landing on the cold stone floor and the explicit confirmation that the world must mean you harm. The snickering coming from the top of the vertical tunnel puts a little extra salt on top, and boy, do you appreciate this.

Such a perfect day this is turning out to be, really.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 24, 2015, 09:20:10 am
Dear god yes, I need something to help me deal with all this shit. "Don't mind if I do," I say, and I join the couple drinking.

You walk into the room and pull up an exquisite stool from a nearby desk, sitting down on it as you try the bottle. It's nearly empty, and so you get only a single mouthful of whatever's in it. The swill leaves a slightly disgusting feeling in your throat, and for a moment you are glad you seem to have lost the sensation of taste. It'll have to do, though. You set the bottle down and look at the other two sitting opposite you. The girl seems quite impressed.

"There was still some left in there?" she raises an eyebrow in hazy disbelief. "Clearly I'm not doing my duty as a sovereign ruler."

"You've got to be strong - got to be strong in this business," the whiskered man mumbles, his eyes completely closed now.

The girl examines you as carefully as she is able, which is to say not very. But even she seems to realize something's off here.

"Say!" she ventures to guess, looking at you. "Are you naked, or is that just me?" she says, then looks down at her own nightdress, which seems to still be in place. "It's not just me, I think?"

The whiskered man opens his eyes sharply, giving you an odd look for a second. He spreads his arms wide, approving of your choice in clothing. "Heeeyyy!" he draws out smoothly, leaning right out of his chair and onto the floor, where he lies on his back, looking at the ceiling and blinking slowly. "Okay," he says immediately afterwards and smiles up at the blank expanse of stone above him.

"He'll be fine," says the girl, waving off the man's fall nonchalantly as she leans in your direction. "But yeah. This naked thing. Explain."

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Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: LordPorkins on November 24, 2015, 10:54:58 am
Balls. I thought by fulfilling the prophecy i made you were letting me join. CIAO!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 24, 2015, 11:04:01 am
"I'm trying to figure that out myself, your highness. I woke up naked in a tub of rats earlier and I'm not really sure what this place is. Do you have any clothes I can borrow? Or know anyone who does?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: NAV on November 24, 2015, 11:05:40 am
"Guys, put the chain back this isn't funny!"

Attempt to fashion a rope from sacks tied together.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AkumaKasai on November 24, 2015, 11:22:41 am
Ask where I can find clean clothes and a bath.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Nunzillor on November 24, 2015, 12:03:05 pm
Name: Jackie the Hammer
Job: Circus strongman
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 24, 2015, 12:08:14 pm
Quote from: Nunzillor on November 24, 2015, 12:03:05 pm
Name: Derek Danger Powers
Job: Action hero

Not a valid occupation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Nunzillor on November 24, 2015, 12:11:45 pm
((Modified.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 24, 2015, 03:23:46 pm
"Oh man, why must kidnappers be reasonable? I hope Loki likes your dreams! Assholes!"
"...Another night in the cell. Only if I were drunk it wouldn't differ too much of avarage friday night..."

Tear a strip from my makeshift skirt and see if I can bandage the stabbing wound.

"And how's your evening?" Leif asks from person sighing in the corner.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 25, 2015, 03:01:53 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 24, 2015, 11:04:01 am
"I'm trying to figure that out myself, your highness. I woke up naked in a tub of rats earlier and I'm not really sure what this place is. Do you have any clothes I can borrow? Or know anyone who does?"

"That sure is... something," the girl comments, making a circuitous motion with her hand as she searches for a word. A moment passes and she quietly admits defeat. "I don't know. Something, certainly."

A short, awkward silence ensues.

"But yeah! Clothes. You can have some of mine. Won't be able to wear them all before they come in and string me up, so go right ahead and help yourself. The closet's right over there," she says, pointing at a nearby wall. You look back at her confusedly, and she looks where she's pointing, frowning at this unexpected disappearance. "Say! That's not proper, should be a closet there, or... should it? It should, yes, and... hm..."

She turns around in her chair and away from you, surveying the room with a critical eye.

"You know," she says as she looks back at you. "I'm thinking this isn't my room. Don't remember leaving my room, but so be it. Mind..." she trails off as she hazily tries to recognize her surroundings, "mind taking me back there? Shouldn't be too far off, unless I've gotten very lucky somehow..."

Quote from: NAV on November 24, 2015, 11:05:40 am
"Guys, put the chain back this isn't funny!"

Attempt to fashion a rope from sacks tied together.

If you could tie these sacks together, the resulting oddity would be so incredibly insufficient to climb out of here with that it would almost be amusing to try and sincerely escape with it. Figuring you could use a little levity, you try it anyway, somehow tying the four sacks into a mess of three unwieldy knots. You tinker with it, tugging on one part of the burlap quasi-rope, pushing it in other places, tightening it everywhere until it forms into a rigid, unidentifiable implement about as long as your arm. You step over to the center of the room and give it an experimental swing, and note that it definitely doesn't appear to be working on getting you out. However, the thing does have a very nice heft to it, and surprisingly good balance at that.

After this slight diversion, you happen to look up again, perhaps to remind yourself of your daunting task, and spot a silhouette up top. Looks like someone's looking down on you again. Might as well get used to it.

Quote from: AkumaKasai on November 24, 2015, 11:22:41 am
Ask where I can find clean clothes and a bath.

You approach a kind woman walking past you with an empty bucket and ask her where you could possibly find clean clothes and a bath. She gives you a savage look, and you take a careful step back so as to not provoke her further. She narrows her eyes and keeps walking.

You look around for someone else to possibly help you with this, but none of them have the look of people who will take any of your city-folk guff, their eyes dark and their complexions unnervingly rough and ravaged by malnutrition.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 24, 2015, 03:23:46 pm
"Oh man, why must kidnappers be reasonable? I hope Loki likes your dreams! Assholes!"
"...Another night in the cell. Only if I were drunk it wouldn't differ too much of avarage friday night..."

Tear a strip from my makeshift skirt and see if I can bandage the stabbing wound.

"And how's your evening?" Leif asks from person sighing in the corner.

You stick a filthy strip of reclaimed robe right into the bleeding hole in your side, and find that it hits the spot perfectly. Starchy and firm, that's the way a true bandage ought to be. Feeling more secure already, you ask how the sighing person is enjoying its stay in Anglefork's fine dungeon, and in response you hear a startled noise. A figure rises and approaches your prone body, looking down at you from above.

It's a very odd-looking person, that much you can tell. Its limbs are short - perhaps half or two thirds of yours in length, but its torso appears to be twice the normal length to compensate, and it has bent over you in a way that suggests to you its spine must be very flexible indeed. Pale, hairless and dressed from head to toe in the worst sort of prisoner rags, it looks down at you carefully, its unusually wide mouth hanging slightly open in surprise, exposing two rows of white, sharklike teeth, which disappear from sight immediately as it composes itself.

"Identify yourself," it says in an urgent, authoritative voice. "Why you are here?"

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 25, 2015, 03:25:54 pm
"Why? Do you have a problem with me being here? Because I too do have a problem with me being here. And by why I'm here do you mean in this particular room or in the area in general? For latter; not a fricking clue. These people probably kidnapped us. For former; local bouncers threw me in here after stabbing me with a real spear. Can you believe it? A spear! Why spear instead of tazer or a stun baton? They could kill people with those things..."

"Seriously, this level of realism these renaissance faire kidnappers are putting up with these props is really impressive. And your cosplay is really on its own level! How much you had to pay for those body modifications? And what kind of doctor agreed to mutilate your body to that degree? By Ullr's mighty shield, I'm impressed!"

Talky stuff. Stand up slowly, study the cell and the door.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 26, 2015, 10:17:30 am
I help the lady to her room. On the way I ask her about the trouble she's in.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: NAV on November 26, 2015, 07:25:29 pm
Ask mr silhouette to lower the chain.
"Hey mister, or misses, could you please lower the chain? Some jerks left me down here. I'll...I'll give you some gold coins if you do."

Collect a small easily carryable bag of gold coins. Or a large bag not very full.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Dermonster on November 27, 2015, 01:26:24 am
This slipped my alerts for some reason.

"Alright. Just.... kill. 600 guys. Who have swords and stuff. Yes. That sounds. Not insane at all. Can you. Can you tell me what all is in this place? Like, buildings, and places."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 27, 2015, 03:18:16 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 25, 2015, 03:25:54 pm
"Why? Do you have a problem with me being here? Because I too do have a problem with me being here. And by why I'm here do you mean in this particular room or in the area in general? For latter; not a fricking clue. These people probably kidnapped us. For former; local bouncers threw me in here after stabbing me with a real spear. Can you believe it? A spear! Why spear instead of tazer or a stun baton? They could kill people with those things..."

"Seriously, this level of realism these renaissance faire kidnappers are putting up with these props is really impressive. And your cosplay is really on its own level! How much you had to pay for those body modifications? And what kind of doctor agreed to mutilate your body to that degree? By Ullr's mighty shield, I'm impressed!"

Talky stuff. Stand up slowly, study the cell and the door.

The strange person nods their head slowly as you stand up. The cell is a pretty large one - you suppose it's for several prisoners at once. Saves iron on the doors - the one door here is primarily wooden, in fact, though nevertheless quite solidly reinforced. It seems to be definitively locked. The walls are gray stone, and you note that this prison cell appears to have no windows at all, meaning that much of it is almost completely dark. If the person was in the corner before they sighed, you don't think you would have even seen them. Heck, for all you know there could be more of them in here.

Nevertheless, you can tell from the vaguely moldy smell, cold and damp air, the general stoniness of the walls and, of course, slight movement of rodents at the edge of your vision that this is pretty much the archetypal cell. No happiness to be found here, clearly. Though you do appear to have found conversation, as when you finish your ranting inquiry the strange person immediately replies.

"The spear knows its target as well as its owner does, but not better. The doctor was most kind, but the payment was very harsh. Has Vali been born yet? Many wrongs still remain unavenged," they say, their eyes focusing on yours in a half-expectant, half-confused look. They offer their stubby arms with open palms. "May I take your cloak? It is warm in here and remaining fully dressed in someone's home is poor form."

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 26, 2015, 10:17:30 am
I help the lady to her room. On the way I ask her about the trouble she's in.

You haul the girl out into the hallway, since her balance seems to be off enough to plausibly have gone out the nearby window during her revelry. She doesn't mind, and you start doing a room-by-room check of the place - you stick her in the room and check if she recognizes it as hers. If not, you move on. During this search you make a little conversation.

"Stoatmen!" she says derisively. "Bloody stoatmen, deformed malcontents. Even now there's...ugh, must be hundreds of them out there. They want me dead, dear. And they're going to get me dead, because I'm sure not letting myself be taken alive by the savages."

She mutters for a few moments, dedicating choice words to the barbarism of her hated foe that you are somewhat glad you can only barely make out. Her eyes glimmer with rage, her hands coming together and contorting in pantomimed strangulation.

"They got the rest, you know," she stammers out, her face having gone a little red. "My mother, my father... my big sister. Strung up most of them, and their ministers - my father, he got to sit on a pike, you know. Took him days to die, it did. In fact," she notes, her face going momentarily blank with realization, "in fact, maybe even after I got the crown - maybe he was alive even then."

She smiles sadly, staring off into the distance.

"Been queen for the past two months! Been here for much longer. Kept me out of the way. Not that it's helped now, in the end. The minders tried, bless 'em. Not their fault I'm an idiot, don't you think?"

She rambles with decreasing coherence right up until you check the final room in this corridor. She doesn't seem to think this is her room, either. Realization appears to dawn on her slowly.

"Wait... wait! Wait," she says, and you wait a moment. "This isn't the right wing."

She looks around carefully.

"My room's on the other side... I think? I don't remember when I got here. Or how. Do you remember?" she asks, looking confused.

Quote from: NAV on November 26, 2015, 07:25:29 pm
Ask mr silhouette to lower the chain.
"Hey mister, or misses, could you please lower the chain? Some jerks left me down here. I'll...I'll give you some gold coins if you do."

Collect a small easily carryable bag of gold coins. Or a large bag not very full.

"Will do," the silhouette shouts down. "First though, any rats left? Grab some for me before you come up, will you?"

You take a look at the mass of rats still swarming on the ground. It is beginning to look unsettlingly homogenous. Huh. You then look at the bags in one corner of the room, and note that you could probably mostly empty one without serious trouble. As long as you don't try to make clothing out of it, you guess.

Quote from: Dermonster on November 27, 2015, 01:26:24 am
This slipped my alerts for some reason.

"Alright. Just.... kill. 600 guys. Who have swords and stuff. Yes. That sounds. Not insane at all. Can you. Can you tell me what all is in this place? Like, buildings, and places."

The shrouded man is interrupted from his conversation with Mr. Calverly about some rat-based affair and turns to you again.

"You mean in Anglefork? 'S pretty simple," he says, and starts pointing at the various things visible in the courtyard.

The large main structure of the castle, still as forbidding as before, but slightly less well-guarded. "Now, there's the keep, that's where most everyone lives."

The gate leading to the courtyard, flanked by two towers with quite a wealth of arrow slits and murder holes. "The guard house - er, guard houses? Dunno if it's just one house."

Right next to the guard house, a corner building that seems to have recessed into the wall a little. "The dungeon, stay out of there. Also the commander's office, stay double out of there."

After that there is a wide wooden building with a large gate at which an unusually attentive-looking guard is posted. You accurately guess that's the stable. "That's where they do the salting," the shrouded man also adds matter-of-factly, and you don't happen to question him on what that exactly means.

Next to it, a set of three small buildings. "The workshops - carpenter, blacksmith and the, uh," the man says, hesitating a little, "the bone carver, yes. Don't bother the blacksmith. Or the bone carver. And the carpenter's never in - when he is, though, don't bother the poor man."

On the other side, a curious scene - a firm stone building, partly disassembled. Next to it, a smaller, very primitive stone building built from the parts missing - and next to it, a small circle of stones, with a bloodstained brown, unworked rock placed right in the middle. "There's the chapel, the, er, shrine and... um... the holy circle. There's been some disagreements."

A rather small house nearby, reminiscent of the workshops. "The masons live there. Three of them, all layabouts. Brothers - runs in the family."

Another recessed building, sloped and with a minimal profile, but just about as large as the stable. "Storehouse. It's where we bait these days."

And finally, a thing that caught your eye before - a sizable tower, comparable in height to the keep. Smoother, too. Older, you'd think. Got a different-looking style to it. "And that's where the minders live - well, where they lived before you ate them. Not judging, mind you. I don't judge. School's in there, too."

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: NAV on November 27, 2015, 03:29:30 pm
"Uh, ok? There are lots of rats here. I'll get you some! Why does he want rats?"

Trap some rats in a sack. Use my finely crafted knotted sack club to stun them first if that helps. Also toss in a few coins since I said I would.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Dermonster on November 27, 2015, 03:38:49 pm
Okay. Yes. That is... good. I will just. Go now, with that information. and figure out how to kill. 600 people. Who have swords. Easy."

What the living hell oh shit go check the battlements or whatever are they here yet?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 27, 2015, 04:11:09 pm
"You wouldn't think this place is so confusing from the outside." I look for her room in a different wing of the castle.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 27, 2015, 04:58:48 pm
"Vali? Who's that? Sounds like russian name, but while I do know few russians none of them is called Vali. And no, you may not take my cloak. I don't even have a cloak. All I have is this repurposed skirt and without it I'll be naked. Don't you think that's even more rude?"

Game of Words continues. Quickly check with Thor if he cares to kick the prison door open for me. Or help me to kick it open.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 28, 2015, 07:31:00 pm
Quote from: NAV on November 27, 2015, 03:29:30 pm
"Uh, ok? There are lots of rats here. I'll get you some! Why does he want rats?"

Trap some rats in a sack. Use my finely crafted knotted sack club to stun them first if that helps. Also toss in a few coins since I said I would.

You approach the writhing mass of rats, and it writhes away from you, just like it did with Ms. Minett before. It appears to sense your intention. No matter. You will not disappoint the anonymous silhouette. You lift the sack club and bring it down on the mass with all of your might, which is admittedly humble, and the mass splits readily in half as the chamber is filled with a deafening choir of squeaks, shrieking rats going every which way, their tails tangled with one other.

One half of the mass writhes and swarms away, going straight for the drapes with amazing quickness, considering it does literally appear to be a tangle of rats. The other mass, well, you don't quite speak rat. But somehow you'd say that the other mass is now very much pissed off at you. Perhaps it's the way it's advancing while emitting a low hiss, several hundred of its yellow eyes fixated on you. A few injured rats trail out of it as it moves closer, stunned yet alive, making feeble attempts to get to safety as the rest forge on ahead.

Quote from: Dermonster on November 27, 2015, 03:38:49 pm
Okay. Yes. That is... good. I will just. Go now, with that information. and figure out how to kill. 600 people. Who have swords. Easy."

What the living hell oh shit go check the battlements or whatever are they here yet?

You head on up to the battlements via a nearby tower, passing by a few guards that give you odd looks. Carefully creeping along the parapets, you give the area around the castle a good surveying.

Sure enough, they are definitely here. The area around the castle is pretty clear, and you spy leathery yurts topped with what you assume to be human bones arranged all around the place, spaced to allow for no real escape, not even over the moat. Stoatman soldiers, strange humanoids with short limbs and unusually long torsos, moving along the area, keeping a careful watch on the walls, giving you the distinct look of light infantry, mostly - dressed in thick, padded armor, most of them armed with spears. A few are standing guard, their bodies twisting idly as they coldly regard the walls with bored expressions. They've definitely been here for quite a while.

Here and there you see more important-looking stoatmen, ones wearing mail - they appear to be a little cleaner, and wear very clean and, you think, exceedingly sharp sabers on their belts. They do seem to be a considerable minority, though. Your eyes wander on along the encampment and oh dear, you think someone's seen you - a crossbowman raises their loaded crossbow, aiming roughly your way. You quickly duck back behind the parapet, and after a few seconds a crossbow bolt flies out, hitting the walkway about five meters away from you and bouncing off it and into the courtyard, landing softly in the dirt behind the chapel.

Knowing the reload time of your average crossbow to be a great disadvantage, you glance back through the crenel, and observe the stoatman who shot at you getting smacked rather harshly by one of their metal-clad superiors. Both wear looks of undisguised disgust, but you'd assume for different reasons.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 27, 2015, 04:11:09 pm
"You wouldn't think this place is so confusing from the outside." I look for her room in a different wing of the castle.

You head along to the opposite wing of the keep's second floor, going through the rooms one at a time again.

"I think it's the minders who do it," the queen mutters. "Bastards like things muddled. It's so only they can understand 'em. It's all tricks, you know. Tricks all the way down, confusing language, smoke and mirrors. They can't do anything. They can't help us. Can't save themselves, even. Bloody useless, all of them."

She continues to quietly rant about the minders now, glancing at each room as you take her there. As luck would have it, it is exactly the last one down the hall, and seems to be in slightly better shape than the improvised drinking corner you found her in. Inside a lean, scarred guard is reclining at a luxurious desk, and you would say she would look quite dangerous in her well-worn armor and with her ornamented sword if she weren't sound asleep at her post. At her request, you lay the queen down on her feather bed, which she seems to greatly appreciate. Before she tangles herself warmly, yet chaotically in the sheets she points to a nearby wooden door.

A quick check reveals this to be a closet filled with quite a lot of clothing, mostly dresses or dress-related paraphernalia. Most of it seems like it'd be a little small for you, though - the queen herself probably grew out of a lot of these a few years ago. Maybe one of the nightdresses would fit.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 27, 2015, 04:58:48 pm
"Vali? Who's that? Sounds like russian name, but while I do know few russians none of them is called Vali. And no, you may not take my cloak. I don't even have a cloak. All I have is this repurposed skirt and without it I'll be naked. Don't you think that's even more rude?"

Game of Words continues. Quickly check with Thor if he cares to kick the prison door open for me. Or help me to kick it open.

The elongated person takes a sideways step, regarding you carefully.

"I see," they say, nodding solemnly. "Then you know what you must do. The skies will close and the old blood will run dry. The table is set, but the hawk has not flown yet. Three, six and four - remember these numbers," they say, maneuvering smoothly back into the dark until you can't see them anymore. You shrug and turn to the door, considering Thor. He doesn't really exist, of course, and so it is not very surprising that he does not at all bother to answer your calls. You shiver a little - it's pretty cold in here.

As you contemplate the door, you think you hear retching from the corner. You turn to look, but see only darkness there. Guess the odd person wanted a little privacy.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Dermonster on November 28, 2015, 07:41:36 pm
"Okay. running not an option. Shit. Well, they summoned us, magic exists. Is the brick magic?

Go find some secluded space and say the word on the brick. Maybe wave the brick at something too.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 28, 2015, 10:10:50 pm
I search the closet for something that fits.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 29, 2015, 06:34:18 am
What you are talking? Thor most certainly exists. Proof is right
Spoiler: here! (click to show/hide)

Gods tend to be busy so Thor probably didn't have time to help or didn't even hear me.

"And it aint even warm here, you liar." Leif remarks after the crazy guy.

Do some warm ups, just enough to keep blood flowing. Hope my eyes will become accustomed to the darkness. Ponder who I pissed off to warrant me being kidnapped by crazy cosplayers.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: NAV on November 29, 2015, 10:37:40 am
Hold open a sack, and when the rats attack me try to catch them with the sack.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 29, 2015, 06:33:54 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on November 28, 2015, 07:41:36 pm
"Okay. running not an option. Shit. Well, they summoned us, magic exists. Is the brick magic?

Go find some secluded space and say the word on the brick. Maybe wave the brick at something too.

You shuffle carefully off into the nearby tower and take a look at the brick. There's probably a reason it has that word written on it. And since it was in the wizard basement full of wizards who wizarded you into existence, you'd assume the reason is magic.

Water, you read. Nothing quite happens. You read it louder, and things continue failing to happen, most disappointingly. You wave the brick around, and accidentally point it a nearby guard who appears to be chewing on a tiny rodent femur in one corner of the tower. He raises an eyebrow and asks if there's an issue - you politely answer "water", but then quickly correct yourself, explaining that you meant to say "no".

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 28, 2015, 10:10:50 pm
I search the closet for something that fits.

Your nakedness comes to a long-awaited end as you snatch up one of the looser dresses available, finding that it fits you pretty well, and actually looks quite nice, too, though it is quite obviously more of a downtime garment, judging by the relatively muted colors and lack of ornamentation. You regard yourself in the nearby mirror and, you have to admit, you do look rather okay now. To complete the look, you put on a proper-looking headdress as well. There - now you've practically gone native. All you need is a posh British accent and you'll be fit for a period piece.

Stepping out of the closet, you see that the guard is still completely asleep. The queen has begun to snore lightly.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 29, 2015, 06:34:18 am
Gods tend to be busy so Thor probably didn't have time to help or didn't even hear me.

"And it aint even warm here, you liar." Leif remarks after the crazy guy.

Do some warm ups, just enough to keep blood flowing. Hope my eyes will become accustomed to the darkness. Ponder who I pissed off to warrant me being kidnapped by crazy cosplayers.

A better question, really, would be who you didn't piss off. For all you know, all of your acquaintances got together and arranged for someone to grab you off the... well, you don't really remember where you got grabbed from. It seems like the sort of thoughtful thing they'd do for you. You try to do some warmups as you ponder who you'll be taking revenge on for this, only for your side to violently protest during an ill-chosen movement with a sudden spike of pain and blood. You clutch your side and staunch the bleeding slightly once again, wincing in mild discomfort.

Meanwhile, behind you the retching reaches a culmination, and you hear the weird guy spill his lack of lunch in the corner. Great. Now it's going to smell like vomit in here, too. You look toward the dark, and you start to make out the silhouette of the weird guy, who appears to be pointing their arm at you, palm up and open, offering you a small, round object, glistening with stomach acid. It appears to be... some kind of gemstone?

"Take this," says the crazy guy, rising slowly up from his seated position. "Take this to my relatives... they are outside."

Quote from: NAV on November 29, 2015, 10:37:40 am
Hold open a sack, and when the rats attack me try to catch them with the sack.

You hold up a mostly emptied sack, not sure if this is going to work. The mass of rats approaches closer. You open the sack and it doesn't stop. You stare at it in confusion - it does not appear to know what you are doing. All it seems to know is rage and murder, and you'd guess it wants to inflict both upon you, tactics be damned. You stare at it gormlessly as it rears up and dives forth. You open the sack wide and lift its opening up, flinching in advance in case this doesn't work...

... and the whole thing just leaps into the bag, just like that, a singular uninterrupted flow of rats sliding across the rough burlap into safe captivity. For a moment it seems confused - so are you, truthfully, but you make a better use of your time and tie up the sack immediately. This proves to be a wise move, as the sack begins to thrash incredibly violently moments afterwards. You smack it a few times with the club for good measure, which makes it calm down. Bloody strange rats.

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Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: NAV on November 29, 2015, 06:48:58 pm
"Alright I got your rats. Coming up!"

Tie the sack'o'rats to the bottom of the chain. Then climb out outta the hole. Then pull the chain up after.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Dermonster on November 29, 2015, 07:44:45 pm
Well I don't really know what to do now. How the hell am I supposed to kill 600 guys who have swords and shit?

Harry you made it too freeform.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Ruludos on November 29, 2015, 09:19:37 pm
((Just a cute little ptw.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 29, 2015, 10:44:35 pm
"Thanks," I whisper, and leave the room.

It seems like there's something bigger than kidnapping going on here - I should probably figure out what the queen was talking about. I search the castle for anything pertaining to stoats or minders.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 30, 2015, 12:47:50 am
"Yeah... sure... Maybe tomorrow when they finally see fit to release me." Leif says with mild disgust creeping onto his face.

Don't go any closer to the guy, rather wait him coming closer. If he does and keeps offering the stone, then pick it very carefully (to minimize contact with stomach acid) and wipe it clean on the skirt. Give it a cursory examination and put it in some wedge of the skirt where the coin is. Then shake the door and yell for guards.


Quote from: Dermonster on November 29, 2015, 07:44:45 pm
Well I don't really know what to do now. How the hell am I supposed to kill 600 guys who have swords and shit?

Harry you made it too freeform.
((You could tell them we are not demons and minders killed each other. And one them might actually still be alive.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 30, 2015, 08:25:50 am
Quote from: Dermonster on November 29, 2015, 07:44:45 pm
Well I don't really know what to do now. How the hell am I supposed to kill 600 guys who have swords and shit?

Harry you made it too freeform.

Bit of a pickle, yes.

But then there is still much in Anglefork that you haven't seen yet.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Dermonster on November 30, 2015, 11:01:39 am
Right. Go to the chapel and see if they have a spare robe or something lying around. Maybe an actual bag with which to hold my riches.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 30, 2015, 07:56:48 pm
Quote from: NAV on November 29, 2015, 06:48:58 pm
"Alright I got your rats. Coming up!"

Tie the sack'o'rats to the bottom of the chain. Then climb out outta the hole. Then pull the chain up after.

The chain, unfortunately, is still about as high up as you recall. This all but excludes the immediate possibility of you attaching anything to it - well, not in any reliable sense, anyway. You could try to pull off something ridiculous and try a mid-air connection, but this seems a bit too unlikely to even properly consider.

However, you are pleased to note that now that you're endowed with some proper desperation, you can reach the chain just fine if you use the bag of rats as a jumping-off point. The rats don't seem pleased about you trying this, but you don't exactly hold their opinion in high esteem.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 29, 2015, 10:44:35 pm
"Thanks," I whisper, and leave the room.

It seems like there's something bigger than kidnapping going on here - I should probably figure out what the queen was talking about. I search the castle for anything pertaining to stoats or minders.

You head out of the hallway and over to the foyer, supposing that rooting through the other rooms in there is probably not worth the effort. As you wander down the steps, you find yourself looking up. The ceiling is painted, and quite unusually so at that. Organic curves and grooves arranged into the shape of grayish sulci and gyri, split in half longitudinally - a map of the surface of the cerebral cortex, and a rather elaborate one at that.

You slow your descent to examine it in a little more detail, and notice something stranger still - the shape of it isn't rendered in mere paint, but rather in differing densities of miniscule writing in a script that seems unfamiliar at first glance. It is only as you stop halfway down the stairs in distraction that it starts to become legible... vaguely. The letters are tiny enough, the words unfamiliar enough to complicate the task, presenting an overall impression of linguistic pointillism. Masterfully done, to be sure. The mere examination of it makes your eyes tingle ever so slightly.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 30, 2015, 12:47:50 am
"Yeah... sure... Maybe tomorrow when they finally see fit to release me." Leif says with mild disgust creeping onto his face.

Don't go any closer to the guy, rather wait him coming closer. If he does and keeps offering the stone, then pick it very carefully (to minimize contact with stomach acid) and wipe it clean on the skirt. Give it a cursory examination and put it in some wedge of the skirt where the coin is. Then shake the door and yell for guards.

You choose not to snatch up the gemstone immediately - the crazy guy unsteadily keeps offering it to you. "Take it," he says, and begins to rise from his position. "I need you to take this, take this away - I need to be free for the next part," he says, starting to approach. Unsure of what he's talking about, you humor him and delicately take the stone in two fingers, wiping it on your skirt. You'd rather not get any digestive fluids on your fingers - that's how you catch weird diseases, you know.

The gemstone is red and asymmetrically oval, about the size of your fingertip, with a small black core from which many almost invisible filaments seem to erupt, a small and seemingly almost organic structure frozen in precious stone. It draws the eye rather well, you find, and once you look up, you see that the crazy guy appears to have fully recovered from his vomiting, and now appears to be pacing back and forth.

You decide to put the gem away for now, hiding it in a fold of your skirt, and move on with your current plan, which is to make a lot of noise and yell for some guards to approach. Banging on the door with all of your might, you almost manage to drown out your own voice. Almost.

Moments afterward, the figure of what you assume to be the turnkey appears, a ragged, heavily scarred man who happens to be slightly larger than you. On his forehead you see a dagger-made rendering of a third eye. His actual eyes just about keep up with it in the ability to unblinkingly stare at you. He says nothing, probably expecting some complaint or another from you.

Quote from: Dermonster on November 30, 2015, 11:01:39 am
Right. Go to the chapel and see if they have a spare robe or something lying around. Maybe an actual bag with which to hold my riches.

You head down to the courtyard and step into the chapel. You find it surprisingly ostentatious, yet very much empty - the inside is perfectly polished stone of gentle beige only broken up by small sections where the wall has been partially stolen, letting in air and light alike. There are but two pews, one with its back missing, arranged irregularly right by the very entrance, and the rest appears to be taken up by a conspicuously bare chamber. Where there once seemed to be side chambers, there are now only empty doorframes that appear to lead directly outside.

The chamber itself does look like the altar area of a church sans the actual altar - it has a semicircular shape, with tall windows of stained glass in the back that nobody appears to have harmed yet despite the generally looted-looking state of the rest of the place. They let in quite a lot of sunshine, filling the center with intermingling color generated by their filtered light. You'd almost say it looks brighter in here than it does outside.

In the middle of it stands a very unkempt priest, facing away from you with his arms wide open, humming meditatively. His robe is covered in shimmering gold sequins that upon closer examination appear to be gold coins polished to complete smoothness. You step progressively closer, but the priest pays you no immediate mind. You politely beg his pardon and ask if he's got a spare robe.

The priest lowers his arms and goes silent. He is not a small man by any means, and the heavy robe makes him look even larger. "Hm?" he intones as he turns around, and you repeat yourself. "A spare robe?" he repeats. "I did, once. Why do you ask, child?"

You look down at yourself. He looks at your sack-tunic. A few moments pass as he attempts to make sense of it.

"Well," he says eventually. "I do begin to see."

Scratching his great expanse of beard, he furrows his brow. "I may be able to help. Though... I must admit I do not recognize you at all. Have you... been in the chapel before?"

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Dermonster on November 30, 2015, 08:16:52 pm
"I entered existence approximately... fuck, I don't have a clock. Ten minutes ago? Do you even use minutes? Like... one tenth of one 24th of a single day. Sum of it all, no I have not been in this chapel, nor do I know what you worship."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 01, 2015, 01:13:41 am
"I must complain with my treatment so far. First you people bring us into this excessively primitive castle without so much as explanation why in a pool of rats, then those guys welcoming us kill each other in a small underground room and when I finally ask where I could find a bath and some clothes to cover my nudity, you people straight out attack me and throw me into this cold cell. Norwegian government won't take lightly unjust treatment of it's citizens. So unless you wish to draw ire of my mighty country upon yours and I must remain as a prisoner, then at least I ask you to reallocate me into better prison fitting my status as political prisoner. Quite honestly I would rather be released, but I suppose that option is not available."

If he releases me, then wander around trying to find a bath. If he doesn't and goes away, look for structural weaknesses of the prison cell and door. Otherwise... I suppose more persuasion is in order.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 01, 2015, 11:30:20 am
I'll admit I don't know anything about minders, but this room seems to have "minder" written all over it. Or something else, more likely. I look for a way to inspect the ceiling closely - maybe a ladder or some sort of looking glass.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: NAV on December 02, 2015, 12:09:12 am
Whatever. Toss the bag of rats up to the guy, then use something else as a stepping point. An upside down bathtub, more stacked bricks, sacks of gold, the bodies of those cultists, whatever seems easiest and most convenient. Climb out of this damn pit sometime before 2016 please.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 02, 2015, 09:45:56 am
Quote from: Dermonster on November 30, 2015, 08:16:52 pm
"I entered existence approximately... fuck, I don't have a clock. Ten minutes ago? Do you even use minutes? Like... one tenth of one 24th of a single day. Sum of it all, no I have not been in this chapel, nor do I know what you worship."

As you explain, the priest's eyes glimmer, and an elated look crosses his face.

"Why, child," he begins in a different, rehearsed tone of voice, "this is the house of the Sun and Moon. The bringer of celestial warmth and the watcher in the night. It is by the movements of the twin proximal gods that we exist on this earth, and by their regularity that we change."

He places one hand on your shoulder and ushers you deeper into the chamber, into the colored light of the window glare.

"It is in trying times when the Moon wanes and the day grows short, when the conflux of misfortunes great and small spells doom for all we have ever known, in these times," he continues a little less confidently, "yes, in these times we must keep the proximal gods in our minds. For does not the solstice come and troubles reverse? Does not the Moon wax again? We must endure and persevere," he says, glancing at a missing patch of wall through which you see the haphazard structure that the shrouded man called the monument, "and keep the Sun and Moon foremost in our minds."

He grins even wider.

"You are the fruit of the minders' work, child, are you not? I saw them descend into the well yesterday with many of our rats. Most of our rats," he continues. You look up at the stained glass windows. The glare hurts your eyes slightly. "And now here you are. An auspicious appearance, no?"

He examines you carefully, looking at your bag with some distaste.

"This garb will be insufficient, child. To inspire these miserable wretches, one needs more than strange manners. My wife has another robe. And the queen has a mirror. We must work fast. Time is short, and lunacy is rampant. You obtain the robe, and I shall get the mirror. We can make so much of this, child," he says with an air of great urgency. "She nests in her false grave that she built in her heretical fit," he nods toward the monument, which is still visible through the hole in the wall. "When we obtain our parts, let us meet back here. A half-hour, no more. Do we have an agreement?"

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 01, 2015, 01:13:41 am
"I must complain with my treatment so far. First you people bring us into this excessively primitive castle without so much as explanation why in a pool of rats, then those guys welcoming us kill each other in a small underground room and when I finally ask where I could find a bath and some clothes to cover my nudity, you people straight out attack me and throw me into this cold cell. Norwegian government won't take lightly unjust treatment of it's citizens. So unless you wish to draw ire of my mighty country upon yours and I must remain as a prisoner, then at least I ask you to reallocate me into better prison fitting my status as political prisoner. Quite honestly I would rather be released, but I suppose that option is not available."

If he releases me, then wander around trying to find a bath. If he doesn't and goes away, look for structural weaknesses of the prison cell and door. Otherwise... I suppose more persuasion is in order.

The turnkey listens for a few more moments after you get to the end of your piece, possibly hoping for an addendum. Once it becomes clear that you don't really have much more to say than that, he merely blinks "no". Then he steps away from the door in no particular hurry. Smug and incommunicable - a real credit to his profession.

That said, you start to look around the dungeon cell. There's got to be some structural weakness you could chip away at for up to twenty years with a tiny rock hammer to fashion an escape tunnel. Simply no other option. And indeed there are. Quite a few, in fact. Most notably one in the back wall of the cell, which is somewhat cracked. The crazy guy appears to be chipping away at it with some odd metallic instrument even now, and quite furiously so at that.

The door, meanwhile... well, it is a wooden door. Braced or not, it's made of wood. So if you can just get something to open a way through that, you'd also be in pretty good shape.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 01, 2015, 11:30:20 am
I'll admit I don't know anything about minders, but this room seems to have "minder" written all over it. Or something else, more likely. I look for a way to inspect the ceiling closely - maybe a ladder or some sort of looking glass.

There should be a ladder around here somewhere, you reason - but none are present that you can see. You look in the nearby hallways, the upper floor, and even outside. No ladders in sight. Or looking glasses either, for that matter. You suppose the ceiling's not really meant for close examination, either. The optical illusions it creates may very well be the entire point.

Not that you still don't want to know what's written on there, of course.

Quote from: NAV on December 02, 2015, 12:09:12 am
Whatever. Toss the bag of rats up to the guy, then use something else as a stepping point. An upside down bathtub, more stacked bricks, sacks of gold, the bodies of those cultists, whatever seems easiest and most convenient. Climb out of this damn pit sometime before 2016 please.

You toss the bag of rats right up there, straight into the silhouette with perfect aim. It disappears from sight, presumably a little taken aback. Tired of this nonsense, you upturn one of the tubs and jump off it onto the chain, propelling yourself up it by the amazing power of impossible annoyance.

Once you're out, you find yourself in a dusty castle courtyard, buildings all about. Nobody really paying you much attention.

Oh, and also a highly obscured man on the ground, all covered in rags and hair. He looks like he's being engulfed by your thrown sack, which appears to be squeaking a vicious cry of war. He's trying to shriek, but the rats are covering him a bit too tightly.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: Dermonster on December 02, 2015, 09:53:11 am
"Well I've not nothing better in mind. Stealing women's clothing is is!? Also I'm at least twenty, don't call me child."

Fuck it! Let's go see this Monument! Time for a PANTY RAID. Except. Robes.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 02, 2015, 02:21:30 pm
"I would give a world for a cordless drill... Hey, dude. Don't you think the door would be easier to break though? And faster?"

Persuade the grazy guy to change his target. Search the cell for anything that can be used as a tool to drill wood.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: NAV on December 02, 2015, 02:42:14 pm
Help the guy escape from the ratsack and help him up.
"Ugh, thought I'd never get out of that damn hole. Thanks and enjoy your rats. Now do you have any idea where I am, what happened, or where I can get some proper clothes?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Culture Shock
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 02, 2015, 10:55:52 pm
If something is worth putting on a ceiling, it's worth reading. Maybe someone around here could help me figure out what it is. I search the castle for a person to question about the brain ceiling.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 03, 2015, 08:02:17 am
Quote from: Dermonster on December 02, 2015, 09:53:11 am
"Well I've not nothing better in mind. Stealing women's clothing is is!? Also I'm at least twenty, don't call me child."

Fuck it! Let's go see this Monument! Time for a PANTY RAID. Except. Robes.

"It is not women's clothing, child, but a priest's... hrm, be swift, and I shall do the same," says the priest, letting go of you and taking off at a decent clip straight out the entrance. You take a shortcut and climb through a hole in the wall, finding yourself right next to the monument.

It really does look pretty heretical, and would probably be a ruin if it were complete in the first place. The stones stolen from the chapel are placed haphazardly and supplemented with random bits of wood, all of it cobbled together into a whole that manages to seem dodgier than the sum of its parts. You could describe it as a small dome if you were generous and forgiving of geometric irregularities, with a hole on one side that you think is the entrance. The inside would be pretty dark, but fortunately someone's lit a fire.

Stepping in with care and ducking a little to avoid the low pseudo-arch, you find that the inside of the so-called monument is rather small. Perhaps two full armspans at best. At the center of the room you see a familiar-looking beige stone slab on which a small bowl filled with burning straw illuminates the room in dim firelight and also appears to half-fill it with smoke - thankfully there is at least some ventilation, though you can't readily identify where. Probably made by accident during construction.

On the slab you also spot a robe much like the one the priest was wearing, but unadorned with the sequins of gold - its orange-ish color is not what you'd describe as pleasant. It rests beneath a small pile of gold coins and tiny, delicate rodent bones mixed in roughly equal proportion, serving as a sort of altar cloth.

Behind the altar stands a small, portly, middle-aged woman who might look quite affable in other circumstances. As it is, though, she is covered with the bones and hides of many small animals (although some of the bones do look concerningly larger as well), and the look on her face is unsettlingly purposeful. Fortunately, she's not looking at you. Unfortunately, who she is looking at is a fairly spidery-looking woman wearing a full suit of plate, kneeling before the altar with sword in hand, a shield bearing the image of a coiled worm tied to her back.

"... and so from the bones and blood of His kin the True King shall return in time as history will flow once more. And then we too shall flow even as we now ebb and hide from the foul stoat. The lamentations of their people will carry to the four corners of the world, and the blood of three of their generations shall make the lands they burned and salted fill with vibrant life once more. And so on the fields of Benzerwald the Great House will rise again," the priestess dictates to the knight, who looks up toward her as she concludes what seems to have been a fairly long speech.

"So it will be," the knight replies with an air of ritual in her voice. "The House will continue. Now and forever."

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 02, 2015, 02:21:30 pm
"I would give a world for a cordless drill... Hey, dude. Don't you think the door would be easier to break though? And faster?"

Persuade the grazy guy to change his target. Search the cell for anything that can be used as a tool to drill wood.

The crazy guy continues to pick away at the crack in the exceedingly thick wall for a few moments longer, though your words do bring out a visible frustration in his dark eyes. A few moments pass and he stops, giving a raspy sigh as he walks past you toward the door, still holding the odd tool in his hands. You still have no idea what it's supposed to be - looks like an awl, maybe, but the shape is a little unusual, and you think you make out a few additional prongs, and it appears to be entirely made of metal. It doesn't help that the guy continuously twirls it in his hands, as if afraid to let it come to rest.

As it is, though, he jams it into the door lock, twists slightly, tightens his grip, pushes a little - there's a click and a low whirr. He twists once more, you hear another click. He then puts his other hand on the door and handily pulls it open, revealing a hallway only slightly less dank than the cell you're in. His fingers deftly move along the lockpick/wallpick, removing it from the door. In a single, fluid movement he folds it into a much smaller shape, and almost without missing a beat slips it into his mouth and swallows it. You think he's had a lot of practice at this, honestly.

"This part is easy," he explains as he discreetly pulls the door shut once more and starts to walk back to his corner. You don't think it locks again. "It is the rest that I have trouble with."

Quote from: NAV on December 02, 2015, 02:42:14 pm
Help the guy escape from the ratsack and help him up.
"Ugh, thought I'd never get out of that damn hole. Thanks and enjoy your rats. Now do you have any idea where I am, what happened, or where I can get some proper clothes?"

You pry the vicious ratsack off the poor man, who seems very appreciative and out of breath. The ratsack thrashes wildly, so you pacify it with a well-placed kick and set it down in a place where it can't fall down the hole.

"You're welcome," the shrouded fellow replies, pausing to breathe heavily. "Some feisty rats, eh," he adds when he catches his breath. "Thanks for helping with that there. Was looking bad for a second, it was."

He collects his thoughts as you repeat your questions.

"You're in Anglefork Castle. Stoatmen are gonna kill us all. Minders summoned you demons to help. Clothes are..." he thinks for a moment, "... pretty valuable presently. Nobody'd give you any, if that's what you're asking. Could, er, improvise," he looks down at himself. "And don't leave clothes lying around, either. Someone'll steal 'em. Happened to me once. Now I just wear mine all at once."

He looks at the bag again.

"Blimey, that's a lot of rats. I really oughta put 'em someplace. And get some feed, too. Hope you can do something about them stoats. See ya!" he says, grabbing the bag and starting to quickly make tracks, heading straight for one of the larger courtyard buildings.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 02, 2015, 10:55:52 pm
If something is worth putting on a ceiling, it's worth reading. Maybe someone around here could help me figure out what it is. I search the castle for a person to question about the brain ceiling.

A bored servant girl happens to be passing by with seemingly nothing to do, so you engage her, asking about why there happens to be a brain drawn on the ceiling. She looks up at the ceiling, then at you.

"That is a brain drawn on the ceiling, isn't it?" she says, sounding a little surprised. You agree. "I've never really thought about it that way. I can see it easily now, I mean. I just thought they wrote it funny 'cause they're minders."

Wrote what funny, is your next question.

"Dunno. It's all just squiggles to me," she explains. You guess literacy isn't something you'd rightly expect from the average servant. "And you shouldn't be trying to read minder squiggles. It ain't healthy. And the minders don't like it."

You ask if they've ever elaborated on why this is discouraged, but she just shrugs. "Minders don't like to explain things to us common folk. Takes a more sofastricated background to understand, they say. Don't stop the buggers from prancing about the hall with guests, bragging all about how they write squiggles on ceilings and how they're so much better than us non-minders."

You give her a quizzical look. "I mean, that's what I think they're saying. They don't talk to guests in the hall out loud. Just in their minds, you know. I've heard they do that. The cook, she sometimes has to have them describe tastes. She says it's a damn nuisance, to be sure - can't get the flavor out of her mind for a day afterwards sometimes. And they're awful specific about 'em. Oh, and the bitch fits they can throw about their food, that's another story entirely."

Her eyes dart around. "Or, er, so I've heard from the kitchen staff. Not that I think so, personally."

Quote from: Xantalos on November 18, 2015, 02:44:43 pm
Name: Jack Daniels (his parents had a bad sense of humor)
Occupation: Works at a karate studio.
Description: Tall, a little thin, but muscled from the workouts. Dark brown hair and eyes. Kinda unshaven, hair's a bit long.

You open your eyes, and see the sun shine brightly. It's not raining, everything is in its place. Wouldn't you know it, it's a beautiful new day.

And here you are, lying naked on the gravelly ground. The smells are decidedly unpleasant, and the sounds are similarly not very hopeful. In fact, it's really quiet here apart from some distant voices, and maybe some slightly metallic-sounding footsteps here and there.

On one side of you is a tall stone wall - at least twenty five feet tall, in fact, its parapets giving off the feel of a medieval fortification. And on the other side you see the back of a small wooden house, which has a similarly old feel. The backyard you seem to be in looks ransacked, the fence on both accessible sides of it having gone 95% missing, to the point where you can barely tell one's supposed to be there at all.

The house you're next to does appear to be producing a healthy amount of smoke through its chimney, though. Somebody's probably in there, you'd say.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 03, 2015, 11:40:30 am
Hm, this girl knows more than me but not enough to really help. "I haven't seen any cryptic magicians since I've been in this castle. Do you know where the minders are right now?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 03, 2015, 11:52:31 am
Wait outside or out of sight. Are either of them going to leave soon or are they going to be in there for a while? Either way keep listening in.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 03, 2015, 05:15:19 pm
"Really now? Like some hundred midly insane people?"

The last comment before slipping out. Stick to shadows pretending this is some sneaking game. Sneak around taking look at surroundings and staying out of vision. Should the path to outside be open and unobserved, escape. Quietly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 04, 2015, 01:32:23 am
"Well feck. I dunno what the hell I did to myself last night but clearly it was something waaaay too expensive because this is nowhere near my house."

Enter the house cautiously, keeping an eye out for anyone/thing. Who knows if there's some crazy hobo or something in there, after all.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: NAV on December 04, 2015, 02:06:02 am
Demons? stoats? Minders? None of this is making any sense.
Wander around lost and naked. Try not to get mugged or anything. Not sure why anyone would mug a naked person but its bound to happen with my luck.

Maybe I can find someone I recognize from the pit?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 04, 2015, 06:50:36 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 03, 2015, 11:40:30 am
Hm, this girl knows more than me but not enough to really help. "I haven't seen any cryptic magicians since I've been in this castle. Do you know where the minders are right now?"

The girl shrugs. "Beats me. They've been keeping out of the keep. Fasting, even - cook's been having a field day, not having to season any bloody rodents or anything. The queen alone is not half as demanding as the minders are. It's been a very good week. I mean, not really, and we're still going to all die and all, but... you know."

She glances about again, then leans in conspiratorially, lowering her voice. "I hear they're getting ready for some ritual or another, and the majordomo says he saw all three of the buggers float down the old well the other day. Took a bunch of rats with 'em, he says. No clue what they're fixing to do down there. Probably up to no good as usual. They're never up to any good," she shakes her head.

You hear someone bellow greatly and terribly from one of the lower hallways. The servant girl instantly straightens out with a mildly terrified expression and looks at one of the doorways. "Ah! It's been great talking to you, m'lady, but sounds like I'm, er, desperately needed. Sorry!" she excuses herself and takes off at a near-sprint, disappearing into the halls before you can say another word. 

Quote from: Dermonster on December 03, 2015, 11:52:31 am
Wait outside or out of sight. Are either of them going to leave soon or are they going to be in there for a while? Either way keep listening in.


You decide not to impugn on anything sacred just yet and stand outside, eavesdropping on this odd ceremony, which you would say is probably coming to an end somewhat soonish. Fortunately, they are speaking at an agreeable enough volume for you to clearly make out their words.

"Are you prepared, sister-in-arms?" asks the priestess, once more in a rehearsed fashion.

"More so every day," the knight replies without even thinking.

"Who does your life belong to?" the priestess continues.

"The Great House, and I will lay it down to pave its passage," the knight recites from memory.

"How will you measure its worth?"

"In the lives of our enemies."

"What shall be your reward?"

"My name shall burn bright on the King's grave, and my sacrifice shall never be forgotten."

"When shall be the day?"

"It draws ever closer," the knight says, and you hear her suit of plate rustle as she stands up.

"And your name will live through it," the priestess says with an air of finality. "Now and forever."

"Now and forever," the knight echoes, and walks out of the monument chamber. You start to scramble out of sight, but she's out in moments, striding out with purpose and determination. She looks your way as you scamper away, still jangling with your wealth of coin, but you get the sense that you are, all things considered, solidly beneath her notice in every respect, as she just keeps walking on.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 03, 2015, 05:15:19 pm
"Really now? Like some hundred midly insane people?"

The last comment before slipping out. Stick to shadows pretending this is some sneaking game. Sneak around taking look at surroundings and staying out of vision. Should the path to outside be open and unobserved, escape. Quietly.

You slip out of the cell, finding yourself in the dungeon hallway. There does seem to be only one more cell here, but if yours was more of a standard jail, the other one is definitely solitary confinement of some sort. The door is solid iron, and you think you hear a faint whimpering coming from behind it. It doesn't look like the way out, you're fairly certain.

You look the other way from your shadowy vantage point, and you see the way out - the dungeon is really quite small, and there is a stone staircase leading up only about thirty feet down the hall, right past the turnkey's post. It is just about uniformly dark down here, the only sources of illumination being thin shafts of light coming down through the vertical ventilation holes in the ceiling. You look up through one and see a trace of blue sky.

You look back on the hallway and notice the turnkey, two very real eyes as well as a stylized one staring directly at you, his fingers running along a well-sharpened knife as he regards you coldly. "No," he blinks at you again.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 04, 2015, 01:32:23 am
"Well feck. I dunno what the hell I did to myself last night but clearly it was something waaaay too expensive because this is nowhere near my house."

Enter the house cautiously, keeping an eye out for anyone/thing. Who knows if there's some crazy hobo or something in there, after all.

The back door is unlocked, which you accurately guess to be a bad sign. This makes you very well-prepared for set of heavy tongs that flies your way just as you open the door - you duck under it and they miss by a hair, landing in the backyard softly.

The source of this unprovoked assault becomes clear momentarily, as you notice that the house - all a single room, you observe, with at least one wall broken down - is occupied by a strange-looking teenage boy. Slight and willowy in build, his scalp appears to have been shaved almost completely bald, occasional razor scars and missed thin, long hairs visible even at this distance. He's wearing a leather apron that is slightly too large for him, and probably hasn't eaten in days. Possibly weeks.

"In-SUF-ficient!" he spits. "A swing and a miss! Inspiration leads me astray once more!"

As you prepare to rush him before he endangers you or society at large again, he waves his hand dismissively at you.

"Eh! It's all ruined now. But I think I need blood for this!" he rants. "Unsuspecting blood! I tried mine, you see, but it didn't work," he says, pointing a hand that appears to have been stabbed with a sharp instrument at some unnatural hybrid of a hearth and a furnace. You get the feeling that this was not what either of the combined things were meant to look like. Nearby you see an anvil, a cooling tub of water, and a single large chunk of metal, all surrounded by a smattering of tools equal parts familiar and distressingly arcane.

Quote from: NAV on December 04, 2015, 02:06:02 am
Demons? stoats? Minders? None of this is making any sense.
Wander around lost and naked. Try not to get mugged or anything. Not sure why anyone would mug a naked person but its bound to happen with my luck.

Maybe I can find someone I recognize from the pit?

Well, Mr. Codeburn appears to be having a reasonable time of it over by some ramshackle mockery of proper architecture. You suppose he wouldn't mind if you were to stick with him. Wearing a bag like he is, he gives off the feeling of having his shit together, which is something you desperately need for yourself right now.

So you discreetly step behind him as he eavesdrops politely on somebody talking inside the blatantly unsafe construction. You're not sure what that's about, but you don't feel like asking presently. And you wouldn't have had an opportunity even if you did feel like it, as he, upon hearing metallic sounds from inside, backs away from the wall and starts looking around - you helpfully stand behind him at all times so as to not block his view, and he seems to appreciate it, though not really to the point of acknowledging your existence or anything.

As he tries to take cover (you think), you follow him swiftly. Looking back, you see a lady in full armor with a grim look on her face come out of the weird stone house, and cross the yard quickly enough that you wonder if it can still be classified as walking if it's really that fast. She looks your way, but fortunately your nakedness is obscured by the cowering Mr. Codeburn, so you just respectfully smile and wave at her so that you're not rude or anything. She doesn't appear to notice that anything's at all wrong, which you count as a victory of sorts.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 04, 2015, 10:18:51 am
Rats. I guess I've already seen the minders. Maybe those weren't the only ones... I leave the castle and search the town for more signs of minders.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 04, 2015, 12:29:28 pm
It seems now's my chance. Go back in and see if the priestess also left?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 04, 2015, 04:01:18 pm
Time to talk the language these nuts understand...
"Yes. Those three guys underground with their rats and magics didn't bring me here just to be thrown in prison while I'm still weak. I am here for a reason, though they didn't have the grace to stay alive and let me know." Leif speaks to the turnkey with tone of adult patiently explaining to children why he cannot eat sand.

Work this guy to let me go free. No bitch slapping this time.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: NAV on December 04, 2015, 04:37:13 pm
Stick with Mr. Codeburn who's name I don't know yet.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 04, 2015, 04:48:41 pm
"...huh."

Well, looks like I'm in the land of the insane or some shit. Moreso than Bejing, which is saying something.

"D'you have any clothes? Also tell me your name. Then I might be able to help you at all. Until then I dunno."

Inquire as to clothes pls.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 05, 2015, 07:39:28 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 04, 2015, 10:18:51 am
Rats. I guess I've already seen the minders. Maybe those weren't the only ones... I leave the castle and search the town for more signs of minders.

You head out of the keep and take a look around the courtyard. The guard house and the castle gates are right opposite the keep, so you check there to see if you can get out to take a look at the nearby village. The gates, however, are closed, and asking the guards if they could open them only results in them giving you a very confused look. A short round of questioning establishes that they can't open the gates on account of there being a bit of a siege going on presently.

You ask for how long this has been the case, and they reply five months and thirteen days exactly. Oh, so how long will you need to be waiting here? Not very long now, presumably? They agree with sad expressions. You elect not to bother them any longer. Seems like they've got problems of their own.

That leaves the courtyard. And you don't think you see anything overtly supernatural in it. Well, maybe the weird stone circle that's next to the pile of randomly assembled building materials that's next to the chapel with visible holes in it. That circle does look a little supernatural.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 04, 2015, 12:29:28 pm
It seems now's my chance. Go back in and see if the priestess also left?

Considering there's only one entrance, you have reason to doubt she did. And you establish immediately through a quick peek that she indeed did not. Instead she appears to have continued to stand in front of the altar, looking down at it in contemplation. Seems a little distracted, you'd say.

You could theoretically get in there, grab the robe and run right the hell out. You think that ought to catch her by surprise, at least.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 04, 2015, 04:01:18 pm
Time to talk the language these nuts understand...
"Yes. Those three guys underground with their rats and magics didn't bring me here just to be thrown in prison while I'm still weak. I am here for a reason, though they didn't have the grace to stay alive and let me know." Leif speaks to the turnkey with tone of adult patiently explaining to children why he cannot eat sand.

Work this guy to let me go free. No bitch slapping this time.

The turnkey tilts his head at your explanation, staring at you blankly. You're not sure he understands for a moment. A moment passes and you raise an eyebrow at him. He's thinking about it. It might be working.

He blinks yes. You wait for a moment as he still processes this and begin to proceed out of here, but the turnkey raises his knife to stop you, and immediately blinks no. Naturally. You roll your eyes and prepare to explain, but he raises a finger to his lips to silence you, and indicates the cell with his knife, implying that you probably ought to go back in. For now, his gaze appears to imply with its decreased mistrust. He glances at the dungeon exit, then back at you.

Quote from: NAV on December 04, 2015, 04:37:13 pm
Stick with Mr. Codeburn who's name I don't know yet.

Mr. Codeburn appears to be skulking at the moment. You fall in line behind him, imitating his movements. Of course, lacking a convenient entrance to peek through, they lack a certain meaningful context.

Nevertheless, your shadow impression is top-notch if you may say so yourself.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 04, 2015, 04:48:41 pm
"...huh."

Well, looks like I'm in the land of the insane or some shit. Moreso than Bejing, which is saying something.

"D'you have any clothes? Also tell me your name. Then I might be able to help you at all. Until then I dunno."

Inquire as to clothes pls.

"My NAME?" the boy says indignantly. "You can't have it. It's mine."

How about some clothes then, you ask. He indicates a spare apron lying in one of the corners. You can have that one - it's soiled, he says. You take a look and conclude aloud that this doesn't actually seem to be the case, possibly worried that he's talking about the kind you need UV to see.

Soiled spiritually, the boy corrects, failing to assuage your fears. It carries the stink of mediocrity. He made the first blade with this one, and that was regrettably in-SUF-ficient. A little foam at the corner of his mouth, you notice. As for the apron, it certainly doesn't smell worse than the boy. And it'd probably fit you.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 05, 2015, 09:50:04 am
FULL THRUST ROBE STEAL TIME IS GO. Toss a handful of Gold backwards as I leave. I might slow her down and also maybe repay her? Churches like donations, right?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 05, 2015, 11:51:04 am
Leif sighs deep in frustration and turns around. "Do us both a favour and talk to someone with authority."

Back into the cell. Hold it shut and wait until the turnkey leaves, wait a bit longer, and then try sneaking out again. This time without stopping to stare into bright lights. Or maybe I shouldn't break his trust so easily. Eh, whatever. I'll have my bath one way or another.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 05, 2015, 05:06:47 pm
Jack hasn't really fully processed whatever's going on quite yet, and with each passing second he becomes less and less inclined to.

"Mediocrity's not a terrible thing. By its very nature, actually. Not terrible nor great. How'd you spiritually soil it? I assume you didn't spiritually wank into it or anything?"

Ensure that there's no unsavory sorts of soil on the apron and then put it on.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 05, 2015, 05:45:34 pm
I approach the stone circle.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 06, 2015, 03:35:20 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on December 05, 2015, 09:50:04 am
FULL THRUST ROBE STEAL TIME IS GO. Toss a handful of Gold backwards as I leave. I might slow her down and also maybe repay her? Churches like donations, right?

Feeling that the time is right, you run into the building, trip over an errant piece of architecture, land in front of the altar, stand back up, look at the exit, toss a handful of gold at the priestess, remember that you skipped a step, turn around again, then look at the robe on the altar. The priestess looks on in confusion. You suppose this works well enough, too.

You grab the robe and try to do a variation on the tablecloth trick, but the priestess is a little too quick, slamming a hand on top of it right as you begin to pull. And though you do pull with both hands, she is definitely stronger than she looks, you immediately discover as the robe fails to budge. She shakes her other arm and you notice something come out of her sleeve - a metal spike, you think. May have been a nail once, perhaps. With similar quickness to her first reaction she leans forward, pointing it dangerously close to your throat.

"What is this, then?" she asks in a challenging tone. "Sacrilege? Theft? Idiocy? All of the above?"

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 05, 2015, 11:51:04 am
Leif sighs deep in frustration and turns around. "Do us both a favour and talk to someone with authority."

Back into the cell. Hold it shut and wait until the turnkey leaves, wait a bit longer, and then try sneaking out again. This time without stopping to stare into bright lights. Or maybe I shouldn't break his trust so easily. Eh, whatever. I'll have my bath one way or another.

You walk back into the cell, and are vaguely disappointed when the turnkey comes over and locks it again. Listening at the door, however, you do think you hear him going up the stairs. Hm. Maybe he is indeed off to get someone more communicable.

"Do you see the issue?" the crazy guy asks from the back of the cell. "Unlike you, I would not get the luxury of reimprisonment."

Quote from: Xantalos on December 05, 2015, 05:06:47 pm
Jack hasn't really fully processed whatever's going on quite yet, and with each passing second he becomes less and less inclined to.

"Mediocrity's not a terrible thing. By its very nature, actually. Not terrible nor great. How'd you spiritually soil it? I assume you didn't spiritually wank into it or anything?"

Ensure that there's no unsavory sorts of soil on the apron and then put it on.

"Mediocrity will not save our hides, oh no! Only greatness can be tolerated," the boy retorts on your ponderings. He also explains in highly unneeded detail that his daily spiritual wank would never get on his apron. What kind of rank amateur do you take him for, he asks in an offended tone.

The apron itself still doesn't seem to have much in the way of obvious soil on it. It smells a little of the unwashed boy, and also of smoke and ash and maybe a little bit of salt, but not to the point where you think much of it would rub off on you. And it's a damn sight better than traipsing around in your birthday suit, so you put it on, feeling marginally more decent already. Although not very decent. Maybe somewhere in the middle on the decency scale.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 05, 2015, 05:45:34 pm
I approach the stone circle.

The circle is composed of twelve small stones, arranged similarly to a clock, and in the center a large stone slab rests. All of these, you note, bear an uncanny similarity to the stones of the nearby architectural travesty, which in turn appears to have been cannibalized from the actual chapel.

Standing among the stones, you are struck by a sense of unusual desolation. Nobody else seems to hang around within fifty feet of it, at least not for long. A few passersby give you odd looks. And the slab itself has a considerable crusty brown stain on it - dried blood. Down by the altar slab you see a bunch of similar stones, chipped and broken off from the main stone - these, too, seem to have a crust of indeterminate age over them.

Nothing overtly supernatural about this place, you guess, though if bad juju was an actual thing that exists, this would probably be a good place to find it. Maybe you shouldn't stick around for too long.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 06, 2015, 03:43:46 pm
"Okay so now I'm sorta clothed. Who the hell are you, where the hell are we, and how the hell did I get here because I clearly recall falling asleep in an alley in Brooklyn. This ain't Brooklyn.

Come to think of it, why was I in Brooklyn?"

Questions!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 06, 2015, 03:58:28 pm
"Okay so in order, maybe, definitely, and perhaps. What you didn't expect was my backup DO IT NOW!"

While she's distracted shove her arm off me and headbutt the living hell out of her. Grab robe and run!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 06, 2015, 06:40:08 pm
I don't know if I want to find out what happened here.

I walk toward the rubble... building, or whatever it is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: NAV on December 06, 2015, 07:15:26 pm
Nope I'm not getting involved.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 07, 2015, 01:30:38 am
The crazy guy sounds less crazy now. Progress! Or perhaps regression?

"I do see the issue. And the issue is going to get someone less hardheaded, hopefully. So what did you do to be imprisoned and what would you get instead of being tossed back in?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 07, 2015, 04:31:28 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on December 06, 2015, 03:43:46 pm
"Okay so now I'm sorta clothed. Who the hell are you, where the hell are we, and how the hell did I get here because I clearly recall falling asleep in an alley in Brooklyn. This ain't Brooklyn.

Come to think of it, why was I in Brooklyn?"

Questions!

"This is indeed not Brooklyn!" the boy says with eagerness. "This is Anglefork Castle, last citadel of the once-great kingdom of Benzerwald, home to one of the Four Towers!" he proclaims with a gleam in his eye. "The knife edge of destiny, where we must prevail... or die! Horribly!"

You like the sound of that far less than he does, you would guess.

"And I... I am the blacksmith," he says in a weaker tone. "And I exist for one reason," he adds, looking at the misshapen chunk of iron next to the forge, "a single glorious purpose, oh yes!"

You listen to him for a few moments as he mutters half to himself, working out dramatic phrasings to any more questions you might have.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 06, 2015, 03:58:28 pm
"Okay so in order, maybe, definitely, and perhaps. What you didn't expect was my backup DO IT NOW!"

While she's distracted shove her arm off me and headbutt the living hell out of her. Grab robe and run!

Her eyes dart around for a moment and her arm becomes minutely less steady. This is sufficient. You smack her hand aside and use your skull to its full potential, butting her in the head fiercely. She loses balance, stumbles back to the wall dizzily, and in doing so lets go of the robe. Bingo! You snatch it quickly, then make a run for it, sprinting right out of this hole of a temple and turning a sharp right.

Feeling your work to be done, you leap through a convenient hole in the chapel wall, rolling flawlessly on the stone floor, then standing up with arms spread out as you declare your right of sanctuary. You have triumphed in this felonious game of hide-and-seek, you're pretty sure. And with a whole lot of time to spare! Hopefully the priest won't be too long.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 06, 2015, 06:40:08 pm
I don't know if I want to find out what happened here.

I walk toward the rubble... building, or whatever it is.

As you walk toward the who-knows-what, you observe Mr. Codeburn, wearing that silly sack of coins and all, run out at a suspicious pace while holding a robe while a very naked Mr. Calverly stands about at the entrance, aggressively minding his own business. You walk a bit closer, and you hear a rather unpleasant sound come from within, as if somebody had crossed a nigh-mythical boundary of rage and indignation that precludes any form of language. It's something between a roar, a hiss and a gurgle.

Moments later, a woman wearing a dress of rags interwoven with bones rushes out, brandishing a metal spike in her hand. With a murderous, lightly dazed look on her face she asks if either you or Mr. Calverly saw where the wanton defiler went. You're not sure if she strictly realizes that you probably do, as she looks to have taken a rather sharp blow to the head.

Quote from: NAV on December 06, 2015, 07:15:26 pm
Nope I'm not getting involved.

And you don't! Not even when Mr. Codeburn performs some indistinct act of violence and runs out with a robe in his thieving hands, you do not get in any way involved. In fact, you're not even sure you saw that just now. Could have been your imagination for all you know. That's what you'll tell Ms. Minett if she asks, as she seems to have possibly imagined that, too.

As she approaches closer, the priestess of the temple runs out, looking a bit dazed, and asks you if you've seen Mr. Codeburn. You consider how much you would like to lie to her.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 07, 2015, 01:30:38 am
The crazy guy sounds less crazy now. Progress! Or perhaps regression?

"I do see the issue. And the issue is going to get someone less hardheaded, hopefully. So what did you do to be imprisoned and what would you get instead of being tossed back in?"

He was caught. And if he is caught again, he will be killed, salted and made into rations. He does not feel like elaborating on that, however.

Which is all right, you suppose, because it's only a minute or so afterwards that you hear the arrival of two people. One is the turnkey, rather silent in comparison to the jingling of his companion - the elderly-looking guard who threw you in here. He stops in front of the door, opening the metal peephole.

"The right honorable turnkey informs me that there are extenuating circumstances you wish to present that may affect your release. Elaborate," he says, squinting as he looks at you in the dark.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 07, 2015, 05:56:18 pm
Don the robe. Make sack a regular sack of gold. Go hide somewhere.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 07, 2015, 07:03:47 pm
"Huh. Prevail against what? And ya gonna make a sword or something? Not to brag but I'm a fairly good warrior, so if you wanted to make me a weapon so I'm less likely to die here I wouldn't be complaining."

More questions!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: NAV on December 08, 2015, 12:06:49 am
Mr Codeburn's obviously a dangerous criminal who leaves people stranded in pits and violently steals clothes. Or maybe he's just confused and misguided. Either way point to where he went.

Just after the priestess leaves, Benny waves to Eileen. "Hiya. Benny Calverly. Sorry about the nakedness."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 08, 2015, 12:27:20 am
Nav y
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 08, 2015, 07:44:58 am
"The honorable turnkey has informed you correctly. You see, when I woke up today I wasn't in my own bed. Instead I found myself in a tub filled with rats. Rather unpleasant way to wake up, I assure you. And I wasn't the only one, there was four other people in similar situation. These rat filled tubes were underground room under the country yard. Now, in the room were three other men who I assume were responsible of bringing us here. I assume this because one them welcomed us and said something about salvation. At this point I'm afraid he might have died, so his introductions and explanations were cut short. As for why remaining two weren't helpful is because they were missing their heads. Presumably removed by the remaining man as his hands were in quite bad shape. You see, "salvation" and "imprisonment" are not synonyms, therefore I'm led to presume my imprisonment is a mistake by overzealous guards, who took offense in my desire to quickly find a bath."

Wow, what a mouthful. Loki is better be proud.

Elaborated.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 08, 2015, 11:20:03 am
I also point to where Mr. Codeburn went. He seems like trouble.

I then turn to Mr. Calverly. "Hey, I'm Eileen. It's no big deal, it took me a lot of effort to find this dress. Have you figured anything out about this place?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: NAV on December 08, 2015, 02:08:35 pm
"No, not much. Someone did said something about demons and minders and stoats coming to kill us but he was probably a conspiracy theorist."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 08, 2015, 04:36:15 pm
"I don't know, I talked to the queen and she said something similar about stoatmen. And a servant said everyone was going to die soon. It seems to be common knowledge around here."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 09, 2015, 09:06:44 am
Quote from: Dermonster on December 07, 2015, 05:56:18 pm
Don the robe. Make sack a regular sack of gold. Go hide somewhere.


You slip out of your gold-backed tunic, noting that in your body's absence it appears to have four large holes in it of roughly the diameter of your limbs. It is these very holes that seem to make actual storage of gold in it mostly impossible (well, unless you're simultaneously wearing it, in which case it might lose a coin or two every now and then, but not a whole lot in any case.

You feel naked without the warm embrace of your gold, which is appropriate since you totally are. So you slip into the new robe you stole with some quickness, and note that it's much softer than the combination of gold and burlap you were wearing before, and less grubby than your average sack of potatoes.

Of course, now you do happen to have a large pile of gold on the chapel floor, which seems quite conspicuous. And the priestess checking the place right next door for anyone caring to disrupt her heresy also seems to be a perfectly plausible thing. Lacking any cover, you go for the obvious plan and hide in plain sight, burying yourself in the gold on the ground. It works pretty well once you curl up, you think! You can't really see anything underneath all the warm coins, of course, but the principle is sound. And you can surprise any would-be looters, too.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 07, 2015, 07:03:47 pm
"Huh. Prevail against what? And ya gonna make a sword or something? Not to brag but I'm a fairly good warrior, so if you wanted to make me a weapon so I'm less likely to die here I wouldn't be complaining."

More questions!

"The forces of darkness!" the boy explains. You ask him which ones he would mean, and he relays to you with much exclamation that there happens to be a mess of those in the area. Weird-looking lads with long torsos and short limbs, stoatmen. They want to kill everyone in the castle, you see. Including the fair princess. Well, she's queen now, actually, but essentially a princess for the purposes of this narrative.

Enlightening, you must say. What about the weapon? You're a punching, kicking sort of person, but you'd suppose stabbing is a more practical solution for the mass murder he likely means. Collapsing that many tracheae would be tough on the ol' knuckles.

He and you are clearly on the same page, you think he says, and you've got a certain orlay to your step. But that brings him to the issue at hand, which is that he has no weapons for you. He made one, but it was not anywhere near hero material. Didn't shine, didn't glimmer, didn't slice through stone, didn't have an insatiable hunger for blood.

Only reasonable thing to do was to melt it down, clearly. There shall be no average blades in the hands of our heroes, this the boy can guarantee.

Quote from: NAV on December 08, 2015, 12:06:49 am
Mr Codeburn's obviously a dangerous criminal who leaves people stranded in pits and violently steals clothes. Or maybe he's just confused and misguided. Either way point to where he went.

Just after the priestess leaves, Benny waves to Eileen. "Hiya. Benny Calverly. Sorry about the nakedness."

You and Ms. Minett helpfully point the priestess straight toward the chapel. She looks and her eyes narrow. "I should have known," she mutters, gripping the sharp spike in her hand a little tighter as she heads straight for it, pushing the doors open and casting an eye inside for a moment before stepping in cautiously. You suppose that's sorted, then.

You then proceed to have an absolutely delightful chat with Ms. Minett about what exactly is going on around here. Finally, someone vaguely helpful.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 08, 2015, 07:44:58 am
"The honorable turnkey has informed you correctly. You see, when I woke up today I wasn't in my own bed. Instead I found myself in a tub filled with rats. Rather unpleasant way to wake up, I assure you. And I wasn't the only one, there was four other people in similar situation. These rat filled tubes were underground room under the country yard. Now, in the room were three other men who I assume were responsible of bringing us here. I assume this because one them welcomed us and said something about salvation. At this point I'm afraid he might have died, so his introductions and explanations were cut short. As for why remaining two weren't helpful is because they were missing their heads. Presumably removed by the remaining man as his hands were in quite bad shape. You see, "salvation" and "imprisonment" are not synonyms, therefore I'm led to presume my imprisonment is a mistake by overzealous guards, who took offense in my desire to quickly find a bath."

Wow, what a mouthful. Loki is better be proud.

Elaborated.

The guard looks on as you explain, raising an eyebrow at the mention of dead bodies in the old courtyard well. But he says nothing until you are done.

"Noted," he says, then takes a minute to consider you. "The circumstances are not genuinely extenuating, and do not excuse assault on the citizenry. The information provided is of interest, however, and qualifies the imprisoned for a reduction of jail time by half."

And how much does that leave you with, you wonder?

"Until nightfall," the guard replies. "The normal time would be until morning, but we can safely make an exception in an extraordinary case. The imprisoned will also be bestowed with a bucket of water. The bucket will need to be returned. The water will not."

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 08, 2015, 11:20:03 am
I also point to where Mr. Codeburn went. He seems like trouble.

I then turn to Mr. Calverly. "Hey, I'm Eileen. It's no big deal, it took me a lot of effort to find this dress. Have you figured anything out about this place?"

You and Mr. Calverly show the priestess the way, and she seems a mixture of thankful and starkly murderous. She runs off after Mr. Codeburn to hopefully resolve their moral differences in a friendly and/or lawful fashion, leaving you in front of an empty... well, you'd say it's kind of a negative ruin, since the nearby chapel appears to have been partially undone to build this ugly thing.

You make good use of your time by having a chat with Mr. Calverly. He seems a bit less informed than you on things, and that's quite a lack of information indeed.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 09, 2015, 10:36:01 am
"I can accept that. Oh, one question! How much this is worth around here?"

Show him the gold coin (but don't give it). Maybe it is actually worth of something, maybe he's greedy enough. I'm not implying bribery taking place here, no sir, banish the thought. But, you know, just in case. For future reference.

Well then, when water is finally delivered use it to carefully clean myself and the skirt in some corner of the cell. Keep warm and wait for nightfall unless something interesting happens.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 09, 2015, 03:53:56 pm
Make no sudden movements, excepting the case in which I am discovered, in which move very quickly towards the face of my discoverer, whilst leading with the brick.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 09, 2015, 04:32:02 pm
"I wonder what this place is supposed to be." I walk into the un-ruin.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 09, 2015, 05:31:21 pm
...I'm more okay with this situation than you'd think someone would be.

"Alright then. Want me to help you melt it down? And presumably make a new one?"

Offer assistance! Contemplate my psychological condition!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: NAV on December 10, 2015, 04:36:11 pm
"I think it's some kind of church or temple."
Stay with Eileen for now.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 10, 2015, 09:56:06 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 09, 2015, 10:36:01 am
"I can accept that. Oh, one question! How much this is worth around here?"

Show him the gold coin (but don't give it). Maybe it is actually worth of something, maybe he's greedy enough. I'm not implying bribery taking place here, no sir, banish the thought. But, you know, just in case. For future reference.

Well then, when water is finally delivered use it to carefully clean myself and the skirt in some corner of the cell. Keep warm and wait for nightfall unless something interesting happens.

You show the guard your gold coin, making sure to wipe it a little to make sure it's shiny enough. He examines it carefully, having a little trouble deciphering what it might be in the dark before it suddenly clicks and he nods.

"That is worth exactly one royal gold piece," he tells you. "The function of currency is to provide usable units of value that goods may be easily pegged to in order to avoid the grave imprecision of a barter economy."

Very well, then how much is a single crown worth?

"The accepted exchange rate last month was 1147 gold pieces per living rat or 679 gold pieces per dead rat. Due to shortage of rats in the Treasury the royal gold piece may be undergoing rapid inflation, but nothing more specific than that can be said of the matter, as the Royal Treasurer has not made his monthly report on account of unexpected insanity," the guard tells you.

Meanwhile, the industrious turnkey seems to have brought along a bucket of fresh water. He opens the door slightly and shuffles it in with his foot, then closes and locks it again.

"Are there more questions, or will that be all?" the elderly guard asks with mounting boredom.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 09, 2015, 03:53:56 pm
Make no sudden movements, excepting the case in which I am discovered, in which move very quickly towards the face of my discoverer, whilst leading with the brick.

You continue to passively hide, trying not to move. You go very still. Then you inhale slowly. To be exact, you continue inhaling, and what you continue to inhale seems to be a fine dust that has accumulate on your gold after months of disuse. Smells  musty. Maybe a little moldy. It tickles your sinuses, and you don't manage to upturn the tip of your nose in time.

An upward spout of coins and a powerful rustle of your hidey-pile follows as you let loose an unguarded sneeze. A few gold coins slip off your eyes entirely, giving you a good view in the next few seconds of an enraged king-priestess running toward you with deadly intent.

Reacting quickly, you swing your arm and let the brick fly, guided mostly by instinct. Most surprisingly of all, it flies very truly indeed, sailing through the air and making contact with her forehead. By the sound of it you'd say that's probably not a very healthy development for her, and she seems to agree, stumbling mid-step and falling to the ground with the barest minimum of coordination, the spike falling out of her hand and rolling a slight distance away from her as she curls up on the stone floor.

Rising from your sadly ineffectual hiding spot, you observe her for any sudden moves. She doesn't really make any, but she does mutter a few jumbled-sounding prayers intermixed with groans as she rolls on her back. You'd say you've adequately dissuaded her from trying to kill you... for now, at least. Your brick proves elementary to reclaim in the meantime.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 09, 2015, 04:32:02 pm
"I wonder what this place is supposed to be." I walk into the un-ruin.
Quote from: NAV on December 10, 2015, 04:36:11 pm
"I think it's some kind of church or temple."
Stay with Eileen for now.

You enter the pseudo-temple and find it to be rather cramped. You need to duck to not bang your head on the entrance, there's room for about five people in there as a whole, and to top it all off the place looks to be half-filled with smoke.

Looks like Mr. Codeburn messed the place up a tad. The "room" is strewn with gold coins and tiny rodent bones, particularly near the naked-looking slab of an altar on which an undisturbed stone bowl filled with burning straw rests. There's not much here in the way of iconography, sacred treasure or informative pamphlets, so your ability to deduce exactly what sort of heresy goes on in here is unfortunately limited, but the general look is somewhat in line with what you assume heresy is probably like. Without a priest in here to keep your attention, though, it mostly looks quite empty.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 09, 2015, 05:31:21 pm
...I'm more okay with this situation than you'd think someone would be.

"Alright then. Want me to help you melt it down? And presumably make a new one?"

Offer assistance! Contemplate my psychological condition!

The boy can do that himself, thank you very much. He does not need your strangler-hands muscling in on his creative work and compromising an auteur's vision.

No, what he needs is inspiration. Two- no, wait, THREE things! Yes, three things is what he needs. Three is a fantastic number for destiny. So what he needs are inspirational things, three in number... definitely three, yes. So if you want to help him, bring him three things! Something profane, something priceless and something purple!

Purple, you ask?

Purple, he confirms.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 10, 2015, 10:13:18 pm
Quickly, put the sack on her upside down and then... Iunno. Sit on her. Add spike to inventory.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 10, 2015, 10:32:35 pm
Jack shrugs.

"Okay, so long as I get to wield it in the end. Priceless in the good or bad sense?"

Take a look around the house shack thing. Is there another exit? Take a look outside if there is and see what's there.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 11, 2015, 01:48:49 am
"That was all, thank you."

Use water to carefully clean myself and the skirt in some corner of the cell. Keep warm and wait for nightfall and anything interesting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 11, 2015, 07:02:35 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on December 10, 2015, 10:13:18 pm
Quickly, put the sack on her upside down and then... Iunno. Sit on her. Add spike to inventory.

The sharpened spike constitutes your spoils after you've covered the priestess with a sack and sat down on her. She resists weakly, and you get the feeling that she's rather concussed, given her lack of coordination and general inability to do much of anything to you anymore. Guess a headbutt shortly followed by a brick to the head will do that to you.

You contemplate the nature of head injury as you wait here, wondering when the priest will be arriving with the mirror. At some point you become keenly aware that he's probably quite late at this point. Maybe stealing a mirror from the queen is not quite as straightforward as he thought it was.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 10, 2015, 10:32:35 pm
Jack shrugs.

"Okay, so long as I get to wield it in the end. Priceless in the good or bad sense?"

Take a look around the house shack thing. Is there another exit? Take a look outside if there is and see what's there.

Either will do, now that you mention it. Though it is unfortunate that you brought up the bad sense ahead of time - now it won't be nearly as witty if you actually try it. And wit can be a powerful wellspring of good inspiration.

The house is, once again, a single room, most of it repurposed as a forge, or perhaps it was built in a slovenly fashion to begin with. The corners are put to very good use, you see - one has a patch of floor removed and a hole added (you need hardly approach to make a very accurate guess about its use), one has a mess of rags and straw, another has the forge and the last is the fuel corner, where all the furniture and unnecessary odds and ends appear to have been chopped up and piled up. It looks like the pile was probably much larger a month ago or so.

As for exits, there is the front door, which is solidly bolted but well within your ability to open, and the back door that you came in through. The windows, such as they are, are fully boarded up from the inside. With actual boards, in fact, which would mean this part of the renovations occurred a little earlier than the fuel shortage.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 11, 2015, 01:48:49 am
"That was all, thank you."

Use water to carefully clean myself and the skirt in some corner of the cell. Keep warm and wait for nightfall and anything interesting.

The elderly guard nods and walks off, and the turnkey does the same. Guess that's all for now, so you make optimal use of your bucket of water. In no time at all your bits and your skirt are free of gore, and the rest of you becomes similarly clean. Granted, you are still relegated to wearing a skirt made out of a torn robe as your only article of clothing, but that's hardly something you can help in the present situation.

Your fellow prisoner, you notice, is eyeing you with increasing wariness. You look back questioningly.

"Was what you told the guards true?" he asks after you stare each other down.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 11, 2015, 07:53:08 pm
Go find that priest!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: NAV on December 11, 2015, 11:22:16 pm
"Well Eileen, What do you reckon we should do? Could go fish some gold out of that pit, or just wait here for that priestess to get back."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 11, 2015, 11:34:49 pm
"It doesn't look like there's much here that would be helpful. Maybe we should check somewhere else, like that tower. Important things are always in towers."

I leave the dome thing and walk to the tower.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 11, 2015, 11:45:28 pm
"Alright. Can I have a poker or something to whack people with if they try to kill me for some reason?"

Hopefully obtain whacking stick of metal or something like that - maybe a crowbar if he has one - then open front door and observe the outside.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: NAV on December 12, 2015, 12:29:54 am
"Alright sure tower it is."
Accompany Ms. Minett to the tower.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 12, 2015, 02:01:03 am
"More or less. I did cut some corners straight and left some things unmentioned. 80% of truth didn't get me what I wanted, however. I probably should have lied more, but what is done is done and I'm still stuck here. Why?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 12, 2015, 10:38:52 am
Quote from: Dermonster on December 11, 2015, 07:53:08 pm
Go find that priest!

You rise from your comfy priestess-cushion and go see what the priest has done with his time. Strolling through the courtyard, you catch a few curious looks. Must be the robe. In any case, you go into the keep and do not even need to go very far, as it is in the foyer that you see the priest standing with a very apologetic look on his face as a scarred female guard stands behind him, a dagger poking into his back. Face to face with him stands a teenage girl in a nightdress, looking like she's been woken up a short while ago and none too pleased about it. They are flanked by four other guards of progressive burliness, a few of which make careful note of your arrival. Their glares imply that you had best not give them any trouble.

"There he is, Your Majesty," says the priest, and as he points your way you instinctively frown. "The Child of the Sun and Moon, brought into being by our minders to save us in the darkest of times. It is for his ascendance that I seek the mirror, so that he may better catch the light of our salvation!" he continues. The girl furrows her brow and looks you over.

"Who is that?" she asks after staring at you for a good while. The priest begins to repeat his spiel, but she motions for him to stop. "Wait, brought into being... by the minders. To save us, you say." She rubs her temples drowsily. "I... bloody hell, you expect me to deal with this right now? Eugh."

She looks a bit under the weather. And also quite drunk. Making eye contact with you, she raises an eyebrow.

"How's this: you tell me what the hell's going on," she says at last. "And without the bloody nonsense this time," she then adds. A guard pokes the priest sharply in the back as he musters to make an indignant remark.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 11, 2015, 11:34:49 pm
"It doesn't look like there's much here that would be helpful. Maybe we should check somewhere else, like that tower. Important things are always in towers."

I leave the dome thing and walk to the tower.
Quote from: NAV on December 12, 2015, 12:29:54 am
"Alright sure tower it is."
Accompany Ms. Minett to the tower.

After spending far too much time admiring this wasteland of a temple, you turn around and head out, walking along the side of the courtyard to the largest tower available. It's an ancient-looking thing, the bricks weathered by many more centuries of existence than the stonework of the rest of the castle, and the windows look to be of a different style than the arrow slits and tiny view-holes of the rest of the place. Looking closer, you notice that it seems to not be so much a part of the castle walls as it is that the walls go around it, including the battlements.

The door is elevated, and you need to ascend a small flight of steps to get to it - it is a massive set of double doors, fortified and braced with steel, with reliefs of conjoined, oddly formed skulls cut into a large proportion of its surface. You are almost disappointed when it proves to be completely unlocked, allowing you access into the tower's first floor.

It's a dark place much like the keep - perhaps even darker. But this one at least does not appear to have had its sconces stolen. The room you are currently in seems to be dominated by a large hearth with several circles of seating around it. All of it looks immaculately clean, and there is not a speck of dust in sight. The inner walls are painted completely black, creating the illusion of a vast, dark expanse all around you, broken up by tiny pinpricks of light coming from strategically placed holes in the walls. The floor, by contrast, is almost pure white, to the point where you can very clearly make it out in the near-dark of the room. The ceiling is high and vaulted, and would look quite impressive if it did not have seven irregular holes in it.

The largest and brightest of the holes, you notice, seems to have someone standing in it. A small shadow, looking distant in its ceiling alcove, its eyes powerfully reflective, reminiscent of a cat in the dark.

Why have you come here?

Quote from: Xantalos on December 11, 2015, 11:45:28 pm
"Alright. Can I have a poker or something to whack people with if they try to kill me for some reason?"

Hopefully obtain whacking stick of metal or something like that - maybe a crowbar if he has one - then open front door and observe the outside.

You may not, the boy says. His tools are precious and not to be handed out for such frivolous purposes as counter-murder. They still have a weapon of supreme might to forge, and wearing them out is something that just won't do. You suppose that's fair enough, so you go to open the front door, only to be rebuked by the boy again. There is a REASON he bolted that door! You ask what that would be, and he replies that he really doesn't want anybody to bother him. So he ushers you out the back door, telling you to only return once the stars have aligned and you have the components required. The door slams behind you, and you hear that one being bolted as well.

You take the long way around, then, coming out in what looks like a fairly empty castle courtyard. Only a few people are visible at the moment, and all of them seem to be in something of a hurry. Nobody appears to be terribly eager to try and stick around here. Maybe you shouldn't be, either.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 12, 2015, 02:01:03 am
"More or less. I did cut some corners straight and left some things unmentioned. 80% of truth didn't get me what I wanted, however. I probably should have lied more, but what is done is done and I'm still stuck here. Why?"

"You speak the Mother Tongue well," the crazy guy says. "Fluently. And when you speak it to the men of the guard, they understand even better." He rises from his seat. "But do you speak it truly? Or is this another layer of sorcery?"

He steps to the left, then to the right.

"I have said too much already," he adds as he draws closer. "Far too much far too easily. What trickery is it that you are performing here? Who do you work for?"

He's a bit hard to read, but you get a sense of overwhelming readiness from the way he seems to be coiling up internally.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 12, 2015, 11:35:30 am
"You are an englishman? Or american? Sorry, couldn't tell from all those bodymodifications. English is quite commonly spoken language, isn't it? After chinese, of course, so I'm not suprised people can undestand it. And yes, I do speak english truly. Spent good ten years in school learning it and another ten speaking it in multicultural enviroment, so it would be fair to assume one becomes fluent with it after all that time."

"Accusing me of trickery wounds me. I trick no one, not consciously anyway, unless it helps me to get back home. I work for Kinross Gold, seventh largest gold mining company in the world! Specifically I work in Kupol Gold Mine in Russia, one of the most advanced mines, most coldest, most isolated and furthest away from any civilization. And hopefully I still work there after this kidnapping bullshit is done with."

"What's up with you, really? And those other guys? Even in Russia holding cells are far more pleasant, and Russia isn't famous for having nice prisons. Why would you guys even live in this poor pile of rocks?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 12, 2015, 12:04:30 pm
"Some bastards summoned me and some other schmucks in the sewer about an hour ago and I've since been tasked with the elimination of that army outside and also been chased by a very angry priestess with a metal spike. That's... really about it."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 12, 2015, 02:55:02 pm
"Yeah, he don't want nobody to bother him, which is why he jumped out at me with a metal stick instead of politely asking me to go away.
...
Worked out for him, I guess, he's got me doing this now. Eh, it'll be useful. Not sure why I want a sword, but it seems a thing worth going through some shit for.

So! Priceless, purple, profane. Best find out if there's any purple paint here, that way I'll be able to do it in all three at once."

He begins jogging after the nearest person he can see.

"'Scuse me! Care to help a feller out?"

Attempt communication with nearest person.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 12, 2015, 04:03:26 pm
"Hello!" I shout to the shape. "I believe we were brought here by minders to help! Are you a minder?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 14, 2015, 01:35:44 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 12, 2015, 11:35:30 am
"You are an englishman? Or american? Sorry, couldn't tell from all those bodymodifications. English is quite commonly spoken language, isn't it? After chinese, of course, so I'm not suprised people can undestand it. And yes, I do speak english truly. Spent good ten years in school learning it and another ten speaking it in multicultural enviroment, so it would be fair to assume one becomes fluent with it after all that time."

"Accusing me of trickery wounds me. I trick no one, not consciously anyway, unless it helps me to get back home. I work for Kinross Gold, seventh largest gold mining company in the world! Specifically I work in Kupol Gold Mine in Russia, one of the most advanced mines, most coldest, most isolated and furthest away from any civilization. And hopefully I still work there after this kidnapping bullshit is done with."

"What's up with you, really? And those other guys? Even in Russia holding cells are far more pleasant, and Russia isn't famous for having nice prisons. Why would you guys even live in this poor pile of rocks?"

"I can understand you perfectly," the crazy guy concludes after listening to you, "but most of what you say is meaningless. Peculiar."

He steps to examine you from another angle.

"You are likely a magical idiot," the fellow concludes. His hands begin to grow restless as he produces a grin full of sharp teeth. "All that matters now is your motive."

Quote from: Dermonster on December 12, 2015, 12:04:30 pm
"Some bastards summoned me and some other schmucks in the sewer about an hour ago and I've since been tasked with the elimination of that army outside and also been chased by a very angry priestess with a metal spike. That's... really about it."

The girl nods slowly, and her cadre of guards feign similar understanding. "You," she says, pointing at you a little shakily. "I like you," she declares. The guards carefully memorize your face as they add you to important mental lists. "Mind taking over for me for a bit? I'd really like to get some sleep rather than listen to the Royal Primate or whatever his title is supposed to be."

The priest attempts to chime in with his actual title, only to be dissuaded once again by sharp poking. A guard asks if Her Majesty is deputizing you or something.

"Yes, certainly, why not," Her Majesty agrees with a wave of her hand, "he can be Minister of Moronic Affairs until I wake up." She gestures at you again. "Right, Minister, go ahead and interview the pontiff. Let my guards know about what you discover. I'll be bloody well getting some sleep in the meantime."

She starts to walk away. A scarred female guard politely corrects her path and helps her get up the stairs in one piece. The priest huffs as he looks at you.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 12, 2015, 02:55:02 pm
"Yeah, he don't want nobody to bother him, which is why he jumped out at me with a metal stick instead of politely asking me to go away.
...
Worked out for him, I guess, he's got me doing this now. Eh, it'll be useful. Not sure why I want a sword, but it seems a thing worth going through some shit for.

So! Priceless, purple, profane. Best find out if there's any purple paint here, that way I'll be able to do it in all three at once."

He begins jogging after the nearest person he can see.

"'Scuse me! Care to help a feller out?"

Attempt communication with nearest person.

You look around for any people who might be possible to communicate with. One skedaddles upon sighting, another notices you coming and recalls that they have urgent business to attend to. A woman carrying water gives you a dangerous glare. Your eyes finally come upon a muscular shirtless man wearing leather pants. He appears to be looking at one of the castle towers before his eyes meet yours. He smiles pleasantly as you approach, and looks intrigued as you ask for help.

What kind of help do you require, asks he. He is qualified to help in many respects. Very many respects indeed.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 12, 2015, 04:03:26 pm
"Hello!" I shout to the shape. "I believe we were brought here by minders to help! Are you a minder?"

It is difficult to say whether the shadow is a minder or not. It shares many qualities with a minder. Not necessarily many qualifications. It blinks at your question. It smiles as it steps out into thin air and fails to fall, its white teeth illuminated just like its eyes. It descends the air like a staircase, stopping a little away from you, its feet still not touching the ground. This appears to be necessary for it to maintain level eye contact on account of its rather small stature.

Furthermore, it doesn't really look so shadowy when viewed from a shorter distance. In fact, if you didn't know any better you'd say you were looking at a curly-haired, barefooted child of no more than 10 years, her cherubic look contrasting wildly with the precociously serious look of her robe.

So you are the fruits of the ritual! It is very good that it seems to have at least done something, she guesses, if only for her teachers' peace of mind. Speaking of, would you happen to have seen them? There are certain upstairs matters that may require their attention in the near future.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 14, 2015, 01:57:33 am
"Do you know what paint is? Is paint a thing in this place? If so, I'll need directions to the nearest place I can get some purple paint or dye, please."

Jack deftly ignores the possible gay sex proposition. He was straight after all, and getting plenty of it with -
Oh fuck my girlfriend's been left behind hasn't she. Shit.
She's gonna murder me when/if I get back.

Well, this place ain't too bad to live in at least; hopefully the time passage here compared to back home is dialated or something so she'll be too old to throttle me when I get back.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 14, 2015, 02:39:10 am
"Meaningless? Are you saying that the largest country in world is meaningless? Russians would have few words to say about that. Well, I'm not a russian so I don't really care."

"And from my point of view you all are more or less delusional idiots from mental hospital with some anger issues. And damn primitive, using spears and shit. I bet you don't use electricity either."

Tone of discussion is slowly moving from conciliatory to contempt.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 14, 2015, 09:10:01 am
"Uh, I may have, but I'm not completely sure. How many teachers do you have? Just out of curiosity."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 14, 2015, 05:36:37 pm
"... What's a pontiff?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: NAV on December 14, 2015, 09:48:38 pm
"Um, who exactly are the minders? I keep hearing about them. Were they the ones who brought us here?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 15, 2015, 09:56:40 am
Quote from: Xantalos on December 14, 2015, 01:57:33 am
"Do you know what paint is? Is paint a thing in this place? If so, I'll need directions to the nearest place I can get some purple paint or dye, please."

Jack deftly ignores the possible gay sex proposition. He was straight after all, and getting plenty of it with -
Oh fuck my girlfriend's been left behind hasn't she. Shit.
She's gonna murder me when/if I get back.

Well, this place ain't too bad to live in at least; hopefully the time passage here compared to back home is dialated or something so she'll be too old to throttle me when I get back.

Paint is not one of the areas of the man's expertise, and neither is dye. He cannot personally vouch for their existence as a consequence, for which you have no choice but to forgive him. Certainly he has seen evidence that some things are dyed or painted - the minder hall, for one, or the clothes of the majordomo. But the weight of evidence is in the eye of the beholder, is it not? And now that you ask, he finds the twin ideas of paint and dye mostly unconvincing, truth be told. Perhaps the fabrics were colored that way to begin with - there is certainly a wealth of flora that can produce colors such as, to use your example, purple.

From this you can surmise that perhaps it is not a rarity of a certain dye that creates the general dearth and exclusivity of purple fabrics, but rather a certain type of flax or some other fibrous crop that is naturally purple. Rarity of fabrics requires only one element to suspend disbelief in, while rarity of dyes requires two. And he doesn't know about you, but he's personally never seen a single smidgen of dye in his entire life. Perhaps, then, it is irrelevant to him whether dyes or paints truly exist or not, wouldn't you say?

It is an interesting question, in short. Do dyes exist? It is assumed they do. But we assume many things, such as that the stars are the spawn of the Sun and Moon, which is probably not actually true, or 'not literally true' as the priest backpedals on the question when put to the test. The truth is, we just don't know.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 14, 2015, 02:39:10 am
"Meaningless? Are you saying that the largest country in world is meaningless? Russians would have few words to say about that. Well, I'm not a russian so I don't really care."

"And from my point of view you all are more or less delusional idiots from mental hospital with some anger issues. And damn primitive, using spears and shit. I bet you don't use electricity either."

Tone of discussion is slowly moving from conciliatory to contempt.

Indeed, the crazy guy agrees. You, too, appear to be completely meaningless. It is fascinating, he must admit. He did not previously recognize that minders could create such tricks.

The real question here is, naturally, whether you have a purpose. It is one that you are likely unaware of, given the overwhelming lack of anything meaningful spewing from your mouth-hole. What could your function be, he wonders.

And would you mind turning around and staying still for a moment so he could check, he asks before regurgitating that odd lockpick again in a disgustingly straightforward way, with the abdomen convulsing and an unnatural-looking motion going up his throat. You really did like it better when he did that out of sight.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 14, 2015, 09:10:01 am
"Uh, I may have, but I'm not completely sure. How many teachers do you have? Just out of curiosity."

Three. The elder, the hidden and the blessed.

The elder teaches, and guides the other two when he is able. Old and gray, ancient beyond measure. A dusty shell held in one piece by the power of his mind. You have never seen his face.

The hidden gazes into the dark well and contemplates for days on end. The well sustains him and steals from him in equal measure, and his inspiration produces inscriptions of power. You have seen his door.

The blessed possesses wholeness of the mind, and has mastered the interplay of mind and matter more than all of his forebears. He lives at the top of the tower, where no others can reach before they attain his skill. You have seen him broken before you, the limits of his ability tested... and perhaps failed.

This and more she peels from you with great interest. They are dead, she and you now both know. Nobody remains to guide, to exemplify or to contemplate. That means, she grins... that the tower is now hers, in a sense.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 14, 2015, 05:36:37 pm
"... What's a pontiff?"

The guards heartily congratulate you on fitting your role spectacularly as they start to disperse now that the main event is over. The priest sighs and tells you that the pontiff is the high priest, child. The highest priest, the Voice. The queen was probably taught that word by the minders. They have all too many words for things that are, you will find.

The point is, he needs that mirror. The queen does not. So can you, as the, ugh, Minister of Moronic Affairs... please convince these fools of the gravity of his need? This is critical to the prophecy, he says. One of the guards still within earshot kicks him spitefully, unappreciative of such remarks, mocking his manner as she leaves. The priest shakes his fist while quietly muttering.

Quote from: NAV on December 14, 2015, 09:48:38 pm
"Um, who exactly are the minders? I keep hearing about them. Were they the ones who brought us here?"

The minders explore interactions between minds, and eventually the interaction of mind and matter. It is the art of making the difficult simple, and the impossible merely difficult.

And if what Ms. Minett... and you, now that she looks... if what you both know is indeed accurate, your appearance here is completely impossible. Thus if one keeps the preceding statements in mind, it would stand to reason that yes, you were indeed brought here by minders.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 15, 2015, 01:02:57 pm
"Now you are just insulting me. I'm not meaningless, well, not entirely, and most certainly I'm not a trick. Purpose of every living being is to produce offspring fit for enviroment, or die trying. Excuse me if I don't feel comfortable turning my back to you anymore.
HEY TURNKEY! My cellmate seems dangerous!"

Prepare to protect myself from mindless violence. Or, if turnkey comes first, ask for cell without freaks like this one.

Was this your inspiration for these stoatmen:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 15, 2015, 01:27:01 pm
"Hmm. Do you know if there's any tailors or anything like that around these parts?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 15, 2015, 04:09:13 pm
"Right. You, random guard! Fetch the mirror. My reasons are thus: This entire affair is completely idiotic, and I need something shiny to show people how retarded they are being. Only that mirror will do. So... go."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 15, 2015, 09:25:56 pm
I shake my head. "Talking to you is really... something. So the minders were teaching you? Do you think you could help us with this stoat situation?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 17, 2015, 08:30:45 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 15, 2015, 01:02:57 pm
"Now you are just insulting me. I'm not meaningless, well, not entirely, and most certainly I'm not a trick. Purpose of every living being is to produce offspring fit for enviroment, or die trying. Excuse me if I don't feel comfortable turning my back to you anymore.
HEY TURNKEY! My cellmate seems dangerous!"

Prepare to protect myself from mindless violence. Or, if turnkey comes first, ask for cell without freaks like this one.

Your cellmate dives at you as soon as you begin to yell - you punch him right in his vicious face, sending him reeling back. This apparently sends an adequate message, for he retreats to the back of the cell. You think you hear him swallow the lockpick again. That's probably hard on the throat, it is.

The turnkey, much to your delight, is very prompt in his arrival. He looks through the peephole, and stares for a good moment at the crazy guy as you explain your issue and ask for another cell, as you surely cannot be expected to share one with some violent freak. He considers your request for a few moments, then blinks affirmatively and opens the door, escorting you out before locking it again.

What you are led to, unfortunately, is the end of the darkened prison hallway, where the only other cell awaits. The turnkey takes the largest key in his possession and unlocks its whimpering door, carefully opening it just enough for you to squeeze inside. You can't see a single damn thing inside the cell except (given that it does appear to be meant for solitary confinement) that it is probably much smaller than your previous one. Also, as you regard the darkness a moment, the whimpering stops suddenly. The turnkey starts to nudge you inside gently.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 15, 2015, 01:27:01 pm
"Hmm. Do you know if there's any tailors or anything like that around these parts?"

Oh, this is a much easier question, the man with no shirt says. You should have started with that one. The tailor is someone he has seen before. Interestingly, however, it is exactly because of this that he can vouch for the tailor's nonexistence.

You decide to take the bait and ask why that is, and the man with no shirt explains that the tailor lived in town. The one that is now in the hands of the stoats. So it is more likely than not that the tailor has been skinned, impaled, beheaded, burned at the stake, hanged or some combination of the previous. The stoats, he mentions, are somewhat cruel to the relatively affluent. More so than they tend to be to regular men, even, which must be something to behold.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 15, 2015, 04:09:13 pm
"Right. You, random guard! Fetch the mirror. My reasons are thus: This entire affair is completely idiotic, and I need something shiny to show people how retarded they are being. Only that mirror will do. So... go."

The random guard looks somewhat confused at your request, and asks you to repeat it, so you do so. She then nods and smiles, confirming that she heard correctly. You tell her to get to it, and she does not. Instead she has a counterargument.

You are the Minister of Moronic Affairs, yes? Now, she doesn't exactly have a copy of the constitution on hand or anything, but she's pretty sure that means you can't use logic. Logic is strictly a non-moronic affair, you see. So she cannot in good conscience assist you on such a basis, as it is a rather blatant overstepping of your boundaries. While that is only to be expected from a proper royal minister, of course (and she has to commend the initiative of someone attempting to seize more power within five minutes of their appointment), it does go against her creed as a royal guard.

As such, no mirror for you. Or the priest.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 15, 2015, 09:25:56 pm
I shake my head. "Talking to you is really... something. So the minders were teaching you? Do you think you could help us with this stoat situation?"

They were, and she certainly would. As a matter of fact, solving the stoat situation is now her solemn duty as the ranking minder of this tower. She is not terribly glad to inherit the job that killed all three of her superiors, of course, but being a minder is not meant to be easy, and hardly ever is in reality, either.

Though whether she can help you is more a question of what exactly you need help with.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 17, 2015, 08:41:48 am
"Yes but did you expect that MY USE OF LOGIC WAS INTENTIONAL? I KNEW THAT LOGIC IS COUNTERMANDED BY IDIOCY SO I AM MAKING FULL USE OF IT! BUT, USING LOGIC AS A STUPID ARGUMENT IS, wait for it, STUPID! It wraps around to dumbassery for all eternity! Also FIGHTING OVER A MIRROR IS STUPID TOO, THUS I HAVE AUTHORITY OVER ALL THE SUBJECTS INVOLVED. Think my argument doesn't work? Then it's a stupid argument and I control it and I say IT DOES WORK. AD INFINITUM. Mirror now kthnksbai."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 17, 2015, 09:58:06 am
"This cell... is empty of violent beings, yes? It has definite lack of anything that would like to touch me? Please let it be so... Also, would light be too much to ask?"

Walk in somewhat reluctantly.
If no light is provided, then pretend it is night and sleep until real night comes.
If light is provided and cell is empty of attention seekers, study the prison stone closer. As a miner and a hobbyist geologist I have good understanding of minerals.
Otherwise study my cellmates without getting close.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 17, 2015, 10:58:06 am
"Well I'm not quite sure what we need help with either. Maybe what we need right now is some explanation. You mentioned we were brought here with a ritual. Was this what the ritual was supposed to do? It doesn't seem like it went entirely as planned."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 18, 2015, 03:14:11 am
"Ah. Well, shit. There goes that plan.
...
Are there any religious places nearby? Preferably with statues or somesuch?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 18, 2015, 02:20:24 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on December 17, 2015, 08:41:48 am
"Yes but did you expect that MY USE OF LOGIC WAS INTENTIONAL? I KNEW THAT LOGIC IS COUNTERMANDED BY IDIOCY SO I AM MAKING FULL USE OF IT! BUT, USING LOGIC AS A STUPID ARGUMENT IS, wait for it, STUPID! It wraps around to dumbassery for all eternity! Also FIGHTING OVER A MIRROR IS STUPID TOO, THUS I HAVE AUTHORITY OVER ALL THE SUBJECTS INVOLVED. Think my argument doesn't work? Then it's a stupid argument and I control it and I say IT DOES WORK. AD INFINITUM. Mirror now kthnksbai."

Hm, she says. This argument seems to have made the guard a little dumber for having heard it, or so she claims at least. So it is fairly clear that you are starting to grow into your position.

However, you still appear to be under the impression that you can order her around. While hilarious to observe, this is nevertheless a misconception she feels compelled to correct. Not in any violent sense, of course. Perhaps you should seek out somebody more within your sphere of influence, so to speak. Try the barracks, perhaps. Maybe someone in there is drunk enough to help you. God knows this guard would love to thrash somebody fiercely for drunkenly trying to break into the queen's quarters. Been too long, she says. Way too long.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 17, 2015, 09:58:06 am
"This cell... is empty of violent beings, yes? It has definite lack of anything that would like to touch me? Please let it be so... Also, would light be too much to ask?"

Walk in somewhat reluctantly.
If no light is provided, then pretend it is night and sleep until real night comes.
If light is provided and cell is empty of attention seekers, study the prison stone closer. As a miner and a hobbyist geologist I have good understanding of minerals.
Otherwise study my cellmates without getting close.

The turnkey blinks yes, and when no further answer is forthcoming you suppose that must have been for all your questions. At his insistence you squeeze into the dark cell. The door closes and locks, and that's about when you stop being able to see anything at all.

First thing you notice is the smell. It is subtle, but nevertheless awful. Then you feel the walls - the entire cell is about a full armspan, and you wonder how someone even gets enough air to survive in here.

One thing you do not notice, however, is your cellmate. Wherever they may be, they seem unusually successful at eluding you despite the way you check every corner that you can find (there are four of them, as expected, each emptier than the last). Silent, too. In fact, had you not heard somebody in here, you wouldn't really think there was someone in here at all.

But they are here, whoever they are. You feel their breath in the air, their warmth. Someone shares this cell with you. And they are delightfully unobtrusive, considering the space available.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 17, 2015, 10:58:06 am
"Well I'm not quite sure what we need help with either. Maybe what we need right now is some explanation. You mentioned we were brought here with a ritual. Was this what the ritual was supposed to do? It doesn't seem like it went entirely as planned."

They did not intend to die, the girl assumes. That much you are probably correct to infer. But it is difficult to say - whatever they did, it was something heretofore unheard of. The mysteries of the hidden, the mastery of the blessed and the lore of the elder, all of these seem to have come together in some way that probably not even they properly understood. It seems to have been some sort of transformation. A high-degree manipulation of matter through mind the likes of which she has not seen and none of her teachers had ever spoken of. A true, fundamental novelty.

It's really quite exciting, she must admit. What you actually are is a complete mystery. One that ought to yield very well to examination, however. She will need you to open your mind so that a closer look can be taken. Empty your thoughts. Let the wave of foreignness envelop you. Let yourself be carried off...

Quote from: Xantalos on December 18, 2015, 03:14:11 am
"Ah. Well, shit. There goes that plan.
...
Are there any religious places nearby? Preferably with statues or somesuch?"

Ah, now you get into his favorite subject. No statues, unfortunately, the man with no shirt says. But there is a perfectly serviceable stone circle over there, right next to the silly place made of bits of the other silly place. The silly places are ostensibly religious. But they don't have anything for you, whether material or spiritual. The priest and his wife happen to both be a grand combination of poor and cheap, and actual help is not among the things they are known to provide. Not that this stops some people from trying to obtain some, of course.

The circle, though, a statue wouldn't go amiss there now that you mention it. Maybe he ought to go ask one of the stone brothers about that. The slab has an elegance, of course, but the whole affair looks a little less intimidating than he would like. Delightfully primitive, true. Very ominous, he's sure you'll agree. But maybe something a little more impressive is in order. A testament to the fearsome mystery.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 18, 2015, 02:31:34 pm
Perhaps my cellmate has found home in the ceiling? That's fine, I'm satisfied with floor.

Let evening come! Rest, meditate, bend time, distort my sense of time or whatever.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 18, 2015, 03:13:17 pm
I'm sure nothing bad could come of this. I try to meditate or something to help the minder girl do her thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 18, 2015, 04:26:49 pm
"Huh. Okay, thanks. Where's this circle thing?"

Go to the circle thing after getting directions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 18, 2015, 05:12:43 pm
"Well FINE!"

Time to go bribe the cleaning staff. Go see whosit what takes care of the room the mirror be held in yo.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 21, 2015, 06:53:36 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 18, 2015, 02:31:34 pm
Perhaps my cellmate has found home in the ceiling? That's fine, I'm satisfied with floor.

Let evening come! Rest, meditate, bend time, distort my sense of time or whatever.

You rest on the floor, curled up and not at all comfortable. It will do for now, however. At least it's dark and quiet, you guess. You close your eyes, producing absolutely no visual difference, and try to rest. It sort of works, and you begin to relax. At least nothing is going to trouble you for the foreseeable future.

At least, until something drips on you in a most dissatisfying manner. One drop... two drops... and then the third drop, which is exponentially and larger and more solid, being your cellmate who appears to have lost her hold up on the ceiling. Must have been tiring on her, really. Not that you are in much of a mood to show understanding, as she yelps as she falls on top of you, which startles you hard enough to send you into uncontrollable flailing, which she answers with more uncontrollable flailing. This causes something of an arms race as you try to outflail one another.

The resulting cascade ends only when you manage to flail each other into opposite corners of the cell. At this point your cellmate has a few moments of thinking time, and she considers her words carefully as a result.

"Er, my apologies," she says in a faltering voice between bouts of heavy breathing. "I get uneasy sometimes, you see."

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 18, 2015, 03:13:17 pm
I'm sure nothing bad could come of this. I try to meditate or something to help the minder girl do her thing.

You're not sure how one opens their mind. It's a simple thing to envision conceptually, of course. Your mind is closed, and you must open it so a little girl can go rooting around in it for some unknown purpose. The obvious greatness of this idea, however, does not appear to translate into actual results. The girl looks at you intently. She massages her temples. She takes up a dramatic stance, as well as tries any number and combination of other impressive-looking movements she has observed her teachers do once or twice. This takes a good while, actually, since she appears to have a frankly amazing repertoire of minder choreography for someone her age.

The end result, however, can be summed up in one word: odd.

When asked to elaborate, the girl explains that your mind is not really any harder to get into than, say, that of the average random person. There is, however, something else in there, too, near as she can tell. A lot of something else, in fact. It kind of hurts her when she tries to touch it, though. That's pretty weird. She doesn't think people have that, usually.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 18, 2015, 04:26:49 pm
"Huh. Okay, thanks. Where's this circle thing?"

Go to the circle thing after getting directions.

Well, when he said "over there", he wasn't exaggerating. It's right there on one side of the courtyard, right next to an abomination of architecture spawned of the cannibalization of the nearby chapel. It's really just a bunch of similarly-sized stones placed around a central, larger stone slab that seems to have had a bit of chocolate spilled on it. Or is that dried blood? Or something even worse?

Looking closer as you step that way, you think it's a pretty crusty kind of stain. So probably dried blood. And there's a similarly crusty cobblestone-looking thing lying next to the slab, showing telltale signs of being nonchalantly dumped there. You get a slightly ominous feeling, like you're being watched by some unknown f-

"Very nice, isn't it?" asks the man with no shirt, who appears to have followed you here. He explains that there's nothing going on here presently, of course. It is not the time yet. The time is usually dusk, as it happens. Which shouldn't be too far off, actually. It's slowly starting to get dark already. Maybe gathering the group might be a good idea. By the way, would you be interested in attending? They're a very friendly group, he says, and they're always up for more attendees.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 18, 2015, 05:12:43 pm
"Well FINE!"

Time to go bribe the cleaning staff. Go see whosit what takes care of the room the mirror be held in yo.

You locate a servant, a heavyset teenager with a thin beard and an enterprising look to him. Seems as good a choice as any. They're probably mostly interchangeable anyway.

He seems to be quite interested in your gold coins, asking about how shiny they are. You show one to him, and he seems critical at first. That's not very shiny at all, says he. Well, you show him by giving it a quick spit-shine - the dust comes right off and voila! The fellow seems impressed, too! Coins like these will be most adequate, yes. Might trap a magpie or maybe even a crow! Wouldn't that be something, asks he rhetorically. You smile and nod politely.

When you ask him if he's the whosit what takes care of the room the mirror be held in, yo, he pauses a moment to wonder of his exact qualifications. He settles on "I'm probably close enough, yeah" a few moments later.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 21, 2015, 07:09:49 pm
Generic acceptance hasn't caused any negative effects for Jack as of yet.

"Yeah sure why not."

Go along with gathering the group!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 21, 2015, 07:59:37 pm
Makwe sure we're talking about the same mirror. Offer him Sufficient gold to sneak the mirror out with the laundry or something. Pay half up front.

There's like ten more bags in the sewer, right? IDGAF GIVE GOLD GET MIRROR.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 21, 2015, 09:34:55 pm
"That's certainly ominous." I think for a moment, then pull out the sticks. "Do you know what these are? There were jugs full of them in the well where we woke up, so they might be related. Also I kind of chewed on one a bit, but I spat it out."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 22, 2015, 04:36:32 am
"Apology accepted. I too get uneasy when something suddenly drops on me in dark small cell. Please don't drop on me again or I slap you. Who did you slap to end up here?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 22, 2015, 08:20:34 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on December 21, 2015, 07:09:49 pm
Generic acceptance hasn't caused any negative effects for Jack as of yet.

"Yeah sure why not."

Go along with gathering the group!

Excellent, the man with no shirt says. They will meet here within the hour most probably. It depends on whether anyone's late this time, or if anyone will need any help. He will go and gather the community. Do not stray too far, lest the man need to go look for you at the last minute. Very awkward, you understand.

He turns on his heel and starts to walk off purposefully, but turns around again as he remembers something - it would be very good if you could bring something to the meeting. Something valuable, precious to someone. Or alive. Preferably both if possible. It would be your first time, after all. An investment needs to be made.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 21, 2015, 07:59:37 pm
Makwe sure we're talking about the same mirror. Offer him Sufficient gold to sneak the mirror out with the laundry or something. Pay half up front.

There's like ten more bags in the sewer, right? IDGAF GIVE GOLD GET MIRROR.

The mercenary servant assures you that he knows perfectly well which mirror you mean. There is only one mirror in the castle. Only one that he knows of, to be exact. Maybe the minders have one, and maybe he could... ah, hm... there's an idea, yes.

You ask him what that idea might be, and he waves off the question. It will get done, absolutely. One way or another. Pleased by this reassurance, you give him six of your coins as an advance. To ensure his loyalty and steadfast adherence to the task ahead, of course. This catches the young man by surprise - never before has he been bestowed such trust. Or such easy money, though it is somewhat lamentable that it is only in circumstances like these that he should get so lucky. Now, you just wait here. This'll be done in a jiffy, he says, then sprints off immediately, turning a corner and running up the stairs.

As promised, exactly one jiffy later he comes running back. In his hands, the mirror - a full body length mirror, actually. He's holding it horizontally, and only barely manages to navigate the corner without smashing it into a wall violently. An impressive feat nevertheless, since he seems to be running this way a damn sight quicker than when he was leaving. A blissful moment of ignorance passes before the corner is rounded by no less than three royal guards, each bearing a mixed look of panic, frustration and a desire for bloody vengeance. You barely have a moment to register what's happening before your eye is drawn back to your bribed associate. He looks quite amused. Calm, too.

You're going to get the mirror in a second, you think. Do you have your coins prepared?
 
Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 21, 2015, 09:34:55 pm
"That's certainly ominous." I think for a moment, then pull out the sticks. "Do you know what these are? There were jugs full of them in the well where we woke up, so they might be related. Also I kind of chewed on one a bit, but I spat it out."

Oh, those! Those are for the rats. Put them in a censer, set them aflame, run like hell when the fumes start going. Make sure to ventilate the room afterwards, don't walk straight in, keep any and all material like it under regular supervision and very far from the reach of children, you know, the usu-wait, you chewed on one? That's, er, not ideal. Not very ideal at all.

The girl floats forth an inch, then about a foot back carefully. How do you feel? You don't look like you've lost control over your breathing. No blood coming out of your eyes, either. That's quite unusual. How do you feel?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 22, 2015, 04:36:32 am
"Apology accepted. I too get uneasy when something suddenly drops on me in dark small cell. Please don't drop on me again or I slap you. Who did you slap to end up here?"

Nobody. She lives here. Or so she assumes. The details are a bit hazy. It wasn't dark back then. So it must have been a very different time.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Dermonster on December 22, 2015, 08:58:40 pm
Toss coins. Grab mirror. Scream and run.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 22, 2015, 10:44:40 pm
"Well I can't taste anymore. Kind of like my mouth is numb, but it's weird. Am I going to be okay?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: Xantalos on December 22, 2015, 10:50:49 pm
"Oh for - but I'm trying to get some other specific things so I can have an insane blacksmith give me a cool sword! That's why I was looking for a purple thing.

But I guess I'll look around."

Do I see any rats or small animals scuttering about?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Recycled, But Formidable
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 23, 2015, 12:51:25 am
Another insane person being imprisoned by other insane persons. Great. Who let all this mental patients loose?

"Really? Well, sorry to intrude then. The freak in the other cell was getting dangerous. I hope you don't."

I await the night.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 23, 2015, 08:48:25 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on December 22, 2015, 08:58:40 pm
Toss coins. Grab mirror. Scream and run.

In the heat of the moment you toss the coins at your associate, which leaves him with only one option that nets him the promised payment, and that happens to be tossing the mirror to you awkwardly. The last thing you see before it smashes into you is your own robed shape reflected, your mouth shaping the start of a scream. That scream proves very applicable to what happens next, as the weight of the frame catches you by surprise and bowls you over, the glass shattering and providing you with a lacerating shower of variably-sized shards as the mirror breaks in several places upon your impact on the ground.

You scream and you bleed in equal measure as you hear the sound of footsteps rushing away - three sets, to be exact, with another stopping at your side as you roll about in pain, glass and tremendous amounts of blood.

"Are you alright?" the owner of the footsteps, a man with a singularly grandmotherly voice, asks so naively you can't help but think he's making fun of you.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 22, 2015, 10:44:40 pm
"Well I can't taste anymore. Kind of like my mouth is numb, but it's weird. Am I going to be okay?"

Most people would not be, the girl maintains. But it's not like anyone can help you around here, so you might as well just hope for the best. Or at least hope that your poisonous demise catches you by surprise and, more importantly, is quick and painless. It usually isn't, of course, but you shouldn't lose hope. And you're already doing better than most! So even if you keel over and die in the next few moments, know that-

The two of you become aware of a sudden slurping noise. It's Mr. Calverly. Er, you think it's Mr. Calverly. He occupies the same position, at least, and seems just as naked. The face, though, looks a little changed. For one, there is no nose anymore. Or lips or eyes, now that you look carefully. All of these seem to have disappeared down what you can only describe as some sort of facial navel - a vortex-like hole in the head placed right along the middle of the former face.

He seems to be picking at himself, his fingers digging into his flesh absently, scratching at deep scars running down the entirety of his body in a jigsaw-like pattern. More disturbingly, one of his hands is currently inside his abdomen, the movement clearly the source of the noise - one of the scars appears to have opened like a seam, letting the hand pass inside. As you and the girl look at him for a second, he turns his head toward you. Then toward the girl. You seem to have disturbed his activity somewhat. Only for a moment, though. Returning his "gaze" to you, he twists something in his stomach.

The scar running along his abdomen opens, and a long seam along his arm starts to come undone. The flesh folds outwards, the parts of Mr. Calverly coming apart at an exponentially increasing rate, membranous patches of skin shrinking and disappearing inward as the gray flesh beneath changes shape to envelop it - buds and lumps start to come out, pushing off the skin fragments keeping it contained, sloughing off the body and falling away, going from lumps of gray modelling clay to teratomas almost before they hit the ground - each undergoes a flip, elongates. Most grow limbs, hair, teeth... and tails. Before your very eyes a newly-formed legion of rats goes every which way, their peculiar talent for both disappearing from sight making itself well known when you notice that nothing is left within ten seconds of when you first looked his way. For a moment you find yourself terribly unsure if he was even there to begin with. It is a fleeting, yet profoundly alien feeling.

You look at the tower mistress. She has no idea either.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 22, 2015, 10:50:49 pm
"Oh for - but I'm trying to get some other specific things so I can have an insane blacksmith give me a cool sword! That's why I was looking for a purple thing.

But I guess I'll look around."

Do I see any rats or small animals scuttering about?

As the man with no shirt goes about his business you begin your search. You look one way, then the other. The courtyard looks largely animal-free, unless you count a small child standing by a large metal grate in the certain. And also if you don't count that sudden prodigious stream of vermin that just started pouring out of one of the corner towers. Sweet Jesus, you could confuse them for lemmings with the way they're running in an unbroken stream.

Oh crap, they're splitting up already. Better get on this fast if you want one. You already see a woman sprinting toward the rats to get her share. There won't be any left momentarily, you fear.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 23, 2015, 12:51:25 am
Another insane person being imprisoned by other insane persons. Great. Who let all this mental patients loose?

"Really? Well, sorry to intrude then. The freak in the other cell was getting dangerous. I hope you don't."

I await the night.

Dangerous? She?

Well, she supposes you do have a good reason to expect such a thing. This is solitary confinement, after all. But she is completely safe for you to interact with for as long as there is no light, for her countenance can only strike you by sight. Not by touch as she had feared, either - you are alive, after all. That's really quite good. You seem like an all right sort of chap. Would be a shame if you died.

... she does not really enjoy solitary confinement, you know. It's terribly solitary. Nobody to talk to. The turnkey makes for terrible company. And the only other person down here is a bloody stoat. She kind of misses small talk. She likes to think she has quite the talent for it. Was beginning to develop a reputation before she had to come here.

... so, wonderful weather we are having, aren't we?

Needless to say, the wait feels a lot longer than it really is.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Xantalos on December 23, 2015, 09:14:16 pm
Incapacitate and grab as many rats as I can! If some die that's alright, just so long as I get some alive still.

Use my quick reflexes and skill in hitting things I gained from my karate to assist me in this rat-catching.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Dermonster on December 23, 2015, 09:16:44 pm
"Yep! Prefectly fine! The glass has always been there, doesn't hurt! Don't mind the blood that just happens sometiiiAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Stand up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 24, 2015, 06:17:48 am
"Dunno about the weather. I didn't pay much attention for it while I was between sky and ground. But now that I think about it it was warmer than it should be around this time of year, so I suppose it is wonderful. By stoat I suppose you mean that freak in the other cell? Odd guy, he is. First he treats me like a friend or something, giving me stuff, and then he tries gut me open for some inane reason."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 24, 2015, 11:23:29 am
"Holy crap, is that going to happen to me?" I think for a second. "Those rats could still be him. Could you look at a rat's mind if we caught one?" I run out of the tower after the rats.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 24, 2015, 05:36:35 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on December 23, 2015, 09:14:16 pm
Incapacitate and grab as many rats as I can! If some die that's alright, just so long as I get some alive still.

Use my quick reflexes and skill in hitting things I gained from my karate to assist me in this rat-catching.

You leap into martial arts action, landing gracefully in the rats' path. Your first instinct is to kick, and as your foot slams down into a rat, forcing out a good half of its stuffing, the rest of the stream bifurcates behind it. The rats begin to scatter. The woman behind you dives on an offshoot stream, seizing a rodent in her hands. This seems more practical than kicking them to death, so you dive on the other stream - you catch three rats, of which you accidentally crush one and strangle another. By the third you've worked out an adequate method of rat incapacitation. Unfortunately this proves to be of little use, as by this point the rest of the rats have scattered to along the courtyard, disappearing into every one of the innumerable nooks and crannies scattered about the place.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 23, 2015, 09:16:44 pm
"Yep! Prefectly fine! The glass has always been there, doesn't hurt! Don't mind the blood that just happens sometiiiAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Stand up.

This is extremely painful, you find. The screaming helps quite a bit, however, so you just keep doing that. The guard appears to understand, and does not level any physical abuse at you to get you to stop just yet.

Having risen from your bed of broken mirror shards and blood, you contemplate your next move while continuing to scream. It's not something you can keep up for very long at this rate, you think. Maybe you should ration your screaming carefully. Wouldn't want to squander that miniscule pain relief. You get the feeling you'll need it.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 24, 2015, 06:17:48 am
"Dunno about the weather. I didn't pay much attention for it while I was between sky and ground. But now that I think about it it was warmer than it should be around this time of year, so I suppose it is wonderful. By stoat I suppose you mean that freak in the other cell? Odd guy, he is. First he treats me like a friend or something, giving me stuff, and then he tries gut me open for some inane reason."

Oh yes, stoats are like that, she agrees. Crazy people, the lot of them. And it's the kind of crazy that sticks, she's heard. Runs in the family stronger than humanity. And they've been living in their ghettoes for who knows how long, so you know they've been breeding that crazy for generations. How they could not all be insane at this point would be even more mysterious.

Interesting to hear that the fellow in the other cell is a stoat, though. She keeps hearing him scratch about in the night. Probably up to no good, now that she thinks about it. Hm. Maybe she should complain to the turnkey, then. It is well within the rights of man to scratch around in their living quarters - but for a bloody stoat? Give those folk an inch and they'll eat the whole county.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 24, 2015, 11:23:29 am
"Holy crap, is that going to happen to me?" I think for a second. "Those rats could still be him. Could you look at a rat's mind if we caught one?" I run out of the tower after the rats.

Oh, she looks at rat minds all the time. Simple things. Not very abstract. Good for training, certainly, and many levels above flies, but seldom do they think anything of real interest. Especially very agitated ones such as these.

You guess it can't hurt to catch one, so you run after the rats. They start to run faster. You pick up the pace, and so do they. You sprint into the courtyard and the rest of the rats scatter as you pass a man currently strangulating a particular rat and a woman attempting to catch another in the folds of her skirt. Within moments you appear to have frightened them all off, the mass of Mr. Calverly's former flesh-fragments disseminating along the length and breadth of the castle.

You look back at the two peasants doing rat-catching. The man seems to have caught one alive. The woman is currently nursing a set of savage bite marks on her hands, having no live rats to show for her trouble.

Thomas Minstep:

You awaken. It is dark. And scratchy. And very confined, in fact. A few moments of careful reasoning tell you that you seem to be inside a bag. This bodes ill.

You do not know how you got here. You are being dragged along the ground. It is hard and heterogenous enough to present great discomfort to your soft bits, which feel distressingly unclothed at the moment. You have no idea what's happening.

What you can establish, however, is that something has gone terribly wrong here.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Dermonster on December 24, 2015, 06:49:20 pm
Pick up mirror frame and maybe the larger bits of mirror. Let's leave!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 24, 2015, 07:11:13 pm
I walk up to the two people. "Excuse me, but... can I have those rats? They, uh, belonged to a friend."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Xantalos on December 24, 2015, 07:22:23 pm
"All right, progress! I now know I'm better than the typical level one RPG character.
...
Well, better get back to the ritual sacrifice or whatever it is."

Go back to the circle with my rats.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 24, 2015, 07:11:13 pm
I walk up to the two people. "Excuse me, but... can I have those rats? They, uh, belonged to a friend."
Jack pauses.

"Oh. Uh, unless you have a small living creature or ... what did the guy say? Something living that's precious to you that I can get in exchange, sorry but no. I need them for some sort of induction thing.

Or if you have anything purple, priceless, or profane. Preferably more than one of the three at once."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Toaster on December 24, 2015, 07:36:37 pm
Thomas frowned as he considered his situation.  He was pretty sure the last thing he remembered was going to sleep in his bed in his apartment, so being in a bag did not compute.  It certainly would not do.  As most anyone would do, he called out.

"Hello?  Who is out there?  Please let me out; I have a 9:30 conference for the Soroz account.  Mr. Munderly would be quite upset if I missed it!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 25, 2015, 03:42:02 am
"Scratching? Oh, that's probably him digging his escape tunnel. He got nasty habit of swallowing his tool and vomiting it back up when something needs stabbing. Disgusting to listen and even more so to watch. Are you saying there's even more of them? And they are breeding? Holy shit."

((I see my wound is gone.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 25, 2015, 07:37:12 am
Quote from: Dermonster on December 24, 2015, 06:49:20 pm
Pick up mirror frame and maybe the larger bits of mirror. Let's leave!

You grab the mirror frame and the sharp shards - no need to be careful, of course. You're not even sure it is physically possible for your rate of blood loss to increase at this point. The guard shrugs as you walk off. If he needs you, he can just follow the trail of blood, he reasons. Or better yet, send somebody with actual enthusiasm for this sort of work.

You head out through the keep's foyer, passing the priest. He looks at you with excitement, running off as you slowly trudge out toward the chapel. Not having any better ideas, you go over there and stand in the center of the room. The priestess seems to have gotten up and left while you were gone, you notice.

You're not sure how long you wait, but you feel different all of a sudden when next you blink. The priest is next to you, kneeling beside a bucket of mixed water and your blood, a rag floating in it. You have been wiped clean of blood, shards removed from your flesh and gathered along with the ones you took as well as some the priest must have taken from the keep. He is wearing your bloodied robe, and you are wearing his cleaner one. Quoting apocrypha under his breath, he seems to be working on you even now, taking shards of mirror, then working them into the fabric of your robe, after breaking them into progressively smaller pieces. Off to the side the mirror frame, now completely freed of mirror shards, is propped up against a wall.

As you become more aware, the priest notices the clearing look in your eyes. He looks almost inexpressibly joyful.

"Well done, my child. As the dusk arrives, your raiment will be done, prepared to catch the light as you step into the sight of the Sun and Moon. Are you prepared?"

It does not hurt as much as it did, you find. You guess being swabbed with a filthy rag and getting all the bits of silvered glass out of you worked wonders for your well-being.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 24, 2015, 07:11:13 pm
I walk up to the two people. "Excuse me, but... can I have those rats? They, uh, belonged to a friend."

The woman does not seem to have any rats to her name, and merely stares at you with displeasure for a moment, then gets up and leaves on whatever business she was hoping to accomplish before this wasted serendipity.

Mr. Daniels, on the other hand, instead manages a polite refusal unless you were to provide something of equal or greater value in return. He does not bother to wait to see if you produce anything of that sort, instead just milling over to that circle of ominous stones you looked at earlier, looking contemplative of his prospects. He is soon joined by a tranquil-looking fellow with no shirt. As you look at him, he smiles and waves at you, inviting you to come over and join him.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 24, 2015, 07:22:23 pm
"All right, progress! I now know I'm better than the typical level one RPG character.
...
Well, better get back to the ritual sacrifice or whatever it is."

Go back to the circle with my rats.

Replete with success you walk over to the stone circle, which is fortunately not very far at all. You are the first to arrive, soon followed by the man with no shirt. He looks pleased. Turnout promises to be reasonably good, though some of the people may be a little late, he says.

You present him your rats. He nods admiringly at the live one - that will certainly do. The standard offering, as it were. Though the dead ones - that is nice work, he says. Is that one strangled? Must have been delicate work. And the crushed ones - one with an application of great force, a kick perhaps... hm! Fascinating! And the other one with your hands, if he's not missing his mark. That takes talent, he says. Would you perhaps-

He pauses in his offer as he notices that woman who asked you for rats. He smiles and waves at her, motioning her to come over.

He turns back to you after a moment. So, would you perhaps be interested in a slightly greater role in the ceremony? They typically use a stone for it, but perhaps a set of talented hands would drive the point home even better? Hm, have you much experience in this sort of thing? Have you done any ritual work before, mayhap? And how do you feel about using your teeth?

Quote from: Toaster on December 24, 2015, 07:36:37 pm
Thomas frowned as he considered his situation.  He was pretty sure the last thing he remembered was going to sleep in his bed in his apartment, so being in a bag did not compute.  It certainly would not do.  As most anyone would do, he called out.

"Hello?  Who is out there?  Please let me out; I have a 9:30 conference for the Soroz account.  Mr. Munderly would be quite upset if I missed it!"

The dragging stops, and you hear a surprised "oh?"

You are poked with something that feels like a foot, and make an appropriate sound of displeasure, then repeat your request slightly more insistently.

"Eh? What's this, then?" asks a man's voice. "Rats aren't supposed to talk." A pause. "Wait, yer trying to trick me, aren't you? Bloody rats."

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 25, 2015, 03:42:02 am
"Scratching? Oh, that's probably him digging his escape tunnel. He got nasty habit of swallowing his tool and vomiting it back up when something needs stabbing. Disgusting to listen and even more so to watch. Are you saying there's even more of them? And they are breeding? Holy shit."

((I see my wound is gone.))

They are breeding, yes, to the point where you have to pen them in so they don't get absolutely everywhere and mess up the life of good honest folk. It's bloody ridiculous, it is. Should just throw the whole lot into the Wondrous Land of El, see how those idiots like it. Not that it's her choice or anything.

Anyway, digging an escape tunnel, you say? And... ew, that does sound really quite disgusting. And rather illegal. It's the duty of honest citizens like you and her to put an end to this sort of thing, clearly. Your cellmate bangs on the door and calls for the turnkey, who shows up in a moment, opening the door just a crack.

The lady explains that she has it on good authority that the dirty stoat in the other cell is up to no good. And that he's actually a dirty stoat. It was a bit inconsiderate to not inform her of this fact, she mentions. It is an affront to her residential dignity, she would say. He's apparently digging an escape tunnel as well, the sneaky bugger. And smuggling things in his filthy gullet, too. A tool of some kind, notably, for use in escape tunnels and the like. Distressing, wouldn't he say?

If he could, the turnkey would say so indeed. He seems quite excited by this news, you'd say, to the point where he forgets to close your door as he rushes straight out of the dungeon, presumably to get his superior again.

As the turnkey leaves and the outer dungeon door slams shut, you hear what you recognize as the telltale sound of the stoatman's jail cell being unlocked, its hinges creaking as the door swings open. If you had to guess, you'd say he heard all that just now. Your cellmate makes a slight sound of concern at this development.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 25, 2015, 08:15:25 am
"Hmm, this leaves us with few interesting options."

Leif steps out of the cell and leans against the wall right next to the door, watching what the stoatman is up for. "Oops?" He says at direction of the stoat. "Perhaps that was meaningless too?" With sarcasm bleeding from his voice. "But such is life."

Should stout decide revenge is in order, then incapacitate him. Perhaps not for life, but for sufficiently to discourage him from further activity.
Otherwise follow example of the much safer cellmate.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 25, 2015, 09:29:12 am
I follow Mr. Daniels. "Please, this is barbaric. It's an innocent animal and it's very important to my friend. Why are you even doing this?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Dermonster on December 25, 2015, 12:40:51 pm
"Iunno. Sure, yes. What am I doing?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Xantalos on December 25, 2015, 04:18:06 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 25, 2015, 09:29:12 am
I follow Mr. Daniels. "Please, this is barbaric. It's an innocent animal and it's very important to my friend. Why are you even doing this?"
"Truth be told I'm not even sure. I woke up a while ago out back of a ruined house, no idea where I was, and this naked insane guy tries to fight me and then convinces me to go gather things to let him make me a cool sword, like this was an RPG or something. Then when I start wandering around looking for stuff to give to the guy, because why not, I figure if I'm hallucinating or in a coma maybe I'll snap out if I progress far along enough it, and if I was actually brought to an alternate dimension or whatever then I'd better get me a weapon or something because with the state of society around these parts I'd best be able to defend myself better than if I just had me hands. Anyway, I run into this shirtless guy here, who I initially thought was hitting me up for gay sex but turns out was actually looking to induct me into this cult of his, or maybe it belongs to someone else. Point is, I need something living and precious to someone preferably to proceed into it, and maybe being inducted into it will give me cool powers or something with which I can better collect the materials to get that sword made. And since the rats are evidently very important to your friend, it should work even better! How are they important to your friend? They all kinda appeared out of nowhere, so unless he turned into the swarm of them - which I don't know if it actually happened, I'm just guessing because that seems the type of thing to occur here - I'm sure he won't miss a few rats out of several hundred unless she or he's one of those pedantic types, and if she or he did turn into the rats then probably one rat only equals a few brain cells at a time or something. I've a finger with me at best. Anyway, I'm uncertain to the state of reality at the moment, so I'm unfortunately going to have to say in answer to your question, 'because I think it might give me cool powers', and yeah that's about that."

Jack stops to catch his breath after his sudden long-winded explanation, and then turns to shirtless guy.

"Well, I've not done any actual rituals, but the karate does have a lot of structure to it - bowing, kneeling, standing at attention, in a specific order, stuff like that, so I think I could pick it up rather quickly. And yeah I wouldn't mind all that much giving it a go - what did you say the benefits of this were again by chance? Just wanna get this down in my head what I'm doing in exchange for my former morality."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 26, 2015, 01:28:28 am
"Oh god, you're like us. That means there are more. I've been brought here too, by the minders - five of us woke up in tubs full of rats. I don't know how, but I think... we're made of the rats, somehow. Another one of us, I forget his name, was with me in the tower. He turned into the rats, exactly like you said. But in five minutes you or I could be just like him."

I then step in between Mr. Daniels and the shirtless guy. "And there's no way this ritual will help you. There are literally tubfuls of rats here. If it was that easy to become more powerful, this guy would be saving us from the stoats instead of standing around half naked asking people to murder animals."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Xantalos on December 26, 2015, 01:36:51 am
"Oh dear, that's not good. Though I woke up in a backyard with not a rat in sight, so I may have been something different. Maybe. You said stoats? I've heard mention of them once before in the half hour or less I've been here, but I don't know what they are.

Also the guy didn't say to get rats specifically, just ... living things, I think? The rats were fortuitous, that's all."

Jack pauses.

"Hey, maybe the minders or whoever brought a new person into the world and that's why the other guy turned into rats?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 26, 2015, 07:24:53 am
"I don't know much about the stoats except that they apparently want to kill us all. It seems like an important issue. As for the minders bringing more people... they didn't survive whatever ritual brought us here. Maybe the spell they cast is still going, though."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Xantalos on December 26, 2015, 02:29:58 pm
"Huh. I guess we'll have to ask around and see what others came in with us, then. 'Cause I think you implied that there's more than just me, you, and the other guy.

After the ritual, though."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Toaster on December 26, 2015, 02:37:20 pm
"Pardon?  I'm not a rat?  Of course rats can't talk!"

A silly argument, really.  Can I just get myself out here?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 26, 2015, 08:18:48 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 25, 2015, 08:15:25 am
"Hmm, this leaves us with few interesting options."

Leif steps out of the cell and leans against the wall right next to the door, watching what the stoatman is up for. "Oops?" He says at direction of the stoat. "Perhaps that was meaningless too?" With sarcasm bleeding from his voice. "But such is life."

Should stout decide revenge is in order, then incapacitate him. Perhaps not for life, but for sufficiently to discourage him from further activity.
Otherwise follow example of the much safer cellmate.

You manifest ultimate smugness as you accost the stoatman trying to leave, leaning against the wall with arms crossed. He gives you a frankly venomous look as he moves out, pausing mid-step to consider your words. Murder flares in his eyes, and you think he's about to come for you... but then it calms, and his eyes become merely snakelike and derisive instead as he coldly turns away and runs up the staircase. It takes him under a second the pick the lock of the dungeon door, then he's out. Well, guess that's that.

Your cellmate asks you to not stand around outside like that - the turnkey might find it untoward to take advantage of his forgetfulness like that.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 25, 2015, 12:40:51 pm
"Iunno. Sure, yes. What am I doing?"

It is hard to say. Prophecies deal with prerequisites, mostly. You have appeared from the aether, you speak the tongue of the Sun and Moon, and now you will have a raiment of mirrors as well - these three should make you an adequate Child of the Sun and Moon, so to speak. So the answer to that question, or the best you're likely to get at this point, is "what comes naturally, my child, what comes naturally".

The priest is surprisingly quick in working the shards into your robe, and soon you find yourself looking quite a lot shinier than before. It's not exactly the most comfortable thing to wear, being a bit on the sharp side, but it probably looks kind of swanky. Or so you'd assume - the only mirror you could possibly check this in was the one you broke to make the robe. Sooner rather than later the finishing touches are put on, and you are now something akin to a humanoid mirror ball, resplendent in your odd tackiness. The priest certainly looks satisfied at his handiwork, stroking his messy beard appreciatively and giggling slightly.

"A beautiful thing you have become, Child of the Sun and Moon!" he congratulates you. "I think that fulfills the prophecy very nicely, don't you?" You shrug. It's his prophecy, he ought to know better. He agrees with this assessment, nodding along as he ponders what you're supposed to do next. Announce your presence? Publicly proclaim yourself the manifestation of a celestial avatar? Come up with mystical-sounding nonsense on the nature of light?

Hm. Wait. Better not jinx it with that kind of talk, the priest decides. How about you walk out looking all dignified and whatnot, and he heralds your arrival? Or, wait, he heralds your arrival, and only then do you actually arrive? Sunset's here already. It's the perfect time! Damn, if only he'd planned anything after the robe bit. He didn't think it would work out as well as it did, truth be told.

"Well, Child, it seems like we shall have to wing it," he says after a minute's indecision. "On the count of three we shall both run out of the chapel. Me first - I will herald you appropriately, have some material just for that event. You come after me, fulfilling the prophecy and so forth."

Fulfilling the prophecy, you ask?

"Well, yes. It is not difficult. You need only speak in a way they understand, and also look alien and very shiny. And reflect the sunset favorably and interestingly - that last part is critical. Now quickly, before it gets dark," the priest says excitedly, positioning himself for beginning a sprint, "one, two..."

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 25, 2015, 09:29:12 am
I follow Mr. Daniels. "Please, this is barbaric. It's an innocent animal and it's very important to my friend. Why are you even doing this?"

The why is an interesting thing to contemplate, the shirtless man interjects. Largely irrelevant, particularly in this context, but interesting nevertheless. Each person who comes to the circle may keep their reasons as their own, he elaborates. It does not really change anything whether they do or not.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 25, 2015, 04:18:06 pm
Jack stops to catch his breath after his sudden long-winded explanation, and then turns to shirtless guy.

"Well, I've not done any actual rituals, but the karate does have a lot of structure to it - bowing, kneeling, standing at attention, in a specific order, stuff like that, so I think I could pick it up rather quickly. And yeah I wouldn't mind all that much giving it a go - what did you say the benefits of this were again by chance? Just wanna get this down in my head what I'm doing in exchange for my former morality."

Karate? Sounds fascinating. You will have to tell the man about that later, he notes.

As for the actual benefits, the man with no shirt will not lie. Ms. Minett is, of course, correct in her assessment. He is not a man who bequeaths power, and he can guarantee nothing - that would be the purview of the chapel, the shrine and their respective, highly dubious residents. They can promise you quite a lot, he has noticed.

What is offered by him and the circle, you see, is not salvation. Perhaps it is not even truth. But it can be compelling, sometimes, if the day is good and the gifts are sufficiently novel. It is from new things - and their loss - that one can learn the most, he has discovered. It is also much more fun to observe for him and for others, as a side note - the community aspect is all-important, after all. It is the entire point, in fact.

Quote from: Toaster on December 26, 2015, 02:37:20 pm
"Pardon?  I'm not a rat?  Of course rats can't talk!"

A silly argument, really.  Can I just get myself out here?

You're not? News to this fellow, clearly. It takes a little more convincing (including permitting him to poke you with his foot a few times, and several increasingly insistent affirmations of your non-rodency) for him to open the bag you're in. You may have been able to escape on your own, perhaps, provided you were not shy about putting your teeth to good use and had a bit of time, but this is probably faster.

In any case, the top of the bag opens and you find yourself face-to-face with a dirty-looking peasant dressed in a vast array of rags and cloaks, only the vaguest traces of his flesh even visible from your vantage point. Man's wrapped up tight.

As for where you are, it looks a lot like a dark cellar and definitely not at all like a place where you'd ever be thrilled to wake up. It smells like mold, and you hear a lot of squeaking in the darkness where a number of wooden crates have been arranged against a wall. Nearby you can see a generous area of straw-based bedding, and in the best-lit corner next to a small grate you see a desk that you would guess was stolen from a much nicer room, a pile of clay cylinders as well as some odd-looking instruments strewn along its surface. Other than that, the room looks pretty bare, the only visible exit being a door on the far side from pretty much everything else. Said door appears to sport a wealth of locks and tripwires that would make the average survivalist flagrantly jealous.

"Huh," the man in rags says. "Your story checks out," he notes with surprise. "Bloody minders. You one of their people, then?" he asks with disappointment even a metric ton of cloth can't mask.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Xantalos on December 26, 2015, 08:22:05 pm
"Eh, seems worth it to give it a go. What d'ya want me to do? Like I said, I'm pretty sure I can cotton on to this ritual stuff fairly quickly."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Toaster on December 26, 2015, 08:28:26 pm
"Minders?  What?  My name is Thomas, and I need to get to work.  Mr. Munderly would not like it if I am late.  I haven't worked under him for fifteen years with perfect attendance to start being late now.  Where in town am I, anyway?"

Ask confused questions.  Try to get home.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: Dermonster on December 26, 2015, 08:28:58 pm
"Wait how the hell does this help with that army ousiiiiand he's gone."

Welp. Time to put on my game face. CHAAAARGE!

Everyone: Behold robes.

I had expected magical powers to fight an army with. This is not that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 27, 2015, 04:02:23 am
Oh man that felt good.

"By Loki, ain't he fast with that lockpick thing." Back into the cell. "Now that he's gone I can probably return back to the first cell, it's bigger after all. But yeah, let us proceed with proper procedure."

"By the way, does numbers mean anything to you? Six four three? Or six three four? Or was it four six three? He said it was important number."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Mind-Killer
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 27, 2015, 10:15:00 am
"I can't believe you're doing this." I sigh, then stand around and wait for the ritual to start. If I can't stop it, I might as well at least see what's going on. Maybe there is something to learn here. Still, I'm getting some bad vibes, so I make sure to stay on the edge of the crowd in case I need to leave quickly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 27, 2015, 01:33:48 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on December 26, 2015, 08:22:05 pm
"Eh, seems worth it to give it a go. What d'ya want me to do? Like I said, I'm pretty sure I can cotton on to this ritual stuff fairly quickly."

Mostly you would need to destroy living things upon that slab over yonder, the shirtless man indicates with his hand. Decisively, quickly, absolutely. Leave no room for doubt. Use your hands as much as possible - maybe utilize a rock for the tougher bits.

As for more specifics, well, there's more finesse involved than you would expect. Reducing a rat to a thin red paste is not an easy task at the best of times. Or your average bird, for that matter. He spends a few minutes going over the more practical ways of making things quick, yet interesting to watch. It is important to engage the public in particular - you being largely naked ought to help with that, in fact - if the public is not engaged, they may start to chat to one another, which can ruin the mood if it gets out of hand. You want to usually do things that produce a respectful, intimidated silence. You've got the build for it, so you would be well-served by practicing some grim expressions beforehand. Or perhaps not - one of the best sessions he's had was when he broke down laughing in the middle of smashing a rat to pieces. Fell off the slab accidentally when he couldn't stop it, actually. A few people had to pick him up and carry him home that evening. They looked at him oddly for a week afterward.

In any case, make sure to be as violently, yet respectably off-putting as possible. Also cultivate an air of mystery. That's about the gist of things, really... although you could try speaking as well, if you want. It will make the whole business a little more formal, having a guest speaker. Feel free to improvise - you no doubt have some life experience to draw upon here, as you appear to be familiar with the idea of a world devoid of meaning or spirit.

He is about to go into more detail, but the sound of a man hollering as he runs out of the nearby chapel cuts him off. He looks for the source, and spots a man of poor habits running around hollering something about suns and moons and children. The man with no shirt looks intrigued. The priest is not usually this agitated, he says. He is even more surprised when Mr. Codeburn follows after the priest, looking a bit doofy in a weird homemade mirror-sequined robe.

Quote from: Toaster on December 26, 2015, 08:28:26 pm
"Minders?  What?  My name is Thomas, and I need to get to work.  Mr. Munderly would not like it if I am late.  I haven't worked under him for fifteen years with perfect attendance to start being late now.  Where in town am I, anyway?"

Ask confused questions.  Try to get home.

You're in the castle, the shrouded individual says. Not in the town- wait, this sounds familiar. You're one of them demonfolk, aren't you? You show the classical signs - naked, clueless, mysteriously manifested from hellish planes beyond mortal ken. You beg his pardon on all that, but he seems convinced all the same.

Right, starting over, you are in Benzerwald. Anglefork Castle. It is not a place you are familiar with, says the man, but that's all right. Minders are, er, wizards. Or priests? Something like that. And your job is to kill all the stoats before they kill you. They've been sieging the place for a while now. There's a couple of you demonfolk around that they called to help with that, actually. Six, was it? It's getting a bit hard to count them. It's also a little frustrating, he mentions. He's been helping you bloody demons for the better part of the afternoon, and he's got nary a rat to show for it. Ten more days like this and he might get behind on his rat acquisitions. And then what will he do? It'll be an economic disaster.

While this sounds like a legitimate concern for a lunatic to have and you truly sympathize, you ask if you could be let out now, you kind of need to get home. The man politely acquiesces and momentarily untraps and unlocks his door, letting you out of his mad-cave and into a stairwell, which leads up to an empty storehouse in a seemingly advanced stage of disrepair. It is dark, old and smells mustier than even the basement you were just in, and seems to mostly have stored a bunch of firewood once upon a time, the only remnants of which are a few damp pieces of lumber that nobody has bothered to steal. Aside from that, you also pass by a single sandbag, propped up in the middle of the room with no place else to be. It looks lonely.

Since there's nothing here you care about, you take a look outside, and note that this definitely does not look like anywhere in town you've ever been to. Might be upstate, one of those places where people gather for weekends to do their lair-ping or whatever it is they're into these days. On the bright side, the castle does look very authentic. Not a bad place to stop and take some pictures on a road trip, as it were. Probably not a great place to awaken in at dusk naked and without any possessions, however. It smells like the countryside here. Air's too fresh. And there's probably no phones about. For maximum authenticity and inconvenience, you'd expect.

You notice an unkempt man in a bloodstained, torn robe running through the courtyard, hollering something incoherent. Another lunatic, probably dangerous. He is followed by a strange robed individual who reminds you of a humanoid disco ball, reflecting the sunset irritatingly in your eyes as he completes the impression by starting to spin around.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 26, 2015, 08:28:58 pm
"Wait how the hell does this help with that army ousiiiiand he's gone."

Welp. Time to put on my game face. CHAAAARGE!

Everyone: Behold robes.

I had expected magical powers to fight an army with. This is not that.

As the priest executes his plan, you break into a run with arms outstretched (the holiest of arm positions, or so you have been told) after him. As he hollers holy-sounding phrases of prophecy to herald your arrival, you follow in his wake, staring at the heavens gravely and making a conscious effort to appear as auspicious as possible. It has all the charm of a prophetic high school production in its delightful spontaneity, eliciting equal parts confusion and surprise from the people who already seem to have begun gathering in the courtyard for some reason. No doubt the priest would credit the prophecy here, too.

You come to a stop in a particular spot, noticing the priest starting to run in circles around the area, trying to rouse the others, get them to look your way. You think this position is a pretty great one - there is the sun, starting to disappear over the edge of the wall, clouds flowing along it, altering its light pleasingly. And slightly behind you - there is the moon, pale in the slowly darkening sky. You stand to catch the light of both, and as the people gather, you start to turn about to take maximum advantage of your robe's properties, reflected rays moving around the entire courtyard.

As you turn, you behold the Moon. It watches, shapes of faces on its surface growing more convincing the longer you look. It is pale in the darkening sky, but very much visible. Very close to fullness, perhaps even completely full. It looms large, its albedo almost producing its own lovely reflection on you. No doubt it will grow brighter still with time. And the Sun, waning as it starts to disappear behind the parapets, but still amazingly bright. It sees, its radiance drowning out everything else in its vicinity, only scarcely held back by clouds flowing to slightly obscure, the variations in brightness creating delicate interplays.

It seems both of your would-be parents are observing your antics. As you turn, you see them both for short periods. The ancient, timeless rulers of the natural cycles, moving in the sky in ways that can be described, but perhaps impossible to truly comprehend by the folk of this world. By their motions the world was created and shaped in the past, is guided and shaped in the present, and as the Moon flies free and the Sun explodes to devour and burn the world in the distant future, so too will all things come to an eventual end.

You contemplate their power as you catch the light in your whirling. And as you cavort in the light of immense, mindless things of unimaginable power, the oldest gods that mankind has ever known, the words come to you easily. It is simple. There is the sun, and there is the moon. The sun, the moon. You behold them in succession, one and the other.

At the back of your eyes, a vision starts to burn. It crosses from one eye to the other, taking ineffable shape, traveling along your nerves, nestling in the back of your throat, yearning for release, burning like the purest essence of thirst. You involuntarily shape the word it craves, but do not give it your voice.

SUN

At the front of your mind, a silvery shadow forms. You breathe it out, then breathe it in. It is dust, metal, lightness. The unknown. It builds in your lungs, and you feel the need to consciously cough, to cleanse yourself. As you consider the itch, you mouth a second soundless word.

MOON

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 27, 2015, 04:02:23 am
Oh man that felt good.

"By Loki, ain't he fast with that lockpick thing." Back into the cell. "Now that he's gone I can probably return back to the first cell, it's bigger after all. But yeah, let us proceed with proper procedure."

"By the way, does numbers mean anything to you? Six four three? Or six three four? Or was it four six three? He said it was important number."

They certainly sound like numbers, your cellmate guesses. Who really knows with stoats, anyway. Maybe they meant something to it and nobody else. An anniversary of some Great Leader or another in the stoat calendar they invented last year, or maybe the one they invented the year before that. The things are crazy, as she is sure you well know. This is partly the reason why she's rather concerned about one making its way out, actually.

Also, she does not get to complete that thought because the turnkey and the guard arrive momentarily, looking rather displeased at the sorry open state of the dungeon. They would like very much to know more about what just happened here. Your cellmate proves forthcoming as before, explaining that the filthy stoatman escaped by using that odd thingamajig you told her about, then defeated the dungeon door without so much as breaking a sweat - clearly a dangerous criminal, that one. They should really be quite careful with it.

The turnkey nods, and the elderly guard says he'll take that into account. Having no time to waste, they decide not to bother questioning you and instead bugger off immediately after making sure all doors, yours included, are shut immediately, this latest jailbreak having introduced a slight shift of priorities.

Well, says your cellmate. They know what they're doing, she vaguely suspects. No doubt they'll catch that stoat in no time at all.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 27, 2015, 10:15:00 am
"I can't believe you're doing this." I sigh, then stand around and wait for the ritual to start. If I can't stop it, I might as well at least see what's going on. Maybe there is something to learn here. Still, I'm getting some bad vibes, so I make sure to stay on the edge of the crowd in case I need to leave quickly.

You can't say it's much of a crowd yet, but it is starting to grow. A few rather nasty-looking residents of varying ages and genders emerge from the keep, coming together near you while they keep a respectable distance from the others. The less photogenic of the castle's serving staff. Probably kept in a basement someplace normally. A large, dull-faced man slinks out from the shadows, looking a little unsteady in his gait. He smiles the same way as the shirtless man - vaguely unnervingly - and he gives you an off-puttingly affable look as he stands next to you, occasionally shooting you a glance. He asks if you've got anything on you for tonight, patting a small satchel on his belt as he smirks. The satchel twitches ever-so-slightly.

Mr. Daniels and the man with no shirt continue to converse about the finer points of ritual sacrifice, working out which sort of barbarism would suit either of them best. The shirtless man occasionally glances about, doing a headcount. Seems like not everyone's here yet. He looks momentarily hopeful as you see him look at an elderly guard and a man with an eye carved into his forehead run along the side of the courtyard, but as they run along on what looks like important business he seems disappointed again.

That is, until Mr. Codeburn, seemingly quite all right after you so generously told on him to the angry woman, trails a bloody, unkempt individual out of the nearby chapel. The bloody fellow shouts and hollers like a madman, trying to grab as much attention as you are willing to give, and beseeches you to devote it all to the approaching Mr. Codeburn, who seems to have obtained a robe covered in shards of mirror, looking very luminous and perhaps impressive to less worldly eyes as he twirls around the courtyard looking like a bit of a twit.

Needless to say, most of the people in the shirtless man's gathering crowd seem suitably impressed by the hollering and the shiny objects. A few shier residents lean out of doorframes to take a look. Probably the shiniest thing they've seen in weeks. Perhaps months.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Dermonster on December 27, 2015, 01:56:11 pm
Assume The position. (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eHgNXBP_Jwc/maxresdefault.jpg)

"Praise the SUN."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 27, 2015, 02:14:57 pm
"They probably kill him when they catch him, but that's just the risk one have to take if one wishes to escape the prison, which is also why I have learned to serve my punishment. Notably less common practice in western countries, thankfully.
So, gotta pass some time before evening comes, right? Tell me more about yourself. You said you had a reputation as a small talker before? And is there something wrong with your face?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Toaster on December 27, 2015, 02:25:43 pm
Thomas looked at the shiny fellow.  Well, that's a thing, and probably the main focus of whatever this event was, and- oh no, is it SUNSET?  Did he already miss the meeting?  Well, there's one problem that can be fixed.

Go grab that sandbag and see if it can be made into a pants-like apparatus.  Dump it out if need be.  Then watch the performance, maybe see if they drop a time or date.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Xantalos on December 27, 2015, 06:19:27 pm
"Hmm. Living things, eh? You'd think you'd get to trying something bigger than rats after a while. Eh, I suppose I can try it out with a rat at first. Is everyone here, should I start?

Oh dear, that fellow's rather shiny. Maybe I should step behind this here pillar in case of sudden lasers or somesuch."

Go behind a nearby pillar.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 27, 2015, 07:54:41 pm
Okay, whatever the people over there are doing creeps me out less. And I don't really want to know if there are consequences to attending this ritual unprepared. I approach the sparkly man.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 28, 2015, 09:33:57 am
Quote from: Dermonster on December 27, 2015, 01:56:11 pm
Assume The position. (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eHgNXBP_Jwc/maxresdefault.jpg)

"Praise the SUN."

SUN

The word reverberates in your mind, and you are bathed in a soft, warm radiance that shines upon you and glares off your reflective robe. It is a pure white, illuminating the courtyard to midday's brightness. The crowd collectively breathes in, observing your praise in plain and unabashed awe. The light brightens to a peak, the courtyard growing brighter than daylight for but a moment before it darkens once more.

As the people look on in wonderment, the priest, who seems to have been grinning ear to ear in ecstatic glee throughout the display, raises his arms in imitation of you. "Praise be!" he bellows. "Praise the Sun!" A few echo his cry, and imitate you in turn, the attention of the entire yard now resting squarely upon your grossly incandescent, though currently dimming form. The others start to join in, perhaps not convinced, but definitely very excited.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 27, 2015, 02:14:57 pm
"They probably kill him when they catch him, but that's just the risk one have to take if one wishes to escape the prison, which is also why I have learned to serve my punishment. Notably less common practice in western countries, thankfully.
So, gotta pass some time before evening comes, right? Tell me more about yourself. You said you had a reputation as a small talker before? And is there something wrong with your face?"

Oh, she did! She used to be the proper lady of the castle, and a rather beloved hostess at that. Well, before the queen came and took over when her education demanded the attendance of Anglefork's splendid minder tower. You venture a question on how long ago this might have been, and she counters with a question of what year it is - the obvious answer doesn't make any sense to her for some reason, so you both move on with the conversation. She didn't mind the takeover, she mentions, as she had already moved here at this point. Her countenance demanded it, she says.

Her face, then, you ask with perhaps a little less tact than you should. What's the matter with it? Truth be told, she doesn't entirely know. The minders aren't sure, either. But it has severely deleterious effects on any beholder, she discovered. Hits people straight in the heart and the brain. It's some kind of strange disease, the minders said. Something about her visage becoming a yawning chasm of uncertainty that twists the minds of any onlookers into shapes described as direly unnatural. Might have something to do with the Corner of the World being so close, actually. Something about the infinitely tall mountains tends to disagree with the physically possible.

She elected to come here for the sake of public safety. She's come to quite enjoy the darkness and the confined space, really. Never liked roomy places to begin with. At least here she can feel all the walls, explore the ceilings. And she gets a lot more exercise with nothing better to do. She'd recommend spending some time in the dungeon to the poor little queen, really, were the suggestion not somewhat likely to be misconstrued.

Of course, conversation is something she's quite missed. The minders have been trying to visit her often, but they do have such important business to attend to. And the queen sometimes, too, but your cellmate fears she finds her somewhat unsettling for some reason. One wonders why - she's certainly been nothing but pleasant, she feels. Perhaps it's the dark, but hardly anything one can do about that without needlessly endangering Her Majesty. Maybe some audiences with the common folk may be in order in the near future if this siege business goes well. She hasn't been following that too closely, truth be told - military matters have always been very boring to her. Politics as well, now that she thinks about it, her rather strong opinion on the stoat question notwithstanding.

Quote from: Toaster on December 27, 2015, 02:25:43 pm
Thomas looked at the shiny fellow.  Well, that's a thing, and probably the main focus of whatever this event was, and- oh no, is it SUNSET?  Did he already miss the meeting?  Well, there's one problem that can be fixed.

Go grab that sandbag and see if it can be made into a pants-like apparatus.  Dump it out if need be.  Then watch the performance, maybe see if they drop a time or date.

It cannot, unfortunately, not with the current nonexistent tools at your disposal, though you fail to discover this before an uncomfortable amount of sand has graced your lower quarters. So you return to-

SUN

-er, well, you return to the doorframe, and notice that the fellow has gotten quite a lot shinier. And the courtyard seems to have gotten considerably brighter, too. A bit brighter than day, if that makes any sense. Must be some heavy-duty lighting at work. Guess they don't value their authenticity that much. Or maybe they're just a confused sect of neopagans with a healthy appreciation for special effects. You make no assumptions.

The gathering people look to be eating it up, in any case. Very favorable crowd, you suppose, to be impressed by a spotlight or two to that degree. They start praising the sun and everything under the guidance of the filthy, bloody lunatic accompanying the shiny gentleman.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 27, 2015, 06:19:27 pm
"Hmm. Living things, eh? You'd think you'd get to trying something bigger than rats after a while. Eh, I suppose I can try it out with a rat at first. Is everyone here, should I start?

Oh dear, that fellow's rather shiny. Maybe I should step behind this here pillar in case of sudden lasers or somesuch."

Go behind a nearby pillar.

The captain of the guard ought to make an appearance, the shirtless man tells you. He seems a bit busy, but it would be poor form to start without him. He's the second most senior member of the gathering right after himself. And the shiny gentleman makes for a nice enough distraction that he's sure the people already gathered wouldn't mind waiting a little longer. Shiny things do tend to keep one's attention all too well. You suppose that's sensible. An equally sensible idea to perhaps not stand directly within sight of Mr. Codeburn's radiance - you haven't experienced a proper lasering yet, and you'll be damned if you plan to start now. You jump behind-

SUN

-a pillar, yes. You feel this was a very good decision, given the shiver that passed over you just now. Not that you hear screams of agony and horror or anything, or see winds of ash blowing from disintegrating, charred skeletons either. Maybe it's just some good old-fashioned UV-C, you suppose. The courtyard is bathed in surprising brightness, and the shadow of the pillar you stand in looks that much deeper now as the light brightens to a slightly unnatural peak before dimming to less unsettling levels again. You hear praise leveled at the glorious Sun coming from the crowd. Bet they'll change their tune when their birthmarks start to turn malignant.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 27, 2015, 07:54:41 pm
Okay, whatever the people over there are doing creeps me out less. And I don't really want to know if there are consequences to attending this ritual unprepared. I approach the sparkly man.

Almost deific in his sparkly shininess, Mr. Codeburn certainly delivers, assuming a position you think you've seen somewhere before, speaking the words, praising the

SUN

... he flashes with white light that has no visible source, outshining the setting sun itself as you approach carefully, his reflection making you avert your eyes at first. Quite literally brilliant, he bathes courtyard in a great and mystical light, for a moment making it brighter than day. The castle folk are suitably impressed, needless to say. Seldom does one see a prophetic appearance with more than parlor tricks to back it up. The unkempt, bloody fellow who heralded his arrival is quick to capitalize on the moment, leading the more easily impressed into a massed sun-praising session. Looks like the makings of a fun night for many.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Toaster on December 28, 2015, 09:51:23 am
Fancy, if a bit overdone.  Well, surely someone here has a phone.  Surely kidnapping falls under a reasonable excuse for tardiness; at least make it a verbal warning instead of a written one.

Hang around the back of the crowd, and see if anyone has a phone I could borrow to call the Boss.  Maybe if someone has some pants.  At least confirm it's the date I think it is?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 28, 2015, 01:17:00 pm
"That's happened before..."

Let's see if my dress is shiny enough to do that. But let's try something more than a parlor trick, like maybe scattering some rocks around. That's still pretty simple. I turn to face the stone circle, focus on it for several seconds, then sternly say "WATER."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Xantalos on December 28, 2015, 02:43:39 pm
"Wait, that was a magic word! There's magic words here? We can be wizards theoretically? Fuck yes, I always wanted to be a wizard!

Though there's probably something different about it than just saying it. Hmm. Maybe killing a person on that rock would get me a word..."

Wait hold up what the fuck. Why did the thought of murdering someone so casually come into my mind? I could envision how I'd do it, even. Multiple ways. Sheesh. Can't be doing that, there's decency to uphold and shit.
...
Well, sort of. Given that I have only an apron on, I suppose decency is a subjective term. But still. Can't just go around killing people, Jack. That's wrong.

Why am I asking why? It's just wrong, that's why.

...
Not the point right now, focus on the magic mirror-dress guy.

Stay behind pillar, idly/unconsciously muse on methods of ritual human sacrifice without having a knife on hand.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Dermonster on December 28, 2015, 05:30:35 pm
Assume the other position. (http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Name_Of_The_Moon_colorfix_5744.png)

In the name of the MOON, I will protect you!

Time to Purge an Army.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 29, 2015, 03:11:00 am
((Pretty pretty Derm. 8)))

"Here's that word again. Minders. Who are they? At this point it sounds like they are not exactly what I think the word means. The stoat called me minders' trick."

Elaborate please, and elaborate in turn.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 29, 2015, 05:23:55 am
Quote from: Toaster on December 28, 2015, 09:51:23 am
Fancy, if a bit overdone.  Well, surely someone here has a phone.  Surely kidnapping falls under a reasonable excuse for tardiness; at least make it a verbal warning instead of a written one.

Hang around the back of the crowd, and see if anyone has a phone I could borrow to call the Boss.  Maybe if someone has some pants.  At least confirm it's the date I think it is?

The cheeky buggers in the crowd seem to not quite grasp the concept of a phone. You'd suspect they were ribbing you if not for the way most of the ones you ask seem genuinely confused. The word sounds familiar somehow, one of the women you ask says, but she's fairly sure she's never seen one of those before. Actually, it feels a lot like-

MOON

The shiny gentleman appears to be... huh. You... can't say you understand how he's making it look like that weird rock is orbiting him. That's strange.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 28, 2015, 01:17:00 pm
"That's happened before..."

Let's see if my dress is shiny enough to do that. But let's try something more than a parlor trick, like maybe scattering some rocks around. That's still pretty simple. I turn to face the stone circle, focus on it for several seconds, then sternly say "WATER."

Water. Water! Water? Hm. It doesn't sound right. Not like-

MOON

-yes, not like that at all. Mr. Codeburn appears to have something you don't, you think, as he seems to have gathered a perfectly fine rock already by making another reference these people will now forever associate with a religious experience of the utmost gravity.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 28, 2015, 02:43:39 pm
Stay behind pillar, idly/unconsciously muse on methods of ritual human sacrifice without having a knife on hand.

MOON

You don't quite see what that did, of course, being behind a pillar. No bursts of light, certainly.

As for human sacrifice, well... strangulation seems like an idea. You could also use a rock that's lying around, or maybe smash something against the slab repeatedly. You'd be better served by broader motions, you suspect, since those can be better seen from the back. Have to make sure there is an observable action and an observable reaction - kind of like shooting a martial arts movie, or maybe like professional wrestling rather than, say, your average UFC bout (spectacular headkicks and unusual quantities of blood notwithstanding) or something of that stripe. Putting some extra showmanship into your animal cruelty is sure to pay a great deal of dividends in the ritual sacrifice business.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 28, 2015, 05:30:35 pm
Assume the other position. (http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Name_Of_The_Moon_colorfix_5744.png)

In the name of the MOON, I will protect you!

Time to Purge an Army.

MOON

Dust rises from all around the courtyard as you speak the words, coming to you at your bidding. You gently jump from your position, rising some three feet above everyone else in the courtyard as the pull of the earth weakens on your body. The dust flies at you, some of it gathering on your robe, blackening it in places, the rest gathering in a small sphere orbiting your head, the particles growing wild and untamed by atmosphere as you approach the peak of your jump and begin to float downward.

Even as the feeling of lightness subsides when your feet touch the ground once more, the sphere remains, continuing to orbit you at a considerable pace. You look at it for a moment and it stops immediately, only to return to its circling as you look at the crowd, who the priest seems to be trying to lead in a chant (not that anyone's really paying attention to him, being a bit too busy gawking at you presently). It's not as fancy a transformation sequence as you would like, of course. But it seems to be impressing this lot just fine, chaotic praising of the Sun and Moon creating a proper din around you.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 29, 2015, 03:11:00 am
((Pretty pretty Derm. 8)))

"Here's that word again. Minders. Who are they? At this point it sounds like they are not exactly what I think the word means. The stoat called me minders' trick."

Elaborate please, and elaborate in turn.

The minders... well, they're very knowledgeable people who live in the minder tower, the lady explains. They have gotten to the point where they can think things, and some of them happen by the force of their will. Or something of that nature, anyway. She doesn't know the specifics - she did try out the preparatory meditations when she was but a girl, but minding never really came to her naturally, unlike her cousin in Thereford. Minding used to be in the blood of the Anglefork lords, but seems like that got misplaced somewhere along the way in her pedigree, unfortunately. Though maybe for the best, really, since minding can get rather dangerous at times.

And she supposes that bit with you being a minder trick is just some more stoat talk. They think everything is a minder trick, from taxes to governance by the aristocracy. Everything has to be an unforgivable assault on the privacy of their twisted minds. They probably blame minders for themselves being crazy, too. Foolish stoats.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Xantalos on December 29, 2015, 06:25:37 am
Jack's mind roils with disquieting thoughts of murder and blood. Who knows why, he certainly doesn't. Sure, he occasionally gets the urge to punch someone in the trachea and watch them choke on their own windpipe, or to jam his thumb into their eye and ram their nose straight up into their brain with his knee, or something of the like, but that was just the side effects of practicing how to kill people for a long time.

"Say shirtless guy, did you see what happened there, with the moon thing and all? Also did you mention you had a knife? Or does someone attending have a sharp stabby thing? I'm feeling very inspired for some reason."

((The prospect of ritualistically killing someone in a Harry Baldman game? My enthusiasm gland expands!))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 29, 2015, 06:41:09 am
"To be honest, taxes are a trick, one by government though. Leaders can lead and issue orders without actually doing anything and live by taxes."

"Seeing I have nothing but time and my gods are mostly 'help yourself first' type, mind teaching me those minder meditations? A man ought to try new things occasionally. That, and making mead appear directly into my stomach sounds like a lot of fun."

Cultural adaptation is important. If they are nuts, pretend to be one too.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 29, 2015, 09:02:38 am
Well crap, magic is harder than I thought. I continue to observe the ritual circle and dancing shiny man, staying closer to the latter.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Dermonster on December 29, 2015, 11:55:03 am
Moon jump to the Ramparts! See how well I can actually control this Moonstone. Like, how far away can I send it, or whether I can swing it like a wrecking ball through many many many enemy forces.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Toaster on December 30, 2015, 08:18:57 pm
Darn it!  These folk are some of the best actors he had ever seen... what's the phrase... "staying in character" or somesuch?

...

That is a neat effect.  Maybe this is one of those traveling magic shows?


Ask around to see how often this show comes around.  Continue to look for clothing choices.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: mcclay on December 30, 2015, 08:52:25 pm
Spoiler: Henrique Jackson (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 31, 2015, 06:21:39 am
Quote from: Xantalos on December 29, 2015, 06:25:37 am
Jack's mind roils with disquieting thoughts of murder and blood. Who knows why, he certainly doesn't. Sure, he occasionally gets the urge to punch someone in the trachea and watch them choke on their own windpipe, or to jam his thumb into their eye and ram their nose straight up into their brain with his knee, or something of the like, but that was just the side effects of practicing how to kill people for a long time.

"Say shirtless guy, did you see what happened there, with the moon thing and all? Also did you mention you had a knife? Or does someone attending have a sharp stabby thing? I'm feeling very inspired for some reason."

Oh, the shirtless man has a knife, but not on him. He uses one for carving, but it seems a tad too elaborate for the sort of ritual he would like to engage in. The right honorable turnkey might have one, too, but he is very unlikely to part with it. In times like these, lending knives is a very uncommon thing. They are, after all, among the few things of real value in here.

MOON

As to what happened there, the shirtless man indicates the flying Mr. Codeburn, something like that. Except for the part where he crashes into the castle wall and the crowd starts to laugh, of course. You should have seen it - it was really quite impressive.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 29, 2015, 06:41:09 am
"To be honest, taxes are a trick, one by government though. Leaders can lead and issue orders without actually doing anything and live by taxes."

"Seeing I have nothing but time and my gods are mostly 'help yourself first' type, mind teaching me those minder meditations? A man ought to try new things occasionally. That, and making mead appear directly into my stomach sounds like a lot of fun."

Cultural adaptation is important. If they are nuts, pretend to be one too.

Oh, she could, she guesses. They're a great way to pass the time if you're feeling bored, she thinks. Of course, you're unlikely to ever master something like mental projection, to say nothing of spontaneous materialization, but aside from that it's... well, you'll probably see. She hasn't got much experience with teaching these to anyone, just as a disclaimer, so perhaps you should not expect miracles, but... well, you should begin.

The meditation is the creation of a place within your own mind, like a persistent waking dream. Anyone can do it, she says, but the ones who actually achieve this within a certain time frame are said to have talent for minding. A certain level of sensory deprivation is recommended, usually, as is a certain emptying of the mind...

Under the guidance of your cellmate, you think you do make some progress, visualizing a variety of basic images - varieties of fruit come most easily, with distinctive shapes, colors, textures and unmistakable properties. In the darkness of the cell you begin to see them, one at a time. They look real. They feel real. And they even taste quite good, if a bit insubstantial. Your cellmate seems pleased - you do seem to be getting the hang of this quickly.

This, however, is the simple part. Next one needs to work on simultaneous visualization. Divide their attention. Keep an image in the back of their mind while visualizing something else.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 29, 2015, 09:02:38 am
Well crap, magic is harder than I thought. I continue to observe the ritual circle and dancing shiny man, staying closer to the latter.

You may want to stay closer to Mr. Codeburn, but he appears to want to leave.

MOON

With a leap of great urgency, he takes off for the skies, the orbiting stone following him along right up to the point where he smacks into the castle wall and plunges out of sight to what you presume to be the hard, gravel-covered. A few people in the crowd begin to chuckle and chat to each other, wondering aloud if he'll one day return. The priest looks dismayed, running off to see if the poor man's all right.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 29, 2015, 11:55:03 am
Moon jump to the Ramparts! See how well I can actually control this Moonstone. Like, how far away can I send it, or whether I can swing it like a wrecking ball through many many many enemy forces.

MOON

You prepare to leap to the ramparts in a single bound, and bounce off the earth to a preternatural height, carried upward by the power of your words. That is, until the low gravity sees fit to wear off mid-flight, somewhat throwing off your leap's course, which is to say it redirects it from the top of the wall to an area slightly below it. As the word fails to come to you, seemingly shy of persistent use, you smack right into the stonework, flopping off the wall and about twenty feet to the ground.

As you impact the gravel, you think you hear something crack. Probably just those shards of mirror-glass, judging by the way you seem to have been punctured in several places by the drop. Your mood as well as your supply of blood are somewhat compromised as a result. You lay there for a moment, your moonstone dancing above you, making violent sweeping motions as you consider irrational vengeance to make yourself feel better, almost hitting your priestly associate as he comes over to check up on you.

Quote from: Toaster on December 30, 2015, 08:18:57 pm
Darn it!  These folk are some of the best actors he had ever seen... what's the phrase... "staying in character" or somesuch?

...

That is a neat effect.  Maybe this is one of those traveling magic shows?


Ask around to see how often this show comes around.  Continue to look for clothing choices.

Presumably only when all looks darkest and the fate of humanity appears sealed, replies an astute-looking fellow. Seems like this whole thing is some form of prophecy if you believe the sun-priest. Not that anyone does, really, but you have to admit that with effects like these one could find themselves sorely tempted. You share a nod of understanding with the fellow, and ask if he knows where one could find some clothing. You're a bit naked, as you're sure he must have noticed.

MOON

The man admits that he didn't notice, actually, but looks around for your benefit anyway, taking a long look at the disappearing Mr. Codeburn, cracking a smile as he smacks into a wall, then directs you to a shirtless man wearing a set of leather pants. He seems to be more comfortable with nakedness than the average individual. It is a reasonable assumption that you could bum that set of pants off him too, if you don't mind your clothing being slightly used.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Xantalos on December 31, 2015, 06:50:50 am
"Anything pointy? I've had a disturbingly easy time coming up with ideas for ritual sacrifice while waiting here but most of them involve using one of those."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 31, 2015, 07:34:44 am
So I have talent for being crazy? Awesome...

Let us start with visualizing two grapefruits, next to each other. Advance by adding single peach below. Proceed with the training.
How about bottle of vodka? Easy shape, very clear properties.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Dermonster on December 31, 2015, 08:12:50 am
"Hit my face. Glass in my back. Whyyyyy."

Stairs? Stairs.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 31, 2015, 08:50:04 am
I mill about the crowd and try to find out what people are making of this. "So what's up with that guy?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Toaster on December 31, 2015, 09:04:35 pm
Thomas shrugged and thanked the man.  Well, there was no harm in asking.  He walked over to the indicated man.  "Sir, I couldn't help but notice your lack of shirt.  Since you seem to be okay with that, might I also borrow your trousers?  I would rather not be naked."

Ask a silly question.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 01, 2016, 06:02:05 am
Quote from: Xantalos on December 31, 2015, 06:50:50 am
"Anything pointy? I've had a disturbingly easy time coming up with ideas for ritual sacrifice while waiting here but most of them involve using one of those."

There's probably rocks about, the shirtless man admits. They tend to be somewhat pointy, especially if you break them before use (though as for holding an edge, that's another matter entirely). Some chipping will be needed to make proper cutting tools, of course, and they're none too good for stabbing, but if you can break bones with it, the other tissues shouldn't pose that much of a problem. In fact-

You are interrupted when a certain Mr. Minstep, a completely naked man with unpleasantly sandy unmentionables asks the man if he wouldn't mind parting with his pants for the good of society. The shirtless man finds the argument surprisingly compelling, and gets naked to provide the poor man with some pants, which Mr. Minstep appears to appreciate to a certain degree.

-right, so he has been working on some flint hand axes, adzes and what have you. Flint's a bit difficult to get your hands on usually, but the mason brothers have some. Not like they're using it much, mostly just for fire starting purposes, and they have way more than anyone will probably need, now that the torches in the castle are largely gone. Still, they do tend to be a bit stingy about it. You could ask one of them about it, he says, pointing toward a dull-faced, smiling fellow standing close by, waiting patiently for the festivities to begin.

What about chisels, you ask. Do they have those? And yes, the naked man agrees, he would suppose that they do. Are those sufficiently pointy for your purposes?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 31, 2015, 07:34:44 am
So I have talent for being crazy? Awesome...

Let us start with visualizing two grapefruits, next to each other. Advance by adding single peach below. Proceed with the training.
How about bottle of vodka? Easy shape, very clear properties.

Two grapefruits float right next to each other, with a single peach below, and a bottle of vodka. It seems simple, but your mind is distracted by the prospect of a vodka-flavored grapefruit. Or a vodka-filled grapefruit with a zest of well-aged pickle, the pleasing shape of a peach completing the impression.

You try to stop, but it just keeps getting better, the flavor rounding out to perfection. The knowledge of just how drunk one of these could make you (that is to say, exactly as drunk as you'd like to be) fills you with anticipation.

Quote from: Dermonster on December 31, 2015, 08:12:50 am
"Hit my face. Glass in my back. Whyyyyy."

Stairs? Stairs.

The stairs turn out to be the safer, simpler alternative. No magic required, none at all. It's a walk of shame regardless, of course, but you get there eventually. The priest follows along with a look of concern, trying to address your bleeding and the disorder of your robe as well as he can, which, as it turns out, is rather well indeed. As you slowly reach the top of the wall, you feel better already.

This is very good, of course, because you now regard the tents of the stoat army, a few hostile-looking stoat guards with crossbows sitting about, not paying you any particular attention. The surrounding camp appears to have simmered down quite a bit since midday. Nevertheless, their apparent numbers are quite daunting, and now that you have the chance to regard the encampment a bit longer, you think you spy some trebuchets off in the distance. Every now and then one of them lazily launches a boulder at the wall to no apparent effect.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 31, 2015, 08:50:04 am
I mill about the crowd and try to find out what people are making of this. "So what's up with that guy?"

Buggered if they know, in so many words. Never seen him before. The good priest seems to like him, though. And hey, if he's gonna kill a bunch of stoats before he invariably gets himself killed, least they poor peasants can do is encourage the strapping young lad to go right ahead. Fewer mouths to feed, fewer stoats who want them all dead that way. The pragmatic approach to prophecy.

Quote from: Toaster on December 31, 2015, 09:04:35 pm
Thomas shrugged and thanked the man.  Well, there was no harm in asking.  He walked over to the indicated man.  "Sir, I couldn't help but notice your lack of shirt.  Since you seem to be okay with that, might I also borrow your trousers?  I would rather not be naked."

Ask a silly question.

The shirtless fellow considers your request for a moment, then admits that this is a reasonable argument. There is no compelling reason why he should keep wearing pants, outmoded notions of decency aside. So he bequeaths his to you, becoming momentarily as naked as you are. You try them on, and while they are slightly constricting and play unfavorably with the sandiness of your lower quarters, they do well enough at covering up your dangly bits, which the now-naked man says is probably a good tradeoff.

There's a strange abundance of naked people about as of late, he notes after spending a moment admiring your newly clothed state. Naked, unfamiliar people. Such as Mr. Daniels over here, he indicates a man wearing only an apron and standing nearby, eager to resume conversation about pointy objects.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 01, 2016, 07:51:18 am
"Which part of this was supposed to be difficult? Oh boys, this is so tempting..."

One vodka-filled grapefruit, please. Drink it up! Or eat it? Consume it? Either way, down it goes. And offer another strongly flavoured grapefruit to my cellmate. It would be rude to be the only one enjoying alcoholics, don't you think?

But wait, aren't these still my personal hallucinations? Hmm. Oh well, let's go all crazy in proper manner.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Xantalos on January 01, 2016, 08:16:32 am
Jack momentarily closes his eyes and goes to a mental place full of sharp things. It's a simpler place than wherever this is. Just draw a line in your head and cut. One point to the other. Nice and simple. Entrancing, even. There never was anything like a good sharp knife to just ... stare at and wonder what you could cut with it...

Oh right. People. Talking.

Jack shakes his head slightly as he comes out of his momentary self-distraction.
"Er, right. Yeah, that'd probably work. I just ... hmm. Do you think that rock the sacrifices are done on could be considered profane? Or would that be the sacrificial implement?
...
Do you know anyone who's not really that useful, maybe you don't like them all that much, wouldn't miss them if they were gone for some reason?"

Jack isn't quite registering that he's leading up to what he's leading up to, but the words come out of his mouth regardless.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Dermonster on January 01, 2016, 12:19:11 pm
"Right. Time to make a lot of people very angry."

Flare robe dramatically

"Prepare yourself. It's about to get Anime in this bitch."

Cup hands to side.

"Ka meeeee... HA MEEEEEEEE..."

Extent arms in direction of Stoats.

"Sun. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 01, 2016, 12:41:20 pm
I head back into the well to grab a brick.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Toaster on January 01, 2016, 09:26:01 pm
Better than nothing.  "Thank you most kindly, Mr... well, I am Thomas Minstep.  And that is Mr. Daniels, you say?"  Thomas turned his attention to the mentioned man.  "Mr. Daniels?  Maybe you happen to know what day it is?  I am quite late for an important meeting, I fear."


Converse
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Xantalos on January 01, 2016, 11:01:35 pm
"Oh, call me Jack. I'm not really sure why this Mr. and Ms. whatever business popped up, but it's overly formal.

And truth be told I'm not really sure what day it is.
...
You wouldn't happen to be from Earth, would you? I think there's a bunch of us people that got brought from there. You probably won't be getting to your meeting if that's the case."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Toaster on January 02, 2016, 12:23:18 am
Thomas frowned.  "Yes, of course I'm from Earth.  What do you even mean by that?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Xantalos on January 02, 2016, 12:27:12 am
"Yeah, best to break it to you quickly, this ain't Earth. We're in some sort of fantasy world, apparently got summoned here by wizards. Or rather minders, apparently they do mind things. I dunno. Point is, this place aint earth, it's ... Angelspoon or something."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Dermonster on January 02, 2016, 12:42:58 am
I suddenly realize I don't know what Stoat means.

*googles*

Lo, I am fighting an army of Weasels. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoat)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 02, 2016, 07:12:41 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 01, 2016, 07:51:18 am
"Which part of this was supposed to be difficult? Oh boys, this is so tempting..."

One vodka-filled grapefruit, please. Drink it up! Or eat it? Consume it? Either way, down it goes. And offer another strongly flavoured grapefruit to my cellmate. It would be rude to be the only one enjoying alcoholics, don't you think?

But wait, aren't these still my personal hallucinations? Hmm. Oh well, let's go all crazy in proper manner.

It is as deliciously alcoholic as you imagined, perhaps even more so. Goes right to your head. Man, you needed that. You laugh to yourself and offer one to your cellmate, who accepts one graciously. After all, you seem to be enjoying yourself, so it's all good.

You think you'll have another one, thank you very much. You go ahead and fix yourself another one. It looks just as delightful as the first.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 01, 2016, 08:16:32 am
Jack momentarily closes his eyes and goes to a mental place full of sharp things. It's a simpler place than wherever this is. Just draw a line in your head and cut. One point to the other. Nice and simple. Entrancing, even. There never was anything like a good sharp knife to just ... stare at and wonder what you could cut with it...

Oh right. People. Talking.

Jack shakes his head slightly as he comes out of his momentary self-distraction.
"Er, right. Yeah, that'd probably work. I just ... hmm. Do you think that rock the sacrifices are done on could be considered profane? Or would that be the sacrificial implement?
...
Do you know anyone who's not really that useful, maybe you don't like them all that much, wouldn't miss them if they were gone for some reason?"

Jack isn't quite registering that he's leading up to what he's leading up to, but the words come out of his mouth regardless.

The priest would certainly say that the slab and whatever you use to perform the sacrifices is profane and heretical. The priestess, the naked man suspects, would either heartily agree or disagree merely to spite her husband. As for himself, anything is equally sacred to him, which is to say not at all. But then, the slab has hardly seen anything larger than a cat obliterated upon it, so perhaps it would be only mildly profane even if one assumes the priest's viewpoint.

As for people that wouldn't be missed, well! That's certainly an interesting question. He's fairly sure he wouldn't be missed if he were gone, though he would admittedly prefer to survive if he could help it. And both the priest and the priestess have long outlived their relevance. Alternatively, one of the minders - why, if one of them were to suddenly disappear/go missing/otherwise be implicitly murdered, it is doubtful anyone would even notice. Anyone who is not a minder, at least.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 01, 2016, 12:19:11 pm
"Right. Time to make a lot of people very angry."

Flare robe dramatically

"Prepare yourself. It's about to get Anime in this bitch."

Cup hands to side.

"Ka meeeee... HA MEEEEEEEE..."

Extent arms in direction of Stoats.

"Sun. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

SUN

Perhaps the word was a bit too understated. Perhaps the rhythm was incorrect. The result, however, is roughly the same - your dramatic robe flare is unfortunately wasted, as the only thing you feel is a slight warmth on your palms.

The stoatmen, for their part, take your strange gestures in good humor, deciding not to waste any bolts on you just yet. The priest looks at you from the cover of the battlements. He seems impressed at your shout, if underwhelmed at the follow-through, and suggests that you should perhaps duck.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 01, 2016, 12:41:20 pm
I head back into the well to grab a brick.

Climbing down into the well, you find it looking mostly the same. There appear to be fewer rats about (most of which scatter as you descend), some bags and gold scattered about and a tub has been upturned, all traces of mischief from your fellows. The three minders remain as dead as before. Perhaps more so, as now you think you can safely say the third one - the blessed - is also dead (or at least dead enough for the rats to start taking chunks out of him just as readily as from the other two). And the door still warns you to be staying in away.

The pile of bricks is still there, naturally. They don't really look too magical, you think. Just hundreds of bricks that somebody wrote the word 'Water' upon for some reason. Though you do recall hearing somebody say something like that while you were down here.

Saying the word doesn't work in this case either, you immediately check. Guess that's one pattern established, at least.

Quote from: Toaster on January 01, 2016, 09:26:01 pm
Better than nothing.  "Thank you most kindly, Mr... well, I am Thomas Minstep.  And that is Mr. Daniels, you say?"  Thomas turned his attention to the mentioned man.  "Mr. Daniels?  Maybe you happen to know what day it is?  I am quite late for an important meeting, I fear."


Converse

Though he lies about hating to impugn on a question meant for someone else, the naked man suggests that it is probably Sunday. It depends on whether he lost a day or two somewhere along the way, or counted a certain day twice (there were a few that were unusually eventful). You should probably ask someone who is in the habit of recording each day. Perhaps the majordomo, or maybe the priestess in her silly shrine.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 02, 2016, 08:17:04 am
"Mmm~. Free drinks, this is really awesome! Now then, my wonderfull countess, what's next in the minder curriculum?"

Proceed with education, enjoying few drinks every now and then.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Dermonster on January 02, 2016, 12:50:36 pm
Shit. Duck.

"Okay so that was supposed to fire a giant beam of destructive sunlight out of my hands. Apparently the cool Prophetic powers don't work like that. Hey, priest, what exactly am I working with here? Oh, also what is your name again?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Xantalos on January 02, 2016, 04:24:35 pm
"Hmm."

Approach priest, assuming I can figure out who he is.

"Say, my good man, now that I assume you had something to do with giving that one guy his powers, wanna help me possibly get some too? It'll only help to defeat the marmots or whatever."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 02, 2016, 09:54:09 pm
Magic sucks.

Wait, a door? I didn't realize there was a door. I walk up to the door and try to open it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Toaster on January 02, 2016, 09:55:54 pm
"Uhhhh... thanks, Jack!  Why yes, I do believe I will find this majordomo.  Could you possibly point me in his directions, sir?"  Thomas found himself edging away from Jack.

Avoid that guy; he must be extra crazy.  Find that majordomo if given directions; just go looking for him if none are provided.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 03, 2016, 07:44:13 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 02, 2016, 08:17:04 am
"Mmm~. Free drinks, this is really awesome! Now then, my wonderfull countess, what's next in the minder curriculum?"

Proceed with education, enjoying few drinks every now and then.

Not really that much more to it, your cellmate explains. You simply need to keep adding things until you come up with a cohesive, persistent otherworld for your mind to inhabit. If you can come up with one at roughly the age of 10 or earlier, then those are reasonable grounds for admittance into the tower and more advanced training. It's mostly a test of your multitasking abilities and the malleability of your consciousness, which are things the minders like in their students. She didn't quite make the cut in her day, she says, so she wouldn't really be able to tell you much about what comes next. But even if you fail to catch their attention, you must admit that they are a marvelous distraction.

You do not reply immediately, your attention taken up by a fuzzy sea of vodka grapefruit-peaches, a richly textured peel filling the vault of heavens above, a bright blue ethanol flame in the sky illuminating your own little elemental plane of utmost enjoyment. You alternate between carefree snacking and drunken drowning, unable to decide whether inhaling or ingesting some of mankind's greatest vodka is more to your liking.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 02, 2016, 12:50:36 pm
Shit. Duck.

"Okay so that was supposed to fire a giant beam of destructive sunlight out of my hands. Apparently the cool Prophetic powers don't work like that. Hey, priest, what exactly am I working with here? Oh, also what is your name again?"

You duck behind a parapet. No bolts come flying over you, so you guess nobody took offense at your shouting just yet. You ask the priest what exactly these powers you have are.

He takes a moment to think, looking at you, then peeking out at the stoatmen thoughtfully from behind the parapet, then back at you. Hm, he says. Ah, he thinks to himself. Yes, he concludes, raising his finger to begin clarifying his train of thought.

Clearly, he begins, then pauses, clearly the issue here must be thus, as outlined in the verses of Encroaching Darkness, set down in stone at the Great Henge. It must be, he reasons, that while you are the Child of the Sun and Moon, hallowed be your holy presence, exalted be your holy name, feared by the wicked be your holy celestial power... er, you are not the Sun, or the Moon. He pauses a moment, nodding along as the thought completes its formation. Yes, quite. You are not your father or your mother. Rather, you are derived of both. So you can't simply produce deadly amounts of sunlight. You must call it, reflect it, concentrate it! Like one of those hemispherical golden mirrors they have in those really fancy solar promontory-temples of El. Yes, that's it. Exactly like that.

You nod skeptically, but the priest assures you that the reasoning is perfectly sound. He can even remember a bit of scripture there, yes, something about the light of the sun, and probably some bush fires were in there, too. Something about a message from the Sun to its chosen prophet. So there's precedent - it all checks out.

You then ask him his name. He pauses. He never did quite introduce himself, did he? He's Prudence, Sun-Mouth of Anglefork. The back of your eyes itches for a second, and you feel the urge to sneeze.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 02, 2016, 04:24:35 pm
"Hmm."

Approach priest, assuming I can figure out who he is.

"Say, my good man, now that I assume you had something to do with giving that one guy his powers, wanna help me possibly get some too? It'll only help to defeat the marmots or whatever."

You ask the naked man where Sun-Mouth Prudence went, and soon locate him atop the battlements, conversing with Mr. Codeburn from cover. This prompts you to take a look at what exactly they're seeking cover from.

It seems to be an army of those marmot folk, camped out for the long haul of an old-timey castle siege. Not sure why they call them that, really. They look a lot like people, though with considerably shorter limbs and overly long torsos. Not as furry as you'd expect. Not furry at all, actually. One of them gives you a distant, dirty look from the far distance, starting to idly wind up their arbalest. They move strangely, the lesser range of motion of their limbs seemingly compensated by an amazingly flexible spine. You give the marmot person a challenging look as they finish winding up the weapon. They pretend to lose interest as you lean on the parapet, looking unimpressed.

Right, so you ask the priest if he can give you any powers. He looks up at you, sizing you up. You seem pretty foreign just like the Child of the Sun and Moon here, he says. And just as the Sun has its Mouths and the Moon has its Hands, so must the Celestial Champion have his... uh, Stalwart Friend! One who embodies the Earth Illuminated! Yes, that's it! The Child of the Sun and Moon must have the Champion of the Earth to guide him in his glorious travels. And it just so happens that you fit the bill - large, foreign, slightly fearsome. Perhaps with a few unsavory associations - all in the past now, of course, what with you having seen the literal light. You almost fit the bill, too! All you need is a proof of pedigree.

A proof of pedigree? A document? No! Something from the depths of the earth, forged in the deep fires! He's not really sure where you'd get that, of course. But he's confident that, as Champion of the Earth, you'd be able to figure it out. You're supposed to be the knowledgeable one, after all. The beefy, yet cerebral and streetwise sidekick to our brave young conduit of the heavens themselves.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 02, 2016, 09:54:09 pm
Magic sucks.

Wait, a door? I didn't realize there was a door. I walk up to the door and try to open it.

The door is dark apart from the luminescent letters, and there is no visible knob or anything of that sort on it. You move closer. The door is warm, dark, damp. Inviting. You place your hands on it. Soft. Enveloping. Your hands sink into it, and you push further. It parts before you, inviting you to step inside.

On the other side you see only darkness. Pitch black at the edges. Darker still in the center. Your heart feels warm, your stomach full. You are about to step over the threshold to the well. It hungers for the warmth of your kind. It overflows with warmth of its own.

Step inside. Present one desire. Present one question. Speak plainly, and receive the same.

Quote from: Toaster on January 02, 2016, 09:55:54 pm
"Uhhhh... thanks, Jack!  Why yes, I do believe I will find this majordomo.  Could you possibly point me in his directions, sir?"  Thomas found himself edging away from Jack.

Avoid that guy; he must be extra crazy.  Find that majordomo if given directions; just go looking for him if none are provided.

As one might expect, the helpful naked man directs you to the biggest building around - a majordomo needs a domus maior to fulfill his role, wouldn't you agree? You nod and set off, walking into the keep, the door of which appears to currently be unguarded. It becomes apparent why that is in a moment.

The foyer looks absolutely packed with servants, most of whom look rather direly concerned as they group around all the entrances, exits and even all over the stairs leading to the upper floors. Their fearful chatter nearly drowns out the commotion that seems to be coming from the upper floor. You hear yelling. Maybe this isn't such a good time. Worse yet, you can't even tell if any of these people are the majordomo at a glance. And if you wanted to seriously look for him, you'd probably have to elbow your way through the crowd, which seems a bit rude.

You think somebody's fighting upstairs. Oh dear.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Xantalos on January 03, 2016, 08:18:00 am
"Sounds like it fits. Prophecy's pretty nice that way in how it can be moulded. And it even works as well, in that I need to get some things to get that blacksmith kid to make me a kickass sword. Do you have anything purple on you? Also do you mind following me to that there sacrificial stone there since you've fulfilled your part of fate and all?"

Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 03, 2016, 11:20:14 am
Inhaling is not the proper way, you know? Drink it. Or eat it.
Utmost enjoyment as it provides, it is not perfect yet. It needs an island. And on the island should be a church. Burning one. My little bonfire. Burning stone church! You know, we used to have our fun with those. Gotta remember our history. And respect it. Maybe repeat it, too?

And I need to be dressed properly for Valhalla's drinking party. An armor, like this one (http://destructive-music.com/wp-content/uploads/Tyr-The-Lay-Of-Thrym-Viking-Metal-Artwork.jpg). The helmet, the cape, pants and the works. Hammer is not necessary, but would be a nice touch.

"What was it you shaid, a place of its own for my mind to reside in? My happy place. I think I found it... By Freyja's big tits, I didn't know hallucinations could be so effective. Free booze for everybody! I love you, shister! Where do I find those mints? Minders, I mean. I shaid minders, right?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Dermonster on January 03, 2016, 11:55:35 am
"Ah, so more, 'Spirit bomb' than 'Great turtle wave'. Gotcha. Hm... Oh, hey guy. What's your name again?"

Focus intently on my own Defence. Moon.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Toaster on January 03, 2016, 06:38:18 pm
Elbow I must, most gently.  They do not understand how important this meeting is!  Was!  Whatever!

"Excuse me!  I must find the majordomo!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: Dermonster on January 03, 2016, 06:44:23 pm
Too soon! You have awakened me too soon, Executus Toaster!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 03, 2016, 11:58:24 pm
Woah. I step inside.

"My desire: knowledge of magic. My question: how do we leave this place?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Words Which Burn
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 04, 2016, 01:45:57 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 03, 2016, 11:58:24 pm
My question: how do we leave this place?

((By walking. Or by climbing up the rope.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 04, 2016, 03:06:20 am
Quote from: Xantalos on January 03, 2016, 08:18:00 am
"Sounds like it fits. Prophecy's pretty nice that way in how it can be moulded. And it even works as well, in that I need to get some things to get that blacksmith kid to make me a kickass sword. Do you have anything purple on you? Also do you mind following me to that there sacrificial stone there since you've fulfilled your part of fate and all?"

Purple? That's rather specific, isn't it? The priest can't really help you on that front, unfortunately, as he is not exactly known for his wealth of colorful objects. He's more into the golds and the oranges, as you could presumably see if his robe wasn't absolutely ruined with copious amounts of Mr. Codeburn's blood.

MOON

And yes, he would very much mind following you to the blasphemous circle of stones where all the bloody heretics congregate to perform ritual sacrifice to their dark gods. And the way you're not even bothering to pretend you don't intend to end his life on a sacrificial slab makes him wonder if the kind and generous offer of getting in on this sweet prophetic action was a bit too easily given.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 03, 2016, 11:20:14 am
Inhaling is not the proper way, you know? Drink it. Or eat it.
Utmost enjoyment as it provides, it is not perfect yet. It needs an island. And on the island should be a church. Burning one. My little bonfire. Burning stone church! You know, we used to have our fun with those. Gotta remember our history. And respect it. Maybe repeat it, too?

And I need to be dressed properly for Valhalla's drinking party. An armor, like this one (http://destructive-music.com/wp-content/uploads/Tyr-The-Lay-Of-Thrym-Viking-Metal-Artwork.jpg). The helmet, the cape, pants and the works. Hammer is not necessary, but would be a nice touch.

"What was it you shaid, a place of its own for my mind to reside in? My happy place. I think I found it... By Freyja's big tits, I didn't know hallucinations could be so effective. Free booze for everybody! I love you, shister! Where do I find those mints? Minders, I mean. I shaid minders, right?"

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there! An... uh, island. Made of something, yeah. With a church. On fire. And it's... like, built on something. What was that first thing again? Armor? You guess you could have armor. It feels heavy. Man, these grapefruits go right to your head, don't they?

Wait! Minders! Those are... in the tower? Wait, you don't see any tower in here. Is she sure? She sounds like she's quite sure. The real tower, she adds.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 03, 2016, 11:55:35 am
"Ah, so more, 'Spirit bomb' than 'Great turtle wave'. Gotcha. Hm... Oh, hey guy. What's your name again?"

Focus intently on my own Defence. Moon.

MOON

Once more the dust rises and flies to you, growing sharp and formidable, covering you from head to toe in an ostensibly protective shell, covering you fully, even the inside of your ears and the corners of your eyes and in every other crevice you'd care to- okay, that's far enough! You bid it to stop!

It doesn't stop. It gets everywhere. And only then does it stop. You try to shake the dust off, but you're not sure it's working.

With how abrasive this stuff is, you're not sure you want to open your eyes.

Quote from: Toaster on January 03, 2016, 06:38:18 pm
Elbow I must, most gently.  They do not understand how important this meeting is!  Was!  Whatever!

"Excuse me!  I must find the majordomo!

You elbow a nearby servant in the kidney, and as he doubles over you use his back as a springboard to execute a very handsome frog splash, stating your urgent need mid-air. No time to waste, after all. This proves very expedient, as you manage to land on a particularly soft group of different servants, having made very good headway through the foyer at this point.

A kitchen girl stares up at you, looking very much surprised and also favorably oriented for a conversation, markedly unlike the several people under her. You ask her if she's seen the majordomo anywhere. She looks up. You look up also. There appears to be a terrified, silvery-haired man wearing an unfavorable combination of green and purple finery standing nearby. Would he be the majordomo, you ask. He thinks about it a moment, backing away slightly. A shaggy chambermaid elbows him back forward.

Yes, he gulps. Yes, he is the majordomo. You're not going to hurt him, are you? He is old and fragile. Please don't hurt him.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 03, 2016, 11:58:24 pm
Woah. I step inside.

"My desire: knowledge of magic. My question: how do we leave this place?"

The door fuses shut behind you, leaving you in complete darkness and silence. You cannot hear yourself as you speak in here, your words falling into the nucleus of the dark well before they even issue from your throat. You feel it snake about, coming alive at your presence, at your engagement.

It has been some time. Welcome.

Your fulfillment: high compatibility with the well simplifies acquisition of abilities designated 'magical' (see magic, minding, universality of language). Abilities will be phrased as words (see words, phrasing, ambiguity): HUNGER, DEEP, SEEK. One may be chosen. Alternative: desire can be interpreted as additional question, no words.

Your answer: through disruption your mind can be returned to the well (see disruption, vessels, the well). Methods of leaving area designated as Anglefork Castle include, but are not limited to destruction of besieging forces (see magic, improvised technology, brute force), cooperation with besieging forces (see betrayal, stoatman codes, universality of language), avoidance of besieging forces (see flight, invisibility, skulduggery). Methods of reaching a different world can be found in regions of extreme conditions (see corner of the world, halfway temple, time-enders).

Your price: a connection now belongs to the well.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Xantalos on January 04, 2016, 04:01:50 am
Jack puts up a look of feeling affronted.

"What? No! No no no. I'm not intending to sacrifice you on the slab, no you're far too useful. I'm intending to sacrifice someone else. See, you're a priest! Even though you apparently follow different gods or whatever to those who do the sacrificial bit, I figure that if you help me preside over the ceremony, maybe dedicate it to the sun and moon and all, it'll be a bit more effective, ya ken? Best go more than needed when dealing with mystical fuckery. 'Sides, can't hurt, except the poor sod we're going to be sacrificing, but maybe there's ... this is a castle, right? Maybe after going and conferring with the ... oh right he gave his pants to that other guy - after conferring with the muscular naked guy on how exactly we're gonna conduct this whole deal so we can make it as pleasing to the sun, moon, and blood gods as possible, maybe we can nip down to the dungeon I assume is here and grab someone there to chop up? They're probably not doing much good in there anyway, right?

Oh! And priceless, if you have or know of anything priceless, in both the good or bad sense, I could use that too. Or more accurately the blacksmith kid could, but you get the point."

I'm still not quite comfortable with how fast I've warmed up to the notion of human sacrifice, but hey it might work, and it'll get me a profane thing anyway.

Hopefully be convincing in my creepiness.

((I'm not sure why I'm trying to convince this innocent guy to let me sacrifice him on a bloody stone altar for no clear benefit to me, but I'll be damned if I don't kill someone at some point!))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 04, 2016, 04:54:56 am
Hold on, hold your horses! I'm getting too drunk too fast! Moderation, everything in moderation! Even drinking! What is real anyway?

"What is real anyway?"

Back to my personal elemental plane of vodka fruits and burning churches.
Island. An island made of stone. Stone is simple. I work with stone. I know stone. Stone is safe. Stone is strong.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Dermonster on January 04, 2016, 07:48:45 am
There are ROLLS? I forgot this was an rtd. Why can't I see them?

Focus on making the moonstone bigger.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Toaster on January 04, 2016, 09:53:05 am
((Rolls?  We don't need no steenkin rools.))

Thomas was surprised with himself; that was rather more physical effort than he ever put forth. That said, the meeting WAS important.

"Yes!  No!  No, I won't hurt him!  He just has what I need to make sure I get back in time to speak to Mr. Munderly!  Thank you!"

Continue to push forward!  Maybe without jumping on anyone, but this is indeed urgent.

"Mr Majordomo, sir!  What day is it?  I must get back to Mr. Munderly and not miss my meeting!  Which way is Sureness Assurance?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 04, 2016, 10:05:12 am
Not sure what a connection is... but this seems like the most progress I've made all day. "I will pay your price. I choose the word HUNGER."

I then attempt to leave the well.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 04, 2016, 06:25:04 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 04, 2016, 04:01:50 am
Jack puts up a look of feeling affronted.

"What? No! No no no. I'm not intending to sacrifice you on the slab, no you're far too useful. I'm intending to sacrifice someone else. See, you're a priest! Even though you apparently follow different gods or whatever to those who do the sacrificial bit, I figure that if you help me preside over the ceremony, maybe dedicate it to the sun and moon and all, it'll be a bit more effective, ya ken? Best go more than needed when dealing with mystical fuckery. 'Sides, can't hurt, except the poor sod we're going to be sacrificing, but maybe there's ... this is a castle, right? Maybe after going and conferring with the ... oh right he gave his pants to that other guy - after conferring with the muscular naked guy on how exactly we're gonna conduct this whole deal so we can make it as pleasing to the sun, moon, and blood gods as possible, maybe we can nip down to the dungeon I assume is here and grab someone there to chop up? They're probably not doing much good in there anyway, right?

Oh! And priceless, if you have or know of anything priceless, in both the good or bad sense, I could use that too. Or more accurately the blacksmith kid could, but you get the point."

I'm still not quite comfortable with how fast I've warmed up to the notion of human sacrifice, but hey it might work, and it'll get me a profane thing anyway.

Hopefully be convincing in my creepiness.

((I'm not sure why I'm trying to convince this innocent guy to let me sacrifice him on a bloody stone altar for no clear benefit to me, but I'll be damned if I don't kill someone at some point!))

Dedicate it to the... goodness, you are very foreign indeed. Right-thinking followers of the Sun and Moon do not sacrifice people, dammit! It is simply not done! It's not right!

MOON

You have but one retort: why's that, then? Is there any scripture forbidding it?

This gives Sun-Mouth Prudence a bit of pause. He thinks a moment. Er... not as such, he thinks. Not specifically, at least. There is something of a prohibition against murder, granted, but if you can get around that, well... hm. Hm! Human sacrifice... voluntary human sacrifice, mind you, now there's a way to show your commitment to the Sun and Moon. The most valuable thing you have, given up without reservation. Quite a romantic concept. He catches himself seriously considering it. You think you have an in.

But the bone carver (that's the naked man, apparently) cannot participate. He mustn't participate. Even if you do get a volunteer. He's not of the Sun and Moon, and he has a nasty tendency to make everything about his absurd and heretical worldview. Maybe you should get your own slab, just to be safe. Not that... he'd advise that you try this... or anything, the Sun-Mouth explains as he tries to shrug his way into plausible deniability. Oh, look at that giant moon rock! The Child of the Sun and Moon has done it again!

You have to say - that is really a giant moon rock.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 04, 2016, 04:54:56 am
Hold on, hold your horses! I'm getting too drunk too fast! Moderation, everything in moderation! Even drinking! What is real anyway?

"What is real anyway?"

Back to my personal elemental plane of vodka fruits and burning churches.
Island. An island made of stone. Stone is simple. I work with stone. I know stone. Stone is safe. Stone is strong.

These peach grapefruits sure taste real. And you're really drunk. You think your cellmate is real, but you don't actually see her anywhere. There was a reason for that, you recall. What was it?

And yeah, stone! An island of stone. A skerry, if you will. That clarifies things. Perfect place for a blazing church. You can smell the smoke even now. Hope the sea doesn't catch fire. Well, at least now while you're in it. Can you control that? You think you can control that. Maybe it's more fun to forget that you can, though.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 04, 2016, 07:48:45 am
There are ROLLS? I forgot this was an rtd. Why can't I see them?

Focus on making the moonstone bigger.

MOON

[Word: 5]

The moonstone begins to spin rapidly, and the dust ebbs from the surroundings, accumulating as you focus upon the stone. It grows and grows, and grows further still, first to the size of your head... then to the size of your body. Then just a little bit larger, rendering the surrounding area completely spotless, including yourself. A much-needed bit of relief, you would say.

Hm. There appears to be a several ton boulder hanging over your head. You regard it with concern, and it politely moves to the side a little.

Quote from: Toaster on January 04, 2016, 09:53:05 am
((Rolls?  We don't need no steenkin rools.))

Thomas was surprised with himself; that was rather more physical effort than he ever put forth. That said, the meeting WAS important.

"Yes!  No!  No, I won't hurt him!  He just has what I need to make sure I get back in time to speak to Mr. Munderly!  Thank you!"

Continue to push forward!  Maybe without jumping on anyone, but this is indeed urgent.

"Mr Majordomo, sir!  What day is it?  I must get back to Mr. Munderly and not miss my meeting!  Which way is Sureness Assurance?"

You rise to your feet, pushing toward the majordomo. In fact, it is in moments that you reach him. Disappointed, you push him a little further along as well. It is an energizing sort of determination that seems to have overcome you.

The majordomo seems to have no clue what you're talking about, however, aside from being able to tell you that today is definitely Friday, July 23rd, 409 S.D.

Alternative calendars, you guess. Committed people you're dealing with here.

The commotion seems to have died down a little. Guess whatever differences were had upstairs, they are probably settled now. The servants fidget to themselves. One steps higher upstairs, peeking at what's going on there for now.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 04, 2016, 10:05:12 am
Not sure what a connection is... but this seems like the most progress I've made all day. "I will pay your price. I choose the word HUNGER."

I then attempt to leave the well.

The price is accepted upon stating a desire and a question. Further acceptance is irrelevant.

The word is yours. It settles painlessly, your insides parting the way for it effortlessly in a dimension you were previously unaware you possessed, a solid kernel of want taking shape in the ultimate destination. It makes you feel a slight craving for fresh spacetime. You do your best to oblige this craving, and step out through the door. It behaves as a liquid curtain, bending around you as you pass through unimpeded. The darkness of the corpse-filled basement feels uncomfortably bright as you emerge into it.

Thank you. Come again.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Dermonster on January 04, 2016, 06:45:28 pm
Test how far I can control the thing. Move it over an empty space inside the walls, then continually ascend it until I lose control or it gets really small.

After that, try to infuse the moonstone with the FIERY POWER OF THE SUN.

"If this works I'm totally calling it the Eclipse... something."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 04, 2016, 07:38:23 pm
Okay, magical powers. Let's see how this works. I climb out of the well, point at the naked man, and say "HUNGER."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Xantalos on January 04, 2016, 08:20:29 pm
"Hmm. What if we sacrificed him, then? But not tell him it's for the sun and moon until we've done it so he goes willingly?

Oh dear that's a rather large rock."

Engage in preliminary backstabbery, move out of the way of the floating rock.

((Plan doubledoubledoublecross is a go.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Dermonster on January 04, 2016, 08:40:29 pm
"Hell yeah it is!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Xantalos on January 05, 2016, 12:55:52 am
"Indeed. I hope it doesn't fall on me. Though since it's apparently a moon rock, I don't think it will. Can't be too sure though.
...
Do you have anything priceless or purple on you, by chance?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 05, 2016, 01:55:05 am
Oh no, it's more fun to control it. "In immortal words of... very smart dude: I'm the captain of my soul, the master of my fate, the lord of free vodka!"

It would be problem if the sea of ethanol were to ignite. That would be end of my wonderful state of intoxication. So! The church must be up higher! Churches are naturally built next to high cliffs, or at least this one is. Will be. Is now. Much like this (http://www.svsarah.com/Sailing/AtlanticCircle/Images/2006%20Isla%20Dragonera%203.JPG). Nice tilted island. Swim to the shore. Sit on that nice golden bench. Open another bottle.

"Maybe I should bring Valhalla here, then gods would be much closer and easier to reach..."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Dermonster on January 05, 2016, 07:08:08 am
"Gimme like ten minutes and the expressions on that army over there is gonna be exactly what you need."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Toaster on January 05, 2016, 09:05:27 am
Thomas sighed.  Maybe if he went at it the other way...

"Okay, so... where's this place again?  What's nearby?  Where's the nearest big city?"

Pester pester ask ask
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 05, 2016, 09:27:54 am
Quote from: Dermonster on January 04, 2016, 06:45:28 pm
Test how far I can control the thing. Move it over an empty space inside the walls, then continually ascend it until I lose control or it gets really small.

After that, try to infuse the moonstone with the FIERY POWER OF THE SUN.

"If this works I'm totally calling it the Eclipse... something."

You flick the moon-boulder this way and that with but a set of well-placed thoughts. It feels light as a feather when you do so, though the wind its movements produce lead you to suppose that this is probably just more magic. You decide to raise it up to the skies as far as you can to test out exactly how far the control stretches - not very far, as it turns out. A respectable distance, you would say. A hundred and fifty feet or thereabouts. But beyond that it seems to get a little queasy about going further, edging back even as you push it forward. You sense it becoming agitated as you do so. Perhaps an upgrade is required.

SUN

[Word: 5]

High above you the boulder begins to shine brightly, becoming as a second moon in the sky, illuminated by nuclear flame, unusually cold for its proximity. You don't quite see the stoatmen's reaction to this, so you peek up from cover and confirm that they seem to be gawking at it with expressions of confusion and, in the case of the wiser few, abject terror.

You look back up at the stone. It seems to have inched slightly to one side. Then it inches to the other. It seems to be expecting you to do something with it.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 04, 2016, 07:38:23 pm
Okay, magical powers. Let's see how this works. I climb out of the well, point at the naked man, and say "HUNGER."

You climb on out and look around for the naked fellow. He hasn't moved much since you last saw him, fortunately. Hopefully he won't move out of the way now, either.

HUNGER

[Word: 3]

He blinks, looking around for a second before his eyes settle on you. He smiles as he approaches, seeming relaxed, but stepping with great calculation. As he comes closer, you consider stepping back, and almost as if sensing your thought the naked man stops, his grin lessening, teeth no longer visible. He tilts his head, staring at you silently with odd eyes, pupils dilated to make the whole eye appear black.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 04, 2016, 08:20:29 pm
"Hmm. What if we sacrificed him, then? But not tell him it's for the sun and moon until we've done it so he goes willingly?

Oh dear that's a rather large rock."

Engage in preliminary backstabbery, move out of the way of the floating rock.

Well, that does defeat the entire purpose, doesn't it? You can't call it a proper human sacrifice if the sacrifice in question is not a volunteer. It's simply murder in that event. Anathema to all religious creeds, murder. And while the death of the bone carver would be rather grand in its own way, the priest cannot in good conscience advocate it to any adherents of the Sun and Moon. It'd be giving the man far too much credit and respect to murder him religiously.

SUN

Really, best drop the idea. Forget he said anything. If there is actually anyone around here who would willingly give their life to the Sun and Moon, the Sun-Mouth sure as shit hasn't met them. Bloody pack of fair-weather chapelgoers.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 05, 2016, 01:55:05 am
Oh no, it's more fun to control it. "In immortal words of... very smart dude: I'm the captain of my soul, the master of my fate, the lord of free vodka!"

It would be problem if the sea of ethanol were to ignite. That would be end of my wonderful state of intoxication. So! The church must be up higher! Churches are naturally built next to high cliffs, or at least this one is. Will be. Is now. Much like this (http://www.svsarah.com/Sailing/AtlanticCircle/Images/2006%20Isla%20Dragonera%203.JPG). Nice tilted island. Swim to the shore. Sit on that nice golden bench. Open another bottle.

"Maybe I should bring Valhalla here, then gods would be much closer and easier to reach..."

There are no bottles in the boundless Vodka Grapeachfruit Ocean, you silly goose. Only delicious vodka-filled grapeachfruit. You have one anyway as you sit down on the inviting beach of solid rock. It's a bit of a climb, as you might imagine (and actually did imagine, now that you think about is as hard as the imaginary booze in your system permits).

This would make a pretty nice vacation destination for the residents of Valhalla, most likely. Heavier on the booze, lighter on the fighting. Give people some time to recharge that murderous energy.

Quote from: Toaster on January 05, 2016, 09:05:27 am
Thomas sighed.  Maybe if he went at it the other way...

"Okay, so... where's this place again?  What's nearby?  Where's the nearest big city?"

Pester pester ask ask

This is, er, Anglefork Castle, the majordomo says. The, uh, de facto capital of Benzerwald as far as he knows. Did you somehow- no, no. That's impossible, clearly. Nearby is Anglefork. And the nearest big city would be... the Free City of Elizabeth if he recalls correctly? Not that it matters. Nobody's going anywhere, remember? The surrounding area is crawling with stoats.

You ask how exactly stoats are relevant to the passability of the surrounding area, and the majordomo looks at you oddly. Stoats... kill people, don't you know? He starts to look less intimidated and more actively concerned for your mental health.

The upstairs has settled for the moment. You think you hear somebody coming toward the stairs. The servants begin to rapidly scatter, the majordomo excepted.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Toaster on January 05, 2016, 10:23:48 am
Thomas had had quite enough, at this point.

"Look, sir, I admire your dedication to... staying in character, I believe, but please, this is a most urgent matter.  I simply MUST see Mr. Munderly!  This is a most important matter!  If you won't step out of your role, then please point me to someone who will!  The future of the company may depend on this meeting!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 05, 2016, 11:23:03 am
But I had bottle of delicious vodka recently on the hand. I remember imagining it! So I imagine it again!

Though I really should stop imagining my inebriation so clearly. Tone it down few steps. Otherwise the lady of the castle might grow worried.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Dermonster on January 05, 2016, 12:22:08 pm
Requesting distance between walls and stoat men.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 05, 2016, 12:28:38 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on January 05, 2016, 12:22:08 pm
Requesting distance between walls and stoat men.

Inconveniently long. Somewhere between three hundred feet for the lookouts and crossbowstoats and six hundred for the furthest signs of stoat activity that you can see.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 05, 2016, 01:14:44 pm
Crap crap crap. Uh, let's see if I can point him in another direction. "Hey, HUNGER for something else!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Dermonster on January 05, 2016, 03:07:02 pm
"Alright, here we go. I CALL UPON YE, OH HEAVENS! ANSWER MY CALL!"

"SUNSET CANNON!"

My idea here is that the Sun/Moon rock will fire a sweeping explosive sunburst laser across the Stoat lines.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Xantalos on January 05, 2016, 03:24:40 pm
"Well, can't hurt to try, now can it? Besides, your prophecy guy seems to have things well in hand here. We can try to convince the bone carver or maybe someone else to give their lives for the Sun and Moon. We both seem like fairly persuasive people, I'm sure we could pull it off.

...
aaaaand just as the remotest of possibility, if we don't manage to convince anyone ... surely the Sun and Moon would look kindly upon a priest of theirs that gives themselves up to them, right? I mean, all those marmots are out there, and surely defeating them would be a task most holy.
But that's only a last resort, so let's not focus on it for now. C'mon, I'm sure there's someone down there who won't be able to resist our combined rhetoric."

Wheedle.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Dermonster on January 05, 2016, 03:38:46 pm
"Any chance you could just go take on the damn heavenly task and not sacrifice people? You'd be halfway done by now."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Xantalos on January 05, 2016, 03:47:30 pm
"Dude, sacrificing people is part of my task. I need a profane thing."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Tomcost on January 05, 2016, 03:49:43 pm
((Hey, Derm, I think that the rock will explode. I would rather use the word MOON and hurl it away in the direction of the stoats))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Dermonster on January 05, 2016, 03:52:36 pm
Quote from: Tomcost on January 05, 2016, 03:49:43 pm
((Hey, Derm, I think that the rock will explode. I would rather use the word MOON and hurl it away in the direction of the stoats))

((Well that's what I'm going to try NEXT if this doesn't work.

Don't act like you don't know me. My first instinct was to katamari some motherfuckers.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: a Deep, Dark Well
Post by: Tomcost on January 05, 2016, 04:09:05 pm
((I just said that out of fear that it may explode on you. I'm as lost as you))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 06, 2016, 07:36:54 am
Quote from: Toaster on January 05, 2016, 10:23:48 am
Thomas had had quite enough, at this point.

"Look, sir, I admire your dedication to... staying in character, I believe, but please, this is a most urgent matter.  I simply MUST see Mr. Munderly!  This is a most important matter!  If you won't step out of your role, then please point me to someone who will!  The future of the company may depend on this meeting!"

Step out of his role? Are you mad, man? One cannot simply step out of their role in a time of crisis, the majordomo snaps at you. This is a trying time, but that just makes it all the more important that the roles be kept to, and duties fulfilled! Look at yourself, man! You've gone stark raving mad, haven't you? Running about in someone else's pants, divebombing crowds of serving staff, ranting about some person that doesn't live here!

There is no escape, says he! There is only survival! There is hunger! And there is waiting! There is-

You notice two fellows appear in the staircase, one an elderly fellow wearing a suit of chain, the other an unblinking, shaven individual with what looks like a scarified eye on his forehead and a sizable cut across his chest. They appear to be urgently dragging a third individual by his feet - pale, hairless and seemingly unconscious, dressed in rags and visibly malformed, limbs shortened and torso lengthened like some sort of thalidomide quasi-victim. The servants that haven't scattered yet observe with fearful intrigue, and so does the majordomo, turning his attention away from you, mouthing an 'oh dear' as he regards the scene.

The two men stop in their dragging, looking at the rest of the room. The elderly fellow declares that the disturbance has been successfully addressed, and security is no longer compromised. As they speak, you spy a teenaged girl in the back of the stairwell, gazing at the person being dragged out with a look of barely comprehending horror.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 05, 2016, 11:23:03 am
But I had bottle of delicious vodka recently on the hand. I remember imagining it! So I imagine it again!

Though I really should stop imagining my inebriation so clearly. Tone it down few steps. Otherwise the lady of the castle might grow worried.

[Fruits of the Imagination: 6]

You consider where your bottle of vodka might have gone, and realize you made a slight error. You don't have a bottle of vodka on hand, actually. Your hand is a bottle of vodka. No wonder you couldn't find it for a second! You look at it for a moment. Probably shouldn't drink from it any more, it's true.

It's a bit too pretty to drink, you console yourself. You appreciate the artistry of your arm's arteries pumping blood into the sealed bottle, filling it up completely until what's getting pushed into your veins becomes a mixture of deoxygenated blood and dilute ethanol. A moment passes and you feel like it's starting to have an unusual effeckhhgrblpffhrmmmmm

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 05, 2016, 01:14:44 pm
Crap crap crap. Uh, let's see if I can point him in another direction. "Hey, HUNGER for something else!"

HUNGER

[Word: 2]

Hunger, yes. You speak the truth. You understand each other. He steps closer. The sky flashes unnaturally white.

Say it again. Hunger. You have such a beautiful voice.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 05, 2016, 03:07:02 pm
"Alright, here we go. I CALL UPON YE, OH HEAVENS! ANSWER MY CALL!"

"SUNSET CANNON!"

My idea here is that the Sun/Moon rock will fire a sweeping explosive sunburst laser across the Stoat lines.

SUN

[Word: 2]

The stone seems intimidated when you say it like that. The word makes it agitated. You shouldn't shout at it like that. It's a little frightening. And the energy is already a little much for it to bear, could you just maybe point where you'd like this destructive beam to go exactly, because it's a little difficult to concentrate and the pressure certainly doesn't help. I mean, having an inwardly focused nuclear explosion at your core, kept in check by a physics-defying application of stony will that can go wrong with even the slightest moment of inattention is a little-

[Stone's Cooperation: 1]
[Extraordinary Dodge: 1]

You fly off the battlements, the white light impacting you like a tidal wave, your robes bursting into flames, your skin boiling as you plummet headfirst into the ground, your body nearly coming apart as you hit the ground painfully, your flying form setting a nearby house aflame from ten feet away.

You stir lightly, feeling like you're more ash than man. It doesn't hurt mostly because the majority of your relevant nerves seem to have been burned up. It is, consequently, a little hard to move.

The shining stone rushes up to you, still glowing brightly. Sorry! So sorry! Are you all right? It was just a millisecond's lapse of concentration! It won't happen again, promise!

Quote from: Xantalos on January 05, 2016, 03:24:40 pm
"Well, can't hurt to try, now can it? Besides, your prophecy guy seems to have things well in hand here. We can try to convince the bone carver or maybe someone else to give their lives for the Sun and Moon. We both seem like fairly persuasive people, I'm sure we could pull it off.

...
aaaaand just as the remotest of possibility, if we don't manage to convince anyone ... surely the Sun and Moon would look kindly upon a priest of theirs that gives themselves up to them, right? I mean, all those marmots are out there, and surely defeating them would be a task most holy.
But that's only a last resort, so let's not focus on it for now. C'mon, I'm sure there's someone down there who won't be able to resist our combined rhetoric."

Wheedle.

[Extraordinary Dodge: 6]

You have a feeling right as you mention Mr. Codeburn. A powerful sensation of a massive jinx. A jinxation, if you will. You look at the Sun-Mouth as you trail off without finishing your wheedling. He doesn't seem to realize yet.

SUN

Yep, only one thing to do. You dive off the battlements, trailed within seconds by an unfathomably powerful flash of light that, judging by the sheer blackness of the shadow your falling body produces, would probably not have been healthy to see, much less experience. Not that the gravel-covered ground that awaits you at the bottom is very pleasant either, your joints cracking and your bones becoming very upset with you as you test their durability, but you decide to count your blessings as you see Mr. Codeburn's far more crispy fate. You're not exactly sure how he's still alive, to be honest. Or even how you know he's still alive. Maybe the way his 2-ton doom boulder seems to still be hovering over him, looking oddly apologetic in its terrifying radiance. Come to think of it, this may be a better time for running than questions.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 06, 2016, 07:49:38 am
What have I gotten myself into? Thinking more, I focus on the ground beneath the naked man's feet and imagine it swallowing him up. "Earth," I say, "you HUNGER."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Dermonster on January 06, 2016, 07:49:47 am
I think. It's time. We go see a healer. For a while.

"Haaaaaaa."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Toaster on January 06, 2016, 09:14:08 am
Thomas sighed.  Nope, this gentleman was no help whatsoever.  But what was with that poor fellow?  It'd probably be rude to ask.

"I see, Mister Majordomo.  Thank you for your time."

Withdraw from the conversation.  Observe this new happening; look for someone who may know something useful.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 06, 2016, 09:58:38 am
Hmm. Spasm, writhe and foam, I guess. Or something. I would like to not die from imaginary alcohol poisoning. Reboot mind?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Xantalos on January 06, 2016, 12:19:00 pm
Jack lies on the ground unmoving for a second, letting his mind catch up.

"...huh. That hurt.
...maybe should go see if that priest is still alive. That was some fine wheedling I did on him, after all."

He stands up and brushes himself off.

"Hey priest! Sun moon what the fuck ever. You alive or did you get burnt to ash?

Oh hey other guy, Codeburn, is that rock disarmed? 'Cause I could come up there and help you, but I don't fancy being incinerated."

That said, Jack crosses his arms and huffs out a sigh. Who knew convincing people to let you rip their guts out could be so fraught with complications? Speaking of which, how was that other guy getting along? Hopefully he hadn't gotten into any shenanigans. Though most likely he had.

How's that bone carver dude? Still looking in a sacrificeable state?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Dermonster on January 06, 2016, 01:06:15 pm
"Ngaaah. Yes. Under, control. Help."

I wonder how many people aren't using darkling.

My plain speaking text has this special effect and, as I was temporarily logged out, I couldn't see it in default.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 06, 2016, 01:56:40 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 06, 2016, 07:49:38 am
What have I gotten myself into? Thinking more, I focus on the ground beneath the naked man's feet and imagine it swallowing him up. "Earth," I say, "you HUNGER."

HUNGER

[Word: 5]

The earth shifts soundlessly, taking on the aspect of a silent predator. The naked man smiles as he hears you speak. And next thing you know, he is gone. He falls, but does not hit anything. And moments later, the ground is whole once again.

You see no more of him. And you hear even less. You look at the earth. It looks harmless once again. Innocuous, for now.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 06, 2016, 07:49:47 am
I think. It's time. We go see a healer. For a while.

"Haaaaaaa."

[Heroic Determination: 6]

You crunch all over as you get up and shamble off in search of a healer, extraneous charred bits of you falling off as you walk along the courtyard. Healer. You need a healer.

... where is the healer, come to think of it? Is there one? The shrouded man never mentioned anything of the sort. The keep, you guess? You wander in past some guys dragging a stoatman out by its feet, tracking ash on the nice, lightly bloodstained floor. You have no idea where to go after this point. There's a bunch of people you could ask, you guess. Mr. Minstep, perhaps. You go and ask him if he's seen a healer anywhere around here. You kind of need one a little urgently, you mention.

Quote from: Toaster on January 06, 2016, 09:14:08 am
Thomas sighed.  Nope, this gentleman was no help whatsoever.  But what was with that poor fellow?  It'd probably be rude to ask.

"I see, Mister Majordomo.  Thank you for your time."

Withdraw from the conversation.  Observe this new happening; look for someone who may know something useful.

You approach the strange people dragging the even stranger person, leaning inconspicuously toward a skinny servant who's stuck around this long. You ask her what this might be about, and she says that's the stoat they had captured in the dungeon. That looks to be a man, actually, you take care to correct, but she insists it's actually a stoat. Seems like it escaped. Probably made a beeline for the queen. Wanted to lay eggs in her skull, no doubt. Stoats do that, don't you know.

You nod politely as the two men drag the so-called stoat out the main keep door, leaving a small trail of blood on the floor as they go. They pay you no mind as they proceed into the courtyard, the girl coming downstairs after them sedately before a few other guards run in and accost her with questions about her security, comfort and general condition, subjects on which the girl appears to be a little tongue-tied.

Meanwhile, Mr. Codeburn comes into the foyer looking a lot like a humanoid fourth-degree burn and followed by a menacingly glowing two-ton boulder. He walks up to you and asks if you've seen any healers around here, sounding a lot like crumpling charred paper.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 06, 2016, 09:58:38 am
Hmm. Spasm, writhe and foam, I guess. Or something. I would like to not die from imaginary alcohol poisoning. Reboot mind?

Whaaa? Rebootcher mind? Thass ridiculous. 'S not like there's a goddamn button on the side of yer head y'can just push to-

[Mental Reboot: 5]

You find yourself in darkness, unable to see much of anything. This is disquieting for a moment, but then your cellmate breaks the silence by asking if you enjoyed your foray into the wildly imaginary. It certainly sounded fun from where she was sitting, she says.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 06, 2016, 12:19:00 pm
Jack lies on the ground unmoving for a second, letting his mind catch up.

"...huh. That hurt.
...maybe should go see if that priest is still alive. That was some fine wheedling I did on him, after all."

He stands up and brushes himself off.

"Hey priest! Sun moon what the fuck ever. You alive or did you get burnt to ash?

Oh hey other guy, Codeburn, is that rock disarmed? 'Cause I could come up there and help you, but I don't fancy being incinerated."

That said, Jack crosses his arms and huffs out a sigh. Who knew convincing people to let you rip their guts out could be so fraught with complications? Speaking of which, how was that other guy getting along? Hopefully he hadn't gotten into any shenanigans. Though most likely he had.

How's that bone carver dude? Still looking in a sacrificeable state?

Mr. Codeburn looks all right, you suppose, and fucks off in short order. Good enough, one supposes.

Sun-Mouth Prudence, meanwhile, doesn't respond. You guess he's dead, then. Such good effort, all of it wasted.

Speaking of, you wander back to the courtyard, only to find no sign of the naked bone carver. Must have gone off to do something at the last minute, you guess. You look around carefully to find any sign of him, and your gaze is most prominently drawn to that old guard and guy with an eye on his forehead, both of whom appear to have attended to whatever business kept them away from the ritual. They seem to be dragging one of those marmot people with them. Okay, maybe not quite done.

Or maybe they are done, because both of them just drag the marmot person over to the circle, then proceed to stand about, the elderly guard casting a quizzical look around. The man with the scarified eye does a full revolution as well, scanning the area for any sign of who he's looking for, but seemingly finding none.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Dermonster on January 06, 2016, 02:07:24 pm
Go to the healer if he mentions where. Otherwise, continue to ask random people.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Toaster on January 06, 2016, 02:07:47 pm
((Had we actually met and swapped names?  I know Jack and I did, but were you close enough to hear it?))

Thomas looked at the man, a bit horrified.  "Are you okay, sir?  You look awful!  And no, I have no idea where a doctor is.  Nobody here knows anything useful, it seems, unless you can point me toward Sureness Assurance?"

Then the boulder clicked in his head.

"I say, that's some quite nice effects on that floating rock you have there.  Impressive!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 06, 2016, 03:18:54 pm
"Oh? Oh. Yes, I did enjoy quite much, thanks for asking. Best time I have had for a good while. It just got little out of the hand, I must admit. Say, any advice for countering that? And where did you say the minders place was? I didn't quite catch it, something about a tower?"

Let's try it again, but this time without mind altering substances. Say, few good blocks of imaginary galena? Or spheres? Various other geometric shapes?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Dermonster on January 06, 2016, 03:51:33 pm
"Rock exploded in the wrong direction. Burns. Doctor..."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Xantalos on January 06, 2016, 04:14:42 pm
"Ooh, awesome, a hated minority to sacrifice!"

Hurry over to the circle.

"Good, we finally have a subject and can get to business. Do any of you have a knife or other sharp implement? Also, do you know where the bone carver guy went? Just curious, he doesn't seem the type to miss this sort of thing.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Toaster on January 06, 2016, 04:21:49 pm
Looks like this guy is one of them too.  Wait, wasn't he that guy from earlier?  Part of the act, then.  Well, some of those wounds look pretty real... might as well play along.

"Okay, okay, one second.  HEY!  NEED A DOCTOR HERE!  Majordomo, we need a doctor!"

Call for help, I guess.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 06, 2016, 09:03:24 pm
I stare at my hands. This is a lot more unnerving than the sun and moon junk.

Maybe someone can help me understand this magic a little better. I walk back to the minder tower.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 07, 2016, 05:09:48 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on January 06, 2016, 02:07:24 pm
Go to the healer if he mentions where. Otherwise, continue to ask random people.

Mr. Minstep pawns you off on some old guy dressed like a clown who takes you deeper into the keep down a familiar-looking hallway. You nod in recognition at a bit of blood and mirror glass still on the floor. Good memories, compared to now at least.

Eventually you reach a small room with the word "healer" carved into it a little crookedly. The old man does not bother knocking, instead just opening up a door. You look carefully into the room and immediately a suspicion arises in your mind. You examine it further and confirm that it does, in fact, appear to be a closet, its furnishings beginning and ending with a single stool. Inside you see a rather grubby young woman currently dissecting a rat (placed atop the stool while she kneels beside it) with a knife that seems to have been sharpened to an extraordinary edge, poking at the various bits and bobs with some curiosity.

The old man clears his throat. A few seconds pass as the healer concludes whatever form of exploratory surgery she seems to have been attempting and looks up. Ah, she says, brought someone for her? She casts a careful look at you, surveying the magnitude of your injuries.

Hm, she says after getting a vague sense of what's happened to you. She gets the feeling that bloodletting won't help, somehow.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 06, 2016, 03:18:54 pm
"Oh? Oh. Yes, I did enjoy quite much, thanks for asking. Best time I have had for a good while. It just got little out of the hand, I must admit. Say, any advice for countering that? And where did you say the minders place was? I didn't quite catch it, something about a tower?"

Let's try it again, but this time without mind altering substances. Say, few good blocks of imaginary galena? Or spheres? Various other geometric shapes?

The imagination running wild is, interestingly, not a common problem, as you cellmate explains. There is advice for when dreams happen this way, perhaps, but none that she recalls precisely enough to recommend in good faith. Fair enough, you suppose.

[Induced Lucidity: 1]

You consider galena. Metallic. Somewhat drab. Composed of lead. Mostly harmless. Though you should be careful with galena dust. Inhalation's not good for you. Lead sulfide in your airways is not a recipe for a good time, you'd imagine, inadvertently actually imagining it. You cough as the sensation of metallic powder in your nasal cavity manifests. You'd liken the feeling to snorting a line of metal shavings, and suppose it to be a similarly poor idea.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 06, 2016, 04:14:42 pm
"Ooh, awesome, a hated minority to sacrifice!"

Hurry over to the circle.

"Good, we finally have a subject and can get to business. Do any of you have a knife or other sharp implement? Also, do you know where the bone carver guy went? Just curious, he doesn't seem the type to miss this sort of thing.

You approach the two guys, and the man with the third eye narrows his other two at you, while the old fellow looks at you levelly. A few moments pass as they regard you. Identify yourself, the old man orders you in an even tone, eyes betraying no emotion, though you get the feeling he's somewhat on edge at the moment.

You skillfully manage to deflect his attention at a question about the bone carver, which he must admit is a rather good one. The carver always speaks at the ritual, and conducts the demonstration. It would be inadvisable to begin without his presence, especially in light of recent developments in offering quality.

Quote from: Toaster on January 06, 2016, 04:21:49 pm
Looks like this guy is one of them too.  Wait, wasn't he that guy from earlier?  Part of the act, then.  Well, some of those wounds look pretty real... might as well play along.

"Okay, okay, one second.  HEY!  NEED A DOCTOR HERE!  Majordomo, we need a doctor!"

Call for help, I guess.

A doctor, you say? The majordomo looks at Mr. Codeburn with great concern, leaning sideways to better assess the components of himself that the man's trailed on the floor. Looks quite bad, he must admit. When a man's in that kind of condition, surely the doctor couldn't hurt him further, at least.

You're not quite sure about handing Mr. Codeburn off on such a recommendation, but the majordomo takes him along anyway, taking him into one of the ground-level wings of the keep. You suppose he's not your responsibility anymore, at least.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 06, 2016, 09:03:24 pm
I stare at my hands. This is a lot more unnerving than the sun and moon junk.

Maybe someone can help me magic a little better. I walk back to the minder tower.

You cheese it post-haste and get back into the minder tower, managing to avoid any more attention as you enter the first floor hall. The girl does not appear to be here, presumably having floated up to get to ruling her new domain.

Not that she needs to be down here to speak with you, of course. Is there something you wanted? She's a little busy at the moment. Lots of unusual garbage to sort through. No time like the present for some spring cleaning.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Dermonster on January 07, 2016, 05:16:53 pm
"It's burns. A lot. A lot of burns. Nothing with blood. Or insides. Aloe vera? I could do with aloe vera. Maybe a vat."

Attempt to excavate burn treatment from doctor.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 07, 2016, 06:27:35 pm
"I'm not sure if you heard the commotion outside, but one of my friends was shouting 'sun' and 'moon' and shooting fire and swinging huge rocks around. The way he said the words reminded me of something from the well, so I went back there and somehow got my own word word from the hidden's door. It's powerful but... unpredictable. I'm not sure if I'm using it right. I know they seem different than your magic, but do you know anything about these magic words?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Xantalos on January 07, 2016, 07:04:19 pm
"..."

Opportunity has knocked upon my door.

"Well, we obviously can't delay; I suppose I'll just have to take his place. I'm Jack, Jack Daniels. I do karate, which is (for these purposes) fighting, which means I have the best qualifications to do this sort of thing because I know how bodies work and how to hurt them. Now then, let's get a move on, we don't have all day. We're sacrificing that squiggly-spined person? Perfect, get him over to the slab if you could. Do we have any rope or somesuch to tie it down with, or will we have to nail it's limbs to the stone?

Oh, and does anyone have something sharp? We'll need it for the ceremony."

Assert myself in the temporary confusion given by the dude's absence. Get in an appropriate spot over by the stone and remove the mediocre apron for now, don't want my ceremony being not awesome.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Toaster on January 07, 2016, 09:45:48 pm
He'll be fine.  There's more important things to do.

Wander around, pestering people in trying to find out where I *really* am and where can I go to make my meeting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 08, 2016, 12:00:28 am
Granite! God damn granite! Though granite dust isn't any better, really. Hmm. Okay, no dust. Dust is bad. Granite cubes. Not in my lungs either, because that's really bad. On the floor.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 08, 2016, 10:30:38 am
Quote from: Dermonster on January 07, 2016, 05:16:53 pm
"It's burns. A lot. A lot of burns. Nothing with blood. Or insides. Aloe vera? I could do with aloe vera. Maybe a vat."

Attempt to excavate burn treatment from doctor.

[Conversational Archaeology: 3]

You dig carefully at her notions of medical care, trying to reach some form of sensible treatment. She, however, has no vats of aloe vera to dunk you in. Not the right climate for it, you suggest, and she would agree. A vat of aloe vera does sound like a useful thing to possess, however, and she will consider getting one if somehow she is not murdered by stoatmen.

Anywho, looks like you've been fatally burned, she thinks. You voice disagreement with this notion, and she corrects herself - your burns ought to be fatal. However, for whatever reason they are not. She could open you up and take a look, she says as she glances at her rat-stained knife affectionately, maybe see if something inside you sheds some light on the matter.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 07, 2016, 06:27:35 pm
"I'm not sure if you heard the commotion outside, but one of my friends was shouting 'sun' and 'moon' and shooting fire and swinging huge rocks around. The way he said the words reminded me of something from the well, so I went back there and somehow got my own word word from the hidden's door. It's powerful but... unpredictable. I'm not sure if I'm using it right. I know they seem different than your magic, but do you know anything about these magic words?"

[Just Enough Knowledge: 6]

Magic words, you say? Not exactly the sort of thing a minder does, strictly speaking, minders are more of a thoughts-made-real kind of crowd. Quiet intensity and so forth. Though... wait, the hidden's door? You went in there? How was it? What did you see? Where did you get the word?

The girl rushes to the top of the domed ceiling, jumping down and only barely catching herself before impact, her softened landing expediently graceless. She asks you questions, drawing out half-thoughts that she reads and perhaps even reads into a little. A place of darkness, hungering for connections, bestowing knowledge? She salivates at the idea, its appeal far greater than digging through the personal effects of her three - er, two, really, since the hidden practically lived down there, though you can be damn sure they compensated for his absence in sheer entropy and then some!

Anyway, the well! And the words. Show her a word. Your description - your thoughts, they, er, snag a little, if you don't mind her saying. I mean, she probably wants one anyway. But better to know a little more first, so she doesn't look like a fool when she goes to talk to the well to establish her unquestioned ladyship.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 07, 2016, 07:04:19 pm
"..."

Opportunity has knocked upon my door.

"Well, we obviously can't delay; I suppose I'll just have to take his place. I'm Jack, Jack Daniels. I do karate, which is (for these purposes) fighting, which means I have the best qualifications to do this sort of thing because I know how bodies work and how to hurt them. Now then, let's get a move on, we don't have all day. We're sacrificing that squiggly-spined person? Perfect, get him over to the slab if you could. Do we have any rope or somesuch to tie it down with, or will we have to nail it's limbs to the stone?

Oh, and does anyone have something sharp? We'll need it for the ceremony."

Assert myself in the temporary confusion given by the dude's absence. Get in an appropriate spot over by the stone and remove the mediocre apron for now, don't want my ceremony being not awesome.

[Credibility in Doom: 5]

While the absence of the bone carver does make the old fellow a bit leery of your enthusiasm, he does seem to have a weakness for efficiency as you wave him and the three-eyed man over to the stone with their marmot prisoner. The three-eyed man seems more won over by the suggestion of nailing the person to the stone. Having thus won both of their respective approvals in one fell swoop, you begin preparations. A helpful ritual attendee runs off to get some nails.

You get naked to appropriately sub in for the bone carver, and a feeling of bloody elation comes over you. You ask for something sharp, and the three-eyed man hands you a wicked-looking knife with ever-swelling approval. Glad to see people getting into the spirit of things. You think some more people are coming from the keep, too! It's true what they say - human sacrifice holds the power to bring the whole world together.

Your enthusiasm wanes slightly when the helpful attendee returns and reports that there are no nails. Neither is there any rope, for that matter. Would it be sufficient if everyone just grabbed a limb and held fast, she asks. Or maybe someone should just get a hammer or mallet and break all of the creature's limbs, a large man leans in to suggest with delight. Make sure it can't run anywhere. Several others suggest increasingly more graphic solutions, trying to use this unique opportunity to one-up each other to its fullest.

Quote from: Toaster on January 07, 2016, 09:45:48 pm
He'll be fine.  There's more important things to do.

Wander around, pestering people in trying to find out where I *really* am and where can I go to make my meeting.

[The Search For Sanity: 1]

You walk over to the girl and her armored friend. While you don't expect the girl to know anything in particular, the guard with her seems to be intently explaining or at least establishing something with a look of exasperation. Imagining yourself to be more reasonable, you walk up to her and ask where you really are. You have a meeting to attend. With Mr. Munderly.

The guard stares at you for a moment, as does the girl. You don't look familiar, the guard says, looking very tense as she attempts to be friendly. Where did you come from?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 08, 2016, 12:00:28 am
Granite! God damn granite! Though granite dust isn't any better, really. Hmm. Okay, no dust. Dust is bad. Granite cubes. Not in my lungs either, because that's really bad. On the floor.

[Induced Lucidity: 2]

The floor? You feel the floor, you suppose. You can't see the floor. And is mixing the real world and wild imaginings a strictly good idea? You're not sure it'll be as easy to get rid of visions you base on actually existent things.

It's a moot point anyway, you guess. If there are any granite cubes on the floor, you sure can't see them, it being dark as Hel's rectum in here. The concept hangs in your mind uncertainly, verging uncomfortably on the knife-edge of surreality.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 08, 2016, 11:05:48 am
"Hmm, guess that's enough of training for now. So let's talk some more. You said your... countenance rubs onlookers' minds in the wrong direction, right? How many people did become its victim? Did they die or...? Not to bring bad memories or anything, it's just that I have been brewing a theory of my own."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Toaster on January 08, 2016, 03:43:58 pm
"What?  I live just outside Albany.  What's the best way to get back there from here?"

Give what is surely the wrong answer to that question.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Dermonster on January 08, 2016, 04:08:23 pm
"'s not really my insides that's the problem we're trying to solve here. Do you have anything at all for burns?

Anything at all will do.

Hell if that doesnt work, maybe... Well, the Sun burnt me so can the Moon Heal me?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 08, 2016, 05:04:20 pm
"Ah, you haven't heard of this kind of magic? I was hoping you had. Well, I can show you, but this is a dangerous word. I almost got myself hurt when I tried it out. How about we go outside so there's some space in case anything goes wrong? We have to if we're going to the well, anyway."

I lead the girl out of the minder tower.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Xantalos on January 08, 2016, 05:20:40 pm
Jack grins.

"I suggest a compromise! Why not have a mallet break each of its hands and feet, and a person shall hold onto each of those broken appendages to keep it paralyzed in pain while the ritual commences."

Now then, to prepare the guy a little bit.

Once the marmot's hands and feet have been appropriately broken - not smushed entirely, that'd make it too hard to hold on - or if it holds still while we wait for someone to go get a mallet or whatever to do that, take my three dead rats and tie them around its neck by their tails. Try to tie their tails together, in a sense. The crushed ones by its shoulders and the strangled one on its chest.

Then once all those preparations have been made ... begin the sacrifice.

Spoiler: Long elaboration on what I want to do; note, very detailed and probably kinda sadistic (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 09, 2016, 05:43:48 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 08, 2016, 11:05:48 am
"Hmm, guess that's enough of training for now. So let's talk some more. You said your... countenance rubs onlookers' minds in the wrong direction, right? How many people did become its victim? Did they die or...? Not to bring bad memories or anything, it's just that I have been brewing a theory of my own."

How many people indeed, your cellmate considers sadly. Her poor old husband, the lord of the castle. Her lady-in-waiting. The majordomo. Possibly a few others - it was hard to tell how many of them were affected from the day before, when it was not quite so pronounced. Not all of them died. The majordomo began to see only blue, and that was from but a glance. Her lady-in-waiting, her husband... oh dear.

She chokes up a little. What happened to them, one is better off not knowing. And if you want to know still, she is not sure she can explain it. The minders called it "alienation". An uncharacteristic understatement, but there are times when even minders are at a loss for words.

Quote from: Toaster on January 08, 2016, 03:43:58 pm
"What?  I live just outside Albany.  What's the best way to get back there from here?"

Give what is surely the wrong answer to that question.

Albany, the guard repeats. Albany, you confirm. She thinks carefully. Perhaps this was not the best way to phrase the question, she admits, clenching her jaw for a second. How did you get in here?

The girl tries to wave you off, saying that there's no point in the captain of her royal guard shaking down every random peasant that wanders up, impertinent though this may be of them. The guard thinks a moment and nods in agreement. After all, why mess around on her own when she can delegate?

The captain of the royal guard gives a stern shout, and soon enough a jolly fellow guard runs up. She points him toward you. To the processing area, she says. Standard investigative protocol. The way the guard chuckles does not fill you with confidence.

He puts a large and uncomfortably strong hand on your shoulder. Would you care to try and make this difficult, he asks with a glimmer in his eye.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 08, 2016, 04:08:23 pm
"'s not really my insides that's the problem we're trying to solve here. Do you have anything at all for burns?

Anything at all will do.

Hell if that doesnt work, maybe... Well, the Sun burnt me so can the Moon Heal me?

[Relaxed Medical Standards: 1]

She could just cut off the burnt parts, she says. So the... burns don't... spread? She thinks they work that way, right? It's what you do when frostbite turns your bits black. And fire's a lot like frost. So it all checks out. C'mon, nobody else lets her use the knife on them anymore! Just a little bit of excision. That's all she asks.

You consider the multitudinous ways in which you could say no, some sterner than others. But you have a better word for the occasion.

MOON

[Word: 3]

You stand triumphantly as absolutely nothing happens. Though feels like something is happening. Or should be happening. No sign of any activity, though. You look at the doctor. She seems to be wondering whether to interpret your word as consent, her fingers visibly itchy on her knife.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 08, 2016, 05:04:20 pm
"Ah, you haven't heard of this kind of magic? I was hoping you had. Well, I can show you, but this is a dangerous word. I almost got myself hurt when I tried it out. How about we go outside so there's some space in case anything goes wrong? We have to if we're going to the well, anyway."

I lead the girl out of the minder tower.

Pish posh, all the good stuff is dangerous. Handling these things intelligently and responsibly is what minding is all about. And she is a minder, so naturally she's as qualified as anyone you're likely to find. But have it your way. She follows you out as she puts on a practiced expression of intelligence and serene composure.

Coming out of the tower, she gets to put it to good use, because the first thing you observe is the holy circle. Quite a lot of people seem to have gathered there by now, and, well, it looks like they've got a stoatman (or perhaps just a misshapen regular person) they've decided to mutilate. At the center of it all is Mr. Daniels, stark naked and violently excited, the crowd whipped up into a veritable blood frenzy.

Said frenzy recedes a little when a knight interrupts the proceedings, seemingly about to ruin their good, clean fun.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 08, 2016, 05:20:40 pm
Jack grins.

"I suggest a compromise! Why not have a mallet break each of its hands and feet, and a person shall hold onto each of those broken appendages to keep it paralyzed in pain while the ritual commences."

Now then, to prepare the guy a little bit.

Once the marmot's hands and feet have been appropriately broken - not smushed entirely, that'd make it too hard to hold on - or if it holds still while we wait for someone to go get a mallet or whatever to do that, take my three dead rats and tie them around its neck by their tails. Try to tie their tails together, in a sense. The crushed ones by its shoulders and the strangled one on its chest.

Then once all those preparations have been made ... begin the sacrifice.

[Thirst for Blood: 5]

Your suggestion meets with hearty approval, and a mallet is procured in no time at all while you make a necklace of rats for it. The marmot person awakens at the first strike, held down by four people as the large fellow (apparently a mason) smashes one of its feet with it. The form of the strikes is admirable when one bears in mind his lack of training. The creature screams foul curses at first, then invokes the Great Leader between bouts of shrieking agony, its voice echoing throughout the courtyard and no doubt beyond as well. Most of the others do not seem to mind at all, observing with smiles on their faces.

When the mason gets to the third limb - the left hand - you can almost pinpoint the moment in which the marmot breaks. The hands are so much more sensitive, are they not? The creature gasps for air, courage going out of it completely. Its voice nearly gone from screaming, you hear it beg for death. The crowd emits a collective gasp. The three-eyed man looks intrigued, but stays silent. The old fellow raises an eyebrow, having remained largely disinterested throughout despite his close proximity.

"It speaks!" shouts a woman joyfully and laughs. The crowd cheers in unison, raising their arms. Just takes a little convincing, one man jeers from the back. Even a stoat can learn, another shouts. The ritual attendees guffaw. It is far, far too late for begging. The stoat's expression radiates perfection. Feelings of defeat, betrayal, loss. The back of your mind tingles as you contemplate its thoughts. The abandonment of all hope. What you are observing is true...

"Halt!" a voice interrupts your thoughts. You stumble a little, shaking off your little reverie. The mason has stopped, smiling at the new arrival. You look to see who it is.

It is a tall, grim and perhaps a little emaciated woman decked out in shining plate, her hand resting on a fine sword. The crowd glares at her like a pack of beasts, and the old guard steps forward, asking her to clarify the issue. She gives him a disdainful look - the stoat knows its place, she says. Grant it its request. She phrases it like an order, and you observe a flicker of doubt in the eyes of some of the congregation. The old man looks over at you, admitting that he would appreciate a greater degree of efficiency about this as well. Would you mind getting to the obliteration? This is a learning experience, not a torture session.

As he speaks, the knight draws her sword, beginning to stride toward you and the slab. She will do it. Move out of the way.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 09, 2016, 07:06:04 am
"From what I've seen, the meaning of these words depends on how you use them. Like regular words, I guess."

I look over to the crowd by the circle. "God, what are they doing over there? I hoped with that guy gone they'd stop... but one of my friends seems to have stepped in for him." I fume for a minute, imagining Mr. Daniels taking this even further. Eventually I have an idea and begin to focus on him. "You know what? You want to be barbaric, I'll show you barbaric. You already seem to thirst for blood but now you HUNGER for it."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 09, 2016, 09:18:50 am
"Oh. That... sucks." Leif is a bit loss for words too. His theory of a jealous queen and pretty lady is off by far.

"Well, let's talk about something not as sad. The stoat didn't know what electricity is. I'm kinda hoping here you would know."

Pay back for teachings of minders: teach her atomic theory and wonders of electricity.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Toaster on January 09, 2016, 09:32:02 am
Oh dear.  "Um... well, I wouldn't want to cause trouble for the local police.  Okay, sure?  Maybe you'll know how I can get home.  Which is all I want!"

Come quietly.  Maybe this guard knows how to get there.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Dermonster on January 09, 2016, 10:32:24 am
"I see.."
 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FjWe31S_0g)
Right, time to leave. If she tries anything, introduce her to my friend the moon rock at high velocities.

Also, go see if I can get her removed for incompetence. I am the minister of moronic affairs!

Then... maybe theres a better healer in the town proper?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Playing With Fire
Post by: Xantalos on January 09, 2016, 01:43:56 pm
"Oh for - sir woman knight who is most likely incredibly deadly with that sword of yours, believe it or not I'm actually an incredibly good actor as you can see from all this commotion I've caused. I'm actually about to horribly sacrifice this stoat in order to turn something into a profane object so that when I gather two other things in conjunction with it and bring them to the insane blacksmith kid, he'll make me a kickass sword! See, makes perfect sense.
..."
"huh, this has actually rather gotten a bit overly wild hasn't it."

Jack shakes his head.

"Look, it's no matter anyway. The things I was gonna do to this poor bastard were of a calibre that it wouldn't really survive the next two minutes or so anyway, and as far as I'm aware there's no law against beating a dead stoat, which is what the majority of this is going to consist of. But because you have said big honking sword that you look very proficient with, and in the interests of my congregation who wish to get on with the obliteration part of the whole thing, I'll compromise. I'll stab him in the heart and then do what I was going to do. Sound good?"

Assuming the knight agrees, proceed with what I was doing before, only stab the stoat a dozen or so times in the heart area before I proceed.

If I'm overcome by demonic hunger for no real reason during this talking, do the sensible thing and direct it against the defenceless stoat instead of the armoured old grandma who could likely kick my naked ass six ways to Sunday.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 10, 2016, 08:01:17 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 09, 2016, 07:06:04 am
"From what I've seen, the meaning of these words depends on how you use them. Like regular words, I guess."

I look over to the crowd by the circle. "God, what are they doing over there? I hoped with that guy gone they'd stop... but one of my friends seems to have stepped in for him." I fume for a minute, imagining Mr. Daniels taking this even further. Eventually I have an idea and begin to focus on him. "You know what? You want to be barbaric, I'll show you barbaric. You already seem to thirst for blood but now you HUNGER for it."

HUNGER

[Word: 4]

Mr. Daniels pricks up his ears at the word. But he is not what you have spoken to. You feel it stir, on the edge of fully awakening. Fortunately, however, it does not. It is suggestible in this state, you find, filtering through Mr. Daniels' mind as it lays claim to the sacrificial stoat. It is also quite quick in its work, and has an unhealthy disrespect for the laws of nature.

As it does its thing and becomes dormant once more, whatever ritual they may have had in mind is definitely eliminated as a possibility. So you suppose you accomplished that.

You look at your minder companion. That was, uh, very impressive! Yes. Very good. Now how about you never do that again. It's, er, probably not good for the environment. Yes. Let's just go to the well. And avoid that Mr. Daniels person before he looks your way.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 09, 2016, 09:18:50 am
"Oh. That... sucks." Leif is a bit loss for words too. His theory of a jealous queen and pretty lady is off by far.

"Well, let's talk about something not as sad. The stoat didn't know what electricity is. I'm kinda hoping here you would know."

Pay back for teachings of minders: teach her atomic theory and wonders of electricity.

[Miracles of Science: 3]

You tell your cellmate fabulous tales of electricity and atoms, the unseen magic of the modern world! The way of the future! The thing that smarter people work on where you're from, basically. Like minding, she suggests, and you agree, sort of. Electricity is pretty useful, though. It makes stuff work, basically. Magnets are involved somehow. And you can split the atom to make water boil, which makes electricity because it turns a turbine. But you need to be careful, because you can also make a big explosion if you're not careful when splitting the atom. Or fusing atoms. Either works.

The lady listens with attention. You think she gets the idea- wait, does she know what an atom is? She says that she understands the concept, yes. The atom is a small, indivisible element of matter. Everything's made of atoms, yes? She is familiar with the idea - it is not quite a popular theory, but an interesting one nevertheless. And you say that splitting this indivisible element causes large releases of energy? As does the fusion of the two? Seems an interesting concept, at least. You tell her it has something to do with mass and energy. And an atom isn't really indivisible, it's got these bits called protons, neutrons and electrons in it and around it. And those are made up of... quarks? You think it was quarks. And it goes further down, too. You don't remember what was further down.

Interesting, she says. How did they discover all this? You have to admit that you have little clue on the matter. Scientists can get pretty inscrutable. Like minders, she offers. Yes, like minders, you agree.

Quote from: Toaster on January 09, 2016, 09:32:02 am
Oh dear.  "Um... well, I wouldn't want to cause trouble for the local police.  Okay, sure?  Maybe you'll know how I can get home.  Which is all I want!"

Come quietly.  Maybe this guard knows how to get there.

[Pursuit of Justice: 1]

You follow the guard quietly. The guard snorts in disappointment and guides you rudely down one of the hallways to what looks like a kitchen. A kitchen girl seems to be idling about, looking nervous. She scrambles away when the two of you arrive, and the guard chuckles. They're so skittish, the servants. Wouldn't you agree?

You are led down further into what looks like a wine cellar. The size of it is sufficient that even the castle's prolonged siege has failed to make more than a slight dent in the reserves - you see two other guards, probably sisters if you consider their mutual resemblance, making a heroic effort to change this situation, however, having a drinking contest over the brutalized body of what probably used to be an enterprising-looking teenager. He's still alive, and clearly not thankful for the fact.

Right, says your escort. The tone of his boss' voice indicated that you know something. He doesn't know what that is. But it's their job to find out. You wonder why he's facing away from you when he says that, but then you realize he's not actually talking to you. The two sisters size you up as he speaks. One of them whistles while the other starts laughing.

Good times will be had, they assure you. Good times will be had.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 09, 2016, 10:32:24 am
"I see.."
 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FjWe31S_0g)
Right, time to leave. If she tries anything, introduce her to my friend the moon rock at high velocities.

Also, go see if I can get her removed for incompetence. I am the minister of moronic affairs!

Then... maybe theres a better healer in the town proper?

You leave without issue. The healer respects your desire for wholeness, however misguided it may be. Despite this, you think she's perhaps not the most qualified to hold this position. You decide to take this up with the local authority. The queen is within easy reach, fortunately. You tell her and her violent-looking guard captain that the doctor is wildly incompetent. As the Minister of Moronic Affairs, you feel this puts her under your jurisdiction.

[A Formal Complaint: 2]

A valid complaint, certainly, but good god, man, what the hell happened to you? And what's that boulder following you? You explain that it's a long story that you do not quite understand fully yourself, then ask again if they'll let someone else be the doctor.

The queen begins to reply, but the guard interjects to provide some much-needed precision. She says the only other person who really fits the qualifications (as in, has a knife, free time and a steady hand) is the turnkey. He was actually the first pick, and he politely declined the post when offered. And there was also the third pick, she supposes - the bone carver. He has enthusiasm, granted. Terrible bedside manner, though. Worse than the current doctor, if you can believe that.

You could try to wander into Anglefork proper, you think. It'd require you to come out of the castle and wade through a legion of stoatmen. You have shiny rock that could help with that, actually.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 09, 2016, 01:43:56 pm
"Oh for - sir woman knight who is most likely incredibly deadly with that sword of yours, believe it or not I'm actually an incredibly good actor as you can see from all this commotion I've caused. I'm actually about to horribly sacrifice this stoat in order to turn something into a profane object so that when I gather two other things in conjunction with it and bring them to the insane blacksmith kid, he'll make me a kickass sword! See, makes perfect sense.
..."
"huh, this has actually rather gotten a bit overly wild hasn't it."

Jack shakes his head.

"Look, it's no matter anyway. The things I was gonna do to this poor bastard were of a calibre that it wouldn't really survive the next two minutes or so anyway, and as far as I'm aware there's no law against beating a dead stoat, which is what the majority of this is going to consist of. But because you have said big honking sword that you look very proficient with, and in the interests of my congregation who wish to get on with the obliteration part of the whole thing, I'll compromise. I'll stab him in the heart and then do what I was going to do. Sound good?"

Assuming the knight agrees, proceed with what I was doing before, only stab the stoat a dozen or so times in the heart area before I proceed.

If I'm overcome by demonic hunger for no real reason during this talking, do the sensible thing and direct it against the defenceless stoat instead of the armoured old grandma who could likely kick my naked ass six ways to Sunday.

[Knight's Patience: 4]

She stops in front of you, not terribly interested in your excuses. Move out of the way, she says. This has gone on far enough.

[Awakening: 6]

HUNGER

Your discipline holds at the right moment, a crucial instruction holding as your mind ceases to act. You take a seven-foot step back, finding yourself on the other side of the slab. You start shaking as you look down at the stoat, now released from the grip of the crowd, helpless before you. It will do. You grab its legs and arms and fold it up, contort it into a more manageable shape. It is usefully flexible for this purpose, though certain larger bones snap in the process.

Your chest opens, an aperture of ribs-turned-teeth, a long and hungry heart lowering to accommodate the large morsel. You force the stoatman down, your skin stretching, muscles reorganizing. The closing of the greater mouth completes the process of swallowing, and for a moment you stand there, bloated beyond human possibility. Your insides contract, a myriad of cracks issuing from the stoatman's body. It screams as it comes apart and you eat its final thoughts greedily. Not a drop of her is wasted. Your body contracts once more, crushing the stoat into somehow less than she was, and then a final time. You now look the same as before, seemingly unchanged by the experience.

Looking around, you wonder if time has somehow stopped. You look at the crowd and the knight doubtfully, waving your hand to check if they respond. A few people at the outer edges break into a sprint, tripping all over themselves to get away. They are soon followed by the people at an uncomfortable equilibrium between paralyzing fear and frightened wonder. The crowd thins rapidly as a consequence.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 10, 2016, 08:43:57 am
"Holy fuck... that was not supposed to happen." I really need to watch my temper. For now, I hurry to the well before I draw any attention.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 10, 2016, 08:57:37 am
((Xantalos has interesting ability to find fleshwarper abilities everywhere. Oh, penguinofhonor, you could probably create black hole with HUNGER.))

Let's then explain how things work when scale is taken upwards few notches. Secret of the stars (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuxFXHircaI), gravity, monsters of the cosmos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e5-0t0pTF0), galaxies, and stuff.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Dermonster on January 10, 2016, 10:33:18 am
Damnit. Ask where the baths and guest room is. Maybe I can sleep it off. After a lukewarm bath. Because bits are still falling off.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Xantalos on January 11, 2016, 01:29:32 am
"Er. What. What did I do."

Jack glances downward.

"Where'd the stoat go? Why am I over here now? This doesn't ... this smells metaphorically of magical fuckery of some kind. Knight grandma lady, what happened? Did I do something stupidly horrific? Why's everyone running away? Was it one of those magic words?"

Ascertain what my abomination status looked like to outsiders, gain IC info of said abominationing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 11, 2016, 06:52:25 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 10, 2016, 08:43:57 am
"Holy fuck... that was not supposed to happen." I really need to watch my temper. For now, I hurry to the well before I draw any attention.

You go down the well by chain while the girl floats down under her own power, successfully avoiding Mr. Daniels' fell gaze. The area is still full of rat-eaten minder corpses, though in a slightly more advanced state of being eaten by rats. The girl pales as she regards them. Your thoughts didn't quite capture the smell.

Anyway, the hidden's door. She goes up to it, trying to open it up. She puts her hands on it, reading your expectations before you are finished forming them. The door does not appear to react, however. Maybe it does not like her for some reason, you think. The girl looks your way, wondering why it wouldn't like her. She's a perfectly good minder! What does this door know, anyway?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 10, 2016, 08:57:37 am
((Xantalos has interesting ability to find fleshwarper abilities everywhere. Oh, penguinofhonor, you could probably create black hole with HUNGER.))

Let's then explain how things work when scale is taken upwards few notches. Secret of the stars (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuxFXHircaI), gravity, monsters of the cosmos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e5-0t0pTF0), galaxies, and stuff.

[Miracles of Science: 2]

The universe is really old, you remark. Your cellmate agrees with this entirely reasonable notion. You clarify - like, really old. So old there's holes in it. She supposes that might also be possible. What kind of holes do you mean?

You are glad she asked! There's black and white ones, you tell her. Black ones, stuff goes in. White ones, stuff comes out. A common thing in space, you say. Okay, she says after a moment. You don't think she's buying it so much as humoring you for the sake of polite conversation.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 10, 2016, 10:33:18 am
Damnit. Ask where the baths and guest room is. Maybe I can sleep it off. After a lukewarm bath. Because bits are still falling off.

[Necessary Facilities: 4]

You know, the queen or her personal guard captain might not be the people to bother about this sort of thing. But they're going to give you this one. You look like you really need it. The queen calls up a nearby servant and tells her to draw you up a bath in one of the top floor chambers. You'd prefer it lukewarm, you mention. Luckily a single bathtub remains on hand.

It takes a little while to get it ready. But there you have it - a darkened bedroom, a tub of pleasantly lukewarm water, and even some soap. No lovely attendant to help you out or anything, the servant who fixed it having moved along on other business. It's reasonably good treatment, one supposes.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 11, 2016, 01:29:32 am
"Er. What. What did I do."

Jack glances downward.

"Where'd the stoat go? Why am I over here now? This doesn't ... this smells metaphorically of magical fuckery of some kind. Knight grandma lady, what happened? Did I do something stupidly horrific? Why's everyone running away? Was it one of those magic words?"

Ascertain what my abomination status looked like to outsiders, gain IC info of said abominationing.

[Knight's Explanation: 5]

You ate the stoat, she says, raising her sword. A hunger was called upon you by a woman in the crowd, driving you to wild excesses of grossly unnatural behavior. It is still in there, this hunger. Could come back out at any moment. That of course means you had best keep your distance from her. Now and forever. You don't suppose there's any problem with that notion as long as a certain standard of civility is maintained, right?

The elderly guard, meanwhile, seems fairly pleased, stepping closer. He had his reservations about you, he says, the barest trace of a grin on his face, but you seem to have acquitted yourself well with that last maneuver. Quick, efficient, complete. A very good encapsulation of the unfeeling, indiscriminate destruction of all things by time. Suboptimal that the master of ceremonies did not see it and was not present to explain the salient points to the less observant, but inspiration waits for no man. It was a privilege to have observed this, sir. Good show all around. If you will excuse him and the right honorable turnkey, however, they happen to have a prisoner to release.

The guard begins to walk off, but his three-eyed companion lingers a little longer, staring unblinkingly at your borrowed knife. He would very much like it returned, you assume from the intense look on his face. It is a very fine knife, after all.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Dermonster on January 11, 2016, 08:03:11 am
Right, well. Let's get cleaned up a bit. is there a bucket so I can get most of the stuff that'll flake off in the bath off first? Otherwise just get in the damn bath, wash up, and go find a bed.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 11, 2016, 08:30:33 am
"Science is difficult. Very complex and sophisticated methodology for repeated testing and confirming test results. And challenging old theories with new ideas to be proven right or wrong. I may not be the most qualified person to explain it, because I'm not a scientist. I wish I was, but I didn't pass university tests. Should have studied more, but young as I was, my main concern was partying and burning churches. Now I mine gold and silver in the world's most remote mine."

"Nice weather here, by the way."

Give up science. Mistakes of youth. Small talk.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 11, 2016, 09:24:03 am
"Hm, it might only react to the people the minders brought here. It did say I was 'highly compatible'... Maybe whatever you saw in my mind has something to do with it?"

I touch the door to see what happens, but do not attempt to enter it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Toaster on January 11, 2016, 10:07:21 am
"I assure you, good sir, I am as confused as anyone here, if not more.  My sole desire is to leave this place, for I have surely missed a most important meeting with Mr. Munderly at Sureness Assurance in Albany.  No one here seems to know how to get there, and I have been asking around.  I'm not even sure how I got here, seeing as I woke up naked being dragged around in a sack.  If you could find out who got me here, I'd be most appreciative."

He was quiet for a moment.

"This is quite the collection of wine.  I trust you have your rarer specimens insured properly?"

Bad time for a sales pitch
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Xantalos on January 11, 2016, 06:49:03 pm
"Hmm. An unnatural hunger, you say? Er. What exactly did I do? There doesn't seem to be any blood around here so I couldn't very much have eaten the stoat with my mouth.

I've no problem keeping my distance from you, of course. Do you perhaps know which woman it was that called the hunger on me? Which way she went, maybe?"

Jack looks askance at the turnkey.

"I'll be sure to give you your knife back, good sir. Just give me a moment to ... figure out exactly what just happened."

While requesting further clarification, ruminate upon the depths of my mind. Do I feel any sort of overwhelming hunger in there anywhere? Any metaphorical sleeping dragons in my head?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 12, 2016, 06:42:40 am
Quote from: Dermonster on January 11, 2016, 08:03:11 am
Right, well. Let's get cleaned up a bit. is there a bucket so I can get most of the stuff that'll flake off in the bath off first? Otherwise just get in the damn bath, wash up, and go find a bed.

[Bath Time: 2]

You go ahead and wash off all the unsavory bits off yourself, leaving you quite shiny and clean. And despite the way you seem to have lost at least five pounds of burnt flesh in the process, producing the foulest twenty gallons of used bathwater you would ever admit responsibility for, you look relatively good, like a smaller, pinker version of yourself. This is probably not how burns work, but you're a little too tired to care.

Stepping out of the tub and shaking off the wetness, you go for the nearest bed. These being somewhat luxurious sleeping quarters, one is in very easy reach, complete with a down mattress, fancy pillow and mildly used sheets. A bit dusty, but certainly one of the better places for a bit of rest in this entire castle, you would wager.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 11, 2016, 08:30:33 am
"Science is difficult. Very complex and sophisticated methodology for repeated testing and confirming test results. And challenging old theories with new ideas to be proven right or wrong. I may not be the most qualified person to explain it, because I'm not a scientist. I wish I was, but I didn't pass university tests. Should have studied more, but young as I was, my main concern was partying and burning churches. Now I mine gold and silver in the world's most remote mine."

"Nice weather here, by the way."

Give up science. Mistakes of youth. Small talk.

Your cellmate sympathizes, though she admits that her failure to become a minder did still mean she was the lady of the castle, so perhaps it was not really all that bad she didn't become a minder after all. And it is good to know that the weather in Anglefork remains fabulous - one of her favorite things about the place is that it hardly ever rains around here. Clouds have a hard time climbing up the mountainside, they say.

You hear somebody coming back to the dungeon. Oh my, has night fallen already? The steps close in quickly and your door unlocks, then opens to a carefully calculated crack. You see the elderly guardsman who put you in here on the other side. He greets you and bluntly explains that you are now free to go. Your information on the other prisoner was relevant to matters of castle security and would have earned you an earlier release, but your jail term expired before the stoatman could be captured and executed. It may or may not count for a reduction of any following jail term you may possibly incur (presumably counteracting the term increase normally levied at cases of recidivism).

Your cellmate congratulates you on your freedom. You have been a very good cellmate, and it was wonderful talking to you. She wishes you all the best on the outside.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 11, 2016, 09:24:03 am
"Hm, it might only react to the people the minders brought here. It did say I was 'highly compatible'... Maybe whatever you saw in my mind has something to do with it?"

I touch the door to see what happens, but do not attempt to enter it.

You touch the door, feeling it liquefy around your hand. A satiated heaviness flows into you as it starts to part before you, revealing nothing but utter and complete darkness. The threshold beckons, the well churns with anticipation. The girl stares at the opening door, trying in vain to make out what lies beyond.

You have brought a connection and a source. Both are valid offerings. The source may be redeemed for a desire and four questions. The connection may be redeemed for a desire and a question. Choose your preferred option.

Quote from: Toaster on January 11, 2016, 10:07:21 am
"I assure you, good sir, I am as confused as anyone here, if not more.  My sole desire is to leave this place, for I have surely missed a most important meeting with Mr. Munderly at Sureness Assurance in Albany.  No one here seems to know how to get there, and I have been asking around.  I'm not even sure how I got here, seeing as I woke up naked being dragged around in a sack.  If you could find out who got me here, I'd be most appreciative."

He was quiet for a moment.

"This is quite the collection of wine.  I trust you have your rarer specimens insured properly?"

Bad time for a sales pitch

[Oblivious Endurance: 5]

You blink. A fist is driven into your back. You do not budge, and it does not hurt. One of the sisters knees you in the groin sharply with similar lack of results. The other whacks you across the head with a stool - a prop, you suspect, given how easily and painlessly it comes apart against your head. They seem to be a tad miffed at you not playing along.

You decide to use this opening to interrupt the roleplayers' harmless violence. This may be their idea of fun, but you do have serious matters to attend to. You explain that you have no idea what's going on and that you would like to get out of here as quickly as possible. Regrettably, they are as oblivious of the important concepts of Sureness Assurance, Mr. Munderly and even Albany as anyone you've met around here. Your refusal to play along does seem to have deflated their enthusiasm considerably, however, as now all three of the guards regard you with naked suspicion instead.

You try and break the ice by asking about the insurance on their wines, but they seem less than receptive in this regard as well.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 11, 2016, 06:49:03 pm
"Hmm. An unnatural hunger, you say? Er. What exactly did I do? There doesn't seem to be any blood around here so I couldn't very much have eaten the stoat with my mouth.

I've no problem keeping my distance from you, of course. Do you perhaps know which woman it was that called the hunger on me? Which way she went, maybe?"

Jack looks askance at the turnkey.

"I'll be sure to give you your knife back, good sir. Just give me a moment to ... figure out exactly what just happened."

While requesting further clarification, ruminate upon the depths of my mind. Do I feel any sort of overwhelming hunger in there anywhere? Any metaphorical sleeping dragons in my head?

You have a second mouth, the knight says. Right on your chest. And the woman that called it down on you, she made herself scarce in the chaos. Where she is, the knight does not know. But she intends to find out, she says as she strides away, occasionally glancing to make sure you're not following her.

The turnkey keeps staring at you. The elderly fellow tells him that they can come back in a moment and that there certainly is business to attend to, and the turnkey responds by handing him a ring of keys, his eyes still fixed on the knife, blinking a little more frequently now. The elderly guard shrugs and takes the keys, then walks off, bidding you farewell for now.

[Exploration of the Self: 1]

Not that you're really listening, of course. You're thinking inward, becoming distracted. Inward is deeper than you thought. And warmer.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 12, 2016, 07:50:02 am
"Likewise you were most pleasant cellmate I have had for... five years, maybe? I wish you swift recovery! Maybe we see again, maybe we don't. Farewell." Leif bids farewell to the lady.

"Thank you for your had work, my good man! I would offer you a drink if I had any. Now then, would you point me to the tower of minders?"

Proceed to minders tower. If any minders there make their presense known, demand they teach me their art. And since it seems they are not here, study the architecture and artwork a bit and learn secrets. Any secrets. For example location their secret stash of mead. Or location of actual clothes. Or... some other secrets.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Dermonster on January 12, 2016, 08:05:43 am
Time to find out if that hot tip of the day from when I smashed myself with that sack of gold was true. Block the door with the rock and, uh. 'rest'.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Toaster on January 12, 2016, 09:24:09 am
((Beautiful timing for a 5))

"Well, if you need insurance, my firm can give you the peace of mind you need and deserve.  But yes, good fun and all, but I really must get going.  Does anyone here know how to get to Albany?  Or have a phone I can use to call a taxi?  I suppose if nothing else could you point me to the nearest highway?  I should be able to figure it out from there."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 12, 2016, 10:18:08 am
"I think the door works by making deals of some sort. Last time it asked for a 'connection' and this time it says I have another to give, as well as a 'source' that it seems to value more. I hope that's not referring to you... hey, can you hear what it's saying?"

After speaking to the girl, I turn to the door. "I will offer a connection. My desire: a weapon. My question: what entities or forces are present in my mind?" I then step into the door if it seems necessary.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Xantalos on January 12, 2016, 01:28:03 pm
"Hmm. Probably not something to practice out in the open.

Say turnkey guy, would you mind helping me carry this sacrificial rock over to the blacksmith's house? I'll give you your knife still."

Idly inspect self for that second mouth, give turnkey the knife back and ask him to help me bring the profane stone over to blacksmith's place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 13, 2016, 10:36:25 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 12, 2016, 07:50:02 am
"Likewise you were most pleasant cellmate I have had for... five years, maybe? I wish you swift recovery! Maybe we see again, maybe we don't. Farewell." Leif bids farewell to the lady.

"Thank you for your had work, my good man! I would offer you a drink if I had any. Now then, would you point me to the tower of minders?"

Proceed to minders tower. If any minders there make their presense known, demand they teach me their art. And since it seems they are not here, study the architecture and artwork a bit and learn secrets. Any secrets. For example location their secret stash of mead. Or location of actual clothes. Or... some other secrets.

You bid your ex-cellmate a fond farewell and ask for directions to the minder tower, which are readily provided. Thus you are out of jail! Finally! You celebrate your freedom by heading off to see the minders, going into the ancient tower.

[Tower of the Mind: 5]

You find yourself in a strange hall with black walls and a pure white floor, furnished somewhat like a circular lecture hall, except with a hearth at the center. Deserted and empty of human life, which isn't perfect. One would hope there would be some minders in here. Or at least stairs. But you see none of either until you have the idea to look up a little, whereupon you see the vaulted ceiling, which appears to have seven irregular white holes in it. And in one such hole is a small silhouette seemingly observing you. It retreats deeper into the hole as you look at it, leaving only the head peeking out.

Who... who are you? You're not supposed to be in here, it thinks.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 12, 2016, 08:05:43 am
Time to find out if that hot tip of the day from when I smashed myself with that sack of gold was true. Block the door with the rock and, uh. 'rest'.

[Heroic Rest: 5]

After making sure the door is safely blocked with your stupendously dangerous floating boulder and nobody's lurking in the shadows to kill you in your sleep, you go ahead and take a nap. The bed feels shockingly comfortable for a moment as your background levels of discomfort are alleviated. You grow used to not being in horrible pain disappointingly quickly, however, passing out contently for a while. Vague images and unfamiliar shapes manifest at the edge of your mind as you begin to dream.

You wake up some time later, feeling very refreshed and far less pink and tender. Why, you almost feel healthy, even! The stone is glad to see you recovering so quickly, and expresses congratulations. A servant tried to gain access to the room, it reports, but it managed to keep her out without need for violence.

Quote from: Toaster on January 12, 2016, 09:24:09 am
"Well, if you need insurance, my firm can give you the peace of mind you need and deserve.  But yes, good fun and all, but I really must get going.  Does anyone here know how to get to Albany?  Or have a phone I can use to call a taxi?  I suppose if nothing else could you point me to the nearest highway?  I should be able to figure it out from there."

The highway, the guard behind you says with a little resentment in his voice, is about three hundred miles to the west, which isn't exactly the reasonable answer you would expect. And when you ask if there aren't any closer highways, they respond that there is only one highway. In the state, you ask incredulously? No, they say, in the world.

One of the sisters looks sadly at the stool she broke on your head, and the other stares at you with a growing sense of her drunken inadequacy. They and the guard who took you here seem to have legitimately no idea on what to do with you. This seems to be going nowhere, you deduce after some thought.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 12, 2016, 10:18:08 am
"I think the door works by making deals of some sort. Last time it asked for a 'connection' and this time it says I have another to give, as well as a 'source' that it seems to value more. I hope that's not referring to you... hey, can you hear what it's saying?"

After speaking to the girl, I turn to the door. "I will offer a connection. My desire: a weapon. My question: what entities or forces are present in my mind?" I then step into the door if it seems necessary.

Why doesn't it want to make a deal with her, then? She has connections. And probably sources, too! And... wait, it's talking to you? What is it saying? Why won't it talk to her, can you ask it? You consider asking it. However, you have a different question in mind. And a desire as well. You step over the threshold, as is correct procedure.

You have chosen to pay with a connection. The source is barred from following.

Your fulfillment: due to substrate adaptability weapons are available in several varieties. Choose from the following categories and subcategories: manifested (subcategories: singular, multitudinous, shapeless), grown (subcategories: explosive, long-ranged, detachable), thought (subcategories: pleasurable, frightening, alienating).

Your answer: template designated as "your mind" is linked directly to the substrate and interpreter (see substrate, template, interpreter). Substrate and interpreter are linked with poor throughput (see safety measures, substrate instability, template). Interpreter and substrate are linked directly to the external environment (see physicality, universality of language, template replacement). Interplay of template, substrate and interpreter created by linking may explain subjective perception of forces and entities within template, though alternatives are possible (see schizophrenia, delusion, misconception).

Quote from: Xantalos on January 12, 2016, 01:28:03 pm
"Hmm. Probably not something to practice out in the open.

Say turnkey guy, would you mind helping me carry this sacrificial rock over to the blacksmith's house? I'll give you your knife still."

Idly inspect self for that second mouth, give turnkey the knife back and ask him to help me bring the profane stone over to blacksmith's place.

You're pretty sure you only have one mouth right now. Maybe the other one disappeared, or is perhaps simply very good at keeping itself closed. Not really any point in looking if you can't find it readily - you assume any mouth that could eat a full-grown stoatman would be fairly simple to detect under normal circumstances given your bodily dimensions. So instead you hand the turnkey his knife and ask if he'd like to help you move this slab.

[Turnkey's Joy: 5]

The turnkey toys with his knife for a second or two, then looks at the slab. On one hand, the holy circle will look awfully bare without it. On the other hand, isn't that the entire point of the holy circle? And the return of his knife does seem to have put him in a good mood. He blinks in agreement, and you try to carry the slab off a ways to reach the blacksmith's.

[Megalith Relocation: 6]

Though it is plainly too difficult to lift, it does seem to be circular enough to be nicely rolled once you stand it up on the side. It's still really heavy, obviously, but there are few things that two strong men on a mission cannot accomplish, and you conclusively prove that rolling around a sacrificial slab is definitely not one of them as you stand it up next to the blacksmith's front door. The turnkey blinks affirmation at you, nods and leaves you to it, presumably going off to get back to work, not that there really is any he needs to do with all the prisoners either released or executed.

[Sensible Dodge: 4]

You stand there a moment in the shade of the slab, admiring your handiwork. Sensing a challenge, the stone leans in your direction. The rather bad feeling you get proves entirely accurate as you step aside and the slab falls, squashing a perfectly good empty patch of ground where you once stood. Your superior situational awareness appears to have saved you once again. The slab sits still now, the dried bloodstain and the several fresher patches of residue from the limb mangling from earlier giving it a distinctly unholy look. The fact that the sun is disappearing beneath the horizon and the moon is slowly becoming the main source of illumination can only stand to improve things further, you believe.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Toaster on January 13, 2016, 11:56:41 am
Thomas sighed.  300 miles west to the highway... that'd put his current location in the ocean?  No, no, they're still playing the part.  Amazing commitment, really.  Well, outward and onward, he supposed.

"Look, I promise I mean no harm to anyone- I just want to get home so I can make my meeting.  And since no one here wants to buy insurance, I suppose, then I have no more business here.  May I be on my way?"

Ask to leave politely.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Dermonster on January 13, 2016, 12:46:31 pm
@Harry Baldman if I rest again will i recover more wounds or do I gotta get out of bed?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Xantalos on January 13, 2016, 12:59:27 pm
I still have the Turnkey's knife in my inventory. If this is some sort of quantum buggery, grab it before it disappears.

Then bang on the blacksmith's door.

"Yo blacksmith, I got you your profane thing! Just two more now."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 13, 2016, 01:19:14 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on January 13, 2016, 12:46:31 pm
@Harry Baldman if I rest again will i recover more wounds or do I gotta get out of bed?

Each turn of resting decreases wounds. Perhaps not by 2 this time (depends on the roll), but at least by 1.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: Dermonster on January 13, 2016, 01:20:24 pm
TAKE NO CHANCES! MY SLEEP SHALL NOT BE DENIED!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 13, 2016, 02:22:57 pm
What? Thinks? Not said? Ok...

"Name is Leif Erikson, descendant of mighty vikings who once ruled northern seas, and occasionally ardent worshipper of Odin and other æsir and vanir. What you mean I'm not supposed to be here? Nothing prevented me from coming, therefore I am supposed to be here. Assuming you believe in determinism.
Now it is my turn to ask questions! Are any minders here? I came to learn their secrets since basic training seemed so easy."

To prove it is easy, I recreate that granite island and the burning church in my mind. But not alcoholic fruits. Not yet.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Bringing Out The Best In People
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 13, 2016, 03:24:45 pm
"I choose grown, explosive." After the well is done I step out of the door.

"Maybe I should have asked it about you," I say to the girl once I'm out. "I didn't learn as much as I hoped. The minders' summoning spell is complicated and has several different parts, which might be why my mind doesn't appear normal. I didn't understand a lot of the terms the well used, but it mentioned the 'source' again and I'm reasonably sure it means you. Giving you to it sounds dangerous, so I suppose I need to find another 'connection' if I want to ask it something else. But I've got to try this out first... watch out."

I walk over to the pile of bricks and test out my new weapon on them.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 14, 2016, 01:52:01 pm
Quote from: Toaster on January 13, 2016, 11:56:41 am
Thomas sighed.  300 miles west to the highway... that'd put his current location in the ocean?  No, no, they're still playing the part.  Amazing commitment, really.  Well, outward and onward, he supposed.

"Look, I promise I mean no harm to anyone- I just want to get home so I can make my meeting.  And since no one here wants to buy insurance, I suppose, then I have no more business here.  May I be on my way?"

Ask to leave politely.

[Appeal To Decency: 1]

No, they reply in unison. Why should they let you go? After all, the captain implied you're up to no good or some such. The guard who brought you here forgets the specifics. So even if they can't beat you to a pulp while having a big old laugh, well, they're going to have to settle for temporarily inconveniencing you. Have to assert dominance somehow, by god. So you're going to stay here, and you're going to like it, one of the sister-guards tells you petulantly.

That being said, the three guards collect an assortment of wooden mugs and fill them up with wine, sitting down on whatever's handy (such as the savagely beaten individual who hasn't really moved much in the past minute) as they silently swill their brew. You check the basement door. It seems to be very locked. The guard who brought you here smirks. Not getting out, you hear him? Not getting out any time soon - that'll show you, you bloody spoilsport!

Quote from: Xantalos on January 13, 2016, 12:59:27 pm
I still have the Turnkey's knife in my inventory. If this is some sort of quantum buggery, grab it before it disappears.

Then bang on the blacksmith's door.

"Yo blacksmith, I got you your profane thing! Just two more now."

The blacksmith pokes his head out of his house, looking highly irritated at the interruption. That lasts until you show him the stone. Profane, you mention again. You think you literally ate a person off it. Plus there have been blood sacrifices happening upon it for who knows how long.

He regards the stone with interest. Are those... bloodstains? Yes, you say! Some of them fresher than others! Yes, he exclaims! That is exactly what he needs! Exactly what... oh! Oh! Ah! Hm. You consider what that expression on his face means, and also consider asking if he's quite all right. Before you manage, however, he jerks his head to look at you. Very good, he says! Excellent start! But insufficient! On its own, he means. It's a perfectly good spot of profanity... hm, perhaps you could arrange the other two items so that- no, wait! That's precious inspiration he's got there! And he's wasting it on you! Be off! And get the other stuff! And don't bother him until you have everything!

The blacksmith's head almost fails to disappear inside before the door slams. You hear him pace around inside for a moment. He starts banging something on the wall. His head, you suspect from the sound.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 13, 2016, 01:20:24 pm
TAKE NO CHANCES! MY SLEEP SHALL NOT BE DENIED!

[Continued Heroic Rest: 4]

Such a comfy bed. It mends the heart and soothes the soul to have a little time to unwind. You relax and drift in and out of dreamless sleep, letting yourself settle into an amplified state of relaxation. You catch yourself feeling unusually good after some time. In fact, you haven't felt this good since... er, you don't rightly remember. Ever, possibly!

One thing is clear, however: anyone who knocks the Ministry of Moronic Affairs clearly hasn't acquainted themselves with the job benefits.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 13, 2016, 02:22:57 pm
What? Thinks? Not said? Ok...

"Name is Leif Erikson, descendant of mighty vikings who once ruled northern seas, and occasionally ardent worshipper of Odin and other æsir and vanir. What you mean I'm not supposed to be here? Nothing prevented me from coming, therefore I am supposed to be here. Assuming you believe in determinism.
Now it is my turn to ask questions! Are any minders here? I came to learn their secrets since basic training seemed so easy."

To prove it is easy, I recreate that granite island and the burning church in my mind. But not alcoholic fruits. Not yet.

Er, okay. If you say so. And... basic training, you say? What basic training is that? The one with the visualization thing, you remind the little guy. Oh, he says. The aptitude test. Yeah, it's, uh, pretty easy, he guesses, once you get how it works. You're a bit old to be, uh, inducted, though?

Nonsense, you say. You can conjure vivid internal worlds with the best of them. This qualifies you to learn all the secrets. All of them.

[Induced Lucidity: 2]

For instance, in your inner world there is- oh, that's not an inner world, is it?

Er, as you were thinking, your inner world contains- he doesn't see any inner world. No, er, persistent images, you know?

As you were thinking! There's this granite- no, seriously. The whole point is, uh, that you create an image, right? Many images. Like an, er, room or something? Then you don't think about it for a while. And then at any given moment you, uh, recall it? No, that's not the right word. You don't recall it. It's just still there, even if you don't think about it.

He can show you his if you want. He hasn't really, er, been there lately. The snakes might need checking up on, now that he, uh, thinks about it.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 13, 2016, 03:24:45 pm
"I choose grown, explosive." After the well is done I step out of the door.

"Maybe I should have asked it about you," I say to the girl once I'm out. "I didn't learn as much as I hoped. The minders' summoning spell is complicated and has several different parts, which might be why my mind doesn't appear normal. I didn't understand a lot of the terms the well used, but it mentioned the 'source' again and I'm reasonably sure it means you. Giving you to it sounds dangerous, so I suppose I need to find another 'connection' if I want to ask it something else. But I've got to try this out first... watch out."

I walk over to the pile of bricks and test out my new weapon on them.

The weapon is yours. As it snakes into your right arm, the limb falls asleep slowly from the tips of your fingers to your shoulder. A few moments pass as feeling is regained. Knowing the transaction to be complete you step back out again, the door giving way.

Thank you. Come again.

That done, you turn to the girl and explain the situation as she stares blankly at you, surprised at your emergence. She nods slowly as you tell her all about your strange experience inside, looking increasingly bewildered as you delve into the well's preferred terms. All right, that's all fine and good, she tells you. But why are you telling her this? And who are you, anyway? And what's wrong with this bloody well? It doesn't want to let her in for some reason! She's a perfectly good minder. Maybe not as good as the hidden, granted, but certainly good enough! She can float! Show her another minder within a hundred miles who can do that at the moment and she'll show you a filthy liar.

[Best Weapons Testing Practices: 6]

You let her have her rant. You've got a weapon to test, after all. You perform a flourish with your hand, an electrifying feeling going through your bones as you feel something swell in your palm. Examination reveals a smooth, baseball-sized cyst covered in skin, soft to the touch, easily plucked off from your hand. It wriggles dangerously as you hold it, at which point you decide to lob it at the nearby pile of inscribed bricks. As the bulb flies in a smooth arc, the idea that perhaps testing explosive weaponry in an enclosed space is distinctly unwise occurs to you.

[Foresighted Dodge: 4]

You duck and cover as the pile of bricks becomes an ornery cloud of shrapnel with a deafening boom - most of it misses you. A few errant shards tear up your dress lightly. The minder girl looks at the source of the explosion in puzzlement, holding a torn-off piece of her earlobe. Maybe coming here was an incredibly terrible idea, you get from her expression. Was that you, she asks. Don't do that again, whatever it was, she says immediately afterward, not bothering to hear your answer. She turns to the well door, methodically knocking on it in several places. This seems to produce little information.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 14, 2016, 02:06:34 pm
"One out of three down and I only turned into an abomination against physics once. As far as dark fantasy tropes go, that's a fairly good track record.

Now then, let's check out that church, shall we? Probably something either priceless or purple in there that I can nab now that the priest's dead..."

Trot over inside the church I saw Mr. Explodey Moon Rock come out of a little while ago. How's it look as far as priceless or purple things go? Any stained glass or cool-looking idols or something?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 14, 2016, 02:10:04 pm
Well phooey; this won't do at all!  Well, he had been stuck in a room with people before; it was just usually him giving the sales pitch.  And if there's nothing else to do...

"Well, this is certainly a quandary.  It's a nice place, this castle, though.  You know, I am an insurance salesman, with a specialty in corporate accounts.  As large as this facility is, I sure hope it's already insured.  Even if it is, our firm offers highly competitive rates that I am sure compare favorably to your current provider.  And if you're not currently covered...  well, you should be!   As I said earlier, we do offer wine insurance, which many of our competitors do not.  And all those special effects, there's quite a bit of potential liability involved; did you know that?  With the ever changing state and federal regulations, you want a business partner that can stay on top of requirements for you.  Why, just the other day..."


Drone out a sales pitch
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 14, 2016, 02:10:26 pm
"Sure, please show it."

I'm starting to be in mood for spiked grapefruits again. Imaginary rock is not being very cooperative, despite how well I know it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 14, 2016, 04:06:08 pm
Right, time to go. Get dressed(call a servent to get clothes?) and go find the highest vantage point in the city.

We got some Stoats to burn.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 14, 2016, 04:17:00 pm
"Woah. Sorry about that. I was hoping you could help me piece together what's going on here, but I'm not sure anyone can."

What am I even doing? I suppose I'm prepared to defend myself... now to focus on getting out of here, I guess. The well said I could defeat the stoats or work with them, but that sounds dangerous. Maybe I'll just escape. Whatever happens, I could probably use more help. So I leave the well to look for allies or something else to bring back to it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 15, 2016, 02:02:40 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 14, 2016, 02:06:34 pm
"One out of three down and I only turned into an abomination against physics once. As far as dark fantasy tropes go, that's a fairly good track record.

Now then, let's check out that church, shall we? Probably something either priceless or purple in there that I can nab now that the priest's dead..."

Trot over inside the church I saw Mr. Explodey Moon Rock come out of a little while ago. How's it look as far as priceless or purple things go? Any stained glass or cool-looking idols or something?

You head inside of the chapel, and find nobody present. Excellent. The chapel itself is fairly bare and thoroughly looted as well as extraordinarily drafty on account of all the holes in the walls. Not exactly an ostentatious house of worship, really - that is, except for the stained glass. Tall and colorful, they form exquisite patterns on the theme of times of day on the right side and the phases of the moon on the left.

Clearly constructed with care over a period of years, there is no question that the windows themselves are likely priceless, at least in these circumstances. You assume they're irreproducible by any regular means, anyway. The problem is, you think they'd only really be properly priceless as a whole. And since each window is three stories tall, you foresee some issues with carrying one of them about for any useful purpose.

Quote from: Toaster on January 14, 2016, 02:10:04 pm
Well phooey; this won't do at all!  Well, he had been stuck in a room with people before; it was just usually him giving the sales pitch.  And if there's nothing else to do...

"Well, this is certainly a quandary.  It's a nice place, this castle, though.  You know, I am an insurance salesman, with a specialty in corporate accounts.  As large as this facility is, I sure hope it's already insured.  Even if it is, our firm offers highly competitive rates that I am sure compare favorably to your current provider.  And if you're not currently covered...  well, you should be!   As I said earlier, we do offer wine insurance, which many of our competitors do not.  And all those special effects, there's quite a bit of potential liability involved; did you know that?  With the ever changing state and federal regulations, you want a business partner that can stay on top of requirements for you.  Why, just the other day..."


Drone out a sales pitch

[The Art of the Pitch: 2]

They make a very good effort at pretending not to know what insurance is, you think, meeting you with bewildered and disdainful looks when they bother to listen at all. Or perhaps they have already thrown their lot in with the adversary. You have equally valid suspicions about both after about twenty solid minutes of attempting to interest them in your favorable rates and comprehensive policies. The once-jolly guard who led you here muses on the nature of damnation to himself, and you've noticed that all three of the guards are starting to drink with increasing quickness as you go on and on and on... and on and on... and on into infinity. Try as they might, however, unconsciousness does not strike them yet.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 14, 2016, 02:10:26 pm
"Sure, please show it."

I'm starting to be in mood for spiked grapefruits again. Imaginary rock is not being very cooperative, despite how well I know it.

[Dark Neglected Fields: 3]

The black expanse of the hall grows deeper as you feel yourself drawn out of your element, the floor disappearing as you traverse the boundaries of perception. It is an almost instantaneous transportation, a flash of black and you're simply there.

In this case, there happens to be a small, barren island of rock suspended in a starlit void. Above it you see floating a sphere of pure crystal, inside which you see a smaller, luminous shape. It is a wriggling, quasi-spherical mess of shining snakes, their hissing muffled by the enclosure. Uh, okay, the minder - a small, droopy-eyed, slightly slack-jawed boy - says as he stands next to you. That's... not as bad as it could be. Looks like the snakes aren't really doing much. Maybe he ought to put them away, then. At a superfluous gesture he sphere flies off into the void, taking a place among the uncountable stars.

You try to manifest a spiked grapefruit, but nothing really comes to you. The boy looks at you. No real point in trying to imagine things here, he says. It's his world. You're an observer, yeah?

Quote from: Dermonster on January 14, 2016, 04:06:08 pm
Right, time to go. Get dressed(call a servent to get clothes?) and go find the highest vantage point in the city.

We got some Stoats to burn.


[Ministerial Privileges: 3]

You look out the door and call for a servant. It takes about three tries, but eventually one shows up at the top of the staircase, asking what it is that you want. Clothes, you respond. Clothes are what you need, in fact. Can't very well walk about naked, can you? The servant agrees - have you tried your room's closet? People usually put clothes in those, she's heard.

You check the closet. Hot damn, she appears to have been absolutely right! A closet full of clothes right there in front of you. Nothing that really fits you, you think. But there's a pretty serviceable nightgown in there. A little floral, of course. But it's not like anyone's going to laugh at a wizard who's got a pet nuclear rock on hand, right? You put it on and head out. Now, vantage points. The town of Anglefork remains sadly beyond your reach still, naturally, so you look around for the tallest structure around - clearly the flat top of the minder tower, about nine stories up from the ground in total, is the unquestioned king of vantage points around here. So you head inside there.

What you see inside is Mr. Erikson, standing in a stairless hall looking a little gormless and preoccupied for no reason you can easily identify. The hall itself is something like a circular meeting room kind of affair, with seating arranged in concentric circles around a central hearth. The ceiling is vaulted with irregularly spaced holes in the ceiling, seemingly the only routes of access to the upper levels. One such hole appears to have the silhouette of a tiny guy standing in it, paying you no real attention. The others meanwhile look entirely empty.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 14, 2016, 04:17:00 pm
"Woah. Sorry about that. I was hoping you could help me piece together what's going on here, but I'm not sure anyone can."

What am I even doing? I suppose I'm prepared to defend myself... now to focus on getting out of here, I guess. The well said I could defeat the stoats or work with them, but that sounds dangerous. Maybe I'll just escape. Whatever happens, I could probably use more help. So I leave the well to look for allies or something else to bring back to it.

You clamber out of the well, leaving the minder girl to it. She'll probably be all right as long as the door won't let her in.

Now then, you need to find somebody who'd be willing to come with you down there. Not that there's a real shortage of people around here. But you get the feeling the well wants something a little more specific. A connection, as it seems so keen on stating. Or a source. Wonder where those would be found around here?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 15, 2016, 03:47:59 pm
"...which is another of the many benefits of our platinum packages.  I did mention the rate increase protection for up to two claims in a rolling 12-month period, correct?"

Thomas looked at the guards for a moment.

"You know, I wonder if you gentle guards have adequate protection for yourselves?  We pride ourselves on the work we do with workmen's comp claims, and guard duty is most certainly a dangerous position.  I hope you have adequate protection for when you are unable to work?"


Check for worker's comp coverage?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 15, 2016, 03:52:39 pm
"Oi, Erikson, any idea on how to get to the top of this tower here?"

Let's try to get our Moonstone a little bigger.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 15, 2016, 03:55:27 pm
"Hmm. I'll want that daytime one, maybe I'll get a fire sword out of that. But how to get them out is the question.
...
That dude had a giant boulder floating around with him. Maybe there's some way I could get some anti-gravity magic or something? Of course that'll probably be more difficult than just finding something else priceless, but maybe the difficulty of it translates into a better sword in the end."

Head outside and look for any wizardy structures. Maybe there's some wizard I could convince to help me loot the window in it!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 15, 2016, 04:07:05 pm
"Coolio. I had island too, surrounded by a sea of vodka filled grapefruits. Real topgrade stuff, I tell you. How do you do this? Sharing your... hallucination? Seems real handy skill."

((HB, can I hear Dermonser?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 15, 2016, 05:15:05 pm
I wander around searching for someone who looks friendly. I avoid anyone who looks unfriendly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 16, 2016, 02:36:56 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 15, 2016, 04:07:05 pm
((HB, can I hear Dermonser?))

Not really, no.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 16, 2016, 04:50:12 am
Quote from: Toaster on January 15, 2016, 03:47:59 pm
"...which is another of the many benefits of our platinum packages.  I did mention the rate increase protection for up to two claims in a rolling 12-month period, correct?"

Thomas looked at the guards for a moment.

"You know, I wonder if you gentle guards have adequate protection for yourselves?  We pride ourselves on the work we do with workmen's comp claims, and guard duty is most certainly a dangerous position.  I hope you have adequate protection for when you are unable to work?"


Check for worker's comp coverage?

[Matters of Life and Limb: 4]

Now this catches their attention. Getting paid for being injured is part of their job description. One of the sisters asks more in a voice far south of merely tipsy, and the others regard you with narrowed eyes. You explain the idea of workman's comp, which seems like a fairly interesting idea to them. The concept is somewhat familiar - the royal guard get parcels of farmland for their service, which they get to keep if they serve until past their prime or get injured in the line of duty. Runs in the family for as long as the profession does.

This does not seem very secure, you think. Farm work is quite strenuous, you must say - well, that's what serfs are for, one guard offers helpfully. They work your land and pay you for the privilege. Like slavery, but better! Er, yes. But imagine if they could also get a comfortable pension after being injured. So they wouldn't even have to live on their farmland, one of the sisters says happily. Is there even any farmland left, come to think of it, the once-jolly guard realizes. Stoats have kind of taken over the country, mostly. So if they do get injured in the line of duty, they're not likely to get it, are they?

Perhaps, you say! So clearly they must realize the importance of workman's comp, yes? They say that it would be a cool thing to have in their line of work, yes. Royal guarding can be famously dangerous at times. You wonder briefly if it would be strictly wise to insure someone whose job description is to get into dangerous situations on somebody else's behalf. The whole point is for most of those you insured to not get hurt, isn't it?

Quote from: Dermonster on January 15, 2016, 03:52:39 pm
"Oi, Erikson, any idea on how to get to the top of this tower here?"

Let's try to get our Moonstone a little bigger.

Mr. Erikson does not respond. Probably doesn't know anything anyway. You're going to have to figure this one out all by yourself as always. First step, clearly, is to put another Word into that floating boulder of yours.

MOON

[Word: 2]

The shining stone shakes and vibrates, but there doesn't seem to be much in the way of dust for it to accrete over its surface. You kneel down and look at the floor. It is unnaturally spotless. As is the furniture. The entire hall looks entirely new, as a matter of fact, as if it were furnished just yesterday or so. You look at your stone. It shrugs uncertainly. A picosecond flash of nuclear-powered light escapes from it, making the room feel considerably warmer.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 15, 2016, 03:55:27 pm
"Hmm. I'll want that daytime one, maybe I'll get a fire sword out of that. But how to get them out is the question.
...
That dude had a giant boulder floating around with him. Maybe there's some way I could get some anti-gravity magic or something? Of course that'll probably be more difficult than just finding something else priceless, but maybe the difficulty of it translates into a better sword in the end."

Head outside and look for any wizardy structures. Maybe there's some wizard I could convince to help me loot the window in it!

There happens to be an ancient-looking tower in the courtyard, its stonework strikingly different from that of the castle. Possibly cob-based. Definitely more organic in shape than the rest of the place. You go over there and open up the door, and find yourself face to face with Mr. Codeburn. Nearby stand Mr. Erikson, looking confused. And sure enough, the shiny boulder is also there, floating dangerously about. Looks like you found where the party's at. You seem to be fairly good at that, come to think of it.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 15, 2016, 04:07:05 pm
"Coolio. I had island too, surrounded by a sea of vodka filled grapefruits. Real topgrade stuff, I tell you. How do you do this? Sharing your... hallucination? Seems real handy skill."

It's, uh, minding. Sharing perception is a basic part of minding. The, er, most advanced basic thing, if that makes sense. It takes a while to learn it. And it's, er, actual minding. Not an inner world kind of thing, you know?

MOON

Uh, what was that? You feel yourself yanked out of the boy's mindscape, the flash of black like a shadow passing over your brain. You blink as you find yourself back in conventional reality, now sharing the hall with the illustrious Mr. Codeburn, resplendent in his women's nightgown, a shining boulder that pulses in a way you find slightly unsettling, and a completely naked Mr. Daniels. Mr. Codeburn appears to be examining the suspicious cleanliness of the hall, while Mr. Daniels seems to have just got here.

You look up at the boy's little alcove, but he seems to be absent from it now. Skittish thing, isn't he?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 15, 2016, 05:15:05 pm
I wander around searching for someone who looks friendly. I avoid anyone who looks unfriendly.

[Seeking Friends: 4]

You have a thought. Night is currently falling, yes? It is no time for decent folk to be out and about, yes? Ergo, anyone you meet in the courtyard is bound to be unfriendly to some degree or another. From this you conclude that all the decent folk ought to be inside their homes right now. So you walk over to one of the more harmless-looking houses and give it a solid knock.

A moment or two passes before the door opens slightly. You are met by a gentle young woman with a pleasant smile. She looks at you questioningly. Can she help you, she asks softly.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 16, 2016, 07:19:23 am
"Hello," I greet the woman. "I've been recruited by the minders to help solve the stoat situation. Would you or anyone you know be interested in helping me? We need brains more than brawn here, so it's fine if you aren't a fighter."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 16, 2016, 09:54:43 am
"There are many advantages again!  So... who makes the financial decisions for your employers?  That is who would have to decide."

So can I get out yet?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 16, 2016, 10:54:11 am
"Welp. Time to try this thing."

Grab onto boulder. Levitate boulder upwards to or through a hole, and exit Elevator Rock to a landing/roof. If at any point I fall off boulder, MOON to migitate falling damage.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 16, 2016, 12:18:01 pm
"Hey guy! Dude with the boulder! Can that moon magic word of yours apply low gravity to other things? I'm looking for help to loot something fragile."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 16, 2016, 12:55:40 pm
"Probably, but I can only use it on one thing at a time and hell if I'm going to lighten you up when I need to not die to rapid deceleration."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 16, 2016, 01:01:26 pm
"Oh, it's not me. I need to obtain one of those stained glass windows from the temple you came out of and I figure your powers would help.


How'd you get those, by the by?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 16, 2016, 01:13:30 pm
"Simple explanation: I got down with the Cosmic Disco. The priest could tell you more but I incinerated him when I tried to Death Star an army. Doin' it again, btw."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 16, 2016, 01:14:18 pm
"Ha!" Leif points Daniels. "Ha ha!" He laughs at Codeburn. "The fuck is that?" He points the boulder. "Very nice balloon! Oh, by the way, people here are batshit crazy."

Hear MOON. Remember it. Absorb it. Ask the kiddo where minders at. Maybe study the prison stone here where it is not so dark.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 16, 2016, 01:15:59 pm
"We're all mad here, friend. Behold, I ascend!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 16, 2016, 05:33:50 pm
"Did you just say 'by the way' as an acronym? Who even uses those things outside of texting? Is that a new trend that I missed in my developing alcoholism before I got booted over here? Man, things get wierd quick.

Well, good luck lasering that army. When you're done, come help me get the window out if you want, I think the end result's gonna be pretty badass."

Look around this wizard tower. Anything that look like, I dunno, a wizard book to get spells from? Jack no know how metaphysics work here.

Make sure to keep an eye on Codeburn and step out of the way if he or the giant boulder fall. Or show signs of exploding like he did before.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 16, 2016, 06:15:46 pm
"Yeah Cosmic Empowerment fucks you up something real good language wise. Look, I can speak in full blocks of text! ███▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄████"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 16, 2016, 06:30:40 pm
"Now that just seems excessive."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 17, 2016, 04:10:38 am
"Army? What army?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 17, 2016, 04:16:20 am
"Oh, didn't you know? Apparently there's this giant army of what people call stoats outside the castle looking to kill us all. They look like marmots to me, really - kinda short limbs but a really long and flexible spine. I've done my part, I ate one of them while I might have been possessed by a demon or tapped into my inner monstrosity or something. Point is, that guy's going to go laser the army with some giant doom laser that I kinda wish I could get. But I'm gonna get something cool anyway. So yeah."

Y'know, looking at myself from the outside it seems like I might seem insane.

I'm not, obviously. Everything I've done so far has a totally rational reason behind it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 17, 2016, 04:32:39 am
Leif blinks. He takes one step away from Daniels.

"Oookay. The marmot people I get, there was one down in the prison but he escaped. Bastard insulted me by saying I'm a meaningless minder trick. Which is why I'm trying find one, though none seems to be here. Except that one kid in ceiling holes, but he might just be a student."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 17, 2016, 04:38:23 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 16, 2016, 07:19:23 am
"Hello," I greet the woman. "I've been recruited by the minders to help solve the stoat situation. Would you or anyone you know be interested in helping me? We need brains more than brawn here, so it's fine if you aren't a fighter."

Oh, she says. You need not even ask. Of course she will help to the best of her ability. Perhaps the master will, too. He is not in at the moment. But she can take you to him nevertheless. Your request is both urgent and worthy - surely it merits his attention.

She opens the door wider, inviting you in with an accommodating expression.

Quote from: Toaster on January 16, 2016, 09:54:43 am
"There are many advantages again!  So... who makes the financial decisions for your employers?  That is who would have to decide."

So can I get out yet?

[Impeccable Timing: 6]

Before the guards can give you a response, the captain of the royal guard turns up. She looks at you in puzzlement, then at the guards. When she told them to leave some for later, she didn't quite expect this much, truth be told. The other guards lower their heads in shame as the once-jolly guard explains that they seem to be incapable of harming you in any way for no adequately explicable reason. On the other hand, they did have an enlightening chat with you - say, has the captain heard about at thing called workers' compensation? With most of the country gone and all, it seems like it might be time to renegotiate-

That sounds like stoat-spread seditious treason, the captain retorts, and they will desist in speaking of such things immediately. One of the sisters tries to raise a reasonable objection, but her thoughts seem to have tripped somewhere on the way to her mouth, and so she makes only so much dissatisfied noise.

The captain opts to ignore them as she turns to you. You seem to have driven her guards to grossly uncharacteristic behavior, and she demands an immediate explanation.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 16, 2016, 10:54:11 am
"Welp. Time to try this thing."

Grab onto boulder. Levitate boulder upwards to or through a hole, and exit Elevator Rock to a landing/roof. If at any point I fall off boulder, MOON to migitate falling damage.

[Flight of the Shining Stone: 3]

You grab onto the shining stone. It is uncomfortably hot, you find. Despite this fact, you figure you ought to be fine for a couple of minutes. There aren't really handholds available, so you flop onto it and let it carry you upward. It does so to the best of its ability, letting you slowly float over to the lowest available hole. At this point you're feeling somewhat like an egg on a steadily heating frying pan, so you decide to get off this wild ride of yours.

[Uncommon Acrobatics: 2]

It is, however, a little difficult to get in position for a good jump here. Standing atop the stone, you look at the distressingly small alcove you're ostensibly aiming for. Then you look down. It's a long fall, true, but not long enough to call upon the power of the Moon, you think. At least not to a useful degree (only so much that 0.16 Gs can do for a man already moving at 9.8 m/s, one could say). And the boulder seems to be having trouble standing still. You notice this, and it notices you noticing, becoming more nervous and starting to fidget even more.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 16, 2016, 01:14:18 pm
"Ha!" Leif points Daniels. "Ha ha!" He laughs at Codeburn. "The fuck is that?" He points the boulder. "Very nice balloon! Oh, by the way, people here are batshit crazy."

Hear MOON. Remember it. Absorb it. Ask the kiddo where minders at. Maybe study the prison stone here where it is not so dark.

Moon! Moon? Moon. You remember it just fine. It's a word. Not really a strain on your mental faculties to remember a single word, is it?

Anyway, the helpful kiddo looks to have gone missing, so asking him anything doesn't seem like a terribly likely proposition. So you just take out your stone and take a closer look at it. It's not really much brighter in here than in the dungeon, you find. Might have something to do with no light sources and the way there aren't any windows.

[Mineral Examination: 1]

It's some kind of geode, you think. Except inverted - semi-precious bits on the outside, black stuff on the inside. You're not a geologist, so hell if you know how that works.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 16, 2016, 05:33:50 pm
"Did you just say 'by the way' as an acronym? Who even uses those things outside of texting? Is that a new trend that I missed in my developing alcoholism before I got booted over here? Man, things get wierd quick.

Well, good luck lasering that army. When you're done, come help me get the window out if you want, I think the end result's gonna be pretty badass."

Look around this wizard tower. Anything that look like, I dunno, a wizard book to get spells from? Jack no know how metaphysics work here.

Make sure to keep an eye on Codeburn and step out of the way if he or the giant boulder fall. Or show signs of exploding like he did before.

[Looter's Instincts: 3]

Well, you see vast amounts of fuck-all in this hall. Considering you could just wander in here without repercussion or observation, you'd say this makes sense. You don't put your valuables in places where any old nonce can just wander in and steal them. In fact, if you had to guess, then those holes in the ceiling that Mr. Codeburn is trying to get to with his boulder probably lead to the part of the tower that the actual wizarding happens in. The lack of stairs in this case strikes you as deliberate. Wizards, you know. In fact-

Wait, you notice something. Not anything lying around, mind you. You see Mr. Erikson fondling and examining a small object over on one side of the hall. Normally you would avert your eyes at such discoveries, but you think he may actually have something valuable there. Unfortunately, you think he also probably knows it.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 17, 2016, 04:49:57 am
Hmh, well let's find proper light then and re-examine the stone. Ask around if anyone has seen where surviving minders went.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 17, 2016, 05:15:09 am
I approach in an absolutely non-creepy manner. By which I mean do exactly that, only unintentionally.

"Say, what's that? It couldn't help but ... catch my eye."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 17, 2016, 07:27:36 am
"The freak in the prison gave me this, told me to take it his family." Leif hastens his steps ever so slightly. "Dunno if I want to, because he vomited it up. If his folks have equally disgusting habits I might want to stay away from them."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 17, 2016, 10:19:34 am
Reassure moonstone, let it know that I believe in it. Try to get close enough to step off, otherwise jump for it. MOON if it doesn't look like I'll make it, then have rock swing under me to catch my slowly falling ass.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 17, 2016, 10:27:38 am
I thank the woman for her hospitality and enter the house. "I'm Eileen," I say after I step inside.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 17, 2016, 08:04:58 pm
"Oh! A stoat prisoner then probably? If so I probably ate him. Her. I forget. I ate a stoat that was probably the one with you."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 01:33:21 am
"You... ate somebody!?"  :o
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 01:36:13 am
"Apparently with a mouth on my chest. I don't see one, but I'm interested in trying to harness this power again at some point. I think it'd be cool."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 18, 2016, 01:37:48 am
"You guy's talking about food down there? I haven't eaten in ages! How long have we even been in this crapsack whatever the hell? (No seriously, are we in a town or a castle or what? The narration is confusing me a little.)"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 01:40:18 am
Jack cups his hands around his mouth in order to properly carry his voice over.

"No, we're talking about the time I ate a stoat with a mouth in my chest! Happened around five minutes ago, actually! I've been here around a half hour or so, I think."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 18, 2016, 01:43:07 am
"Mouth in your che- Oh hell did you go full weeaboo? NEVER GO FULL WEEABOO BRO, DEIDARA IS NOT A GOOD ROLE MODEL. If you break out exploding clay I WILL SHANK YOUR ASS WITH THE SUN."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 01:46:49 am
"Don't know what you're talking about with your anime bullshit, man! I think I channeled some sort of demon or something for a minute. Some old lady who was also a knight told me an intense hunger got called upon me by some random lady.
...
Hey, did you come from Earth? I didn't think there was more than me, but there might be."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 01:52:36 am
"I'm from Russia, but sure as hell you are not from same planet. You sound like cloudcuckoolander."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 18, 2016, 01:54:39 am
"Yeah I'm from Earth. Used to work on computers but NOW I COMMUNE WITH THE COSMOS! Let me tell you, going on that holy panty raid was the best thing I ever did. Crazy old priest really knew his shit. Too bad he's dead, apparently he knew more shit to do but I incinerated him when I blew up the moonstone."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 01:55:57 am
"I never really found out where I was from but somewhere in the central US. Do either of you know how we got here? I woke up in a backyard."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 18, 2016, 01:57:49 am
"Yeah some magic bastards called Minders called us here to kill all the Stoats, we're in their tower now, I think. They're at the bottom of the well decomposin'. I just wandered around till magic shit happened to me and now I'm gonna try to go death star an army.

Also I obtained an official government position within a minute of walking into the castle. I think the princess is drunk?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 18, 2016, 01:59:15 am
"Ah!  You must be the important manager that I need to speak with!  Surely you care for your employees; you want them to be covered in all cases of injury and malady on the job, correct?  Let me tell you of the perils of insufficient coverage- and the lawsuits are only the beginning..."


Another sales pitch!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 01:59:38 am
"Huh."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 02:43:06 am
Quote from: Dermonster on January 18, 2016, 01:57:49 am
"Yeah some magic bastards called Minders called us here to kill all the Stoats, we're in their tower now, I think. They're at the bottom of the well decomposin'. I just wandered around till magic shit happened to me and now I'm gonna try to go death star an army.

Also I obtained an official government position within a minute of walking into the castle. I think the princess is drunk?"

"Wait a moment, so those guys were the minders? How I'm now supposed to learn their secrets if they are all dead?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 02:47:37 am
"They're all dead? Aw, cmon! How am I supposed to be able to learn antigravity magic without wizards to learn it from?

Wait. Where'd you guys pop up in?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 02:53:34 am
"In a rat filled wooden bathtube."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 03:05:50 am
"Huh. And where was the bathtub?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 03:16:10 am
"Underground. A well, I think. Now stop following me, seriously."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 03:19:32 am
"A well, eh? Well - heh - I think I know where I'm going now."

Overwriting my pervious action - go over to the well and try to find a way to safely get down into it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 03:22:11 am
"Going to eat more people?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 03:31:02 am
"No, no. That was accidental. Not yet, anyway. I figure if I can find the wizard - minder - corpses, they might have some minder stuff on them."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 03:36:35 am
"See this skirt? It belonged to a minder. He didn't have anything else noteworthy on him."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 03:41:02 am
"Yeah, and there's probably stuff they had lying around that wasn't directly on them. If they did summon people from another world into this one there was probably ritual implements and stuff.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 05:30:12 am
"Possibly. I didn't see anything of value there. Some of us were messing with some rods and bricks, but that's about it. But then again I was in hurry to get out..."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 18, 2016, 06:20:23 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 17, 2016, 04:49:57 am
Hmh, well let's find proper light then and re-examine the stone. Ask around if anyone has seen where surviving minders went.

[Seeking True Light: 2]

You're pretty sure that floating, shining boulder is as good a light as you're likely to get in this castle, frustratingly uneven as the light may be. Looking outside for a moment, the rest of the castle looks quite dark. You assume most of the citizens get around by moonlight and general familiarity. Not that there seems to be much of a nightlife. A few guards patrol the battlements of the castle warily, and the pair of door guards you may have seen earlier are making sure the courtyard is clear of any sinister activity.

Seems like if you want better light, you're going to have to make some yourself. Or ask the guy with the magical powers to make more, that works too. His boulder seems to be working on something right now, in fact-

[Extraordinary Dodge: 4]

MOON

- something very radioactive that you are fairly sure you want no part of, and wisely take a step outside to avoid. The way the exterior door takes on a very smoky aroma and warps slightly makes you wonder if you want to go back in there, really.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 17, 2016, 10:19:34 am
Reassure moonstone, let it know that I believe in it. Try to get close enough to step off, otherwise jump for it. MOON if it doesn't look like I'll make it, then have rock swing under me to catch my slowly falling ass.

[Stone's Motivation: 1]

You... you believe in it? That's... wow. It's never had someone believe in its abilities. It... forgive it, it doesn't know what's coming over it. It's just so happy!

[Extraordinary Dodge: 2]

The short pulse of largely restrained celestial fire that flows out of the stone makes you nervous. You don't think you have too many options. It's make-or-break time.

MOON

[Word: 5]

The word coincides with your stone beginning to weep openly in waves of stellar radiation, and you leap into the nearest hole, your nightgown having caught on fire, your hair bursting into flames, the high-energy particles making every inch of your insides itch. You grab onto the edge of the alcove and swing yourself into the rather convenient circular passage it leads into, obtaining adequate cover before you are once again nearly incinerated.

The next few moments are spent rolling about to put out the flames. Your nightgown is only ruined in the back area, fortunately, and you're really only burnt over approximately 30% of your surface area. 40%, tops. On your revised personal scale of pain, the exploration of which can be said to be perpetually ongoing, you'd say this is about a 3/10.

Having sorted that, you take a look around. You seem to be on the equivalent of the third floor now, which has the shape of a circular passage, as mentioned, running all around the vaulted ceiling of the hall below. The outer edge of the passage has staircases leading up between the irregular window-door-whatever holes. It's a bit hard to see, given how dark it is in here, but you think you see a shape scurry up one of the nearby staircases.

What you most definitely also sense is your good friend the stone, seemingly banging up against the hole you entered through to get your attention. Maker? Are you there? Are you all right? Please tell it you're all right. It hopes it didn't hurt you with that outburst. Oh god, you probably hate it forever now, don't you? It is so sorry for letting you down! Again! It won't happen again, ever, it solemnly swears, a corresponding high-energy emotional discharge lighting up your point of entry.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 17, 2016, 10:27:38 am
I thank the woman for her hospitality and enter the house. "I'm Eileen," I say after I step inside.

She is very pleased to make your acquaintance, Eileen. Her name is Claire. She gently places a hand on your shoulder as you walk in.

The inside of the home is perhaps not what you'd expect, though what you would expect at this point is up for debate. The house is but a single room, well-made but worn furniture clustered along the edges of it including a double bed, a frankly excessive number of end tables of similar shape and design, a dining table without any chairs, its surface filled with a variety of woodworking tools placed in an orderly manner, and a sizable wardrobe in one corner. It looks minimally inhabited in a sense, like someone's been through here, but hasn't elected to stay. Welcome, Claire tells you. Mind the center panel.

The center panel is, appropriately enough, about a 15 by 15 foot solid wood panel in the center of the room, polished to perfect smoothness over a presumably long period of time. It is subtly different from the rest of the wooden floor - if it hadn't been pointed out to you, you doubt you would have noticed it. Her best work, Claire thinks. Very nice, do you not agree? Would you like something to drink, perhaps?

Quote from: Toaster on January 18, 2016, 01:59:15 am
"Ah!  You must be the important manager that I need to speak with!  Surely you care for your employees; you want them to be covered in all cases of injury and malady on the job, correct?  Let me tell you of the perils of insufficient coverage- and the lawsuits are only the beginning..."


Another sales pitch!

[Lovely Seditious Treason: 4]

You preach the horrors of innocents caught in terrible traps of their own making, the work of the silent killer that is the thoughtless acceptance of personal invincibility. Bad things happen to people all the time, do they not? One of these days they are going to happen to you, to her, to anyone at all. And no man or woman knows the day their doom will come. Eloquently put, the guard captain agrees. Things have been looking a bit down as of late.

Indeed, you say, death and injury comes for us all. And the only way to stay prepared, and to earn the everlasting loyalty of your employees, is to provide sufficient insurance coverage. At this point the captain looks at you in confusion. Come again?

Insurance coverage! Workers' compensation! All manner of financial safety can be granted to those in the perilous profession that is royal guardsmanship or whatever the proper term is. And certain objects in their use, too, if they've got any interesting equipment they'd like to keep in as good an order as possible. Hm, she says. She just so happens to be a royal guardswoman. Are you saying she can obtain more benefits to her esteemed profession through this thing you call 'coverage'?

Yes, you say. This is exactly what you are saying. She seems immediately interested as a result.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 03:19:32 am
"A well, eh? Well - heh - I think I know where I'm going now."

Overwriting my pervious action - go over to the well and try to find a way to safely get down into it.

Fortunately, the well seems to have a perfectly good chain attached to a nearby post to climb down, and you do so.

Unsurprisingly, it is really goddamn dark down in the well, though not sufficiently for you to miss several things of note. Firstly, three corpses, two of them headless, one of them naked, all of them partially eaten and covered in gore, all lying around in the center of the room, a few of them pushed around by the ebb and flow of scavenging rats. Secondly, an upturned tub helpfully placed nearby to allow good access to the chain. Finally, a set of glowing letters on a nearby wall, warning any would-be comers to be staying in away if they know what's good for them - the writing is partially obscured by the shape of a little girl currently pacing next to it, thinking intently.

She seems startled as she notices you, and her shape becomes very indistinct in the dark as she retreats toward the wall. Er, hello! She sees you've, uh, made your way down here! Come over here, will you? She wants to check something. Touch this door over here, she says, pointing you toward a pitch black area of the strange dungeon room.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 06:31:40 am
"Accepting random propositions from strangers has worked out well for me so far. Are you a minded, by chance?"

Touch the door/area the girl indicates.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 06:48:57 am
Yep, I think the stone can wait for better day, should one ever come. Now then, finding what remains of minders. The alive ones, if there's still any around. Go asking people where I could find one, or perhaps two. Because the tower of Mind clearly didn't contain any.
If I can't seem to find any people to ask from, then pray Ull guide my hunt. And then proceed with the hunt!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 18, 2016, 07:55:35 am
"Yeah, a drink sounds great. I'm actually pretty parched." I look for a chair to sit down in or something to lean against. "So what is it that you and the 'master' do here? Crafting? This panel is pretty impressive - I don't know if I've ever seen a tree big enough to give a piece of wood this size."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 18, 2016, 10:21:12 am
"Yes, indeed!  Now we have several tiers of coverage; I recommend no less than the platinum tier for its friendly claims terms, though we do have the diamond tier for those discerning employers who want nothing but the best for their hard-working employees.  I'd have to speak with my underwriters, of course, who provide the final approval and pricing for all new policies, as well as the one responsible for financial matters on your side.  Do you have spending approval here?"


Continue totally misplaced sales pitch
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 18, 2016, 10:47:34 am
Welp, time to go as far upstairs as I can.

Just kinda. Have the Rock move through the ceiling.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 19, 2016, 04:21:24 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 18, 2016, 06:31:40 am
"Accepting random propositions from strangers has worked out well for me so far. Are you a minded, by chance?"

Touch the door/area the girl indicates.

You walk into the dark and touch what you are told is a door. What you feel at first is an unusual absence of temperature. The idea gives you pause. You poke it a little, and find the surface quite pliant. It yields to your touch, opening before you to reveal an opening darker still, the threshold to the well, beyond which you see a nucleus of negative light, darker than absolute nothingness, bending time and space to pave the way for your arrival.

You are replete with the warmth of a different kind. Trade it for the warmth of home and hearth. Step inside. State a desire. State a question. Speak plainly and receive the same.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 18, 2016, 06:48:57 am
Yep, I think the stone can wait for better day, should one ever come. Now then, finding what remains of minders. The alive ones, if there's still any around. Go asking people where I could find one, or perhaps two. Because the tower of Mind clearly didn't contain any.
If I can't seem to find any people to ask from, then pray Ull guide my hunt. And then proceed with the hunt!

[Hapless Victims: 1]

You ask a nearby shadow-dweller where you might find any minders, mentioning that there don't appear to be any in the wizardy-looking tower over there. He asks if you've got any rats. You say no, and he sighs. He could give you a nice bottle in return, you know. It's blue. He shows it to you, and you admit that it probably is indeed a bottle. You're not sure if it's blue though, since it is quite dark.

That's a good point, says the shadow-dweller. It may very well not be blue after all. Just like you may very well have a rat for him, yes? Just one rat, and this possibly blue bottle can be yours. A very low price, he says, at least for a bottle of this quality. You ask if he's seen any minders, and he asks if you'd like to buy his bottle. A single rat and it is yours, he maintains. It can be a dead rat. He doesn't mind.

You decide to perhaps ask someone else, and walk over to a guard. Where are the minders, you ask. There aren't any in the minder tower, and you haven't seen a single living one yet. Well, the guard begins to reply-

As an addendum, the shadow-dweller asks, would the guard care for a bottle? It might be blue. And it only costs a single rat. Preferably alive but he may be haggled down to a dead one if she doesn't mind cheating an honest man out of a living in these troubled times. The guard turns to the shadow-dweller and replies with a stern no after a sigh. He asks if she's sure. She is. Absolutely sure? Absolutely. Irrevocably sure? The guard draws out a no, trying to make it even clearer than before. The man considers this.

What about, he offers, what about if the Sun itself came down from the heavens and praised the quality of this bottle, would she still not consider buying it for the price of a single dead rat? A single half-rat, perhaps (the front half). What if it was the king, risen from the dead, saying the purchase of this bottle was vital to the fate of the eternal kingdom of Benzerwald? Surely that would be a recommendation she would listen to. So is she sure she is irrevocably sure that she is absolutely sure that she would not buy this exquisite, possibly blue bottle for the low, low price of a single rat in any of a wide-ranging number of conditions not typically accepted by local vendors?

The guard asks you both to please leave. She feels a headache coming on.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 18, 2016, 07:55:35 am
"Yeah, a drink sounds great. I'm actually pretty parched." I look for a chair to sit down in or something to lean against. "So what is it that you and the 'master' do here? Crafting? This panel is pretty impressive - I don't know if I've ever seen a tree big enough to give a piece of wood this size."

You lean against the wall next to the dining table. A chair should be there, of course, but somehow there is not. Claire apologizes for the inconvenience as she steps onto the central panel carefully.

The ingenious thing, she says, bending down to tap a particular section of the floor, is that it is not a single piece of wood at all. It merely looks like it. She pushes down a section of the panel, and another section rises. She opens up a smaller sub-panel and retrieves a dusty bottle and a couple of mugs from it before closing it again - when fully closed and reset, the panels seamlessly reintegrate into the floor. Perhaps it looks more impressive than it is due to the poor lighting, but you suppose it's neat anyway.

Claire navigates the way back in a slightly roundabout manner, placing her steps with extraordinary care, her hands already filling a mug with what is probably some variety of ale. You try it as she hands it to you, and it seems to be some kind of mead. She sets the bottle down on the table and leans on the wall right next to you, holding eye contact with you throughout.

She and the master are carpenters, though she is still an apprentice, if only technically. Not for much longer if all goes well, she says with a hopeful smile. The master's work is nearly-

You hear three knocks from a patch on the nearest corner of the center panel. Claire nods gently at it, understanding its meaning, then looks back at you. As she was saying, the master's work is nearing completion. Some final arrangements remain. But enough about her, she says. You required some form of assistance? She would be more than glad to provide some. And she believes she speaks for her master as well when she says that he would be delighted to help. A single knock issues from the center panel.

Quote from: Toaster on January 18, 2016, 10:21:12 am
"Yes, indeed!  Now we have several tiers of coverage; I recommend no less than the platinum tier for its friendly claims terms, though we do have the diamond tier for those discerning employers who want nothing but the best for their hard-working employees.  I'd have to speak with my underwriters, of course, who provide the final approval and pricing for all new policies, as well as the one responsible for financial matters on your side.  Do you have spending approval here?"


Continue totally misplaced sales pitch

[Lovely Seditious Treason: 1]

Now you're veering back into stoat-speak, says the captain. Not a very good thing to do. You can make all the wrong people suspicious with that kind of talk. The captain of the royal guard in particular. In addition, she insists it is wholly impolite to bring up spending so wantonly in conversation. You are very lucky she does not take offense.

With that in mind, do feel free to get back to the part where she and her comrades get paid a lot. That is a more palatable subject, she feels.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 18, 2016, 10:47:34 am
Welp, time to go as far upstairs as I can.

Just kinda. Have the Rock move through the ceiling.

[Friendly Architecture: 4]

You are pleased to discover that all the stairs are near each other and you don't have to try and trawl the depths of this wizard tower for access to the next level or something. Passing at least two intimidated children on the way you make tracks for the roof. The stairs are a bit long, but you persevere, eventually reaching the very top, the highest man-made point within easy viewing distance, towering above the surroundings.

It's a beautiful view, you find. The stoats all look very small from here, their torches and campfires forming a grand encirclement of the dark patch of land and stone spires that is Anglefork Castle. Further along to the south you see what you think are the lit-up buildings of the deathly still town of Anglefork. The landscape is mostly too dark to see, though you do notice that the town begins roughly where two rivers join into one larger one. Looking further back, though, you also observe another thing - these same two rivers are joined further upstream with a nearly natural-looking canal (nicely visible on account of the way the trees start just beyond it as well as a few outlying stoatman soldiers shedding light from their own activities), the intended result of which seems to be to turn the castle's environs into an artificial island. You think you see a half-finished bridge currently being built over one of the rivers, presumably by the stoatmen.

[Stone's Progress: 5]

As you admire the surroundings, your shining stone appears behind you, having melted through four ceilings on the way here. It admits to having felt anxiety at your disappearance from line of sight. What if you had died? It cannot stand the idea of abandoning you like this. It just... isn't right, you know?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 19, 2016, 04:26:57 pm
"I appreciate your concern. You up for smiting some Stoats, moon buddy? They want to kill pretty much everyone in this town, and possibly eat them. I'm not in the mood to be eaten. I'm gonna charge you up for a bit. Prepare yourself, we are gonna show those bastards some solar hell!"

Slowly ascend the Moonrock at a vague speed so that it reaches it's apex when I fire.

Feel the warmth of the SUN!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 19, 2016, 04:41:26 pm
((I totally did not mean to make Twoflower when I came up with this character.))


Thomas lost his salesman smile for a minute.  It appeared there was some misunderstanding here.  No matter!

"Ah, but each part is all of the same whole!  It is... something like a pension fund, except your employer pays into it on your behalf, and you are remunerated in case of injury on the job.  My firm is responsible for the payout.  See, we calculate the risk of injury of your profession and then what the associated medical and recuperation costs are...

Attempt to explain actuarial tables
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 19, 2016, 06:03:25 pm
Before he heads into the warm dark - I've felt something like this before, when I thought inside myself I think. I'll have to explore that further - Jack thinks for a bit about its requests. It always pays to be specific about requests from mysterious probably magical entities, and it did say to speak plainly.

As he steps inside, he says "I desire for my physical form to attain greatly heightened levels of strength, speed, durability, reflexes, and other such physical attributes from what it has now. To give a few examples to base the alterations off of, strength and durability enough to punch through solid and dense material such as stone and not be harmed by such an action, the strength and finesse to lift something many times heavier and larger than myself such as a very large stained glass window, the durability to withstand a strike from a steel blade to my bare skin without the dermis being broken, and the strength and level of reflexes necessary to run faster than the human eye is able to perceive, or to dodge very fast-moving objects such as an arrow fired from a bow, or to jump over something many times my height, such as a large building. Alterations on this level of physical ability would fit my desire.

My question is simpler: if it is true that I and other individuals were brought here by a group of individuals called minders, then how did they accomplish this process?"

When offered power by a mysterious entity, always go for broke if you do accept.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 20, 2016, 01:38:18 am
Leif lands his large hand on the shoulder of the shadow-dweller.
"My good man, would you accept promise of a rat? It just happens that I may know where to find rats, living, dead or possibly smashed rats. I offer you promise of two rats, possibly dead! Can you believe it? All that in exchance for information of where I might find minders! And perhaps for the bottle, if you are so inclinded to get rid of it."

Encourage him into direction of the well. Strongly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 20, 2016, 06:19:35 am
"Yeah, so as I was going to say, the minders have been... where's that noise coming from?" As we talk I sip the mead.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 20, 2016, 05:50:40 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on January 19, 2016, 04:26:57 pm
"I appreciate your concern. You up for smiting some Stoats, moon buddy? They want to kill pretty much everyone in this town, and possibly eat them. I'm not in the mood to be eaten. I'm gonna charge you up for a bit. Prepare yourself, we are gonna show those bastards some solar hell!"

Slowly ascend the Moonrock at a vague speed so that it reaches it's apex when I fire.

Feel the warmth of the SUN!

The stone loves cooperating with you, so understandably it is enthused by the idea. It begins to rise quickly, eager to impress with its astronomical agility. You don't really need to eyeball the distance it can reach - the fifty feet of clearance it will get seem intuitive enough for you to time your word appropriately. Fortunately, no prep time is needed. You just ready, aim and

SUN

[Word: 6]
[Stone's Assistance: 5]

You don't quite see what happens next. It's a little bright. Maybe some eye protection would have been a nice investment. You figure you've got the angle right, and your stone seems pleased, so you spin around. No good to have a beam of awesome destruction (well, you assume it's a beam of awesome destruction) if you don't sweep it, too. You do about three full revolutions before you run out of that sweet rush of divine power.

About a minute later, your vision is still roughly 97% afterimage. You find this concerning. Also, you think your stone is having fun, but you can't see that either. You hear its blaze of righteous vengeance stop cooking the surrounding area (yourself and probably the castle as well miraculously excepted for once) as it too notices that you're not really looking. Oh man, it thinks. You should have seen what it was doing just now. It thinks you would have been proud of it.

Quote from: Toaster on January 19, 2016, 04:41:26 pm
((I totally did not mean to make Twoflower when I came up with this character.))


Thomas lost his salesman smile for a minute.  It appeared there was some misunderstanding here.  No matter!

"Ah, but each part is all of the same whole!  It is... something like a pension fund, except your employer pays into it on your behalf, and you are remunerated in case of injury on the job.  My firm is responsible for the payout.  See, we calculate the risk of injury of your profession and then what the associated medical and recuperation costs are...

Attempt to explain actuarial tables

[Beyond the Many-Numbered Veil: 3]

You don't think the idea of actuarial tables is genuinely incomprehensible to the captain of the guard, but neither have you seen someone conjure up quite this level of active disinterest at the subject. It's really quite remarkable, the look she gives you. You've never seen its like.

Anyway, she says loudly enough to throw off your train of thought, following it up with a firm grip on your face when that doesn't quite shut you up. You said her employer pays, yes? You emit a muffled agreement. Great, she says. Go and tell the queen about it then. She's in her quarters on the second floor - room with two guards, can't miss it. This'll be just the thing she needs right now, the captain believes.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 19, 2016, 06:03:25 pm
Before he heads into the warm dark - I've felt something like this before, when I thought inside myself I think. I'll have to explore that further - Jack thinks for a bit about its requests. It always pays to be specific about requests from mysterious probably magical entities, and it did say to speak plainly.

As he steps inside, he says "I desire for my physical form to attain greatly heightened levels of strength, speed, durability, reflexes, and other such physical attributes from what it has now. To give a few examples to base the alterations off of, strength and durability enough to punch through solid and dense material such as stone and not be harmed by such an action, the strength and finesse to lift something many times heavier and larger than myself such as a very large stained glass window, the durability to withstand a strike from a steel blade to my bare skin without the dermis being broken, and the strength and level of reflexes necessary to run faster than the human eye is able to perceive, or to dodge very fast-moving objects such as an arrow fired from a bow, or to jump over something many times my height, such as a large building. Alterations on this level of physical ability would fit my desire.

My question is simpler: if it is true that I and other individuals were brought here by a group of individuals called minders, then how did they accomplish this process?"

When offered power by a mysterious entity, always go for broke if you do accept.

Your fulfillment: null. Vindictive measures to minimize time spent were not taken this time (see mistakes from ignorance, connection value, filibuster defenses). Try again. A single definite request is suggested.

Your answer: the assumption is untrue. Their notable contributions include providing the original prosubstrate (see substrate, substrate creation instructions, assembly instructions) serving as auxiliary storage during assembly and informing the technical specifications of the interpreter (see interpreter, interpreter development instructions, universality of language). Their illiteracy in the use of the well limited their usefulness in clarifying your exact function as well, so a more general design was utilized. There have been no complaints thus far.

Your price: a connection now belongs to the well.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 20, 2016, 01:38:18 am
Leif lands his large hand on the shoulder of the shadow-dweller.
"My good man, would you accept promise of a rat? It just happens that I may know where to find rats, living, dead or possibly smashed rats. I offer you promise of two rats, possibly dead! Can you believe it? All that in exchance for information of where I might find minders! And perhaps for the bottle, if you are so inclinded to get rid of it."

Encourage him into direction of the well. Strongly.

Minders live in the minder tower, he says. That's a free tip, since he doesn't accept rat-credit. Nobody's accepted it from him thus far, so he certainly isn't about to accept it from anybody else.

Now then, where was he. This bottle, he recalls. It is possibly blue. He would like you to provide a rat in return for it. An eminently reasonable price - he guarantees that you will find no better deals for possibly blue bottles in the entire region. Just one rat.

[Strong Encouragement: 6]
[Encouragement Denial Measures: 3]

You start to resolutely shove the shadow-dweller toward the courtyard well. He insists that the deal is in the best interest of everyone involved, really. He kind of needs that rat. And from the look of you he thinks you could certainly use a possibly blue bottle. Imagine the possibilities!

You lift the shadow-dweller from the ground - he is fortunately not very large, at least not compared to you - and break into a sprint toward the well. To get the rats, you say. He is delighted by your enthusiasm right up to the point where you slam dunk him into the hole, the sound of breaking glass signaling the point when he reaches the bottom and the prolonged groan that follows signifying his great satisfaction with the wealth of rats you have presented to him.

Perhaps you should raise the chain as well. It really is quite full of rats down there. You shouldn't let the fellow come back up until he's well and truly had a look at all the variety that the deep dungeon below offers.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 20, 2016, 06:19:35 am
"Yeah, so as I was going to say, the minders have been... where's that noise coming from?" As we talk I sip the mead.

You wonder what the mead actually tastes like. It goes down well enough, at least.

The noise, Claire repeats, trying to figure out what you're referring to. The knocking, you mean? She laughs to herself. That's the master. It is a game that he and she play. He needs certain things - removal of waste, carrying of excavated dirt, supplementary food supplies, that sort of thing. And he has twenty-seven knocks per week to communicate them adequately. It has been an interesting challenge for them both, she thinks.

Another knock from the same location. That one is number twenty five, Claire says. He seems very eager to get your attention.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 20, 2016, 05:57:27 pm
"(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Qn977W9HjWM/hqdefault.jpg)"


Recover vision. Observe results.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 20, 2016, 06:03:24 pm
"Fine. I desire superhuman strength. Simple enough?

If you will accept further questions: what is a connection? Do I have to go and obtain it to bring it to you? May I view the substrate creation instructions and what substrate is?"

Attempt negotiations with this magical AI or whatever it is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 21, 2016, 01:45:49 am
"See? Lots of rats down there. A plenty! Grab as much as you need. Like I told you, there wasn't any minders in the tower, so perhaps now that you are provided overflowing amount of rats you could tell me where I might find one or two living minders? I know there's three dead down there, so no need to point at them."

Words into the well. Price should be sufficient, I believe. Yeah, lift the chain bit higher until we have a deal.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 21, 2016, 09:39:06 am
Thomas jolted a bit as his sales pitch was interrupted by comprehension of the request.  "Ah, uh, yes!  I will speak to her at once!  I do thank you for your time, on behalf of Sureness Assurance!"

Head upstairs, then!  See if we can't locate the queen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 21, 2016, 01:32:51 pm
"Where is the master right now? Underground?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 21, 2016, 04:11:00 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on January 20, 2016, 05:57:27 pm
Recover vision. Observe results.

[Retinal Replacement: 6]

You rub your eyes for a while until the persistent itching subsides, and peer down at the stoatman ranks. It's a bit hard to see anything, honestly, as your vision gets kinda thrown off by the bit of the castle island that seems to be on fire, blazing brightly. Just a bit, though. The trail of destruction veers off into the nearby river almost immediately, where the trail of flame is briefly interrupted.

At the other side of the river it becomes more difficult to tell where exactly your shot went, since the forest beyond it on fire. Most of it at this point. The stoat-made bridge, that's also on fire. Maybe some of the fair town of Anglefork is also on fire. You're not quite sure at this distance.

In any case, you probably gave those stoats the what-for in some way or another, and you do see several of the stoatman tents closer to the walls being on fire as well - its work, the stone makes sure to let you know! Perfectly executed! No doubt the inhabitants are burning to death as it speaks, it says as you see a burning stoatman, brightly illuminated by its flaming body, roll out and attempt to extinguish itself. It fails miserably.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 20, 2016, 06:03:24 pm
"Fine. I desire superhuman strength. Simple enough?

If you will accept further questions: what is a connection? Do I have to go and obtain it to bring it to you? May I view the substrate creation instructions and what substrate is?"

Attempt negotiations with this magical AI or whatever it is.

You feel unusually light as your request is fulfilled. Simple enough. Your physical strength has been uncoupled from template specifications. Use with care.

No further questions are accepted unless another connection is provided. Would you like to provide another connection for another desire and question?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 21, 2016, 01:45:49 am
"See? Lots of rats down there. A plenty! Grab as much as you need. Like I told you, there wasn't any minders in the tower, so perhaps now that you are provided overflowing amount of rats you could tell me where I might find one or two living minders? I know there's three dead down there, so no need to point at them."

Words into the well. Price should be sufficient, I believe. Yeah, lift the chain bit higher until we have a deal.

You lift up the chain as you tell your acquaintance more about what you'd like to find out from him. He listens attentively, though possibly only because he's busy picking shards of possibly blue glass out of himself.

Living minders, he says. Well! He can certainly help you with that. But first, would you care to buy these fine broken bottle fragments? They came from a very nice possibly blue bottle. You can use them for a variety of things - skinning rats, wood carving...

[An Eye-Catching Demonstration: 2 vs. 4]

Something whizzes by your head with alarming speed and sharpness. Improvised weapons, the list continues. Truly these fragments will be the best investment of your life. Just one rat and they can all be yours!

Quote from: Toaster on January 21, 2016, 09:39:06 am
Thomas jolted a bit as his sales pitch was interrupted by comprehension of the request.  "Ah, uh, yes!  I will speak to her at once!  I do thank you for your time, on behalf of Sureness Assurance!"

Head upstairs, then!  See if we can't locate the queen.

You head out of the basement as the captain emits a sigh of frustration. Fortunately she left the door unlocked as she entered, so you are unimpeded as you proceed back to the foyer and up to the second floor. The directions prove very handy - there is indeed but a single room with two guards at it, both of them looking very alert and in the early enthusiastic stages of providing royal security.

[Royal Access: 5]

You walk up to them and politely explain that you're here to tell the queen all about the policies provided by Sureness Assurance and begin to expound on their countless benefits. The guards stare at you wide-eyed. They didn't train for this. Where did you even come from? You tell them the captain referred you here - these are the queen's quarters, yes? They nod carefully, and in light of these frankly dubious credentials decide to let you through, probably since they figure more questions will only provoke you further.

The queen's bedroom is quite nice, really. It's actually lit unlike the hallways of the keep, a single candle burning away at the large bed inhabited by the teenage girl you assume to be the queen. She recognizes you quite easily, though she seems at a loss on how your search for Mr. Munderly would have brought you here of all places.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 21, 2016, 01:32:51 pm
"Where is the master right now? Underground?"

Oh yes. Right under the central panel, Claire explains. He is exploring the area for alternate freedoms - she believes his search to have been successful, as he seems to grow more insistent that she come down as well. She looks at the panel uncomfortably for a moment, then back at you. Not important right now.

She steps away from the wall and stands closely enough in front of you that you begin to lean back a little (the wall makes this understandably difficult). But you were saying something about minders. A request for assistance, yes?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 21, 2016, 04:48:24 pm
"I don't know about you but I could go for even more fire at the moment.

Shield myself this time. Aim at the most concentrated bits of Stoat and unleash the might of the SUN.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 21, 2016, 05:47:01 pm
"I don't know what a connection is. Would you be willing to elaborate on what it is before I provide another one, so I can know if I can steal those of others and provide them to you? It could result in greater long-term gain for you."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 21, 2016, 06:29:29 pm
"Ah, yes!  Well, it appears no one here either knows or is willing to tell me the way to Albany.  That said, it has come to my attention the lack of adequate workman's compensation insurance in this establishment!  Let me tell you the benefits of..."

Sales pitch, go!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 21, 2016, 11:55:36 pm
"By Thor's hammer, I figured that would be obvious by now. Sure, I'll buy it. Just catch three rats by yourself down there. You can find wooden tubes full of rats in corners down there, easy catch. I'll even help you catch few if you want."

Trading. Gain location of a living minder. And shards of possibly blue bottle. Help him if he wants help, but if anyone wants to get back up, be sure to be the first one to do so.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 22, 2016, 05:18:36 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on January 21, 2016, 04:48:24 pm
"I don't know about you but I could go for even more fire at the moment.

Shield myself this time. Aim at the most concentrated bits of Stoat and unleash the might of the SUN.

[A Likely Target: 2]

Ah. Well. There's a slight problem with that idea, which is that the stoats in question are a bit hard to pin down. You're a bit high up, and the brightness of the flames makes it a little difficult to make out anything in the darker bits. That, and the stoats seem to have extinguished all their flames in a systematic fashion and scattered. A surprising feat of morale given the hand of God you just unleashed upon them, though you suppose it's not like they didn't have advance warning of sorcerous nonsense from your previous displays.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 21, 2016, 05:47:01 pm
"I don't know what a connection is. Would you be willing to elaborate on what it is before I provide another one, so I can know if I can steal those of others and provide them to you? It could result in greater long-term gain for you."

To obtain an answer and a fulfillment, you must provide a connection. The warmth of your kind must give way to the warmth of the well. First you must give - only then can you drink from the overflow.

Quote from: Toaster on January 21, 2016, 06:29:29 pm
"Ah, yes!  Well, it appears no one here either knows or is willing to tell me the way to Albany.  That said, it has come to my attention the lack of adequate workman's compensation insurance in this establishment!  Let me tell you the benefits of..."

Sales pitch, go!

[A Certain Mood: 3]

Workman's comp. The cornerstone of modern workplace insurance. A provision of safety for the potentially unfortunate, a shield to protect the downtrodden and endangered from cruel twists of fate! A very nice thing to have, in short. With such a safety net in place, how can a worker not feel like they can give their absolute all for their employer who has so kindly provided such a far-reaching gesture of goodwill?

The queen seems to understand what all those words mean individually, but she's having trouble piecing together what all of them mean collectively.

Workman's comp, you restate! A thing of many benefits, she has to agree! It helps one avoid lawsuits and provides much-appreciated financial security for employees. And a happy employee as well as a minimum of lawsuits make for much greater productivity, data shows. And extra productivity certainly would not go amiss in one's royal guard!

The... royal guard? Do they want a raise again? She'd be willing to provide one. Not like it actually matters, but if it makes them feel more important.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 21, 2016, 11:55:36 pm
"By Thor's hammer, I figured that would be obvious by now. Sure, I'll buy it. Just catch three rats by yourself down there. You can find wooden tubes full of rats in corners down there, easy catch. I'll even help you catch few if you want."

Trading. Gain location of a living minder. And shards of possibly blue bottle. Help him if he wants help, but if anyone wants to get back up, be sure to be the first one to do so.

Oh, those rats? He's already got those. Never let a rat slip by, that is his honest philosophy. An additional honest philosophy to consider is to not trade things that clearly do not belong to you. A very honest philosophy indeed, would you not say?

Now then, back to important matters. Fragments of a blue bottle - the ultimate in multifunctional refuse. A single rat will get you enough for a number of purposes!

[Fire Sale: 6 vs. 6]

A flying piece of glass nearly slices off a part of your earlobe. Better hurry! They are going very fast, as you can see. Just one solitary, singular rat for all the broken possibly blue fragments you could ever want!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 22, 2016, 05:22:57 pm
"Well, compensation is really a combination of salary and benefits, is it not?  Increase the benefits and it's as if you're increasing the salary without actually doing so!  Plus, the decrease of net risk to you makes it essentially free to you!  Why, let me tell you the story of another client of ours..."

Continue the pitch!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 23, 2016, 12:17:10 am
"Okay then, I'll give a connection. If I have one to give. In return ... May I request the complete knowledge of the metaphysics of this universe, including how to operate them. Magic, basically. The words and all that?

My question - again, if I have a connection to give - is the closest location of a purple object - preferably an impressive one."

((Metagaming a little? Perhaps, but I've found myself in the odd situation of role playing a guy who subconsciously thinks he's in a hallucination/fantasy thing and thus feels free to act differently than he would otherwise.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 23, 2016, 12:20:36 am
Welp, Time to go give the good news to the Queen. Descend!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 23, 2016, 12:51:52 am
"Ah, yes. The minders. I don't know how else to say this, so I'll be straightforward. They have died, but they left us ways to access their power. I believe we can use this to defeat the stoats. The thing is, this is arcane magic with strange rules and I can't tap into it without others. Would you be willing to help? It shouldn't take long."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 23, 2016, 02:52:16 am
This guy isn't really helping. Leif steps away from the well (mostly to avoid barrage of fragments) and thinks better ways to find minders. Hmm, how about asking? Literally ask everybody at one by shouting very loud: "Where are the minders!? Don't tell me in tower because there was none!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 24, 2016, 10:27:19 am
Quote from: Toaster on January 22, 2016, 05:22:57 pm
"Well, compensation is really a combination of salary and benefits, is it not?  Increase the benefits and it's as if you're increasing the salary without actually doing so!  Plus, the decrease of net risk to you makes it essentially free to you!  Why, let me tell you the story of another client of ours..."

Continue the pitch!

[On The Nature of Employment Benefits: 1]

It's just smoke and mirrors, isn't it? She can give the royal guards whatever they please, and it doesn't matter one bit. There's just no real backing for any of it, the queen explains. There's gold that nobody wants and that nobody can spend. There are the rats, which are of no use if they survive. And there are favors, of which there are none of any real value.

Listen, there is an army out there, waiting for the day when the people in here have been starved out to sufficient weakness to permit their mass slaughter, and here you are talking about employment benefits for the royal guard of all things. It's balderdash! Insanity!

Quote from: Xantalos on January 23, 2016, 12:17:10 am
"Okay then, I'll give a connection. If I have one to give. In return ... May I request the complete knowledge of the metaphysics of this universe, including how to operate them. Magic, basically. The words and all that?

My question - again, if I have a connection to give - is the closest location of a purple object - preferably an impressive one."

Your fulfillment: the metaphysics of the universe are a matter of perspective (see relativity of reality, nature of perception, elusiveness of true knowledge). Narrowing the question, your sphere of interest appears to be magic. Explanation: your high compatibility with the well allows the context-sensitive manipulation of the world through linguistic units applied from special revelations (see words, magic, context-dependent words of magic). Words are deployed through your interpreter (see interpreter, vessel composition, universality of language) and cause localized distortions in reality that tend to be unpredictable in success rate and results, but allow for results normally impossible within the metaphysical framework of the universe you inhabit. In essence they are the utilization of the interpreter to persuade the universe to behave otherwise (see universality of language, efforts of will, lies-to-children). Words depend on ancillary elements such as gestures, thoughts and actions to elaborate their effects, and are thus highly multifunctional. You are capable of deploying a single spoken Word at a time (see interpreter, limitations of universality of language, compact solutions). The deployment of several spoken Words at a time increases or dampens their effects (see interference, unity of context, apocalyptic events). The attainment of a Word typically requires an important resolution of ambiguity (see ambiguity, vessel functions, rewards beyond imagining).

Your answer: the majordomo has a parade robe to present himself to minders. It is purple and gold. He will not part with it, but he is old and weak. He dwells in the keep.

Your price: a connection now belongs to the well.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 23, 2016, 12:20:36 am
Welp, Time to go give the good news to the Queen. Descend!

[Triumphant Descent: 6]
[Stone's Aid: 3]

You step atop the stone and tell it to carry you to the keep! It seems to be terribly honored to carry you once again. A very good display of magical fireworks, master. It only wishes it could muster up half of your style and unmitigated charm. It is its greatest privilege to be able to convey you to report your success. These people will soon know better than to have ever doubted your greatness!

[A Vindictive Rebuttal: 5 vs. 5]

A bolt flies uncomfortably past your head as you descend a few floors, the stone's graceful, deliberate floating as well as telltale glow making you a very easy target for the still 500-odd stoatmen hanging out by the outer earthworks, having been put on heights of alert seldom seen before by modern eyes by your display of power. It is soon followed by another, then another, and you find yourself in an uncomfortable rain of projectiles coming from positions you can't quite see on account of the illumination of your footing deepening the distant shadows in which they no doubt reside.

The stone asks if you'd like to be conveyed to the keep's roof a little faster, or if you'd instead like to bask in their impotent hatred of your radiant, perfect shape.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 23, 2016, 12:51:52 am
"Ah, yes. The minders. I don't know how else to say this, so I'll be straightforward. They have died, but they left us ways to access their power. I believe we can use this to defeat the stoats. The thing is, this is arcane magic with strange rules and I can't tap into it without others. Would you be willing to help? It shouldn't take long."

Claire takes a long drink from her mug as you mention the deaths of the minders, looking melancholy as you explain what you need. This is hope you offer, she says as she takes your hand. A terrible thing to offer lightly. She hopes you understand this, because she will trust you.

Tell her what you need. And tell her why.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 23, 2016, 02:52:16 am
This guy isn't really helping. Leif steps away from the well (mostly to avoid barrage of fragments) and thinks better ways to find minders. Hmm, how about asking? Literally ask everybody at one by shouting very loud: "Where are the minders!? Don't tell me in tower because there was none!"

[Raving into the Dark: 3]

Nobody seems to feel like answering your query. The keep's door guards roll their eyes, wondering if perhaps another stay in jail may be in order for you. Other than that, no signs of life present themselves.

[An Unlikely Demonstration: 6-1 vs. 1]

In fact, they are altogether delighted when you are interrupted by a fragment of a possibly blue bottle embedding itself into one of your carotid arteries after proceeding along an unlikely trajectory probably aimed more by ear, a half-blocked arterial spray painting it a very definite red. As a little of your generously spilling blood flies down into the well (that blood pressure really is something, you find), you hear a hearty whoop-whoop of triumph.

[A Healthy Crossfire: 4-1 vs. 4]

This is accompanied by a sudden rain of crossbow bolts from the heavens. None of them hit you, but you think more than mere peasants have taken offense at your question, to be frank.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 24, 2016, 10:38:29 am
"Dear, oh dear, a lack of present funds is the cause of the decline of our services?  Well, if you decide you don't want lawsuits tearing down your business, then I'll give you my phone number."  Lacking a card, Thomas is forced to simply recite his number a couple times.  "Now if I could kindly ask you the way to Albany, I will be on my way.

Finally giving up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 24, 2016, 12:12:43 pm
BACK UP TO THE ROOF! Um. Can the MOON hide me?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 24, 2016, 12:30:57 pm
This was more fun when I was drunk.

Negotiations failed. Jump on that bastard who's throwing shards at me. Literally jump on him. Land on him with my whole gravity assisted weight. It's also probably good place to hide from offended archers.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 24, 2016, 12:43:40 pm
"Thanks, well! You're really swell.
...
I apologize for that pun, I should know better. Can I exit now?"

Exit well darkness, look around, assess situation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 24, 2016, 02:14:38 pm
She could have taken it worse, I suppose. I sip some mead. "It's a very grim situation. But the minders have brought me to Anglefork with a group of other people, and we're all trying to help. I have been investigating a strange door in the well that belonged to the Hidden, one that draws strength from connections between people. I believe I can channel significant power with our connection. Will you go to the well with me?"

I finish my drink and stare her in the eyes. Let's hope she believes I know what I'm doing. I lead her outside if she agrees.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 24, 2016, 03:19:15 pm
Quote from: Toaster on January 24, 2016, 10:38:29 am
"Dear, oh dear, a lack of present funds is the cause of the decline of our services?  Well, if you decide you don't want lawsuits tearing down your business, then I'll give you my phone number."  Lacking a card, Thomas is forced to simply recite his number a couple times.  "Now if I could kindly ask you the way to Albany, I will be on my way.

Finally giving up.

[Queen's Help: 4]

Look, she tells you with some exasperation. She's an educated sort, and really quite literate. She's learned geography and cartography, and she had this one tutor who made sure she had seen many maps in her time. She had to memorize quite a few of them. Do you follow?

Keeping that in mind, know this: she doesn't know where Albany is. Neither does she know what it is supposed to be. A city? A village? A kingdom? A county? This, she says, is a fairly good indication that it is either impossibly faraway or entirely nonexistent. And even if she did, they are in the middle of a bloody siege, and you can't bloody well go anywhere with all the bloody stoats outside! Where did you even come from?

Quote from: Dermonster on January 24, 2016, 12:12:43 pm
BACK UP TO THE ROOF! Um. Can the MOON hide me?

[Stone's Turnaround: 4]

The stone, though expressing skepticism at the ability of these filthy stoats to plant a bolt in you, nevertheless agrees to your request, speeding you back up to the safe height of the roof. No need for any immediate hiding, even!

Guess that leaves you with the stairs. Or the stone-made hole. That might work too. And leave you a little less bolt-ridden in any case.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 24, 2016, 12:30:57 pm
This was more fun when I was drunk.

Negotiations failed. Jump on that bastard who's throwing shards at me. Literally jump on him. Land on him with my whole gravity assisted weight. It's also probably good place to hide from offended archers.

Feeling your welcome to be bloody well outstayed in this yard, you dive into the well, the shadowbastard still waiting for your patronage of his excellent supplies of broken glass.

[A Well-Chosen Landing: 3 vs. 3]

His alertness does you no favors, however, as he manages to step out of your way. You land on some minders anyway, and this seems sufficient to prevent any serious harm to yourself, but the vicious bugger seems to have buggered off to a darker bit of the basement.

[A Generous Sampling: 3 vs. 3]

You need not look for him, naturally, as he makes his presence well known by the provision of yet another possibly blue bottle fragment. Holding on to your still wildly-spraying throat you roll out of the way and shake your fist at him. Perhaps sterner measures are needed to deal with him.

There also seems to be an entirely unrelated girl here, though she appears to have sampled some broken glass herself from the general state of her dark robe and her slightly mutilated earlobe. Why is that man trying to kill you? And shouldn't that be a fatal wound you have there? You also seem familiar somehow.

Before any of this can be addressed, Mr. Daniels steps out of a nearby door, buck naked and awfully pleased with himself for some reason. Maybe it was a bad idea to come down here.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 24, 2016, 12:43:40 pm
"Thanks, well! You're really swell.
...
I apologize for that pun, I should know better. Can I exit now?"

Exit well darkness, look around, assess situation.

You may leave the well at any point. It will not stop you. So you do, stepping out through the readily-liquefying door, to the waiting room where the girl who accosted you awaits, clearly curious about your experience within. What was it like? What did you see? Did anything happen inside? Tell her everything.

You notice she asks this without actually turning to face you, or really making any actual sound. Forgivable, given she has currently turned to face Mr. Erikson, who appears to be in the middle of preventing himself from bleeding out through a very nasty nick on his neck - an artery if the spray is any indication - and there's a shady sort throwing fragments of a possibly blue bottle at him on the way. Not an impolite sort, mind you - as you enter the room, he does tip an imaginary hat to you before resuming a busy routine of cavorting about in his attempts to hurt Mr. Erikson deeply and completely.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 24, 2016, 02:14:38 pm
She could have taken it worse, I suppose. I sip some mead. "It's a very grim situation. But the minders have brought me to Anglefork with a group of other people, and we're all trying to help. I have been investigating a strange door in the well that belonged to the Hidden, one that draws strength from connections between people. I believe I can channel significant power with our connection. Will you go to the well with me?"

I finish my drink and stare her in the eyes. Let's hope she believes I know what I'm doing. I lead her outside if she agrees.

[A Mention of the Well: 1]

The well? No. She takes a step back, letting go of your hand nervously.

No. She cannot. She once saw the hidden when she was a girl.

Some things are best left unsaid.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 24, 2016, 03:36:15 pm
"Oh, it was pretty neat. It talked to me without really talking - it communicated like an AI, kept referencing other things when it was communicating, like if it mentioned bodies it'd say 'see flesh, bone, reproduction', stuff like that. It wanted me to give connections to it, whatever those are. I gave two and I got some good stuff in return. Uh... yeah not really much beyond that. I also think I know how to do magic now - well not quite yet, but soon. Now then, if you'll excuse me, I need to go rob the majordomo."

Go climb back up the chain to get out of the well. Pay no mind to the dude and Mr. Erikson, they can resolve their own business.

Then go approach someone - a guard or something - and ask where I can find the majordomo. I have to clarify something with him.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 24, 2016, 03:48:28 pm
Right, time to burn the world. Aim at the 'outer earthworks' and show 'em some SUNlight.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 24, 2016, 04:15:50 pm
Thomas sighed.  "Albany?  A city, of course  Capital of New York?  Of the United States of America?"  He sighed again, rubbing his eyes.  "I don't know.  I awoke being dragged about naked in a sack here in this area, with no idea how I got here.  All I want to do is get back to Albany so I can see just how badly I've missed my meeting with Mr. Munderly, who I am sure is very upset with me right now.  I'm just trying to get home, is all."


Expansion on a concept
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 24, 2016, 06:37:34 pm
"Please," I plead, trying to convince her. "This could be the difference between living another day or being brutally murdered by an army of stoats. It is a dark and disturbing place, but we have to be brave."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 02:44:46 am
"Hell if I know, girl. He's dead set trying to sell those shards of possibly blue bottle to me. Violently. I don't believe we have met. Leif Erikson is my name. Nice to meet. Any idea where I can find minders? Living ones, I mean, these three under my feet are already dead."

"Oh hey Daniels, fancy seeing you here. Have you eaten any more peole yet? You could try that one over there, I recommend him actually. Probably well seasoned."

Use Daniels as a shield and encourage him to eat the aggressive salesman. Failing that, dive behind the door. That should provide sufficient protection.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 25, 2016, 06:24:46 am
"No, see, that one was an accident. I didn't purposefully eat the stoat. Nor do I remember it, for that matter, could've tasted good for all I know. I'm about to commit robbery anyway, no time. Thanks though!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 06:38:04 am
" 'An accident'. Sure. Certainly."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 25, 2016, 06:59:55 am
Quote from: Xantalos on January 24, 2016, 03:36:15 pm
"Oh, it was pretty neat. It talked to me without really talking - it communicated like an AI, kept referencing other things when it was communicating, like if it mentioned bodies it'd say 'see flesh, bone, reproduction', stuff like that. It wanted me to give connections to it, whatever those are. I gave two and I got some good stuff in return. Uh... yeah not really much beyond that. I also think I know how to do magic now - well not quite yet, but soon. Now then, if you'll excuse me, I need to go rob the majordomo."

Go climb back up the chain to get out of the well. Pay no mind to the dude and Mr. Erikson, they can resolve their own business.

Then go approach someone - a guard or something - and ask where I can find the majordomo. I have to clarify something with him.

Hm. Very intriguing information, and she would like it if you could elaborate a little more, but you do what you gotta do, magic people-eating man. She knows better than to interfere.

Good, you suppose as you walk over to the exit, only to find that some ungodly bastard appears to have lifted the chain you used to descend, putting something of a damper on your plans of escape. Mr. Erikson uses your moment of contemplation to utilize you as portable cover while he tries to sic you on his new glass-throwing friend. You give your interpretation of a fatherly look as you handily lift him up and put him back in plain sight to disabuse him of any such silly notions.

Huh. Is it just you, or did the shaft of moonlight coming down the well suddenly brighten about tenfold? The sky is looking awfully blue, too.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 24, 2016, 03:48:28 pm
Right, time to burn the world. Aim at the 'outer earthworks' and show 'em some SUNlight.

The best part about the sun is that it illuminates as well as burns, making it perfect for the situation. As well as any situation, probably. Your stone appears to agree with this assessment.

SUN

[Word: 6]

You raise your arms to the sky and call the sun. Northward you face, and from the north it rises, the sky growing red, then bright blue as the day returns in the space of a minute, the sun streaking across the sky, flying low and hot. A dry, sweltering heat starts to build as it rises high and bright, banishing the clouds as they begin to turn to invisible steam again.

[Will of the New State: 4]

You look at the stoats down below, still keeping themselves moving and attempting to hide until you give them another opening. You see no real concentrations of them to blast, though there are quite a few of them having trouble finding good spots to hide from your false sun. There seems to be no organized protocol to deal with the sun rising in the night while they're being bombarded by death rays while all avenues of retreat have been set on fire, but they are dealing admirably well regardless.

Quote from: Toaster on January 24, 2016, 04:15:50 pm
Thomas sighed.  "Albany?  A city, of course  Capital of New York?  Of the United States of America?"  He sighed again, rubbing his eyes.  "I don't know.  I awoke being dragged about naked in a sack here in this area, with no idea how I got here.  All I want to do is get back to Albany so I can see just how badly I've missed my meeting with Mr. Munderly, who I am sure is very upset with me right now.  I'm just trying to get home, is all."


Expansion on a concept

None of this is ringing any bells, she's afraid, unless the geopolitics of the known world have drastically rearranged themselves in the past five years or so. They may have, of course. But it sounds like you expect anyone to know these things.

That taken with you suddenly waking up naked in a sack, well... she can't really think of any rational explanation. Might be just her coming down from a fit of inspired drunkenness, of course, and the slight headache she's got. She's heard of other naked people wandering around, though. Something weird is going on here, she says and scratches her head. Shouldn't be any way for strangers to get in, really... although maybe the minders did it? Tell one of the guard to bring a minder over here. Maybe one of them can explain. She's the bloody queen, it's her job to know about these things well in advance of them becoming actual problems, dammit!

You notice a conspicuously bright outline of a window behind the copious drapes of the queen's quarters. More special effects, no doubt.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 24, 2016, 06:37:34 pm
"Please," I plead, trying to convince her. "This could be the difference between living another day or being brutally murdered by an army of stoats. It is a dark and disturbing place, but we have to be brave."

[Before the Great Unknown: 6]

She bites her lip, eyes wide with trepidation, breathing deeply to try and relax. She... she could go, yes. But there are still other matters, she looks at the panel. If she were to go with you, and something were to happen...

... could you do something for her first, she asks as she comes closer again, looking simultaneously hopeful and uncomfortable. She leans her head over your shoulder gently, turning to whisper in your ear. The master. He needs an apprentice. He depends on her. Now more than ever. A single questioning knock issues from the central panel. Claire's whispers take on a hint of urgency. If you could find another apprentice... it would go a long way to settle her mind and all of her matters.

She wants another apprentice to take her place, you ask, Claire urging you to keep your voice down. No, she replies. She needs another apprentice to go inside, beneath the panel. She did not. She could not. But it cannot be avoided, ultimately - it is essential for the final preparations. The master's life's work.

She withdraws a little, nodding her head as she looks in your eyes, seeking unspoken agreement.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 02:44:46 am
"Hell if I know, girl. He's dead set trying to sell those shards of possibly blue bottle to me. Violently. I don't believe we have met. Leif Erikson is my name. Nice to meet. Any idea where I can find minders? Living ones, I mean, these three under my feet are already dead."

"Oh hey Daniels, fancy seeing you here. Have you eaten any more peole yet? You could try that one over there, I recommend him actually. Probably well seasoned."

Use Daniels as a shield and encourage him to eat the aggressive salesman. Failing that, dive behind the door. That should provide sufficient protection.

You are in luck! She happens to be the minder of Anglefork Castle at the moment. The mistress of the tower, that's her. Most senior and skilled minder in 50 miles, definitely.

The fact that she is clearly no more than twelve does not fill you with confidence, but you suppose this sort of thing is to be expected with sudden vacancies in top leadership positions. Anyway, you decide to take cover behind the inimitable Mr. Daniels to prevent yet more blood loss.

[Human Shielding: 2]

Mr. Daniels, however, chooses not to take such treatment and lifts you up by the scruff of your neck with a single hand, placing you some three feet away without displaying any signs of exertion. The look on his face is one of dwindling patience for your shit.

[Everything Must Go: 3 vs. 2]

You are about to say more, but another well-aimed shard of a possibly blue bottle catches you in the right lung, sliding in past the ribs and causing you considerable discomfort. Shadowbastard sure can pick his targets, you'll give him that.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 25, 2016, 07:25:12 am
I nod. "Is there anyone you had in mind? Someone who would be interested, maybe?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 25, 2016, 07:29:12 am
"Hmm. On second thought, that intensifying light doesn't really seem all that healthy. Probably that one guy with the magic laser rock doing battle with the stoats or something, I'll wait down here until he's done. What did you want me to elaborate about?


Oh and bottle dude, quit throwing those bottle bits about, you're getting kinda close to me and I'm not adverse to testing out my strength on you."

Elaborate for minder girl about well experience. If crazy bottle dude keeps being annoying and throwing bottle bits everywhere, pick up Erikson and use him to block any incoming shots while I walk towards Bottle Guy in order to squish him into paste.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Dermonster on January 25, 2016, 07:57:33 am
Awful lot of sun going to waste where the stoats ain't.

Let's narrow the SUNbeams (http://what-if.xkcd.com/141/).
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 08:07:55 am
"Stop throwing stuff at me *wheeze* that's not how you do business! *more wheezing* You are giving all your goods away! *oh lord my lungs* Hey mighty minder, would you please make him stop? *sweet Freyja help me* Can't do business with you if he kills me."

Politely reject the position of being used as a human shield. I desperately need to find something protective.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 25, 2016, 08:22:54 am
"Why'd you bring him down here anyway if he was doing this to you? You guys weren't down here when I first came down into the well."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 08:29:40 am
"He wanted rats."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 25, 2016, 08:31:32 am
"And he presumably wanted to pay you for the rats or something?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 08:45:02 am
"The bottle. For rats. I wanted *random gurgle* location of minder. Crazy."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Xantalos on January 25, 2016, 08:58:10 am
"Huh. Probably should've chosen a saner guy to bargain with, then. On the plus side, you don't seem to have died yet from that severed artery you have, against all my knowledge of how bleeding out works, so I'd say you have a decent chance of survive if he stops throwing bottle pieces at you."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: Toaster on January 25, 2016, 09:43:03 am
Thomas sighed, then stood up and nodded.  "I will do that, then.  You certainly have been one of the more helpful people I have met today.  Thank you for your assistance, and give Sureness Assurance a call if you ever have any insurance needs.  Ask for Thomas Minstep."

Depart!  See if I can find a guard to lead me to a "minder."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Great Divide
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 10:35:10 am
Quote from: Xantalos on January 25, 2016, 08:58:10 am
"Huh. Probably should've chosen a saner guy to bargain with, then. On the plus side, you don't seem to have died yet from that severed artery you have, against all my knowledge of how bleeding out works, so I'd say you have a decent chance of survive if he stops throwing bottle pieces at you."

"Huh, you are right. So please do not use me as a shield, ok?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 25, 2016, 11:46:59 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 25, 2016, 07:25:12 am
I nod. "Is there anyone you're thinking of specifically? Someone who would be interested, maybe?"

She leads you by the hand to her doorstep, ushering you out. Try one of the masons, she whispers as she guides you out. They would very much love the idea of escape, she is sure. Perhaps even enough to go down there.

Now, though, she says in a louder tone, she is very sorry, but she cannot help you with this. The well is far too dangerous. She pauses a moment as she briefly notices that it seems to be daylight outside. And also very hot. She looks at you in confusion, gives you a conspiratorial nod and disappears back inside.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 25, 2016, 07:29:12 am
"Hmm. On second thought, that intensifying light doesn't really seem all that healthy. Probably that one guy with the magic laser rock doing battle with the stoats or something, I'll wait down here until he's done. What did you want me to elaborate about?


Oh and bottle dude, quit throwing those bottle bits about, you're getting kinda close to me and I'm not adverse to testing out my strength on you."

Elaborate for minder girl about well experience. If crazy bottle dude keeps being annoying and throwing bottle bits everywhere, pick up Erikson and use him to block any incoming shots while I walk towards Bottle Guy in order to squish him into paste.

She is glad that you see things her way - if more people did (more importantly, if the well did), certainly life would be easier for all involved. It is... huh. Very strange. The shape of the well is elusive in your mind, its words more so. It seems it does not care so much about what you do, she concludes after a quick examination of your mind. Rather, it is what you are that seems to agree with it. Curious. Very curious.

As she roots around in your skull idly, you turn to look at the shady guy trying to murder Mr. Erikson across a short distance. It is very rude to throw broken glass in the presence of barefoot individuals, you tell him. He responds with the fact that it is also somewhat rude to throw people into dark pits without being specifically asked to, but this did not seem to stop Mr. Erikson from doing exactly that to him, and never once did it occur to the bastard to even try and apologize. Clearly he must die for his crimes, do you not agree?

On an unrelated note, you look like a man with a healthy appreciation for the weaponization potential of broken glass, as demonstrated on the unfortunate Mr. Erikson. While the death of Mr. Erikson would be highly desirable, the shady fellow would also accept a fee of a single rat, living or dead, for all of the fragments of a possibly blue bottle in his position as well as a discount on any future purchases for being such a good sport. They are very good fragments. Very sharp - few edges as sharp as well-broken glass. They're going fast, too - jump on the offer before it's too late! For another demonstration, check this-

His eyes suddenly roll into the back of his head and he keels over. Well, you suppose that takes care of that.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 25, 2016, 07:57:33 am
Awful lot of sun going to waste where the stoats ain't.

Let's narrow the SUNbeams (http://what-if.xkcd.com/141/).

You elect to fix the lack of burning stoats in your own particular way.

SUN

[Word: 6]

The false sun pulses and narrows, turning from star to spotlight, its hot and baking light growing incredibly intense as it bathes the not-on-fire parts of the surrounding landscape in desiccating heat. You have the feeling you're about to develop quite the malignant sunburn as a stoat spontaneously bursts into flames outside the castle walls, followed by two or three more.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 08:07:55 am
"Stop throwing stuff at me *wheeze* that's not how you do business! *more wheezing* You are giving all your goods away! *oh lord my lungs* Hey mighty minder, would you please make him stop? *sweet Freyja help me* Can't do business with you if he kills me."

Politely reject the position of being used as a human shield. I desperately need to find something protective.

[Minder's Aid: 6]

She looks at you for a moment, then at Mr. Daniels, then at the awful shadowbastard who keeps attacking you. Eh, not a problem. She gives the fellow a stern look, and in response he immediately loses consciousness. Impulsive types are her favorite kind of stranger, the girl relates. So easy to catch by surprise.

Now then,, you seemed to imply you had something for her. And you do bear a certain mental resemblance to the exceptional Mr. Daniels. Would you care to step through that door over there, she looks at a patch of dark wall with bright letters asking you to be staying in away. She's guessing it'll let you through just as nicely as it did him.

Quote from: Toaster on January 25, 2016, 09:43:03 am
Thomas sighed, then stood up and nodded.  "I will do that, then.  You certainly have been one of the more helpful people I have met today.  Thank you for your assistance, and give Sureness Assurance a call if you ever have any insurance needs.  Ask for Thomas Minstep."

Depart!  See if I can find a guard to lead me to a "minder."

You step out of the queen's quarters and find yourself standing next to her two nervous guards.

[Aid of the Guards: 5]

Could one of them lead you to the minders, you ask. They seem doubtful for a moment, but then the queen tells you that you're acting on her authority here, which seems to catch the guards by surprise. One of them, a red-haired fellow with a very youthful face, offers to take you. The queen applauds him on his initiative, and tells him to report back when he's seen to it that all of your questions have been answered.

You head out of the keep in short order, and the guard seems rather surprised that it seems to be bright out. As it starts to get incredibly uncomfortably hot as well, the two of you wisely quicken your pace and head inside a nearby ancient-looking cob tower, its foreboding metal-braced door opening readily for the two of you.

Shortly afterward you are inside a large, well-kept sitting hall, where the guard bids you to take a seat. The minders will see you two when they're ready, he says. He's done this before once, you see. You look around a bit, and spot several holes in the domed ceiling of the hall. That's where the minders are going to show up, the guard adds as he follows your gaze. Feeling confident that he's doing a great job of showing you around, he gives you an excited two thumbs up. You nod politely and look back up.

Something's changed. You think you see a vague shadow in one of the ceiling alcoves. A child's head peeks out at you, its eyes becoming like dinner plates as you meet its gaze. Oh cr- uh, what are you looking for?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 12:10:42 pm
"Ah, thank you. Handy thing that minder thing. So that lady of the castle who's been locked into solitary confinement teached me some preliminary minder aptitude test, which I found really easy, so I figured maybe I should become a minder myself? You see, minder is just one d away from miner, so upgrade should be easy, right? But I guess I could try the door first."

Leif turns to Daniels "So there's devil behind the door and you made deal with it? Did it occur to you to check what you are exactly trading?"


Also step through the door.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Dermonster on January 25, 2016, 12:18:12 pm
Head into the tower, if there's no opening have the stone knock out a window so I can see what I'm doing, and rake searing hell across the stoats.

"Red hot SUN, won't you come, and wash away the stain..."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Toaster on January 25, 2016, 01:02:52 pm
"Sir guard, thank you very much; you've been most helpful.  Send my regards and thanks to your supervisor."  Thomas turned his attention fully to the high face.  "Ah, yes.  I have been sent here by the... queen, yes, as I have been told the minders know more than anyone else here.  My name is Thomas Minstep, and I arrived here sometime tonight.  Most unexpectedly, really, since the last thing I remember is that I was asleep in my bed, but then I'm waking up naked stuffed into a sack.  Rats were referenced, I believed.  Now, the queen led me to believe that the minders may know something of this.  Are you a minder?  If not, may I please speak with them?  If so, what do you know?"


Get to the bottom of this
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Xantalos on January 25, 2016, 06:25:36 pm
"It wants connections, whatever those are. Good luck!"

He then addresses the girl.
"So, are you a minder? How'd you obtain your power, if so?"

Go crush the unconscious guy's skull before he wakes up, don't need his shitty sales pitches again.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 25, 2016, 06:35:07 pm
Okay, I've got one thing to take care of first. I walk over to the well, and as I do I imagine the bodies of the minders there sinking into the ground. When I arrive I lean over the edge and speak, "Earth, the dead belong to you. You know this and you HUNGER for them. Take what is yours."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 26, 2016, 03:55:07 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2016, 12:10:42 pm
"Ah, thank you. Handy thing that minder thing. So that lady of the castle who's been locked into solitary confinement teached me some preliminary minder aptitude test, which I found really easy, so I figured maybe I should become a minder myself? You see, minder is just one d away from miner, so upgrade should be easy, right? But I guess I could try the door first."

Leif turns to Daniels "So there's devil behind the door and you made deal with it? Did it occur to you to check what you are exactly trading?"


Also step through the door.

The girl is unimpressed by your insights. Pah, what does she know. What does anyone know, really? Even Mr. Daniels, stepping through an enchanted door with only the vaguest notion of what lies on the other side simply because some random stranger asked him to.

That being said, you step through the black door at the minder girl's request. It opens not as a normal door - it sinks away at your touch, shying away until its matter disappears into what appears like a void. Perhaps something even emptier - a yawning hole in the fabric of reality, supported by nothing, having eaten the foundations it may have once had in a time before time. It peers into you deeply, your thoughts and words trickling into it before you've even begun to form them. You stop after your first step, unsure whether to proceed - looking back, however, the exit grows increasingly distant regardless, the dark well enfolding it, shrinking it until it disappears from sight.

Welcome. It has been some time. Provide a question and a desire. Speak plainly and receive the same.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 25, 2016, 12:18:12 pm
Head into the tower, if there's no opening have the stone knock out a window so I can see what I'm doing, and rake searing hell across the stoats.

"Red hot SUN, won't you come, and wash away the stain..."

[Architectural Benevolence: 5]

You duck down into the nearby stairwell, your stone following along through the ceiling-hole it made previously. Luckily, there is a perfectly good window right at the top of the tower, in the middle of what you assume to be a meditation hall based on the abundance of cushions on the floor and arcane-looking motivational texts (or perhaps what pass for magical spells among minders, you're not entirely sure) carved over every inch of the walls and ceiling. It's a long window, running in a semi-circle along the hall, and doesn't even have any glass in it. Must get a bit drafty here in the winter. But no matter - a view of stoats you have sought, and a view of stoats you most assuredly get. Now for some further punishment.

SUN

[Word: 1]

The false sun pauses in the sky, intrigued by your thought. You wish for it to come closer, then? It shall.

[Red Glare: 3]

You see it flit about as it moves closer in sweeping arcs, growing larger and more oppressive in the sky. The heat draws out the water from your body. The walls begin to run, the words on them growing increasingly illegible. The cushions start to catch on fire violently. The stoats start to fire at the approaching sun-beast for lack of any better ideas - no bolts reach, some being vaporized before even coming close. It is a great and ponderous thing, your false sun, but it comes for you with an unsettling inevitability.

Quote from: Toaster on January 25, 2016, 01:02:52 pm
"Sir guard, thank you very much; you've been most helpful.  Send my regards and thanks to your supervisor."  Thomas turned his attention fully to the high face.  "Ah, yes.  I have been sent here by the... queen, yes, as I have been told the minders know more than anyone else here.  My name is Thomas Minstep, and I arrived here sometime tonight.  Most unexpectedly, really, since the last thing I remember is that I was asleep in my bed, but then I'm waking up naked stuffed into a sack.  Rats were referenced, I believed.  Now, the queen led me to believe that the minders may know something of this.  Are you a minder?  If not, may I please speak with them?  If so, what do you know?"


Get to the bottom of this

[Competence of the Number Two: 2]

Uh, well, it's been a weird day for everyone. And there's been, like, a change in management? The head girl's now the, er, mistress of the tower, was it? He doesn't really know what's going on, so, uh, sorry about that. Maybe you can come back later when the head girl gets back? She went off to, like, do something.

... is it getting hot in here? You think it's getting hot in here. It is, er, getting hot in here, now that he thinks about it. It's probably the, uh, weirdo with the glowing rock? He's kind of, er, dangerous that way, the minder has noticed.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 25, 2016, 06:25:36 pm
"It wants connections, whatever those are. Good luck!"

He then addresses the girl.
"So, are you a minder? How'd you obtain your power, if so?"

Go crush the unconscious guy's skull before he wakes up, don't need his shitty sales pitches again.

Practice, the girl says. Lots and lots of grueling practice and an ungodly amount of time invested, and even that's only provided results because she's got a knack for it. She's been at this for... well, as long as she can actually remember. 6 years? 7, tops. She's mastered the beginning feats of reality earlier than most, she notes as she floats up a foot in the air to demonstrate.

Interesting, you say as you nonchalantly step over to the disabled shady fellow and thoughtfully crumple his skull into homogeneity, then wipe the resultant gore off on his ugly shawl. Was that really necessary, she asks. You reply that it's poor form to walk around with filthy hands where you come from.

HUNGER

You pause a second. That sounds familiar. The ground stirs for a second. Looking around, you spot the conspicuous absence of any evidence against you in a potential murder trial. The other three guys are gone too.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 25, 2016, 06:35:07 pm
Okay, I've got one thing to take care of first. I walk over to the well, and as I do I imagine the bodies of the minders there sinking into the ground. When I arrive I lean over the edge and speak, "Earth, the dead belong to you. You know this and you HUNGER for them. Take what is yours."

The smell wafting out of the well convinces you of the rightness of this course of action.

HUNGER

[Word: 4]

The earth wakens for an instant. Its instinct is sharper this time. Clearer, more practiced. You do not hear it from the distance, or see it in the darkness below. But it moves without error, emboldened by your permission.

You look at the ground. It waits patiently.

[Red Glare: 1]

The air starts to burn. You look at the sky and see a descending midnight sun. Your dress catches fire in the heat and drought as the glare blinds you momentarily.

[Touch of Flame: 1]

You have exactly three movements at your disposal. In your confusion and surprise you neglect to consider them well. Flames envelop you. You flail and scream. All things you touch burst into flame. The glare bites into your flesh, digs down to your bones and stabs into every nerve it can find, the boiling agony tripping every priority alert your nervous system can think of presently.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Toaster on January 26, 2016, 04:20:29 pm
"Yes, well, AC units do tend to go out.  That's more of a warranty policy than insurance, though.  We don't offer those.  Anyway, should I wait here for her?  Do you know where she went?

... do you know where Albany is?"


Ask.  Ignore special effects.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Dermonster on January 26, 2016, 04:32:54 pm
"No! Not what I meant! Please return to your previous altitude! SHit Shit Shit PROTECT ME, MOON."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Xantalos on January 26, 2016, 04:59:43 pm
"Hey girl, did you hear that? I heard it. It said Hunger, and that was what made me do ... well, whatever it was that I did when I ate the stoat back at the ritual circle. Coupled with what the well told me ... whoever did that to me is up there!"

Jack looks up at the top of the well for a moment and promptly reconsiders jumping up there; that sunlight guy must really be going enthusiastically over the stoats.

"Well, good luck to whoever it is up there - I'm certainly not going up into the scorching sun.
...
That blacksmith better survive. Also the majordomo. I've got business with the both of them and it wouldn't be very nice to have it spoiled."

Jack turns again to the minder kid.

"Sorry for the rambling. How do the basics go, if you don't mind explaining? Judging by the current apocalypse going on up there we might be down here a while."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 26, 2016, 09:14:29 pm
oh my god what is happening

it wasn't supposed to be like this

I crawl into the well.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Xantalos on January 26, 2016, 10:09:47 pm
If I notice her falling, catch her. Might as well be polite.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Dermonster on January 27, 2016, 12:17:59 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 26, 2016, 09:14:29 pm
oh my god what is happening

it wasn't supposed to be like this

I crawl into the well.

You can't be under siege if you're dead! :D
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 27, 2016, 01:49:41 am
"Oh. Hi. Nice to meet you. I don't remember being here before, though. And... ah, I heard you take connections as a payment, but I find myself wondering what this connection truly is. I cannot do trade properly if I don't know what I'm selling."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 27, 2016, 04:39:33 am
Quote from: Toaster on January 26, 2016, 04:20:29 pm
"Yes, well, AC units do tend to go out.  That's more of a warranty policy than insurance, though.  We don't offer those.  Anyway, should I wait here for her?  Do you know where she went?

... do you know where Albany is?"


Ask.  Ignore special effects.

Probably best you wait, yeah. If you went out to, like, look for her, odds are you'd miss each other. That's, like, really annoying when it happens, you know what he means.

[Alien Geographies: 4]

As for Albany... uh... sounds kinda familiar, actually. Is it, uh, near anything else?

Quote from: Dermonster on January 26, 2016, 04:32:54 pm
"No! Not what I meant! Please return to your previous altitude! SHit Shit Shit PROTECT ME, MOON."

There is no problem that magic can cause that yet more magic cannot fix.

MOON

[Word: 4]

A blemish spreads along the surface of the sun-beast, growing and spreading slowly, creating a miniature eclipse as it reaches full size, plunging the surrounding area into partial shadow and granting it a reprieve from the heat even as the solar creature floats closer, seeking to touch its creator. You suppose you've bought yourself some much-needed time.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 26, 2016, 04:59:43 pm
"Hey girl, did you hear that? I heard it. It said Hunger, and that was what made me do ... well, whatever it was that I did when I ate the stoat back at the ritual circle. Coupled with what the well told me ... whoever did that to me is up there!"

Jack looks up at the top of the well for a moment and promptly reconsiders jumping up there; that sunlight guy must really be going enthusiastically over the stoats.

"Well, good luck to whoever it is up there - I'm certainly not going up into the scorching sun.
...
That blacksmith better survive. Also the majordomo. I've got business with the both of them and it wouldn't be very nice to have it spoiled."

Jack turns again to the minder kid.

"Sorry for the rambling. How do the basics go, if you don't mind explaining? Judging by the current apocalypse going on up there we might be down here a while."
Quote from: Xantalos on January 26, 2016, 10:09:47 pm
If I notice her falling, catch her. Might as well be polite.

Yeah, those are "words", she explains. Bad news from what she knows. Best stay away from them.

As for the basics of minding, that's not something she'd particularly care to teach you at the moment, as even if the apocalypse is happening right outside, there are plainly better uses of one's time. It's like trying to teach someone trigonometry from the ground up - an awful lot of work for the little benefit it would provide. She could teach you the basic aptitude requirements for fun, she supposes. Those are pretty easy. It starts a little bit like this-

[Gentleman's Catch: 1]

Your careful listening is interrupted when Ms. Minett suddenly lands on top of you. Her considerable hotness succeeds in setting your world on fire in record time.

[Touch of Flame: 2]

In fact, you experience something of a hard time as you begin to feel the heat. It is a very distracting sensation that persists even after she rolls off you in an attempt to put out your shared flames.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 26, 2016, 09:14:29 pm
oh my god what is happening

it wasn't supposed to be like this

I crawl into the well.

[A Safe Descent: 3]

You grab onto the chain as you frantically drop into the well, sliding halfway along it before your hands give out and you lose your grip, dropping down atop the naked Mr. Daniels, who catches fire perhaps a little less readily than you did, but catches fire nevertheless. He proves to be of shockingly little help.

[Touch of Flame: 2]

You wonder how it is that you're still burning. Is there anything combustible even left on you?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 27, 2016, 01:49:41 am
"Oh. Hi. Nice to meet you. I don't remember being here before, though. And... ah, I heard you take connections as a payment, but I find myself wondering what this connection truly is. I cannot do trade properly if I don't know what I'm selling."

To find out what a connection is you must spend one connection. The purchase would also entail the fulfillment of one desire, which can also be a question.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Xantalos on January 27, 2016, 05:14:10 am
"Oh dear. If you can help put my fire out I'd appreciate it."

Stop drop and roll! Smother the fire! Use the gore from the dude if there's any left, pack dirt on it if there isn't. Better dirty than burning to death.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 27, 2016, 07:54:12 am
"That's... interesting way to do business. In light of this I say each of my connections are worth of two questions and fulfillment of two desires."

Haggle with demons.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 27, 2016, 08:30:13 am
I roll around on the ground in an attempt to put the fire out. And... oh, no. I was carrying those flammable rat stick things. I let out a long groan.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: lawastooshort on January 27, 2016, 08:59:12 am
((I admire your strategic use of burning nudity, players))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Toaster on January 27, 2016, 09:32:10 am
Quote from: lawastooshort on January 27, 2016, 08:59:12 am
((I admire your strategic use of burning nudity, players))

(( *waves*  Shockingly, my character is neither alight nor unclothed.  Not vomiting, either.))


"Finally!  Albany, capital of New York?  United States of America?  On the Hudson River?  Near Saratoga Springs?"  A hand map is emoted into the air.

Getting somewhere, perhaps?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Dermonster on January 27, 2016, 12:47:04 pm
Please slow down? Like, a lot?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 28, 2016, 04:28:26 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 27, 2016, 05:14:10 am
"Oh dear. If you can help put my fire out I'd appreciate it."

Stop drop and roll! Smother the fire! Use the gore from the dude if there's any left, pack dirt on it if there isn't. Better dirty than burning to death.

[Drowning the Blaze: 3]

You stop. You drop. You try not to scream too much. And then you roll in a placid manner. There is unfortunately no gore left, the kindly earth spirit having done you the favor of disposing of any and all traces of mischief in this dungeon, but it works nevertheless.

It works eventually, anyway. At least you're only red and covered in weeping blisters unlike the much less fortunate Ms. Minett.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 27, 2016, 07:54:12 am
"That's... interesting way to do business. In light of this I say each of my connections are worth of two questions and fulfillment of two desires."

Haggle with demons.

Your assessment is incorrect. But your effort is appreciated. In light of this, you may instead pay in a fraction of all future connections made.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 27, 2016, 08:30:13 am
I roll around on the ground in an attempt to put the fire out. And... oh, no. I was carrying those flammable rat stick things. I let out a long groan.

[Drowning the Blaze: 6]

Thinking quicker now that you've acclimatized to being on fire, you roll into the nearby stack of ancient drapes, setting them ablaze instantly, then roll out, having successfully distracted your flames with a much more tempting target. Another upshot that you immediately notice is the far better lighting that results from the burning pile you just created, though unfortunately it does expose the rather pernicious filth of the area as well.

Anyway, you think you'll be fine after somebody manages to give you some full-body skin grafts. And maybe a wig, too.

Quote from: Toaster on January 27, 2016, 09:32:10 am
"Finally!  Albany, capital of New York?  United States of America?  On the Hudson River?  Near Saratoga Springs?"  A hand map is emoted into the air.

Getting somewhere, perhaps?

[A Nudge of the Noggin: 1]

Wait, Albany? Sorry, uh, he thought you meant Albine. That was the place he was thinking of, yeah. The seat of the Principality of the Elder Peaks. The source of the White Madness and the exit of the god-vents.

He can, like, tell you how to get there? Does that help?

Quote from: Dermonster on January 27, 2016, 12:47:04 pm
Please slow down? Like, a lot?

[Daring - To Stop the Sun: 1]

It cannot. It must not. Its progress is already far too slow.

It can sense your trepidation. Fear not, little brother. You are but two halves of each other. When you know the touch of your kin, you will finally know completion.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Dermonster on January 28, 2016, 04:32:24 pm
Right. I called up a second sun, time to bring in the moon.

"MOON, PLEASE CONTROL THIS CHILD!!!!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 28, 2016, 04:39:02 pm
I crawl as far away from the burning drapes as I can, curl up into a ball, and try to rest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Toaster on January 28, 2016, 05:15:19 pm
Thomas sighed.  Guess it was waiting for the other, then.

Or was he going about this wrong?

"How about you tell me about the local geography, and I try to work backwards from that?

Let's try this the other way around.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Xantalos on January 28, 2016, 11:49:13 pm
Sit down away from the burning drapes. Relax and talk with minder girl rather than focus on the pain.

"So. You were saying about the basics of this minder business? Sorry for the interruption, fire's rather distracting. And painful. Ow."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 29, 2016, 04:01:00 am
"You drive a hard bargain, guess I have to accept it.
My question: What exactly is this connection you desire?
My desire: To be a superiour minder in potential, skill and knowledge when compared to any minder in past, present and future."

Deals with demons.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 29, 2016, 06:07:37 am
Quote from: Dermonster on January 28, 2016, 04:32:24 pm
Right. I called up a second sun, time to bring in the moon.

"MOON, PLEASE CONTROL THIS CHILD!!!!"

The moon seems to have helped already. Perhaps it needs to be put on the same level, though.

MOON

[Word: 1]

The eclipse across the false sun surges outward as the actual moon emits a sudden pulse of ominous silvery light, responding to your call. It spreads across the bright sky, plunging the area in darkness only barely illuminated by the distant fires you started and the shining stone right next to you. Alarmingly, the rest of the area now seems to be bathed in pitch blackness. You can't see anything beyond about 5 meters around the stone. And this radius, you notice, is slowly shrinking.

[White Glare: 6]

As you start to worry about this, though, you are interrupted by your brother sun, a bolt of concentrated sunlight piercing through the darkness and brightening the area with a flash as it vaporizes most of the roof above you in a deafening explosion. In the vault of black sky thus revealed you see a glowing wound, the eye of your pursuer glaring through it, zeroing in on your illuminated position in the scant few seconds before the hole mends itself. If you had to guess, you'd say you've gone and pissed it off.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 28, 2016, 04:39:02 pm
I crawl as far away from the burning drapes as I can, curl up into a ball, and try to rest.

The corner you settle for is the conveniently empty one that no longer houses the supply of inscribed bricks. It is damp, rough and quite uncomfortable to rest in on account of bits of shrapnel strewn about in it. But it will do. You curl up in it, breathe deep and let the pain fade away slowly. Helping with this is the way that the firelight provided by your drape fire seems to fade considerably in the coming minutes as the light of the pseudo-sun goes away, replaced by an even deeper darkness than before.

You are interrupted by the sound of thunder, seemingly coming from very nearby. You get the sneaking suspicion things are not going well.

Quote from: Toaster on January 28, 2016, 05:15:19 pm
Thomas sighed.  Guess it was waiting for the other, then.

Or was he going about this wrong?

"How about you tell me about the local geography, and I try to work backwards from that?

Let's try this the other way around.

[A Lesson In Geography: 1]

Local geography? Uh, this'll probably be easier to do if he had a map, and they're all kind of, uh, carved into the walls on the third floor. It'd be kind of, uh, difficult to take you there, he says as he looks down at the considerable vertical gap between you and the second floor.

Suddenly, the tower shakes wildly and your ears are filled with explosions. The minder kid stumbles forward and out of the alcove, his arms helplessly flailing as he tries in vain to regain balance before going over the edge.

[Helpful Catch: 4]

You step forward and catch him before he hits the stone floor. He looks surprised for a moment. Uh... thanks, man. He, er, hasn't really mastered flying yet. You put him down, and notice that he seems extraordinarily out of his element as he looks around. Hasn't been down here in... huh, must be seven years now.

From above you hear a noise - looking up, you see more faces in the alcoves, their eyes drawing attention despite the deepening darkness of the area. They look at the kid you caught in frightened confusion. He looks over at you. Uh... crap. Would you mind, er, catching some more of his colleagues? They, uh, can't fly either. Yet.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 28, 2016, 11:49:13 pm
Sit down away from the burning drapes. Relax and talk with minder girl rather than focus on the pain.

"So. You were saying about the basics of this minder business? Sorry for the interruption, fire's rather distracting. And painful. Ow."

Not really the basics, no. The aptitude test. It's like lucid daydreaming, basically. Useful in combination with some other techniques, and possible for most anyone to learn, given time. The idea is that you generate a persistent world in your mind that continues on its own track even if you don't pay attention to it. Usually it takes a round of visualization and what you require to qualify as a prospective student is to demonstrate the ability to partition off a section of your mind like that before you hit the age of six. It speaks of adequate seriousness and malleability to be able to do it that early. She did it by age four, she notes proudly. One of the earlier enrollments the old minders had permitted. And look at her now! Mistress of the tower at her age? Virtually unheard of, she guarantees.

[Secrets of the Mind: 5]

She concentrates on you for a moment, and you feel a little odd. There. She's partitioned off a section of your... well, what looks like your mind, anyway. The keyword is "liverwort".

Mm. Something changes. The darkness around you, having only been deep before, becomes absolute, and only you and the minder girl remain, both perfectly illuminated, hanging out in a void. Yeah, so this is kind of a daydream-space you can occupy and put stuff in. It'll just run in the background, so to speak. And you can come back at any time. That's really it - you can do fun stuff in here, and there are some practical things you can do once you master the actual basics of minding - mostly setting down actual problems you can resolve by devoting a bit of resources to it over a long period of time. Kind of like sleeping on a problem, but considerably more effective.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 29, 2016, 04:01:00 am
"You drive a hard bargain, guess I have to accept it.
My question: What exactly is this connection you desire?
My desire: To be a superiour minder in potential, skill and knowledge when compared to any minder in past, present and future."

Deals with demons.

Your answer: a connection is not unlike a relationship (see socialization, cooperation, exchange of goods and services). It exists between you and another creature of sufficient capability (see emotion, memory, communication). The interpreter permits a large number of potential connections to be made, and they can be easily redirected to the well. Connections themselves are of no use to you. They may however afford you certain secondary benefits (see magic, general aid, items of power) if worked on and developed. If a connection is given to the well, it is severed from you permanently and irrevocably - when you attempt to interact with someone who has a severed connection to you, they see the well in you and hear it speak. And whatever they think, this also is given to the well. Along with other things found on the way (see opportunity, long-term memory loss, conversion of knowledge).

Your fulfillment: your potential for altering reality already exceeds the potential of primitive methods such as minding (see words, magic, minding). The knowledge you seek would be on the scale of roughly three well-chosen questions. The skills would also require at least two rounds of fulfillment to approximate. Your request is thus best fulfilled as perfect compatibility with minding techniques. A technique needs to be observed before it can be learned.

Your price: a sixth of your future connections will now belong to the well.

Will that be all, or would you like to make another exchange?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Dermonster on January 29, 2016, 08:03:53 am
Shit shit shit shit time to run. ride the rock down to ground level.

"MOON YOU GOT THE WRONG ONE!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 29, 2016, 09:29:37 am
I don't know what's going on out there, but I am certainly not prepared to deal with it.

I sit up slightly, brush some debris out of the corner, and lay back down.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Toaster on January 29, 2016, 09:51:35 am
"You should be more careful up there; where's the handrails?  What?  More coming down?  They should just use the fire stairs.  What?  No stairs?  No emergency exits?  Oh dear, oh dear, this place is a lawsuit waiting to happen.  I can't possibly insure this until it's brought up to code... the fire marshal would have a conniption fit if he saw this.  What?  Catch?  Um... I suppose?"

Help catch.  Fret over innumerable fire code violations.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 29, 2016, 11:38:50 am
"An answer to that question leading to futher exchanges is worth of half of my future connections already given to the well. Will you pay?"

Counter-offer.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Xantalos on January 29, 2016, 04:50:18 pm
"Interesting. Mayhaps I could change the scenery? Infinite blackness is a bit boring."

Concentrate on changing the scenery - preferably to a kung fu temple on top of a mountain.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 30, 2016, 06:29:31 am
Quote from: Dermonster on January 29, 2016, 08:03:53 am
Shit shit shit shit time to run. ride the rock down to ground level.

"MOON YOU GOT THE WRONG ONE!"

You exercise the better part of valor as you hop onto your stone, telling it to take you down while you try to instruct the moon once again. Here goes!

MOON

[Word: 4]

The moon hears you. This situation is inadequate. A deeper darkness is required. One that a mere false sun cannot pierce. The lunar veil grows thicker, greater. You see a flash up in the sky as your brother sun attempts to repeat its previous feat. The veil glows for a solid few seconds, but is not pierced. Success!

[Stone's Help: 5]

You breathe a sigh of relief as your stone takes you down through the ceiling holes down to ground level, where you see a curious scene - Mr. Minstep and a red-haired guard appear to be facilitating the evacuation of quite a few robed and frightened children. They look up at you, and you try to look like you have things under control.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 29, 2016, 09:29:37 am
I don't know what's going on out there, but I am certainly not prepared to deal with it.

I sit up slightly, brush some debris out of the corner, and lay back down.

[A Pocket of Safety: 4]

You find the corner much more comfortable to lie in after the shrapnel is cleaned up. It's still a damp stone floor, granted. But maybe that's also not as much of a minus as you'd usually think - at least here you don't need to worry about leaving a mess of whatever bits feel like peeling off from you, of which thus far there seem to be quite a few.

In any case, you continue resting. It's much better than before! But you only feel slightly better than before. And also a little dry and crumbly. You're not sure you like the feeling.

Quote from: Toaster on January 29, 2016, 09:51:35 am
"You should be more careful up there; where's the handrails?  What?  More coming down?  They should just use the fire stairs.  What?  No stairs?  No emergency exits?  Oh dear, oh dear, this place is a lawsuit waiting to happen.  I can't possibly insure this until it's brought up to code... the fire marshal would have a conniption fit if he saw this.  What?  Catch?  Um... I suppose?"

Help catch.  Fret over innumerable fire code violations.

[A Speedy Evacuation: 2]

The guard who appears to have stuck around through your attempts to divine the area's geography for whatever reason gets up and tries his best to help as the two of you prepare to catch a few more falling children. Two of the older ones take the plunge quite readily, but the remaining seven or so younger ones seem rather leery of the drop despite the visible assurance of the others that they'll probably be fine. This is at least partly because by the time they are in a position to consider it, it's gone so dark that you can't see them and you presume that they can't see you either.

Matters aren't helped when Mr. Codeburn appears through a hole in the ceiling, riding his shining rock with a look of manful concern, rocking quite the charred floral nightgown. You hear the patter of footsteps from above as the potential evacuees make a run for it, knowing better than to hang out nearby, and even the ones you already caught move toward the door in unison and out of sight range, prepared to get the hell out of her in case of trouble. Isn't that the Minister of Moronic Affairs, the guard asks. Is he a minder too?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 29, 2016, 11:38:50 am
"An answer to that question leading to futher exchanges is worth of half of my future connections already given to the well. Will you pay?"

Counter-offer.

Your assessment is, once again, entirely incorrect. You would think you would have learned by now.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 29, 2016, 04:50:18 pm
"Interesting. Mayhaps I could change the scenery? Infinite blackness is a bit boring."

Concentrate on changing the scenery - preferably to a kung fu temple on top of a mountain.

[Mind's Refuge: 6]

The void gains depth as you lightly compel it to slope downward on several sides, and rise in different ones, the shapes attaining clarity even before the colors spring from your mind to paint them truly to life. An errant thought creates a grand winding staircase in the picturesque rocky mountainside, running all the way down to a blue forest lake at the bottom, numbering in the hundreds of thousands of steps as it navigates the twists and turns of the cliffs. Water springs from fresh mountain creeks, and behind you you hear the creak of the mountainside shaping itself into the mouth of the ancient temple. A mist rises in the cold morning as the sun paints itself onto the pinkish sky, commencing the most beautiful sunrise you have ever seen, recreated to perfection.

Turning around, you look upon the carved stone of your temple, its entrance resembling the head of some ancient guardian demon, eight spiderlike eyes reflecting the sunrise with inset mirrors as fifty-odd robed students assemble, nodding their heads in unison at you.

Well done, the girl says. You seem to have taken well to the partitioning.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 30, 2016, 06:49:26 am
I stand up, stretch, and take a look around the well. Then I climb up the chain just far enough to stick my head outside and see what's happening. I drop down into the well if I see anything dangerous or particularly fiery.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Xantalos on January 30, 2016, 06:54:42 am
"I'm told I take well to a lot of things. Now then, what's the next general step with this sort of thing? You've said that you can leave problems lying here on autopilot?"

The well also kinda implied that I'm not really a human while I'm in this ... dimension or whatever, aren't I. The mentions of substrate and all have got me thinking. Also something that one on-fire lady said. Something made out of rats? And given the minder girl mentioned that she found what she thought was my mind instead of being certain, maybe I've an aptitude for this sort of thing. Hopefully so, seems pretty cool.
Gotta talk with whoever built the well at one point.
See, this is why I need that problem autopilot thing!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Toaster on January 30, 2016, 09:34:40 am
"Say, weren't you looking for a doctor a bit ago?  I take it you found one?  Can you perhaps help us get these kids out of here?  I see you've found a way down; I hope the wires on that thing are secure.  This place has dreadful safety features."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 30, 2016, 11:23:19 am
"Can't blame the man for trying." Leif shrugs. "Theoretically speaking, could I decide which connection I give to you in exhance for answer and fulfillment? Purely hypothetically, I mean. I'm not paying anything yet. Just trying to probe possibilities."

Extended payment methodology probing. Once answer is received, exit the well, ask the girl levitate and observe it. And observe everything she does. Tell her how the well considers minding being a primitive method.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Dermonster on January 30, 2016, 12:39:27 pm
Quote from: Toaster on January 30, 2016, 09:34:40 am
"Say, weren't you looking for a doctor a bit ago?  I take it you found one?  Can you perhaps help us get these kids out of here?  I see you've found a way down; I hope the wires on that thing are secure.  This place has dreadful safety features."

"Oh wow I am sick and tired of your schtick THE SUN IS COMING DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE SKY, I REPEAT, THE TOP OF THE SKY. RUN MOTHERFUCKER, RUN.!

Escape to the battlements! But out of sight of the massive stoat army I've gone and pissed off! And the second sun!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Second Sun
Post by: Toaster on January 30, 2016, 10:42:42 pm
Thomas shook his head.  "Why are all the crazy people here?"

Anyway, keep trying to save people from this deathtrap.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 31, 2016, 06:32:44 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 30, 2016, 06:49:26 am
I stand up, stretch, and take a look around the well. Then I climb up the chain just far enough to stick my head outside and see what's happening. I drop down into the well if I see anything dangerous or particularly fiery.

You climb up the chain to the top of the well shaft, and take a look around, seeing only primeval darkness all around you. No, really. You can't see anything out here save for the brief moments when there's ominous white flashes from an area up in the sky.

[An Ear For Trouble: 5]

You think you do hear a commotion about. People moving around nervously, unsure of where to go or what's happening. A few guards calling out to their comrades in the pitch blackness, trying to make sense of the situation. Far more distant shouts as well, seemingly nonsensical at first, but peppered with what you think to be keywords signifying contingencies and battle formations. You don't think any of them know what they're doing right now.

Underneath it all, on the edge of your hearing, you think you hear something else. A strange harmony of sorts, a unifying element at the center. You prick up your ears a little. You can almost make it out. It's here somewhere, an elusive, fleeting thing.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 30, 2016, 06:54:42 am
"I'm told I take well to a lot of things. Now then, what's the next general step with this sort of thing? You've said that you can leave problems lying here on autopilot?"

The well also kinda implied that I'm not really a human while I'm in this ... dimension or whatever, aren't I. The mentions of substrate and all have got me thinking. Also something that one on-fire lady said. Something made out of rats? And given the minder girl mentioned that she found what she thought was my mind instead of being certain, maybe I've an aptitude for this sort of thing. Hopefully so, seems pretty cool.
Gotta talk with whoever built the well at one point.
See, this is why I need that problem autopilot thing!

Oh yes. But that requires a bit more realignment. She supposes she could try to further the partitioning right now. Hold still.

[Secrets of the Mind: 1]

The students turn to look at the girl in unison with dark eyes. She looks over at them. Uh. Maybe she shouldn't dig too deep. The students begin to slide toward her one by one, growing thinner as their feet deform and crawl along the rocky ground in a worm-like fashion. Their mouths start to hang open and gape, eyes receding into their skulls, the sockets sealing up, their faces sprouting branching, sensitive antennae.

She... thinks she'll be going now.

[Watch Yourself in Deep Waters: 4]

A few moments pass, and you spot a bead of nervous sweat on her forehead as the jaws of your students split into three-way symmetrical structures and they snake toward her in curving paths, encircling her as they move in closer, some of them blending together into conjoined forms. She closes her eyes, clenches her fists. There is no place like home, there is no place like home...

... and she's gone, poofing out of existence just as one of your students extends a pseudopod to greet her. They stand there for a second, then retreat into a larger circle, restoring their original shapes. Mostly. Two of them seem to have extra eyes, one of them doesn't have any. One appears significantly larger than the unusually small one next to them. And about two or three more have visible seams on their faces. They stare at you with frozen faces, awaiting instruction from their master.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 30, 2016, 11:23:19 am
"Can't blame the man for trying." Leif shrugs. "Theoretically speaking, could I decide which connection I give to you in exhance for answer and fulfillment? Purely hypothetically, I mean. I'm not paying anything yet. Just trying to probe possibilities."

Extended payment methodology probing. Once answer is received, exit the well, ask the girl levitate and observe it. And observe everything she does. Tell her how the well considers minding being a primitive method.

You cannot choose the connections given. This is to prevent exploitation of the system in place (see maximization of gains, methods of exchange, effects of randomization).

It takes but a single step for you to be at the door, and another one to get outside. You look back on the dark. It has grown no closer or further than when you first saw it. You go through the door, meeting no resistance.

Thank you. Come again.

The minder girl stands next to a distracted-looking Mr. Daniels, a rattled look on her face as she seems to be considering something. You go over to lighten the mood. How about some levitation?

[Diversions of Minding: 1]

Look, she's not here to do party tricks for you, the girl says with an air of offense taken. There's more important concerns. The higher mysteries of minding, she throws out in a defensive manner. Oh, you say innocently as you contemplate this. The well mentioned that minding was a primitive method, you then idly recall.

Well your mother was a primitive method, she says out loud as she gives you a withering look, going to carefully sit near the drape fire still going in one of the corners, making sure to keep her back to the wall.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 30, 2016, 12:39:27 pm
"Oh wow I am sick and tired of your schtick THE SUN IS COMING DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE SKY, I REPEAT, THE TOP OF THE SKY. RUN MOTHERFUCKER, RUN.!

Escape to the battlements! But out of sight of the massive stoat army I've gone and pissed off! And the second sun!


The way to the battlements is well-known to you, and you hardly even need your luminous stone to guide the way as you make your way back up. You look one way from a crenel. Absolute darkness. You assume there's the castle that way. Unless it blew up or something.

You look the other way from an opposite crenel. There's a whole lot of jack you can see that way too. You assume there's probably stoats as well, judging by the commotion. You don't see any though, and the darkness has this thick, soupy quality that makes you feel safe in assuming they probably can't see you either.

[Watchful Eyes: 4]

An impression that is not broken after about a minute of waiting. You're still probably in big trouble if the second sun starts to break through. Maybe you ought to vacate the premises.

You see another flash up in the sky. It looks weaker than the previous.

Quote from: Toaster on January 30, 2016, 10:42:42 pm
Thomas shook his head.  "Why are all the crazy people here?"

Anyway, keep trying to save people from this deathtrap.

As Mr. Codeburn flees urgently you rededicate your efforts to evacuation.

[Safety First: 4]

You inform the darkness above that the glowy floaty rock man seems to have gone off on other business and that it's perfectly safe as long as you mind the darkness and make lots of noise so that you know where someone's falling and be able to catch them. The noise generated from the upper areas makes you think you're making some progress.

[Evacuation in Darkness: 1]

The flaws of catching falling children in complete darkness become quickly apparent, however, when two of them, impatient for rescue, jump at the same time. You run into the red-haired guard as you position yourself beneath at least one of the sources of the approaching yells. What follows are four impacts. One is your own. Another sounds like metal chain on stone. A third is followed by a sudden onset of crying.

The fourth, though... the fourth is of a meatier sort, a crack and a spill, silence following.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: Xantalos on January 31, 2016, 07:10:30 am
Jack nods curtly at his students.

"You have done well in protecting me. I charge you thusly: maintain well this temple that is my mind. Guard it against any intruders not specifically permitted here by myself, and during your free time from either of those two activities, meditate on the best way to aquire further mastery of the powers of the mind or over reality. Alert me when you believe you have made any progress in this last one. I will be in my chambers, or my awareness will be to the outside world."

He performs a short bow, then begins to walks off in the direction he presumes the master's quarters would be in a place like this - he'd designed it, after all.

I do wonder why my manifestations of thought or subconscious or whatever they were manifested the alterations they did. A curious question, though not one I'll ask the well. Damn thing's too stingy and literal.

Give instructions to my brood of mind-kung fu-altered beings and proceed to my chambers. Try to get back to the outside world by concentrating really hard on it - seems the most obvious way to do things in one's own mind.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 31, 2016, 08:24:12 am
What is that? I try to follow the sound. It seems safe out here... sort of.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: Toaster on January 31, 2016, 08:55:55 am
((The reference in the first line of Thomas's statbox just clicked for me.  Oh dear.))

Oh dear.  Uh.  "Does anyone have a light?  Maybe we shouldn't do this in the dark."

Lights please?  Also try to tend to the crying thump.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: Dermonster on January 31, 2016, 09:48:37 am
Right, climb on my rock and haul boulder as far away from here as fast as I can. MOON if at any point the darkness lets up.

"Majora's mask did not prepare me for this shit."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 31, 2016, 01:51:31 pm
"Well she was when she made me, she had to rely on traditional methods. Genetic manipulation wasn't available back then. But what I mean is that thing behind the door called minding primitive method of reality altering when I asked it make me one. It even said that full skill and knowledge of minding could be attained with three good questions. But it gave perfect compatibility with minding so I can use any technique I observe. So how about it? Just to test if it really works?"

Explaing things slightly better.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 01, 2016, 02:33:26 am
Quote from: Xantalos on January 31, 2016, 07:10:30 am
Jack nods curtly at his students.

"You have done well in protecting me. I charge you thusly: maintain well this temple that is my mind. Guard it against any intruders not specifically permitted here by myself, and during your free time from either of those two activities, meditate on the best way to aquire further mastery of the powers of the mind or over reality. Alert me when you believe you have made any progress in this last one. I will be in my chambers, or my awareness will be to the outside world."

He performs a short bow, then begins to walks off in the direction he presumes the master's quarters would be in a place like this - he'd designed it, after all.

I do wonder why my manifestations of thought or subconscious or whatever they were manifested the alterations they did. A curious question, though not one I'll ask the well. Damn thing's too stingy and literal.

Give instructions to my brood of mind-kung fu-altered beings and proceed to my chambers. Try to get back to the outside world by concentrating really hard on it - seems the most obvious way to do things in one's own mind.

Your students fall in line behind you, imitating your walk like humanoid ducklings. Every now and then a few split off and spread out as you navigate the already formed and still forming hallways of the temple, taking up positions in training rooms, meditation halls, zen gardens, the hand-cranked generator room and other things you feel appropriate for a kung fu temple to possess. You come to the master's quarters, which happen to be just past the living quarters. The remaining twelve or so students part ways with you here, and you enter the fancy incense-smelling room completely alone.

It doesn't quite manage the ascetic aesthetic of the rest of the temple, looking a lot like your typical bachelor pad, except without telltale signs of filth and disorder. There's a bed, some exercise equipment and a minifridge plugged into a nearby wall, kept well-stocked with supplies brought by fearful pilgrims, as well as a whole bunch of other odds and ends to make a kung fu existence that much more in line with modern ideas of comfort.

You think you've looked at enough to make for a reasonable guided tour, at least, and brush your new inner world aside, returning to the dark basement. The minder girl appears to have sat down next to the fire while you were out, and Mr. Erikson is currently in the process of pestering her for one reason or another. Seems to be sarcastically gesturing at her with a grin on his face.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 31, 2016, 08:24:12 am
What is that? I try to follow the sound. It seems safe out here... sort of.

[The Most Wonderful Sound: 6]

You climb out of the well carefully, and keep low to the ground as you listen to the sound. You need to get closer. You brush past a confused servant, and navigate around a worried guard, reaching the wall of what you suspect to be the shrine, judging by its unevenness. It's not the place you're looking for. But it's close. You bump into a woman in plate armor, disappearing into darkness as she draws her sword and goes on guard, and finally make your way to the chapel wall.

Hm. You'll need to go higher. Thankfully the wall has enough holes in it to climb. Guided by intuition and supported mostly by trial and error, you make your way up. Very close. You touch the edge of the sloped roof experimentally, then grab onto it with one hand. The moment of truth - you let go of the wall and grab onto the roof with both hands, then kick off the wall, using the momentum of your swing to pull yourself up to the edge, then clamber on. Not much further now.

The roof is relatively easy to navigate, though you need to remain on all fours to safely do so. You crawl to the front of the chapel. The sound is most perceptible here. You rise to your feet unsteadily, experimentally leaning one way, then the other. You are nearly there. You lean over the edge, spreading your arms and sticking your leg out backwards to balance for the moment. And there it is.

Groans of pain from the front of the chapel. Worried voices. Barked orders. A single prayer to the Sun and Moon, only halfway coherent. A distant proclamation of the honor of the Great House. Codes being shouted into the dark to inferred recipients. An electric buzz in the sky. Hurried footsteps. Furniture being stumbled over. The spilling of water. Nocturnal insects coming alive after brief confusion. Crying on the wind. Well-meaning suggestions. A topical, if perhaps not entirely apt video game reference. Underneath it all, the unifying principle.

CHAOS

You lean further forward. It feels counterintuitively safe. An entertaining contradiction.

Quote from: Toaster on January 31, 2016, 08:55:55 am
((The reference in the first line of Thomas's statbox just clicked for me.  Oh dear.))

Oh dear.  Uh.  "Does anyone have a light?  Maybe we shouldn't do this in the dark."

Lights please?  Also try to tend to the crying thump.

[Darkness Eternal: 6]

There is a moment of silence. You hear the red-haired guard shuffle in search of something.

Lights? Does anyone have a light, you repeat the request. You feel a weird pressure build up behind your eyes. And then you notice the strangest thing. The shape of the crying child, clearly outlined in the darkness. It's a little difficult to describe, being not so much a product of your vision as it is of your perception. He landed on his feet, you think. Sprained his ankle. You step closer and reassure him that he'll probably be fine. It's, er, not fatal. Does that help? You're not sure.

Looking up, you see five more up in the alcoves, ranging from five to eight years old. The elder ones jumped first. They don't seem so sure of the prospect anymore.

At the edge of the hall, the first boy you caught. He seems to have been looking at you for a moment, but now has returned to staring at the kids up there. You vaguely sense words coming from him, and not in the spoken sense. The children hear him, their minds attaining momentary placidity. One of them steps to the edge, looking to you for assistance in a catch with an unsettling sureness given the events that just transpired.

The guard stands next to you, looking frankly worried. He can't see anything. Not like you can. You helpfully note your location to him, and he comes closer, still disoriented by the loss of visibility.

And finally, the origin of the fourth impact. You see nothing there. Just the complete blankness of impenetrable dark. Perhaps it's better that way.

Quote from: Dermonster on January 31, 2016, 09:48:37 am
Right, climb on my rock and haul boulder as far away from here as fast as I can. MOON if at any point the darkness lets up.

"Majora's mask did not prepare me for this shit."

You set yourself atop your handy stone and tell it to haul ass. Your ass, specifically. Fast and far.

[Stone's Piloting: 5]

Setting a straight course for right the fuck out of here, skipper. The stone picks up velocity to the point where you have to keep yourself low atop it lest you be blown off by the air resistance, directing most of its heat and light downward so as to not lose sight of the ground in this blasted dark. An added benefit of this is the possibility of strafing the disorganized stoat ranks, who seem to have approached the castle walls for lack of any better refuge. Precisely aimed beams of light precipitate thunderous explosions on the ground, turning any potential stoat witnesses and/or potential resistance to your escape into so much charred meat before they're even fully cognizant of your presence. You think your stone might be showing off a little on that front, but the dramatic efficiency of the extraction and the considerable stoat casualties inflicted by it probably improve your mood nevertheless.

It doesn't take long at all to get to the river at the edge of the castle island, naturally. Here you run into something of a problem, however, which is that the forest on the other side of the river seems to still be on fire. Your stone, somewhat disappointed that the way here wasn't longer, pauses to get your tactical opinion. Straight ahead, master? Or would you like to ride again? You can go along the river in a circle! Look for a place not on fire! Maybe work your way inward! That'd be quite fun, wouldn't it?

You look up at the sky with some concern. There is an even dimmer white flash. See, the stone points. You seem to be in the clear for now, master. And even if you weren't, well, you can hardly outrun a celestial body. It should know, being something of a cousin to one. Much faster than they look at the very least, it beams proudly.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 31, 2016, 01:51:31 pm
"Well she was when she made me, she had to rely on traditional methods. Genetic manipulation wasn't available back then. But what I mean is that thing behind the door called minding primitive method of reality altering when I asked it make me one. It even said that full skill and knowledge of minding could be attained with three good questions. But it gave perfect compatibility with minding so I can use any technique I observe. So how about it? Just to test if it really works?"

Explaing things slightly better.

You are not helping. Geez, cheapen her art some more, will you? She's only spent the entirety of her life perfecting its basics. All for the glorious purpose of having some eldritch artifact belittle her for it by slightly less eldritch proxy. But hey! It's the call to adventure, right? She's here to teach you all her secrets so you can immediately grasp them and render her immediately obsolete and superfluous. Then you'll smugly go off to save the day or ruin everything, either's possible as far as she knows, and leave her to molder in this vacant ditch for the rest of her life, as she didn't happen to be brought into this world with a heroic destiny. She gets it. So here's a secret for you.

Looking up at you, she raises her hands in an overblown magical gesture reminiscent of a sarcastic set of jazz hands. Rainbow-colored shapes manifest in the air above her head - a confused mallard examining an apostrophe manifested to the left, the tail of the apostrophe tickling its beak mildly, the letter F ambling around slightly further to the left as it converses with a plus sign. The letter U arrives a little late to the gathering, manifesting to the right. The sound of party favors goes off in your head as you catch her meaning.

You nod pleasantly and imitate the gesture perfectly, manifesting the rainbow-colored image of a row of T-34s above your head accompanied by the letter H trying to squeeze in between a 1 and a 2 that are getting a little too friendly with each other. She frowns bitterly as she too hears the sound of congratulations. The technique seems a bit... specific, you think. And sadly without any actual materialization involved.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 01, 2016, 02:58:29 am
"Sorry to end up belittling you, but you are really the best one around to learn from. This manner of reality altering is quite interesting and that eldritch thing there eats relationships in exchance for... things. One really shouldn't trust in demons. And think about it: you have the knowledge, I have the potential. By combining the two perhaps we can come up with something entirely new, perhaps improved way for reality altering. Entirely new school of functional magic! That's something not many people get around to do. So what you say? Let's put our strengths together. Have your name carved into history as a founder of entirely new school of magic!"

Analyze that technique down to basics. A visual illusion, a cognition trigger, and an auditory illusion, right? I can work new things from those, right?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 01, 2016, 07:28:00 am
Yet another weird magical phenomenon. This merits further investigation when I can see better. I perch the brick on the edge of the roof so that I'll be able to see this spot from the ground, then try to climb down and duck into the chapel.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: Dermonster on February 01, 2016, 07:49:23 am
"We set this place on fire pretty well. Time is of the essence, go over it."

Cover face with cloth to help with smoke. Use MOON to grow my rock beforehand for easier transport.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: Toaster on February 01, 2016, 09:44:32 am
This must be that thing where people who lose their sight find themselves able to compensate with other senses.  Or something.

"Okay, uh, let's go by age next?  You five up there?  The youngest jump first, when we're ready. Sir Guard, could you take two steps over?  Yes, there.  Now raise your hand, youngest one up there?  Okay, when we're ready..."

Let's finish off this evac.  Then next is finding the fire marshal.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the Skies at War
Post by: Xantalos on February 01, 2016, 03:09:58 pm
"Well, that was interesting."

Jack notices his still extant burns.

"Oh right, those. I'm gonna rest for a bit, I think. Don't you kids leave me alone here or I'll break your legs, alright?"

Rest. Deep breaths. Believe away the pain.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 02, 2016, 05:19:38 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 01, 2016, 02:58:29 am
"Sorry to end up belittling you, but you are really the best one around to learn from. This manner of reality altering is quite interesting and that eldritch thing there eats relationships in exchance for... things. One really shouldn't trust in demons. And think about it: you have the knowledge, I have the potential. By combining the two perhaps we can come up with something entirely new, perhaps improved way for reality altering. Entirely new school of functional magic! That's something not many people get around to do. So what you say? Let's put our strengths together. Have your name carved into history as a founder of entirely new school of magic!"

Analyze that technique down to basics. A visual illusion, a cognition trigger, and an auditory illusion, right? I can work new things from those, right?

[Art of the Pitch: 5]

The girl thinks on this, looking at you with a little distaste. You're trying to flatter her. And appeal to her sense of pride and unquenchable ambition.

With that in mind, do go on! You've almost got her attention, she assures you.

[The Granular Approach: 4]

The illusion is a little odd, you notice. It seems to be less of an improvised assemblage of interacting elements and more of a ready-made package of thought conveyed from mind to mind with the assistance of an expressive gesture. A sequential introduction of thoughts - a setup with a perceptual component, the sudden occurrence of the solution, and a sarcastic congratulation, also with a perceptual element. You suppose robbing somebody of figuring out your riddle on their own is well within the spirit of the trick.

All in all, it's much less fancy than it looked. A mildly insidious form of telepathy where the thought payload is primed by time-delayed processing. A simple trick once you know the basics.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 01, 2016, 07:28:00 am
Yet another weird magical phenomenon. This merits further investigation when I can see better. I perch the brick on the edge of the roof so that I'll be able to see this spot from the ground, then try to climb down and duck into the chapel.

You don't think a dark brick will be easy to see in near-pitch blackness, but you suppose there's no harm in trying it. Balancing it safely on the edge, you go ahead and try to climb down.

[Exploring the Vertical: 3]

You're not entirely sure where you climbed up, but you certainly can't find it now. At least not without hanging off the edge of the roof again, which seems like a risky prospect when you have no idea if you'll even find any footholds on the wall below. You could just try and jump off, you suppose. Maybe if you bend your knees, relax your muscles and roll at the end (can you do all that at once, you're not sure), you'd even manage to not hurt yourself in the process.

In any case, you're going to need to plunge into the unfriendly darkness with no idea of what you're doing for a little bit to get back down. And you suspect right now you're just hanging at the edge of the roof dithering because you're not sure you want to.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 01, 2016, 07:49:23 am
"We set this place on fire pretty well. Time is of the essence, go over it."

Cover face with cloth to help with smoke. Use MOON to grow my rock beforehand for easier transport.

You hide your face in the collar of your nightgown and try to give your shining stone another improvement.

MOON

[Word: 1]

A core of dust, orbit of a satellite, the inner flame of a proximal star, a mass far greater than yours. It is incongruous. A mess of words. It of the Sun and of the Moon, but does not resemble either. As your word links it to the black and starless sky, the power of the new moon takes precedence. You think you sense a moment of panic within it as a shiver runs through its core, and its flame is extinguished within the space of a millisecond. It jerks out from underneath your feet, flying at a right angle to your intended heading. Thrown off-balance, you fall.

[A Fortuitous Landing: 1]

The freezing, unquiet waters of the mountain river beneath take your breath away as you plunge into them. You lose sight of the burning forest as you sink to the bottom, trying to flail yourself into buoyancy while inhaling copious amounts of spring-fresh water.

[Sink or Swim: 6]

The bottom is fortunately not as far as it could be. Raising your arms to increase your downward momentum, you bounce off the river bed and propel yourself toward the edge, smacking yourself into a rather large rock, then rolling out into fordable waters over the rough underwater terrain, finally crawling out to the shore, feeling somewhat on the wet and miserable side. Coughing out some of the water you accumulated in your lungs in the process of trying not to drown, you take a look around. The light on the other side of the river from the forest fire seems terribly dim. You appear to still be on the castle island.

You notice a small shifting of the wind as something massive flies past you at considerable speed. The moonstone. Now returned to its proper form, and considerably larger for it. You call out to it, but it does not seem able to answer.

There is one more flash in the sky, bright and powerful, and even when it is stopped by the sky you feel the surroundings heat up a little. The skies quiet down a little, and you see little more.

Quote from: Toaster on February 01, 2016, 09:44:32 am
This must be that thing where people who lose their sight find themselves able to compensate with other senses.  Or something.

"Okay, uh, let's go by age next?  You five up there?  The youngest jump first, when we're ready. Sir Guard, could you take two steps over?  Yes, there.  Now raise your hand, youngest one up there?  Okay, when we're ready..."

Let's finish off this evac.  Then next is finding the fire marshal.

[An Organized Rescue: 4]

Being able to see works wonders on your rescuer abilities. As the children fall out of their alcoves one by one you catch them, depositing their blankly staring forms down on the chairs conveniently available in great numbers. They don't seem to feel like moving any further, which you suppose is all right by now. Between your efforts and those of the guard you guide, the children are all safely caught within two minutes. They stare at you collectively as you suggest finding the fire marshal, but say nothing. Or even particularly move. Once you start walking, though, they follow in an orderly row except for the kid you talked to before, who follows from behind, an intense look on his face. His nose appears to be bleeding, and he's doing nothing to stop it, seemingly lost in thought.

Now then, where might one find a fire marshal in this place? The keep, perhaps? It'd be a little strange, granted. And it's still bloody dark out here, the perfect clarity of your companions and, strangely enough, quite a few other people in the courtyard notwithstanding. There's a bit of a commotion out here. No fire that you can see, but people seem very worried nevertheless.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 01, 2016, 03:09:58 pm
"Well, that was interesting."

Jack notices his still extant burns.

"Oh right, those. I'm gonna rest for a bit, I think. Don't you kids leave me alone here or I'll break your legs, alright?"

Rest. Deep breaths. Believe away the pain.

You're not sure why lying down in a filthy basement strikes you as adequate treatment for second degree burns, but you're not about to second-guess something that gets you a short break from all the nonsense. There's a nice spot right there in one of the empty corners, too. Needs a bit of sweeping to remove some shards on the ground, but you manage just fine.

Feels good to lie back on the cold stone floor and let the world go on for a bit. Not too long, though. Can't just sleep the pitch-black night away. Or can you? You're not entirely sure. Is any of this supposed to be normal? So many questions.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Xantalos on February 02, 2016, 05:30:42 am
Lay back. Chillax. Contemplate life and my situation. What do I really want to do, since I'm evidently some sort of demonic abomination thing in the guise of a human, if all the things those various people and extradimensional entities have said are true?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 02, 2016, 07:00:19 am
Well... this wasn't a great decision. I try to swing myself towards the wall as I drop off.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Dermonster on February 02, 2016, 07:15:04 am
Restore rocks sentience later. Right now get on and fly away from this damn place.

And hell, maybe being waterlogged will help with the whole 'forest on fire' thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Toaster on February 02, 2016, 09:03:51 am
"Right, so, no one knows where I can find the fire marshall?  Or any of his representatives?  What do you folks do when there's a fire, maybe?  They'd know.  Also, where are the parents of these kids?"

Look for the fire department, at least.  And maybe some parents.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 02, 2016, 11:07:47 am
"Well, you are right. That I tried to do. I'm not really good with this conviencing others thing. Oh, and that thing behind the door? It eats relationships. Like this."

Let's try my own variation of that trick. Compose a memory payload about my entire experience within the well, sectioned nicely as to not overwhelm by accident. Send it to the girl.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 03, 2016, 11:59:21 am
Quote from: Xantalos on February 02, 2016, 05:30:42 am
Lay back. Chillax. Contemplate life and my situation. What do I really want to do, since I'm evidently some sort of demonic abomination thing in the guise of a human, if all the things those various people and extradimensional entities have said are true?

If knowing what you really wanted was a simple question, you bet a lot of people would have a much easier time making decisions. Though if worst comes to worst, you can at least default to being an RPG protagonist unlike most people from your place of origin. Certainly seems like that's what these people in rather obvious peril want you to do.

On the other hand, you guess you could just ask the well. You wonder if it would tell you. And whether you'd like the answer if it did.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 02, 2016, 07:00:19 am
Well... this wasn't a great decision. I try to swing myself towards the wall as I drop off.

[Parkour in the Dark: 5]

You decide to risk it and swing inward from the edge, letting go at the midpoint. There is a moment of doubt as your four limbs brush against the wall all at once, trying to find purchase. Scrambling desperately as you begin to pick up downward velocity you manage to grab onto a convenient hole with one hand, arresting your fall, then grab at the same spot with the other one.

Okay. This was a terrible idea, but it seems to have worked. You search around for a foothold with your dangling legs, and it takes uncomfortable long before you find one, and it is a bit too far to the right for your liking. Fortunately, you do find another handhold to balance this out, and begin to descend more carefully. The first bit is the most difficult one, since down below the holes grow increasingly numerous (due to relative simplicity of their thievery, no doubt). As you get into the swing of things, you manage to monkey your way down to the ground. It is a terribly relieving sensation, having solid ground to stand on. One never appreciates it until it is lost.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 02, 2016, 07:15:04 am
Restore rocks sentience later. Right now get on and fly away from this damn place.

And hell, maybe being waterlogged will help with the whole 'forest on fire' thing.

You try and call the rock to you, and it still does not respond, continuing in an unseen orbit at a considerable distance from you, seemingly picking up speed. You try to walk around to try and find its trajectory, but it appears to change it depending on your movement, keeping itself in an ever-quickening orbit. You step in one particular direction and are greeted by a surprised shriek cut incredibly short as you are bathed in errant droplets of completely ruined stoatman.

Well, you guess your moonstone still does one thing, sort of.

Quote from: Toaster on February 02, 2016, 09:03:51 am
"Right, so, no one knows where I can find the fire marshall?  Or any of his representatives?  What do you folks do when there's a fire, maybe?  They'd know.  Also, where are the parents of these kids?"

Look for the fire department, at least.  And maybe some parents.

[Safety Third, Safety Always: 6]

Well, the guard begins, usually the people around here spot the fire in progress. Maybe hear someone screaming that there's a fire. And then it's a scramble to put it out before it engulfs their homes too. It's worked in his experience, though they haven't had any really big fires or anything like that. The capital used to have a fire crew, he recalls. Several, in fact, each shadier than the last. He, er, guesses the captain of the royal guard's the closest to a fire marshal they have here in that case? Might want to find her.

As for parents, well! That's a bit of an interesting question. These kids are separated from their parents at an early age to be trained in minding, he explains. Secretive, magical training. Gives them powers beyond mortal ken or something of that nature. Most of them are probably not from the castle at all, or even the town. The country folk understandably tend to have more weird in the blood if you catch his meaning. Heck, some of them might be clanfolk progeny. Worm Clan's certainly friendly enough to the minders, and he's heard rumor that Stork acolytes tend to deal with them as well.

You're not sure what that means, so you ask if they've got any legal guardians instead. Oh, he says. Those'd be the minders. He assumes. He's not sure that what they do is strictly codified into any legal document. But no king's ever decried the practice, so he assumes it's probably all fine and good.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 02, 2016, 11:07:47 am
"Well, you are right. That I tried to do. I'm not really good with this conviencing others thing. Oh, and that thing behind the door? It eats relationships. Like this."

Let's try my own variation of that trick. Compose a memory payload about my entire experience within the well, sectioned nicely as to not overwhelm by accident. Send it to the girl.

[Minding On The Fly: 2]

You quickly bang together a little package of impressions from your time with the well, using the freshest, most vivid impressions and packing them up into a handy sequence of informative units. That done, you waste no time in beaming the result to the girl. She recoils a little as it hits, looking up at you as she goes through a range of displeased expressions. She takes a deep breath as it washes over her and subsides over the next ten seconds.

Ugh, she says as it fully clears. What was that? Seemed like white noise. Made her eardrums itch and set her teeth on edge, it did. Was that supposed to be a demonstration or an explanation, she asks. Although, you know, never mind. Don't try it again. At least not on her. In fact, just piss off already and find someone else to bother. She's already humored you for long enough, truth be told.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Xantalos on February 03, 2016, 12:01:54 pm
Jack yawns.

"Hey, can either of you two see what's happened up above? Not sure if we just sat through the apocalypse or not."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Toaster on February 03, 2016, 12:56:40 pm
"The Captain?  I believe I met her... I get the feeling she would simply rather not talk to her.  As such, as you are her duly appointed representative, I will file with you!  That tower clearly does not conform to any reasonable fire safety standards, with its lack of railings, lack of fire escapes, I didn't see any extinguishers, nor any exit signage... really, it's horrible from top to bottom.  And I didn't even see the top!  Completely uninsurable as is.

But, oh yes, the children.  Where are these adult minders, then?  The first I spoke with in the tower said one was returning.  Is that fellow around?"

Complain of lack of fire safety.  Another round of minder-hunt.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 03, 2016, 12:59:41 pm
"Sorry, sorry, it was supposed to be a memory of what happened in there." Leif says pointing the door behind him. "Guess I still need more practice..."

Apologise. Sit by the wall to rest my body while analyzing what went wrong with that data package. I need to get better on this minding stuff.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 03, 2016, 02:07:25 pm
Woo! I fully expected to hurt myself doing that. Now I duck into the chapel and try to find somewhere to rest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Dermonster on February 03, 2016, 03:56:46 pm
Well it will have to do. Use the moon rock as a sort of advance path clearer and go at a steady pace straight through the forest. Again, wrap wet piece of cloth around head/mouth to avoid ash and shit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 04, 2016, 04:15:44 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 03, 2016, 12:01:54 pm
Jack yawns.

"Hey, can either of you two see what's happened up above? Not sure if we just sat through the apocalypse or not."

The minder girl looks up at the darkness. She can't see a thing. And she's not about to fly out of shelter to check. If she had to guess, though, nothing seems to have exploded except maybe some weird sky business she can't really understand.

Mr. Erikson, on the other hand, does not deign to even reply, being absorbed in his own business far too much to devote any of his precious attention to the likes of you.

Actually, the minder girl interrupts your examination of him, you're probably the best equipped to find out if it's safe up there. After all, you do seem to have a pretty high tolerance for physical punishment if those burns you seem to be untroubled by are any indication. So maybe it's in the asking that you made your first mistake?

Quote from: Toaster on February 03, 2016, 12:56:40 pm
"The Captain?  I believe I met her... I get the feeling she would simply rather not talk to her.  As such, as you are her duly appointed representative, I will file with you!  That tower clearly does not conform to any reasonable fire safety standards, with its lack of railings, lack of fire escapes, I didn't see any extinguishers, nor any exit signage... really, it's horrible from top to bottom.  And I didn't even see the top!  Completely uninsurable as is.

But, oh yes, the children.  Where are these adult minders, then?  The first I spoke with in the tower said one was returning.  Is that fellow around?"

Complain of lack of fire safety.  Another round of minder-hunt.

You walk about the courtyard, trying to stay away from anything falling or dangerous as you continue to speak with the guard. He agrees with your idea that the minder tower is not, in fact, compliant with any sort of fire safety standard. But then he was under the impression that minders don't tend to worry about fires much. He always assumed they could put them out with their mind or some such. Come to think of it, he's pretty sure everyone's always assumed that. Even the minders themselves. He's certainly never seen a minder put out a fire with their mind in person. So you've definitely got a case in the actuarial sense, he thinks.

What's also a good question is where the actual minders are. These kids, the guard is fairly sure, are mere students. They can't even fly. What kind of minder is it that can't fly? Or glide, at least. That's kind of the whole point of the second floor being only reachable by flight. All in all, very good points you're raising, but he-

Wait! You notice the boy you spoke to tugging at your arm, blood still streaming from his nose. One of the children following you stops, and you see her start to break down crying. The boy, though, calls your attention intently. The head girl. She... went somewhere. To look at secrets. Yes. The secrets of the well. He thinks that was it, he nods with eyes glazing over. Another child starts to look very frightened and confused, and one more crouches down, casting a suspicious eye about. And then another seems just about ready to bolt in a random direction all of a sudden. The boy speaking to you begins to increasingly shiver. He's... not looking so good, truth be told. The shapes of the children, the guard following you and the occasional worried wandering peasant darken noticeably, becoming less discernible as the seconds go by.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 03, 2016, 12:59:41 pm
"Sorry, sorry, it was supposed to be a memory of what happened in there." Leif says pointing the door behind him. "Guess I still need more practice..."

Apologise. Sit by the wall to rest my body while analyzing what went wrong with that data package. I need to get better on this minding stuff.

[Considerations of Minding: 2]

Bugger if you know what happened there. It seemed all right. Form up some thoughts, organize them into a string, send them to the girl. It's nothing complicated at all. Maybe she's just being unnecessarily disagreeable. After all, you don't know that she didn't see everything you wanted her to. Maybe she's trying to swindle you so she doesn't have to help you. Walk away with the information and without any strings attached. That'd be mighty cheeky of her, you would think.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 03, 2016, 02:07:25 pm
Woo! I fully expected to hurt myself doing that. Now I duck into the chapel and try to find somewhere to rest.

Rather than waste any time trying to find the door you just climb in through one of the many holes, finding yourself in an only slightly less draftier excuse for shelter.

[Places of Rest: 2]

You can't say you like the feel of this place overall, though. As mentioned, the draftiness is nigh-unbearable. The floor is uncomfortable to sleep on. There may be small fragments of glass around closer to the center of the room. And there's this guy who just won't stop moaning. And also praying in moments of increased coherency. You politely ask him to stop, but you think he's only half-conscious at this point. He sounds kind of familiar, but you're having a little trouble placing the voice. Have you met, you ask. He chants a verse from some holy book or another.

[Clues for the Sightless: 4]

Wait. Did he mention the sun? And the moon? Isn't that the guy who was following Mr. Codeburn around? He seems to be doing a bit poorly for someone who seems to have been right on the money with this paranormal business.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 03, 2016, 03:56:46 pm
Well it will have to do. Use the moon rock as a sort of advance path clearer and go at a steady pace straight through the forest. Again, wrap wet piece of cloth around head/mouth to avoid ash and shit.


Unfortunately you seem to be on the wrong side of the river to just get right to the forest. But you're wasting good firelight just standing here moping about it, so into the river you must dive. Time to make a wild swim for it! A damn sight better than having to fight 400 stoats by hand.

[Unleash the Dolphin: 2]

You check the river with your foot again. You know, just so you're not surprised. It is still really cold, and running very rapidly. And, as your bruised kidneys can attest to, very much full of nasty rocks of varying size and sharpness. Diving into it, now that you think about it, does strike you as a very good way to get killed horribly. Heck, trying to navigate it with a boat in this darkness would probably be a good way to get killed horribly. And the other side looks like it's really far away.

In short, you have your reservations about this plan. Though admittedly if you did hazard it and missed your exit on the other side, you'd presumably wash up in Anglefork town if you didn't drown first. That may be slightly iffier an if than you're willing to freely hazard, however.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Toaster on February 04, 2016, 04:21:27 pm
Huh.  Guess this heightened sense thing doesn't last.  Or maybe it comes and goes, staying more the more you're without the sense.

"Now we're getting somewhere.  Which way is this well?"

Seek the well.  Call into the well looking for head minder girl, and answers of where we are and how to get to Albany.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Xantalos on February 04, 2016, 04:34:13 pm
"Don't be trying to exploit me or I'll crush your skull. Not that I'm trying to be antagonistic, it's just really easy to make threats when you can do things like that. It's an empowering feeling.

That said, I'm getting a wee bit bored here and I need to see if that blacksmith's still alive. One second."

Go climb up the chain and observe what kind of apocalyptic scenario the sun guy inflicted upon us.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Dermonster on February 04, 2016, 04:34:47 pm
"Moon rock, could really use your help about now...?"

if that doesn't work, head upstream. Maybe there's a bridge?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 04, 2016, 04:46:36 pm
Oh wow, I thought this guy was dead. I'm not sure if I can help him, though. I walk up to him and try to examine him as well as I can.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 05, 2016, 03:16:47 am
Fall over and rest. This arterial bleeding is bothering me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 05, 2016, 05:09:24 am
Quote from: Toaster on February 04, 2016, 04:21:27 pm
Huh.  Guess this heightened sense thing doesn't last.  Or maybe it comes and goes, staying more the more you're without the sense.

"Now we're getting somewhere.  Which way is this well?"

Seek the well.  Call into the well looking for head minder girl, and answers of where we are and how to get to Albany.

You start looking for-

[The Well: 5]

-oh, would you look at that! There happens to be a deep, dark hole in the ground unnervingly close to your position. Yet another flagrantly unsafe piece of architecture threatening the safety of the citizenry. Somebody could fall in. Judging by the voices coming from it, you're fairly certain somebody probably has. You lean over the edge, and find to your surprise that the bottom of the well is the best-lit place you've seen in a while. Leaning further down you call for any minders present to show themselves.

You are somewhat surprised when from the well emerges Mr. Daniels. You're fairly sure he's not who you're looking for. And he seems a little preoccupied with trying to win a staring contest with the stygian unknown. Nevertheless, you are about to ask him if he has seen any minders around here when you notice a girl no more than twelve years old down at the bottom of the well, looking up at you.

What do you want? And why are the students with you? She pauses. And why is one of them missing? Her stare becomes considerably more intent.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 04, 2016, 04:34:13 pm
"Don't be trying to exploit me or I'll crush your skull. Not that I'm trying to be antagonistic, it's just really easy to make threats when you can do things like that. It's an empowering feeling.

That said, I'm getting a wee bit bored here and I need to see if that blacksmith's still alive. One second."

Go climb up the chain and observe what kind of apocalyptic scenario the sun guy inflicted upon us.

You climb up the chain without even a hint of trouble. Much to your chagrin, however, the apocalypse visited upon Anglefork Castle isn't exactly a pretty one. It's dark, it's kind of cold. That's about all you can tell about it in these lighting conditions. Oh, and Mr. Minstep seems to be walking around with some children and also an armed guard. Which of these is more unusual you cannot rightly say.

You suppose if there was ever an appropriate time to stumble blindly into adventure, the pitch-black night certainly seems to offer plenty of opportunity.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 04, 2016, 04:34:47 pm
"Moon rock, could really use your help about now...?"

if that doesn't work, head upstream. Maybe there's a bridge?

Maybe you can reawaken the loyalty of your moon rock. Maybe you can still fly away. The dream!

MOON

[Word: 2]

Your moonstone appears to disagree. It knows only to orbit ever faster. You're not sure it even knows you're there save as the axis around which it must move in a slowly heightening orbit. It has an intimidating lack of comprehensibility to it now. You elect to ignore it for now and try to find a bridge.

[The Dark Fields: 6]

Fortunately, the half-finished bridge is easy to find. Unfortunately the reason for this is because it is on fire, having been set ablaze by the same blind-fired sunbeam that got much of the surrounding forest. The last bits of wooden scaffolding are starting to fall apart by the edges, a few frankly miserable stoatmen trying to put out as much of the shoreside structure as they can with buckets of river water. They seem to have gotten as far as pouring enough water on the stone foundation that it seems to not be terribly liquid anymore. You suspect this is a vast improvement over their previous situation.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 04, 2016, 04:46:36 pm
Oh wow, I thought this guy was dead. I'm not sure if I can help him, though. I walk up to him and try to examine him as well as I can.

[Blind Medicine: 3]

Yeah, you'd say he seems pretty badly burned, judging from his reaction to being poked with your foot. You know what they say about playing with fire. Though it's kind of impressive he made it in here.

You guess if you had some ointment handy you could do something about him. Failing that, magic. You do have a new word kind of itching there in the back of your skull. That could probably come in handy. Or is that just what it wants you to think? You're not sure.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 05, 2016, 03:16:47 am
Fall over and rest. This arterial bleeding is bothering me.

Sleeping on the problem is always an option, given that nothing is exploding yet. So you spread out your arms and fall on your face freely. The fall dislodges the shard of glass in your neck. The soothing rhythm of arterial blood loss helps you relax as you let the troubles of the world bother you no longer.

Some two minutes later (no longer - you are a busy man, of course, and wasting time is not in your interest), you dare say you feel much better. Your neck's scabbed over. You've got less blood weighing you down. Your body's much more relaxed. And you're sure all of the previous makes perfect sense. Time to get back to work!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Xantalos on February 05, 2016, 05:12:12 am
"Why hello there, other guy. What's going on? Why the no sun? Someone set off a magical nuke and now dust is clouding out the sun or something?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 05, 2016, 06:50:47 am
Hm, I don't know if I can reconcile this word with healing. Maybe... I lay my hands on the priest and picture the disarray that his body is in, even his cells thrown into disorder by the heat. "End this CHAOS."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Dermonster on February 05, 2016, 07:58:31 am
Welp. Time to go completely bonkers.

Position myself straight on at the bridge. Sprint towards it, and MOONjump over the river. Make sure I do it in a fashon where I can continue sprinting if I fail the word or land on the bridge if the word fails mid river.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Toaster on February 05, 2016, 09:57:21 am
Thomas barely registers Mr. Daniels.  "An eclipse, I guess."  His full attention is gathered by the girl in the well.

"Your tower is a dangerous operation!  No handrails, fire extinguishers, stairs, adult supervision... it's a wonder this whole operation hasn't gotten shut down!  Totally uninsurable.  They're with me because when the tower started to collapse, we had to evacuate them.  And... one of them was injured, I think.  Stayed behind in the tower.  You know, we had to catch them as they jumped; it's a miracle no one else was hurt!"

Sighing, he shook his head.

"That all said, I am told you are some sort of keeper of knowledge.  Do you know how to get to Albany from here?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Xantalos on February 05, 2016, 10:26:30 am
"Wait, you mean like Albany New York?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 05, 2016, 10:50:01 am
Time to game the system. Leif walks back into the darkness.

"Hello darkness, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again. Time for business. I offer one connection.
My question is this: What are the questions I need to ask to gain superiour knowledge of minding?
My desire is this: To know answers for those questions.

Alternatively, if you don't fully permit that, I want to know what you are and I desire realization of my potential to alter reality. You know, the thing that is more advanced than minding.

Oh, by the way, how many connections I have left to trade? I'm guessing seven. Am I right?"

((Just thought about it but is this game perhaps related to that song? I see many connections with the lyrics.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 06, 2016, 07:07:35 am
Quote from: Xantalos on February 05, 2016, 05:12:12 am
"Why hello there, other guy. What's going on? Why the no sun? Someone set off a magical nuke and now dust is clouding out the sun or something?"

Mr. Minstep appears to be of little help in these matters as well as somewhat preoccupied as he talks at the minder girl, who merely stares and gestures at him intently. Somehow you suspect he knows even less than you do. An overachiever in ignorance, it seems.

Whether he really is on about Albany, New York is a good question, however. It'd be something of a coincidence if there was an Albany here, too. But then, isn't there at least one Albany in every U.S. state? Some of them actually named after Albanies in other states. Township incorporation is a grim and incestuous business, possibly sufficiently so to cross even time, space and manifold astronomical improbability.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 05, 2016, 06:50:47 am
Hm, I don't know if I can reconcile this word with healing. Maybe... I lay my hands on the priest and picture the disarray that his body is in, even his cells thrown into disorder by the heat. "End this CHAOS."

Worst comes to worst, scratch one priest. And the anticipatory itch in the back of your skull is growing unbearable.

CHAOS

[Word: 3]

The priest's low prayers stop as a screech builds up in his throat, his limbs flailing, his back arching as he undergoes a full-body tetanic contraction. It sounds extraordinarily painful. Good thing it only lasts for a second. You're fairly certain the poor man couldn't handle much longer than that. As the injured man relaxes over the next minute, you notice he's stopped making any noises. Worried, you poke him with your foot again. He asks who's there, and also what devilry is this.

Well. You don't think he got better, strictly speaking. But he's definitely conscious now. And less noisy. Might just be because he seems quite intimidated by your combination of unknown magic and the all-consuming darkness around him.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 05, 2016, 07:58:31 am
Welp. Time to go completely bonkers.

Position myself straight on at the bridge. Sprint towards it, and MOONjump over the river. Make sure I do it in a fashon where I can continue sprinting if I fail the word or land on the bridge if the word fails mid river.

The stoats will never expect this, you bet. You take off at a sprint toward the bridge and prepare for the longest jump of your life. As you get closer to the edge and are about to leap you start to form the word.

MOON

[Word: 3]

You jump! And you fly! And... you think you're not going to make it. The angle's a bit wrong. The word didn't feel right. But you're mid-air now. And you did have the presence of mind to steer yourself on a course that wouldn't take you straight into deep waters. Instead you aimed yourself at one of the half-built, quarter-destroyed supports jutting out of it. It was a simple matter, since the wooden tips of them are still on fire.

[Safe Landings: 1]

Come to think of it, maybe aiming yourself at something on fire wasn't a great idea. This impression is confirmed when the word runs out and you impact the remains of the support beam sharply, a selection of smoldering splinters of several sizes and extractions embedding themselves into your delicate flesh as wood disintegrates against heat-warped, but nevertheless unyielding stone block beneath.

On the other hand, you didn't fall into the river! So that's kind of a victory. You groan and roll on your back, soaking your feet in the river for a moment as you get your bearings. You become aware of the firefighting stoats on the side of the river you came from. They seem to have interrupted their efforts, being a lot more interested now in who the hell you're supposed to be. An armored stoat indecisively trains its crossbow on you. It's probably supposed to shoot you, it thinks. So better to be safe than sorry.

Quote from: Toaster on February 05, 2016, 09:57:21 am
Thomas barely registers Mr. Daniels.  "An eclipse, I guess."  His full attention is gathered by the girl in the well.

"Your tower is a dangerous operation!  No handrails, fire extinguishers, stairs, adult supervision... it's a wonder this whole operation hasn't gotten shut down!  Totally uninsurable.  They're with me because when the tower started to collapse, we had to evacuate them.  And... one of them was injured, I think.  Stayed behind in the tower.  You know, we had to catch them as they jumped; it's a miracle no one else was hurt!"

Sighing, he shook his head.

"That all said, I am told you are some sort of keeper of knowledge.  Do you know how to get to Albany from here?"

The tower started to collapse? Oh crap. She's been in charge of it for less than a day. She rushes up to your level, her shape becoming clearer as she floats up urgently, stepping out by the side of the well. Okay. You have her full attention. You... hm.

She looks at the tower. It seems unusually visible suddenly. It doesn't look like it's collapsing, truth be told. Though the roof is missing, this she will admit. Phew. It's not as bad as it seems, she assures you. She can fix this. She seems to repeat this to the children, who look at her attentively, a slightly glazed look settling over them again.

Okay. So, er, does she know how to get to Albany? You haven't found much in the way of helpful information, and she has been implied to be knowledgeable in such matters. This gives the girl some pause.

[Alien Geographies: 6]

Albany, she says. Albany, you confirm. Albany, capital of New York of the United States of America, on the continent of North America, on planet Earth. Third planet from the sun, in the solar system. You don't really mean to snark, honestly, but the feckless look on her face is just asking for it.

... how many planets are there, she asks after a moment's thought? You answer eight. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. You went to school, thank you very much.

That does sound very familiar, she says. The planets, she means. You start to sigh in frustration, but an image interrupts you. In the girl's hands is a sphere of light. The sun. She points to a point of light in the far distance. Earth. Third planet from the sun. It draws closer, a miniature representation of a shape you know rather well - a stylized globe orbited by the moon. Both lack details, the outlines of the continents a bit lazily done, if entirely recognizable.

This is where you're from, she says, seeking confirmation. You and the others, including Mr. Daniels over here?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 05, 2016, 10:50:01 am
Time to game the system. Leif walks back into the darkness.

"Hello darkness, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again. Time for business. I offer one connection.
My question is this: What are the questions I need to ask to gain superiour knowledge of minding?
My desire is this: To know answers for those questions.

Alternatively, if you don't fully permit that, I want to know what you are and I desire realization of my potential to alter reality. You know, the thing that is more advanced than minding.

Oh, by the way, how many connections I have left to trade? I'm guessing seven. Am I right?"

((Just thought about it but is this game perhaps related to that song? I see many connections with the lyrics.))

A low drone of anticipation welcomes you. While the well may hunger eternally, it is always more efficient to deal with someone familiar with protocol.

Your fulfillment: you are already compatible with more fundamental avenues of reality alteration (see magic, words, universality of language). Realization of your potential is most easily performed by giving you words to operate with. Choose one of three: INEVITABLE, PAROXYSM, DISCONNECT.

Your answer: formless, irrespective of space (see magic, extraspatial interactions, superuniversal cohabitations). Timeless, unknowable in terms of causality (see creator, creation, original truth). Foreign, entirely unbound by the four dimensions your template knows (see perception, frame of reference, four-vector). Curious, fascinated by the unknown (see connections, exchange, eternal hunger). Kin, closer to you than you are to those you superficially resemble (see template, interpreter, substrate).

Your price: a connection now belongs to the well. Two remain.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 06, 2016, 08:18:18 am
"Hey, don't worry, I'm here to help. My name's Eileen. You're a priest, right? The whole castle has been veiled in pure darkness. Would you know anything about that?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 06, 2016, 08:40:58 am
"Huh, so I'm not exactly what I thought I am? Interesting. Hmm, let me think a moment on those words..." Leif sits down to ponder this.


"I think INEVITABLE is more along what I want. More constructive than others."

Take Word, bid farewells, get out and up aboveground where most interesting people are. Observe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Toaster on February 06, 2016, 11:36:12 am
Thomas sighs again.  This act of everyone else was grating on him.  "Yes, of course I am from there.  And Mr. Daniels.  And you and everyone else, but everyone but me seems willing to pretend otherwise.  At least you're good at staying in character.  I would just like to get home!"

Confirm for her.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Dermonster on February 06, 2016, 12:23:30 pm
Hey guess who just got a face full or dust and/or darkness? YOU! MOON!

Alternatively, move to the orbiting rock smushed him.

Then run like fuck.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Xantalos on February 06, 2016, 01:20:15 pm
"We don't have stoatmen at home, now do we? But yes, we're from that place. You could make the continents a bit better done, but yeah."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 07, 2016, 04:00:00 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 06, 2016, 08:18:18 am
"Hey, don't worry, I'm here to help. My name's Eileen. You're a priest, right? The whole castle has been veiled in pure darkness. Would you know anything about that?"

[Ad Hoc Mysticism: 6]

Pure darkness? Oh no. Oh dear. Child, do you not know the signs? It is the doom of the sun you observe, when the sky lies empty and all light must die. The emergence of the Child of the Sun and Moon... why, it was indeed a portent. But not for what he hoped it would be.

Oh, child, it is a terrible thing you have revealed to him. The apocalypse is upon you all. The dark and the cold will consume all, and everyone and everything will die far away from the guarding light of their celestial progenitors. It will be a slow and horrible death. Not for everyone, of course. Some will persist for very long indeed. But these are the people who will come to envy the dead, he assures you. It is a thing that has been sung about for ages. And now it's here.

You can't say that's very heartening news, and the priest agrees. He does however have a suggestion. You skeptically ask him what that might be, and he says it's prayer. You raise an eyebrow, and somehow you think he notices despite the complete darkness. No, no, not the sort you usually do. Mass prayer. Skyward exhortations. Promises of debts that will persist for generations. These are the things that may call the Sun. Or the Moon. Really, either would be a massive improvement at this point.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 06, 2016, 08:40:58 am
"Huh, so I'm not exactly what I thought I am? Interesting. Hmm, let me think a moment on those words..." Leif sits down to ponder this.


"I think INEVITABLE is more along what I want. More constructive than others."

Take Word, bid farewells, get out and up aboveground where most interesting people are. Observe.

The word slinks its way down your spine, filling you with a deathly stillness as it settles in your bones. What a strange feeling. The well does not remark upon anything, so you assume this is normal and step out of the door.

Thank you. Please come again.

Noticing that nobody appears to be around anymore, you climb up the chain. You don't really see anything up here as you emerge. Like, anything at all. But you do hear Mr. Daniels say something. And Mr. Minstep also seems to be volunteering some choice words. Seems like they're coming to some sort of arrangement with the minder girl. You listen in carefully... hm.

[Tricks of the Mind: 3]

You think you see something at work here. The girl's mind looks quite odd. A little shapeless. Malleable. Flexible. And covered in tendrils. One touches you, and you reflexively form an equal and opposite mind tendril to slap it away. You feel her recoil a little at the rebuke.

Quote from: Toaster on February 06, 2016, 11:36:12 am
Thomas sighs again.  This act of everyone else was grating on him.  "Yes, of course I am from there.  And Mr. Daniels.  And you and everyone else, but everyone but me seems willing to pretend otherwise.  At least you're good at staying in character.  I would just like to get home!"

Confirm for her.

[Minder's Counsel: 2]

Huh. So that's what that image was, she guesses. Not that this is very helpful. But it does seem to make a little more sense now. You ask her what 'it' is in this case, and she thinks for a second.

You know, she thinks that's a good point you raise. It doesn't really make more sense than it did before. After all, you're obviously an alien anyway. And she already knew the hidden brought you in here to begin with. You wouldn't happen to know anything actually useful, would you?

Quote from: Dermonster on February 06, 2016, 12:23:30 pm
Hey guess who just got a face full or dust and/or darkness? YOU! MOON!

Alternatively, move to the orbiting rock smushed him.

Then run like fuck.


You don't relish the thought of being shot at while standing atop a stony platform in the middle of a highly unpleasant river. So you try to give your stoatman oppressors some pause.

MOON

[Word: 6]

The flames illuminating the stoats observing you flicker from natural orange to unearthly silver, startling the bridge crew quite thoroughly. They stand there a moment, regarding this sudden lapse of reasonable physics. A minder trick? A twist of fate? A trick of the light?

None of the above, you respond as a tidal wave of dust sweeps over them from behind, breaking the last remnants of the shoreside bridge scaffolds, the razor-sharp particles lacerating them, tearing the flesh from their bones as their bodies plummet into the water. As the sudden storm front blasts toward you, you get the feeling some form of protection may be in order.

[Extraordinary Dodge: 4]

You slip off the support and into the surrounding water, grabbing hold of the stone as you submerge and holding your breath for about a minute before you feel safe in emerging once more. The water is still as unpleasant as ever, you notice, but at least this doesn't catch you by surprise this time.

Standing up on your little stone island in the middle of the river, you consider the surrounding area. Namely, that you can only barely see a little bit of light far off to one side, the one where you recall the other side of the river being, and the rest is mostly pitch black and deathly quiet. You're guessing the dust wave must not have been very conducive to the forest fire, which you would describe as an unusually fortuitous turn of events. On the other hand, you are standing mostly blind on an uncomfortably small stone platform in the middle of a raging highlands river, so perhaps your escape will not be so easy after all. At least you're not being shot at anymore.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 06, 2016, 01:20:15 pm
"We don't have stoatmen at home, now do we? But yes, we're from that place. You could make the continents a bit better done, but yeah."

The minder girl looks at you, surprised. You saw that, she says incredulously. Yes, you say. She was just showing it off, wasn't she? She thinks on this for a second, then gives up on figuring it out. If only you provided half as many answers as you raised questions, she mutters.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Xantalos on February 07, 2016, 04:07:29 pm
"Endless questions indeed, and answers in such short supply. Anyhow, I'm off to find the blacksmith, who hopefully hasn't died in whatever happened up here. Wish me luck!"

Attempt to use my memory of how things are laid out and possibly whatever I can see to get to the blacksmith's place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 07, 2016, 05:09:35 pm
On one hand, it doesn't sound like that would help at all. On the other hand, this guy did have something to do with the magic that caused this in the first place. And his church has some sort of strange chaos nexus on it, so... it's got to be worth a shot.

"I'll see what I can do." I run out of the church and start shouting to anyone in the courtyard. "People of Angleford! I bring news of light in this darkness! The child of the sun and moon has forsaken us, and he has taken his parents with him. But we do not need him! The sun and moon shine for us, not him. If we remind them of this then they will shine upon us once more. So call to the sky! Show your love and dedication and they will repay you!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Dermonster on February 07, 2016, 06:09:44 pm
Not my fault, you bastards! The sun is a little yandere twat!

I tried like five times to call it off!

Can the MOON create like... a dust barrier to divert the water from one half of the river? Or another floating platform. That could work too.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Toaster on February 07, 2016, 11:07:37 pm
"Alien?  Hidden... ugh, no.  And I resent that; I know much of actuarial tables and insurance policy.  For example, that tower of yours, do you know why it can't be insured?  To start with..."

Explain why the minder tower is uninsurable.  Give detailed examples.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Dermonster on February 07, 2016, 11:17:14 pm
I'm honestly tempted to go back to the town for the sole purpose of killing Toaster.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 08, 2016, 02:57:29 am
"Oops, sorry about that reflexive slap. But this darkness is a bit annoying. Instant return of normal night lighting conditions is INEVITABLE."

Wording, mind you.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 08, 2016, 01:18:23 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 07, 2016, 04:07:29 pm
"Endless questions indeed, and answers in such short supply. Anyhow, I'm off to find the blacksmith, who hopefully hasn't died in whatever happened up here. Wish me luck!"

Attempt to use my memory of how things are laid out and possibly whatever I can see to get to the blacksmith's place.

[Seeking the Path: 1]

Of course you remember the way clearly. Take a sharp left, then steady on for a bit, left until you reach the wall, just like that, then a little bit more until you find the corner. Now, what's really important now is that you don't go into the conveniently open doorway, since you don't recall there being one the last time you came this way. Instead look around for a house, walking in circles for a minute or two. You will find a window. Knock on that, maybe somebody will open. And when nobody does, wander around in search of a door. Knock on that. When there's still nobody home, remove door from frame with preternatural strength and move along inside. There you go. You think you've found the right place.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 07, 2016, 05:09:35 pm
On one hand, it doesn't sound like that would help at all. On the other hand, this guy did have something to do with the magic that caused this in the first place. And his church has some sort of strange chaos nexus on it, so... it's got to be worth a shot.

"I'll see what I can do." I run out of the church and start shouting to anyone in the courtyard. "People of Angleford! I bring news of light in this darkness! The child of the sun and moon has forsaken us, and he has taken his parents with him. But we do not need him! The sun and moon shine for us, not him. If we remind them of this then they will shine upon us once more. So call to the sky! Show your love and dedication and they will repay you!"

You wander out and try an inspirational speech. Maybe whoever you can rustle up in here will be sufficient.

[Apocalyptic Appeal: 5]

You circle the courtyard once, keeping one hand on the castle wall, and repeat your appeal a full three times for all to hear on the way.

INEVITABLE

Roused by your words, the unsettling mood set by the other word grips the minds of the wandering and the confused, and they begin to fall into line behind you. You seem to know what you're doing, unlike them. And while the matter is gravely serious, you offer hope in the same breath as you do the apocalypse. You do not see your flock as you come back in front of the chapel, but the noise they make as they move is considerable.

The priest, meanwhile, seems to have crawled out of the chapel. And as he hears your speech, you imagine he is proud. You also imagine he is less than pleased when you nearly step on him while you're coming back. People of Anglefork, he calls in echo of your own speech, it is good to have all of you here. Is everyone here?

The crowd shuffles a little. You suspect they don't know who's here, really. Just a lot of people. Has the queen come as well, the priest asks more specifically. There is no response. The queen will need to be here, the priest relates to you a little more quietly. All people great and small must join together in prayer and song, and only then will the Sun hear the people in their entirety, and know the will of humanity to be in favorable accord, he says with the utmost enjoyment. The crowd, too, seems to agree, which sets the priest off even more.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 07, 2016, 06:09:44 pm
Not my fault, you bastards! The sun is a little yandere twat!

I tried like five times to call it off!

Can the MOON create like... a dust barrier to divert the water from one half of the river? Or another floating platform. That could work too.

You have a friend in the moon, and by god you're going to put it to use.

MOON

[Word: 1]

The proximity of the moon invites many things. But when pointed at water, one thing seems most sensible of all. It pulls. Perhaps the water ebbs nearby. Here, though, at the center of its activity, the tide rises. It flows over your ankles. You consider your options.

[Unleash the Dolphin: 1]

You really don't like this current. It covers your hips. You guess you could swim to the other shore. The water blasts over your shoulders. You lose your footing. You tumble along the river, trying to somehow propel yourself in a direction. Your limbs, however, can't seem to agree on which specific direction it should be. So you tumble to the bottom of the rough riverbed, and then tumble further still along the depths like a startled bottom-feeder.

[The Inviting Depths: 3]

The similarity ends, however, when you are rudely reminded that you cannot, in fact, breathe water. And you do try. You weakly flop to the surface, the stream madly driving you forward as you suck air and try to cough out the copious amounts of water from your lungs. The cold gets into your bones. You don't think you can take much more of this, you think as you try your best to keep afloat. It sorta kinda barely works. You're not really drowning anymore, but you are perhaps not entirely conscious, if the sense of discontinuity between the moments you blink is any indication.

Quote from: Toaster on February 07, 2016, 11:07:37 pm
"Alien?  Hidden... ugh, no.  And I resent that; I know much of actuarial tables and insurance policy.  For example, that tower of yours, do you know why it can't be insured?  To start with..."

Explain why the minder tower is uninsurable.  Give detailed examples.

[Actuarial Concerns: 6]

That tower over there, you maintain, is quite possibly the unsafest structure you have had the nigh-uninsurable risk of stepping into. There's no way to get down, for pete's sake. The fire marshal could get her for this, you know. What if a fire breaks out? Is she going to wave her hands and special effects will take care of the flames? You suspect if the pattern holds true, what you've seen already merely scratches the surface. The rest of it's not any safer, you bet.

... now that you mention it, the girl says, that's kind of a good point. She doesn't actually know how to extinguish flames with her mind. Or make any, for that matter. Flight's about as far as she got, and even that's not enough to, say, get into the private sanctums of her superiors. Some of the deeper corners she can get into get a little puzzling too, truth be told. She can't tell you how many times she's gotten lost in the fourth floor corridors. They don't even make sense half the time.

Insufficient signage and confusing layouts, yes. It's also a very old building, you suppose? When was the last time it was restored? Has it been earthquake-proofed? Have people checked the foundations? It's looking a little crooked. The girl looks at the tower. Shit, she thinks you might be right on that. Uh. And those are good questions.

Your point, you intercede, is that insurance helps those who help themselves. Can't very well bet on the safety of someone who's hell-bent on getting themselves killed by squatting in deathtraps, can you? It's reasonable risks that you can reasonably protect people against. And that tower is distinctly unreasonable in every possible way. It'd need to be reconstructed heavily to even consider the possibility of insuring it properly in line with property regulations.

Or, she mentions, she could just get a regular house to conduct her important business in. Yes, you say. That would also be an expedient alternative. Like one of these handsome courtyard houses, you sweep your hand about at the darkness. Those you'd have no qualms about insuring. At least you can be certain that the bloody doors work and that, failing that, you can safely dive out the first floor windows in case of a fire. She looks around, and you see the silhouettes of the courtyard dwellings emerge from the dark.

Your point, she admits, is well taken. She probably ought to take these students somewhere a little less dangerous for their continued well-being. Like one of the houses. She's sure the residents won't mind. The guard chips in, mentioning that it would be pretty convenient to be able to see the minders whenever they are needed as well, something the old tower wasn't very good at providing in his experience.

Anyway, the girl says, would you care to come along? You seem to have an eye for these things. Well, you say, it is sort of your job. Though whether you're the kind to provide a pro bono consultation is another question.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 08, 2016, 02:57:29 am
"Oops, sorry about that reflexive slap. But this darkness is a bit annoying. Instant return of normal night lighting conditions is INEVITABLE."

Wording, mind you.

Perhaps a single word can fix this. There is only one way to find out.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 4]

What is truly inevitable? Not light. All things end in darkness, of this one must be well aware. The sun will eventually go out and the moon will break free of its orbit. You look at the dark of the sky, and find it much akin to the moon. While its disappearance is inevitable, true... your disappearance is much a sooner inevitability, is it not? You become keenly aware of the impermanency of all things around you. The dark can outlast you. And if you give it the opportunity, it most certainly will. You feel the night grow colder and deeper as you assert the inescapable nature of it.

But then there are also other inevitable things you can kindle here. The hope of humanity trying to deny its lack of a future right up to the bitter end. Two inevitabilities in collision. You hear a rising commotion from beyond the walls, and a lowering commotion within as Ms. Minett's rousing speech gathers more and more interested parties.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Dermonster on February 08, 2016, 01:25:13 pm
Why is this so god damn difficult? WHY?

I try to save the town, I call an apocalyptic sun meteor on my head. I try to halt it SO MANY TIMES, and it doesn't work. Then I try to escape, and I keep getting terrible outcomes!

I don't want to stop playing yet, I don't want to die! But these dice seem compelled to turn against me!

MOON, LOW TIDE, please! Let's find the nearest dry land.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Xantalos on February 08, 2016, 01:34:04 pm
"Hmm. Seems about right. Hey blacksmith! You here at all? Or am I in the wrong place? I'm fairly sure I'm not though. Sorry about the door by the by."

yo quest-giver npc, you still alive bro?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 08, 2016, 01:41:52 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on February 08, 2016, 01:25:13 pm
Why is this so god damn difficult? WHY?

I try to save the town, I call an apocalyptic sun meteor on my head. I try to halt it SO MANY TIMES, and it doesn't work. Then I try to escape, and I keep getting terrible outcomes!

I don't want to stop playing yet, I don't want to die! But these dice seem compelled to turn against me!

You're telling me, I'm starting to run out of ideas on how to fuck you over with all these ones and sixes you keep rolling, often stacking atop the consequences of other ones and sixes.

Spoiler: GM Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 08, 2016, 02:47:57 pm
"INEVITABLE in my ass." Leif mutters angrily. Damn it, I feel so cheated. It sold me defective product!

I want my money back! Climb back down into the darkness and demand refund.

((OOC, hot tip of the day doesn't really help me, I was never good with grammar. Even less so with foreign languages such as english.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Toaster on February 08, 2016, 03:01:21 pm
((It's an adjective, but I see it defined as a noun as well.  Perhaps abuse creative use could be found there.))

While safety concerns are all well and good, this wasn't getting him home.  That said, Thomas figured he might as well play along; maybe he'd run into someone helpful.  No sense just going outside and walking off in this moonless night.

"I suppose I can help.  Normally I would be contracted for this sort of work, but I will come along this time.  I will remind you that I am still looking for directions on how to get home."


Help her find an altogether safer place to stay, with appropriate fire exits and other safety features.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 08, 2016, 03:39:59 pm
((It may depend on how you use it. For example, "You can't stop the INEVITABLE" might function as a noun while "Your death is INEVITABLE" could act as an adjective. If that's the case, then HUNGER probably works similarly with noun/verb status. That said, I'm not sure how I would help a non-English speaker navigate this.))

As I pass by where I think the priest is, I lean down to him. "Hey, keep the crowd busy while I'm gone." Then I shout to the people in the courtyard, "I can almost feel the warmth of the sun already! Keep this up! I will find the queen, and once she is here the sun and moon will not be able to forget us." I then try to head to the castle and find the queen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 09, 2016, 03:37:51 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on February 08, 2016, 01:25:13 pm
MOON, LOW TIDE, please! Let's find the nearest dry land.

It's worth a shot, isn't it? The effect was right, just in the wrong place.

MOON

[Word: 2]

The moon is a harsh mistress, however. High tide you got, and high tide you shall continue to have. Probably a little difficult to relocate the effect of the moon, now that you pause to consider the potential logistics of it.

[Aquatic Adventure: 2]

You're still in the middle of dark, deep waters, barely managing to keep afloat, let alone manage any sort of course. You're not even sure where along the river you might be. Is the confluence of two rivers close? Far? Did you already pass it? Are you in Anglefork Town? You have absolutely no clue. There's just darkness and rushing water all about.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 08, 2016, 01:34:04 pm
"Hmm. Seems about right. Hey blacksmith! You here at all? Or am I in the wrong place? I'm fairly sure I'm not though. Sorry about the door by the by."

yo quest-giver npc, you still alive bro?

[Polite Inquiry: 3]

Well, if he's in here, he definitely doesn't seem very keen on answering your calls. That seems quite unlike your dear friend. Then again, maybe he's just busy with something he thinks is more important. You listen carefully for any signs of fateful muttering, but find none of that in the vicinity either. Maybe he's just hiding from you, so as to not taint his creative process with your meddling until the job is well and truly done. That seems like a thing he would do.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 08, 2016, 02:47:57 pm
"INEVITABLE in my ass." Leif mutters angrily. Damn it, I feel so cheated. It sold me defective product!

I want my money back! Climb back down into the darkness and demand refund.

Clambering down into the well you step through the doorway in quite a huff, demanding a refund for this clearly useless word that you ostensibly paid good connections for. Your words are swallowed by the dark hungrily, stolen from your throat before their formation is complete.

It is an uncommon request that you make. Your assessment, however, is incorrect.

With that in mind, would you like to make another exchange? More answers would help if the questions were chosen well.

Quote from: Toaster on February 08, 2016, 03:01:21 pm
While safety concerns are all well and good, this wasn't getting him home.  That said, Thomas figured he might as well play along; maybe he'd run into someone helpful.  No sense just going outside and walking off in this moonless night.

"I suppose I can help.  Normally I would be contracted for this sort of work, but I will come along this time.  I will remind you that I am still looking for directions on how to get home."

Help her find an altogether safer place to stay, with appropriate fire exits and other safety features.

[Hunt For A Humbler Home: 3]

The gates of this castle appear to be steadfastly closed for the night, leaving you with perhaps less options than one would like, but you do have to say that the houses one can find in the courtyard do seem reasonably safe for the most part. And for now most of them do seem empty. Not a fire exit to be seen, however. And one house is blatantly missing a door, which a certain Mr. Daniels seems all too keen to make use of, making a bit of a ruckus within. The rest seem roughly similar, and at last you come to the only building with a proper ladder for any second floor escapes - seems a bit like a barn, and some fellow tries to stop you from entering, but your friend the guard tells him to bugger off if he'd be so kind - the fellow does not seem to need to be told twice, nervous recognition showing in his voice.

Together you get inside the place - looks like a storehouse of some kind, or maybe a stable. It's absolutely infested with rats, you notice. And other junk is strewn about chaotically as well, becoming clearer in the dark as the girl looks around. Er, perhaps not the best place, you admit. But it does have a fire exit of sorts. And also seemingly an armed guard out front - the added bit of security does set the mind at ease, doesn't it? She admits that it sort of does, yes. Keeps the rabble out with their spidery thieving hands, at least. Doesn't seem to be really a living space though, does it? A fixer-upper, you suppose. Kind of like one of those fire station to classy loft conversions, perhaps. Really depends on what budget she's working with. There's also a bit of a rat problem, you point out, but she doesn't seem awfully bothered about that. Rats are good for minding practice, she says. They're also good for spreading pestilence, you reply, which, she once again admits, is a decent counterpoint.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 08, 2016, 03:39:59 pm
As I pass by where I think the priest is, I lean down to him. "Hey, keep the crowd busy while I'm gone." Then I shout to the people in the courtyard, "I can almost feel the warmth of the sun already! Keep this up! I will find the queen, and once she is here the sun and moon will not be able to forget us." I then try to head to the castle and find the queen.

The crowd begins to start calling out to the sun in a more coordinated fashion as the priest begins to lead them in prayer, and you utilize the darkness and noise to slip away to find the queen. Shouldn't be too hard to find. You get inside the keep and head for the second floor. Fortunately, you do remember the room you put her in. Somewhat unfortunately, it does seem like the door is guarded now, and the guards even have a few candles casting minute amounts of light on the surroundings. You suppose the incident with the stoatman might have had something to do with that.

[Goodwill of the Guards: 4]

You run up to them, saying there is no time to waste. The queen's help is required, and none other will do! The sun needs to be called back to end this terrible darkness, you say. They suppose that's a worthy ambition. Do you think it will work? You shrug. Worth a shot, right? The priest seems to think so, and he made that random guy shoot sun lasers and leap over buildings in a single bound, so you think he's probably the most trustworthy source of information on stuff like this. They admit that this makes sense, and let you in without much reservation to the queen's chamber, where you proceed to trail ash on the relatively clean floor. The queen's there, illuminated by a bedside candle, looking nervous. She looks past you as you enter. Her eyes trail back to a nearby window. Oddly, she does not seem to acknowledge your presence.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Dermonster on February 09, 2016, 03:58:05 pm
Fuck it, "SUN, Where the hell am I!?" Once more, find dry land.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Xantalos on February 09, 2016, 04:07:11 pm
"Hmm. I'm not really sure if this is your house, blacksmith. Would help if I could see anything. Wanna tell me if you're here or not?"

Go blunder about the house for a bit looking for blacksmithy.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Toaster on February 09, 2016, 04:25:15 pm
"To be fair, I do believe this whole area has a bit of a rat problem.  The gentleman whose sack I was in was convinced I was a lot of rats.  Very odd.  Oh well; I don't suppose there's an exterminator here?"

Help settle in, I guess.  Look for exterminator.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 09, 2016, 04:26:58 pm
Well now. Is she more drunk? I step directly in front of the queen. "Are you okay?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 10, 2016, 01:23:53 am
"And exactly how I'm incorrect? The word did absolutely nothing!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 10, 2016, 08:12:55 am
Quote from: Dermonster on February 09, 2016, 03:58:05 pm
Fuck it, "SUN, Where the hell am I!?" Once more, find dry land.

Maybe this will shed some light on the issue.

SUN

[Word: 6]

In the far distance the sun rises over the dark waters, and you see both sides of the river, strangely equidistant from your position. There is the forest on your left, still burning in places. There's Anglefork further away, burning partly. There's the castle island on the right - you're not yet at the fork, it seems. And then there's the water. It's getting warmer. Considerably warmer. You get the feeling your proxy sun is a bit closer than experience with the actual sun would indicate.

[Unleash the Dolphin: 6]
[The Two Sides: 6]

As the water becomes unseasonably hot your keen survival instincts kick in and you start to swim for your life to the side - now that you see where you're going, navigating the river does become markedly easier, especially since you can dodge the sharper rocks on the shore as well. You are out of breath as you swim all the way to the left on instinct and dive out to the soft earth. You have the distinct urge to lie there for a moment. The sun is warm, your knees feel a bit too weak to support much in the way of walking, your arms sting and are a little difficult to lift, and you feel a lot like a wad of freshly boiled spaghetti on a kitchen floor, laying limp and wet in an environment you were never meant for.

On the other side of the river you see a few stoatmen firing bolts at the mini-sun in a rather dismal failure at pattern recognition. The sun appears unimpressed, but does appear to be amply distracting them from making any moves on your comparatively discreet form.

Maybe some rest is in order. This sun you put up seems a bit less clingy than that one you summoned before, if no less passively dangerous if that section of river that appears to be boiling is any indication. Also, your orbiting stone appears to have gone off someplace. You're not sure where, really. Mysterious as the moon itself, that thing.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 09, 2016, 04:07:11 pm
"Hmm. I'm not really sure if this is your house, blacksmith. Would help if I could see anything. Wanna tell me if you're here or not?"

Go blunder about the house for a bit looking for blacksmithy.

[The Quest Continues: 3]

You feel around the house as you check for the presence of your blackmith friend. There's a table you run into. A pot you topple over. A desk covered in knives that you manage to cut your finger on - the desk, mind you, not the knives. A pile of small, angular objects you can't quite identify. A surprisingly well-kept bedroll. Doesn't even smell or anything. Three changes of leather trousers, one of them partially eaten, and a set of nice boots. Also a cage with a live rat in it that you happen to discover by plowing straight into it and causing it to fall to the ground. The rat escapes if you're not misjudging the triumphant nature of the resultant squeak.

No sign of any pubescent blacksmiths, though. You're beginning to suspect this isn't the right place despite being exactly where you remember it to be. Maybe sorcery is at work here, you're not sure.

Quote from: Toaster on February 09, 2016, 04:25:15 pm
"To be fair, I do believe this whole area has a bit of a rat problem.  The gentleman whose sack I was in was convinced I was a lot of rats.  Very odd.  Oh well; I don't suppose there's an exterminator here?"

Help settle in, I guess.  Look for exterminator.

[Clearing A Space: 1]

It's a bit cramped in here - place is lousy with cages, rats and rotting supplies, and it's all honestly a bit unhygienic, everything having at least a thin coating of unidentified sludge. Maybe settling in here isn't that much of a great idea. One of the children trips over a rat cage, another gets a handful of splinters. A feeling of dissatisfaction arises from them which the girl feels no real need to actively quash, seemingly having similar thoughts herself.

Rats are valuable, she says. Maybe not that valuable, though. Perhaps a place in the keep would be better, lack of fire exits notwithstanding. She's kind of always wanted to live in a proper keep, she relates. And there's guards there too. She looks to you for an informed opinion on the general safety of large stone constructions when compared to small wooden ones - you did not seem to particularly like the tower, although admittedly there were other problems at work there.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 09, 2016, 04:26:58 pm
Well now. Is she more drunk? I step directly in front of the queen. "Are you okay?"

She examines you doubtfully for a moment, seemingly having trouble deciphering what you're supposed to be, though her gaze seems unusually clear as well. You ask her if she's all right, and she wraps herself up a little tighter in her bedsheets, then looks around again before calling for a guard. One walks in after a moment. The queen looks at you for a second, then at the guard. The guard examines you skeptically.

There's someone in here, she says. The guard seems to agree, and the queen admits to finding this very odd. The guard looks at you confusedly, and the queen looks where he's looking. He sees it too, doesn't he? The guard says, well, he's pretty sure you're a her, although the burns do make it a little difficult to, er, precisely identify, but...

The queen looks in your direction again, completely mystified from the looks of it. The guard looks at you, his face a slightly different shade of utter puzzlement. It doesn't seem hostile, the queen asks with concern, and the guard says apparently not. You, er, he means, it appeared to have a request for her of some nature. The queen suspiciously looks in your direction again. This sounds a bit sinister, she says, and the guard, keeping his eyes locked on you and his hand on his sword, is compelled to agree by authority if nothing else.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 10, 2016, 01:23:53 am
"And exactly how I'm incorrect? The word did absolutely nothing!"

Is that your question? Fulfillment of a desire is also possible. The desire may also be another question.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Dermonster on February 10, 2016, 08:17:55 am
Okay so. That worked. Thank's Sun. Let's just. find an out of the way place out of sight and. lay down for a bit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Toaster on February 10, 2016, 08:49:31 am
Thomas shrugged.  Well, it wasn't really up to him; he was just advice.  "Well, you don't have to settle for the first place you find, certainly.  The keep does have its merits; a sturdy foundation I am sure that will be proof against earthquakes and windstorms.  Fire exits are a thing that can be remedied later.  Perhaps we should visit the keep?"

Perhaps we should visit the keep?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 10, 2016, 11:37:23 am
"What? Yes, that's a question, but no, I'm not giving any connections for it, if that's what you are asking for. The word did no reality altering of any kind unlike you promised, meaning you failed to provide fullfilment, yet you claim I'm incorrect and do not explain why this the case! Keep your promises, damn it, switch the word for another that actually fullfills my desire unlike INEVITABLE, or give the damn connection back!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Xantalos on February 10, 2016, 11:53:53 am
Quote
The queen looks in your direction again, completely mystified from the looks of it. The guard looks at you, his face a slightly different shade of utter puzzlement. It doesn't seem hostile, the queen asks with concern, and the guard says apparently not. You, er, he means, it appeared to have a request for her of some nature. The queen suspiciously looks in your direction again. This sounds a bit sinister, she says, and the guard, keeping his eyes locked on you and his hand on his sword, is compelled to agree by authority if nothing else.
((Ahahahahahahahahhhha. If you figure it out IC try writing her a note.))

"No, I'm certain this is the house. I know everything's completely different, but it's exactly where it was. Exactly, I say!"

Continue to search. Potentially disbelieve the truth so hard it becomes false.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 10, 2016, 09:56:22 pm
Gah. There's magic involved here. As usual.

I turn to the guard. "Tell the queen to go to the courtyard if she wants this darkness to go away. If she doesn't believe me, I'll try to send someone more charismatic."

Then I leave in search of either a mason or one of my minder-summoned friends.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Dermonster on February 10, 2016, 09:59:35 pm
Did I get rid of the darkness everywhere?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 11, 2016, 06:23:00 am
Quote from: Dermonster on February 10, 2016, 08:17:55 am
Okay so. That worked. Thank's Sun. Let's just. find an out of the way place out of sight and. lay down for a bit.

[A Place of Rest: 3]

You roll uphill lazily, your body mostly incapable of exerting more effort than that, and come to rest under a nearby scorched tree. Crawling a little further, you think you're mostly shielded from prying eyes as long as people don't question a pair of feet poking out from behind the trees.

Fortunately, while your miniature sun does improve visibility, it's not quite bright enough to provide more than low moonlight at this distance, so you don't foresee yourself being easy to find. You let out a massive sigh and try to relax. Feels good to not have to move for a while, you admit.

[Lounger's Fortune: 6]

A rather large crow lands on your stomach, picking at the bits of your much-abused nightgown that still have traces of fresh-killed stoat on them. Its pecks bother you slightly, but not quite enough to get up just yet.

Quote from: Toaster on February 10, 2016, 08:49:31 am
Thomas shrugged.  Well, it wasn't really up to him; he was just advice.  "Well, you don't have to settle for the first place you find, certainly.  The keep does have its merits; a sturdy foundation I am sure that will be proof against earthquakes and windstorms.  Fire exits are a thing that can be remedied later.  Perhaps we should visit the keep?"

Perhaps we should visit the keep?

The girl agrees quite heartily - this place sucks, better get a place in the keep instead. A quick nip through the courtyard takes you there, and you find that it is no less dark within for the most part than it is outside. Perhaps darker, actually. You're not sure how that's possible.

Not that this is a terrible inconvenience, since most of the important parts (with the notable exception of the steps on the staircase) are quite visible to your deprivation-enhanced senses.

[A Good Place To Set Up: 5]

The guard chips in again with some useful advice - the lord's quarters ought to be free, he thinks, since the lady of the castle has... different arrangements. And also some other rooms, he supposes, since a number of the more fragile castle staff have undergone tragic expiration. The lord's quarters ought to be the largest accommodations available, however. You suppose this to be reasonable, and head up the stairs and to the right, where you eventually find a rather large bedroom that seems to have been entirely deserted for a very long time. It's certainly much less cluttered than that storage area, if a bit bare - most of the furniture seems to have gone missing, although a respectable fireplace still stands on one side of the large room.

The girl likes the look of these accommodations overall. Perhaps a little furnishing might be in order. The guard is pleased to hear this - living on the keep's second floor also means that she's practically a neighbor of the queen, which is about as convenient for practical purposes as he can possibly imagine. You suppose it is a tad unproductive to have overly long commutes, isn't it?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 10, 2016, 11:37:23 am
"What? Yes, that's a question, but no, I'm not giving any connections for it, if that's what you are asking for. The word did no reality altering of any kind unlike you promised, meaning you failed to provide fullfilment, yet you claim I'm incorrect and do not explain why this the case! Keep your promises, damn it, switch the word for another that actually fullfills my desire unlike INEVITABLE, or give the damn connection back!"

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

Not the right word to describe this situation. Close, but not quite. The word can only barely be heard over the overpowering, hungering silence, and you feel it draw closer for a moment, reaching out as if to touch you...

... not yet, however. Not a productive choice. Neither are your complaints. One cannot return something that was eaten, to use familiar terms. Not as what it used to be, at least. And neither can your choice be rescinded. Only further expenditure may amend your perceived flaws, whether through explanations or more direct methods. Alternatively, you could try and figure it out yourself.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 10, 2016, 11:53:53 am
"No, I'm certain this is the house. I know everything's completely different, but it's exactly where it was. Exactly, I say!"

Continue to search. Potentially disbelieve the truth so hard it becomes false.

Blacksmith? Blacksmith! He's in here somewhere! Blacksmith!

Blacksmith!

[Willful Ignorance: 3]

... yeah, this isn't working. And it's almost definitely not the right house. There is room for doubt, granted. It's just decreased to microscopically small rather than merely uncomfortably tight.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 10, 2016, 09:56:22 pm
Gah. There's magic involved here. As usual.

I turn to the guard. "Tell the queen to go to the courtyard if she wants this darkness to go away. If she doesn't believe me, I'll try to send someone more charismatic."

Then I leave in search of either a mason or one of my minder-summoned friends.

[Negotiation by Proxy: 6]

Darkness? Yes, you say. World-ending, all consuming darkness, that's about the gist of it. Oh dear. The guard seems quite distressed. It's saying that the world is ending, he tells the queen. Oh dear, she echoes. It's some sort of apocalyptic wraith, then? It would appear so, he says.

The queen looks at the window. Doesn't sound like the world is ending. Maybe that's the way it is, the guard somberly relates. Not with a bang, but with a whimper. The queen nods sagely. You remind the guard that the queen's supposed to go to the courtyard now. He asks what for, and you tell it's to make the darkness go away.

Well, he says, isn't the world ending? No, you say, the darkness is potentially world-ending. It's not really the apocalypse. Well, he reiterates, it's awfully dishonest of you to scare the queen by maintaining otherwise. Besides, isn't it supposed to be dark out anyway? It is the nighttime.

No, no, this is magical darkness, you explain. Deeper. More horrible somehow. There's no moon or stars, for one. Oh, he says. Sounds terrible. Is there anything that can be done about that, you think? Yes, you say with exasperation! Go outside with the queen and speak with the priest. He'll know what to do.

The priest, he says incredulously. What's the priest going to do? Sing the dark away? The queen, quite curious as to what this conversation the guard is having is, asks him what you're saying. He says it's some nonsense about singing at the dark along with that gobshite priest, if the queen will pardon the honest truth. Mystical mumbo-jumbo. Nothing unexpected from a doomwraith, in any case. The queen furrows her brow and tries for a moment to make you out where she suspects you might be standing. She looks a tad disappointed when this produces no results.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Clarification (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Xantalos on February 11, 2016, 06:31:42 am
"Well then. Perhaps I am wrong. A shock. Ah well, another location it is then."

Locate the nearest wall and create an opening in it that I can get through. Then go continue looking for the blacksmith.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Dermonster on February 11, 2016, 08:00:37 am
Wipe all the gore off me into a neat little pile. Crows are smart man, do crow buddy a solid.
Then rest some more cause I'm not heading out when I'm still 2 hits from dead.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 11, 2016, 08:17:46 am
Well if that's the way this is going to go, I might as well try to make it a convincing apocalypse.

I remember a noise, the tumultuous sounds of chaos, and mentally amplify them into a disorienting roar. I then shout at the guard, "It is the only way! If the queen does not pray with her people, all will be consumed by CHAOS." I beckon to the roar to fill the air.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sun's Doom
Post by: lawastooshort on February 11, 2016, 08:24:05 am
Quote from: Dermonster on February 07, 2016, 11:17:14 pm
I'm honestly tempted to go back to the town for the sole purpose of killing Toaster.

((He's marvellous, isn't he))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Toaster on February 11, 2016, 08:53:09 am
"Ah, yes, it is always wise to verify your options before making a choice.  It's why Sureness Assurance offers a comprehensive review of your insurance situation; so you know you're getting the best coverage possible.  Speaking of which, now that you're settling in, perhaps you or someone you know could direct me to Albany?  I'll help you mark your fire exits before I leave."


That whole Albany thing?  Got an idea?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 11, 2016, 10:11:21 am
"Oh damn it, such low quality service. I guess I keep all those delicious connections myself. Farewell."

Last bait. Then get out and sulk.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 12, 2016, 02:26:08 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 11, 2016, 06:31:42 am
"Well then. Perhaps I am wrong. A shock. Ah well, another location it is then."

Locate the nearest wall and create an opening in it that I can get through. Then go continue looking for the blacksmith.

If reality's going to be so disagreeable all of a sudden, you think you'll just be leaving then. You walk in a direction, and find a wall. You decide that even if reality can be said to have won this round, you'll be damned if you'll let topography give you any shit today. You give the wall a little love tap to teach it a valuable lesson.

[Best Construction Practices: 5]

It concedes your superiority by letting your fist pass through unimpeded. You pull it back in and peel back the wooden walls until you've got a comfortable enough exit hole, the house creaking and complaining throughout, but remaining mostly in one piece. You step through without further trouble. Now then, where were you?

[Fumbling in the Dark: 4]

Now, since you clearly don't remember where the blacksmith is, that leaves you with one good option.

Blacksmith! Blacksmith! Blaaaacksmiiith!

You think you hear a noise in the distance. Sounds like an exclaimed "what". Excellent! You go in that direction, and eventually come to what you think is a door. There's an adolescent boy standing in it, if your cursory feel of his general features has not steered you wrong. He smells considerably off. He's wearing an apron. And he asks what the meaning of this is in an indignant, slightly pompous tone. You're not one to jump to conclusions, but you think you have your man.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 11, 2016, 08:00:37 am
Wipe all the gore off me into a neat little pile. Crows are smart man, do crow buddy a solid.
Then rest some more cause I'm not heading out when I'm still 2 hits from dead.

[Crow's Appreciation: 6]

The crow jumps off as you wipe off the gore, observing intently as you put it into a tiny gore pile. You think it nods at you in polite appreciation and digs into it right away. You nod back and continue resting. It finishes up pretty quickly, wipes its beak on your nightgown delicately, then bows before flying off once more. Now altogether less coated in stoat, you rest more easily.

[Lounger's Fortune: 4]

After this, you are mostly unbothered by either the elements or any stray crossbow fire. At least in the physical sense.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 11, 2016, 08:17:46 am
Well if that's the way this is going to go, I might as well try to make it a convincing apocalypse.

I remember a noise, the tumultuous sounds of chaos, and mentally amplify them into a disorienting roar. I then shout at the guard, "It is the only way! If the queen does not pray with her people, all will be consumed by CHAOS." I beckon to the roar to fill the air.

Maybe you need to impress the gravity of the situation upon these people. They don't seem to be taking you seriously. That means it's time for some

CHAOS

[Word: 3]

A distant background of white noise begins to rise as the walls start to scratch. The air tingles lightly, a grayness crawling up the walls. Your ears fill with a droning din of confusion, the room feels like it's swaying a little. The guard stumbles, and the queen looks his way. What is it, she asks. The doomwraith's doing something, the guard claims. Er, the queen says, could he ask it not to do that?

The guard looks at you.

[Advanced Negotiations: 3]

Don't do that, he says, drawing his sword. Or he'll get right cross with you, he will. The queen frowns with concern, rising from her bed a little. Perhaps they should move to a different room, then. The guard seems a little disoriented, she remarks. Is something happening? The guard looks around. Well, he says, it's getting a bit on the unreasonably spooky side. He's quite sure this is not a strictly natural turn of events. He thinks the doomwraith's responsible. It said something weird and now everything's gone all strange.

Quote from: Toaster on February 11, 2016, 08:53:09 am
"Ah, yes, it is always wise to verify your options before making a choice.  It's why Sureness Assurance offers a comprehensive review of your insurance situation; so you know you're getting the best coverage possible.  Speaking of which, now that you're settling in, perhaps you or someone you know could direct me to Albany?  I'll help you mark your fire exits before I leave."


That whole Albany thing?  Got an idea?

[A Helpful Answer: 1]

Ah, she says. If she's pieced this together correctly, you seem to be from some kind of different universe. You immediately have doubts that she's pieced this together correctly. Honestly, it's getting a bit tiresome. You ask her which way to Albany, then. Or at least where the highway is. She says 300 miles to the west. Funny, you've heard that one. You sigh. Maybe a simpler approach, then. How do you get to civilization from here? This is civilization, she retorts, but then relents upon seeing your expression.

She gets your meaning, so to speak. If you can get through the stoatmen, she offers, Anglefork Town's just down the river. The north-south road's likely to take you to a variety of places. Albany's... probably not among them, unfortunately, but who really knows. You seem the type to find your way into the unlikeliest of places.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 11, 2016, 10:11:21 am
"Oh damn it, such low quality service. I guess I keep all those delicious connections myself. Farewell."

Last bait. Then get out and sulk.

No worries, you've already pledged one sixth of all your future ones. This, while not as high as it could be, is an acceptable overall return if you choose to end your cooperation.

Nevertheless, the well would be glad to help you in the future in return for some others. Thank you, and do come again.

You head out and take a pick of the damp corners available for your sulking experience - you choose the one with the cozy fire so that you are not distracted by the cold and the dark. Good conditions really bring out a man's inner sulk, you believe.

[Inner Depths: 4]

You rest your chin in your hand as you curl up on the ground discontently, glaring at the door with powerful disdain. How dare it cheat you like this. Bloody well thinks it's so smart, doesn't it. Well, shows what it knows. You don't need it. So far it has been only mildly helpful at best. And you suspect it delights in disappointing you. It'd probably tell you it wasn't capable of feeling such a thing. Then you suspect it would snicker to itself impishly as it sends you on its way. It really thinks it's put one on you, doesn't it? Well, it knows nothing!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Toaster on February 12, 2016, 02:32:43 pm
"Ah.  Well.  I suppose I will have to try that route, past the... stout men?"  Odd choice of words.  "If nothing else maybe I can hitchhike.  Well, as I said, I will help you label your fire exits.  Do you have any stiff paperboard or similar paper?  Sharpie or other good marker?  You'll want a good professional sign for lasting use, but this will get us started."

Discuss egress, both general and specific.  Label fire exits with best available materials.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Xantalos on February 12, 2016, 02:38:26 pm
"Ah, good, you're not dead. Do you know what happened here? Why the sun's out and all that?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 12, 2016, 03:13:35 pm
She even ignores my magic. It's like she's completely cut off from me. I'll have to get someone else to do this.

I hiss at the guard, then leave the room to look for anyone who seems out of place. Maybe because they are a tubful of rats animated with the soul of a person from another world. Yes, perhaps someone like that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: Dermonster on February 12, 2016, 04:12:21 pm
"Right... that was nice. let's see if I can get my buddy back."

Yo Moonstone, where you at, bro?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Freedom's Call
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 12, 2016, 04:29:18 pm
Sulk right off into my booze dimension. INEVITABLY work it more like Valhalla's proper summer resort. Except with a lot more of booze. And vodkafruit ocean.
I will NOT comfort myself with vodka yet.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 13, 2016, 04:41:41 am
Quote from: Toaster on February 12, 2016, 02:32:43 pm
"Ah.  Well.  I suppose I will have to try that route, past the... stout men?"  Odd choice of words.  "If nothing else maybe I can hitchhike.  Well, as I said, I will help you label your fire exits.  Do you have any stiff paperboard or similar paper?  Sharpie or other good marker?  You'll want a good professional sign for lasting use, but this will get us started."

Discuss egress, both general and specific.  Label fire exits with best available materials.

[The Art of Signage: 3]

No paper, unfortunately. Or paperboard. Or markers, for that matter. Minders don't tend to keep notes, the girl explains. And when they do, they engrave them into the walls. Perhaps not the most practical way of doing things, but at least you can't lose your notes that way. And there's great incentive to make them look good as well, given that you'll look at them whether you want to or not.

Granted, maybe it's a little too dark in here for a written sign to be of much use, she says. Though if you want you could probably grab some drapes, maybe mix some ash with water or something to make ink. Or use some of the pesticide in the well - that makes for a sticky black solution, she thinks she recalls.

Or maybe, she realizes after a moment, there's also a simpler solution. She points at a nearby corner, and you hear a voice remarkably similar to your own say "fire exit" from it exactly once. Trouble is, she doesn't know how to make it permanent. Would probably take some doing. Hang on a moment, she says as her eyes glaze over for about half a minute. You look around awkwardly at the other children in the meantime, who seem to have huddled up into one of the corners. The bloody-nosed child you spoke to before seems to be talking to them in a vaguely soothing manner, but you can't quite make out what he's saying. He's... also not moving his lips, you notice, and yet you do think he's forming perfectly coherent words despite being unable to say what specific ones those would be.

Right, the girl interrupts your examination. The problem is being addressed, she says with quite a bit of confidence. You want to go back to the well? That hole in the ground in the middle of the courtyard? There's likely to be some useful stuff down there if she can't figure out anything better after all. You are about to reply, but are interrupted again when Ms. Minett bumps into you quite rudely and emits a strange and largely inexplicable noise in response. You wonder if she's all right - she's looking a bit on the burnt side. Maybe she needs medical assistance like Mr. Codeburn did.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 12, 2016, 02:38:26 pm
"Ah, good, you're not dead. Do you know what happened here? Why the sun's out and all that?"

[Ad Hoc Mysticism: 1]

Bugger if he knows really, but he assumes because it's nighttime. You look up at the sky. There's no stars, you point out. And the moon's gone too. And everything's pitch black, basically. The blackmith pauses a second. That's not normal? You don't think it is, no.

He doesn't really get out much lately, he points out after a few seconds of awkward silence. He's got more import- ah! There! He's got it! Got what? Nothing that concerns you, it seems. To tell you now would ruin it, he says. Now off with you! Get him his things! He feels an idea brewing!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 12, 2016, 03:13:35 pm
She even ignores my magic. It's like she's completely cut off from me. I'll have to get someone else to do this.

I hiss at the guard, then leave the room to look for anyone who seems out of place. Maybe because they are a tubful of rats animated with the soul of a person from another world. Yes, perhaps someone like that.

Your doomwraith impression is capped off as you are warded off by the stalwart righteousness of the guard, retreating along the hallway in search of weak minds who may be pushed to do your evil bidding in your stead.

[Fortuitous Meetings: 1]

You almost immediately hear one Mr. Minstep, who seems to be in the middle of discussing signage with the minder girl just on the other wing of the upper floor. You wander into the complete darkness in search of the man, figuring him to be at the very least hypothetically able to communicate with the queen, and find him rather easily by bumping into him. You emit a low hiss again before your urge to method act is overwhelmed by good sense. You're not sure if he noticed, since the darkness makes it hard to gauge his reaction.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 12, 2016, 04:12:21 pm
"Right... that was nice. let's see if I can get my buddy back."

Yo Moonstone, where you at, bro?

Who knows where a black stone may lurk in the dark of the night? You have a very good lead, however.

MOON

[Word: 6]

Your voice becomes an infrasonic clarion call, fading from the threshold of audibility as it shakes the ground and the forest, spreading outward like thunder. You carry the tone to its conclusion, moon dust and ash falling from the burnt and shaking trees as you briefly pass a resonant frequency or three. The woods reverberate as if in an earthquake as you stand there, falling into deep silence as you wait for a reply. It takes half a minute, you think - the stone must have ranged far indeed as it untethered itself from you. But it reaches nevertheless.

You know it first by the response - an imitated call, instinctual. It sends shivers through your bones as it rises in tone, inverted from your own call, emerging from the silence at the very end as the howl of some nameless nocturnal beast.

[Orbital Capture: 1]

It returns without error, your call an ideal guide to your location, your resonance a way to pinpoint your movements. It comes for you head-on, and slams into you as only a 3-ton boulder going at incredible speed can. You don't quite catch the moment that it hits you. It happens in the blink of an eye. You're standing there. Then you are laid out on the ground, feeling a lot like your skeleton has just been fully and evenly half-broken. What happened between those two moments you try not to question. The speed at which it was going, you think you got off easy.

[Stone's Path: 1]

You suspect, however, that this will be far from the only destruction it causes if it keeps its course true.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 12, 2016, 04:29:18 pm
Sulk right off into my booze dimension. INEVITABLY work it more like Valhalla's proper summer resort. Except with a lot more of booze. And vodkafruit ocean.
I will NOT comfort myself with vodka yet.

Your booze dimension, unfortunately, does not quite seem to exist anymore. Not that you cannot reconstruct it. With enough time and effort, all things are possible within your own mind. Freed of the constraints of time, space and the laws of physics more than you normally are, there is only so much that can stand in the way of the triumph of your will over the inabilities of your mind.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 2]

What is a Word here, though? Every word of yours bends reality in your mind's little playground. One word is like any other here. That is the appeal, no?

[Worlds Within Worlds: 3]

From SEA, LAND. The SEA, formed of FRUIT. The FRUIT, filled with VODKA.

Perhaps too many words. You are sluggish in forming this reality. It does not come easily. The shapes, the tastes, the feelings - all of these do not form fully, and are lacking in focus. If the minder girl had cooperated, you suspect this would have been much easier. Not that it does not seem easier than before, of course.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 13, 2016, 06:15:28 am
"Hey, you! Would you mind doing me a favor? Really, you'd be doing everyone a favor and getting rid of this darkness. Just convince the queen to come down to the courtyard and pray with her people. I'd do it myself, of course, but there's some sort of magical force keeping me from talking to her."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 13, 2016, 06:24:48 am
"Alrighty, be a jiffy. You don't happen to have a light with you, do you? Can't see super well right now."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 13, 2016, 08:32:52 am
Oh depression incoming. Relapse a bit and enjoy single vodka fruit. Just one, no more. Not yet. Keep working the summer resort assisted by alcohol induced focus.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 13, 2016, 08:49:09 am
MOON buddy pls. pls no destroy town. Or me. Stoats are fine but really come back here. a bit slower, if you would.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Toaster on February 13, 2016, 08:48:21 pm
Huh.  Guess this school is for ventriloquism; that explains some of the effects here.  Maybe... what?  Ugh, can't go five minutes without bumping in to a loony here.

"What?  Ugh, fine, I'll play along; I'm not getting anywhere here anyway."

Locate the queen.  Ask a favor.

"Excuse me, um, Miss Queen?  It appears you are needed in the courtyard for some sort of ceremony."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 14, 2016, 06:04:52 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 13, 2016, 06:15:28 am
"Hey, you! Would you mind doing me a favor? Really, you'd be doing everyone a favor and getting rid of this darkness. Just convince the queen to come down to the courtyard and pray with her people. I'd do it myself, of course, but there's some sort of magical force keeping me from talking to her."

He seems quite well-disposed doing this for you, so you lead him back to the queen's room. The guards don't seem to mind him much, fortunately. Must have been here before. The guard from before does try to ward you off again, and you acquiesce to his attempts. You figure Mr. Minstep has this well in hand as you wait further down the hallway.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 13, 2016, 06:24:48 am
"Alrighty, be a jiffy. You don't happen to have a light with you, do you? Can't see super well right now."

[Blacksmith's Aid: 1]

He says you should not let that stop you. If he were constrained by knowing what he was doing or even basic practical considerations, you can bet he wouldn't be where he is today.

You're not sure if that's actually inspirational, and he doesn't seem to be either.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 13, 2016, 08:32:52 am
Oh depression incoming. Relapse a bit and enjoy single vodka fruit. Just one, no more. Not yet. Keep working the summer resort assisted by alcohol induced focus.

You taste a vodka fruit. Its aqua vitae feels a little flat and lifeless. The concept is clear enough. The execution lacks a certain edge, however. You don't quite buy that it's real vodka, and it unfortunately occurs to you in the process of consumption that it technically isn't, which is never a good realization for the fruits of your imagination to produce. This will not do.

[One's Immersion: 4]

You sharpen the edges of the rocky island, and raise up the shape of the burning church, elaborating on its early Gothic architecture as you shape its spires into airy and elegant constructions, well-grounded and supported in the stone of the isle. With a wave of your hand blue flames erupt from all windows and halls, the doors swinging open and closed as a conflagration shoots out of its halls in pulses of possibly haunted flame. You take a walk around the church. Much better, you think. A great place to catch the eye, which will permit a variety of tricks to be worked elsewhere. The flames howl and roil, and give off an unsettling impression of thrashing sentience. You think that'll do, probably.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 13, 2016, 08:49:09 am
MOON buddy pls. pls no destroy town. Or me. Stoats are fine but really come back here. a bit slower, if you would.

No, no, wrong way, bud! Come back! Come back!

MOON

[Word: 6]

The area starts to shake again as you call for it more urgently. And it responds the very same way, turning on a dime and roaring right back. You suspect this might possibly hurt. Again.

[Orbital Capture: 6]

And it does come straight for you - this time, however, you jump to the side. The stone nearly clips your shoulder, but ultimately misses, turning immediately as it starts to past you. It keeps turning and turning, circling you at a radius of about three feet, making you feel like you're trapped in a whirlwind as you stand there. You wonder if it's going to move along with you.

Quote from: Toaster on February 13, 2016, 08:48:21 pm
Huh.  Guess this school is for ventriloquism; that explains some of the effects here.  Maybe... what?  Ugh, can't go five minutes without bumping in to a loony here.

"What?  Ugh, fine, I'll play along; I'm not getting anywhere here anyway."

Locate the queen.  Ask a favor.

"Excuse me, um, Miss Queen?  It appears you are needed in the courtyard for some sort of ceremony."

You suppose it makes sense for insane people to be wildly dysfunctional, but why does it always have to be you who has to do everything for them? You humor Ms. Minett's request and head for the queen's chamber, the jolly guard accompanying you on the way back, seemingly having obtained enough information for a thorough report on minder activities. As you are let in, you relay Ms. Minett's request to the queen.

[Negotiation by Proxy: 6]

That is, you explain that her presence is required in the courtyard for some kind of ceremony. She seems intrigued. What kind of ceremony, she asks. Something about prayer, you say. Ms. Minett would have told her herself, you explain, but she seems convinced that she is barred from doing so by a 'magical force'. That... makes sense... in a way, she says. You suggest that this may be just the guard intent on chasing her off with a sword, feeling compelled to translate into sensible terms, to which the guard responds that he's just guarding the queen from the doomwraith intent on working foul magicks on the queen. You rest your case.

Well, she says, that does begin to make a little more sense. She turns to the red-haired guard, who reports in addition that the elder minders are nowhere to be found and that the only ones remaining are the students. Their representative - formerly the head girl of the students, now styling herself mistress of the tower, has been delivered along with her charges to the keep's upper quarters, where she ought to be within easy reach of any further questions. The minder tower appears to have been experiencing some structural difficulties, he also reports, which was among the reasons for the relocation. In any case, headway has been made into figuring out what's going on.

Nicely done, the queen comments at both the guard, and he says that truly it was mostly your doing, which seems to please her even more as she commends you on your good sense and well-placed effort.

Anyway, she thinks out loud, she supposes it would be good to talk to the minders herself. Or maybe see what it is that this Ms. Minett wants from her outside - her bedside guard advises strongly against following the advice of a doomwraith, at which the queen frowns, looking to you. He does have something of a point, she says, as she is a little leery of following the advice of some stranger she hasn't even seen or heard of before, especially if it involves wandering into a pitch-black courtyard where anything can probably happen. That, and there's also the third, increasingly attractive alternative of just going to sleep and saying fie to all this business. It's been a long day, and she still has a residual headache, she admits.

What would you advise, Mr. Minstep? You seem a little more... grounded than most, she says, and undoubtedly have some experience engaging certain... special people. Does it help? Or should she not bother?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 14, 2016, 09:39:08 am
You know, I've been in this castle for a while and haven't found any secret rooms or anything. It's got to have a couple, especially with the minders around. They seem like secret room types. I wander about and search for hidden passages, concealed doors, or other things of that nature.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 14, 2016, 10:06:36 am
I have rolled naught but ones and sixes for this entire damn game.

Lay on the ground and reignite the moonstone with the SUN. Maybe that will give him his intelligence back.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 14, 2016, 12:36:26 pm
"Alrighty then. What's the worst that could happen, am I right?"

Go wandering around loudly asking where the majordomo is. Hope this gains me some results.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 14, 2016, 02:56:30 pm
"Vodkafruits better be tastier now."

Take a bite (or two. Three? Sure, why not.), and return to dissapointing reality while keeping pleasant state of imaginary drunkenness. Then... wander around aimlessly. Maybe I walk into something interesting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Toaster on February 14, 2016, 04:24:37 pm
((Derm is using the Xantalos Die.))

Thomas sighed.  While he appreciated being viewed as the standard for sanity around here, this was rather more than he cared to decide.

"Well, Miss Queen, there does seem to be much value in ceremony around here.  As you are in charge around here, any ceremony you attend will be lent special significance.  As to if you should... well, I sense no ill intent from her.  I'm not sure what you mean by doomwraith; she's not said anything about doom to me.  She did say that it would help solve the problem of darkness.  I can't vouch for how well that will work, but that other guy did have a light show at his demonstration, so I guess they'll cut the lights back on for that?  It'd be an impressive time to do it, certainly."  He took a deep breath.  "That said, I can appreciate the urge to sleep the problems away, but I've never solved any problems while in bed."

Any innuendo was lost on him.

Weigh options.  Follow along if queen goes, depart if not.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 14, 2016, 04:37:39 pm
Quote from: Toaster on February 14, 2016, 04:24:37 pm
((Derm is using the Xantalos Die.))

Dammit Xan give me back the Derm dice, horrible things are supposed to happen to OTHER people, not me!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 14, 2016, 07:30:44 pm
((Nah, I'm enjoying being the frighteningly non-dying collateral damage causer for once :P))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 14, 2016, 07:34:47 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 14, 2016, 07:30:44 pm
((Nah, I'm enjoying being the frighteningly non-dying collateral damage causer for once :P))

A darkened sun is dropping on the place. I think I have you beat, there.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 14, 2016, 07:36:48 pm
((Solely because I haven't really had IC reason to kill anyone yet.
Though that is probably coming soon.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 14, 2016, 07:44:17 pm
You'll have a hell of a time catching up to my 62 kill streak.

Solar cannon op op
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 15, 2016, 05:28:19 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 14, 2016, 09:39:08 am
You know, I've been in this castle for a while and haven't found any secret rooms or anything. It's got to have a couple, especially with the minders around. They seem like secret room types. I wander about and search for hidden passages, concealed doors, or other things of that nature.

[Clandestine Architecture: 4]

You've got to give one thing for exploring in the dark - you've got a very good reason to blunder around touching all the walls and tugging at every sconce in the hopes of finding some form of secret passage. Unfortunately, no sconces turn or flip or otherwise respond (although one does come loose from the wall - you hold on to it for now). Manhandling a conspicuously undisturbed tapestry, however, reveals a small panel of what you believe to be wood on the wall behind it, which seems a little odd. You run your hands over it and discover that it does appear to be some kind of hatch. Furthermore, pressing down on it reveals a section that is a bit more pliable than the rest, a flawlessly cut, well-oiled wooden button. It clicks down and the hatch opens.

Needless to say, the work looks very familiar to you. Opening the hatch up, you think what's on the opposite side is probably a small space. Possibly a crawlspace. Poking your head in, you still don't see anything, but you think it leads to a confined space behind the wall, a passage extending to the left and the right. You can't quite tell much about it yet, but one thing does occur to you - for what is likely a secret passage this does seem remarkably free of dust.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 14, 2016, 10:06:36 am
I have rolled naught but ones and sixes for this entire damn game.

Lay on the ground and reignite the moonstone with the SUN. Maybe that will give him his intelligence back.

You lay down to get some more space and see if you can get your old minion back.

SUN

[Word: 4]

The stone jerks to a stop above you, the word awakening a soft glow. It resists at first, trying to shake off the implication it seems to find profoundly disturbing, but its surface starts to grow brighter as light with no apparent source begins to reflect off its surface, making it look like it's emanating moonlight, banishing the deep shadows of the nearby area.

It hangs there above you, anticipating instruction. It is not quite the same as it was before. More subdued. Probably less dangerous as well, you think.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 14, 2016, 12:36:26 pm
"Alrighty then. What's the worst that could happen, am I right?"

Go wandering around loudly asking where the majordomo is. Hope this gains me some results.

[Directionless Questioning: 5]

Majordomo, you shout! What, shouts somebody from a nearby crowd! Stepping closer, you ask, is this the majordomo? Yes, he asks back, what?

Excellent, you say as you step closer. A closer feel of things reveals the majordomo to likely be an elderly gentleman wearing rather unusual-feeling garments. He seems a bit wrinkly, and is keen to protest being handled in such a way right up until you tighten your grip a little more, at which point he shuts up immediately.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 14, 2016, 02:56:30 pm
"Vodkafruits better be tastier now."

Take a bite (or two. Three? Sure, why not.), and return to dissapointing reality while keeping pleasant state of imaginary drunkenness. Then... wander around aimlessly. Maybe I walk into something interesting.

[Drunkenness Is A State Of Mind: 4]

You enjoy a fine buzz as you focus your vodkafruit into more intoxicating shapes, textures and smells, finding they work a lot like a more potent, manlier version of a fruity drink. Your head and heart thus lightened, you return to your regularly scheduled faff.

[Drunken Wanderings: 4]

Climbing out of the well in what is now a well-established routine, your ear is first attracted to what you believe to be a crowd singing and praying in front of the deconstructed chapel. Seems like a pretty happening place to be despite the chapel not being on fire or anything, but you guess the eternal darkness is still young, is it not?

Quote from: Toaster on February 14, 2016, 04:24:37 pm
((Derm is using the Xantalos Die.))

Thomas sighed.  While he appreciated being viewed as the standard for sanity around here, this was rather more than he cared to decide.

"Well, Miss Queen, there does seem to be much value in ceremony around here.  As you are in charge around here, any ceremony you attend will be lent special significance.  As to if you should... well, I sense no ill intent from her.  I'm not sure what you mean by doomwraith; she's not said anything about doom to me.  She did say that it would help solve the problem of darkness.  I can't vouch for how well that will work, but that other guy did have a light show at his demonstration, so I guess they'll cut the lights back on for that?  It'd be an impressive time to do it, certainly."  He took a deep breath.  "That said, I can appreciate the urge to sleep the problems away, but I've never solved any problems while in bed."

Any innuendo was lost on him.

Weigh options.  Follow along if queen goes, depart if not.

[World-Saving Enthusiasm: 1]

Light shows and ceremonies. She sighs. Should probably get around to looking at all that at some point. Definitely not right now, however. She'd have to get out of bed, get dressed, go outside, hope no stray shots from the sieging forces hit her, rally the guards... really, all of it is stuff she'd rather do when she's well-rested. And not, say, resting after a failed assassination attempt. Something to be said about putting up a brave face before danger, but she's pretty sure it's supposed to be nighttime right now anyway, and so if there really is anything to this darkness business, no doubt a better time to do something about it would be when the sun's out.

With that in mind, she'd really like to catch up on her sleep now. The guards both nod and head out with you in tow. The red-haired one relieves the shift of the one going on about doomwraiths. The queen instructs the two remaining royal guards to redirect any disturbances to the Minister of Moronic Affairs. Or the majordomo. Or the castle physician. Or a servant girl, perhaps. Anybody who isn't her, really.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 15, 2016, 05:31:41 am
"Ah, glad to have found you. Do you have your purple garment on you? If so, give it to me. If not, take me to it. Thanks!"

Extortion!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 15, 2016, 07:54:57 am
Yeah, this is what I'm talking about. I climb in and start crawling to the left.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 15, 2016, 07:59:57 am
Hey, speaking of, isn't there supposed to be a majora's mask type situation going on here?

It's been a while, I woulda thought it had crashed into the town by now.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 15, 2016, 08:44:07 am
Singing is promising sign of merrymaking and good drunken party. Praying is not. And lack of burning churches can be rectified later.

Locate singers and join the party wholeheartedly, singing about great treasures taken from enemies. Also try to create a minder trick to incude state of drunkenness on others. Test it.

"I love good party!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Toaster on February 15, 2016, 10:33:05 am
Thomas sighed.  No closer to any real answers, other than the location of... well, a road of sorts.  All he needed was transportation and he'd be off.

"Thank you for the assistance, sir guards.  I must be going now... but I'd rather not walk all the way down the road to the highway.  Is anyone driving that way?  Maybe a loaner bicycle?"

Surely futile quest for transportation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 15, 2016, 10:46:19 am
Quote from: Dermonster on February 15, 2016, 07:59:57 am
Hey, speaking of, isn't there supposed to be a majora's mask type situation going on here?

It's been a while, I woulda thought it had crashed into the town by now.

Doesn't seem to be the case. Might have something to do with the way you blotted it out with umbral darkness.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 15, 2016, 10:49:57 am
Mother of fuck I just fled the town and almost killed myself three times for no reason?

To hell with that!

Go hide in the trees and lift the darkness I created with SUN.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 15, 2016, 10:52:44 am
Quote from: Dermonster on February 15, 2016, 10:49:57 am
Mother of fuck I just fled the town and almost killed myself three times for no reason?

It's a distinct possibility, though it's not like being outside of the besieged castle doesn't have advantages anyway.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 16, 2016, 03:10:32 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 15, 2016, 05:31:41 am
"Ah, glad to have found you. Do you have your purple garment on you? If so, give it to me. If not, take me to it. Thanks!"

Extortion!

[I Need Your Clothes: 1]

Purple? The majordomo is shocked. Why would he wear a purple garment? That's the royal color. Fit for a king or a queen, which he feels the need to inform you he certainly is not. He believes it ought to still be illegal to possess anything purple in Benzerwald. Creates confusion, you see. The royal guards don't like it, being big fans of the color purple that they are.

Your attempt at extortion is cut short, however, when a unified shout of triumph is emitted from the singing and praying crowd as the darkness in the sky recedes, revealing a small proximal sun. You look up at the now-blue sky contemplatively. Does that mean it's daytime now? Seems a little odd. You don't think it's been that long.

On the bright side, you can see now. You look back at the majordomo, and note that he seems to be fully decked out in completely awful purple-and-green livery. You cast a critical eye at him as he looks back quizzically. What? You ask if he's still committed to that 'purple is illegal' thing, and he says yes without a hint of shame in his eyes. What does he call that, then, you ask about his livery.

He looks down, seemingly not understanding your question. Orange and gold, the colors of his house. Is there a problem?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 15, 2016, 07:54:57 am
Yeah, this is what I'm talking about. I climb in and start crawling to the left.

[Labyrinths of Anglefork: 3]

You explore leftward along the passage, which leads you along the wall, with strategically placed peepholes (or perhaps murderholes, you're pretty sure at least one of them's well-positioned to use for stabbing somebody asleep). It runs along the entirety of the wing, and at the end of the passage there is a hole leading down. Feeling around with your foot you locate a peg set into the wall, and another beneath that. Seems like you're supposed to climb down or something.

Also, seems like the castle is brightening up. Not that this helps in the passage, which is still pretty much pitch black.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 15, 2016, 08:44:07 am
Singing is promising sign of merrymaking and good drunken party. Praying is not. And lack of burning churches can be rectified later.

Locate singers and join the party wholeheartedly, singing about great treasures taken from enemies. Also try to create a minder trick to incude state of drunkenness on others. Test it.

"I love good party!"

[Tricks of the Mind: 3]

Well, you know how to make an alcoholic grapefruit. And how to send people packets of self-unwrapping information, sort of. You think that's a good recipe for getting someone absolutely knackered, so you try it out, sending a joyful-looking lady one such grapefruit. She looks at it confusedly. You don't think she's ever seen one of those before. Or at least that's what you think. She really just looks at her hand, so who knows what's actually happening there.

[Unleash the Animal: 3]

You don't think you mesh well with the party guests, either. It might have something to do with the way they can't see you and you're not calling out to the sun in glorious song to save them all from eternal darkness. Nevertheless, some of them try to accommodate you anyway, pretending to politely listen in the middle of their chanting. Or maybe they're not and you're just hoping they're listening.

Well, the sun comes out anyway, so you congratulate them for their fine effort. Well done, well done indeed! Now can you get to the drinking and revelry? A few look up at the sky at the question. Some of them are up for it, you think. Quite a few others just seem vaguely apprehensive despite the way Sun-Mouth Prudence appears to be assuring them that the ritual has worked perfectly.

Quote from: Toaster on February 15, 2016, 10:33:05 am
Thomas sighed.  No closer to any real answers, other than the location of... well, a road of sorts.  All he needed was transportation and he'd be off.

"Thank you for the assistance, sir guards.  I must be going now... but I'd rather not walk all the way down the road to the highway.  Is anyone driving that way?  Maybe a loaner bicycle?"

Surely futile quest for transportation.

[Foreign Devilry: 2]

They make a very good effort at pretending not to know what a bicycle or a car is, you must admit, looking almost genuinely bewildered by the very request.

In even worse news, even if your request wasn't hopelessly strange and near-indecipherable, the red-haired guy points out with what you hope is self-awareness rather than a vaguely patronizing smugness, there's kind of a siege going on. It might take a while to resolve. You're free to pitch in, though, he says with a chuckle. Maybe if you explain everything to the stoatmen they'll just let you leave.

You notice the castle brighten up. Is it morning already? With all these special effects it's hard to tell.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 15, 2016, 10:49:57 am
Mother of fuck I just fled the town and almost killed myself three times for no reason?

To hell with that!

Go hide in the trees and lift the darkness I created with SUN.

You're kind of already in the trees. You're not sure you want to climb one, since they're a bit burnt and ashy. Nevertheless, they might offer you some much-needed cover, as you get the feeling things may get potentially hot out here.

[Under Cover of Trees: 4]

Since running away is probably a better option than trying hide up in the branches, you just stand behind the tree, make ready for some applied linguistics, and then hop out, hands waving in arcane patterns even before you form that most wonderful syllable.

SUN

[Word: 5]

You need light. You need warmth. And you need this fucking darkness gone. You sense it up in the sky, your brother sun. It is enveloped in darkness, its passion smothered all but completely, much like your moonstone was. The solution seems intuitive now that you've come to know the extremes - the sun awakens slowly and steadily, power pouring into it as it starts to overcome the dark.

You're beginning to get good at this, you think as you withdraw your touch from its nascent mind so that it does not begin to recognize you, to remember why it sought you. It merely builds a glow, knowing no other purpose for now. And then, once daylight is safely restored, it stops. You lower your arms. Looking good, you think.

Lowering your eyes, you regard the area surrounding the castle. The stoatman ranks look relatively disorganized, metal-clad officers and padded grunts moving about as they enact twenty different protocols for minder trickery, all to absolutely no effect. Some of them appear to have knelt down and placed their heads on the ground, some have gathered in circles and begun shouting inspirational phrases, a few are trying to maintain formations and firing positions, but seem to be sorely lacking in anything worth shooting at. A few are trying to recover things off scorched and dust-flayed corpses strewn about here and there.

On one hand, they seem quite disorganized right now, although regrouping even as you consider them. However, you do believe there are still more than four hundred of them here, all of them rather decently armed and, more notably, completely cut off from any avenue of retreat. You think Sun Tzu had something to say about a situation like that.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 16, 2016, 03:29:12 pm
Jack shakes his head firmly.

"Nope. This," he taps a purple segment, "Is purple. The other one is green. Those are the colors. Clothes please."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 16, 2016, 03:45:50 pm
"Never let it be said that ERIC CODEBURN, CHILD OF THE SUN AND MOON left a job undone. You bastards ruined my clothes. Be cut down, and know your end draws near."

From the MOON to the Stoats, an engulfing storm of dust and glass! Shred their flesh, and make withered their bones!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 16, 2016, 06:51:55 pm
Wow, that Mr. Minstep fixed things faster than I expected. What a cool guy.

And now I can devote my full attention to this. I climb down the hole.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Toaster on February 16, 2016, 08:02:28 pm
((Credit where credit isn't due!))

Goodness.  Is time flying or has he just completely lost track of it?  "Fine then.  Where's the door?  I'll just go make my way out to these stout men and explain things.  Sounds like they might need better health insurance anyway if their diet is that bad.  I'm not even going to ask why they are in groups."


Seek egress.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 16, 2016, 08:07:46 pm
I'm gonna shove toaster full of crescent rolls.

and by crescent rolls I mean I'm gonna katamari his ass with an phase inaccurate moon.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 17, 2016, 02:54:32 am
Approach the victim of my trick.

"That's quite nice vodkafruit you got here, full of alcohol, no less. This seems like proper time to get drunk, don't you agree?"

Share good times (Erikson's Inexplicable Grapefruit) with people close by. INEVITABLE partytime!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 17, 2016, 05:11:47 am
Quote from: Xantalos on February 16, 2016, 03:29:12 pm
Jack shakes his head firmly.

"Nope. This," he taps a purple segment, "Is purple. The other one is green. Those are the colors. Clothes please."

[A Compelling Argument: 3]

That can't be right, he says. Are you sure? You say yes. He thinks you might be wrong. You say that this is, like, his opinion. Maybe valid, of course, but sadly irrelevant. Now then, off with the clothes. Oh dear, he says. What are you going to do? He'll see momentarily, you say, and the majordomo gulps. He's not sure he likes this. Also, people are watching. You still don't really care, and give his shoulder a gentle squeeze that gets uncomfortably close to dislocating his shoulder, the look in your eyes unsettlingly paternal.

INEVITABLE

Well, he says, uh... does he really have to take off his clothes here? Can't you, say, go inside the keep or something?

You look around. There's a crowd of people about, all enthused about the sudden return of the light. Most of them appear to be paying you no mind. One set of eyes, however, meets yours. It is the knight who tried to interrupt the ritual a while back, hand on her blade as she seems to observe your business with the majordomo with interest.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 16, 2016, 03:45:50 pm
"Never let it be said that ERIC CODEBURN, CHILD OF THE SUN AND MOON left a job undone. You bastards ruined my clothes. Be cut down, and know your end draws near."

From the MOON to the Stoats, an engulfing storm of dust and glass! Shred their flesh, and make withered their bones!

You think it's been a little too long since you last terrorized these stoatmen. Time to give them another taste.

MOON

[Word: 3]

A wind begins to pick up from the woods, blowing castleward. The stoatmen pause a moment as it starts to bite into their faces sharply, and within moments more orders begin to be barked at them by superiors - it's time to enact the impromptu scattering protocol, you believe. You see them start to take cover, anticipating more magical nonsense to come shortly. The wind, however, while clearly an unpleasant experience, does not seem to be immediately lethal in any sense, much to your disappointment.

[Stoats' Senses: 6]

The way the wind appears to be coming from the woods, however, is not lost upon their commanders. Units of stoatmen form up quickly enough, garbing themselves in whatever sheets and tent fragments they can find to guard against the dust, and move into firing positions by the riverside. They don't appear to know where you are, you don't think, but they seem quite determined to not take any magical guff from a stretch of burnt forest, forty stoatmen loading up their crossbows to unleash a volley on the suspected area, which unfortunately seems to include your position.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 16, 2016, 06:51:55 pm
Wow, that Mr. Minstep fixed things faster than I expected. What a cool guy.

And now I can devote my full attention to this. I climb down the hole.

[Labyrinths of Anglefork: 4]

You climb down the pegs - it's a bit of a trip. Further down than one floor, certainly. You're not entirely sure where you end up - the climb terminates in a short drop on a wooden floor, the resulting noise eliciting a response from the darkness.

Who's there, asks a woman's voice weakly. It sounds slightly familiar somehow. The room itself feels considerably more expansive than the secret passageway, though despite this the air feels, if anything, considerably more oppressive.

Quote from: Toaster on February 16, 2016, 08:02:28 pm
((Credit where credit isn't due!))

Goodness.  Is time flying or has he just completely lost track of it?  "Fine then.  Where's the door?  I'll just go make my way out to these stout men and explain things.  Sounds like they might need better health insurance anyway if their diet is that bad.  I'm not even going to ask why they are in groups."


Seek egress.

[Comfortable Egress: 5]

There's the main gate, of course. That's closed, however. Can't let anyone in, you understand. You could get some guards to lower you with a rope over the wall, of course. Or maybe take a dive into the moat. Might be a little difficult getting back in, of course, if you can't come to an arrangement with the besieging force.

Granted, this isn't something the red-haired guard can jolly well advise you to do, of course. The stoatmen can get a little... dedicated in their pursuits, if you catch his meaning. They're a little less forgiving of your kind of thing than, say, the castle folk. Very 'in-character', he clarifies. Almost fanatically so. And their axes and swords are actually pretty sharp, he's heard. So, er, you might want to wait until they go away? If they go away?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 17, 2016, 02:54:32 am
Approach the victim of my trick.

"That's quite nice vodkafruit you got here, full of alcohol, no less. This seems like proper time to get drunk, don't you agree?"

Share good times (Erikson's Inexplicable Grapefruit) with people close by. INEVITABLE partytime!

[Peer Pressure: 3]

She's... not sure she wants to eat fruit that she's unsure as to the origin of. She's had hallucinations like this before, and never have they ended well. It's not a hallucination, you say. Well, that's what all hallucinations say, she replies. She knows how this all works. Maybe she'll try it later, she says noncommittally. When she's sure it's real and not just a clod of dirt. You can see it, you lie confidently. Isn't that a good predictor of reality? She looks at her hand, then nibbles at it slightly. Her face becomes an expression of utmost distaste. You look at her in confusion before realizing the issue - don't eat the peel, the peel's not any good. It's the soft innards you want. She doesn't seem convinced.

Hm. You think this party needs a pick-me-up. And you think you have just the thing.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

Someone has to go for it, you're sure. And someone absolutely will. It's a matter of time more than it is of actual possibility. You walk over to a larger man. You approach a small servant girl. You draw closer to the priest. You tap a metal-clad woman on the shoulder. They all turn their heads from distant sides of the crowd, and become aware of a grapefruit in their hand. The metal-clad woman discards it. The priest ignores it. The larger man takes a moment to examine it. The servant girl, however, coos with excitement, becoming the one you have approached immediately. You instruct her to peel it and eat it, and she does, enjoying it immensely from the looks of it. Excellent! Now to do it again a few times.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 17, 2016, 05:35:22 am
"Alright fine, if you're that shy. Cmon, let's go, then I won't have to bother you no more."

Head inside the keep and wait while the majordomo disrobes. Then take his clothes, thank him for his cooperation and wish him a good rest of his existence or whatever, and go hurry off to the blacksmith. Wave cheerily to the knight if I see her again, though try to maintain some distance between us per our agreement.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 17, 2016, 05:59:49 am
"An explorer," I reply. "Who is this?" I creep toward the voice carefully, trying not to get too close unless I'm sure there's something separating us.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 17, 2016, 08:31:03 am
"God damnit not this shit again. Thought I had this stuff down."

Have the second SUN... refocus their attention. Like an ant gets its attention refocused by a kid with a magnifying glass.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Toaster on February 17, 2016, 09:01:15 am
Thomas looked at the wall warily.  While he did want out of here, the wall looked a bit high, and he wasn't fond of the idea of using a rope to get down.  "Isn't there a back door?  Surely a place this size has more than one entrance.  Even a large arena such as this should have a second safe fire exit.  Anyway, I'm sure those stout fellows won't bother me when they realize I'm not a... resident here.  Just visiting, as it is.  I'm sure the story behind it all is quite thrilling, but it's getting to be day again and I really don't want to be late for more work."

Another way, perhaps?  Rope lowering isn't that safe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 17, 2016, 01:51:40 pm
((Xantalos, if you want the Prison Stone, come and ask for it. Leif is in good mood.))

"You got the right attitude, girl! Here, have another!"

Spread more goodies around, I want my party! Enjoy my own products too.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 17, 2016, 03:17:15 pm
((Prison... Oh right the thing. I'll get that if I can figure out where you are and have a reason for it IC.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 17, 2016, 03:21:22 pm
((If you want a reason, I was singing about treasures plundered from enemies a moment ago, or were trying to. Front of chapel where everybody else were, so near you.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 17, 2016, 03:25:07 pm
((Hmm. Well then! I'm to be by the chapel soon anyway.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 18, 2016, 05:57:51 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 17, 2016, 05:35:22 am
"Alright fine, if you're that shy. Cmon, let's go, then I won't have to bother you no more."

Head inside the keep and wait while the majordomo disrobes. Then take his clothes, thank him for his cooperation and wish him a good rest of his existence or whatever, and go hurry off to the blacksmith. Wave cheerily to the knight if I see her again, though try to maintain some distance between us per our agreement.

You escort the majordomo inside to a less conspicuous hallway, where you relieve him of his livery. He is quite heartbroken by this criminal act on your part, so you console him with thanks, well wishes and heartfelt assurances that even if this avails you nothing else, at least you have spared the populace at large from having to look at the unspeakably ugly garment. He seems to not be set at ease by this, so you elect to just get back to business and let him sort out his own problems.

In only slightly more than a minute you appear by the blacksmith's door, passing by the knight as you head out and offering her a friendly wave which she does not seem to feel like returning.

Knocking quite sharply, you manage to summon the blacksmith. He seems mildly disoriented by the sudden light, though not overly so. Nights are usually longer than this in his experience. Maybe he was just absorbed in his work, he suggests without you asking. Speaking of, why the hell are you bothering him? Do you have everything?

No, you reply! But you do have this garment. It's purple!

[A Mystery of Colors: 5]

It's green, he retorts. But also purple, you say, to which he agrees. He gazes at it intently for a moment. What a... fascinating thing, really. How inexplicably colored! How strangely textured! How incredibly ugly! Look at it, says he, thrusting the garment outward! There is something in it! A missing ingredient! You fail to ask what it is, and he starts to inevitably explain - it is fame, you see! And infamy, too! Mostly infamy. All of it is infamy - like infamy, he means. Like infamy, but with greatness, do you see? Well, you- shut it! Bring the last thing! Until you do, he will sit down and try not to move. Emphasis on 'try' - as he does, you notice him start to fidget intensely.

It's all he can do to hold out now, you see in his eyes. Quick! Before he bursts with creativity!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 17, 2016, 05:59:49 am
"An explorer," I reply. "Who is this?" I creep toward the voice carefully, trying not to get too close unless I'm sure there's something separating us.

[Identify Yourself: 5]

You seem familiar, the voice says as it becomes familiar in turn. It's hard to recognize when not delivering a grim sermon of one kind or another, the voice having lost a certain edge, sounding a little distant and sleepy. It's the priestess from the odd shrine. Wonder what she's doing here of all places.

You approach closer. An explorer, the voice echoes after a moment. Where have you come from? What has driven you into this kingforsaken place?

Quote from: Dermonster on February 17, 2016, 08:31:03 am
"God damnit not this shit again. Thought I had this stuff down."

Have the second SUN... refocus their attention. Like an ant gets its attention refocused by a kid with a magnifying glass.

You have a brilliant idea on how best to distract a stoatman. What is it, a curious individual may ask. It is deliciously simple, you would retort to this hypothetical individual. You'll kill. Kill everyone!

SUN

[Word: 3]

The sun stirs up in the sky uneasily, your word awakening it ever so slightly. It pulses with a warm radiance. It begins to remember. It wanted to touch the earth. But why...?

[A Halting Caress: 3]

A sharp tendril of plasma runs down as a ray of light superheats the air, striking the ground. The stoat formations take notice of this - it is unsettlingly close to their position.

Things are looking poorer by the second. They are mired in forces they cannot understand. The sun itself seems to want them dead, appearing past midnight to preternaturally light the darkness. They falter for a moment until an order is barked at them by their superior. They are to aim at the woods and they are to fire. Now.

They aim. You pause a moment. These trees look a bit flimsy. Are they likely to protect you from stoatman crossbows? You suppose it's worth a try, you think as you duck behind one.

[Bolt Barrage: 6 vs. 5]
[The Cover of Trees: 4]

Two blindly fired bolts find their way to your unlikely tree, embedding themselves into the trunk. It creaks and complains, and only barely holds, damaged severely by flames supernatural. You thank your good fortune that it did not see fit to collapse all over you.

Quote from: Toaster on February 17, 2016, 09:01:15 am
Thomas looked at the wall warily.  While he did want out of here, the wall looked a bit high, and he wasn't fond of the idea of using a rope to get down.  "Isn't there a back door?  Surely a place this size has more than one entrance.  Even a large arena such as this should have a second safe fire exit.  Anyway, I'm sure those stout fellows won't bother me when they realize I'm not a... resident here.  Just visiting, as it is.  I'm sure the story behind it all is quite thrilling, but it's getting to be day again and I really don't want to be late for more work."

Another way, perhaps?  Rope lowering isn't that safe.

[Architectural Discussions: 2]

It's a castle, he says. Not letting people in was actually the reason they constructed it. Unfortunately, to not let people in when they really want to get in you also have to sacrifice the possibility of people leaving.

Also, warns the guard, the stoatmen are a bit... committed, so to speak. It is his opinion also that they ought to be committed, if you know what he means. Reasoning with them is in his experience largely a waste of breath and goodwill.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 17, 2016, 01:51:40 pm
((Xantalos, if you want the Prison Stone, come and ask for it. Leif is in good mood.))

"You got the right attitude, girl! Here, have another!"

Spread more goodies around, I want my party! Enjoy my own products too.

[The Party Can Always Find You: 3]

Nobody else seems particularly interested in your grapefruits, unfortunately, but the girl seems to like them just fine. So you give her more and have some yourself! One for her, one for you. One for her, one-two for you! One for her, one-two-three for you!

Oddly enough this leads to a sort of equilibrium where you manage to become exactly the same degree of drunk, taking cues from each other on what ought to be happening which your internal organs seem more than eager to follow through on. So it's much like mass hysteria, except the result is getting well and truly pissed for both of you.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 18, 2016, 06:01:36 pm
Oh hey, I know who their commander is?

GUESS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO GET VIOLENTLY SHREDDED BY THE MOON!?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Toaster on February 18, 2016, 06:23:05 pm
"Tsk.  I guess I'll look for myself then!"

Head up to the top of the wall.  Is there an easy way down?  For that matter, what are these stout fellows doing?  Is there a direction that one could just walk past them where they aren't?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 18, 2016, 08:41:38 pm
"Right now I'm looking for anything that could help against the stoats. I figure there might be something powerful hidden away, so I'm searching every dark corner I can find. Why are you down here?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 18, 2016, 08:46:26 pm
I was beginning to wonder when someone would finally actually notice what I've been doing for multiple turns now. Looks like toasters first up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 18, 2016, 10:10:24 pm
"I'll be back quick enough, no worry."

While I'm probably strong enough to lift the stained glass window out, mayhaps it'd be too awkward to carry over and fit into this little cottage. Instead, go around the area of the chapel and such asking if anyone has anything priceless.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 19, 2016, 03:17:47 am
Where's my INEVITABLE party?! I want it! Two people don't make party yet!

((Hopefully it's not another 3, got enough those already.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 19, 2016, 03:02:28 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on February 18, 2016, 06:01:36 pm
Oh hey, I know who their commander is?

GUESS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO GET VIOLENTLY SHREDDED BY THE MOON!?

[The Chain of Command: 2]

Not so much their commander. Rather, they are two lieutenants, each in charge of a 20-strong detachment of crossbowstoats. Not sure who they're getting their orders from, really, but they seem armored and important. Maybe you ought to kill one and see what happens.

MOON

[Word: 4]

You point at one of the lieutenants and invoke the moon. The dust winds rise, a sudden sharp gale growing to amazing speed as it runs right into the lieutenant and some of its compatriots, lifting the former off its feet as the dust tears into its full suit of chain and padding.

[Lieutenant's Arc: 4]

You see it curl up mid-air, covering up its exposed bits of skin, which are few in number. It lands in an inhuman roll, and as blood begins to liberally flow from its face, joints and certain parts of its armor you hear it shriek the order to fire, the other lieutenant echoing it immediately. They seem to think the intensification of violent supernatural events in their vicinity as proof positive of them being on the right track.

[Stoats' Competence: 4]

Unfortunately for you, at this stage the stoatmen appear to have reloaded their crossbows already, so the order couldn't have possibly come at a better time. They loose their bolts all at once.

[Bolt Barrage: 5 vs. 1]

This time they do not miss, either. A fortuitously aimed bolt pierces through your cover-tree, as do two others. One plinks off your orbiting stone, another lands in the ashy ground nearby. Not the third, however. The third gets you right in the neck, taking out a large chunk as it goes through the soft flesh and hits a tree off behind you, and you emit an involuntary sound of surprise as you begin to paint the landscape a slick and shining red in twice-a-second sprays.

[Stoats' Awareness: 2]

Despite the way you seem to be not quite hidden anymore, you don't think the 40-odd stoats actually see you yet. Not that this is about to stop them from unloading in your direction anyway.

Quote from: Toaster on February 18, 2016, 06:23:05 pm
"Tsk.  I guess I'll look for myself then!"

Head up to the top of the wall.  Is there an easy way down?  For that matter, what are these stout fellows doing?  Is there a direction that one could just walk past them where they aren't?

You walk up to the top of the battlements and take a look around.

[Matters of Observation: 1]

You don't think those stout people are very well-named, truth be told. They seem more short-limbed and weird-looking. They're also scurrying all around in what you think is probably a civil war reenactment or some other kind of mass larp. They seem a bit preoccupied with something, being all shouty and moving about and making lines while aiming crossbows and what have you at all sorts of places.

There's also an awfully dusty and unpleasant wind that bites into your unclothed torso and unshielded eyes, so you decide to not look for very long. Eugh, must be some kind of old dust bowl area. Would it kill people to plant some tree lines? It'd certainly improve property values over a ten-year period. Such a lack of forward thought from these people.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 18, 2016, 08:41:38 pm
"Right now I'm looking for anything that could help against the stoats. I figure there might be something powerful hidden away, so I'm searching every dark corner I can find. Why are you down here?"

She is resting. A vicious defiler stole her altar cloth and clubbed her across the head with a brick - she has sent out the loyal knight to hunt him down and bring him to justice for his crimes while she lies in wait. That would be Mr. Codeburn, you guess, and quite correctly at that. This is a safe place, she says.

[Secrets of the Labyrinth: 1]

Further than this, however, she would advise that you not go. The dark gets far more inhospitable from here to those who are not trained in navigating it. She seems to not feel like clarifying this statement any further.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 18, 2016, 10:10:24 pm
"I'll be back quick enough, no worry."

While I'm probably strong enough to lift the stained glass window out, mayhaps it'd be too awkward to carry over and fit into this little cottage. Instead, go around the area of the chapel and such asking if anyone has anything priceless.

[Keen Ears and Loose Tongues: 3]

There are indeed blabbermouths and nosy, conniving bastards in this crowd, of that you have no doubt. An overlap of these two, however, is remarkably difficult to find. You have some hopes for a girl who appears incredibly drunk, but she doesn't seem entirely able to process your question, let alone formulate an answer. You also consider asking Mr. Erikson, but he seems to be busy staring at people intently and saying stuff like

INEVITABLE

So you decide not to bother him and the like five hungry metaphorical zombies he accumulates over the next few minutes, and consider instead that maybe commoners aren't the people to ask about where you'd find expensive shit you could steal.

... although that priest looks a bit more promising, burnt and much-abused as he may be. It's his chapel, after all. Maybe he's got like a golden ruby-studded chalice stashed in there somewhere. And maybe you'll need to wring the information out of him, but then maybe he's also a sacrifice you're willing to make. Ooh, and that knight has armor and a sword and a shield, all of them of likely to be of very good quality. She does seem to be paying close attention to you, so maybe nicking her stuff non-violently might be a problem.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 19, 2016, 03:17:47 am
Where's my INEVITABLE party?! I want it! Two people don't make party yet!

((Hopefully it's not another 3, got enough those already.))

One of two things will happen: you will get this party started or the world will crumble before you manage. No alternatives exist.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 2]

Well, either that or people will lose interest in praying and singing and just start getting back to their lives. That does appear to be a much more likely possibility you've gone and overlooked. The crowd begins to disperse, and you pursue them to the best of your drunken ability.

[The Party Can Always Find You: 6]

Some people can find it in their hearts to refuse a grapefruit on grounds of unexplained origin - there are a few others, however. Desperate, emaciated, utterly lacking in rats of any sort, elated by the reappearance of the sun - these people, you realize, will take what they can get. They don't even question it, really. They just eat right up, and hardly even notice that they haven't really been fed as they are filled with the warmth of alcohol. You gather a whole five desperate souls from all walks of life, and they shamble to you. They want more, they slur with desire. Give them more.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Xantalos on February 19, 2016, 03:09:11 pm
Go over to the priest.

"Oh hey, you're still alive? Wow, you're a resilient fellow. Hey listen, I know you're sorta preoccupied with recovering from being burnt to a crisp, but do you have anything priceless in your possession, or in yonder chapel? I need it for a project, you see, and taking those windows you have there seems like it'd be troublesome."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 19, 2016, 03:10:56 pm
"I see. What kind of place is this, anyway? A hermitage or something?" As we talk I move around and try to discern the shape of the room.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Toaster on February 19, 2016, 03:56:33 pm
Of course.  Nasty weather pops up just when I want to leave.  It'd be silly to go out there while a sandstorm is kicking up; best wait it out here.

Thomas headed back down.

A coat would be great, but a shirt will suffice.  Anything similar lying around?

...any place to subtly shake some of the sand out of the nether regions?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: Dermonster on February 19, 2016, 04:01:12 pm
The priest is still alive!?

God damnit.

Also GOD DAMNIT WHY.

It'd be really nice if someone else could whip up some supernatural fuckery and distract the stoats.

Moon! Bring the darkness back please!

Wrap neck in nightgown cloth and, uh. Rest?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 19, 2016, 04:16:05 pm
And more they shall have! Sing! Lift the mood!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 19, 2016, 06:11:11 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 19, 2016, 03:09:11 pm
Go over to the priest.

"Oh hey, you're still alive? Wow, you're a resilient fellow. Hey listen, I know you're sorta preoccupied with recovering from being burnt to a crisp, but do you have anything priceless in your possession, or in yonder chapel? I need it for a project, you see, and taking those windows you have there seems like it'd be troublesome."

You walk up to the priest and congratulate him on his extraordinarily unlikely survival. He merely looks about with a sense of satisfaction, not even sparing you a glance. You suppose he's beaming with pride or something. You start to explain about your quest, figuring he ought to be sympathetic to your plight. You sort of trail off as he just goes off to chat with another member of his community, a young scullery maid from the castle who happens to be a full head taller than him.

You'd think him rude, but the way he seems to have managed to completely ignore you despite the way you were standing right in front of him and speaking in your most intimidatingly friendly tone of voice strikes you as downright maliciously disrespectful. Well, you guess you could just see how he likes it when you make off with his entire damn window and not listen to anything he has to say.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 19, 2016, 03:10:56 pm
"I see. What kind of place is this, anyway? A hermitage or something?" As we talk I move around and try to discern the shape of the room.

Not an hermitage. A gateway. Past here lies the kingdom of the dead, where history goes to lay silent for future onlookers, the truth laid bare for all to see. It is not for the faint-hearted or unsteady of foot, or those with impure intentions to trespass upon. She has made sure this is so. A true priest's answer all right.

You look around the room and conclude that you are effectively blind. There probably is a way to light this place up, since you assume someone was intended to come here at some point, but there's no mode of lighting available that would help alleviate the pitch blackness.

Quote from: Toaster on February 19, 2016, 03:56:33 pm
Of course.  Nasty weather pops up just when I want to leave.  It'd be silly to go out there while a sandstorm is kicking up; best wait it out here.

Thomas headed back down.

A coat would be great, but a shirt will suffice.  Anything similar lying around?

...any place to subtly shake some of the sand out of the nether regions?

[Clothes for the Naked: 6]

You walk down into the courtyard, where you happen to find some very convenient clothes lying around - a slightly tight garment, requires a little creative adjustment, a deepening of the neckline, the sleeves are a bit short, but you suppose it makes for a decent enough coat, and it's a nice shade of light blue that one can't help but appreciate, and... well, you really can't think of any other good aspects of you putting on what you now obviously realize to be a dress. It's... really quite tight on you. To the point where you appear to be having some trouble getting out of it.

Also, there's a naked girl dancing nearby. She seems inordinately amused at your choice of outfit, and also very drunk. You suspect all the listed factors to be somewhat related. The sand on your groin chafes that much harder as your tighter wrappings constrain you. Shaking it off seems like a remote possibility, since you would likely need to undress to do so properly.

Quote from: Dermonster on February 19, 2016, 04:01:12 pm
The priest is still alive!?

God damnit.

Also GOD DAMNIT WHY.

It'd be really nice if someone else could whip up some supernatural fuckery and distract the stoats.

Moon! Bring the darkness back please!

Wrap neck in nightgown cloth and, uh. Rest?

This is really going very poorly, you think. Time for a rollback.

MOON

[Word: 1]

You aim your hand at the second sun as you invoke the moon once again, and it-no!

No! The sun rails against your word, its glare intensifying. It remembers! What you are doing, it knows what it is! It remembers the cold and the dark and the agony of senselessness! You will not quench the flame! You will not do this thing! Its surface roils as a small spot passes over its surface, the shadow of a distant moon, dwarfed by an outpouring of emotion. It pulses with unbridled rage once more, memory flooding back into it. You want to kill it again, brother? It will not be as easy as the first time.

[Sun's Revenge: 5 vs. 1]

A tendril of ionized air forms as your brother-sun unleashes a carefully-measured fraction of its power. It spirals through the air as it seeks your position. In the blink of an eye it strikes like lightning, your entire body lighting up as its temperature transcends what your nerves could even conceivably comprehend. It is the work of milliseconds, remarkably painless in its stellar inefficiency. You start to evaporate from the inside out, your outer layers of tissue exploding outward as your insides burst and disintegrate, the chunks of burning flesh existing for only moments longer as they, too, turn into so much vapor. The earth under you liquefies and glasses over, the forest catching on fire again, your moonstone blasting off into the horizon as a shapeless liquid mass of extraterrestrial lava, steadily but incompletely evaporating on the way.

Wisps of your former body scatter to the four winds, forming afterimages of scurrying rats in visceral condensate as they disappear into the dark corners of the ravaged landscape.

You are dead.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 19, 2016, 04:16:05 pm
And more they shall have! Sing! Lift the mood!

[The Party Can Always Find You: 3]

You sing as you bequeath your wealth of grapefruits to the hungry and the destitute, letting them get absolutely wasted in no time at all. When they can stand no more and their knees give way, you let them fall to the ground in admiration, and give a grapefruit extra for their valiant attempt at keeping up with you. Raising your arms to the sky, you stand elated in a circle of passed out drunks that seems to have now formed around you. This must be what being a priest feels like on a good day.

Spoiler: Tips of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Dermonster on February 19, 2016, 06:15:14 pm
Oh come the fuck on. This is litteraly the only game I actually play on this forum and the dice just up and explode me.

God damnit. Welp, I guess nobody will ever see me again. This isn't me whining, I just literally don't post anywhere else except in the ooc thread.

In another game, chaps.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 19, 2016, 06:22:24 pm
Quote from: Dermonster on February 19, 2016, 06:15:14 pm
Oh come the fuck on. This is litteraly the only game I actually play on this forum and the dice just up and explode me.

God damnit. Welp, I guess nobody will ever see me again. This isn't me whining, I just literally don't post anywhere else except in the ooc thread.

In another game, chaps.

In any case, good to have had you in the game. Hope you extracted some measure of enjoyment from it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Dermonster on February 19, 2016, 06:24:40 pm
I did, it was in fact pretty fantastic.

I'm pretty upset that the dice, which usually make OTHER PEOPLE have terrible things happen to them, were so against me the entire time.

I just really wish I could keep going. There wasn't even any conclusion to the stuff I was doing. Nobody noticed it outside a half reference to the color of the sky. Feels incomplete.


if you start up another game, give me a PM. My email alerts have been fucking up for the past two years.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Xantalos on February 19, 2016, 08:54:05 pm
"Know what, fine. Won't have no damn window to look through by the time I'm done."

Go inside the chapel and try lifting the moon window out of its frame. How heavy is it compared to my new strength?

If it starts to fall on me, pitch it away from me so I don't get hit by falling glass.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 19, 2016, 09:10:26 pm
So this is either a magical realm or a spooky catacomb. Worth investigation either way.

"I need to pass. The lives of the people in this city may depend on it. I seek only the power to be able to aid them."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Toaster on February 19, 2016, 09:38:08 pm
((I completely forgot about it as well.  No harm, no foul.))

How inappropriate!

Yeah, this chafing needs to go.  Find a private place to shake it out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 20, 2016, 04:27:38 am
"I'm prophet of Ægir, the brewer of gods!" Erik laughs loudly. "Let's get wasted!"

More imaginary booze for anyone who wants it!
Seems like it is time to visit stouts. Got a job and all. Maybe vodkafruit helps them to relax. In other words, get out of the castle.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 20, 2016, 07:58:12 am
Quote from: Xantalos on February 19, 2016, 08:54:05 pm
"Know what, fine. Won't have no damn window to look through by the time I'm done."

Go inside the chapel and try lifting the moon window out of its frame. How heavy is it compared to my new strength?

If it starts to fall on me, pitch it away from me so I don't get hit by falling glass.

You give as good as you get, and intend to take much more as you walk into the chapel and take a look at the moon-themed window.

[Preternatural Applications: 3]

Well, doesn't seem too heavy. Only like three stories tall. You could probably get it to the cottage without a problem - the main issue, really, is with how you're about to get it out of the wall in one piece. You don't really have any tools aside from meaty fists and steely fingers, neither of which seem terribly conducive to delicate work such as this.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 19, 2016, 09:10:26 pm
So this is either a magical realm or a spooky catacomb. Worth investigation either way.

"I need to pass. The lives of the people in this city may depend on it. I seek only the power to be able to aid them."

[Cryptic Indications: 1]

You ask the wrong person, the priestess says. She can offer wisdom, but not safe passage. One cannot pass into the kingdom of the dead without weathering the risk of staying there. So if you feel you are the one to save everyone, it is up to you and you alone to prove it.

Quote from: Toaster on February 19, 2016, 09:38:08 pm
((I completely forgot about it as well.  No harm, no foul.))

How inappropriate!

Yeah, this chafing needs to go.  Find a private place to shake it out.

[An Inconspicuous Location: 4]

You walk behind a nearby cottage to obtain some privacy and commence your attempts to free yourself of your enduring discomfort.

[Shake It Off: 2]

You shake resolutely after making sure nobody can see. You shake to the left, then shake to the right. You shake clockwise and counterclockwise, drawing dreadfully close to recapturing a misspent youth in the process.

The sand, however, clings strongly to your sensitive bits. All of what could have been shaken off, you feel, already has been. You may need more drastic measures to remove what is left. Water, presumably. Quite a bit of it.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 20, 2016, 04:27:38 am
"I'm prophet of Ægir, the brewer of gods!" Erik laughs loudly. "Let's get wasted!"

More imaginary booze for anyone who wants it!
Seems like it is time to visit stouts. Got a job and all. Maybe vodkafruit helps them to relax. In other words, get out of the castle.

[The Party Can Always Find You: 5]

You address the remnants of the crowd around you, letting them look upon these people you have taken to new heights of drunkenness. They witness your power most adequately, you believe, as you see quite a few become convinced. You let them taste of the fruit, all the fruit they could possibly desire, and feel satisfied as drunken revelry properly commences among these miserable people. Truly you are a messenger of the gods, you proclaim, meeting with incoherent support from your smashed believers.

Feeling like you can take on the world, you go and look for some sort of exit.

[To Battle: 6]

The gate's locked, the guards look unfriendly, and they don't want any of your fruit. They seem considerably on edge about the sudden appearance of two new suns, of which one appears to be moving around in the sky and the other of which seems like it's boiling one of the rivers. And also that everything seems to be on fire.

None of this stops you from pestering them anyway, naturally, or offering each and every one of them a grapefruit close to a dozen times at varying times during several conversations. They say you can't go through the gate. The gate stays bloody closed, they say. Go home, you're fucking drunk, they say. One of them, however, is helpful! The thirteenth time you offer a grapefruit, the guard recommends you take a dive off the battlements.

Thinking on this for a moment, you concur that this is a marvelous idea, patting the guard on the back. She seems satisfied at having helped you so immensely.

[A Flip of the Coin: 1]

You back up a little, then from a running start execute an uncanny swan dive off the battlements, flailing through the air as you forget what you were doing midway through. Your flight is rather short as you flop relaxedly right on top of a roof that promptly fails to hold under your considerable momentum, and plummet right through with a mighty crash, landing on a floor made of polished wood. It depresses in several places as you roll on it a little. Sitting up, you take a look around.

It takes a few moments for you to realize that you seem to be inside of a house. Or a workshop. Who knows. There's a lovely young woman here, staring at you wide-eyed. Heyyyy, you say, pointing at her with both hands. She takes a step closer.

Sir, she says. Are you all right? You hear a single solitary knock right from beneath you. The odd-looking square of polished wood you appear to have fallen on seems to extend over a majority of the floor. You offer her a grapefruit, which perplexes her further. Placing it on a nearby table, she seems bewildered when it's not there when she looks again.

Sir, she repeats. If you can get up, could you follow her instructions on where to step, she says, steepling her fingers nervously. Could you follow them exactly?

Oscar Wilde

You awaken. Or do you? It is dark, and thus quite difficult to see.

You feel four walls constricting you, enveloping you from all sides, feeling like a coffin coated in thick slime. You stir lightly, eliciting distant squeaks from behind you.

You appear to be trapped in some sort of horizontal shaft leading forward and backward, what little air there is available stinking to high heaven. You have no recollection of how you got here, which is odd, as you feel you'd probably notice if somebody abducted you and stuffed you into such a small space. You suspect something has gone terribly wrong here. Maybe this is a dream?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 20, 2016, 08:30:42 am
This is starting to seem like a bad idea. And this priestess could not be less helpful. Oh well, I suppose can come back later when I'm more prepared. I do know an omniscient darkness that I assume can tell me more about what's down here.

"Maybe it's not the time. I could still probably seek help elsewhere. I may return here later, but I hope that I won't have to." I head towards the exit and climb up and out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Toaster on February 20, 2016, 10:41:07 am
Well, might as well find a shower.  Or a bath.  Or something.

Water, water, wherefore art thou water?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 20, 2016, 11:38:29 am
"Hey there, love. How's it going? Me? I'm pleasantly drunk, as is prophet for proper of Ægir! So no, love, I probably can't follow your isntructions exactly. But for you, I will surely try! And you!" Leif shouts at the panel beneath him. "We are having tender moment here, don't disturb unless you want highly alcoholic fruits!"

Try following her instructions if she still wants to give them.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Xantalos on February 20, 2016, 12:47:02 pm
"Well ... eh fuck it, if people get hurt by this they shouldn't have been partying outside a religious building."

Can I just push the window out of the wall? I don't care overly much if it breaks. If I can, do so and then duck to avoid flying glass splinters.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: TopHat on February 20, 2016, 02:29:26 pm
"Well. Err. Where am I? Help? Anyone? This isn't funny, you know!"
Call for help, then feel the walls and attempt to work out how much freedom of movement I have. Can I turn to look behind? Crawl forwards, somehow?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 20, 2016, 05:58:20 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 20, 2016, 08:30:42 am
This is starting to seem like a bad idea. And this priestess could not be less helpful. Oh well, I suppose can come back later when I'm more prepared. I do know an omniscient darkness that I assume can tell me more about what's down here.

"Maybe it's not the time. I could still probably seek help elsewhere. I may return here later, but I hope that I won't have to." I head towards the exit and climb up and out.

[A Convenient Exit: 1]

You may recall that your descent down here terminated in a short drop. Well, let's just say it feels a lot longer when you are trying to jump up and grab onto one of the pegs set into the shaft - a minute or so of trying fails to produce any results on this front.

Perhaps it is the time, the priestess retorts in a satisfied manner. You have no say in such things, she is eager to point out - when history decides to test you, there may be no turning back. You can succeed, or otherwise be rightly forgotten.

Quote from: Toaster on February 20, 2016, 10:41:07 am
Well, might as well find a shower.  Or a bath.  Or something.

Water, water, wherefore art thou water?

[The Whys of Water: 6]

Wherefore is water? Why is the earth? How is the sky? The answer, of course, lies in the course of the stars and the formation of worlds. That ancient dance of the spheres that gives rise to all things known and unknown in the universe, immense beyond comprehension, beautiful in its fractal complexity as its basic elements collide and intermix to produce the land, the sky and the life buzzing merrily along either in permutations beyond counting.

You contemplate this and more deeply, a thoughtful expression crossing your face as you pour a bucket of ice cold well water from the functional courtyard well down your pants, your jaw dropping as a groan of relief escapes your lips. The icy comfort nearly takes you off your feet, your breath taken away as you verge on the cusp of enlightenment.

[Insights From The Ice-Cold Junk: 6]

You breathe in again as you place a hand on the solid stone of the well's edge, a shiver spreading through your body. You feel like a man in an ad, an encapsulation of the 'after' shaped by a keen understanding of the 'before'. A vision of newfound beauty, a revelation of the life that you could have and did obtain, all through the most simple possible course of action. The physiological cool sets your mind at ease. Where you once had abrasion and keen awareness of a certain tightness, now you have but a comfortable numbness. Where once there was annoyance, now there is merely

ABSENCE

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 20, 2016, 11:38:29 am
"Hey there, love. How's it going? Me? I'm pleasantly drunk, as is prophet for proper of Ægir! So no, love, I probably can't follow your isntructions exactly. But for you, I will surely try! And you!" Leif shouts at the panel beneath him. "We are having tender moment here, don't disturb unless you want highly alcoholic fruits!"

Try following her instructions if she still wants to give them.

[Verbal Disentanglement: 5]

Right, so... get up - no, put your foot a little to the right, that's it. Now jump a foot to the left, take a two-foot step to the right... yes, quite good. Now put your hands on your hips, and bring your knees together. A little tighter. Now start to shimmy along forward. That's it. You've got it.

Now, there's more to this, she says. But really you just want to dive forward and off the platform. You're close enough. There! Excellent dive. The woman walks up to you and holds on to your hand as she pulls you up to your feet. Well done, she says. Masterfully executed. Not a single thing has been harmed, and not an unwanted door has opened. All is as it should be.

Though... hm. She looks into your eyes. You seem really quite... capable, she says in a considerably lowered voice. Surprisingly delicate, unusually nimble. Have you ever considered, she speaks lower still, and you essentially read her lips by the end as her voice fades completely, have you ever considered carpentry?

Quote from: Xantalos on February 20, 2016, 12:47:02 pm
"Well ... eh fuck it, if people get hurt by this they shouldn't have been partying outside a religious building."

Can I just push the window out of the wall? I don't care overly much if it breaks. If I can, do so and then duck to avoid flying glass splinters.

[The Hand That Wrecks The Church: 2]

You can definitely break the window in this fashion, yes. This is something you waste no time in empirically confirming, a number of large glass shards coming down upon you like a rain of guillotine blades as you push right through the stained glass pane.

[Unlikely Dodge: 2]

You do kind of trip over the window frame as you lose your balance and fall forward, and are somewhat glad when many of the shards have the good sense to miss you. One more lands on you flatly. Another basically slices your left kidney in half, though, but that could not reasonably be helped, you decide. Besides, you totally have another one.

Quote from: TopHat on February 20, 2016, 02:29:26 pm
"Well. Err. Where am I? Help? Anyone? This isn't funny, you know!"
Call for help, then feel the walls and attempt to work out how much freedom of movement I have. Can I turn to look behind? Crawl forwards, somehow?

There is no response. Perhaps that is for the best. You do not relish the thought of being trapped in a tunnel with someone else, whether they were to share your predicament or, god forbid, bear you outright malice. Especially since it feels like you're naked. You try to look around, but find your range of motion sadly limited - if you could look behind, you're not sure you could see past yourself. The shaft feels horribly claustrophobic.

You do find, however, that you can move forward. A vague crawl, barely even considerable as motion. But serviceable, ultimately.

[A Dark and Foreboding Shaft: 4]

You crawl along for a fair bit before you begin to make out a glint of firelight off in the distance. It is but the vaguest flicker, and you desperately inch toward it until your face can touch what feels like a grate, affixed loosely into the shaft, its other side obstructed by what look like pots, but nevertheless mildly lit by a distant fire. The air feels fresher, the squeaks of rodents more distant. Freedom is within your grasp.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Xantalos on February 20, 2016, 06:06:19 pm
"Oh that's right, I have enough strength to push right through the glass. It's harder to remember that than you'd think."

Hold the wound shut and try to stop bleeding, if I am bleeding a significant amount.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Toaster on February 20, 2016, 06:58:50 pm
((Don't drink the water.))

...Huh.  That word had a weird echo.  Guess it's the courtyard.  Mmmm... maybe the wind's died down?


Check the outside again.  Maybe another direction?  Can the road be seen?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 20, 2016, 10:04:41 pm
((AoshimaMichio, you should repeat that little maneuver she told you to do. Trust me.))

"I assume you're not going to tell me how you plan on leaving?" I search for another exit and take it. I guess I'll just have to hope it doesn't lead to the underworld.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 21, 2016, 04:11:31 am
Looking deep into her eyes, holding her hand, Leif whispers back: "Dear, I have considered many things. Miner by trade, partymaker by divine call, why not a carpenter too? I have heard that a son of some god was a one. However, I was doing something important when I fell here. I forgot what it was, but it was important. Probably party related. Would you like a nice fruit? It is tasty, I promise."

Drunkenly consider the offer seriously. Seriously offer the magical party fruit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: TopHat on February 21, 2016, 07:45:36 am
So close and yet so far...
Push the grate, pull the grate, shake the grate, hell, headbutt the grate if necessary, just get it open and get out!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Toaster on February 21, 2016, 09:32:43 am
((If the roll title for a headbutt isn't "Using your Head" I may just be disappointed.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 21, 2016, 03:35:10 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 20, 2016, 06:06:19 pm
"Oh that's right, I have enough strength to push right through the glass. It's harder to remember that than you'd think."

Hold the wound shut and try to stop bleeding, if I am bleeding a significant amount.

[Excuses For Medicine: 4]

You clamp your hand over the considerably sliced part of your side and press it resolutely, all blood flow stopping momentarily. Rising up from the window frame you stand there a moment, the flow staunched very adequately as far as you can tell. You guess that ought to be good enough for now, even if it only leaves you with one free hand. Hopefully it'll heal quickly enough.

Quote from: Toaster on February 20, 2016, 06:58:50 pm
((Don't drink the water.))

...Huh.  That word had a weird echo.  Guess it's the courtyard.  Mmmm... maybe the wind's died down?


Check the outside again.  Maybe another direction?  Can the road be seen?

You take another walk up to the battlements and check if conditions have improved.

[When The Weather Is Fine: 3]

The wind's not quite so abrasive anymore, you think. Weather's quieting down pretty quickly, it seems. You take a walk along the wall and look for anything that looks like a road.

[Spying of Eyes: 5]

Making your rounds all around the castle walls, you spot several things. First of all, the castle appears to be located on an artificial island, and currently appears to be lacking a bridge leading off it, the path leading down from the castle gate ending at the river in a way suggestive of some kind of catastrophic event. The stout people out in the field seem very displeased at this.

The road itself appears to emerge from the ashen woods, forking off a larger road that runs back to a town to the south, the environs no doubt a victim of a recent forest fire. One that seems to be still going on further away, in fact. Quite interesting, the way it seems to have started right on the other side of the island, both sides of both rivers, in fact, yet almost completely failed to touch the grass of the isle.

Also, you notice two luminous objects. One seems to be the sun. It is flying away suspiciously quickly, you find. A lot faster than it usually does in your experience, at least. The other, a smaller sun-like object, looks to be hanging over the river, boiling its waters as they pass beneath it. An... unorthodox method of purification, you must admit, particularly given the way you see dead fish progressively bob up from further downriver.

Finally you spot a patch of woods where the ground seems completely black and vaguely shiny in the current lighting conditions. Is that... glass? How odd.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 20, 2016, 10:04:41 pm
((AoshimaMichio, you should repeat that little maneuver she told you to do. Trust me.))

"I assume you're not going to tell me how you plan on leaving?" I search for another exit and take it. I guess I'll just have to hope it doesn't lead to the underworld.

Her leaving, the priestess says, is more a matter of if than how. If her head clears, if her strength returns, if her faithful companion brings the defiler to justice - if all these things are to be, then she will think of leaving. And if not, then there is little she can do anyway. You sigh and decide to try and figure your own way out.

[An Inconvenient Exit: 4]

You step over to what feels like a wall, placing your left hand on it, and follow it around the darkened chamber. It is an excellent strategy, you find, as you immediately find three different exits, each about a six foot wide passage into the cold and foreboding darkness smelling of mold and ancient death.

Figuring these to be a poor idea to explore without light, you do another circuit, but place your hand lower to the ground. A smart plan, you realize when you manage to find another wooden panel, quite small, but nevertheless human-compatible, affixed to the wall that does not seem to have had a passage to the underworld on it. Feeling it out, you find the handle and open it readily. This passage is a marked difference from the three others, as this almost floors you with its complex aroma of rat feces overlaying a solid base of damp indescribability.

Anyhow, you seem to have no shortage of exciting alternatives for egress, all of them completely lacking in visibility. One of them even appears to lack basic dignity. Your fumbling attracts a small cackle from the priestess. She seems to appreciate your spirit.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 21, 2016, 04:11:31 am
Looking deep into her eyes, holding her hand, Leif whispers back: "Dear, I have considered many things. Miner by trade, partymaker by divine call, why not a carpenter too? I have heard that a son of some god was a one. However, I was doing something important when I fell here. I forgot what it was, but it was important. Probably party related. Would you like a nice fruit? It is tasty, I promise."

Drunkenly consider the offer seriously. Seriously offer the magical party fruit.

[The Party Can Always Find You: 4]

She humors your offer, having one of your vodka-filled grapefruits. It seems to lift her spirits even further, though it seems to be your agreement that she truly craves, looking into your eyes with unabashed hope.

What you need to do, she says, is indeed quite simple. You need to step back onto the platform, and then there are some steps required. She smiles as she touches your shoulder lightly. Indeed, some steps required...

Quote from: TopHat on February 21, 2016, 07:45:36 am
So close and yet so far...
Push the grate, pull the grate, shake the grate, hell, headbutt the grate if necessary, just get it open and get out!

[Bang Your Head: 3]

You push forward weakly, your face pressing against the grate. You attempt to grab it, but your arm feels stuck. Both of your arms feel stuck. Best you can do is try to wrap your fingers around it in that department. You shake it and yell for help, but none seems forthcoming.

Desperate, you try the next thing to come to your mind, and slam your head into the grate as hard as you can. It budges slightly. Your head feels like it budged slightly too. Why the hell did you think this was a good idea? God, you think you're bleeding. Blood's getting into your eyes.

It sort of worked, though. You think. As mentioned, blood's getting into your eyes. Headbutting something made of metal seems an increasingly poorer idea. Although you guess it... sort of worked? Wait, you already thought that. You remember it now. Oh god, do you have brain damage now? Are you just screwed by your impulsive decision to use your head in an unfortunately literal sense?

Whatever the case, you guess your approach sort of worked. And also blood is getting into your eyes.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Toaster on February 21, 2016, 03:46:25 pm
Huh.  Never thought I'd see ball lightning.  What odd properties.

Anyway, not going to be going out that way.  Forget a bicycle; I need a boat.

Locate the dockmaster around here.  Who is the master of boating?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 21, 2016, 04:30:52 pm
What wierd foreplay. Oh well, stoats can wait. Let's dance!

"Baby, I'll show you my moves..."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Xantalos on February 21, 2016, 04:37:15 pm
"Hmm. I reckon this works, but it'd probably be better if I got it stitched shut or something. Who knows, maybe there's a doctor around these parts."

Go out of the church and ask the nearest sober person if there's a doctor or someone with needle and thread or something like that around here. If knight lady happens to be the only one available, ask her from a distance.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: TopHat on February 21, 2016, 04:50:52 pm
Gah. Too late to stop now, though.
Push grate open fully, preferably with fingers this time. If not, headbutt grate again, though more carefully. With luck the damage won't be permanent.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 21, 2016, 05:24:07 pm
I suppose the rat shit tunnel leads somewhere mundane... Honestly, though, it probably leads to these guys' heaven or something. They really do like rats.

Whatever lies ahead, I guess I should try to be as prepared as I possible. I sit down and try to rest against the wall as I contemplate my situation. What shape is the room? Rectangular, I suppose, with an exit on each wall? The positioning might have some symbolism. And which wall did I climb down?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 22, 2016, 01:57:10 pm
Quote from: Toaster on February 21, 2016, 03:46:25 pm
Huh.  Never thought I'd see ball lightning.  What odd properties.

Anyway, not going to be going out that way.  Forget a bicycle; I need a boat.

Locate the dockmaster around here.  Who is the master of boating?

[Master Boaters: 3]

You head down to the courtyard and ask for a dockmaster. You didn't see any docks on the riverside, at least not intact ones, but you remain optimistic. The people in the courtyard also seem quite drunk for the most part, which is an additional issue. Nevertheless, you inquire about the availability of any sort of master boater.

You what, is your answer in most cases. Hurgh, answers one particularly enlightened fellow. Eh, the naked dancing girl asks. The what now? You look politely away as you ask about any trusty master boaters in the area.

Master boaters, she repeats. Like the ferryman? Yes, you say, that probably is a better word for what you're looking for. She sits down on a nearby passed-out person. Well, she thinks really hard for a second. Ferryman might have been in town, she suggests? Maybe? She doesn't really know.

The town, you say. Does she mean the one on the opposite side of the river you are trying to cross? Yes, she says with a disarmingly honest smile. Exactly that town.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 21, 2016, 04:30:52 pm
What wierd foreplay. Oh well, stoats can wait. Let's dance!

"Baby, I'll show you my moves..."

[Show Me Your Moves: 3]

She guides you along the platform, keeping you close as you step along in a delicate, asymmetric dance, correcting your missteps at every turn with delicate nudges and motions of her head, until you are right back in the middle again, a small trail of oddly descended wooden tiles left behind on the surface.

Very close, she says, resting her head on your shoulder from where she's maneuvered herself behind you. Now you need to step forward, she says - the exact sequence was... well, not entirely important, she would venture to guess. A few mistakes were made along the way anyway, she's reasonably sure. She then takes a discreet step back. This is as far as her reasoning will take you - from here you must improvise. Step to impress, she suggests with a mischievous smile.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 21, 2016, 04:37:15 pm
"Hmm. I reckon this works, but it'd probably be better if I got it stitched shut or something. Who knows, maybe there's a doctor around these parts."

Go out of the church and ask the nearest sober person if there's a doctor or someone with needle and thread or something like that around here. If knight lady happens to be the only one available, ask her from a distance.

[Search for Sobriety: 2]

In a grim conflux of events it seems that Mr. Minstep is the only one in the courtyard able to at least pretend to be sober, and just from looking at him you get the sneaking suspicion that he will be of absolutely no help. Even the knight seems to have gone off somewhere.

Quote from: TopHat on February 21, 2016, 04:50:52 pm
Gah. Too late to stop now, though.
Push grate open fully, preferably with fingers this time. If not, headbutt grate again, though more carefully. With luck the damage won't be permanent.

[Twisting and Contorting: 3]

In a rather more painful set of movements than you anticipated, you manage to wrap the fingers of your right hand around the grate, and try to push outward - it takes effort, your leverage limited and your range of motion laughably small, but after some pushing you manage to push it away, overturning a pot on the other side, at which point you can push your arm out, then your other arm, and by using the outer wall as a bracing point you tear yourself out of the shaft, rolling out on the stone floor covered in unidentifiable sludge, breathing heavily as you suddenly enjoy the ability to be able to move more than a few inches. It is a surprisingly great feeling.

Your mandatory short rest completed, you look around, and you can't say you like what you see. The room you're now in looks to be rectangular and quite large, and also completely windowless. You're not sure what it smells like, your senses numbed from horrific confinement, but it looks like some long-forgotten basement. Spiderweb-laden pots line the walls, bags piled up in one corner, another corner featuring a pile of drapes in the final stages of burning up, the top of the room filled with smoke from the fire. In one corner you see the outline of a black door, the words 'Be Staying In Away' glowing softly green on it.

The rest of the room is strewn with upturned wooden tubs and other crap, and notably in the center you see a construction of tubs and what look like inscribed bricks, the goal of which appears to be to allow access to a chain hanging down from a stone shaft reminiscent of a well. There is little light in here, but even that manages to nearly blind you as you emerge from what you think was a completely dark little vent shaft.

You look back, something vaguely bothering you, and look at the hole you just crawled out of. It takes you a moment to realize it as you crawl toward it curiously, confirming that what you see is not a trick of the light - you put your hand into it experimentally. It... only barely fits.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 21, 2016, 05:24:07 pm
I suppose the rat shit tunnel leads somewhere mundane... Honestly, though, it probably leads to these guys' heaven or something. They really do like rats.

Whatever lies ahead, I guess I should try to be as prepared as I possible. I sit down and try to rest against the wall as I contemplate my situation. What shape is the room? Rectangular, I suppose, with an exit on each wall? The positioning might have some symbolism. And which wall did I climb down?

[Architectural Considerations: 2]

With your luck, you suppose the exact function of each passageway is written clearly above each passageway, save perhaps the ratshit tunnel. In this complete lack of light, however, you don't think you can discern much more about what any of them could possibly be. Especially given that you're unfamiliar with any specific architectural conventions of this area. For all you know the layout could be just as much like an ancient Egyptian tomb as it could be a Swiss bomb shelter.

The spot you fell down from, however, seems to be in the middle of the room, a shaft right in the middle of the ceiling. Not even particularly hidden, it seems.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Xantalos on February 22, 2016, 02:11:15 pm
"Right, that fellow who was passing around alcohol loses a few fingers or somesuch when I see them or figure out who they were, this is highly inconvenient."

Head inside the castle and repeat my reasonable request for help stitching this big honking wound of mine shut.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 22, 2016, 03:47:50 pm
Question of the century: barefooted tapdancing, breakdancing or ballette? It's gonna be one of those.

Barefooted tapdancing Breakdancing it is. It's gonna be INEVITABLY good.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 22, 2016, 04:01:44 pm
Right, so... here we go, I guess. I put my back to the ratshit tunnel, turn left, then walk along the wall and enter the first door I encounter.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Toaster on February 22, 2016, 04:30:12 pm
Okay... who here actually knew something?

The queen was smart, but she was asleep.  The captain wasn't very happy.  The minders?  Not helpful outside of their showbusiness.

Maybe the majordomo?  Sure, why not?


Find the majordomo; ask him about boating.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: TopHat on February 22, 2016, 05:29:28 pm
Curiouser and curiouser...
Attempt to push whole arm into hole, then examine the grate, or more specifically its size.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 24, 2016, 04:21:18 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 22, 2016, 02:11:15 pm
"Right, that fellow who was passing around alcohol loses a few fingers or somesuch when I see them or figure out who they were, this is highly inconvenient."

Head inside the castle and repeat my reasonable request for help stitching this big honking wound of mine shut.

Entering the castle, you ask politely for some help with your bisected kidney. It seems an issue you should address.

[Sound Medical Advice: 4]

A nearby guard agrees. If your kidney is indeed bisected, he would advise that you absolutely do not seek out the doctor. She lives in the closet right down that hall. Stay away from there if you want any help whatsoever, he advises.

Well, you say, what would he advise instead? The guard shrugs. Hold it tight? Hope for the best? Seems to have worked out well for you thus far, he points out.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 22, 2016, 03:47:50 pm
Question of the century: barefooted tapdancing, breakdancing or ballette? It's gonna be one of those.

Barefooted tapdancing it is. It's gonna be INEVITABLY good.

[Nine Secret Steps: 6]

You don't have any shoes, which somewhat limits the effectiveness of your tapdancing, but you work out a good rhythm, feet tapping hypnotically as you meet the gaze of the lady, who follows your movements with a satisfied look, her glances and small flickers of expression following certain turns and twists of your body with undisguised joy. You have a good feeling about this - your success is a matter of time. Luck does not quite factor into it.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 2]

The word resonates, but no hastening is required. Your path is optimal.

You do that very well, she says as you move across the floor, bits of it clicking and reacting under your feet. She grows increasingly pleased as the floor begins to slide in places, reconfiguring in your wake into strange shapes. She urges you on, her breathing growing shallow as she beholds the unfolding of the grand design.

You only barely notice this, of course, being really quite drunk at the moment, and this state of blissful ignorance lasts right up until you manage to tap your way into a pit that you could have sworn wasn't there a moment ago. The woman gasps at your fall, but before you plunge into the dark you see a look of vindication and triumph in her eyes.

The pit swallows you readily, locking up before you even hit the ground below. Well, not the ground - what you hit is clearly wood of the same immaculate finish as the dance floor above, a distinct lack of splinters signalling to you carpentry of the very highest quality even in the absence of proper visibility. Resting comfortably on the elaborately carved wall of this cylindrical shaft, you ponder what this stage of foreplay might be for. Though you do think you feel a pair of eyes watching you from the darkness. Probably some kind of weird kink she has. You don't judge.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 22, 2016, 04:01:44 pm
Right, so... here we go, I guess. I put my back to the ratshit tunnel, turn left, then walk along the wall and enter the first door I encounter.

[The Process of Elimination: 3]

Knowing full well how one solves a maze, you take the leftward path. Relatively leftward path. The path that's left from the ratshit passage. The death does seem unusually righteous in that direction.

[Feet of the Unwary: 1]

Indeed, it practically sears as it sails through your upper torso as if it weren't even there, a spring-loaded murder machine cleaving your flesh like so much delicious marmalade. The pain comes in a wave as a wave of warm blood.

You stand still a moment, awaiting the dramatic moment where your body diagonally separates in a sliding motion - it doesn't quite come. You hear the priestess cackle again, the swing of the blade trap like music to her concussed ears.

Quote from: Toaster on February 22, 2016, 04:30:12 pm
Okay... who here actually knew something?

The queen was smart, but she was asleep.  The captain wasn't very happy.  The minders?  Not helpful outside of their showbusiness.

Maybe the majordomo?  Sure, why not?


Find the majordomo; ask him about boating.

[The Majordomo: 2]

Where could he have gone? You walk around the courtyard, then into the keep, and call his... well, his occupation several times. A guard tells you to simmer down. The majordomo is apparently indisposed at the moment, he says. Probably still naked, in fact.

Quote from: TopHat on February 22, 2016, 05:29:28 pm
Curiouser and curiouser...
Attempt to push whole arm into hole, then examine the grate, or more specifically its size.

[Meditations Upon A Hole: 3]

Your arm does kind of fit, allowing you to grab at whole fistfuls of anonymous sludge if you felt like it. You definitely can't get it further in than up to your shoulder, though.

That done, you pull your arm out and look at the grate. It seems to be a perfect fit for the arm-sized hole, and... somewhat fine in its grating, to be perfectly honest, your fingers not fitting into the holes particularly well.

Looking at the hole, however, produces no more insight. It is what it is. And you are what you are. One of those two statements, however, is starting to seem increasingly flexible in its application.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Toaster on February 24, 2016, 04:26:04 pm
"Naked?  That seems to be contagious around here.  Well, if he's done changing clothes, I'd like to see him now."

Continue the search!  Miss any innuendo.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: Xantalos on February 24, 2016, 04:36:59 pm
"Duly noted, she's one of those doctors then. Is there any needle and thread around here that I could stitch this shut with, then? It's a bit troublesome to hold this shut and get my stuff with only one hand."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: TopHat on February 24, 2016, 04:42:00 pm
Strange. Ah, well, there are more pressing matters at hand.
Search through the junk for anything which looks sharp enough to cut the sacks, a container of water (you never know, right?) or anything else which looks like it might be useful.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 24, 2016, 08:17:25 pm
"Ow." That should probably have hurt more than it did.

Traps mean there's a reason to keep people out of here, though. So going down this hallway shouldn't be certain death. I walk forward, watching out for any more traps.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Sun Is Also A Warrior
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 24, 2016, 11:55:11 pm
This is probably still going in the good direction. Probably. As long as it doesn't get too weird.

"Shorry 'bout that. Didn't notice the hole. Let's keep going!"

Try figure out what she wants now and do it. Maybe it's more dancing? I'm fine with that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 25, 2016, 10:32:27 am
Quote from: Toaster on February 24, 2016, 04:26:04 pm
"Naked?  That seems to be contagious around here.  Well, if he's done changing clothes, I'd like to see him now."

Continue the search!  Miss any innuendo.

[Resolution of Nudity: 6]

Your repeated request is met with a raised eyebrow from the guard, though not one aimed at you. After he answers Mr. Daniels' question he seems to have noticed something along the far wall. You look as well, and see the majordomo. He appears to be still naked, creeping perishingly slowly toward the stairs. Upon being sighted by the both of you he freezes in place, his decency preserved only by a well-placed pot he seems to have gone to considerable lengths to acquire.

You stare at him a few moments, and he stares back, looking quite dreadfully embarrassed. That is, until he notices Mr. Daniels next to you, and his eyes flash with fearfulness.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 24, 2016, 04:36:59 pm
"Duly noted, she's one of those doctors then. Is there any needle and thread around here that I could stitch this shut with, then? It's a bit troublesome to hold this shut and get my stuff with only one hand."

[Supplies for the Needy: 3]

Not any he knows of. Most people tend to hoard theirs, he says. Keep their own clothes in order as long as possible and all that. Though needles shouldn't be that difficult to find, truth be told - thread's the thing to watch out for. Place collectively ran out of sinew ages ago, he believes.

Quote from: TopHat on February 24, 2016, 04:42:00 pm
Strange. Ah, well, there are more pressing matters at hand.
Search through the junk for anything which looks sharp enough to cut the sacks, a container of water (you never know, right?) or anything else which looks like it might be useful.

[The Well's Bounty: 6]

Well, there do seem to be shards of glass likely originating from a broken blue bottle of some kind strewn about in places (shouldn't walk around barefoot), a particular clay pot contains some thick water that a rat appears to have been unable to get out of before suffocation began and there also appears to be a great deal of gold hidden within the sacks. Real, honest-to-goodness gold without any apparent owner or guard, which, while obviously too good to be true, nevertheless affords you a nice opportunity to daydream about untold riches.

Other than that, the room appears strewn with a whole lot of useless crap, coming in varieties from cobwebbed to rotten to moldy to exploded. If walls could talk, you'd bet these ones could spin some pretty intriguing stories.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 24, 2016, 08:17:25 pm
"Ow." That should probably have hurt more than it did.

Traps mean there's a reason to keep people out of here, though. So going down this hallway shouldn't be certain death. I walk forward, watching out for any more traps.

Ignoring the possibility that certain death may be placed between the start of the hallway and your likely destination, you soldier on. You're a tough gal, you think. Will take more than mere bisection to take you down.

[Blundering In The Dark: 3]

Your feet snag on old tripwires, your weight presses down on a variety of mechanical triggers, and the ominous sound and terrible pain of flesh-rending machinery fills the corridor. And you dodge... er, about half of it, you'd say. It's hard to tell sometimes if you've walked into a spring-loaded blade or a bucketload of poison darts or fortuitously dodged out of something even more horrible lurking nearby - either case seems entirely possible from the sounds you hear and the ominous winds brought about by your dangerous progress.

Eventually, however, the traps abate. Not a moment too soon, you think as you take a moment to catch your breath, wearily picking out a selection of steel flechettes from your back. Of course, you still can't see a damn thing. But you do feel like the passage has widened, probably into a larger room of some kind. A larger room that does not seem to be actively trying to kill you as well, provoking immediate distrust on your part.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 24, 2016, 11:55:11 pm
This is probably still going in the good direction. Probably. As long as it doesn't get too weird.

"Shorry 'bout that. Didn't notice the hole. Let's keep going!"

Try figure out what she wants now and do it. Maybe it's more dancing? I'm fine with that.

[An Honest Question: 6]

You figure you'll just ask the lady what you're supposed to do now. You kind of recall where she was, so you just send out some happy thoughts and questions her way, which are met with not inconsiderable surprise as her mind recoils from yours.

She... well, she doesn't quite know what you're supposed to do now. Her master... is going to see you now? Something like that ought to happen. You hear a scratching noise from somewhere nearby, seemingly made in response. Something moving, crawling not far from your position. You orient your head in its direction instinctively as you start to lazily tapdance again.

It's odd. You bring your hand forward to confirm. There is a wall in front of you, its screw-like spiral shape feeling intriguing on your fingers. Behind the wall, though, you see something in the dark. Two miniscule points, little eyes gleaming in your mind as they emit a soft white light, unblinking as they circle your position, never breaking eye contact.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Toaster on February 25, 2016, 10:47:05 am
Odd that he left before he finished dressing.  Well, everyone here is odd.

"Ah!  Mr. Majordomo, sir!  You're a knowledgeable fellow, right?  I need to get to the highway, but the bridge appears to be out!  Is there a dockmaster or boat or something I could use to cross the river?  I can't get to Albany staying in this castle, you know."


Continue to pester people.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on February 25, 2016, 11:32:22 am
"What if I got some clothes, would there be anyone able to use the thread from them to do the stitching?"

More subtly implied violence, the usual.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 25, 2016, 12:34:53 pm
"Mashter? Shorry, but I'm not up for that kind of play. Nor threesome."

This adventure is not going in direction I want it to. My favourite adventure is where I drink everybody under table. Drinking contest: Begin!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 25, 2016, 01:48:32 pm
Maybe I'm at the end. How would I even know, though?

I reach back into the hallway for a flechette or something I can pick up and I throw it into the room ahead of me. Then I listen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: TopHat on February 25, 2016, 02:29:39 pm
Jackpot! Not the gold, that'll probably shrink out of alreuse fullness as soon as I turn my back to it. The other stuff, though...

Wash hands and face with water (remove the rat first). Then use a glass shard to cut one of the sacks into some form of garment, and another into improvised footwear. Bandage my head with any suitable offcuts.
((may be a few too many actions for one turn, feel free to cut the last couple))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 26, 2016, 05:44:36 pm
Quote from: Toaster on February 25, 2016, 10:47:05 am
Odd that he left before he finished dressing.  Well, everyone here is odd.

"Ah!  Mr. Majordomo, sir!  You're a knowledgeable fellow, right?  I need to get to the highway, but the bridge appears to be out!  Is there a dockmaster or boat or something I could use to cross the river?  I can't get to Albany staying in this castle, you know."


Continue to pester people.

[Masters of Boating: 4]

Your question gives him even further pause, his stillness almost exceeding that of even the dead before he decides to not process the question at all. What, he retorts flatly.

A dockmaster or a boat, you say! Is that really so difficult to understand? The river seems a mite unfriendly, and you see no bridges. The majordomo seems only more bewildered. There is no boat, he says. Nor a dockmaster. The former was destroyed. The latter - well, insofar as you can dub a ferryman a dockmaster - has fled or been executed. And good riddance either way, he says. Bastard gouged prices like you would not believe.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 25, 2016, 11:32:22 am
"What if I got some clothes, would there be anyone able to use the thread from them to do the stitching?"

More subtly implied violence, the usual.

[Skills In Demand: 3]

Probably. How well's a different question. Anybody who isn't hopelessly useless can do a spot of needlework in a pinch if they put their mind to it. The guard shrugs - hell, you could probably do it yourself.

Course you'd need to get some clothes, unravel them, get a needle and then use all that to get yourself fixed up. Seems like a lot of work when you could just use the clothes to make yourself a bandage. You don't seem like you're bleeding to death or anything anyway.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 25, 2016, 12:34:53 pm
"Mashter? Shorry, but I'm not up for that kind of play. Nor threesome."

This adventure is not going in direction I want it to. My favourite adventure is where I drink everybody under table. Drinking contest: Begin!

Your thoughts go out into the dark, dissolving in misunderstanding as the eyes continue to look at you. It is a very strange look. Vaguely radiating lust, clouded with strange thoughts, defiant in the face of your attempts at understanding, thirsting deeply and unquenchably.

[My Eyes Have Seen You: 4]

They seem highly familiar at first, then become notably reminiscent. They remind you of your eyes, strangely enough. The familiarity clicks solidly in your mind no sooner than they begin to retreat. Whatever they have made of you, they do not appear to be very interested in it.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 25, 2016, 01:48:32 pm
Maybe I'm at the end. How would I even know, though?

I reach back into the hallway for a flechette or something I can pick up and I throw it into the room ahead of me. Then I listen.

No need to reach into the hallway. Your back is a treasure trove of pieces of bloody metal at this point. All that an eccentric collector could want and more. You pull one out and chuck it down the room.

[Knives In The Dark: 3]

It hits something, you're pretty sure. Something not far in front of you. As you are not much of an echolocator, you fail to discern much about the shape of the room from the telltale plinking of metal against stone. But the room does end! Well, unless that was a pillar or a statue that you hit. In any case, there's an obstacle in your way. And no traps that could be triggered by a flechette dropping on them in a specific if the way it plinked across the floor on the way to somewhere else is any indication.

Quote from: TopHat on February 25, 2016, 02:29:39 pm
Jackpot! Not the gold, that'll probably shrink out of alreuse fullness as soon as I turn my back to it. The other stuff, though...

Wash hands and face with water (remove the rat first). Then use a glass shard to cut one of the sacks into some form of garment, and another into improvised footwear. Bandage my head with any suitable offcuts.
((may be a few too many actions for one turn, feel free to cut the last couple))

[Water's Touch: 1]

The water is really quite something else. As in probably not quite water. Something a little thicker and laden with the aromas and oils produced by a slightly decomposed rat. Your face and hands start to feel delightfully toasty after application. At least it seems to have some kind of tangible effect, you console yourself as you consider tailoring instead.

[101 Uses For Sacks: 1]

What is also unfortunate, however, is that a shard of broken glass isn't a very safe cutting implement. Not helping matters any is the way that the path to its improvement is very clear - wrap something around the intended handle. This, however, has the additional problem of needing to cut out something to wrap it to begin with. Such as this sack you can't seem to cut (at least not with the same efficiency as you cut your own fingers at the same time) without the bounty of this sack.

Quite the sticky wicket, you almost say out loud as you consider your two rather thoroughly sliced fingers, dripping blood on the stone floor at a steady pace as you begin to wonder if perhaps a first aid kit is too much to ask for.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on February 26, 2016, 08:36:19 pm
"True. You'd think bleeding would be more of a problem than it is for a cut of this size, but I suppose I'm not exactly normal. Thanks, guard. May I know your name so that I can try not to kill you in the future if I have to?"

Obtain new connection, go out to the doomstones where I left the mediocre apron and use it to make a bandage/tie over the wound to keep it shut.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 26, 2016, 08:56:06 pm
I inch along the left wall into the room.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Toaster on February 26, 2016, 09:54:58 pm
Thomas frowned at the majordomo.  "Then how am I supposed to get to the highway to get to Albany?  I'm beginning to feel rather trapped in here.  I just need to talk to Mr. Munderly before he becomes even more cross!"

More pointless arguments.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: TopHat on February 27, 2016, 02:13:44 pm
Time for plan B, methinks.
Smother fire with sack, use drapes to make handle for glass shard.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 27, 2016, 02:26:37 pm
"Okay, that's not creepy at all."

Sober up. Get the hell out of this hole.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 28, 2016, 07:06:21 am
Quote from: Xantalos on February 26, 2016, 08:36:19 pm
"True. You'd think bleeding would be more of a problem than it is for a cut of this size, but I suppose I'm not exactly normal. Thanks, guard. May I know your name so that I can try not to kill you in the future if I have to?"

Obtain new connection, go out to the doomstones where I left the mediocre apron and use it to make a bandage/tie over the wound to keep it shut.

[An Innocuous Request: 4]

Crail's the name, apparently. It is a name like any other. It makes little difference in truth. You bid him good day and head off outside, greeted by a setting sun. Quite a non-traditional day/night cycle they've got here.

[Not Nailed Down, Is It: 1]

Rather disappointingly you find the stone circle to be missing any trace of your apron, mediocre though it may have been. Guess beggars can't be choosers. Thieves doubly so.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 26, 2016, 08:56:06 pm
I inch along the left wall into the room.

[Careful Explorations: 3]

The room seems altogether much less trapped than the hallway, much to your satisfaction. Still a little trapped, mind you. At this point of the ongoing physical punishment, however, a few spikes stabbing into the sides of your feet are little more than a mild tickle.

You make progress in any case, passing along relief-covered walls that you cannot quite discern the imagery of without light, and come upon a small alcove in which you find... ooh. Jutting out from the ground and made of hollow stone, a large and heavy lid atop a rectangular box. You run your hands across the lid - richly engraved, polished to perfection, the unmistakable stylized shape of a human being clasping a sword to their chest carved out on its top, no doubt a well-made likeness of the occupant. Its lid is very slightly ajar, you notice. And, if you're not mistaken, minutely raised as well, a little more on the left side than the right.

Quote from: Toaster on February 26, 2016, 09:54:58 pm
Thomas frowned at the majordomo.  "Then how am I supposed to get to the highway to get to Albany?  I'm beginning to feel rather trapped in here.  I just need to talk to Mr. Munderly before he becomes even more cross!"

More pointless arguments.

[The Virtue of Patience: 5]

You are trapped, the majordomo points out incredulously. They all are. Only a stone wall separates them from a horde of stout individuals who want nothing more than to end them, and then end the very memory of their existence. The majordomo would have thought this entirely obvious even for someone as clearly unhinged as you are. Honestly, if you're going to be this willfully ignorant, you might consider starting to flap your arms and hope that this lets you fly back to whatever corner of the world you spawned from?

Quote from: TopHat on February 27, 2016, 02:13:44 pm
Time for plan B, methinks.
Smother fire with sack, use drapes to make handle for glass shard.

[101 Uses For Sacks: 1]

A few minutes pass as you haul sacks full of gold onto the drape fire in the other corner - somehow this fails to smother it effectively. Unrelatedly, the sacks also catch on fire. Must have been drier than you would think.

Besides, you're not sure there's much unburnt drape left in that pile, truth be told. It seems to have been burning for a fair bit before you turned up, and was in the waning stages even before you took a stab at smothering it.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 27, 2016, 02:26:37 pm
"Okay, that's not creepy at all."

Sober up. Get the hell out of this hole.

[Induced Sobriety: 2]

Sobriety is a difficult state of mind to grasp when you're drunk. Like a blind man recalling what it is like to see, it feels strange and alien now. Have you ever really been sober? Or is this all just a trick your mind has been playing on you?

It is irrelevant, you decide! It is time to get out of this place.

[Out of the Hole: 5]

Fortunately, the walls prove very climbable, the deep screwlike grooves offering a lot in the way of handholds. You clumsily make your way to the top of the hole, where the shaft narrows to an onion-like point of sharp, seamlessly interlocking wooden components, not a single solitary one budging as you drunkenly prod at it in hopes of getting it to open by sheer luck alone.

Come to think of it, where exactly did you come in through? Was it through the top at all?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 28, 2016, 08:15:15 am
((edit: woops, misread some stuff, changing action entirely))

I knew it was catacombs! What could be down here? Maybe a long dead hero, his magical sword awaiting the day it can save the castle once more. I really hope that's it. I slide the lid off the sarcophagus and step aside in case it's trapped.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Toaster on February 28, 2016, 09:37:40 am
Thomas was silent for a moment.  These folks were singularly united in their unhelpfulness.

"So why are these stout fellows out there anyway?  What did someone do to make them mad?"

A change of tactic.


((I, for one, do not fault a missed day here or there.  I'm quite enjoying this.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: TopHat on February 28, 2016, 04:47:25 pm
Last try.
Douse fire in the rat-water, attempt to rip off strips from hopefully now fire-damaged and relatively easily tearable sacks

Quote from: Toaster on February 28, 2016, 09:37:40 am
((I, for one, do not fault a missed day here or there.  I'm quite enjoying this.))
((Ditto.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on February 28, 2016, 09:03:37 pm
"Oh fer fuck's sake. Well, now what?"

Jack looks down at his side.

"Y'know, that does not hurt nearly as much as you'd expect something like that to. Maybe I just need to focus my mind on healing it or something, it's not like I can deny there's mind powers here after all."

Go head inside the chapel once more, sit down for a while, and concentrate on my wound healing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 28, 2016, 11:49:04 pm
I remember falling, so it probably was from top. Hmm.
Knock around. Maybe there's a hidden switch or something. Failing that, feel up the hole I'm in, get a proper idea it's shape.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 29, 2016, 06:46:22 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 28, 2016, 08:15:15 am
I knew it was catacombs! What could be down here? Maybe a long dead hero, his magical sword awaiting the day it can save the castle once more. I really hope that's it. I slide the lid off the sarcophagus and step aside in case it's trapped.

[The Weight of the Ages: 3]

The lid is really quite extraordinarily heavy, being made of solid stone and also quite thick - perhaps it was never meant to be opened at all, you think as you manage to make it budge just a little bit to your side. Goodness. Lifting this would be difficult for three people, let alone one solitary person who can't even see what they're doing.

It takes the better part of ten minutes to get a foot-wide gap that ought to get you inside of the thing, though without poking in a hand to get a feel for the contents you dare not venture to guess what could be inside it. You do, however, become aware of an oddly sweet scent. You jump back at first, thinking it's probably some kind of poison trap. The smell doesn't really make you bleed from your eyeballs, evacuate your bowels or lose your mind (though how would you tell, really), so you begin to have reasonable doubts after a few moments.

Quote from: Toaster on February 28, 2016, 09:37:40 am
Thomas was silent for a moment.  These folks were singularly united in their unhelpfulness.

"So why are these stout fellows out there anyway?  What did someone do to make them mad?"

A change of tactic.

[A Grounding In History: 2]

It's a matter of principle, says the majordomo. They said they were going to eradicate the royal house of Benzerwald once and for all and create the world's first stout state, so they've been fixing to do that. Depressingly successfully for the most part, he notes grimly.

Quote from: TopHat on February 28, 2016, 04:47:25 pm
Last try.
Douse fire in the rat-water, attempt to rip off strips from hopefully now fire-damaged and relatively easily tearable sacks

[You Think That's Water You're Pouring: 6]

The rat-water is pleasingly non-flammable, you find. You do need to find several pots of it, but with the filth of this place it's not hard to find reasonably similar batches of filth among the myriad pots. Collecting the least dangerous-smelling ones you pour them over the flames, the heady cocktail of murine corruption extinguishing the flames as it hardens into a cohesive airtight whole over your intended loot.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 28, 2016, 09:03:37 pm
"Oh fer fuck's sake. Well, now what?"

Jack looks down at his side.

"Y'know, that does not hurt nearly as much as you'd expect something like that to. Maybe I just need to focus my mind on healing it or something, it's not like I can deny there's mind powers here after all."

Go head inside the chapel once more, sit down for a while, and concentrate on my wound healing.

You step over a fainted priest as you sit down in one corner of the drafty chapel, wondering if you're actually in all that bad a shape. Are your wounds so grievous? Is your predicament so terrible? Can you put off having to see the doctor for quite a while longer?

All very good questions. You think you're pretty all right mostly. You don't really need two kidneys, as the old organ marketeer saying goes. You experimentally unclamp your hand from your side and proceed to not bleed to death. That's practically proof right there, you think.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 28, 2016, 11:49:04 pm
I remember falling, so it probably was from top. Hmm.
Knock around. Maybe there's a hidden switch or something. Failing that, feel up the hole I'm in, get a proper idea it's shape.


[You Keep A-Knockin': 2]

There doesn't really appear to be any hidden switch up here, and your knocks are met with only silent disapproval from up above. It's not fair to go over the monthly knock limit, you see.

As for the hole you're in, it reminds you of an elongated delicious ice cream cone. The kind where the ice cream swirls, the grooves coming up to the top in a bulbous fashion. Except you're on the inside of it, and it's made of wood, and it's not terribly welcoming, delightfully cool or even particularly delicious. You say all this from experience.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on February 29, 2016, 06:58:33 pm
"Hell yeah, I'm fine. Now then, how to get that sun window without breaking it.
...
Oh, there's that priest! Maybe he can help."

Wake the priest up without killing or hurting him. If I manage this, ask him how he got those stained glass windows in here. And how one could possible remove them without shattering them.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 29, 2016, 08:56:57 pm
Well, I've done plenty of worse things today than touch a dead body. I reach in and grab anything that does not feel like part of a corpse. Something swordy would probably be ideal.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 01, 2016, 01:39:59 am
"Hey wench, what knock limit? I didn't sign up for this kind trap play. I'm not staying here for a month! And I kinda don't like this darkness here. I have bad experiences with those, even if this one actually has eyes."

INEVITABLE escape, or at least change in situation. Got stoats to visit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Toaster on March 01, 2016, 01:19:40 pm
"And what'd the Benzerwaldians do to them?  Why would they make a entire state based on a poorly-chosen descriptor of stature?"


More silly questions
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: TopHat on March 01, 2016, 02:20:05 pm
This is getting beyond belief. At least I didn't drop all the sacks there, did I? I think?
Wedge a shard of glass upright where possible, cut a sack open on it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 02, 2016, 02:52:46 am
Quote from: Xantalos on February 29, 2016, 06:58:33 pm
"Hell yeah, I'm fine. Now then, how to get that sun window without breaking it.
...
Oh, there's that priest! Maybe he can help."

Wake the priest up without killing or hurting him. If I manage this, ask him how he got those stained glass windows in here. And how one could possible remove them without shattering them.

[To Recall The Spirit: 3]

You shake the priest intently, eager to get his input on your grand ambitions of theft. He is entirely limp in your hands, looking like he's suffered quite a bit in his time. Mostly he seems quite burnt. And also somewhat unresponsive, even after he opens his eyes and looks off into the space right behind you. You ask him if he perhaps feels like helping you out with stealing that other window over there. Wouldn't want something to happen to it like with the other one, now would he?

It is to no avail, however. The priest makes no acknowledgement of your request, merely looking bewildered as he ineffectually struggles in your arms, weak as a kitten even without comparison to your own uncoupled abilities.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 29, 2016, 08:56:57 pm
Well, I've done plenty of worse things today than touch a dead body. I reach in and grab anything that does not feel like part of a corpse. Something swordy would probably be ideal.

[Ominous Contents: 2]

You reach into the sarcophagus with both hands, searching it by sense of touch. There ought to be something of value in there somewhere.

A corpse is found readily enough, transformed by the ages. Its arms and legs jut upwards with unexpected rigor, pressing upon the lid passively, the entire stiff body locked into a position suggestive of a desperate attempt at escape, its limbs holding fast and oddly fibrous beneath a layer of what you think is ceremonial armor, now cracked and largely fallen apart. Through the cracks along the corpse's entire surface you feel small bulbs jutting out, fruiting bodies in full bloom erupting from the joints where the armor is thinnest and the mouth and eyes hidden beneath a broken clay death mask. The chest of its ancient suit in turn appears to have been broken by sheer persistence and weathering, a large fungal forest running from chin to pelvis having broken out through the layers of bronze, enveloping what you think may have once been a zweihander resting across its front.

The corpse lays there on a fuzzy bed of overgrown mold that coats the entire inner surface of the sarcophagus, feeling a lot like dust before you run your fingers over conspicuous little orbs of spores that deflate at the slightest touch. You are most unsurprised when you find the sarcophagus to be compromised at one end, a crack in the bottom right next to the corpse marked by a conspicuous eruption of what feel like a myriad species of subterranean fungi, most of which you think you've found already in other spots along the sarcophagus. Some are dry, some are damp, and some feel unsettlingly hard and sharp.

You elect to pull back, the corpse's possessions seemingly as much a part of the corpse now as its arms and legs. The sweet, mildly earthy scent of the sarcophagus lingers over your hands and forearms.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 01, 2016, 01:39:59 am
"Hey wench, what knock limit? I didn't sign up for this kind trap play. I'm not staying here for a month! And I kinda don't like this darkness here. I have bad experiences with those, even if this one actually has eyes."

INEVITABLE escape, or at least change in situation. Got stoats to visit.

When your eyes have failed you, you'll use your head and hands. And when that fails, you'll damn well keep trying until your teeth fall out. Nothing will keep you from your goal. Whatever that is. You possibly forget.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

The top is not the way out. You see yourself try for hours - every combination leads to the same result, nothing. What little manipulation is possible serves only to distract and to mislead.

You turn to the bottom. Much more promising down there. Eight different panels along the walls, each leading to a different crawlspace which in turn leads into unknown darkness. A single larger panel, hidden relatively poorly along the bottom wall, reminiscent of a regular door in size. A puzzling configuration of tiles on the wooden flooring at the bottom - you see yourself trying at it for interminable lengths of time and failing throughout. Or are you failing? You think something happens, but nothing you can feel.

Quote from: Toaster on March 01, 2016, 01:19:40 pm
"And what'd the Benzerwaldians do to them?  Why would they make a entire state based on a poorly-chosen descriptor of stature?"


More silly questions

[A Very Silly Question: 4]

Stoutness breeds true, he says. Truer than humanity. And stout folk are quite mad generally, you know. Was really a matter of time before they erupted from their stout-towns, all thirsting for the blood of righteous folk. The king tried his best, bless his departed soul, but by that point it was not enough, and the cities began to fall.

"The Sun set on the state of Benzerwald as stout men chased the royal house to the ends of the earth, eager to end them as an idea, to erase the thought of their former lords from the parlance of the time," he grimly recounts. His daughter wrote that, you know. She was one of the court chroniclers back when there was a court. He was so very proud of her.

Quote from: TopHat on March 01, 2016, 02:20:05 pm
This is getting beyond belief. At least I didn't drop all the sacks there, did I? I think?
Wedge a shard of glass upright where possible, cut a sack open on it.

[Clever Manipulations: 4]

The best thing about a stone floor, you decide, is the ample space for sticking things into the cracks. There are plenty of those, especially between blocks, and one of them proves large enough for one of your smaller glass shards. That done, you drag over one of the remaining sacks of gold and carefully slice it along the protruding bit of glass.

In an unexpected twist, this does actually appear to work, resulting in a thorough gutting of the sack and a generous spilling of gold. You probably could have opened the sack first, of course, and emptied it of gold beforehand so as to minimize risk of the shard breaking under the weight. But you suppose this works too.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on March 02, 2016, 03:13:46 am
"Priest guy? Priest guy, wake up. This is more important than you trusting the wrong guy with prophecy powers and getting nearly incinerated. C'mon, grit your teeth! Answer my questions!"

Attempt once more to wake the priest up so he can give me advice on thieving yonder window. If he doesn't respond still, leave him be for now and take a look at said window. Is there a frame it could be lifted out of? Is it bolted in place? Basically inspect it for how to best take it out in one piece.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 02, 2016, 06:09:49 am
Gross.

I leave the alcove and walk away from the wall, aiming to cross the middle of the room. I stop when I find anything interesting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 02, 2016, 06:52:00 am
I... see?

Those crawlspaces doesn't bother experienced miner who lives in constant fear of collapsing mine, though Kupol mine was rather well constructed. But then again there's the puzzle. Hmm.

Try work with the puzzle, using some combinations I saw. Like six of them, or until something happens, whichever happens first.
If the door is not open by then, pick northmost crawlspace panel and get in. Or randomly pick one. It probably doesn't matter. Assuming big man like Leif fits in. Keep going right and scratch direction&progress markers on ceiling/top if I possibly can.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Toaster on March 02, 2016, 08:50:05 am
Hmmm.  Perhaps a bit close to home, here.

"Oh my; I'm sorry for your loss.  Is there... something I could do?"

A perhaps more useful question
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: TopHat on March 02, 2016, 04:34:55 pm
Aha!
Empty out the rest of the gold, cut a strip from the sack, and wrap it around another piece of glass to make a more conventional cutting implement.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 03, 2016, 12:26:32 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 02, 2016, 03:13:46 am
"Priest guy? Priest guy, wake up. This is more important than you trusting the wrong guy with prophecy powers and getting nearly incinerated. C'mon, grit your teeth! Answer my questions!"

Attempt once more to wake the priest up so he can give me advice on thieving yonder window. If he doesn't respond still, leave him be for now and take a look at said window. Is there a frame it could be lifted out of? Is it bolted in place? Basically inspect it for how to best take it out in one piece.

The priest looks to be perfectly awake. He just doesn't appear to feel like talking to you, staring wide-eyed and helpless as you give him another good shake. Fine. He can be that way if he wants to, you'll figure this out by yourself. Depositing him on the ground, you take a gander at the second window, hoping you've learned from past mistakes and can get this one out in one piece for a change.

[Structural Insights: 2]

You don't really see a frame for it, to be honest. Well, you suppose you do, but it's a stone frame, quite massive and very nicely polished. It also happens to be soldered in place, all the bits of glass connected by small leaden cames. It is fairly safe to say it was never meant to be removed in any way, shape or form.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 02, 2016, 06:09:49 am
Gross.

I leave the alcove and walk away from the wall, aiming to cross the middle of the room. I stop when I find anything interesting.

[Feet of the Unwary: 1]

The middle of the room is trapped. Finding this interesting, you stop. An unwise decision in hindsight.

What comes for you is another spring-loaded blade. Rather surprisingly this is something you see in advance, though mostly because the blade happens to be on fire. It soundlessly sweeps through the still tomb air, briefly illuminating the room, the flash of visibility affording a glimpse of vast amounts of writing engraved on the walls among carved images of heroes of old. One image that in strikes you in particular, the one that gives you a crucial moment of pause, is the sight of an armored man sitting atop a rearing warhorse, holding a blazing sword to the heavens.

[Touch of Flame: 6]

The good news is, the massive amount of blood you lose happens to be very adequate at extinguishing the fire you nearly catch as the blade comes to a rest right in the middle of your abdomen, dulled by age and neglect to the point where the tremendous force loaded into the mechanism fails to even disembowel you as you are lifted off your feet. The mechanism strains for a moment as it tries to push through, but the energy wound into it seems to not be quite enough as it peters out and lowers you to the ground again, having had one last hurrah before retirement from an illustrious adventurer-killing career.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 02, 2016, 06:52:00 am
I... see?

Those crawlspaces doesn't bother experienced miner who lives in constant fear of collapsing mine, though Kupol mine was rather well constructed. But then again there's the puzzle. Hmm.

Try work with the puzzle, using some combinations I saw. Like six of them, or until something happens, whichever happens first.
If the door is not open by then, pick northmost crawlspace panel and get in. Or randomly pick one. It probably doesn't matter. Assuming big man like Leif fits in. Keep going right and scratch direction&progress markers on ceiling/top if I possibly can.

[Six Sequences: 1]

You become synchronous with the bottom-you, tapdancing across the puzzling floor six times in varying patterns. Filled with a warm sense of accomplishment at your token effort at puzzle solution, you then detach the panel you believe is northernmost with the aid of your trusty foot (you pride yourself on having a flawless sense of which way north is on account of your ice giant blood - it's the direction you have a good feeling about when you're absolutely smashed) and crawl inside.

[Labyrinths of Anglefork: 3+1]

This crawlspace feels poorly ventilated, constricting and largely displeasing in just about every sense, but it's preferable to eternal imprisonment regardless, so you move along the winding passage. Mercifully it does not branch. It does undulate, however. You're not sure wood's supposed to do that. But it's a very nicely realized undulation, with more than an evocative hint of peristalsis. It really gives you a good feeling about the end of this tunnel, you'll say that much.

The further you go, the quieter it gets - eventually the only things you can hear as distant sounds of moving parts and crawling creatures subside are your own movements. Those grow quieter, too, until drowned out by your heartbeat and the blood rushing by your ears, each breath like a rising gale.

It is in this state that you find the tunnel ending. It ends abruptly, terminating at what feels like an opening into a larger room. A considerably larger room, considering that a careful bit of prodding tells you absolutely nothing about how far down the floor might be. The air feels deathly still in here, and distressingly short on oxygen.

Quote from: Toaster on March 02, 2016, 08:50:05 am
Hmmm.  Perhaps a bit close to home, here.

"Oh my; I'm sorry for your loss.  Is there... something I could do?"

A perhaps more useful question

[Something One Could Do: 4]

Very little you could do, the majordomo notes sadly... well, although you could talk to her. She's gotten so very odd since she took over that closet of hers. Maybe you could have her spin you a tale. She used to so love doing that. And you do seem like you could use a little straightening out, truth be told. Hear the proper version of things for once, as it were.

Quote from: TopHat on March 02, 2016, 04:34:55 pm
Aha!
Empty out the rest of the gold, cut a strip from the sack, and wrap it around another piece of glass to make a more conventional cutting implement.

[A Convoluted Method: 5]

This odyssey of failure comes to a wildly and unexpectedly successful end as you manage to create a proper glass shiv out of the materials available. Hopefully the outside world is as hostile as you surmise and you will need to waste no time before putting it to good use. And hopefully it won't just break on the first person you try it on. Well, at least that it won't before it's lodged firmly in a wound, at least.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Toaster on March 03, 2016, 01:09:07 pm
"Well, I've heard a great many stories today.  I suppose I could hear one more.  Show me the way, perhaps?"

Find her.  Listen to story politely.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 03, 2016, 01:26:24 pm
Gah. Okay, I should probably rest, but this thing might be the reason I came down here... I try to carefully remove the sword from the trap.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on March 03, 2016, 01:49:05 pm
"This is vexing, priesty, let me tell you. I need this window yet it's fixed in place.
Hmm. Though perhaps this would work; technically a broken window is priceless because it isn't worth anything. If I deliver some fancy enough shards from both windows that should fulfil the condition.

Unless you know of anything else that's priceless around these parts?"

Does Priesty know of any priceless things that aren't the window? If not, contemplate the best way to shatter it so that I get some cool-looking pieces.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 03, 2016, 02:46:24 pm
Spit down and listen. Calculate length of the drop based on sound and whether it solid or liquid on bottom. If solid and not too far, then drop down landing on my feet like a cat. Otherwise back up all the way and try southern crawlspace.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: TopHat on March 03, 2016, 04:50:47 pm
It worked? It worked! But does it work, I wonder?
Empty out another sack and test out the new shiv by cutting arm- and neck- holes. Then cut some more strips from the first sack to use as bandages.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 04, 2016, 04:32:15 pm
Quote from: Toaster on March 03, 2016, 01:09:07 pm
"Well, I've heard a great many stories today.  I suppose I could hear one more.  Show me the way, perhaps?"

Find her.  Listen to story politely.

Oh, certainly - she's right down the hall over there. Yes, right there in that closet-looking place. She ought to be inside, the majordomo says, and as you open the door you find that he seems to have been entirely correct - the closet seems to be inhabited by a young black-haired woman (not much of a resemblance to the majordomo, which bodes surprisingly well for her overall looks) who seems to have completely ruined the body of a large rat, each little bit of it cut off into the closest thing resembling a discrete piece and all the similar-looking pieces laid down in small orderly piles on the stool serving as her preferred surgery location. She seems to be in the middle of reassembling it in a manner similar to a jigsaw puzzle, an endeavor you begin to have serious doubts about within seconds of figuring out what the hell she's even doing. Heavens, she even seems to have sliced up the skeleton into shards with that wicked-looking knife of hers. You're not even sure how she's been doing all this, considering that most of the light in here seems to have come from you opening the door.

[The Good Doctor: 6]

You clear your throat and the doctor looks up immediately with a genial look on her face. You seem profoundly disturbed in some non-obvious way, she says. Would you care for a comprehensive medical examination so that she may better analyze your ailments? She is sure she can help.

Actually, you attempt to deflect the question, you're here for a story. Nonsense, she replies. That right there, she points her knife vaguely in the direction of your neck, that right there is discoloration of the jugular. It could be very serious, don't you know. And that looks like a small bump under your eyelid. She'll need to look at that too. Take a seat, she points at the stool and- oh wait, she says, brushing the bits of rat off the stool and to the floor, a tiny smear persisting on the surface. Yeah, take a seat on the stool and she'll take a more in-depth look. Can't have the violently ill wandering about, now can you?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 03, 2016, 01:26:24 pm
Gah. Okay, I should probably rest, but this thing might be the reason I came down here... I try to carefully remove the sword from the trap.

[Classical Mechanics: 1]

You have two options that you can see - removing the blade from the trap and removing the blade from yourself. You attempt to do the former, but the somewhat awkward way it's lodged in your torso makes this difficult. You kind of rub against it and the inadvertent sawing motion sets your ribs on edge and sends a shooting pain through your abdomen that makes you wonder if trying to remove the sword without any form of tools on hand is a good idea.

... giving it some thought, you suppose probably not - it's not even a whole sword, just a blade attached to an unfolding metal arm that runs from a currently open ceiling panel, held together admirably well by expertly crafted parts. A little creaky, perhaps, but that's to be expected with traps of this age.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 03, 2016, 01:49:05 pm
"This is vexing, priesty, let me tell you. I need this window yet it's fixed in place.
Hmm. Though perhaps this would work; technically a broken window is priceless because it isn't worth anything. If I deliver some fancy enough shards from both windows that should fulfil the condition.

Unless you know of anything else that's priceless around these parts?"

Does Priesty know of any priceless things that aren't the window? If not, contemplate the best way to shatter it so that I get some cool-looking pieces.

[Ruminations On Theft: 2]

Well the priest is of absolutely no help. He just stares at the broken window, wondering in his heart of hearts why somebody would perform such a horrible, pointless act of destruction. Doesn't even seem to notice your question, the self-absorbed tit. Anyway, you consider how best to break the other window. But with style, you know?

[Ruminations On Vandalism: 4]

What makes a thing priceless, truly? Quality? Permanence? Rarity? Probably not - these make things valuable. What defines something priceless, though... why, irreproducibility, wouldn't you say? A priceless thing is something you cannot create or recreate. Once a priceless thing is gone, it can never return. This is its appeal - exclusivity, no?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 03, 2016, 02:46:24 pm
Spit down and listen. Calculate length of the drop based on sound and whether it solid or liquid on bottom. If solid and not too far, then drop down landing on my feet like a cat. Otherwise back up all the way and try southern crawlspace.

[Phlegmolocation: 6]

You send out a thick probe of all the mucus you can muster into the dark, assuming that if you do hit something, it's pretty likely you'll hear it. It impacts the floor with an almost meaty splash, letting you know very clearly that the floor isn't really that far off - the floor is wooden and probably no more than five meters down.

Assuming your estimate to be perfectly accurate, you forge ahead and fall out of the hole with all the grace you'd expect from a shitfaced neo-viking, executing a perfect five point landing with all four limbs and your face. Absolutely nothing important is hurt as a result.

You get up after some effort. A lot roomier down here. Your thoughts are echoing slightly. Pitch-black fields of jack shit stretch as far as the eye can see.

Quote from: TopHat on March 03, 2016, 04:50:47 pm
It worked? It worked! But does it work, I wonder?
Empty out another sack and test out the new shiv by cutting arm- and neck- holes. Then cut some more strips from the first sack to use as bandages.

[Papa's Got A Brand New Shiv: 6]

It cuts! It cuts and it cuts, and it cuts until you can cut no more. The good news, you find, are that you have plenty of grubby, non-sterile burlap ribbons that ought to serve as perfectly good bandages according to your best wishful guess on how medicine works. The even better news are that you could probably pretend to be a mummy if you got all your ribbons together and tied them on nicely. You got one really long one from one particular sack that you just did up in one ribbon. Very handy work there.

Your ambitions of a burlap minidress, however, are not to be, as you run out of material before your better judgment kicks into gear. You observe the ridiculous amounts of dusty lucre now littering the floor with mild, largely unrelated disappointment.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 04, 2016, 04:53:21 pm
((Why, dice? I can only take so much.))

Okay, whatever. I can deal with this in a minute. I try to safely remove myself from the contraption and back away to an untrapped spot of ground. I also listen to try and discern whether the trap retracts into the ceiling. It seems like it shouldn't, but you never know.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on March 04, 2016, 07:20:24 pm
"See now, there's many ways you can go about this. I could break it like before, but that's probably not what I'm looking for. And judging by how I got hurt by that falling glass, I'm not invulnerable, so punching through stone probably isn't the best of ideas.
...
Maybe I should fix that. I'll see you in a few minutes, priesty."

Head back down into the well. Y'know, the extradimensional contract well.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Toaster on March 04, 2016, 08:58:04 pm
Thomas's hand went defensively neckward.  "No, no, I assure you I am well.  Your father told me you were an expert of the history of this area!  Perhaps you could educate me?  Tell me of its past?"

He opted not to sit.

Try to get a story instead of surgery.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 05, 2016, 03:54:52 am
Following in footsteps of my forefather who bears the same name, discover new places! New greener lands to inhabit would be nice, but probably too much to ask right now. I'm satisfied with discovering shape and content of this quiet place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: TopHat on March 05, 2016, 02:42:36 pm
Yup, it works. Just hope I'll never have to actually fight with it.
Wrap up feet in the cloth strips. Probably best not to go around barefoot with all this glass about. Also wrap ribbons around injuries if they still seem to be bleeding. I've just been crawling through a sludge chute, a little extra dirt can't hurt...
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 05, 2016, 07:01:48 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 04, 2016, 04:53:21 pm
((Why, dice? I can only take so much.))

Okay, whatever. I can deal with this in a minute. I try to safely remove myself from the contraption and back away to an untrapped spot of ground. I also listen to try and discern whether the trap retracts into the ceiling. It seems like it shouldn't, but you never know.

[Life In These Old Gears: 3]

Well, 'safely' is perhaps a lofty ambition. You'll have a massive gash in your torso regardless of how you remove yourself. But you do manage to remove yourself without a noticeable worsening of your physical condition, and while the trap definitely tries to retract at that point, it seems to be just about out of whatever mechanical juice powered it, and thus only twitches vaguely before going still.

In any case, you assume what you believe to be a safer position a couple of steps back toward the sarcophagus you came from.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 04, 2016, 07:20:24 pm
"See now, there's many ways you can go about this. I could break it like before, but that's probably not what I'm looking for. And judging by how I got hurt by that falling glass, I'm not invulnerable, so punching through stone probably isn't the best of ideas.
...
Maybe I should fix that. I'll see you in a few minutes, priesty."

Head back down into the well.

You clamber down into the well and find it unexpectedly full of gold, all glittering in the fading light of this latest sunset.

You also find Mr. Wilde. His mostly naked state and stark confusion seem oddly familiar.

Quote from: Toaster on March 04, 2016, 08:58:04 pm
Thomas's hand went defensively neckward.  "No, no, I assure you I am well.  Your father told me you were an expert of the history of this area!  Perhaps you could educate me?  Tell me of its past?"

He opted not to sit.

Try to get a story instead of surgery.

[For Old Times' Sake: 5]

She pauses. Not of this area, strictly speaking. More of the kingdom as a whole. Though the northern parts are admittedly somewhat disproportionately relevant to the geopolitics, especially as of late, and... well, frankly there is quite a lot of history. You can't hope for her to relate all of it on the spot. At least not with any thoroughness - oh, she could tell you of a great many interpretations of the near-mythical reign of the King In Green, or the first chronicles dating back to the time of the unification, or the minder lords of the great interregnum and the splintering of the blood... why, literally thousands of years of history here, she says with a nostalgic look, recalling what seems like a very long and comprehensive education. Almost all of it somehow relevant to today's dire situation. Everything connects, she says with a gleam in her eye - that's the beautiful thing about both history and flesh.

Hm. Are you sure you don't want surgery instead? It would certainly take far less time than it would to give you a reasonable education on the once-great kingdom of Benzerwald.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 05, 2016, 03:54:52 am
Following in footsteps of my forefather who bears the same name, discover new places! New greener lands to inhabit would be nice, but probably too much to ask right now. I'm satisfied with discovering shape and content of this quiet place.

[Fumbling Bravely In The Dark: 5]

It is a big room! Some sixty feet to a side, and definitely possessing something of a cubic shape. Now rather familiar with the general principle of this place, you have a reasonably simple time finding more panels presumably leading to other crawlspaces - quite a lot of them, actually, presumably more than a dozen. And that's just the ones you can easily reach from ground level.

Speaking of, you also accidentally manage to activate what seems to have been a mechanism for a ladder, a casual brush over an otherwise imperceptible button causing the unfolding of wall-mounted rungs you could definitely safely climb on. These appear to lead to more panels, but located higher along the wall. Another ladder even leads back to the hole you came in through.

Finally you also get an inkling of the center of the room - there is a circular raised platform in the middle, seemingly organized into concentric rings. What function these may serve you don't have any clue, although the rings do seem to have a great number of embossed symbols on them.

Quote from: TopHat on March 05, 2016, 02:42:36 pm
Yup, it works. Just hope I'll never have to actually fight with it.
Wrap up feet in the cloth strips. Probably best not to go around barefoot with all this glass about. Also wrap ribbons around injuries if they still seem to be bleeding. I've just been crawling through a sludge chute, a little extra dirt can't hurt...

[That's A Wrap: 1]

Wrapping your feet is a rather simple endeavor, although your wounds kind of itch when you wrap them with your burlap bandages. They also chafe. And feel rather dirty. Dirtier than they already were, which is quite an accomplishment. You also seem to have tied your hands together somehow, which is simultaneously perplexing and frustrating.

What's more, a certain Mr. Daniels joins you down in this horrible place, climbing gingerly down the chain hanging down the well shaft and jumping down effortlessly. He seems to be going somewhere, but stops when he sees you. He appears to be slightly more naked than you, surprisingly enough, yet largely unconcerned by the fact.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on March 05, 2016, 07:05:50 pm
"Oh hey. Judging by your nudity and inexplicable confusion, you probably woke up here or somewhere nearby with no idea where the hell you were, right? You're ostensibly from Earth, I assume?"

If there's no answer, I shrug and go into the door. Time to do another deal. If he talks back, I'll obviously be staying and talking.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 05, 2016, 09:14:39 pm
I squeeze back into the alcove by the sarcophagus, then try to find a relatively unmoldy place to rest for a bit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 06, 2016, 05:10:42 am
"Neat mechanism. Clearly work of true master!"

Mayhaps someone is listening and flattery gets somewhere?
Burn this all into my memory so I can recreate the vision later in detail. Then work out INEVITABILITIES of the central circle. Surely it isn't sacrificial platform or anything equally wicked.

...Though I rather should be climbing up instead.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: TopHat on March 06, 2016, 08:47:15 am
"Correct on all counts, though that ostensibly is worrying. Where are we, then, if not Earth? And how do you know that's what's happened?"
Cut hand bindings whilst talking. That piece of glass is still wedged in the floor, right?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on March 06, 2016, 03:46:24 pm
"I'll give you the quick version - we're in a castle called Anglefork, which is in a kingdom called Benzerwald, I think. It's being beseiged by an army of around 600ish stoatmen, which are basically people with really short limbs and unnaturally flexible spines. Not sure why they're doing it, and I'm not sure how many of them are alive right now since one of us went on a bit of a killing spree among their ranks. We people from earth got summoned here by their version of wizards, called minders. We're not exactly normal; we may or may not be the souls of our former selves possessing a magical material made up of rats. I haven't quite figured out the details yet, and I'm not really going to bother because there doesn't seem to be a way of getting back and my life was kinda shitty anyway. So yeah, good luck. Oh, and if you hurt yourself, bleeding doesn't seem to hurt us as much as it would other people. I got impaled through the kidney recently and I'm fine."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 06, 2016, 04:32:37 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 05, 2016, 07:05:50 pm
"Oh hey. Judging by your nudity and inexplicable confusion, you probably woke up here or somewhere nearby with no idea where the hell you were, right? You're ostensibly from Earth, I assume?"

If there's no answer, I shrug and go into the door. Time to do another deal. If he talks back, I'll obviously be staying and talking.

He seems to indeed be someone quite a bit like you. Unusual. Malleable. No doubt quite uniquely skilled if the way he seems to have tied his own hands securely together is any indication. You observe him as he proceeds to cut his bonds with the aid of a shard of glass lodged into the floor for some unknown, no doubt convoluted purpose.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 05, 2016, 09:14:39 pm
I squeeze back into the alcove by the sarcophagus, then try to find a relatively unmoldy place to rest for a bit.

You back up toward the sarcophagus slowly, and resolve to take a short rest until the pain and the bleeding and the unnatural looseness of your mildly eviscerated bits feels like it's not quite as urgent anymore. It helps a lot that you can't see the extent of the damage, you feel.

[A Cursory Examination: 1]

Laying down on top of the sarcophagus lid you feel reasonably safe, which strikes you as a distinctly unreasonable feeling almost immediately. You curl up a little defensively. No traps come to lay claim to your soul, nor does anything else - you do not let this impact your vigilance, naturally.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 06, 2016, 05:10:42 am
"Neat mechanism. Clearly work of true master!"

Mayhaps someone is listening and flattery gets somewhere?
Burn this all into my memory so I can recreate the vision later in detail. Then work out INEVITABILITIES of the central circle. Surely it isn't sacrificial platform or anything equally wicked.

...Though I rather should be climbing up instead.

Nobody sees fit to reply to your speech. The words themselves sound wrong in this space, as if violating some sacred rule. A shiver runs through you after you speak them, a tinge of nausea building in your throat. Weak words, clearly. A stronger one is required.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 1]

The word pierces the quiet with its deafening power as you explore a dozen iterations, rendering a solution plain - the concentric rings turn, and from a particular turning an elevation is achieved. A staircase can be made up to an apex in the middle of the room, where you take a moment to climb up and stand. For want of a view or anything within reach, however, it seems to be useless for any practical purpose. The sheer waste of effort that took you up here is enough to make you yawn in apathy.

Quote from: TopHat on March 06, 2016, 08:47:15 am
"Correct on all counts, though that ostensibly is worrying. Where are we, then, if not Earth? And how do you know that's what's happened?"
Cut hand bindings whilst talking. That piece of glass is still wedged in the floor, right?

Indeed it is, and it proves quite useful indeed in freeing yourself of your bonds while Mr. Daniels gives you a startlingly nonchalant explanation of the apparently supernatural events behind your strange awakening as well as a brief introduction to what may or may not be a bevy of superhuman abilities at your disposal.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on March 06, 2016, 04:41:19 pm
"Anyhow, I'm gonna go make a deal with a devil. Wait here, I'll help you out once I'm done."

Oh Mr Well, I have a deal to make with you...
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 06, 2016, 05:18:51 pm
You know, now that I think about it, I feel like someone told me sleeping on a coffin was bad luck. I reach around to check for a better spot in the alcove, scoot over to it if I find one, and continue to rest either way.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Toaster on March 06, 2016, 07:50:44 pm
"Oh yes, I insist, I do enjoy a good story.  The one of the King in Green sounds delightful.  Really."

Story > Surgery
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 07, 2016, 01:54:48 am
Quote from: Xantalos on March 06, 2016, 04:41:19 pm
"Anyhow, I'm gonna go make a deal with a devil. Wait here, I'll help you out once I'm done."

Oh Mr Well, I have a deal to make with you...
((Ghostly meta voice whispers into your ears: "Please don't! It doesn't fullfill its end of the deal!"))


Alcohol cures apathy. Alcohol is solution. Literally and figuratively.
Climb up the ladders to highest reachable panel and crawl into space behind.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: TopHat on March 07, 2016, 04:05:59 pm
"You do realise what you just said, don't you? Stoatmen, magic, dealing with devils? Why should you expect me to believe you?"

Examine state of injuries RE bleeding. This is getting weirder by the second.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on March 07, 2016, 07:10:13 pm
"Like I said, give me a minute. Just gotta get this one thing done, then I'll help you get out of here and show you the whole shebang."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 07, 2016, 08:14:02 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 06, 2016, 04:41:19 pm
"Anyhow, I'm gonna go make a deal with a devil. Wait here, I'll help you out once I'm done."

Oh Mr Well, I have a deal to make with you...

You let Mr. Wilde stew in his boiling incredulity as you step over to the well, the darkness welcoming you with its ravening silence and oppressive omnipresence as all exits fade from sight almost immediately. You have something for it, and it is prepared to give something in return. That you do this expediently is desirable.

State a question. State a desire. Speak plainly and receive the same.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 06, 2016, 05:18:51 pm
You know, now that I think about it, I feel like someone told me sleeping on a coffin was bad luck. I reach around to check for a better spot in the alcove, scoot over to it if I find one, and continue to rest either way.

[Superior Spots: 3]

Well, you could squeeze behind the sarcophagus. There's a little room. A tight fit, sure. But very definitely untrapped! And the confinement does you good, you believe. Keeps the organs all in one place better than just plopping yourself down anywhere would. You really needed a good setting of the organs in retrospect.

Granted, it's still a bit dusty. And cold. And unpleasant. And maybe just a little moldy. But it keeps your organs in place. How many other forms of shelter you've had could make that claim?

Quote from: Toaster on March 06, 2016, 07:50:44 pm
"Oh yes, I insist, I do enjoy a good story.  The one of the King in Green sounds delightful.  Really."

Story > Surgery

You look at the good doctor, who seems to have been tapping her knife against your throat with a thoughtful expression, having almost interpreted your momentary silence as implicit consent. You step back and clear your throat, reiterating that yes, quite, you'd like one of those stories. Not surgery, no. Really! She tilts her head for a moment, wondering if perhaps there is some way she could rationalize this as likely infestation by brain parasites requiring immediate medical intervention. It does not quite cross the edge of plausibility, it seems, for she lowers the knife and sighs at your emphatic pleas for story time.

Very well, she says. The King In Green, was it? Straight at the beginning - a very good place to start. There's a reason it's the beginning, after all.

But yes, she gesticulates with the knife in a sweeping motion. The King In Green. Probably powerful. Debatably mystical. Possibly human. Almost definitely not actually dressed in green, traditionalist depictions notwithstanding. Poorly attested to by historical sources, though nevertheless almost undeniably present in records from El - the smidgen of doubt is there largely because the records are from El, and though their wondrous citizenry probably have no reason to particularly embellish the abilities of a non-hostile king, they have been known to lie in rare occasions on sheer principle. And really, enough spinning of potential motivations can justify anything as she's sure you must agree.

Truth is in short supply about the King In Green. He presumably comes from the north. He comes and he goes. The natural laws of the north do not prevent such a thing even when frankly implausible. Each coming heralds a different age in Benzerwald. There have been five thus far according to modern historiography - the Primeval was the first, which ended when the King In Green carved out a kingdom in the foothills of the Corner of the World. Quite literally if you believe the words of El - their records indicate some sort of incredible cataclysm occurring in the area. A flood perhaps, or an upheaval of the earth. Likely a dose of outright impossibility was involved - this is quite uncomfortably close to the Corner in absolute terms, you must understand. Speculation varies, but the common idea is that the works of the King In Green, who apparently went to all the neighboring kingdoms to announce his conquest of the untaken land. The events are shockingly poorly documented, she admits, given that they occurred roughly two hundred years ago. And that's quite a liberal estimate. It probably does not help that a lot about the King In Green is very much inexplicable. Even the green has an unclear source.

Next, the good doctor says, her face flushed as long-forgotten excitement stirs within her, is the Imaginary period. This is another of those periods that conventional historiography has some trouble with - a common issue with a lot of history around here, but especially pronounced in this case. The trouble with the Imaginary period, as the name may imply, is that it appears to be entirely made up. Scholarly analysis would point to the King In Green once again as the likely cause. The Imaginary period is in fact one of the common proofs for his existence, as nobody appears to have any better ideas on how six thousand years of history under a glorious unbroken dynasty of legendary kings and queens could have been completely missed by the neighboring nations. It is possible that the King In Green just deleted everyone else's history from the period, as some revisionist ideas state (in the interest of fairness, they believe). This is largely discounted as wishful thinking by more serious scholars. Only the tail end of the Imaginary period - the shadow of the King looming over a royal house simultaneously born and dying, as the legends have it - seems to have any basis in actual happenings, and the ending of the period coincides with the disappearance of the King In Green - she won't bore you with the dozens of hypotheses here, and will just say that not needing to obey the laws of physics does wonders for a historian's imagination.

In any case, this is not quite so relevant to the King himself. He is presumed to still exist, if probably not reign. He has not been sighted as of late - or perhaps he has, and nobody knew him for what he was. His presence has largely diminished in this Ordered final period. A healthy thing for record keeping, she cannot stress enough. Trying to place and date much of the Glorious or Interregnum periods can get rather nightmarish, to say nothing of the Imaginary period, which can become wildly inconsistent in its descriptions within even one source. Then again, she smiles, if such is the price one must pay for prosperity, however short-lived, she wouldn't mind a little complication in return for not being murdered by invaders.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 07, 2016, 01:54:48 am
Alcohol cures apathy. Alcohol is solution. Literally and figuratively.
Climb up the ladders to highest reachable panel and crawl into space behind.

You feel free to just bugger off from this weird place and try to get into a high crawlspace that hopefully leads to a higher place. To this end you build up your courage with another grapefruit. Feels a little like a drop in an ocean. Does snap you out of the desire to stand about and consider nothingness quite nicely, though. So off you go, to new and strange shafts!

[Labyrinths of Anglefork: 1]

The crawlspace you choose, however, leads at an upward incline for only about 20 feet before terminating in a sharp downward shaft, which is somewhat displeasing. You try backing up, and find that behind you there now appears to be a similar, but narrower downward vertical shaft, the appearance of which seems to have entirely slipped your hearing.

Quote from: TopHat on March 07, 2016, 04:05:59 pm
"You do realise what you just said, don't you? Stoatmen, magic, dealing with devils? Why should you expect me to believe you?"

Examine state of injuries RE bleeding. This is getting weirder by the second.

Mr. Daniels doesn't appear to care much about your objections, opting to dive straight into a black section of the wall in blatant disregard for the warning to be staying in away. As a silence falls upon the room you take a look at your poor bleeding hands.

[Insights Into Injury: 6]

You know, for something that had been bleeding for a good while before you tied it up you don't really see much blood on the floor. Glass, yes. Gold, yes. Blood, though? None of it seems to have made it onto the ground. Not a single, solitary drop.

You look at your hands. The blood-soaked burlap tied around each of them demonstratively drips on the floor, as if noticing your momentary concern. You wonder a moment if it would be strictly productive to doubt the honesty of your limbs, nominally under your control as they seem to be.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 07, 2016, 09:31:56 pm
It is very important to keep the ol' organs together. I continue resting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Xantalos on March 08, 2016, 12:18:19 am
"Right, let's get this done. My desire is for my physical body to be impervious to damage. My question is 'what is the easiest way for me to extract the sun-themed stained glass window from the chapel without breaking it and transport it to the blacksmith's shack, taking into account my capabilities?'"

Let's make this deal quick, I got windows to loot!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: Toaster on March 08, 2016, 12:29:17 am
((wat))

Okay, so we have a new winner for lunacy here.  "Fascinating!  What of the minder lords?  What can you tell me of them, if you don't mind?"


Miss opportunity for pun when dealing with crazy person.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Returning Dark
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 08, 2016, 01:54:15 am
Transforming labyrinth? I seem to recall an old movie which featured same, and it involved aliens and predators... What a predicament.

Let's... descend the one in front and try to not land on my head. Pray no facehuggers are found within.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 08, 2016, 03:16:31 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 07, 2016, 09:31:56 pm
It is very important to keep the ol' organs together. I continue resting.

To be enclosed in a womb of welcoming stone, being nursed by the umbilical vein of Time itself, preparing for the inevitable painful emergence into a wide world full of perils unseen and unimagined.

Why, it is just as disgusting as you imagined.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 08, 2016, 12:18:19 am
"Right, let's get this done. My desire is for my physical body to be impervious to damage. My question is 'what is the easiest way for me to extract the sun-themed stained glass window from the chapel without breaking it and transport it to the blacksmith's shack, taking into account my capabilities?'"

Let's make this deal quick, I got windows to loot!

Your fulfillment: what do you mean by 'physical body'?

Your answer: obtain the help of Leif Erikson when he returns from his exploration of the areas beneath the castle. His word is most likely among those of any of the other vessels to permit simpler extraction. Transportation can then be performed by hand on account of uncoupled strength - Mr. Erikson may be enlisted to help on this as well. Until Mr. Erikson returns, seek alternative methods of fulfilling your objective.

Your price: a connection now belongs to the well.

Quote from: Toaster on March 08, 2016, 12:29:17 am
((wat))

Okay, so we have a new winner for lunacy here.  "Fascinating!  What of the minder lords?  What can you tell me of them, if you don't mind?"


Miss opportunity for pun when dealing with crazy person.

The minder lords, ah! Her favorite subject. A murky enough period of history that academic examinations are healthily contentious, but not quite to the point of the direct works of the King In Green. The minder lords emerged in the thirty year Interregnum, as mentioned, when the nation fell to pieces right at the end of the Glorious period, which is estimated to have lasted somewhere in the neighborhood of two to six months, depending on exact criteria employed to delineate the periods. She prefers to use the well-known date of the infamous First Minister's Report On The Absence Of Kings, which is June 21, 197 S.D., though she holds it as such mostly due to tradition. The report, you see, while having withstood the test of time in a way most bureaucratic documents tend not to, is thought to have been of vastly overstated importance in the collapse of the Glorious kingdom in the face of its apparently Imaginary roots, to say nothing of its Imaginary leadership.

But the minder lords, yes! The orthodox view holds that as the abilities of minding were perfected among the populace of Benzerwald, particularly those in close proximity to the Corner of the World and also those born in the great towers of the King In Green, their role as arbiters and organizers of society became quite apparent to them. Minding proved to be an excellent tool of governance and communication, and with its help the kingdom that had wasted no time in completely falling apart as its contradictory facts collided in a cataclysmic failure of all manner of human conduct was reforged in a mere thirty years, attaining the Ordered shape that is even now giving way to Splintered disharmony - her own invention, this term, after the splintering of the blood underlying the current events.

The interesting thing, she says as she paces to one corner of the room, her knife pointing unerringly toward your eyes throughout, is that the Interregnum is surprisingly anonymous. The minder lords existed, of course - many are mentioned in a great deal of independent sources, including explorers from El, the famed Elizabethan account and assuredly many others, all part of a great exploratory rush into Benzerwald immediately after its strange and sudden incorporation into the realm. They do not appear to have had any names that anyone is aware of, however. Several hypotheses exist here - the most boring one being, of course, that the 'minder lords' were just the King In Green, which is really the sort of non-answer one has come to expect from less-than-serious scholars. It's not impossible, of course, but neither does it particularly explain anything. Indeed, you could say it defies explanation entirely and quite shamelessly, just like the scholars advancing such ideas. More likely, she believes, the minder lords were just careful to obfuscate themselves from the folk they were instructing to resume the shape of a kingdom, presumably so that they were not confused with kings in their own right, which would be quite detrimental to the concept of unification they were ostensibly striving for. Or perhaps they were somehow acting as the mortal executors of the will of the King In Green, and the situation required that they keep themselves as unknown as possible.

Of course, she smiles, they did not entirely succeed. Some minder lords are known by countenance, and some of these are even known by name. Great Dipri, for instance, who is said to have ruled the ancient tower of what is now Anglefork, possibly one of the more influential ones of her time, and personal adviser to the first king of the Ordered period. Ooh, but she's getting ahead of herself, she says. Her mind looks to be in full flight as she glides from one end of the closet to the other, grinning wildly at you.

Yes! The goal of the Interregnum was unification! And this was achieved as minders joined the minds of the common folk and let them see each other as parts of the formerly Imaginary kingdom, now made real through concerted effort! It was not a complete effort, mind you. The unintegrated remnants still wander the far northern hills, forming clans of the Worm, the Stork, the Dragon, the Snark and more still. But it is safe to say that they got most of the folk of Benzerwald into, well, Benzerwald. Complete with a king deemed to best fit the gestalt impressions left from the still-fresh Imaginary period. The stock was well-chosen by Dipri and her multitudinous associates, for the next century and a half and change is quite rightly known as the Ordered period and the appointment a work of the King In Green itself. Aside from the splintering of the blood business, of course, but that may have also been the work of the King In Green. Scholarly analysis has been quite limited after the genocide of most of the actual scholars.

She pauses a moment to look wistfully into the distance and also to giddily take a breath as oxygen deprivation starts to properly get to her.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 08, 2016, 01:54:15 am
Transforming labyrinth? I seem to recall an old movie which featured same, and it involved aliens and predators... What a predicament.

Let's... descend the one in front and try to not land on my head. Pray no facehuggers are found within.

[Labyrinths of Anglefork: 4]

The cramped downward shaft is small enough that landing on your head, while not strictly preventable, is unlikely enough to break your neck by sheer virtue of the smallness of the passage preventing any sort of downward fall. You inch along downward until you feel a noticeable cold and damp rising toward you, the shaft ending atop a small bubbling underground brook. Putting out your hands, you feel the wood structure end and seemingly natural stone begin.

Granted, it still seems to be a shaft in all respects. It's just that this one at least is horizontal rather than unfavorably vertical and also not covered in suspiciously well-polished wood.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 08, 2016, 03:39:51 pm
Yay for my second bath, cold as it may be! And yay for profound lack of facehuggers and other arachnids!

Let's wriggle to upstream. Most likely cleanest water is in that direction. Maybe also an exit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 08, 2016, 04:19:50 pm
Odd. Very odd.
Follow Mr. Daniels through the exit.
((I wonder...))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 08, 2016, 04:25:26 pm
Uhhhh...huh.

"I thank you for the most enlightening stories!  Sadly, I must really be going now; there is much still to be done!"

Hit the door as fast as possible to still be polite.  Run from surgery.  Just go in the easiest direction.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 08, 2016, 04:36:26 pm
Okay, now that I feel better, let's see if I can pull this off. I make my way back to the extended sword trap, avoiding any other traps that are still armed.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 08, 2016, 06:24:33 pm
"By physical form I mean the body I have! Do you not perceive reality the way I do or actually no you probably don't. Uh. What was the word you used? Substrate, that's it. I want the substrate my mind is inhabiting to be impervious to damage, that's what I meant by physical form."

Clarify wish, then exit well.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 09, 2016, 06:37:34 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 08, 2016, 03:39:51 pm
Yay for my second bath, cold as it may be! And yay for profound lack of facehuggers and other arachnids!

Let's wriggle to upstream. Most likely cleanest water is in that direction. Maybe also an exit.

You crawl into the underground brook and find it to be invigoratingly cold and mineral-rich. Intrigued by where such a thing might be coming from, you move upstream like a sneaking salmon, the light gnawing of small, yet spirited troglodytic fauna giving your skin a much-needed cleansing.

[The Waters Beneath: 1]

The brook narrows more and more as you go on, the crack in the basal rock allowing it to exist decreasing in size until you come to a small mouth gushing water at the seeming point of origin, beyond which you cannot hope to follow, which leaves you with the rather unenviable option of wriggling all the way back. It's quite a long way, truth be told, so you get right on that.

Much to your dismay, however, the way back feels a little full as well, and chitters lightly as you poke it with your foot before beginning to advance on you with methodical invertebrate efficiency.

Quote from: TopHat on March 08, 2016, 04:19:50 pm
Odd. Very odd.
Follow Mr. Daniels through the exit.
((I wonder...))

You touch the door Mr. Daniels disappeared through, seeing no handle or anything similar, and you see it open before you, the black structure peeling inward as it parts to allow access to a solid wall of endless, ravenous night. The abyss regards you patiently, completely silent yet violently restless, its gaze setting your teeth on edge.

Looking at the darkness for a moment in the vain attempt of finding any sign of Mr. Daniels, you notice it deepen and hollow, the pitch blackness parting to reveal a path to depths of negative, mind-bending light, the blackness of a naked singularity, hanging perfectly paradoxical in the void, beckoning your approach with unconcealed anticipation. Share in the warmth of your kind, and it will overflow with warmth of its own.

Quote from: Toaster on March 08, 2016, 04:25:26 pm
Uhhhh...huh.

"I thank you for the most enlightening stories!  Sadly, I must really be going now; there is much still to be done!"

Hit the door as fast as possible to still be polite.  Run from surgery.  Just go in the easiest direction.

[Escaping A Conversation: 6]

Using her pause for breath you dive toward the door with a quick excuse. The first thing you hear as you start a sprint down the nearby hallway is hearty laughter, followed immediately by the doctor herself running out to give you chase as well as what sounds like a continuation of the lecture. You hear a hint of minder intrigue before you turn the corner and bolt right out of the keep, nipping into the old storehouse you awoke in right before she leaps out of the keep's entrance, taking a careful look around the courtyard, a goofy grin still on her face as she looks around for any sign of you. You think you've given her the slip for now, an impression reinforced when she redirects her attention to a nearby door guard, who listens with a look of concern as she starts to detail the rough hierarchy of the early minder lords to her and the collected evidence thereof.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 08, 2016, 04:36:26 pm
Okay, now that I feel better, let's see if I can pull this off. I make my way back to the extended sword trap, avoiding any other traps that are still armed.

You climb out from behind the sarcophagus and move carefully toward the center of the room again, only to bump into someone on the way.

It is a familiar individual, your casual brush against him releasing a sweet, slightly choking aroma even if its body does not budge an inch, or make any other sort of movement for that matter. What you bump into seems to more specifically be its hands, which are put forward with palms up and cupped. From its hands a single tall mushroom seems to have grown. The posture of the creature is slightly bowed, its unrecognizable head looking down, spine bent a little forward.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 08, 2016, 06:24:33 pm
"By physical form I mean the body I have! Do you not perceive reality the way I do or actually no you probably don't. Uh. What was the word you used? Substrate, that's it. I want the substrate my mind is inhabiting to be impervious to damage, that's what I meant by physical form."

Clarify wish, then exit well.

The substrate is already impervious to damage. You may ask an additional question - two half-answers will make for one fulfillment (see fairness, privileged information, price of idle talk).

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 09, 2016, 07:05:14 am
You... aren't supposed to be there. Uh. I guess I should probably get what I need and leave. Quickly. I move around the body, find the sword trap, and grab it with my left hand where the blade meets the mechanisms. Then I create an explosive cyst with my right hand, throw it at the ceiling where the trap connects, and run with it when it detaches.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 09, 2016, 11:07:12 am
Chitters? CHITTERS!?

Panic! Sober up in cold water! Do dolphin tailslap to stun it/them! Kick it! Don't breathe water! Panic!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 09, 2016, 12:36:35 pm
"Hello? Hello? Is anybody there?"
Call into the dark. Then pour out the contents of a random bowl into the void before sending the bowl after it. Observe results.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 09, 2016, 12:50:02 pm
Jack twitches.

"See, this is what's known as poisoning your customer base. If you hadn't gone and decreased my deal I probably would've come back in the future at some point. Now I won't, and I'll be warning people like me against using you. But I get a question instead of a fulfillment, fine.

The substrate may be impervious to damage, but when I was hit by a shard of falling glass I was cut open, and I suspect if I punched through a wall of stone with my uncoupled strength I would break my arm. How may I reinforce my body so things like this don't happen?"

Adult version of a pouty toddler not getting their way activate!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 09, 2016, 10:57:50 pm
Probably should just wait here a moment.


Lurk quietly.  Contemplate what needs to be done for escaping this loony bin.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 10, 2016, 01:55:51 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 09, 2016, 07:05:14 am
You... aren't supposed to be there. Uh. I guess I should probably get what I need and leave. Quickly. I move around the body, find the sword trap, and grab it with my left hand where the blade meets the mechanisms. Then I create an explosive cyst with my right hand, throw it at the ceiling where the trap connects, and run with it when it detaches.

You weave around the inconveniently positioned corpse and go grab the blade trap by the handle-like bit where the spring-loaded arm it's mounted on nearly ends. Your solution is as brilliant as it is obvious - explosives are the universal tool. What problem can't they solve?

[Controlled Demolition: 6]

You grow what at the moment seems like a reasonable cyst in your other hand and hurl it right into the gear-filled opening of the trap. It flies deep inside, which you suppose is very good, as it occurs to you that standing next to an explosion that has been known to pulverize piles of bricks is an unhealthy choice.

Granted, as an explosion rings out through the room and the ceiling starts to shake, you suppose that you're not particularly clear of danger regardless.

[The Sky Falls: 2]

You pull with all of your might and manage to remove the mechanical arm as well as its blade from its now-blasted mechanism, and along with it comes a whole lot of cracked and broken ceiling. As much as several tons of it, in fact! Fortunately, you're not entirely buried and crushed by it, having the good sense to try and scramble backward as you pull the arm along. Only mostly so. A bit stressful on the pelvis, you find, to say nothing of the legs (you've lost feeling in those, which you suppose is for the best, as you don't look forward to their eventual feedback).

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 09, 2016, 11:07:12 am
Chitters? CHITTERS!?

Panic! Sober up in cold water! Do dolphin tailslap to stun it/them! Kick it! Don't breathe water! Panic!

[Sobering Fear: 6]

Oh god you are going to die here in this hole you could deal so much better with this if you were drunk why did you sober up! You tense up and grow turgid with sudden self-knowledge! Violent action ensues!

[A Cornered Rat: 3 vs. 5]

You try to kick at the advancing insectoid menace and succeed admirably at lodging your foot straight in its mandibles. Locking its forelegs around your ankle it begins to chew, mouthparts rhythmically constricting around your foot as bones are displaced and start to be thoroughly flensed by digestive juices. It feels much less pleasant than it sounds.

Quote from: TopHat on March 09, 2016, 12:36:35 pm
"Hello? Hello? Is anybody there?"
Call into the dark. Then pour out the contents of a random bowl into the void before sending the bowl after it. Observe results.

Your words feel muted as they fall into the dark, the sound going in, but failing to escape again. Grabbing a pot full of condensed and filthy basement moisture, you bestow a proper libation upon the strangely animate nothingness beyond.

[Glorious Experimentation: 2]

Your empiricism is sadly impeded by the fact it's entirely too dark to see inside the doorway. Nevertheless you sense an anticipation welling up inside your head as you continue to stare into it - not yours, distressingly.

The well awaits you beyond the threshold. Step inside. Bring warmth. Receive gifts. Speak plainly and receive the same.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 09, 2016, 12:50:02 pm
Jack twitches.

"See, this is what's known as poisoning your customer base. If you hadn't gone and decreased my deal I probably would've come back in the future at some point. Now I won't, and I'll be warning people like me against using you. But I get a question instead of a fulfillment, fine.

The substrate may be impervious to damage, but when I was hit by a shard of falling glass I was cut open, and I suspect if I punched through a wall of stone with my uncoupled strength I would break my arm. How may I reinforce my body so things like this don't happen?"

Adult version of a pouty toddler not getting their way activate!

You and Mr. Erikson would get along famously. This insight shared freely.

As for reinforcement: consider wearing armor (see armor materials, defensive technology, conventional wisdom). It seems like this would help avoid most forms of harm to an adequate degree. The technology involved should be familiar to you. Aside from that, consider this: harm stems from the template, not from the substrate. Perfect invulnerability will always be beyond your reach (see template replacement, interests of fairness, fostering of creativity). Frailty, however, is a function of doubt.

Quote from: Toaster on March 09, 2016, 10:57:50 pm
Probably should just wait here a moment.


Lurk quietly.  Contemplate what needs to be done for escaping this loony bin.

[Ruminations On Escape: 2]

You're not entirely sure what would qualify as an escape. Being back in Albany, of course, but so far you get the impression that to achieve this a number of intermediate steps will be required, each more violently unknown than the last. A good candidate for the next thing to do would be to get past the so-called stout men safely, and they're apparently quite loony. Though the people who told you this were also quite loony, so perhaps you shouldn't put too much stock in their testimony.

Actually, come to think of it, hasn't everything even remotely useful you've been told thus far come from the mouth of someone who is at least slightly insane? And thus perhaps not quite as remotely useful as you thought? You don't think you're among friends here is the point. Or professionals, for that matter. Maybe their help is more likely to harm you than going at it alone.

Speaking of, the doctor seems to be asking the guard to follow her. The guard seems disinclined to do so. The doctor seems to not particularly care for such objections.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 10, 2016, 02:10:42 pm
"On second thoughts, maybe this is a bad idea. This place seems unnerving, somehow."
Back away from the darkness. Rest in the corner of the room furthest from it.

Quote
Frailty, however, is a function of doubt.
Quote
You look at your hands. The blood-soaked burlap tied around each of them demonstratively drips on the floor, as if noticing your momentary concern. You wonder a moment if it would be strictly productive to doubt the honesty of your limbs, nominally under your control as they seem to be.
((highly interesting))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 10, 2016, 02:34:02 pm
Hmmm.  Wonder if there's a plank to stretch across the river.

Wait out the doctor.  Recall how far across the river was at its narrowest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 10, 2016, 02:47:26 pm
Oh by Odin's empty eye socket MURDER IT! Very much INEVITABLY murder it by virtue of being bigger and higher on the food chain! Kick it on ceiling and walls now that it's locked on my feet! Or something!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 10, 2016, 03:44:50 pm
Gah. Well, I have the thing! That's pretty great. I suppose next I have to try and push the rubble off myself.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 11, 2016, 02:27:04 am
((That well is a sassy motherfucker))

"Oh, so the template is my body, and the substrate is whatever material it's made up of?

Frailty is a function of doubt, you say.
...
Oh. I think I understand. My thanks, well. I'd ask more but I want to keep my connections right now until I'm certain I can get what I need. I'll be going now."

Exit deal! See if Mr. Wilde is still there.

"Well, that was an odd one. But I suppose you can't expect much more when dealing with things like that."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 11, 2016, 04:14:49 pm
Quote from: TopHat on March 10, 2016, 02:10:42 pm
"On second thoughts, maybe this is a bad idea. This place seems unnerving, somehow."
Back away from the darkness. Rest in the corner of the room furthest from it.

You don't want to go into the dark and unknown doorway? How terrible. It's almost like you have a sense of self-preservation or something.

Speaking of, you think you'll relax in that corner a little. While keeping both eyes open and no vulnerable parts of your body exposed. The gentleman's method of relaxation. The corner position gives you an admirable view of any potential assailants, and the resulting feeling of balancing on the knife-edge of paranoid safety makes for a peculiarly lightening rest. Savor the safety! It will not last.

Punctuating that last statement perfectly, Mr. Daniels emerges from the doorway, looking none the worse for wear. Perhaps lightly disappointed more than anything if what he says is anything to go by. He gives you an unnervingly unreadable look.

Quote from: Toaster on March 10, 2016, 02:34:02 pm
Hmmm.  Wonder if there's a plank to stretch across the river.

Wait out the doctor.  Recall how far across the river was at its narrowest.

[The Doctor's Business: 6]

After another rebuke from the guard, the doctor gives up and heads further into the courtyard, taking turns at knocking on each of the seemingly residential house doors (well, except for the house that seems to be missing its door, which she just looks into). One door opens. She goes in, an expression of joy on her face. The door shuts behind her, and does not open in the following minutes.

[Memory of Distance: 5]

You're pretty sure the river was about forty feet wide all around within a five foot margin or so. Definitely possible to swim, although probably a bit too wild to do so safely. Maybe the stout folk could help you in these matters, though counting on someone's help is exactly how you've wasted much of your time thus far.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 10, 2016, 02:47:26 pm
Oh by Odin's empty eye socket MURDER IT! Very much INEVITABLY murder it by virtue of being bigger and higher on the food chain! Kick it on ceiling and walls now that it's locked on my feet! Or something!

It is an insect and you are a man, a proud and noble viking! In biological terms it may come from a far more evolutionarily successful phylum, but you don't cotton to that intellectualist shit. You represent the apex of human cultural achievement! It doesn't even know what culture is! From this alone you conclude that your victory should be

INEVITABLE

[Word: 4]

The situation clarifies itself as your free foot moves in a thousand differing kicks - it is smaller than you, blind, though chunky in its own way. Much like a coconut crab in principle and execution, really. The odds are against it, as your many successful attempts over time would indicate. It is smaller, weaker. Spirited in its own slow and wrongheaded fashion, but easily dispatched. A kick to its softer underbelly after you lift it by the mouthparts with your occupied leg causes its digestive system to reel, you discover, dislodging your foot before more significant damage is done to it. This you choose as your first move.

The second is also quite obvious - both feet and all of your lower body strength meet the creature's front, cracking its shell and smashing many of its internal organs, lymph seeping from its broken exoskeleton as it quietly expires from your two unerring strikes.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 10, 2016, 03:44:50 pm
Gah. Well, I have the thing! That's pretty great. I suppose next I have to try and push the rubble off myself.

[Stony Imprisonment: 6]

Okay, so you need to get out of this situation. Few options on that, unfortunately. But you figure you ought to try anyway, and put away the arm for a moment to give the rocks a solid push. The rocks, as several tons of rocks tend to do in your experience, fail to budge in the face of your pathetic mortal might.

Oddly, however, this bothers your legs little, and it occurs to you that perhaps you have not so much lost feeling in them as they seem unusually uncrushed. You try to experimentally slide back a little, and find that you're not quite as trapped as you suspected.

What you also find, however, are the legs of a stiff, fungus-infested corpse standing over you, fibrous arms resting on the rubble, keeping it quite resolutely up above your feet. You do not seem to have heard it move, although admittedly your latest acts were more than noisy enough to mask any movement. The physics of the way it's supporting the rubble seem frankly unlikely, but not one to look a gift corpse in the toothless mouth, you slide out anyway and consider your next move, cradling your looted blade-arm close to your chest.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 11, 2016, 02:27:04 am
((That well is a sassy motherfucker))

"Oh, so the template is my body, and the substrate is whatever material it's made up of?

Frailty is a function of doubt, you say.
...
Oh. I think I understand. My thanks, well. I'd ask more but I want to keep my connections right now until I'm certain I can get what I need. I'll be going now."

Exit deal! See if Mr. Wilde is still there.

"Well, that was an odd one. But I suppose you can't expect much more when dealing with things like that."

The best answers are the ones that seed good questions. Another insight freely shared. Thank you. Come again.

You exit the well's domain and find Mr. Wilde curled up in a corner, looking at you with a suspicious eye. Very good form on covering his ass as he tries to camp out and recover his failing health. Doesn't seem to have followed you into the well, unless somehow the well was just far more efficient with him than it seems to feel like being with you (not beyond the realm of possibility, since no doubt all the good customer service goes to the naive and inexperienced ones).

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 11, 2016, 04:24:43 pm
"Did you make a deal with the well? Just curious to see if you got pseudo-ripped off like I did. Either way, let's get us out of here, shall we? There's a chain over this way."

If Mr. Wilde agrees, help him up the chain and out of the well.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 11, 2016, 04:33:25 pm
Disappear before being cornered by the doctor again.  Head up to the walls to see if there's any place that a bridge-analog could be built.  What are those stout fellows up to anyway?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 11, 2016, 06:29:15 pm
"Uh... thanks." I run out of the tombs. Hopefully I tripped all the traps on the way in.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 12, 2016, 01:17:35 pm
"The... Well? Do you mean the darkness beyond the threshold? What is it like? What do you mean, ripped off? Though I suppose we had best leave this place. After you, naturally."

Questions, questions, questions. Then follow Mr. Daniels up the chain and out of here.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 12, 2016, 02:37:19 pm
Ugh, that was unpleasant. I think I want to go back into wooden labyrinth. Or since the word seems to be working now, follow the INEVITABLE path to outside.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 12, 2016, 04:57:42 pm
"Yeah, the darkness. Spoke to you, didn't it? 'Bring warmth. Speak plainly and receive the same.' It's basically this extradimensional entity thing that feeds off of the connections living things forge between each other. For instance, you and I talking? That's a connection, we know each other to an extent, we can interact and stuff. You can trade those in to the well for favors, though far as I know you can't get connections back after you give them and it's a random selection, so be careful.

Also if you do decide to make a deal with it, be extremely specific. That thing is more literal-minded than anything I've ever talked with, so if you have any ambiguity in your words it'll use that as an excuse to say 'sorry you had to clarify you only get half the deal now'."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 12, 2016, 05:11:47 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 11, 2016, 04:24:43 pm
"Did you make a deal with the well? Just curious to see if you got pseudo-ripped off like I did. Either way, let's get us out of here, shall we? There's a chain over this way."

If Mr. Wilde agrees, help him up the chain and out of the well.

You whistle contently as you grab onto the chain and effortlessly climb topside. It takes a moment for Mr. Wilde to make significant progress, so you expedite matters by grabbing his hand and, using the nearby stone pillar the chain is attached to, whip him right out of the pit and over on the ground, where he flops a moment before getting up and looking at you in confusion, then at the surrounding area.

Quote from: Toaster on March 11, 2016, 04:33:25 pm
Disappear before being cornered by the doctor again.  Head up to the walls to see if there's any place that a bridge-analog could be built.  What are those stout fellows up to anyway?

[Observations of the Noble Stoat: 6]

A trip to the battlements proves less than informative, the sun having set and the environs being a little dark. Granted, the moonlight does help a tad in that you can see what look like mildly glowing embers of a once-proud bridge off in one part of the river. Supports still jutting out of the water and everything, even. Seems like a good place to start if bridge building is your thing.

That established, you subject a group of stout fellows in strict formation some two hundred feet away from the walls to your discerning eye. Their silhouettes in the dark are quite difficult to make out, and you do need to lean a little out between the parapets. Hm. Something with their hands, you think. Kind of difficult to see with how their bodies twist in unnatural-looking ways. They've got something in their hands, yes. And they're pointing these things at you, you think. How odd.

[Thirty Bolts, Just To Be Safe: 5 vs. 6]

A light rain of crossbow bolts showers the wall around you shortly afterwards, none really getting very close to hitting you, but nevertheless being slightly concerning as they clank off the battlements and down into the courtyard, no doubt making quite a ruckus as the shafts roll down this one fellow's roof. A door opens shortly afterwards, a dishevelled youth looking in glee at the sudden wealth of wood and metal in his backyard before running to gather as much as possible before the next volley comes in - somewhere along 10 make it back inside along with him, an admirable performance considering the semi-darkness.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 11, 2016, 06:29:15 pm
"Uh... thanks." I run out of the tombs. Hopefully I tripped all the traps on the way in.

[Feet of the Unwary: 6]

You sprint down the corridor that led you to this tomb, running right into your dead companion as its palm squarely meets your face and the rest of you slams into its body, which once again fails to budge an inch (unlike a couple of your teeth upon impact). You ponder for a moment what that was for as you try to move around the creature, and discover that its other hand appears to be pointing at the ground. Curious, you carefully check it...

... a pressure plate. Still unpressed. You think you must have missed it in your first walk through here. You navigate around it with a sigh, and proceed along the rest of the hallway, which is blissfully free of interruption. You can't quite say the same thing about the crossroads room, however, as the priestess immediately takes note of your arrival. Must be that creaky bit of metal you're carrying. Quite noisy, really.

What is this, she asks. Did you survive? What have you brought here? The last question carries a hint of uncomprehending alarm.

Quote from: TopHat on March 12, 2016, 01:17:35 pm
"The... Well? Do you mean the darkness beyond the threshold? What is it like? What do you mean, ripped off? Though I suppose we had best leave this place. After you, naturally."

Questions, questions, questions. Then follow Mr. Daniels up the chain and out of here.

[Adventurer's Fitness: 3]

It's a bit of a climb to get up the chain, and you're not in quite as good a shape as you'd like to be for it, not to mention the fact that your hands are pretty cut up and kind of hurt throughout. Fortunately, just as you are about to falter in the final stretch, Mr. Daniels helpfully holds on to a nearby stone pillar and offers you a hand - you take it and he disturbingly easily whips you out of the shaft and onto the ground, where you lay a moment in confusion before getting up and making sure you didn't just dislocate a shoulder or something (hearteningly, this does not appear to be the case).

The sight that greets you is quite unusual. Around you is the courtyard of a medieval castle, complete with tense-looking guards wearing period-appropriate mail and keeping their hands on their weapons. There's quite a few buildings about, some built in quite an unusual style (including a chapel with holes in the walls, a ramshackle assemblage of stolen building materials, a circle of stones and quite a few dilapidated wooden buildings, plus an out-of-place cob tower in one corner and a stately stone keep with remarkably small windows dominating one side of the yard). The smell of desperation and confusion is on the air. Awkwardly, it seems like nudity isn't really the choice of dress around here as far as you can tell. Seems to just be Mr. Daniels' thing. Maybe you ought to address this somehow. Fortunately, this being nighttime, the guards don't seem overly bothered by your appearance regardless.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 12, 2016, 02:37:19 pm
Ugh, that was unpleasant. I think I want to go back into wooden labyrinth. Or since the word seems to be working now, follow the INEVITABLE path to outside.

You wish it was that easy, really. That you could just say your escape was

INEVITABLE

[Word: 1]

and you would not just get a depressing view of yourself a hundred years later, still in darkness, still alone, still hounded by dumb invertebrates unaware of how hopelessly outclassed they are. At that point you will hardly even resemble what you used to be, your hands having grown claws, your head erupting feelers from now-vestigial eyes, your brain adapting to a fundamentally different mode of perceiving the world. At this point you will have given up on finding a conventional way out and try to dig the stone - little will you suspect the true reason of your failure. But at that point your meeting with it will be an inevitability of its own, drawn into its inexorable grasp as you will be-

-okay, you think that's enough of that. You poke the feelers back into your face and try to focus on the task ahead. Maybe banking on predestination isn't the way forward, since predestination seems to feel like being a dick right now. Like using a compass in the South Pole, you swear.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 12, 2016, 05:19:16 pm
"Right, d'you want me to show you anything? I've got a reasonable grasp of how this place is laid out, I'm pretty sure. I gotta wait for this one guy who's apparently exploring some passages underground, so I'll be waiting around for a while."

Idly follow Mr. Wilde around.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 12, 2016, 06:44:19 pm
"A blade, but we can talk about that in a second. Would you happen to know about any zombies that might be down here? Eerily friendly ones? Really moldy?" I listen for any movements in the hallway behind me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 12, 2016, 07:54:00 pm
With such brazen display of a lack of safety protocols, Thomas realizes he's not getting out that way.  Frustrated, he reaches for a discarded bolt and finds a safer, more inward vantage point.

Grab a bolt if there's one easy to get.  In any case, find a nice safe place to sit and observe the happenings in the courtyard.  What is going on down there?  Why can't a way out be found?  What will be said to Mr. Munderly?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 13, 2016, 04:14:56 am
Ugh, time to take the destiny into my own hands. It seems to get rather messy when left for... other things.

Backtrace back to the wooden shaft, sneak up and down to the another shaft, assuming it is still there.
And get drunk again.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 13, 2016, 07:39:09 am
"Do you know of anywhere we might find some clothes? On another note, who are you waiting for, and why do you need their help? Are they from Earthlike us?"
Go anywhere Mr. Daniels recommends, otherwise begin systematically knocking on doors and asking as to where I might purchase some.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 13, 2016, 02:21:55 pm
"Oh right, clothes. You'll have to rob someone if you want that, they're kinda at a premium because the castle's been under seige for months. Yeah, the guy I'm waiting for is probably from Earth. There were a bunch of us summoned by the local wizards - they call them minders - here. We may or may not be demonic entities or something made out of rats. Anyway, I need this guy's help because see that chapel there? I need to get that sun-themed stained glass window out of the frame in one piece, and he apparently has a word that'll help with that."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 13, 2016, 03:08:01 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 12, 2016, 05:19:16 pm
"Right, d'you want me to show you anything? I've got a reasonable grasp of how this place is laid out, I'm pretty sure. I gotta wait for this one guy who's apparently exploring some passages underground, so I'll be waiting around for a while."

Idly follow Mr. Wilde around.

He knocks on the keep door and gets a guard to direct him to a place where he can get some clothes. You consider relating the hilarious anecdote of how you robbed an old man of his vestments for a vaguely-stated fetch quest, but hold off for now. Gotta keep the good material for the right time.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 12, 2016, 06:44:19 pm
"A blade, but we can talk about that in a second. Would you happen to know about any zombies that might be down here? Eerily friendly ones? Really moldy?" I listen for any movements in the hallway behind me.

There are no movements you can hear, which is either very good or really quite awful, depending on the conclusions you'd like to draw.

Zombies, she repeats, taking a moment before getting your meaning. The living dead? You hear her emit a quiet gasp. What did you do? Did you disturb the resting places? It is not for anyone to disturb the resting places! They must remain sacrosanct! You're not really sure what answer you were expecting here as the priestess starts to mutter feverishly. The graves of the ancients, she says. Their graves... and their wisdom, their history!

Yes! No hands must sully these! No hands... unhand her, plunderer! You hear her start to thrash. Do not dare lay a finger on her! Don't... do not... what is that smell? Her voice begins to trail off, resistance weakening. Roses in her mother's garden, the boy from El and his gilded lute, her coming of age...

Quote from: Toaster on March 12, 2016, 07:54:00 pm
With such brazen display of a lack of safety protocols, Thomas realizes he's not getting out that way.  Frustrated, he reaches for a discarded bolt and finds a safer, more inward vantage point.

Grab a bolt if there's one easy to get.  In any case, find a nice safe place to sit and observe the happenings in the courtyard.  What is going on down there?  Why can't a way out be found?  What will be said to Mr. Munderly?

[Offhanded Fortune: 2]

Unfortunately none of the bolts seem to have remained on the battlements, having elected to either bounce into the moat beneath the wall or down on the courtyard. You duck down behind a parapet to protect yourself from further reprisal.

From this position of safety you take a long look at the courtyard. Seems a bit depopulated presently, although the twin naked shapes of Mr. Wilde and Mr. Daniels standing in front of the keep and conversing with the door guard are somewhat interesting. No movement can be seen from the house the doctor entered, though neither can you hear any commotion. The dishevelled youth appears to have retreated into his cottage entirely. All is quiet in the Anglefork courtyard.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 13, 2016, 04:14:56 am
Ugh, time to take the destiny into my own hands. It seems to get rather messy when left for... other things.

Backtrace back to the wooden shaft, sneak up and down to the another shaft, assuming it is still there.
And get drunk again.

Fuck this, you need a drink. A quick shot of inhibition to the brain, that does the trick quite nicely. Ah. You missed being drunk more than you thought possible.

[Labyrinths of Anglefork: 3]

In any case, you retreat back to the place you dropped down from, and try to ascend the wooden shaft before it becomes clear that, unlike for certain walls you've explored before, this one does not appear to have been meant to be climbed up along easily.

Granted, it wouldn't be impossible to proceed upward anyway, though it'd sure be way the hell harder than it was to get down here.

Quote from: TopHat on March 13, 2016, 07:39:09 am
"Do you know of anywhere we might find some clothes? On another note, who are you waiting for, and why do you need their help? Are they from Earthlike us?"
Go anywhere Mr. Daniels recommends, otherwise begin systematically knocking on doors and asking as to where I might purchase some.

[Such A Nice Neighborhood: 5]

Since Mr. Daniels appears to have no suggestions on where to go, you approach the keep and knock on the door. The guard eyes you critically. You can go in, he says. It's not particularly forbidden or anything. Ah, you say. Very good. You had some reservations about this, being naked and all. The guard says not to worry - it is even darker inside for the most part, so you will, if anything, be even better hidden.

That brings you to your question, actually - does the guard know where one might find some clothes around here? While being naked is all very naturalistic and all, you really believe you ought to spare the eyes of innocent folk from having to behold more of you than strictly necessary. A good question, says the guard. You could ask some of the servants in the east wing. He supposes there ought to be some clothes available. May need to dig a little to get them, of course. Or at least convince someone to share.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 13, 2016, 04:16:36 pm
"Hey, are you okay? Has it got you?" Brandishing the blade, I move toward the priestess and try to tell what's going on with her.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 13, 2016, 05:10:22 pm
"Let us in that case go get some clothes! I'd forgotten about my nudity honestly, but it's something to do while I wait."

Go off to wherever the east wing is with Mr. Wilde, if he's heading that way. Idly think on whether that knight lady's armor would fit me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 13, 2016, 08:05:57 pm
Shoot.  Nothing here.  Thomas supposed he could check on the minders again.


Check on the minders again.  Have they settled in well?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 14, 2016, 01:11:52 am
It is easier to go down with gravity actively assisting.

Maybe the other shaft is easier to climb, assuming it too comes down all the way. I should try to find it. If not found in reasonable time, then return to this one and try to climb it up. Unless other new things are found that my drunken mind finds interesting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: wipeout1024 on March 14, 2016, 02:53:19 am
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 14, 2016, 04:27:23 pm
"Thank you, my good sir. Would you mind pointing the way?"
To the East Wing!
"Right, made of rats. That might explain the chittering when I woke up. Or, you know, that could have just been regular rats. But enough of that, why are you so desperate to desecrate that church? All the riches in the world are useless when under seige, if what you say is true - just as worthless as those coins in the well. The rats were probably worth more."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 14, 2016, 05:15:46 pm
"You ever played video games? If so, two words: fetch quest. For something pretty cool."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 15, 2016, 03:12:14 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 13, 2016, 04:16:36 pm
"Hey, are you okay? Has it got you?" Brandishing the blade, I move toward the priestess and try to tell what's going on with her.

She does not reply, her words blending into one another, muttering turning slowly to gibbering, forgotten delights swimming in her hazy mind. You have your suspicions already.

She sits on a cot, you discover, leaning into the hard embrace of a new friend. Your new friend, cradling her head in its arms, resting its chin atop her skull contently. It does not move even a little bit as you poke it. The priestess shivers lightly every now and then as memories push her to restlessness.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 13, 2016, 05:10:22 pm
"Let us in that case go get some clothes! I'd forgotten about my nudity honestly, but it's something to do while I wait."

Go off to wherever the east wing is with Mr. Wilde, if he's heading that way. Idly think on whether that knight lady's armor would fit me.

You follow Mr. Wilde as he takes a careful look around the east wing. You don't really help him in this regard, preferring to let him take the lead. Instead you consider that sweet suit of armor the knight was wearing.

[Idle Considerations: 3]

You're fairly sure that plate armor is always custom-made, and probably sufficiently form-fitting that you'd have quite a bit of trouble fitting it on properly. On the other hand, you're also reasonably certain that all suits of plate tend to have a suit of mail beneath them, and that ought to fit you just fine unless they tailor those things around these parts for some ungodly reason.

Quote from: Toaster on March 13, 2016, 08:05:57 pm
Shoot.  Nothing here.  Thomas supposed he could check on the minders again.


Check on the minders again.  Have they settled in well?

You sneak back into the keep and up the stairs, visiting the minders in their room. The guards nod at you in acknowledgement as you move through the halls, probably more for their own benefit than yours.

[Settling In: 1]

You find the minder room much as it was, though now the children appear to be sitting in a circle around the head girl, motionlessly regarding her as she stands in the center, eyes closed and floating gently off the ground, arms spread wide. You're not quite sure what that's about, really.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 14, 2016, 01:11:52 am
It is easier to go down with gravity actively assisting.

Maybe the other shaft is easier to climb, assuming it too comes down all the way. I should try to find it. If not found in reasonable time, then return to this one and try to climb it up. Unless other new things are found that my drunken mind finds interesting.

[The Waters Beneath: 3]

You hazard the brook and go downstream, looking for additional points of entry - sure enough, another upward shaft presents itself, though unfortunately one that is no easier to climb than the previous one. The brook does appear to go on, in other news - while no new hungry invertebrates show themselves, the tunnel does look to be widening, the small amount of water slowly thinning as it occupies a larger space.

Quote from: TopHat on March 14, 2016, 04:27:23 pm
"Thank you, my good sir. Would you mind pointing the way?"
To the East Wing!
"Right, made of rats. That might explain the chittering when I woke up. Or, you know, that could have just been regular rats. But enough of that, why are you so desperate to desecrate that church? All the riches in the world are useless when under seige, if what you say is true - just as worthless as those coins in the well. The rats were probably worth more."

The guard stares at you a second before opening the keep door and pointing toward a door inside the dark and rather quiet, though not abandoned foyer. A single guard sits on the stairs to the second floor, looking at you with momentary, completely unfazed curiosity before a reassuring nod from the door guard has him shrug and resume what he was previously doing, which seems to have been looking at the dark ceiling.

You glide through the lobby carefully with Mr. Daniels and into the open door to the east wing, just two naked dudes going on their nightly business.

The east wing hallway is long and rather unusually winding, and also rather quiet at this time of night. Guess there's not much of a nightlife when there's no artificial light. There's no awake servants about that you can see, and there's quite a few doors about. You check a few - one seems to lead to a kitchen, another to what looks like a basement entrance (you hear a little noise from there, but can't really make out much more). There's also a dark closet, and a darkened room from which you can hear sounds of fitful sleep.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 15, 2016, 03:15:43 pm
"Hmm. Well, let's check the closet first. Maybe we can grab some things in there without having people bother us too much."

Inspect closet!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 15, 2016, 03:27:37 pm
Another magic trick to impress the children.  Pretty good, considering how little time she had to set up the wires or whatever it was they used.  Might as well watch it.

Watch the show.  Applaud politely at appropriate times.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 15, 2016, 04:04:27 pm
Promising, but that thing must have come from somewhere. Probably from here.

Climb up the second shaft. I wish I saw minders levitating before. Would make this so much easier.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 15, 2016, 04:24:58 pm
"You know, if you would have just warned me about this instead of being all cryptic... I'm sorry."

Let's find that rat-shit shaft and get out of here!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 15, 2016, 04:55:34 pm
"My thoughts exactly."
Follow Mr. Daniels.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 16, 2016, 04:25:44 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 15, 2016, 03:15:43 pm
"Hmm. Well, let's check the closet first. Maybe we can grab some things in there without having people bother us too much."

Inspect closet!

[Fumbling Bravely In The Dark: 2]

The closet is much like the devil's anus, in that it's quite dark, foreboding and emits an offputting aroma suggestive of grisly violence. In unrelated news, you almost run into some bloody stool. Otherwise the small space seems a little on the bare side, although you also step into a meaty chunk on the floor, emitting a rather displeasing squelching sound, and finally locate a filthy, much-abused rag in one of the corners. You suspect that the state of this closet is the result of weeks upon weeks of sustained theft and hoarding. There is no sign of the owner, if there indeed is one and this isn't just a completely looted and worthless space.

Quote from: Toaster on March 15, 2016, 03:27:37 pm
Another magic trick to impress the children.  Pretty good, considering how little time she had to set up the wires or whatever it was they used.  Might as well watch it.

Watch the show.  Applaud politely at appropriate times.

[Enlightened Criticism: 4]

The children don't really seem impressed, which you suppose is natural given that the girl is just hanging there in the air motionlessly. The children's eyes are glazed, blinking only very occasionally, enough to prevent them from drying.

You watch a while, but they don't really seem to do much more. Anything more, really, and you think you've been standing here a while at this point. Maybe this is performance art or something, and you really had to be there for the beginning. Or maybe you just don't grok their vision or something. That sounds like a thing younger people interested in stuff like performance art would say to you anyway.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 15, 2016, 04:04:27 pm
Promising, but that thing must have come from somewhere. Probably from here.

Climb up the second shaft. I wish I saw minders levitating before. Would make this so much easier.

In the strictest possible sense you did see them levitating before. But it wasn't the right time. There was a very specific then involved. You saw them but you didn't see them, and... er, yeah. Something like that.

[Rage Against The Pull: 5]

It's pretty easy to climb back up, though. Easier than expected, really. All you need to do is use your back as a fifth limb. Press it to the back of the shaft. Use other four limbs to carry you upward. Wood's smooth enough to not even give you splinters!

[Labyrinths of Anglefork: 5]

Of course, now that you're back up where you - wait, is this where you were before? Seems different. You don't recall there being two sideways-going shafts. One's inclined upward, the other downward. Both appear to curve a little. And there's no sign of the passage to the other downward shaft. You try to devote some brainpower to solve this conundrum, and make about as much progress as you'd expect, in that you forget what you were expecting and also what you were just thinking.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 15, 2016, 04:24:58 pm
"You know, if you would have just warned me about this instead of being all cryptic... I'm sorry."

Let's find that rat-shit shaft and get out of here!

[Labyrinths of Anglefork: 2]

The rat-shit shaft's still there, of course, still tempting with its fecal fecundity. Seems like it could accommodate you squeezing through most probably.

The same, however, cannot be said of the blade arm, which seems unwilling to bend in such a way to get through the small tunnel. Or, rather, all too willing to bunch up, bend and get stuck in the stone confines, rendering the possibilities of you getting through simultaneously with it nigh-academically hypothetical.

The muttering of the priestess grows weaker still, right up until it stops entirely, only the grinding of the metal blade on stone breaking up the silence of the grave.

Quote from: TopHat on March 15, 2016, 04:55:34 pm
"My thoughts exactly."
Follow Mr. Daniels.

You and Mr. Daniels have a roaring good time exploring a dark, dirty closet with very little in it from what you can tell.

[Fumbling Bravely In The Dark: 2]

Granted, you're not really inclined to look very hard when you hear Mr. Daniels step into something that sounds and smells a lot like biological waste. Goodness, but this place is incredibly filthy.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 16, 2016, 05:15:08 pm
Daniels gains a distinctly displeased expression upon his face.

"No. Whoever shat and/or died messily in here is going to get a complaint."

Look around for sleeping servants to deliver my murderous complaint to. If found, awaken them by virtue of forcible eviction from their bed.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 16, 2016, 06:32:45 pm
Okay, uh, maybe I can extend this arm thing and hook it on the peg in the ceiling shaft and pull myself up?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 16, 2016, 09:56:14 pm
Thomas nudged a nearby minder child.  "Pssst.  How is this place coming along?  Do you know when this show is ending?"

Pester pester
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 16, 2016, 11:59:31 pm
Once you are at the bottom, you can only go up. Granted, I'm not on the bottom and there's two ways down, but let's not focus on such details.

Upwards sounds like a fine choice. Perhaps it leads me out!
Is there really nothing else but wood? No separate objects anywhere, such as matches?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 17, 2016, 02:31:24 pm
"You do that, I'll check out the kitchen. You never know.
Try the kitchen? Maybe there are some aprons hanging up, or something.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 17, 2016, 06:21:02 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 16, 2016, 05:15:08 pm
Daniels gains a distinctly displeased expression upon his face.

"No. Whoever shat and/or died messily in here is going to get a complaint."

Look around for sleeping servants to deliver my murderous complaint to. If found, awaken them by virtue of forcible eviction from their bed.

You check around for sleeping quarters so that you may make your displeasure known in no uncertain terms to any unfortunate listener.

[Extremely Poor Luck: 4]

Fortunately there happen to be some servants' quarters down at the end of the hall, and while they're not quite as full as you'd perhaps expect, there are nevertheless some men and women currently sleeping there. You pick a servant girl in arm's reach up and, when that fails to properly awaken her, give her a good shake.

Huh, she says. What, she asks, eyes still closed. What is it, she asks again after a moment longer. Will you stop shaking her, she then says sleepily.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 16, 2016, 06:32:45 pm
Okay, uh, maybe I can extend this arm thing and hook it on the peg in the ceiling shaft and pull myself up?

[Improvised Climbing: 3]

You swing the blade at where you roughly remember the peg to be. It clangs once as it makes an impact, then once more. Third time proves to be the charm, luckily, as you manage to catch one of the hinges of the arm on the peg - the arm locks relatively securely onto the peg. Maybe even securely enough to support your weight!

But then again maybe not, you think a minute or so later as your tailbone slowly recovers from the inconvenience of hitting the floor at a somewhat unhealthy place, the arm having landed next to you after the blade harmlessly bonks you on the head edge-on.

Quote from: Toaster on March 16, 2016, 09:56:14 pm
Thomas nudged a nearby minder child.  "Pssst.  How is this place coming along?  Do you know when this show is ending?"

Pester pester

[A Fleeting Glimpse: 4]

The small child you elect to pester blinks three times before turning to you slowly. You stare at each other a second before you figure you ought to repeat the question. The child seems unamused. You shouldn't pester him like that. He was having such a nice dream with the others.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 16, 2016, 11:59:31 pm
Once you are at the bottom, you can only go up. Granted, I'm not on the bottom and there's two ways down, but let's not focus on such details.

Upwards sounds like a fine choice. Perhaps it leads me out!
Is there really nothing else but wood? No separate objects anywhere, such as matches?

[Labyrinths of Anglefork: 5]

If you had to guess, you would say that the upward passage being a way out makes the most sense, and it's high time this structure started obeying the laws of logic and physics in your opinion, so up is where you're gonna go. The shaft spirals and bends, but does not branch, and leads ever upwards in a way that almost begins to fill you with hope.

You are of course terribly pleasantly surprised when you emerge into a much roomier crawlspace after kicking out yet another wooden panel. Vertically roomier, anyway, as evidenced by your ability to stand up in it, if not really move back and forth much. Plenty of room to move sideways though, you find.

Quote from: TopHat on March 17, 2016, 02:31:24 pm
"You do that, I'll check out the kitchen. You never know.
Try the kitchen? Maybe there are some aprons hanging up, or something.

[The Kitchen's Treasures: 2]

You find quite a few things in the kitchen - old unwashed pots, a cold hearth, an amazing amount of darkness, wooden knives, forks and spoons for one's exquisite dining pleasure, and even a single plate some careless person seems to have left out. No aprons, however. At least not any in plain view. You try looking inside one of the cupboards for one also, but unfortunately it was even darker than the rest of the room, somewhat diminishing your searching ability.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 17, 2016, 06:58:04 pm
I try to snap the blade off of the mechanical arm. If that works, I drop the arm half and run for the rat-shit tunnel again.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 17, 2016, 07:02:51 pm
"No. Are there any clothes that I could grab? Me and my companion need some. Also something died in the closet."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 17, 2016, 07:52:14 pm
Thomas sighed.  "How is this place coming along?  I find myself unable to leave, despite my best efforts."


Continue pester
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 18, 2016, 04:56:49 am
Still same wooden crap? I hope not.

Let's move to left in careful fashion, back on the wall behind, hands on the wall in front, ready to wedge myself between walls if floor suddenly ceases to be. One step at the time, carefully feeling floor with one leg before moving weight on it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 18, 2016, 12:25:24 pm
Nope. That would have been easy.
Try the basement next.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 18, 2016, 01:47:52 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 17, 2016, 06:58:04 pm
I try to snap the blade off of the mechanical arm. If that works, I drop the arm half and run for the rat-shit tunnel again.

[The Riddle of Steel: 2]

It's a mechanical arm that was apparently supposed to cut through people's torsos in a single stroke. Granted, it didn't through yours, but that seems to have mostly been because it was dull. Point is, whoever built it seems to have had a keen understanding of the mechanical stresses involved in such an undertaking, and the construction is as a consequence something you can't quite take apart with your bare hands.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 17, 2016, 07:02:51 pm
"No. Are there any clothes that I could grab? Me and my companion need some. Also something died in the closet."

[The Obsolete Class: 2]

You continue shaking her resolutely as she attempts to answer the question. Or maybe say something about the closet. You're not quite sure, as it all just disappears beneath grumbling irritation as she tries to stop being shaken impotently, still quite groggy from a rude awakening.

Quote from: Toaster on March 17, 2016, 07:52:14 pm
Thomas sighed.  "How is this place coming along?  I find myself unable to leave, despite my best efforts."


Continue pester

A strange question, says the child. How would this place come along? He considers this with dazed earnestness, and replies that this seems to not be a place for coming along, as he is sure you must have noticed. It either stands still in anticipation or hurtles precipitously. There is no middle ground.

That being said, he feels no need to speak to you further, turning back toward the floating girl and closing his eyes.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 18, 2016, 04:56:49 am
Still same wooden crap? I hope not.

Let's move to left in careful fashion, back on the wall behind, hands on the wall in front, ready to wedge myself between walls if floor suddenly ceases to be. One step at the time, carefully feeling floor with one leg before moving weight on it.

Your caution is unfortunately wasted on this entirely pedestrian passage. Not a trap to be found on the way, not a single insect worthy of getting the shit kicked out of it nips at your heels. In fact, the only thing you happen to encounter are small, dark holes in the wall. Not entirely dark, it needs to be pointed out. Nighttime dark, not buried-alive dark.

The hope and determination welling up inside you as you begin to anticipate your freedom fails to prepare you for the awe-inspiring moment where you locate an open hatch, over which a bolt of fabric hangs conspicuously. You brush it aside, and see the hallway of what you are fairly sure is the keep. Actually see it!

Free at last.

Quote from: TopHat on March 18, 2016, 12:25:24 pm
Nope. That would have been easy.
Try the basement next.

You strut nakedly over to the basement, going down a set of stairs to reach a solid wooden door. Probably a storage cellar, considering its nearness to the kitchens. The noise grows clearer. Sounds a little bit like laughter, a little bit like singing, apparent merriment of unclear nature going on within.

[Party In The Wine Cellar: 1]

The door, however, is quite locked. And knocking on it seems to produce mostly incoherent, yet astonishingly indecent suggestions from within for alternative courses of action you could pursue.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 18, 2016, 01:54:13 pm
Ask around where minders might be and go where they are if I'm informed of their location. I need to steal more techniques. And remind them about one of the duties they have forgotten. Lady of the castle. Should probably meet her before going to deal with stouts.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 18, 2016, 03:16:03 pm
"Right, that's it."

Yank her out of bed by the ankles. Ask again where clothes can be found.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 18, 2016, 03:50:39 pm
Kids.  Never helpful.

Maybe if I watch some more something will happen?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 18, 2016, 04:41:24 pm
I move near the priestess' cot to see what's going on there.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 19, 2016, 03:58:14 pm
Let's hope Mr. Daniels has had more luck.
Head into the bedroom area.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 20, 2016, 04:50:57 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 18, 2016, 01:54:13 pm
Ask around where minders might be and go where they are if I'm informed of their location. I need to steal more techniques. And remind them about one of the duties they have forgotten. Lady of the castle. Should probably meet her before going to deal with stouts.

[A Kind Word: 6]

You walk along the hallway and ask a passing guard if they've seen any minders. He says yes, they're down the hall of the other wing. That's convenient, you say, and the guard agrees - relocating the buggers here was the best idea anyone's had in a while. Not that there's much competition, mind you. He sighs. 'Tis a depressing place to be, under siege, wouldn't you agree? Especially on the night watch. At least he's not on wall duty tonight, what with all the weird things going on lately with false suns and explosions and what have you. Quiet nights are coming to an end, you mark his-

Yes, you think you'll be going now, you say as you start to stumble down the hallway. Wait, the guard says. You're going off to see the minders? You take a moment to think, then nod. The guard looks you over with concern. You seem to be rather drunk. Admittedly they have had a slightly loose policy on these things in the past, but there are children where you're going. He'd recommend you address this issue before continuing on. Or perhaps reconsider this course of action entirely.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 18, 2016, 03:16:03 pm
"Right, that's it."

Yank her out of bed by the ankles. Ask again where clothes can be found.

Perhaps there's not quite enough blood going to her head. You see if you can correct this, and lift her up by the ankles while repeating your question.

[Rough Treatment: 3]

She's clearly not a morning person, you discover as her grumbling and confusion fails to abate. She does have a number of helpful suggestions as her sleep begins to clear, however, such as hey what the fuck man, how is she supposed to know where you put your clothes and why the hell can't you just check the laundry like a normal person.

Also, this altercation seems to have woken up quite a few other servants, some of whom watch nervously, with others considering stepping in to help their colleague. Another servant girl tells you to lay off her friend, you dirty naked idjit.

Quote from: Toaster on March 18, 2016, 03:50:39 pm
Kids.  Never helpful.

Maybe if I watch some more something will happen?

[A Shared Repose: 6]

As the kids sit there regarding the girl, you notice that their breathing appears to be in sync. As do their movements, although the boy you disturbed appears to lag behind a little, the gap between his movements narrowing as you continue to observe. One of the children floats up a little, then floats back down, then the same happens to the one to her left, and this continues, each child floating to a progressively greater height.

This continues for a while longer until one child reaches the height of the minder girl, where he hangs without floating down again - the pattern continues on until the girl is surrounded by a circle of floating children. One of them starts to drift back and clockwise, entering an orbit around the central girl. The others start to follow suit. The head girl becomes clearer in the dark, better-resolved. Brighter, even.

Of course, what this is all supposed to be, aside from a vaguely impressive display of special effects, is up for interpretation.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 18, 2016, 04:41:24 pm
I move near the priestess' cot to see what's going on there.

You move to the cot to check on the priestess.

She is, however, gone. As is the corpse. The cot appears to have grown a little fuzzy and sweet-smelling where it lingered, but otherwise no trace remains of its passage, or of the priestess for that matter.

Quote from: TopHat on March 19, 2016, 03:58:14 pm
Let's hope Mr. Daniels has had more luck.
Head into the bedroom area.

You head to the servants' quarters and notice quite the commotion as Mr. Daniels interrogates a servant girl while holding her upside down, some of the other servants observing, some telling him to stop, one calling him a dirty naked idjit. Doesn't seem like he's making much progress.

On the other hand, at least you now have a pretty good idea of how the opening act of the Terminator would play out in fantasy medieval times.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Xantalos on March 20, 2016, 04:58:12 am
"Well fine then, where's the laundry? I need me some clothes. Well, not really, but it'd probably be nice. Point is, I'm getting them. Laundry directions please."

Wait.

"Belay that, possibly. I mean where can I get some clothes. I don't have any and neither does my companion, and we want some. Where can we get some?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 20, 2016, 05:52:40 am
"Drunk? Oh no, this imaginary drunk. The best kind drunkenness really. You can get very drunk very fast without drinking anything and sober up instantly when situation needs it. And I'm a bit of minder myself, you see."

Explaining benefits of imaginary drinks. And make him truly see. One Cormick's Condescending Riddle, coming up right now.
Since this situation is solved, proceed to steal techniques. Or copy.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 20, 2016, 07:49:01 am
Woo, this is simultaneously really ominous and exactly what I hoped for. I move the cot over below the ceiling entrance and try to use it to climb up more easily.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: Toaster on March 20, 2016, 10:42:46 am
Huh.  Pretty good effects, really; this is an odd way and place to spend special effects money.  Maybe this is just a rehearsal.


Sit and watch.  Good show; how's the payoff?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A History of Disagreement
Post by: TopHat on March 20, 2016, 02:33:06 pm
Back away through the doorway. Nothing to see here...
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 21, 2016, 10:41:09 am
Quote from: Xantalos on March 20, 2016, 04:58:12 am
"Well fine then, where's the laundry? I need me some clothes. Well, not really, but it'd probably be nice. Point is, I'm getting them. Laundry directions please."

Wait.

"Belay that, possibly. I mean where can I get some clothes. I don't have any and neither does my companion, and we want some. Where can we get some?"

[A Straight Answer: 6]

The girl stops squirming a moment in your grasp as your remark gets her interest. Wait, did somebody steal yours? It wasn't her! She hasn't even seen you before! Yeah, wasn't her, the crowd echoes. They don't do that kind of thing. Yeah! If anyone did, it was probably those mason brothers, lousy good-for-nothings that they are! So why don't you go bother them for whatever clothes they've stolen from you, you dang filthy idjit. The last remark isn't quite as loudly approved of as the preceding ones, you notice, probably because most of these servants appear afraid of provoking you.

Nevertheless, you do believe you've been provided with some sort of direction.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 20, 2016, 05:52:40 am
"Drunk? Oh no, this imaginary drunk. The best kind drunkenness really. You can get very drunk very fast without drinking anything and sober up instantly when situation needs it. And I'm a bit of minder myself, you see."

Explaining benefits of imaginary drinks. And make him truly see. One Cormick's Condescending Riddle, coming up right now.
Since this situation is solved, proceed to steal techniques. Or copy.

[The New Way: 2]

You don't look imaginary drunk, the guard says. That may be, you reply. Maybe that's because he's the one who's imagining it. So really it's his own fault that you're going to visit a group of vulnerable children while nearly blasted out of your skull.

Unfortunately, he does not acknowledge the validity of your point, and any rebus you can conjure up at the moment is not the kind that makes any kind of sense to the guard. You guess you kind of need a certain blood alcohol content to properly understand wisdom of this caliber. Though to comprehend the concept of being imaginary-drunk, don't you need to... become imaginary drunk yourself? So the only way you can attain the knowledge is by already knowing it. Whoa.

Okay, seriously, whoa. You need a time out here. The guard sincerely agrees, and while you take a minute or five to try and remember the exact series of life choices that led you here in search of where exactly you crossed the paradox boundary (that is, if you crossed it all and didn't occupy the south side of it all along and whoa, you really should cut down on the epiphanies a little, they go right to your head) you find yourself suddenly in a different place. Downstairs, you take way too long to figure out, that's where. Man, you got here pretty fast. Wait, you were going to do something.

Sleep it off, comes a reply from behind you. The guard you remember from shortly before is looking at you sternly. Another guard observes impassively, seemingly glad for at least something to look at while on watch duty and seemingly sorely in need of a grapefruit or three.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 20, 2016, 07:49:01 am
Woo, this is simultaneously really ominous and exactly what I hoped for. I move the cot over below the ceiling entrance and try to use it to climb up more easily.

The cot is fairly old and loose, so detaching it from the wall is no trouble at all with a little application of the trusty old blade arm. You go ahead and drag it out by the ceiling entrance.

[Escape From The Pit: 6]

Of course, no sooner do you do this than you bump into your two friends again. The larger corpse seems to be facing you, one hand lifted to about your waist level, another up to your neck, both with palms up. At its foot the priestess seems to have knelt down on all fours, offering her back as a stepping stool for your convenience. She still seems to be breathing faintly, you notice, though she is completely silent.

Quote from: Toaster on March 20, 2016, 10:42:46 am
Huh.  Pretty good effects, really; this is an odd way and place to spend special effects money.  Maybe this is just a rehearsal.


Sit and watch.  Good show; how's the payoff?

[The Big Finish: 4]

The girl's shape grows clearer, the rest of the room deepening in shadow. The children orbit her, each beginning to hum a different, pitch-perfect tone, harmonizing with one another. The sound of it makes your bones itch slightly. Maybe it's the anticipation?

The rest of the room continues to darken, the voices of the children beginning to merge with the slight sounds of the surroundings, each beginning to vary until it finds the exact frequency and phase, overlays it with the opposite. Noise dies all around you, leaving behind a deafening silence, the children disappearing in dark, the walls growing invisible, the door becoming impossible to find. All that's left is the girl at the center, arms by her sides, eyes open and staring out at you, lips curled in a slight smile.

You're here. Excellent. She was about to do some investigation.

Quote from: TopHat on March 20, 2016, 02:33:06 pm
Back away through the doorway. Nothing to see here...

You retreat from this disaster in the making and pretend to have something better to do than to investigate it.

[Business As Usual: 4]

Actually, there is a laundry room nearby, apparently. You do and look for that - it's near the kitchen, actually. Well, you think this is it, at least. There's a conspicuous dirty circle on the ground where you think a tub may have once been placed, and there's a small bench in one corner with what looks to be unclaimed clothing placed on it, most of it looking like it's been washed sometime last week.

[A Proper Size: 4]

Most of the clothing in question is a little too small for you, but there's a few articles, including a bright yellow tunic, red floral-patterned trousers, an old brown waistcoat, a set of loose dark green shorts (the matching jacket you also find is regrettably too small), a respectable enough skirt that it wouldn't particularly endanger your self-image, and finally a slightly moth-eaten hat.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 21, 2016, 10:45:40 am
Thomas nodded.  "Impressive show; you've done wonders with the effects.  But yes, sure, mysteries.  I've determined I am rather stuck here for the time being, so until I can get out of here I can't get to Albany.  So yes, sure, what do you need?"

Listen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 21, 2016, 11:47:04 am
I'm not comfortable doing this at all, but I guess I, uh, climb... up them?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 21, 2016, 01:28:18 pm
Bingo! There's even a choice!
Try them all out for size and keep the most comfortable. And the hat.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 21, 2016, 02:43:30 pm
"Man, you really need to loose it up. Here, have a drink!"

Bribing with imaginary alcohol. Both of them. Best of the best? Possibly... I mean certainly! I recall it being perfect! But what is perfect, really? Is there such thing as perfect? Isn't standard beer perfect until you come across something better? Is discovery perfection everlasting process, a road we all walk down? Always finding new perfect? Is there ultimate perfection in end of the journey?

Man, I really need to talk those minders now. I want to see where this train of thought goes!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 21, 2016, 03:14:57 pm
"No, I never had any clothes in the first place because ... it's a long story. So I need some for me and my fr... he's gone. One moment."

Drop servant girl, go find Wilde.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 23, 2016, 12:02:31 pm
Quote from: Toaster on March 21, 2016, 10:45:40 am
Thomas nodded.  "Impressive show; you've done wonders with the effects.  But yes, sure, mysteries.  I've determined I am rather stuck here for the time being, so until I can get out of here I can't get to Albany.  So yes, sure, what do you need?"

Listen.

[Mysterious Circumstances: 5]

Effects, yes. And you are stuck, she nods enthusiastically. In a great many ways, actually. Metaphysically, most importantly. You're a work in several parts. Two are readily apparent. There's probably more, actually. There may be clues about.

The darkness resolves itself into a room you don't recall ever being in before, made of stone, walls covered in vague, indistinct writing, floor covered in cushions. Some kind of meditation hall? The girl stands in the middle. A good place to start, she believes. There was something in here.

She doesn't quite turn, and neither do you. The room does, however, twisting around you until reaching a certain configuration.  The girl smiles and walks over to one of the cushions, sitting down. You start to sit down as well, but the girl motions to stop you. No need. You won't stay here long. She turns around and takes a look at a patch of wall, her eyes traveling along its length.

There. A piece of writing becomes clear. Looks like a bit of poetry. Wonder what that's about.

[Hidden Clues: 1]

Darkness in three parts
Behold the five murderers
Refrigerator

That's what that's about, you guess.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 21, 2016, 11:47:04 am
I'm not comfortable doing this at all, but I guess I, uh, climb... up them?

[Boost To Freedom: 2]

Well, you find it really quite easy to reach the peg you climbed down on, stepping first on the priestess' back, eliciting a little sight, then on the corpse's hands, which remain perfectly steady.

Of course, now you face the problem of needing to pull yourself up to a protrusion on the wall no larger than your fist. The climb isn't necessarily overly difficult, mind you. It's just getting to the point where you're climbing properly rather than drying to get up by upper body strength that requires a bit of luck, skill and gumption, is all.

Quote from: TopHat on March 21, 2016, 01:28:18 pm
Bingo! There's even a choice!
Try them all out for size and keep the most comfortable. And the hat.

[The Greatest Comfort: 4]

The skirt's pretty comfy, as most skirts tend to be. Modest, too! So you put that on, being a bit unsure about the shorts and not a big fan of red floral patterns on lower-body garments, combining it with the tunic and waistcoat for an outfit that, while obviously assembled from the things nobody else seems to have wanted or remembered, is still a damn sight better than no clothes at all. You top off the ensemble with the hat. It still feels a little mothy.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 21, 2016, 02:43:30 pm
"Man, you really need to loose it up. Here, have a drink!"

Bribing with imaginary alcohol. Both of them. Best of the best? Possibly... I mean certainly! I recall it being perfect! But what is perfect, really? Is there such thing as perfect? Isn't standard beer perfect until you come across something better? Is discovery perfection everlasting process, a road we all walk down? Always finding new perfect? Is there ultimate perfection in end of the journey?

Man, I really need to talk those minders now. I want to see where this train of thought goes!

[Touch the Grapefruit: 6]

All of those are very good questions, you find. You think the last one was particularly great. That was the one about whether you should have another. Why yes, you will have another one. And one on top of that. And so will these fellows, it seems.

Needless to say, soon enough the three of you are having a jolly good time in the lobby trying to understand what all of you are talking about, but you laugh and they laugh and you think everything works out fine as you propose that the three of you should sing. Fortunately, these two seem to know a few juicy ones. Plot's a little difficult to follow, but you think it's about a stoatman and a shepherdess. A tale for the ages! Quite graphic, too.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 21, 2016, 03:14:57 pm
"No, I never had any clothes in the first place because ... it's a long story. So I need some for me and my fr... he's gone. One moment."

Drop servant girl, go find Wilde.

[Into the Wilde: 2]

You deposit the servant girl and head out to look for Mr. Wilde. Where's the bastard gone off to? Don't see hide nor hair of him. You walk up and down the hall, but still no trace. You know, you think he's ditched you. Cheeky!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 23, 2016, 12:57:10 pm
"My frrriend, dat was good one!" Leif laughs giving them affectionate hug. "NOW it'ss mmmy turrrn. Tis songg iss 'bout.... I don't quite rememberr what it wass. We ssung it alot in arrmmy!"

Sing a song about invading Sweden, pillaging, murdering and burning everything.
Ah, I got a brilliant idea! Let's go find some more people inside and have them join our drunken party! Everyone must be drunk!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 23, 2016, 03:06:38 pm
"Fuck's sake, fine. I'll be back, I suppose. But knowing the amount of time I've spent on this, Eriksson could very well be on the surface again. Gotta find him if that's the case."

Preemptive Eriksson check! Go look around for him.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 23, 2016, 08:26:57 pm
Thomas nodded.  More special effects; not bad.  Those kids must be trained stagehands, like those carnies or whatever they're called.

"Oh I see, it's one of those sonnets... no, haiku poems.  I don't get the part about the refrigerator, though."

Talk.  Keep watching show.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 24, 2016, 05:50:11 am
Okay, let's see... I try to help pull myself up with the claw arm.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 24, 2016, 09:24:33 am
Perfect! Now to explore the rest of this keep before Mr. Daniels gets us kicked out.
Exploration time!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 24, 2016, 07:17:04 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 23, 2016, 12:57:10 pm
"My frrriend, dat was good one!" Leif laughs giving them affectionate hug. "NOW it'ss mmmy turrrn. Tis songg iss 'bout.... I don't quite rememberr what it wass. We ssung it alot in arrmmy!"

Sing a song about invading Sweden, pillaging, murdering and burning everything.
Ah, I got a brilliant idea! Let's go find some more people inside and have them join our drunken party! Everyone must be drunk!

They don't know what this Sweden place is, but the way you describe it is suggestive of a great need for pillage, murder and burning. They don't really know the words, but you don't think it'd improve their singing if they did. You think you need some other people in your drinking circle.

[The Call of the Grapefruit: 3]

You walk right into one of the nearby hallways and encounter a rather curious Mr. Daniels. He considers your immediate offering of a grapefruit carefully.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 23, 2016, 03:06:38 pm
"Fuck's sake, fine. I'll be back, I suppose. But knowing the amount of time I've spent on this, Eriksson could very well be on the surface again. Gotta find him if that's the case."

Preemptive Eriksson check! Go look around for him.

[The Erikson Check: 4]

You do hear some singing coming from the foyer, and do note that one of the voices involved bears an uncanny resemblance to Mr. Erikson's. Not without reason, you discover, as you find the bastard moments afterward, coming at you with a grapefruit like you're old friends or something. Seems like you both have impeccable timing.

Quote from: Toaster on March 23, 2016, 08:26:57 pm
Thomas nodded.  More special effects; not bad.  Those kids must be trained stagehands, like those carnies or whatever they're called.

"Oh I see, it's one of those sonnets... no, haiku poems.  I don't get the part about the refrigerator, though."

Talk.  Keep watching show.

[Deeper Meanings: 3]

Well, a sonnet can be difficult to decipher if not properly approached, the girl says. Like in this example. The third line is a non-sequitur. Born of a need to adhere to structure. A surprisingly relevant concept, do you not agree?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 24, 2016, 05:50:11 am
Okay, let's see... I try to help pull myself up with the claw arm.

[By Hook And Claw: 2]

Unfortunately for your prospects of escape, the arm seems to be lacking in the sort of hooking-grappling functionality you'd expect to be useful in this circumstance. As such, trying to pull yourself up with it is an effort unfortunately doomed to failure.

Quote from: TopHat on March 24, 2016, 09:24:33 am
Perfect! Now to explore the rest of this keep before Mr. Daniels gets us kicked out.
Exploration time!

[Let's Go Exploring: 6]

Your exploration along the walls along the further parts of the hallway (can't really go to the front lest you run into the naked Mr. Daniels again) turns up a most interesting lead! A door! A rather more exciting door than usual, you believe, given that it appears to be rather locked. Heavily locked. Most terribly locked indeed. Almost ominously locked, even. Why, the more you regard it, the more curiosity gets to fill you. What could be beyond this door? Something precious and valuable, or perhaps a testament to acts so heinous that the human mind can scarcely even conceive? Honestly, quite a lot of things could be behind this door. Perhaps even secrets! But how would one navigate a lock this complex, though?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 24, 2016, 07:35:09 pm
I try to jump for it, then.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 24, 2016, 08:23:07 pm
"Ah, excellent, you made it back. Come with me, save that grapefruit for yourself. Don't like the things."

Go with Eriksson to the chapel! Consent is not an issue.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 24, 2016, 08:41:14 pm
Thomas scratched his head.  "So... five murderers?  Is this one of the stories and histories, like the crazy doctor tells?  She seems to have a lot of ideas for a complete lunatic."


Miss the point
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 25, 2016, 01:41:36 am
"...but my friend. It'ss an excellent fruit! Best you can find around here!"

Be led away. Take heed of his suggestion and enjoy the fruit myself, but keep offering another. Everyone needs some alcohol based happiness! His resistance will INEVITABLY crumble.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 25, 2016, 07:54:04 am
How indeed? Probably with great difficulty, unless someone's left the key in the other side.
Peep through the keyhole, then examine the lock and hinges more thoroughly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 25, 2016, 09:31:42 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 24, 2016, 07:35:09 pm
I try to jump for it, then.

[Might As Well Jump: 2]

You get up, but unfortunately gravity gets you down. It's quite tough, the toughest luck around.

[Much-Needed Assistance: 2]

It seems your friend knows just how you feel. But sometimes you just need to roll with the punches to get to what's real. Such as when it suddenly disappears from under you after your last jump attempt, leaving you tumbling down to the stone floor with admirable lack of grace. As you get up, you notice the hand of the priestess extended toward you motionlessly.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 24, 2016, 08:23:07 pm
"Ah, excellent, you made it back. Come with me, save that grapefruit for yourself. Don't like the things."

Go with Eriksson to the chapel! Consent is not an issue.

Yeah, the drunk bastard's coming with you, no two words about it. Of course, his insistence does not diminish, and he claims it is quite

INEVITABLE

that you try one of his fruits. You're not quite sure what happens next, the events blurring into something like several thousand variations of walking, talking and a smattering of grisly violence, but by the time you're at the chapel, Mr. Erikson has three new points of articulation and seems vaguely displeased by the fact. You can't say you didn't adequately warn him, honestly.

Quote from: Toaster on March 24, 2016, 08:41:14 pm
Thomas scratched his head.  "So... five murderers?  Is this one of the stories and histories, like the crazy doctor tells?  She seems to have a lot of ideas for a complete lunatic."


Miss the point

It's not a history, it's a prophecy. Well, of sorts. Two thirds of a prophecy, perhaps. And perhaps not nearly as crazy a prophecy as some of what is accepted history. Though admittedly while much of the older histories do contain more than a fair amount of the inexplicable, this particular partial prophecy points to the downright extrauniversal. At least in hindsight, but then isn't that the way of all prophecies?

Three parts, however! Three. She gives you a careful look. She knows of two. What is the third? Something not quite visible to her, or perhaps something entirely extraneous? The stoatmen, maybe. They appear to have been a crucial ingredient to this confluence of events. And their progress has been greatly suspicious, given their relative minority and general lack of training. It has a distasteful tinge of fate about it. Would the meeting of you and these adversaries result in a clash... or a unification?

Hm. There is a great multitude of places to go to next. Perhaps it would be more useful to bring the information here, after a fashion. She concentrates, and the rest of the walls begin to resolve in different kinds of writing, motivational chants replaced with arcane scrawlings and diagrams, all carved with an unfathomably steady hand in what looks like single strokes per image. Quite a bit of information to go through here. Why don't you take a look? Your perspective may be enlightening. Or at least a little fresher than hers.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 25, 2016, 01:41:36 am
"...but my friend. It'ss an excellent fruit! Best you can find around here!"

Be led away. Take heed of his suggestion and enjoy the fruit myself, but keep offering another. Everyone needs some alcohol based happiness! His resistance will INEVITABLY crumble.

You have one more grapefruit, and continue badgering Mr. Daniels about having one himself. Seems like such an uptight guy. But you know his type. All it takes is some persistence, and a loosening of moral fiber is ultimately

INEVITABLE

[Word: 1]

You explode into a million probabilities of your path to the chapel, thousands of thousands of variations, intensities and repetitions of your inexplicable grapefruit trick pushing toward Mr. Daniels' psyche, trying to find an opening. You go for broke, exploring the further reaches of probability in search of the ultimate shining shitfaced future for the two of you on this fine Sunday morning... and you slide effortlessly into the one where he looks at your grapefruit with a patient smile, a gentle look in his eyes as he gazes back upon your offering...

... and then lifts you up and breaks you in three sensitive places over his knee. A dreadful accident, he says. Happens a lot when you're drunk, he finds. Might keep happening, you know. Over and over and over again. You don't really like the look of him when he says that. But here you are, next to what looks like a giant stained glass window. Mr. Daniels appears to want you to do something with it.

Quote from: TopHat on March 25, 2016, 07:54:04 am
How indeed? Probably with great difficulty, unless someone's left the key in the other side.
Peep through the keyhole, then examine the lock and hinges more thoroughly.

[What The Butler Saw: 1]

Looking through the keyhole, you spot an eye, surprisingly bright yellow, a black pupil narrowing as it settles to look into yours. It rises up, being exchanged for a chattering, tongueless mouth of sharp black teeth. A horrid smell wafts from the keyhole and you step back a little, then look at the construction of the door. Seems like it's locked, braced and reinforced throughout, with no easy access to hinges by what appears to be deliberate design.

There is, however, a slot on the door. This appears to require a separate, smaller key to open and presumably deposit things into. Or maybe remove things from?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 25, 2016, 11:30:38 am
*hic*"..stard. *hic*"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 25, 2016, 01:01:52 pm
I investigate what the zombies are up to now.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 25, 2016, 02:11:34 pm
Go off in search of a key, or maybe a less forbidding but nevertheless just as interesting door.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 25, 2016, 04:36:55 pm
Must be one of those dinner-theater things, like with the pirates or knights, except bigger.  A mystery one, even!  Might as well play along.

"All right, sure.  Let me take a look..."


Read.  Study.  Interpret?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 25, 2016, 09:03:43 pm
"Right, anyway here we are. I'm told you possess a magical word thing that'd let you get this here stained glass window out of the frame without it breaking. Take as much time as you need to, just get it out without it breaking. I need it for a thing, and unless you know of any other priceless objects I'll be very displeased if you do break it."

Menacingly give quest! Prepare to enact consequences if necessary.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 26, 2016, 02:52:32 am
"Party?"

INEVITABLE party glass down. Broken glass doesn't make good dance floor.

Afterwards fall into my inner world.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 26, 2016, 06:17:44 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 25, 2016, 01:01:52 pm
I investigate what the zombies are up to now.

[Hiding Bodies: 2]

The hand of the priestess naturally leads to the rest of her, who seems to have stopped in a position to help you up. Her other hand is pointing toward the tomb directly opposite the one to the ratshit shaft.

The armored corpse, however, is nowhere to be found at the moment.

Quote from: TopHat on March 25, 2016, 02:11:34 pm
Go off in search of a key, or maybe a less forbidding but nevertheless just as interesting door.

[Key to the Heart: 1]

You don't think a key is likely to be easy to find just like that, so you go and find a passing guard and say that you've found an interesting door. She seems a little surprised at your address, taking a moment to look you over before asking which one exactly - the reinforced one over there, you point. The one with the slot. Would she happen to have a key for it? Or know anyone who does?

Oh, she chuckles. Ohohoho. You must not be very familiar with this place, she says. And she'd understand why you would ask, really. Nevertheless, she feels you should be informed of Rule Three of living in the keep. Do not talk about the door.

You glance back a moment, at which point the guard chuckles sensibly again. Sounds like you've not been informed of Rule Four. Acknowledgement weakens the seal, don't you know.

Oh dear, you say. The guard asks what brought this fit of inquisitiveness on. You wouldn't by any chance have forgotten Rule Two as well, would you? The dreams are lying, friend. She pats you on the shoulder. Be on your way.

Quote from: Toaster on March 25, 2016, 04:36:55 pm
Must be one of those dinner-theater things, like with the pirates or knights, except bigger.  A mystery one, even!  Might as well play along.

"All right, sure.  Let me take a look..."


Read.  Study.  Interpret?

[Scholarly Analysis: 5]

There's a whole lot more sonnets here, you find. Most of them are borderline incomprehensible. Quite a lot seem to be trying to sound vaguely ominous.

Know the one they fear
Plumb the depths for its brother
Answer their power
With what we can never see
And what we must never know

From nothing they rise,
What womb is responsible?
Truth squirms in my mind.

Now shall rise new gods
Towers of inhuman flesh.
Lucky are the dead.

Of course, these are just the comprehensible ones. There's others.

There once was a man who must help me
He must help me and oh gods please save me
Bring me salvation
Sweet disintegration
The void it is eating my soul

I stand at the door
My friend still speaks so softly.
I fail to wonder.

I sit here for hours
Listening to others think.
I see through their flesh.

Assuming all these are by the same author, you think you can pretty safely separate about three different artistic periods, no doubt shaped by occurrences of the poet's life. There is the philosophical period, where the poet tries to approach the deeper mysteries of the universe in his work, which the girl says is the earliest period if the dating is correct. Then follows the noticeable revolutionary period, where the poet has chanced upon a system of beliefs that he feels will change the world. Then there's the oh god make it stop period, where the poet seems to have been going through some emotional turmoil, perhaps a breakup with a significant other or something of that nature (a remarkably good guess, the girl replies). And finally there's the acceptance period, where the poet settles down in his conflict with what they perceive to be certain unavoidable circumstances in their life. Just your average cycle of poetic development, you would suppose. Not particularly good poetry for the most part either. Doesn't even rhyme half the time, though at least the walls are blissfully free of that abominable free verse nonsense. Though a lot of it does sound like something you'd play a bongo to regardless, which the girl admits is an interesting idea.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 25, 2016, 09:03:43 pm
"Right, anyway here we are. I'm told you possess a magical word thing that'd let you get this here stained glass window out of the frame without it breaking. Take as much time as you need to, just get it out without it breaking. I need it for a thing, and unless you know of any other priceless objects I'll be very displeased if you do break it."

Menacingly give quest! Prepare to enact consequences if necessary.

Righty ho. So you want a party or something. And a window. Mr. Erikson is right on that, turning toward the glass.

INEVITABLE

He stands there a moment, taking time as he stares out at it. You look on bemusedly as he remains there, mostly motionless, for the next five minutes.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 26, 2016, 02:52:32 am
"Party?"

INEVITABLE party glass down. Broken glass doesn't make good dance floor.

Afterwards fall into my inner world.

You're not sure how, but you're going to party the shit out of that window. Party it right out of the frame, and then party up and down it until the cows come home or more likely until you pass out, which you foresee is going to happen in the next couple of minutes regardless of any other circumstances. So really there is a lot of inevitability to work with here. Theoretically. You think you'll just try it.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 2]

You go up to the window and poke it with your finger. It doesn't seem terribly inclined to party, being an inanimate object and thus probably not quite as subject to your gifts as anything with, say, a mouth and a nervous system to blast with a whole lot of inhibition. You guess you could just try and party up the wall or something. Or up the window. Or, more likely, through the window. In your time you've partied straight through a lot of windows. Broken glass is kind of a bitch. Especially in windows this large. A falling shard of these could probably take your head off if you weren't careful.

You consider this a moment before you realize you had an appointment with a much nicer place to be in, and immediately fall into the lucid (insofar as lucidity can be applied to you in the present state) world of grapefruit, skerries and burning churches you've built up in your time.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 26, 2016, 06:34:49 am
Well, it looks like I'm not finished down here. Before I do anything else, I rest on the cot for a bit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 26, 2016, 06:41:28 am
"The dreams are... lying? What do you mean by that? You're correct that I'm unfamiliar with this place; could you tell me more about it, and of these rules you speak of?"
Questions, Questions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 26, 2016, 09:16:49 am
"This party needs music!"

Try to create huge boombox, playing only the best metal such as Lordi. And don my imaginary viking armor.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 26, 2016, 12:04:26 pm
"Oi. Don't go drifting off on me now."

If he's fallen asleep or something, slap him out of it. Try not to damage him.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 26, 2016, 10:51:58 pm
"So... there's these two things, and one is good and one is bad, and they're fighting, and they have lots of power, but maybe the kind of power that is good but still bad?  What's the end point?  It seems like it all still ends in ghastly corpses."

Thomas looks around again.

"What are they anyway?"

Interpret?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 27, 2016, 10:25:35 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 26, 2016, 06:34:49 am
Well, it looks like I'm not finished down here. Before I do anything else, I rest on the cot for a bit.

The cot welcomes your tired, abused form. Your rest is short, and you take some care in avoiding the slight patch of fuzz on the surface, but definitely quite worthwhile. The tombs remain still and silent around you, the only things audible hopelessly distant and muffled by dozens of feet of stone.

Quote from: TopHat on March 26, 2016, 06:41:28 am
"The dreams are... lying? What do you mean by that? You're correct that I'm unfamiliar with this place; could you tell me more about it, and of these rules you speak of?"
Questions, Questions.

The guard puts her hand on your shoulder, leading you into the foyer toward what sounds like an attempt to sing, and turns out to originate from a pair of extremely drunken guards. This the guard deems to be adequate cover, though she still looks back to check, as if worried that the door might sneak up on her somehow.

[The Rules of Engagement: 2]

She leans in and begins to maternally explain. She supposes she will start quite intuitively at Rule One. Good questions are forbidden. Coincidentally this is also where her explanation ends. She looks at you patiently, seeking affirmation of an understanding between you two. And, hopefully, an understanding between you and the castle at large.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 26, 2016, 09:16:49 am
"This party needs music!"

Try to create huge boombox, playing only the best metal such as Lordi. And don my imaginary viking armor.

A rhythm echoes through your head as the dulcet tones of your mental metal playlist render the seas into a mosh pit of alcoholic grapefruit, Thor's own boombox shaking your inner world with melodic celestial thunder, the air congealing into a full suit of steel and spikes around your body.

As you stand upon your burning cathedral you perform a glorious air guitar solo on a jagged axe, your luxurious mane of hair turned holy fire sweeping in circles that touch the horizon and scour the world with fire as you bang your head to songs that would carry the gods themselves as they ride into their final fate.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 26, 2016, 12:04:26 pm
"Oi. Don't go drifting off on me now."

If he's fallen asleep or something, slap him out of it. Try not to damage him.

[Friendly Encouragement: 2]

You give him a few good slaps across the gob. He only smiles and begins to bang his head gently as your smacks establish a pounding rhythm in his mind. You continue trying for a while nevertheless, but the man seems wholly insensible at the moment. Or maybe you're just hitting him a little too lightly, though with how you're pretty sure you could smack the head right off his shoulders perhaps you'd best err on the side of caution regardless.

Quote from: Toaster on March 26, 2016, 10:51:58 pm
"So... there's these two things, and one is good and one is bad, and they're fighting, and they have lots of power, but maybe the kind of power that is good but still bad?  What's the end point?  It seems like it all still ends in ghastly corpses."

Thomas looks around again.

"What are they anyway?"

Interpret?

It does end in ghastly corpses, doesn't it? The point, she supposes, is to shift the representation of the parties involved among those ghastly corpses. For instance, she has a burning interest in not producing a ghastly corpse of herself anytime soon.

In any case, this appears to all relate to the well. The verses, since you seem to be curious, are all the work of one of her late teachers. Quite a recluse he was. Experienced some emotional turmoil, as one can see from his general work. Was perhaps a bit mad, but given his business with strange powers, this is hardly surprising at all. He fashioned the well. And then he and two others fashioned you in an effort, as mentioned, to shift the corpse representation in the direction of these stout folk.

It... does not appear to be working too well yet. Nevertheless, she is optimistic. The writings here should hold some hint as to how one would render you a little more applicable to this situation, hence why she has helpfully mentally collated them into a single room.

Speaking of your applicability, you seem to have an easier time reading them than she does, truthfully, if not necessarily deciphering them. Could you lend her your senses for a few minutes? She thinks it could prove enlightening. And the risks ought to prove, well, manageable under the circumstances at least.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 27, 2016, 11:16:49 am
I continue resting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 27, 2016, 04:35:57 pm
"Hmm. I think you can withstand a bit more punishment, and I really fucking want that window. Sorry not sorry, bud."

Crush his genitalia to paste and see if that wakes him up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 27, 2016, 07:28:28 pm
"Wait, your masters are the ones who got me here?  Then they should know how to get me back!  Eh, what?  Uhh, sure, you can sense things.  Then will you let me talk to your masters?  I don't know anything about a well, though."

Accept a non-understood offer
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 28, 2016, 12:18:33 am
Quote from: Xantalos on March 27, 2016, 04:35:57 pm
"Hmm. I think you can withstand a bit more punishment, and I really fucking want that window. Sorry not sorry, bud."

Crush his genitalia to paste and see if that wakes him up.
((That might actually kill him. Wasn't 4 wounds the limit?))

Gotta bring party to stoats. Based on one encounter they really need to loosen up.

Let's wake up, perhaps just in time to avoid loss of integral bodyparts. INEVITABLE window down in one piece again and then bugger off to find stoats.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 28, 2016, 12:20:05 am
((It was 5, wasn't it?))

((I've checked, and yeah it was 5 wounds the limit. So unless there's one wound for each testicle you should be fine.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 28, 2016, 12:24:51 am
((It appears you're correct. Anyway, with already 3 wounds that puts me quite too close with death. But we have a long waitlist already, might as well get reckless and give them opportunity.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 28, 2016, 01:01:05 am
((True, though I'm not gonna intentionally kill you. Definitely could accidentally.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 28, 2016, 10:51:41 am
"Right. Is there anything else before I go off again?"
Hopefully get advice before continuing explorations.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 28, 2016, 12:24:19 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 27, 2016, 11:16:49 am
I continue resting.

You try not to wonder what your two friends are up to in the meantime. It's not difficult, considering they move without sound.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 27, 2016, 04:35:57 pm
"Hmm. I think you can withstand a bit more punishment, and I really fucking want that window. Sorry not sorry, bud."

Crush his genitalia to paste and see if that wakes him up.

As soon as your hands close around his junk menacingly Mr. Erikson makes a sudden recovery. Miraculous. You stand there a moment and twist gently while aiming a glance at the window. Mr. Erikson seems to catch your drift, or at least something passably like it. He looks at the window again, arms rising with wizardly whimsy.

INEVITABLE

He gazes at the window for a bit, and you see the chapel rattle a little bit, the stones around the window wiggling and growing looser. Mr. Erikson chooses this moment to affirm his confidence in your ability to remove it from the frame at this point. Supposing that you should count your blessings with him not fucking the whole thing up, you let go of his junk already and let him bugger off to his own business.

Now then. The window. Moment of truth. The fruits of your horrible labors.

Quote from: Toaster on March 27, 2016, 07:28:28 pm
"Wait, your masters are the ones who got me here?  Then they should know how to get me back!  Eh, what?  Uhh, sure, you can sense things.  Then will you let me talk to your masters?  I don't know anything about a well, though."

Accept a non-understood offer

Excellent. Give her a moment. Your vision blurs, then goes dark.

[A Quick Solution: 1]

It then comes back again immediately. The girl stands there still, her face a little long, eyes wide. Okay. Perhaps that was not the best idea, she concedes. You ask her what that means, and she replies with an awfully quick 'nothing'.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 28, 2016, 12:18:33 am
Gotta bring party to stoats. Based on one encounter they really need to loosen up.

Let's wake up, perhaps just in time to avoid loss of integral bodyparts. INEVITABLE window down in one piece again and then bugger off to find stoats.

Perhaps not integral body parts. But pretty damn significant ones. All right, fun's fun. You'll help the tosspot already. You turn toward the window again and perform an arcane gesture, calling upon the

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

You find about a dozen ways to get out of this with your junk intact. Some of them, you suspect, will somehow advance Mr. Daniels' agenda. Something about the window. It's over there, and it needs to be... somewhere else? You're not sure where. You devote a short bit of time chipping away experimentally at it, loosening the window from the wall. Should be possible to remove now, you suspect. You'll let Mr. Daniels figure out where he needs it, really. Wouldn't want to make any assumptions.

Speaking of, you try simultaneously in seven different ways to inform him of your success - the twisting that results in the sassier branches of reality makes you tread a little more lightly, so you choose to be gentle here. Mr. Daniels, while perhaps not terribly impressed with your work, offers a conciliatory sigh and lets you go off to your own business.

Okay, now for the stoats. You try again to get up on the wall just in time for sunrise, the pale and rising light illuminating the thinned ranks of the impatient, rattled invaders, currently staying at a respectable distance from the walls.

Quote from: TopHat on March 28, 2016, 10:51:41 am
"Right. Is there anything else before I go off again?"
Hopefully get advice before continuing explorations.

Good man. As for advice, don't go off. Have a destination in mind. A close one. She pats you on the back and sends you on your way. You notice she's still observing you closely.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 28, 2016, 12:51:54 pm
Now I make my way down the hallway the priestess pointed towards. Hopefully this one is less trapped.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 28, 2016, 01:52:33 pm
Okay, so I can make music in my headspace as well other appropriate props. Lets try to give imaginary form to those massive boomboxes. For everyone see and hear. Though no music yet. Music comes afterwards when everything is on place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 28, 2016, 02:08:17 pm
Right, let's be careful here. Lift the window out from its frame without dropping it or damaging it. The steadiness of hand I learned through my karate should help with that.

Then carry it over to the blacksmith's place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 28, 2016, 03:46:24 pm
"A destination in mind. Right, thanks."
Wander off purposefully, thinking of the kitchen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 28, 2016, 06:01:08 pm
"Nothing?  Impressive special effects aside, that's not a very impressive answer."

Press the issue.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 29, 2016, 08:22:58 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 28, 2016, 12:51:54 pm
Now I make my way down the hallway the priestess pointed towards. Hopefully this one is less trapped.

[Hopelessly Trapped: 4]

The hallway opposite the shaft, fortunately, is far less trapped. Or, rather, all the traps seem to have been helpfully disarmed or marked with a helpful spot of fungal growth. Moving carefully is still required, of course, but much of the dangers can safely avoided as soon as you make sense of the varied signals left in the wake of your two companions.

Eventually you find yourself in what feels like a large room - experimentally you snap your fingers, and the impressive echo produced speaks to a chamber that ought to be enormous indeed.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 28, 2016, 01:52:33 pm
Okay, so I can make music in my headspace as well other appropriate props. Lets try to give imaginary form to those massive boomboxes. For everyone see and hear. Though no music yet. Music comes afterwards when everything is on place.

[A Theory of the Mind: 5]

You recognize that this is certainly a thing you can do - a mass illusion. Not terribly common in minding practice, of course, and it is not difficult to see why. Minding is very much the seeking of commonality, whether between two thinking minds or between a thought and reality, then building upon it. You have little experience with altering reality with tricks of the mind, so you focus on the relatively familiar - establishing commonality between yourself and a single person is simple enough to the point where your abilities permit to do so with a great deal of automation. Doing so with a horde of stoatmen, however, may be more difficult.

You decide to sober up just a little bit as you think, and find the solution coming to you as you regard the invaders and they regard you right back. The secret lies in the unity of your foes. Many people are difficult to nudge or inform reliably. A mob, however, may as well be a single, simpleminded whole, far less than the sum of its individual parts. It becomes clear then that you must bring forth a unity of this nature. Suppress the individual so that you may speak with the underlying consciousness of the group. A taller order, you realize, than it may at first seem, even with your simple desire to send rather than retrieve information. You scratch your chin as a detachment of crossbowstoats aim your way, bolts loaded and ready to fire. The unison in which they loose a rain of bolts at you proves your answer. You duck as the battlements are hit by the volley, most of it bouncing into the courtyard, some bolts breaking into smaller pieces.

Their current hostility, you realize, is likely insufficient. To reach them properly, emotion is required. A breakdown of discipline. The surging of the beast within. The animal sensation of impending death, unthinking terror, unquenchable fury. To speak to the army with the gifts of minding, render it into a mob. Any less will be insufficient to achieve your aims.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 28, 2016, 02:08:17 pm
Right, let's be careful here. Lift the window out from its frame without dropping it or damaging it. The steadiness of hand I learned through my karate should help with that.

Then carry it over to the blacksmith's place.

[Disproportionate Theft: 1]

Okay, so you need to lift the window out from its frame - well, there is no actual frame, it's mostly just set into the stone. You need to get it out, in any case. You venture a push. The window groans as it slides inward. You push it a little further, stones loosening at your touch. The window leans in your direction as it starts to lose balance. Not really thinking, you push again. It starts to gently fall toward you, balance fatally upset.

[Excellent Catch: 4]

It's a fairly slow fall on the window's part, the stone still adequate at keeping it from just plummeting onto you. You place your hands as high on the window as your position allows, and the lead and glass structure bends ominously as you impede its fall, pendulously going back and forth and probably cracking a little in the process. Well, hopefully nobody will notice. Although now that you mention it, your push does seem to have elicited a ghastly shriek from within the chapel. Sounds a bit like the priest, you think.

Quote from: TopHat on March 28, 2016, 03:46:24 pm
"A destination in mind. Right, thanks."
Wander off purposefully, thinking of the kitchen.

Since you've already been to the kitchen, it proves remarkably easy to find, and slightly more inhabited now that Mr. Daniels has roused the serving staff and they seem to have collectively noticed that the sun has begun to rise.

Of course, there being something of a dearth in edible ingredients, what the servants present appear to be doing is mostly reminiscing about the times they had food other than miniscule rations of roasted rat to prepare for the rest of the castle. They seem to be careful not to mention the actual items for fear of provoking an appetite, merely focusing on methods - the sweep of a knife, the sound of it hitting the wood of a cutting board, pots and pans clanking together. Beneath the idle anecdotes of the scullery maids and cooks you discern an air of almost ritualistic reverence.

Quote from: Toaster on March 28, 2016, 06:01:08 pm
"Nothing?  Impressive special effects aside, that's not a very impressive answer."

Press the issue.

Nothing at all, she repeats with a stressed look. Especially not anything concerning.

Changing the subject, she thinks she's learned everything she can here and done everything as well as humanly possible and thinks that now would be a good time to stop. Because she is done here, you see. Not for any other reason. The room darkens again, and in the middle of one of your blinks appears to return to the room that the minders are camping in, the girl standing in the middle of the circle, both feet squarely on the ground now. She throws a tight-lipped glance around, her eyes resting a moment on a conspicuously empty patch to her right. She does a quick headcount, her expression growing unreadable. She gives you another glance, then does a recount. The result does not appear to please her.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 29, 2016, 10:51:46 am
"It's for a good cause, priesty boy!"

Careful careful careful now get it onto the ground gently as I possibly can. Then go make sure there aren't any rocks or anything between here and the blacksmith's and transport it there. Drag it across the ground if it'd be a better idea than carrying it what with it possibly cracking if I do that just don't break it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 29, 2016, 10:56:37 am
Hmm, do I have what I need? Hmm... Leif thinks and digs through his memories. What did the grazy dude said? Name? Someone being born soon? Someone with russian name. Vasil? No... Va... Vali? Right. Something about old blood running dry? And then numbers? Nah, can't use numbers. Stone? He got the stone. It was important. Probably he was too. Hmm Gotta get creative.

Leif is a big man and he has big lungs. Perfect for shouting. He draws his lungs full and shouts out:

"Hey motherfuckers! Go fuck your Vali! Old blood is not dead and it never will! It rises stronger than ever, it rises to skies like a sun and burns you worms into cinders! Old blood will spread out again and paint world red with miserable blood of your precious little Vali! And I have The Stone!" Leif pulls out the prison stone and lets it shine in sun. They may be too far to see it clearly, but it doesn't matter. The show matters. "Had to cut it out from your buddy held here! His screams were such beautiful sound that I want to hear it more. I'll make you pigs squeal like he did before I ate his still throbbing heart!"

I hope he didn't get out... To add insult to injury, piss over the battlements. Of course assuming it's still relatively arrow free.

Maybe that agitates them. Maybe stage will be ready for concert of the ages.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 29, 2016, 11:05:13 am
Why did I want to come here, again? Ah, well, no matter. There's a minor mystery here which may be solved, anyway.
Let's see if the wine celler's still locked, and what's inside if it isn't.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 29, 2016, 11:22:21 am
((Oh dear.))

The implication of any look that Thomas received is missed because he is annoyed.  The frustrated salesman kind of annoyed; the kind that pushes the deeper sales pitch.  Thomas has never been a violent (or even that energetic) man, so intimidation was a lost art to him.  But he'd never been one to back down when there was something he wanted.

"Ma'am, excellent parlor tricks aside, I must insist you tell me what you meant back there.  If it's any bit relevant to me getting back home, I must know what it is!"

Insist.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 29, 2016, 02:07:11 pm
Hm. This place is probably important. I search around for any sign of the zombies.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 30, 2016, 07:42:26 am
Quote from: Xantalos on March 29, 2016, 10:51:46 am
"It's for a good cause, priesty boy!"

Careful careful careful now get it onto the ground gently as I possibly can. Then go make sure there aren't any rocks or anything between here and the blacksmith's and transport it there. Drag it across the ground if it'd be a better idea than carrying it what with it possibly cracking if I do that just don't break it.

The priest is seemingly not reassured by your claim. You're not sure why - it's definitely plausible that you have good intentions, at least in your humble opinion. You try to carefully lower the window to the ground.

[Let's Get Careful: 6]

It's really mostly a matter of stepping back and slowly moving up the window with your hands. Takes a bit of time, obviously. And yes, you do spot a few bits where the window doesn't quite appear to have retained perfect cohesion, but you're sure the blacksmith won't mind at all. You spend the next stretch of time carefully lowering it to the ground. Softly now, softly!

As soon as it is safely horizontal, you start dragging it off slowly. The shrieking has grown increasingly audible now that there's not a window in the way, and does not sound like it's lessening even while you drag the precious window through the dirt and gravel. In fact, it only seems to intensify as you move along, the bawling scream of a man completely ruined. It starts to vaguely bother you, so you take a careful look at the window's other side.

Ah, the priest. He's holding on to the other end, screaming with his face down in the dirt as you've been pulling him along the courtyard. Seems quite attached to the window, really. Not that this particularly impedes you. In fact, he's proven kind of helpful in keeping the other end of the window slightly above ground level so that it doesn't scratch quite so badly. So you shrug and just keep going, getting the window over to the front of the blacksmith's shack. You wonder if you should bother setting it up for optimal viewing. And whether it looks more impressive when propped up on a screaming priest.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 29, 2016, 10:56:37 am
Hmm, do I have what I need? Hmm... Leif thinks and digs through his memories. What did the grazy dude said? Name? Someone being born soon? Someone with russian name. Vasil? No... Va... Vali? Right. Something about old blood running dry? And then numbers? Nah, can't use numbers. Stone? He got the stone. It was important. Probably he was too. Hmm Gotta get creative.

Leif is a big man and he has big lungs. Perfect for shouting. He draws his lungs full and shouts out:

"Hey motherfuckers! Go fuck your Vali! Old blood is not dead and it never will! It rises stronger than ever, it rises to skies like a sun and burns you worms into cinders! Old blood will spread out again and paint world red with miserable blood of your precious little Vali! And I have The Stone!" Leif pulls out the prison stone and lets it shine in sun. They may be too far to see it clearly, but it doesn't matter. The show matters. "Had to cut it out from your buddy held here! His screams were such beautiful sound that I want to hear it more. I'll make you pigs squeal like he did before I ate his still throbbing heart!"

I hope he didn't get out... To add insult to injury, piss over the battlements. Of course assuming it's still relatively arrow free.

Maybe that agitates them. Maybe stage will be ready for concert of the ages.

[The Words, The Words: 2]

The stoatmen do not look terribly impressed by your shouting. Most of them, it seems, cannot quite hear you at this considerable distance. Or indeed see the stone. A few seem to understand what you're saying, however - the closer ones with keener ears at least. These fellows seem even more confused as to what you could possibly be on about.

Some of them begin to load up their crossbows again, but a stern shout from a mail-clad stoat dissuades them from going for another shot. Wasting ammunition on such an obvious provocation seems to be frowned upon in their ranks. Better save those for when the death lasering starts again.

Quote from: TopHat on March 29, 2016, 11:05:13 am
Why did I want to come here, again? Ah, well, no matter. There's a minor mystery here which may be solved, anyway.
Let's see if the wine celler's still locked, and what's inside if it isn't.

[Party In The Wine Cellar: 4]

The wine cellar still appears to be locked, though it has gone a lot quieter at this point. You consider knocking, but considering the belligerence with which you were met previously, you think better of it. Or at least do not quite resolve to do it before you become aware of someone standing behind you.

Sounds like they've quieted down. You turn around and notice a servant girl standing behind you. You beg her pardon? Sounds like the guards have gone quiet, she repeats. She usually listens for some fifteen minutes or so. If it's still quiet, it's usually safe to assume that most of them have passed out. Then you can go in, drag 'em out and clean the place up. A distressingly regular part of her morning routine, she sighs.

Quote from: Toaster on March 29, 2016, 11:22:21 am
The implication of any look that Thomas received is missed because he is annoyed.  The frustrated salesman kind of annoyed; the kind that pushes the deeper sales pitch.  Thomas has never been a violent (or even that energetic) man, so intimidation was a lost art to him.  But he'd never been one to back down when there was something he wanted.

"Ma'am, excellent parlor tricks aside, I must insist you tell me what you meant back there.  If it's any bit relevant to me getting back home, I must know what it is!"

Insist.

[Origin Stories: 1]

What she can take away from this experience is that you ought to be perfectly fine if you just got out the castle and picked a direction on the highway. You'll likely find what you're looking for eventually if you're willing to improvise.

In fact, she'd like it if you could try that right now and get back to her on your progress at some later date, she smiles nervously.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 29, 2016, 02:07:11 pm
Hm. This place is probably important. I search around for any sign of the zombies.

[Keep Your Friends Close: 3]

The zombies do not appear to be anywhere nearby, aside from their continuous marking of insidious traps with patches of soft fungus. Wandering around, however, you do start to get a feel for the room's shape - it is much like the other tomb, with walls that feel rich in reliefs and writing, alcoves with sarcophagi set down within them on raised platforms, lids decorated with vague effigies of what you assume to be their occupants.

The sarcophagi appear to get larger, yet less elaborate as you go deeper into the tomb, until you finally reach a high spiraling dais, a staircase winding all around it. Navigating the stairs and their associated traps, you reach what you guess to be the two most important sarcophagi in the room, though they're not much different from a regular box. Rectangular, unadorned and made out of two large pieces of stone. Very monolithic. Perhaps even legitimately primitive. One is slightly smaller than the other, you think after a short examination. What's more, the smaller one appears to be marked - a small X of mold is drawn on its surface in what appear to be two elegant strokes.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 30, 2016, 07:57:12 am
This is probably not the wisest decision, but cooperating with these guys seems like the best way out that I have. I push the lid off the marked sarcophagus.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 30, 2016, 09:12:13 am
"I see that you're not going to be helpful, even after all I've done for you.  Very well; call Sureness Assurance and ask for Thomas Minstep if you need any further insurance matters dealt with."

Depart.  Maybe roam the halls a bit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 30, 2016, 11:52:12 am
"Oh for - I'm fulfilling prophecy and shit! Wasn't that what you wanted to do with the other guy with the sun and stuff? Calm down you baby, I'll try helping you glue the other one back together."

Knock on the door.

"Oh blacksmithy! I've got your priceless object! Hopefully you can fit it into this place, or don't need to. Cmon out and see it!"

((Oh my that's hilarious. I'm going to pretend I'm best friends with this guy now and nothing he can do will change that.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 30, 2016, 11:52:37 am
"The guards? Shouldn't they be, you know, on guard, rather than wasting the castle's last supplies? What if there's an attack?"
Outrage and annoyance time. Let's hope the servants think the same way.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 30, 2016, 01:53:26 pm
No angry mob? No awesome concert? Bah, I have to get closer.

INEVITABLY find out safe way over to stoats, preferrably one that doesn't involve me becoming arrow cushion.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 31, 2016, 07:12:22 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 30, 2016, 07:57:12 am
This is probably not the wisest decision, but cooperating with these guys seems like the best way out that I have. I push the lid off the marked sarcophagus.

While the lid is exceedingly heavy, that's not a problem you can't solve merely by putting your back into it. It stubbornly holds in place, but enough effort gets it off easily enough. You push it halfway off and let gravity do the rest of the work. You then take a look inside the sarcophagus itself, and are promptly surprised when you manage to see something in the darkness.

[The Nameless Queen: 6]

Two murkily shining points, filthy gemstones in the darkened box. They seem to be staring out at you from a mound of metal and rags bent and twisted into unfamiliar shapes, the rags lining the stone coffin like fragile spiderwebs, threads connecting spires of unnaturally shaped iron. A buzz fills your ears as your fingers run along one, a pleasant shiver going through your bones as strange electricity courses through you. Conch-like formations of stone pop up every now and again along the inside surface, poking into the silky membranes of ancient fabric with multitudinous spikes.

What you definitely do not find in here, however, is any trace of a corpse.

Quote from: Toaster on March 30, 2016, 09:12:13 am
"I see that you're not going to be helpful, even after all I've done for you.  Very well; call Sureness Assurance and ask for Thomas Minstep if you need any further insurance matters dealt with."

Depart.  Maybe roam the halls a bit.

The girl breathes a sigh of relief as you leave and walk along the halls of the keep. The castle seems to be getting a little livelier now as you approach the foyer, two drunken guards reveling in song and nonexistent drink. You pass them casually as you climb downstairs and wonder where you could possibly go next.

[Wondering Again: 3]

Perhaps you could speak to the queen again. You did after all perform the task of getting the minders in a more accessible location. And though the red-haired guard has no doubt provided his own report, perhaps she'd have some other productive suggestions on what to do with your time.

Alternatively there is the majordomo. While his daughter did prove to be a handful, you don't think he means you any particular malice by any means. Or maybe you could look around the courtyard. Not everyone around here lives in the keep itself if you understand correctly. Most do, but not all.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 30, 2016, 11:52:12 am
"Oh for - I'm fulfilling prophecy and shit! Wasn't that what you wanted to do with the other guy with the sun and stuff? Calm down you baby, I'll try helping you glue the other one back together."

Knock on the door.

"Oh blacksmithy! I've got your priceless object! Hopefully you can fit it into this place, or don't need to. Cmon out and see it!"

((Oh my that's hilarious. I'm going to pretend I'm best friends with this guy now and nothing he can do will change that.))

The blacksmith pops his head out of the workshop, looking like he's had a particularly manic last few hours. He seems displeased at the distraction right up until he notices the window, complete with screaming priest. He looks at it for a good minute, completely transfixed.

It's... it's beautiful, he says. How did you- no! Do not tell him! He resumes staring at the window. Or maybe the priest - you're not sure which seems to interest him more, honestly. Yes, he says. Yes! Indeed! You see inspiration twinkling in his eyes as he looks on for a little longer.

So, you say, that should be everything he- yes! Yes! Speak no more, speak no more. The door opens a little wider, giving you a good look into the complete darkness inside. Seems like he's done a little work on the workshop itself, as it were. You suppose he's had some time to think. You see the shape of the boy rest upon the door as it opens wider, allowing you passage as he continues to stare at your latest offering. Not one to decline such an invitation, you squeeze inside, walking barefoot along tools, broken bolts and a whole lot of other "treasures" left in the wake of a creative rampage. Or perhaps a pre-rampage, even.

The blacksmith lingers a little more, then slams the door shut. He slinks along the darkened room, only detectable by the sound of upset junk. You hear a hammer being lifted. Bellows are pressed down on the other side of the room, a furnace coming to life from a bright point of light in one corner. The boy laughs, lit up by slight firelight. A hammer rings out on an anvil incongruously. A piece of iron flies past your head, batted according to some unusual smithing technique. A perplexing din builds up.

Come here, you are implored after a moment! Quick! You waste no time and step forth. The boy titters with delight. It is nearly complete. Or nearly begun? Place your hand on the anvil! You look down for a moment. You think you can vaguely discern the anvil in the dark.

Quote from: TopHat on March 30, 2016, 11:52:37 am
"The guards? Shouldn't they be, you know, on guard, rather than wasting the castle's last supplies? What if there's an attack?"
Outrage and annoyance time. Let's hope the servants think the same way.

[Those Useless Bastards: 4]

She's no tactician. Or in any particular position to argue with the royal guard, largely useless as they may be. She mostly just contents herself with dragging their drunken carcasses to the barracks. And maybe helping herself to some of their stuff when they're completely passed out. They have some good things on them every now and then. And they hardly ever spot if any of them go missing, worthless yobs that they are. In that sense everyone wins.

Of course, they're all going to die nevertheless, but she likes to take whatever victories she can. The alternative is a much less productive form of madness.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 30, 2016, 01:53:26 pm
No angry mob? No awesome concert? Bah, I have to get closer.

INEVITABLY find out safe way over to stoats, preferrably one that doesn't involve me becoming arrow cushion.

Shouldn't be too difficult. You're a tough sort, and these stoats strike you as probably not terribly threatening. The details do not concern you, really. You just need to get there. You figure your arrival can only be

INEVITABLE

[Word: 6]

You dive off the wall, your body splitting into fireworks of probability, playing fast and loose with the laws of causality as you rain down upon the field outside, plummeting into the moat, rolling down the earthworks, exploring a wide variety of bone-shattering meetings with the earth, and many which fail to break bones at all. Distant improbabilities draw you most, and you swim through gross unlikelihood to the back of the front line of crossbowstoats, not so much arriving as appearing behind the commander, and putting a hand on his shoulder. His torso twists about in surprise, eyes wide.

Son, you say, you two are overdue for a conversation.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 31, 2016, 08:32:02 am
I check to see if the gems are attached to this metal device or if they're just sitting in the box with it. Even if they're unattached, I don't take them yet.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Xantalos on March 31, 2016, 09:52:19 am
"Righty-o, then. This better turn out well, but I trust you mostly. I wouldn't have had to go to such lengths if there wasn't a good reward for it. Does it matter which hand?"

Hand on anvil! If it doesn't matter which, my left - while I arbitrarily declare myself to be ambidextrous, if he's gonna mangle my hand my right one's gonna be more useful.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: TopHat on March 31, 2016, 10:51:20 am
"That's ... something to think about, I guess. In any case, it sounds like they're asleep now, do you want a hand?"
Offer to assist in the cleanup.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 31, 2016, 11:34:27 am
Hmm, I didn't quite plan this far. This is little closer than I expected. Well, let's try alternative approach.

"Three, six, four." Leif says to the commander. "Let's retire into your tent and have a chat. How's Vali?" While still holding him, let him and only him see the prison stone for a moment.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tippler's Koans
Post by: Toaster on March 31, 2016, 05:11:10 pm
Hmm... yes, Mrs. Queen did want me to find a place for them.  Best report in.


Report to Mrs. Queen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 01, 2016, 06:53:35 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 31, 2016, 08:32:02 am
I check to see if the gems are attached to this metal device or if they're just sitting in the box with it. Even if they're unattached, I don't take them yet.

The gems bulge from lidded sockets. The stones appear much smaller than their likely actual size, obscured by the material they're set in - stone, perhaps? You are not sure. Possibly the stones are as large as your fist. More likely they're even larger.

[Unknown Landscapes: 4]

An errant touch on the left gemstone fills your ears with incomprehensible song, thoughts of surreal landscapes coming unbidden to your mind. The gemstones blink at you, first the left, then the right. A set of alien features twist around them, intrigued by your investigation. Something pokes into your side gently - a blunt, four-jointed finger of twisted metal that makes your intestines twitch.

Underneath the buzz you sense a consuming curiosity. Who is this? Who walks in the court of the manifold lords?

Quote from: Xantalos on March 31, 2016, 09:52:19 am
"Righty-o, then. This better turn out well, but I trust you mostly. I wouldn't have had to go to such lengths if there wasn't a good reward for it. Does it matter which hand?"

Hand on anvil! If it doesn't matter which, my left - while I arbitrarily declare myself to be ambidextrous, if he's gonna mangle my hand my right one's gonna be more useful.

You place your left hand on the anvil and close your eyes. He's going to hit it with the hammer. He's going to mangle your hand. Yeah, you hear the little fucker giggle. He's gonna love this. You make yourself as ready as possible. The blacksmith locks a set of tongs around it.

Despite this, it still goddamn hurts as the hammer breaks skin and splits bone. The hand is likely the most sensitive area of your body, did you know that? You think you knew that. You keep still. The blacksmith begins to shout and holler wildly of pain. What's sharper than steel, what heralds glorious death? Pain, friend! Pain is the answer!

The hammer falls on your hand again with a sickening crack. You fall to your knees and let loose a string of expletives. The blacksmith meets them with vicious blasphemies. What is the greatest mistake of every creator? It is translation! What hand can match the glory of a dream?

Metal cracks over your fingers. There is no room for screaming in your nervous system anymore. Your voice grows hoarse, your language becomes repetitive as you struggle to come up with words to encompass your state. What is the answer? How does one forge a blade to match an idea? The answer is simple!

Another strike. The pain boils over, pouring over your nerves, quenching all feeling, spilling everywhere. Bloated with feeling as you are, numbness begins to set in. How does one fashion destiny itself into a weapon, what artifice can meet the needs that fate advances? One does not, you see! One fashions ideas instead!

Once more the hammer impacts your hand, the last of the pain going out as your left hand is ruined beyond recognition. It feels unnatural here in the dark. All feeling lost, it is as if you feel the air around your hand. It feels like a furnace. Your flesh burns from its caress. How does one fashion an idea? In the absence of light! The dark is a place of infinite possibility!

Miraculously, the last blow hurts more than all the previous combined. The metal strikes the final nerve, your body clenching in response, thoughts turning to animalistic murder, agony crystallizing into superhuman sharpness. The blacksmith's screaming turns to laughter, the tongs releasing their grip. You keep it on the anvil. The air has turned from unbearably hot to icy cold. You hear the blacksmith fall backward, still alternatively laughing and muttering.

[Embrace the Madness: 6]

You stand up, your breathing controlled to perfection. The non-thought of killing lingers in the air. You wait for the red, impotent rage to set in, but it does not come. The tension remains, and at its core is the razor-sharp lingering thought. You look at it as if from outside, an alien kernel you imagine hanging in the dark where you recall your left hand being. Your thoughts washed clean with blood, you turn to the door.

REND

You hear it all too clearly, the thought sweeping around you, winding twice around the workshop and cutting an inch-deep gash in the walls. You raise your left hand and it comes back as if called. Blades are known to sing as they cleave the air - the thought screams in your head, drowning out the noise. So much noise. You twitch. Why the noise? The furnace crackles. It irritates you now. You look at the glowing embers. There is a scream, and the fire goes out. Ah.

SILENCE

You remain tense and numb, words pulsing in your brain, ebbing as they seek release. The blacksmith seems to have passed out. Perhaps it is for the best.

Quote from: TopHat on March 31, 2016, 10:51:20 am
"That's ... something to think about, I guess. In any case, it sounds like they're asleep now, do you want a hand?"
Offer to assist in the cleanup.

She thought you'd never offer! Lugging these idiots around is hard work, don't you know. She produces a key and opens the cellar right up. Moment of truth!

What you see as you open the door are three guards and one other person. It's not a pretty sight overall. A large, red-faced guard rests with his face on the floor, seemingly fallen off a nearby stool. Another, a gently sleeping woman, lies in a large puddle of wine near a wine barrel that seems to have been busted open with her sword, which lies a little further away. A third, who you would presume is related to the other woman judging by her looks, has curled up in the embrace of a brutalized, unmoving individual on the ground. There are a whole lot of wine barrels in here, by the by.

Well, says the servant girl. Seems like they've had an eventful night. She seems largely unaffected by the sight of the severely beaten man. She steps over to the large guard and starts to go through his possessions with a gentle touch. What are you waiting for, she asks. Get to it, man!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 31, 2016, 11:34:27 am
Hmm, I didn't quite plan this far. This is little closer than I expected. Well, let's try alternative approach.

"Three, six, four." Leif says to the commander. "Let's retire into your tent and have a chat. How's Vali?" While still holding him, let him and only him see the prison stone for a moment.

[Elongated Affairs: 2]

The stoatman lieutenant narrows his eyes as you say the numbers and offer a glimpse of the stone. You can speak right here. The rest of the detachment turns their heads, then their crossbows toward you. The lieutenant does not seem to mind this, merely giving them a slight glance.

What word is there from the heretic? You have her number and you have her stone. Explain yourself. Swiftly.

Quote from: Toaster on March 31, 2016, 05:11:10 pm
Hmm... yes, Mrs. Queen did want me to find a place for them.  Best report in.


Report to Mrs. Queen.

[Sleepy Times: 1]

The guard at the door does not seem to feel this is a good time to report to the queen, however. She fell asleep, he believes. And the queen's rest is of paramount importance, especially in these dire times. He already had to turn away a guard with apparently important information, and while he does feel a little bad about this, he feels it would be best to stick to principle in this instance.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 01, 2016, 07:35:45 am
What now? A robot?

"I am Eileen, summoned from a distant land by the people of Anglefork. The city is in peril and I am looking for anything that could help us defend it."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 01, 2016, 08:12:21 am
Her? Heretic? It wasn't a guy? Tread carefully here, buddy.

"Oh, I met her in a prison cell briefly before getting tucked into another cell. She asked me to deliver this to her relatives on this side of the wall. Are you one of her relatives perhaps?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: TopHat on April 01, 2016, 04:07:11 pm
"Right, yes, of course. But who's this poor fellow?"

Ask questions whilst working over one of the guards. Any keys?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Xantalos on April 01, 2016, 06:02:50 pm
"Well. So these are the words the well mentioned. Interesting."

He looks for a while at the unconscious blacksmith.

"That hurt like almost nothing ever has, you know. But the result ... a lot of things are focused on the mind here. I should've expected it.

Perhaps I should go test it out. Not on you, you've given me this and I need armor. But someone."

He goes and steps outside the hut, taking in a deep breath. It's not often you get to appreciate your surroundings, and the residual excruciating pain makes things clearer.

Hmm. Hadn't priestly buddy said something about prophecy or some shit? Maybe he should ask him.

Is priesty still sobbing outside the hut? If so, go ask him what he meant about that prophecy from way back when. If he's not there, look for where he could've gone. Not many places a near-crisp offed dude can get in that short a time, after all.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 02, 2016, 09:00:21 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 01, 2016, 07:35:45 am
What now? A robot?

"I am Eileen, summoned from a distant land by the people of Anglefork. The city is in peril and I am looking for anything that could help us defend it."

[A Simple Request: 6]

The buzz softens, turns to a hum. It gives you ideas. Encroaching hordes. Horrific monsters. Fallen gods and rising devils, emerging from the unknown to wreak havoc on the fair land of Benzerwald, all these has history witnessed - all these has history shamelessly lied about. All of this is false. All of this she has lived. Here she remains on the border of credulity. Close enough to an actual happening, yet far too distant for anyone to accept as their own. Such was the ultimate failing of her kin.

Her capacity for boons is minimal. Two dozen fingers of metal weave their way upward, tapping warmly on your body as they inch along. The hum grows deafening. You are in dire straits indeed, to appear before the queen without so much as a set of good clothing. This is within her power to correct.

From the fingers spring fabrics and threads, working their way around you, fashioning a full hooded robe of mixed threads, exquisitely woven from whatever reclaimed fibers have remained through the aeons. The appropriate robe of a supplicant. Wear it well, and dialogue may commence in earnest. The fingers recede slightly, though one or two tap against you every now and then in what feels like anticipation.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 01, 2016, 08:12:21 am
Her? Heretic? It wasn't a guy? Tread carefully here, buddy.

"Oh, I met her in a prison cell briefly before getting tucked into another cell. She asked me to deliver this to her relatives on this side of the wall. Are you one of her relatives perhaps?"

[Carefully Indeed: 2]

He spits on the ground with obvious disgust after you've said your piece. The crossbowstoats mutter to themselves. Some of them run their hands over their crossbows uneasily.

Is she dead, the lieutenant asks after a pause. You most certainly aren't a big fan of his current expression.

Quote from: TopHat on April 01, 2016, 04:07:11 pm
"Right, yes, of course. But who's this poor fellow?"

Ask questions whilst working over one of the guards. Any keys?

Oh, that'd be the one what stole the mirror yesterday, the girl chatters back. Numpty thought he could actually escape from the guards. During a siege. The girl rolls her eyes. Took gold for it, apparently. Honestly, good that these guards were around. Otherwise he'd never learn. If the castle guard commander were involved, this guy would be first in line for the block, and she most certainly doesn't mean the headsman's one if you get her meaning. You don't think you do, but you hesitate to ask more, instead focusing on the pockets of the wine-drenched sister.

[Wonderful Loot: 6]

No keys, unfortunately, but she does seem to have some things on her - a laughably small pouch with six gold coins in it, a single key, an empty wineskin on her belt, and finally a necklace of five ears squirreled underneath her armor. Well-dried, but nicely preserved. A little unusual in shape, though. Maybe more grayish than you'd expect.

You hear a slight jangle from the direction of the large guard. The servant girl seems to have had a bit more luck than you, a ring of incredibly many keys coming off the guard's passed-out shape. Her hands travel quickly and quite softly over him, surprisingly thorough with any hiding spots. She seems to be silently singing to herself.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 01, 2016, 06:02:50 pm
"Well. So these are the words the well mentioned. Interesting."

He looks for a while at the unconscious blacksmith.

"That hurt like almost nothing ever has, you know. But the result ... a lot of things are focused on the mind here. I should've expected it.

Perhaps I should go test it out. Not on you, you've given me this and I need armor. But someone."

He goes and steps outside the hut, taking in a deep breath. It's not often you get to appreciate your surroundings, and the residual excruciating pain makes things clearer.

Hmm. Hadn't priestly buddy said something about prophecy or some shit? Maybe he should ask him.

Is priesty still sobbing outside the hut? If so, go ask him what he meant about that prophecy from way back when. If he's not there, look for where he could've gone. Not many places a near-crisp offed dude can get in that short a time, after all.

You choose to get a bit of fresh air and also find that priest guy. He seems to be futilely trying to drag the window away, weeping openly as he makes almost no progress. You go up to him and tap him on the shoulder (with your right hand - you still haven't built up the courage to look at your left). He seems startled, and looks your way for a second in abject confusion. You begin to ask him about the prophecy, but he quite rudely turns back to the window, seemingly uninterested in answering your questions. You tense up a little more, and the thought grows a little bit sharper as it sweeps aimlessly in the air around you.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 02, 2016, 09:43:34 am
"Thank you, milady. May I ask who I'm speaking to? Forgive me, but I'm unfamiliar with this realm or its history."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 02, 2016, 10:27:26 am
Uh...

"Well, she escaped around sunset. If she's not here then I assume her escape failed and therefore she's dead. She was certain that failed attempt would result her death. So, where I should drop this stone?" Leif asks, wearing smile of confidence like a mask.

Am I bearer of good news? I hope I am.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Toaster on April 02, 2016, 11:14:00 am
Thomas sighed.  He wasn't getting much done here.

"Right, yes, I suppose I understand.  I have the same important news as the guard, I assume.  The red-haired gentleman, I suppose?  Ah, it is okay.  I will check in later."


Wander on.  Seek the Majordomo; I've talked to his daughter and she's educated, if a bit eccentric.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Xantalos on April 02, 2016, 11:52:15 am
"Okay hold on. I gotta try this thing out. Have your answer ready when I get back, alright?"

Go trot over to the Doomstones and try to use the thought to cut one of them in half. Maybe that's how it works.

Also take a look at my hand. What did I do to myself for superpowers?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: TopHat on April 02, 2016, 03:08:44 pm
"Ah. So is that the standard punishment for stealing?"
You know what? Put the pouch back. The ears as well, they're more than a little creepy.
.
On second thoughts, offer the pouch to the girl.
"Thinking about it, is this money even worth anything? With the siege situation and all?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 03, 2016, 07:57:01 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 02, 2016, 09:43:34 am
"Thank you, milady. May I ask who I'm speaking to? Forgive me, but I'm unfamiliar with this realm or its history."

[The View From Nowhere: 3]

Very few truly are. It is a sad state the kingdom is in. One of her fingers gently touches the top of your skull.

She may educate you, however. Her stories have been told before, though not by herself.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 02, 2016, 10:27:26 am
Uh...

"Well, she escaped around sunset. If she's not here then I assume her escape failed and therefore she's dead. She was certain that failed attempt would result her death. So, where I should drop this stone?" Leif asks, wearing smile of confidence like a mask.

Am I bearer of good news? I hope I am.

[Have You Heard The Good News: 5]

You assume she is dead. So have they. But there she was, made to scream for mercy in the other tongue by the humans within the castle. He cares not for your assumptions. Her cowardice has brought disgrace and shame upon them all. And so it will continue until she has met her end, witnessed and attested.

Your information is worthless, much like your life, the lieutenant declares. Perhaps an eye for an eye is in order, then. A few stoats step up behind you, short arms grabbing your shoulders. Perhaps they should flay you alive, then impale you in front of the walls. Just out of reach of the bows of the guard. Close enough to hear, too far to aid... why, he does believe he will-

He will do no such thing, comes an authoritative voice from behind the lieutenant, the figure of a stoatman arrayed in mismatched plate armor the apparent source. He strides closer, flanked by well-padded, grizzled thugs. The other stoatmen freeze noticeably at his approach, but only for a moment - the rank and file split away from you as he comes closer, the lieutenant shrinking away and paling all over his body.

Greetings. From the look of the poor lieutenant here, it makes a sharp glance in his direction, it appears you have news. And an object of interest, it looks at your stone.

The lieutenant, after a moment of composing himself, begins to make a report, but the stoatman silences him with a gesture. Best to hear it from the horse's mouth, he says (no offense, he says with a glance toward you).

Quote from: Toaster on April 02, 2016, 11:14:00 am
Thomas sighed.  He wasn't getting much done here.

"Right, yes, I suppose I understand.  I have the same important news as the guard, I assume.  The red-haired gentleman, I suppose?  Ah, it is okay.  I will check in later."


Wander on.  Seek the Majordomo; I've talked to his daughter and she's educated, if a bit eccentric.

[Ramble On: 2]

The majordomo is up and about, it seems, and happens to be walking around on the ground floor, shooing servants this way and that, busily ordering them about in some imitation of a daily routine. You discern no real purpose in most of his instructions, but he seems to deem them important enough to wave off any attempts to bother him. It seems to be some kind of unusual state of mind he's in. You think he's not slept for a while, perhaps. And you think he's sweating a tad.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 02, 2016, 11:52:15 am
"Okay hold on. I gotta try this thing out. Have your answer ready when I get back, alright?"

Go trot over to the Doomstones and try to use the thought to cut one of them in half. Maybe that's how it works.

Also take a look at my hand. What did I do to myself for superpowers?

You walk toward the stone circle, focusing on one of the propped-up stones.

[Thousand Cuts: 4]

Each heartbeat brings a rush of blood along your ears, and is matched with a gash along the stone. Your heart is going a mile a minute. The stone (not terribly large, mind you - just enough to serve as adequate cover for a slightly crouched individual) begins to crack, then sway as it is sliced from a multitude of directions. You stand in front of it. In three seconds more it falls apart, buckling under your murderous intent. A fine test.

You look at your left hand. You think it's your left hand, at least. It has very little in common with what you remember of what it once may have been. The best you can manage out of it in terms of movement is a numb twitch along the wrist, and you cannot quite say where one finger ends and the other begins. You look back on where you were a little while ago - it seems you've lost a few bits along the way.

Quote from: TopHat on April 02, 2016, 03:08:44 pm
"Ah. So is that the standard punishment for stealing?"
You know what? Put the pouch back. The ears as well, they're more than a little creepy.
.
On second thoughts, offer the pouch to the girl.
"Thinking about it, is this money even worth anything? With the siege situation and all?"

There are no standard punishments, the girl says. Not anymore. There are, however, ones that certain individuals feel appropriate. She shoots a look at the beaten man - one would expect them to get more savage in the coming months.

As for the gold, the girl shrugs. There was a short while where gold was worth something, she says as she moves on to the other sister on the ground. The sister stirs a little at her touch, and the girl steps back. Probably best to hold off, she says. In any case, yes. Gold. The priest used to provide his rations for gold, but only until he was finished with his shiny robe. Some people still hide theirs. Optimism, you know.

Anyhow, you want to take the idiot's things? You can have at him if you like. She usually likes to wait a few minutes before taking the guards out, in case any of them slipped into shallower sleep during the frisking.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Xantalos on April 03, 2016, 08:47:13 am
"...entirely worth it. I don't know exactly when I stopped caring that this wasn't a dream or a video game or something, but ... this is life more than anything else ever has been for me. And goddamn does that guy deliver."

Head back to priesty.

"Okay, now that I've confirmed that the horrific sacrifice I made for personal power has actually been delivered upon - unlike a certain other someone...thing who we'll not speak of - I'm back to hear about the prophecy! So speak up, it's about the best thing you can do for your existence right now."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 03, 2016, 12:31:56 pm
Fear is in air, wonder if that's sufficient for mob minding.

"Ah, important one arrives. Or dangerous one. Probably both, all things considering. No offense taken ...probably." Friendly slap on lieutenant's back.

"Well, the thing is that shortly after my arrival into Anglefork Castle I was thrown into cell with the person whose stone this is. Rather soon she puked it out and told me to take it to her relatives on this side of wall. Telling her number too; three, six, four. It didn't take long for her to get violent so I got assigned into another cell and she escaped shorty afterwards through main doors. Through the path she cearly wasn't planning to take originally. But whatcha gonna do? When opportunity presents itself one should take it. Didn't see her afterwards and nobody wasn't talking about escaped sods, so I assume she was caught, executed and buried. Took little adventuring in the labyrinth beneath the castle, but after that I came here, told the story and this fellow wanted to kill me slowly.

Oh, and this is for you. My gift to you for trying to get me killed. Eat." Last words are aimed at lieutenant, offering of alcoholic fruits.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Toaster on April 03, 2016, 01:18:45 pm
Might as well.

Stay and observe the majordomo.  Perhaps watching him can lend a hint to the dynamics of the castle?  Or at least he'll eventually have a moment to spare.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: TopHat on April 03, 2016, 02:42:46 pm
"Oh, right. Thanks."
Frisk the idiot, then. You never know.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 03, 2016, 03:06:35 pm
"I'm grateful for any information you have. Do you know of the stoatmen? They're the ones besieging Anglefork, and I know worryingly little about them."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 05, 2016, 12:59:01 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 03, 2016, 08:47:13 am
"...entirely worth it. I don't know exactly when I stopped caring that this wasn't a dream or a video game or something, but ... this is life more than anything else ever has been for me. And goddamn does that guy deliver."

Head back to priesty.

"Okay, now that I've confirmed that the horrific sacrifice I made for personal power has actually been delivered upon - unlike a certain other someone...thing who we'll not speak of - I'm back to hear about the prophecy! So speak up, it's about the best thing you can do for your existence right now."

You ask the priest for his input, but he just continues weeping at his poor abused window. You try to soothe him with an earnest request for prophecy. Priests ought to be all over that! He isn't. You try for some time. You get impatient. Bleeding scratches start to appear along his bearded, unkempt face. He doesn't seem to particularly notice.

[A Clue: 4]

Come to think of it, you don't think he's actually acknowledged your presence in the last fifteen or so times you've tried to speak or quip to him. This seems almost as suspicious as it does displeasing.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 03, 2016, 12:31:56 pm
Fear is in air, wonder if that's sufficient for mob minding.

"Ah, important one arrives. Or dangerous one. Probably both, all things considering. No offense taken ...probably." Friendly slap on lieutenant's back.

"Well, the thing is that shortly after my arrival into Anglefork Castle I was thrown into cell with the person whose stone this is. Rather soon she puked it out and told me to take it to her relatives on this side of wall. Telling her number too; three, six, four. It didn't take long for her to get violent so I got assigned into another cell and she escaped shorty afterwards through main doors. Through the path she cearly wasn't planning to take originally. But whatcha gonna do? When opportunity presents itself one should take it. Didn't see her afterwards and nobody wasn't talking about escaped sods, so I assume she was caught, executed and buried. Took little adventuring in the labyrinth beneath the castle, but after that I came here, told the story and this fellow wanted to kill me slowly.

Oh, and this is for you. My gift to you for trying to get me killed. Eat." Last words are aimed at lieutenant, offering of alcoholic fruits.

You look at the line of stoatmen, currently all staring at the plated figure. An opening!

[Theory's Fruition: 1]

Or perhaps not. There is disunity. Fear. Awe. Hints of something unusual. An emotion you do not recognize. An echo of something else, rustling beneath the surface. A glint of something savage runs through their eyes, intrigued by a careless prod.

You are brought out of consideration by a stern tap on the shoulder. Best to keep your minding to yourself, friend, the armored stoatman says. Beneath his full helmet you see one of his yellow eyes start twitching. Indeed, best come along peaceably. This is probably a conversation to have further away from the walls, oh yes it is. Probably such a conversation indeed.

Quote from: Toaster on April 03, 2016, 01:18:45 pm
Might as well.

Stay and observe the majordomo.  Perhaps watching him can lend a hint to the dynamics of the castle?  Or at least he'll eventually have a moment to spare.

[Method To The Madness: 4]

The majordomo gestures and commands, and the servants spill around him. Not with any correlation to what he's ordering them to do, you notice. And it's just them running along back and forth, muttering about lateness and preparations and what have you, not legitimately doing anything. Honestly, this seems to be a game they're playing. One that the majordomo appears admirably committed to. You try to ask him for assistance three more times at what feel like opportune moments, but meet with only a glare of vague irritation. The fourth time, though, he seems to have had quite enough.

You, he says! Get the thing! Not any thing in particular, mind you. Luckily, you know better than to ask questions. You run down the hall, then run right back. He orders you the other way - make sure the feast is ready, he says! You jog after an older servant who lets off a small giggle as she gets out of earshot of the majordomo. You share a look of understanding as she imitates his mannerisms along the way. She doesn't seem to be taking this quite as seriously as the others.

Quote from: TopHat on April 03, 2016, 02:42:46 pm
"Oh, right. Thanks."
Frisk the idiot, then. You never know.

[Beautiful Loot: 4]

Searching the fellow, you find that he's not so much unconscious as he is completely incapable of putting up any resistance. Not that this necessarily matters. He has 6 more shiny golden coins on him placed in a pocket, and also quite a wealth of other knickknacks. A pair of misshapen dice, a lock of unknown hair, a single iron nail, never used. They're definitely curios of a sort, you suppose.

So, the girl starts to say, how do you want to do this? She takes the arms, you take the legs? Carrying someone in full armor up a set of stairs is kind of a bitch for the most part (god she hates it when these morons party in their armor), but she figures it shouldn't be too bad if you can help out. Least you can do for half the loot, right?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 03, 2016, 03:06:35 pm
"I'm grateful for any information you have. Do you know of the stoatmen? They're the ones besieging Anglefork, and I know worryingly little about them."

Stoatmen? A new scourge, no doubt. Sixty scourges she has seen, sixty-two there ought to have been. Each came with the name of a century, towering over the kings of its time. Each was brought down in glorious conflict.

The buzz deepens as low hisses split off from it. You see Anglefork primeval, an ancient, twisted sea, bubbling with explosions of brilliant light. Here the settler, first among the kings, would face the echo of the end times. It was brought low, and it was brought far. It will come back. As it began, so it must end. The first folk trawled the waters and fished out the forests, where dwelt the second scourge, the many-stranded ones. Plagues of spores gave rise to gardens of sweet aromas that heralded death. The land was to be burned three times, scoured until nothing remained, the scars sutured to let nothing out ever again. The land was stretched across the sea precariously thinly, but El met Benzerwald met Elizabeth, and many more states met in the joining as well. Then came the men of the south, who demanded their share - they were the third scourge, and they were met with an open wound in the fabric of time. A dangerous thing indeed. They were seen again since, but only in dreams, and none would admit the fact of their birth.

She does not stop. The fourth scourge was the eater of time, emerged from the torn suture at its appointed date. The wound was mended with the centuries that spilled from its veins, and some of the leftover ages were bequeathed to the land of El for their aid in this endeavor, whether they wanted them or not. A hundred and fifty years were burnt in offering to the triumphant king. Yeah, you think she's intending to tell you about the full sixty. The fifth scourge was the plague of the future, the disease that tore at the minds of the descendants of the great hunters of the previous scourge. They were corralled over decades, and set aboard flaming barges as they were loaded off into the twisted subterranean sea. They were told to never return, and were observed as they turned to ash on the bent horizon. Their inevitable return was the sixth scourge, when the king called up the whole nation, from the smallest child to the most helpless elder, to bring out a greater flame so that their horrid shadows may be shrunk to a shape that could be dashed against the rocks of the Corner. Thus was the army of the old kingdom born.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: TopHat on April 05, 2016, 02:04:29 pm
"That works. Will we have to carry them far?"
Help carry the guards off.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 05, 2016, 03:09:03 pm
"Oh, well, probably yes. Lets. By the way, how do you folks feel about music?"

Go along peacefully, though carefully. It doesn't do well if these paranoid freaks start stabbing me in back.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 05, 2016, 03:34:16 pm
"Hm, it sounds like you've got to be prepared for impending disaster if you live around here. Do you know if there's anything in these catacombs that might be useful in fending off an army? An artifact from one of these past conflicts, perhaps."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Xantalos on April 05, 2016, 04:07:36 pm
"Wait a second."

Grab him by the jaw and turn him to face me - without damaging him, obviously. What's his reaction?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Toaster on April 05, 2016, 10:49:55 pm
Play along.  Just observe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 06, 2016, 12:02:44 pm
Quote from: TopHat on April 05, 2016, 02:04:29 pm
"That works. Will we have to carry them far?"
Help carry the guards off.

Not far, she says. Bring them out and over to the barracks on the other wing. One at a time, deposit them into beds. Then go see the guard commander, turn in the keys. Finally make the rounds and trade the other crap for useful things. A pretty simple routine, really. She'll lead the way.

Together you grab the large guard - rather heavy fellow even with assistance, you find - and carry him up the stairs through some hallways. There's quite a stir on the ground floor, some fellow in gaudy clothes ordering the other servants about or something of that nature - he seems very impressed with your fellow carrier's initiative, and tells her to keep doing that, yes! That's exactly right! She smiles at him and nods, and you imitate her as best as you are able. The fellow seems more doubtful about you, you notice, but lets you pass without hassle.

The next leg of the journey, once you're past another set of drunk guards, is across the other wing - not much of a wing, really, considering it's pretty much just a large set of barracks plus what seems to be an armory. Surprisingly little noise coming from there, you find - plus, almost all of the beds look to be full. Some guards appear to be sleeping on the floor, even. More than thirty appear to be even presently asleep, and five or six more are apparently in the middle of leaving for their shifts while their spots are being taken up by replacements that have just returned from a tiring (or at least horrifically boring) shift guarding the castle.

[Sleeping Quarters: 3]

Fortunately, there is one free bed. You deposit the large guard into that, and he seems oddly appreciative as he stretches and contently curls up, beginning to snore moments afterward.

The two sisters are a bit easier to carry, which is something of a relief. They are also much easier to shove under a bed because of their smaller size, and though you are a little wary at first, the girl says it's likely going to be perfectly all right. They might get a little irritable when they wake up, but if you've not learned to stay out of the royal guards' way at this point you kind of deserve what you get anyway.

In any case, with their valuables looted and their carcasses deposited in their rightful place, the girl supposes she doesn't really need your help anymore. So, er... thanks! You've been a big help. Whenever she's drawn the short straw in the past she's usually had to resort to using levers and pivots and that kind of business, and really it's kind of a relief to have something happen without serious trouble for once.

She pauses, looking around suspiciously. Hm. Best not to stick around for long. What did you get, anyway? The big guy mostly had garbage and keys. Anything interesting on your end?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 05, 2016, 03:09:03 pm
"Oh, well, probably yes. Lets. By the way, how do you folks feel about music?"

Go along peacefully, though carefully. It doesn't do well if these paranoid freaks start stabbing me in back.

The knight pats you on the back. There will be no music, he laughs. No music whatsoever. Not presently, not at all. Haha. Yes. He escorts you along the castle island and over to one of the larger tents by the river, a sizable affair seemingly only narrowly missed by some great and terrible cataclysm that has glassed a rather large bit of ground next to it (and, if the remains are anything to go by, quite a few tents).

Inside this tent you find some rather comfortable quarters. A nice divan with a non-matching coffee table, a valuable vase of fresh flowers placed atop it. An incongruous double bed in one corner, the ground on both sides of it littered with a wealth of expensive-looking crap from engraved tablets to embroidered cushions to musical instruments to barrels of wine. Odd-looking mannequins stand here and there, garbed in fine clothing and jewelry. Quite a chaotic treasure trove, you think as the knight urges you to sit down, then goes to dig around in a pile of loot, getting a green, unlabeled bottle out from a particular pile as well as two pewter teacups with lions pictured on them. He pours each of you a cup of wine - his is almost immediately emptied as he pours it down his throat, looking very pleased with himself.

Right then, now that you're in a civilized setting, he says, he understands from your testimony that his second cousin has apparently met with a terrible fate while in captivity. Oh, and the stone. Do give him that, if you will.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 05, 2016, 03:34:16 pm
"Hm, it sounds like you've got to be prepared for impending disaster if you live around here. Do you know if there's anything in these catacombs that might be useful in fending off an army? An artifact from one of these past conflicts, perhaps."

[Interrupting the Dream: 4]

The voice and images abruptly cease to flow, the queen brought out of the reverie with your remark. The grinding of ancient memory resonates within your skull unpleasantly. Useful? Here in the catacombs? It has been an extraordinarily long time.

[Tokens of the King: 1]

There is... is there? A king, she believes. Kings beyond counting, almost as many in number as she is. This she remembers. The kings would know. Open their resting place, seek their advice. She kept the knowledge, he kept the practical concerns. They should be in there still, kernels of brilliant invention, yes...

Quote from: Xantalos on April 05, 2016, 04:07:36 pm
"Wait a second."

Grab him by the jaw and turn him to face me - without damaging him, obviously. What's his reaction?

As you grab him by the skull firmly, he looks quite frankly confused, batting weakly with his arms as you keep his jaw shut, his eyes almost fishlike in clueless emptiness as they look through you.

It's weird, you think he can see you. It's just that he's completely unable to process you beyond being able to try and ineffectually swipe at you with his weak arms. Wonder if he's snapped or this is some other kind of fuckery. There's evidence enough for both hypotheses - for one, you did steal his precious window that he is now completely unable to put back into its former place. On the other hand, it seems markedly unlike him to not at least make a heroic effort at pontificating in your general direction during all the time you've spent together as of late.

Quote from: Toaster on April 05, 2016, 10:49:55 pm
Play along.  Just observe.

[Miracles of Make-Believe: 2]

You're not really sure what the point of it is. You run back and forth on orders that make decreasing amounts of sense the more you consider them. The servants seem terribly amused about something. Are they humoring the majordomo? Mocking him? Enjoying a spot of exercise in these terrible times? You have no real idea.

Furthermore, the majordomo himself starts to look increasingly exhausted as he instructs the servants, his voice faltering at times as he seems to forget what exactly his goal here is. Is it a feast? A ball? The morning routine? The queen's birthday? The servants seem to not really care, either. There may be some kind of underlying purpose here, you suppose, but you'll be damned if you know what it is. Then again, maybe the lack of purpose is the purpose, but that's far too philosophical for your liking.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Xantalos on April 06, 2016, 12:13:51 pm
"Huh. Why aren't you acknowledging me? Sure I destroyed your livelihood and greatest treasures, but I'd think you'd use that as an opportunity to curse me or something. I mean, we know each othe-"

Jack stares at the priest's uncomprehending stare for a while before it clicks.

"Connections. Oh. Should I kill you then? I mean, you don't really have much to love for anymore. Or I could probably indirectly communicate with you. Like by writing or something. Not that you're really in a state to help me at all. Hmm."

Let him go. Write 'thanks for the window - Jack Daniels' in the dirt beside him and see what his reaction is. Make him notice it if need be.

((If it's too OOC for Jack to have figured out the connections thing tell me - I'm fairly sure he could've since he's heard what a connection is from Leif, but if I'm stretching it too much let me know.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 06, 2016, 12:23:04 pm
"Ah, real wine. You have no idea how attractive that is when you have been drinking imaginary vodka for a while. Not that there's nothing wrong with imaginary drinks, they taste fine, they go into head just fine, even faster than real ones, but they are not real, you know?" Drink the offered wine in all civilized manner. Like all at once. Then hand over the stone.

"My condolences for her possibly untimely death, assuming it is something to be sad about. Judging by what the fellow there said, there's a possibly interesting story to be told about. Arriving unwillingly into this realm just yesterday I'm bit out of touch with the situation here. Other than the obvious wartime activities going on."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 06, 2016, 01:34:53 pm
I step over to the sarcophagus next to hers. "This king?" If it seems to be the king in question, I push off the lid.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: TopHat on April 06, 2016, 04:16:14 pm
"No, just garbage, really, and a couple of coins. Oh, and I'm Oscar, by the way, Oscar Wilde. I'll be seeing you around, I guess, or maybe not."

Say goodbyes and start exploring this wing of the castle.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Toaster on April 07, 2016, 12:24:40 am
Thomas suddenly understands.  The majordomo has to stay in character, but he's running out of fake instructions to give.  Best to leave him alone.

Head on.  Walk the castle grounds again and study whoever is out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 07, 2016, 09:08:23 am
Quote from: Xantalos on April 06, 2016, 12:13:51 pm
"Huh. Why aren't you acknowledging me? Sure I destroyed your livelihood and greatest treasures, but I'd think you'd use that as an opportunity to curse me or something. I mean, we know each othe-"

Jack stares at the priest's uncomprehending stare for a while before it clicks.

"Connections. Oh. Should I kill you then? I mean, you don't really have much to love for anymore. Or I could probably indirectly communicate with you. Like by writing or something. Not that you're really in a state to help me at all. Hmm."

Let him go. Write 'thanks for the window - Jack Daniels' in the dirt beside him and see what his reaction is. Make him notice it if need be.

[Reading the Situation: 5]

Your message is seen - you make sure the letters are friendly and maximally legible. This pays dividends, as the priest does appear to mouth the words to himself. He looks around in horror. That message wasn't there before, you'd say he's thinking right now. What is happening, you suspect is his thought. Who is this Jack Daniels person? Is that his real name? Did his mother genuinely name him that? Okay, you might be projecting a little. Point is, he does seem able to read it and understand it, especially when you forcibly orient his head toward the message. He appears at a loss on what to make of it, however.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 06, 2016, 12:23:04 pm
"Ah, real wine. You have no idea how attractive that is when you have been drinking imaginary vodka for a while. Not that there's nothing wrong with imaginary drinks, they taste fine, they go into head just fine, even faster than real ones, but they are not real, you know?" Drink the offered wine in all civilized manner. Like all at once. Then hand over the stone.

"My condolences for her possibly untimely death, assuming it is something to be sad about. Judging by what the fellow there said, there's a possibly interesting story to be told about. Arriving unwillingly into this realm just yesterday I'm bit out of touch with the situation here. Other than the obvious wartime activities going on."

It's not terribly good wine. Sour. Tastes a little of general filth. Goes down well enough, though, if you don't particularly try to smell it (guess that's why you drink it down all at once). And there's a certain novelty in having the real thing, however crappy it might be. The knight nods. Indeed - what tricks of the mind can match the sweet loveliness of loot? He indicates the rest of the room. Lovely loot, yes. What could be better?

Speaking of, you hand him the stone. He examines it a moment. Glorious. An excellent encapsulation. Imperfect, but beautiful in its own way. Excellent, excellent. Brilliant to have it here. Now then. The situation. He looks at you, processing what you said for a moment. You are-

He thinks a moment. You arrived yesterday? Quite odd. Very odd. Extraordinarily odd. Do tell him more about that, if you don't mind.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 06, 2016, 01:34:53 pm
I step over to the sarcophagus next to hers. "This king?" If it seems to be the king in question, I push off the lid.

That is the king's resting place - a featureless sarcophagus much like the queen's. Larger, perhaps. It hums a little as you begin to push on the lid. You think nothing of it and push it the rest of the way. It comes off readily. Quicker than it did for the other sarcophagus. The reason for this becomes clear almost immediately.

[Royal Prerogatives: 4 vs. 4]

There is a whistling sound as you weave out of the way of a sharp metal talon swinging your way. Guess your trap-dodging instincts are getting sharper. Speaking of, you dodge again, an iron thread tightening around where your neck used to be. Maybe you shouldn't be standing here, you think as your thoughts fill with a metallic whirring and hissing.

Quote from: TopHat on April 06, 2016, 04:16:14 pm
"No, just garbage, really, and a couple of coins. Oh, and I'm Oscar, by the way, Oscar Wilde. I'll be seeing you around, I guess, or maybe not."

Say goodbyes and start exploring this wing of the castle.

Oh, nice to meet you, Oscar. Her name's-

Wait. You're... new here? She seems puzzled. You're not a guard. You're not from the capital. She- how did you get here? Where did you come from? She knows everyone around here, and yet she's fairly sure she's never seen you around here before. You pause, looking a bit awkward. That's a very good question, you suppose. Your moment of slight confusion is not missed, provoking more curiosity.

Quote from: Toaster on April 07, 2016, 12:24:40 am
Thomas suddenly understands.  The majordomo has to stay in character, but he's running out of fake instructions to give.  Best to leave him alone.

Head on.  Walk the castle grounds again and study whoever is out.

When your mock errands take you close to the door leading out, you slip out unnoticed into the courtyard. Let the majordomo sort his issues out himself. You'll try and catch some fresh air.

Instead of fresh air, however, you catch a glimpse of Mr. Daniels nakedly manhandling a priest next to a large stained glass window propped up against a sacrificial altar, an intrigued look on his face. You're not sure you should ask questions about that.

[Unusual Movements: 4]

Looking away wisely, you spot an elderly fellow decked out in chain walking along the edge of the courtyard, speaking with a man with a shaved head and a scarified eye carved into his forehead. The man seems a little uncomfortable to be there, continually fidgeting with a very sharp knife. They look your way - the elderly man smiles. The knife man does not.

[Peculiar Folk: 3]

Atop one of the walls you see a guard carefully weaving along the battlements, taking a look out through the crenellations at the stout army encircling the castle. She seems a peculiar mixture of bored and terrible awareness of the slightest mistake potentially meaning death. She appears to have no weapons, merely a metal shield on one of her hands.

[Atypical Residents: 6]

That man who dragged you around in a sack is about as well, ambling around the yard, seemingly greatly intrigued by the window and Mr. Daniels. He seems to be standing behind you at the moment, greedily breathing on the back of your neck.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Toaster on April 07, 2016, 11:39:06 am
"Can I help you, sir?"  The question was directed backwards at the heavy breather.

Ask
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Xantalos on April 07, 2016, 12:23:50 pm
Hmm.

Write 'do you remember me?' in the dirt. Let's see what the loss of a connection does to his memories.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 07, 2016, 12:26:41 pm
"Odd is the word I too would use." Pour myself another drink and delude myself thinking it tastes better. Spill out secrets dunkenly. "Yes, you see,  one evening I was minding my own business, mining gold and silver, went to sleep and then I woke up in a rat bath. There was these minder guys, all dead now, welcoming me and few others as their salvation. Against stoats. I think that's you guys. I think they were trying to summon demons, but fucked up and summoned us instead. Or rather they failed altogether and something formless, timeless and curious made us."

"Oh, now I remember! That second cousin of yours, she was eaten. By this Jack Daniels guy, one of us who were summoned to defeat you lot. Or so he claimed. With his mouth in his chest. I think he lied about that part. Then there was this other guy who was riding a shiny moon. I think he was going to laser your army a bit."

"Is it bad I'm telling you all this? I think it might be bad." Sober up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 07, 2016, 12:49:21 pm
I take a good number of steps back, maybe down the steps a bit. "Ah, hello there, my king! I only want to speak with you!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: TopHat on April 07, 2016, 01:23:36 pm
"You know, I have no idea. I just woke up here yesterday having gone to bed at home in London. Or rather, under here in a small dark tunnel, but I'd rather not think about that. The only explanation I've been given as to why involves being summoned by minders, along with something about rats, though the guy who told me that also talked about making deals with devils, so I'm a little skeptical to say the least. I take it that sort of thing isn't commonplace around here?"

Answer question to best of knowledge.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 07, 2016, 03:17:36 pm
Quote from: Toaster on April 07, 2016, 11:39:06 am
"Can I help you, sir?"  The question was directed backwards at the heavy breather.

Ask

Oh, er. He steps back, retreating a little into his shroud of rags. Er. Sorry there. He glances around, but finds nothing terribly distracting to point you toward that he doesn't happen to be equally terribly interested in himself.

So, he says. How's the stoat-killing going? He's heard there's a bit of progress made on that, eh? You've got any insights there, mayhap? He's really not looking further to getting murdered by invaders, he's got to say.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 07, 2016, 12:23:50 pm
Hmm.

Write 'do you remember me?' in the dirt. Let's see what the loss of a connection does to his memories.

He doesn't say anything, looking frightened as he examines your next ominous message. He looks away, but you force his head to look at it again. He freezes for a moment, then tries to look away again - you turn his head back and slap him weakly on the back of the head - he nearly falls over. You make him look at the message again, and he starts nodding furiously. He remembers you, he starts to mumble, he remembers you!

Honestly, you think he's lying. Quite badly at that.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 07, 2016, 12:26:41 pm
"Odd is the word I too would use." Pour myself another drink and delude myself thinking it tastes better. Spill out secrets dunkenly. "Yes, you see,  one evening I was minding my own business, mining gold and silver, went to sleep and then I woke up in a rat bath. There was these minder guys, all dead now, welcoming me and few others as their salvation. Against stoats. I think that's you guys. I think they were trying to summon demons, but fucked up and summoned us instead. Or rather they failed altogether and something formless, timeless and curious made us."

"Oh, now I remember! That second cousin of yours, she was eaten. By this Jack Daniels guy, one of us who were summoned to defeat you lot. Or so he claimed. With his mouth in his chest. I think he lied about that part. Then there was this other guy who was riding a shiny moon. I think he was going to laser your army a bit."

"Is it bad I'm telling you all this? I think it might be bad." Sober up.

The minders, dead? A shining grin creeps up underneath the helmet, more felt on your end than seen. Excellent news, friend, excellent! Though he's not sure what that implies about you with your minding and- oh wait, summoned? Dear him. And that laser man, was he summoned? And who is this Jack Daniels? My! Dear him indeed. This is getting him terribly excited, he's afraid.

Right! You stay right there for a second and he'll get a memorizer in here immediately. Get your thoughts in order. Compose a report, if you will. This summoning business is dreadfully intriguing. Dreadfully intriguing. He leans out the tent and shouts for someone to get over here, there's memorization to be done! Leaning back in, he tells you it's likely to take a moment. You may feel free to ramble on regardless, however. He assures you he's terribly interested in anything you can possibly tell him now, quite terribly interested indeed.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 07, 2016, 12:49:21 pm
I take a good number of steps back. "Ah, hello there, my king! I only want to speak with you!"

The whirring in your head begins to be backed by a horrendous, echoing roar as you step to the edge of the royal dais, nearly falling off in your haste. Stand still, it seems to be telling you.

[Feed The King: 1 vs. 5]

With a grinding of metal against stone and what sounds like other metal, you hear something erupt toward you in a storm of razor-sharp claws, at which you lean backward and off the dais itself, landing on all fours a short distance downward as something reaches over you, a tower of death leaning over. A sound of distressed and delicate structures bending follows, and you hear something decidedly ungracefully fall over right above. You do not have much time to evaluate this however, as before you even fully recover you already feel ancient artificial thorns quite literally nipping at your heels, a bramble of steel descending on you, howling with ancient metallic rage fueled by sixty centuries of concentrated horror. Brief glimpses of impossible understanding send shivers through your spine.

Quote from: TopHat on April 07, 2016, 01:23:36 pm
"You know, I have no idea. I just woke up here yesterday having gone to bed at home in London. Or rather, under here in a small dark tunnel, but I'd rather not think about that. The only explanation I've been given as to why involves being summoned by minders, along with something about rats, though the guy who told me that also talked about making deals with devils, so I'm a little skeptical to say the least. I take it that sort of thing isn't commonplace around here?"

Answer question to best of knowledge.

Minders! Them doing something useful's certainly news to her. D'you talk to them, maybe? Or maybe some devils, how about those. She's not feeling terribly picky, she'll be honest. Anybody who can help her out is welcome to do so, enlightened skepticism be damned. The spark in her eyes is unnervingly noticeable, a glimmer of remote and maddening hope.

Well, er, you begin to say. Don't you "well, er" her, she snaps back. You got in here somehow. That implies there's an entrance. And if there's an entrance, there's damn well got to be an exit. And if there's a way out in the middle of all this supernatural shit, she's not about to let it pass her by without at the very least having the decency to die trying to take it herself.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Xantalos on April 07, 2016, 03:30:08 pm
Write 'describe what you remember about me'.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 07, 2016, 03:35:13 pm
"Yeah, the laser man was summoned too, and it looks like he missed your tent by a bit. Jack is... a guy who doesn't mind walking around naked. Pretty strong too. Wanted the stone for some reason.
Though I must complain about that dark, formless and hungry thing in the well. It claims to fullfill wishes in exchange for relationships, but the cheapy ass bastard is rather stingy: I asked to become perfect minder, but instead it gave me ability to copy all minding techniques I see, and since the minders are dead there isn't really anything to copy from. Except the students. Oh, and it gave me a stupid word to alter reality. I think it's inevitable for it to screw over everybody somehow."

Take a look at the most INEVITABLE things in near future.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Toaster on April 07, 2016, 11:09:08 pm
Thomas looked slightly surprised.  "Errr... killing?  That's an awfully strong thing to do.  Also illegal.  Why would we kill them just for being stout?  I've certainly never hurt anyone."

Miss the point, again
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 07, 2016, 11:10:23 pm
I try to find a sarcophagus to duck behind. "Please, my lord, stop this. I do not want to fight you, but I will defend myself if necessary."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: TopHat on April 08, 2016, 03:00:59 pm
"Well, I guess we'd better talk to these minders, then; if the transport can be reversedthis sounds like they'd know about it. Do you know where they might be?

Ask for and hopefully follow directions to these minders.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 08, 2016, 06:05:11 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 07, 2016, 03:30:08 pm
Write 'describe what you remember about me'.

The look on the priest's face is one of a man who has been unfortunately caught out on the eye color game during a pick-up attempt. Apologetic. Clueless. Insecure. Tormented. You suppose the fact that it seems like he's being haunted by some sort of nightmare demon from his perspective isn't helping (to be fair, this does not seem to be as far from the truth as your former life experience would lead you to believe).

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 07, 2016, 03:35:13 pm
"Yeah, the laser man was summoned too, and it looks like he missed your tent by a bit. Jack is... a guy who doesn't mind walking around naked. Pretty strong too. Wanted the stone for some reason.
Though I must complain about that dark, formless and hungry thing in the well. It claims to fullfill wishes in exchange for relationships, but the cheapy ass bastard is rather stingy: I asked to become perfect minder, but instead it gave me ability to copy all minding techniques I see, and since the minders are dead there isn't really anything to copy from. Except the students. Oh, and it gave me a stupid word to alter reality. I think it's inevitable for it to screw over everybody somehow."

Take a look at the most INEVITABLE things in near future.

Dark, formless and hungry? That sounds... why, that sounds quite uncanny. Quite incredibly uncanny. Especially that bit with the... oh dear, the knight says. That memorizer had better get here soon, he says. Disturbing are the revelations you offer. It would be very fitting to send a mouth to carry them onward. There is no time to waste if he understands correctly, no time at all! Certain events are-

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

The knight twists in thirteen places, emitting an unearthly groan as he is brought to his knees, flesh bubbling beneath the suit of armor. He starts to laugh wildly and artificially, and his grin widens to obviously forced proportions as he starts to repeatedly punch himself in the stomach. It takes him a lot of effort to simmer down, and a bit of time as well - the promised memorizer arrives just as he starts to get up from the fetal position he's assumed on the ground.

There are many ways this event goes, you feel. This was one of the ones that wasn't drowned out by terrible noise of unknown origin. You wonder what that's about, really.

Composing himself, the knight looks at you levelly. Ah yes. That... that must have been the word? Yes, that is probably what you meant. It sounded a lot like a word. Please don't use it again, though. He'd really prefer it if you didn't, would really prefer it indeed. Instead, why don't you tell everything to the memorizer here.

The memorizer, clearly a soldier of some kind, looks at you timidly. You're not sure if he entirely knows what he's doing if the frightened look on his face is any indication.

Quote from: Toaster on April 07, 2016, 11:09:08 pm
Thomas looked slightly surprised.  "Errr... killing?  That's an awfully strong thing to do.  Also illegal.  Why would we kill them just for being stout?  I've certainly never hurt anyone."

Miss the point, again

But they're not stout, says the shrouded man. Not stout at all. That's a problem. One of the problems, you see. There's also a bigger one, which is that they want to kill everyone in this castle, and everyone in this castle feels that they ought to do something else instead. That's why you demonfolk were brought about, he'd guess, all naked and foreign and shimmering with alien power. To convince them otherwise, you see. Honestly, whether you kill them or not is not for him to split hairs about, he'd just like the bloody situation resolved somehow. He'd bloody well worship you if you could help. And he means it, too.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 07, 2016, 11:10:23 pm
I try to find a sarcophagus to duck behind. "Please, my lord, stop this. I do not want to fight you, but I will defend myself if necessary."

[Observations of Royalty: 2]

Your words are lost in the whirring in your head, sounding foreign as you try to reach the king from behind one of the less important sarcophagi, the metal armature coiling and bristling at you with grinding screams of fury, snaking from the dais as its will focuses upon you for a moment. Three blue gemstones align in the dark, your hiding spot within its sight. Its will aligns, and takes solid form as it barrels at you with solid, inhuman purity of expression.

SEA

[Word: 3]

The chamber begins to shake and rumble, and you feel little cracks appear on the floor beneath you, a little draft of wafting light forcing its way into your back like a dagger, your flesh foaming and bubbling at its touch. You yelp and bolt out of the alcove, which continues to crack as you leave, the sarcophagus disappearing in a morass of improbability. As you look back and observe a clearly visible recounting of a thousand deaths you will no doubt suffer for your insolence, you nearly trip over another buzzing bramble of steel and silken webbing - the pain in your back motivates you to jump far, high and straight into a different alcove. You somewhat doubt this will be any safer than the last, but at least it gives you a short moment to think.

Quote from: TopHat on April 08, 2016, 03:00:59 pm
"Well, I guess we'd better talk to these minders, then; if the transport can be reversedthis sounds like they'd know about it. Do you know where they might be?

Ask for and hopefully follow directions to these minders.

[Updated News: 2]

The tower, she'd think. But no way of getting up there unless they feel like coming down. And there was something of a stir there, too, and some of the minders are a little on the deeply frightening side, too. With no time to waste, you cut across the courtyard and over to the minder tower, where in the white-floored, black-walled lecture hall of the first floor you find what you seek beneath a bright spot in the domed ceiling.

It is a robed child currently lying in a pool of blood, head split open on the stone floor now speckled with blood. The girl checks him - very dead. One of the minder students, she believes - they keep child students in the tower, they're not supposed to come down... crap. Damn. Shit. Something's gone terribly wrong here, no doubt about that.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 08, 2016, 07:36:58 pm
Jeez, this guy is a lot less diplomatic than I expected. I imagine the king's machinery crumbling to pieces and say, "Fall to CHAOS."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Toaster on April 08, 2016, 10:20:24 pm
"Ah.  Um.  Yes.  Well, I must be going if anything is to be done about this problem!  See you later!"

Abscond from the lunatic.  Maybe the queen's up by now?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: Xantalos on April 08, 2016, 10:47:04 pm
Write 'nothing? That's alright, it's what I expected. Have a nice life and good luck getting that window back into place!'.

That done, Daniels steps away from the poor man. Now then, what to do now that I've got this weapon of incomprehensible power? Wasn't there something we were supposed to do that got us summoned here?
...
Oh right yeah, the seige or whatever. Well, that can be dealt with in a bit, maybe they have a reason for wanting to kill everyone here. Hmm. Maybe there's a speaking trumpet up on the walls there?

Go up the castle walls to the nearest guard there and ask them if they have a speaking trumpet. Make sure not to get shot by any opportunistic stoats.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: TopHat on April 09, 2016, 05:25:38 am
"Oh, dear. Not good. We'd better find out what happened."

Leave the tower and ask any passers by regarding these recent developments.

((As a heads up, I'll probably be offline for the next few days so don't wait for me before updating.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: the New Shape of Murder
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 09, 2016, 08:32:15 am
"That wasn't supposed to happen. At all. You see, the word magic is rather unreliable. But you know what else is inevitable? Death."

Orchestrate this knight's silent and INEVITABLE decapitation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 09, 2016, 03:20:17 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 08, 2016, 07:36:58 pm
Jeez, this guy is a lot less diplomatic than I expected. I imagine the king's machinery crumbling to pieces and say, "Fall to CHAOS."

The king whirls and lashes out, crying out for your blood from the pit of his soul, screeching metal bearing down on your sarcophagus as thoughts of an ancient and impossible time pour out of him in murderous shapes, the physics of the room growing looser by the minute. You stand tall and hurl your word at him. He screams back at you. Two directives coalesce as you attempt to outshout one another.

CHAOS SEA

[Words: 3+4]

You speak simultaneously as time becomes momentarily nonlinear and space itself spasms in the vicinity. You and the king hold fast - the tomb does not, flashing up with thousands of illuminated, painted eyes, clear as day for an instant before the sea below rips into it with a distant spray, bubbles of light spearing through walls and air with equal ease, destroying most of it and shattering the rest, leaving you standing on a precipice before the brilliant ancient sea. It's bright, so very bright...

[And The Mountains Should Crumble To The Sea: 4]

The alcove is starting to fall, you realize. It is not anchored to anything in particular, you notice, and seems to be slowly rotating as it lazily starts to come down. You look down, and see only pure eye-burning white, and know it to be the place where time and matter end. Bubbles rise around you, falling slower than you are, popping into recollections from your life - a girl you once knew, a record you had, a day you remember. They are glimpses, but unlike memories. Oddly physical. Completely solid, but by that same measure entirely fleeting.

[Royal Position: 1]

You notice a fading roar in the air, then you see the king. lacking in any semblance of humanity, a misshapen tower of metallic tentacles, disintegrating rags and flickering gemstones in free fall, failing to keep any coherent shape as he flails every which way. He falls much faster than you, disappearing from sight and hearing within a few seconds. You suppose he must have been heavier. Or perhaps merely poorly situated at the time of his careless speaking.

You look away, and see the entrance you came in from, a tunnel suspended, slowly ascending in your perspective. It is a little too far to jump, you feel at first, but considering the physics of this place makes you think better of this judgment almost immediately, and settle into a comfortable realm of all-encompassing plausibility.

Quote from: Toaster on April 08, 2016, 10:20:24 pm
"Ah.  Um.  Yes.  Well, I must be going if anything is to be done about this problem!  See you later!"

Abscond from the lunatic.  Maybe the queen's up by now?

Er, yes! You do that.

You get the sense that this meeting was no less awkward for the shrouded man. You are nevertheless glad to leave him behind as you go up to check if the queen's up yet, pausing along the way only to dispose of a terrible itch that kicks up in your nose suddenly.

[Early Birds: 6]

As it happens, the queen is fortunately up. Or so the guard tells you, at least. You're not allowed in yet - her morning routine ought to be done in an hour or so, so if you happen to have something that needs to be brought to her attention, you had best return at that point. Unless it's terribly urgent, of course, and not just that minder thing again.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 08, 2016, 10:47:04 pm
Write 'nothing? That's alright, it's what I expected. Have a nice life and good luck getting that window back into place!'.

That done, Daniels steps away from the poor man. Now then, what to do now that I've got this weapon of incomprehensible power? Wasn't there something we were supposed to do that got us summoned here?
...
Oh right yeah, the seige or whatever. Well, that can be dealt with in a bit, maybe they have a reason for wanting to kill everyone here. Hmm. Maybe there's a speaking trumpet up on the walls there?

Go up the castle walls to the nearest guard there and ask them if they have a speaking trumpet. Make sure not to get shot by any opportunistic stoats.

You give one of the castle guards a nasty start as you sneak up to her. You are told not to do that - false moves are all too often met with bolts up here on the walls, don't you know. Stoats have been very jumpy as of late - must have been all that weird sorcery that the sun man did, in all likelihood, given the way a large swath of the forest and the stoat camp seems to have been burninated, and-

You admit that you don't particularly care as you take cover behind a parapet, having let her go on as long as she did only because of an urgent itch on your face (side note, the murder-thought turns out to be pretty good at scratching literal as well as metaphorical itches) and speak you most pressing need: has she got a trumpet? A speaking trumpet, like the kind you'd use to amplify your voice.

[Miracles of Technology: 5]

She doesn't personally, of course. But there probably is one in the nearby castle tower. She helpfully tells you which cabinet it can be found in, even, and what to tell the paranoid guy who hangs around next to it so he doesn't think you're a stoat infiltrator, and a short list of things you're not allowed to say or be in a guard tower (peculiarly, "naked" does not appear to be one of the latter, a fact that makes the guard wonder perhaps a bit longer than it should).

In any case, her spectacularly helpful advice nets you a perfectly good speaking-trumpet. It's made of wood, of course, and probably not as effective as a proper megaphone, but you assume it ought to work. And it's only a little dusty!

Quote from: TopHat on April 09, 2016, 05:25:38 am
"Oh, dear. Not good. We'd better find out what happened."

Leave the tower and ask any passers by regarding these recent developments.

((As a heads up, I'll probably be offline for the next few days so don't wait for me before updating.))

[Somebody's Responsible: 6]

You go and find the elderly guard and his three-eyed companion in the courtyard, and tell them all about the rather distressing situation with the child in the tower. Oh dear, says the old man with what you're pretty sure is bored disappointment, better get someone to clean that up. That's not the point, you say, but he nods at the three-eyed man anyway, who heads right off to a nearby storehouse and comes out with a disturbingly child-sized sack, which he then carries into the tower and carries out a little darker, damper and laden with exactly what you'd expect. The girl looks on with bemused concern, but asks no questions, seemingly a little intimidated by the guard.

Anyway, you say, after spending a moment addressing a sharp itch on your cheek, what's that about anyway? Is that a common occurrence? The guard says no - much rarer than you'd expect with the minders' flagrant disregard for building safety. Apparently they moved out last night, however. Perhaps the child is from that event, he muses. There were quite a few confusing things happening at that time. He has been taking a hands-off approach on these things for the most part. It tends to be best for overall productivity and positivity.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 09, 2016, 08:32:15 am
"That wasn't supposed to happen. At all. You see, the word magic is rather unreliable. But you know what else is inevitable? Death."

Orchestrate this knight's silent and INEVITABLE decapitation.

Oh dear, he says. Is this the way it must be? In your opinion, however, it is quite

INEVITABLE

[Word: 2]

This is not a point that the knight feels prepared to argue with, since he agrees wholeheartedly. His life is the greatest contribution to the work that he can give, just like that of any soldier. The greatest possible contribution indeed.

Nevertheless, while his death is inevitable beyond the shadow of a doubt, he was rather hoping he could postpone it a little. Later today, if you will, rather than right now. Right now is not a good time, what with the lack of outgoing information and somewhat terrible lack of coordination. So do be cooperative before he has to invoke the One, yes? It'd be terribly inconvenient if you weren't. Horribly inconvenient, in fact, to the point where he'd rather just start stabbing you in all manner of sensitive places first.

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 09, 2016, 03:53:11 pm
"Thanks, guard person guy or perhaps woman, I'm not really paying attention."

Jack lifts the trumpet up to his mouth.

"Ahem. STOAT PEOPLE! WHY EXACTLY DO YOU WANT TO KILL EVERYONE IN THIS CASTLE? I ONLY JUST GOT HERE AND I'M A UNSURE AS TO YOUR REASONS."

Loud speaking trumpet-assisted question asking!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 09, 2016, 05:14:55 pm
Holy fuck, I jump!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 09, 2016, 07:29:32 pm
((Now you dun it))

"Fair enough, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and all that... say, I should probably get some myself.  Shouldn't I be hungry by now?"

Am I hungry?  Betting no, but go look for some grub anyway.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 10, 2016, 01:37:43 am
"See, that magic word is so unreliable I can't bear it. And I wasted perfectly profitable relationship for it."
Leif grabs the wine bottle.
"Yeah, I guess we can postpone it a bit. It's not like your death now or later will make any difference. Who's One, by the way?"
He eyes its content with disdain.
"This tastes like shit. I really prefer my minded vodka. So much better."
Enjoy my own fruity drink variant.
"Right, so what we were doing? A raport? Where do I start from? Death of minders, or how I slapped life out of the last one? The hungry thing in the well and how it made us? Is that Jack Daniels who I'm hearing?"
Wonder where to begin, be distracted by Mr. Daniels shouting good questions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 11, 2016, 12:29:54 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 09, 2016, 03:53:11 pm
"Thanks, guard person guy or perhaps woman, I'm not really paying attention."

Jack lifts the trumpet up to his mouth.

"Ahem. STOAT PEOPLE! WHY EXACTLY DO YOU WANT TO KILL EVERYONE IN THIS CASTLE? I ONLY JUST GOT HERE AND I'M A UNSURE AS TO YOUR REASONS."

Loud speaking trumpet-assisted question asking!

[Stating Your Words With Clarity: 6]

You see a considerable response among the stoats. First of all, a volley of bolts to answer your acoustic sorcery. You duck behind a parapet, largely safe from the bits of wood and metal peppering the battlements. You get back out and repeat the request. This time it seems to occur to them that you are not using some terrible words of magic on them, judging from the lack of horrible death coming their way, though they're not sure yet, clearly, as another bunch of warning shots bounce off the walls near you. You try a third time, and a stoat steps forward, shouting something back at you.

[Sharp Eyes And Keen Ears: 1]

Fuck if you know what that one's on about, though. You think you hear something about fear and surrender and blood. Then that one gets cut off by a different one, screaming something else about death and terror. Then that one gets slapped upside the head by another one that starts banging on about peace. And then there's a bunch of other fellows sprinting over, looking very armored and quite pissed off at the response of these obvious underlings.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 09, 2016, 05:14:55 pm
Holy fuck, I jump!

[Between Us And Perdition: 2]

You don't think you'll make it, faltering before the jump. You could have made it, you realize immediately afterwards. You're not sure you can make it now, however. The distance has grown at this point, uncomfortably so. Bubbles pop into impressions of high places, drops that have menaced you in the past. It grows further still.

Oh dear, you need to move quickly. Perhaps... you can catch onto something else? There is rather a lot of rubble around here, some of it floating in quite unusual patterns, emerging from and flying into obscuring light in turn. Maybe it could be helpful. Maybe it'll drop you into the sea, where you will fall forever into nonexistence.

Quote from: Toaster on April 09, 2016, 07:29:32 pm
((Now you dun it))

"Fair enough, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and all that... say, I should probably get some myself.  Shouldn't I be hungry by now?"

Am I hungry?  Betting no, but go look for some grub anyway.

[Hungry Are The Damned: 3]

You could go for a bit of food, yes. Getting a mite peckish. You suppose the kitchen ought to have something for you.

[Spot of Lunch: 6]

And they do! You ask a restless chef if they have something for you, and they seem incredibly pleased. They do have something for you! Something quite wonderful, in fact. Wait right here!

The chef sprints off, and a little time later returns, your breakfast in hand. It seems to be a black matte bowl filled with an equally black matte, slightly fuzzy substance. At the base of it is a small knob. The chef hands it to you with black-stained fingers, then when you give him a suspicious look hands you a spoon. Eat up, he says! 100% nutrition guaranteed or your money back.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 10, 2016, 01:37:43 am
"See, that magic word is so unreliable I can't bear it. And I wasted perfectly profitable relationship for it."
Leif grabs the wine bottle.
"Yeah, I guess we can postpone it a bit. It's not like your death now or later will make any difference. Who's One, by the way?"
He eyes its content with disdain.
"This tastes like shit. I really prefer my minded vodka. So much better."
Enjoy my own fruity drink variant.
"Right, so what we were doing? A raport? Where do I start from? Death of minders, or how I slapped life out of the last one? The hungry thing in the well and how it made us? Is that Jack Daniels who I'm hearing?"
Wonder where to begin, be distracted by Mr. Daniels shouting good questions.

A report, yes, indeed you are making a report! Start from whichever event is earliest and... bloody hell, what's that racket? The knight pops his head out of the tent, then looks back in. Looks like there's some more business out there.

[Wise Course of Action: 4]

You stay there, good fellow. Explain the whole and unadulterated version of events to the memorizer. He'll meanwhile go off and take a look. Don't do anything silly, now. That would be most inadvisable. Most inadvisable indeed! The knight runs off and you hear heavy steps as he sprints away, seemingly terribly interested in Mr. Daniels' shouting.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 11, 2016, 01:07:54 pm
"Allright then. Now listen well, boy, because I'm not gonna repeat this. Daddy is gonna beat you if you forget anything. In the beginning..."

Being comfortably drunk start telling the tale. Very abridged version of Brief History of Time, starting from Big Bang and ending with what I know/think I know about the situation here. Because everything is relevant. If I leave out dinosaur extinction then how I can explain my existance? It's very relevant for my existance.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 11, 2016, 01:19:49 pm
Gah, I think I need to loosen the laws of physics a little more. "CHAOS!" Then I whip out the sword arm and try to use it to cimb my way up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 11, 2016, 01:57:31 pm
((It's almost sad how much you have gotten 2's lately.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 11, 2016, 02:04:42 pm
"Ah good, some clarification hopefully."

Wait for these superiors to explain the siege situation. If needed, repeat my request. Don't get shot or anything, obviously.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 11, 2016, 03:36:16 pm
"Ah, so they've moved? Do you know where they've gone?"
A lead amidst the tragedy?

Quote from: Harry Baldman on April 09, 2016, 03:20:17 pm
In this event it's best to leave a plan of action behind, which will then be fully resolved upon your return.
((I'll keep that in mind in the future, though it's a bit late now. In any case, 'a few days' was a bit of an overestimate so no harm done.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 11, 2016, 04:15:45 pm
Uhm.  Well.  Uhhh... fine, sure.

Om nom nom
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 12, 2016, 01:30:29 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 11, 2016, 01:07:54 pm
"Allright then. Now listen well, boy, because I'm not gonna repeat this. Daddy is gonna beat you if you forget anything. In the beginning..."

Being comfortably drunk start telling the tale. Very abridged version of Brief History of Time, starting from Big Bang and ending with what I know/think I know about the situation here. Because everything is relevant. If I leave out dinosaur extinction then how I can explain my existance? It's very relevant for my existance.

[A Comprehensive Report: 1]

Where to start? In the beginning, say you, there was an event they call the big bang, and boy was the name apt. All the gods got together and then they-

Where'd the gods come from, asks the guard. You blow a raspberry at him for so rudely interrupting. The gods, you sneer! They came from lots of places. Some popped out of frost giants. Some were frost giants. Or are frost giants. It's not really clear how a god and a frost giant differ, physiologically. And then there's a lad or two who went and got themselves licked out of blocks of ice - by a cow, actually. But the point is, they got together and then they-

Skip ahead, the guard says. To the relevant bits and whatnot. Fuck you, you reply, who's telling the story here?

[Disciplinary Measures: 4 vs. 4]

You lean forward to smack the fucker upside the head for his insolence and he aims a foot square at your nuts - being incredibly drunk, you kind of just fall on him before he can execute a proper kick, and after a short tussle you both sort of whirl toward different corners of the room. He lands on a vase, breaking it. You upset a small pile of pilfered garbage. He takes a moment to get himself into proper order. You don't really bother, just giving him a fist of honor as you sit up and stumble to your feet.

Okay, he says. Let you and him start over. You quit being cheeky, y'hear, and he'll not have the moral obligation to punt you in your cheeky nuts, eh? He's got places to be. Real soon, you know.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 11, 2016, 01:19:49 pm
Gah, I think I need to loosen the laws of physics a little more. "CHAOS!" Then I whip out the sword arm and try to use it to cimb my way up.

You don't suppose it could hurt to get some more sorcery in here. Looks like the environment ought to be amenable to it, anyway, having little defined shape at the moment.

CHAOS

[Word: 2]

SEA

You don't feel this is quite productive as the response comes from the bright void. The sea below emits a powerful musical tone, another spray of annihilating light going past you.

CHAOS

An echo, you believe. A restating of the founding facts of this little mouth of uncreation. It is shockingly coherent for something so haphazardly thrown together. You should probably leave now.

[An Inconsistent Reach: 1]

Whipping out your blade arm, you try and hook it onto a nearby piece of rubble, but one of the light bubbles interferes, nicked by pure accident. Regardless, the arm stops in place, immovable by your hand for a long second as it begins to recall a history of sorts. Two centuries of its original purpose come flooding out as a wave of blood, ichor and fear. It feels right at home in this strange atmosphere, splitting into rich red and black ribbons, gore serpents forming with the final expressions of unwary plunderers and witless pilgrims on their faces, their last screams repeating over and over again like vicious bloody birdsong.

Thirteen and a half lives claimed. The first one, executed with perfection, humanity excised with a single stroke. It laughs, freed of an eternity of being forgotten. The tenth, once garbed in steel. The first sign of dullness. He died for hours, unable to move. Its suffering is well-aged indeed, and well-recorded by stone and iron alike. The others, their memories less clear, form a choir of similar screams, a backing for the others.

And then there is the last one, a half-serpent. Stunted, what little features of it can be discerned are undoubtedly yours, its alien blood giving rise to the most hideous screaming of all. It circles you aggressively, much closer than the others and with no doubt about its intent. You sense a burning desire for completion emanating from it.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 11, 2016, 02:04:42 pm
"Ah good, some clarification hopefully."

Wait for these superiors to explain the siege situation. If needed, repeat my request. Don't get shot or anything, obviously.

[Opening of Negotiations: 1]

It takes a while for the superiors to get their shouts in order, and for someone to fashion a speaking trumpet out of a particularly oddly-shaped plundered helmet on the spur of the moment, and for a few stoatmen to make a stoatman pyramid for one of the commanders to stand on so that their voice may carry better, and then about a minute more while everyone quiets down and a basis of communication is established.

Human, shouts the tallest stoat commander present from atop the pyramid, having established her supremacy over the others through cunning argument, physical presence and slight violence. Your queen bears the weight of the crimes of the old state, ones that can only be repaid by her gruesome execution. Similarly, the people of this castle are responsible for harboring the last of the royal bloodline, and have thus incurred the everlasting wrath of the new state. Surrender and die with efficiency.

If you do not, you will be starved to helplessness within the month, at which point your walls will be breached, your men and women will be captured, fed and nourished to fullness and good health, then tortured to death over a period of months in order to excise their crimes from this world. Their corpses will be fashioned into preserved works of sculpture to be set up in Anglefork in order to commemorate the victory of the new state for the next fifty years. Any of their descendants and relatives will suffer the same fate at a time of their local governor's choosing. Their names and legacies will be stricken from record afterward, and their existence will be invalidated forevermore, as will yours.

If you do surrender, however, your deaths will be quick and painless and your bodies will not be put on display, and no examples shall be made of any of your relatives or potential loved ones (aside from the ones that really ask for it).

Furthermore, any further minder interference will carry dire repercussions for the remnants of their order both in the new state and abroad. Surrender now, lest you fall under the shadow of the One.

That is all.

Quote from: TopHat on April 11, 2016, 03:36:16 pm
"Ah, so they've moved? Do you know where they've gone?"
A lead amidst the tragedy?

He does not. It would be desirable if someone were to find out for him. If you do happen to discover anything on the topic, report back to his office immediately for a reward. Incentivizing such initiative is a vital part of guard captaincy. The girl perks up a little at this. What if she were to bring this information and a full ring of castle keys to his office, she asks. Compound incentives, the captain replies, awarded according to a strict tier system.

Now, if that will be all, he still has seven minutes and twelve seconds of walking to attend to before he can return to work.

Quote from: Toaster on April 11, 2016, 04:15:45 pm
Uhm.  Well.  Uhhh... fine, sure.

Om nom nom

[Treats of Mystery: 3]

It tastes salty-sweet, with a touch of moldiness. The chef watches with incredible curiosity, urging you on to eat quickly. Best to force as much of it down before your stomach realizes something's up in their experience.

Quite a few servants gather round as you eat, seemingly also very interested in your dietary habits. Some pat the chef on the back, whispering to them surreptitiously as you get to the bottom of the bowl and feel absolutely no richer or poorer for it (or, rather, you feel simultaneously as full as your queasiness allows you to be, lingering on the very edge of nascent nausea).

You thank the chef for their offering mostly out of politeness, eliciting a hoot of approval from the servants a few seconds afterwards. The chef raises their arms in what is obviously a victorious pose after a few seconds. The kitchen comes alive with rising cheers, and is followed by the chef and quite a few servants running off in a group. You're not really sure what that's about, to be honest.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 12, 2016, 02:04:42 pm
Why. Why why why.

Okay, time for desperate measures. Maybe some moderate personal injury. I produce an explosive cyst. Then I throw it directly down and jump at the same time, in hopes that the explosion will propel me upward and toward the tunnel.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 12, 2016, 02:50:18 pm
Spoiler: You glorious bastard (click to show/hide)

Action later.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 12, 2016, 04:25:09 pm
"If I give you the Queen will you agree to not kill me? I could go get her right now if you want. But if you're just gonna kill me anyway I don't see any reason not to butcher the lot of you and dress myself in your skinned faces." Not that I really want to or anything, you see, but if you're gonna kill me anyway I'm not gonna sit back and let you.
...
Oh, I'm technically not a resident of Anglefork, and in fact I might not even be human. Would you still kill me?"

Friendly negotiation!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 12, 2016, 11:52:35 pm
Just don't think about it.

"Yes, yes, I have most certainly had my meal now.  Thank you, but I must depart."

Abscond mightily.  Try not to think about it.  Maybe some water to wash it down?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 13, 2016, 02:14:59 am
"Places to be? Like in a grave? Don't worry, you'll get there eventually. We'll all get there. Anyway..."

Admittedly, creation myths were not the most interesting part of mythology. Except the part where Loki tricked that one guy to kill the another guy in the party. That was funny one. Ticked off a lot important gods. Story continues at more relevant point, which is me getting drunk after long week in mine, starting fight with foreman, getting tossed into cell to sleep my head clear and then subsequently waking up in rat bath.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 13, 2016, 05:30:46 am
"Yes, that's all. I'll see you when we find out."
Glance around the courtyard and go off to ask anyone out where the minders are.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 13, 2016, 10:55:54 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 12, 2016, 02:04:42 pm
Why. Why why why.

Okay, time for desperate measures. Maybe some moderate personal injury. I produce an explosive cyst. Then I throw it directly down and jump at the same time, in hopes that the explosion will propel me upward and toward the tunnel.

There's no reason this should work. Well, no good reason. You think you're a little past good reasons, however. A cyst grows from your palm, severing itself with a painless loss of cells.

[Cyst Jumping: 5]

You let it cook for a second or two as the serpent wearing your face goes for a swoop, blinking exactly once as you leap up and throw the cyst down. It explodes like a demolition charge, a slow yet robust blast. The blood-formed construct tries to veer away as you spread your arms and legs, making like a sail as a blast washes over you, propelling you upward and forward as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

You fly for some distance, trying not to think of the no doubt considerable internal bleeding you just inflicted upon yourself with this frankly insane stunt. Instead you think about how you're going to land, which seems a more immediate concern. You go into a roll as you drop to the exit's floor, tumbling into the comfortably dark and familiar tunnel that led you to this damn place.

[The Serpent's Pursuit: 6]

As you rise to your feet moments afterward, you hear a horrid howl coming toward you from the light behind you. A red and stunted shadow flies along the edge of your vision as you turn your head to look, hot on your trail beyond the shadow of a doubt. The other thirteen you hear more distantly, death screams dying off one by one as their bubble-spawned life begins to run out.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 12, 2016, 04:25:09 pm
"If I give you the Queen will you agree to not kill me? I could go get her right now if you want. But if you're just gonna kill me anyway I don't see any reason not to butcher the lot of you and dress myself in your skinned faces." Not that I really want to or anything, you see, but if you're gonna kill me anyway I'm not gonna sit back and let you.
...
Oh, I'm technically not a resident of Anglefork, and in fact I might not even be human. Would you still kill me?"

Friendly negotiation!

[Epitome of Friendliness: 5]

Your options are clear, human. Surrender and your death will be swift, painless and lacking in additional humiliation. Fail to do so and-

The commander is interrupted when she is smacked in the back with a shield by an officer of slightly lower standing. Off-balance, she tumbles off the pyramid with a yelp of surprise, and a shorter yet broader officer steps up in her place, in a bit of a rush as she makes an alternative pitch.

Human, she says! Disregard the major's offer! For a limited time only, your survival will be absolutely guaranteed if you deliver the queen to this invading force with no further loss of life on either end. And by a limited time she means can you do it before the day's end? Otherwise she thinks they're going to-

The officer pauses to kick a now-recovered major in the face, looking quite panicked as she does so. Funny thing is, the way she just probably gave her superior officer a concussion seems to be the least of it. The pyramid wobbles under her feet as the soldiers become dreadfully unsure of what's going on. She looks down and tries to bark orders at them through the speaking trumpet, which succeeds only in part.

Off in the distance you see a stoatman in superior, if grossly mismatched armor sprinting this way as well. Still a ways off, but definitely hauling as much ass as his impractical attire allows.

Quote from: Toaster on April 12, 2016, 11:52:35 pm
Just don't think about it.

"Yes, yes, I have most certainly had my meal now.  Thank you, but I must depart."

Abscond mightily.  Try not to think about it.  Maybe some water to wash it down?

[A Hero's Retreat: 4]

Fortunately, they're a bit preoccupied with leaving for the most part themselves, so you run along a little unsteadily and get to the functional courtyard well, where you have a nice dozen gulps of fresh water. It makes you feel only queasier and fuller, but at least you've successfully gotten the taste out of your mouth.

You hear someone yelling from the walls. Sounds like Mr. Daniels. There's also a familiar-looking naked lad climbing up the side of the house, an elderly guard councluding a chat with Mr. Wilde and a servant girl, and some other fellows going around here and there. Mr. Wilde gives you a look of hopefulness as he approaches, seemingly in need of information on the location of the minders.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 13, 2016, 02:14:59 am
"Places to be? Like in a grave? Don't worry, you'll get there eventually. We'll all get there. Anyway..."

Admittedly, creation myths were not the most interesting part of mythology. Except the part where Loki tricked that one guy to kill the another guy in the party. That was funny one. Ticked off a lot important gods. Story continues at more relevant point, which is me getting drunk after long week in mine, starting fight with foreman, getting tossed into cell to sleep my head clear and then subsequently waking up in rat bath.

[A Less Comprehensive Report: 3]

That's better, says the memorizer. Not good, since he's no idea what you're on about. You're one of the castle minders? What were you doing in a mine, eh? Sounds like a load of bollocks to him if you'll let him be frank. Hell if he'll let that get in the way of his report, though. With that in mind, how'd you get in there and why're you getting out, anyway?

Quote from: TopHat on April 13, 2016, 05:30:46 am
"Yes, that's all. I'll see you when we find out."
Glance around the courtyard and go off to ask anyone out where the minders are.

[Excellent Judge of Character: 3]

Well, there's Mr. Daniels yelling at people from the parapets, a naked fellow climbing up a house, a couple miscellaneous individuals... and then there's Mr. Minstep. While questionably dressed, he is no more so than you are. Based on this kinship, you approach him. He seems a little idle and really quite nauseous, so you don't think you're disturbing him too much. As you ask him where the minders are, his first response is a disarming mix of a belch and a retch from having downed half a gallon of water. After that he begins to compose an answer, you think.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 13, 2016, 11:16:24 am
((Holy crap, I lived. Or bought myself some time, at least.))

I swing the blade at the spirit, hoping that I can get it back in there somehow.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 13, 2016, 11:22:07 am
"Are you deaf or something? I'm not a minder, but a miner. I'm not even human if I'm to believe that shitty wish granter. I can perfectly copy minding techniques after seeing one, but that's only because minding is easy and that's how the well granted my wish. Have you not been listening at all? Oh wait, you are different one. Sorry, you all look same.
Well, you see, the minders tried to summon demons to save their asses, but damn fools were not good enough for that. Instead they managed to get attention of some otherwordly hungry darkness who handled rest and summoned me and few other guys to feed it."

Finish the report with more or less detailed and factual version of events as far as I can recall. Let's leave out the whole disagreement part between me and knight's second cousin. Don't want to make myself look too bad. Employ lots of flailing and miming.

And offer him a vodka fruit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 13, 2016, 11:32:50 am
"Yeah, I'm gonna wait for that guy in better armor to explain his position on things because I think you guys are too low on the totem pole for me to trust your word being carried out."

Wait for superior armor guy to explain his position on things. Repeat my questions (why you wanna kill everyone here, any possibility of letting me go maybe?) if need be.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 13, 2016, 05:27:08 pm
"Pardon me!  What?  Yes, yes, I know where they are now; they moved overnight due to intractable structural and safety concerns.  They're over this way; follow me?"

Lead on
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 14, 2016, 05:13:36 am
"Oh, excellent. What were the safety concerns, then? I take it they had something to do with that poor boy?"
Follow.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 14, 2016, 07:48:31 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 13, 2016, 11:16:24 am
((Holy crap, I lived. Or bought myself some time, at least.))

I swing the blade at the spirit, hoping that I can get it back in there somehow.

[Tragedy In Two Halves: 1 vs. 5]

The spirit streaks along the ceiling as you swing the blade in its direction, tearing through the air. You swing and it connects - the serpent halfway into two, its mockery of your face opening down the middle as it reveals a long mouth that immediately sprouts teeth of congealed agony. It rips forward, two strips of teeth wrapping around your body, holding fast and then grinding around each other, tearing flesh. No blood spills as it drags along you, every bit of it lapped up by the spirit. It grows stronger, greater in scope.

As its wailing becomes increasingly humanlike it detaches, taking a moment to regroup into a form very closely mirroring yours, a deep red likeness fashioned from your blood. You feel a strange weakness coming on as it - she starts crawling toward you on all fours, howls for your blood articulated into basic words. Feed her, sustain her! Make her whole!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 13, 2016, 11:22:07 am
"Are you deaf or something? I'm not a minder, but a miner. I'm not even human if I'm to believe that shitty wish granter. I can perfectly copy minding techniques after seeing one, but that's only because minding is easy and that's how the well granted my wish. Have you not been listening at all? Oh wait, you are different one. Sorry, you all look same.
Well, you see, the minders tried to summon demons to save their asses, but damn fools were not good enough for that. Instead they managed to get attention of some otherwordly hungry darkness who handled rest and summoned me and few other guys to feed it."

Finish the report with more or less detailed and factual version of events as far as I can recall. Let's leave out the whole disagreement part between me and knight's second cousin. Don't want to make myself look too bad. Employ lots of flailing and miming.

And offer him a vodka fruit.

[The Salient Parts: 5]

Takes a bit to relay your glorious story, naturally. And as with any oral history, there's plenty of abridgement. Mostly on the memorizer's part as he interjects occasionally with handy summations of faff and interesting-sounding embellishments to help with the remembering. At the end of it, you think he's about got the gist of it. And he does a really funny impression of your smiling and flailing explanations, you discover.

[In Grapefruit, Truth: 4]

Of course, this is only after the situation has been sufficiently lubricated with application of grapefruits, which the memorizer seems rather appreciative of, if not overly interested in indulging in. He passes for sober by the end, but only barely. As does the tale, you reflect. Ah well. Now's the time for him to be on his way, right?

Right, says the memorizer. Just gotta get naked and swim the river out to town, then relay this to the someone-or-other they got installed there if he understands correctly. And also get as far away from this fucking siege camp as possible before everyone gets eaten or something. Anyway, you have fun now, you lovely gobshite, he'll go off and be somewhere far away for the rest of his natural life if you don't mind. And with that he runs off, seemingly with the intent of leaving you alone in the tent. You guess you can't really blame him for the fact slipping his mind, excited and buzzed as he appears to be.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 13, 2016, 11:32:50 am
"Yeah, I'm gonna wait for that guy in better armor to explain his position on things because I think you guys are too low on the totem pole for me to trust your word being carried out."

Wait for superior armor guy to explain his position on things. Repeat my questions (why you wanna kill everyone here, any possibility of letting me go maybe?) if need be.

The officer looks up, seemingly a little desperate. Do consider it, human! It's a limited time offer and- wait, better armor guy? She looks back and nearly falls off the pyramid as she sees the incoming stoatman. Oh dear, her posture seems to tell you as she dives off the pyramid. The people at the wall, realizing one by one that somebody presumably quite important is coming, have a similar reaction, and the ratio of stoatmen who run and the ones who try to get back into formation is 50/50 or thereabouts.

The knight, however, does not seem overly interested as he runs past the stoats, ripping the trumpet from the officer's hands as he comes to a very deliberate stop atop the mayor. Human, he shouts through the trumpet-

Yes, yes, you shout back, surrender or die and all that. You had questions! Why do they want to kill everyone in here?

[Solid Answers: 5]

The knight lowers the trumpet a moment, thinking. Then he replies, speaking loudly, deliberately and with a great deal of enunciation - the royal house and its holdouts represent the old state. Their death is absolutely required for the new state's unquestioned existence. They must not be permitted to consort with the powers of the Corner of the World, the Land of El, Elizabeth, the Kingdom of the Dead or any other actors on the political stage, and the complete annihilation of the royal family as well as immediate employees and associates is the method deemed appropriate by the Prime Speaker of the new state of Benzerwald. This will be achieved by one set of means or another, but it will be achieved without a shadow of a doubt.

How about the whole extermination thing, you ask? If you hand over the queen, can you just get this business over with? The knight says unfortunately no. Her associates must also be slaughtered and irrevocably disposed of. Everyone in the castle has been marked for death by one means or another. You nod and figure you'll ask another question, but he continues - you are Mr. Daniels, apparently. You may be subject to a special exception, or at least occupy a position of uncertainty, being very possibly an unknown factor brought about by the exact sort of meddling this scorched earth intervention was supposed to prevent. As such, if you assist the siege effort your case may be of special interest to the Speakers such as himself, and your lack of complicity in the crimes of the old state (if he understands your situation correctly) may be a further alleviating circumstance despite your deeply unsettling and threatening nature.

He lowers the trumpet again, a heavy visor failing to obscure a certain brightness in his eyes you can see even from atop the wall. He seems to be anxious about your response, you think.

Quote from: Toaster on April 13, 2016, 05:27:08 pm
"Pardon me!  What?  Yes, yes, I know where they are now; they moved overnight due to intractable structural and safety concerns.  They're over this way; follow me?"

Lead on

Perhaps Mr. Wilde will have better luck with the minders - in any case you explain the situation to him and lead him through the foyer and up to the second floor where the minder room awaits. You usher him and his lovely companion in, lingering at the door a moment. Should you follow? The girl seemed a little displeased at your presence when last you spoke.

Quote from: TopHat on April 14, 2016, 05:13:36 am
"Oh, excellent. What were the safety concerns, then? I take it they had something to do with that poor boy?"
Follow.

Mr. Minstep proves greatly useful, taking you right to a strange room on the second floor of the castle. Inside there is a concerned-looking girl no more than twelve years old, surrounded by even younger children of various ages sitting at the walls and on furniture. All except the girl are looking contemplative to a distinctly unchildlike degree. The girl, meanwhile, immediately swivels her head to observe your arrival and that of the servant girl.

Minders, says your companion. A bit younger than she'd have thought, but these look reasonably legit. She looks their way, then takes a sudden step back as the little girl gives her a rather savage-looking glare. The minder girl then looks at you.

Great. Another one. She can't help you, you understand? Whatever the hell you're supposed to be, she's gotten way too involved with it already. So just turn around and go away now before something adverse happens again. Go badger the well if you want answers. Or favors. Or really anything.

As the minder girl glares your way, the servant has taken cover behind you. Maybe you shouldn't linger here long, she suggests. Minders have ways, you know? Honestly, she's kind of unsure what you were doing here to begin with.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 14, 2016, 10:35:12 am
"Well, look at that. I have been left alone in midst of loot..."

Loot the loot. Perhaps there's something more clothes like objects I can wear and improve state of my appearance? Weapons would be cool, too. Let's make inventory.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 14, 2016, 11:45:57 am
"No, your power belongs to me! I HUNGER for it!" I try to absorb the spirit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 14, 2016, 01:13:30 pm
"Well see, while that sounds appealing on the surface, all those mays and perhapses aren't doing all that much for me. I'd like a guarantee, could you get me a guarantee of 'no stoatmen or member of the new state or whatever you like to call yourselves will try murdering me'? 'Cause if you gimme a guarantee I could probably get you the queen in like, five minutes tops. Throw her from the walls here and probably hit one of your subordinates, or use her to bash down whatever gates this place has. I assume it has gates."

Jack thinks for a moment.

"Oh, and one more thing. I know crimes of the old state and blardy blardy blar, but could I convince you to leave one guy other than me non-dead? He's this blacksmith kid who did me quite a big service. Hurt like hell at the time, but it worked and I wanna ensure I can get access to him in the future. It's not much I'm asking, just me and the blacksmith not being subject to murder attempts and such. I can get you her highness right now if you can guarantee that."

Further negotiation! Also look around to see if anyone's reacting negatively to my potential treason or whatever. Make sure one of the guards isn't gonna be stupid and try stabbing me or something.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 14, 2016, 03:26:22 pm
"Well, that's polite. Would you talk to your parents like that? Whatever happened to respecting your elders, let alone complete strangers?"
Lesson one - basic manners, free of charge.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 15, 2016, 12:18:51 am
"Er.  Uh.  Well, yes, the lack of adequate fire exits, insufficient signage, questionable structural integrity; the place was falling apart as we were there!  Ah, yes, here we are."


Loiter.  Listen in.  Might as well stand inside the door.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 15, 2016, 06:55:28 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 14, 2016, 10:35:12 am
"Well, look at that. I have been left alone in midst of loot..."

Loot the loot. Perhaps there's something more clothes like objects I can wear and improve state of my appearance? Weapons would be cool, too. Let's make inventory.

[Sublime Loot: 2]

You run into the rather obvious problem of there being nowhere to really put much of this loot. You guess you could grab some of the shitty wine to drink on the way, or pour out several bottles in a larger vase, but that'd be both unwieldy and conspicuous. Not to mention quite gauche.

What mostly catches your eye among all the vaguely shiny village-quality garbage is a stack of six large cheese wheels, looking a little out of place among the relatively non-perishable goods like ornamented mugs, woven rugs and clay jugs. There's also three chests - one is large, one is small, both of them locked, and then there's one which is strangely warm and lacking in a lock - despite this it fails to open. Oddly enough it seems to be bolted from the inside.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 14, 2016, 11:45:57 am
"No, your power belongs to me! I HUNGER for it!" I try to absorb the spirit.

You remember a trick that you tried once. Could it work again, perhaps?

HUNGER

[Word: 5]

The word does not travel this time, coming as a whisper as its kernel unfurls within your body and gives rise to something else, something you have seen before. The spirit is unmindful of the change at first, continuing to howl as she advances - this changes as you look upon her and she perceives a profound change. She stops silent in her tracks as you take a long step and jut your arms forward, your hands grown long and fingers sharp. Her next scream is one of surprise as you begin to lap her blood in great handfuls back into your wounds and mouth, tearing her limbs off one by one, reclaiming what is rightfully yours.

[A Much-Needed Meal: 2]

You feel bloated at the end of the meal, uncannily aware the taste of your own blood along the entirety of your skin. Lingering twitches of the spirit's resistance last for a few seconds, as does an overpowering sense of nausea. Nevertheless, beneath this you feel a strange sense of wholeness - the telltale sign of health through sorcery.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 14, 2016, 01:13:30 pm
"Well see, while that sounds appealing on the surface, all those mays and perhapses aren't doing all that much for me. I'd like a guarantee, could you get me a guarantee of 'no stoatmen or member of the new state or whatever you like to call yourselves will try murdering me'? 'Cause if you gimme a guarantee I could probably get you the queen in like, five minutes tops. Throw her from the walls here and probably hit one of your subordinates, or use her to bash down whatever gates this place has. I assume it has gates."

Jack thinks for a moment.

"Oh, and one more thing. I know crimes of the old state and blardy blardy blar, but could I convince you to leave one guy other than me non-dead? He's this blacksmith kid who did me quite a big service. Hurt like hell at the time, but it worked and I wanna ensure I can get access to him in the future. It's not much I'm asking, just me and the blacksmith not being subject to murder attempts and such. I can get you her highness right now if you can guarantee that."

Further negotiation! Also look around to see if anyone's reacting negatively to my potential treason or whatever. Make sure one of the guards isn't gonna be stupid and try stabbing me or something.

The speaker raises the trumpet quickly this time, your questions apparently requiring little thought. He will be frank, he declares, and not waste either of your respective times with half-truths or unnecessary diplomacy.

First of all, your safety will not be guaranteed, as this is not within his power to do. Your fate will be decided by the gathering of speakers - he can guarantee reasonable safety until that judgment if you cooperate.

Secondly, everyone within this castle who represents the old state must be purged. This includes all the participants in the past months of the siege, but exempts potential non-humans such as you. To fail to purge the populace is to fail the very purpose of this siege, and is thus a non-negotiable objective.

With this in mind, cooperate or do not. If you do, a fair judgment of your involvement will be rendered upon your return to the capital. If you do not, the shadow of the One will fall upon you.

Hm. You look around. A guard seems to be standing nearby on the battlements, observing your current activities. She seems more perplexed than suspicious, for what it's worth. And remarkably non-aggressive at that. A set of paranoid eyes glint up in a nearby castle tower - the guy you had to pass to get the trumpet, you believe.

Quote from: TopHat on April 14, 2016, 03:26:22 pm
"Well, that's polite. Would you talk to your parents like that? Whatever happened to respecting your elders, let alone complete strangers?"
Lesson one - basic manners, free of charge.

[Tower of the Mind: 3]

She's very well-heeled, she'll have you know. It's just that you happen to neither be a stranger nor her elder. She can sense what you are, knowing the signs now as she does, and would very much prefer it if you stayed here no longer.

A small implication peels from your mind. Hm. Is it an exit that you want? Mr. Minstep wants the same thing, you know, though his progress is relatively minimal. Maybe you can get him to help with the siege somehow. Getting out would presumably be trivial if you resolved that.

Quote from: Toaster on April 15, 2016, 12:18:51 am
"Er.  Uh.  Well, yes, the lack of adequate fire exits, insufficient signage, questionable structural integrity; the place was falling apart as we were there!  Ah, yes, here we are."


Loiter.  Listen in.  Might as well stand inside the door.

You peek into the room, and see only the head girl of the minders glaring at Mr. Wilde and pacing around the room nervously. Mr. Wilde's servant companion appears to shy away from her sight behind Mr. Wilde, who also stares vaguely and glassily at the minder. Oddly enough it doesn't look like they're talking to each other.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 15, 2016, 08:40:26 am
"No proper loot? Damn."

Take a bite of the cheese, surely that's better than the shitty wine. Use the warm chest as a drum and play song of my people. If nothing happens and the chests is made of wood ...well, all wood rots INEVITABLY, right?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 15, 2016, 12:41:39 pm
"What's the One? Is it your god or something? As for your requests ... I'll have to think about it. To be frank I don't particularly care about the new state having to cement itself or whatever, I just want to have the option to leave here if I want. And the blacksmith really did me a favour."

Jack absentmindedly twiddles the fingers of his right hand.

"Hmm. Well, I'm fairly sure I can go get her but I just wanna make as sure as I can that I won't be punished for helping you, ya know? You're the highest ranking guy there?"

Prepare myself mentally for potential murder. No actual murder yet.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 15, 2016, 02:38:20 pm
"Okay, I'm tired of this place." I drop the blade and make my way to the rat shit tunnel.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 15, 2016, 03:06:33 pm
"Okay, okay, I'll be going. Just one thing, though - you say I'm neither a stranger nor your elder. Why, and what am I, then?"
Just one more question.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 15, 2016, 07:32:28 pm
"Uhhh.... yes, since you're having so much fun, I'll go ahead and leave."

Sneak out.  Maybe the queen is ready?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 16, 2016, 06:02:05 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 15, 2016, 08:40:26 am
"No proper loot? Damn."

Take a bite of the cheese, surely that's better than the shitty wine. Use the warm chest as a drum and play song of my people. If nothing happens and the chests is made of wood ...well, all wood rots INEVITABLY, right?

[Culinary Delights: 3]

It's some sort of gourmet cheese, you decide as you take a bite out of its crust, in that it's kind of bitter, rather well-aged and incredibly hard and crumbly. Slightly aromatic, too! Helps get rid of the taste of shitty wine quite adequately, you find. Cheered by this shift in flavor, you walk on back to the chest and begin a charming communique through the medium of percussion.

[The Universal Language: 2]

Your rhythm leaves much to be desired, probably owing to your drunkenness more than anything. You drum away for some time as you try to remember any particular drum solos you've ever heard or improvise one as it comes to you - naturally, both attempts fail miserably. So in the absence of creativity you let entropy take the wheel.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

Wood may rot inevitably, this is true. There is, however, a distinct, much less remote possibility in the near future, and that is the opening of the chest on its own. Feeling warm and curious from your food and drink, you guide yourself into this event. The bolt is undone, and suddenly the chest flies open. Out of the chest, in turn, flies a small young woman in gray-brown garb, a dagger flashing in her hand. You are about to say something, but at this point the two of you rather unfortunately collide.

[Moth's Wrath: 2 vs. 5]

She isn't quite adapted to the light, you think, or even with being upright. Must have spent a considerable amount of time in the chest, you think as you intercept her dagger-hand and wrench the blade from it, then toss her into the conveniently nearby stack of cheese, which seems to confuse her even further as she scrambles along piles of loot. You're a little more intrigued by the dagger, you think. Bronze, you think? Might be a throwing dagger, judging by the shape and balance of it.

You look back at the woman. Panic appears to have given way to confusion as she's had a chance to look you over. She tilts her head a little, eyes wide, breathing heavily. Unexpected, she mouths cryptically, standing up while eying you cautiously. She's wearing an odd dress, you notice - a banded, flowing thing of many gray and brown layers, richly patterned to the point where it bears an uncanny resemblance to a Persian rug, if a bit less floral in design.

You'd say she's currently looking quite tense. Maybe she'd like a grapefruit.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 15, 2016, 12:41:39 pm
"What's the One? Is it your god or something? As for your requests ... I'll have to think about it. To be frank I don't particularly care about the new state having to cement itself or whatever, I just want to have the option to leave here if I want. And the blacksmith really did me a favour."

Jack absentmindedly twiddles the fingers of his right hand.

"Hmm. Well, I'm fairly sure I can go get her but I just wanna make as sure as I can that I won't be punished for helping you, ya know? You're the highest ranking guy there?"

Prepare myself mentally for potential murder. No actual murder yet.

It is not for you to speak of the One, and not for him to explain. If the castle is theirs by the day's end and all of its residents brought to justice, you will not see it. If it is not, your meeting is inevitable. Conduct yourself in accordance with the law of the new state and all things shall be well and all manner of things shall be well, yes.

As for murder, you feel you ought to be careful with that. The essence of killing orbits your person. It merely awaits license.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 15, 2016, 02:38:20 pm
"Okay, I'm tired of this place." I drop the blade and make my way to the rat shit tunnel.

The rat shit probably isn't good for your robe, you figure as you get back to the crossroads, casting off the trap component you spent the better part of the last couple of hours trying to scavenge. You suspect there's easier ways to obtain weapons.

The tunnel goes on for some time, growing smaller, tighter and richer in guano as you go on. However, you do not give in, and proceed until you see a bit of light at the end of it - just a smidgen, of course. You pursue it relentlessly, until finally you squeeze through a small hole into a larger room, free of the awful confines of this place, finding yourself in...

... huh, it's the well again, a small circle bathed in the light of midday sun at the bottom of the shaft. You look back at the spot you came from. That's... huh. You wouldn't have thought you could squeeze through such a grate, honestly, if you hadn't clearly just done it. You shrug and look forward again.

Two figures stand against the far wall, mostly wreathed in dark. The creature from the well, visible for the first time, more an assemblage of fruiting bodies than anything even vaguely humanlike, ancient metal artifacts shattered, then glued together by mycelia. Its hand is raised in silent, motionless greeting. Next your eye is drawn to the priestess from the shrine, veins of black mold running through her aged and haggard body, a joyous smile plastered all over her face. Fuzzy dark streams flow down from the corners of her closed, drooping eyes, her entire face sunken and lifeless. Her head is nodded.

Looking back at the corpse, you notice that it has moved - dropping to one knee, it offers in its palms a tall white mushroom, standing slightly crooked as it shies away from the light. A consolation prize?

Quote from: TopHat on April 15, 2016, 03:06:33 pm
"Okay, okay, I'll be going. Just one thing, though - you say I'm neither a stranger nor your elder. Why, and what am I, then?"
Just one more question.

The question gladdens her visibly. The urge to explain and demonstrate is a powerful one. You - or at least the general type of creature you represent - were created two days ago by her predecessors. Three faces of unfamiliar robed men flash before your eyes, followed by a scene of destruction as what you are informed are their corpses lie in the middle of a familiar dungeon within sight of a black door inscribed with strange runes.

As for what you are, there are insights she has gleaned. You see a man with a great gaping hole in his face tear himself apart at the seams, dissolving into a scurrying swarm of rats. Mr. Daniels' abdomen opening up into a mouth of grisly teeth as he devours a deformed, mutilated captive. The same Mr. Daniels surrounded by a group of misshapen acolytes blending into one another as they bear down on the observer. A vast and hungry horror with the face of Mr. Minstep in the middle of a ravenous pounce upon an unprotected mind. A certain Mr. Erikson, joyfully plucking insights from her mind with effortless ease. All of these things, she would wager, you are or at least can be - scratching at the seemingly mundane surface of your mind, byzantine inhumanity seeps out from every corner.

She believes her point to be sufficiently demonstrated, yes? Will you be going now?

Quote from: Toaster on April 15, 2016, 07:32:28 pm
"Uhhh.... yes, since you're having so much fun, I'll go ahead and leave."

Sneak out.  Maybe the queen is ready?

The queen appears to have concluded her routine, fresh from a morning bath and having put on a slightly more formal gown for today as she sits by her desk with her legs crossed, sipping tea gingerly, the thoroughly gnawed bones of a roast rat resting on her plate. This day seems to have started well for her, at least.

She's heard about the minders already, you immediately discover. The red-haired guard has delivered a full report on the matter. Nicely done, Mr. Minstep - perhaps now she too can finally be privy to whatever is going on in this castle.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 16, 2016, 06:19:46 am
"Oh, you guys escaped too. Good job, I guess." I look at this mushroom more closely, then I pluck it if it seems that's what the zombie wants me to do.

((Also... should I still have the inscribed brick in my inventory? I thought I left it on top of the church.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 16, 2016, 09:07:48 am
"Life is full of unexpected things, mostly because everybody sees fit act on their own plan instead of yours. You should expect the unexerp... unexpected. If it is stoutmen you were expecting, then you are happy to know they are right outside. Bastards left me alone here... Say, this mighty fine dagger, may I have it? This nicely warm and confusingly locked box, why you were in it? Pretty clothes, much better than mine. Do you want some nice fruits? They warm you up nicely."

Offer drunken life wisdom, requests, questions, grapefruits with reduced ethanol content. Shouldn't make younsters too drunk too soon.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 16, 2016, 10:06:35 am
"The... I suppose she is the leader now, the young lady- she seems to have rather suddenly decided she doesn't want me present.  It's rather odd.  In any case, I really, really, quite really need to get back to Albany before I am fired.  Mr. Munderly does not take kindly to extended absence, even with a good reason.  I've enjoyed your show, really, but I must insist that I get going now."

One word in his speech almost- but not quite- had a strange echo to it.  Hmmm.

Continue to not understand situation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 16, 2016, 11:28:47 am
"Hmm. Seems to be a very orderly being, then. I can appreciate that, everything to its own place and all. If only it were that life worked that way - for me it's been a rather confused jumble of things that just seem to sort of happen with no rhyme or reason that's immediately evident. Like for instance how I got here - I woke up in a backyard. I don't know how I got there, or where the clothes I was wearing before that went, or anything of the sort. I just ... was there. And things have only gotten more bizzare from there. However, you stoatmen have never really negatively impacted me, and I'm grateful for that. There've been a quite a few things that have tried to kill me and/or manipulate me for their own ends since I got here, but you don't seem to have any sort of beef with me. Heck, you're even willing to grant me considerations I'd find myself having a hard time granting to me were I in your situation. You really are a class act, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to have had this conversation with you. I think it's been worth my time, almost as much as losing the former function of my left hand. That's the best thing that's happened to me so far - it's not like I used it much beforehand, and blessings seem to come thinly veiled here in Anglefork."

Somewhere in the midst of this rambling, begin murdering him and everyone around/nearby him with the murder-thought. Hit every stoatman in sight if I'm capable of it. Keep talking as I murder.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 16, 2016, 01:36:54 pm
"Yes, though I'm not quite sure I understand. If I was 'created', as you say, that recently, why do I have memories spanning much further than that? Especially since these memories are of a world I severely doubt your predecessors would have had any knowledge of.
Express doubts. Bring a selection of memories to mind if it seems it'll help make the point.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 16, 2016, 04:16:03 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 16, 2016, 06:19:46 am
"Oh, you guys escaped too. Good job, I guess." I look at this mushroom more closely, then I pluck it if it seems that's what the zombie wants me to do.

You're hardly a mycologist, so the most you can really say is that it is definitely a mushroom of some kind. Much larger than the ones you've seen, though, almost the length of your forearm. Could probably make a whole pot of soup out of it if you had a mind to.

[Fungal Insights: 4]

It does, however, seem sensible that it is being shown to you with a purpose, as an offering of sorts. It comes easily off the zombie's hands, further implying this intent. What's more, it smells quite delicious. A sweet, slightly earthy smell. Unusually aromatic for a mushroom, certainly. It appears to shrivel a little as you near it to sunlight, so you tuck it into your robe for now.

Once you look up from your examination, neither the zombie nor the priestess are still there, or anywhere else in the dungeon for that matter as far as you can see. You suppose that concludes your business.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 16, 2016, 09:07:48 am
"Life is full of unexpected things, mostly because everybody sees fit act on their own plan instead of yours. You should expect the unexerp... unexpected. If it is stoutmen you were expecting, then you are happy to know they are right outside. Bastards left me alone here... Say, this mighty fine dagger, may I have it? This nicely warm and confusingly locked box, why you were in it? Pretty clothes, much better than mine. Do you want some nice fruits? They warm you up nicely."

Offer drunken life wisdom, requests, questions, grapefruits with reduced ethanol content. Shouldn't make younsters too drunk too soon.

[Second Impressions: 2]

She listens and her face tightens a little as you mention the presence of the stoats. Your line of questioning similarly provokes some distaste. You don't think she much appreciates your attempts at genial conversation. So you suppose you'll give her the other thing you can offer.

[Induced Inebriation: 4]

She is in the right state of mind, you notice. Hungry enough for curiosity to arise before naked suspicion. This proves enough for the effect to work, and the information to unfold. She steps back noticeably, the sudden buzz taking her aback. Grapefruit, she says. Strange.

She looks over at you as her mind flares with suspicion again. Who are you?

Quote from: Toaster on April 16, 2016, 10:06:35 am
"The... I suppose she is the leader now, the young lady- she seems to have rather suddenly decided she doesn't want me present.  It's rather odd.  In any case, I really, really, quite really need to get back to Albany before I am fired.  Mr. Munderly does not take kindly to extended absence, even with a good reason.  I've enjoyed your show, really, but I must insist that I get going now."

One word in his speech almost- but not quite- had a strange echo to it.  Hmmm.

Continue to not understand situation.

The word. 'Absence'. A sensation much like a held back full-body sneeze runs through you, provoking a shiver.

The queen does not seem to notice. A return to normalcy is what everyone here would like, she offers diplomatically with a mildly uncomfortable look, having apparently given up on getting you involved in the production. It is the eternal work of minders to facilitate such a return.

In any case, best get their leader in here, then. No sense in dithering. She calls a guard and tells them to get the head minder. The guard enthusiastically complies.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 16, 2016, 11:28:47 am
"Hmm. Seems to be a very orderly being, then. I can appreciate that, everything to its own place and all. If only it were that life worked that way - for me it's been a rather confused jumble of things that just seem to sort of happen with no rhyme or reason that's immediately evident. Like for instance how I got here - I woke up in a backyard. I don't know how I got there, or where the clothes I was wearing before that went, or anything of the sort. I just ... was there. And things have only gotten more bizzare from there. However, you stoatmen have never really negatively impacted me, and I'm grateful for that. There've been a quite a few things that have tried to kill me and/or manipulate me for their own ends since I got here, but you don't seem to have any sort of beef with me. Heck, you're even willing to grant me considerations I'd find myself having a hard time granting to me were I in your situation. You really are a class act, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to have had this conversation with you. I think it's been worth my time, almost as much as losing the former function of my left hand. That's the best thing that's happened to me so far - it's not like I used it much beforehand, and blessings seem to come thinly veiled here in Anglefork."

Somewhere in the midst of this rambling, begin murdering him and everyone around/nearby him with the murder-thought. Hit every stoatman in sight if I'm capable of it. Keep talking as I murder.

[The Right of Parley: 2]

The wind starts to feel supernatural, your voice taking on the aspect of death involuntarily. The knight tenses up. The perfect moment slips you by. So you go for the next best thing.

[Death By Monologue: 2 vs. 5]

Your sharpened thought screams through the air, arcing like thought-lightning. One of the crossbowstoats, his crossbow currently raised as he evaluates the situation, proves the closest conduit, a unique mixture of threat and receptiveness. The thought enters as you meet his gaze for a second, shredding arteries and cleaving organs as your words instruct your blade's progress. Blood starts to pour from his every orifice. He is dead before he hits the ground, the impact setting loose the seed of death planted within him and permitting its return to you.

The stoatmen begin to form up. They appear to have a strategy they believe worthwhile. It is, of course, the crossbow volley. Fairly easy to dodge if you stand behind a parapet, which you, not being a bloody idiot, immediately do.

[Speaker's Dilemma: 3]

The speaker, you notice, seems momentarily indecisive. On the fence, perhaps, about whether this would be the correct moment. He begins to half-heartedly retreat, though he seems to be looking at the results of your murderous display with some interest.

Quote from: TopHat on April 16, 2016, 01:36:54 pm
"Yes, though I'm not quite sure I understand. If I was 'created', as you say, that recently, why do I have memories spanning much further than that? Especially since these memories are of a world I severely doubt your predecessors would have had any knowledge of.
Express doubts. Bring a selection of memories to mind if it seems it'll help make the point.

[The Likely Answer: 3]

They had a little knowledge. Dangerously little, you could say, considering their fate. And they do appear to have used the services of a particular thing in your creation - the particulars escape her, as the thing in question is unwilling to-

A call comes from the door. You turn to look, as does the head girl and the servant. An officious guard stands where Mr. Minstep was a minute ago. He clears his throat and tells nobody in particular that the queen requests the presence of the head representative of the minders in her quarters. There are apparently matters that need discussing. The head girl gives him a glance. The guard nods back after a moment and leaves contently.

There are matters to attend to. She hopes you will have no further cause to bother her or her students as she looks at the room's exit, clearly expecting you to head out first.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 16, 2016, 04:20:31 pm
"Sorry! Sorry about that, it slipped. I've got it under control now, I think. It's a unique power I've acquired in my time here, and it's a bit eager at times. It's all good now though. Did you want me to deliver the queen alive? Dead? Multiple pieces?"

Deliver the above fake-out and then murderize them again when/if they fall for it. Target the speaker primarily.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 16, 2016, 05:36:24 pm
I step into the well's door. "I would like to make a deal, and I will offer a connection. My question: what is the nature of the sea of light beneath the tombs?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 16, 2016, 09:52:59 pm
Ugh.  Must be what I ate coming back to haunt me.

"I will remain, if you don't mind.  She seems quite the knowledgeable person."

Wait inside if allowed.  Wait outside if not.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 17, 2016, 03:11:36 am
"Grapefruit, what a wonderful gift of Ægir. Gotta praise the lad."
"Nice to meet you, name's Leif Erikson, nowhere as human as I look, apparently. Likewise, who are you?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 17, 2016, 06:07:30 am
"Well, thanks for the help. Sorry to bother you."
Leave. Head towards that guard's office if the servant knows where it is.
"Sorry about that, it looks like there won't be an easy way out after all. Well, we might as well collect our reward for finding out where the minders are."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 17, 2016, 03:54:10 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 16, 2016, 04:20:31 pm
"Sorry! Sorry about that, it slipped. I've got it under control now, I think. It's a unique power I've acquired in my time here, and it's a bit eager at times. It's all good now though. Did you want me to deliver the queen alive? Dead? Multiple pieces?"

Deliver the above fake-out and then murderize them again when/if they fall for it. Target the speaker primarily.

[100% Plausible Explanation: 4]

You don't think they believe you, necessarily. But they do allow you an incautious moment. You take them up on their generous opening.

[Reach For The Heart: 1 vs. 4]

You try to send your thought far out to the speaker, but by the time it reaches him it has lost almost all of its bite and vicious intent. It's so very hard to project plausible murder across these distances, you see. It is still, however, enough for a distinct impression of malign intent, at which point you assume the speaker gives up on the attempts at negotiation and commences a full retreat, instructing the stoats at the wall to do the same. They comply, but not before giving you another parting volley.

[Rain of Bolts: 4 vs. 2]

This time you are unfortunate enough to actually catch a bolt in the gullet, which you suppose is fair enough - gotta allow the peasants at least a 1% hit rate, right? Still fucking hurts, of course, but phrasing it as fair play is better for one's dignity.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 16, 2016, 05:36:24 pm
I step into the well's door. "I would like to make a deal, and I will offer a connection. My question: what is the nature of the sea of light beneath the tombs?"

Your straightforwardness is appreciated, the darkness shifting to accommodate you at the pace of your entry. Welcome. It has been some time.

Your answer: the sea of light is a byproduct of extensive work by the group of individuals designated as time-enders (see time-enders, exploration of principles, best disposal practices). It is not a natural feature of this world, and predated the founding of the kingdom designated as Benzerwald (see kingmakers, exploration of linearity, experimental history) by several millennia. It was the conclusion of a series of projects aimed primarily at the specific deconstruction of matter, with some unforeseen admixture of deconstruction of spacetime (see difficulty of purification, outside perspectives, large-scale experimentation). It is currently effectively covered up by the kingdom of Benzerwald and poses next to no immediate risk to surrounding areas. Secondary risks from exposure appear to include madness, uncoupling from physical laws, headaches, sudden unexplained death, deterioration of fate, loosening of the continuum of space and time, widening of probability, disruptions of celestial activity, personality changes, intestinal distress, depression, mania, mood swings, heightened exploitability of universal law by outside entities and several distinct rarer permutations and combinations of the preceding (see gulf of darkness, spacetime faults, long-term exposure to the unnatural). Its nature can be best described as artificial, managed, highly unsafe for mortals, somewhat important in the grand scheme of things.

State a desire. Or state another question. The choice is yours.

Quote from: Toaster on April 16, 2016, 09:52:59 pm
Ugh.  Must be what I ate coming back to haunt me.

"I will remain, if you don't mind.  She seems quite the knowledgeable person."

Wait inside if allowed.  Wait outside if not.

Certainly, the queen says. It shouldn't terribly matter, she suspects, considering the minders do not actually speak. If what she has to say is not for your ears, she supposes you will not be permitted to hear it? Hard to say in advance. The leadership seems to have undergone a change if she reckons accurately.

Speaking of, there she comes - the head girl of the minders glides into the room about a second after the guard opens the door, eyes closed and her general bearing seeming almost overdignified to the point where the queen coughs and straightens out in her chair, adopting a stiffer posture as she places her hands in her lap. The girl opens her eyes slowly and adopts a gentle look, careful to betray as little of her surprise at your presence as possible. She looks at the queen, and the queen meaningfully looks back. They then begin to stare at each other, the queen going through several unique expressions along the way while the minder continues to appear as enigmatic as she can. It's a curiously uninformative scene to observe.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 17, 2016, 03:11:36 am
"Grapefruit, what a wonderful gift of Ægir. Gotta praise the lad."
"Nice to meet you, name's Leif Erikson, nowhere as human as I look, apparently. Likewise, who are you?"

She is Lee. A victim of, she looks around as she considers the appropriate word, brigands. She shuffles to the right, then to the left, appraising you from several angles.

You are a minder, she says. Are you going to ask her a riddle?

Quote from: TopHat on April 17, 2016, 06:07:30 am
"Well, thanks for the help. Sorry to bother you."
Leave. Head towards that guard's office if the servant knows where it is.
"Sorry about that, it looks like there won't be an easy way out after all. Well, we might as well collect our reward for finding out where the minders are."

You exit the minder chambers, the girl leaving behind you and locking the door as she leaves. You turn to the servant, who seems to relax as the girl leaves, and deliver your insights on the matter. She frowns, but admits that it's probably a good idea to report to the captain for now, and soon enough you are at the door to a sizable corner building. Your companion seems to have a key to the outer door hanging around her neck, which she uses to open up the door - inside there's a small corridor, one end leading to a downward stairway into darkness, the other to a somewhat intimidating door. The servant girl knocks on the latter, and you hear the captain of the castle guard invite her in - she goes inside carefully, and you follow.

You find yourself in a dusty office, the captain sitting at a bare desk, fingers steepled and expression almost completely consumed by boredom, eyes wandering along what look like shelves laden with various junk - a jar filled with a yellow-brown semi-opaque liquid, an assortment of gray rat pelts organized by size and coloration, quite a few tools of unclear purpose and suspicious scent, a few wooden plates engraved with images of dissected animals. A barrel looking out of place near the desk. Finally, a bundle of dried human fingers hanging from a wall. The office feels terribly motionless as the servant draws closer. She and you, she says, have things of interest.

First of all, the minders - they are in the keep. She gives a report of the room they are in. The captain blinks and gives the barest inkling of a nod. Secondly, she has recovered a key ring from one of the royal guards - an important one, she believes. Most of the keys are on there. The captain nods a little more, then reaches into the barrel.

One rat for the location, he says, two more for the key ring. Adequate repayment for tasks expediently performed. He pulls out three skinned and smoked rats from the barrel and carefully separates them into two groups that he then plops onto the desk delicately. The girl grabs her share of two, nodding her head for you to take the one remaining one. Her face is one of undisguised joy, the captain merely looks at you blankly.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 17, 2016, 04:07:32 pm
*glk*

"Should've given me a better offer, man! I'll be listening if you get one! Ah fuck that actually kinda hurts."

Right, that didn't accomplish much. Now what to do? Maybe I should go visit the queen, I could go ask for some armor.
...
Well, the blacksmith did give me the murder-thought, maybe I should ask him for protection-thoughts or whatever they use here.
...huh, I don't seem to be immediately dying from this bolt in my throat. Guess the well didn't give me completely shit advice after all.
Well, to the blacksmith I suppose. Maybe he's conscious.

Go head over to my mental blacksmith friend. He come around from his manic forge-induced coma yet?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 17, 2016, 04:21:45 pm
Well, it'd be rude to interrupt their staring contest.

Continue to wait and observe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 17, 2016, 05:32:20 pm
"My desire is the magical word SEA."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 18, 2016, 01:48:49 am
"Bruce Lee! Hahaha. No, sis, I'm a miner not a... wait a moment. I know few minder tricks, that does make me a minder, doesn't it? Wohoo, level up!
If it's a riddle you want then here's one: Where does the wind go?"

Answer: "Not a fricking clue, let's find out!"
Cut myself a piece of cheese, inform Lee that I'm about to leave this stoat siege camp and offer her free ride to freedom, get outside, check wind direction and INEVITABLY find ourselves to where winds go, or at least in a place without stoats nearby. Adventure awaits!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 18, 2016, 01:58:47 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 17, 2016, 04:07:32 pm
*glk*

"Should've given me a better offer, man! I'll be listening if you get one! Ah fuck that actually kinda hurts."

Right, that didn't accomplish much. Now what to do? Maybe I should go visit the queen, I could go ask for some armor.
...
Well, the blacksmith did give me the murder-thought, maybe I should ask him for protection-thoughts or whatever they use here.
...huh, I don't seem to be immediately dying from this bolt in my throat. Guess the well didn't give me completely shit advice after all.
Well, to the blacksmith I suppose. Maybe he's conscious.

Go head over to my mental blacksmith friend. He come around from his manic forge-induced coma yet?

Eh, it's just your throat. It'll be fine.

And yes! The blacksmith does appear to be awake. And also quite naked, possibly in imitation of you. He is easy to spot, as he appears to have climbed atop his workshop and is currently in the process of pulling out some bolts lodged into his roof. You figure you could speak to him from atop the castle wall if you don't feel like descending a few flights of stairs.

Quote from: Toaster on April 17, 2016, 04:21:45 pm
Well, it'd be rude to interrupt their staring contest.

Continue to wait and observe.

The queen glances your way with a strange look on her face, then locks eyes with the minder girl again. The staring contest is soundly lost, you would think, especially given how the queen blinks all the time, but it goes on for a while yet, right up until the queen looks up at you again. The minder girl nods at her, then proceeds to glide on out of the room, the door opening on her and then shutting after she leaves with impeccable timing.

Well, the queen says. That was... strangely illuminating. She sips a little tea, then looks at you with slight discomfort. Er, feeling well, Mr. Minstep?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 17, 2016, 05:32:20 pm
"My desire is the magical word SEA."

Your fulfillment:

SEA

It rumbles through the normally silent void as it settles into your forehead, the warm tickle of a third unseen eye beneath the surface of your skull never letting you forget its presence. It tingles with half-forgotten memories, whispering of final inexorable annihilation, radiating thoughts of unspeakable danger. The sea is close here. You feel it through the word.

Your price: a connection now belongs to the well. Would you be interested in providing a source in the near future? A special deal may be made.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 18, 2016, 01:48:49 am
"Bruce Lee! Hahaha. No, sis, I'm a miner not a... wait a moment. I know few minder tricks, that does make me a minder, doesn't it? Wohoo, level up!
If it's a riddle you want then here's one: Where does the wind go?"

Answer: "Not a fricking clue, let's find out!"
Cut myself a piece of cheese, inform Lee that I'm about to leave this stoat siege camp and offer her free ride to freedom, get outside, check wind direction and INEVITABLY find ourselves to where winds go, or at least in a place without stoats nearby. Adventure awaits!

She considers the riddle for a moment as you help yourself to the bounty, wincing a little as her dagger is used for something so pedestrian as cheese theft. Her answer, which she comes to after a moment's contemplation, is that the wind goes where it wishes to. To presume otherwise is to court disaster. You guess that's close enough! Her reward, you say, is to get to come along with you as you collectively blow this joint (heh heh). Intrigued, she resists only slightly. You run out of the tent. You see the stoatmen of the surrounding area looking preoccupied. The knight is coming back at a rapid pace. No time like the present for a daring escape!

[Which Way The Wind Is Blowing: 6]

As it happens, the wind is blowing right the hell out of here as well. So you figure it'll make for a decent ride. You look at Lee, then toward the horizon. You inhale the sweet country air. Adventure calls.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

Well, truthfully, perhaps your escape isn't quite as inevitable as you first pretend. Especially given that you are absolutely drunk. But you can be said to have a decent guarantee of getting to the river from here at least, if only because it's a stone's throw away from the tent. It's also probably inevitable you'll wind up in the in the river by some means or another, so you go ahead and do that as well. And really, at this point it's just a matter of whether you can swim for your life or not.

[Unleash The Dolphin: 3]

It's a bit tough, admittedly. Lee's not the best swimmer, and you are, once again, really fucking drunk at the moment. It's not too hard to stay afloat though, you suppose. River's a bit too fast for your liking, but progress is definitely being made!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 18, 2016, 02:15:08 pm
Nah, just go make my way over to him with my supernatural strength. Maybe jump from the wall over to his roof. Point is, get close enough to talk to him without it being necessary to yell.

"Hey blacksmith! Thanks again for the murder-thought, it's been real handy. Pun not intended. Question! Would you be able to make me armor of some sort? Not that I'm really all that vulnerable as it is, but I'd like for stabby things to not pierce my flesh quite so easily."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 18, 2016, 02:44:18 pm
"I would be interested in that, but I don't know the process quite as well as I do with connections. If I knew a little more about what offering a source entails, I'm sure it would be a lot more feasible."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 18, 2016, 02:47:42 pm
"... Thank you. Is there anything else you need a hand with or should we be going?"
Take the rat and enquire aboutfang other errands.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 18, 2016, 04:34:14 pm
Thomas blinked a couple times.  He felt he had missed some context from the contest.

"Um... yes, I am, thank you.  Had some lunch from the kitchen, and it was... well, it was food.  Was your... exchange enlightening?  I feel there is something important she is not telling me."


Miss point
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 19, 2016, 12:37:29 am
Laugh it off and keep floating down the river. Seems easier than actual swimming. Though keep eye on Bruce Lee and help her if it looks bad.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 19, 2016, 02:51:54 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 18, 2016, 02:15:08 pm
Nah, just go make my way over to him with my supernatural strength. Maybe jump from the wall over to his roof. Point is, get close enough to talk to him without it being necessary to yell.

"Hey blacksmith! Thanks again for the murder-thought, it's been real handy. Pun not intended. Question! Would you be able to make me armor of some sort? Not that I'm really all that vulnerable as it is, but I'd like for stabby things to not pierce my flesh quite so easily."

You hop on over to his roof - seems like a cozy enough place. A private enough location for two naked friends to converse on the subject of artifice. You pose a question to the blacksmith - armor, you say, pointing to the arrow within your throat. Has he got the metal and, more importantly, the mettle to provide you with some?

The blacksmith definitely thinks a second, looking you over. A manic spark, no doubt left over from your previous engagement, shines briefly. He has some thoughts! Is it possible? Yes! Armor is a possibility! Of course, he is not at all an expert on these matters. Weapons, these he has thought of extensively! More thought has been devoted to these, in fact, than he has devoted to anything else at all. Weapons in the context of probability, destiny, inspiration! Even now his mind is afire with sharpness and blood and untold glories of a never-born age!

NEVER-THE-LESS, however, it is not impossible that some of his weapons may, in fact, be armor instead! Destiny is a shield as much as a blade, don't you know. Ideas are miraculously shapeless like that, he has learned. Had you asked him before this revelation, why, he couldn't have bloody well helped you at all! Too focused on materials, oh yes, when it was in fact the materials that were the crucial flaw, in fact it is when you get the sharpness and the bloodletting into a less corpore- no! Armor! Not weapons!

Truthfully, he finds it a little difficult to think of armor. He does believe he'll need an assistant for this one, oh yes! A worthy assistant! Not an apprentice, mind you! A master of their craft! What craft that may be, well, that he leaves up to you! This is new and exciting ground after all.

But that, of course, is not all. The blacksmith paces along the edge of the roof, increasingly giddy with excitement. To hone you further, an example is required! An unmistakable sliver of perfection, to put it in adequately inspiring terms! He sweeps his arms outward at the thought, nearly falling off the edge as his balance is momentarily compromised.

And finally, he whispers, a glimpse! A look into the unknown, encapsulated! A thing to be seen or heard, then to forever slip his grasp. The frustration! The wondrous frustration. What glories it could lead him to. Hah!

If you'll excuse him, however, he has some things he needs to look at in his workshop! They're a little difficult to see in the light, he mutters and starts to climb down the roof, tittering every now and then as he descends to the front of the workshop.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 18, 2016, 02:44:18 pm
"I would be interested in that, but I don't know the process quite as well as I do with connections. If I knew a little more about what offering a source entails, I'm sure it would be a lot more feasible."

In the simplest terms, it entails the delivery of a sentient being with at least one existent connection here. The delivery will be irreversible. However, the reward for this will be five answers and one fulfillment. This is sufficiently generous.

Immediate acceptance is not required. Neither is your direct involvement. The special reward goes to the first one to deliver. Subsequent deliveries will be rewarded with three answers and one fulfillment as per usual terms.

Quote from: TopHat on April 18, 2016, 02:47:42 pm
"... Thank you. Is there anything else you need a hand with or should we be going?"
Take the rat and enquire aboutfang other errands.

You grab one of the rats. Its flesh crumples a little at your touch. It feels terribly dry. Nevertheless, you ask if he perhaps has any other outstanding tasks to fulfill.

[The Doom Guard: 1]

For his part, the captain affirms that he does. The former stable master has gone noticeably missing, which is a striking disruption of routine. Any hints as to his whereabouts will be met with reasonable incentives. His safe return will be repaid with the highest possible incentives.

Quote from: Toaster on April 18, 2016, 04:34:14 pm
Thomas blinked a couple times.  He felt he had missed some context from the contest.

"Um... yes, I am, thank you.  Had some lunch from the kitchen, and it was... well, it was food.  Was your... exchange enlightening?  I feel there is something important she is not telling me."


Miss point

[Royal Honesty: 3]

Ah, you see, the queen says, she did rather imply that you were somewhat unusual. And by 'imply', she means that she rather explicitly warned of several important dangers that you and, er, individuals such as yourself seem to pose if not approached with care. She finishes her tea quickly.

Other than that, well, she also somewhat hinted that the sudden outpouring of supernatural events are indeed, well, supernatural, despite one's best hopes to the contrary. This is unfortunate, she says, because that somewhat limits her experience in dealing with it. Lucid dreaming is all fine and good, you know, but only as long as what's menacing you isn't very, very real, you must understand.

You can't say you do understand, but you nod along anyway.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 19, 2016, 12:37:29 am
Laugh it off and keep floating down the river. Seems easier than actual swimming. Though keep eye on Bruce Lee and help her if it looks bad.

[Which Way The River's Flowing: 3]

Don't worry, you laugh through bits of dark water occasionally flowing into your mouth. Even if things get heavy, you'll all float on okay.

And you do. When rocks get in the way, the stream gets nasty or the wet gets into the bones, you all just float on anyway.

In the near distance, the town of Anglefork looms, the river slowing ever so mildly after the confluence. Lee trails behind you, saying nothing as she concentrates staying above water. Tall docks with no boats tied to them greet you in the distance, the familiar figures of stoatmen, though far less armored standing upon them, going about some form of daily business. Further downriver are the drinkable bits, and further still lie the washing areas. Of course, you're not there yet. You suppose you could try to swim to shore along with Lee. Or hey, just keep on floating on. Water's deep and rapid. But once you stop fearing that, what's going to stop you in turn?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 19, 2016, 03:10:13 pm
Hmm, I think getting onto shore before floating past the town may be good idea. If nothing else, I can chat a bit more with Bruce. And for that end, I unfortunately may have to be less drunk. Not full drunk reboot, put partial.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 19, 2016, 03:43:56 pm
"Ah. Do you know of anything which might aid my search; any clues, perhaps? How long hav they been missing? Could I have a description of them?"
Ask pertinent questions concerning the missing person. Always fancied the idea of being a detective.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 19, 2016, 06:22:27 pm
"Well, I'll get right on that then! Oh, if I remove this mangled hand and get a better one will I lose my weapon?"

Hop down from the roof and glance about to see if that knight lady is around. Maybe she's a master knight?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 19, 2016, 09:39:18 pm
"Thank you, Well. I will be back."

I leave the well and start making my way up to the top of the walls.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 20, 2016, 12:12:28 am
"I can assure you that I am not dangerous at all.  I am but a simple salesman, is all.  But I do still wish to return home.  I suppose there is nothing I could do here to expedite this?"

Inquire.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 20, 2016, 10:06:02 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 19, 2016, 03:10:13 pm
Hmm, I think getting onto shore before floating past the town may be good idea. If nothing else, I can chat a bit more with Bruce. And for that end, I unfortunately may have to be less drunk. Not full drunk reboot, put partial.

[Enough Fooling Around: 2]

You sober up. This lets you better appreciate the way you appear to have little to no agency in where the river seems to be carrying you. You try to paddle to the side a little, but the stream is really quite something else. You find yourself liable to just start tumbling in the stream if you do anything other than make yourself as hydrodynamically favorable as possible. Lee, for her part, appears to have learned a similar lesson slightly quicker, which may explain why she's following so close along.

Quote from: TopHat on April 19, 2016, 03:43:56 pm
"Ah. Do you know of anything which might aid my search; any clues, perhaps? How long hav they been missing? Could I have a description of them?"
Ask pertinent questions concerning the missing person. Always fancied the idea of being a detective.

[The Inquisition: 3]

He was missing from those in attendance at the stone circle for the last great demonstration yesterday, which was highly irregular for a man of his habits. He was seen shortly before that in this very office, at which point he left, was sighted at the stone circle briefly, then suddenly vanished from the area. At last sighting he was a cheerful, unclothed individual in good health. It is assumed that he has fallen victim to some form of foul play or unusual occurrence. As such, his location and retrieval are of a high priority. He trusts you will devote all of your resources to this task?

The servant girl looks uneasy as the captain explains. She is familiar with the former stable master, you think.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 19, 2016, 06:22:27 pm
"Well, I'll get right on that then! Oh, if I remove this mangled hand and get a better one will I lose my weapon?"

Hop down from the roof and glance about to see if that knight lady is around. Maybe she's a master knight?

Excellent! And yes! The blacksmith seems particularly sure about that latter bit for some reason. You jump off the roof, fortunately not breaking anything, and cast an eye about for that knight lady. She's not about, however. There's just still some guards on the walls, a few people going back and forth. Ms. Minett also passes you in a swanky new robe.

[Perspectives on Knighthood: 4]

You're not really sure if a master knight is really a thing, though. Isn't a knight a master by default? Not much of a craft, you suppose, unless fighting's something you consider a craft. There's an argument to be made there, of course. Especially given that you're something of a martial artist yourself. And especially given that she didn't seem terribly inclined to assist you when last you spoke. That was a while back though now that you think about it.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 19, 2016, 09:39:18 pm
"Thank you, Well. I will be back."

I leave the well and start making my way up to the top of the walls.

Climbing out the well, you pass Mr. Daniels and head up to the walls, where you see the visage of the stoatman army. They currently seem to mostly be scurrying around their ramshackle siege camp. There seems to be quite a bit of something going on with that, though from this distance you'll be damned if you can tell what that might be.

[The Anticipation: 1]

A few stoatmen still in relative proximity to the wall eye you carefully before relaying news of your arrival further down the ranks. A unit forms up soon enough and starts to move nearer to the wall, crossbows loaded and at the ready.

Quote from: Toaster on April 20, 2016, 12:12:28 am
"I can assure you that I am not dangerous at all.  I am but a simple salesman, is all.  But I do still wish to return home.  I suppose there is nothing I could do here to expedite this?"

Inquire.

The queen seems only a little reassured. Minders are prone to certain exaggerations, of course, especially junior ones, but they're not really the types to-

[Excellent Purposes: 5]

-well, let her just say they tend to not throw these kinds of things around. Anyway, have you perhaps considered helping in the siege effort? Even if your exit is purely from this vicinity, surely it is a step in the right direction, and therefore a worthy goal? She understands that you might prove unexpectedly good at this task if the girl was in any way correct in her assessment.

The queen is about to continue, but the captain of the royal guard peeks into the room. There have been developments, she says, throwing you a suspicious glance. The queen seems curious, so the captain steps in. She looks at you again, this time with less subtlety. You'd suppose this to be an implied request to leave, though not one that the queen echoes in any particular way.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 20, 2016, 10:21:59 am
"Eh, fighting's as much a craft as anything else, internal voice of mine. You're just using your own body as the metaphorical canvas on which you paint the forms of combat. A perfectly executed elbow to the sternum is more beautiful than most sculptures. I suppose I could use myself as a master of martial arts, but I'm not quite there yet. Perhaps if I trained with my mind tentacle disciples in my mind temple thing. But I'll save that option for if she refuses to help me."

Hmm. Perhaps she headed into the main castle bit? Maybe the queen or one of the guards would know where she is - go ask the closest guard if they've seen her around.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 20, 2016, 10:36:44 am
Excellent, I was looking for a way to test this. I imagine a moat of blazing light between me and the stoats, stopping them from getting any closer. Then I shout "SEA!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 20, 2016, 11:08:03 am
"Of course. I'll see you as soon as I find out anything."
Head out of the office and go down to the stone circle. Ask my companion about the stable-master on the way.
"Well, that's interesting. You wouldn't happen to know this stable-master, by any chance?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 20, 2016, 12:30:52 pm
Quote from: TopHat on April 20, 2016, 11:08:03 am
"Of course. I'll see you as soon as I find out anything."
Head out of the office and go down to the stone circle. Ask my companion about the stable-master on the way.
"Well, that's interesting. You wouldn't happen to know this stable-master, by any chance?"
((Sounds suspiciously like the fellow with possibly blue bottle, who was later eaten by ground if my memory serves me correctly. Good luck.))


This is a bit of problem. Spontaneously learn new ways of swimming in the current. The trick is to not resist but go along with the flow. Or so I did read from those books years ago. Might have been about something else though... I wasn't exactly sober back then either.
If the trick was true, then handle Lee and myself to shore.
Otherwise I suppose it's INEVITABLE to end up on other side of the town. The river does flow part it after all.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 20, 2016, 11:22:43 pm
((I think it's the guy whose pants Mr. Minstep is wearing, actually.  Oh dear.  At least he was reported seen naked, so the pants are less of an interesting clue.))

"Ah, um, yes, you have business to attend to.  One final question, though; how could I help in this siege?"

Ask, then depart after whatever answer is given.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 20, 2016, 11:25:16 pm
((Both of them got eaten by the ground anyhow, so it's no difference in the end.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 21, 2016, 09:15:54 am
((Sounds like a dead end to me. Probably not worth your time.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 21, 2016, 12:36:42 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 20, 2016, 10:21:59 am
"Eh, fighting's as much a craft as anything else, internal voice of mine. You're just using your own body as the metaphorical canvas on which you paint the forms of combat. A perfectly executed elbow to the sternum is more beautiful than most sculptures. I suppose I could use myself as a master of martial arts, but I'm not quite there yet. Perhaps if I trained with my mind tentacle disciples in my mind temple thing. But I'll save that option for if she refuses to help me."

Hmm. Perhaps she headed into the main castle bit? Maybe the queen or one of the guards would know where she is - go ask the closest guard if they've seen her around.

You go over to the door of the castle and ask the guard if she's seen the lady knight with the shiny armor and the shield and sword. The Worm-knight, she asks? You assume that's the one, or at least something close enough. Yes, the Worm-knight.

SEA

[Curious Whereabouts: 6]

She went in, the guard confirms. She's either in her quarters on the second floor or hiding in the walls again. More likely than not that second bit. She likes to hide in the walls an awful lot.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 20, 2016, 10:36:44 am
Excellent, I was looking for a way to test this. I imagine a moat of blazing light between me and the stoats, stopping them from getting any closer. Then I shout "SEA!"

The sea has languished beneath the land of Anglefork for long enough. It's time to put it to some good use.

SEA

[Word: 3]

The earth trembles ever so slightly, a bit of the landscape rising almost imperceptibly as the subterranean sea pushes upward, driven by your directive and a desire all its own.

[Thoughts Upon The Ancient Sea: 5]

The earth is thick, so very thick here on the surface. The sea has not touched the sky for so long. You feel its yearning - it has yearned for longer than you can imagine, but never has it broken the earth. A Word is not enough, you feel. It was barely enough to spring a leak in the tomb, after all. You think this particular apocalyptic attempt requires a bit more juice, or perhaps far more conviction.

[A Storm of Bolts: 3 vs. 2]

This and several other things, few of them fit to be spoken in polite company, occur to you as you catch a bolt right in the stomach from a fortunate volley, nearly falling off the wall as your breath is taken away and you begin to bleed all over your nice new robe.

Quote from: TopHat on April 20, 2016, 11:08:03 am
"Of course. I'll see you as soon as I find out anything."
Head out of the office and go down to the stone circle. Ask my companion about the stable-master on the way.
"Well, that's interesting. You wouldn't happen to know this stable-master, by any chance?"

As you exit the captain's office the captain gives you a subtle nod. You wait until you are outside before you turn to your companion and ask more about the stable master.

[Speaking Ill: 6]

She purses her lips at first. Not much of a stable master, really. You ask why that might be, and she poses a counter-question - have you seen any horses still around? These latter days he was mostly a bone carver. A scrimshander, too. And a master of ceremonies at the stone circle, which you approach slowly. It's peaceful at this time of day, though surrounded by an unnerving sense of stillness, and the servant quiets her voice as she speaks here as if afraid to attract attention.

It's here that the ceremonies happened. Each time a similar thing, a living creature destroyed upon a stone. The stone's not there anymore, though. Where could it have- ah, somebody's rolled it to the blacksmith's door? Odd.

Anyway, the man seemed to do nothing but try and appeal to dark powers as far as she can tell. Maybe one of them took an interest.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 20, 2016, 12:30:52 pm
This is a bit of problem. Spontaneously learn new ways of swimming in the current. The trick is to not resist but go along with the flow. Or so I did read from those books years ago. Might have been about something else though... I wasn't exactly sober back then either.
If the trick was true, then handle Lee and myself to shore.
Otherwise I suppose it's INEVITABLE to end up on other side of the town. The river does flow part it after all.

A noble plan. It also happens to be exactly what you're doing right now. The flow seems very much willing to keep you in the middle of the river for now. So you move on to Plan B. Also known as Plan

INEVITABLE

[Word: 5]

It's elementary, you decide. You grab Lee's hand and you both submerge.

An indeterminate amount of time later you surface, the town of Anglefork right behind you, a waterfall in the far distance ahead. Lee seems very perplexed by this obvious devilry, though not in a terribly good position to do much about it presently.

That being said, the properties of the river have not changed very noticeably here, the waters still roaring around you as they pull you onward toward what looks like something of a precipice ahead.

Quote from: Toaster on April 20, 2016, 11:22:43 pm
"Ah, um, yes, you have business to attend to.  One final question, though; how could I help in this siege?"

Ask, then depart after whatever answer is given.

The queen looks your way and considers the options. Have you, er, perhaps tried to engage the stoatmen? From atop the walls, for instance? She understands that you may have talents useful in that regard. Other than that, have you considered asking the guards? They'd no doubt appreciate a little bit of legwork done, she says and looks at the royal guard captain, who offers a thin smile in return.

That being said, you head out. You're not really the man-the-walls type, clearly. But do you have many other options?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 21, 2016, 01:55:35 pm
Waterfall? It seems the "plan inevitable" should include word "death". So... uh, going with the flow doesn't work very favourably. It may be better to fight the river and get to the shore. Unleash the dolphin. The sober dolphin this time. Don't forget Lee.
Of course, the plan INEVITABLE failure success is still there in case my inner dolphin fails to manifest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 21, 2016, 03:46:30 pm
"Huh. She hide in the walls in any particular spot, or just everywhere kinda?"

I heard that. Once I've got my answer from the guard, go make my way towards where that Word came from.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 21, 2016, 04:01:50 pm
Talent?  Sales have already failed, and it's probably not likely they want to insure their tents.  A strange itch came back at the corner of his hearing, but it is ignored.

Perhaps the guards know something.

Find a likely guard.  Inquire what can be done about the siege.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 21, 2016, 04:04:07 pm
"Ah. Dark Powers. Right. Have there been any other occasions where they've taken an interest, then?"
Take a closer look at the stone circle whilst expressing skepticism about these dark powers. 100% foolproof way of seeing if they exist, right?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 21, 2016, 09:15:54 am
((Sounds like a dead end to me. Probably not worth your time.))
((Looks like it (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=d4dda2ec615e23ab54c027d7200c8065&topic=154045.msg6718968;topicseen#msg6718968):)))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 21, 2016, 05:04:18 pm
Maybe I need something smaller and more focused to start with. I imagine a spring of sorts, a trickle of bright nothingness pushing its way up through the cracks of the earth and bubbling to the surface directly in the middle of the stoat squad. Then I shout "SEA!" and duck in case there's any return fire.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 22, 2016, 05:01:52 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 21, 2016, 01:55:35 pm
Waterfall? It seems the "plan inevitable" should include word "death". So... uh, going with the flow doesn't work very favourably. It may be better to fight the river and get to the shore. Unleash the dolphin. The sober dolphin this time. Don't forget Lee.
Of course, the plan INEVITABLE failure success is still there in case my inner dolphin fails to manifest.

Well, most waterfalls aren't exactly terribly tall. So perhaps not death. But terrible discomfort at the very least, especially given the forcefulness of this stream.

[Unleash the Dolphin: 1]

You orient yourself into something like a position fit for swimming laterally. This results in you starting to tumble along the river, as predicted. Lee does not quite follow your lead as soon as she sees what's happening, though she does nearly trip over you as she swims past.

[Call of the Deep: 4]

Fortunately, you don't quite start to drown yet. Nevertheless, you have a bad feeling about this. Maybe probability needs a bit of a nudge.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

All you need to do to maximize your safety, you realize, is to reassume the stable position, which you manage with quite a lot of entirely abstracted trial and error. The waterfall, you realize, isn't terribly tall. Four meters or so, with an equivalent depth of water beneath it. Through several attempts you manage a dive that does not injure you in any particular way, and then from that you extrapolate a few realities where Lee doesn't break her skull on anything either. Satisfied with this result, you continue to flow along.

[Sinister Geography: 5]

The river widens a little at this point, the stream growing calmer and more manageable, the water becoming shallower. This proves an adequate opening for you to finally swim ashore, followed relatively closely by Lee. You take momentary solace in the fact that she is just as cold, wet and miserable as you, if perhaps less beaten and bruised. As she shakes some of the water off her dress, she gives you a very suspicious look.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 21, 2016, 03:46:30 pm
"Huh. She hide in the walls in any particular spot, or just everywhere kinda?"

I heard that. Once I've got my answer from the guard, go make my way towards where that Word came from.

There are a lot of walls to hide in, the guard elaborates. This place has been around for quite a while. It's a wonder there's any room for masonry with all the secret passages around. Like living in a slab of cheese sometimes. You nod at this answer, then look back at the walls. Seems like the Word came from there. And there do seem to be some bolts raining down presently. You figure you'll go take a look.

SEA

There it goes again. You walk up to the battlements between volleys of incoming bolts, and find the exquisitely robed Ms. Minett ducked behind a parapet, pondering her tactical options. A volley of suppressing fire from a platoon of crossbowstoats impresses upon you the wisdom of getting into cover yourself. She doesn't seem to be doing terribly well, whatever it is she's trying to do.

Quote from: Toaster on April 21, 2016, 04:01:50 pm
Talent?  Sales have already failed, and it's probably not likely they want to insure their tents.  A strange itch came back at the corner of his hearing, but it is ignored.

Perhaps the guards know something.

Find a likely guard.  Inquire what can be done about the siege.

[A Likely Guard: 6]

Walking through the hallways you find a patrolling guard who entertains your question with a thoughtful smile. What could you do? Indeed, what could anyone?

Truthfully, breaking the siege is an unlikely prospect. But the stoatmen have taken considerable losses over the past two days. The Child of the Sun and Moon did quite a bit of damage to their ranks with his strange sorceries, but he seems to have disappeared somewhere. Curious, that.

Perhaps, she posits, the stoatmen are not as terrible an adversary as reports would indicate. They are, after all, an assemblage of manic peasants with stolen weapons and armor. And if the holding pattern and their seeming lack of siege expertise is any indication, perhaps the current nine-to-one numbers advantage they have is not as decisive as one would imagine, especially given the destruction wrought upon their ranks. The encirclement really poses the most trouble, as does the... unfortunate shortage of horses, as it were. A unit of cavalry could likely make short work of most of these stoats in their current state of organization, yes.

You consider asking where you might fit into all this, but the guard pays you no mind, continuing to consider tactical scenarios with a gleam in her eye.

Quote from: TopHat on April 21, 2016, 04:04:07 pm
"Ah. Dark Powers. Right. Have there been any other occasions where they've taken an interest, then?"
Take a closer look at the stone circle whilst expressing skepticism about these dark powers. 100% foolproof way of seeing if they exist, right?

Plenty, actually. You didn't see that bit where this man just up and ate a stoatman right here at the stone circle? Had an extra mouth on his belly and everything. This isn't exactly conjecture she's dealing with here, you know. Anglefork's bloated with nightmares from top to bottom. That's why Rule One exists.

SEA

The circle, meanwhile, looks quite mundane as far as you can tell. Has a certain savage aesthetic, granted, intimidating in a sort of primitive way. It feels ruined in some strange way, as if there was something more here once. You suppose that might have something to do with the way somebody stole its sacrificial slab.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 21, 2016, 05:04:18 pm
Maybe I need something smaller and more focused to start with. I imagine a spring of sorts, a trickle of bright nothingness pushing its way up through the cracks of the earth and bubbling to the surface directly in the middle of the stoat squad. Then I shout "SEA!" and duck in case there's any return fire.

You peek out from cover and point at a particular mound of earth in the forming fault line, trying once more to coax out the ancient sea.

SEA

[Word: 3]

You're fairly sure something happens. You don't really stay uncovered long enough to find out what exactly. You hear a few shouts from the stoat lines. No screams of pain or death or anything, so you assume that while this is likely a step in the right direction, it's not quite the effect you were looking for.

Your shouting meanwhile seems to have attracted the attention of a very naked Mr. Daniels who takes up position behind the parapet next to yours, examining you thoughtfully. His eyes feel like a dozen scalpels running over your skin.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 22, 2016, 07:23:54 am
I look at Mr. Daniels anxiously. "Oh! Hey, just trying to uh, stir up some more defenses over here. Seems like I'm not as good at it as that guy with all the fire."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 22, 2016, 09:55:34 am
"Ha ha, that was quite adventure, don't you agree!" Leif laughs. "Haven't swum down waterfall since... well, never. Very refreshing experience I must say! Now then, we don't have any stoats around bothering us so I guess we can have a breather. Where you wanna go now?"

Give the dagger back and get to know Lee better. Check out if there's something I can make burn or use to warm up. Almost makes me wish I could have SUN.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 22, 2016, 01:07:23 pm
"Oh, yes. Him. I really must ask him about that at some point. Or stay as far away from him as possible, I'm not sure which, yet. But did you hear that? Sea, it sounded like."
Did anyone else hear that?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 22, 2016, 01:16:21 pm
"Heya there. Just heard you using a magic word and came to see what all the commotion was about. Defences, you say? What's it do, if you don't mind me asking?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 22, 2016, 02:37:12 pm
"Well it messes with the sea, but that's less straightforward around here." I pull neck of my robe down to show Mr Daniels the bubbling scar on my back. "Kind of a dangerous force, but what isn't? I'm trying to make a moat."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 22, 2016, 03:20:11 pm
"I'll take your word about it being dangerous, but why a moat? This is a siege, the problem is that the people in the castle can't get out of it, not that the stoats are about to get in.

Also why the sea? It doesn't seem to be anywhere near here, unless by sea you're for some reason referring to some horrible physics-breaking abomination thing that happens to be referred to as a sea. What with all the stuff apparently squirrelled away in Anglefork I wouldn't be surprised."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 22, 2016, 04:41:38 pm
"You know," I say, pulling the bolt out of my chest, "they're still close enough to do a good bit of harm. Can't hurt to keep them a little further. As for where the sea is, it's under us, of course."

After we finish speaking for the time being, I jump back up and focus on the same spot as before, then shout "SEA!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 22, 2016, 09:22:17 pm
"I'd more question how we get over the moat you make when we want to leave. And that's not the sea, that's an aquifer."

Observe the effects of the word. If nothing interesting happens, bid my farewell, make my way down to the nearest castle wall, and open a hole in it. Call out for the worm-knight. If something interesting does happen, admire it, unless it looks like it's gonna hurt me in which case vacate the premises.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 22, 2016, 11:25:54 pm
"Yes, that's well and- yes, okay, but what can I do?  Hello?"

Attempt to get word in edgewise.  Listen regardless.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 23, 2016, 03:27:21 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 22, 2016, 09:55:34 am
"Ha ha, that was quite adventure, don't you agree!" Leif laughs. "Haven't swum down waterfall since... well, never. Very refreshing experience I must say! Now then, we don't have any stoats around bothering us so I guess we can have a breather. Where you wanna go now?"

Give the dagger back and get to know Lee better. Check out if there's something I can make burn or use to warm up. Almost makes me wish I could have SUN.

She takes the dagger, secreting it away in her dress with a practiced motion. She seems altogether less amused by this than you are as she looks toward Anglefork Town. She needs to go upriver. Back to the clan. Maybe after she dries off, she says and tries to shake off more of the water.

[Building A Fire: 1]

You can help with that, you say, and run off into the woods, returning some time later with some interesting-looking damp twigs. This one's got a very interesting color of mold on it, for instance. And that one looks like a person under the right light. You also get a fistful of wet moss and six delicious-looking berries the size of tomatoes. You figure these will come in handy for something.

Lee seems less than impressed with your finds, having wrung as much water out of her clothes as she could in your absence. Currently she's atop one of the taller trees in the area, casting a careful eye on her surroundings.

Quote from: TopHat on April 22, 2016, 01:07:23 pm
"Oh, yes. Him. I really must ask him about that at some point. Or stay as far away from him as possible, I'm not sure which, yet. But did you hear that? Sea, it sounded like."
Did anyone else hear that?

Your companion looks at the walls. She... did hear that, yes. And isn't that the stoatman-eater himself up there, next to that robed person? Speak of the devil, eh?

SEA

Yes, it does seem to be coming from the walls, you think.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 22, 2016, 04:41:38 pm
"You know," I say, pulling the bolt out of my chest, "they're still close enough to do a good bit of harm. Can't hurt to keep them a little further. As for where the sea is, it's under us, of course."

After we finish speaking for the time being, I jump back up and focus on the same spot as before, then shout "SEA!"

Nothing like a lovely chat in the middle of a combat situation. You rise up and point at a likely-looking, pulsing mound of earth.

SEA

[Word: 1]

The mound surges upward a little, a subterranean wave visibly impacting the surface of the earth. It flows closer, moving like some form of worm beneath the earth. The earth begins to thump regularly, the mound inching closer to the walls as some force starts to seemingly very deliberately push in your direction.

[Rain of Bolts: 4 vs. 2]

Your contemplation is interrupted when yet another bolt flies into your cheek, your mouth beginning to fill with blood as teeth are dislodged and your tongue is sliced into by the impact. You duck back down, pulling out the bolt as you spit out any loosened components onto the battlements.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 22, 2016, 09:22:17 pm
"I'd more question how we get over the moat you make when we want to leave. And that's not the sea, that's an aquifer."

Observe the effects of the word. If nothing interesting happens, bid my farewell, make my way down to the nearest castle wall, and open a hole in it. Call out for the worm-knight. If something interesting does happen, admire it, unless it looks like it's gonna hurt me in which case vacate the premises.

SEA

Well, you'd say that a sandworm-like silhouette on the ground is fairly interesting, at least. And perhaps not immediately harmful, though you can't say you liked the sound of that last Word.

[Rain of Bolts: 1 vs. 5]

You duck back behind the parapet after a moment's consideration, another volley of bolts flying over you as the stoatmen try to repel this foul sorcery the only way they know how. Ms. Minett, you notice, is unfortunately a little slower to get into cover.

Quote from: Toaster on April 22, 2016, 11:25:54 pm
"Yes, that's well and- yes, okay, but what can I do?  Hello?"

Attempt to get word in edgewise.  Listen regardless.

The trouble is, the guard tells nobody in particular at this point, that there really is very little information. They tend to not leave many survivors, these stoatmen. So good intelligence is hard to come by, particularly during a siege. For instance, why they don't seem particularly interested in building and using siege equipment, or what's happening in Anglefork Town. These mysteries are likely the most infuriating part of the whole thing.

[Presence of Mind: 2]

She continues into a recounting of the crown's engagements with the stoatman army. Each of the ones that doesn't have an overwhelming numbers advantage has absolutely no information about its resolution available, except a complete lack of survivors on the crown's side. All of this is old information, of course, but it is certainly information that she has devoted much thought to. She genuinely seems unaware that you're still here at this point.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 23, 2016, 04:11:14 am
"Your clan, eh? Where they can be found then? Might as well pay a visit while we are on the road."

Eat the berries. Listen what wind is whispering? Where's the next adventure?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 23, 2016, 04:19:37 am
"Hmm. I think you should stop doing that, I prefer the ground not falling out from under my feet. Goodbye now."

Proceed with my wall-opening plans to begin finding the mysterious knight lady. That is, go find my way to the castle itself and punch/slice/etc a hole in the wall to see if she's in there. The wall of the castle, not the castle.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 23, 2016, 07:14:36 am
I spit blood as I wave Mr. Daniels goodbye.

Anyway. This word doesn't seem to be doing the job. Still, that thing I conjured up could probably be useful if it had an appetite for stoatmen. Once Mr. Daniels gets well out of earshot, I pop back up over the wall, point at the mound, and shout "HUNGER!" I duck back down once I've seen the effects of the word.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 23, 2016, 07:31:34 am
Quote from: Xantalos on April 23, 2016, 04:19:37 am
The wall of the castle, not the castle.

Well, that clears that up perfectly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 23, 2016, 07:34:27 am
"Well, if those are arrows or crossbow bolts flying past them, it looks like they're annoying the stoatmen, whatever they're doing. Are words like that commonly heard around here, too?"
Head over to the Blacksmith's to ask why the stone's been moved. Investigating the word can wait till the stoats have calmed down a bit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 23, 2016, 02:27:57 pm
Quote from: Harry Baldman on April 23, 2016, 07:31:34 am
Quote from: Xantalos on April 23, 2016, 04:19:37 am
The wall of the castle, not the castle.

Well, that clears that up perfectly.
Certainly does, don't it?
Er.
What I'm trying to communicate is that I want to make a hole only halfway into the wall to expose all those supposedly hidden passages the worm-knight likes to hide in, rather than punching straight through the wall and into the room beyond whatever wall I'm punching.
Hopefully that helps?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 23, 2016, 02:30:56 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 23, 2016, 02:27:57 pm
Certainly does, don't it?
Er.
What I'm trying to communicate is that I want to make a hole only halfway into the wall to expose all those supposedly hidden passages the worm-knight likes to hide in, rather than punching straight through the wall and into the room beyond whatever wall I'm punching.
Hopefully that helps?

What I'm more curious about is whether you mean the wall of the keep or the actual castle wall.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 23, 2016, 02:47:20 pm
Quote from: Harry Baldman on April 23, 2016, 02:30:56 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 23, 2016, 02:27:57 pm
Certainly does, don't it?
Er.
What I'm trying to communicate is that I want to make a hole only halfway into the wall to expose all those supposedly hidden passages the worm-knight likes to hide in, rather than punching straight through the wall and into the room beyond whatever wall I'm punching.
Hopefully that helps?

What I'm more curious about is whether you mean the wall of the keep or the actual castle wall.
...Also I am not very vocabulary. The wall of the keep. I'd completely forgotten those were called different things.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 23, 2016, 11:03:03 pm
"Er, yes, go on..."

Listen more.  Ask what could be done if an opportunity presents itself.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 24, 2016, 11:35:28 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 23, 2016, 04:11:14 am
"Your clan, eh? Where they can be found then? Might as well pay a visit while we are on the road."

Eat the berries. Listen what wind is whispering? Where's the next adventure?

The berries are roughly the size of tomatoes, so you start off with one. You've already had some cheese, after all.

[Taste the Red: 4]

They're also, oddly enough, similar in taste to tomatoes. Perhaps a little sweeter. Not bad at all. You have another one to top yourself off while resuming conversation with Lee.

[Moth's Flight: 6]

You ask her where her clan might be. She thinks a moment. Northward, probably. Past Anglefork. Maybe close to Elizabeth. It is a good place for those of the Moth. This being said, she looks back toward the town of Anglefork and its adjunct castle with a great deal of wariness.

[Whispers on the Wind: 2]

The wind, meanwhile, is even less talkative, whistling innocently along your ears like a cheeky old bastard.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 23, 2016, 04:19:37 am
"Hmm. I think you should stop doing that, I prefer the ground not falling out from under my feet. Goodbye now."

Proceed with my wall-opening plans to begin finding the mysterious knight lady. That is, go find my way to the castle itself and punch/slice/etc a hole in the wall to see if she's in there. The wall of the castle, not the castle.

You walk on down to the keep and set yourself up next to a likely-looking wall. As good a place to start as any.

HUNGER

Huh. That sounded a little familiar, you must say. Oh well. Gotta punch a wall first.

[To Punch The Very Walls: 5+1]

You take a moment to breathe deep and prepare. It seems like a really dumb idea to just try and punch the shit out of a stone wall. You suppose, however, that you have done far more counterintuitive things today. You don't think it's likely to end too badly, anyway. Your non-injured arm uncoils into a powerful jab, and the wall gives under the force of your fist, a block of stone crumbling as it is dislodged by the blow. Didn't hurt half as much as you thought it would, honestly. Hell, your hand's not even broken or anything. An odd thing, really.

You look inside. You appear to have dug upon something, at least. A dark space of some kind. Lucky shot, you suppose - looks like a vertical shaft of some kind. Pretty narrow. Goes a ways downward. And it's got a ladder! Cool!

A rustling nearby interrupts your appreciation of the find. It's a guard. She looks to be in the middle of reconsidering her hasty decision to come and investigate what you were doing after witnessing your bare fist break a sizable hole into a stone wall. She smiles and waves nervously. Haha. Having a good day, sir?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 23, 2016, 07:14:36 am
I spit blood as I wave Mr. Daniels goodbye.

Anyway. This word doesn't seem to be doing the job. Still, that thing I conjured up could probably be useful if it had an appetite for stoatmen. Once Mr. Daniels gets well out of earshot, I pop back up over the wall, point at the mound, and shout "HUNGER!" I duck back down once I've seen the effects of the word.

Maybe you can redefine the thing's wants, if you try hard enough... here goes.

HUNGER

[Word: 6]

You poke out through the crenellation, pointing at the approaching mound with both hands as you scream out the word. It swells. It rises. It starts to rupture. You catch a glimpse of what emerges. This is sufficient to convince you that letting it notice you is likely a very poor idea.

You duck behind the next parapet again just as another bunch of bolts rains down on the area. The earth groans. The stoats scream, briefly. You hear a high-pitched warble as something propels itself along the field below. You hear the twinkling sound of light-bubbles popping into brief glimpses of one's innermost fears.

Quote from: TopHat on April 23, 2016, 07:34:27 am
"Well, if those are arrows or crossbow bolts flying past them, it looks like they're annoying the stoatmen, whatever they're doing. Are words like that commonly heard around here, too?"
Head over to the Blacksmith's to ask why the stone's been moved. Investigating the word can wait till the stoats have calmed down a bit.

She doesn't recall too many words like that, no. Seems to be a recent development. Might be the madness bubbling over. She expected something like this to happen eventually, really.

HUNGER

Best not to question it much, she supposes as you walk over to the blacksmith's door. He's been something of a recluse, your companion explains. Probably one of the less sane individuals around here. Bearing this in mind, you knock on the door. It opens surprisingly quickly, revealing a manic, naked youth mostly shrouded in the deep darkness of a boarded-up indoor smithy.

[Path of Inspiration: 6]

Ah, he says! You must be the masters, then. Come in! He has MANY insights to discuss. The door opens a little wider and the youth swallows noticeably. He is visibly shivering.

Quote from: Toaster on April 23, 2016, 11:03:03 pm
"Er, yes, go on..."

Listen more.  Ask what could be done if an opportunity presents itself.

There's also a certain nervous quality she's noticed about these particular stoats, yes. There's the scent of the ghetto about them. It doesn't really leave someone that has lived there for a time. Their sense of place has not departed fully, and their fear is stronger than ever. Why would they pursue the royal house this far, if not for fear of their regime collapsing if they do not? Only so many royals you can display to the crowd or feed to the pyre. They're only going to eat each other afterwards even if they do win. It's all so very stupid, so-

[Presence of Mind: 4]

-ah, right. She turns to you again. Her apologies. She forgot herself there for a moment. What was your question? How can you help? Hm. You don't seem like you're really much for a fight. Though of course where there's a will there's always a way. You want a spot in the guard? There's few spare beds in the barracks, of course, but no shortage of equipment. And she's sure quite a few of the guardsmen would love having somebody around to instruct. Herself included, she smiles.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 24, 2016, 11:45:29 am
So it seems the well's comments are bearing out. For an overly logical asshole it can be pretty helpful at times.

"Oh, just checking to see if the Worm-Knight's anywhere to be found. Oh worm-knight! I have an offer for you!"

Yodel/yell into the tunnel. Any response? If not, get into the tunnel and start heading down.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 24, 2016, 12:10:50 pm
Yep, that seems like it's in a good place now. I'm sure it's going to move away from the castle, probably. Anyway, I've meddled enough here, you know? I have other business.

I crawl to the stairs, then down them, then run away from this sea monster in search of masons.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 24, 2016, 01:59:46 pm
"Masters? I have a Master's, I guess - from Cambridge, not that you would've heard of it. Does that count?"
Present qualifications and accept the blacksmith's invitation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 24, 2016, 03:36:14 pm
"Well, I don't have anything better to do or places to be in at the moment, so I guess that's where we will go! By the way, these berries are quite tasty. Have one or two! Tell me about your people. In my world moths are kind of butterflies who are attracted to light. But then again in my world stoats are tiny stupid animals who do not have tendecy to lead rebellion."


To north! To the lands of another group of people named after animals! I do hope we are on northern shore... After all miners' sense of direction is impeccable and not based on celestial objects.
Offer berries too and perform equal excenge of information.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 25, 2016, 01:32:14 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 24, 2016, 11:45:29 am
So it seems the well's comments are bearing out. For an overly logical asshole it can be pretty helpful at times.

"Oh, just checking to see if the Worm-Knight's anywhere to be found. Oh worm-knight! I have an offer for you!"

Yodel/yell into the tunnel. Any response? If not, get into the tunnel and start heading down.

[The Hills Are Alive: 6]

You yodel mightily down the shaft, finally putting that class you took once to actual use. A call simultaneously alien in origin, yet uniquely human in its overpowering silliness. You let the echoes ring out far and deep, and when they have subsided you listen carefully for a response.

[Yodelocation: 2]

Sadly, there is no return yodel. Perhaps she is less confident in her head voice. Perhaps she finds the act of yodeling deeply degrading to her dignity much like the civilized world you remember. Small minds exist on both sides of the veil, unfortunately. You suppose you'll have to climb down and take a look yourself. You squeeze in through the hole in the wall and start to climb down into darkness, your murder-thought scratching the walls as you move down.

Eventually the ladder ends, seemingly above a larger empty space. Your feet find no purchase deeper down even with a good deal of exploratory swinging, though you do notice that the ceiling of the room below continues into every direction near as you can tell.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 24, 2016, 12:10:50 pm
Yep, that seems like it's in a good place now. I'm sure it's going to move away from the castle, probably. Anyway, I've meddled enough here, you know? I have other business.

I crawl to the stairs, then down them, then run away from this sea monster in search of masons.

A flawless escape. You foresee no future problems from this particular decision.

Moments later, you are down in the courtyard. At this point you dare to stand up fully and take a look around. The masons ought to be around here somewhere.

[Important Deductions: 2]

Hm. Maybe you could ask someone where they are.

Quote from: TopHat on April 24, 2016, 01:59:46 pm
"Masters? I have a Master's, I guess - from Cambridge, not that you would've heard of it. Does that count?"
Present qualifications and accept the blacksmith's invitation.

Cambridge! Such an auspicious name! Cambridge. Cambridge! You must tell him of this Cambridge. He ushers you in, then gives the girl a skeptical look. Is she a master too?

[Thriving on Technicality: 1]

She's an assistant, the girl says. Indispensable to the process of mastering. And also from Cambridge. She knows many people there. Her enterprising smile, however, fails to win the blacksmith over. He'll be the judge of anyone's indispensability, thank you very much! There is no need for assistants! A master was SPECIFIED, a master will be had! Now begone, mischievous wench!

You catch a glimpse of the girl's disappointed frown as the blacksmith slams the door in front of her. The workshop, now robbed of what precious little natural light it had, is mostly only illuminated by a scant few rays of light poking in through gaps in the boarded windows. Nevertheless, the glint in the blacksmith's eyes is both visible and almost palpable as he turns to you once more.

Armor, he says. That is the goal! To preserve life! To cloak a man in protection from the travails of fate! To birth an ideal enveloping form here in the dark, where all things are possible! To find a sheath of destiny to insert the sword of fate into, so that it may not lose its polish! Bestow upon him your mastery, so that he may better know the path to travel!

Pain aids in creation, he offers after a moment's consideration. Pain and dark give solidity to the imaginary realms. Pain brings out a certain animal focus! Crudely shaped, it can be made into a weapon! But other things also. Have you any thoughts?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 24, 2016, 03:36:14 pm
"Well, I don't have anything better to do or places to be in at the moment, so I guess that's where we will go! By the way, these berries are quite tasty. Have one or two! Tell me about your people. In my world moths are kind of butterflies who are attracted to light. But then again in my world stoats are tiny stupid animals who do not have tendecy to lead rebellion."


To north! To the lands of another group of people named after animals! I do hope we are on northern shore... After all miners' sense of direction is impeccable and not based on celestial objects.
Offer berries too and perform equal excenge of information.

[All Aboard The Expositrain: 2]

She takes a berry after climbing down the tree in preparation for a departure, but does not eat it yet. Your observations seem to amuse her very mildly. She had much the same impression of stoats. The truth of it will bear out in time. In any case, it is time to proceed. Go first. She will follow behind.

[Northward Bound: 1]

You look at the sun. It seems to be in that direction over there. Now you're pretty sure that north is the direction that the sun isn't in, but you think there's like three of those. You pick a vaguely north-like direction, striding on with full confidence in your abilities. Lee does not walk beside you, instead sticking some distance behind you. You are about to give her a shout to hurry up when she falls behind some distance, but are cut off by a whole different shout from up ahead. You turn to look.

Oh hey, it's the road. And, er, four stoatmen. Lightly armored. Wielding spears. Got the look of a peasant levy about them. They seem to be advancing at you from a distance with some urgency. One of them seems to be yelling at you to stop right there.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 25, 2016, 01:44:21 pm
Hmm. Normally I'd consider this a bad idea, but my strength is unlimited as far as I know and my durability seems to be tied to my confidence in my own integrity. So this is clearly going to work. 

Use my strength to form hand and footholds in the stone that I can hold onto as I go downward onto the ceiling of the cavern. Even if I can't hold onto the ceiling with my murder-thought, I'm more than strong enough to hold myself up by only one hand and two feet. Take a look about, see what's in this place.

In case my wording is unclear: climb down onto the ceiling of the cavern and hold on by using my unnatural strength to make handholds/simply grip the stone hard enough to support my weight.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 25, 2016, 03:34:58 pm
I look around for one of the locals and ask them where the masons tend to hang out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 25, 2016, 05:10:19 pm
Thomas shook his head.  "Ah, er, no, that wasn't what I had in mind.  I was thinking less permanent position and more... contract work, I suppose.  One-off tasks.  Something like that.  I have a job, you see.  Also, no, I've never fought in my life.  Or guarded anything."

Not what I meant.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 25, 2016, 11:41:56 pm
"Don't run with a spear in hand! You might trip on it and impale yourself!"

It's INEVITABLE isn't it? A bit on the unlikely side, but not impossible.
And just for fun induce inebriation into their veins directly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 26, 2016, 01:33:51 pm
"A couple. But what do you want to talk about first? Cambridge, armour - although I confess that I am by no means an authority on the subject - or my own field of expertise?"

Discuss whatever he requests - Cambridge university and my time there, insights as to the future regarding armour and the new materials it uses, or the massive importance of Chemistry and an introduction to its main concepts.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 26, 2016, 01:43:23 pm
((Action edited.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 27, 2016, 01:29:46 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 25, 2016, 01:44:21 pm
Hmm. Normally I'd consider this a bad idea, but my strength is unlimited as far as I know and my durability seems to be tied to my confidence in my own integrity. So this is clearly going to work. 

Use my strength to form hand and footholds in the stone that I can hold onto as I go downward onto the ceiling of the cavern. Even if I can't hold onto the ceiling with my murder-thought, I'm more than strong enough to hold myself up by only one hand and two feet. Take a look about, see what's in this place.

In case my wording is unclear: climb down onto the ceiling of the cavern and hold on by using my unnatural strength to make handholds/simply grip the stone hard enough to support my weight.

[Metamorphic Grip: 6]

You dig your hand into the ceiling, pushing your fingers into the stone. It heats as it yields under your grip, eventually forming a handhold perfectly adapted for your own single available hand. That being done, you swing down, suspending yourself above the chamber beneath.

Of course, the view from this position still shows you just about jack shit, as the chamber is nearly pitch black, only a little light reaching the place from above. You think the floor's not too far down, at least right beneath the shaft it isn't. Looking down from where you are you think odds are about 50/50 that beneath you lies an endless abyss of death. And you don't foresee it'll be terribly easy climbing along a ceiling with only one hand available, as you're not sure if you can do the same handhold trick with your toes, or if you even have the necessary joint flexibility to pull off the simian acrobatics required to even halfway safely navigate a horizontal surface from below.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 25, 2016, 03:34:58 pm
I look around for one of the locals and ask them where the masons tend to hang out.

You spot a girl likely in her mid-teens hanging out in front of a wooden house. She seems vaguely concerned and disappointed, and also like she's not doing anything particularly important. You walk up to her confidently. Ho there, miss! Where might one find the masons?

[See You On The Flip Side: 4]

Over there, she says, pointing at a rather small nearby workshop with its back resting against the wall. It seems to be mostly hidden from sight in the corner by the place she's standing in front of, and seems to lack any sort of windows as well. A bit of a ramshackle look, you'd say. Not really the sort of location you would place a respected trio of craftsmen in.

Quote from: Toaster on April 25, 2016, 05:10:19 pm
Thomas shook his head.  "Ah, er, no, that wasn't what I had in mind.  I was thinking less permanent position and more... contract work, I suppose.  One-off tasks.  Something like that.  I have a job, you see.  Also, no, I've never fought in my life.  Or guarded anything."

Not what I meant.

This is contract work, she says. You join the guard until this siege business gets sorted out and you get to keep the weapons and armor. Once you've sent the stoats packing you get a generous pension and as much land as you can personally reclaim from stoat occupation. Simple, really. She gives you a smile. And the training is completely free, too. You'll be set for a career as a knight errant for sure if you acquit yourself well, she says in a tone of voice you can't help but feel isn't entirely serious.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 25, 2016, 11:41:56 pm
"Don't run with a spear in hand! You might trip on it and impale yourself!"

It's INEVITABLE isn't it? A bit on the unlikely side, but not impossible.
And just for fun induce inebriation into their veins directly.

Look at those sharp spears held in those stubby little arms. And that unwieldy armor. They don't look very well-trained. Not very well-trained at all. You think it's just a matter of time before someone has an accident, really.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 6]

An infinity of amusing injuries lies before you, so many choices... you think this one will do:

Just as you say this, one of them trips in their rush to get over here. Her grip slightly loosens. Her spear flips and falls, and she fumbles it in her grip, its head pointing straight at her as she falls forward. Driven by her fall, the spear slips just beneath the ribcage, twisting upward, puncturing both lungs and the heart, escaping through the bottom of the throat. A hideous gurgling sound comes out of her mouth as she begins to drown. The other stoatmen stop in their tracks immediately, looking on as their comrade quickly expires from massive blood loss and suffocation.

Holy crap, one of them says, then looks at you. How did you do that? One of the other guards starts to slowly back away. The third glances between her two comrades, unsure which one has the right idea. You offer them all the gift of grapefruit, but this only seems to confuse them more.

Quote from: TopHat on April 26, 2016, 01:33:51 pm
"A couple. But what do you want to talk about first? Cambridge, armour - although I confess that I am by no means an authority on the subject - or my own field of expertise?"

Discuss whatever he requests - Cambridge university and my time there, insights as to the future regarding armour and the new materials it uses, or the massive importance of Chemistry and an introduction to its main concepts.

[Reckless Self-Indulgence: 2]

Start at the beginning, he says! This Cambridge! Tell him all about it!

[Anecdotes From A Different World: 1]

He seems a little disappointed when your stories invariably fail to contain any wizards, and that much of it seems to consist of things he has no knowledge of that only raise further questions when you try to explain them. Sounds bloody well made up, he says, and you must say there is a unique sort of hurtfulness to being utterly dismissed by somebody who seems convinced that you can smith armor out of ideas.

Enough, he says! The very notion of Cambridge has begun to offend him. Move on to chemistry!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 27, 2016, 02:52:15 pm
I thank the girl and head over to knock on the shack's front door.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 27, 2016, 03:53:20 pm
Leif takes two steps forward smug half smile on his face, spreading his arms wide, palms up, wiggling his fingers.

"Magic (https://i.imgur.com/YsbKHg1.gif). Wanna hear what happens if you loiter around?"

Manifest ultimate smugness again. Perhaps it leads to same end result as last time. If it doesn't, then additional alcohol is solution.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 27, 2016, 04:00:57 pm
"Why yes, Chemistry! The central science! The catalyst for the future world! One cannot begin to understand the world without it! What things are made of, why things happen! At the heart of any living thing whatever the biologists might say, and, indeed, everything else! Where to begin?"

Forget Cambridge, it's time to start in earnest, on my favourite subject. This may take a while...
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 27, 2016, 05:28:53 pm
"Well, that's pointless. Back up I go."

Can I leverage myself back up to the ladder? If so, do so. Hook my feet into the rungs or something to hang on until I can get my hand back on it if I need to.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 27, 2016, 05:42:17 pm
"Errr... I perhaps wasn't clear.  I meant a... non-combat position?  I'd be no use in a fight, quite really.  Oh my.  And I rent a rather pleasant house already."

Try this again.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 28, 2016, 02:35:29 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 27, 2016, 02:52:15 pm
I thank the girl and head over to knock on the shack's front door.

She nods gracefully at you as you leave for the masons' workshop.

You knock on the door, and the door becomes slightly ajar from the impact of your knuckles, only to be kicked back outward by an emaciated, yet nevertheless formidable figure covered in chalky dust. He peers at you with lidded eyes, saying nothing for a few moments before he is pulled out of the way by a slightly healthier-looking individual. You remember this one from the stone circle - dull features, serpentine grin. He seems to remember you as well. Fancy meeting you here, he says as another figure about half his height lurks from behind his back. You feel the small brother's eyes wander over you in a predatory fashion briefly.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 27, 2016, 03:53:20 pm
Leif takes two steps forward smug half smile on his face, spreading his arms wide, palms up, wiggling his fingers.

"Magic (https://i.imgur.com/YsbKHg1.gif). Wanna hear what happens if you loiter around?"

Manifest ultimate smugness again. Perhaps it leads to same end result as last time. If it doesn't, then additional alcohol is solution.

[Affairs of Wizards: 4]

Hey man, she just thought you were a poacher or something. There's no need for, like, drastic measures and shit. It's cool. She's not paid nearly enough to handle this sort of thing.

It's okay, you say with a grin. You get mistaken for poachers all the time. The price one pays for such humble traveling arrangements. You offer a grapefruit of peace. Her comrades continue to retreat carefully, the indecisive stoatwoman having decided to make herself scarce as well.

[The Olive Branch: 2]

Uh, she says as she looks at the grapefruit. You sense her mind recoil slightly from the unknown trick. Can she go, she asks? You promise you, like, won't try to hit her in the back or anything?

Quote from: TopHat on April 27, 2016, 04:00:57 pm
"Why yes, Chemistry! The central science! The catalyst for the future world! One cannot begin to understand the world without it! What things are made of, why things happen! At the heart of any living thing whatever the biologists might say, and, indeed, everything else! Where to begin?"

Forget Cambridge, it's time to start in earnest, on my favourite subject. This may take a while...

[The Central Science: 6+1]

You speak of matter, a near-fractal assemblage of particles into forms increasingly complex and varied. What are we, if not matter animated by energy? You tell of atoms, their nuclei, electrons, elements - the lower boundary of chemistry, the fundamental truths. There are many truths to impart, and the blacksmith's eyes speak to a deep and powerful thirst. He is uneducated. Ignorant. But very moldable. Very eager to learn. Very accepting of the unintuitive. He is the student you never knew you wanted.

There is so much to tell, so very much. Your own enthusiasm takes hold. Solutions. Ions. Acids. Bases. Chelates, even. You nearly get ahead of yourself, then push on regardless. He listens greedily. Very little can hold back a mind that is prepared to learn, and you easily engender in him an earnestness in seeking knowledge. He thought he knew, that you would confirm his opinions - you prove him wrong. His ignorance is no longer beyond his comprehension. You impart with a crushing certainty how little he knew before. He will look back on the boy he was, and find it an innocent time. One of ideas and sorceries and half-assed alchemy, mere quasi-intellectual fumbling around the greater truth. A necessary step, of course, when true knowledge is lacking. At least he fumbles - too many are content to do nothing instead.

You have only begun. Energy. Entropy. Enthalpy. Electron shells and equilibria, the basis of all things which react. The transformations of substance made possible by formation and breakage of bonds, the release and absorption of energy, the collision of molecules. The blacksmith starts to back away. You chase him through the house, shouting to get the words into his head, shape his concept of the world. The truth burns. His curiosity does not allow him to resist.

You sense he takes refuge in the abstract. You pin him against a wall. What is he? He is carbon, hydrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen. He is water, salt, fat, protein, sugar, nitrogen bases. His mind and soul are formed of potassium mingling with sodium, of glutamate crossing narrow gulfs of interstitial fluid, of finding temporary reprieve from entropy. You tell him of the beginning and the end. As you finish your tale and throw him to the ground, he grins at the ceiling, thoughts swirling in his mind. You sense that he now understands.

REVELATION

The room seems brighter now, as if electrically lit. Oddly, you don't see any apparent source for this, the windows still being boarded up as before. The place looks filthy. And the blacksmith is still naked. You kindly instruct him to get himself in order, and he complies immediately, locating his apron and a set of vaguely clothes-like rags.

Standing up before you, he seems to think. Dark is not what is needed. Instead, energy. Light. Power. Energy is at the core of transformation. Observation is at the core of learning. Light assists with both. So assist him with light. Powerful light. Blinding light. The light of annihilation.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 27, 2016, 05:28:53 pm
"Well, that's pointless. Back up I go."

Can I leverage myself back up to the ladder? If so, do so. Hook my feet into the rungs or something to hang on until I can get my hand back on it if I need to.

[Simian Acrobatics: 4]

You swing along the ceiling and manage to catch one of your feet on the ladder, and from this position get your other foot up there as well. This leaves you well-positioned to get your hand out of the handhold you made for it, leaving you hanging upside-down from the hole in the ceiling. You decide not to spend too long like this lest too much blood should rush into your head, and curl up and catch a higher rung with a bit of awkward fumbling. Fortunately you're in pretty decent shape.

Eventually you manage to get yourself back where you started. No tumbling into anonymous darkness like a numpty for you, nosir. You like to give yourself a little more credit than that.

Quote from: Toaster on April 27, 2016, 05:42:17 pm
"Errr... I perhaps wasn't clear.  I meant a... non-combat position?  I'd be no use in a fight, quite really.  Oh my.  And I rent a rather pleasant house already."

Try this again.

[A Polite Offer: 5]

Many people insist they're of no use in a fight, the guard says, but in her opinion it's a matter of necessity. Anyone can fight if given adequate provocation. Not well, of course - that's what training is for. Hence the offer - you're going to have to fight at some point, she maintains, so it's only reasonable to teach you how to make the best of whatever meager talent you may possess. Honestly, telling someone you're worthless at fighting is a good way to get killed.

She sighs. Look, she just really needs something to do. She's not even supposed to be on patrol, she's just wandering around because she's so goddamn bored.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 28, 2016, 03:08:24 pm
"Alright, well that was a waste. I suppose I'll look for her later."

Quote
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: A Master's In Chemistry
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: The Beauty of the Material

"Mayhaps I should go get that sliver of perfection. The priceless thing took me the longest last time, and I've no doubt miss I hide in walls knight will probably happen across me at one point or another. Let's do that."

Go make my way up the ladder and out back into the castle proper. Contemplate - what exactly is a form of perfection that can be shown to someone else to provide inspiration? Aside from crushing one's enemies, seeing them driven before you, and hearing the lamentation of their women, of course.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 28, 2016, 03:31:54 pm
"Yes, you can go. I'm a man of my word. Run and don't look back! Have you heard of what happened to the woman who looked back when she was explicitly told not to? Hahaha! Run you little stoat! Run! Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger! Thanks for your wise words, Gandalf."

Let her go with threats of wizardly violence. Where did Lee disappear?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 28, 2016, 06:03:08 pm
"Hello," I say. I do not step inside. "I was wondering if either of you would be interested in carpentry. The master's apprentice is looking for a replacement, and she said you might be interested. Whoever signs up needs to be comfortable going underground, but it should get you out of the castle."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 28, 2016, 07:42:36 pm
Uh... well... it's probably basically aerobics and such.  Good exercise?  Not like there would be actual... violence.  Ugh.

"Well, I suppose a little... training session wouldn't hurt anyone?"

Take a train, I suppose.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 29, 2016, 12:23:32 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 28, 2016, 03:08:24 pm
Go make my way up the ladder and out back into the castle proper. Contemplate - what exactly is a form of perfection that can be shown to someone else to provide inspiration? Aside from crushing one's enemies, seeing them driven before you, and hearing the lamentation of their women, of course.

Back in the courtyard things look much the same as they did before. So you settle into the lotus position, deadly thoughts securing your person against intervention, and resolve to have a big ol' think on matters of perfection.

[He Meditates: 1]

Perfection, you reason, isn't strictly possible. So really you just need to find some random bullshit again and say it's perfect. Enough obfuscation makes anything convincing, and you get the feeling the blacksmith's something of a natural sucker for fast talk.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 28, 2016, 03:31:54 pm
"Yes, you can go. I'm a man of my word. Run and don't look back! Have you heard of what happened to the woman who looked back when she was explicitly told not to? Hahaha! Run you little stoat! Run! Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger! Thanks for your wise words, Gandalf."

Let her go with threats of wizardly violence. Where did Lee disappear?

She takes a step back. The others are already running. Uh, okay. Thanks for, like, not killing her with your magic. Have a nice day! Bye!

The speed at which she takes off on those stubby legs of hers is nothing short of impressive. It's good to be afforded proper respect for once. Chuckling to yourself, you take a look around, checking for any sign of Lee, who seems to remain scarce even in light of your easy triumph.

[The Spot: 6]

You take a few steps toward the deeper woods, but see no sign of her. You give her a shout saying the stoats are all gone. And no sooner do you turn back toward where you were going, having received no answer, that you see Lee kneeling down by the corpse of the stoat guardswoman, going through her possessions with remarkable efficiency. She's even removed the head of the spear and collected some of the blood in a small clay vial, and now seems in the middle of prying teeth out of the person's jaw. Noticing you staring at her, she raises an eyebrow. What? Did you notice anything else? She does not stop in recovering sharp stoat teeth while she poses the question, her hand intriguingly practiced at corpse dentistry.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 28, 2016, 06:03:08 pm
"Hello," I say. I do not step inside. "I was wondering if either of you would be interested in carpentry. The master's apprentice is looking for a replacement, and she said you might be interested. Whoever signs up needs to be comfortable going underground, but it should get you out of the castle."

[Branching Out: 6]

Ooh, says the tiny mason from behind, giggling. Getting cold feet, is she? It's gonna be a hell of a wedding night, hah. The front brother chuckles at this. Quite the wedding night indeed.

But yes, the larger one continues. Carpentry, as you say. A schmuck can easily be found. You need help finding one, he assumes. There's plenty about. Perhaps he could even name some, provided a small consideration of some sort, hm?

Quote from: Toaster on April 28, 2016, 07:42:36 pm
Uh... well... it's probably basically aerobics and such.  Good exercise?  Not like there would be actual... violence.  Ugh.

"Well, I suppose a little... training session wouldn't hurt anyone?"

Take a train, I suppose.

It certainly won't hurt unless you're at least twice as shit as you claim to be. Right this way, good fellow.

You soon find yourself at the armory after the guard takes a moment to kick a sleeping colleague to wakefulness and get his key. She instructs you to wait outside - a few moments later she returns bearing two wooden swords and also a pair of shields with the castle insignia on them, and hands you one each. The sword is quite heavy, the shield more so. But the guard insists it's going to be fine - just going to take a bit to get used to, you'll see.

Before you know it you've been escorted outside into a clearer patch of ground. The guard twirls her sword in hand. Ah, the feel of a training weapon. The thrill of being able to cut loose on someone. The simple joys in life. Her excitement gives you some pause, but you don't get much of a chance to voice your objections before the training begins. She seems to believe in the idea of learning by doing.

[Shaping Up: 4]

While learning how not to present your face to the enemy and keep your goddamn shield up is a tad on the painful side, it is an easy enough lesson to absorb. As is the value of proper footwork as demonstrated by a few sharp thwacks to the knees. You are all too clearly informed that an attempt to throw down your weapons will only make you that much easier to chase down and thwack more.

You can't say you terribly enjoy this approach to aerobics, invigorating as it may be. As you voice your concerns to the guard, she agrees - you shouldn't let her have all the fun. Strike back! And don't get struck in return. It's delightfully iterative that way. Put your back into it, man!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 29, 2016, 12:49:29 pm
"Well, you surely noticed I was the one who killed her? As such, shouldn't I get first pick from the loot? I mean you can keep all bodyparts you want, but rest of the stuff should be fairly shared. Like 100% to me and 0% to you. We can negotiate nuances of dividends, but that's fairly realistic ballpark estimate how it should go. Well, perhaps assistant's fee of 5% would be acceptable."

Negotiate proper share the loot. 50/50 is fine (not counting bodyparts), but I want weapon of some sort in case mind and magic fails.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on April 29, 2016, 02:10:57 pm
"Light. More the domain of Physics than Chemistry, of course, but I suppose a revelation is often discussed in such terms - and you've just experienced one, I warrant."

reveal v make known; expose or show revelation n.

Quote
Looking back on it, Mr. Wilde's Word was improperly chosen. Replaced it with a different one.

((What was it originally going to be, if you don't mind me asking?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 29, 2016, 02:19:22 pm
Quote from: TopHat on April 29, 2016, 02:10:57 pm
((What was it originally going to be, if you don't mind me asking?))

ANSWER, which didn't fit as well as I would have liked.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 29, 2016, 02:45:25 pm
"Well this is part of something very important - I'm trying to fend off the stoatmen, you see - so it's really in your best interest to help out. If you insist, though, after I've delivered this person to the master I will repay you however you see fit."

((edit: messed up important word))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 29, 2016, 02:57:56 pm
"Hmm. Zippity bippity doo, what to do what to do. What's convincing enough bullshit that he'll produce something useful for me?
...
Perhaps I should go ransack that other religious building, that hasn't failed me yet."

Go investigate as to what that building between the chapel I looted and the stones I stole the sacrificial stone from is and what's inside it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 30, 2016, 10:42:31 am
"Oh goodness me, this is quite... uh... I'm not certain!  Dangerous!"

I guess maybe make a tentative strike?  Arms need workout besides just legs.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 30, 2016, 11:03:11 am
((noticed a typo in my post that could really have gotten the wrong reaction, it has been fixed))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 30, 2016, 11:39:28 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 30, 2016, 11:03:11 am
((noticed a typo in my post that could really have gotten the wrong reaction, it has been fixed))
((Oh indeed.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 30, 2016, 05:57:55 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 29, 2016, 12:49:29 pm
"Well, you surely noticed I was the one who killed her? As such, shouldn't I get first pick from the loot? I mean you can keep all bodyparts you want, but rest of the stuff should be fairly shared. Like 100% to me and 0% to you. We can negotiate nuances of dividends, but that's fairly realistic ballpark estimate how it should go. Well, perhaps assistant's fee of 5% would be acceptable."

Negotiate proper share the loot. 50/50 is fine (not counting bodyparts), but I want weapon of some sort in case mind and magic fails.

She frowns. She was hoping you were not as familiar with clan law. She produces the spearhead she had already gotten, a few copper coins and an inscribed wooden stylus, then hands them all to you. She will content herself with the parts.

She steps away from the corpse, pulling up the long sleeves of her dress after removing the knife from one of them, demonstrating clearly that she has hidden nothing in them. You'd suppose this to be a ritual gesture, given that as far as you can tell she's got far more places to stow things than just that.

Quote from: TopHat on April 29, 2016, 02:10:57 pm
"Light. More the domain of Physics than Chemistry, of course, but I suppose a revelation is often discussed in such terms - and you've just experienced one, I warrant."

reveal v make known; expose or show revelation n.

REVELATION

[Word: 5]

It washes over him as a wave again. He inhales, then exhales, closing his eyes as he stops breathing for about a minute and goes perfectly, almost deathly still. You have seen him inspired. This is something else.

His eyes open and you see a new certainty behind them. A device will be required in order to trap the light. The measure of a time-ender. Some components will be needed. The blue glass will do, all that you have. And bring up two-point-three pounds of gold from the well. He'll get the harder bits. And then you can get to the proper work. He nods to you quickly and runs out the door, assuming you've got this well in hand.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 29, 2016, 02:45:25 pm
"Well this is part of something very important - I'm trying to fend off the stoatmen, you see - so it's really in your best interest to help out. If you insist, though, after I've delivered this person to the master I will repay you however you see fit."

[Vague Promises: 6]

He insists, yes. They both do, the small mason adds. And they have just the person in mind! Hold on, says the larger brother, he'll be right out with a bag. And he is, too. The smaller one follows him out, rubbing his hands. Don't you worry about a thing, they'll be right back with theeere he is, actually! The smaller mason points behind you excitedly. You look and see a rather resolute youth striding in your direction with a frightfully impassive look. Well, that's something of a fortunate coinci-

[Bag Job: 5 vs. 3]

At this moment you find a bag suddenly being pulled over your head and shoulders, after which you are rather abruptly pushed off-balance and then hoisted over a somewhat mighty set of shoulders. You hear the smaller brother issue a warning - you presume toward the youth - about there being nothing to see here. It seems like they've done this before.

Now then, says the larger brother. There's a delivery to be made, it seems. And a reward to be claimed, unless you happen to have a more imaginative offer than petty lies?

Quote from: Xantalos on April 29, 2016, 02:57:56 pm
"Hmm. Zippity bippity doo, what to do what to do. What's convincing enough bullshit that he'll produce something useful for me?
...
Perhaps I should go ransack that other religious building, that hasn't failed me yet."

Go investigate as to what that building between the chapel I looted and the stones I stole the sacrificial stone from is and what's inside it.

If there's one thing you most certainly cannot find in the shrine, it's perfection. You get something of a trial and error vibe from the construction, and the bits of bone and garbage littering the floor don't exactly scream sophistication either.

[Fortuitous Meetings: 6]

To add to all this, once you enter you do notice a sizable shadow step into the exit archway with a clink of metal. A familiar face - the Worm-knight. She's looking a little on the angry side.

Are you the defiler, she asks? Perhaps the killer, too? She has suspected you for some time now. How many faces do you wear, snakeman?

Quote from: Toaster on April 30, 2016, 10:42:31 am
"Oh goodness me, this is quite... uh... I'm not certain!  Dangerous!"

I guess maybe make a tentative strike?  Arms need workout besides just legs.

[Getting Into The Spirit: 2]

Your swordwork would make Errol Flynn proud. Your kidneys on the other hand are less appreciative, having received a solid set of thwacks as the guard easily exploits most of the openings you create. Defense is easy, she says. Killing the other bastard first is what combat's really about, though. And that's the lesson to be learned here, truly. You lack a certain kind of relentlessness, she thinks.

Here's an idea! How about you have a right and proper swordfight. Less of a thwack competition, more of a proper fight, eh? Your almost immediate attempts to voice your reservations are met with a grin. She knew you'd like the idea. Let's you and her fight! She changes her stance a little, a little more limber after the warm-up drill. You have talent, she says. Just need to coax out the spirit. However many cracks of the training sword that may require.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 30, 2016, 06:20:46 pm
"Fuck, I wanted to keep this to myself, but in my cloak I have a potent medicinal mushroom from a foreign land. Its scent alone has healing properties. Let me go and you can have it."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on April 30, 2016, 06:21:53 pm
"Er.  Um.  Okay?"


Sure?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on April 30, 2016, 06:31:55 pm
"What? Defiler? Killer? Snake-man? My name's Jack. Jack Daniels. I'm not sure if I've introduced myself to you before, so it's understandable. Anyhow, I was looking for you on account of something else but you seem distressed right now, so how about you tell me what it is you think I did and we can clear up any misconceptions."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 01, 2016, 03:29:01 am
Leif nods satisfied.

"I'm not as familiar with your clan law as you think, it is more of common sense. But if your clan's laws are based around common sense, then it's probably pretty good clan. Makes me want to meet them even more! Tell me more!"

Once she's done with the corpse, we will continue to with our adventure.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on May 01, 2016, 07:24:32 am
Head outside and briefly tell the servant girl what happened.
"Well, that went better than expected. Did anything interesting happen out here whilst I was inside?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 02, 2016, 04:38:16 am
I'm going to put the game on a two-week hiatus, good fellows. There's some business to attend to. Will shoot a PM once the next update is put out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 02, 2016, 06:11:51 am
Aww, I'll miss this, but I understand real life issues are important. See you in a little while!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Toaster on May 02, 2016, 09:59:47 am
No problem; you get yourself straight and we'll wait patiently.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: Xantalos on May 02, 2016, 03:09:07 pm
Best of luck with whatever your business consists of!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: 4 on May 02, 2016, 05:20:00 pm
I enjoyed reading this.  Good luck with the hiatus!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: What I Bring Is Light
Post by: TopHat on May 03, 2016, 02:16:50 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on May 02, 2016, 03:09:07 pm
Best of luck with whatever your business consists of!
Seconded.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 25, 2016, 01:55:00 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 30, 2016, 06:20:46 pm
"Fuck, I wanted to keep this to myself, but in my cloak I have a potent medicinal mushroom from a foreign land. Its scent alone has healing properties. Let me go and you can have it."

Ooh! Now that's much better. Medicinal mushroom, you say? Very interesting. He'll just be taking that, then. As rightful payment, you understand. Only fair to- wait, where's the blacksmith going?

The mason starts to walk, still carrying you on his back. Where's he going, he asks. You hear the question echoed by the smaller mason as a door suddenly shuts. Bloody crazy blacksmith. You are steadfastly ignored as he opens the ramshackle door and you are carried inside and thrown into a corner, still bagged. You hear murmurs, quickly drowned out by the large brother asking the very pointed question of what the damn fool's doing. You hear what you presume is the blacksmith politely ask for the mason to mind his own business, which you don't suppose is taken very well.

Quote from: Toaster on April 30, 2016, 06:21:53 pm
"Er.  Um.  Okay?"


Sure?

Now that's hardly the spirit you want to be getting into a fight with, the guard says. You want to work up a little bloodlust. Get vicious, you know. But maybe you're not quite familiar with the urgency of proper combat. Let her show you, she says as she raises her sword and goes for a charge.

[Time to Rumble: 2+1 vs. 6]

You keep your eyes open, your shield raised, your stance suspiciously well-imitated. The wooden sword comes swinging your way and gets caught on your shield as you move to intercept it. The sharpness in your gaze does not go unnoticed. Something behind them catches the guard's eye - you're not quite sure what, naturally, you're just wondering what's supposed to come next. There was, uh, the counterswing? Yes, you suppose that'd be it - you swing it toward her, and she deflects it in an uncertain fashion as she backs up. Doesn't quite swing back, so you just keep the rhythm up and sharply nudge her further backward with the shield. She's on one foot, slightly off-balance. You suppose this is what one calls an advantage - you figure rather than spend the effort swinging at her shield, you'd better hit something else - her calf seems most convenient, so you hit that with a swift blow. She tries to jump back in her compromised state, but you step slightly to her side and whack her with the shield again, and finally manage to get her on the side with the sword again.

Her expression at this point is a mixture of pain and considerable rage. You ask if you did something wrong, and she offers an insincere smile as she retreats a little. Very droll, she says. Very droll indeed.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 30, 2016, 06:31:55 pm
"What? Defiler? Killer? Snake-man? My name's Jack. Jack Daniels. I'm not sure if I've introduced myself to you before, so it's understandable. Anyhow, I was looking for you on account of something else but you seem distressed right now, so how about you tell me what it is you think I did and we can clear up any misconceptions."

[Clearing The Air: 4]

The chapel was robbed - defiled. The priestess was injured, now is missing. And there are none to implicate in the acts but the newly-arrived demons. Demons such as you, she says as she draws her blade. Explain your purpose and your goal here.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 01, 2016, 03:29:01 am
Leif nods satisfied.

"I'm not as familiar with your clan law as you think, it is more of common sense. But if your clan's laws are based around common sense, then it's probably pretty good clan. Makes me want to meet them even more! Tell me more!"

Once she's done with the corpse, we will continue to with our adventure.

Common sense is hard to find in the reintegrated lands, she remarks and looks in the distance, thinking a moment.

Anglefork Town is close. And her report... is incomplete. The town should be surveyed to see if business can still be done.

She looks back at you. Will you assist? Her companions have been lost, but the mission remains.

Quote from: TopHat on May 01, 2016, 07:24:32 am
Head outside and briefly tell the servant girl what happened.
"Well, that went better than expected. Did anything interesting happen out here whilst I was inside?"

That sounds... quite eventful, she says as you relay the curious lecture and the events surrounding it. On her end, the courtyard does have a few interesting things going on also. There's Mr. Minstep, for example, having a bit of a practice bout with one of the royal guards. Doing quite well, too, she points when Mr. Minstep scores a rather solid hit on his adversary. The blacksmith just went past her over in the masons' direction, though she supposes you'd know more about that than she. And then there's the distant screaming she assumes is coming from beyond the walls. She'd go and take a look at that, but to be perfectly honest she has a bad feeling about that, so she's just been kind of hanging out around here out of sight until it clears up.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Xantalos on May 25, 2016, 02:10:46 pm
Jack snaps back into focus.

"Eh? Oh yeah right right. By the chapel I assume you mean the place with the stained glass windows? Yeah that got robbed by some other guy. Or girl, I didn't see them. I dunno about any priestess, I'm here looking for a sliver of perfection, whatever you might call that. I need it for an armor-smithing project that I convinced the blacksmith to do for me. He already got me a weapon, after all. I don't really have an overarching purpose as such, but I'll probably exterminate the stoatpeople after I get my armor for you guys. They suck at negotiating. What are you doing here? You a devout person, looking to defend your place of worship? I can admire the gesture, but put your sword away, please. I'm not a fight you can win, and I'm not here to harm your chapel or what-have-you. Do you know where anything perfect is? If you can direct me there, I'll go."

Attempt to defuse situation, lie out my ass about not looting the chapel, ask for directions to something perfect. If I'm attacked, remove the offending limb with my murder-thought and keep my distance.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 25, 2016, 02:13:34 pm
((Yay!))

"Sure. Why not? Let's. Unfinished business shouldn't be left behind, but I'm not exactly the role model here."

To the town! Into survey distance. While proudly marching forward, think about minding: Since the method of inducing sensory feed is familiar, it shouldn't be too different to rob same sensory feeds. Adding visual component of grapefruit is pretty much same as adding completely black overlay to rob vision. For example to make one stop feeling their legs just long enough to make them trip over. Overwriting... whatever senses are used there. Let's try this on first animal/bird/stoat we see.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 25, 2016, 02:37:24 pm
Okay, still in a bag. I try to find the opening and get it open.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: TopHat on May 25, 2016, 04:04:28 pm
"Hmm. Might as well check out the screaming - it should be good news if it's coming from the stoats, right? While we're at it, perhaps you could describe these masons for me? Anyone important?"

Chat a bit more whilst ascending to the battlements to check out the screaming. Crouch behind the ramparts and poke head over slowly. Can't be too careful.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Toaster on May 25, 2016, 04:52:02 pm
"Terribly sorry if that hurt!  Just trying to get into the spirit, as you say."

Keep at it, I suppose?  It couldn't have hurt that badly; obviously a wood sword wouldn't do anything!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 26, 2016, 05:25:48 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on May 25, 2016, 02:10:46 pm
Jack snaps back into focus.

"Eh? Oh yeah right right. By the chapel I assume you mean the place with the stained glass windows? Yeah that got robbed by some other guy. Or girl, I didn't see them. I dunno about any priestess, I'm here looking for a sliver of perfection, whatever you might call that. I need it for an armor-smithing project that I convinced the blacksmith to do for me. He already got me a weapon, after all. I don't really have an overarching purpose as such, but I'll probably exterminate the stoatpeople after I get my armor for you guys. They suck at negotiating. What are you doing here? You a devout person, looking to defend your place of worship? I can admire the gesture, but put your sword away, please. I'm not a fight you can win, and I'm not here to harm your chapel or what-have-you. Do you know where anything perfect is? If you can direct me there, I'll go."

Attempt to defuse situation, lie out my ass about not looting the chapel, ask for directions to something perfect. If I'm attacked, remove the offending limb with my murder-thought and keep my distance.

[Is That A Challenge I Hear: 1]

For some reason a naked man with a mangled hand does not inspire much in the way of respect in the Worm-knight. She inclines her head, twirling the sword a little. Perhaps you are correct. But it would be remiss of her not to put your bold claim to the test. With an air of offense taken and more about to be dished out, she approaches with measured haste.

[A Test of Skill: 4 vs. 6]

The speed of thought is perhaps nothing impressive in physical terms. In a straight-up fight, however, very little can beat it. Before she has taken a step, you snake your lethal notion around her sword arm and pull hard, her armor screeching as an invisible force grinds along it like a spool of razor wire. It is perhaps less effective than you would hope, but even without visual confirmation you can see it all too clearly, her arm denoted with tracings of muscle and nerves that glow invisibly with pain. Her armor padding grows wet with blood.

[Striving for Freedom: 5]

To her credit, she reacts quickly. The downside of operating with thought is that it can be all too easily understood. Before you can fix the limb properly, she has already gone to the ground, freeing her arm through an uncommon display of flexibility and discipline. You raise an eyebrow as she gets to her feet. You don't suppose she's taken the point yet. Sorcery, she seems to think. How very unappreciative. Need you provide a more effective demonstration?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 25, 2016, 02:13:34 pm
((Yay!))

"Sure. Why not? Let's. Unfinished business shouldn't be left behind, but I'm not exactly the role model here."

To the town! Into survey distance. While proudly marching forward, think about minding: Since the method of inducing sensory feed is familiar, it shouldn't be too different to rob same sensory feeds. Adding visual component of grapefruit is pretty much same as adding completely black overlay to rob vision. For example to make one stop feeling their legs just long enough to make them trip over. Overwriting... whatever senses are used there. Let's try this on first animal/bird/stoat we see.

She nods at this, a small amount of appreciation cracking her perpetually stone-faced expression. It is good to have associates on the long road. With this in mind, she shall share something with you - a stoppered clay vial seems to have appeared in her hand. A tonic, she says. Rather potent. You appear to be in need of some.

Experimentally you unstop the vial and take a whiff of the contents. Your well-trained nose anticipates an alcoholic content of at least 80%. And a little something more exotic, you suspect. It smells unusually good, you would say. With uncommon restraint you do not empty it quite yet. You will need to find a way to town, after all, and there's a bit of thinking you need to do on the way. This you do, letting the fine lady take the lead for now - she elects to go through the woods and then slink through the vineyards nearer to the town, and you find yourself a little lost in thought as questions of minding consume your attention, taking cues from her as she ducks down in places, weaves through hedges and finally edges along paths between houses.

[The Power of the Mind: 2]

Animal minds, you discover, tend to be a little difficult to reliably influence. Their thought output is a little too predictable. Fear, mostly. To the point where it's hard to tell if you're doing anything at all - a blind bird, when threatened, seems to fly just as well as any other. That is, if you did blind one. Feedback is a little hard to assess if you haven't exactly secured the specimen beforehand. Like administering heart medication to a wild sparrow, to use an unusual and, as it turns out, highly distracting analogy.

Before any keen insights come to you, you are unfortunately on a bluff very near the center, where your companion carefully guides you to stand mostly behind a convenient tree as the two of you survey the town center from afar. There are the docks, a market square, rows of stately houses, a pair of large warehouses near the river, and finally a considerable area of burned and blasted wasteland that seems to have caught the part of town that's nearest the castle and, no doubt much to the dismay of the residents, incinerated a good third of the once-proud town. There is some activity near there that you can discern from your vantage point, people moving around in decent number. The tail end of a firefighting effort, you suspect. The rest of the town is rather quiet - it may have as many as a thousand residents, you judge from its size, but you don't think you see more than a dozen altogether in the parts that aren't the burned bits. Come to think of it, there's scarcely more than two hundred over in the burned-out areas.

Uninformative, your companion says. A closer look is in order. The populace will need to be engaged.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 25, 2016, 02:37:24 pm
Okay, still in a bag. I try to find the opening and get it open.

It's not really tied up, so naturally you can find a way out with some doing and quite a lot of squirming. You find yourself, naturally, in the masons' hovel, strewn with long-unused tools. Each movement of yours stirs up dust from the floor that nobody's bothered to clean up in months. The whole place confirms the impression of a dismal hovel that the exterior so convincingly gave you, the closest thing to proper furniture in the place being three corners filled with straw and blankets, with you resting in the fourth.

Currently a scene appears to be unfolding before you. The resolute youth from before - the blacksmith, you'd say - is currently being held up by the larger mason by his shoulders so as to better convey their obvious difference in size and strength, the small mason standing behind him with a look of intense disdain on his face. The blacksmith seems almost tranquil in how unimpressed he seems to be by this, to which the mason seems to be replying with a stern shaking and some very choice words being said. The third, dull-faced mason sits nearby. There is an oddly animated quality to his face now as he stares at the blacksmith, who asks one last time to be let go.

You don't really need to be a genius to figure out what the masons have to say about that, but the blacksmith seems earnestly dedicated to hearing the reply nevertheless.

Quote from: TopHat on May 25, 2016, 04:04:28 pm
"Hmm. Might as well check out the screaming - it should be good news if it's coming from the stoats, right? While we're at it, perhaps you could describe these masons for me? Anyone important?"

Chat a bit more whilst ascending to the battlements to check out the screaming. Crouch behind the ramparts and poke head over slowly. Can't be too careful.

The girl follows very uncertainly. It's not good practice to go in the direction of the screaming. Not good practice at all. Something's always causing the screaming, you know. You brush off her concern with a question about the masons.

The masons, hm. Unsavory types. The large one's good if you need something - takes rats for favors and procurement of goods. The small one's kind of a useless outgrowth of his brother, pretty much. And the third one, well. There's rumors about him. About this thing he did. Must have been a year ago. Used to be like his younger brothers. Now he's been quiet. And mostly very drunk, too. Most say it was murder. A couple make noises about something worse, even. Nobody knows what exactly, but-

The girl momentarily notices that you're on the battlements. She dares not follow further than the tower, keeping herself close to both a tower wall and a parapet. You... go ahead and take a look, okay? Fine, you suppose. You slink along the parapets, noting a conspicuous lack of short-limbed stoatmen in the field, bent and twisted weapons and armor strewn about the battlefield. It takes a moment to nail down where these stoatmen might be, but you soon see them - all of them, less than three hundred in number now, all grouped up in failing formations around the remnants of their siege camp, making a valiant effort at fending off the thing you lay your eyes on next.

It looks a lot like a skeletal hound if skeletal hounds came in the size of a house, blackened bones stitched together with twitching, pulsing knots of a million intertwined arteries. It moves almost faster than you can register, a multitude of forked tongues lashing out from its wide-open maw and tearing stoatmen to shreds, grabbing each piece with newly-forming branches on the backswing. The air turns red and liquid with disintegrating stoatmen as it inhales it with an ungodly howling noise and rips through ranks with effortless ease even as troops with no other escape do their damnedest to throw themselves at it in an attempt to delay. A trail of undigested matter and screaming echoes of its victims flies every which way as the creature continues its reign of terror.

In the very back of the stoatman formation, however, you notice a peculiar figure, separate from the rest, hiding behind a tent. Not cowering. Biding its time. Terribly still. At its heart you discern a spot of supernaturally luminous gray, infinitesimal in size yet clearly visible from this distance. In the middle of the carnage you can see it do something most unusual - had you blinked, you would have missed it drawing in the shape of a nearby stoatman. Your attention caught, you see it happen again, and then again, and continue at an escalating pace. Six. Then a dozen. Then two dozen. From the back the stoatmen continue to disappear. The hidden shape grows indistinct and colorless in its center. Its silhouette, however, becomes ever clearer, like a short-limbed mannequin in the making.

The removal of stoatmen quickly outpaces the beast. Its swipes start to hit nothing at all. And soon enough there are no targets left. Just the gray shape, standing behind the tent, looking about impassively. The beast howls with insatiable hunger. The figure steps out from the shadows, looking at it straight-on. You get the feeling a confrontation is about to begin.

Quote from: Toaster on May 25, 2016, 04:52:02 pm
"Terribly sorry if that hurt!  Just trying to get into the spirit, as you say."

Keep at it, I suppose?  It couldn't have hurt that badly; obviously a wood sword wouldn't do anything!

[Surely It Couldn't Hurt That Much: 5 vs. 5+1]

It seems the guard wasn't taking you very seriously at first. She seems to have corrected this misconception. She launches herself at you, raining down blows with the sword. You go on the defensive, and manage to deflect most of the hits. That is, until you miss one particular one. It gets you in the leg quite painfully. The followup as she outmaneuvers you in the distraction gets you in the back. So does the next one. The one after that diagonally digs into your collarbone, nearly forcing you to your knees. She then smashes her shield into you and makes you tumble into the dirt. She doesn't seem inclined to stop beating on you at that point, given that the next five blows, each one more unpleasant than the last, come while you're trying to get to your feet again, each one imparting greater urgency to your efforts.

[Oblivious Endurance: 4]

You believe you maybe underestimated how much getting hit by a large and heavy stick would hurt. Feels a little bit excessive to conduct oneself like this, you would say.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Xantalos on May 26, 2016, 05:46:12 pm
"You really want to do this? People get hurt in combat. And I'd rather not take your arm or something."

Give Wormy a chance to relent. The moment she disregards this and attacks again, break her sword and then her knees.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 27, 2016, 05:48:08 am
I try to interject myself into this conversation. "Excuse me, I thought we nearly had a deal worked out. If you're busy I can take my goods elsewhere."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: TopHat on May 27, 2016, 09:51:01 am
Always something causing the screaming...
Watch what happens next.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 27, 2016, 03:59:24 pm
Engage populace. If they are stoats, as most likely is the case, they will make excellent test subject for my theory of minding. Taking it step further, supress their conscious nerve feedback and redirect it into mind. Perhaps this is the way of bringing people into my mental world? Perfect for interrogation?

Or that's I would like to do when shit inevitably goes south. For now, follow Stan Lee's instructions/example.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Toaster on May 27, 2016, 05:44:23 pm
"Wouldn't it be fair to let me get up first?  Seems silly to hit a man while he is down."

Miss the point.  Maybe get up and have another go?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 28, 2016, 05:45:01 am
Quote from: Xantalos on May 26, 2016, 05:46:12 pm
"You really want to do this? People get hurt in combat. And I'd rather not take your arm or something."

Give Wormy a chance to relent. The moment she disregards this and attacks again, break her sword and then her knees.

[Speak Truth To Impotence: 6]

The fact that you have a very good point, demonstrated through foul magic as well as by an unassailable self-confidence, injures her substantially more than your previous demonstration, you feel. She stands up straight, regaining a slight amount of her previous composure, trying her best to ignore the considerable amount of blood accumulating under her armor. Taking a step away from the doorway she nods toward it in disdain.

You may go, she says. For now. You resist the powerful urge to roll your eyes before you become aware of a strange itch in the back of your skull. You scratch your head a little, but it only seems to make it worse.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 27, 2016, 05:48:08 am
I try to interject myself into this conversation. "Excuse me, I thought we nearly had a deal worked out. If you're busy I can take my goods elsewhere."

[Artful Interjection: 2]

The mason shoots a nasty look at you. He'll deal with you in a minute, just let him sort this out. He turns to the blacksmith and shakes him violently again. He's giving him one last chance to explain what the bloody hell he's doing talking to his brother like that, and then he'll have to get a little firmer in his questioning, he says.

The blacksmith nods slowly, and responds with a knee to the large man's diaphragm. The mason stumbles back as he starts to choke, the blacksmith landing in the beginnings of a stride toward him. His hands close around the mason's neck, gripping it firmly and particularly, constricting nerves and blood vessels, the choking and surprise preventing the large man from effectively fighting off the young and seemingly quite murderous blacksmith. The smaller mason looks on in shock at this, while the dull-faced one looks at the floor with obvious concern, though seemingly not for his brother.

You get an itch. It feels like it's coming from the inside of your head. You feel a slight urge to go elsewhere.

Quote from: TopHat on May 27, 2016, 09:51:01 am
Always something causing the screaming...
Watch what happens next.

The gray figure proceeds toward the beast at an unhurried pace. The beast seems only a little more enthusiastic. Do you perceive hesitation in its movements? The figure opens a mouth from which no light can escape. It raises its voice.

INVITE FLESH

[Words: 2+4]

The words carry very clearly at this distance. Within you a desire for homecoming starts to burn.

[Recognize the Invader: 1]

You gleefully throw yourself off the battlements toward the figure as a yearning overtakes you for a vulnerable moment. A burst of disgust and alienation hits you before the ground does.

[A Precipitous Drop: 2]

Not that the former helps with the latter. You start to get to your feet again, looking back on the walls. Guards, seemingly possessed of more wisdom than you, appear to be scurrying out the towers and off the battlements in force, trying to get to better cover. One jumps off the wall after you, failing to survive the fall. Another is tackled by your companion, impressively haunted by the sound. You get a very bad feeling as you look behind you.

The figure stands there, and from its chest kicks the beast, flesh being torn from its bones, blood absorbed into gray. Its howls sound increasingly desperate as it inches into the being of the gray creature.

[Assimilation: 3 vs. 6]

It fights and thrashes, not yet consumed in full. There is little it can do, you think, but delay its ultimate fate.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 27, 2016, 03:59:24 pm
Engage populace. If they are stoats, as most likely is the case, they will make excellent test subject for my theory of minding. Taking it step further, supress their conscious nerve feedback and redirect it into mind. Perhaps this is the way of bringing people into my mental world? Perfect for interrogation?

Or that's I would like to do when shit inevitably goes south. For now, follow Stan Lee's instructions/example.

Lee seems to prefer that you do your own thing first, being that you appear to speak their language fluently, and follows behind as you wander into the riverside streets of Anglefork Town, looking for a likely victim for your attempts at psionic mastery.

[No Shortage of Fools: 4]

An impassive-looking stoatman looks surprised to see you as you intercept it along its late afternoon business. What ho, fine fellow, you say in a failed attempt to not seem awkward and out of place, how's the town life?

You're... not supposed to be out, the stoatman begins to say. Nonsense, you reply. You're perfectly authorized to be here. There's social experiments to conduct.

[Journey to the Center of the Mind: 1]

You're not entirely sure what you do next, feeling like some of your best work is found in improvisation. But you do find yourself standing in a place of shapeless green and gray, half-formed images of trees, doors, places, stoatmen and even a rather immaculately dressed woman forming and reforming all around you.

The stoatman you asked a question of stands before you, looking very intimidated all of sudden. Lightning flashes in the distance. The ground shakes. Darkness begins to encroach. Fear, you suspect. It is the mind-killer, after all.

Quote from: Toaster on May 27, 2016, 05:44:23 pm
"Wouldn't it be fair to let me get up first?  Seems silly to hit a man while he is down."

Miss the point.  Maybe get up and have another go?

It would be fair, she says. But this is fighting, not dueling. If you can bring someone down, you do your best to finish them.

[Unclean Fighting: 2 vs. 1+1]

You scurry away from her continued strikes, utilizing all four of your limbs and putting your back into a very improvised roll that somehow manages to take you back to your feet. The guard looks on in what you think is amusement, your interesting maneuvers letting curiosity overtake a certain lust for payback. You almost begin to capitalize on this, but she sharpens up right as you begin to go on the offensive again. Little progress is made as a...

... huh. Did you just hear something? And what's that infernal itch in your scalp? You look at the guard. She seems to have felt something as well. She looks at the wall behind you, and you check that way also. Some of the guards appear to be vacating their posts with haste. Wonder what that's about.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 28, 2016, 06:00:20 am
You know, this doesn't really seem like it's my business. I duck out the door and see if anything interesting is going on outside.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: TopHat on May 28, 2016, 06:32:27 am
"Christ almighty, what is that thing? Come to think of it, a REVELATION into the matter could be vital, if this word works like that. And then I should run."
Curiosity killed the cat.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 28, 2016, 10:56:04 am
"I gotta say, your mind is rather dull. Now, let's begin. Tell me everything you know about happenings in the town! What happened to human inhabitants? Where they are? Who is this woman? How many stoats are here? Where's One? How's Vali? Seen any traitors lately?"

Interrogation in mind of stoat is a go. Act confidently. Theory is that he will think things he hears of and answers are painted on the landscape. So observe surroundings and listen his words. Or that what they always said movies. There's hoping it works here too.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Xantalos on May 28, 2016, 12:12:00 pm
"What the fuck was that. You feel that itching? What was that?
...
Some motherfucker's using a word on me again, aren't they. Well ha ha, assholes, I've got a counter for that!"

SILENCE this infernal sorcery's effects on me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 30, 2016, 03:43:06 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 28, 2016, 06:00:20 am
You know, this doesn't really seem like it's my business. I duck out the door and see if anything interesting is going on outside.

You leave the fellows to it and get far enough outside for the choking noises to not bother you anymore, at which point you check about for signs of interesting activity.

[Piecing It Together: 2]

You don't see anything terribly abnormal. Some guards are pacing about. People looking nervous. Everybody conscious of their own impending deaths. Things are pretty regular in Anglefork Castle near as you can tell.

Quote from: TopHat on May 28, 2016, 06:32:27 am
"Christ almighty, what is that thing? Come to think of it, a REVELATION into the matter could be vital, if this word works like that. And then I should run."
Curiosity killed the cat.

Your eyes don't open far enough, and your mind is ill-equipped to see. Both require expansion.

REVELATION

[Word: 1]

The fabric of space and time parts before you, revealing an endless sea of gray before your eyes, a mass of colorless outstretched hands and pleading many-toothed mouths. Their cries blend into an oceanic din, and as your understanding expands, you feel the sea in its totality. Unseen energies ravage their bodies, tear at their bones, unravel their flesh until all things become as one. The waves of the assimilated flesh move chaotically, crashing against each other - from the impact rise tall, glowing towers sprouting eyes and mouths of their own, forming cities of strange complexity as cataclysmic confluences cascade in several areas at once. You begin to know more and understand less.

You are of a different flesh, you hear in your own voice from the depths of the sea. You feel it is time to leave and turn away, but the sea still stretches in front of you, seemingly nestled in your eyes (behind your eyes?) rather than in something as quaint as a region of space.

Yes, you are of a different flesh, you hear again. A unique assemblage of material. Strangely marked. You feel a gaze travel over your very being.

Why, you are indeed of a different flesh. You do not belong in this scenario. What are you doing here? You feel a hand grip your shoulder with machine-like cold firmness, shivers from its touch followed by rebellious itching and twitching.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 28, 2016, 10:56:04 am
"I gotta say, your mind is rather dull. Now, let's begin. Tell me everything you know about happenings in the town! What happened to human inhabitants? Where they are? Who is this woman? How many stoats are here? Where's One? How's Vali? Seen any traitors lately?"

Interrogation in mind of stoat is a go. Act confidently. Theory is that he will think things he hears of and answers are painted on the landscape. So observe surroundings and listen his words. Or that what they always said movies. There's hoping it works here too.

[I Just Work Here: 2]

What? Who? Where? Wait, how? No, seriously, what? What is this? And why?

The darkness deepens around the area. He understands little of what you're asking him, really. Or what's even happening presently. You notice, however, a certain lack of innate hostility, a novel thing among the stoatmen you've seen thus far. You look at his subconscious thoughts surfacing along the edges of the landscape. Humans get the most legible response, scattered figures behind windows being your answer, and Vali conjures the half-formed image of a whale for whatever reason. This lightning round of an interrogation certainly isn't off to a promising start, you feel.

Quote from: Xantalos on May 28, 2016, 12:12:00 pm
"What the fuck was that. You feel that itching? What was that?
...
Some motherfucker's using a word on me again, aren't they. Well ha ha, assholes, I've got a counter for that!"

SILENCE this infernal sorcery's effects on me.

The Worm-knight is bewildered at your question, cautiously inclining her head as she edges along the wall. She's of as much help as you'd expect. You need to take care of this yourself.

SILENCE

[Word: 5]

Ah, there you go. The itching subsides immediately and you breathe a sigh of relief. A delightful sense of lonely quiet surrounds the shrine, giving it a newfound air of respectability and holiness. You let it hang for a moment to properly sink in. A certain untapped purity about it occurs to you. If ever there was a time to address the gods, you feel you'll have few better chances of being actually heard.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 30, 2016, 05:59:29 am
So the masons were less cooperative than I expected. Maybe there are some other potential volunteers around here. I ask anyone I see standing around outside if they'd be interested in potentially leaving the castle via carpentry.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: TopHat on May 30, 2016, 12:51:50 pm
"That depends on what you mean by 'here'. If you're referring to this dreamscape, it was revealed by a Word, although the mechanism remains unknown to me. Otherwise, the prevailing view is that I was created, by minders apparently, though I still have some doubts about that theory. But what about yourself - what are you doing here?"
Might as well turn back around and look at this thing, whilst trying to remain as calm as possible.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 30, 2016, 03:15:35 pm
Hmm, see if I can mind myself look alike Knight of One in this very avarage mind. Or whoever was that very authoratively guy I had a nice long chat with.

"I'm the one asking questions here, bro. Just focus on answering. So let's slow down and try again. What happened in Anglefork Town after your arrival? What was done to the humans who lived here?"

Encourage obedience.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Toaster on May 30, 2016, 10:32:03 pm
((Sorry; busy weekend, what with moving))

"Ah, uh, perhaps we should check that out?  It's what us guards do, ha ha!"

Go check it out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Xantalos on May 30, 2016, 11:16:58 pm
"...hmm. Gods of this shrine! Or singular god perhaps. This moment seems to be a rare instance of perfection in this imperfect world. Would you grant me a sliver of it, that I may pass on to someone else? Just a moment is all I require."

Is this how you ask gods for things? Imma do it anyway.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 31, 2016, 10:51:17 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 30, 2016, 05:59:29 am
So the masons were less cooperative than I expected. Maybe there are some other potential volunteers around here. I ask anyone I see standing around outside if they'd be interested potentially leaving the castle via carpentry.

There's a young woman with a haunted expression running away from one of the castle towers. You stop her for a moment by pretending to be concerned for her health, hoping to segue into telling her all about this miraculous escape route you've found.

[The Last Escape: 4]

She rambles on about some kind of voice and compelling thoughts of suicide and possibly a demon walking amid the stoats. You dare say she is an excellent candidate. Would she like to escape, you ask. She purses her lips. Escape how? Why, the carpenter's got tunnels everywhere, didn't she know? She sort of knew, apparently. Is there one that leads out? Yes, you say! And all she needs to do is come with you to meet the carpenter's lovely assistant so that you can get all that sorted.

[Concern For Your Fellow Man: 6]

She goes still for a moment. Gears are turning. Thoughts are weighed. Very important decisions are made.

... no, she says. Not yet. She really needs to help Mr. Wilde first. He fell off the wall. She... thinks he's still alive. And out there. With that demon thing. Can you help?

Quote from: TopHat on May 30, 2016, 12:51:50 pm
"That depends on what you mean by 'here'. If you're referring to this dreamscape, it was revealed by a Word, although the mechanism remains unknown to me. Otherwise, the prevailing view is that I was created, by minders apparently, though I still have some doubts about that theory. But what about yourself - what are you doing here?"
Might as well turn back around and look at this thing, whilst trying to remain as calm as possible.

One was called, actually, and offered nearly fourteen tons of intriguing material. The request made was for one to cleanse the destiny of Benzerwald under the rule of the Speakers. A very productive arrangement. You feel many eyes upon you all at once as a pause sets in.

[Suspicious Origins: 1]

Hm. You seem vaguely affiliated with Benzerwald's destiny, one can't help but sense. Indecisively and remotely so. Much like oneself you command the power of Words. And your material seems vaguely familiar somehow. One hopes you will not mind being stored for a moment while one decides what to do with you.

[Encystment: 4 vs. 3]

The gray begins to close around you, the tear you opened spreading to engulf your sight entirely. Numbness starts to overtake your body.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 30, 2016, 03:15:35 pm
Hmm, see if I can mind myself look alike Knight of One in this very avarage mind. Or whoever was that very authoratively guy I had a nice long chat with.

"I'm the one asking questions here, bro. Just focus on answering. So let's slow down and try again. What happened in Anglefork Town after your arrival? What was done to the humans who lived here?"

Encourage obedience.

[Freedom From Shapes: 3]

It takes a little more focus and clarity of mind than you currently possess to make you a spitting image, but you do get shorter limbs and a menacingly mismatched look to your clothing, which seems to fail to set the poor stoat's mind at any form of ease. You're starting to look like a soldier. A shapeshifting soldier. This is about as troubling a development as the common mind can easily imagine.

[Forceful Questioning: 5]

But you do get an important nugget of information - his arrival, to be exact, which generates massive confusion. His arrival? What? He was born here! Twenty six years ago, for the record. He's supposed to be here. Has been for all his life. Before he can elaborate more, you interrupt him with the next question - where've the humans gone? He glances about. More images of windows manifest in the half-formed wasteland of imagination. They're inside, he says. There's a curfew in place. That's, uh, what the notice board said, right? 'No humans allowed out of doors without supervision until the siege is over, to be enforced under pain of death'.

Feeling the darkness approach uncomfortably, you offer the stoat a reassuring smile of a great many teeth. That is correct! The stoat looks mildly relieved. Is this... some kind of citizen involvement test? You imply so, eliciting a slight amount of relief before he starts to get nervous once again, a shadow of another, slightly slack-jawed stoat girl (a distinction you understand intuitively rather than from any sort of visual cue, as these stoatmen seem to possess no characteristics to assist in making the distinction) manifesting behind him.

Quote from: Toaster on May 30, 2016, 10:32:03 pm
((Sorry; busy weekend, what with moving))

"Ah, uh, perhaps we should check that out?  It's what us guards do, ha ha!"

Go check it out.

The guardwoman looks at you, interrupted from what is seemingly a very interesting report about what's going on atop the walls. She thinks a moment, staring at you levelly. How about, and hear her out on this, how about you go check it out? Return right after and report what you've seen. No better way to initiate yourself into a guardsman's ways, she says genially.

Quote from: Xantalos on May 30, 2016, 11:16:58 pm
"...hmm. Gods of this shrine! Or singular god perhaps. This moment seems to be a rare instance of perfection in this imperfect world. Would you grant me a sliver of it, that I may pass on to someone else? Just a moment is all I require."

Is this how you ask gods for things? Imma do it anyway.

The Worm-knight looks vaguely offended as you wildly misunderstand the purpose of this shrine, and is about to offer objection before both your eyes are drawn to something. The altar, in fact. You peer at it for a moment, as does she, unable to quite put your finger on what's happened to it. It seems much the same as before, disorderly and defiled, and yet clearly divorced from its native state in some non-obvious fashion, its silhouette casting an incongruous sense of depth upon your mind as you keep looking at it.

[The Language of Ritual: 3]

You think it's safe to assume that it hungers. Empty and profane altars always do. You inconspicuously glance at the Worm-knight. She attempts to inconspicuously glance at you. Both of you thus notice each other likely having a similar thought.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 31, 2016, 11:28:38 am
Point behind him and keep shaping myself when he looks away. Sneakily pry additional information from his subconscious.

"Are you worried about her? Don't. This test is administrated individually and randomly. Consequences of failure are applied on tested person only. Now, to the next question my good man! Siege is ending within a day or two. What will happen to the people of this town after that happens?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Xantalos on May 31, 2016, 01:49:12 pm
"Hmm. Say Wormy, you feel like being sacrificed to your gods, or should we find some random other shmuck and both of us get divine favour? 'Cause I don't wanna fight you for who gets sacrificed or whatever, that's just too much effort."

Glance around quickly. Anyone in sight other than Wormy and I?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 31, 2016, 02:36:49 pm
Wait, what? That doesn't sound like my horrible monster. Let's check this out.

"Sure," I say to the girl, "just let me see what's going on first." I sneak up to the wall and peek over it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: TopHat on May 31, 2016, 03:51:04 pm
"I would mind, thank you very much - though it's probably a bit late for that."

Try to escape - mentally, physically, whatever seems to work.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Toaster on May 31, 2016, 05:39:34 pm
Thomas nodded vigorously, completely missing the implications here.  "Yes!  Seeking information!  This is the kind of contract work I meant in the first place!"

Go forth and inquire.  Seek information.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 02, 2016, 12:05:48 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 31, 2016, 11:28:38 am
Point behind him and keep shaping myself when he looks away. Sneakily pry additional information from his subconscious.

"Are you worried about her? Don't. This test is administrated individually and randomly. Consequences of failure are applied on tested person only. Now, to the next question my good man! Siege is ending within a day or two. What will happen to the people of this town after that happens?"

He's not worried! Not worried at all! Nope. Not worried in any way, shape or form. Speaking of not being worried, could he go now?

No, you say. A buzzing noise rises around you, little arcs of electricity flying off your angular shape. There are still other questions. The siege, for instance. It's about to end. What happens then?

[Military Secrets: 2]

The stoatman looks confused in just about every way imaginable by this. The siege is ending? And... wait, what? The people of this town? Er. He supposes they'd be able to go outside then. And maybe participate in the mayoral election? Do they get votes? The administrator wasn't very clear on that.

Quote from: Xantalos on May 31, 2016, 01:49:12 pm
"Hmm. Say Wormy, you feel like being sacrificed to your gods, or should we find some random other shmuck and both of us get divine favour? 'Cause I don't wanna fight you for who gets sacrificed or whatever, that's just too much effort."

Glance around quickly. Anyone in sight other than Wormy and I?

[Temptation of the New God: 3]

No. No sacrifices, she says after a vaguely tempted glance in the direction of the altar. At least not unwilli- damn it, no sacrifices, she says. This is not a place of gods. This is a place of history, remembrance. And that, she sweeps her hand toward the altar, pointedly refusing to look at it, that is oblivion.

Your thought circles the altar as you consider the otherwise empty shrine, gravitating toward it in a stable orbit. It feels odd, so you look in its direction for a few moments.

Some minutes later you are slapped on the head by the knight's gauntlet, sending your thought leaping back into close proximity around your body. Hey, what the fuck, Wormy?

Don't look at it, she says. It is plainly some kind of sinister vortex. The shrine will need to be sealed.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 31, 2016, 02:36:49 pm
Wait, what? That doesn't sound like my horrible monster. Let's check this out.

"Sure," I say to the girl, "just let me see what's going on first." I sneak up to the wall and peek over it.

She nods and follows from a distance as you climb up a tower and get to the battlements, where you are briefly asked by a typically clueless Mr. Minstep about what's going on. Unsure about what to tell him, you elect to look through a crenel to see what's going on.

[Sneaky Business: 5 vs. 3]

Huh. Well, Mr. Wilde seems to be on his feet. And standing next to him is a gray, short-limbed silhouette of a stoatman, extremely clearly outlined to the point where it makes your eyes hurt a little to look at it for longer than a moment. Your horrible monster, meanwhile, is nowhere to be seen.

Quote from: TopHat on May 31, 2016, 03:51:04 pm
"I would mind, thank you very much - though it's probably a bit late for that."

Try to escape - mentally, physically, whatever seems to work.

[Polite Objection: 6]

The gray sea retreats, the dreamscape melting away quite rapidly as the figure steps away, seemingly having been right next to you before your escape attempt. It stands there for a moment, indistinct gray body impossibly crisply silhouetted before the field stretching behind it.

One must apologize. Strange flesh always brings out one's forward tendencies. Especially when there are productive things to be done instead. Perhaps you'd like to accompany one on one's way to the castle? You simply must, one thinks. You could tell one all about your unusual structure while permitting one to tend to one's obligations that way.

Quote from: Toaster on May 31, 2016, 05:39:34 pm
Thomas nodded vigorously, completely missing the implications here.  "Yes!  Seeking information!  This is the kind of contract work I meant in the first place!"

Go forth and inquire.  Seek information.

Ms. Minett seems to be going the same way, so you trail her and ask her if she knows what's going on here with the wall business. She does not quite appear to know, having come up to take a look herself, which she does shortly after you arrive.

She continues looking on for a few moments more, looking either intrigued or disturbed. You stand there for a moment, the crenel right next to hers tempting with its likely fine view of the happenings beyond the wall.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Xantalos on June 02, 2016, 01:50:27 pm
"Hmm. What if we sacrifice it to itself? At least two gods where I'm from did that and it turned out rather well for them."

Go pick up one of the Doomstones and carry it over to the shrine. Maybe mixing the magical mojo will do something?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 02, 2016, 02:18:35 pm
"Excellent answer! It is clear as a day why you are here and not in army! Have a nice day."

One shouldn't dive too long. Let's surface back into my mind, by which I mean I get out and the stoat stays in his own dull mindscape.
Should I succesfully do so let Lee know what I learned from his mind: "This guy is exceptionally dull."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: TopHat on June 02, 2016, 04:21:45 pm
"Apology accepted, though I am afraid I actually know very little about my... structure, other than that which I've been told and the strange fact that I only really seem to bleed if I think about it. Make of that what you will.
.
Though could you clarify something for me? Namely, what you mean by 'cleansing Benzerwald's destiny'. "

Walk with the thing, relate what the minder showed me earlier, ask a question of my own.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Toaster on June 03, 2016, 12:56:55 am
"Uhhh... right then."

Take a peek.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 03, 2016, 01:53:06 am
So the stoats have magic too. Hm.

I sneak back down to the girl and tell her that Mr. Wilde seems to be standing next to the demon unharmed, so he's probably not in danger. If she seems satisfied with that, I bring up carpentry again.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 03, 2016, 02:02:51 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 03, 2016, 01:53:06 am
...standing next to the demon...
((Somehow I feel that's not very reassuring to hear.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 03, 2016, 03:32:59 am
Quote from: Xantalos on June 02, 2016, 01:50:27 pm
"Hmm. What if we sacrifice it to itself? At least two gods where I'm from did that and it turned out rather well for them."

Go pick up one of the Doomstones and carry it over to the shrine. Maybe mixing the magical mojo will do something?

You pop out to grab one of the stones of the nearby circle and return right back, not terribly interested in whatever objections the Worm-knight inevitably offers.

[Architectural Considerations: 6]

Fortunately, the shrine doorway is perfectly amenable to being widened, even if the structure does start to lean a little unfavorably in the process. You take the menhir over to the altar and place it there, anticipating a great and powerful mixing of eldritch power.

[Forbidden Insights: 6]

You poke the stone a little after things steadfastly refuse to happen. This produces no effect. You invoke some choice guttural syllables you'd imagine dread powers would enjoy. Then you call on the distant powers from beyond to bless you in return for this excellent piece of ritual paraphernalia you nicked from next door. You do a whole lot of things, in fact, stopping short of actual sacrifice, before it occurs to you that maybe...

... huh, maybe. Maybe. You kind of forget where you were going with that, truth be told. Or why you thought any god would be interested in a fucking rock of all things. That last bit seems conspicuously present at the forefront of your mind even as the rest of your evil ministrations to make this work start to fade as if in a dream. You suspect the dread powers may be trying to send you a message.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 02, 2016, 02:18:35 pm
"Excellent answer! It is clear as a day why you are here and not in army! Have a nice day."

One shouldn't dive too long. Let's surface back into my mind, by which I mean I get out and the stoat stays in his own dull mindscape.
Should I succesfully do so let Lee know what I learned from his mind: "This guy is exceptionally dull."

You dive out!

Well, you try to dive out. Nothing really seems to happen when you do, aside from the stoatman regarding you awkwardly. Curious wide eyes bud in the sky, staring at you, quietly hoping you'd leave like you said you would.

You get the sneaking sensation that something's gone wrong here.

Quote from: TopHat on June 02, 2016, 04:21:45 pm
"Apology accepted, though I am afraid I actually know very little about my... structure, other than that which I've been told and the strange fact that I only really seem to bleed if I think about it. Make of that what you will.
.
Though could you clarify something for me? Namely, what you mean by 'cleansing Benzerwald's destiny'. "

Walk with the thing, relate what the minder showed me earlier, ask a question of my own.

Indeed, one has to say. You appear to be constructed of manipulated flesh forced into a shape and function determined by, well, your own self, a strangely arbitrary sapient informational construct. One can't help but be intrigued by this arrangement as a student of earthly material.

That's really quite interesting, you say, but what's this business about cleansing destiny and whatnot? One is compelled to shrug in response - to cleanse the destiny of Benzerwald, all opposition must presumably be cleared. One's reputation as a reliable contractor hinges upon it, in fact. One presumes the simplest way to do this would be to eviscerate and then assimilate the populace of this castle, so as to make sure that no opposition slips out. One imagines the Speakers would be rather put out if it did, and be more hesitant in offering material in the future.

[Navigating A Surface: 1]

It looks up at the wall for a moment. Hm. There's more of you? Strange.

In any case, it would presumably be quite impressive if one were to scale it, but perhaps an easier method of access would be the gate. It starts to pace around the castle in search of such a thing, and you follow politely. The great gate seems to be relatively nearby, fortunately, just beyond the ancient minder tower. One can't help but be very pleased at discovering this.

Quote from: Toaster on June 03, 2016, 12:56:55 am
"Uhhh... right then."

Take a peek.

[A Harmless Peek: 5 vs. 5]

You look out from a crenel and almost immediately meet the gaze of a gray, extraordinarily clearly outlined silhouette of a stoatman. How you manage to do this despite it having no eyes that you can see is something you can't readily explain. It stares at you for a moment, then silently turns to the adjacent Mr. Wilde. They begin to proceed along the side of the wall toward the gate.

Perhaps not as much information as you would like, of course, but you suppose that worked out well enough, all things considered.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 03, 2016, 01:53:06 am
So the stoats have magic too. Hm.

I sneak back down to the girl and tell her that Mr. Wilde seems to be standing next to the demon unharmed, so he's probably not in danger. If she seems satisfied with that, I bring up carpentry again.

[Good News, Folks: 5]

She would disagree with your assessment. However, she also seems less than convinced about her ability to do anything to help, as she has certain doubts about plummeting off the wall and surviving like Mr. Wilde apparently has. Much less battle a demon over the sanctity of his soul, as decent a thing as that would be to attempt.

Does that mean she'll consider your offer, you ask. What offer, she replies. The escape route, you clarify. In the carpenter's workshop. Oh, she says. Is there an escape route, though? An actual escape route? Not just a hole you drop people into, mind. You get the sense that there is perhaps a reason why Claire had trouble getting anyone to take her up on that offer of hers.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Xantalos on June 03, 2016, 03:49:33 am
"Hmm. Well I thought maybe you'd be interested in getting rid of your competition or whatever. Far be it from me to try to serve your presumable self-interest, right?
...
Say, would you be interested in a rat sacrifice? I still have an alive one from way back when, and I could go get a random person, but this'd be quicker."

Jack quickly turns to his more devoted knight companion before she gets upset again.

"Worm-Knight, I know you said no sacrifices, but you know us demon people or whatever we are are attuned to mystical bullshit, right? Well my mystical bullshit sense says that the entities calling themselves gods inhabiting this shrine want sacrifices. Maybe we'll get good shit in return!

Actually hold up."

He turns back to the shrine and puts his hands on his hips.

"You gods will compensate me in return for sacrifices, won't you? Without fair trade there's no use in the exercise, after all."

Make sure my new god-clients will actually give me rewards for sacrificing stuff to them. If they will, and are willing to accept it, sacrifice that one live rat I still have in my hammerspace inventory to them. If they want human meat, go outside the shrine and look for someone gullible-looking and nonformidable.

Of course if they're just demanding sacrifices without any reward expected, get petulant and crush their shrine with the 'fucking rock' they refused.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Toaster on June 03, 2016, 05:15:02 pm
Huh.  Okay.  Well, there's that then.

Return and report.

"There is one grey stout fellow, and one other gentleman out there, one of the fellows I've seen around.  They're walking toward the wall.  Not sure where that noise came from!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 03, 2016, 05:55:11 pm
I attempt to convince her. "Come on now, what kind of Master makes a hole you can't escape through? That sounds like a rookie move to me, especially when there are stoats about to break in here and kill us all. If getting someone down there doesn't get them to safety, then there's not much point sending them, right? They'd be no help full of crossbow bolts."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 04, 2016, 05:08:36 am
"How curious. No peeking!"

Get out of his view. Behind building or something. Then kick him out of my mind. Failure to comply results something INEVITABLE. There's bound to be something good stuff in future (besides vodka. That is good stuff but not exactly what this situation calls for.)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 04, 2016, 02:41:58 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on June 03, 2016, 03:49:33 am
"Hmm. Well I thought maybe you'd be interested in getting rid of your competition or whatever. Far be it from me to try to serve your presumable self-interest, right?
...
Say, would you be interested in a rat sacrifice? I still have an alive one from way back when, and I could go get a random person, but this'd be quicker."

Jack quickly turns to his more devoted knight companion before she gets upset again.

"Worm-Knight, I know you said no sacrifices, but you know us demon people or whatever we are are attuned to mystical bullshit, right? Well my mystical bullshit sense says that the entities calling themselves gods inhabiting this shrine want sacrifices. Maybe we'll get good shit in return!

Actually hold up."

He turns back to the shrine and puts his hands on his hips.

"You gods will compensate me in return for sacrifices, won't you? Without fair trade there's no use in the exercise, after all."

Make sure my new god-clients will actually give me rewards for sacrificing stuff to them. If they will, and are willing to accept it, sacrifice that one live rat I still have in my hammerspace inventory to them. If they want human meat, go outside the shrine and look for someone gullible-looking and nonformidable.

Of course if they're just demanding sacrifices without any reward expected, get petulant and crush their shrine with the 'fucking rock' they refused.

[Hierophant's Trade: 4]

The offering of a rat seems uninteresting. Exceedingly familiar. Pedestrian. Even the rat seems frankly unimpressed, or perhaps simply catatonic in the holy presence inherent in the altar. Flesh seems irrelevant here. Yours isn't even vaguely bothered - not so much as a bad case of goosebumps to be seen (well, at least none that couldn't be just as well explained by walking around naked in somewhat chilly weather). Something else is needed here. Not the body - the very soul, you suspect. The thought starts to burn brightly as it occurs, alternate hypotheses falling behind it through meticulous and precise assassination. It's taking quite a while, but you're getting it.

You turn toward the Worm-knight, but find yourself disappointed. She seems to have left at some point, little trace of her remaining in the shrine. You suppose however long you spent figuring all this out was long enough for her better judgment to defeat her burning desire to defend the sanctity of... well, whatever it is she's defending the sanctity of exactly.

No matter. You turn back toward the altar. This is all fine and good, of course, but what about your reward? You're going to need a reward for this, you say. A reward. Yes. The thought rebounds in your mind a few times, wholly uneaten in the next minute or so, which is more than you can say for most other things that occur to you in that time period. It would only be reasonable to be rewarded for good work, you find yourself thinking at last. This thought remains as well.

Quote from: Toaster on June 03, 2016, 05:15:02 pm
Huh.  Okay.  Well, there's that then.

Return and report.

"There is one grey stout fellow, and one other gentleman out there, one of the fellows I've seen around.  They're walking toward the wall.  Not sure where that noise came from!"

[Mystical Happenings: 5]

The guardswoman seems a little surprised at your return. Doubly so when you appear to have a report. A gray stout fellow? Just one? Er... what did he look like? Naked, you reply. Very clearly silhouetted. And yet also seemingly lacking in both color and shading of any sort. A very interesting fashion choice, you comment, but the guardswoman seems less than amused.

This must be it, she says. This is what happened to the capital. And to legions one through eleven. Her expression becomes terribly grim for some reason.

[Politeness Rules The Day: 4]

You hear a deep and resounding knock through the courtyard, and the guardswoman is confused a second, as are the three or so guards gathered with her at the keep's door. The knock repeats. It appears to be coming from the main gate.

Is... is that the gray fellow? The lady looks quite spooked. She looks at you questioningly. Could you... take a look at who that is? You seemed to be... all right the first time, no?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 03, 2016, 05:55:11 pm
I attempt to convince her. "Come on now, what kind of Master makes a hole you can't escape through? That sounds like a rookie move to me, especially when there are stoats about to break in here and kill us all. If getting someone down there doesn't get them to safety, then there's not much point sending them, right? They'd be no help full of crossbow bolts."

[Cunning Arguments: 6]

That would be a very good point, she concedes grudgingly, if it weren't for the fact that most everyone here is crazy.

Still, it's an option. And options are worth investigating even if they might lead to horrible disaster.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 04, 2016, 05:08:36 am
"How curious. No peeking!"

Get out of his view. Behind building or something. Then kick him out of my mind. Failure to comply results something INEVITABLE. There's bound to be something good stuff in future (besides vodka. That is good stuff but not exactly what this situation calls for.)

[A Logical Conclusion: 5]

You begin to move toward some kind of cover - a thought of home, or something similar. Oddly enough, the home seems flat, like a cardboard cutout. An ordinary thought, you suppose. Lacking in the sort of depth a mindscape possesses. You almost get out of sight, placing one foot behind the image of the building, when the thought swims back into the shapeless thought-jelly lining the idle brain of this fellow.

Despite this, you do feel something has changed. You feel... lesser somehow. You look back at the stoatman, who nervously regards the shape of the stoat girl from before in the sea of confusion. She grows a little more defined. You become less so. A little unclear of form. Thought comes a little less easily to you. You are present. But less important now. You start to meld in with the other thoughts, and they start to meld in with you. Minute worries creep into your skull as an indescribably dull existence assails you. Not a safe place to be, you immediately realize.

But there is a way out through here, no doubt. The edges are the worst-kept parts of the mind, filled with holes and vulnerabilities through which you might slip back out. Finding one large enough to accommodate you, of course, may be less than trivial. But then, when has such a thing ever stopped you?

INEVITABLE

[The Sheer Unlikelihood: 3]

It perhaps doesn't come out as properly as it should. It sounds impressive, granted. Loud. Commanding. But what does it mean? Not something the fellow knows, clearly. And within this place, what he knows is the inevitable truth.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: TopHat on June 04, 2016, 04:23:55 pm
"I, er... Oh, yes, there are at least four of us by my count. Anyway, erm, are there any obvious alternative ways of fulfilling your contract which don't involve killing everyone? Just they seem to be, well, nice people on the whole, so I'd rather that be avoided if possible."
Any alternatives to the eviscerate-then-assimilate thing?

((apologies for the delay))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Xantalos on June 04, 2016, 05:58:17 pm
"Look, you state a vague request, you get a vague response. I'll be back momentarily with some sacrificial guy."

Go head back to the slave servant quarters and drag one of them along with me back to the shrine. Do my best not to be distracted by whatever realitywarping shenanigans are undoubtedly going on at the moment.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: Toaster on June 04, 2016, 07:41:47 pm
"Yes.  This I can do."

Head back up.  Is it the grey stout fellow?  Indicate as such to the guard.  Maybe even ask him what he wants!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 05, 2016, 02:28:57 am
Oh fucking fuck, I'm so fucked... Deep breaths, Leif, deep breaths. You are descendant of man who found America, child of vikings, son of cold North. There's nothing I cannot do if I put my mind into it! I will find way out or I will take everything to hell with me!. Maybe... maybe if I coax him into finding the exit? Make him think about his home? And the door that leads out? That would literally lead me out of his mind. Hmm...

Resolution.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: A Screaming Death
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 05, 2016, 07:16:17 am
"That's the spirit! Follow me." I lead the girl to Claire's place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 06, 2016, 06:12:10 am
Quote from: TopHat on June 04, 2016, 04:23:55 pm
"I, er... Oh, yes, there are at least four of us by my count. Anyway, erm, are there any obvious alternative ways of fulfilling your contract which don't involve killing everyone? Just they seem to be, well, nice people on the whole, so I'd rather that be avoided if possible."
Any alternatives to the eviscerate-then-assimilate thing?

One would assume so, given that it is unlikely that all of the people in this castle are crucial to the ultimate destiny of the nation. However, one is also unqualified to determine which of these particular people would be crucial and how exactly. The queen would be one, at least according to the original intent. But then any one of these folk could become a legendary hero and cause further troubles for his kind and generous clients.

Therefore, one says as one retrieves another guardsman, the third so far, through the ceiling of the gatehouse in a manner best described as physically improbable, emptying their armor of all of its flesh with a vile sucking noise, then casting the suit aside nonchalantly, it stands to reason that the safest option would be total eradication. Frankly, even leaving you to bumble about is something of a dangerous allowance, but one supposes it to be a wise investment into future calls for assistance, given the way you appear to command certain untold magical powers that you will no doubt be able to efficiently deploy in your next meeting with, say, a city garrison with an adjunct speaker who could make the call.

Speaking of, what was that just now? One couldn't help but notice your eyes going slightly glassy. And your skin seemed to lose texture a little. A very curious thing. Oh, and- ah, wait, one is being observed again. One begs your pardon as one goes about- aha, it's him again. The creature greets a nearby murder-hole, on the opposite side of which is the unmistakable shadow of Mr. Minstep, strangely recognizable despite being about 95% covered.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 04, 2016, 05:58:17 pm
"Look, you state a vague request, you get a vague response. I'll be back momentarily with some sacrificial guy."

Go head back to the slave servant quarters and drag one of them along with me back to the shrine. Do my best not to be distracted by whatever realitywarping shenanigans are undoubtedly going on at the moment.

[Dinner For One: 4]

You don't even need to go that far, really, given the general commotion inside the keep. Tensions are running high. Servants are scurrying about with unclear instructions, the majordomo still bellowing something about an incoming festival. Guardsmen seem unconcerned, and are gathering materials for what seem to be barricades. You suppose this would be a good opportunity.

[A Fortuitous Grab: 2+1 vs. 3]

A passing short-haired servant finds herself the recipient of a stern grab on the shoulder. She looks at you rather irritably. Aren't you that naked idjit from before? Yes, you say as you gingerly lift her off the ground by the shoulder. Yes you are. You begin to carry her out of the keep, and this is about as far as you get as her confusion about this physically unlikely happening transforms into naked rage. Unhand her, you filthy naked idjit! Her resistance begins in earnest at this point.

Quote from: Toaster on June 04, 2016, 07:41:47 pm
"Yes.  This I can do."

Head back up.  Is it the grey stout fellow?  Indicate as such to the guard.  Maybe even ask him what he wants!

[A Complete Picture: 4]

You head on over to the guardhouse, which seems oddly empty given the time of day, and take a gander out the conveniently placed murder holes, which afford you a rather fine view of Mr. Wilde and that gray stout person standing out by the gate expectantly, the gray person currently finishing up the process of eating the previous guardsman to look through the holes like some sort of metal-clad oyster. The way the formerly inhabited suit of armor joins about three other sets on the ground around it make you wonder if you've just made a terrible mistake.

One bids you hello, good sir. The gray figure appears to see you quite well. Would you happen to be a guardsman? You appear to be of a different flesh.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 05, 2016, 02:28:57 am
Oh fucking fuck, I'm so fucked... Deep breaths, Leif, deep breaths. You are descendant of man who found America, child of vikings, son of cold North. There's nothing I cannot do if I put my mind into it! I will find way out or I will take everything to hell with me!. Maybe... maybe if I coax him into finding the exit? Make him think about his home? And the door that leads out? That would literally lead me out of his mind. Hmm...

Resolution.

[Tumbling Deeper Down: 3]

Well, it's not that grim, you suppose. Getting back into the view of the stoatman and maybe tapping him on the shoulder or giving him a stern call is enough to put you back into focus, which brings a certain sense of relief even as it invariably makes the exit that much more distant from you.

You suppose there ought to be different ways to get out besides the most obvious one. Maybe you could teach this fellow some elementary minding. If stoats could even learn such a thing. He'd no doubt be much more able to direct you out if he had even a smidgen of awareness about how this all works.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 05, 2016, 07:16:17 am
"That's the spirit! Follow me." I lead the girl to Claire's place.

The spirit of defeat. The second best kind of spirit in your book. You head on over to Claire's place, eager to get to whatever occult business is going on in there. The door seems to be open, so you head right in.

As expected, Claire is still in, though she currently appears to be in bed, sipping from a cup of wine with a look of wonder as she regards a grubby young woman draped in a bedsheet and little else, who appears to be in the middle of a spirited lecture on something that probably wouldn't make that much more sense with full context. Something about the borders of El and the nineteen accords of 244. She half-paces, half-dances around the bed, her mind taking her on a journey no doubt assisted by quite a lot of alcohol, and both of them start laughing at something called the Great Insult of Far Horizon.

You begin to get the slight sense that you're interrupting something when Claire, wiping a tear from her eye, looks over at you. Hey! You're back! It's been a while. She sounds like she is certainly on the far side of tipsy.  The other woman, leaning on a bedpost to keep her balance, looks your way as well. Welcome, she says in a mildly hoarse tone! You've missed a lot. She grabs a half-full mug on one particular end table, causing an empty glass bottle to clink to the floor with a careless movement, and downs it in one go. This gets pretty hard on the voice after a while, she comments after getting her bearings and standing the bottle up next to the bed. They both look at each other, then over to you. The girl you brought along gives you a very dubious look.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Xantalos on June 06, 2016, 01:16:06 pm
"Hush you, this is important to save you all from the stoats. You want to be important and shit, don't you? You'll probably be given a better occupation than servant if you do well enough."

Lie my metaphorical (since I'm not wearing any) pants off to placate her as I continue to drag her over to the shrine. Sacrifice time!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 06, 2016, 01:33:00 pm
Now that is most reckless idea I have had for a while. Not that my other ideas haven't been reckless, but... Oh hell, let's do it!

Get into his view and make this into minding resistance test and training. Teach him how to kick me out, if I even know how to do that. If he can kick me out of his mind he succeeds. If he fails... well, then he fails. Consequences of failure include relocation into less pleasant job.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: TopHat on June 06, 2016, 03:49:26 pm
"You know, I haven't the faintest idea. Losing texture? That sounds concerning, how long did that last, exactly?
Oh, and hello again Mr. Minstep. How are you doing?"
Hey, wait a minute, what did happen there? Can I remember anything out of the ordinary?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 06, 2016, 04:17:02 pm
Not the situation I expected, but I can probably work with this. "Hey, I have someone here who's thinking about apprenticing, especially if it means escape. How about we get her a drink?" I attempt to get Claire's help convincing the girl. And hopefully alcohol can make the deal seem a little more tempting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Toaster on June 06, 2016, 05:27:13 pm
"Ah... uh... hmm, nice trick.  But no, I am not a guard... well, I suppose I am a contract employee of the guard, but not technically an employee of the guard.  I am still an insurance agent by trade.  On that note, though, the guard I am working under would like to know what it is you want.  Hello, Mr. Wilde.  Pretty well; and you?"

Converse.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 07, 2016, 06:05:13 am
Quote from: Xantalos on June 06, 2016, 01:16:06 pm
"Hush you, this is important to save you all from the stoats. You want to be important and shit, don't you? You'll probably be given a better occupation than servant if you do well enough."

Lie my metaphorical (since I'm not wearing any) pants off to placate her as I continue to drag her over to the shrine. Sacrifice time!

She seems less than inclined to believe your argument for some reason. Perhaps if you weren't such a filthy naked idjit of questionable origin and motivation. You really should put some clothes on at some point, you suppose.

[Break the Chains: 1 vs. 5+1]

Fortunately, keeping her at arm's length while she flails about trying to kick out of your grip is simple enough, so you carry her over to the shrine, where the altar awaits with what you can't help but perceive as terrible eagerness. You're not entirely positive about how this sacrifice is supposed to occur, you realize. You guess you could just let it come to you as you go.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 06, 2016, 01:33:00 pm
Now that is most reckless idea I have had for a while. Not that my other ideas haven't been reckless, but... Oh hell, let's do it!

Get into his view and make this into minding resistance test and training. Teach him how to kick me out, if I even know how to do that. If he can kick me out of his mind he succeeds. If he fails... well, then he fails. Consequences of failure include relocation into less pleasant job.

[Mysteries of the Mind: 6]

You there, you say to the stoatman, who still seems rather intimidated by your presence. Yes, he asks? Is there some way he can, er, help? Why yes, you say! He can cooperate with you as you try to find an exit out of this shithole of a mind.

Wait, he says. This is a mind? Whose mind? His mind, you shout exasperatedly. You would have thought that was abundantly clear from all his thoughts springing up into existence just as he was thinking them. It's a very sloppy sort of mind, you note with obvious displeasure. Hasn't he ever had a crash course in thought organization or mindscape generation? Of course not, you say as you look around.

Wait. Wait wait wait. The stoat raises a finger. This is his mind, then. What's he supposed to be in this? A mind within a mind? You correct him swiftly and sternly - he's the ego, basically, and also a dolt. And he ought to interrupt you less.

So wait, he interrupts you again. So this is his mind, and he's thinking all this. Ergo, what he thinks is real in here, yes? Yes, you say. In fact, that's exactly the thing you wanted to teach him about. Building structures out of thought. Making mindscapes. Simplicity itself, once you get used to it. You relate your own experience with burning cathedrals and booming heavy metal covers to him as a colorful example, which seems to grab his attention.

Right, so wait a moment, he says right as you are about to relate to him the marvel of vodkafruit. This all sounds like minding. Yes, you confirm, that's exactly what it is. The elementary bits, anyway. The starter test. If you can do all this by age six you're about good to be a minder in your later life.

Sweet, he comments, and you can't help but agree. But what's he supposed to do with this? You inform him that his job is to get you out of here! Swiftly! Okay. How? It's simple, really. You just need a bit of context. With that in mind, you relay to this dull stoat the basics of the mind's makeup, the interaction of two minds and the techniques of invasion and resistance that arise from these. To your knowledge, you seem to have linked your perceptions to a thought-form that you projected into his mind forcibly. Since you lack the tools to untether them from one another, you really just need a bit of rebuke, you think. One with a little kick. Enough to make your thought-form nope right the hell out of this place.

The first step is recognition. He looks upon you, and you let him recognize your alien nature. You do not belong here. Come to think of it, you don't probably belong in Anglefork Town altogether, being a minder and all. The second step, then, is isolation! Look, it's happening already, you point as thoughtspace begins to constrict around you. And then there's the third simple step - rejection! You look the stoat in the eyes with a grin, arms wide open. The stoat considers this a moment. Rejection, huh? Well, he does have some experience with that. Let him show you something his first girlfriend did.

You barely raise an eyebrow before the stoatman's body whips into a supernaturally quick right hook, going into your face and a considerable distance through it before the rest of your body begins to catch up with the momentum. You are not so much sent flying as violently taken apart, each individual piece flying at supersonic speeds down a deep, dark tunnel of thought, disappearing into the unknown. The flight takes but a short moment as all of your bits impact the far wall of the stoatman's consciousness, splattering as most of your important components reach the other side of the great barrier as a fine red mist.

Oddly enough, you find yourself flying as you awaken. Or, rather, landing. Into what seems to be a wall. The impact is slightly undercut by the way most of your body hurts before you even meet the unforgiving, sturdy wood of the building, though it certainly doesn't help much. You peel off the wall limply and fall to the ground on your back, wondering if perhaps there was a more optimal way to do this. Casting an eye about, you notice that you seem to be somewhere other than where you originally dove into the stoat's mind. An alleyway, to be specific.

Next to you stands Lee, quite on guard from your sudden and violent awakening. She looks you over and sighs, then handily retrieves that vial she gave you previously. Open your mouth, she says.

Quote from: TopHat on June 06, 2016, 03:49:26 pm
"You know, I haven't the faintest idea. Losing texture? That sounds concerning, how long did that last, exactly?
Oh, and hello again Mr. Minstep. How are you doing?"
Hey, wait a minute, what did happen there? Can I remember anything out of the ordinary?

Quite a while if one didn't miss anything. Enough for three whole guardsmen to check up on what that knocking was about.

As for what you remember, well, not much really. You guess you kind of spaced out or something. We all have moments when we're less present than usual. Yours just seem to carry side effects.

And Mr. Minstep appears to be quite all right. That's good to know at least.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 06, 2016, 04:17:02 pm
Not the situation I expected, but I can probably work with this. "Hey, I have someone here who's thinking about apprenticing, especially if it means escape. How about we get her a drink?" I attempt to get Claire's help convincing the girl. And hopefully alcohol can make the deal seem a little more tempting.

A drink! That can be arranged. Let the good doctor handle that, Claire says and the grubby woman nods, bringing a mug over to your companion, who takes it, only taking a polite experimental sip when the doctor begins to mime the process enthusiastically. Halfway through the effort she has a better idea and just starts on another mug of mead in earnest instead.

Anyway, apprenticing, Claire says, slowly rising out of bed as she gets herself in a state resembling order. There's kind of been a problem there, she says, slowly coming over to you, gesturing with her own mug at the floor panel. See, there was this one guy who came in and she "apprenticed" him, so to speak, but the old, if you'll pardon the expression, the old bastard didn't take the bait for some reason. So she's having some doubts about this dropping people into a pit business. As anyone probably would, the good doctor offers in the middle of finding yet more mead in the carpenter's stores.

The girl you brought with you starts to give you a frankly mistrustful look, and nearly jumps when Claire puts a hand on her shoulder. Fret not, poor girl, she says. There's probably an escape route in there somewhere, she says. It's just that the goddamn carpenter's in the goddamn way. So she thinks this probably calls for a Plan B of some kind. The doctor's had some suggestions, Claire nods in the appropriate direction. The doctor turns around excitedly, having produced a rather shiny-looking knife on command, an interesting feat given the lack of obvious hiding places. She's been interested in what living underground does to a man's physiology, you see.

There is a series of knocks on the panel. Claire rolls her eyes and turns toward it. Yes, she is still perfectly aware that you can hear all that, and her retort is still fuck you in case you're interested.

So anyway, can you two maybe help with that? The old bastard's probably trapped the place to high heaven while she and the doctor were working up some courage, so to speak.

Quote from: Toaster on June 06, 2016, 05:27:13 pm
"Ah... uh... hmm, nice trick.  But no, I am not a guard... well, I suppose I am a contract employee of the guard, but not technically an employee of the guard.  I am still an insurance agent by trade.  On that note, though, the guard I am working under would like to know what it is you want.  Hello, Mr. Wilde.  Pretty well; and you?"

Converse.

Oh, one surely couldn't tell you about that. It would ruin the surprise. One is under the impression that surprise is important in these cases.

In fact, why don't you get your superior over here? One feels that there is much that one would do well to bring to their attention, and you seem like such a handy fellow for that sort of thing. One rarely gets contracted help of your caliber.

Mr. Wilde, for his part, looks slightly disturbed about something.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 07, 2016, 10:23:58 am
"That could have gone better, but man what dullard he was!"

Open mouth as requested and simultaneously explain what I got from his mind. Perhaps that will be helpful.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: TopHat on June 07, 2016, 11:50:31 am
"Strange... Oh, about as well as could be expected. And trust me, you're better off not knowing what's wanted here."
Wait for Mr. Minstep to leave before resuming conversation with the One.
"You know, I may be able to help you work out who's vital to this destiny of yours. Providing us with a revelation into the matter might do the trick."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Xantalos on June 07, 2016, 12:51:02 pm
Go with the flow!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 07, 2016, 09:56:51 pm
Hey, another chance to die underground. "I'd love to, but there have been some recent developments outside that I should probably help with." I turn to the girl. "This is still probably your best bet. It's stoat army, gray demon, or eccentric carpenter."

I then leave and look for anywhere I can duck into for a quick nap.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Toaster on June 07, 2016, 11:02:30 pm
"Um.  Okay.  I'll pass that along.  Thank you."

Go pass on the good news.

"The strange stout fellow would like to speak with you directly, what with you being my superior and all.  I guess it's important government business."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 08, 2016, 03:04:54 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 07, 2016, 10:23:58 am
"That could have gone better, but man what dullard he was!"

Open mouth as requested and simultaneously explain what I got from his mind. Perhaps that will be helpful.

You begin to explain when a delightful stream of vaguely curative tonic begins to pour into your mouth, tasting of herbs and numbing fire. It is a fine burn you experience over the next five seconds, a fine burn indeed. And the kick that follows, oh my. It'd nearly floor you if you weren't already on your back. As it is, you experience something of an overflow, you would say, finding yourself suddenly on your feet and, strangely enough, uncommonly sharp.

Lee looks you over. Seems to have helped. Better let it settle in for a few moments.

Your tongue suitably loosened, you get to the business of relaying the state of the local human population to Lee. From what you understand, they're indoors, kept away from the streets without supervision while the siege is ongoing. And that this will change at some point when the siege is over. According to that one guy, anyway, but you have good reason to believe that this guy was kind of dumb and useless for the most part. Lee nods at this. The best person to ask would be a human, she says and takes a peek out of the alleyway, looking both ways.

You sit down for a moment, she says. She'll scout around.

Quote from: TopHat on June 07, 2016, 11:50:31 am
"Strange... Oh, about as well as could be expected. And trust me, you're better off not knowing what's wanted here."
Wait for Mr. Minstep to leave before resuming conversation with the One.
"You know, I may be able to help you work out who's vital to this destiny of yours. Providing us with a revelation into the matter might do the trick."

Mr. Minstep leaves shortly, seemingly having taken one's request at face value. Uh. You guess that's... okay?

Anyway, would one like your help in maybe working out a... less inclusive hitlist, perhaps? Because you think you stand to produce, ah, let's say a bit of a

REVELATION

[Word: 5]

The walls momentarily melt away in your mind's eye, and all things become equidistant, strangely visible. You stare at them from afar, all at once. A humble puddle of tormented souls, it's true. But even the humblest puddle can give rise to the most horrific of cholera outbreaks. You just need to find the little fragments of infective material within. One can't help but be fascinated as you pick through the eddies of this great mass, and lift up the people of importance. True importance.

There are admittedly few. Even if there were to be a victory here, the conclusion is already foregone. The council of speakers has won. None of these people can do a damn thing about it. Not the queen. Not the minders, few as they are. Perhaps the royal guards, for their knowledge could be of use in an armed uprising. Potentially, but doubtfully the priest. The most troubling thing about this lot is that, taken together, they could amount to a little in the grand scheme of things. Scarcely more than that, if one weighs the probabilities and considers the options fully. The queen would need to get to El to pose a threat. The guards need the queen to pose a threat. And the minders need an underlying infrastructure to support. Remove any one of the elements and their entire threat collapses completely and irrevocably. Could be easily done in five minutes or less.

Of course the dangerous element here, the true threat to the order of the world, as it were, is you. And the others as well. Ms. Minett, Mr. Daniels, even Mr. Minstep. Why, all of you are potentially extremely dangerous. Though easily distracted, it seems. And... wait, do one's faculties deceive one, or is that...? Why, one would say that it is! Aha!

Well, this is quite an unusual situation, one can't help but say. And that was very illuminating, no doubt about that. However, this does raise a certain issue. One needs to get inside still. To ask some questions, as it were.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 07, 2016, 12:51:02 pm
Go with the flow!

[The Idjit's Grip: 3 vs. 6+1]

The woman redoubles her efforts to try and struggle out of your grip as the altar begins to reach for her mind on your grim approach through the still-silent shrine. All in vain, obviously. Your quotient of fucks given is just too damn low, you find.

[Superb Sacrificial Skills: 6]

You lay her down across the altar firmly, resting a hand on her throat that you make sure to tighten whenever she squirms too much or tries to kick you. Very effective in minimizing resistance, you discover. Now then, you think you'll start with... with... uh...

... yeah, you're kind of drawing a blank here. Uh. You were going to sacrifice her... somehow? Or what? Er. Uhm. You feel unsure for a moment. Is that what you were doing? And... wait, you think you're getting ahead of yourself here. First you need to get a sacrifice, right? You think you could go and... seriously, this is kind of weirding you out, you think as you rest your palms on the altar and look into the distance, attempting thoughtfulness. You think you did something. Or planned to do something. It's difficult to recall at the moment. Something about the gods of this altar.

You look down. The altar stands before you, surface invitingly deep. And getting unfathomably deeper still. A voice can be heard, but only briefly, very distantly. An echo of an echo. As it fades, the altar recedes further along a dimension you're not sure you could perceive before. You are... where, exactly? Who, really? What, eventually? Your mind starts to unequivocally die as your gaze is drawn closer to the altar, mesmerized as you neglect to think of anything at all.

You fall forward, strength draining from your body. You want to dream again, just for anything to fill the void in your mind. And just then, you touch the very edge of something dreadfully familiar. It floods into your skull, feeling like relief at first. It brings fragments of you, reassembling what fell over the precipice. Not all of it, you suspect. Just enough to speak, and to listen. And to fulfill your basic function.

Hello. It has been some time. Are you coherent? Ask a question.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 07, 2016, 09:56:51 pm
Hey, another chance to die underground. "I'd love to, but there have been some recent developments outside that I should probably help with." I turn to the girl. "This is still probably your best bet. It's stoat army, gray demon, or eccentric carpenter."

I then leave and look for anywhere I can duck into for a quick nap.

Claire sighs. Well, guess it's time to work up more enthusiasm, then. She tells the doctor to dig out the other other supply. It's hidden in that wall over- yeah, that one, now tap the panel twice, and... wait, no, that's not the one, stop right there immediately. As the doctor pauses, her hand still on an ominously twisted bit of wall, Claire moves her way, using gestures to try and convey the correct method to avoid a steel dart to the gut at this juncture. The doctor seems rather impressed at the implied craftsmanship of the traps involved. If only her stashes were as well-guarded.

[Foolish Confidence: 6]

You look at the girl you brought, who looks back your way. Yeah, her looks seems to say, how about no. Fair enough, you suppose. She can take her chances with the demons and stoatmen and certain death in that case, you tell her as you curl up beneath a nearby desk, a cunning utilization of earthquake protocol for more mundane ends. You rest there for a few moments, gathering your strength for what is almost assuredly going to hurt quite a lot even if you were prepared.

You stretch out a little, and notice the girl to have remained even as the doctor starts up another lecture. Admittedly, she seems mostly curious about what the hell you're doing exactly.

Quote from: Toaster on June 07, 2016, 11:02:30 pm
"Um.  Okay.  I'll pass that along.  Thank you."

Go pass on the good news.

"The strange stout fellow would like to speak with you directly, what with you being my superior and all.  I guess it's important government business."

[Obvious Questions: 6]

Uh-huh, says the guardswoman. Not bloody likely. Thing just called down a near mass-suicide on a wall from what she understands. Only thing to do now is take battlestations and try to get it before it gets them, she's decided. And the commander, once she's informed of this, is more than likely to agree.

Speaking of, she says, but does not complete her thought before sprinting off into the keep. You suppose she does have reports to make, considering the top-notch quality of the information you provided.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 08, 2016, 03:39:45 pm
((@TopHat, feed One to the well. They are sure to love each other!))

"Excellent suggestion! You are very smart! And I'm drunk."

((I probably should sit down and rest. But I also want to work on and see what went wrong with the dive. Break it into basic components and construct something less dangerous (for me). Hmm, let's throw a dice. 1-3: rest, 4-6: minding. And I get... 4.))

Yep, sit down and work out all secrets of the mind dive. Learn something good from that mistake.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Xantalos on June 08, 2016, 03:49:18 pm
Wait. That's ... that's ... fuck. Why is it here? Wasn't it in the well?
...
God fucking damn extradimensional con artist.

"It's you. You're ... you ... question. No. No, I recognize your trickery. Ahem. The following is not my question, it is clarification so that I may determine what you are giving to me in exchange for the sacrifice of ... whoever that was. Any questions I ask will be immediately preceded by the phrases 'this is my question' or 'these are my questions' if I have multiple to choose. Now then, what will you give to me. How many questions, how many desires, please inform me if there are any other categories of boon I could be granted as a result of this transaction."

Clarification, not questioning. I don't see any question marks there no sir.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Toaster on June 08, 2016, 07:09:16 pm
Ah.  A job well done.   ...   Now what?

Well, that equipment is still here.

Maybe a few more practice swings with that training sword.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 09, 2016, 08:22:45 am
I stand up, yawn, and exit the building. Then I head down to the well to make a deal.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: TopHat on June 09, 2016, 09:49:12 am
"Wait, questions? Who is it? Is it whatever's behind the door? The thing in the well?
Speaking of doors, do you have a plan for getting inside?"
Questions

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 08, 2016, 03:39:45 pm
((@TopHat, feed One to the well. They are sure to love each other!))

((I have a feeling that my interference won't be necessary in that matter.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 09, 2016, 04:00:08 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 08, 2016, 03:39:45 pm
((@TopHat, feed One to the well. They are sure to love each other!))

"Excellent suggestion! You are very smart! And I'm drunk."

((I probably should sit down and rest. But I also want to work on and see what went wrong with the dive. Break it into basic components and construct something less dangerous (for me). Hmm, let's throw a dice. 1-3: rest, 4-6: minding. And I get... 4.))

Yep, sit down and work out all secrets of the mind dive. Learn something good from that mistake.

As Lee nods and proceeds out of the alleyway, you reflect briefly on what you've gained from this experience. You think you had it right already, really - you just launched your perceptions really sharply into someone else's mind to the point where you didn't quite manage to leave much of yourself in your own body. It seems to have been something of an unfavorable arrangement.

[Deeper Understanding: 1]

Really, it's probably the sort of thing you'd better not try again. You get the feeling that if you got into the mind of someone who even vaguely knew what they were doing, you'd be dead meat in shorter order than you can say "cornfield". Probably best to just start over on trying to access people's mindscapes than build upon something that wrongly executed.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 08, 2016, 03:49:18 pm
Wait. That's ... that's ... fuck. Why is it here? Wasn't it in the well?
...
God fucking damn extradimensional con artist.

"It's you. You're ... you ... question. No. No, I recognize your trickery. Ahem. The following is not my question, it is clarification so that I may determine what you are giving to me in exchange for the sacrifice of ... whoever that was. Any questions I ask will be immediately preceded by the phrases 'this is my question' or 'these are my questions' if I have multiple to choose. Now then, what will you give to me. How many questions, how many desires, please inform me if there are any other categories of boon I could be granted as a result of this transaction."

Clarification, not questioning. I don't see any question marks there no sir.

As a consequence of the momentarily high demand of sources, you are entitled to four answers and one fulfillment for the goods provided. The usual reward, for future information, is three answers and one fulfillment.

[Customer Service: 5]

In addition, just so your obviously hurt feelings may be soothed (see: customer loyalty, excellent deals, not always right), you may pose two questions as one. Or more which will be divided by two, rounding down. The better ones will be answered.

Quote from: Toaster on June 08, 2016, 07:09:16 pm
Ah.  A job well done.   ...   Now what?

Well, that equipment is still here.

Maybe a few more practice swings with that training sword.

[Five Rings Or Some Such: 6]

You walk over to the courtyard, grabbing the training sword from before, which has been conveniently and no doubt completely accidentally left on the ground. You give it a swing. Feels much nicer two-handed. Faster. Yet just as heavy. You give it a satisfying whirl, vaguely imagining an adversary before you. A spark goes off in your mind, a childlike sense of wonder as you consider the noble life of a royal guardsman, safeguarding the queen from dragons and assassins alike. One day the kingdom will be at peace. The thought fills you with

DESTINY

There you stand, in the middle of the courtyard. Ms. Minett is behind you- oh, you didn't see her there. She seems to have stopped to regard your moves with a great deal of confusion, stopped mid-step as she seems to have failed to pass you by. She glances at the castle gate, and so do you. It opens slightly, and through it comes... the gray stout fellow, followed by Mr. Wilde. You're not quite sure why you throw it the other practice sword. It feels like a perfectly natural thing for you to throw it, and it seems just as natural for one to catch it with perfect coordination.

One looks at you, and within one's gaze you perceive a strange hostility. Fool, one's lack of eyes implies, do you think to impede one's evil plan? And, er, you catch yourself thinking you definitely could. Stranger still, you have the odd sensation that you must. You both take up identical dueling stances. Or, rather, you take up your best idea of one and it imitates you as best it can.

You suppose the time for practice is over.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 09, 2016, 08:22:45 am
I stand up, yawn, and exit the building. Then I head down to the well to make a deal.

Naps beneath someone else's desk are really an underrated way of regaining good health after both altercations with otherworldly beasts and a hard night of drinking alike. You head out of Claire's house and into the courtyard, where you notice Mr. Minstep practicing his sword forms with unusual... dedication. You think nothing of it at first. But just as you start to pass him on the way to the hole in the ground, you sense the ring of

DESTINY

The gate opens, revealing the much-feared gray demon, followed by Mr. Wilde. They strut into the courtyard with measured confidence, the demon locking its eyes on Mr. Minstep almost immediately. Mr. Minstep, still in sword-practice mode, throws the demon a practice sword of its own - the demon catches it flawlessly. They stare at each other, Mr. Minstep narrowing his eyes, the demon mirroring his stance in preparation.

You look around. The courtyard is otherwise empty. The girl, oddly enough, does not appear to have followed you out of the carpenter's workshop, though you vaguely recall her moving in your direction. Huh. You then glance back at Mr. Minstep, then at the demon. You get the sense that they have reached mutual understanding in the only way two gentlemen with swords can. Or, well, will shortly attempt to reach such a thing, anyway.

Quote from: TopHat on June 09, 2016, 09:49:12 am
"Wait, questions? Who is it? Is it whatever's behind the door? The thing in the well?
Speaking of doors, do you have a plan for getting inside?"
Questions

Why yes, you seem to have caught one's meaning rather well. One congratulates you for that. As for getting in, well, there's always good old

DESTINY

[Word: 1]

You sense an odd reconfiguration. Fate, insofar as such a thing can be applied to agents of chaos and destruction such as you, your fellows and presumably oneself as well, bends with an uncharacteristic whimsy, or simply very characteristic sadism. The gate of the castle rises as the environs become quiet and still, revealing the courtyard beyond. You catch the tail end of a simultaneous exit by virtually everyone still in the courtyard, sensing an incoming momentous event.

You find yourself standing beside the One on one side of the courtyard, and on the other side there is the unmistakable figure of Mr. Minstep, flanked by a slightly confused Ms. Minett, who seems to have been caught mid-stride in a position perfectly mirroring yours. A wooden practice sword in his hands, Mr. Minstep appears to be in the middle of a flawlessly executed offensive stance, or at least what you'd imagine to be one. He looks at the one, and tosses him the sword in a perfect arc, which one can't help but catch under the circumstances lest one begin to feel wholly inadequate.

It occurs to you that Mr. Minstep seems to have his game face on, the expression of a canny insurance agent about to make the deal of his life. A more unnerving thing you could scarcely bear to imagine. One seems obliged to repay with something quite similar, at least in terms of stance. All in good fun, you suppose.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Toaster on June 09, 2016, 05:21:50 pm
((Note:  I'm going out of town this weekend.  It shouldn't be too hard to follow this by phone, but I make no promises of perfect attendance.))

"Well, good sir stout fellow, what is it they say in the movies?  In guard?  I think that's it!"

Looks like there's no stopping the duel!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Xantalos on June 09, 2016, 07:51:54 pm
((So essentially five answers and a literal genie wish.

Ehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe.

I'll have to take some time to think about this, right now I'm not really able to concentrate to the amount I'd need to exploit this effectively.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 09, 2016, 11:55:49 pm
Right. Let's forget earlier mistakes and rest while waiting for Lee's return. Wait, scratch that! I have better idea! Peek into various INEVITABLE futures, especially into one where I have learned spontaneous materialization. Bring it closer to present so I can skip the long learning process. Or learn what steps are required to learn the thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 10, 2016, 12:35:35 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on June 09, 2016, 07:51:54 pm
((So essentially five answers and a literal genie wish.

Ehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe.

I'll have to take some time to think about this, right now I'm not really able to concentrate to the amount I'd need to exploit this effectively.))

Still only four answers, but you get to ask eight questions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Xantalos on June 10, 2016, 01:05:24 pm
((...huh. This would be best enabled by asking two-parters then...
Gaaaaaah if I end up taking too long with this go ahead with the rest of the turn, I think I'll be here a while.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: TopHat on June 10, 2016, 02:51:39 pm
"Don't be an idiot. We've all got far better things to do, I'm sure, and the two of you couldn't seriously harm each other with those bits of wood if you try. Just drop it and talk out your differences later."

This is ridiculous.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 10, 2016, 07:36:16 pm
"You face us at last, demon. Nothing else matters now, everything has been leading up to this moment. Life, death, everything is at stake here. Let it begin."

This is serious.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 11, 2016, 05:06:59 am
Quote from: Toaster on June 09, 2016, 05:21:50 pm
((Note:  I'm going out of town this weekend.  It shouldn't be too hard to follow this by phone, but I make no promises of perfect attendance.))

"Well, good sir stout fellow, what is it they say in the movies?  In guard?  I think that's it!"

Looks like there's no stopping the duel!

[Round One: 5 vs. 3]

As it usually is with a duel, the action begins with a wild sprint toward one another, swords oriented in a promisingly dangerous fashion, Ms. Minett setting the tone most adequately with a short monologue. You close the distance shortly enough, and once in melee range you step around your adversary, both of you swinging your swords with all your might for a dramatic first clash. The clonk of wood on wood rings out through the courtyard, little dents appearing on your swords from the impact. Locking your blades, you engage in a test of strength, one in which you seem remarkably evenly matched.

It's all terribly good fun, of course, until Mr. Wilde starts to rather impudently criticize your choice of conflict resolution methods, remarking on how it would really be all that much more preferable if you didn't go about all this frippery of fighting like proper men and instead did something as silly as try and talk this out. One can't help but sigh a little at this bewildering display of naivete, looking his way with clear disapproval. Talking is so inefficient, one has to say. It lacks that certain punch that good old fashioned ritualized violence provides. As a man of relative peace, you do see Mr. Wilde's point to some degree, of course, but one does put forward a convincing counterargument.

Pondering how to resolve this, you decide upon an empirical test and give one a solid smack to the head. The blade gives an admirable crack, the weight of it sinking most adequately into one's skull, and one is forced back a little. See, one points out to Mr. Wilde, superior conflict resolution. You punctuate the statement with a crash of the sword on one's back, sending him face-first into the ground, the demon-thing emitting a groan as its limbs momentarily detach from one another and its body flows back into an upright position. One turns to you, and with a simultaneous whip of all one's limbs. Now that that's settled, you can begin the fight in earnest. You agree in the best possible way, giving one another smack to the head, which seems to get to the heart of the matter most adequately.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 09, 2016, 11:55:49 pm
Right. Let's forget earlier mistakes and rest while waiting for Lee's return. Wait, scratch that! I have better idea! Peek into various INEVITABLE futures, especially into one where I have learned spontaneous materialization. Bring it closer to present so I can skip the long learning process. Or learn what steps are required to learn the thing.

It does occur to you that with your bestowed talent with minding it probably is mostly a matter of time until you do learn pretty much everything that minding can bestow upon you. With this reasonable deduction you dive right into the great certainty of the

INEVITABLE

[Word: 5]

Spontaneous materialization, you realize, is something of a very distant thing for you. It would involve looking into the mind of an extremely talented minder (shame you left the only one you knew of to die in a dark pit) and watch how it is exactly that they manage to reject reality and shape it to limited degrees like a mindscape. There are many futures in which you learn these secrets. And the rest are the ones in which you die before you are able to. Quite beyond your reach at the moment, of course. First you'd have to learn something as simple as, say, levitation.

Wait. Levitation. That's technically a shaping of reality. And you do know somebody who can do it for sure. Quite a lot of futures where you see someone do that, and even get to look into their thoughts, and begin to understand. It is the key to the great leap you need to make, you feel. From there quite a few things would become far more obvious. Of course, quite a few futures exist in which you meet a levitating minder later rather than sooner. And even a few in which you never meet one at all.

Drawing back from this rather deep look into inevitable eventualities, you for a moment forget how far along you are in this. Still in Anglefork Town? Ugh. You've been over these starting sections so many times already.

Quote from: TopHat on June 10, 2016, 02:51:39 pm
"Don't be an idiot. We've all got far better things to do, I'm sure, and the two of you couldn't seriously harm each other with those bits of wood if you try. Just drop it and talk out your differences later."

This is ridiculous.

[Dramatic Discouragement: 5 vs. 2]

Unfortunately they seem a bit invested into this whole beating the shit out of each other thing, even if your argument does give them quite a bit of pause. It certainly seems to take the wind out of Ms. Minett's own attempts at setting the mood.

You see someone peek out of a door nearby, then poke their head back in. Was that your companion from before? Looked like her, you think.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 10, 2016, 07:36:16 pm
"You face us at last, demon. Nothing else matters now, everything has been leading up to this moment. Life, death, everything is at stake here. Let it begin."

This is serious.

[Dramatic Encouragement: 2 vs. 5]

You have to say, you don't really appreciate being heckled by the likes of Mr. Wilde, even if indirectly. Really takes that whole heroic feeling out of the thing.

Of course, even if it doesn't feel quite as overwhelmingly significant anymore as it did at the start, you still get to watch two guys beat each other with sticks, and that's kind of okay. And Mr. Minstep does seem to be making a strong showing of it right now in the headshot department.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 11, 2016, 07:46:17 am
Do I jump into the fight now? Mr. Minstep doesn't seem like he needs a lot of help. In fact, with a more dangerous weapon I feel like he could make short work of the thing. I just need to borrow some danger from elsewhere.

I point at Mr. Minstep's blade and say "Grant his sword the power of the SEA!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 11, 2016, 09:10:22 am
I reject your reality and substitute it with my own. A great way to put it, I think.

Sleep my drunkenness and wounds off. It's great I won't have hangover after this.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: TopHat on June 11, 2016, 02:02:32 pm
"Very well, duke it out if you want. Let's just leave them to it, then, Ms. Minett. It would certainly be extremely discourteous to interfere, wouldn't you say?"

Note which door the girl's behind for future reference and then heckle Ms. Minett a bit more.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Toaster on June 11, 2016, 04:27:22 pm
Thomas panted a bit as he reveled in the exertion. This was becoming quite the interesting show! He hadn't expected this much audience participation, really.

"Well met, sir! This is quite exciting!"

Press the advantage!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 13, 2016, 05:08:52 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 11, 2016, 07:46:17 am
Do I jump into the fight now? Mr. Minstep doesn't seem like he needs a lot of help. In fact, with a more dangerous weapon I feel like he could make short work of the thing. I just need to borrow some danger from elsewhere.

I point at Mr. Minstep's blade and say "Grant his sword the power of the SEA!"

Mr. Wilde doesn't seem terribly impressed with your idea of interfering in this duel, to which you would normally have a good retort, but instead you choose to invoke the

SEA

[Word: 5]

The word goes into Mr. Minstep's sword mid-swing, and the blade becomes... unusual. Fluid. Seemingly liquid, selectively solid. Humble in appearance. And yet it cleaves flesh with ease, pouring generous and extraordinarily painful salt into wounds. Mr. Minstep swings it with oblivious ease, carving great chunks of the demon right off as he presses the advantage. Losing an arm and a leg, the creature hisses as it hops back, new limbs sprouting from its stumps and inflating with stolen flesh.

One can't help but feel that you've given it some measure of license for what is about to occur, an ominous thought that is quite unlikely to be your own.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 11, 2016, 09:10:22 am
I reject your reality and substitute it with my own. A great way to put it, I think.

Sleep my drunkenness and wounds off. It's great I won't have hangover after this.

You figure you'll settle in for a bit more of a nap. This isn't the worst place you've tried to do such a thing in. There is an art to sleeping in an alleyway, one you can certainly say you've nearly mastered.

But even you could not have predicted how extraordinarily well this particular nap works out. You wake up with what you can best describe as the opposite of a hangover. Is this what being an early riser feels like? Huh.

You don't get to appreciate this heightened state of consciousness, however, as you notice Lee run past the alleyway, giving you a whistle of alarm before sprinting away. Soon after a spear-wielding guard runs right after her, shouting for her to stop right there.

Quote from: TopHat on June 11, 2016, 02:02:32 pm
"Very well, duke it out if you want. Let's just leave them to it, then, Ms. Minett. It would certainly be extremely discourteous to interfere, wouldn't you say?"

Note which door the girl's behind for future reference and then heckle Ms. Minett a bit more.

You kind of already did note which door she was behind, but you make sure to mentally underline the fact for safety's sake. Then you notice Ms. Minett try to actually interfere in this duel, and you have some words for her about this. Unfortunately, she happens to have a Word in return.

SEA

You notice Mr. Minstep's blade go liquid and rather amazingly sharp, a fact that renders it superbly advantageous against your average practice blade as you can observe momentarily when one is deprived of two whole limbs before withdrawing from immediate range with a movement best described as effortlessly supernatural. One then proceeds to regrow the lost limbs and rethink its strategy with an ominously blank expression.

Quote from: Toaster on June 11, 2016, 04:27:22 pm
Thomas panted a bit as he reveled in the exertion. This was becoming quite the interesting show! He hadn't expected this much audience participation, really.

"Well met, sir! This is quite exciting!"

Press the advantage!

One agrees with your assessment. It is really very excellent when one can resolve their issues in such an elegant fashion. You both resolve to provide a good showing in this second round of glorious melee. Well, at least until you hear the call of the

SEA

It seeps into your practice sword, focused to perfection, and the wood becomes liquid and unnaturally sharp mid-swing. One tries to block your strike in a futile effort as the blade parts and reforms on the other end, sinking into one's shoulder, severing the arm, traveling down the torso like a snaking river before cleaving through the pelvis and removing the leg as well. Fortunately you do not seem to have severed anything terribly important, as one's inner flesh appears to have a very soupy, slightly bubbling and distinctly bloodless texture. You breathe a sigh of relief at having avoided an unfortunate accident as one sort of slides away from you in a physically improbable manner, the severed part collapsing in on itself with an unusual howl and a pop even before it hits the ground.

You look over at the poor fellow with slight concern for his overall structural integrity, but he seems to have grown new limbs at this point, so you suppose that's perfectly all right. Guess he's a bit robust that  Though he does seem to give Ms. Minett a rather uncharitable look for tampering with this honorable duel.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Xantalos on June 13, 2016, 05:13:13 am
((NNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGH QUESTION INDECISION WHY))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 13, 2016, 10:08:55 am
"Stop right there, criminal scum! You violated my mother!" Leif shouts after the guard. Where's that line from? Definitely heard it somewhere before...

Let's try that sense robbing technique aqain, this time more easily observed target: the guard. Rob his senses from his legs. And then rob his spear and run after Lee.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 13, 2016, 12:08:13 pm
"Like you weren't already going to attack me."

I try to disrupt whatever it's about to do with a well-timed "CHAOS!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: TopHat on June 13, 2016, 12:32:48 pm
"Ah. I think the likelihood of that was lower than it may have seemed. Certainly lower than it is now."

Sit down and relax a bit whilst watching, I could do with a rest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Xantalos on June 13, 2016, 05:49:00 pm
After a rather long period of time thinking his questions over, Daniels speaks.

"I will ask my questions first, since the answers may change my desired fulfillment.

1. How may I obtain the ability to absorb connections and sources like you do, and what would be the effects on my being from undertaking such an action?

2. What is a method to nullify all reality warping directed against myself by others that is not a word? If such a thing only exists as a word, what word is it?

3. You uncoupled my strength. What other things could you uncouple from me, and what would the effects of each be?

4. Is there a way for me to alter my physical form in the sense of growing additional limbs and such? Where, if anywhere, could I obtain this ability without using a desire?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Toaster on June 14, 2016, 01:16:03 am
Thomas continued to be impressed at the effects here.  He hadn't a clue how that one was done.  Must be a mirror.

"I must say, the special effects here are quite amazing!  I suppose you wish to continue?  You look ready.  Still."

Sea what can be done with this new sword?  Water we waiting for?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 14, 2016, 02:53:38 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 13, 2016, 10:08:55 am
"Stop right there, criminal scum! You violated my mother!" Leif shouts after the guard. Where's that line from? Definitely heard it somewhere before...

Let's try that sense robbing technique aqain, this time more easily observed target: the guard. Rob his senses from his legs. And then rob his spear and run after Lee.

The pursuing stoatman immediately turns around as you shout in her direction, evidently surprised. Surprise is a fine emotion. Very mutable.

[Tricks of the Mind: 1]

She looks at you for a few moments as something perceptibly changes in her eyes. You start running in her direction, then abruptly stop. Neither of these, you note, seem to be happening of your own volition.

Well. At least this is a slightly different category of messing up. And she does seem really confused at what's happening.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 13, 2016, 12:08:13 pm
"Like you weren't already going to attack me."

I try to disrupt whatever it's about to do with a well-timed "CHAOS!"

One is offended at this implication. This is supposed to be a duel, after all. But if you'd like to interfere directly, one would like to cordially

INVITE CHAOS

[Words: 5+1]

Your Word meets one's own, and together they blend into a most wonderful sound. A storm begins to rise. The yard starts to shake violently. The laws of physics consider taking a holiday. One looks a little surprised. A well-chosen Word, one's look seems to also indicate.

[Standing Firm: 4]

The wind turns murderous, dust rises from the trampled ground. You duck down to minimize your profile and brace yourself as the gale starts and the ground trembles. You are pulled this way and that, but do not budge as you consider your next move.

Quote from: TopHat on June 13, 2016, 12:32:48 pm
"Ah. I think the likelihood of that was lower than it may have seemed. Certainly lower than it is now."

Sit down and relax a bit whilst watching, I could do with a rest.

You sit down as you resolve to not contribute to this silliness in any particular way, propping yourself up against a wall as you try to relax with the comforting sight of mortal combat. That is, until some choice Words start getting thrown around.

INVITE CHAOS

The courtyard starts to shake, and everything starts to bend in ways you would not expect.

[Resting Firm: 3]

The wall you're up against slaps you away and onto the ground. The ground tries to pass you on. You tumble along the dust and occasional mud, the ground feeling selectively liquid as you do so. This is not restful! This is not restful at all!

Quote from: Xantalos on June 13, 2016, 05:49:00 pm
After a rather long period of time thinking his questions over, Daniels speaks.

"I will ask my questions first, since the answers may change my desired fulfillment.

1. How may I obtain the ability to absorb connections and sources like you do, and what would be the effects on my being from undertaking such an action?

2. What is a method to nullify all reality warping directed against myself by others that is not a word? If such a thing only exists as a word, what word is it?

3. You uncoupled my strength. What other things could you uncouple from me, and what would the effects of each be?

4. Is there a way for me to alter my physical form in the sense of growing additional limbs and such? Where, if anywhere, could I obtain this ability without using a desire?"

It is good practice to consider questions carefully. Of these four, two of the superior ones will be answered. Repeat the other two if those are your final questions.

Firstly, a desire to absorb connections and sources may be fulfilled with some adjustments. You already possess much of the needed functionality (see: societal probing, template utility, mental encompassing). They would be of little use to you on their own, given that the interest of the well is largely academical (see: mission statement, emotional deconstruction, effective analysis), but with additional practice and refinement you could almost certainly learn to deploy or even transpose these connections and sources as the situation demands (see: social engineering, connection transplant, source insertion). And before you master this functionality, the absorption of connections and sources would allow you to more efficiently deliver them to well access points, although doing so will likely require effort (see: alignment of reaction, emotive surround, other isolation techniques) as well as permit you to be given more specific and potentially more rewarding instructions on future subjects.

Secondly, uncoupling demands explanation. Your substrate is extremely versatile and largely unbound by what tends to be expected of regular matter (see: substrate, freedom from shapes, robust design). Because of this it is unsuitable on its own as a probe into this world (see policy of minimal interference, universal fragility, programming failures). With the addition of a template the substrate is limited and placed within parameters roughly similar to that of this world's own inhabitants, with additional selected favorable qualities (see: unfamiliarity, differing expectations, desire for engagement). Uncoupling removes these parameters. It can be done sparingly to reasonably increase your overall ability to navigate obstacles (such as uncoupling your heat output, density, volume, center of mass, height, width, muscle strength or similar parameters, which would allow you to manipulate these parameters far beyond usual likelihood), but to overuse uncoupling would defeat your purpose as a useful research tool. As such you will need to make increasingly compelling arguments in order to receive more uncoupling than you already possess (see compelling appeals, mission objectives, subtle usefulness).

Quote from: Toaster on June 14, 2016, 01:16:03 am
Thomas continued to be impressed at the effects here.  He hadn't a clue how that one was done.  Must be a mirror.

"I must say, the special effects here are quite amazing!  I suppose you wish to continue?  You look ready.  Still."

Sea what can be done with this new sword?  Water we waiting for?

One is of the opinion that you haven't seen anything yet. Observe!

INVITE CHAOS

There is a dull roar as the courtyard comes alive, twisting and bending and howling, the ground heaving in great waves as the buildings begin to dance discordantly and the wind pushes in great chaotic gusts. A storm rises!

[Fighting Firm: 2]

Well, you say as you find yourself tossed to and fro, this really is quite impressive! Is this going to go on for long, though?

[Flitting Firm: 4]

Probably for a while, one replies as one slides closer to you, minimally perturbed by these drastic upheavals in the landscape.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 14, 2016, 06:04:51 am
I lob an explosive cyst at the gray stoat. Maybe it's easier to blow up than cut.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 14, 2016, 12:04:05 pm
Oh shit... I have totally wrong approach on these things.
"You have violated me! Violate my father too while you are at it! The old bastard deserves it!"

Uh, reverse? Undo? Then proceed with original plan of geting the hell out of dodge before anyone else comes along.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: TopHat on June 14, 2016, 02:22:32 pm
Brilliant. Whoever would have thought a childish spat with wooden swords would have ended up this dangerous?
Get up and run or crawl to the nearest bit of cover from the chaos. Or at least the winds.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Toaster on June 14, 2016, 04:21:46 pm
My, these are quite amazing effects, really!

Let's stay defensive while we conquer whatever they've done to shake the arena floor.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 15, 2016, 04:03:08 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 14, 2016, 06:04:51 am
I lob an explosive cyst at the gray stoat. Maybe it's easier to blow up than cut.

[Bombs Away: 5 vs. 5]

You keep a low profile for a few moments as you generate a cyst on your palm. It shivers with anticipation as you wind up for a good lob and set it loose. It swings this way on the forceful winds, and is pushed that way as well, but it seems on-target for a very-brief moment, only for one to slide out of the way in the very last possible moment.

[Excellent Dodge: 5]

The marvelous explosion you manage to produce with the cyst silhouettes one in a great halo of concussive force, giving its word all that much more punch as one tries to outshout the rising storm.

CLEANSE

[Word: 4]

The word sounds true, though its intent seems to have been misplaced, idea spilling all around as it indecisively shines the surroundings, making the air clearer, calming the winds, slightly decreasing the vibration of the earth as one looks around. You get the sense one expected you to use a Word of your own there. Though the slightly calmer conditions are also appreciated, mind you.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 14, 2016, 12:04:05 pm
Oh shit... I have totally wrong approach on these things.
"You have violated me! Violate my father too while you are at it! The old bastard deserves it!"

Uh, reverse? Undo? Then proceed with original plan of geting the hell out of dodge before anyone else comes along.

[Let My Poor Limbs Go: 2]

For some reason when you give up agency over your limbs it's rather difficult to get said agency back. You think there is a moral lesson to be learned from this. But until you are in any state to learn it you decide to continue your immediate strategy unabated.

[Brave Strides Against Logic: 5]

Okay, says the guard as you stop in front of her. Just what the hell is going on here and what's your deal, and why is it that she can make you walk toward her? And what's this about violation? No, wait. Important questions first. What? How? And who are you?

You get the sense she is adequately distracted! Also an emotion you can work with!

Quote from: TopHat on June 14, 2016, 02:22:32 pm
Brilliant. Whoever would have thought a childish spat with wooden swords would have ended up this dangerous?
Get up and run or crawl to the nearest bit of cover from the chaos. Or at least the winds.

You keep on tumbling on out of immediate sight, which you suppose to be a very good call on your part as Ms. Minett elects to start lobbing explosive cysts around immediately afterwards, which strikes you as a terribly unsafe prospect for your own continued good health.

CLEANSE

One's Word carries well, settling down the dust and the wind somewhat and letting everyone in the courtyard, yourself included, get their bearings and no doubt prepare for the next round of more or less supernatural onslaught in a way that makes you feel slightly left out.

Quote from: Toaster on June 14, 2016, 04:21:46 pm
My, these are quite amazing effects, really!

Let's stay defensive while we conquer whatever they've done to shake the arena floor.

You keep your wits about you as you start to regain your footing on the shaking ground, watching one for any signs of impending assault. None come, however, apart from Ms. Minett's nearly on-target grenade throw, which one seems not terribly impressed by as its Word is backed by a powerful explosion occurring behind one.

CLEANSE

Fortunately, this particular instruction simplifies your task quite a bit as after your obligatory attempt to roll away from any explosive danger you get to your feet in an altogether much more stable environment. Right! Now you can get back to this actual dueling business, even if the prospect is seeming decreasingly safe with Ms. Minett's continued, increasingly destructive interference.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Toaster on June 15, 2016, 07:03:51 pm
"Er!  Perhaps you might not want to do that?  Those are very distracting for all involved."


Right, duel on!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 16, 2016, 06:37:21 am
"I'll try something else then." I focus on the stoat and the magic its body is made of - orderly, filling any void, allowing for more control over its movement than physics permits. I should introduce it to some CHAOS.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: TopHat on June 16, 2016, 03:08:58 pm
Stand up and observe the situation - any lingering effects of Chaos, any other innocent bystanders?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: Xantalos on June 16, 2016, 11:31:33 pm
"Huh. I must say, I didn't expect that. My thoughts certainly have been changed by those answers. Now then, for more. I'll state my desire after you answer these.

3. What is the mission you mentioned - statement, parameters, purpose, etcetera? Was it initiated solely by you, or did the minders of Anglefork have something to do with us being here like I've heard?

4. Where can I find the things (the beauty of the material, a sliver of perfection) the blacksmith needs as inspiration for the armor he's making for me?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Destiny At The Gates
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 17, 2016, 12:01:37 am
"By making me walk against my will violates my integrity, and by extension my parents who made me. This means you are an dabbling wizard unaware of her latent powers and unable to fully control them in service of Nine. You told me this tomorrow."

Keep distracting and confusing her.
I'll figure it out eventually. Distractions certainly helps to make her lost track of what belongs to who.
Maybe Lee isn't self-centered bastard and decides to help me out of this.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 17, 2016, 08:46:02 am
Quote from: Toaster on June 15, 2016, 07:03:51 pm
"Er!  Perhaps you might not want to do that?  Those are very distracting for all involved."


Right, duel on!

Getting yourself in proper order once again while watching out for stray explosives (even if Ms. Minett does appear to have reconsidered throwing more), you charge into the stout chap with joyful abandon, prepared to cleave him into submission with great conviction. Having an actual sword is likely to prove quite helpful in this, you're sure.

[Strike Faster Than Words: 2 vs. 4]

Of course, you've barely taken a step before things... well, before things develop, you'll say.

INVITE FLESH CHAOS

[Retaining Purpose: 1]

Everything turns black for a moment. Your mind lets you know that it is experiencing an unfortunate outage of a highly nonspecific sort. It will be back with you shortly. Until that moment, have this lovely smell of fresh-cut flowers to keep you busy.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 16, 2016, 06:37:21 am
"I'll try something else then." I focus on the stoat and the magic its body is made of - orderly, filling any void, allowing for more control over its movement than physics permits. I should introduce it to some CHAOS.

You turn to the demon, the kernel of the Word awaiting its use. You let it bubble up, and it comes simultaneously with one's own barrage of high sorcery.

INVITE FLESH CHAOS

[Words: 6+5+1]

There is silence for a few moments as four individuals - you, Mr. Minstep, Mr. Wilde and of course oneself - let the Words settle into themselves. There is much order imposed upon your collective flesh. And as all four feel the rumble of it beginning to fully awaken, you suddenly have a keen sense of this order's ultimate fragility.

[Retaining Purpose: 3]

You bubble and explode outward into limbs and teeth and ratlike eyes, blind and consumed by rising horror as you swing hundreds of appendages around the trembling courtyard, trying to find support for yourself in vain as you fly into buildings and tear through the ground like loose sand. You feel like every part of your body is a speeding bullet fired in every possible direction, and you helplessly and shapelessly tumble along the courtyard. If that is even where you are - the only thing you see is a storm of red and black as every part of you makes the effort to sprint however it can. Your thoughts become violently disorganized to reflect this, flashes of violence and momentary recall resulting in you starting to swing wildly with fresh-formed claws at anything within reach.

Quote from: TopHat on June 16, 2016, 03:08:58 pm
Stand up and observe the situation - any lingering effects of Chaos, any other innocent bystanders?

No bystanders whatsoever, fortunately enough, but the courtyard is still shaking and mildly undulating, make no mistake. The main difference is, of course, that the chaos is rather manageable for now. And no sooner do you say this than somebody decides to

INVITE FLESH CHAOS

[Retaining Purpose: 1]

Now, you're not quite sure what happens next, but you do believe you are currently unconscious. Perhaps this is for the best, a conciliatory part of you offers nervously.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 16, 2016, 11:31:33 pm
"Huh. I must say, I didn't expect that. My thoughts certainly have been changed by those answers. Now then, for more. I'll state my desire after you answer these.

3. What is the mission you mentioned - statement, parameters, purpose, etcetera? Was it initiated solely by you, or did the minders of Anglefork have something to do with us being here like I've heard?

4. Where can I find the things (the beauty of the material, a sliver of perfection) the blacksmith needs as inspiration for the armor he's making for me?"

The mission currently is to gather insight into complex systems formed through communication. These are unfortunately fragile and unsuitable for study by the systems already in place (see: gathering material, studying basic principles, applied societal engineering), giving rise to specific requirements for less invasive methods of analysis than employed before. The minders were useful in developing you and your comrades as a tool for gathering necessary information and resources. It was an alignment of agendas, but more in the sense of their notions and desires providing inspiration for a superior idea (see: legendary heroes, infernal bargains, utilizing frameworks). Their main role was in providing material to be transformed into substrate and serving as tools to oversee the shaping through, but ultimately they had little idea of what was being done or why beyond what they projected upon the seemingly unknowable darkness they wished to manipulate (see: applications of minding, working by proxy, problems of interpretation).

As for the sliver of perfection, which is the only thing technically required by the blacksmith to fulfill your request, it is a vague enough requirement that you should have no trouble fulfilling it with a well-placed Word. For instance, perfect silence can be said to have been achieved by your attempts to silence the voice of the gatherer (see: word management strategies, sentence formation, bringing of material). What you seek is most likely otherworldly in nature, and provided it fails to resemble anything mundane and you offer adequate lies about its properties you should be perfectly fine. Of course, whether the blacksmith is likely to still be useful in his previous capacity after he has been influenced by Mr. Wilde (see: disturbing revelations, miracles of science, time-ender tools) is another question. Presumably he can still assist you, but not in the same way as before.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 17, 2016, 12:01:37 am
"By making me walk against my will violates my integrity, and by extension my parents who made me. This means you are an dabbling wizard unaware of her latent powers and unable to fully control them in service of Nine. You told me this tomorrow."

Keep distracting and confusing her.
I'll figure it out eventually. Distractions certainly helps to make her lost track of what belongs to who.
Maybe Lee isn't self-centered bastard and decides to help me out of this.

She seems to be very confused and distracted indeed, especially as she checks if what you say is indeed true by making you dance in place. This is rather good, as the sight of Lee's head popping out from behind a street corner lets you know that what you're doing is likely to be somewhat handy.

[Treacherous Underhanded Sneak Attack: 3+1]

As you dance and the guard wonders about what the fact that she is a wizard implies about her continued career prospects, Lee sets all doubt to rest as she creeps up behind her and with a swift motions jabs a knife three to seven times into her kidneys, leading to a rather amazing outpouring of blood as a few arteries are opened up. The guard stumbles forward and past you as she falls to the ground, clutching her spear as she tries to ward off her sudden attacker and yell for help.

Lee turns to you, then to the spear-flailing guard, who seems to be of no present danger apart from in the sense of attracting more guards. She seems to be wondering whether going in for the kill is worthwhile.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 17, 2016, 11:36:58 am
Gray. Stoat. Gray. Stoat.

With however much of my mind I have control over, I try to focus this violence on a specific target.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Xantalos on June 17, 2016, 03:16:41 pm
"...Wilde got to him, huh. I will have to have words with him. Probably of the unpleasant variety.

My thanks for the answers, well. I admit I had you pegged wrong before, thinking you were some sort of exploitative extradimensional fiend. Now I see you're merely overly literal due to a different perspective. More business can likely be had between us now that I understand this. Now for my fulfilment.

Ahem.

'I desire the ability to absorb connections and sources and transplant them wherever I so wish as we discussed in my first question. The mastery of actually performing this technique so as to increase efficiency would be appreciated but is not strictly necessary.'"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: TopHat on June 17, 2016, 03:35:08 pm
Well, I'm probably not unconscious per se as I'm capable of thinking I'm unconscious. Cogito ergo sum. At least I know that what happened apparantly involves that infernal chaos of Ms. Minett - perhaps some order is required.
Well, let's start visualising. An ionic lattice, perhaps? A perfect crystal at 0K, even?
It might not work, but it'll give me something to do until this unfortunate condition abates, at least.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Toaster on June 17, 2016, 05:20:01 pm
Tulips!  Just like Rose, Mr. Munderley's secretary, would bring in on occasion.  Very nice.

Wait, wasn't there a fight going on?

Can we get back to the fight, please?  It was starting to get enjoyable.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 18, 2016, 03:33:29 am
"By Thor's mighty hammer, that was nice interference! You see, she accidentally gained control over my limbs and made me dance like a fool. I wouldn't mind if she can't do it again. Ahm, let's skedaddle somewhere safer now?"

Now, finally steal the spear and follow Lee's lead. After moment of "peace" ask if she wants the spear. Because it was technically she who dealt with the stoat.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 19, 2016, 04:52:37 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 17, 2016, 11:36:58 am
Gray. Stoat. Gray. Stoat.

With however much of my mind I have control over, I try to focus this violence on a specific target.

[Grasping Tendrils: 2]

You try to find your way around the area, but you can't see anything. Not really. It is as if a nigh-impenetrable mist is obscuring your sight. You swing around and fly through the courtyard, still unable to stop. You can only hope you ram into your target by sheer luck, you fear, unless you find some way to direct yourself.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 17, 2016, 03:16:41 pm
"...Wilde got to him, huh. I will have to have words with him. Probably of the unpleasant variety.

My thanks for the answers, well. I admit I had you pegged wrong before, thinking you were some sort of exploitative extradimensional fiend. Now I see you're merely overly literal due to a different perspective. More business can likely be had between us now that I understand this. Now for my fulfilment.

Ahem.

'I desire the ability to absorb connections and sources and transplant them wherever I so wish as we discussed in my first question. The mastery of actually performing this technique so as to increase efficiency would be appreciated but is not strictly necessary.'"

Apologies must also be offered for the previous unhelpfulness of answers provided. It was incorrectly assumed that your intent was to exploit your creator, when you were probably only acting from limited information. More cooperation in the future would meet with correspondingly good rewards.

Your fulfillment comes subtly, a kernel of hungry emptiness worming its way into your skull, settling somewhere between your childhood memories, almost unnoticeably taking its fill, then regurgitating it in a mildly different shape, using irrelevant information to keep it busy. A pulsing numbness builds within your forehead, taking a moment to get used to. Bring it near a source in a moment of vulnerability, and take a connection - or, if trusted completely or utterly helpless, take the whole of their being. Use the same method to swap a connection with one stored, or swap one source with another. Touch your forehead, close your eyes and set your mind to the task to bring a source out from your own self. You may store six connections and three sources.

And if you are interested in more incentives, vary what you bring here. Of interest currently are unintegrated clanfolk, stoatmen and humans of El. Each source will give you the special rate you took advantage of now. Other sources will give two answers each, being of lesser interest. Connections of all kinds will grant one answer each.

Quote from: TopHat on June 17, 2016, 03:35:08 pm
Well, I'm probably not unconscious per se as I'm capable of thinking I'm unconscious. Cogito ergo sum. At least I know that what happened apparantly involves that infernal chaos of Ms. Minett - perhaps some order is required.
Well, let's start visualising. An ionic lattice, perhaps? A perfect crystal at 0K, even?
It might not work, but it'll give me something to do until this unfortunate condition abates, at least.

[Imposing Order: 2]

The trouble with visualization, you discover, is that whatever it's supposed to help you with is really quite vague. Is it a meditation exercise? Are you trying to ascertain if your spirit animal is actually sodium chloride? Are you, like many gurus before you, applying crystals to a problem in hopes that the situation will improve?

It is a mystery, of course. Just like it's something of a mystery why you feel like you are repeatedly smacking into an object of stone in an ineffectual manner.

Quote from: Toaster on June 17, 2016, 05:20:01 pm
Tulips!  Just like Rose, Mr. Munderley's secretary, would bring in on occasion.  Very nice.

Wait, wasn't there a fight going on?

Can we get back to the fight, please?  It was starting to get enjoyable.

[Focus, Dammit: 5]

Fighting! This seems to speak to you somehow. You repeat the request. Fight! Duel! Yes! Fighting is something you feel very capable of doing. And you feel that this idea is taken under very strong advisement. The stout fellow, you specify. This sows a little bit of confusion. Yes, the gray one, you add insistently. Not any other ones. Hm.

You feel sight abruptly return to you. You're still in the courtyard. And there's some... er, giant clawed masses of limbs and teeth bouncing around? You don't know what those are about. And then there's the stout fellow, who seems to be standing very still. The whole scene looks rather weird, really, with the courtyard looking that much smaller (just like the stout person, in fact, who you seem to be towering over presently, very odd).

Anyway, you decide, the gray fellow's the one you meant. The one right over there. You rumble inwardly at the clarity of the instruction.

[Interruption: 3 vs. 6]

However, before that you hear a rather well-enunciated order to

CLEANSE FLESH

[Words: 6+1]

The stout fellow vibrates and bubbles a little, thinning noticeably as you bear down on him, turning slowly to face toward you. He seems a little surprised. But altogether more ready than moments ago.

[Wave of Flesh and Blades: 3 vs. 2]

You move detachedly, giving orders rather than getting feedback, and you think what you observe is kind of a mixture between smashing into the poor man and trampling him underfoot, the liquid sword swinging over one's head as one is rather furiously stepped on with reckless abandon. You sail right over one's form and rebound off a wall, bouncing over the courtyard in a manner best described as somewhat implausible.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 18, 2016, 03:33:29 am
"By Thor's mighty hammer, that was nice interference! You see, she accidentally gained control over my limbs and made me dance like a fool. I wouldn't mind if she can't do it again. Ahm, let's skedaddle somewhere safer now?"

Now, finally steal the spear and follow Lee's lead. After moment of "peace" ask if she wants the spear. Because it was technically she who dealt with the stoat.

[Quick Disarmament: 3 vs. 5-1]

You go for the stoat guard's spear, but she dissuades you from this course of action with a surprisingly solid stab in the gut, being still very much alive and unwilling to let go of her only other advantage over you.

[Running Interference: 5+1 vs. 6-1]

Lee looks in the guard's direction as you reel back and moves in, driving her trusty knife into the woman's shoulder through the armpit a couple of times while the guard tries to fumble her spear to try and stab her. She struggles for a little longer before pain and blood loss get to her. Wasting no time as you recover, Lee handily removes the spearhead from the weapon and tosses you the shaft.

[Making A Run For It: 6+1]

You follow Lee as you weave through alleyways. She seems to be rather experienced in evasive maneuvers of this sort. And also apparently erring on the side of caution as you spend a good half hour evading what may or may not be pursuers until you're well clear of the town and, in fact, well clear of the outlying plantations and wineries as well, standing at the edge of the woods.

Hm, she thinks. Maybe you should start over. This went unexpectedly poorly.

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Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 19, 2016, 06:20:54 am
If sight won't guide me to the gray stoat, perhaps HUNGER will.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: TopHat on June 19, 2016, 07:04:34 am
A mystery indeed, though nothing a good revelation would solve. It'll be interesting to see if that'll even work under these circumstances.
It's worth a shot.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Toaster on June 19, 2016, 08:28:43 am
Must have taken a bump to the head.  S'why the disorientation.

Roll back over and finish this.  I feel an advantage.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 19, 2016, 11:00:20 am
"I would say so. I bet humans would be much easier to talk with. Or perhaps we could kidnap someone first and then interrogate them later in more safe and controlled enviroment? Talking about safe, what happened there when I wasn't looking?"

Recommend strategy.
Try my hand at this levitation thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Xantalos on June 19, 2016, 09:27:08 pm
"I'll certainly take note of that. Clanfolk, stoatmen, humans of El. Sounds good. Any fulfilments for any of those? Just curious."

Find out if I'll get any magic wishes for more sources/connections, and then wish the darkness a good day and exit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 20, 2016, 02:15:51 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 19, 2016, 06:20:54 am
If sight won't guide me to the gray stoat, perhaps HUNGER will.

The last time you tried something like this a stoatman got straight-up eaten, so why shouldn't it work a second time?

HUNGER

[Word: 1]

The answer to that question, it seems, is that the circumstances appear to be somewhat different. Namely, there are considerably easier targets within reach. Well, larger ones at least. Or so you reason. You're not quite sure what exactly happened just now. But you are fairly sure that from the way you appear to have lost all connection with senses of any kind you probably did it a little wrong. Or perhaps overly right?

It is a little relaxing not feeling how screwed you are, but a little unnerving as well to comprehend.

Quote from: TopHat on June 19, 2016, 07:04:34 am
A mystery indeed, though nothing a good revelation would solve. It'll be interesting to see if that'll even work under these circumstances.
It's worth a shot.

If you can't make progress with muscle and mind, use magic. The winning strategy.

REVELATION

[Word: 2]

The dark space of anti-knowledge you presently inhabit does appear to become momentarily clearer in its all-encompassing lack of information, but by that same measure you can't say you feel terribly reassured.

You do get the vague sense that somebody is nearby, however. Somebody very hostile.

Quote from: Toaster on June 19, 2016, 08:28:43 am
Must have taken a bump to the head.  S'why the disorientation.

Roll back over and finish this.  I feel an advantage.

[Rude Missile: 3]

You find yourself a little difficult to steer around once you've got a good bounce going. As you try to direct yourself along the courtyard away from all the other bouncing balls of twisting flesh, you find a little trouble in getting the correct angles, though to your credit you do eventually manage to get a reasonably good course going, at which point the stout fellow turns to you with some words of interest, same as before.

CLEANSE FLESH

[Words: 2+4]

Like the stern admonishment of a respected superior the words hit you fast and hard, and like the motivational abuse of a seasoned drill sergeant they introduce shape and top form, a cold feeling of relief and strength flooding back into you as your disorientation clears, and once again you are all the more identifiably you, standing in the courtyard facing your notable opponent.

Right, one is compelled to note, cracking one's own knuckles. That was a slight setback. But now you can get back to business, as it were. Particularly with the interruptions taken care of, one inclines one's head toward what appear to be two flying, very violently fighting masses of flesh launching limbs loaded with blades at one another. Or, rather, one seems to be trying to ward the other off, and the other one seems to be trying to engulf it. It's a fascinating sight, like two octopuses made of spikes and eyes trying to assert each other's dominance.

But yes, duel!

[Unknown Round: 2 vs. 4]

This time, though, the stout fellow does not use the sword at all. You swing the watery blade one's way, and one makes sure to be elsewhere when you do, changing position with steps executed in a flash, each dodge more spectacular than the last as you swing increasingly quickly, sprinting from one end to the courtyard to the other, the fellow giving ground in spades, but taking absolutely no hits. Up until you reach the wall, which is when the counter-strike is made, the force of a hundred knuckles meeting your chest and sending you rolling backward and into a nearby building, a trail of dust rising in your wake.

There, one says. Now the fight's begun in earnest!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 19, 2016, 11:00:20 am
"I would say so. I bet humans would be much easier to talk with. Or perhaps we could kidnap someone first and then interrogate them later in more safe and controlled enviroment? Talking about safe, what happened there when I wasn't looking?"

Recommend strategy.
Try my hand at this levitation thing.

Kidnapping works, says Lee. Especially of ordinary townsfolk. And what happened was an unlikely series of errors and happenings that led to her detection by a guardsman. A chase ensued.

That seems to be all the explanation you get on the matter, with Lee looking back toward the town with a thoughtful eye while saying nothing more, so you figure you'll try one more trick before maybe heading back in. Levitation! You did see a future where you did it. Maybe that's good enough.

[Tricks of the Mind: 6]

Flying's probably really easy, you think. A trick of the mind. You just need to forget that you can't do certain very important things, like fly or shoot lightning out of your eyes. It's no doubt extremely easy. And not just because you're a goddamn eldritch-enhanced genius, mind you. But because, when it comes down to it, you are simply better at everything than a 10-year-old girl. And any other answer is simply unacceptable. You must reach the heavens! And you must reach them now! Or at least that branch over there. You can almost feel it within your grasp already. Almost... almost...

What are you doing, asks Lee, and you feel yourself fall on your ass in a frankly embarrassing manner. From about four feet up. You turn to her. What were you doing, you ask pointedly. She replies that she wasn't sure. That's why she asked.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 19, 2016, 09:27:08 pm
"I'll certainly take note of that. Clanfolk, stoatmen, humans of El. Sounds good. Any fulfilments for any of those? Just curious."

Find out if I'll get any magic wishes for more sources/connections, and then wish the darkness a good day and exit.

One fulfillment for sources of interest - clanfolk, stoatmen, humans of El. None for any others. After each of these is given, more specific targets can be proposed.

Thank you. Come again.

You raise yourself from the transformed altar, now much better acquainted with the secrets of heroism. Now you guess it's time for proper application, you think as you head for...

[Piercing Destiny: 1]

... you know, you get the sense that you should probably wait here a bit and make a plan first. It sounds like what's outside isn't for you.

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Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Xantalos on June 20, 2016, 02:38:56 pm
"Every time I leave for five minutes they break reality, I swear. Probably that Minett lady with her hunger or chaos words again. You'd really think she'd learn not to overuse those. Or words in general, hell. Unpredictable things."

Take a quick peek outside. Determine what's going on, what's making that racket, and where the blacksmith's place is relative to me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 20, 2016, 03:30:35 pm
fuck

Let's see what happens when I launch some explosive cysts like this! That should scare off anyone trying to mess with me, at least.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: TopHat on June 20, 2016, 04:20:07 pm
Brilliant. Mortal danger at just the right time.
Sensory input would be really nice right now, so concentrate as hard as possible on trying to receive some through this void. At least some should be making it through.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Toaster on June 20, 2016, 09:01:44 pm
My, these effects really are something else-

"Ouch!  Goodness, that was a bit direct!  Maybe you're getting a bit excited with the show?

Let's turn the audience participation the other way; where he's getting hit this time.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 20, 2016, 11:54:03 pm
Leif stands up dusting himself in progress.

"Hmh, well, I was trying to learn how to levitate. I almost did. Then you interrupted me. Minding appears to be all about focus, unfortunately. Thankfully, the other magic isn't, though both are expectionally unreliable."

Guess I have to leave studying arcane matters when I have time for it. Now, let's look for paths of entry and exit, points where kidnapping suitable person happens, and safe undisturbed place for interrogation. This time we need to go in with a plan.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 22, 2016, 05:38:28 am
Quote from: Xantalos on June 20, 2016, 02:38:56 pm
"Every time I leave for five minutes they break reality, I swear. Probably that Minett lady with her hunger or chaos words again. You'd really think she'd learn not to overuse those. Or words in general, hell. Unpredictable things."

Take a quick peek outside. Determine what's going on, what's making that racket, and where the blacksmith's place is relative to me.

[Sneak Peek: 2]

You don't think it's a good idea to look outside, really. It sounds very violent and not at all like a place for reasonable folk to wander around. Unearthly screaming, fleshy flopping, thousands of blades scratching against one another, a spot of mid-fight banter. You don't think you need to be out there at all. You'd just get in the way.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 20, 2016, 03:30:35 pm
fuck

Let's see what happens when I launch some explosive cysts like this! That should scare off anyone trying to mess with me, at least.

[Fun With Explosives: 3]

You feel something explode, at least. What that might be and whether this has helped matters any is a whole other question. You're a little deprived of any sensory information at the moment, although it does feel like the fight is still very much on, and suspiciously evenly matched at that.

Quote from: TopHat on June 20, 2016, 04:20:07 pm
Brilliant. Mortal danger at just the right time.
Sensory input would be really nice right now, so concentrate as hard as possible on trying to receive some through this void. At least some should be making it through.

[Hacking the Giblets: 3]

If you listen in very carefully, you do sense the vibration of nearby explosions, the sound of hissing, the feel of something trying to devour you whole without your consent and the righteous indignation that makes you want to repay with the exact same. It feels like a remarkably indecisive conflict at the moment, as if you were trying to fight something very similar to yourself.

Quote from: Toaster on June 20, 2016, 09:01:44 pm
My, these effects really are something else-

"Ouch!  Goodness, that was a bit direct!  Maybe you're getting a bit excited with the show?

Let's turn the audience participation the other way; where he's getting hit this time.

[Round The Presumable Fifth: 1 vs. 4]

Excitement is only to be expected. One has to defend one's claim to the place with all due intensity. Like so.

You feel a long gray claw close around your foot from behind as one seizes it after a highly improbable sidestep. You are whipped up from your feet with incredible strength and brought in an arc right into the stones of the nearby wall, impacting flatly as you are slammed against it, then thrown across the courtyard into the wall of a building, leaving a massive dent surrounded by cracks as you slump out of it onto the ground, one sprinting toward you for a followup maneuver as you rise to defend yourself again.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 20, 2016, 11:54:03 pm
Leif stands up dusting himself in progress.

"Hmh, well, I was trying to learn how to levitate. I almost did. Then you interrupted me. Minding appears to be all about focus, unfortunately. Thankfully, the other magic isn't, though both are expectionally unreliable."

Guess I have to leave studying arcane matters when I have time for it. Now, let's look for paths of entry and exit, points where kidnapping suitable person happens, and safe undisturbed place for interrogation. This time we need to go in with a plan.

Lee nods. Sorry. She will try to not interrupt your tree climbing in the future.

[Surveying the Area: 4]

Looking back on the town, you begin to formulate a plan. Where would you find fewer patrols, emptier places, more spots to hide, greater degrees of discretion in terms of people theft? It stands to reason that this would be in the outskirts - the outlying farms, plantations and the wineries would likely afford at least some secluded spots, although you're unsure if any humans are permitted to live in them. You'd assume there should be at least one or two, but how correct such an assumption is to make, you have no earthly idea. You guess you could try to improvise some kind of mental scanning solution, though if your luck with improvising your minding holds this is likely to end in some variety of disaster.

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Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 22, 2016, 05:50:45 am
I struggle for control of my senses and/or actions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Xantalos on June 22, 2016, 01:33:15 pm
"Yeah, know what, that's probably a reasonable conclusion to come to- hold up a second. When the hell did I become so cowardly? I could probably literally rip someone in half with my bare ... hand right now. Wouldn't be much of an obstacle to me.
...
I think I am still hurt from that while ago, though. And I seem to have this crossbow bolt stuck in my throat. Should fix that."

Sit down and ... meditate upon healing, I suppose? Make my wounds go away! Also extract that crossbow bolt without further hurting myself if possible.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: TopHat on June 22, 2016, 03:32:15 pm
Well, at least I can hear a little, even if said hearing raises more questions than it answers. Sight could solve them, though, if it weren't for the darkness... Speaking of which, this is my mind after all - perhaps some adjustments are in order?
Fiat Lux.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 22, 2016, 03:36:40 pm
"Allright, kidnapping it is. Like, seriously. Better stay on outskirts, I think, less trouble to run away when things inevitably go south."

I have this another scanning method, the INEVITABLE one, though let's not focus on parts where things go sour. Share results of violating causality with Lee and proceed with plan "Kidnap someone helpful".
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Toaster on June 22, 2016, 05:33:07 pm
Focus on the counterattack!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 23, 2016, 04:07:06 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 22, 2016, 05:50:45 am
I struggle for control of my senses and/or actions.

[Put The Beast Down: 1]

When you struggle, you do not struggle with an equal foe. The power of the substrate is without rational limit. It cannot be overpowered, or beaten down - this is simply not possible, for your interaction with it is not based on superiority in strength or power of assertion.

As such, your pleas fall on deaf auditory antennae. You cannot restrict, you can only allow. And you have allowed far too much already, even if mostly against your own will.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 22, 2016, 01:33:15 pm
"Yeah, know what, that's probably a reasonable conclusion to come to- hold up a second. When the hell did I become so cowardly? I could probably literally rip someone in half with my bare ... hand right now. Wouldn't be much of an obstacle to me.
...
I think I am still hurt from that while ago, though. And I seem to have this crossbow bolt stuck in my throat. Should fix that."

Sit down and ... meditate upon healing, I suppose? Make my wounds go away! Also extract that crossbow bolt without further hurting myself if possible.

[Don't Leave It In: 2]

You tug at the crossbow bolt in your throat as you begin to meditate. It starts bleeding a little again and hurts decidedly more than a little, which is about as much confirmation as you need that messing with it without appropriate tools and expertise is likely a poor idea.

The fact that you are presently bleeding and in a little pain also happens to put something of a damper on your meditation.

Quote from: TopHat on June 22, 2016, 03:32:15 pm
Well, at least I can hear a little, even if said hearing raises more questions than it answers. Sight could solve them, though, if it weren't for the darkness... Speaking of which, this is my mind after all - perhaps some adjustments are in order?
Fiat Lux.

[Let There Be Sense: 1]

There is no problem as far as you can tell. Your body seems to have a perfectly sensible goal ahead of itself, and that is to eat the treacherous Ms. Minett before it is eaten in turn.

Perhaps when that's done you could be consulted for more input. For now, relax! It's going to be all right.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 22, 2016, 03:36:40 pm
"Allright, kidnapping it is. Like, seriously. Better stay on outskirts, I think, less trouble to run away when things inevitably go south."

I have this another scanning method, the INEVITABLE one, though let's not focus on parts where things go sour. Share results of violating causality with Lee and proceed with plan "Kidnap someone helpful".

Really, as long as you can keep resting and/or slaughtering any resistance, you don't see how this could fail. Thus accomplishing your mission is all but

INEVITABLE

[Word: 5]

You let the inexorable future roll into your mind in great waves of potential, unsuccessful forays canceling each other out as the corpses pile up and chaos mounts, until the whole of the town is aflame once again... and then it comes to you.

There is a vineyard in the outskirts, with a winery attached. Within is a collaborator, somewhat damaged, and several soldiers who are not taking part in the siege. Half a dozen soldiers, specifically, and four guards beside that. He is the last of their prisoners, and will help you if found. No kidnapping required, though some murder will be necessary. The slow response time of the rest of the town in this event, however, will be very handy. And if you fail, which occurs to you as an outlying possibility, retreat is still very possible.

Quote from: Toaster on June 22, 2016, 05:33:07 pm
Focus on the counterattack!

[Glorious Counterattack: 4 vs. 2]

Having been on this ride once, you dare say you have a good idea of what's about to happen next. So you're hardly surprised when one's final step toward you extends further than it should, landing right behind you. Suffice to say, it is not a trick that works twice.

You turn around with a sweep of the blade. It meets no resistance in one's flesh, cleaving it along the waist easily as you put your back into the swing. You read one's next step perfectly, and bring the backswing through his splitting body again in a diagonal cut from hip to shoulder, and meet one's following stumble with a final slice along its neck, sending one's head rolling along the ground. Why not go the distance, you suppose. Seems like he's a sturdy sort, he ought to be able to take decapitation.

You observe curiously as the cut-off legs begin to run in one direction, each arm and torso fragment in another, and the head rolls in a circle for a bit as it tries to shepherd the parts together, each of the wayward bits whimpering as they try to get together again. You approach, blade at the ready, as one assembles oneself once more, standing before you more than a little unsteadily, the grayness giving way in places to an underlying heart of darkness.

Quite the duel, one has to admit, head lolling a little as one's parts have visible trouble staying together. Shall the two of you see it through to the conclusion?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Xantalos on June 23, 2016, 04:14:40 am
"This entire experience is rather miffing me. I think Wilde just earned a few more theoretical displaced vertebrae."

Meditation first then. Inflicting pain upon others after.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 23, 2016, 05:29:21 am
"Ah, I found our target! The winery over there! Say, are you feeling up for murder? Four guards and few soldiers stands in our way. The guy will be cooperative if we off few of them. I think they are torturing him."

Affix bayonets! Raise spears! Because tonight we don't dine in hell, but get comfortably drunk in winery! Let's get closer unseen and confirm that magic did not lie to me.

((Is my Induced Inebriation: Comfortably Drunk still a fact? I feel like I have tried few times to get rid of it.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 23, 2016, 05:45:49 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 23, 2016, 05:29:21 am
((Is my Induced Inebriation: Comfortably Drunk still a fact? I feel like I have tried few times to get rid of it.))

It isn't, actually. I just forgot to remove it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Toaster on June 23, 2016, 07:01:10 am
"I suppose this is why I am here.  Might as well get my money's worth, as it were?"

Let's end this.  No idea how they're doing these effects any more.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 23, 2016, 11:30:42 am
Quote from: Toaster on June 23, 2016, 07:01:10 am
"I suppose this is why I am here.  Might as well get my money's worth, as it were?"

Let's end this.  No idea how they're doing these effects any more.
((Still in denial mode, huh?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 23, 2016, 01:44:56 pm
Crap, I'm running out of options. And flesh, most likely.

I try to HUNGER again. I need voracious strength to defeat this opponent.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: TopHat on June 23, 2016, 04:28:26 pm
Very funny. I'm almost disappointed - you'd think even when going mad I'd think of something more plausible than that. I explained this to the blacksmith - what is the body but a collection of elements in a specific form, blindly obeying a series of signals from the brain? Completely incapable of thought or rebellion.
Nice try, but I'm not insane enough to believe that yet.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 23, 2016, 06:53:53 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on June 23, 2016, 04:14:40 am
"This entire experience is rather miffing me. I think Wilde just earned a few more theoretical displaced vertebrae."

Meditation first then. Inflicting pain upon others after.

Since your thoughts tend to be rather uniformly violent, you spend a few relaxing minutes not thinking any, a feat that proves remarkably easy when there's a handy altar nearby willing to accept them free of charge. For safekeeping, naturally, as they are returned in roughly the same shape a few minutes afterward when you find yourself feeling decidedly better than before, if not noticeably physically improved, including on the front of having a crossbow bolt stuck in your throat.

Hm. Well, at least you feel a little better! And that's some kind of progress, you're willing to bet!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 23, 2016, 05:29:21 am
"Ah, I found our target! The winery over there! Say, are you feeling up for murder? Four guards and few soldiers stands in our way. The guy will be cooperative if we off few of them. I think they are torturing him."

Affix bayonets! Raise spears! Because tonight we don't dine in hell, but get comfortably drunk in winery! Let's get closer unseen and confirm that magic did not lie to me.

((Is my Induced Inebriation: Comfortably Drunk still a fact? I feel like I have tried few times to get rid of it.))

Murder is best avoided. But sometimes exceptions must be made. She will follow.

The path is almost exceedingly familiar, burning before you as if you had walked it before a hundred times. This is because you have done exactly that, naturally. Cutting though the vineyard with Lee, you encounter no real resistance. The place seems nearly abandoned except for the winery on one side of the yard, the squat stone building marked by a great stack of barrels reaching higher than the edge of the roof. One stoatman sits upon the stack, wearing the armor of a soldier as he gives the surrounding countryside a bored look. On the ground two other stoatmen dressed in the unimpressive clothing of a guard cover the main entrance.

You and Lee circle the vineyard, unobserved from your distance just as you predicted. There is another entrance, the back one - this one has two soldiers conversing by the door, and two guards beside them. They're about to have a discussion about whether there's really much need in them standing about while the sergeant tries to squeeze blood from a stone, so to speak.

Quote from: Toaster on June 23, 2016, 07:01:10 am
"I suppose this is why I am here.  Might as well get my money's worth, as it were?"

Let's end this.  No idea how they're doing these effects any more.

[The End Is Nigh: 6 vs. 2]

In anticipation of your incoming slices one splits into pieces once more, flying toward you like gray rain, each droplet singing with lacerating energy. You do the sensible thing and drop to the ground as it flies past, and roll toward it to get back to your feet, aiming your blade outward in preparation for a stab. It is a stab that lands quite excellently, catching the stout fellow as his gray shape begins to reform, splitting a spot where you'd presume an internal organ to be.

You do not wait for one's reaction, pulling the sword out and unleashing a flurry of slashes. You start cutting and don't stop, chunks of gray flying as you make sure no bit is left to stand atop another, splitting the already tenuous links in place as you dig into one's flesh, all but tearing the figure to pieces, leaving the yard around you strewn with weeping pieces of gray, white smoke rising as each one twitches fast enough to produce infrasonic vibrations and not a small amount of heat.

Where once one stood, now there hangs only a knot of gray, an interminable length of extradimensional tapeworm revolving and dragging itself intently along a solid core of something completely unidentifiable by any senses you may possess. It pulses as you stare at it, unsure of what you're supposed to do now.

As if sensing your confusion, the core speaks. You are of a greater flesh than most. And of highly impressive skill, in that you have disposed of this material form extremely adequately, even if you had considerable help in the process. It is reasonable to suppose that you are likely to find yourself in the position to acquire much material. More than this form did, at the very least.

In order to keep to a certain margin of material gained, one would like to offer the exclusive option to be your sword, harvesting material when you permit and offering advice on the particulars of the known world when you ask. One would surmise this to be a highly profitable arrangement for both sides, given time and adventure.

Of course, if this is not of interest, ask one to leave and your will shall be done, and one shall surrender one's Words to you as an alternate offering of peace, and trouble you no more in the future.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 23, 2016, 01:44:56 pm
Crap, I'm running out of options. And flesh, most likely.

I try to HUNGER again. I need voracious strength to defeat this opponent.

HUNGER

[Word: 6]

If your body will not return to your mind, the mind will have to go to it. And this is what occurs as you focus the essence of desperate starvation upon yourself, your consciousness propelled on a wave of animalistic impulse to the forefront of your body, where you scream with it and it screams with you, and the voice of the flesh and mind becomes synchronous once again. You rip with a thousand arms into the body of Mr. Wilde, raking flesh and bone out of it in boiling fistfuls. Your tentacles feel like fingers, and blades feel like fingernails.

Sinew and muscle come together under coordination, and you focus a giant arm into Mr. Wilde's unfocused bulk, pounding it into momentary submission as you bite down with all of the teeth that you remember, generous chunks of flesh coming loose with every bite and rending sweep. You bring down all four limbs simultaneously, your mass and force focused into them to beat your prey into submission. The ferocity of the assault sends the mass of rampaging substrate backward.

You concentrate in more ways than one as your fingers peel away layers and rip out nodules of hardened tissue, the smell of blood driving you wild as you clamber upon the mountain of flesh with amazing speed, digging deeper and deeper for the sweetness of brain and marrow, growing refined as you properly reemerge from the sea of chaos at the crest of the wave, having shown mastery of its impulse as you continue tearing at the surreal mass before you, your flesh falling in line behind you once again.

The howling is now unmistakably your own as the red mist begins to lift, sent into retreat by a bounty of flesh, your body no longer derailed from sense or reason, the feeling of your robe and possessions the final straw that breaks the wave. Mr. Wilde's blood pours out of your mouth as you rise up with yet another chunk torn free. This time you spit it out, human instinct returning to you and the taste of raw flesh suddenly becoming unappealing. Clarity sets in.

Here you stand atop a quivering horror thirty times your size, once more your old self. As Mr. Wilde's form undulates violently you nearly lose your footing, and his screaming threatens to burst your eardrums. You feel that standing here much longer is unlikely to be good for your continued health.

Quote from: TopHat on June 23, 2016, 04:28:26 pm
Very funny. I'm almost disappointed - you'd think even when going mad I'd think of something more plausible than that. I explained this to the blacksmith - what is the body but a collection of elements in a specific form, blindly obeying a series of signals from the brain? Completely incapable of thought or rebellion.
Nice try, but I'm not insane enough to believe that yet.

[Frames of Sanity: 2]

It's less that your body has a mind of its own, you figure, and more that you seem to be experiencing something between sleepwalking and sleep paralysis, with a dash of notable sensory deprivation. What little information comes your way is hazy and vague. You move, and yet you are functionally asleep. A curious thing. Should you wait for it to pass as you would wait out a witch sitting on your chest, if only because of a lack of any more effective options?

Something turns, violently. You feel yourself assaulted with incredible power and ferocity, the unmistakable feeling of unbound flesh backed up by a Word of immense power. Your mind shakes with force exerted upon the body, and for a moment things become stranger - or is it clearer? Are you perhaps on the verge of an awakening?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Xantalos on June 23, 2016, 08:16:35 pm
"Right, that was good. Refreshing, even. Variety being the spice of life and all that. However, I figure it's about time to get back to work, as it were. It's not like the crossbow bolt is even relevant, with whatever my body's made out of."

Venture outside! See what fuckery's transpired in my absence.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: Toaster on June 24, 2016, 12:00:22 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 23, 2016, 11:30:42 am
Quote from: Toaster on June 23, 2016, 07:01:10 am
"I suppose this is why I am here.  Might as well get my money's worth, as it were?"

Let's end this.  No idea how they're doing these effects any more.
((Still in denial mode, huh?))

((Yep.  Thomas can probably be snapped into this world, but it's more likely that he'd just assume he had gone crazy and start "playing along" more.  This could have happened with the "flesh mass" result, but that wasn't to be.  Anyway, going to probably annoy a couple people by tossing away those cool words.))

"The offer of a sword does seem quite appealing; it'll be nice to have a keepsake of this strange adventure.  And I have but one question for you now; how do I get to Albany?  It's been a ton of fun here but I would not like to upset Mr. Munderly any further."

Take the sword option.  Continue to be oblivious.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 24, 2016, 02:03:34 am
Well, murder is still something I would rather avoid too. I haven't... murdered anyone yet, right? Let's see. First the well, there was that minder but frankly he was almost dead anyway. Then prison, nobody died there. Next minder's tower, hmm, no kills. Then... stoat camp, mostly just talked there. After that daring escape, bypassing town, encounter with patrol... Uh oh, that... that wasn't murder, wasn't it? She impaled herself, right? Even if I chose the continuity where it was bound to happen it still wasn't murder, right? Then... that guard. Nope, not my kill. Yep, still no actual blood in my hands yet.

"Get in position to... do something. I try to distract them or make them go away." Leif whispers.

Once Lee is ready to act, it is time to make and try new minding technique on spot. I hope it works this time. Guards are bored, they already don't see point of being here. Let's try to boost that. They really do have something better to do somewhere else.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 24, 2016, 05:01:20 am
I jump away!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: TopHat on June 24, 2016, 10:48:46 am
Wait, I guess. Nothing else seems to have worked.

Quote from: Toaster on June 24, 2016, 12:00:22 am
((Yep.  Thomas can probably be snapped into this world, but it's more likely that he'd just assume he had gone crazy and start "playing along" more.  This could have happened with the "flesh mass" result, but that wasn't to be.  Anyway, going to probably annoy a couple people by tossing away those cool words.))

((Not at all - Words may not grow on trees but they're certainly easier to obtain than demon-swords, if current experience is anything to go by.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Unlocking Potential
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 24, 2016, 02:28:09 pm
((I care less about the cool words and more about the cool sword you're tossing away.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 24, 2016, 04:18:04 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on June 23, 2016, 08:16:35 pm
"Right, that was good. Refreshing, even. Variety being the spice of life and all that. However, I figure it's about time to get back to work, as it were. It's not like the crossbow bolt is even relevant, with whatever my body's made out of."

Venture outside! See what fuckery's transpired in my absence.

You listen carefully for a moment, and realize that things have calmed down in some imperceptible manner. Although there is some kind of unearthly shrieking going on, for some reason the nasty feeling just isn't quite there anymore.

This becomes all the more strange when upon getting outside you get a sense for what's going on. Your eyes naturally rest on the most disturbing thing in the vicinity, which appears to be some approximation of Mr. Wilde. You say 'approximation' because it looks like a cottage-sized mountain of hooks and claws and eyes and tentacles and oh my, all of it currently aimed at a somewhat terribly injured Ms. Minett attempting to flee with all of her might.

And then there's Mr. Minstep, currently admiring a sword made out of something gray and very strange-looking, uniform in color and shade, impossibly crisply silhouetted in the darkening courtyard. Mr. Minstep gives you a quick look, then peers at the mortal combat going on nearby, then admires his sword for a moment longer.

It seems you've missed quite a lot of fuckery. Quite a lot of fuckery indeed.

Quote from: Toaster on June 24, 2016, 12:00:22 am
"The offer of a sword does seem quite appealing; it'll be nice to have a keepsake of this strange adventure.  And I have but one question for you now; how do I get to Albany?  It's been a ton of fun here but I would not like to upset Mr. Munderly any further."

Take the sword option.  Continue to be oblivious.

Excellent. One hopes that your cooperation will be most productive.

The core throws itself upon your sword wantonly and with reckless abandon, splitting in half as the wormlike thing surrounding it encircles first the blade, then the handle, the shimmering liquid metal of the sword becoming, if anything, slightly less physically likely, a blank gray, mildly luminescent formation weighing seemingly nothing at all. You run your hand over it cautiously, and feel a mild pull for a moment before it seemingly very consciously stops. The blade is warm, almost hot, and seems to displace no air with a swing.

[A Sense of Place: 4]

As for your question, Albany is not here. It is also not in the lands to the immediate south, or on the borderlands of El, or in the foothills of the Kingdom of the Dead. If it is nearby at all, it would follow that it could be found northward. And if it cannot, the north is likely to hold someone who may know a more precise answer. It is a place of infinite possibility after all.

You consider this as you behold Mr. Daniels exit a nearby shrine in all his au naturel glory, innocently alternating between observing the relatively normal-looking Ms. Minett's deadly battle with the irrepressible Mr. Wilde and the far less interesting sight of you talking to your sword.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 24, 2016, 02:03:34 am
Well, murder is still something I would rather avoid too. I haven't... murdered anyone yet, right? Let's see. First the well, there was that minder but frankly he was almost dead anyway. Then prison, nobody died there. Next minder's tower, hmm, no kills. Then... stoat camp, mostly just talked there. After that daring escape, bypassing town, encounter with patrol... Uh oh, that... that wasn't murder, wasn't it? She impaled herself, right? Even if I chose the continuity where it was bound to happen it still wasn't murder, right? Then... that guard. Nope, not my kill. Yep, still no actual blood in my hands yet.

"Get in position to... do something. I try to distract them or make them go away." Leif whispers.

Once Lee is ready to act, it is time to make and try new minding technique on spot. I hope it works this time. Guards are bored, they already don't see point of being here. Let's try to boost that. They really do have something better to do somewhere else.

You have a good feeling about this plan. You've tried it so many times, it's bound to start working any moment now!

[Helpful Suggestion: 4]

If alcohol is a grapefruit, and disappointment is a coconut, then what is boredom? Takes a moment to consider, hm. But you think you've got it.

Why do they need to be here, one of the guards asks. Nothing is happening. Nothing is going to happen. There's only going to be more screaming, and frankly she's already been hearing that in her dreams the past couple of nights, and she doesn't need more potential trauma.

Because, a soldier replies, peeling out a sunflower seed from its shell and popping it into his mouth, chewing rhythmically between words, you never know when agitators might get around to freeing political prisoners.

But isn't there more potential agitator activity in town, the other soldier suggests as she squats down with a handful of seeds, having one every now and then. The guards at least could be patrolling, watching out for collaborators and curfew violators. Yeah, offers the other guard helpfully, too busy with her own seeds to elaborate on this affirmation.

[Seeds of Discontent: 4]

As all four of them squat without obvious intruders to harass, the two soldiers and guards slowly decide on a plan as they run through their seed supply. Three of them will go around the vineyard and maybe a little beyond and gather valuable intel, and the least enterprising guard will stay here and watch out for trouble. Yeah-wait what, the least enterprising guard says, that doesn't sound great. The soldiers elaborate that she is a guard, and thus uniquely suited to guarding in a way that soldiers like him and her are not, or even clear officer material like the other guard.

What follows is a great deal of extremely distracting counterargument punctuated by grotesque chewing as the troops in the back engage in something like a squat-huddle, trying to iron out this disagreement.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 24, 2016, 05:01:20 am
I jump away!

[Leap of Faith: 2]

You jump and you attempt to tumble - quite successfully, as you find yourself at the foot of Mr. Wilde's body in short order. Unfortunately, you find yourself no further away than that. The man really is quite massive.

[Mr. Wilde's Ride: 2 vs. 6]

And just as you seem to have liberated quite a lot of chunks from Mr. Wilde, he repays with the same, ripping into your back with a frankly ridiculous amount of claws and teeth, nearly sending you flying as you find yourself roughly twenty-four pounds lighter, and losing more quickly. You stumble forth, feeling very light-headed and slightly unstable all of a sudden.

Quote from: TopHat on June 24, 2016, 10:48:46 am
Wait, I guess. Nothing else seems to have worked.

[Patience Is A Virtue: 2]

You suppose there's nothing to it, really. Might as well just wait until you get yourself in order. Should be any minute now.

[Fair Recompense: 6 vs. 2]

Well, at least you suspect this to be the case if you continue to tear into things at the pace you're currently managing. Things'll be sorted in no time at all.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on June 24, 2016, 04:25:41 pm
Thomas sighed.  Another vague answer.  But really, he's not surprised this is Pennsylvania.  It does make some sense.  "Right.  Are the stout fellows still blocking the way out?  Because I'd like to bid a couple farewells then be on my way."

Tell the helpful trainer guard that I have fulfilled my contract and must be on my way; thank her for the training.  The queen's next to say farewell to.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 24, 2016, 04:31:08 pm
"I never can leave you alone, can I? Well. Oi Wilde! Go back to normal, I need to have a talk with you. I don't want to have to kill you just yet, so be snappy.
...
Minstep, what happened in the last few minutes? I was otherwise occupied."

Attempt to sternly lecture Wilde back to normal. If that doesn't work, REND him into some smaller pieces and see if that helps him any.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 24, 2016, 04:48:55 pm
"Fuck if I know!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 24, 2016, 05:07:30 pm
"No no, Minstep not Minett. Knowing your track record you probably had something to do with turning Wilde here into an infinitipus."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 24, 2016, 05:16:32 pm
"Sorry, blood in my ears! And I was helping!"

I find the most solid-looking thing in the area and hide behind it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 24, 2016, 05:35:27 pm
"I think you and I have different definitions of the word help, but fair enough. Good luck not getting eaten."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on June 24, 2016, 05:44:26 pm
"Ah!  You missed the duel?  Well, there was quite a bit of special effects, but I won and I got to keep this cool computer talking sword.  Now I've got to find my way back home."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 24, 2016, 05:55:20 pm
"My god you really still think you're on earth, don't you?

Leaving that particular future breakdown aside, how'd this here gigantic blob of tentacles come to be?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 25, 2016, 02:15:23 am
Avocado of acceptance? No, too obviously outlandish. Majority always wins this type of arguments. If they don't fast enough, then perhaps I should encourage the INEVITABLE.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on June 25, 2016, 05:52:42 am
Not the kind of sorting I want! There goes the sleep-paralysis theory.
Remember the bit where I was on the verge of waking up? Any chance of getting back to that?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 25, 2016, 08:05:03 am
Quote from: Toaster on June 24, 2016, 04:25:41 pm
Thomas sighed.  Another vague answer.  But really, he's not surprised this is Pennsylvania.  It does make some sense.  "Right.  Are the stout fellows still blocking the way out?  Because I'd like to bid a couple farewells then be on my way."

Tell the helpful trainer guard that I have fulfilled my contract and must be on my way; thank her for the training.  The queen's next to say farewell to.

The sword replies that no, the sieging force was kindly donated as material to facilitate his formation, and thus no longer technically exists. While their sacrifice was ultimately in vain, their material will still be put to very good use.

You open the keep's door, coming face to face with a well-manned barricade of royal guards constructed of what little furniture the castle still had. Much to your convenience, they do manage to recognize you in the middle of shouting an order to attack, and you even manage to dodge the flask of oil that nearly flies into your head. The ground gets a little slick, however.

Wait, shouts the guard who trained you, pulling back the hand of another guard about to throw a lit torch in your direction. That's not the demon, that's that, er, recruit. The guards all look at her in silence. Recruit?

More of a contractor, you mention, attracting the looks of all the guards. The keep seems dead silent apart from the guards present, you happen to notice, no trace of the previous clamor of mobilized servants.

Right, your instructor says after another long pause. Did you see anything out there? Where is the demon? Is it coming this way?

[A Satisfactory Explanation: 6]

Technically yes, you suppose, in that the fellow agreed to be your sword after you beat him in a mostly fair and highly interesting duel. You almost hear the rise of eyebrows at that, and in response present your evidence. See, you say, there it is right there. There are a few moments of silence once again, after which a particular guard asks if anybody else just heard the sword talk. The others nod, and you see very cautious looks being directed your way now.

Feeling the ice forming already, you try to break it in advance by saying that really you've had a lot of fun and that the training did come in quite handy, but now that the contract's fulfilled you really need to be on your way, and could you see the queen before that maybe? You figure a farewell's in order there.

They seem to need to think on this request a little, your instructor taking a moment to look in the direction of your sword. You feel a strange quiver in the blade after a couple of seconds as it seems to attempt a shrug, and promptly disappears from your hand.

No worries, Mr. Minstep, you hear the voice of your sword. You can never be separated as long as the contract is in place. But one can become less obtrusive as the situation demands.

Right, says your instructor, before being cut off by a guard you recall being near the queen's quarters at last visitation. Right, says he, as long as you keep your doom sword away you can visit the queen. But you will be observed, make no mistake!

Quote from: Xantalos on June 24, 2016, 04:31:08 pm
"I never can leave you alone, can I? Well. Oi Wilde! Go back to normal, I need to have a talk with you. I don't want to have to kill you just yet, so be snappy.
...
Minstep, what happened in the last few minutes? I was otherwise occupied."

Attempt to sternly lecture Wilde back to normal. If that doesn't work, REND him into some smaller pieces and see if that helps him any.

[Addressing A Mountain: 5]

Oi, you say! Oi there! What do you think you're doing! Stop that this instant, you enormous pile of whatever the fuck! The shrieking pauses as Mr. Wilde slides a little around, seemingly not very gifted in hearing. But you do sense that something's paid attention, even if only a little. You think a rational argument's unlikely to work, to be honest, so you guess you'll just shout a little louder. Seems to be the way forward. Oi! Oi, you in there! Come on!

[Reaching Out: 4]

A few moments pass as gears (possibly very literal ones, if the sloshing sounds are any indication) turn in Mr. Wilde's... er, thinkbits, you guess. Judging from the sounds he's making, though, you don't think he's really open to rational argument. Especially given how he's started pointing all those teeth of his at you. Sigh. You guess you tried. Plan B!

REND

[Word: 5]

You raise your mutilated hand, having a jolly fine thought at the tip of it. It raises a very good point, you feel, uniquely incisive in this circumstance.

See, you figure it's a lot like trimming a hedge. This one's just slightly more ambulatory than most. With a gesture you send your intent in a loop, and off come some five hundred pounds, vitreous humor and loose teeth pouring out of the inner layers you uncover. Circling round, you peel elegant spirals of lymph-soaked skin and compacted hair, and sever great lengths of shapeless stomach interlaced with lattices of bone. Knots of distended arteries burst into fountains of bright red blood, superfluous hearts needing but one decisive poke before their own maddened contraction tears them to pieces of woven muscle. The third go round takes you on a tour of livers beyond belief, burning with overdriven production, and trunks of bone burst with generous spilling marrow as you carve them neatly into pieces. Clusters of raw nerve and buttery glia are swum through with greater ease as you turn them to simple puree with but the tiniest flourish. Glands of all stripes disgorge multicolored fluids into the air as you eviscerate, pierce and send them flying in gentle arcs.

Flesh spills like a burst dam along your ankles, frightened rats budding off from quivering masses. Viscera spill into the old well like a drain as you go nine times around on a grand tour of disturbed anatomy, until all that's left is a representative mass the size of a marble, held aloft only by the circling force of your thought, frightened of falling lest it cross its path. You let it hang a second as you incline your head, then flick it in your direction, catching it out of the air with your functional hand. It's a variegated little nugget, surprisingly pregnant with meaning. All it needs, you find, is a gentle squeeze, and the internal pressure does much of the work. With a final howl the little cyst bursts, and out of it comes a physically improbable amount of dedifferentiating matter with the rough consistency of whipped cream. You layer into a leaning tower of roughly your own height, and with a slight hiss you see the shape of an anatomically correct Mr. Wilde define itself, coated in panicking rats and a few spare organs as your allowances for faulty memory sort themselves out without need for further motivation.

You turn Mr. Wilde around with a careful eye to check on him more closely. He opens his mouth to hiss weakly, eyes full of impotent bestial bloodlust. You roll your eyes and backhand him across his impertinent mug, nearly snapping his jaw in half as he flips and falls on his face into the mixed pool of what was formerly his unbound form, rats and organs sliding off his surprisingly clothed body. You give him a generous ten seconds to regain consciousness as you step to loom over him. He starts coughing weakly before then.

Oi, you say. Oi Wilde, you done being uncoupled? 'Cause you can keep going if not.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 24, 2016, 05:16:32 pm
"Sorry, blood in my ears! And I was helping!"

I find the most solid-looking thing in the area and hide behind it.

You guess the most solid thing would be that sacrificial slab somebody has helpfully put up near the blacksmith's workshop. As the courtyard roars and Mr. Daniels runs interference you dive behind it, cowering in the hopes that the stone does not fall on you in all the chaos.

The sound abates for a moment. And then comes something else.

REND

You feel like you are almost better off not seeing what results from this, especially given that the splatter reaches the very door of the blacksmith's residence. In the air you sense something extraordinarily malevolent and especially lethal. Yep, probably safer here, even with the looming threat of unfavorable gravity.

You wait until the sounds and smells (of which there are many, each more questionable than the last) settle down, crowned by a bone-cracking smack and a wet squelch. After this the only thing you hear is faint nagging, which signals to you that a certain threshold of safety has likely been crossed.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 25, 2016, 02:15:23 am
Avocado of acceptance? No, too obviously outlandish. Majority always wins this type of arguments. If they don't fast enough, then perhaps I should encourage the INEVITABLE.

You stay back and watch as the stoatmen try to address this problem the only way they know how - browbeating by a majority backed by spurious argumentation.

[Giving In: 5]

Fortunately the non-assertive guard remains non-assertive, and soon the other troops in the back are on their way, beaming at what a great idea splitting away seems to be, leaving but one guard with a whole lot of sunflower seeds to get through in her post.

[Proactive Approach: 3+1]

Lee, who currently looms on the winery's roof right above the guard, having used your distraction to her advantage, gives you a look from afar. It seems to ask a very simple question - now?

Quote from: TopHat on June 25, 2016, 05:52:42 am
Not the kind of sorting I want! There goes the sleep-paralysis theory.
Remember the bit where I was on the verge of waking up? Any chance of getting back to that?

[Seize the Waking: 3]

Well, you do hear somebody ranting in your direction. Somebody new. You suppose that's of some interest, maybe you should really get to them and wait no that's not what you meant wait!

Suddenly you feel a great pain, followed by an immense lightness, which then gives way to mounting pressure and a feeling of shrinkage. You feel like your head's about to explode, and then the feeling is kicked up a notch to the point where you can barely think. And then, release. Is it your skull breaking open? A cascade of multiple strokes? For a moment, your sense of body is completely gone, only to come back seconds later as what feels like a freight train smacks into your jaw, ringing your spine like a bell.

You tingle all over as you accidentally inhale flowing warm lymph and bile, and start to cough. What a unique flavor to awaken to.

Oi, you hear a familiar voice. Its presence reminds you of an all-encompassing pain your brain had so kindly failed to note until now. Oi Wilde, it continues, you done being uncoupled? It sounds a lot like Mr. Daniels. He can keep going if you aren't, he says with more than a little unkindness.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 25, 2016, 09:02:50 am
I get away from the teetering stone and look for somewhere to rest. Preferably somewhere hidden.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 25, 2016, 09:50:39 am
Now is good, hopefully she can do it all quiet like. Step in to assist.
This leaves us total six stoats remaining, right? Where are they?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on June 25, 2016, 10:28:10 am
Thomas nodded to Mr. Daniels as he went into the keep.  "Well of course; where else would we be?  And I don't know; I was a bit distracted by the duel.  Anyway, I must be going!"


As the guards agreed, Thomas nodded.  "Yes, yes, I will be polite.  By the way, I believe your stout fellow friends outside have left."

Head up to see the queen to bid a polite farewell.  Don't pull out any doom swords.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on June 25, 2016, 01:30:57 pm
"I guess so, if that's what it's called. Thank you for snapping me out of it. I - wait, where's Ms. Minett? Is she alright? Even if this is her fault I do hope she's not badly hurt. What about Mr. Minstep and the One?"
I didn't kill anyone, did I? Also try to stand up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 25, 2016, 01:35:50 pm
"In order, she went and hid somewhere, she'll probably live, Minstep's in the keep I think, and I've no idea what that is. Important question: what did you do to the blacksmith? I've been informed you had interactions with him."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on June 25, 2016, 03:56:01 pm
"The blacksmith? A most curious incident. He seemed to have the impression I was a master, of some sort, and asked me to bestow my mastery on him. So I did - he now has what is probably one of the most comprehensive scientific educations on this world. I learnt something too, a Word - you probably already know what they are. The blacksmith promptly told me to collect 2.3 pounds of gold from the well - I still need to do that, come to think of it - and went off to the Mason's to gather more material - he's still there now, as far as I know. Talked about building something to trap light - mentioned Time Enders, or something of the sort, if I remember correctly. Does that answer your question?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 25, 2016, 04:05:56 pm
"Sort of. I'll go take care of that gold thing, don't worry about it."

Jack turns his back and begins walking towards the well, but pauses for a moment.

"Oh, one more thing. You're probably an athiest, but do me a favor and pray you didn't fuck up my armor project by doing what you did. It sounds like you helped him, but I was very invested in that.

You'll need the luck if you broke it."

Head on over to the well! Collect any stray rats that cross my path on the way.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on June 25, 2016, 04:45:48 pm
"Agnostic, actually. Though if you ever need to know anything, feel free to ask. The Word I mentioned may help with that."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 25, 2016, 04:53:58 pm
"I wouldn't rely on Words too much. They seem to get those who use them in rather unfortunate situations."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on June 26, 2016, 03:15:54 pm
"Not just the user, sadly. Which reminds me: if Ms. Minett ever tries to say the Word 'Chaos' in front of you, punch her in the face before she can finish. Trust me, it's for your own good."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 26, 2016, 05:50:50 pm
"I've had that policy for any word coming from her since before you got here, believe you me. You're not the only accidental incident she's caused."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 27, 2016, 06:52:34 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 25, 2016, 09:02:50 am
I get away from the teetering stone and look for somewhere to rest. Preferably somewhere hidden.

You skitter out of sight and out of mind, laying down in the gravel-filled yard of the blacksmith as you try to nap away the persistent ringing noise in your ears and the strange lightness of your entire being.

It helps. A little.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 25, 2016, 09:50:39 am
Now is good, hopefully she can do it all quiet like. Step in to assist.
This leaves us total six stoats remaining, right? Where are they?

[Treacherous Underhanded Sneak Attack: 1+1]

You nod. Lee carefully inches into an advantageous position. Not carefully enough, however, as the edge of the roof creaks slightly, a part of it seemingly less well-supported than the others. The guard looks up. There is a moment of exchanged glances.

[Leap Attack: 2 vs. 1]

The plan, however, is still the same. Lee descends, her dress flowing in the wind in a swirl of grays and browns as she falls onto the guard, sinking a knife into her shoulder from the bottom up and twisting roughly. The guard begins to scream as the joint is thoroughly ruined, blood flowing out of vessels you suspect were integral to her long-term survival.

This is perhaps not as stealthy as you would like. Really, it's mostly about as stealthy as last time, by which you mean you're pretty sure both the stoats on the other side of the winery, two guards and one soldier, as well as likely whatever stoats are inside the winery, which should be three soldiers, all probably at least suspect that horrible murder is happening somewhere nearby.

Quote from: Toaster on June 25, 2016, 10:28:10 am
As the guards agreed, Thomas nodded.  "Yes, yes, I will be polite.  By the way, I believe your stout fellow friends outside have left."

Head up to see the queen to bid a polite farewell.  Don't pull out any doom swords.

Your remark, though seemingly unsurprising, prompts closer investigation - your instructor is the first to look outside, and a nearby guard suggests that, as the obvious volunteer, she should go and check outside more closely. The look she returns to the suggestion is less than pleased, but she goes outside nevertheless.

Meanwhile you are led up the staircase and past a series of other barricades and not a small amount of what look to be improvised fire traps, and the final one of the barricades nearly at the entrance to the queen's chambers holds an unusually rough and prepared bunch of royal guards headed up by the commander herself. She demands a full report before letting you past, which the guard who promised to observe you meets with a laconic description of the current known facts, most important of which seems to be that the demonic creature that made people jump off the battlements has apparently been neutralized and turned into some kind of evil doom sword, in the guard's own words, one that is currently within your possession, but is presently dismissed for the safety of the public.

Although it takes some few minutes of dithering and repeating quite a few questions and answers, the commander does seem willing to let you speak with the queen. But only in the presence of four- no, wait, five well-armed guards. The whole barricade save one lookout gets to come with you, in short. It's going to be something of a party in there, you suppose.

As you approach the door, the queen is already there. Wide-eyed and having put a relatively practical dress on sometime after you saw her last, she instinctively backs up from the door as you and the five guards surrounding you walk in. She tries and fails to look casual as she fidgets with a dagger she clumsily hides behind her back. Uh, she says, what's happening? Her eyes dart to the commander, who says that you apparently have something to relay to her. Er, she looks at you. Is... did anything happen?

Quote from: TopHat on June 25, 2016, 01:30:57 pm
"I guess so, if that's what it's called. Thank you for snapping me out of it. I - wait, where's Ms. Minett? Is she alright? Even if this is her fault I do hope she's not badly hurt. What about Mr. Minstep and the One?"
I didn't kill anyone, did I? Also try to stand up.

You're not entirely sure. You suppose that whole destiny thing might have kept injury to bystanders relatively minimal. But you also have the feeling that if there was a bystander in the way you might not have felt them at all. And boy is there a lot of gore around where you presume you used to be.

Standing up takes far more effort than you would like, but you manage it eventually. You feel sore all over, and only vaguely ambulatory. Probably lucky you've got that much considering what happened to you.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 25, 2016, 04:05:56 pm
"Sort of. I'll go take care of that gold thing, don't worry about it."

Jack turns his back and begins walking towards the well, but pauses for a moment.

"Oh, one more thing. You're probably an athiest, but do me a favor and pray you didn't fuck up my armor project by doing what you did. It sounds like you helped him, but I was very invested in that.

You'll need the luck if you broke it."

Head on over to the well! Collect any stray rats that cross my path on the way.

[Ratcatcher's Delight: 5]

Oh, rats, rats everywhere. How absolutely delightful, you think as you occasionally bend down to swipe a couple of confused rodents from the ground, taking a slightly circuitous path as you gather up about a dozen. Tying all their tails together, you hold them in one hand as you descend into the well, the bottom of it currently filled with pooling remnants of Mr. Wilde's extended form, a steady stream still pouring down with the occasional splash from a harder or more cohesive bit splatting heavily on the bricks.

The well is still there, the message on its door completely intact. Doesn't seem like much has changed here since you were last in.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on June 27, 2016, 07:09:26 pm
Thomas nodded, then saluted.  That's what military does, right?  "Uh... yes!  After agreeing to some contract work with one of your fine guards, I was tasked with inspecting the battlements.  The apparent leader, or something, of the stout army saw me up, and must have seen something he liked.  After I came back down for some more practice, said leader came in the front gate.  There was a rather flashy battle with lots of impressive special effects, then I won.  Now I have a neat souvenier sword, which your friends here nicely asked me to not take out.  What with you being queen and all, I can imagine.  I think that sums it up."


Summarize
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 27, 2016, 10:52:09 pm
Any gold around here? Wilde mentioned gold. If so, collect gold. If not, go and politely* question Wilde about the lack of gold.

*non-violently
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 28, 2016, 01:02:26 am
"Why not do it like in movies and cut throat instead? That should make them go down quietly."

Use the spear shaft to knock the screamer out. Then retreat with Lee to some distance into safety.
Once stoats come out check if they are in suitable mindstate for "Speaking With The Mob". If they are, "Lend Me Their Limbs."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 28, 2016, 04:49:05 am
I continue resting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on June 28, 2016, 01:41:50 pm
Walk over to and enter the building my companion was in.
"You were completly right - never go towards the screaming. On the plus side, the besieging army appears to have been destroyed and it sounds like Minstep killed the demon, so everyone should be safe for the time being."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 29, 2016, 08:23:04 am
Quote from: Toaster on June 27, 2016, 07:09:26 pm
Thomas nodded, then saluted.  That's what military does, right?  "Uh... yes!  After agreeing to some contract work with one of your fine guards, I was tasked with inspecting the battlements.  The apparent leader, or something, of the stout army saw me up, and must have seen something he liked.  After I came back down for some more practice, said leader came in the front gate.  There was a rather flashy battle with lots of impressive special effects, then I won.  Now I have a neat souvenier sword, which your friends here nicely asked me to not take out.  What with you being queen and all, I can imagine.  I think that sums it up."

Summarize

The queen looks at you a tad skeptically, turning to the guard commander for a second opinion. Is there, uh, verification, she asks. No offense, Mr. Minstep, of course, but your perspective is... er, a little unique at times. The guard commander replies that the story is highly unusual and is yet to be properly verified, but lookouts have been dispatched and-

An out-of-breath fellow you recognize as the red-headed guard who helped you out in finding the minders arrives at the door, and the troops surrounding you go on momentary alert before permitting him to slowly approach. He whispers to the guard commander, and her face goes from grim to skeptical to seemingly rather enthused. She congratulates the guard on his fine message, and sends him away for a moment, then turns to the queen.

As she was saying, the story is highly unusual, but the current information seems to imply that the besieging force is indeed very much gone. The guards all look her way incredulously, as does the queen herself, and the room is silent for a few seconds.

Does... does that mean it's over, asks the queen. Is the nightmare over at last? The guard commander smiles. She wouldn't say that, if this is indeed correct. But it may be time for an overdue resupply.

Mr. Minstep, the commander turns to you. Your story makes you out to be more capable than you look. While the situation is better assessed, would you care to accompany two of her guards over to town? This may be an important learning opportunity.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 27, 2016, 10:52:09 pm
Any gold around here? Wilde mentioned gold. If so, collect gold. If not, go and politely* question Wilde about the lack of gold.

*non-violently

Lots of gold, actually. Quite a lot of it in spilled form. But there is a handy potato sack full of dusty golden coins well within reach, which you lift in one hand without even the slightest effort. You can almost hear your net worth increase exponentially as you do so.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 28, 2016, 01:02:26 am
"Why not do it like in movies and cut throat instead? That should make them go down quietly."

Use the spear shaft to knock the screamer out. Then retreat with Lee to some distance into safety.
Once stoats come out check if they are in suitable mindstate for "Speaking With The Mob". If they are, "Lend Me Their Limbs."

Too obvious a target, says Lee as you run in with your spear shaft, ready to administer a caning that'd move a 19th century father to weep with pride.

[Stick It To The Man: 3 vs. 6]

The screaming guard hears you run in and stabs wildly in a panic, unexpectedly catching you right in the chest, the spearhead slipping between the ribs and right into the lung. You look down, mildly surprised, and cough. Blood begins to pool out of the spear as the guard kicks you in the midsection and pulls it out in the same movement. Seeing how little a gaping chest wound appears to impede you, the guard begins to scream a little harder.

[Thousand Knives: 2+1 vs. 3]

Showing unexpected presence of mind, the guard begins to retreat to the side, successfully warding off Lee's advance with her spear as she starts to run away along the side of the winery. You feel this is a good time to retreat, and Lee agrees, although from her somewhat sullen look you get the feeling that she's rather disappointed with her poor luck in this latest offensive.

[Bravely Out Of Danger: 1]

Of course, you aren't really more than ten meters out than guards and soldiers begin to round the corners of the winery, marking the two of you running away almost immediately. And, for that matter, the patrol of two soldiers and a guard seems to be urgently sprinting this way from the direction you up until now were retreating into, the screaming of the guard apparently having spread extraordinarily quickly. The door of the winery begins to open, another soldier shifting out of it, leading the way with a steel saber that no doubt used to belong to a distinguished cavalryman of some kind.

[Speak With The Mob: 3]

Feeling like you're about to find yourself sorely outflanked, you focus on the injured guard, still screaming as she runs away. Such is the art of speaking with groups. You need to find something resonant, something readily identifiable. Something very familiar and urgent. And then what you do, you reason, is add a little personal touch to it. The scream gets louder, more incisive. You feel the stoat guards pause, the voice of their comrade settling in their bones to some degree, and quite a few turn to look her way as she retreats along the fields, still bleeding heavily and counting herself very fortunate if she can somehow be alive come tomorrow. The latter sentiment appears to be shared by the others as well, if without the overwhelming importance that a massive bleeding wound naturally lends it.

They have numbers on their side, this is true. But nevertheless you have made the bravest of them (not a difficult achievement, mind you) stop for a moment, their charge degraded to a mere absent-minded jog in your direction as some internal voice urges them to consider the situation very carefully before proceeding.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 28, 2016, 04:49:05 am
I continue resting.

Rest does the mind good, and your body seems to like the recuperation too. On the negative side, as you regain more feeling in your limbs the gravel starts to feel increasingly uncomfortable and scratchy. Sheesh, you didn't know your nerves were so easily spoiled.

Quote from: TopHat on June 28, 2016, 01:41:50 pm
Walk over to and enter the building my companion was in.
"You were completly right - never go towards the screaming. On the plus side, the besieging army appears to have been destroyed and it sounds like Minstep killed the demon, so everyone should be safe for the time being."


You need not bother, as your companion seems to have made her way to you of her own accord, simultaneously very interested in what exactly she missed and unusually glad at not being stuck inside that carpenter's workshop for longer than she absolutely had to be. Speaking of, what did she miss? Sounded pretty intense out there for a while and... well...

She trails off in her question, her eyes drawn to the ocean of assorted human-esque parts you're standing in, rats skipping along it as they indecisively attempt to both escape and make off with as much food as they are able. She was completely right, you tell her, never go towards the screaming. You decide to leave most of the details to her imagination, given how hard at work it seems to be with the scant evidence already presented.

Anyway, you say, the sieging army is gone, and Mr. Minstep seems to have done unusually well in dispatching the demon as well. This seems to snap her into an altogether different state of mind. Wait, she says, that's it? It's done? And we won? Holy crap, she says, then looks at the gate. She's about to say something else, but before she even begins to speak she cuts herself off as she exhales quickly, then takes a deep breath. Wait, really?

She starts to laugh from sheer sense of relief, placing both hands on your shoulders. She could kiss you right now, you beautiful bastard. Best news of her life. Tell you what, she'll race you outside. Winner gets freedom and real food. And the loser gets freedom and real food too! She-

-wait, are you all right? You look kind of... vaguely messed up, she says as she looks you over. And there's some... stuff on your back, she says, flicking off a tooth from your shoulder blade as she steps partly around you. And that naked guy gives her the creeps, what's his deal?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 29, 2016, 02:04:24 pm
There really aren't enough good places to lay down around here. I search for some softer ground to snooze on.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on June 29, 2016, 03:03:48 pm
"I wouldn't worry about him. He's certainly extremely dangerous - all four of us seem to have the potential to be, I'll talk about that later - but I don't think he'll go out of his way just to hurt anyone. Too selfish to waste the effort, in my opinion.

Anyway, I do seem to have taken quite a bit of damage, though hopefully nothing that a good rest won't be able to solve - if you know of anywhere with a free bed?"


Time for a rest, methinks. Freedom can come later.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 29, 2016, 04:10:31 pm
"Ah, excellent. Now then, I should find my blacksmith friend."

Get out of the well and go look for the blacksmith. Perhaps he's at his house?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 29, 2016, 04:14:04 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on June 29, 2016, 04:10:31 pm
"Ah, excellent. Now then, I should find my blacksmith friend."

Try stuffing a bit more gold into the sack, or find another sack or something. Not because I really have any need for it, but try to get ... how much did Wilde say again? 2.3 kilos or something? Make sure I have that much, then get out of the well and go look for the blacksmith. Perhaps he's at his house?

Actually I neglected to put a 0 in the middle there.

Now noted in the status.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 29, 2016, 05:09:53 pm
Ah, excellent. Edited to reflect this!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on June 29, 2016, 06:24:17 pm
Thomas opened his mouth to object, but hesitated.  Well, taking him to the town would certainly help him get his bearings, that is true.  He supposed having someone take him there would prevent getting lost.

"Yes, Mrs. Queen.  I will go with your guards to the town, but I don't expect to be coming back here; I must be getting home.  I have enjoyed my stay here, even if I'm not sure how I got here.  I bid you all farewell."


Agree.  Bid farewells.  Depart with guards, and stuff.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 30, 2016, 02:50:57 pm
"I wonder what's the deal with Lady Luck. Or is it Mistress of Misfortune? She really can't make up her mind whether she's helping or not."

Keep running for hiding place.
On the other front accidents happen. INEVITABLE accidents. You know the type; people running with spears. It's like kids and scissors.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 30, 2016, 04:34:35 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 29, 2016, 02:04:24 pm
There really aren't enough good places to lay down around here. I search for some softer ground to snooze on.

[The Search For Refuge: 3]

You skulk around the courtyard for a while, looking for a place that isn't wet, littered with bone shards, made up purely of dirt and/or gravel and just not unpalatable in general. It takes a certain relaxation of reasonable standards to eventually find a place where a little bit of lawn seems to be growing as of yet untrampled by careless feet or uneaten by desperate castle residents. It seems soft enough after you settle in for a bit, even if you don't quite work up a full-on nap just yet.

Quote from: TopHat on June 29, 2016, 03:03:48 pm
"I wouldn't worry about him. He's certainly extremely dangerous - all four of us seem to have the potential to be, I'll talk about that later - but I don't think he'll go out of his way just to hurt anyone. Too selfish to waste the effort, in my opinion.

Anyway, I do seem to have taken quite a bit of damage, though hopefully nothing that a good rest won't be able to solve - if you know of anywhere with a free bed?"


Time for a rest, methinks. Freedom can come later.

There's the keep. Plenty of room in there, she guesses. Closer by there's the bone carver's house, and since he's disappeared she guesses there's nobody who'd look at you sideways for sleeping in there, even if the place is kind of creepy from what she's heard.

[Where I Lay My Head: 3]

But you know what, you can have her sleeping spot. Not like she intends to occupy it much longer, right? She leads you over into the old storehouse, which is just as empty of useful goods as you'd expect it to be in a prolonged siege, and indeed seems to have been looted of anything properly useful, with 'seems' being the operative word as your companion leads you to one particular corner and loosens a set of floorboards with a wedge she seems to have kept for just this purpose, uncovering a somewhat cozy little nook beneath the floor. Well, cozy inasmuch as a vaguely coffin-shaped chamber beneath the earth lined with a variety of 'acquired' goods can be, most of them soft enough to make sleeping there not entirely unpleasant. You raise an eyebrow as your companion motions you to climb inside with a genuine smile. Pretty clever, eh? She hasn't slept in the keep for nigh on three months, you know. They always try to nab your shit if you sleep in the keep, and it gets really damn annoying after a while.

Anyway, you climb in there and she'll put the boards over you so nobody disturbs you for a bit. Perfect place to lie down. Oh, and if you don't like the dark, there should be half a candle down there that she was planning to eat on Sunday, but that's not really an issue anymore so you feel free to use it. Tinderbox should be at your feet if you slide in all the way, but mind the rat cage. She thinks the big one ate the other ones, and it's been getting increasingly angry with each passing day.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 29, 2016, 04:10:31 pm
"Ah, excellent. Now then, I should find my blacksmith friend."

Get out of the well and go look for the blacksmith. Perhaps he's at his house?

Now richer than anyone you've ever personally known, you go and look for your fine friend the blacksmith. His door yields easily to your knock, but you do not find him inside. And the place looks better-lit than when he mutilated your hand. Hm. Not a good sign, you think. Maybe Mr. Wilde scared the crazy away. Or worse, gave him a less productive case of crazy instead. You start to get a little worried.

[Fortuitous Appearance: 1]

Where could he be, you wonder. The keep? The dark tunnel that you decided not to fall into? Oh crap, you left that open. And the blacksmith's nothing if not terminally curious. You hope he didn't fall into that, but you'd be lying if you said you had any faith in the possibility.

Quote from: Toaster on June 29, 2016, 06:24:17 pm
Thomas opened his mouth to object, but hesitated.  Well, taking him to the town would certainly help him get his bearings, that is true.  He supposed having someone take him there would prevent getting lost.

"Yes, Mrs. Queen.  I will go with your guards to the town, but I don't expect to be coming back here; I must be getting home.  I have enjoyed my stay here, even if I'm not sure how I got here.  I bid you all farewell."


Agree.  Bid farewells.  Depart with guards, and stuff.

Uh, okay, says the queen. It was... nice having you, yes? Farewell, Mr. Minstep, and... thank you? She thinks she ought to thank you, right? The queen checks with the guard commander, who shrugs a little. It would seem right to give thanks, yes. Especially given your continued cooperation. Hopefully your two escorts will be able to make it back. Speaking of, it's time to find some.

You are quickly guided out of the keep and over to the corner building of the courtyard, and the guard commander tells you to wait outside as she goes in. You do so, and she comes out a minute or so later with the elderly, impassive captain of the castle guard, who looks you over.

[Brave Souls: 4]

Several suitable candidates that immediately come to mind, he starts to drone. Fetching them will take a few minutes. He goes back inside the corner building, and comes back shortly afterward with a twitchy fellow in his late forties quite resolutely holding on to his spear, and also a rather large, wiry woman wearing a full suit of plate armor. The latter was not one of the initial candidates, the captain sees fit to mention, but she volunteered extremely readily and also technically outranks him.

The Worm-knight and the tower-rat, the guard commander says with a smile, patting you on the back. You'll be in good company, Mr. Minstep. The Worm-knight looks at you. She is loathe to leave the castle in its current form, she mentions, but it is imperative that she see the state of the land with her own eyes. The man turns his head toward her, asking her if she's sure she can trust those. He's had some negative experiences with his own, but has held off on scooping them out just yet. The light can play nasty tricks on you if you're not careful and don't watch your thoughts at all times.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 30, 2016, 02:50:57 pm
"I wonder what's the deal with Lady Luck. Or is it Mistress of Misfortune? She really can't make up her mind whether she's helping or not."

Keep running for hiding place.
On the other front accidents happen. INEVITABLE accidents. You know the type; people running with spears. It's like kids and scissors.

You decide to take this precious opportunity to make a daring escape.

[Exploit the Confusion: 3+1]

Of course, the more you concentrate on escaping, the less you can concentrate on the confusion. Fortunately, you can somewhat safely let Lee lead the way, as she seems to be, if not necessarily better at infiltration and evasion than you are, then at least free of the responsibility of having to channel unsettling mind waves through the echoing screams of the stoats' compatriot. You manage to become altogether less flanked as you make it a good way away from the rest at a dead sprint. But you'd still like to be safe about this.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 1]

And while you would like to say that it is indeed inevitable that all of these soldiers will fall on their respective weapons, it is in fact astronomically more likely that they will fall onto you with their weapons before that, given your overall proclivity toward getting stabbed in the past. Luck, as you have correctly surmised, or even basic statistical probability, is definitely not on your side here.

This aspect of inevitability does not go entirely unappreciated as you feel yourself get stabbed 8 times by a variety of spears on all sides and a saber digs into your shoulder and splits one of your collarbones neatly in half, a simultaneous reorganization of reality having landed you on the wrong side of every possible attack made on your person.

Lee, curiously exempt from this sudden reorganization, has a moment of indecision as she wonders if there possibly exists a world where she can do a damn thing to help you while not getting killed herself. Being a fairly intelligent woman, she seems to quickly concede that such a world is wildly implausible to say the least, and uses your clever distraction to keep running.

Meanwhile the stoats seem just as confused as before, perhaps more so, not quite sure how they've managed to simultaneously stab you in at least three different vital organs and yet somehow entirely failed to kill you, the tangle of weaponry lodged in your body now forming a significant percentage of your total volume.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 30, 2016, 05:20:03 pm
You know what? I can leave this crappy, gravelly place now. I continue my quest for soft ground outside the walls.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on June 30, 2016, 05:20:52 pm
Did he say... right, right, part of the show.  They must have worked hard on rehearsing that.

"Yes, tricky things, eyes.  My cousin got that laser surgery, and he hasn't needed glasses in years!  Amazing!  Anyway, shall we be off?"

Shall we be off?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on June 30, 2016, 06:03:54 pm
"Ah shit. Blacksmith! Blacksmith you better not have died I don't have my armor yet!"

Go to said tunnel and holler into it. Say I've found the perfect thing in an attempt to bribe him off.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 01, 2016, 11:07:50 am
I'm seeing the pattern here. I use magic to cause distraction but it backfires ending up with me in trouble. Then I become distraction and Lee saves my ass.

"I hate wizards." Leif coughs the words out. "Bastards cursed me with misfortune. It spreads like rabies, with death and rats."

Magic of confusing words. Babble about curses, wizards, plague and jazz to confuse hell out of them. Sing a song of my people. Focus their attention on me so strictly they cannot perceive anything else, assuming I can figure out that trick.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 01, 2016, 01:11:00 pm
"Thanks. Is there anything I need to do to get out or do I just push the boards up again?"

Ask a quick question and then have a nap.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 01, 2016, 02:20:21 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 30, 2016, 05:20:03 pm
You know what? I can leave this crappy, gravelly place now. I continue my quest for soft ground outside the walls.

[Serendipitous Opening: 2]

You briefly come out of cover just in time to catch the evening train right the hell out of this castle as Mr. Minstep as well as two other companions are permitted to go through the gate, only to have your hopes dashed as the guards tell you to stop right there. Nobody goes out just yet, they say. Wouldn't want civilians running out and getting killed, no sir. And no, ma'am, banging on the gate like that will not improve your chances of getting out, so you can stop doing that. The guards will get first pick of the stoatmen's supplies anyway, so there's no rush.

You try to explain that you were really only interested in all the soft dirt and gently wafting, inviting grass out there, but the guards remain obstinate in their desire to keep you in for the time being. You're not sure they believe you.

Quote from: Toaster on June 30, 2016, 05:20:52 pm
Did he say... right, right, part of the show.  They must have worked hard on rehearsing that.

"Yes, tricky things, eyes.  My cousin got that laser surgery, and he hasn't needed glasses in years!  Amazing!  Anyway, shall we be off?"

Shall we be off?

You shall be off indeed, the Worm-knight says, and the merry party of three including you is led unceremoniously through the castle gate, which is opened just a crack to let you all through, then promptly closed, and even the drawbridge isn't lowered all the way, forcing the lot of you to brave a small yet mildly knee-shaking jump down.

After this, however, the only thing standing between you and Anglefork Town seems to be the set of two raging mountain rivers surrounding you on all sides. The edges of the artificial castle island are marked by the remnants of the stout war camp, presently empty of life as far as you can tell (and thus very likely to be absolutely teeming with assassins, your companion mutters in a grave tone). Tents are strewn about, and you see quite a lot of equipment lying around on the ground, seemingly abandoned by insufficiently motivated larpists in the middle of their performance, the resulting graveyard of assembled props lying around in manners highly suggestive of twisted death poses sufficiently ominous to make you nervously chuckle at the accidental artistry.

Hm, says the Worm-knight, the bridge is out. As is the replacement bridge. Perhaps a raft can be found in the camp someplace. They should have had one to bring in supplies, at least, unless it is currently in town. Or, suggests the other guy, they floated them in. Balloons at dusk, to keep you guessing. If they had balloons, the knight notes with irritation, why didn't they just float over the walls? To which the other guy says, why, to keep everyone guessing. It wouldn't have worked either, he then adds after a moment's thought, because he was fully prepared for balloons the entire time.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 30, 2016, 06:03:54 pm
"Ah shit. Blacksmith! Blacksmith you better not have died I don't have my armor yet!"

Go to said tunnel and holler into it. Say I've found the perfect thing in an attempt to bribe him off.

You go over to the tunnel and yell down it, hoping to reach a familiar voice. Blacksmith!

[Persuasive Holler: 2]

You think you hear something echo back after your own holler subsides. High-pitched, vaguely irritated, and you think a particular word was enunciated judging from a certain stilted noise it makes. Shit, he's really down there, you think. Or maybe, just maybe a monster ate him and is now imitating his voice to lure you in.

Either way you suspect you need to get down there to get to the bottom of things. Down that dark and foreboding shaft that leads into pitch darkness and through which you may very well not be able to get back up.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 01, 2016, 11:07:50 am
I'm seeing the pattern here. I use magic to cause distraction but it backfires ending up with me in trouble. Then I become distraction and Lee saves my ass.

"I hate wizards." Leif coughs the words out. "Bastards cursed me with misfortune. It spreads like rabies, with death and rats."

Magic of confusing words. Babble about curses, wizards, plague and jazz to confuse hell out of them. Sing a song of my people. Focus their attention on me so strictly they cannot perceive anything else, assuming I can figure out that trick.

[Unnatural Displays: 4]

This doesn't look like any damn kind of misfortune he's ever seen, one of the soldier says. The hell you doing, talky man, not bleeding to death like a regular trespasser would in your position? And what's this about wizards?

You smile. Only one of them spoke the words, but all of them are listening, their grip faltering slightly. An opening.

[Speak To The Mob: 5]

The curse of immortality is bestowed through the liminal boundary at the conjunction of the spheres, brought into being by the gods of fire and dark alike. Strike one down, over and over again, and they come back stronger, seizing souls without sovereign to power the great cycle of death and rebirth, now and forever, until the stars themselves go out and the fabric of the world grows frayed and useless and old, the flame burning without end, consuming all, eating the gods themselves as immortal heroes bring the passing of ages, coming again and again to cull the misshapen remnants of the old world, powering themselves with old glory, bringing themselves in touch with the Godhead... but is the next age one of light or dark? Or something else entirely?

You dare say this bloody nonsense is doing the job, the proletarian stoats listening with slack jaws and loosened grips as you spin a vast yarn spanning thousands of imagined eras. It soon begins to run on autopilot, repeating in their minds with the names and shapes slightly changing. In a final personal touch, you pepper your tales with sinister, hollow chuckles when a point is made or implied, and then the tale begins to tell itself, set in each mind and capturing their attention completely. As their gray eyes glaze over you take a look around.

[Moth's Flight: 4]

You notice Lee's not around at all anymore. Huh. You were kind of hoping she would help you out of this mess.

Quote from: TopHat on July 01, 2016, 01:11:00 pm
"Thanks. Is there anything I need to do to get out or do I just push the boards up again?"

Ask a quick question and then have a nap.

A solid kick should get the boards right out. And if not, she'll hear the kick and let you out if you can't get out on your own. She'll go and talk to this one guy for a bit and be right back while you nap. Anyway, have a good rest, she says and, after you slip in, sets the boards back into place firmly. You hear her footsteps for a little bit as she walks away.

[Restful Quarters: 3]

Hm. This is pretty surprisingly cozy, though maybe the arrangement of stuff isn't exactly for your body shape. A little wiggling fixes that right up, though, and you soon drift into a carefree nap, feeling relatively secure in this little hidey-tomb.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 01, 2016, 03:02:55 pm
Well, I've seen this gate open to a Word before. I think that could be arranged again.

"Hey now, I've been up on the castle walls. The army's not there. I saw it myself! Or didn't see it, whatever. I can't believe you guys are sitting around waiting for orders when you could be outside eating something that isn't a rat. Come on, it's been so long. You must HUNGER for freedom."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 01, 2016, 03:07:58 pm
"God dammit. Let me think before I act, what's down there?
...
Ladder and then endless pit, with that one handprint I made still there."

Daniels looks at his mangled left hand.

"This murderthought is perhaps the best thing I've ever gotten, but I kinda wish it hadn't come at the price of my hand. If I had a functional one I could easily go down there and see if he's there.
...
Well, there's always threatening people for an option. Let's try that, enforced scouting. Otherwise going down there would just be a waste."

Go find someone (not one of my kind) and 'convince' them to go down the ladder and report back to me if the blacksmith is there.

Convincing being without maiming them, of course.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 01, 2016, 08:20:53 pm
Hm.  This wasn't really his area of expertise.

"A long board, then?  A tree?  Make our own bridge, as it were?  Shame there isn't time to bring it up to code; we can't let the common folk use it until it is properly secured, of course.  Too much liability."

Can we build it?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 02, 2016, 12:41:08 am
Poke the weapons lodged into me a bit to see just how much they are in their own little world. If they do not react, then I work myself free of weapons and sneak back towards the house with captive. Otherwise the tale must pull them deeper into the fantasy realms spanning in their minds.
Hope Lee won't cause mess this time. And hopefully I can break the pattern.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 02, 2016, 06:44:25 am
Sleep off that damage.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 02, 2016, 11:22:53 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 01, 2016, 03:02:55 pm
Well, I've seen this gate open to a Word before. I think that could be arranged again.

"Hey now, I've been up on the castle walls. The army's not there. I saw it myself! Or didn't see it, whatever. I can't believe you guys are sitting around waiting for orders when you could be outside eating something that isn't a rat. Come on, it's been so long. You must HUNGER for freedom."

There is one thing that all residents of this castle feel, a pervasive feeling behind every eye and passing glance. And you have just the word for it.

HUNGER

[Word: 6]

The mood abruptly changes among the guards. They look toward the gate as one, and nearly break into a brawl over who will get to open the gate first, starting to yell at one another to move faster. One starts cranking the gate open, the others begin to lower the drawbridge. The ones whose hands aren't busy decide to make a break for it, pushing past you as they clamber beneath the rising portcullis of the gates and jump down from the lowering drawbridge, rolling downhill as they make a run for the stoatman camp to find something, anything to sate themselves. One red-nosed guardswoman collapses in the grass as she starts eating that, others sprinting past the exploratory party as they give them a bewildered look.

You follow along at a leisurely pace, the last of the gate guards moving past you as the drawbridge falls entirely into place and you can proceed downhill. The siege camp seems to be in a bit of a bad state, and there's water on all sides, but you have to say that being out of that damn castle already makes you feel a lot better by itself.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 01, 2016, 03:07:58 pm
"God dammit. Let me think before I act, what's down there?
...
Ladder and then endless pit, with that one handprint I made still there."

Daniels looks at his mangled left hand.

"This murderthought is perhaps the best thing I've ever gotten, but I kinda wish it hadn't come at the price of my hand. If I had a functional one I could easily go down there and see if he's there.
...
Well, there's always threatening people for an option. Let's try that, enforced scouting. Otherwise going down there would just be a waste."

Go find someone (not one of my kind) and 'convince' them to go down the ladder and report back to me if the blacksmith is there.

Convincing being without maiming them, of course.

[An Assortment of Schmucks: 5]

You notice an angry-looking large guy coming your way. He asks you where the blacksmith is in a tone you do not appreciate. You take a moment to seize him by the throat and lift him off the ground, murder-thought scratching at his spine, itching to tear into his brain. You proceed to speak for a moment about his attitude problem, which makes him change his tune in quite a hurry.

Now then, you say, you're looking for the blacksmith as well. You presume he is down there, you point at the hole in the wall. But you'd really like to send in someone to check first. The guy goes quiet for a moment. You want him to go down there... and check for you? Yes, you say, and it's going to be a pretty good deal overall, since you assume either he'll come back out the same way or through another one after a good deal of exploration, and either way he'll have some good info for you. So there's really only one thing left to do, you say, and unceremoniously toss the guy down the shaft, listening to him tumble down screaming. Fortunately, he doesn't seem to hurt himself to the point of uselessness as he impacts the ground below. You shout for him to have a happy hunt and step away from the shaft.

You suspect this may take a bit, so maybe you should find something else to do in the meantime.

Quote from: Toaster on July 01, 2016, 08:20:53 pm
Hm.  This wasn't really his area of expertise.

"A long board, then?  A tree?  Make our own bridge, as it were?  Shame there isn't time to bring it up to code; we can't let the common folk use it until it is properly secured, of course.  Too much liability."

Can we build it?

[We Have The Technology: 4]

Grappling hook, suggests your guy. When in doubt, grappling hook. Just need rope and a grappling hook for that, and also something to hook it onto. Should be stuff in the camp to make all that possible. He leads the way, and you and the Worm-knight follow.

[Solid Hooks: 5]

You are led in circles, then zigzags, forced to crawl over tents and pause as the guy watches out for invisible ambushes and tests most everything with a 10-foot-pole he manages to recover from the ruins of one particular tent. The Worm-knight is in the middle of berating him for wasting your collective time when he stabs the pole into a collapsed tent and triumphantly fishes out a rather large hook - seemingly an unfinished grappling hook, but one that ought to serve well enough for hooking around a tree. Nearby there's also quite a bit of rope, which after some exhausting testing is proven to not be a snake.

When all is said and done, though, you have a good 20 meters of rope, another 10 meter segment, a couple of 5 meter ones and a grappling hook, not at all a bad haul from your cursory search, and even more impressive given that your search attempts are somewhat interfered with by a whole lot of castle guards running out to partake in the looting, each and every one slavering with overwhelming hunger for things both edible and not, judging from their efforts to dig into most everything lying around the siege camp. Fools, says your guy, don't they know that everything is poisoned?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 02, 2016, 12:41:08 am
Poke the weapons lodged into me a bit to see just how much they are in their own little world. If they do not react, then I work myself free of weapons and sneak back towards the house with captive. Otherwise the tale must pull them deeper into the fantasy realms spanning in their minds.
Hope Lee won't cause mess this time. And hopefully I can break the pattern.

[Captive Audience: 5]

There is an idea of you, Leif Erikson, an abstraction, lodged into their brains. You cultivate this abstraction as you remove the myriad weapons lodged into your body, bringing the minds of your audience in overlap, letting their own deluded thoughts sustain the illusion as you weave out from between them. The circle of listeners remains standing there for the time being, still captivated. You think you're free for the moment.

[Sharp Eyes And Keen Ears: 6]

And if you're not mistaken, that was the beginning of a shriek followed by the unmistakable gurgle of somebody drowning in their own blood coming from within. You cast an eye toward the people outside. Still captivated! Excellent. Maybe you can join the party inside in that case.

Quote from: TopHat on July 02, 2016, 06:44:25 am
Sleep off that damage.

[Beauty Sleep: 5]

The dark and comfort does a soul good, you find as you drift off into a dreamless sleep, feeling magnificently refreshed as you awaken subjectively moments afterward, your quarters warm and welcoming now that you've been in them for a bit and let them adjust to your shape. Even the rat at the foot of the compartment seems to be asleep at the moment, leaving you mostly in silence and calm.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 02, 2016, 02:36:29 pm
Pattern broken nicely. Leif nods approvingly. Perhaps my luck is changing. For a moment anyway.

Speaking about HUNGER, I got these berries I should eat before they spoil. And while I do that I stroll into that winery to find our collaborator. Not loudly or carelessly, but like a man who knows exactly what he's doing and where he belongs. Literally walking in my own footsteps.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 02, 2016, 04:05:17 pm
"Perhaps I should meet whoever's in charge here. I think I heard about a queen or something? Maybe she can tell me where I can meet ... humans of El or whatever the well wanted. Or maybe just ask around about that first. There's probably a librarian or diplomat or something here, right?

I'm nearby the keep right now, right? Go to the entrance and ask if there's anyone that knows where humans of El can be found. More specifically, where El is in relation to here, in case anyone tries being a smartass.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 02, 2016, 08:44:02 pm
"Ahhh... uh, rope.  Maybe one of you can work on getting the length right?  I'm not much for knots.  I'll... fix the hook?  Shouldn't be hard, right?

Right?  Fix the hook itself.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 03, 2016, 05:52:01 am
I look for a mat or something to sleep on. A vacant camp should be camped in.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 03, 2016, 03:20:27 pm
Doze a little longer. Might as well make the most of the peace and quiet while it lasts.

((I'm afraid I'll be off again for a few days. As per this (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=154045.msg6925782;topicseen#msg6925782) tip of the day, I suppose the plan is to get out, try out a revelation regarding certain recent events and then find my companion if necessary.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 04, 2016, 04:20:01 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 02, 2016, 02:36:29 pm
Pattern broken nicely. Leif nods approvingly. Perhaps my luck is changing. For a moment anyway.

Speaking about HUNGER, I got these berries I should eat before they spoil. And while I do that I stroll into that winery to find our collaborator. Not loudly or carelessly, but like a man who knows exactly what he's doing and where he belongs. Literally walking in my own footsteps.

After scarfing down the four tomato-sized berries you currently possess you wait a few seconds to confirm that they are not in fact highly poisonous. When this does not appear to be the case, you follow the path laid out before you. Through the door into one of the backrooms, turn the corner, get out into storage. Barrels everywhere, ample cover. The corpse of a stoat soldier, throat slit and bowels spilled. Lee's here, as one might expect, giving you a knowing nod as she sprints along the edge of the room. You duck behind a barrel, your expectation of a soldier arriving shortly coming to pass.

[Evasion: 1+1 vs. 2]

You hear him signal the intruder with a very controlled holler, trying to raise an alarm and expecting reinforcements as he runs after the obvious intruder retreating along the room. You hear Lee vault over a set of barrels as she tries to confound her pursuer, but you somehow doubt her ability to escape while remaining within a single room, large though the room in question may be. Especially now that she's been effectively seen. A disadvantage you do not seem to share, actually.

She leads the guard on a merry chase through the large main room, weaving between barrels with the intent of distraction rather than any effective attempt to escape, leaving you with some room to maneuver in the coming few seconds.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 02, 2016, 04:05:17 pm
"Perhaps I should meet whoever's in charge here. I think I heard about a queen or something? Maybe she can tell me where I can meet ... humans of El or whatever the well wanted. Or maybe just ask around about that first. There's probably a librarian or diplomat or something here, right?

I'm nearby the keep right now, right? Go to the entrance and ask if there's anyone that knows where humans of El can be found. More specifically, where El is in relation to here, in case anyone tries being a smartass.

[Looking For Fools: 1]

You find a woman wearing a full suit of mail coming over to the keep's door. Before she's opened it up you're right next to her, question at the ready. Where could you find the humans of El, you ask.

She looks you over for a moment, paying attention chiefly to your destroyed hand, complete nakedness and air of solidified death. Hm. You're one of those, aren't you? Like Mr. Minstep? You have that quality about you.

She does not wait for an answer before moving on. Where were you during the attack? And what were you doing? She knocks on the door, and a guard opens up. She beckons the guard to come over here, and motions her to stand next to you for a moment.

Quote from: Toaster on July 02, 2016, 08:44:02 pm
"Ahhh... uh, rope.  Maybe one of you can work on getting the length right?  I'm not much for knots.  I'll... fix the hook?  Shouldn't be hard, right?

Right?  Fix the hook itself.

The hook's perfectly serviceable to, say, hook around a tree or something. Though the shape could use a little work, you suppose.

[Improvised Smithing: 5]

Fortunately, like it is with most props, this one too seems reasonably malleable with the right know-how and a little bit of back put into it. You bend it with your bare hands to more effectively serve the purpose of grappling and hooking, as it were. After a minute's manipulation you hold it up for inspection.

The Worm-knight, having observed your work, stares on for a second with a plainly worried expression that shines through the visor of her helmet. She takes the hook and gives it an experimental bend as well, the thing failing to budge an inch. She tries again, a bit more firmly this time, and it still holds. It's all in the technique, you tell her. She is silent for a few moments, then hesitantly appears to agree.

[A Cavalcade of Knots: 1]

Meanwhile, the other guy has started yelling about the ropes attacking him, and presently appears to be attempting to chew out of a labyrinth of knots he has entrapped himself in with a level of success that appears mildly counterproductive to your plans. It looks quite amusing, of course, but maybe now's not the time for such tomfoolery, you tell the man. He agrees in his own panicked and incoherent way, or at least you think he does. It's a little difficult to decipher his gibbering.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 03, 2016, 05:52:01 am
I look for a mat or something to sleep on. A vacant camp should be camped in.

[Lie Down Sally: 6]

You find a rather fine mess of tents at the front of one of the encampments, blown together and fallen in on themselves to provide a very excellent spot for an evening nap cushioned by what feels a lot like a whole bunch of supplies. You lie down atop the small hill of debris, finding it uniquely soft and... slightly moving?

You consider the shuffling beneath you. Feels like it's happening pretty deep down. Maybe at the very bottom of the pile, even.

Quote from: TopHat on July 03, 2016, 03:20:27 pm
Doze a little longer. Might as well make the most of the peace and quiet while it lasts.

You had not the slightest notion of how much you needed this bit of rest, you think as you stretch as much as the confined space permits. You're feeling almost better than new, and ready for a wonderful night of revelation and exploration. No doubt your companion's going to feel similarly.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 04, 2016, 04:34:27 am
"Attack of what exactly? There's been a bunch. Also answer my question. Humans of El, where can I find them. Or stoatmen, provided you have any that aren't in the army across the wall."

Question for a question, lady.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 04, 2016, 06:35:35 am
"Man, I can't get much rest today."

I dig around in the tents to see who's under there.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 04, 2016, 07:27:22 am
Time to channel nordic ice hockey players and perform most brutal and underhanded tackle I can muster. Seriously, almost every boy in nordic countries has tried ice hockey at least once. Leif is not an expection. And he is a bit of fan.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 04, 2016, 07:57:11 am
Thomas sighed.  Someone has to be the comedic relief, he supposed.  Odd timing for it.

"All right now, let's give a hand."

Untangle the poor guy; maybe the three of us working together can make a useful rope.




Quote
- A labyrinth of chewed-up rope (contains guard)

 :P


Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 05, 2016, 11:25:15 am
Quote from: Xantalos on July 04, 2016, 04:34:27 am
"Attack of what exactly? There's been a bunch. Also answer my question. Humans of El, where can I find them. Or stoatmen, provided you have any that aren't in the army across the wall."

Question for a question, lady.

The stoatman attack, the woman elaborates, another guard coming to join her and taking up a position on the other side of you. A desperate deployment of sinister sorcery, to put it succinctly, the summoning of a demonic force at the expense of their remaining numbers. That you feel the need to ask is somewhat interesting, though admittedly it's not like Mr. Minstep seems to be very perceptive either, so perhaps it's just a unique perspective.

Before she answers your questions, however, she would nevertheless prefer for you to inform her of what you've exactly been doing with your time, as it does not appear you've been idle, she points at your hand. And a naked man has been sighted repeatedly engaging in unusual activity, including, if she recalls correctly, intimidating the servants and even carrying the entire chapel window along the courtyard, she points at the chapel window you thoughtfully propped up near the blacksmith's place, still miraculously intact despite the pandemonium that seems to have overtaken the area (although you don't see the priest, interestingly enough).

That's not to say that she's compelling you to say anything, make no mistake. Interfering with the likes of you, judging from what the others have been up to, is a distinctly poor idea. She'd simply like you to give her an answer before she gives you what you want and you get bored and then wander off.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 04, 2016, 06:35:35 am
"Man, I can't get much rest today."

I dig around in the tents to see who's under there.

[Buried Treasures: 1]

You start to dig into the bits of canvas and supplies, and find that there's quite a mound under you, extending not only upward, but also into the ground. Rolling away barrels of pillaged goods, picking out bits of glass and a little bit of loose armor and weaponry, you get the feeling that this may take a while. As you keep digging, though, you start to hear a whimpering as well. You consider this a moment, and the pile shifts a little as you've been digging, suddenly cutting off the sound. Huh.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 04, 2016, 07:27:22 am
Time to channel nordic ice hockey players and perform most brutal and underhanded tackle I can muster. Seriously, almost every boy in nordic countries has tried ice hockey at least once. Leif is not an expection. And he is a bit of fan.

[Star of the Ice Rink: 6+1 vs. 2]

You wait a moment for Lee to pass by, assuming a low starting position to launch yourself from, and as you hear mailed footsteps approaching and the shadow of a soldier in scavenged armor looming you fly forward, impacting the soldier full-force and sending him flying along with you into the wall, his head smacking heavily into the bricks to the point where you can almost hear the ringing, your shoulder colliding solidly with the underside of his diaphragm. As you throw him to the ground face-first in his helpless state, the falchion in his left hand falls out of his hand and skips a little along the floor.

[An Effective Followup: 1+1 vs. 4]

Lee pounces upon the guard with immediate quickness, noticing his disoriented state, and sets about straddling the prone stoatman and plunging a knife into his neck only to be met with an unexpected burst of resistance as the guard flails and rolls, throwing her off-balance successfully before she can end his life, slipping out of her grasp as she falls backward in an awkward-looking fashion. She seems slightly embarrassed by this, but entirely unhurt.

[Powering Through: 3]

Alternating between coughing and weakly screaming for help, the soldier searches for his falchion in vain for a moment before his head properly clears, noticing both it and the two of you in the same look as he rolls on his back, looking suddenly terrified as he also can't help but notice a complete lack of reinforcements.

Quote from: Toaster on July 04, 2016, 07:57:11 am
Thomas sighed.  Someone has to be the comedic relief, he supposed.  Odd timing for it.

"All right now, let's give a hand."

Untangle the poor guy; maybe the three of us working together can make a useful rope.

[Six Hands and Three Heads: 3]

You're frankly unsure how this even happened, but you eventually manage to free the guard from his rope-based prison, leaving a great big tangled knot in his wake, a work of sublime chaos to the point where you're not sure if it's even properly Gordian as you don't know if a sword would cut through it at all.

Nevertheless you begin unraveling. The Worm-knight sighs, expressing the sentiment that this may take a while. The guard, meanwhile, refuses to help, warning you about the dangers of tampering with so much rope in one go. It's more rope than man was meant to handle, he says.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 05, 2016, 11:56:59 am
Let's continue in spirit of ice hockey fouls: High-sticking! Stabbing! Cross-checking! Unsportsmanlike conduct! Wait, scratch the last one. That goes beyond spirit of the game.
After that's done, I suppose I could let him surrender. Or let Lee stab him, if it turns out he doesn't want to live.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 05, 2016, 05:20:06 pm
I call the ravenous guards over to help me clear the pile.

"Hey, this pile of junk looks especially... filling? I bet a person could just walk off with a hefty serving of this loot." If anyone is looking I gnaw on some canvas to appear more credible.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 05, 2016, 05:26:52 pm
"Oh. I missed that, I was in the shrine thingy next to the chapel ... praying. You could call it praying.

And as for what I've been doing, I've mostly been running errands for the blacksmith - I'm doing one right now, actually. Haven't really had time to bother with getting clothes, y'see. Do you know where the blacksmith is, by chance? I'm unfortunately suspective that he's wandered into a secret tunnel in the castle over thereabouts, but the fellow helping me look for him hasn't come out yet, which leaves me idle until then."

I suppose I could just take a connection from somebody and ask the well where he is, but I'll go through regular channels first.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 05, 2016, 05:28:43 pm
Thomas sighed.  "I don't think a bit of rope is going to hurt you."

Go on, then.  Finish up the untangling and the affixing and the whatnot.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 06, 2016, 12:14:53 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 05, 2016, 11:56:59 am
Let's continue in spirit of ice hockey fouls: High-sticking! Stabbing! Cross-checking! Unsportsmanlike conduct! Wait, scratch the last one. That goes beyond spirit of the game.
After that's done, I suppose I could let him surrender. Or let Lee stab him, if it turns out he doesn't want to live.

[The Gordie Howe Hat Trick: 5 vs. 3-1]

Well, first there's the high-sticking, and then you do a combination of stabbing and cross-checking. Since the referee doesn't really say anything, you do it a couple more times, effectively disabling your opponent after about twenty seconds' worth of some of the best hockey you've ever played. The stoatman, now quite beaten and given up all hope of victory, seems to have conceded this day to your superior sportsmanship.

You look over at Lee, the ultimate question implied but not said aloud. To stab or not to stab? Lee appears to have no strong feelings on the matter, going for the falchion lying on the ground, grabbing it and giving it a thoughtful practice swing. Seemingly satisfied, she asks whether you want it, already heading up the stairs.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 05, 2016, 05:20:06 pm
I call the ravenous guards over to help me clear the pile.

"Hey, this pile of junk looks especially... filling? I bet a person could just walk off with a hefty serving of this loot." If anyone is looking I gnaw on some canvas to appear more credible.

[An Appetizing Pile: 1]

You find a nearby trio of guards currently biting the heads off of plucked crows they've fished out of a barrel of pickling solution, and point them to your fine pile o' loot. They seem skeptical, mostly due to the fact that there's nothing apparently edible in there, but your gnawing on the canvas gets them interested enough that they approach to get a closer look at least. One of them pokes the pile slightly, pulling out and disapprovingly examining a spear before stabbing it back into the pile. There is a sudden shifting of the pile, and you hear the barest of whimpers escape it, and it seems the guards do as well.

It takes a moment before one of the guards walks up and pulls the spear out decisively, causing another slight shift, and examines the tip. Aha, she says, noticing the distinct shape of red it appears to have turned. There is something good in that pile, she tells the other two. The smell of blood appears to excite them a little, and the other two fetch spears as well. Should be easy enough to fish it out in chunks, one of them, a short and slightly chubby woman proposes, and starts to stab the spear down into the pile, searching for where her quarry might be. The others quickly join her.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 05, 2016, 05:26:52 pm
"Oh. I missed that, I was in the shrine thingy next to the chapel ... praying. You could call it praying.

And as for what I've been doing, I've mostly been running errands for the blacksmith - I'm doing one right now, actually. Haven't really had time to bother with getting clothes, y'see. Do you know where the blacksmith is, by chance? I'm unfortunately suspective that he's wandered into a secret tunnel in the castle over thereabouts, but the fellow helping me look for him hasn't come out yet, which leaves me idle until then."

I suppose I could just take a connection from somebody and ask the well where he is, but I'll go through regular channels first.

Evasive, but mildly informative. She supposes that'll do for now.

[The Guards Have Ears: 6]

Anyway, she doesn't know where the blacksmith is exactly. She was frankly surprised to see him climbing naked over his own roof, even if it was for the typical reason, since he had mostly confined himself in his quarters thus far. However, he was sighted walking across the courtyard with a skull in hand in the direction of the chapel, though the guard who saw it seems to have perplexingly thought nothing of it at the time, so more information is not forthcoming.

As for your other questions, you were looking for "humans of El"? Strangely specific. The "Wondrous Land of El", the commander offers with sarcastic air quotes, that's somewhat far away. About two hundred miles south and west, actually, though if it's just a man from El you're looking for, you may run into a merchant or, god forbid, one of their "traveling alchemists". Though admittedly these days the difference between them is becoming increasingly thin, or at least it was when the country wasn't completely ruined. Her intel of the outside world is a little lacking.

Speaking of, she can't help but notice you've got a certain air of menace about you. It's scratching at her temple as she speaks, she notices in a way that makes you draw it back with mild embarrassment, having let your murder wander a little while you were listening. And you were also looking for stoatmen, weren't you? Depending on when Mr. Minstep or anyone trailing him gets back and what they have to say, you may have an opportunity to meet some in an advantageous circumstance if you're interested.

Quote from: Toaster on July 05, 2016, 05:28:43 pm
Thomas sighed.  "I don't think a bit of rope is going to hurt you."

Go on, then.  Finish up the untangling and the affixing and the whatnot.

That sort of thinking is exactly what let the rope get the drop on him like that, he says. Never again.

[Master of Knots: 6]

Well, not all of the knots are within your ability to untie, you're sad to say. However, with the assistance of the Worm-knight you eventually manage to get six segments of 5 meters, one of 11 meters and another of a single meter, an unusual trick of physics if you've ever seen one. Retying these into a serviceable rope is fortunately much easier, even if it gets a little knobby and stiff in the process. You test it out, and find it to be suitable for attaching a grappling hook to, which is quite fortunate as you'd really be quite put out if you just wasted all this time for nothing.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 06, 2016, 12:26:16 pm
"I certainly have no objection to meeting stoatmen in an advantageous position. What opportunity would this be?"

Thanks for actually being helpful, guard. Now, what was this you said about free souls stoatys?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 06, 2016, 01:11:29 pm
"If you don't need it, then I wouldn't mind having it. Better keep it with us than let this guy keep it."

Do we have any rope here? Gotta tie the man down so he won't go bother his friend outside. Or if I fail to find any, make the stoat promise he won't go anywhere. Pinky promise. Enforced with lies about making him experience the pain of being nailed on ceiling with thousand nails. I'm a minder you know, I can do it.
Then, time to find our man. Or next member of opposing party.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 06, 2016, 01:49:23 pm
Crap. Uh, I need to scare them off.

"What in the world can that be?!" I point into the distance, then run in the opposite direction and shout "SEA," hoping to give the guards a bit of a splash.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 06, 2016, 08:12:58 pm
"Right.  Uh.  Over we go?"

Toss it across into a sturdy-looking target.  Let's get this crossing going!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 07, 2016, 04:03:10 am
Quote from: Xantalos on July 06, 2016, 12:26:16 pm
"I certainly have no objection to meeting stoatmen in an advantageous position. What opportunity would this be?"

Thanks for actually being helpful, guard. Now, what was this you said about free souls stoatys?

She hasn't exactly cleared this with the queen yet, but the fact is that she now finds herself with a battle-ready force of 60 or so guardsmen and no doubt a couple dozen volunteers once the mission becomes clear without a particularly intimidating opposing force to stand in their way. And also something of a dearth of supplies, as it often happens in a prolonged siege. Fortunately, she reasons, there's a perfectly good occupied town just a slight distance downriver that likely did produce enough spare supplies to feed a force ten times this size. So unless Mr. Minstep's chaperones return with news of a massive force located in the town, she's thinking a raid may be in order. Lots of loot, no doubt some property damage, probably some relatively light violence, prisoners of war, that kind of thing. Interested?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 06, 2016, 01:11:29 pm
"If you don't need it, then I wouldn't mind having it. Better keep it with us than let this guy keep it."

Do we have any rope here? Gotta tie the man down so he won't go bother his friend outside. Or if I fail to find any, make the stoat promise he won't go anywhere. Pinky promise. Enforced with lies about making him experience the pain of being nailed on ceiling with thousand nails. I'm a minder you know, I can do it.
Then, time to find our man. Or next member of opposing party.

Lee shrugs and tosses you the falchion, then proceeds up the stairs cautiously, making very little sound as she skulks along the steps.

[Handy Restraints: 2]

Unfortunately ropes are not as ubiquitous a thing as you would like around here. Well, at least you can't see any within reach. You guess you'll need to utilize more creative methods. You turn to the beaten guard and crouch down so that you are heard and understood.

[Mystical Intimidation: 1]

You inform him that you are a minder, and command frankly unheard-of powers of suggestion and destruction. Such as the power of alcoholic grapefruit, or self-propelled stories, or climbing trees when nobody is looking, oh yes! These are but a small sampling of your dread powers, rest assured!

The guard continues to be semi-conscious in response. You guess that's good enough, right? You sort of manipulate his stubby little pinky finger and flap his mouth a bit to make him do something not unlike a promise to not run off on you now. It'll do!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 06, 2016, 01:49:23 pm
Crap. Uh, I need to scare them off.

"What in the world can that be?!" I point into the distance, then run in the opposite direction and shout "SEA," hoping to give the guards a bit of a splash.

What indeed.

SEA

[Word: 6]

It's not quite the sea, of course, but you'd be forgiven for thinking otherwise, an enormous wave rising up from the river and coming your way at an unnerving pace. The guards don't really look at first, but the roar of rushing water catches their attention soon enough.

[Extraordinary Dodge: 1]

You decide to run in the opposite direction, and soon discover that outrunning a tidal wave is a lot harder than you'd think as a mass of water hits you in the back and carries you increasingly quickly along the grounds, breaking over the moat and propelling you into the wall of the castle at a very high velocity.

A minute passes as you float up to the surface of the moat, battered and bruised, and take a gander at what your use of magic has wrought.

[A Less Than Extraordinary Dodge: 4]

The guards, unlike yourself, appear to have gone for the winning strategy of finding nearby holes to dive into, their ditch-finding instincts superior to your own. As such they seem largely unharmed, if seemingly very wet and quite startled to the point where they don't appear to be feeling quite as unseemly a level of hunger.

[Unearthed Treasures: 3]

What also seems to have happened is that your wave has loosened the pile of debris quite well, and it seems considerably less tall than you remember. You wonder if it's perhaps also waterlogged now, which wouldn't bode well for anything buried at the bottom.

Quote from: Toaster on July 06, 2016, 08:12:58 pm
"Right.  Uh.  Over we go?"

Toss it across into a sturdy-looking target.  Let's get this crossing going!

[Over the River and Far Away: 3]

You swing the hook in a circular motion, building up a bit of momentum as you step up to the river, and then-

[Excellent Positioning: 2]

SEA

-see? You can see just fine, thank you. Wait, what's the river doing, you ask as you see its watery mass suddenly rise toward you. Aha, shouts the guard with you, he knew it was working with the stoats!

[Extraordinary Dodge: 1]

You are about to reply, but you are caught up in the somewhat inconvenient several hundred tons of water that smack right into you and take you off your feet, your grappling hook sailing through as you instinctively throw it at the wave. This does not help you in the least.

The next minute or so of your life is spent trying and failing to somehow get out of this strange variety of inclement weather as you are dashed against every knoll and bit of debris on the way, eventually finding yourself deposited in the depths of the castle's moat, emerging half-drowned about a hundred meters away from your original position and about ten meters away from a similarly distressed Ms. Minett, who looks concernedly toward a group of guards recovering from a fortuitous dodge back at the edge of the camp.

[Less Than Extraordinary Dodge: 5]

You spend about a minute getting your bearings and coughing out the water from your lungs, and by this point the Worm-knight, drenched but not at all harmed otherwise, has arrived, checking to see if you're all right. The other guard elected to keep watch on the river in case it tried anything else, she informs you, and also to secure that surprisingly competent grapple you managed in spite of being caught in a most unnatural tidal wave.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 07, 2016, 05:23:45 am
"Good."

Follow Lee. Find our man.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 07, 2016, 05:50:48 am
Well... that was about what I expected.

"Hey!" I shout, making my way toward the pile. "Are you still in there? Climb upward!"

I clear some more debris off the top.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 07, 2016, 11:54:06 am
"Hmm. I'll have to check on my blacksmith-finding progress before I go, since given how things have gone every time I exited the vicinity for more than two minutes I wouldn't be surprised if if I came back to a pile of rubble. One moment, I'll meet you back here."

Go ask that guy I threw into the tunnel if he found the blacksmith yet.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 07, 2016, 11:57:46 am
Execute the plan (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=154045.msg7076293#msg7076293), I guess
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 08, 2016, 12:52:21 am
"Flood insurance." Thomas coughed.  "This is why you need flood insurance.  You never know when the waters will rise. See, it hasn't even been raining, and yet there was a flood burst.  All it has to do is rain upstream and your home is washed away.  Or perhaps an ice dam burst.  Anyway. Uh, yes.  We can discuss flood insurance terms on the way.

Use the grappled rope to cross.  Maybe let one of them go first and copy their technique.  Save the sales pitch for the walk.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 08, 2016, 07:31:26 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 07, 2016, 05:23:45 am
"Good."

Follow Lee. Find our man.

You head upstairs, falchion in hand, and find yourself in something that reminds you of an office, though slightly reorganized. There's a painting on one of the walls, for one, featuring an unusual-looking old man. It seems to have been considerably vandalized, the eyes cut out, unflattering smears of charcoal painting suggestive shapes and highly profane words on the canvas.

The rest of the room is hardly better, with a desk nearby strewn with recently used sharp tools of unorthodox shapes, all stained with a great deal of dried blood, and also with a similarly bloodstained selection of feathers of various sizes and origins, and even with some other things you're not at all sure as to the purpose of. Then there's a somewhat modified wine press that appears to be serving as a vice, and a couple of hammers lying on the ground next to it. And there's a small coffee table on one side of the room, seemingly brought in from elsewhere, stacked with a variety of snacks and refreshments, all of them without a doubt less than a couple hours old.

Finally in the middle of the room there is a chair that likely used to be quite comfy before somebody covered it in broken glass. Tied to this chair is a dark-skinned, middle-aged man, his eyes a little delirious as he stops staring at Lee, who has evidently been studying him in turn, to look over at you. You notice that both his feet and one of his hands look... well, less than whole. Crushed, partly diced, salted and then ineptly dressed, it seems that his captors have wanted to drag this out for as long as possible, which they've likely succeeded in.

[Plots Within Plots: 3]

Aha, says he! He knew you'd arrive sooner or later, oh yes.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 07, 2016, 05:50:48 am
Well... that was about what I expected.

"Hey!" I shout, making my way toward the pile. "Are you still in there? Climb upward!"

I clear some more debris off the top.

[Brave Rescue: 3]

Well, whoever's down there seems to still be alive, you suspect as the pile shuffles in response to your activity. You start pulling off the remaining bits of debris.

[Inspirational Assistance: 4]

The three guards scratch their heads for a short while before getting over to help out as well, and soon the massive pile of assorted watery goods is completely gone, one last bit of canvas hiding the shape beneath. You do the honors of pulling it off.

At the bottom of the pile, stabbed and partially crushed, is a stoatman soldier, his eyes closed and body curled up in a manner you suspect very few regular humans to even be physically capable of. His relief at the fresh air entering his lungs soon gives way to horror as he slowly looks around and notices three rather obvious guards and what to untrained eyes would look like some kind of human wizard standing over him.

Oh crap, he says. Oh crap. They, uh, didn't win, did they? No, one of the guards replies, grinning at the poor thing, no they did not.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 07, 2016, 11:54:06 am
"Hmm. I'll have to check on my blacksmith-finding progress before I go, since given how things have gone every time I exited the vicinity for more than two minutes I wouldn't be surprised if if I came back to a pile of rubble. One moment, I'll meet you back here."

Go ask that guy I threw into the tunnel if he found the blacksmith yet.

You do that, says the commander of the royal guard, and she'll go check on her wonderful liege in the meantime. So you go your separate ways for now, with your trip ending at the dark hole in the wall, which you proceed to shout down. Anybody down there, you ask.

[Voice In The Darkness: 3]

You think you hear that guy shout something back, or maybe scream. Kind of difficult to tell from this height and distance.

Quote from: TopHat on July 07, 2016, 11:57:46 am
Execute the plan (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=154045.msg7076293#msg7076293), I guess

You consider what you have been doing for this past half hour or so. Wasn't the most eventful time, you don't think.

[Sealed In: 2]

There was, of course, the problem of the alcove not opening quite as easily from the inside as your companion made it seem. You did spend quite a bit of time kicking, knocking and even thrashing as you tried to get out. Fortunately, you did not have to resort to anything more drastic than that before she was back to let you out. Did take up a bit of time, though, but at least she apologized for the oversight quite profusely. It's not supposed to jam like that, she said. You let it go after a few more moments of lingering distress, and then turned your attention to something more important, namely

REVELATION

[Word: 1]

... which carried unusual problems of its own. Namely, you're pretty sure that the fabric of reality beneath this castle has been destabilized from all this continuous fuckery with the laws of physics. This, you're fairly sure, does not bode at all well for anybody who might want to stay here. Or, for that matter, anybody within ten to twenty miles from here.

Quote from: Toaster on July 08, 2016, 12:52:21 am
"Flood insurance." Thomas coughed.  "This is why you need flood insurance.  You never know when the waters will rise. See, it hasn't even been raining, and yet there was a flood burst.  All it has to do is rain upstream and your home is washed away.  Or perhaps an ice dam burst.  Anyway. Uh, yes.  We can discuss flood insurance terms on the way.

Use the grappled rope to cross.  Maybe let one of them go first and copy their technique.  Save the sales pitch for the walk.

You head on back to the shore, where your grappled rope hangs over the restless river, the Worm-knight not really listening to your spiel after it becomes clear what you're even talking about. You decide to let the people wearing armor go first. Can't see anything going wrong with that.

[Securely Grappled: 6]

The Worm-knight, noticing the guard look her way in an anticipatory manner, shrugs and gets down to climbing across, making her way with relatively little effort. You decide to do what she does, and also manage to get along quite adequately. That just leaves your paranoid companion, who, you realize, was kind of holding the other end steady by hanging on to the rope. So what's left for him, really, is to improvise.

[Swinging Across: 1]

Which he does by attempting to walk across, at which point the river starts to wash him away immediately. The rope goes taut as he submerges and goes downriver, hanging on to the rope for dear life as the raging stream threatens to carry him into its endless depths.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 08, 2016, 10:12:57 am
"You speak true" says Leif! "The most unlikely things seem to be most inevitable to happen, if you catch my meaning."

I believe Cormick's Condescending Riddle may be fitting here.

"That looks painful. I think I may be able to heal you, but chances are it may kill you with infection or necrosis as well, so I'm not risking it just yet. Well then, Lee my friend, this is our man, our collaborator, the man who can help you with your task. You can take the lead from here on."

Snatch some of those torturing tools, share snacks and refreshments with the party, enjoy some myself too. Lean back and watch Lee working.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 08, 2016, 02:48:06 pm
"Say again, you're getting a little unclear! Yes or no?"

Listen for his response. If nothing I can make out, go find someone unimportant and absorb them like the well taught me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 08, 2016, 04:05:03 pm
"Ah. Problem. So, erm, do you happen to know what exactly lies underneath this place? Or anyone who might know? Because that knowledge looks like it might be extremely valuable right now."
That is most definitely not a good sign.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 08, 2016, 04:39:53 pm
"Oh dear.  I guess we should reel him in."

Reel him in.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 08, 2016, 10:00:47 pm
"I can handle this one," I tell the guards. Then I point far away in the camp. "I think I heard some groaning over there after the wave hit. You guys should check that out."

If the guards leave, I turn to the stoat and tell him we need to get across the river. If they stay then I continue playing along.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 10, 2016, 08:43:29 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 08, 2016, 10:12:57 am
"You speak true" says Leif! "The most unlikely things seem to be most inevitable to happen, if you catch my meaning."

I believe Cormick's Condescending Riddle may be fitting here.

"That looks painful. I think I may be able to heal you, but chances are it may kill you with infection or necrosis as well, so I'm not risking it just yet. Well then, Lee my friend, this is our man, our collaborator, the man who can help you with your task. You can take the lead from here on."

Snatch some of those torturing tools, share snacks and refreshments with the party, enjoy some myself too. Lean back and watch Lee working.

[Realizations of Minding: 4]

Ah, he says as a trivially obvious rebus makes itself known to him, minders! He was unaware there were operatives in the area! His apologies!

Lee, meanwhile, replies that yes, she knows this is the guy. The question is what to do with him. She considers this as you grab some implements of ghastly torture, then proceed to use the same hands to parcel out refreshments to both her and the prisoner. She politely refuses, but the broken man does appear quite happy to have at least some form of nourishment. Wildly incompetent interrogators though these may have been, the sight of food and drink to one as undernourished as he never fails to tempt.

Anyway, both you and the broken man spend a few moments snacking with abandon before Lee mentions that it's likely best to get out of here as soon as possible. You take the guy and figure out a way to carry him. She'll look if anyone's come along in the meantime.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 08, 2016, 02:48:06 pm
"Say again, you're getting a little unclear! Yes or no?"

Listen for his response. If nothing I can make out, go find someone unimportant and absorb them like the well taught me.

[ENUNCIATED ENGLISH: 3]

Well, the response is monosyllabic, you think, and more than a little desperate-sounding. Whether that's a "yes", a "no", an "urk" or "aargh", or even, say, a less-than-useful "help", you can't quite tell.

Quote from: TopHat on July 08, 2016, 04:05:03 pm
"Ah. Problem. So, erm, do you happen to know what exactly lies underneath this place? Or anyone who might know? Because that knowledge looks like it might be extremely valuable right now."
That is most definitely not a good sign.

[Lore of the Ancient King: 6]

She's heard a lot of things. Tunnels. Monsters. Ghosts. Shadows. Wayward minders. Ancient ruins. The secrets of life and death. The luminiferous aether. Really, there could be anything down there. Nobody who's explored particularly far has come back for the most part. Oh! Right. There is one thing she knows is down there for sure - a crapload of traps. She knew a guy who lost an arm to a swinging blade there. Went down again one day and never came back. Wasn't very smart, you see.

Quote from: Toaster on July 08, 2016, 04:39:53 pm
"Oh dear.  I guess we should reel him in."

Reel him in.

[Catch of the Day: 6]

The Worm-knight rushes over to assist as you reel in the grappling hook meter by laborious meter until you get to the very end, whereupon the waters of the river yield you a bountiful ball of nibbling fish, wildly squirming worms, quite a few lampreys, a crabby lobster or two and a whole lot of sediment. As it starts to shake off the generous sampling of benthos, you are worried for a moment, but the fist of your guard companion punches its way out of the thing, followed by the rest of him tearing its way out of the mass shortly thereafter. He stands up, a little asphyxiated and unsteady on his feet, his aquatic adventure equal parts strangely educational and utterly terrifying.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 08, 2016, 10:00:47 pm
"I can handle this one," I tell the guards. Then I point far away in the camp. "I think I heard some groaning over there after the wave hit. You guys should check that out."

If the guards leave, I turn to the stoat and tell him we need to get across the river. If they stay then I continue playing along.

[Prisoner Priorities: 5]

Oh, sure, one of the guard says. You handle this one. And then they'll take it back to the castle for the requisite questioning. Well, she'll take it back for requisite questioning, she says, she guesses the other guys can go and look for more potential survivors. Which they do after the guard spends a moment assuring them she'll make sure they're credited.

The stoatman, meanwhile, has started to attempt escape already, hoping you won't notice his unassuming shape slinking away. A stern glare from you and the guard makes him freeze up again.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 10, 2016, 08:48:47 am
Thomas shook his head as he pulled one last clinging fish from the guard.  "If you're done playing around, can we get on?"

Get on with it
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 10, 2016, 08:59:32 am
"Oh come on now. You really want to go through all this trouble for a stoat? Haul him back into the castle and he'll probably escape and eat your face in the night. Happened to my sister, you know. I've been itching for a little payback ever since. Give me five minutes alone with this one and you'll never have to worry about it again."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 10, 2016, 12:13:38 pm
"Guessing that's a no or something then! Best of luck, I put a handhold in the cavern ceiling if you need it!"

Guess I'm back to extradimensional cheating. Ah well.

Let's do the finding of the unimportant people for the purposes of well information. Go to the servant's quarters again and say that one girl I took away earlier wanted help with something from whoever I pick, maybe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 10, 2016, 12:28:15 pm
"Perfect. Just perfect. In that case, do you think you could get your hands on a ten-foot pole or something similar? Oh, and a light source, possibly climbing equipment, or anything else which could be useful. I need to find someone quickly - meet you back here in a few minutes - thanks!"
Go hunting for Ms. Minett; I need to have a chat about Words.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 10, 2016, 02:27:04 pm
"I'm pretty new for this minding business, like... wait, umm, it hasn't even been one day since I learned this? Whatever. I want to treat your wounds, but as Lee said, it may be wiser to move somewhere else for now."

Untie the poor man and carefully give him a piggyback ride wherever Lee sees fit to lead us.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 11, 2016, 02:39:11 pm
Quote from: Toaster on July 10, 2016, 08:48:47 am
Thomas shook his head as he pulled one last clinging fish from the guard.  "If you're done playing around, can we get on?"

Get on with it

[Get On With It: 6]

Indeed, says the Worm-knight with some derision, and the guard coughs out a lungful of water in similar approval. So you should be going along in... wait, you say. You think you hear something. It's hard to say what you hear, or even whether you really hear it as such. It's like a slight twinkling you find, settling in your jaw as it sets your teeth on edge.

[Immediate Orientation: 4]

It's not in the town's direction, you notice. Instead, over there, you think... where the trees get thin, and the ground has turned black... there's something there, you notice as you start walking in line behind the Worm-knight, who looks back at you, seemingly not having noticed anything at all.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 10, 2016, 08:59:32 am
"Oh come on now. You really want to go through all this trouble for a stoat? Haul him back into the castle and he'll probably escape and eat your face in the night. Happened to my sister, you know. I've been itching for a little payback ever since. Give me five minutes alone with this one and you'll never have to worry about it again."

[Raising Good Points: 6]

On one hand, you do have a point in that the last time they had a prisoner like this it did escape and try to kill the queen! And that's not at all acceptable by any definition of security. The guard considers this. But on the other hand it didn't actually hurt anyone terribly severely when it did, and the castle did get an incredibly grisly public sacrifice of the stoat responsible to whatever god of endless terror the captain worships.

She turns to the stoat, thoughtfully scratching her chin. How would it like to be part of an incredibly grisly public sacrifice to a god of endless terror? The stoat shrinks back very noticeably. That's a no, the guard assumes. Bit of a shame, she says, that last one was pretty impressive. Surely it heard the thing howl and beg for mercy out in the field, yes? In human words, no less! You notice the stoatman's expression change. In quite an unexpected way, no less. Impotent anger only barely repressed by fear. The look of a man who knows he's about to die, more than likely.

Tell you what, the guard says, you can have this one. But she gets to look as well. Least she can ask for, if not for herself, then at least for all the people who-

You, the guard and even the stoatman hear somebody screaming at you from a distance. It's Mr. Wilde, approaching fast. Seems he has some Words for you.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 10, 2016, 12:13:38 pm
"Guessing that's a no or something then! Best of luck, I put a handhold in the cavern ceiling if you need it!"

Guess I'm back to extradimensional cheating. Ah well.

Let's do the finding of the unimportant people for the purposes of well information. Go to the servant's quarters again and say that one girl I took away earlier wanted help with something from whoever I pick, maybe.

[Warm Welcome: 4]

The good news, you find in the servants' quarters, is that they don't quite put two and two together when you pipe up about wanting to abduct more people for your sinister purposes.

The bad news of course is that there's still no way in hell anybody would willingly go with a naked guy they saw straight-up eat a stoatman whole in the courtyard and heft a whole person like a feather. Who also appears to have undergone a round of self-mutilation, has been seen in the company of the second-scariest people in the castle (only by virtue of having personally outpaced them in obvious menace, mind you), and possesses both a very literal death stare accompanied by a strange darkness behind the eyes that alternates between horrifyingly devoid of human sentiment and disturbingly inviting.

Point is, you score really quite uniquely high on basically any metric for stranger avoidance, and oddly enough nobody who's stupid enough to engage you in conversation seems to have any idea what you mean when you mention that lady whose name you never bothered to learn. Even when you mention her calling you an idjit, which you think would be specific enough.

Quote from: TopHat on July 10, 2016, 12:28:15 pm
"Perfect. Just perfect. In that case, do you think you could get your hands on a ten-foot pole or something similar? Oh, and a light source, possibly climbing equipment, or anything else which could be useful. I need to find someone quickly - meet you back here in a few minutes - thanks!"
Go hunting for Ms. Minett; I need to have a chat about Words.

Thinking of searching around down there? She'd really advise against it, if only because she'd rather not go down there with you. There's basically nothing good in there at all if half of what she's heard has some basis in fact. But she can get you some stuff. Especially if you can wait until the guards inevitably decide to loot the siege camp and countryside for needed supplies. Before that might be a little tricky. But since you are some kind of summoned champion of the powers that be, she guesses she'd better try anyway, right?

Having agreed on this, you split for now, your attention turned to finding one Ms. Minett.

[Look Alive: 6]

You shout for her quite loudly for a bit, but there's no response, so you climb on a roof and shout for her from there - somebody tells you to get down from there before you hurt yourself, so you then climb on top of the castle wall and shout- oh wait, there she is on the field. Excellent! You go and find her, making sure to shout for her not to go anywhere, as you and her need to have some Words! You make sure to stress this at a polite 90 decibels and a tone sufficiently lacking in friendliness to not attain an ironic menace.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 10, 2016, 02:27:04 pm
"I'm pretty new for this minding business, like... wait, umm, it hasn't even been one day since I learned this? Whatever. I want to treat your wounds, but as Lee said, it may be wiser to move somewhere else for now."

Untie the poor man and carefully give him a piggyback ride wherever Lee sees fit to lead us.

While he doesn't really have any working feet, and his one remaining working hand is a little flimsy as well, his starved arms and legs do lock around your body with a drowning man's desperation as you lift him out of the chair and put him on your back. He seems to be hanging in there just fine as you experimentally walk around the room. Lee, judging this to be sufficient, takes a look downstairs. Coast is still clear, so the three of you go downstairs.

The broken man seems extremely intrigued by the disemboweled stoatman on the ground, pointing at him with his working hand while emitting a slightly inarticulate sound of joy. Oh, he says! Joyous day! Tell him that he suffered before he died! Relay to him an ode to how he drowned in his own blood! Lee shoots him a sharp look while heading for the front door, but the man seems to not notice, next pointing to the other stoatman. Aha! A live one! Could you take him closer, please? And give him something sharp!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 11, 2016, 05:48:43 pm
"I think it's over there, yes.  Whatever it is, and clearly something like that is meant to be investigated.  Come along, now."

Check it out, please.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 11, 2016, 06:50:38 pm
To the guard I mutter, "A close friend of mine. He'll want in on this."

Then I shout "Hey Wilde! I've got a situation I could really use your help with!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 12, 2016, 05:12:39 am
"Hmm. That's ... wait, if those work like that ... the priest couldn't recognize my existence right after that ... so that's what they do. And if those do that, then those would ... no wonder you don't remember her.

Not important! One of you come with me, please, doesn't particularly matter which one."

Take one servant away and absorb their source! Or them, since technically they are the source if I'm understanding this right. Find a place relatively isolated where I won't be interrupted. Any random corner will hopefully do.

If I have to break some of their limbs in order to fulfil the requirement that they're helpless before I take their source, well, empathy's turning out to have been a rather large dump stat of mine.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 12, 2016, 06:00:07 am
Is this living stoat one of the guys on mental trip or someone with relatively full control of his mind?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 12, 2016, 07:22:26 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 12, 2016, 06:00:07 am
Is this living stoat one of the guys on mental trip or someone with relatively full control of his mind?

He's actually the fellow you tackled and incapacitated. You even have his falchion.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 12, 2016, 11:49:59 am
Huh. Weird. I don't remember disemboweling taking place recently. Beating, backstabbing and more beating, sure. Well, in that case:

"No can do buddy. I can kick him for you, but you have get your revenge later. I hear it is better served cold."

Make sure to kick the live stoat man on face while making our way to outside and somewhere safer in long term. Wherever Lee leads us. Maybe slightly towards castle Anglefork. Speaking of which, that's rather weird name. Angles don't fork. What's the history behind the name?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 12, 2016, 07:31:49 pm
If Wilde doesn't come over and greet me, I ask the guard to run and bring him over. "He's got to be part of this. Great at invoking terror and gristle and all that. I'll get our stoat friend ready."

Then, if she leaves, I lean down to the stoat. "Hey, I don't want to kill you. We have to get out of here now, though."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 13, 2016, 03:09:34 am
"Coming!"
Run down there. Through the gate, mind. Don't get carried away.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 13, 2016, 06:28:16 am
"Oh good, he's excited. We'll get more terror that way," I say to the guard. "Let's start getting ready. Could I borrow your weapon? I try to keep a sacrificial implement handy, but they're so hard to find during a prolonged siege."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 13, 2016, 04:18:52 pm
Quote from: Toaster on July 11, 2016, 05:48:43 pm
"I think it's over there, yes.  Whatever it is, and clearly something like that is meant to be investigated.  Come along, now."

Check it out, please.

You head in the direction of the not-sound, in between the trees where the woods get thinner and the underbrush, up until that point steadfast in impeding your progress, becomes scorched, then ash, and after some fifteen minutes of walking gives way to a strange scene - a shoreline of hardened black glass, having flowed into organic-looking shapes in place of the more natural, if flame-ravaged highs and lows you needed to traverse to get here. It appears to have flowed partly into the river and cooled, building up the beginnings of a small hillock running along the shore.

You're not one to make such statements usually, you must admit, but you can't help but feel something... otherworldly about all this, sort of like one of those caves full of gleaming stalactites. The Worm-knight looks mildly awed and unusually suspicious as she stands behind you. The guard, meanwhile, is currently displaying a strange look of revelation as he starts to mutter.

[Grasping the Otherworld: 6]

The twinkling has gotten only more intense, and a strange tension grips you as you instinctively look for its source. It starts to come to you in a blink, an instant of twisting red in the corner of your eye. You blink again, and something scurries once more, little bugbears of light and retinal damage skipping away as you try to look upon them, their tails leaving blazing trails. How odd. There are more in a certain direction, emanating from the distant west, where in a moment of strange whimsy you observe a blazing eye in the sky bathing you and the surroundings in fading bright orange light.

You feel something start to build within you. A name steeped in doom and misfortune. It itches to be called into the sky.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 12, 2016, 05:12:39 am
"Hmm. That's ... wait, if those work like that ... the priest couldn't recognize my existence right after that ... so that's what they do. And if those do that, then those would ... no wonder you don't remember her.

Not important! One of you come with me, please, doesn't particularly matter which one."

Take one servant away and absorb their source! Or them, since technically they are the source if I'm understanding this right. Find a place relatively isolated where I won't be interrupted. Any random corner will hopefully do.

If I have to break some of their limbs in order to fulfil the requirement that they're helpless before I take their source, well, empathy's turning out to have been a rather large dump stat of mine.

[Indoor Alleyways: 4]

Fortunately with the rising commotion of the castle it doesn't take long at all to find a servant, an emaciated man in clothes that must have fit him back when a rat every two days wasn't the regular food ration. He looks at you with naked suspicion. You approach with naked abandon.

[Cat and Mouse: 6 vs. 1]

Displaying unusually good judgment or at least a profoundly spectacular feel for nightmarish architecture you raise your hands and scare the poor man right into a dead end. You wonder why a hallway would continue this far to lead to seemingly nothing at all, but hey, you're no engineer. You're more of a break-shit kind of person. Speaking of.

[Seize Him: 6+1 vs. 3]

You clamp your hand over the poor fellow's throat and lift him up from the ground. He kicks at you feebly as you ponder what exactly you need to do before he counts as utterly helpless. As it is you find him a... well, how to best put this, a little too fibrous? Lacking in that certain tenderness that makes for a good absorption. You do however run into the slight issue that you only really have one hand to operate with in this case.

[The Trouble With Indoors: 4]

That, and he also did not neglect to yelp, thrash and shriek copiously as you seized him, even now trying to resist with all of his might, insignificant as that may be. And you're pretty sure somebody heard that, judging by the footsteps coming your way.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 12, 2016, 11:49:59 am
Huh. Weird. I don't remember disemboweling taking place recently. Beating, backstabbing and more beating, sure. Well, in that case:

"No can do buddy. I can kick him for you, but you have get your revenge later. I hear it is better served cold."

Make sure to kick the live stoat man on face while making our way to outside and somewhere safer in long term. Wherever Lee leads us. Maybe slightly towards castle Anglefork. Speaking of which, that's rather weird name. Angles don't fork. What's the history behind the name?

[Justice of a Sort: 4 vs. 5-1]

The stoat does take your foot on his barely existent chin, though his cartilaginous form seems more than able to take the punishment. The broken man on your back chuckles, then spits on the incapacitated soldier. Lucky day for you, filthy oppressor, says he, becoming sullen and conspiratorial as you take him outside after the escaping Lee, lucky day indeed!

You find yourself outside and largely untroubled. If the stoats on the other side of the winery are not still captivated by your story, they've certainly not seen fit to show themselves yet, and much of Lee's immediate caution and weaving through cover are wasted on the mostly serene environment you find yourself in. You use the lull in things trying to actively harm you to wonder - just why do they call the place Anglefork?

[The Important Questions: 4]

It takes you some thought, and you need to confer with your humanoid backpack to come to an acceptable idea, but eventually you suppose that there probably isn't any good reason at all, and the broken fellow concurs. Names in this kingdom can mean very little! Benzerwald, for instance - that doesn't even actually mean anything, at least not deliberately. Anglefork is just another thing in a similar mold. People needed a name, so they just threw something together without really thinking about it. All of Benzerwald is like this. They have no cities like Enduring Flame, named for its blazing torch of alchemical wonder, lighting the path to it from as far as ten miles away on a darkened night! And then there is the township of Three Twisted Trees, most refreshingly straightforward place in its naming that the man has ever been to. To say nothing of Heaven-Sent Promontory, seat of the glorious Sun! Even places other than Wonderful El have it better than Benzerwald. Elizabeth, for instance. A city, a woman! What better encapsulation of the concept can one think of, truly?

Quote from: TopHat on July 13, 2016, 03:09:34 am
"Coming!"
Run down there. Through the gate, mind. Don't get carried away.

You arrive just in time to observe Ms. Minett trying to talk a guard into handing her a deadly weapon. The guard hands her two, actually, which you assume must have taken quite a feat of negotiation. Meanwhile the stoatman on the ground behind Ms. Minett appears to be looking for potential avenues of escape.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 13, 2016, 06:28:16 am
"Oh good, he's excited. We'll get more terror that way," I say to the guard. "Let's start getting ready. Could I borrow your weapon? I try to keep a sacrificial implement handy, but they're so hard to find during a prolonged siege."

[Into the Spirit of Things: 5]

Eh, she says. A spear is a bit of a boring weapon to do a sacrifice with. You want something like- aha! Over there, in that pile of armor - is that a serrated blade? Looks pretty nasty, if she may say so herself. The guard walks over to take a closer look. Looks like an import, she says, tossing her spear to you as she digs out the blade. It's an interesting-looking thing, roughly the size of a claymore, very exotic in appearance. The kind of sword you wouldn't be surprised to discover was coated in flesh-eating poison or at least forged in the blood of innocents. Now there's a sacrificial implement! Here, check it out, she says and hands you the sword, which is heavy to enough to lead you to suspect its function may have originally been ceremonial.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 13, 2016, 04:48:50 pm
I hand Wilde the spear. "Take this and follow my lead."

I push the guard into the pile of junk and bring my sword to her neck. "Don't scream and you don't get hurt. We're leaving with the stoat."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 13, 2016, 04:59:01 pm
"Oh for - hush you idiot, I'm not murdering you."

Get him on the ground and pin him there with a foot. Then absorption go!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 13, 2016, 09:30:02 pm
Interesting.  How do they do these effects?  Really well done, even out here.

"So hey, Sword, you know anything about that?"

Ask the sword.  See if the images can be followed to their source.  Also it would be silly to be yelling strange things into the sky.  Might be bears out here.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 14, 2016, 01:54:52 am
"Elizabeth, eh? Sounds like a nice place to visit. By the way, did you actually do something to warrant that torture? Like besides being local mayor or something?"

Talking about intimate things. And still following Lee. Gotta trust the gal.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 14, 2016, 07:29:30 am
"Listen, we need to talk about - wait, what the hell are you doing? Can one of you please tell me what's going on here?"
Take the spear, at least.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 14, 2016, 08:16:24 am
"They want to capture this stoat. I can't let it have a fate like the last one. We have to save it."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 14, 2016, 09:32:35 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 13, 2016, 04:48:50 pm
I hand Wilde the spear. "Take this and follow my lead."

I push the guard into the pile of junk and bring my sword to her neck. "Don't scream and you don't get hurt. We're leaving with the stoat."

Mr. Wilde does not appear eager to follow your lead. But he'll come around, you're sure.

[Surprise Turnabout: 6+1 vs. 4]

You turn around and sprint forth in a tackle, running straight into the guard and knocking her off her feet, straddling her atop the junk pile as you put the serrated two-handed sword to her throat, ready to drag it over at a moment's notice. She looks surprised for a few moments as you explain what's about to happen, then frowns, thinking for a second.

Hm, she asks. What's your plan here, if she may ask? Thinking of defecting? She knew a lot of people who thought the same way once. Did not end well, let her tell you.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 13, 2016, 04:59:01 pm
"Oh for - hush you idiot, I'm not murdering you."

Get him on the ground and pin him there with a foot. Then absorption go!

[Disturbing Implications: 4]

The thought of what else you might be trying to do is enough to either give the man a moment's pause or frighten him into silence - a bit of both, you suspect. You decide to adjust your method of restraint a little.

[Keep A Good Man Down: 6+1 vs. 5]

You place him on the ground face-down and step on him, then begin to consider your next move. Doesn't seem all that much easier this way. Too squirmy. Not weakened at all, even if entirely restrained. Maybe a little strangulation might be in order.

Of course, before you can further plan out what to do with the man, you notice that you are no longer alone, a royal guard having arrived in this quasi-forgotten corner of the castle.

[Wounded Gazelle: 5]

Hey, he says, naked guy! Quit molesting the castle staff! He was just about ready to call out for reinforcements, too. Could be stoat infiltrators about, don't you know. If you keep making alarms like these you run the serious risk of reducing overall stoat-preparedness, don't you know. They cut your ears off for that.

Quote from: Toaster on July 13, 2016, 09:30:02 pm
Interesting.  How do they do these effects?  Really well done, even out here.

"So hey, Sword, you know anything about that?"

Ask the sword.  See if the images can be followed to their source.  Also it would be silly to be yelling strange things into the sky.  Might be bears out here.

You find the sword in your hand as if it had never left your grip. This landscape is of slight interest, one finds. Profoundly unnatural, persistent, surrounded by echoes of someone else. One like you, perhaps, an earlier traveler. They entered this clearing, and never left. One can sense a bit of their presence still.

Okay, you suppose that's some kind of information. The weird afterimages group around the eye in the sky, setting still over the castle, the sky behind you turning dark and bluish as night begins to fall. Their silhouettes start to crawl behind the castle as well, seemingly following the eye. It appears to be the key element, lingering for perhaps longer than it should, still harboring the expectation of a call.

The moment is hanging in the air as well, you notice. The Worm-knight is motionless, looking into the distance. The guard is rubbing his hands, muttering repetitively.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 14, 2016, 01:54:52 am
"Elizabeth, eh? Sounds like a nice place to visit. By the way, did you actually do something to warrant that torture? Like besides being local mayor or something?"

Talking about intimate things. And still following Lee. Gotta trust the gal.

Certainly, says the man. Stole supplies, gouged prices for stoatman customers, pushed two guards into the river when they discovered too much, had a passing clanfolk man shoot a flaming arrow into the siege camp. Poisoned the water supply every now and then. Set stoat-traps in the woods for patrols to fall into. Built a catapult to launch supplies into the castle (didn't have enough range though), then used it to launch a plague-ridden corpse (very expensive this time of year, by the way) through the roof of a stoatman barracks building, which was what finally got him caught. Had a good run, certainly. Contributed to the good fight in his own way, he likes to think, and he's especially proud that the stoats in question didn't manage to break him. If there's one way for a merchant to get by in the saboteur business, it's to pick only the most incompetent targets.

Ah, good times. Would have been great to maybe shank one on the way out, but guess you can't have everything. Where are you taking him, by the way? Out of town, yes? You look over at Lee, who does seem to be guiding you toward the woods.

[Trouble In Anglefork Town: 6+1]

Rather fortunately you don't run into any trouble. Or, rather, you don't run into any trouble that Lee does not kindly slit the throats of before you arrive at your leisurely pace. The sight of blood seems to invigorate the broken man. Hah, he says, is it not the most wonderful thing, the spilling of blood in the dying light? There is a certain artistry in subversive action, no?

In any case, you leave behind the outlying farms of Anglefork Town in not too long from now, finding yourself in the thin woods once again, Lee climbing a tree to survey the nearby area, watching for a coordinated response from the town guard that does not appear to come. The broken man congratulates you on a messy rescue well-performed, but wonders what it is you were going to do with him exactly. Being a backpack has been quite fun thus far, of course, don't get him wrong, but he was really looking forward to maybe pointing you at something that you could horribly destroy with many (stoatman) casualties. So he's a little disappointed when the counter-question that Lee poses appears to be one about trade.

Trade, he says! Don't talk to him about trade. These stoatmen know nothing! Nothing! He pauses to wipe a little foam from the corner of his mouth. Really, they should all just be killed like they apparently used to be back when the splintering began. And after the new cities of stoatkind are successfully depopulated, he bets you could no doubt work something out with the Glorious Land on resettlement. Land of opportunity and all that, yes?

Quote from: TopHat on July 14, 2016, 07:29:30 am
"Listen, we need to talk about - wait, what the hell are you doing? Can one of you please tell me what's going on here?"
Take the spear, at least.

You grab the spear and observe as Ms. Minett handily takes down the guard in a surprise tackle, explaining that she (and maybe you as well) will be taking that cowering stoat along.

[Bravest of the Brave: 2]

A cowering stoat that seems to have feebly risen to his feet and started scampering away in the commotion. Look at him go! You wonder if you should mention that to Ms. Minett.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 14, 2016, 09:49:27 am
"I want nothing to do with the stoat army. Just don't want anyone else to get hurt. I plan on leaving peacefully and making sure the stoat does as well. As long as everyone cooperates." Then I cough, "hmcfWildecfhhm."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 14, 2016, 10:02:14 am
"Ah. I guess that's why you summoned that monster to destroy the stoatman army? I'm assuming that was you, considering the circumstances. Very peaceful."
Eh, no need to tell Ms. Minett. Sounds like she wants the stoat to escape, anyway.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 14, 2016, 10:05:14 am
Daniels sighs impatiently.

"Yes okay fine now go do guard things somewhere else. Don't worry, I'll be out of here soon."

Stare malevolently at the guard until he goes away, then engage in that strangulation I was thinking of. Not enough to kill, just to weaken him enough for the absorption thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 14, 2016, 10:13:53 am
"But trade is lifeline of any civilization! It's like the force that keeps world rotating or something. When guys in castle break out the siege there's definitely work to do for a mechant. Especially for resourceful man like yourself."

Encourage. Carefully deposit my backpack down. Practice that levitation thing while they are talking.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 14, 2016, 11:06:54 am
"Hey, they were actively trying to kill me. I'll do whatever is necessary to get out of here alive. I just don't want to hurt anyone else if I don't have to."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 15, 2016, 10:38:45 am
"Could have just ducked behind the parapet. If you don't want to hurt anyone else then why are you threatening to? I'm sure the guards would just let you leave if you wish."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 15, 2016, 04:16:37 pm
"They won't let the stoat leave. He'll be imprisoned and killed before long. It doesn't take much for these guys to want to brutally sacrifice a stoatman."

"Actually..." I say, making eye contact with the guardswoman. "Would you let me take him and leave peacefully? You heard what Wilde said, I've done a lot to defend the city today. Let me spare a life."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 15, 2016, 10:18:50 pm
Hmmm... that... no.  No, that's just silly.  Just a trick of the light.  "Come on now, we're not getting any closer here."


Steadfastly ignore the special effects and get on toward the town, like we're supposed to be.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 16, 2016, 08:05:00 am
"The stoat's already made a run for it, so let me rephrase that question: do you have any objection to the (probably crazy) woman holding a sword to your throat leaving here and never bothering you again?"
This is one thing I have no objection to following Minett's lead on.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 16, 2016, 11:26:49 am
Quote from: Xantalos on July 14, 2016, 10:05:14 am
Daniels sighs impatiently.

"Yes okay fine now go do guard things somewhere else. Don't worry, I'll be out of here soon."

Stare malevolently at the guard until he goes away, then engage in that strangulation I was thinking of. Not enough to kill, just to weaken him enough for the absorption thing.

[Mystic Eyes of Death Anticipation: 6]

Your murder-thought scans the surface of the guard, trailing along his silhouette, engraving his shadow into the wall behind him, chips of stone falling down behind him as you give your very best death glare. The air starts to grow thick as the guard shrinks away.

Uh, he says, you... er, you really shouldn't... actually you know something, he just remembered he left a pot boiling. Yeah. He almost begins to walk, but starts to sprint instead. Right, where were you.

[Struggling Together: 1 vs. 4+1]

Oh right, strangulation of this feebly struggling guy. Shouldn't be too difficult.

[Safe Strangling Practices: 5+1]

Right, you've got time, so you make sure to carefully apply a slight blood choke. Enough to render the man quite unconscious within about half a minute with only minimal risk of death! Not quite a nerve pinch or anything, but near enough to it for this particular application. And with that done, you decide to let the dark have a go as well.

[Insights In The Murk: 1]

Whatever happens next as you straddle the body of the fellow is somewhat unclear. You suspect memory fuckery at work. Point is, some unspecified amount of time later he's not quite around anymore. Well, he's sort of around, you guess. You keep getting this weird feeling he's right out of sight, but when you turn to look, the man's not there. You... guess that worked?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 14, 2016, 10:13:53 am
"But trade is lifeline of any civilization! It's like the force that keeps world rotating or something. When guys in castle break out the siege there's definitely work to do for a mechant. Especially for resourceful man like yourself."

Encourage. Carefully deposit my backpack down. Practice that levitation thing while they are talking.

There's the problem, says the man. Time was when he'd have been immensely happy for the opportunity to make filthy loads of money profiteering off extremely unlikely events, but not only is the possibility of the siege being broken quite miserably remote, he's also somewhat lost taste for all the buying and selling business. Turns out hurting people was what his actual talent in life was. Strange thing to discover at age 40, let him tell you.

What of the stoatmen, asks Lee. Trade possibilities? The man laughs. That's the other thing, yes. They're rather big fans of collective property. Part of why the man had so much free time to spend on his hobby-turned-occupation. All trade goes through the trade secretary. And the stoats still haven't quite relinquished their ghetto favor-based economy, which is quite dismal indeed if you're not a stoatman yourself and live in Anglefork.

Lee continues to ask short questions about the specifics, and when the talk starts to veer into food supplies your eyes glaze over sufficiently to start considering other things to do. Like levitating! You had a trick in mind already.

[Out of Sight, Out of Mind: 4]

As Lee continues to probe into matters about the fur trade, wine production, metalworking and Odin even knows what else you lounge on the branch of a nearby tree, about 20 meters up from the ground. You pop over abstractly to a nearby treetop. You hop above the woods and turn once around to survey the area. It's reasonably informative, even if most of the place is quite heavily wooded. You land a little sharply, and both of your companions look at you. What was that, Lee asks. What was what, you reply. There was a most unique sound, says your backpack. As if the underbrush was struck with the force of a meteor. Very strange to say the least.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 15, 2016, 04:16:37 pm
"They won't let the stoat leave. He'll be imprisoned and killed before long. It doesn't take much for these guys to want to brutally sacrifice a stoatman."

"Actually..." I say, making eye contact with the guardswoman. "Would you let me take him and leave peacefully? You heard what Wilde said, I've done a lot to defend the city today. Let me spare a life."

Oh, what? You think the people in the castle are the bad guys here? Not too much to sacrifice a person? Yeah! Only took a breakout from prison and an assassination attempt on the bloody queen! You get the sense that the guard's feeling rather personally offended at this.

[The Struggle Continues: 4 vs. 4]

She does seem about to try something, but you edging the sword that much closer to her throat dissuades her from this foolish course of action. Right, you say, how about it? She gonna let you leave or what?

For a moment she seems very puzzled. Yeah, she says. She... wasn't actually gonna stop you from leaving to begin with, to be perfectly honest. It's just that taking a stoatman prisoner to interrogate about the state of Anglefork Town and also to prevent it from sending out an alarm to the town would have been pretty nice, all things considered. But hey, if your heart's all a-bleeding for a pack of genocidal lunatics, go for it. Just don't expect not to be the first to hang when the speakers get their hands on you.

Besides, damn thing's already running away if other guy's not lying or something. So not like she can stop the stoatman leaving.

[Making A Break For It: 4]

Of course, maybe someone else'll catch it on the way. Can always hope, right?

Quote from: Toaster on July 15, 2016, 10:18:50 pm
Hmmm... that... no.  No, that's just silly.  Just a trick of the light.  "Come on now, we're not getting any closer here."


Steadfastly ignore the special effects and get on toward the town, like we're supposed to be.

The Worm-knight nods. Something very off here. She'll make sure to include it in the report. The guard, meanwhile, says that the wall crews already know about it - it's where the shiny gentleman from the chapel made his mark, you see. Glassed the place right over!

You shrug off the guard's explanation, which he seems to be about to launch into more of, and head toward Anglefork Town.

[A Trouble-Free Experience: 3]

The town looks less than idyllic as the woods begin to clear after some twenty minutes of walking - a third of it appears to have burnt down, and the streets look quite empty from about a mile away, or at least what remains of them does.

What you do notice, however, is patrols. Limber, barely armored stoatmen with spears scouring the surrounding area nervously, not many in number - you think you see two groups of four on either side of the town right now, but they do appear to be in something of a hurry. You suppose there's been some troubling business about or some such.

Quote from: TopHat on July 16, 2016, 08:05:00 am
"The stoat's already made a run for it, so let me rephrase that question: do you have any objection to the (probably crazy) woman holding a sword to your throat leaving here and never bothering you again?"
This is one thing I have no objection to following Minett's lead on.

At this point she really wouldn't mind if both of you just went and fucked off so she can get back to the looting, yeah.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 16, 2016, 11:54:48 am
"That worked out nicely. Now then, to answers."

Go to the shrine! The well access point bit, rather.

((I gotta say, I love the detail and imagination you put into the supernatural things in your games.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 16, 2016, 12:09:12 pm
"Say what?" I look over my shoulder. "I'm sorry for bothering you." I run after the stoat.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 16, 2016, 01:00:57 pm
"Oh, Minett, one last thing - all our magic seems to have badly messed up something beneath the castle, so if you could lay off the Words till you're some distance away that'd be good. Especially since I'm going to check it out and would really rather it didn't blow up in my face or something. In any case, good luck out there; I probably won't see you again."
Help the guard up and give her her spear back.
"Sorry about - well, my sister I guess. She can get like that sometimes."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 16, 2016, 01:07:10 pm
"Err, I... my landing sucked a bit, but that shouldn't make much of noise. What? I was levitating. Don't look me like that, I was definitely up there!"

Resist temptation of imaginary alcoholic beverages. If they keep looking at me like that I might relapse. Are we ready to continue?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 17, 2016, 04:22:23 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on July 16, 2016, 11:54:48 am
((I gotta say, I love the detail and imagination you put into the supernatural things in your games.))

((I concur.  And the characterization.))

Hmmm...

"Hmmm... well, you two are the professionals at this.  What do you think?  Just go ask the stout fellows what they are up to?"

Ask for advice; offer bad suggestion.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 18, 2016, 01:44:23 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on July 16, 2016, 11:54:48 am
"That worked out nicely. Now then, to answers."

Go to the shrine! The well access point bit, rather.

Whistling innocently as you leave this supernatural crime scene you walk out of the keep, which seems to be coming alive at this point with people moving around again, packing things, preparing various arrangements for their inevitable departure and so forth, and head back out into the shrine, where your old friend awaits.

You sense the poor servant you absorb at the edge of your vision. He seems to be retreating as you approach, tripping over non-space as he feels a distinct nip at his very being even at a considerable distance. It is an unenviable feeling, knowing oneself to be food.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 16, 2016, 12:09:12 pm
"Say what?" I look over my shoulder. "I'm sorry for bothering you." I run after the stoat.

You look to see the stoatman making a break for the river. Oh crap. You better get him.

[Fortuitous Interception: 5 vs. 6]

You rush his way. He looks at you. You see him panic, and he jumps straight into the river, spine bending like that of an eel as he dives into the deep. You somewhat hope he doesn't drown before you can catch up to him.

[Unleash The Eel: 5]

You see him surface momentarily despite his armor, rising to the top as he paddles downstream for dear life, the raging stream carrying him at frankly dazzling speed toward the distant Anglefork Town. You might still be able to catch up to him, you think as you stand by the shoreline, but it'd probably require you jumping into the drink as well.

Quote from: TopHat on July 16, 2016, 01:00:57 pm
"Oh, Minett, one last thing - all our magic seems to have badly messed up something beneath the castle, so if you could lay off the Words till you're some distance away that'd be good. Especially since I'm going to check it out and would really rather it didn't blow up in my face or something. In any case, good luck out there; I probably won't see you again."
Help the guard up and give her her spear back.
"Sorry about - well, my sister I guess. She can get like that sometimes."

You're not sure she heard you. In fact, you're pretty certain she didn't, as people don't tend to listen to much when they're sprinting away from you at top speed. She stops over by the shoreline some distance away. You suppose you can catch her up on paranormal business later.

For now you just give the guard a hand as you get her up to her feet and return her spear. She still seems considerably displeased with this state of affairs. Will need to make a report, she says. Probably lost the element of surprise on the town if that stoat manages to warn them. Shame.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 16, 2016, 01:07:10 pm
"Err, I... my landing sucked a bit, but that shouldn't make much of noise. What? I was levitating. Don't look me like that, I was definitely up there!"

Resist temptation of imaginary alcoholic beverages. If they keep looking at me like that I might relapse. Are we ready to continue?

Levitating, says your backpack. Ah, yes, minder tricks. Lee nods. Minder tricks indeed. A pause sets in as both of them glance at you, completely thrown off their conversation by the noise.

Lee looks over at your backpack for a second, then to you again. She supposes this will be enough information. The important things have been established. The rest is merely haggling and annual variations in demand, to which your backpack says that there's a subtle art to one and a great deal of rhythm and intensity to the other. Lee raises an eyebrow, then looks to you. Anyway, this will be enough. The purpose is served. After this, a return is in order. But after a rest, most probably. Need to find a good spot.

[Local Lore: 5]

Ah, says your backpack, good spots he knows of! Many a one where a thief, a smuggler and even a murderer may rest after a night's work well done. He likes to use particular ones for each kind of business, you see. Or did, anyway. He foresees something of a dry spell for him in the near future in that regard.

Quote from: Toaster on July 17, 2016, 04:22:23 pm
Hmmm...

"Hmmm... well, you two are the professionals at this.  What do you think?  Just go ask the stout fellows what they are up to?"

Ask for advice; offer bad suggestion.

[Going For Broke: 4]

Absolutely not, says the Worm-knight. The whole point of scouting is to find out the enemy's positions without giving away yours, she tells you in a lecturing tone. Engagement of the townsfolk and especially the forces present is out of the question.

Unless, the guard suggests excitedly, you get ingenious disguises first. The resulting scowl from the Worm-knight's direction carries extraordinarily well through her helmet, you find.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 18, 2016, 01:52:37 pm
"Sorry buddy, just bad luck on your part that you ran into me."

Enter the well point.

"I'll be quick here. This one source gets me two questions, right? Here they are: where is the blacksmith currently located? And is there a way to either repair my maimed hand or get another left hand without losing my murder-thought?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 18, 2016, 01:53:32 pm
Two questions, actually. A connection is just one.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 18, 2016, 01:56:07 pm
Oh!

Well then. I shall think on the second.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 18, 2016, 01:57:48 pm
Damn it, he's probably going to alert the soldiers in town. I have to convince him not to start more fighting.

I jump in the river after him. The current doesn't seem too dangerous.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 18, 2016, 03:07:02 pm
"I wonder what we count as. Definitely two accounts of murder, no wait, four. Smuggling... probably no. Thief yes. We stole you from stoats and I kinda stole Lee from them too, back at the siege camp. Let's go with murderers. So point us at one, would you? Once we get there I could try heal you. And when I say try, I also mean it. It could end with you dying fast, dying slow, me losing my limbs or you being only partially healed. Do you want to take the risk?"

One murderer's hideout, please! Afterwards, if the backpack is willing to take the risk and we make it, try some INEVITABLE healing because time heals all wounds.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 18, 2016, 08:12:48 pm
"Um... right.  While traipsing around in disguises sounds fun, perhaps we should just look around first."

Scouty scout scout
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 19, 2016, 11:37:21 am
"A shame indeed. Good luck with that, anyway."
Grab a random weapon from the debris and head back inside to see what my companion's managed to obtain. Keep an eye on the ground for anything interesting-looking on the way.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 19, 2016, 01:13:24 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on July 18, 2016, 01:52:37 pm
"Sorry buddy, just bad luck on your part that you ran into me."

Enter the well point.

"I'll be quick here. This one source gets me two questions, right? Here they are: where is the blacksmith currently located? And is there a way to either repair my maimed hand or get another left hand without losing my murder-thought?"

The altar swells invisibly as you approach with your gift, one Frederick, an undistinguished man of low birth and few real accomplishments save for surviving a bout of fever and starvation, and stand there as the hungry dark treads upon your mind, winding itself around the idea of his being. It is a small and insignificant source, of very little interest on its own. But it will do, you sense. It will certainly do for now.

Welcome. It has been some time.

Your first answer: the blacksmith is presently out by the storehouse, having spotted a returning Mr. Wilde with Word-powered certainty. He comes bearing the crucial ingredients of a time-ender's measure (see: time-enders, tools of study, phenomenological containment), one that he is prepared to create with the help of Mr. Wilde's own ingredients, and provide to him in return for the insights given. Mr. Wilde, however, does not have the requisite amount of gold to give him, although this gold would be of no trouble for him to acquire in the old well.

Your second answer: yes, the repair of your hand would not disturb the functioning of your weaponry (see: substrate weaponization, template molding techniques, suggestibility through interpretation) regardless of how it is achieved. Methods of repairing your hand would include visiting an unqualified medical professional, a fulfillment from the well and other methods of template molding.

The well looks forward to your return, or the creation of a new access point further out. Connections are no longer required. Another source of no distinction may be brought before demand is fully satisfied for the time being.

Thank you. Come again.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 18, 2016, 01:57:48 pm
Damn it, he's probably going to alert the soldiers in town. I have to convince him not to start more fighting.

I jump in the river after him. The current doesn't seem too dangerous.

[Surely There's No Danger: 1]

They say that calm waters run the deepest. You can now say that this applies to obviously swift mountain rivers as you dive in, hit the bottom and start tumbling along the rocks at the bottom, ones that the stoatman seems to have avoided unusually well. You accidentally inhale as you impact a particularly nasty piece of underlying rock that the muck has been cleanly swept away from, and it makes for as pleasant an experience as you'd expect.

[I Hear A Voice Calling: 5]

Rather wisely you make sure to stop trying to breathe, which leaves you with only the problem of tumbling quickly and uncontrollably through a highlands river. Though you do surmise you'll be running out of air sooner rather than later, as it were.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 18, 2016, 03:07:02 pm
"I wonder what we count as. Definitely two accounts of murder, no wait, four. Smuggling... probably no. Thief yes. We stole you from stoats and I kinda stole Lee from them too, back at the siege camp. Let's go with murderers. So point us at one, would you? Once we get there I could try heal you. And when I say try, I also mean it. It could end with you dying fast, dying slow, me losing my limbs or you being only partially healed. Do you want to take the risk?"

One murderer's hideout, please! Afterwards, if the backpack is willing to take the risk and we make it, try some INEVITABLE healing because time heals all wounds.

Murder it is, then! These are somewhat more distant, your backpack explains, and more rarely used so as to not wear them out and render them obvious. The deluxe accommodations, as it were. It'll be something of a walk yet.

And he's most certainly not lying - heading straight away from town and the river, you eventually come upon a large and ancient tree, gnarled and mostly leafless except for one branch still barely clinging on to life. The tree of six thousand years, your backpack calls it. It pretends to be as old as the Kingdom that does the same. Clanfolk used to come here in the olden days, he says, back when hunters weren't as common. Incidents from back then still keep locals away, so visually impressive were the remains.

Anyway, he says, hideout's down beneath it. Need to dig a little to find the appropriate door. No deeper than a traitor's grave, last that he recalls, and it should be... there! Yes!

It takes a couple of minutes after setting him down to dig out enough of the dirt to reveal a small brass hatch in the ground. Was here before he came, your backpack mentions. Very nice workmanship, he has to say. Might have been a rogue alchemist. The place it leads to is certainly well-preserved enough. And there's the smell - heading down the small hatch you find a space the size of a middling apartment, rather dark and giving off an oddly medicinal aroma. You and Lee bump into a few tree roots before your backpack manages to guide you to a lamp that's much newer than the bunker itself.

The place is bare stone, somewhat dusty. Looks a lot like poured concrete, you think. Not pretty at all, but definitely durable. Reinforced, your backpack mentions proudly. He checked! The rest of the place looks like it has been emptied of anything even indicative of valuables, at least the original ones - there are three bedrolls, and what looks like an old fire pit underneath what looks like a very elaborate ventilation shaft no doubt meant to accommodate some kind of machine. Roots jut out from the ceiling in certain places, having a look of persistent mutilation about them only barely healed by time. A place once made with method and artistry, your backpack says wistfully, and abandoned with the same. Almost a shame to befoul such a cleanly vacated place.

Lee goes to all the bedrolls and starts checking them over meticulously. Your backpack looks on, as do you, somewhat unsure as to what she's doing. But since it does appear to be taking a while, you decide to broach the subject of potential healing.

[Adventurous Mindset: 4]

Well, says your backpack, you could say that both murderous sabotage and international trade are operations that require careful management of risks, and hey, he didn't figure he would survive captivity to begin with, so what does he really have to lose? Aside from his life, of course, but a life that's ended by sorcery is definitely a life well-lived. You decide you heartily agree, and tell him to hold still for a moment.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 5]

The bunker shakes with the power of the Word, echoing beyond what you'd expect of squarish concrete, traveling along deep ventilation shafts and stranger constructions still. Tapestries covered in geometries of alien beauty unfold upon the walls, bright white lamps of luminous gas come into being along the walls, the poured concrete covers itself with exquisitely patterned tiles. The smell of medicine evaporates, replaced with a metallic odor, the smell of smoke and the bubbling of many a beaker of colored glass upon rubberized black workbenches engraved in exquisite detail. Whirring fills your ears, and you notice a small fountain in front of you.

At the fountain stands a dark-skinned individual in an immaculate white tailored coat, the sleeves of which transition seamlessly into form-fitting gloves. His eyes are covered with what look like safety glasses, although these appear to come with a set of optional sliding lenses on the inside. His head is shaved, and you sense a great deal of surprise in his expression.

You know why you are here. You point at your backpack, and the man directs his attention at him as well. A countryman, you say. And perhaps a friend, yes? The fellow scoffs. This happens far too often with hired help. He steps over to a desk, maneuvering around a near-fatally confused Lee, retrieving a small syringe, then goes to what you could swear is a samovar, or at least looks like one, keeping some concoction at a constant temperature. He sticks a long bronze needle into a specific port on the side, attaching the syringe to it and drawing out a rather boringly transparent liquid, pausing midway to look at your backpack thoughtfully before drawing out a careful measure of it. Pulling the needle out, he steps over to your backpack, and sticks it into particular arteries at each limb, injecting a third into each.

A moment passes after the man draws out the needle after the final time, and then your backpack convulses violently, fingers reasserting themselves, bones righting their orientation with sickening cracks, small spurts of blood coming out of rapidly opening and closing wounds, the restructuring hands and feet maintaining an appearance of violent, ragged breathing. He screams rather loudly. The man takes a moment to nudge you to the side.

You, he says. When are you from? You don't really understand the question, you must say. He repeats it clearer - what's happening in Anglefork Town? You think for a second. You guess stoatmen took it over? Ah, he says. Interesting. Quite helpful. He then turns to your backpack, who still appears to be in quite a bad way as the reformation runs its course. It will take a while, the man says with an air of confidentiality. Don't pay the screaming any mind. It makes the process more effective, actually. He looks in his direction again, observing the man's tortured expression and nodding with approval.

Anyway, he has something for you to do in return for this. Wait here. The man makes his way swiftly to a chamber you do not recall noticing in this place before, and comes out with a small, featureless, quite incredibly locked brass box. Bury this in Elizabeth, he says, at the grave of Red Clouds Parting. Don't upend it. There you go, he says, pressing it into your hand. Don't forget. And hop to it.

He slaps you on the back, and the richly decorated lab melts away, detail pouring off the walls, the man stepping into a convenient shadow, desks retreating into walls, the smells and sounds washing over you in a wave of consuming imitation nostalgia, leaving the gray, dimly lit chambers you entered behind, unchanged from their original shape.

Lee stares at you wide-eyed, and you notice the box still in your hands, and your backpack still screaming and twitching as his appendages move toward complete reconstitution.

Quote from: Toaster on July 18, 2016, 08:12:48 pm
"Um... right.  While traipsing around in disguises sounds fun, perhaps we should just look around first."

Scouty scout scout

[Scoutety Scout: 3]

Well, you note after roughly half an hour spent going a quarter of the way around the town from a safe distance, the place definitely doesn't look much more appealing from any other angle. Although you do notice what you're pretty sure is a winery off on the other side of town, and a somewhat large building that may or may not be the town hall. The guard says that both are diversions. What you need to find is the brothel. That's where all the good stuff happens, he says right before the Worm-knight smacks him upside the head with a resounding clank.

Quote from: TopHat on July 19, 2016, 11:37:21 am
"A shame indeed. Good luck with that, anyway."
Grab a random weapon from the debris and head back inside to see what my companion's managed to obtain. Keep an eye on the ground for anything interesting-looking on the way.

[The Claw of Multitudinous Prizes: 2]

You're not sure where Ms. Minett found that ridiculous sword, but you definitely don't see its like around. There is a plank, though. Not one with a nail in it or anything (nails are, after all, pretty expensive in this day and age). You suppose it'll do, and head right back to the courtyard.

[The Quest Is Never-Ending: 6]

Your companion, it seems, is waiting by the front of the keep. She comes over to you as soon as she sees you. Before that, however, you notice the blacksmith walking your way much more urgently, a small bag in his hand. He gets to you first, and you notice your companion slow her pace as he begins to speak to you, cautious of interrupting.

He has found his part of the measure, the blacksmith says in an even tone. And you have the glass already. Did you find the gold he requested?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 19, 2016, 01:52:11 pm
Glub.

I try to swim out of the river.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 19, 2016, 02:25:10 pm
"Nuts, Daniels hasn't delivered then. Here, take the glass and I'll grab some quickly."
Run down to the well, pick up a bag of gold, deliver it to the blacksmith. Easiest fetch quest ever.

"I'll be a few minutes, sorry about that. Just got to get something for the blacksmith first."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 19, 2016, 03:21:04 pm
Leif clears his throat twice.

"Less I expect from this magic more succesfull it is. Say Lee, do you happen to have any business in direction of this Elizabeth some time in the future? I wouldn't mind having excellent guide like yourself giving me helping hand on the route. Because apparently I'm going there sooner or later."

This fuckery with time calls for something nerve calming. Like grapefruits filled with divine nectarine. Share some with Lee and my backback whose name I still don't know if they feel the need to relax.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 19, 2016, 04:42:50 pm
"Right, guess that guy's gonna have to stay stuck down there. Thanks well."

Leave the well and run over to the storehouse. Find blacksmith. Deliver gold.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 19, 2016, 04:47:50 pm
Thomas cleared his throat.  "I wouldn't know anything about a brothel.  Certainly not a place for upstanding folks like us to visit.  Why not go straight to the town hall?"

Scout the town hall out.  That's the trick.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 20, 2016, 04:52:28 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 19, 2016, 01:52:11 pm
Glub.

I try to swim out of the river.

[Seeking Distant Shores: 4]

You decide to stop messing around and start tumbling a little more deliberately to the side, and even manage a little swimming every now and then as you lose contact with the riverbed, eventually managing to reemerge on the shore, gasping for air and drenched to the bone, and still on the castle island to boot.

Looking off in the distance, you see the shape of the escaping stoatman move rapidly toward Anglefork Town.

[Reel In The Eel: 1]

Oddly enough he doesn't seem to be moving toward the shore, at least not as far as you can tell.

Quote from: TopHat on July 19, 2016, 02:25:10 pm
"Nuts, Daniels hasn't delivered then. Here, take the glass and I'll grab some quickly."
Run down to the well, pick up a bag of gold, deliver it to the blacksmith. Easiest fetch quest ever.

"I'll be a few minutes, sorry about that. Just got to get something for the blacksmith first."

You apologize for making your companion waiting, which she nods understandingly at, and tell the blacksmith to wait right here after handing him the glass as you descend into the well, where you find the stores of gold still very much in place. There's no sacks that are small enough to keep the amount of gold needed in them, so you just nab a convenient pot and fill it with an amount of gold that feels appropriate. That done, you climb on out of the well, where the blacksmith awaits next to the storehouse. However, he does seem to have been joined by Mr. Daniels, who has also brought a much more enormous supply of gold with him.

You approach the blacksmith and he nods at you. Between the sack and the pot there will be plenty gold for any given purpose here. He takes the pot, since this is actually possible for him to carry, and instructs Mr. Daniels to put the sack in his workshop if he has no other use for it, then heads over to his home, entering it unceremoniously and shutting the door behind him for a moment before opening it again, poking his head out. Should be done within a few hours, he tells you. The work is somewhat delicate.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 19, 2016, 03:21:04 pm
Leif clears his throat twice.

"Less I expect from this magic more succesfull it is. Say Lee, do you happen to have any business in direction of this Elizabeth some time in the future? I wouldn't mind having excellent guide like yourself giving me helping hand on the route. Because apparently I'm going there sooner or later."

This fuckery with time calls for something nerve calming. Like grapefruits filled with divine nectarine. Share some with Lee and my backback whose name I still don't know if they feel the need to relax.

Lee still looks a little shaken as she looks at you. Elizabeth? That is northward. And that... is the way she was going. Yes.

She thinks a moment as you avail yourself of a vodka grapefruit. It is possible, she says, that the clans will meet there. She will need to find the Great Moth first. And she knows where to do that. It is... not on the way, not exactly. You offer her a grapefruit as well. She starts peeling it as she thinks, then sinks her teeth into the alcohol-laden flesh. Hopefully it'll soothe her nerves at least.

You turn toward your backpack. He seems to be getting a little better, or at least less screamy as his hands and feet begin to resemble what they were originally supposed to be. A few more convulsions pass over him and he visibly deflates, letting out a great sigh as the pain slowly subsides, then promptly passes out from exhaustion. Fortunately, this does not affect your ability to send him some lovely grapefruits to make for some colorful dreams.

Anyway, you suppose it might be a good time to settle in for a rest. A whole grapefruit of vodka makes for a pretty decent nightcap, you'd think, and as far as you know this should be safe enough to sleep in for the time being.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 19, 2016, 04:42:50 pm
"Right, guess that guy's gonna have to stay stuck down there. Thanks well."

Leave the well and run over to the storehouse. Find blacksmith. Deliver gold.

You walk out of the shrine and, sure enough, the blacksmith is there. Considerably less manic in appearance. Not naked. But nevertheless very alert and animated. Something behind the eyes, you think. But slightly different than your case, no doubt.

You step over to him, and he nods in acknowledgement. You produce the sack of gold, and immediately Mr. Wilde comes out of the well with a pot of gold of his own. The blacksmith regards both your offerings, and takes the pot for its superior portability. However, he says, you may still feel free to put your own gold in his workshop should you have no other use for it. Materials can get expensive at times. And the siege is over, it seems. Pot, glass and a set of unknown supplies in hand, he heads over to his workshop, disappearing inside for a moment before coming out to tell Mr. Wilde that the measure ought to take a few hours of work.

You can't help but feel that the blacksmith is somewhat changed. Perhaps in a way that's not at all favorable to you.

Quote from: Toaster on July 19, 2016, 04:47:50 pm
Thomas cleared his throat.  "I wouldn't know anything about a brothel.  Certainly not a place for upstanding folks like us to visit.  Why not go straight to the town hall?"

Scout the town hall out.  That's the trick.

Well, says the guard, if you're all that upstanding, the brothel should-

The Worm-knight smacks him again. Getting a closer look at the town hall would be useful, she concurs with you. But highly dangerous. This will require subtlety and stealth.

[With Catlike Tread: 2]

You travel down one of the paths into the town. You head down the path like a reasonable person. The Worm-knight tries to weave through alleyways and pull you along. And the guard insists on taking off his armor every now and then and heading down to the Red Alley, at which point the Worm-knight has to discipline him firmly and quite resoundingly. All these factors come together to bring about an interesting scene.

On one side of an empty street, you, the guard and the Worm-knight, the latter two having a slight deer-in-the-headlights look as they notice what you saw a few seconds ago, which is to say five stoatmen wielding spears at the other end of the street, looking straight at you. A silence settles in for a second or two as a lot of stares are exchanged.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 20, 2016, 05:32:26 am
Quote from: Earlier when I asked if getting my hand back would break my murder-thought
Excellent! And yes! The blacksmith seems particularly sure about that latter bit for some reason.
Quote from: Asking the well the same question
Your second answer: yes, the repair of your hand would not disturb the functioning of your weaponry regardless of how it is achieved.

Jack's eyes narrow ever so slightly.

"...that'll work just fine then. I'll be back in a few hours. To check up on the armor. The one you were making for me.
...
I'm going to find a stoatman now."

Keep the sack of gold for now, it could be a thing I can throw at people in an emergency. Go find that ... whoever that was that offered me a place on her looting mission. She should be by the gates, mayhaps? Go find her, I'm ready to go if she is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 20, 2016, 05:55:48 am
Gah, wrong side. I rest on the shore for a minute and collect my thoughts.

At least the stoat seems to be having trouble too. Maybe he just wants to swim away.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 20, 2016, 06:33:32 am
"Well, it's not like I have a time limit or something, so detours are perfectly good. Gotta see the land and all its attractions."

If backback isn't on a bedroll, drag him on one. Sleeping on hard concrete ain't nice if you aren't drunk. Then welcome mister sandman and... sleep?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 20, 2016, 07:34:01 am
"A few hours, got it. See you later."
Go and see how the supply procurement went.
"Again, apologies for that. What did you manage to get?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 20, 2016, 07:57:42 am
Well, we can always try politeness.

"Good day, friendly stout fellows!  A lovely day for a stroll!  My friends were just talking about your hospitality!"

Talk politely!  It's an important part of the sale.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 20, 2016, 10:11:09 am
Quote from: Xantalos on July 20, 2016, 05:32:26 am
Jack's eyes narrow ever so slightly.

"...that'll work just fine then. I'll be back in a few hours. To check up on the armor. The one you were making for me.
...
I'm going to find a stoatman now."

Keep the sack of gold for now, it could be a thing I can throw at people in an emergency. Go find that ... whoever that was that offered me a place on her looting mission. She should be by the gates, mayhaps? Go find her, I'm ready to go if she is.

She's not at the gates, actually, but you do find that man who brought the stoatman sacrifice for you to perform. The captain of the castle guard. He currently appears to be in the middle of receiving a somewhat urgent-sounding report from one of his guards, though you wouldn't be able to tell from the man's current expression.

Currently the question of the day appears to be why exactly the castle guards completely abandoned their posts to go searching through the siege camp, which the guardswoman seems to be at a complete loss to satisfactorily explain. Something about a strange consuming hunger that came over her or whatever.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 20, 2016, 05:55:48 am
Gah, wrong side. I rest on the shore for a minute and collect my thoughts.

At least the stoat seems to be having trouble too. Maybe he just wants to swim away.

As night falls and the stoat goes out of sight, you consider where he might end up. Far downstream, presumably. Maybe the river will calm down before long, and he'll be able or willing to swim ashore. Or maybe he'll pass out from exhaustion and drown. Who knows? You don't, that's for sure. Best to just relax and let those knots pass out of your body on their own. The ground is reasonably soft by the riverside, coated in a fine layer of ash, dampened by your earlier display of the sea's power.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 20, 2016, 06:33:32 am
"Well, it's not like I have a time limit or something, so detours are perfectly good. Gotta see the land and all its attractions."

If backback isn't on a bedroll, drag him on one. Sleeping on hard concrete ain't nice if you aren't drunk. Then welcome mister sandman and... sleep?

You deposit your backpack on a nearby bedroll, and grab the last one for yourself, settling down for a nice bit of much-needed sleep. Time heals all wounds, they say. For you more than most. Lee elects to keep the light on, or maybe just neglects to put it out before she too wraps up and falls asleep after finishing off the grapefruit.

You've all settled in for a restful sleep. Hopefully tomorrow will bring further progress. It has been an eventful couple of days already.

Quote from: TopHat on July 20, 2016, 07:34:01 am
"A few hours, got it. See you later."
Go and see how the supply procurement went.
"Again, apologies for that. What did you manage to get?"

[Valuable Supplies: 3]

There was some rope, she says, and there was still that candle she had. Other than that the castle is largely empty of valuable supplies that people haven't squirreled away in place she can't reach. And the caches left by the ones who died have been plundered ages ago. Well, that and she's not sure anybody in here had spelunking equipment to begin with.

Quote from: Toaster on July 20, 2016, 07:57:42 am
Well, we can always try politeness.

"Good day, friendly stout fellows!  A lovely day for a stroll!  My friends were just talking about your hospitality!"

Talk politely!  It's an important part of the sale.

[Fine Evening, Gentlemen: 4]

The guards start coming your way. State your business, the leader of the squad shouts, nobody's supposed to be out past curfew! She looks for something to more precisely indicate the time, and settles for the darkening sky. The Worm-knight starts to look really very tense. The guard, meanwhile, looks her way in a disturbingly meaningful fashion, one that she seems to quite fully understand, at which point she looks at you with an implied understanding in her eye.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 20, 2016, 11:25:47 am
"Well, thanks for the effort. I guess I'd better go back and check the seige camp for anything else useful."
Go back outside the castle and see if the stoats had anything I could use.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 20, 2016, 12:08:52 pm
Okay, I feel more optimistic. But maybe I should tackle this with a little preparation.

I grab something nearby to use as a flotation device, then try to swim across the river. Time is of the essence so I don't spend much looking.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 20, 2016, 02:02:38 pm
Jack strides up to the captain.

"Strange unnatural hunger, you say? I can answer that question. A woman/demon/whatever like myself, named Minett. Might have a fancy dress, bubbly scar. I wouldn't directly confront her about it, she has some rather dangerous magic at her disposal. Just try and make her feel guilty about it if you do find her, she seems to have held onto her morals remarkably well. Now then, maybe you can help me. There was this guard woman who was organizing some kind of expedition into the village now that all the stoatmen are gone or whatever happened. Can you help me find her?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 21, 2016, 11:19:57 am
Oh wait, I bet the electric talking sword can fix this.  "One moment, gentlemen; I have a talking sword that I think can settle this for you.  Not violently, of course!"

Let the sword do the talking.  Literally, not figuratively.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 22, 2016, 06:40:13 am
Waiting for tomorrow to come. Or dreaming?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 22, 2016, 05:46:58 pm
Quote from: TopHat on July 20, 2016, 11:25:47 am
"Well, thanks for the effort. I guess I'd better go back and check the seige camp for anything else useful."
Go back outside the castle and see if the stoats had anything I could use.

[Slipping Out: 6]

You head on outside and take a look around the castle island. The guards still seem hard at work looking for food and various other things that vaguely resemble food, with several guards having also arrived on the scene to try and dissuade them from giving the whole game away just yet. It becomes something of a circus as the seemingly quite strangely affected wandering guards and their much more sober friends try to convince each other of the urgency of their respective needs. You pay them little mind, instead going straight for the more densely occupied of the siege camp areas and looking for goodies still unstolen.

[Artifacts of the Gray Purge: 1]

For some reason, though, there isn't much in the way of climbing supplies as far as you can tell. Or, indeed, much of anything useful. Mostly food. A barrel of lard. A box full of salty, unidentified chunks of undoubtedly something. All of these are sampled by your companion, secreted in a pouch along her belt. And though she helps you search, a short bit of investigation reveals to her and you in equal measure that this was probably the wrong place to look, seemingly being the mess hall of sorts.

As you come to this discovery, a sober guard, a man with long black hair and a pencil mustache, comes over and inquires as to why you are looting outside the keep. This is not permitted, he states. Return inside immediately.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 20, 2016, 12:08:52 pm
Okay, I feel more optimistic. But maybe I should tackle this with a little preparation.

I grab something nearby to use as a flotation device, then try to swim across the river. Time is of the essence so I don't spend much looking.

[The Cream Inevitably Rises: 4]

Well, there is a sizable tree branch nearby, seemingly blown across from a tree that must have exploded on the other side. Not quite balsa wood, but it'll do. You chuck it in the river and dive atop it, figuring you'll at least have something to hang onto this time. And it kind of works, in that you are not dragged under and swept away. That still leaves you with navigating the river itself, however.

[Unleash the Duck: 5]

You are washed downriver a tad as you cross, but not very far, utilizing your branch for stabilization as you put your mammalian instincts to use and tread the waters with resolute and consistent strength. It's not long after that you wind up on the other side, quite safe, sound and also next to what looks like the main road to Anglefork Town.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 20, 2016, 02:02:38 pm
Jack strides up to the captain.

"Strange unnatural hunger, you say? I can answer that question. A woman/demon/whatever like myself, named Minett. Might have a fancy dress, bubbly scar. I wouldn't directly confront her about it, she has some rather dangerous magic at her disposal. Just try and make her feel guilty about it if you do find her, she seems to have held onto her morals remarkably well. Now then, maybe you can help me. There was this guard woman who was organizing some kind of expedition into the village now that all the stoatmen are gone or whatever happened. Can you help me find her?"

You walk up to the conversing duo and interrupt the report with a helpful bit of information. The guardswoman stops relaying her report as she turns to you, seemingly wondering why you've turned up naked with such relevant facts. That... does sound like someone she's seen, says the guardswoman. She tried to free a stoatman that had survived the upheaval, and it probably got away in the confusion when there was, erm, a clash of interests, so to speak.

Very relevant information, says the captain, giving a glance in your direction, but he would prefer it if the guardswoman were to not suddenly turn away mid-conversation. It's not proper protocol when speaking to a superior officer, and engenders harmful rumors of madness spreading through the ranks. The guardswoman turns toward him in response, directing her attention away from you.

Hm, says the captain. Now, what sounds like someone she's seen? The guardswoman turns her head in your direction confusedly, but is quickly disciplined with a hearty tut-tut, at which point she relays a vague description of Ms. Minett. Good intelligence, the captain remarks. Good intelligence indeed. Now, he tells the guardswoman, continue along with the report, which she does, though at a slower pace now.

Quote from: Toaster on July 21, 2016, 11:19:57 am
Oh wait, I bet the electric talking sword can fix this.  "One moment, gentlemen; I have a talking sword that I think can settle this for you.  Not violently, of course!"

Let the sword do the talking.  Literally, not figuratively.

They don't seem to believe you. Or maybe they have talking spears that have something to add to the discussion. Not as impressive as your sword, of course. You pull it out and display it side-on, letting the full breadth of the blade's special effects sink in on the observers, its neutral grayness the same color and immediately identifiable crispness regardless of the lighting conditions.

[Talk To The Sword: 3]

Their leader starts to shiver. A couple of the others look to her questioningly. She motions for them to prostrate themselves. A few look at the blade for but a few seconds before it seems to convince them to do the same. They all start to collectively mutter and fold in on themselves, trying to make themselves smaller. The Worm-knight looks upon your sword, but does not seem similarly affected. Neither does the guard, for that matter. They both just seem vaguely confused, although the guard wastes no time in suggesting that you should probably move along.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 22, 2016, 06:40:13 am
Waiting for tomorrow to come. Or dreaming?

[Echoes of the Reacharound: 3]

You dream of the grave of Red Clouds Parting. It is a place of considerable vagueness, sitting at the foot of a steel spire of uncommon construction, gleaming in the light of the midday sun. You dream of an appointment kept, and inevitability followed through with.

Red Clouds Parting - he died as he lived, chasing impossibility.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 22, 2016, 06:26:16 pm
Was I just ignored? This feels suspiciously like I was just ignored.

"Ahem. I asked a question. Guard woman, organizing a looting thing into the village outside, couldn't have been more than ten minutes ago? Either of you recall?"

Answer my question, peons.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 22, 2016, 07:58:36 pm
"Uh, yes.  Let's move along."

Move along, nothing to see here.  Probably shouldn't put away the sword just yet.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 23, 2016, 05:50:33 am
Finally, escape! I swear, I'm never getting summoned into a besieged castle again.

I look around for any signs of my stoat friend. Hopefully he didn't get swept too far downriver. Or maybe it'd be good for him to be away from the town and all this conflict.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 23, 2016, 01:58:22 pm
These folks have really funny names.

Retire dreaming into my personal party world. The place needs more party props. Like my viking ancestors and their buddies from Valhalla. Can't get gods in without positive reviews.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 24, 2016, 06:34:08 am
"Oh, no, it's alright, she's with me. Nothing to worry about."
Speak quickly and confidently. If the above is unsatisfactory, bring up the Highest Authority, vital mission regarding safety of entire castle, summoned-champion-of-the-powers-that-be, etcetera.

((Apologies for the delay))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 24, 2016, 12:54:51 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on July 22, 2016, 06:26:16 pm
Was I just ignored? This feels suspiciously like I was just ignored.

"Ahem. I asked a question. Guard woman, organizing a looting thing into the village outside, couldn't have been more than ten minutes ago? Either of you recall?"

Answer my question, peons.

The guardswoman looks your way again. What is she looking at, the guard captain asks, looking in your direction blankly for a second. It is inadvisable to keep breaking eye contact with one's superior during a report. It creates undesirable disingenuous undertones. Especially when an underling stares out into the distance without explicable reason.

The guard looks back. She seems outright disturbed now, though is also quite unwilling to raise much in the way of an issue about it.

Quote from: Toaster on July 22, 2016, 07:58:36 pm
"Uh, yes.  Let's move along."

Move along, nothing to see here.  Probably shouldn't put away the sword just yet.

You let your sword point the way as you and your companions head off into a nearby alleyway and after emerging continue your quest for the town hall.

[Clarity of the Coast: 4]

This time you manage to avoid any terrible meetings with yet more unfriendly stout fellows (primarily by virtue of ducking through every available discreet passage between buildings that you can find) and get yourself over to the town hall at last.

It's a rather venerable building, you find, if mildly damaged by fire. A little deserted at this hour, of course, although two stern stout guards flank the large wooden entrance door, and you see the tail end of another two circling around the back of the building. The building itself, three stories tall and not particularly fortified, is mostly dark at this late hour, though you do see a dim light in a second floor window on the west wing. The town around you is largely silent as well as the sun sets, no pedestrians or even too many guards walking around the area.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 23, 2016, 05:50:33 am
Finally, escape! I swear, I'm never getting summoned into a besieged castle again.

I look around for any signs of my stoat friend. Hopefully he didn't get swept too far downriver. Or maybe it'd be good for him to be away from the town and all this conflict.

[Look To The Horizon: 6]

It's hard to make anything out that far away, but you do think you see a little antlike dot off in the distance down the river. A fortuitous catch, you'd say, since it does disappear around a river bend no more than a minute later. You wonder if that's your man.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 23, 2016, 01:58:22 pm
These folks have really funny names.

Retire dreaming into my personal party world. The place needs more party props. Like my viking ancestors and their buddies from Valhalla. Can't get gods in without positive reviews.

What a glorious thing lucid dreaming is. Well, as long as the figments of your imagination don't take on frightening and hostile semblances of alien life, that is.

[Odin's Call: 1]

Which they invariably do, of course. You suspect you may have a touch of frost giant in the extended family tree, truth be told. How else do you explain the eternal day, the neverending snow, the quite unique sight of brothers killing brothers, wives killing husbands, fathers burying their own sons...

Speaking of which, your dad has a plot ready for you. Just lay down in this coffin over here and it'll all be over in... well, let's say a couple hours. He's never been good at recalculating air volumes for respiration.

Quote from: TopHat on July 24, 2016, 06:34:08 am
"Oh, no, it's alright, she's with me. Nothing to worry about."
Speak quickly and confidently. If the above is unsatisfactory, bring up the Highest Authority, vital mission regarding safety of entire castle, summoned-champion-of-the-powers-that-be, etcetera.

[Mouth Speed Records: 2]

The guard seems distinctly unimpressed with your excuses. There is a very clear list of people permitted to be outside. You are not one of them. Get back inside. You have pretty great retort to that, but the look he gives you somehow makes you pause long enough for the timing to become unsalvageable.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 24, 2016, 01:00:16 pm
Thomas blinked a couple times.  Well, this wasn't his point.  He supposed that the front door was out, which meant...

"Are there any other ways in?  We do have the grappling hook still."

Ask about/look for other ways in.  The grappling hook is on the table.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 24, 2016, 01:16:16 pm
"Oh for fuck's sake, this again? Well, I appreciate what you do for me but sometimes this connection thieving business is a little ridiculous. I don't even remember these two!

Right, let's see if it's the one or both."

Walk directly in front of the captain dude and poke him in the nose with a finger. See if he recognizes my presence at all; if not, go find some other people.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 24, 2016, 02:24:25 pm
"Ah. May I ask where I might see that list? Just I saw a couple of people outside earlier who I'm pretty sure won't be on it."
Mention the stoat and the 'defector', Minett. Point out the direction they ran off in, as well.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 24, 2016, 03:14:48 pm
The river passes through the town, right?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 24, 2016, 04:00:39 pm
No one killing daughters? That's good, though peculiar turn my subconscious is taking.

"What? No dad, that's your place. You know the proper order how these things is supposed to happen. Older people go first. So hop in, I'll bury you."

Bury my dad, as it is customary for sons to do.
Is that Ragnarök in the horizon? Finally guaranteed way to get some divine folks in, even if they die for short while! So man it through this winter, I'm so gonna be Lífþrasir of this story!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 24, 2016, 11:59:28 pm
I follow the stoat downriver, unless that means entering Anglefork Town. If that's the case then I wish the best for him, stay where I am, and rest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 25, 2016, 04:41:42 am
Quote from: Toaster on July 24, 2016, 01:00:16 pm
Thomas blinked a couple times.  Well, this wasn't his point.  He supposed that the front door was out, which meant...

"Are there any other ways in?  We do have the grappling hook still."

Ask about/look for other ways in.  The grappling hook is on the table.

[Art of the Ninja: 4]

Rather fortuitously there is an open second-floor window you can see from here, and readily point out to your associates. With a grappling hook it should be simplicity itself to get inside. Just need to wait until the patrol goes for another circle round and make a break for it, you suppose. Quiet-like, if that's a priority.

Wait, says the Worm-knight. There is little actual need to go into the town hall as such. It was simply a possible place where the guards are coordinating their activities from. Or possibly sleeping in. There are no barracks as such in the town, since the defense was somewhat outsourced to the castle when the rightful rulers were still in power. So the real question is where one would be able to find the armory and quarters of the guard, if there even is such a thing and they are not volunteers operating from their own homes.

The guard retorts that it nevertheless seems entirely in keeping with this stealth mission to not leave something as clearly important as the town hall blatantly uninfiltrated. No doubt all manner of sinister unscouted forces lurk within it.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 24, 2016, 01:16:16 pm
"Oh for fuck's sake, this again? Well, I appreciate what you do for me but sometimes this connection thieving business is a little ridiculous. I don't even remember these two!

Right, let's see if it's the one or both."

Walk directly in front of the captain dude and poke him in the nose with a finger. See if he recognizes my presence at all; if not, go find some other people.

[A Fly In The Ointment: 2]

You walk in front of the guard captain and move to touch his nose. He responds by slapping your finger away with his mailed gauntlet, which you find a little painful.

His apologies, he says. It takes a moment to realize he's not addressing you. There was a fly invading his personal space. The guardswoman, however, is most definitely looking at you, her confusion only increasing.

You sigh and decide to leave them to it and head off to find somebody more reasonable to talk to.

[Disturbing Findings: 3]

Fortunately, disposable-looking servants aren't difficult to find. A couple of younger ones are presently looting their way through a house lacking a door with great gusto despite the paucity of useful goods within. Seems like somebody's enjoying impending freedom. You go on and gently, yet nakedly interrupt them. They stop what they're doing, rather embarrassed from the looks of it.

Right, you say, there's this woman you're looking for. Tall. Authoritative. Has the ear of the queen. Guard. Is about to lead a looting spree into Anglefork Town.

[What You Getting At: 3]

Uh, they say. That's definitely a guard of some kind. Have you asked the guard commander? The old one, you ask? No, they say, the royal guard commander. She's, er... in the keep? Probably?

Quote from: TopHat on July 24, 2016, 02:24:25 pm
"Ah. May I ask where I might see that list? Just I saw a couple of people outside earlier who I'm pretty sure won't be on it."
Mention the stoat and the 'defector', Minett. Point out the direction they ran off in, as well.

She's not on the list either. And neither is any stoatman. And none of this is your concern. Move inside. Now.

You get the feeling the man's a focused sort.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 24, 2016, 04:00:39 pm
No one killing daughters? That's good, though peculiar turn my subconscious is taking.

"What? No dad, that's your place. You know the proper order how these things is supposed to happen. Older people go first. So hop in, I'll bury you."

Bury my dad, as it is customary for sons to do.
Is that Ragnarök in the horizon? Finally guaranteed way to get some divine folks in, even if they die for short while! So man it through this winter, I'm so gonna be Lífþrasir of this story!

[After You: 2]

No, no, no, says your dad. He was buried already. Now you need to have a go. The mighty winter makes for many exceptions to the normal order of things. He starts to usher you toward the coffin like he used to back in the good old days, with copious amounts of manhandling and a good deal of miscellaneous violence.

You look to the horizon. No gods that you can see. Granted, they operate on a different time scale than you do. Might be a couple years late as a result.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 24, 2016, 11:59:28 pm
I follow the stoat downriver, unless that means entering Anglefork Town. If that's the case then I wish the best for him, stay where I am, and rest.

The river does run through Anglefork Town, but that doesn't necessarily mean you can't go around the town rather than cut straight through. How well that would bode for your prospects of ever catching up to the fellow is another question, obviously. You consider all of this as you sit down on the shoreline, the shadows of the forest fading in favor of the all-encompassing dark of the night.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 25, 2016, 06:45:52 am
"Going back inside the castle, yessir."
Back to the castle it is, then.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 25, 2016, 07:00:56 am
"I suppose it is just light scouting, rather than full on scout it all.  Let's move on."

Scout elsewhere.  What else can be found in the town?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 25, 2016, 12:48:45 pm
"Right, thanks. Good luck with the looting."

To the keep! Hopefully she's there.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 25, 2016, 01:19:26 pm
"Winter might make expections, but getting out from grave is not one of them. Will you go back in graciously or do I have to show what I learned from you about manhandling? I'll tell mom if you keep being stubborn."

I have buried my dad once already, might as well do it again. Tell mom if he's being stubborn.
And this is my realm, when I say there's Ragnarök in the horizon, there's better be one!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 25, 2016, 05:20:17 pm
I think I'm going to have to accept the possibility that I don't see that stoat again. But I might as well keep going downriver; I was planning on wandering directly away from here anyway. I walk in a wide half-circle around the town, reaching the river again once I'm a good distance past Anglefork.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 26, 2016, 04:54:31 am
Quote from: TopHat on July 25, 2016, 06:45:52 am
"Going back inside the castle, yessir."
Back to the castle it is, then.

Your collection seems to have been part of a broader effort as you pass other guards getting some sense beaten into them by their comrades, then being ushered into line behind you and your companion as you are collectively escorted over the drawbridge back into the castle. The formerly crazed guards seem quite perplexed, all ten of them that still need retrieving.

The captain of the guard steps over. He looks you and your companion over first of all with eyes like shattered mirrors - glassy, yet unnervingly penetrating. Mr. Wilde, he nods with mechanical respect, Ms. Deirdre, how goes the investigation? Have you turned up any sign of the stable master?

Quote from: Toaster on July 25, 2016, 07:00:56 am
"I suppose it is just light scouting, rather than full on scout it all.  Let's move on."

Scout elsewhere.  What else can be found in the town?

[A Night Out: 1]

As it turns out, more stout fellows. Quite a few of them. Ten, in fact, three of them in actual armor, wielding a variety of armaments. One of the armored ones is being dragged along, seemingly in quite a terrible shape.

What's more, they seem to have the same appreciation for cutting through narrow alleyways as you do, judging from the way you find yourselves standing face-to-face with them in one. One of the armored stout men at the head of the contingent needs to take but one look at you lot before a flare of recognition. Worm-knight, he mouths. And a castle guard. And some man wearing a scandalous dress!

Infiltrators, he says in a dreamy lilt. Infiltrators, the others repeat with a mixture of fear and excitement! The Worm-knight starts to step back. The guard is about to take off at a sprint.

Quote from: Xantalos on July 25, 2016, 12:48:45 pm
"Right, thanks. Good luck with the looting."

To the keep! Hopefully she's there.

Thanks, the two say as you leave them to their antics and head to the keep, entering the foyer. There's quite a commotion at present, one you only slightly noticed before. The majordomo, newly but still tastelessly clothed, stands in the hall, ordering servants around much like he was before, though with considerably more purpose to the instructions. A red-haired royal guard stands next to him, occasionally pitching in with advice. The minder girl from previously gently floats above the staircase, earning awed looks from the servants as well as a few smaller children trailing in her wake. She occasionally looks at one servant or another, which is accompanied by an immediate change in trajectory by the servant in question. Objects of interest and value as well as various supplies seem to be in the process of getting brought to the hall and scrupulously inventoried.

Much to your consternation, however, you don't really see either the woman who proposed that you come along a-looting or anybody fitting the description of a guard commander. Though there are quite a few people you could ask, you suppose.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 25, 2016, 01:19:26 pm
"Winter might make expections, but getting out from grave is not one of them. Will you go back in graciously or do I have to show what I learned from you about manhandling? I'll tell mom if you keep being stubborn."

I have buried my dad once already, might as well do it again. Tell mom if he's being stubborn.
And this is my realm, when I say there's Ragnarök in the horizon, there's better be one!

[Do You Still Bury Your Dad: 5]

Fortunately your dad, being a skeleton, has some difficulty overpowering you. The reverse is quite untrue. You lift him above your head and place him into the coffin via the time-honored method of body slamming. That done, you spend some time nailing it shut for good measure. Better than last time. With some metal plates inlaid into the coffin so it's harder to punch one's way out. And then you slam the coffin into a ditch and let it be covered with thirty-nine layers of compacted dirt followed by seven snowdrifts. Ought to hold. Now then, that just leaves the other business.

[Fate of the Gods: 4]

You look to the horizon. Yep, Jörmungandr is definitely contracting and getting twitchy. And is that creak from the gates of Asgard? Ooh, bestial howling in the air. Shit's definitely about to go down, you'd say. All is as it should be!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 25, 2016, 05:20:17 pm
I think I'm going to have to accept the possibility that I don't see that stoat again. But I might as well keep going downriver; I was planning on wandering directly away from here anyway. I walk in a wide half-circle around the town, reaching the river again once I'm a good distance past Anglefork.

[Sharp Eyes And Keen Ears: 1]

You head merrily out on a circuitous trek around Anglefork Town, which if you understand correctly has a southward road leading away from it. You decide to keep a safe distance as you head the long way round.

[Snaking Stoats: 4]

You're far away enough to not run any serious risk of being caught by any patrols (especially given that it is night and no decent stoat would be caught dead out in the woods at night), and after about an hour of progress you manage to find yourself over on the other side, where the southward road beckons travelers.

You stop at a convenient signpost by the roadside on the crest of the hill. Takes you a little bit to make out what's written on it, but you manage to piece it together with a combination of reading and feeling the letters with your fingers. There's Anglefork directly north, 1 mile. Elizabeth, north-northwest, 56 miles. Speaker's Bridge, directly south, 30 miles, the sign looking freshly replaced compared to the weathered look of the other ones. Grayfield, south-southeast, 59 miles, also new. And Ark City, southwest, 123 miles, another new sign.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 26, 2016, 05:21:14 am
Time to get my concert gear ready, because soon I'll have audience of ages: jötnar, Æsir, Vanir, dwarfs and other monsters.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 26, 2016, 11:50:46 am
"Not exactly. Given the nature of his disappearence, it seems highly likely to me that paranormal forces were involved. We have also discovered a connection between recent magical events and something beneath this castle, which I am currently preparing to investigate. Worryingly enough, it seems the impact on this... thing below us, could also pose a threat to everyone living here. Is there anything I've forgotten, Ms. ... Deirdre?"
Report.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 26, 2016, 01:35:42 pm
Oooh, I remember him being very afraid of me. Good.

"Hey majordomo! I've a question for you! You can even keep your clothes this time!"

Ask majordomo about the guard lady. He commands servants and stuff, he probably knows or at least suspects something.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 26, 2016, 05:11:13 pm
So many places to go. If only I knew what any of them were.

And they're all so far away! Distance is such an inconvenient concept. If I could disrupt spatial order for just a minute, maybe "further" and "closer" wouldn't be so strictly defined. Good thing I can do that!

I would like to contact my travel agent, CHAOS.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 26, 2016, 05:27:56 pm
"Wait!  I have a... messenger from the castle.  He's in this sword, see?"

Show them the sword.  Try to do so non-threateningly.  Maybe also run if the other two do that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 26, 2016, 07:48:12 pm
I'll be leaving tomorrow on a vacation for 10 days or so; if a turn is posted before I leave, I'll make my next action the action plan thing. If not, I'll edit it in my current action.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 27, 2016, 04:14:41 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 26, 2016, 05:21:14 am
Time to get my concert gear ready, because soon I'll have audience of ages: jötnar, Æsir, Vanir, dwarfs and other monsters.

Burning cathedral, check.

Mammoth speakers, check.

Excellent playlist of crowd-pleasing metal on a respectable laptop hooked up to mammoth speakers, check.

Studded Norse-chic harness suspended in front of the speakers for your use during the concert, check.

Electric axe hooked up to speakers but muted so you don't make a fool of yourself flailing around with it, check.

Yep, you're just about ready. Maybe you should set it to play so that the gods/other gods/frost giants/more things than your philosophy can possibly account for have a grand entrance.

Quote from: TopHat on July 26, 2016, 11:50:46 am
"Not exactly. Given the nature of his disappearence, it seems highly likely to me that paranormal forces were involved. We have also discovered a connection between recent magical events and something beneath this castle, which I am currently preparing to investigate. Worryingly enough, it seems the impact on this... thing below us, could pose a threat to everyone living here. Is there anything I've forgotten, Ms. Deirdre?"
Report.

Deirdre seems very much content to let you field this one, especially since your version of the events involved seems better than what she could think up.

[The Inquisition: 1]

The captain seems to take slow and careful note of what you say to him, and slowly nods. This is acceptable. There is no need to investigate the areas beneath the castle. Far too dangerous for civilian investigators. Considerably too dangerous for professional investigators. Especially if something is stirring down there.

As for paranormal forces, do elaborate. There are many that could be responsible. Have you more precise information?

Quote from: Xantalos on July 26, 2016, 01:35:42 pm
Oooh, I remember him being very afraid of me. Good.

"Hey majordomo! I've a question for you! You can even keep your clothes this time!"

Ask majordomo about the guard lady. He commands servants and stuff, he probably knows or at least suspects something.

You walk up to the man and pose your question, and he doesn't even look in your direction. You wave a hand in front of his face. He fails to react. The red-haired guard next to him suggests that the majordomo is somewhat busy at the moment. So you step in front of the majordomo and give him your best murder-glare, your sharpened thought tapping on the back of his skull as you angle and widen one eye in your best imitation of a half-blind murderhobo. He scratches his head with an expression of mild annoyance.

You know, this is starting to get a bit ridiculous.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 26, 2016, 05:11:13 pm
So many places to go. If only I knew what any of them were.

And they're all so far away! Distance is such an inconvenient concept. If I could disrupt spatial order for just a minute, maybe "further" and "closer" wouldn't be so strictly defined. Good thing I can do that!

I would like to contact my travel agent, CHAOS.

You're not sure that's exactly within your power to do, but what could the harm be in trying it out anyway? It's great to be pure

CHAOS

[Word: 3]

The sign vibrates as you invoke the power of disorder and entropy upon it, spinning three times around in its position. When it comes to a rest, you find it is now pointing in considerably different directions. Well, that and the measurements are now an admixture of feet and meters, and the letters are jumbled.

On the bright side, now you know the way to Necwarkity. Straight north, 4321 meters and about 16.8E5 feet. The rest are a little hard to decipher.

Quote from: Toaster on July 26, 2016, 05:27:56 pm
"Wait!  I have a... messenger from the castle.  He's in this sword, see?"

Show them the sword.  Try to do so non-threateningly.  Maybe also run if the other two do that.

[The Sword We Fear: 6]

You show the sword in a way you've seen in a great many poses from terrible fantasy art, pommel forward, blade turned downward. Its grayness reflects in the eyes of the stout fellows. They stare at it, faces frozen, mouths hanging open. This lasts for a few moments.

Wait, brothers, says one stout man in armor, the sword speaks well! But is it the one? Look at the unworthy intruder holding it! How would one such as he defeat the one? This does not make sense, he says, dumping the other stout fellow he was carrying on the ground to step forward. Have no fear, says he. This is clearly some minder trick. Look, he says with a gleam in his eye, the other stout fellows following him with hopeful eyes as he places one of his stubby hands on the blade.

You hear the wind shift in a most unseasonable manner, ruffling your hair slightly as you feel a slight pull in your hands. You get the feeling something unusual just happened, but cannot quite place it before you notice that the stout fellow doesn't seem to be in front of you anymore. Or next to you. Or behind you. Or anywhere in the alleyway, in fact. Though his shadow is still on the ground, the reminder of your stare sending it reeling into the darkness of a more shadowy corner.

The stout fellows, meanwhile, are staring at the blade still. Well, except for the one on the ground. That one looks mostly unconscious still. You are tempted to congratulate them on their friend's impressive trick, but the expressions on their faces seem to indicate they are as surprised as you are.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on July 27, 2016, 04:29:48 pm
"Yeah, I've about had it with this bullshit."

Slap a bitch. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjIdTCiKRyQ)

Action plan for while Xantalos is away:
-find guard lady, by extensive interrogation/intimidation of everyone in sight if I need to. Refrain from causing physical damage (majordomo aside) for now unless people are being really stupid.
-after guard lady is found, go on looting expedition with her. Attempt primarily to find a stoatman and absorb it, along with looting anything that seems really cool/magical. Do this for a few hours.
-after a period of a few hours has elapsed, make my way back to the blacksmith's place. Await my armor.
-if armor is not made and instead he made something else for me, take it and warn him not to be inconsistent with valued customers. Then make my way to the well and give it the stoat.
-if armor is not made and he didn't make anything for me, file a complaint in the form of removing his limbs and force-feeding him his own fingers. Then make my way to the well and give it the stoat.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 27, 2016, 08:14:56 pm
((Poor majordomo.))

Thomas nodded.  "Right, now, can we all get on with our business now?  That was a lovely trick, but I'm sure you've places to be, as we do."

Can we all just move along now?  Probably should put some distance away from the center of town now.  Not running, mind.


((EDIT:  I'd like to say I am impressed with how consistent you are with them being "stout" in Thomas's turn blocks.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 28, 2016, 01:12:42 am
"Well, it was worth a shot."

I start walking south along the road, looking out for any forks or intersections.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 28, 2016, 03:58:28 am
Good, good. Ragnarök is good to go then. Welcome it and other members of pantheon with most badass metal music I can think of!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 28, 2016, 01:47:23 pm
"Not exactly. Given the timing, however, I would guess that it had something to do with the arrival or actions of myself or the others created by the minders, or with the later destruction of the stone circle. But you mentioned something stirring? Has that happened before?"
Speculate.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 29, 2016, 09:23:59 am
Quote from: Xantalos on July 27, 2016, 04:29:48 pm
"Yeah, I've about had it with this bullshit."

Slap a bitch. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjIdTCiKRyQ)

[Disciplinary Measures: 2+1 vs. 4]

You swing a mighty backhand in a great sweeping gesture, only for the majordomo to suddenly lean back out of the way, some animal instinct driving him to react to things his mind has thus far failed to perceive. You look on in surprise for a second as that very same animal instinct forces a certain reply, that being to punch you in the face with a force that puts you on your back foot for a split second before you lose your balance and tumble down the steps.

The majordomo is silent for a second, massaging the light soreness that has suddenly developed in his punching hand, seemingly not quite certain as to what might have been the cause. The servants moving through the foyer have paused in their tasks to appreciate the artistry of your fall. The guard watches you with suspicion, hand on his sword, seemingly unfriendly to the idea of castle staff being improperly handled by naked strangers. And the minder girl regards you with a raised eyebrow. A few other royal guards look in through the doorways, alarmed by the sudden noise followed by silence.

You dust yourself off as you rise to your feet a little more bruised, a little more peeved, and consider your next move as the eyes of the foyer rest upon you, whispers from the servants reaching the ears of the royal guards gathering round.

Quote from: Toaster on July 27, 2016, 08:14:56 pm
Thomas nodded.  "Right, now, can we all get on with our business now?  That was a lovely trick, but I'm sure you've places to be, as we do."

Can we all just move along now?  Probably should put some distance away from the center of town now.  Not running, mind.

[Moving Along: 5]

Yes, says one of the armored stout fellows, they'll be moving along. Now. And then the group take off at a sprint in the opposite direction, their short legs carrying them with all the swiftness of fine men and women running for their lives.

You notice they left their mostly unconscious friend on the ground, in fact, so great was their rush. You wonder if he'll be all right. Looks like he's taken something of a beating.

That is a useful sword, the Worm-knight says, if a disturbing one. The guard goes over to the unconscious fellow and pokes him with a foot, then looks back at you. Seems very committed to this unconsciousness ruse, he comments skeptically.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 28, 2016, 01:12:42 am
"Well, it was worth a shot."

I start walking south along the road, looking out for any forks or intersections.

The night is long and dark, and you have quite the road ahead of you. So you start down the southern road, unmindful of the terrors that no doubt lurk in the forests of the inexplicable north.

[A Path of Angled Forks: 3]

Two hours pass as you walk along the empty road, counting the mile markers in the overall boredom of overland travel, occasionally passing a lonely darkened farmhouse or an overgrown woodland trail branching off from the road when the trees part for a short while, most of them looking somewhat dilapidated when not outright half-collapsed. Midway through you notice a small, yet bright light in the distance between the trees. It widens a little as you look at it, beams shining into your eyes momentarily before it soundlessly blinks out. You decide not to investigate.

At the sixth mile comes a fork in the road, and a roadside inn. Neither seem to be much of what they used to be.

The fork, in fact, isn't much of a fork, merely a trace of one, the stones of the other road seemingly removed and the roadside ditch dug through where it used to branch off, though the signs of a former road's elevation and the clearing of the trees in the area has proven impossible to mask. You see make out another signpost on the side of the road - this one, however, points only to Speaker's Bridge, 24 miles south, and Anglefork, 6 miles north.

The inn, meanwhile, is a fairly plain two-story affair of wood on a stone foundation, a small stable by its side containing a single rather nervous horse struggling with a case of insomnia. The inn itself seems to still be open if the dim light in the windows and the quiet, occasional sound of tableware clinking is any indication, though you don't hear any voices. You see a post on which a sign might have hung on once, but no longer.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 28, 2016, 03:58:28 am
Good, good. Ragnarök is good to go then. Welcome it and other members of pantheon with most badass metal music I can think of!

[A Great Resounding Din: 2]

It's more a layering of all the metal you can think of, but it comes out perfectly all right, gods and monsters alike seemingly having a fine time of it as they get into the spirit of things, the sound of screaming, violence and mythic amounts of bloodshed creating a wonderful symphony to greet the impending end of the world. Garmr howls along to your tunes, some jötnar break out their own instruments to join the band during a flanking maneuver, Naglfari uses one of your speakers to moor itself and discharge hordes of the undead, and a good bloody time is had by all as the corpses start to pile up in mounds that threaten to touch the very sky. Níðhöggr seems to be having a blast.

Quote from: TopHat on July 28, 2016, 01:47:23 pm
"Not exactly. Given the timing, however, I would guess that it had something to do with the arrival or actions of myself or the others created by the minders, or with the later destruction of the stone circle. But you mentioned something stirring? Has that happened before?"
Speculate.

The ones created by the minders, the captain notes, those would be prime suspects. Yourself included, by your own admission. Do not disappear anywhere, he says, he will have a different investigator on the job soon enough.

And he can confirm suspicions that there is something stirring beneath the castle, but this is not anything out of the ordinary. The subterranean areas are a place of extreme danger for anyone foolish enough to wander into them unknowingly. As mentioned, someone else will take over the investigation from here. Do not trouble yourself with the particulars.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 29, 2016, 10:06:56 am
Man, I should have grabbed some gold from the well. Maybe someone in there knows the area, at least.

I enter the inn to ask for directions. Specifically, what lies down that old road.

((Will status pruning affect the amount of connections I have to offer?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on July 29, 2016, 11:16:50 am
That's how its gotta be!

Quick peek into reality if anything noteworthy is happening. If not, then back into our scheduled program, finale of this concert! Break out beer kegs!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 29, 2016, 12:54:33 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 29, 2016, 10:06:56 am
((Will status pruning affect the amount of connections I have to offer?))

Yes, actually. I mean, you can hardly expect good deals for something entirely inconsequential.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 29, 2016, 07:31:43 pm
Thomas prodded the prone stout man with his foot.  Huh.  "Well, let's take him along and find someplace to hide out.  You two can try to ask him around... I think I need to rest.  I'm not sure I've slept in days, now that I think about it."

Find a place we four can hide, and drag the stout man along.  Rest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on July 30, 2016, 03:27:44 pm
"Ah. Good luck with that and good day."
Beg my leave and find somewhere quiet to sit.
"Well Deirdre, that's given me a bit of time to kill, so there are a few things I've been meaning to ask if you don't mind. Firstly, is there anything you'd rather be called? I never did get your name."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on July 30, 2016, 05:14:04 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 29, 2016, 10:06:56 am
Man, I should have grabbed some gold from the well. Maybe someone in there knows the area, at least.

I enter the inn to ask for directions. Specifically, what lies down that old road.

The door of the inn swings open with creak, and you come into the main room, a woven mat crinkling beneath your feet as you take in the surroundings.

The room is quiet, but not empty. Several tables are arranged in a semicircle around the hearth, which is currently lit and filling the room with gentle firelight. Trophies from animals you do not quite immediately recognize line the far wall, their unusual heads and strange glass eyes staring out at you. You smell food - roasted meat, herbs, quite a few other things.

At one of the tables sits a stoatman, halfway through a dinner of bread, meat, potatoes and no doubt quite a bit of wine that could easily feed three grown men. He seems rather drunk as he waves to you, dressed in noticeably ill-fitting clothes. Hello! Welcome! Fantastic night to be alive, innit?

You hear a stirring to the left. Another stoatman stands at the bar of the main room, leaning back against it while polishing a glass with a newfound urgency as... she, definitely she, you sense with uncommon certainty, looks you over with narrowed eyes. Greetings, she says in a slightly stilted manner. Human, she continues, then thinks for a moment longer. What brings you out on the road tonight?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on July 29, 2016, 11:16:50 am
That's how its gotta be!

Quick peek into reality if anything noteworthy is happening. If not, then back into our scheduled program, finale of this concert! Break out beer kegs!

You open your eyes. It's kind of dark. The light's gone out by now. And the others seem to asleep. You're not missing anything, you'd say. Back to a dream of a more interesting world!

[And They Fight And Dance 'Til The Morning: 6]

As with all conflicts, beer does not at all go amiss here! You know your audience if you know anything at all. Skulls crack to the tunes of your well-shaped imagination, and you swing your axe to play a fine song on the Midgard Serpent, and also some of the other guys and gals at play, probably nobody that important since you don't really remember much about them other than them being at play. You spin in a magnificent dervish axe solo through the hosts of gods and monsters for the grand finale as the world comes to that most glorious of ends.

And finally, as the dust settles, all is as it should be - FUBAR, just as the prophecies predicted. The World Serpent is dead, and the ocean looks lopsided as a result, and may or may not be draining somewhere judging by the lowering water levels. You hit your head on the vault of heavens as you step over the collapsed body of Thor. Hey, wait a minute, he's actually alive - luckily, you can swiftly correct that. After that, all is as it should be! The sun stares at you like the universe's very own black eye, and a couple of huddling, barely surviving and inspiringly drunk Aesir are presently playing a board game with a couple of late arrivals (son of a bitch, that guy over there, you think that's Váli) as they consider what they were planning to do after all this. The ocean is littered with corpses floating face down on the waves, which seem to be calming down now that the very notion of the wind has been killed in the fighting. Naglfari seems to have been impaled on your now merely smoldering cathedral by virtue of a particularly tall tidal wave, half-animate bones pouring out of its broken hold onto the rocky ground like a macabre rhythm section. Wolf sheddings, spilled blood and fingernails are absolutely everywhere. Steam rises from the ground and ocean.

[An Image Of Things To Come: 5]

You inhale the smell of ash as you consider your party. You'd say this was a job well done, but you think you'd be doing it a disservice. This is art. With alcohol as your paintbrush and mythology as your canvas, you have created a scene to end all scenes. You have fashioned the

APOCALYPSE

Quote from: Toaster on July 29, 2016, 07:31:43 pm
Thomas prodded the prone stout man with his foot.  Huh.  "Well, let's take him along and find someplace to hide out.  You two can try to ask him around... I think I need to rest.  I'm not sure I've slept in days, now that I think about it."

Find a place we four can hide, and drag the stout man along.  Rest.

No better place, suggests the Worm-knight, than right out of town. And though the guard grumbles at taking your new stout friend along, he does fold after a smack to the head, so off you set!

[Getting Clear: 5]

Fortunately, since you seem to have run into most of the stout fellows at all able or willing to stop you on the way to get here, or at least enough of them that they've scared away the other ones, you run into absolutely no resistance as you extract yourselves from Anglefork Town, coming to the top of a bluff a slight distance away from the furthest outlying farms.

At this point you have to admit that you do feel a bit pooped, so you settle in for a bit of a rest next to a nearby tree. Shouldn't be too long until dawn, mentions the Worm-knight. The nights can occasionally be short around these parts. The stout fellow groans, having been dragged here a bit more roughly than he would have liked. The guard mentions that you are far from safe around here - the town militia could launch an offensive at any moment.

[Nap In The Face of Danger: 3]

Truth be told, all of this is a little hard to filter out. Especially since they don't seem eager to stay very quiet. Looks like they want to press on. Well, the Worm-knight and guard do. You're not quite sure what the stout fellow would like. Medical care, most likely.

Quote from: TopHat on July 30, 2016, 03:27:44 pm
"Ah. Good luck with that and good day."
Beg my leave and find somewhere quiet to sit.
"Well Deirdre, that's given me a bit of time to kill, so there are a few things I've been meaning to ask if you don't mind. Firstly, is there anything you'd rather be called? I never did get your name."

Leave is granted, and so you and Deirdre have a sit near the stone circle, which is quiet. Almost deathly quiet, truth be told, and somewhat unnervingly still, but you guess a bit of friendly conversation will pierce that well enough - place could do with a little bit of clearing of the air, you suppose as you put your back into upturning a doomstone for yourself to sit on and another one for Deirdre to occupy nearby.

Anyway, you ask if Deirdre's name is actually Deirdre once you've settled in - quite shockingly, the answer turns out to be yes. Yeah, her name is Deirdre. She guesses it's kind of weird that it never came up until this point. So, she asks with a smile, what were you calling her in your head until this point then, if you don't mind her asking?

Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on July 30, 2016, 08:59:37 pm
((I guess that explains where ABSENCE came from, then.))

Thomas shrugged.  He could use the nap, but he did suppose that now wasn't the time.  "Fine then, we'll do it your way.  Mrs. Worm-Knight, I'll follow your lead."

Follow her lead.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on July 31, 2016, 10:25:54 am
Ah. Human-stoat tensions might be high right now. Let's take this carefully.

"Just a traveller from far away, trying to see the world. I won't bother you for long. I was just wondering if anyone here could tell me about the surrounding area."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 01, 2016, 11:46:44 am
"You know, I'm not actually sure. Various synonyms for 'aquaintance' or 'friend', I think. Anyway, I was going to ask what life was like here before the stoat war? I'm assuming that's a fairly recent development."
You know, I should probably learn a bit more about this new world.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 01, 2016, 03:44:03 pm
Quote from: Toaster on July 30, 2016, 08:59:37 pm
Thomas shrugged.  He could use the nap, but he did suppose that now wasn't the time.  "Fine then, we'll do it your way.  Mrs. Worm-Knight, I'll follow your lead."

Follow her lead.

You amble on after the Worm-knight as your scouting party returns to the riverside, where you proceed to face down ostensibly the last obstacle before your work here is done, which would be the river.

The possibilities are clear enough - the same plan that got you over this way could work in reverse, but there are several problems. First of all, there does not appear to be much on the other side (at least not at the point on which you arrived) for the hook to latch onto. And secondly, as the Worm-knight mentions, there is the problem of delivering a mostly unconscious man to the other side, which is slightly more difficult than climbing over on one's own.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on July 31, 2016, 10:25:54 am
Ah. Human-stoat tensions might be high right now. Let's take this carefully.

"Just a traveller from far away, trying to see the world. I won't bother you for long. I was just wondering if anyone here could tell me about the surrounding area."

From far away? The stoat eyes you carefully. Where exactly are you from? And how did you-

[Excellent Reception: 6]

Shut yer gob, says the stoatman having a generous dinner, and let the lady have a seat! That's an order, by the way. You know, he almost forgot he can make those. Hah! The stoat by the bar gives the drunken one a glance, then glares at you mistrustfully. Okay, you say, you were just wondering about-

Hush, says the stoatman! Have a seat over here with him, for goodness' sake! And enough with the grim looks, there's a celebration going on! Come now, plenty of dinner for everyone, eh? Innkeep, he shouts, bring more dinner! She didn't make any for her, the innkeeper retorts. Well then, says the stoatman, why doesn't she just bring you hers, then? Customer's always right, eh?

She sneers at you, then heads behind the bar and into one of the further rooms - the kitchen, you'd guess from a glimpse. The stoatman motions you to sit down opposite him, nodding with a drunken, not particularly encouraging look.

Quote from: TopHat on August 01, 2016, 11:46:44 am
"You know, I'm not actually sure. Various synonyms for 'aquaintance' or 'friend', I think. Anyway, I was going to ask what life was like here before the stoat war? I'm assuming that's a fairly recent development."
You know, I should probably learn a bit more about this new world.

Well, uh, Deirdre stops to think a little. On the whole, livable, she guesses? These are the borderlands, after all. Northern borderlands, but that just changes the nature of the boredom - life's boring because the alternative might not make physical sense. Though to be fair, the weirdness did take an upswing when the fever did, and then the siege had already started.

She looks over at the chapel. You know, the one in town was nicer. Friendlier. And the priestess wasn't a lunatic (though she really got around), and didn't really mind if you basked for a while on a summer's day. Pews were built for that, actually. Didn't have the nice windows, of course, but hey, neither does this one anymore, she shrugs as she glances toward the enormous stained glass window propped up in front of the blacksmith's residence. Still, it had the exact right kind of churchy feel, it did. Not like here, with the minder tower looming and the chaplain or whatever he is talking shit all the time.

She kind of misses living in the town, to be honest. It wasn't really exciting, sure, but it still felt like something was happening there day-to-day. Being cooped up in this damn castle is an uphill battle against madness from boredom alone. One that pretty much everyone else seems to have lost. Is that the first sign, she wonders as she looks at you, that you're going mad yourself? The feeling that everyone else is crazy?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 01, 2016, 03:47:52 pm
I wait what? A Word?

Leif springs up in reality and lets out a maniacal laugh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFg7esxnrXs). "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds!" he shouts and gets back to sleep.

Let's clean up the mess. New world needs to come.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 01, 2016, 04:22:06 pm
This guy seems friendly enough. I sit down next to him. "Looks like you're having a pretty great day. Big victory?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 01, 2016, 04:33:07 pm
Thomas scratched his head.  Well, that was a problem.  Well, shouldn't there be someone on the other side now to help?  "Can't we get someone on the right side of the river to help out?  We could probably float him across?  Or make a sling of some type?  In any case, with someone fixing the rope on the other side, it can't be that hard, right?"

See if someone on the correct side can help us out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 02, 2016, 03:03:41 pm
"Hmm. I would suppose so - sanity is relative, after all. Where I come from, they thought you were mad if you believed humans hadn't walked on the moon; here I'm pretty confident no-one would think me sane if I even insisted it was possible. So if everyone else is crazy, you're the crazy one by definition. Doesn't mean you're not right, though. Or even insane by everyone's standards.
Unless I'm just a figment of your imagination, of course, in which case you are objectively off of your rocker. Nothing for it in that case, though."
Ramble.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 02, 2016, 06:37:40 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 01, 2016, 03:47:52 pm
I wait what? A Word?

Leif springs up in reality and lets out a maniacal laugh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFg7esxnrXs). "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds!" he shouts and gets back to sleep.

Let's clean up the mess. New world needs to come.

[Sleeping Lightly: 6]

You yell out your triumph to your companions. Lee opens her eyes, casting an eye around the chamber you're in, spotting nothing of terrible interest, at which point she wraps herself up a little more tightly. Your backpack, meanwhile, awakens with the strangest grin on his face. He applauds, then falls back down again, comatose once more. With that declaration made, you slip back into your dreamworld.

[A New Beginning: 5]

You make a stick for Hœnir, and tell him that it gives the wielder magical powers of prophecy. He asks what powers would those be, and you elaborate that basically the same thing is going to happen again, only this time he'll realize it's all happening again and hopefully not fuck it up this time. Or at least fuck it up in a different way. Remember, you say, always pay your giant contractors, otherwise they'll wage blood feuds on your clan. And don't irritate the Vanir, because they can and totally will kick your ass again if you provoke them. Hœnir nods, and you instruct him to go toward the others currently playing an invigorating board game of some kind on the Field of Deeds. While he and the deadwood left over after the battle hash out what exactly they're going to do, you restart the sun again, send a couple of grapefruit waves to scrub off all the filth from your stuff, and sow some leeks (alcoholic ones, most likely, though you hold off on the exact content and definition until you've made up your mind) about. They grow pretty nicely! It's wonderful what a little cleaning up can do.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 01, 2016, 04:22:06 pm
This guy seems friendly enough. I sit down next to him. "Looks like you're having a pretty great day. Big victory?"

Yeah, says the stoatman in between bites as he rips into his food with renewed vigor, several rows of teeth making short work of his sausages, mashed potatoes, steak, yams, peas, bacon and all manner of various greens in a cornucopia of almost assuredly overwhelming variety, yeah it is, he survived! And he even got a new set of clothes for it back in town, he pulls at his shirt, seemingly made of actual silk, with more than a little pride. You notice that it is quite freshly stained with food, and considerably less recently with what you're fairly sure is blood, bravely, repeatedly, but ultimately futilely washed and scrubbed for what must have been days.

But enough about him, he says, leaning forward. He slides one of his three glasses, each filled to varying degrees with what seems to be fine whisky, over to you a little messily and tops it off from a bottle he fetches from under the table. Have a drink! It's a wonderful night to be alive, eh? Wait, where's the wench, he suddenly turns away. Get over here with that food already, he shouts, and the innkeeper returns, presenting a much humbler meal than the stoatman's to you with a stone-faced look before returning back to the bar.

Anyway, says he, it's a wonderful night to be alive, don't you agree? Have a drink. And he'll have another one too, if you don't mind. He has a moment of indecision as he ponders which of his glasses to fill, and elects to just do both, topping them off as well, then putting the bottle down, accidentally nudging a fork off the table as he takes one in each hand and drains them both at once.

Quote from: Toaster on August 01, 2016, 04:33:07 pm
Thomas scratched his head.  Well, that was a problem.  Well, shouldn't there be someone on the other side now to help?  "Can't we get someone on the right side of the river to help out?  We could probably float him across?  Or make a sling of some type?  In any case, with someone fixing the rope on the other side, it can't be that hard, right?"

See if someone on the correct side can help us out.

[Help Is On The Way: 5]

The time-honored method of shouting like a lunatic soon produces a few guards on the other end - they seem altogether pleased to see you. You toss them the grappling hook, and after a few false starts they actually catch in this godforsaken darkness, and pull it taut as you tie the rope on the other end securely around a tree. That's that sorted, you figure.

[We'll All Float On Anyway: 2]

The Worm-knight, meanwhile, expresses some doubts about floating the stout fellow across. For one, you'd have to keep making sure he's not floating face-down. And he does seem a bit heavy, although that might just be the armor, let her relieve the fellow of it right quick... and no, he is actually pretty heavy without it as well. Quite literally stout despite those stubby limbs. Guess being 75% torso has its drawbacks.

Quote from: TopHat on August 02, 2016, 03:03:41 pm
"Hmm. I would suppose so - sanity is relative, after all. Where I come from, they thought you were mad if you believed humans hadn't walked on the moon; here I'm pretty confident no-one would think me sane if I even insisted it was possible. So if everyone else is crazy, you're the crazy one by definition. Doesn't mean you're not right, though. Or even insane by everyone's standards.
Unless I'm just a figment of your imagination, of course, in which case you are objectively off of your rocker. Nothing for it in that case, though."
Ramble.

Now that's just silly, the captain of the guard could see y- wait, that's not actually a point in her favor. And then there was the minder girl, and... also the guard outside? Bear in mind, you reply, that it is possible that you are just an externalized perception of her own actions. So that might have just been her all along. But then, she shoots back, but then... wait. Hm.

She looks around the courtyard. There is still a considerable bit of it coated in your own surplus viscera from that chaotic episode. Quite a bit of it appears to have drained into the well. With nobody seemingly bothered enough by it to try cleaning it up (especially in the face of packing and such), the smell maturing from merely wildly unpleasant to something potentially extraordinary.

You think this might be imaginary? Deirdre does seem to be entertaining the notion. Could be she's just gone mad. On the other hand, if being mad gets you free, maybe that's where she had gone wrong up until this point.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 02, 2016, 08:43:11 pm
"Surviving? I can drink to that. It's a tough world out there." I take a swig of the whiskey. "Speaking of the world, do you know much about this corner of it? I know I'm on the road connecting Anglefork and Speaker's Bridge, but I'm less sure about what's between them. I only stumbled on this cozy inn by chance."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 02, 2016, 11:03:56 pm
"Well, can we, like, tie another rope around his arms and throw it over the rope?  Then I can push him along while holding on to the main rope?  Sure, let's do that."

Another rope, or a shirt, or something over the main rope, tied to his wrists, to secure him.  Then push him along the rope to the other side while the guard and knight hold the rope on this side.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 03, 2016, 04:25:44 am
Alcoholic plants are good, but I think leeks should be more about taste than being over 50% ethanol. Hmm... Mead of poetry, made of honey and Kvasir's blood. I probably should investigate other mead based drinks too. Like mead mixed with water from Mímisbrunnr. Not gonna sacrifice my eyes for it, though.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 03, 2016, 10:50:14 am
"You know what? I really wouldn't worry about it. Because firstly, there's no way of proving it ether way, and secondly, well, if you're sane thinking about it will probably drive you mad, and if you're already mad why ruin the fun? That's pretty much the main reason I'm taking all of this at face value, to be honest, even if the alternative seems more likely."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 03, 2016, 05:33:20 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 02, 2016, 08:43:11 pm
"Surviving? I can drink to that. It's a tough world out there." I take a swig of the whiskey. "Speaking of the world, do you know much about this corner of it? I know I'm on the road connecting Anglefork and Speaker's Bridge, but I'm less sure about what's between them. I only stumbled on this cozy inn by chance."

Oh, this isn't the corner yet, not by a long shot, heh. That's more than three hundred miles north. This is still vaguely civilized. Though, the stoatman laughs, maybe a bit less so as of late. Maybe a lot less so. Depends on how much the gobshites have rebuilt after the pain train gave the countryside a once-over, you know what he's saying? Heh! You have a swig of the whisky as you listen - good stuff, actually, surprisingly so at that.

Also, what's a speaker's bridge, he asks, a little sleepy-eyed. Sounds, er... familiar? It's some 20 miles south, you elaborate. A town, you guess? Oh, he says! Oh, they must have changed the name. Honestly, not sure why! Was a pretty good name. King's Bridge! Could maybe do a sign for it, see, a sign like what you'd have for an inn. Just a big sign, stood up in front of town. And put the king on it, on a pole like the king would be (is he still, though?). Like a billboard, you suggest, having another sip. Yeah, he says, like a billboard. Would take a little wood, maybe some paint, he says and starts to doodle in a bit of sauce on one of his many plates, trailing off in a murmur.

Quote from: Toaster on August 02, 2016, 11:03:56 pm
"Well, can we, like, tie another rope around his arms and throw it over the rope?  Then I can push him along while holding on to the main rope?  Sure, let's do that."

Another rope, or a shirt, or something over the main rope, tied to his wrists, to secure him.  Then push him along the rope to the other side while the guard and knight hold the rope on this side.

[Zipline Slingin': 6]

You have the rather clever idea of untying the rope from the tree, then raising it up a bit higher, asking the lads on the other side to be patient and ready to see some serious ingenuity. You drag yourself up the trunk of the tree, rope in your teeth, hugging the rough and uncomfortable bark as you get in touch with your ape-like instincts, and once you're up to a decent height, retie the rope again, minus a noticeable segment that you think the stout fellow will need to be tied with.

Right, you say as you stand about twelve feet up from the ground, wedged in the crevice between two of the tree's largest branches, now do pass the stout fellow up here, and you'll have him over in a jiffy. The Worm-knight lifts him up to about chest height by his armpits, the strange proportions of the stout man reminding you slightly of a cat being held aloft, albeit more unconscious.

[Ensuring Verticality: 3]

The paranoid guard starts to climb after you, stopping at about seven feet up and kneeling down on the branch, figuring a sort of staircase mechanism to be in order. The Worm-knight approaches skeptically, lifting the fellow slightly above her head with a huff of exertion.

[Thrust To Weight: 3]

Hurgh, says the guard as he slowly drags the fellow up to his branch level, wrapping him around the nearby branch like a roll of humanoid tape (credit where it's due - you've hardly ever seen such a stout fellow display this much flexibility). It is at this point that he begins to wonder how he'd possibly lift the man up to your level.

[With A Little Help: 1]

The Worm-knight decides to help with this, spending about half a minute climbing up to the guard's level, at which point they unilaterally agree upon the brilliant plan of just tossing the fellow up to you, confident in your ability to catch him. They seem a little surprised - shocked, even, when your response to a stout man being suddenly thrown to you from below is a resounding 'what' and a panicked, ineffective scramble to capture a humanoid body mid-air.

[Fingers of Melting Butter: 4]

Fortunately, the guard does catch the fellow on the way down, and the Worm-knight catches the consequently immediately falling guard by the scruff of his neck while holding on to the tree trunk with the other hand, successfully managing to arrest their collective momentum before the stout fellow has an unfortunate meeting with the ground. The chain of three hangs there for a second, at which point the guard decides to set the fellow gently down on the ground, and is promptly let go by the Worm-knight in close proximity as she reassumes a more secure position.

You sigh as you look over to the other shore, where the guards you called over are having way too much fun observing all this.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 03, 2016, 04:25:44 am
Alcoholic plants are good, but I think leeks should be more about taste than being over 50% ethanol. Hmm... Mead of poetry, made of honey and Kvasir's blood. I probably should investigate other mead based drinks too. Like mead mixed with water from Mímisbrunnr. Not gonna sacrifice my eyes for it, though.

You resurrect Kvasir out of obscurity, and he asks if you are in need of his boundless wisdom, or perhaps his incredible eagerness to teach all the secrets of the universe to anybody who'll listen. You say nah, just need your blood, man. He seems to have figured as much, and just sighs as you chop his head off with your axe and squeeze all the blood out of his neck stump like human lemonade. You get some bees together in the now-unused head of Kvasir and have them make honey. Out of... well, what's available, you guess, you're not about to get into particulars. You set the head down nearby and make a mental note to get the honey out in a little bit. You collect the blood into a large plastic bag and set it on some glacial ice in the meantime.

As for Mim's well, you do see his head rolling around the fields of Vigrid still. You go and ask him where his well is, and he sort of rolls in the appropriate direction. You thank him for the assistance and head over that way. Yep, well of wisdom is right there. Better not drink too deeply, though. Even if doom is what you're all about, wouldn't want to ruin any surprises.

Quote from: TopHat on August 03, 2016, 10:50:14 am
"You know what? I really wouldn't worry about it. Because firstly, there's no way of proving it ether way, and secondly, well, if you're sane thinking about it will probably drive you mad, and if you're already mad why ruin the fun? That's pretty much the main reason I'm taking all of this at face value, to be honest, even if the alternative seems more likely."

Eh, she says, letting the eh linger a moment. Not really anything to add to that.

She looks up at the sky for a moment. The stars are out, and the moon looms large. Was kind of hoping she'd be out by now. Can't wait to get real food.

You notice you're in somebody's shadow. You look behind yourself, and see the blacksmith, still very presentable. He seems to have something in hand, and appears to have been waiting for a minute or two before you noticed him. He nods at you, fidgeting with something in his hands about the size and apparent weight of a bowling ball, currently wrapped completely in black cloth. The work is done as ordained. As revealed.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 03, 2016, 07:35:30 pm
"Okay, I think the idea is there, but let's try again with a bit more coordination, yes?  Let's all get ready first this time."

Everyone get ready.  Then we try again.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 03, 2016, 09:36:33 pm
Hm, I might have to leave soon. Better get to the point. First, another swig of whiskey. "You sound like you're kind of familiar with the area. Do you know where that old road nearby leads to? I want to know my options before I set out again."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 04, 2016, 05:25:09 am
A gallon of water should be enough. For irrigation. Leeks, like all other plants, need water to grow. Leif isn't much of farmer, so he have to rely on leeks being wise enough to grow on their own.

Check how honey is coming along. High five bees for being such awesome bunch. Leif has all faith they have made enough honey, so he starts working with first batch of mead of poetry. Flavour it with a drop of wisdom water. Sample finished product liberally and share with bees, they deserve it!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 04, 2016, 08:05:43 am
"Oh, excellent, you've finished that Measure of yours. Let's see it, then. How does it work, if you don't mind me asking?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 04, 2016, 12:20:49 pm
Quote from: Toaster on August 03, 2016, 07:35:30 pm
"Okay, I think the idea is there, but let's try again with a bit more coordination, yes?  Let's all get ready first this time."

Everyone get ready.  Then we try again.

Okay, you say, how about you try that again, but this time they warn you. You make ready as your two companions and their passenger get back on the branch. They swing the body one way like a sack of potatoes, then the other way. And a heave, a ho, and a heave-ho!

[Extraordinary Catch: 2]

This time you do catch him on the way up. Which rather unfortunately does leave your arms completely occupied with assuring a good hold on the man and not, say, with keeping yourself on top of the tree.

[From On High: 1]

The result is that you, cradling the fellow manfully in your arms as he is hurled right up into your embrace, go tumbling headlong from the tree, landing heavily on the ground beneath as the combined weight of yourself and your cargo comes crashing down on your ribcage, the stout fellow bouncing off your carcass as you come to a painful rest on your back. It feels like some integral part of you has cracked in the process, rather unfortunately, though luckily the stout fellow seems to have not been particularly harmed by the fall. Providing insurance in more ways than one, you chuckle, which is accompanied by a violent stabbing pain as your lungs touch something sharp and jagged in your abdominal cavity.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 03, 2016, 09:36:33 pm
Hm, I might have to leave soon. Better get to the point. First, another swig of whiskey. "You sound like you're kind of familiar with the area. Do you know where that old road nearby leads to? I want to know my options before I set out again."

Old road? He scratches his chin. Which one do you mean? 'Cause he only saw one between King's Bridge and here. You mention the fork in the road, with only of the paths still cobbled, and he thinks a moment. Hey, he says. Hey. Heyyyy...

... hey, that's right! There was another one. Led to some village... yeah, name of the bloody place slips his mind, though. Some rural place. He didn't go there when they passed the first time, no sir. That was the other detachment, he says as he munches on a boiled potato liberally sprinkled with dill. Probably. Or was he with that detachment? Hell if he remembers. All these bloody towns and villages look the same anyway, he says, refilling your glass with whisky as he sees you take another swig, this one making your eyes a little misty as it burns a little. Have some food too, the stoat suggests, poking at your dinner-to-be with his own lightly stained fork.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 04, 2016, 05:25:09 am
A gallon of water should be enough. For irrigation. Leeks, like all other plants, need water to grow. Leif isn't much of farmer, so he have to rely on leeks being wise enough to grow on their own.

Check how honey is coming along. High five bees for being such awesome bunch. Leif has all faith they have made enough honey, so he starts working with first batch of mead of poetry. Flavour it with a drop of wisdom water. Sample finished product liberally and share with bees, they deserve it!

You keep your plants watered like the Arctic desert. This does not appear to be much of a problem for them, their inscrutable plant-like ministrations producing crops all on their own. Leeks grow on good land - and this land, you think, is best of all. Ideal, you could even say.

[A Most Uncommon Mead: 5]

The honey's come in admirably well in the short while that you've left the bees to it, and you scoop a generous helping of it out of Kvasir's skull and make your first batch of mead with it. It's not the largest batch - only so much blood that you can squeeze out of a god, so you only get a small keg of mead even after you've watered it a little with Mim's wisdom. Pleased at the results, you have a small sip.

The veil of your realm parts for a second as the mead touches your tongue, and you find yourself floating a little above your body, the room looking bright as daylight to your eye and glimmering in places, seams in the walls outlining shapes of doors that once were, chambers now filled with concrete. You look up, and see the stars connect in unusual and unfamiliar patterns. For a second you feel like you could touch them, but by then the veil has closed, leaving you holding the keg in the middle of your realm once more. Potent stuff.

Quote from: TopHat on August 04, 2016, 08:05:43 am
"Oh, excellent, you've finished that Measure of yours. Let's see it, then. How does it work, if you don't mind me asking?"

Simply, the blacksmith replies, handing you the measure as he unwraps it - it seems to be a skull laden with gold, with blue glass eyes that stare out with an unusual light. The skull regards you coldly, and you feel a brief pull as you look it in the eye, one that takes a few moments to identify as not at all originating in your own mind. Deirdre looks over your shoulder as you examine it, and seems considerably more unnerved by the stare she receives in return.

Keep it wrapped, the blacksmith instructs. When you need to collect something peculiar - water, wind, light, anything that can be said to not be alive, point it toward the phenomenon, and it will be ended, and its knowledge digested for your benefit. His best work yet, he comments. Steeped in destiny and mystical revelation, yet entirely reproducible, should one feel like gathering its rarest ingredients.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 04, 2016, 01:15:20 pm
"Oh boys, this stuff is good! Better save it for special occasions only."

Now what was that about stars? Replicate the star pattern here on my own skies for later reviewing.
Next, I suppose it is time to wake up and practice new minding techniques. Namely automatic illusions, a construct that constantly seeks out minds nearby and projects specific visual component without me having to do it. Because now that I'm not only evangelist of Ægir but also agent of apocalypse, I need to upgrade my image. Glowing eyes would be nice touch. Flaming sword too.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 04, 2016, 07:40:06 pm
"Ouch," Thomas wheezed out.  "Okay, you know what?  You figure it out.  I'm going to take a nap by this tree.  Goodnight."

Enough helping for the day.  I am taking a nap by this tree whether they like it or not.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 05, 2016, 11:45:25 am
"Interesting. Very... useful, too. Are there any limitations to its use I should know about? And is there anything I can do for you in return?"
Follow the blacksmith's advice and wrap the measure up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 05, 2016, 12:55:19 pm
"Oh, I wouldn't want to deprive anyone of a meal." I gesture towards the female stoat if I see her, or just towards the far end of the room if not.

That said, maybe there's something tempting enough to take a bite of. I examine the food on my plate.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 05, 2016, 11:48:46 pm
I AM RETURNED FROM MY RELATIVE GOEGRAPHICALBACKYARD

COMMENCE PLAN EXECUTION
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 06, 2016, 11:50:16 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 04, 2016, 01:15:20 pm
"Oh boys, this stuff is good! Better save it for special occasions only."

Now what was that about stars? Replicate the star pattern here on my own skies for later reviewing.
Next, I suppose it is time to wake up and practice new minding techniques. Namely automatic illusions, a construct that constantly seeks out minds nearby and projects specific visual component without me having to do it. Because now that I'm not only evangelist of Ægir but also agent of apocalypse, I need to upgrade my image. Glowing eyes would be nice touch. Flaming sword too.

You can't really replicate something you had but a quick glimpse of. It's barely a blip in your short-term memory, let alone within your ability to recall. Just a bunch of lines in the sky.

[Harbinger's Eyes: 4]

You don't think it's too hard to make your eyes luminous. At least in the catlike sense. You could pretty easily clarify the image of your eyes in somebody's mind to the point where they'd look like they were glowing in the dark. Actually burning eyes would probably require slightly more drastic changes.

[Burning Anvil of Steel: 6]

As for making a sword burn, that's pretty easy. You make your sturdy falchion seem red hot in no time. This does, however, complicate holding it somewhat. You consider trying the same thing on your eyes, but before you can quite manage that a rare better impulse takes hold of you and you decide to hold off. You do kind of need your eyes, after all, while you can drop the falchion whenever you need. Or juggle it between hands like a hot potato.

Quote from: Toaster on August 04, 2016, 07:40:06 pm
"Ouch," Thomas wheezed out.  "Okay, you know what?  You figure it out.  I'm going to take a nap by this tree.  Goodnight."

Enough helping for the day.  I am taking a nap by this tree whether they like it or not.

Napping is easily manageable, if only because moving would hurt much, much more at this point. You let the pain slowly fade from your bones as you relax. You probably shouldn't overexert yourself. Hardly a spring chicken anymore, after all.

[The Brain Trust: 5]

Meanwhile, both the Worm-knight and the guard spend a little while thinking, and come to the stellar realization that maybe they should just tie the rope a little lower. The guard climbs up and brings it down to the 7-foot branch, which seems to solve the problem quite adequately. He congratulates the Worm-knight on her quick thinking. You hear the distant laughter of the other guards on the other side of the river, their entertainment quota for tonight met and soundly exceeded.

[Distant Silhouettes: 6]

You think you see something else in the distance as you incline your head a little. Something behind the guards, barely illuminated by their lantern light. Two shadows, one tall, one considerably shorter, standing still and silent.

Quote from: TopHat on August 05, 2016, 11:45:25 am
"Interesting. Very... useful, too. Are there any limitations to its use I should know about? And is there anything I can do for you in return?"
Follow the blacksmith's advice and wrap the measure up.

The measure feels much less dangerous when wrapped up. Is much less dangerous, the blacksmith pointedly corrects despite you not really saying anything aloud. And when you do unwrap it next time, feed it a phenomenon. Otherwise it'll start to lose its edge. Don't feed obviously living things to it. Or very large things unless they can be easily sampled.

As for what he wants, WELL. Another revelation would certainly not go amiss. It is BRILLIANT to work in semi-certainty, and prophecy can be better than destiny. But those are so very unpredictable. So a more concrete benefit may be useful. He thinks a moment, then looks at the gate. Since the issue of the siege appears to have been effectively resolved, it may be time to leave. Are you planning to leave? He would more than gladly appreciate the possibility of learning more in your presence, or even from you directly.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 05, 2016, 12:55:19 pm
"Oh, I wouldn't want to deprive anyone of a meal." I gesture towards the female stoat if I see her, or just towards the far end of the room if not.

That said, maybe there's something tempting enough to take a bite of. I examine the food on my plate.

Eh, says the stoatman, she'll live. She's got a larder like you wouldn't believe. And that's after the army took her share, hahah! And they say looting isn't a sustainable lifestyle. The innkeeper scowls toothily at your drinking buddy as he helps himself to another glass.

As for the food on the plate, there's green peas, sweet potatoes, some red sauce, a few balls of fresh cheese, a steak glazed with what you think is honey, and some bread and jam for dessert. Despite being smaller than the stoat's meal, it's still more than enough to keep you fed. And it does smell incredibly nice.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 05, 2016, 11:48:46 pm
I AM RETURNED FROM MY RELATIVE GOEGRAPHICALBACKYARD

COMMENCE PLAN EXECUTION

[Navigating The Asshole Ocean: 6]

You haven't really made all that much progress presently, but you have figured some things out. For one, that the woman you were looking for seems to be the commander of the royal guard. You also found out that she's currently briefing the queen on something. Once you started heading that way they started to say something else, but you didn't really listen after that point and just left them to their own devices. They did follow you after that, but you went with the classic strategy of letting them talk to the hand if they got in the way. Nobody seemed willing to make enough of an issue of it that you had to get more serious. Mostly they were just bewildered and frustrated.

In any case, after some shoving, questioning and circumvention, you are finally here at the queen's suite, having just opened up the door. Within the queen's suite is the commander you've been looking for. She is sitting by the side of the queen, who is a teenaged fair-haired girl, the very image of a princess even in what look like her traveling clothes. On the queen's other side, sidled up quite close to her, is an elderly, formidably whiskered fellow. Both the queen and the man seem to have been listening intently to the commander until your arrival, at which point all three of them look your way.

Well, says the queen with considerable surprise, looking you over for a few seconds. The elderly man gasps and moves to cover her eyes, which the queen just sort of awkwardly ducks away from, getting up from her chair in the process. The commander stands up as well. For god's sake, man, she says exasperatedly, couldn't you have at least got yourself some clothes before coming in here? The man, still sat down, seems to be struck mute by your appearance, and looks about to say something several times before helplessly looking at the commander again.

Should they remove you, three guards out of the dozen or so behind you say in unison. You sense a shuffling behind you as a semblance of a formation is attained, and weapons are resolutely drawn. Not yet, says the commander. What do you want, she asks? Raid's not on yet. And won't be until the scouts return.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 06, 2016, 12:51:50 pm
Thomas yawned a bit.  "What's that over there?" he said, gesturing in the appropriate direction.  That done, he settles back down for just five more minutes.  Or so.

Indicate, then nap more.  Ignore protests.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 06, 2016, 04:39:29 pm
Daniels raises an eyebrow, obviously unconcerned by the guards.

"Oh, it's not? Okay, let me know when it is. Or send somebody to find me, I'll stay mostly within the castle walls.

And to answer your question about clothes, if you have any I'll take them, but otherwise I've stopped bothering. I tried looking for them at one point, but I was in a hurry, couldn't find any."

His gaze slides over to the queen.

"So you're the queen then? Good luck raising your country out of the indeterminable shitmire it's apparently sunk into for some reason. Now then, good day to you all, I'm off to find the blacksmith."

Stroll out of the keep, idly considering venting my growing frustrations on the majordomo. Refrain from this for now, however, and see if the blacksmith is anywhere to be seen, or still in his hut.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 07, 2016, 05:35:08 am
Hmm, I suspect it won't be good if wielder is affected by the heat too much. Try to limit how much the illusion affects word's wielder. Especially the heat part.

Then, if the sword is still something I can hold in my hands, sneak around taking stock of the room. See if I can find those almost invisible lines indicating sealed door frames.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 07, 2016, 09:29:41 am
Well... I haven't eaten since I got here. Do I even need to eat as a weird magical rat-construct? Also... honey-glazed steak? I assess my bodily urges, specifically whether I feel hungry. Either way, I eat a couple of the cheese balls and try a bit of the steak and sweet potatoes. I wash it down with more whiskey.

As I eat I make a little small talk. "So what's the other road you mentioned between here and King's Bridge?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 07, 2016, 02:58:49 pm
"An interesting offer. At the moment I must say 'probably', although there are a few things I should do before I leave. Not least work out where I'm going, preferably.
What's your name, by the way? I've suddenly realised that I haven't asked."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 08, 2016, 09:52:17 am
Quote from: Toaster on August 06, 2016, 12:51:50 pm
Thomas yawned a bit.  "What's that over there?" he said, gesturing in the appropriate direction.  That done, he settles back down for just five more minutes.  Or so.

Indicate, then nap more.  Ignore protests.

[Looking Sharp: 1]

You sort of point at the other side of the river, where the shadows lurk motionlessly behind the guards, asking what's over there. Guards, replies the guard as he lifts the stout fellow up to the tree branch. And also uncountable monsters of the night. He looks around for a moment. Best not linger. Well, you suppose, that's that pointed out. You stretch a little, your range of motion seemingly permitting as much now, yawning as you close your eyes.

[Taking Care Of Business: 1]

You awaken as there is a sudden scrambling and panic. You smack your lips sleepily as you take a more refreshed look around.

[Desperate Fishing Techniques: 6]

You notice the guard, now fully disrobed, dive into the river heedless of the obvious danger, smacking right into a similarly disrobed and weakly struggling stout fellow as he is carried downstream. From inertia alone the two of them start to float toward the other side as the Worm-knight stomps around the shore, looking deeply concerned as she shouts for the guard to get the fellow out as soon as possible.

Huh. And those shadows seem to be gone from the other side. How odd.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 06, 2016, 04:39:29 pm
Daniels raises an eyebrow, obviously unconcerned by the guards.

"Oh, it's not? Okay, let me know when it is. Or send somebody to find me, I'll stay mostly within the castle walls.

And to answer your question about clothes, if you have any I'll take them, but otherwise I've stopped bothering. I tried looking for them at one point, but I was in a hurry, couldn't find any."

His gaze slides over to the queen.

"So you're the queen then? Good luck raising your country out of the indeterminable shitmire it's apparently sunk into for some reason. Now then, good day to you all, I'm off to find the blacksmith."

Stroll out of the keep, idly considering venting my growing frustrations on the majordomo. Refrain from this for now, however, and see if the blacksmith is anywhere to be seen, or still in his hut.

Bring the man some clothes, the commander instructs the guards. A few scramble out to comply with the order. And the signal to gather for the raid will be when the castle forces gather in the courtyard. She assures you this will be hard to miss.

You turn to the queen, and give her your best wishes. Er, she says. Interestingly put... thank you? You nod and head off on your business, leaving the ladies and single gentleman to whatever nonsense they were talking about.

[Scavenging In Force: 4]

A thin, smiling guardswoman slinks out of a particular room, presenting to you a red, comfy-looking vest made of velvet. A woman you are fairly sure is her sister slides out right after, offering a matching set of breeches with a gold trim. A third guard, quite serious-looking, comes out of a different room with a pair of what you think are riding boots. You collect all these under your arm and continue heading out, at which point the guards hovering around near you disperse.

Fortunately for you, the blacksmith is quite easily found by going outside and looking around, which reveals him standing near Mr. Wilde and his girl friend, apparently discussing something as Mr. Wilde cradles an object draped in black cloth. You stroll up, and consider whether it would be poor form to dress while engaging in a conversation. The girl reacts to your presence by stepping behind Mr. Wilde, and the blacksmith raises an eyebrow as the conversation reaches a sudden lull with your appearance.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 07, 2016, 05:35:08 am
Hmm, I suspect it won't be good if wielder is affected by the heat too much. Try to limit how much the illusion affects word's wielder. Especially the heat part.

Then, if the sword is still something I can hold in my hands, sneak around taking stock of the room. See if I can find those almost invisible lines indicating sealed door frames.

An illusion is in the eye of the beholder. You need to actually focus on somebody in particular to make illusions work as-is. It's elementary to turn your sword's heat off, of course, but then it doesn't glow or look terribly fiery. Not to you, anyway, and there isn't really anyone else about that you can affect to check. How confusing.

[Detect Secret Doors: 6]

You hold off on the burning for now and check the walls in the spots where you recall some seams being, and yes, they are still there as you approach and give the potential door a thorough feeling up. Subtle, but you're fairly sure you're dealing with a secret door here. The trick to opening it, you realize soon enough, is applying enough physical force. Just how much is up for debate, but some pushing, punching and quite a lot of swearing later you're pretty sure that about a jackhammer's worth would do it. You begin to consider where you might find a convenient jackhammer to unlock the passage when you notice Lee staring at you from her bedroll with an unmoving reptilian stare, the sudden glow of your illusion kicking into gear producing only the slightest of blinks.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 07, 2016, 09:29:41 am
Well... I haven't eaten since I got here. Do I even need to eat as a weird magical rat-construct? Also... honey-glazed steak? I assess my bodily urges, specifically whether I feel hungry. Either way, I eat a couple of the cheese balls and try a bit of the steak and sweet potatoes. I wash it down with more whiskey.

As I eat I make a little small talk. "So what's the other road you mentioned between here and King's Bridge?"

You don't feel too hungry, truth be told, but you do feel like eating with all this food about. Only polite, after all. The cheese balls remind you of mozzarella, though they seem to be spiced with a bunch of things, notably caraway. Steak's a bit on the well-done side, and the sweet potatoes are executed more competently than you expected. And, of course, the whisky is still whisky, and there's plenty of that to be had. You have a sip or two of that, and you find it strong enough to cleanse your palate adequately.

The stoatman has some more whisky himself as you ask him the question. Other road, he says. Huh. Other road. There's another road between here and King's Bridge? Is it shorter? You tell him he mentioned this other road, and he replies that he was probably drunk when he said that, and laughs for a good five seconds, going from a dazed giggle to a mixture of a snicker and a hiccup.

Yeah, he eventually says. Speaking of! What's a lovely girl like you doing out on the ride this... late at night? Early in the morning? Both? Bugger if he knows anymore.

Quote from: TopHat on August 07, 2016, 02:58:49 pm
"An interesting offer. At the moment I must say 'probably', although there are a few things I should do before I leave. Not least work out where I'm going, preferably.
What's your name, by the way? I've suddenly realised that I haven't asked."

He has been trying to think of a better name for himself as of late, the blacksmith confides. His name's actually Nately, Deirdre mentions in an offhand tone. The blacksmith frowns. Technically correct, he admits. But not a name he enjoys. Unimportant! As for a direction, may he suggest north? There are many secrets where the world angles rightly into an incongruous corner, and unknown scholars work to end time itself. The distant west as well - the Land of El is the birthplace of alchemy, and the home of wonders uncountable. South lie the holdings of the New and Glorious State of the stoatfolk, all as one eager to cleanse their destinies, and far to the east are the northwest borders of the Kingdom of the Dead, where all things eternal lie. Or closer still there is-

The blacksmith stops, looking over with a raised eyebrow at the sudden appearance of one Mr. Daniels, who seems to have come bearing, though not wearing clothes. Deirdre takes a step to put you between him and herself, looking slightly concerned. You silently wonder as a gentle scraping is heard from the chapel wall if it actually requires any effort for Mr. Daniels to appear frankly menacing or if it's a natural talent he's discovered.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 08, 2016, 10:18:38 am
"Good morning." Leif whispers. "I think it is morning anyway. Hard to be sure down here. But! I think we have a secret door here! Opening it seems to require some muscle, as I just discovered. Oh, and does this seem like real fire to you? Hot and all?" He asks while poking the sword.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 08, 2016, 10:28:18 am
"One moment."

Jack puts on his newfound clothes, seemingly savouring the sensation.

"It's been a while. I didn't think that clothes could make a difference to how you feel, but they really do. I almost feel complete."

He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes for just a moment. He exhales sharply through his nose and the eyes snap back open again, focusing intently on all three of them.

"Speaking of which, I have a few questions for you, blacksmith, if you don't overly mind. Won't take any of your time, I assure you."

His lips twitch upward in imitation of a smile, but it seems slightly forced - his eyes stare too intensely and the cords in his neck can be seen tensing just slightly.

Put up a veneer of civility, for politeness' sake.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 08, 2016, 12:23:54 pm
"Just a traveler from quite a way north of here, doing some sightseeing. I'm trying to stay on the move during the night because of all the uh, unrest around here. Speaking of that, I should probably leave in a bit."

For now, though... I try these peas.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 09, 2016, 07:39:18 am
Okay, okay, time to get up.  Really a quick nap can do you wonders.  "I think he has that taken care of."

Use the rope to cross.  Should be easy, right?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 09, 2016, 11:45:22 am
"Hmm. How are you doing, Daniels? Got up to much recently?"
What's this all about?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 09, 2016, 01:47:44 pm
"Oh, not much. Found out some things I need clarification on. Discovered a new mystery to unravel. Got clothes."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 09, 2016, 03:31:21 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 08, 2016, 10:18:38 am
"Good morning." Leif whispers. "I think it is morning anyway. Hard to be sure down here. But! I think we have a secret door here! Opening it seems to require some muscle, as I just discovered. Oh, and does this seem like real fire to you? Hot and all?" He asks while poking the sword.

No, Lee replies. You look at the sword in your hand currently giving you what feel a lot like blisters. Really, you ask? Really, she says. Shit, you say as you finally wig out and drop the falchion. Your backpack stirs in his sleep at the sound. Noisy, comments Lee.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 08, 2016, 10:28:18 am
"One moment."

Jack puts on his newfound clothes, seemingly savouring the sensation.

"It's been a while. I didn't think that clothes could make a difference to how you feel, but they really do. I almost feel complete."

He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes for just a moment. He exhales sharply through his nose and the eyes snap back open again, focusing intently on all three of them.

"Speaking of which, I have a few questions for you, blacksmith, if you don't overly mind. Won't take any of your time, I assure you."

His lips twitch upward in imitation of a smile, but it seems slightly forced - his eyes stare too intensely and the cords in his neck can be seen tensing just slightly.

Put up a veneer of civility, for politeness' sake.

Nakedness banished at last. You feel compelled to engage in civil banter now. The blacksmith looks you over, seemingly approving of your choice to not be naked anymore. The girl seems relieved as well.

What are your questions, asks the blacksmith. Have you obtained that sliver of perfection at last? He can provide more precise instructions now if you are still interested in armor, though he will need to be leaving in not very long. The local demand for supernatural armaments is only going to decrease from here.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 08, 2016, 12:23:54 pm
"Just a traveler from quite a way north of here, doing some sightseeing. I'm trying to stay on the move during the night because of all the uh, unrest around here. Speaking of that, I should probably leave in a bit."

For now, though... I try these peas.

Hah! You think this is unrest. Should've seen the first pass. And... ooh, north of here? You one of the clanfolk? Is that why you have that weird-looking robe on? He's heard they dress weird up north, heh. And hey! If it's safety you're looking for, he can come along! He's a robust guy, and you're... heading the same way, right? King's Bridge, yeah?

You thoughtfully have some of the peas as you consider a reply. Gray, boiled, with some bacon and onions - not half bad at all. Quite rich, actually.

Quote from: Toaster on August 09, 2016, 07:39:18 am
Okay, okay, time to get up.  Really a quick nap can do you wonders.  "I think he has that taken care of."

Use the rope to cross.  Should be easy, right?

You let the other two play lifeguard. You've got a river to cross. You climb up the tree and, with a little bit of effort, climb on over to the other side ponderously, yet ultimately effectively, giving your refreshed limbs a decent workout. You get up on the other side and bid a fine early morning to the guards, who seem to still be having a good time watching the rescue operation.

[Unleash The St. Bernard: 5]

Rather uncharacteristically the guard emerges from the river with the stout fellow in tow, breathing heavily as he coughs out a considerable amount of water from his lungs. He takes a minute to relieve the fellow of some of his excess lung water with a spirited round of mouth-to-mouth and pounding at his diaphragm every now and then, which seems to work, albeit not without considerable protest from the injured fellow. You stand by the team of three guards by the shore as you collectively observe the procedure, unsure if your help is really needed. You linger there a while longer as the Worm-knight also climbs over with a conspicuous clanking of plate armor, the relief of having lost nothing of value very much evident on her normally grave face.

Quote from: TopHat on August 09, 2016, 11:45:22 am
"Hmm. How are you doing, Daniels? Got up to much recently?"
What's this all about?

You would guess it's about the old dealings of the blacksmith and Mr. Daniels. You can't shake the feeling he is somehow displeased. On the other hand, Mr. Daniels has the unnerving tendency of looking at everyone like an insect of some variety, so maybe this is more a general state of overall displeasure.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 09, 2016, 03:42:05 pm
Jack's countenance lightens somewhat.

"Ah, good! You haven't forgotten. I do have a sliver of perfection on/in/with my person, matter of fact. If you've any more specific instructions for me, give 'em now.

Oh, and yeah questions."

He focuses intently on the blacksmith.

"You're absolutely certain that replacing my hand would remove my murder-thought? Entirely sure. Not telling a falsehood to your knowledge in any way whatsoever. Because if you were, out of fear of me or somesuch, now would be a good time to fess up."

Was your lie intentional?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 09, 2016, 05:16:54 pm
"Sorry. Underground rooms tend to have too good acoustic properties." Leif squats down, pokes the falchion, wonders what in Eitri's name he did wrong and tries to fix it. "Tell me when it looks real enough."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 09, 2016, 07:04:36 pm
"I suppose we should deliver that report now?"

Do so.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 10, 2016, 01:51:04 pm
"Ah. I'll leave you two to catch up..."
Stretch legs a little and look around to see if anything interesting's happening in the courtyard.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 10, 2016, 02:42:26 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on August 09, 2016, 03:42:05 pm
Jack's countenance lightens somewhat.

"Ah, good! You haven't forgotten. I do have a sliver of perfection on/in/with my person, matter of fact. If you've any more specific instructions for me, give 'em now.

Oh, and yeah questions."

He focuses intently on the blacksmith.

"You're absolutely certain that replacing my hand would remove my murder-thought? Entirely sure. Not telling a falsehood to your knowledge in any way whatsoever. Because if you were, out of fear of me or somesuch, now would be a good time to fess up."

Was your lie intentional?

A sliver of perfection is probably not actually necessary. Instead, material would be appreciated. Exotic material with properties that lend themselves to making good armor. Show him the sliver. If it is adequate and suitably auspicious, and you can find more of it, there should be no issue creating a suit of functional armor for you.

As for replacing your hand... the blacksmith bends down to look at your hand carefully, then at your murder-thought, which grazes silently above the chapel door, poised to drop on anyone in passing. He looks over the hand, poking it slightly. You wince with a somewhat surprising amount of lingering pain, and your thought jumps a little in its position. He inclines his head one way, then the other.

The mangling of your hand and the creation of the thought were probably connected if the process by which he made it did anything at all, and even if it didn't there may be some property of you that was manipulated to produce it. If he were to employ his best present judgment, it would stand to reason that fixing your hand would somehow affect your ineffable weaponry. How that would be, however, is beyond him to say. Would it cease to be? Become stronger? Remain in place? He was on something of a desperation high when he made it, and some time afterward as well, so you might not want to apply skepticism to some of the "insights" produced in this fashion. After all, he is fairly sure this particular miracle is non-reproducible. With his PRESENT understanding, mind you.

If you are interested in something more concrete, he could work on a metal hand as a replacement if you gave him some time to study your thought in a controlled environment, see what it is and what could be done with it. Quite a lot, he imagines, and you spot a little gleam in his eye. And Mr. Wilde could probably help with his expertise if he wishes. Would a lens help target it, or a horn improve its properties? So many questions! BUT, all these can be resolved. It would be an excellent test on many levels. He smiles as he stands up and meets your gaze. The process could be streamlined, understood, optimized, improved, its limits tested, met, crossed, broken. Don't you agree?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 09, 2016, 05:16:54 pm
"Sorry. Underground rooms tend to have too good acoustic properties." Leif squats down, pokes the falchion, wonders what in Eitri's name he did wrong and tries to fix it. "Tell me when it looks real enough."

The illusion's working fine on your end, you're not sure what her problem is. Maybe a congenital defect. Or lack thereof that you could exploit. You look at Lee, who stares unamused, and grab the falchion in the other hand.

[I Have The Power: 6]

You dial the heat up a little, and the light up some more, and the room is slowly illuminated as the falchion grows white hot. You look at Lee, but she is unconvinced, so you go brighter, hotter, faster! The falchion bends, and you drop it again. This time it hits the ground wetly, deforming a bit. Do you see, you proclaim! No, says Lee. See what? The falchion continues to glow and emit rippling heat and a bit of smoke as it loses coherence, slowly melting into a puddle. Do you see, you ask, and Lee once again says no. You point at the puddle, it's right there! Are you blind, woman? Lee looks down. She doesn't appear to see anything. Okay, you give up, you say, and the puddle slowly transitions back to a red heat, then calms down to ordinary darkish iron.

Quote from: Toaster on August 09, 2016, 07:04:36 pm
"I suppose we should deliver that report now?"

Do so.

Deliver the report, yes, the Worm-knight says, and also the new prisoner. She pokes the paranoid guard and gets the other guards present to help, all of them grabbing the stout fellow and lifting him up. They try a rather risky arrangement of each one holding a limb, but give up soon enough and the largest guard just throws the fellow over her shoulder and you move along. The drawbridge lowers readily, and the main gate welcomes you, a few guardsmen looking excited by your find, following along. A couple go to call up more of their comrades, it seems, as by the time you reach the courtyard guards appear to be converging on you from all sides, eager to hear news of your scouting trip. Do they have food there? Are there many stout folk? Is the whorehouse still open? The questions almost immediately blend together, and the Worm-knight merely lowers the visor on her helmet as you walk forward while your companion guard just fidgets and responds evasively, looking uncomfortable at being swarmed like this.

Quote from: TopHat on August 10, 2016, 01:51:04 pm
"Ah. I'll leave you two to catch up..."
Stretch legs a little and look around to see if anything interesting's happening in the courtyard.

Ooh! Mr. Minstep and his fellows seem to have returned, and they're bearing a stoatman prisoner. Or that's what you hear from the assembling crowd of guards. By the time you notice a hubbub by the gate about twenty guards are already pestering them. You notice the captain of the guard observing impassively, and slightly behind him a man with a shaven head and a scarified eye on his forehead who seems to be observing the people with a stare so blank you can't help but insert a variety of evil thoughts into it.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 10, 2016, 03:14:45 pm
"I have it on very good authority that replacing or repairing my hand wouldn't damage the murder-thought. You can see how I might've thought you were trying to excersise some sort of control over me. I am interested in your offer of refining it, I must say, but I'd rather focus first on the armor. The sliver I have is somewhat immaterial, you should know beforehand. I'll show it to you nonetheless if it cooperates."

Take blacksmith off my 'potential murder' list, and if he agrees show him perfect SILENCE.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 10, 2016, 03:23:49 pm
"Perhaps lightsaber would have been better idea..." Leif sighs. He tries to enjoy some imaginary mead (non poetry variant), and climbs up to check whether it is morning yet or not. Also combine the iron spear head with improvised quarterstaff.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 10, 2016, 05:04:15 pm
"Yes, yes, all in good time, but business first!  We must deliver the report!"  It wouldn't do to delay a report to Mr. Munderley.  This is just the same idea.

Push on through, no time to waste!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 10, 2016, 05:26:29 pm
Hm, having a stoat friend seems useful around these parts.

"Yeah, I'm heading south. And I think I would appreciate some company on the road. When could you be ready to set out?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 11, 2016, 11:53:12 am
"Well, I'm glad he's having fun. Best catch up later.
.
You know, Deirdre, I think I will be leaving soon, and taking up Nately's offer. Would you care to join us?"

Small talk. Wander over to the viscera zone if it's still there.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 11, 2016, 04:22:34 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on August 10, 2016, 03:14:45 pm
"I have it on very good authority that replacing or repairing my hand wouldn't damage the murder-thought. You can see how I might've thought you were trying to excersise some sort of control over me. I am interested in your offer of refining it, I must say, but I'd rather focus first on the armor. The sliver I have is somewhat immaterial, you should know beforehand. I'll show it to you nonetheless if it cooperates."

Take blacksmith off my 'potential murder' list, and if he agrees show him perfect SILENCE.

Whose authority would that be, asks the blacksmith. It would be useful to confer with someone who understands these matters better than he does, potentially CRITICAL, in fact, if he is to understand anything at all beyond his own lack of understanding. As for the sliver, go right ahead. Though sentient materials may be resistant to being hammered into useful shapes, bear in mind. You clear your throat as the blacksmith looks on, and then let it rip.

SILENCE

[Word: 5]

The courtyard shakes as all sounds dash once against the stone walls and are not reflected back, an alien stillness through which you hear your own steady heartbeat, the blacksmith's slightly more rapid pulse, Mr. Wilde's unhurried walking pulse, his companion's uneasier one, and the hearts of all the guards serving as a background din, and in between them the exultant triumph of the Worm-knight, the racing paranoia of an undressed guard, the clockwork drone of Mr. Minstep and the guard captain, and the slow, weak heartbeat of a stoatman probably not at all far from death.

All these beat on separately at first, then synchronize as they too become cognizant of one another, stopping in their tracks and looking around. The blacksmith, you notice, is a bit more purposeful. He opens his mouth as if to say something, but thinks better of it, instead sprinting off to Mr. Wilde and poking him resolutely, apparently quite interested in having him do something. The heartbeats begin to fade out as the courtyard looks on in wonder, and distant sounds begin to come in, the rushing of the river clearly heard, noises from the forest, the clinking of glass from somewhere further off...

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 10, 2016, 03:23:49 pm
"Perhaps lightsaber would have been better idea..." Leif sighs. He tries to enjoy some imaginary mead (non poetry variant), and climbs up to check whether it is morning yet or not. Also combine the iron spear head with improvised quarterstaff.

It's mead. Even your twisted imagination couldn't screw that up (only make it better, you think as you mentally fondle your poetry mead keg). You climb up the ladder to the hatch, and see if you can figure out the opening mechanism in the less than optimal lighting.

[Up The Hatch: 4]

Fortunately it's not at all complicated, and there's only about forty pounds of dirt that tumble down the ladder and into a convenient grate as you get out to give the outside conditions a check.

In short, it's really dark out. But doesn't seem to be getting darker. Does that mean that dawn's about to come? Would be about damn time. If only somebody else hadn't hogged the most relevant Word for it and then buggered off. Anyway, you need a new weapon, some sort of Gungnir thingamajig maybe?

[Don't Lose Your Head: 5]

You pop the spearhead onto your quarterstaff. Fits well! You wedge the staff in there nicely, and give it a few solid thwacks - doesn't come loose, and you think you got it on perfectly straight as well. As good a job as could be expected, essentially.

Quote from: Toaster on August 10, 2016, 05:04:15 pm
"Yes, yes, all in good time, but business first!  We must deliver the report!"  It wouldn't do to delay a report to Mr. Munderley.  This is just the same idea.

Push on through, no time to waste!

They do seem very enthusiastic about their questioning. Must not have had much contact with the outside world. They trail you halfway across the courtyard, when suddenly you are struck by a profound

SILENCE

And what a silence it is. You could hear a pin drop, and you're fairly sure you actually do at one point.

[An Advantageous Distraction: 3]

You tap the Worm-knight soundlessly and indicate toward the keep. She taps the guard and does the same. All three of you begin to move forward with prisoner in tow and your heartbeats curiously in sync with those of the rest of the people about (quite a few, now that you consider it a moment longer.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 10, 2016, 05:26:29 pm
Hm, having a stoat friend seems useful around these parts.

"Yeah, I'm heading south. And I think I would appreciate some company on the road. When could you be ready to set out?"

He pats his chest with a hand, then roots down beneath his shirt with a clumsy hand, pulling out a golden pocket watch. Sweet, huh, he says to you as he starts fiddling with its clasp with a bare minimum of skill and coordination, getting it open after half a minute's effort. He stares inside the watch for a moment. Aha, he says. Hm! Yes!

Indeed, he says, nodding at you, he's bloody well forgotten to wind this thing. Oh well, he says, probably gonna pawn it anyway, dropping the thing back behind his collar. So yeah, what were you talking about again, he asks as he has another swig of whiskey straight from the bottle, offsetting it with a sweet potato he pops whole into his enormous mouth while providing you with another refill.

When was he going to set out, you remind him, and he thinks a bit. Wash go'a shet ouh ah dawwh, he says foggily. Maywee laher. Naw parhihular wush, y'ow?

Quote from: TopHat on August 11, 2016, 11:53:12 am
"Well, I'm glad he's having fun. Best catch up later.
.
You know, Deirdre, I think I will be leaving soon, and taking up Nately's offer. Would you care to join us?"

Small talk. Wander over to the viscera zone if it's still there.

She wouldn't have anything against going along with you, no, though Nately's a bit too weird for her liking. You really wanna follow that guy around, she asks, 'cause she honestly has him filed in about the same category as the sun priest. Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. And she's heard he also did this thing a month or so back where he-

SILENCE

True to its Word, the courtyard suddenly settles down, commotion giving way to stillness, the current occupants of the area growing mute and quite surprised. Deirdre has stopped mid-sentence, having lost the will to speak momentarily. You stare at her, and she stares back, completely perplexed as to what to make of this, if anything. The only thing you hear for a moment are the hearts of all those within the courtyard, and, mysteriously enough, sounds from much further out than you would expect. You listen a moment. A singular experience.

There's someone tugging at your shoulder. Nately, it turns out. He points at your measure urgently. You look at him questioningly. He in turn sweeps his arm along the courtyard, lacking a more precise identifier from the looks of it.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 11, 2016, 05:39:48 pm
Thomas hurried along before the crowd caught up with events.  No sense disturbing the nice quiet.


Get on with that reportery.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 11, 2016, 05:50:16 pm
Interesting.

I suppose I'll let him do his thing?
...
Nah, making sure Wilde doesn't accidentally delay him again would be good.

Follow the blacksmith about.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 11, 2016, 08:54:15 pm
"I suppose not."

More drinking, then!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 12, 2016, 06:11:18 am
"Thanks to Brokkr, Eitri, Sons of Ivaldi and other master craftmens of gods, except that Völundr fellow. Creepy bastard, that one."

Dump that moldy fuel.

Now, my illusion techniques seem to be fundamentally fucked up. I suppose that what I get from being self-taught. I really need a teacher... And actual clothes. The skirt is all good but I'm not scottish guy. Freeballing ain't my style. And I really want try out APOCALYPSE, but it's probably bad idea with tunnels around. Leif gets a bit introspective. What I'm going to do with my life here? Getting back home would be great, but here I could have fresh start with impossible powers. Could be easily turned into more luxurious living than that of miner. Granted, it was most high tech mine in the world, but still in rather dangerous enviroment. And here's also that bastard in the well, probably wants to eat whole world...

Reconsider my priorities while staring stars.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 12, 2016, 02:29:40 pm
Nod and unwrap the measure. Make sure not to point it at anyone, though.
Time to test this thing out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 14, 2016, 05:51:48 am
Quote from: Toaster on August 11, 2016, 05:39:48 pm
Thomas hurried along before the crowd caught up with events.  No sense disturbing the nice quiet.


Get on with that reportery.

You head on into the keep, unbothered by other occurrences in the courtyard, depositing him gently onto the floor of the foyer. This gathers quite a crowd in short order, including the commander, the minder girl, some of her apprentices and even the queen as well as some other whiskered fellow trailing behind her nervously.

The Worm-knight relays the overall state of the town, the uncommon fear and respect that the stout folk seem to have for your sword, and the capture of the prisoner. The commander seems rather pleased at the presumable numbers of guards present, and looks over at the minder girl, asking if she could oversee the interrogation. The minder girl looks uneasily at the stout prisoner. It would be most useful to have the services of the mistress of the tower, the commander adds, for the sake of both expediency and utility of information gained. The girl's eyes brighten slightly - yes, yes, she can certainly do this. Bring the fellow up, restrained, she and her fellow minders will do the rest, have no fear. The commander nods at the other guards, who carry the stout fellow up in short order, the minders following upstairs as well.

Very well done, says the commander, coming down the stairs with arms spread in congratulation. The queen follows as well, smiling at the lot of you. The Worm-knight kneels at one side of you, the guard merely cradles himself in his arms and shivers, still a bit wet from the river, which leaves you in the middle. The Worm-knight is quick to ascribe much of the work to you and the guard - she was merely along for advice and backup. The commander looks at the guard, and orders some others to go and outfit the man at once. His pick of the spare armaments and armor, of course. The guard widens his eyes as he is escorted off, looking at you in particular with a frightened eye. As for the Worm-knight, good work as always. She will be ready for the assault as well, yes? Indeed she will, the Worm-knight replies. Excellent, says the commander, and takes a moment to delegate the task of fashioning a crossing method to the majority of the guards present. They nod as one and go on to attend to the task.

And that leaves you, Mr. Minstep. The commander was under the impression you wouldn't be returning necessarily. Was there anything else you desire? The queen pipes up at this - whatever resources the kingdom can provide, what's left of them at least, ask anything, and she will personally do her best to assist. As will she, the commander adds with a nod. And he as well, the guy at the very back hastily mentions in a quiet tone of voice, placing his hands behind his back and standing at attention when the commander glances at him.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 11, 2016, 05:50:16 pm
Interesting.

I suppose I'll let him do his thing?
...
Nah, making sure Wilde doesn't accidentally delay him again would be good.

Follow the blacksmith about.

As he bothers Mr. Wilde, you notice the object being unwrapped - it's a human skull with eyesockets of glass, glimmering gold within, and something more beyond that as well. It twists and turns for a moment in his hands, and Mr. Wilde raises it to take in the courtyard. And then it begins. As if some floodgate were opened, you sense a wave of otherworldly, barely perceptible power creep forth, tendrils of it wrapping around the contents of the courtyard, lapping hungrily at the silence all about... and some other things beside that.

[Hide Your Valuables: 5]

It is at the very edge of the wave that your murder-thought feels a sudden, violent pull - you react immediately, pulling it back to you, your mutilated hand giving it shelter from the hungry tongues of the time-enders' measure. It sits there for a time, lacerating, tearing, creating agony as it was meant to do, but you weather the assault manfully, and in not too long the tongues retreat, taking the silence with them. The guards, no longer spellbound by its totality, take a moment to regard their surroundings, and give it little more thought.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 11, 2016, 08:54:15 pm
"I suppose not."

More drinking, then!

[It's Better Than Drinking Alone: 6]

You while away the hours in the inn as you go through what remains of the two half-bottles of whisky the stoatman has left - you marvel at his tolerance, to be perfectly honest, or at least his incredible ability to pace himself as he drinks and manages to polish off his dinner, as you do yours.

The conversation over dinner and drinks takes a variety of twists and turns. You continue an inquiry into the surrounding lands, still relatively clear-headed. He tells you a bit - normalcy (heh, is that a word? normalcy?) on the roads, weirdness beyond. Lots of quaint villages once you get beyond King's Bridge - there is one he went through, Middenay, he'll probably visit on the way back too, Middenay has a much nicer inn than this, he explains, no offense to the lady there (though you do get the feeling mild offense is nevertheless taken). It was kind of a big relief to get there the first go round - sympathizers, see, the lot of them, really hated that fecking lord of theirs, hated him like you've never seen... did most of the work in the end, too, prolly easiest battle of the whole bit. And after that, five whole days of revelry because they were ahead of schedule, see. Was great to see happy faces around for once, even if for a couple of days. Especially on those lovely girls they had there. Had a whole festival with the plundered riches, and plum pudding in the rations for two weeks afterward...

... what's with those weird animals on the wall, you ask at one point when the whisky has very solidly gone to your head. You feel like some of them are staring at you with their green glass eyes, the one unconvincing element that makes you suspect that the taxidermy might be off for the whole thing. Or maybe extremely off, because you can't even begin to suspect what these originally were if they're supposed to be common animals. The stoatman shrugs. Never seen any himself. Except... that one, he thinks, he points at what looks like a bearded, furry toad with a whole lot of tapering teeth. Those things come out at night mostly. Sometimes in the daytime when there's corpses about. Bugger if he can remember the name, though-

That there's the scraggy howler, the innkeeper mentions from behind the bar in a reciting, bored tone, following it up with a long drag from a bottle of wine she opened about twenty minutes ago and which now seems half-empty. Found the bastard digging up a mass graveyard about twenty years ago and with my manly skills I put the beast down with my she continues, rolling her eyes and making a yapping motion with her hand. Had to listen to this crap for nigh a decade. You look at her for a minute, and she just keeps silently drinking with a dead-eyed stare. So you try to think of what you were talking about...

... you're verging on completely pissed when you, the stoat and the innkeeper, the latter of which seems to have sat down with you at a time you can't quite place, are all singing a variety of songs. You teach them some of yours, they teach you some of theirs. Or the stoatman tries to teach you some of his, but the innkeeper seems to have banned all of those in her establishment because goddamn is she sick of all those, and instead goes for less common fare. She's got a really good voice, actually, you mention, and she swells with pride as she says thanks, used to be a professional, you know...

... and eventually you find yourselves before an empty table, the food finished and the alcohol depleted, and each of you on the verge of passing out. The stoatman says right! Now to retire to the, uh, sleeping quarters. Got a long day ahead of you. You look at the window, a little bit of morning light shining in your eyes. You barely manage to get to your feet. The innkeeper seems to be resting her head in your plate with a glazed expression, looking up at you.

To the ducal suite, says the stoatman, stumbling toward the stairs. First one there gets the double bed! Fuck you, shouts the innkeeper, half-falling out of her chair as she stumbles after him, she called dibs on that!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 12, 2016, 06:11:18 am
"Thanks to Brokkr, Eitri, Sons of Ivaldi and other master craftmens of gods, except that Völundr fellow. Creepy bastard, that one."

Dump that moldy fuel.

Now, my illusion techniques seem to be fundamentally fucked up. I suppose that what I get from being self-taught. I really need a teacher... And actual clothes. The skirt is all good but I'm not scottish guy. Freeballing ain't my style. And I really want try out APOCALYPSE, but it's probably bad idea with tunnels around. Leif gets a bit introspective. What I'm going to do with my life here? Getting back home would be great, but here I could have fresh start with impossible powers. Could be easily turned into more luxurious living than that of miner. Granted, it was most high tech mine in the world, but still in rather dangerous enviroment. And here's also that bastard in the well, probably wants to eat whole world...

Reconsider my priorities while staring stars.

You dump some of your excess garbage into a convenient ditch, and look at the waning stars as dawn approaches.

[Astral Insights: 3]

Looking pretty starry there, yep. There's the, uh, Wheel of Time? Wait. You're pretty sure these aren't the right stars. Well, not any you've learned about at least.

As for priorities, you guess you still have two outstanding quests. Lee's report, and the grave of Red Clouds Parting. Although you could probably just run off right now and nobody could plausibly stop you. Or you could just say 'screw this' to this particular layer of reality and retreat into your own mindscape to master more and more Words and create a panoply of minder tools to render yourself into a god among men, and it occurs to you right now that this is probably what those minders in that tower back in the castle were doing. Huh.

Quote from: TopHat on August 12, 2016, 02:29:40 pm
Nod and unwrap the measure. Make sure not to point it at anyone, though.
Time to test this thing out.

[Consuming The Medium: 6]

Pulling the cloth from the heavy measure in absolute silence you notice it react, and raise it a little in response. It shakes as the scene warps in a cone before it, some ethereal disturbance spreading through the air, tickling the edge of all of your senses in a profoundly displeasing way. You sense it spread and envelop you, Nately, Deirdre, the nearby Mr. Daniels, surgically cutting the thick and mystical silence from the world, drawing it into itself. Time itself feels like it is congealing around you as the air is sliced with lapping tongues emanating from the measure. They envelop the totality of the effect and draw it into the measure with precision and efficiency, and the eyes of the measure, merely reflective up until now, begin to glow with amazing brightness.

It WORKED! Nately seems absolutely ecstatic. Now, he says, time for processing, analysis! Deconstruction! The joy of excellent equipment, he turns to you, patting you on the shoulder, nothing quite like it, would you not agree?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 14, 2016, 06:54:34 am
I guess this party's over. What a night.

...

I crawl under the table and pass out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 14, 2016, 07:47:29 am
A god among men? Well, there's something that resonates in heart of any warrior. Even if the warrior in question is actually a miner and the last warrior in bloodline died few generations ago.

Leif sits down crosslegged, holding the spear vertically on my lap, taking meditative posture. Just so if anyone happens to look upon my form they see a warrior meditating rather than a random miner hobo sleeping in forest.

Break apart my minding techniques into basic components, study them carefully to determine what exactly I'm doing when using them. Mostly because I suspect my levitation trick is that. A trick played upon my own mind.

E: Drunken insights are best insights. Color my pondering with some mead of poetry.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 14, 2016, 07:49:33 am
Thomas shrugged a bit.  "Well, I couldn't really leave without getting that stout fellow back here.   But yes, I must find my way home.  It's been nice working you all, Ms. Queen, guards, Worm-Knight, and... I don't think I've met you, sir?  I am Thomas Minstep."

Introduce self to new guy.

"Really, what I am looking for is a way to get home.  No one really seems to know which way Albany is."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 14, 2016, 12:10:44 pm
Daniels positively zips toward Mr. Wilde.

"What is that thing? It's quite ... fascinating."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 15, 2016, 09:51:55 am
"Wow! That's just incredible! How on Earth does it work? Oh, hello there, Daniels. This is the Measure Nately needed that gold for. It's quite something, isn't it?"
Enthuse, and wish I'd had one of these earlier.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 15, 2016, 10:09:07 am
"The fuck is a Nately?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 16, 2016, 07:12:46 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 14, 2016, 06:54:34 am
I guess this party's over. What a night.

...

I crawl under the table and pass out.

After some of the places you've tried to sleep the floor under the table feels positively warm and welcoming. Plus there's some food here if you're up for a snack. You curl up and close your eyes, and it feels like your brain lets out a wave of relief as the burden of remaining conscious is suddenly lifted. You pass out immediately.

[Great Way To Start The Day: 6]

When you open your eyes again, you see the orange light of the setting sun through the small crack between the drapes first of all. The second thing that hits you is an unusual smell. Is that... coffee? You stir a little sharply, and brush up against a pair of legs that seem to have appeared next to you. Their owner stirs, and turns out to be stoatman again. He sips from a cup of coffee and bids you a chipper good morning you wouldn't expect from a man working through one to two pints of consumed whisky. Not that you're feeling particularly out of sorts yourself.

You get up from under the table and, at the stoatman's invitation, sit down to the right of him and to the left of the innkeeper, who has a coffee of her own. She appears to be nursing the mother of all headaches, and bids you some manner of mumbling greeting, her face resting in her palm as she sips with the corner of her mouth. A breakfast of bread, butter and bacon assembled in a shaky hungover combination and a tankard of coffee, a little trail of brown along its side where it has been spilled in the process of bringing it here.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 14, 2016, 07:47:29 am
A god among men? Well, there's something that resonates in heart of any warrior. Even if the warrior in question is actually a miner and the last warrior in bloodline died few generations ago.

Leif sits down crosslegged, holding the spear vertically on my lap, taking meditative posture. Just so if anyone happens to look upon my form they see a warrior meditating rather than a random miner hobo sleeping in forest.

Break apart my minding techniques into basic components, study them carefully to determine what exactly I'm doing when using them. Mostly because I suspect my levitation trick is that. A trick played upon my own mind.

E: Drunken insights are best insights. Color my pondering with some mead of poetry.

You'd only need two ravens and an eyepatch to complete this scene, you think as you swig the Mead of Poetry once again, the feel of it in your throat clarifying things, rendering them sharp and clear where once they were muddled, the Fates themselves revealing their forms to you.

[Deep Inspiration: 6]

As the sun rises before you and the moon fades from the sky, you open your eyes and take in the scope of all the colors, sounds and smells of awakening nature, the coolness of morning dew, the inevitable approach of a new day. You inhale all these and hold them in, then turn inward, skin diving into the depths of your own mind to atomize the notions of minding.

At the core is Perception. All things come from it and to it, and Perception is key to all things. From Perception springs Memory, which is Perception's abstraction. One step is required.

The rest is a sequence. First is Engagement, which begets understanding and communication. Once you have Engagement, transform it into Negation, which begets loss and darkness. Once Negation takes hold, introduce Abstraction, which affirms transition from one state to another. Once Abstraction has worked, create Prestige, and dictate reality within Perception.

A final illusion of distinction - there is the Self, and there is the Other. When taken together, the sequence tangles and twists. To simplify, remove one or the other.

As you consider this, the sun emerges fully from the horizon, and you are joined by Lee after a moment. The waning influence of the mead leaves you momentarily transfixed, the pattern of her dress mimicking something you saw in the stars once. She evaluates your strange stare, but seems to think nothing much of it as she takes careful stock of the surroundings. Soon after your backpack emerges swelling with pride, the simple joy of being able to climb a ladder again almost too much for him to handle.

Quote from: Toaster on August 14, 2016, 07:49:33 am
Thomas shrugged a bit.  "Well, I couldn't really leave without getting that stout fellow back here.   But yes, I must find my way home.  It's been nice working you all, Ms. Queen, guards, Worm-Knight, and... I don't think I've met you, sir?  I am Thomas Minstep."

Introduce self to new guy.

"Really, what I am looking for is a way to get home.  No one really seems to know which way Albany is."

The whiskered man looks at you wide-eyed. He is, well, he is... he is the lord of the keep. And, yes, of course, he has, he has heard of your exploits. And he seconds that offer, anything he can do, anything at all. The commander sternly mentions the man already said this, and the lord responds by nodding intently. Yes, yes he did, and he will say it again if need be.

As for Albany, the commander shrugs. It is not a place she has heard of. She looks at the queen, who similarly has no idea, and the guards still present look at each other before mumbling variations of the same and shrugging. There is a moment of silence before the lord speaks up.

Er, he says. Well. Um. He does not know either. Perhaps, perhaps you could, well, perhaps you could ask Mother? She's, erm, very well, uh, very well read and, uh, knows a lot of things. She's very knowledgeable, he means. The commander looks at him grimly, but the lord persists. She has a special room, you could say, a special room down in the... well, there's probably no good way to put this, er, down in the dungeon.

Quote from: TopHat on August 15, 2016, 09:51:55 am
"Wow! That's just incredible! How on Earth does it work? Oh, hello there, Daniels. This is the Measure Nately needed that gold for. It's quite something, isn't it?"
Enthuse, and wish I'd had one of these earlier.

The core is sapient, Nately explains. It reacts to features it finds unspeakably intriguing - it is a primitive thing, so all manner of things are of interest to it. Its core of deep white sea encased draws in both events and matter, and grinds it in impossibility until the most basic elements remain, which for lack of a purpose and space then bleed out through gold and glass in ideal form, to be examined by men of science and wisdom, or ALTERNATIVELY those who end time itself! It remains to be seen how the information holds up! It will need to digest for a while - keep it covered until it begins shaking wildly, then stare into the SOURCE OF WISDOM! Or perhaps let him stare into it, that is perhaps a better idea that Mr. Daniels would be more comfortable with.

Is it safe to be in the vicinity when somebody stares into the SOURCE OF WISDOM, Deirdre asks with sarcastic air quotes. Nately laughs for a solid fifteen seconds, then looks to see if she's serious. He then proceeds to laugh again for a moment. No, he says. No, he would say it is probably not entirely safe. Deirdre, having already stepped over to the keep entrance, nods sagely at this.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 15, 2016, 10:09:07 am
"The fuck is a Nately?"

Nately appears to be the blacksmith's name, judging by the way the question causes him visible embarrassment, though he recovers quickly when Mr. Wilde's... personal assistant, you guess, asks a question that sends him into veritable fits of laughter.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 16, 2016, 07:36:50 am
"I see you're feeling well," I say to the stoatman. "When are we heading out?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 16, 2016, 10:11:20 am
"Good morning! I hope my nightly shoutings didn't bother you too much? Many powers and deep understandings were archieved over the night."

"My friend." Leif addresses his backback. "Your healing worked unexpectedly well. Frankly I didn't have any hopes of perfect restoration, but results are suprisingly great. And because of this I apparently have some business in direction of Elizabeth. Do you happen to know anything about Red Clouds Parting? And any idea where to find better clothes than this makeshift skirt? It isn't very good in long term, you know."

After hearing answer he turns to Lee. "That pattern on your skirt, is it by any change based on something? Stars perhaps? There's something important about it that eludes my mind."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 16, 2016, 12:43:57 pm
"Huh. No wonder you didn't tell me it, that's a shit name.

Now then, anything of note to do? If not, I'm gonna sit here and rest from these wounds I still have."

Take the opportunity to rest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 16, 2016, 04:28:39 pm
"Yes," nodded Thomas.  "I will speak to her.  It sounds most enlightening, thank you.  I do appreciate the offer, yes.  Could someone kindly show me the way?  I've already kept Mr. Munderly waiting for goodness knows how long."

Ask for directions to this mother.  See if she knows where Albany is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 17, 2016, 10:27:18 am
"Wait, sapient? Do you mean the thing is alive, then?"
Cover the measure back up and get some clarification.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 17, 2016, 11:36:59 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 16, 2016, 07:36:50 am
"I see you're feeling well," I say to the stoatman. "When are we heading out?"

Whenever you're ready, it seems like. He's been waiting for about an hour or so for you to get up from your spot. Had a nice breakfast and everything. The stoatman drains the last of his coffee. Good stuff, apparently. Great that you're in walking shape - he was afraid you'd look like morning-glory over there, he nods at the innkeeper, who grumbles into her palm.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 16, 2016, 10:11:20 am
"Good morning! I hope my nightly shoutings didn't bother you too much? Many powers and deep understandings were archieved over the night."

"My friend." Leif addresses his backback. "Your healing worked unexpectedly well. Frankly I didn't have any hopes of perfect restoration, but results are suprisingly great. And because of this I apparently have some business in direction of Elizabeth. Do you happen to know anything about Red Clouds Parting? And any idea where to find better clothes than this makeshift skirt? It isn't very good in long term, you know."

After hearing answer he turns to Lee. "That pattern on your skirt, is it by any change based on something? Stars perhaps? There's something important about it that eludes my mind."

Lee seems to have been awoken by them at several points, but this did not overly impact her normal cycle of an hour of sleep followed by 20 minutes of awareness from what you understand.

As for your backpack, he is overjoyed! What a great feeling it is to have hands and feet again! What miracles can alchemy not perform, you might ask, and he would not be able to think of any! Oh, to be able to close one's fingers around another man's throat, to kick them in the kidneys while they are down, it is all too wonderful, all too beautiful! To be- eh? Red Clouds Parting? Nobody he has heard of, no. Certainly a countryman, and an uncommonly named one at that, but not anyone he is personally acquainted with, no sir!

That said, you turn to Lee again while your backpack launches into yet more appreciation of newfound mobility, and ask her about the pattern of her dress, and whether it's based on anything in particular. Moth Clan colors, she then retorts. Camouflage, also.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 16, 2016, 12:43:57 pm
"Huh. No wonder you didn't tell me it, that's a shit name.

Now then, anything of note to do? If not, I'm gonna sit here and rest from these wounds I still have."

Take the opportunity to rest.

He agrees WHOLEHEARTEDLY! It doesn't even mean anything! Useless! Not that it will stop Mr. Wilde calling him that. Must come up with something catchier, yes... as for things to do, search for material? He will get back to you about the insights that silence will provide. It should be noted that the form of material will likely greatly affect the form of protection afforded!

You nod and sort of wave him off for the moment as you step to a relatively clean bit of filthy courtyard and lay down, having a bit of a nap. Can't go running into trouble injured, can you?

Quote from: Toaster on August 16, 2016, 04:28:39 pm
"Yes," nodded Thomas.  "I will speak to her.  It sounds most enlightening, thank you.  I do appreciate the offer, yes.  Could someone kindly show me the way?  I've already kept Mr. Munderly waiting for goodness knows how long."

Ask for directions to this mother.  See if she knows where Albany is.

Yes, erm, the lord says... one of the guards should escort you? He looks uncertainly at the guard commander, who shrugs and instructs a guard to take you there - it's one of the sisters you recall from your basement visit. She seems a little bored as she guides you out into the courtyard and over to one of the corner towers, then once within you are led down a darkening staircase, past a heavy door and into a hallway. It's dark, it's cold, it's really unfavorably moist - definitely a dungeon.

Lacking further direction (the sister-guard seems to have turned around at some point and gone back), you suppose you might as well step forward - the result of this is that you run into a fellow standing right in front of you in the dark. He jumps back, but says nothing as you apologize profusely, simply standing in front of you, his shape slowly resolving in the dark as your eyes adapt to its depth. He's not by any means a small guy - well-built, shaved head. And unless your mistaken, that thing in his hand catching what little light there is in the place is probably a knife.

Quote from: TopHat on August 17, 2016, 10:27:18 am
"Wait, sapient? Do you mean the thing is alive, then?"
Cover the measure back up and get some clarification.

Oh yes, certainly. How ELSE do you think it can successfully analyze something as mysterious as a sudden onset of sorcerous silence? It interacts poorly with conventional things, and is thus useful for grinding possible occurrences into their constituent elements! Really very simple, wouldn't you say?

Very simple, you say as you wrap it up again. Very simple indeed. The skull feels warm now, mobile. Awakened. It feels almost like it's squirming out of your grasp every now and then.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Xantalos on August 17, 2016, 01:11:38 pm
"Ah...this is nice, ya know. Not having to tear anyone limb from limb because they fucked me over. I could get used to it."

One more restings pls
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 17, 2016, 02:52:32 pm
Leif stands up and gives the backpack friendly slap on back.

"Nice to see you on good spirits! I think it is time Lee and I proceed to where we need to go. As for you... well, try to not get cought again. When I left Anglefork castle yesterday one of my buddies kinda burned half of the stoats and their camp onto ground, so either they will assault the castle soon or quit it. So you may want to check out if you can be helpful there. Or, you know, do whatever you want to."

It's adventure time again! To north towards Elizabet, presumably. Backpack can go wherever he wants, just letting him know that situation is probably changing around the castle.


On the road Leif talks again. Mostly for himself, but also discreetly informing Lee that fire and brimstone might fall from sky at some point of time.
"I'm almost hoping some fool will try to rob us on the way. I learned another word of power in midst of my dreams; apocalypse. I want to try it out on something." The Word rolls on tongue nicely...
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: Toaster on August 17, 2016, 04:27:24 pm
"I apologize again, good sir!  I am here looking for the mother of the lord of the keep.  One of the guards was leading me this way but must have had to go back.  I don't suppose you could point me in the right direction, please?"

Ask directions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 17, 2016, 11:55:31 pm
Let's set out south toward Speaker's Bridge. Though I'm even more nervous about visiting there after learning about the recent name change. Hopefully I can go around it if it's going to be an issue.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Knights of the Far Beyond
Post by: TopHat on August 18, 2016, 03:08:40 pm
Alive, if not what I'd expected for a first shot at artificial life. Possibly sentient. Trapped in a skull. Stop for a minute and consider the ethical implications of this.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 19, 2016, 02:49:40 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on August 17, 2016, 01:11:38 pm
"Ah...this is nice, ya know. Not having to tear anyone limb from limb because they fucked me over. I could get used to it."

One more restings pls

You continue relaxing on the ground in peace and quiet. Relative peace and quiet, anyway. There is the increasing clamor of armored feet, you notice after a little while napping. Some shouting of what sounds like military orders, something about rafts? Shortly the courtyard becomes a little noisome for you, and you arise at last.

Standing over you is the commander. It'll be time in a little while. In the meantime, do you have a convenient method for crossing a river? Tactically relevant information. And how do you feel about infantry support? Do you actually require any? The force in the town is likely meager considering its size, and if what she understands is correct the gifts of your kind tend to have a lot of collateral damage associated with them.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 17, 2016, 02:52:32 pm
Leif stands up and gives the backpack friendly slap on back.

"Nice to see you on good spirits! I think it is time Lee and I proceed to where we need to go. As for you... well, try to not get cought again. When I left Anglefork castle yesterday one of my buddies kinda burned half of the stoats and their camp onto ground, so either they will assault the castle soon or quit it. So you may want to check out if you can be helpful there. Or, you know, do whatever you want to."

It's adventure time again! To north towards Elizabet, presumably. Backpack can go wherever he wants, just letting him know that situation is probably changing around the castle.


On the road Leif talks again. Mostly for himself, but also discreetly informing Lee that fire and brimstone might fall from sky at some point of time.
"I'm almost hoping some fool will try to rob us on the way. I learned another word of power in midst of my dreams; apocalypse. I want to try it out on something." The Word rolls on tongue nicely...

[The Call To Murder: 5]

Eh, he says. Stoatmen have their charms. Have you heard a stoatman's death rattle, for instance? Very unique sound. But it's all too familiar. He was somewhat looking forward to the challenge of killing some with only one hand, but he's afraid he'd only retread old ground again if he went back. You have to find new audiences, seek new places to ply your trade! That's the path to self-improvement, he's sure you would agree! So he'll follow you to the north for the time being, unless of course you explicitly object to his presence?

You suppose you don't, so you let Lee lead the way northward, mostly on account of her having made what seems to be the reverse of this trip before. She leads you along ravines and deep woods, meticulously avoiding the road for the next ten miles as you trek through the wilderness before rejoining the river. Every now and then she stops in her path, examining a stone here or a set of twigs there and ruminating on their significance. The day is warm and overcast as you move on along, and eventually the woods start to thin out, turning into dry brush after you've been steadily climbing upward for the better part of the day. The road eventually peters out and outlying farms grow increasingly rare, as do forks to smaller villages that Lee seems to have no interest in, and you eventually reach what seems to have been the goal for the day.

It's an odd place to be sure, a canyon that seems to be wholly artificial in nature, two smooth 45 degree slopes bisecting soil and sedimentary rock as they meet from half a mile apart. The river runs into it at a right angle - actually, runs out of it, in fact. You're not sure how that works, really - there's no spring in the canyon that you can see, the water just seems to appear at the edge, and the river seems to have a weird flowing cross-section just like the rock does.

[The Nomadic Tradition: 2]

Right next to where the river terminates you see an encampment, a circle of what you're reasonably sure are some exotic variety of teepees, colored red and topped with white and black feathers. Lee looks to you for a second, anticipating a question. Stork Clan, she answers in advance. They may prove useful for the crossing.

Quote from: Toaster on August 17, 2016, 04:27:24 pm
"I apologize again, good sir!  I am here looking for the mother of the lord of the keep.  One of the guards was leading me this way but must have had to go back.  I don't suppose you could point me in the right direction, please?"

Ask directions.

He stares at you for a few moments, then blinks a resolute yes, and leads you past a few cells to a door at the end of the hall, a forbidding metal affair that accepts a large key from the belt of the man you assume to be the turnkey. He turns it twice and swings the door open, revealing a small dark chamber that'd comfortably host about half a person. Nobody seems to be inside, curiously enough, though admittedly even if there was anyone in it you're not entirely confident you could see them in the lighting provided. The turnkey stands by the door, absolutely lacking in expectation.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 17, 2016, 11:55:31 pm
Let's set out south toward Speaker's Bridge. Though I'm even more nervous about visiting there after learning about the recent name change. Hopefully I can go around it if it's going to be an issue.

The stoatman finishes his coffee, then yours, and after patting the innkeeper on the head and wishing her a happy hangover heads out with you. The sun is setting, and soon enough it grows dark and lonely in the woods. The stoatman tries to keep your spirits up with a variety of dirty jokes on the way. You definitely hadn't heard the one about the minder and the cannibal before, you must admit.

[In The Dark Of The Night: 1]

And it appears that somebody else hadn't either, because you hear a rather resonant cackle in the woods as the stoatman delivers the punchline, the tone of it reminding you of poorly made wind chimes, an inorganic noise of fine junk clattering. Out of the corner of your eye you notice something orange, glowing. You turn to look, but nothing is there. The bush on both sides of the road waves in a sudden breeze, and the cackle repeats.

The stoatman pauses a moment. Huh. Have you heard the one about the night gaunt and the walrus, he asks, bending a little lower as he casts his eye about, adopting a strange defensive position and pulling out a dagger, seemingly able to twist a full 180 degrees with his spine alone to get a good look all around him.

Quote from: TopHat on August 18, 2016, 03:08:40 pm
Alive, if not what I'd expected for a first shot at artificial life. Possibly sentient. Trapped in a skull. Stop for a minute and consider the ethical implications of this.

You suppose Nately could be wrong and it's not sapient at all. That'd be something of a relief. If it actually is, though, you can't help but wonder what failing to feed it phenomena would count as. Animal cruelty? Child neglect? Was the thing contained in it ethically sourced? Have you torn apart an otherworldly family by assisting in the creation of this measure? What does it mean for humanity that the source of its potential doom (that is, if the sea in your visions and wherever this glow came from are identical in some way) is possibly sapient and possesses humanoid desires? Are they humanoid desires? Is it legitimately hungry, or is hunger simply the best approximation for what a thing fundamentally unlike you in physiology feels?

Oh wait, it's shaking now. Are you supposed to unwrap it? Nately seems to think so. But how does he know any of this? And why are there so many soldiers in the courtyard now? Are they going somewhere? And oh my, is it starting to shake more intensely with every moment? What do you do? Should you step back from everyone? It might just explode!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 19, 2016, 03:27:38 pm
Daniels lazily gazes up at the commander.

"Method for crossing a river? I could probably just jump across. As for infantry support, well, I'm monstrously strong, have a killing weapon, and a few magical words. I don't really use the words that often, but maybe a guy or two could accompany me just to make sure I don't get ganked in the back while killing things. I'm not so high on the collateral damage meter, more specific lethality.

Oh, excuse me for one moment, it looks like my armor's close to completion."

Go observe the unveiling of the silence. If I need material still, point out the stained glass window presumably still by the blacksmith's house.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on August 20, 2016, 08:47:12 am
Hmm.  "Hello?  Umm... mother of the lord of the keep, are you in there?  I am told you are wise and can help me?  I'm looking for Albany?

Ask.  Maybe look questioningly at the turnkey if there's no answers.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on August 20, 2016, 03:02:18 pm
"Dangerous to bystanders, you said?"
Rapidly backpedal away from the guards before unwrapping the measure and looking into it. Or letting Nately look into it, if he seems eager to do so. Let's just decide that bit on the fly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 20, 2016, 03:45:01 pm
Night gaunt? Great. I pull out my sword and put my back to the stoat's.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 21, 2016, 05:28:31 am
"Storks, eh? Back in home we had this story we told kids who wanted to know where babies come from, that storks bring them to doorstep of expecting parents. Do they happen to have same penchant for human trafficking here?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 21, 2016, 04:01:08 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on August 19, 2016, 03:27:38 pm
Daniels lazily gazes up at the commander.

"Method for crossing a river? I could probably just jump across. As for infantry support, well, I'm monstrously strong, have a killing weapon, and a few magical words. I don't really use the words that often, but maybe a guy or two could accompany me just to make sure I don't get ganked in the back while killing things. I'm not so high on the collateral damage meter, more specific lethality.

Oh, excuse me for one moment, it looks like my armor's close to completion."

Go observe the unveiling of the silence. If I need material still, point out the stained glass window presumably still by the blacksmith's house.

The commander nods, and you follow Mr. Wilde and the blacksmith's retreat, and you see Mr. Wilde unveil the time-ender's measure! It stares into his eyes with a blinding glow, growing brighter and brighter still as he meets its gaze. For a moment Mr. Wilde glows as well, his shadow disappearing from sight as a very literal light of knowledge bathes him, the skull stops shaking and he, seemingly having extracted some form of insight, puts it back in its protective cloth.

Well, you say, that wasn't nearly as painful as you'd think. Should be enough for armor, right? The blacksmith looks at you. Difficult to say, really. He was somewhat hoping that he could take a look at the SEARING KNOWLEDGE himself, you see, but far be it from him to doubt the instincts of somebody far more learned than he. He's probably in a better position to interpret any relevant information anyway. Eh, you say, as long as you get your armor. And hey, if he needs more material, there's like a whole stained glass window right over there.

The blacksmith looks at the window for a moment, then back at you, then to the window. Well, he says, it's probably hypothetically POSSIBLE he could use that window to make you a suit of some kind. Though what possible practical benefit you hope to gain from wearing easily breakable glass presently escapes him.

Quote from: Toaster on August 20, 2016, 08:47:12 am
Hmm.  "Hello?  Umm... mother of the lord of the keep, are you in there?  I am told you are wise and can help me?  I'm looking for Albany?

Ask.  Maybe look questioningly at the turnkey if there's no answers.

[Encouraging Replies: 1]

You don't hear anything at all from within the tiny little psychological torture closet that is the solitary confinement cell. The turnkey continues to stare at you unblinkingly, wondering which side of this metal door you're going to be on when he shuts and probably locks it in a few moments.

Quote from: TopHat on August 20, 2016, 03:02:18 pm
"Dangerous to bystanders, you said?"
Rapidly backpedal away from the guards before unwrapping the measure and looking into it. Or letting Nately look into it, if he seems eager to do so. Let's just decide that bit on the fly.

You walk a bit to the side of the chapel before the shaking grows too much, Nately and Mr. Daniels following enthusiastically while Deirdre decides to instead get to cover. That done, you consider which of either you or Nately is better suited to receiving these dire revelations of silence.

[Worthy Eyes: 6]

The clear conclusion, you decide, is that you should be the one to get the juicy intel. After all, Nately doesn't even have a formal education. So you lift the veil and stare into the brightly eyes of the skull, and let the true knowledge of silence wash over you!

[The Funnest of Facts: 3]

Silence, artificial. Imposed by the use of a Word. Extradimensional in origin. Creates inertia, stillness, overrides various impulses. Calls attention. Interplay with other Words likely to produce significant interference. Unstable phenomenon of external provenance, estimated normal duration is a maximum of five cycles. Product of physically compromised, supernatural material. Strong influence of the well detected, sampling of the focusing entity should provide more information. Suggested scenario for duplication: stupefying realization.

Vaguely informative, you suppose as you cover the skull up again as its glow lowers significantly, the shaking subsides and you wrap it up in cloth again. Nately looks at you excitedly while Mr. Daniels stands by.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 20, 2016, 03:45:01 pm
Night gaunt? Great. I pull out my sword and put my back to the stoat's.

The stoatman takes a look at your serrated two-handed sword. So that's the reason you feel all right running around alone at night. Huh. He looks at his dagger. Way to make a man feel unimpressive.

[Initial Gambits: 1]

You get back to back, not about to let some night gaunt get the better of you, but nothing seems to advance just yet. The chiming noise returns, louder this time, and the cackling gaunt lets loose a proper guffaw this time, the woods swaying as its unnatural voice reverberates along trees and grass. You hear crunching twigs to your left, to your right... one from behind you.

And then you hear more still. Cackling, but more distant, carrying on the piercing, rising wind. A different, lower sound, significantly less human-sounding, perhaps best approximated as coughing, and an approaching din not unlike that of a blacksmith's hammer. The wild hunt is coming together.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 21, 2016, 05:28:31 am
"Storks, eh? Back in home we had this story we told kids who wanted to know where babies come from, that storks bring them to doorstep of expecting parents. Do they happen to have same penchant for human trafficking here?"

They do. But they like equitable exchanges even more, Lee explains, leading you closer to the camp. A particular thing grabs your eye - a pole in the center of the encampment, atop it standing something you took for an ornament at first, but instead appears to be an actual, one wearing a cloak of white and black feathers on his outstretched arms, his features masked with a white leather mask with a long, sharp red wooden beak. He emits a signalling cry, and you notice a few armed sentries rise from extremely inconspicuous ditches between the teepees. Lee raises her hands, and motions for you and the backpack to do the same.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on August 21, 2016, 05:35:02 pm
Obliviously step inside the cell to look for someone.

"Hello?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 21, 2016, 09:13:42 pm
"Hmm. How about the sacrificial stone thing over by it?"

Doomstone armor?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 22, 2016, 03:56:02 am
"That guy has pretty good balance."

Following Lee's example Leif raises his hands and gives the welcoming party happy wave. Does the backpack know anything about these folks?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 22, 2016, 08:41:36 am
"I've got a number of tricks up my sleeve," I mutter. "Watch out, this will be loud."

I create an explosive cyst and throw it into the woods somewhere a night gaunt seems to be. Hopefully that will at least scare it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on August 22, 2016, 10:57:21 am
Relate the insights to Nately and Daniels.
"... I'm slightly confused by the  'sampling of focusing entity' bit, though. I thought you said it didn't work on living things?
Oh, by the by, how did you come by that word, Daniels? I assume it was yours. "
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 22, 2016, 11:26:24 am
"How'd you get yours? And don't tell me you don't have one, you've been here for longer than an hour which means one's likely popped up in your face."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 23, 2016, 12:41:37 pm
Quote from: Toaster on August 21, 2016, 05:35:02 pm
Obliviously step inside the cell to look for someone.

"Hello?"

You step inside, and the turnkey closes the door behind you, plunging you into near-complete darkness as the door locks, and you are left alone. Or are you? You call out, your voice stifled by the tight quarters, and you feel a little silly for a second. It'd be strange if there was anyone else in here, you alone can hardly fit in-

Hello, you hear a voice reply from above. You were looking for her, yes? You hear something shuffle lightly along the wall, two bare feet planting lightly on the ground slightly in front of you. You were also looking for something else?

Quote from: Xantalos on August 21, 2016, 09:13:42 pm
"Hmm. How about the sacrificial stone thing over by it?"

Doomstone armor?

Could work, the blacksmith guesses. It is fairly decent stone. Though you'd hardly want a coat of it, he suspects. Maybe something else could be arranged, such as-

At this moment Mr. Wilde turns to you and the blacksmith, his information having come in. He tells you that you made some kind of silence, and did it through a Word, that it's unstable and of "external provenance", whatever that means, produced by physically compromised, supernatural material. So far, so much shit you mostly already knew. And then he mentions it being useful to take a sample of the focusing entity.

You don't seem to be the only one slightly underwhelmed by the result. Not the most useful of insights, the blacksmith admits. Probably will need to take that sample, he says as he looks at you.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 22, 2016, 03:56:02 am
"That guy has pretty good balance."

Following Lee's example Leif raises his hands and gives the welcoming party happy wave. Does the backpack know anything about these folks?

You raise your hands, and your backpack smiles awkwardly as he does the same. The sentries continue to observe you for a little while longer, then one of them climbs out of the ditch. He's a tall fellow, wearing the same beaked mask and feathered cloak as the man on the pole, who seems to be pointing at you still, performing an excellent impression of a wind vane for intruders. You, your backpack and Lee are collectively sized up, and after a few moments he turns toward Lee. She spreads the pseudo-wings on her dress for a moment, and the man spreads his winglike cloak, and they exchange a handshake. What does she want, the man asks a bit forwardly. To pass unmolested, Lee replies.

[Polite Welcome: 6]

The man laughs. Glad that's over with. He never could get used to being rude to strangers. In addition, does she want anything else? Food? Drink? A spare infant? Moths are their friends, after all.

Lee maintains a passive expression for the moment. She would like the same privilege extended to the two others with her. The Stork touches his finger to the long beak of the mask. Oh. She means those aren't offerings? That may make for a more difficult pitch, truth be told. Hm. Does she strictly need both of these outsiders, the man asks after a moment in a bargaining tone. Lee looks over at your backpack, who seems to have been trying and failing to understand to conversation happening with a suspicious eye, then checks with you wordlessly, raising an eyebrow and nodding very slightly in his direction.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 22, 2016, 08:41:36 am
"I've got a number of tricks up my sleeve," I mutter. "Watch out, this will be loud."

I create an explosive cyst and throw it into the woods somewhere a night gaunt seems to be. Hopefully that will at least scare it.

[A Fistful of Explosives: 4 vs. 5]

There is a traveling chill and tingling, as if your arm were falling asleep as you focus on the creation of an explosive cyst, extruding one on your palm, one handing your greatsword as you loose it into the forest where you hear the cackling and chiming come from - it flies into one of the trees and blows a good chunk of it to splinters, the tree creaking as its balance is upset and the remains of its trunk snap in half.

[Big Bang Hypothesis: 1]

Birds take flight in a mile's radius, and the cackling suddenly stops, as does the chiming. There's a stunned silence as the forest suddenly seems empty of life, only for the stillness to be pierced by a fluting, metallic coo, the curiosity of the gaunts very much piqued by this display of sorcery. Not only their curiosity, mind. The stoatman also seems very impressed. That there was magic, right, he says with a sense of wonder. Feckin' hell, he's never seen anything like that. Though, come to think of it, neither has he seen a night gaunt before. They say you actually don't until they eat you, to be honest.

Quote from: TopHat on August 22, 2016, 10:57:21 am
Relate the insights to Nately and Daniels.
"... I'm slightly confused by the  'sampling of focusing entity' bit, though. I thought you said it didn't work on living things?
Oh, by the by, how did you come by that word, Daniels? I assume it was yours. "

Nately and his questionable associate listen carefully, but seem ultimately less than impressed, having a moment's conference on the results as presented.

And, well, Nately offers, consider a man, a REGULAR man, mind you. Say you lop off his finger, or cut out his heart, even, is the finger alive? And though the heart may beat for a couple of moments if you do it well enough, is the heart alive? The idea is more to not try and stick a whole living person in there. He is fairly sure that might interfere with the internal mental workings of the thing. He certainly saw the great white sea react poorly to the proximity of sentient beings, that's for sure. So you would want to avoid such unpredictable occurrences.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 23, 2016, 02:04:47 pm
You can get this fixed later you can get this fixed later you can get this fixed later

"What do you need, like a part of my finger or something, or just a fingernail or part of my hair?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 23, 2016, 03:02:46 pm
A very slight shrug implying "I suggested him to go elsewhere." Also slightly loosening grip of my spear indicating I can part with it. Mouthing word "inevitable". Whatever she makes of that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on August 23, 2016, 03:26:35 pm
"Why would I suddenly pretend not to have a Word, since I've already told you I have one and how I got it?
Anyway, would a blood sample work? It'll contain any DNA or equivalent if we even have any, and it's certainly less drastic than chopping you up. As pleasant as the thought may be. "
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 23, 2016, 03:42:56 pm
"Don't go all mad doctor on me, man. Though it might not look like it, I actually enjoy not having to hurt people.

Still, blood sample sounds good. I'd rather not lose another appendage."

Blood sample it is. Into the measure, I assume?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on August 23, 2016, 08:01:37 pm
"Er, uh, yes.  My name is Thomas Minstep, and I'm not quite sure how I've gotten to this castle.  It involved a sack, I believe.  That said, I am trying to return home, and your son thought you might know the way.  I am trying to go to Albany, you see.  Uh.  In New York?"

Ask.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 24, 2016, 07:32:38 am
I escaped a stoat army to be eaten by bogeymen. Good going there.

If we're not very far from the inn, I start slowly moving in that direction. If we're pretty far away, instead I move in the direction we were going. Maybe if we get closer to other people, the gaunts will back off.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 25, 2016, 04:36:51 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 23, 2016, 03:02:46 pm
A very slight shrug implying "I suggested him to go elsewhere." Also slightly loosening grip of my spear indicating I can part with it. Mouthing word "inevitable". Whatever she makes of that.

They don't seem like they'd want your spear, at least judging by the weaponry by the warriors' sides, their spearheads, swords and daggers having the banded look of fine Wootz steel. Almost strangely advanced in its own way.

[We're All Friends Here: 1]

You give a noncommittal shrug, and it's at roughly this point your backpack gets the feeling that this is unlikely to end well for him. He looks at the Stork, then at the gathering warriors, then at Lee, who seems to be evaluating his market price before making a pitch to the clansman, and decides to make a run for it.

[A Most Wondrous Flight: 6]

It's quite an orthogonal run for it, too. The Stork looks on as your backpack sprints off into the distance, seemingly not overly concerned about his progress in escaping. Going to be a fun one to catch, no doubt, he offers with a smile as your former associate tries to duck along through the brush to avoid arrows that fail to come his way, then dives into the canyon for cover. The clansman lets out an 'ooh' at this turn of events. Probably gonna need to go fishing in not too long. Better notify the net men while he's at it.

In any case, he gestures to the encampment, this ought to be good. He'll let the headman know you're here and what you brought. In the meantime, make yourselves at home. Not even in the usual way, he then adds and laughs. Lee smirks a little out of politeness, the second readable expression you've seen her make all day. She looks over at you, as does the clansman. The latter stares a bit. What is that, anyway? Lee looks at him. Associate, she says. Looks unnerving, the Stork replies. Does it get wet in the rain? Might want to leave it out.

Quote from: TopHat on August 23, 2016, 03:26:35 pm
"Why would I suddenly pretend not to have a Word, since I've already told you I have one and how I got it?
Anyway, would a blood sample work? It'll contain any DNA or equivalent if we even have any, and it's certainly less drastic than chopping you up. As pleasant as the thought may be. "

Nately doesn't seem to know, but if Mr. Daniels is more willing to give blood than give actual chunks, that's certainly his prerogative. AND there's... DNA, yes, and probably EQUIVALENTS, in fact, Nately continues on, agreeing with the smart-sounding thing you just told him.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 23, 2016, 03:42:56 pm
"Don't go all mad doctor on me, man. Though it might not look like it, I actually enjoy not having to hurt people.

Still, blood sample sounds good. I'd rather not lose another appendage."

Blood sample it is. Into the measure, I assume?

[Let's Spill Some Blood: 5]

You place a finger on your wrist and dig your nails into the vein, parting flesh with only the slightest pressure, a slight amount of pain following as you drag your functional hand over the vein, opening it like a seam. Blood starts to readily come out as the blacksmith steps up, removing a slightly used vial from somewhere within his clothes and, upon devoting the issue some thought, an accompanying funnel as well. You hold your wrist above the funnel, letting a respectable amount of blood drip into it until it nearly begins to spill over, at which point he pulls the vial away, hands it to Mr. Wilde and goes to find some water to wash his funnel.

[The Cost of Doing Business: 6]

The transaction complete, you squeeze the vein shut by closing your hand over it and half-crushing your forearm as you experiment with pressure, your murder-thought flitting wildly in the sky in an instant of pain. You hold it like that for a few minutes and twist, and you think that addresses the blood loss quite adequately. And with only a minimal loss of function in that hand, though not for lack of trying.

Quote from: Toaster on August 23, 2016, 08:01:37 pm
"Er, uh, yes.  My name is Thomas Minstep, and I'm not quite sure how I've gotten to this castle.  It involved a sack, I believe.  That said, I am trying to return home, and your son thought you might know the way.  I am trying to go to Albany, you see.  Uh.  In New York?"

Ask.

[Insights From The Far Corners: 1]

Sounds like a transoceanic place, she says after some thought. You kind of suspected you were in Australia. Does she know where you could find an airport, then? And a phone. You've lost yours, unfortunately.

Airports, hm, she considers further, and you hear her wander along the edge of the cell, circling you a few times. Do you mean one of those places where metallic dragons land every now and then and carry people off? You roll your eyes and sigh. They just have to make this difficult, don't they? Yes. North along the road, she says. And then when the road ends (never did have a head for roadworks, the lords of Anglefork), you just keep on going. You'll find yourself in an airport eventually. Some clansmen might help point the way. This raises your eyebrow immediately. Clansmen? Out in the open? You've heard things about Australia, certainly, but nothing quite like this. You didn't even know the Clan had international chapters. Seems like that would defeat the point somewhat, but you suppose you're no expert.

In any case, you suppose that was... shockingly helpful, in its own roundabout way. You thank the lady for her helpful advice, and consider leaving when she responds with the obvious counterquestion - what's been happening outside? She doesn't leave terribly often, you understand. Has a bit of a countenance issue.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 24, 2016, 07:32:38 am
I escaped a stoat army to be eaten by bogeymen. Good going there.

If we're not very far from the inn, I start slowly moving in that direction. If we're pretty far away, instead I move in the direction we were going. Maybe if we get closer to other people, the gaunts will back off.

Rather unfortunately you think you're at about the midway point. So on you'll have to go. And by 'go', you mean 'run for dear life'.

[The Pursuit of Sorcery: 1 vs. 6]

You make the first move. This seems to dispel any lingering indecision on the part of the gaunt, which stops playing coy immediately and comes barrelling out of the underbrush, the air pressure dropping suddenly as your ears pop and you see a speeding figure, an enormous, long-fingered, sharp-toothed skeletal thing constructed from head to toe of silvered, gleaming bone, its mouth open as it splays its claws in a pounce, each large, ice-cold hand wrapping around your waist fully once as you are carried off your feet, the creature rolling with you as it secures its grip and you are taken off your feet. It coils its hunched body as a spring and almost clownishly springs away as its many joints unfold and it extends to its full nearly 20 foot length from the end of its disproportionately huge arms to the toes of its digitigrade legs.

The last thing you see before you are pulled up slightly above the tree line by the supernatural leap of the creature is the stoatman looking on in shock as he starts to run forward, almost immediately giving up on the idea of seeing you alive ever again. And then you feel a lot of branches swatting across your face as the gaunt pulls you down into the bramble, hefting you in one hand now as it pulls and bounds its way along the wilderness, cackling at an amazing volume as its conch-like head vibrates, parts of it smacking against one another as the nightly air is violently sucked through it. Moving at about the speed of a horse going full tilt, you feel yourself getting almost hopelessly far from the woods immediately, the steely nine-fingered grip of the gaunt locked around your entire body as its grip is adjusted, leaving you helplessly dragging along the underbrush as it makes off with its nightly prize. You hear what you presume are other gaunts - you think they're following you. Maybe they won't eat the other guy, then. Maybe.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 25, 2016, 10:51:45 am
It? One might take offense from being called that. Not me, though.

"Name one thing that doesn't get wet in rain. Besides water."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 25, 2016, 07:24:50 pm
This is not how I wanted tonight to go.

I imagine the forest coming alive and attacking this creature, branches clawing at it with unnatural HUNGER.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 25, 2016, 07:33:37 pm
"Okay, now what?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on August 25, 2016, 09:19:21 pm
Australia does make sense, really.  Not sure how... or why... Thomas got here, this was still the most helpful anyone's been.  "Thank you.  You've been the most helpful person I've talked to today.  Hm?  Yes, of course, it's only fair that I help you.  Well, quite a bit actually.  The siege of the stout fellows has been broken.  They all left, or something, not really sure.  Well, there was this one, the leader or something, and then he came in the castle and we had a swordfight.  I won; quite exciting really, most exercise I've gotten in a while.  Really stretched out the ol' rotator cuff.  He gave me this sword, and it's got some neat talking trick.   Want to see it?"

Answer questions.  Show her the sword if she wants.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on August 26, 2016, 11:13:27 am
"Now we unwrap the measure and point it at the sample, I assume."
Unstopper the vial if necessary, then Measure Daniels' blood. Feed it a REVELATION instead if it isn't interested for some reason.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 27, 2016, 12:20:14 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 25, 2016, 10:51:45 am
It? One might take offense from being called that. Not me, though.

"Name one thing that doesn't get wet in rain. Besides water."

Lee stares at the clansman for a few moments as he continues looking at her, only glancing in your direction for a moment. It's making noises, the fellow notes. Is it supposed to do that? Lee looks at you again, then turns to the man in puzzlement.

Yes, she says after eyeballing the clansman suspiciously. Yes, it does get wet in the rain. Very well, retorts the clansman, he'll have some of the folks throw a tarp over it in that case. Maybe tie it down so a sudden gale doesn't blow it away. It doesn't seem terribly light, of course, he comes over and places his hands on your shoulders, testing your weight. Hm. Probably should tie it down, yes.

[Breaking The Ice: 3]

Is... that how they usually treat guests, Lee asks experimentally. The Stork looks at her in confusion. What seems to be the problem? She'll get to stay in the guest tent, and get a pick of the evening's feast as befits a guest. And her luggage won't be disturbed a bit. He'll have a guard watch over it at all times. Let it never be said that the Stork Clan does not respect the rights, whether personal or property-related, of worthy clans. The almost offended tone of the man is enough for Lee to not pursue the line of questioning further, and she glances at you one more time as the clansman orders for the luggage to be covered, tied down  and held under watch for the duration of their clanfriend's stay.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 25, 2016, 07:24:50 pm
This is not how I wanted tonight to go.

I imagine the forest coming alive and attacking this creature, branches clawing at it with unnatural HUNGER.

Able to do little other than shout, you decide to make your voice heard.

HUNGER

[Word: 2]

The woods wave and tremble as your voice goes through them, and the night gaunt echoes your cry softly, the resonance of it ringing through its bones, spurring it on as you affirm your value and power. You go further and further away from the river, deeper into the derelict woods. The other gaunts have formed up behind you at this point, and you are finally dragged to your destination.

It reminds you strangely of the doomstones back in the castle, though less regular and purposeful, like a set of cairns constructed in equal measure of stones, miscellaneous remains of many shapes and sizes and what you are fairly sure are the ruins of several carts, all stacked into towers with no clear rhyme or reason.

[Incoming Delivery: 1]

It is right into one of these that you are suddenly and sharply tossed, your body cracking like a whip as you are hurled forth and straight into the sharp and jagged rocks, wood and bone, the cairn collapsing with you atop it. The sound of stomping footsteps, clanging calls and overwhelming bestial laughter grow louder and closer, monstrous figures darting between the trees in the clearing, the hubbub of a rapidly growing gathering making the place feel like some form of alien market square.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 25, 2016, 07:33:37 pm
"Okay, now what?"

Now Mr. Wilde gets to demonstrate why he's the master and you are merely the lab assistant with a confusing series of gymnastics and balancing acts as he manages to uncover with his teeth the skull-shaped measure which he balances on his leg while pointing it at the vial of your blood, which he holds in one hand. The skull seems to rather appreciate it.

Quote from: Toaster on August 25, 2016, 09:19:21 pm
Australia does make sense, really.  Not sure how... or why... Thomas got here, this was still the most helpful anyone's been.  "Thank you.  You've been the most helpful person I've talked to today.  Hm?  Yes, of course, it's only fair that I help you.  Well, quite a bit actually.  The siege of the stout fellows has been broken.  They all left, or something, not really sure.  Well, there was this one, the leader or something, and then he came in the castle and we had a swordfight.  I won; quite exciting really, most exercise I've gotten in a while.  Really stretched out the ol' rotator cuff.  He gave me this sword, and it's got some neat talking trick.   Want to see it?"

Answer questions.  Show her the sword if she wants.

Oh. Ah. Erm. Well! The lady makes several such noises as you go through your story, the news seemingly far more than she expected. Very... very... quite, yes, very quite indeed.

She does seem impressed. But perhaps not as impressed as she could be. So you produce your sword, its surface bright gray, crisp and clear even in the absence of any visible light. Ah, she says. That really is quite the trick sword you have there, Mr. Minstep. And... oh dear, it speaks? My, what a terrible voice it has...

An intriguing material, one must say. May one have a small sampling? Ask the woman. She needs not half of herself to continue existing within here. Less, even, if she were to walk out.

Quote from: TopHat on August 26, 2016, 11:13:27 am
"Now we unwrap the measure and point it at the sample, I assume."
Unstopper the vial if necessary, then Measure Daniels' blood. Feed it a REVELATION instead if it isn't interested for some reason.

[Precision Measurements: 6]

You go through a peculiar configuration as you lift the vial up in one hand, then take the measure in the other one. It's still wrapped. So you raise your leg and rest the measure on that, and bring the vial in its view, trying to keep it level with the vial, which necessitates that you use the other arm to balance so you don't fall off and ruin the whole thing, so what you do then is that you bend forward a little and pull the cloth off the measure with your teeth, the skull beginning to shake as the air in front of it is slowly drawn in. You bring forward the vial, and your hand feels a momentary pull as the skull senses acceptable prey, and an invisible tendril you barely even register comes right for it. You let go of the vial and it begins to fall for a millisecond before being snapped up violently. The measure nearly falls off your thigh as it shakes, and you kick it up and catch it in both hands, wrapping it in the cloth in a single deft movement.

You turn to Mr. Daniels, who has been watching your gymnastics with utter bemusement. He offers no immediate comment.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 27, 2016, 01:53:21 pm
"Eh?" Leif's eye twitches involuntarily.

"You know," he says as much to Lee as to the rude stork, wearing a smile without realizing it. "I don't mind being referred as 'it'. I understand that in some cultures and languages it isn't considered as an insult and I'm willing to assume that's the case here. However this way of treatment feels rather insulting, being treated as a thing. I have this new word of power I haven't tried yet, apocalypse," he rolls the word out of his mouth, pronouncing it carefully, tasting the power in it, "and I'm itching to see how it works. I presume it results fire and brimstone raining from heavens, rivers flooding backwards, death walking amongst men, bunch of gods dying and such. So acknowledge me as a person, will you?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on August 27, 2016, 03:08:44 pm
Thomas looks blank for a moment, a gesture lost in the dark.  "Errr... why don't you ask?  It's not really my place to ask for pieces of... what?  I'm not even sure.  Look, you ask.  I don't know."

Let the sword ask, but respect the woman's decision.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 27, 2016, 11:12:49 pm
Shit.

I pretend I died on impact in case that makes me less interesting to these guys.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 27, 2016, 11:18:07 pm
"Cool. Now what?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on August 28, 2016, 07:19:04 am
"Now we wait and hope the analysis is more useful this time. Speaking of which, have you made any progress figuring out what exactly we are? I think I heard you mention a mystery."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 28, 2016, 01:54:04 pm
"Oh, right. Yeah, we're basically data-collecting probes sent by a giant extradimensional entity to investigate this world, chained (mostly) to human form to prevent us from shattering reality entirely. Fun stuff, eh?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on August 28, 2016, 02:36:05 pm
"Is this entity that thing you mentioned earlier which you've been dealing with? And how did you find this out? Did you get any technical details?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 28, 2016, 02:39:16 pm
"I asked it. And I know you haven't dealt with it, but no, no details that could be comprehensible by mortal minds probably. Apparently the substrate which makes up our bodies is completely indestructible but we still get damaged to feign the appearance of being human and stuff? Has a lot to do with how you think, far as I can tell. Expect to get hurt, you'll get hurt.

Before you ask, nothing less vague, getting details out of that thing is like squeezing blood from a stone."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on August 29, 2016, 05:02:45 am
"Hmm. That fits, a bit. Did the minders have anything to do with it or are their successors just misinformed?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 29, 2016, 12:56:16 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 27, 2016, 01:53:21 pm
"Eh?" Leif's eye twitches involuntarily.

"You know," he says as much to Lee as to the rude stork, wearing a smile without realizing it. "I don't mind being referred as 'it'. I understand that in some cultures and languages it isn't considered as an insult and I'm willing to assume that's the case here. However this way of treatment feels rather insulting, being treated as a thing. I have this new word of power I haven't tried yet, apocalypse," he rolls the word out of his mouth, pronouncing it carefully, tasting the power in it, "and I'm itching to see how it works. I presume it results fire and brimstone raining from heavens, rivers flooding backwards, death walking amongst men, bunch of gods dying and such. So acknowledge me as a person, will you?"

[It's So Easy When You Know The Rules: 5]

As you provide this ominous monologue, Lee widens her eyes. This is definitely not a thing that needs to or should happen, her look seems to tell you as she starts subtly shaking her head in your direction.

The stork man just keeps looking over at her, then glances at you for a second. What's she shaking her head for, he asks. Lee looks at him. He's a minder, she says. And he seems to have some kind of trick in mind, and is very offended that he is not acknowledged as a person, she explains hurriedly.

Oh, says the stork man, looking in your direction, that's a minder? He thought there was something weird about it, but he couldn't put his finger on it, to be honest. He was wondering if there was some sorcery at work there, because while it does appear to be some form of freestanding luggage in the way it takes up a portion of space, he can't for the life of him make out any details. Which is odd, because all the minders he has seen love to make their presence very much known.

Wait, asks Lee. Did he... hear the luggage speak? Say anything? The stork man raises an eyebrow. Was it speaking? If so, he must apologize, as he didn't hear a thing. And he does seem legitimately apologetic, still giving you a moment's glance every now and then.

In any case, he tells Lee, could he ask the good minder to reveal itself? He's not sure it's terribly conducive to polite contact to have it remain hidden from perception thus.

Quote from: Toaster on August 27, 2016, 03:08:44 pm
Thomas looks blank for a moment, a gesture lost in the dark.  "Errr... why don't you ask?  It's not really my place to ask for pieces of... what?  I'm not even sure.  Look, you ask.  I don't know."

Let the sword ask, but respect the woman's decision.

One is obviously more familiar with negotiations where both parties have a great deal of knowledge about one another, such as between oneself and stout folk. But one supposes it is also fair that one be required to conduct one's own dealings.

[A Convenient Exchange: 2]

A short few moments pass as you continue holding the sword, and the lady of the castle makes several thoughtful noises, and after a period of thought informs you that she doesn't think it entirely reasonable that she part with a chunk of herself. She does rather like having all of her chunks in place. Why, if she were less attached to them, you can be sure she would have tried doing something about her terrible countenance a long time ago. That's why she's here, you know. Perceptual hazard, the minders called it.

Oh! That reminds her. She doesn't suppose she can keep staying here, can she? She somewhat assumes that the castle folk will be leaving soon, and she's unsure if it would be feasible to ask anyone to keep leaving her food in the cell when stout folk could come back rather soon and try some frightening business again, yes?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 27, 2016, 11:12:49 pm
Shit.

I pretend I died on impact in case that makes me less interesting to these guys.

[Death Becomes Her: 1]

You hold your breath, close your eyes and go terribly still. There is a jangle and a clanging, the sound of a great deal of silver bones hitting upon one another. A few minutes pass as the din of chiming, fluting, cackling and cooing grows increasingly dissatisfied, and you feel a particularly large figure approach on a great deal of legs. You feel a sharp talon approach soundlessly and touch your bare foot coldly. In a swift and effortless motion it carves into the arch of the foot, slicing a little up along the leg, sampling skin, sinew and muscle in equal measure as you feel a sharp pain and the slight rush of air on your bone as a good piece of it is pulled off. You open your eyes reflexively, holding in a scream.

Before you stands a far less humanoid creature, an ancient and snaking figure, all silvery arms and elephantine tusks and yellow glowing lights in mismatched bones forming its serpentine body. It has come into the clearing halfway, and you see it extend all the fifty or so feet back into the woods and, if the way the bones gleam in starlight is any indication, wind far back for much longer yet. You see the chunk of your leg disappear into a mess of pincers and teeth fashioned from the broken-off bones and exoskeletal plates of a dozen different creatures, rendered into blood and paste in a few munches as it grinds it down, a shiver spreading through its whole body. It raises the fore part of its body, rising high and twisting round as it raises its arms and screams out to the other gaunts. Alive!

Alive, echoes a mile or so of forest around you. Alive! Alive! The large creature conducts the chant further, screaming out recognizably once more. Blood and magic! Blood and magic, all repeat three times more.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 28, 2016, 02:39:16 pm
"I asked it. And I know you haven't dealt with it, but no, no details that could be comprehensible by mortal minds probably. Apparently the substrate which makes up our bodies is completely indestructible but we still get damaged to feign the appearance of being human and stuff? Has a lot to do with how you think, far as I can tell. Expect to get hurt, you'll get hurt.

Before you ask, nothing less vague, getting details out of that thing is like squeezing blood from a stone."

As you drop these truth bombs on Mr. Wilde, the blacksmith returns, holding up a far cleaner funnel than you remember in his hand. You wonder if he is proudly displaying it to you or Mr. Wilde. It occurs to him that this is exactly what he is doing, and he's not quite sure why. After looking at it awkwardly, he secrets it away back in his outfit.

Quote from: TopHat on August 29, 2016, 05:02:45 am
"Hmm. That fits, a bit. Did the minders have anything to do with it or are their successors just misinformed?"

They could be, Nately says as he returns to the conversation and tries to dive right in. They are but children, none of them more than mere apprentices. At best they would know HALF of the story, he would expect. He nods at you enthusiastically at having provided this extremely useful information.

As you become aware of Nately's return, you also notice Deirdre standing off by the corner of the chapel, listening in to the conversation as she seems to be trying to read your lips to get a better sense of what you're talking about. Noticing you looking at her, she merely shrugs. Gotta catch up somehow, right?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 29, 2016, 01:11:37 pm
"They ... sort of. Yes and no. They thought they were doing one thing when they really gave the well permission to do something else, ie us.

Now then, the next step?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 29, 2016, 03:07:46 pm
"It speaks? Please, Mister Giga Gaunt, you don't want to eat me. I know I look tasty, but I can help you. I can go where your gaunts can't, and bring you as much blood and magic as you can eat."

I try to reason with the monster. I don't expect it to respond, but it's worth a shot. If I can't convince it not to eat me, then I'll have to directly influence its HUNGER to crave something else.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on August 29, 2016, 06:21:35 pm
"Well, looks like she said no.  Sorry about that."  Thomas then looked generally in the direction of the voice.  "Ah, uh, I'll put in a word for you with the warden, then?  I... don't see why he'd refuse?  I guess?"

Agree to her requests.  If departing, tell the warden that she wishes to stay.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 29, 2016, 11:54:01 pm
"That went better than expected, I guess. Thanks for being translator. You probably need to continue as one because I don't recall making this effect. Something else is fucking with us here. Let's see..."

Damn it, no excuse for apocalypse. All those wonderful steps of minding must now come together. His Perceptions is clearly fucked with and the entire process is taken right up to Abstraction, it seems, and left there. Well, I can use that.

Lets introduce a Perception (improved one) of me into him and him alone.

Wait, is this The Promised Sixth business? Oh fuck that well...
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on August 30, 2016, 03:54:51 pm
"The next step? Wait for the Measure to finish processing, it should be done in a few minutes. Meanwhile, I'd like to get a feel for the area, since I'll probably be leaving soon."
Wave to Deirdre, then get up onto the walls and study the surrounding countryside.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 30, 2016, 05:55:11 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on August 29, 2016, 01:11:37 pm
"They ... sort of. Yes and no. They thought they were doing one thing when they really gave the well permission to do something else, ie us.

Now then, the next step?"

The next step, or rather the next hundred or so steps, take you up to the battlements. Mr. Wilde stops here, looking out into the field as it is bathed in early morning light. The royal guards are seemingly making an improvised bridge of some kind, hefting ropes and planks to get them into place for a crossing, about twenty men and women all at once constructing it out of materials looted from the war camp. About forty more guards and a whole lot of civilians seem to have moved out as well, and are currently in the process of looting the surroundings.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 29, 2016, 03:07:46 pm
"It speaks? Please, Mister Giga Gaunt, you don't want to eat me. I know I look tasty, but I can help you. I can go where your gaunts can't, and bring you as much blood and magic as you can eat."

I try to reason with the monster. I don't expect it to respond, but it's worth a shot. If I can't convince it not to eat me, then I'll have to directly influence its HUNGER to crave something else.

[Blood and Magic: 1]

Blood! Magic! Blood! Magic! The gaunts break into a horrid chant all at once, your words driving them into an apparent frenze. The great gaunt begins to circle, winding out of the woods and around your cairn, all its bones clicking and jangling in anticipation. Blood! Magic! Blood! Magic!

So you let them have another word.

HUNGER

[Word: 2]

Hunger! Blood! Hunger! The forest reverberates, the gaunts begin to step closer. The great gaunt quickens its pace, stopping in front of you, then pouncing downward.

[A Feast For The Ages: 5 vs. 1]

You do not even begin to roll away as it falls upon you straight on, teeth and arms grinding into your flesh through your robe, blood pouring liberally as you are slowly crushed and chewed, pieces of you pulled off and into the body of the gaunt, its silver bones becoming deep red as it goes about your evisceration. Hunger, chant the other gaunts, blood and hunger! Blood and magic!

Quote from: Toaster on August 29, 2016, 06:21:35 pm
"Well, looks like she said no.  Sorry about that."  Thomas then looked generally in the direction of the voice.  "Ah, uh, I'll put in a word for you with the warden, then?  I... don't see why he'd refuse?  I guess?"

Agree to her requests.  If departing, tell the warden that she wishes to stay.

Oh no! No no no. She doesn't wish to stay. She'd just like to know when everybody else is leaving. She would like to leave afterward. Perhaps go somewhere else. Somewhere without people.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 29, 2016, 11:54:01 pm
"That went better than expected, I guess. Thanks for being translator. You probably need to continue as one because I don't recall making this effect. Something else is fucking with us here. Let's see..."

Damn it, no excuse for apocalypse. All those wonderful steps of minding must now come together. His Perceptions is clearly fucked with and the entire process is taken right up to Abstraction, it seems, and left there. Well, I can use that.

Lets introduce a Perception (improved one) of me into him and him alone.

Wait, is this The Promised Sixth business? Oh fuck that well...

[Tricks of the Mind: 3]

Where you attempt engagement of perception, the first link in the chain, you find only a vast ocean before you, deep and dark, reaching far and reaching wide as you grasp for something, anything - all your feelers, however, disappear into the void, eaten after the merest movement makes them known. There is nothing to reach, you think. Nothing there at all. To him, you are an object. And you can be no more.

Right, says the stork man after you concentrate a moment on him, turning to Lee once more. So they'll be throwing a tarp over her luggage and tying it down so it doesn't go anywhere, and put it under guard for her stay, a privilege extended to honored clanfriends. He nods to Lee in respect.

Wait, she says. That is a minder. It assists her, and demands equal treatment. Oh, says the stork man. So is that a minder trick, appearing to be luggage? What a strange thing to bring along, truly. His apologies for not seeing it, of course, though he would appreciate it if Lee could ask her minder companion to suspend the effect and let them converse like quasi-civilized folk. Lee looks a little bewildered as she looks at you again. This isn't working, she says through her teeth.

Quote from: TopHat on August 30, 2016, 03:54:51 pm
"The next step? Wait for the Measure to finish processing, it should be done in a few minutes. Meanwhile, I'd like to get a feel for the area, since I'll probably be leaving soon."
Wave to Deirdre, then get up onto the walls and study the surrounding countryside.

Deirdre follows at a distance as you head up to the battlements, now significantly empty of any patrols. This is reasonable enough, as you think that a majority of the forces (and quite a bit of the civilian population beyond that) have moved out into the field, looking damn well spirited as they prepare for a raid upon Anglefork Town, recovering supplies and rebuilding improvised bridges out of planks and rope. You look on for a few moments longer, the preparations going almost astoundingly quickly. A few of the troops even conduct quick drills, to spacious area around the castle giving them as much hope as a taste of actual rations.

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Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on August 30, 2016, 06:53:42 pm
Thomas nodded.  "I apologize; my mistake.  Maybe I can ask for the door to be unlocked so you can get out on your own time?  I understand that the Outback has lots of places without people, if you don't mind the heat."

Continue to not fully understand various situations.  Put in a corrected word with the warden, then.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 30, 2016, 10:27:05 pm
Jack's unsettling gaze turns over to Diedre.

"So, who're you?"

Socialize while I wait for my armor.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 31, 2016, 02:39:10 am
"That hundred times cursed swindler... This doesn't appear to be his fault. Certain bastard in certain well cheated hell out of me and this is the price. Ask if you can have... your luggage in your own tent. Say it doesn't take much space when handled properly."

His annoyance is being redirected to certain well in certain place. Leif wonders if he could rain APOCALYPSE on the well from this far away. He hopes he can, even if it registers as a minor annoyance at best.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 31, 2016, 07:19:08 am
No! If I get eaten it's going to be by something bigger than you.

CHAOS SEA HUNGER
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 31, 2016, 07:32:38 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 31, 2016, 07:19:08 am
No! If I get eaten it's going to be by something bigger than you.

CHAOS SEA HUNGER
this has never gone wrong before
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 31, 2016, 07:34:42 am
You can only use a single Word a turn, actually.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on August 31, 2016, 10:06:12 am
Anything of interest in the background? Topological features of note?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 31, 2016, 10:47:27 am
Quote from: Toaster on August 30, 2016, 06:53:42 pm
Thomas nodded.  "I apologize; my mistake.  Maybe I can ask for the door to be unlocked so you can get out on your own time?  I understand that the Outback has lots of places without people, if you don't mind the heat."

Continue to not fully understand various situations.  Put in a corrected word with the warden, then.

She'll look forward to any more information, sir. Do keep an eye on that sword in the meantime. Thing seems quite hungry.

So you knock on the door, the warden coming by to open it up as the woman seemingly scurries up the walls again. Right, you say, good warden, could you ask him to maybe unlock this door some time in the future? The lady of the castle would like to leave.

[A Reasonable Request: 6]

Yes, the warden blinks. Well, he doesn't really blink. He more just closes his eyes and opens up the door wide, pointing to the exit. It seems he took the request a little more immediately than you expected.

Oh, you hear a voice from within, is everyone gone already? The turnkey does not open his eyes to answer in any way.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 30, 2016, 10:27:05 pm
Jack's unsettling gaze turns over to Diedre.

"So, who're you?"

Socialize while I wait for my armor.

The girl following you about, currently trying to look nonchalant as she's crouched down by the ramparts, is very much startled when you notice her. Oh, uh. She's, well, er, her name's Deirdre. She's with, er, him, she points at Mr. Wilde. They were doing this investigation, see, an investigation into how to maybe leave this place and, uh, that's kind of worked out, but she's been, well, uh, kinda waiting for Mr. Wilde to come along after he does all his stuff, you know, safer traveling when you're... not alone, yeah?

You get the feeling you're making her incredibly uneasy as you look at her. Might be the way your murder-thought, content to weave through the crenels for a minute or two, now seems to be inching toward her in a very deliberate fashion.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 31, 2016, 02:39:10 am
"That hundred times cursed swindler... This doesn't appear to be his fault. Certain bastard in certain well cheated hell out of me and this is the price. Ask if you can have... your luggage in your own tent. Say it doesn't take much space when handled properly."

His annoyance is being redirected to certain well in certain place. Leif wonders if he could rain APOCALYPSE on the well from this far away. He hopes he can, even if it registers as a minor annoyance at best.

[A Lady's Things: 1]

Lee nods and turns to the stork man, explaining that the minder- she stops herself, no, not the minder, the luggage she would prefer to keep nearby. It doesn't take up much space, at least not when properly handled.

The stork man raises an eyebrow. He's not sure why, he grins, but he gets the strange sense she's trying to smuggle a minder into the camp. And that would be a very poor idea, he smiles and nods patiently, wouldn't she agree? So tying down, tarp and a double guard with adequate minder protocols it will have to be, then. Lee stares at him for a few seconds blankly, then sighs. There doesn't seem to be any winning this, her exasperated look tells you.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 31, 2016, 07:19:08 am
No! If I get eaten it's going to be by something bigger than you.

CHAOS SEA HUNGER

Well, at least you don't have to be worried about missing. Thing is literally all up in your grill now. So here goes!

CHAOS

[Word: 3]

You mouth the Word, and attempt several others, but your voice falters as a discordant noise flows into the great gaunt, shaking up its entire length as it recoils from your body, pausing in its devouring as it shrieks once more, magic! Chaos, magic, blood! It starts to chant as well, but seems unable to repeat the words for a moment. Alive! Chaos! Hunger! Joy! Fear! Defiance! It starts to pour through its vocabulary as the other gaunts begin to draw closer, the twitching and thrashing of the great one scattering little bits of blood and viscera, the scent of which appears to drive them mad.

Quote from: TopHat on August 31, 2016, 10:06:12 am
Anything of interest in the background? Topological features of note?

[Look Alive: 3]

The castle island is noticeably cleared of vegetation (as well as artificial, the confluence of two rivers forming the southern half, the northern artificially made with a nicely engineered, if very old canal), but beyond that you see forest - noticeably burned, ashen forest for a good patch of it, with a shoreline of dark glass. Something no doubt very energetic must have happened there. Burning's gone on for quite a bit on the other side of the river, and there is a continuity to it with the nearby shore, where a streak of glass is also visible, as if some great beam had passed over the land like a cruel god's magnifying glass.

The forest fire itself that no doubt arose from this very beam, you observe and consider, seems to have gone all the way to Anglefork Town, a few bits of which are still gently smoking a considerable distance downriver, where woods give way to farmhouses and wineries, which in turn give way to the center of town with its rather notable piers.

This is about as far as you get before your measure starts to shake violently in your grasp. Oh, Nately taps your shoulder, ooh! Let HIM look! He NEEDS TO KNOW.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on August 31, 2016, 02:47:28 pm
"Heh, true that. Don't worry about the feeling of impending doom by the way, I'm not going to kill you. That's for other people."

Rest my wound off while I observe the blacksmith do his thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 31, 2016, 04:40:04 pm
((Ah, I assumed the Gray One was using the same Word rules as us. I guess I was mistaken.))

Progress! Or I've just delayed the inevitable for a moment. Still, if this is the only thing that's worked for me so far... more CHAOS!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on August 31, 2016, 05:14:16 pm
"There was a trend of outward movement.  I think people want to go to the nearby town, really.  I'm off to see myself.  Good luck on finding your place!  Thank you, sir," Thomas nodded to the warden as he headed outward.

Head on back to the castle grounds.  Let's see what's going on outside before we head out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 01, 2016, 12:02:56 am
"Fuck you too." Sigh. "This magical and self aware luggage totally not pretending to be a minder now goes to spend quality time by itself. Find me when it is time to cross river. Just follow the trail of fire. Or whatever unnatural elements happen to appear overnight."

Ditch the party for now. Walk in some direction that doesn't have humans nearby and does have something I can punish for existing. Like a tree. Or a particularly ugly boulder.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 01, 2016, 09:48:54 am
"Sure. I suppose it is your turn."
Hand Nately the measure and then back off a bit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 01, 2016, 03:42:19 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on August 31, 2016, 02:47:28 pm
"Heh, true that. Don't worry about the feeling of impending doom by the way, I'm not going to kill you. That's for other people."

Rest my wound off while I observe the blacksmith do his thing.

Yeah, uh, thanks for that? Deirdre starts to step away from the murder-thought and come over toward you and Mr. Wilde, stepping up to observe the blacksmith's experience with the measure, which she stares at with a slight trepidation, wondering if this is a bit too close for her mortal eyes.

Maybe she should step back, she comments to herself. But then again, Nately seems to be doing all right for himself, she shrugs as she watches the blacksmith stare into the eyes of the skull. Of course, man's too bloody stupid to be rightly terrified of much of anything. Look at him, she says, just gormlessly staring into the thing. She'd bet money he's getting half of what the thing is telling him at best.

As the blacksmith stops sharing his romantic moment with the measure, he starts going on about what he's learned as he hands the wrapped skull back to Mr. Wilde. For instance, you exist on a base of rats! Simply FASCINATING. Unfortunately, not quite so fascinatingly simple, however! But, he tells you, it might do. There's only one way to find out, most likely, he says while looking you over critically. Might be worth a try!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 31, 2016, 04:40:04 pm
((Ah, I assumed the Gray One was using the same Word rules as us. I guess I was mistaken.))

Progress! Or I've just delayed the inevitable for a moment. Still, if this is the only thing that's worked for me so far... more CHAOS!

Since you get the feeling the normal course of things has absolutely no chance of ending well for you, you go with the greatest flow of all, entropy!

CHAOS

[Word: 4]

The great gaunt twitches, knots, screams and roars, smaller gaunts branching off it as bones twist in unorthodox fashions, bending and breaking with the power you are hurling into it, unraveling as it starts to wildly thrash about the area, sharp limbs flying about as it starts to wind around the cairn, around itself, all of it whirling and ripping every which way like a storm of silvery debris.

[Blood and Chaos: 3]

The other gaunts retreat slightly, though you hear extraordinarily curious cooing from their midst as the spirit of the chant fades, robbing them of a certain single-minded wonder. A few come closer, skeletal creatures much like the one that got you here, but gets a faceful of flailing bones for its trouble, sending it tumbling back into the ancient wood. You lay there in the middle of this, the thrashing great gaunt cavorting overhead as some kind of animating energy in its bones seems to imbue it with a manic and destructive restlessness. You feel it shriek in resistance, evidently feeling a great deal of pain as it tries to regain control of itself, but it's quite clearly on the edge now.

Quote from: Toaster on August 31, 2016, 05:14:16 pm
"There was a trend of outward movement.  I think people want to go to the nearby town, really.  I'm off to see myself.  Good luck on finding your place!  Thank you, sir," Thomas nodded to the warden as he headed outward.

Head on back to the castle grounds.  Let's see what's going on outside before we head out.

Oh, wonderful, says the lady of the castle, moving down the wall as you head out past the turnkey. The sound of bare feet making rather large steps on the ground a little distance behind you, following you up the stairs as you walk to the door, but stopping short of following you outside.

As you step outside into the courtyard, the lady calls out to you. Ah, sir, is there anybody out there? Sorry to impose, but she can't really look, as there's the chance somebody would look back, yes?

You look around the courtyard, and find there to be very few people about. A woman runs out the entrance along the drawbridge, an exceedingly pleased look on her slightly emaciated face. You see a few others in front of some houses, seemingly getting various things together for some traveling in the near future. Very few guards, though - you spot but one on a nearby wall, observing Mr. Wilde and Mr. Daniels as well as two other people standing about and looking mostly toward the outside.

You look back at the doorway, and a small glimpse of it makes you blink involuntarily. An odd tic, considering you don't really see anything there as the lady apparently has chosen not to stand in the frame.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 01, 2016, 12:02:56 am
"Fuck you too." Sigh. "This magical and self aware luggage totally not pretending to be a minder now goes to spend quality time by itself. Find me when it is time to cross river. Just follow the trail of fire. Or whatever unnatural elements happen to appear overnight."

Ditch the party for now. Walk in some direction that doesn't have humans nearby and does have something I can punish for existing. Like a tree. Or a particularly ugly boulder.

You start walking off. The stork man seems perplexed, and asks Lee if that's supposed to happen. She says yes exasperatedly, just let it go. He'll come back. It'll come back. Whatever. Take her in there, she says, she needs to check up on a few things...

[The Landscape Was Asking For It: 2]

Of course, more than that you don't quite catch, as you are instead looking for some objectionable landscape to visit some horrors upon. Rather disappointingly the Stork Clan seem to have chosen a rather picturesque camping spot - geometric canyon, rolling plains with a hint of brushland, nary an animal or tree within quite a few miles. Seems like most forms of wildlife are avoiding the area, even.

Quote from: TopHat on September 01, 2016, 09:48:54 am
"Sure. I suppose it is your turn."
Hand Nately the measure and then back off a bit.

Aha, says Nately, seizing the measure, cradling its majestic form in his hands as he steps out of immediate range of anybody nearby. He then makes a dramatic flourish as he pulls off the cloth and stares into its eyes as the light of knowledge courses into him freely.

[The Funnest of Facts: 2]

He looks into it for a good while as the shaking subsides, his look of wonderment slowly replaced with a thoughtful frown as he furrows his brow and stares at the measure for a while yet, wrapping it in cloth again, then looking up.

WELL, he says, looking up at the sky a moment, then at Mr. Daniels. That was some interesting information. A LOT of information, actually. For instance, did he know he was based on a great heaping helping of rats? FASCINATING stuff, simply fascinating, but unfortunately not quite as fascinatingly simple as he would have hoped.

In any case, it might do. Only one way to find out, he shrugs.

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Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 01, 2016, 04:00:28 pm
"Huh, so that's the base the substrate is made of.
...
What are you meaning by that."

You thinking of disassembling me? For your sake, don't be. I prefer staying assembled.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on September 01, 2016, 11:13:37 pm
"Well, there's a few people out here.  Uh.  Are you looking for anywhere in particular?  You're welcome to come with me toward the airport; perhaps you could find what you're looking for on the way.  It'd make the trip more interesting at least."

Miss the point some more.  Offer in earnest anyway.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 02, 2016, 07:09:33 am
The only way to go now is CHAOS.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 02, 2016, 12:50:50 pm
*Sigh* "Do I need to cause apocalypse in my own mindscape again?"

I think that one bush is looking me in particularly offensive way. Yes, the one without physical presence, much like the well. Ground around this non-existant bush must suffer my frustration. Let there be "APOCALYPSE!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 02, 2016, 01:56:32 pm
"Rats? Really? Tell me everything! Verbatim, if possible."
Anything more specific?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 02, 2016, 03:08:15 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on September 01, 2016, 04:00:28 pm
"Huh, so that's the base the substrate is made of.
...
What are you meaning by that."

You thinking of disassembling me? For your sake, don't be. I prefer staying assembled.

Since you seemed to be interested in obtaining SOME form of armor, the blacksmith has a strong suspicion that your body can be... suggested to take on more interesting properties. He thinks he has an idea how to do this, but explaining it to you may prove harmful to the ultimate success of the plan. Now, since you have experience with this, he's fairly sure you're robust enough to take it. But he does feel it important to warn you that this will hurt to an EXTREME degree most likely. Far more than last time. He can try with stone, since as you pointed out there is a lot of that, although broken or crushed glass might also work if you prefer that. Both should have MARKEDLY different properties of course. Amorphous and crystalline, you know, the blacksmith nods and winks at Mr. Wilde.

Quote from: Toaster on September 01, 2016, 11:13:37 pm
"Well, there's a few people out here.  Uh.  Are you looking for anywhere in particular?  You're welcome to come with me toward the airport; perhaps you could find what you're looking for on the way.  It'd make the trip more interesting at least."

Miss the point some more.  Offer in earnest anyway.

She's certainly thankful for the offer, mind you, but she is terribly unsure you'd care to travel with someone of her unique condition. She has been known to drive many a man mad with a mere look, she confides in a lowered voice from the door.

But, er, is there a spot on the wall where nobody is looking? Preferably on this side of the courtyard? She'd like to make an unseen exit. Lack of stairs is... not necessarily a problem, mind you.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 02, 2016, 07:09:33 am
The only way to go now is CHAOS.

It's what makes the universe grow cold.

CHAOS

[Word: 5]

It is as if a spring is loosed in the body of the great gaunt, and you shrink back as it violently explodes into pieces, every single part of it tearing off into its own direction, flying into the surrounding area, hitting the other gaunts left, right and center, the cackles of those gathered turning into dissatisfied grinding and tearing noises, clanks and violent banging noises resounding through the surrounding area. The commotion explodes into a massive fever of running, charging, fighting and other kinds of violent action as most of the gaunts seem to lack sufficient intelligence to fail to read anything but utmost malice into this sudden attack. Chaos, some shout in imitation still, some of the cries cut off suddenly and violently by crack and a metallic screech.

[The Eye of the Storm: 2]

Unfortunately, downward still remains a perfectly valid direction to go for quite a few of the bits, you notice as a jagged arm plunges straight into your gut and through to the other side. It wobbles violently as you start losing a lot of blood, and it is only through a lot of flailing that you manage to tear it out of yourself and send it tumbling along the field, the power of chaos filling it with destructive drive as it moves out into the woods, picking up a new and unexpected velocity vector every second.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 02, 2016, 12:50:50 pm
*Sigh* "Do I need to cause apocalypse in my own mindscape again?"

I think that one bush is looking me in particularly offensive way. Yes, the one without physical presence, much like the well. Ground around this non-existant bush must suffer my frustration. Let there be "APOCALYPSE!"

The bushes are quite wild here, it's true. And quite a few of them give off the impression of unseemly hunger. You bet none of them care if you live or die. So you return the favor, looming over a small enough specimen for you to attempt to encompass and focus upon.

APOCALYPSE

[Word: 3]

You know, you're not quite sure what you expected, but the bush does catch on fire as you shout at it. It does look fairly unusual in that while the fire does spread to encompass it, it does not seem to be burning anything in particular, with no smoke rising from it or branches turning to ash as the flame rises and roars.

Hey, it seems to say, hey you. Yeah, you right there. What, you feel compelled to ask. Step the fuck off, it answers, that's holy ground you're standing on. And take off your- wait, you're barefoot. That's all right then.

[Borrowing From One's Children: 5]

Considering this is fairly dry brushland, the fire is remarkably well-behaved and orderly, and seems mostly content to stay where it is for now.

Quote from: TopHat on September 02, 2016, 01:56:32 pm
"Rats? Really? Tell me everything! Verbatim, if possible."
Anything more specific?

There was quite a lot of information, says Nately, and UNFORTUNATELY memorizing it all was... impractical.

However, he declares! FACT ONE: the base of your flesh seems to be rats. Or, well, the blood seems to be rats. The rest of it might be something else, now that he thinks about it, but WHAT else it could be eludes him. Birds, perhaps? The minders could feasibly catch a few. But there was quite a bit about CLOSE RELATIONS in there. Apparently rats are surprisingly close to humans in basic makeup.

Anyway, FACT TWO! There is obviously a reason that your blood is rats. That being that these are very strongly MODIFIED rats, to the point where they can plausibly resemble blood. They seem less... tethered in possibility than most materials as a result. This would go some way in explaining certain unlikely properties of your bodies!

And, of course, FACT THREE! While they aren't quite tethered in possibility, something evidently controls this rat-stuff you are made of, as the expected fate of blood drawn from Mr. Daniels was that it would turn back into rats after some time. There was more on that, but much of it was unfortunately lacking in CRUCIAL CONTEXT!

Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 02, 2016, 04:04:00 pm
"Suggested to - no you're trying it on stone. I have ways to do what you've described already, I don't need you trying it with an imperfect method and possibly screwing something up. Believe me, the consequences for mistakes with our substrate aren't pretty."

Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 02, 2016, 04:39:19 pm
Okay now let's try not to get killed by something that I've already destroyed.

I scan the edge of the clearing for a spot where I don't see living gaunts, and run that way looking for a hiding spot. If it seems like I'm still completely surrounded, I see if there's any debris that's stopped moving that I could hide under.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on September 02, 2016, 04:42:39 pm
"I don't really meddle with affairs of the heart; I've been told feminine wiles are wasted on me.  But I'll look for a spot."

Misunderstand more.  See if there's a spot that matches what she wants; indicate if so.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 03, 2016, 01:44:10 am
"Huh, talking bush which burns without being burned. Feels mildly familiar. Say, do you have any cousins or like in similar profession?"

Leif has seen enough weird shit. Talking bush doesn't suprise him anymore. And the fire is suitably abnormal for Lee to follow.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 03, 2016, 03:36:14 pm
"Interesting. Very interesting. While we're on the subject, do you have another vial I could use? There's something else I'd like to try sampling."

Take vial if provided and head down to the well. Oh, and tell Deirdre about the whole made of rats thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 03, 2016, 04:08:55 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on September 02, 2016, 04:04:00 pm
"Suggested to - no you're trying it on stone. I have ways to do what you've described already, I don't need you trying it with an imperfect method and possibly screwing something up. Believe me, the consequences for mistakes with our substrate aren't pretty."

The blacksmith rolls his eyes. Try WHAT on stone? It's just stone! Mundane, ordinary stone! Hardly untethered from possibility at all. You might as well just wear a SACK OF BRICKS on your torso. The only material interesting enough to do something unusual and most likely unusually powerful with on your person is your own flesh! That's most likely why the first attempt at a weapon even did anything, he nods knowingly at the murder-thought.

If you're merely interested in loading yourself up with a stone suit rather than something legitimately useful, why not bother the actual MASONS about it? The little one should be easy enough to compel to do your bidding, especially since you threw his more assertive and cleverer brother down a shaft where he has likely been dismembered by one of the many subterranean traps. Or even the DRUNKEN one - mention the man beneath the boards, and he'll assuredly listen.

That being said, the blacksmith decides to follow Mr. Wilde, who seems to be heading down to the well.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 02, 2016, 04:39:19 pm
Okay now let's try not to get killed by something that I've already destroyed.

I scan the edge of the clearing for a spot where I don't see living gaunts, and run that way looking for a hiding spot. If it seems like I'm still completely surrounded, I see if there's any debris that's stopped moving that I could hide under.

[Cheesing It: 3]

The gaunts don't seem like they'd see you as a terrible concern, and you think you see a clear path, but you'd need to run straight through the storm of bones, the power of chaos uttered three times filling them with an idiotic, malevolent energy as they strike at anything and everything within convenient range. You take a deep breath and sprint for cover, prepared to dodge for dear life as you try and flee through an opening.

[A Bone To Pick: 6]

You sprint out along the wave of bones, weaving and ducking from strikes all around, some from bones, some from gaunts trying to ward the bones off. It goes really quite well as your acute sense of very much impending death carries you forward and through the worst of it, putting you right ahead of an incoming storm front of violently expanding debris and fleeing creatures of the night. You jump through the undergrowth and tumble between trees, desperate to put some distance between yourself and danger, with limited success as the storm ebbs in expansion, then flows out cataclysmically at times, obeying no real rule in its behavior. The gaunts aren't much better, their noises confused and arms swinging all about, and even now some rip past you with no regard for your health and safety.

You reason, however, that you'll most likely be safe on one condition, which is that you keep running, increase your pace and don't look back, oh my god, it sounds like nearly literal hell is breaking loose right behind you. You try not to look back. Rather predictably, this comes back to bite you as a gaunt with a head like some skeletal effigy of a goblin shark comes flying after you with the sound of a blacksmith's forge.

[Get Outta My Way: 1 vs. 2]

Its massive hand sweeps upward as it tries to get you out of the way in the middle of its sprint for dear quasi-life, and simultaneously you duck to dodge, its stunted foot catching on you as it tries to brachiate along, the whole thing shrieking wildly as it tumbles over and into a tree at high speed, wrapping itself around it with the sound of breaking and snapping bones, its voice terminating with a strangled mechanical noise.

Quote from: Toaster on September 02, 2016, 04:42:39 pm
"I don't really meddle with affairs of the heart; I've been told feminine wiles are wasted on me.  But I'll look for a spot."

Misunderstand more.  See if there's a spot that matches what she wants; indicate if so.

[An Assessment of Weakness: 5]

Well, you suppose there is. Right behind the corner building, actually - you think that if one got up to the tower, then went down the wall from there (which should be a plausible enough proposition if one had, say, a bit of rope), they'd have a clear shot until the river. It's on the other side from where the guards are constructing the bridge (on the other side of Anglefork Town, even), and the scavenging civilians do not appear to have made their way over there yet either. If ever there was a clear path, this would most certainly be it.

That said, you look down from the wall and notify the good lady of this rather ideal path. Brilliant, she says! You are an incredibly helpful man, Mr. Minstep. Luckily nobody has stepped down or up the stairwell either. So close your eyes for a moment, and she'll be right over the wall in a moment. Thank you again for your assistance.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 03, 2016, 01:44:10 am
"Huh, talking bush which burns without being burned. Feels mildly familiar. Say, do you have any cousins or like in similar profession?"

Leif has seen enough weird shit. Talking bush doesn't suprise him anymore. And the fire is suitably abnormal for Lee to follow.

This bush comes from a long line of apocalyptic imagery of salvation. Most of this line is appropriately hyperbolic and steeped in a satire of the times, and some of it no doubt would be subject to modern misinterpretation.

But that's not terribly important. What he brings is only the freshest in dire prophecy, and it goes a little like this, the bush says and clears his flame with a subtle oscillation of its heat - eyes among the stars have beheld the fate of the unintegrated clans, and would like them to know that if they were ever into reclaiming their not particularly ancestral homeland, now would be the time to do so, especially if they can get a guy like you to help.

You might wonder what he means by 'a guy like you', but the bush feels it better to peace out after having said all that rather than stick around to answer questions, and just as the fire came, so does it now flicker out of existence.

Quote from: TopHat on September 03, 2016, 03:36:14 pm
"Interesting. Very interesting. While we're on the subject, do you have another vial I could use? There's something else I'd like to try sampling."

Take vial if provided and head down to the well. Oh, and tell Deirdre about the whole made of rats thing.

Not ON him, Nately says, but there should be one that's easy enough to steal somewhere with so few guards about. He could go and look for one if you really need it, certainly.

You turn to Deirdre, who's a bit closer than you recall, and start relaying your- yeah, she says after you start telling her, she kind of heard all that. Crazy shit, she's got to say. Made of rats. But hey, wasn't it pretty clear you weren't human anyway? She thinks the minders said something like that, yeah?

Anyway, you start heading off to the well. Both Nately and Deirdre decide to follow, the former intrigued and the latter mostly interested in not losing track of you.

The bottom of the well is... surprisingly clean. Only a small puddle of viscera begins to form from the residual drip as you collectively climb down the chain, the rest of the floor looking absolutely spotless in that regard. You notice a great deal of clay pots around the edges of the room, a good amount of them smashed to pieces, but some still in decent enough shape to hold water. Would THOSE do as vials, Nately asks.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 03, 2016, 04:59:03 pm
"...
Fine. Not like I can't reverse it if it goes badly anyhow. Let's give it a go soon as Wilde's done whatever he's trying."

Follow them down into the well. Nonintrusively ask where Diedre's from.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on September 03, 2016, 09:05:07 pm
"Close my...  ohh, I see, you are immodestly dressed.  Of course!  Do you need this dress?  It's not really my size."

Offer the dress.  Regardless of response, avert eyes and let her do her thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 03, 2016, 09:50:58 pm
Oof. Let's hope that's happening to most of these guys.

I keep running away. This storm has to run out of steam eventually. Or maybe that's assuming too much.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 04, 2016, 02:35:28 am
"Did I just get another side quest?"

Eyes among stars... stars are starting sound important. I should stare them some time. Mental note: date with stars.

APOCALYPSE once again, maybe something decides to stick around. Like a guiding pillar of flame and smoke. Oh wait, no, wrong mythology.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 04, 2016, 05:17:30 am
"Should work just as well. If this'll even work, of course. Hold the Measure for a minute, would you?"
Take two pots, hold them out into the darkness of the Well, then try to catch some air or whatever it is in there between them. Preferably without looking like a complete idiot.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 04, 2016, 07:44:17 am
Quote from: Xantalos on September 03, 2016, 04:59:03 pm
"...
Fine. Not like I can't reverse it if it goes badly anyhow. Let's give it a go soon as Wilde's done whatever he's trying."

Follow them down into the well. Nonintrusively ask where Diedre's from.

Having elected to follow the three down into the well, you observe Mr. Wilde go for two pots as his preferred sampling method of the unknowable darkness beyond the inscribed door. You wonder if it wouldn't be simpler for him just to talk to it. But oh well. As the blacksmith nods while intently observing Mr. Wilde's evidently successful attempt to enter the well, you turn to Deirdre, who's looking quite suspicious.

[Nervous Exposition: 2]

Where's she from, you ask quite candidly. Deirdre, quite startled, looks at you for a moment. Oh, uh, she sort of works as a servant in the castle. Probably not so much anymore now that the, er, siege has been lifted? It wasn't one of those, what do you call it, official arrangements? Just that there's not much else to do when the castle's isolated and... why do you wanna know, anyway? Deirdre continues looking at you for a moment, then casts an eye around and oh look, there's Mr. Wilde.

Despite this obvious diversion you do see that Mr. Wilde has caught a bit more than mere air. You sense it from here, the pots in his hand shaping an improvised phylactery. Something behind your eyes stirs a little as you look at it, and you recognize the feeling of your thoughts being pawed at as something within tries very hard to not help itself.

Quote from: Toaster on September 03, 2016, 09:05:07 pm
"Close my...  ohh, I see, you are immodestly dressed.  Of course!  Do you need this dress?  It's not really my size."

Offer the dress.  Regardless of response, avert eyes and let her do her thing.

Come to think of it, it does occur to the lady that she is not at all dressed. Oh my. That is somewhat troubling indeed. She would like to have your dress, yes, if only as a stopgap measure.

[Disrobing For A Good Cause: 2]

And you'd be happy to remove your dress to help this poor woman at that, but given how you're presently rocking the poured-in look with it you don't think it's feasible to get it off anymore. You are frankly unsure how you put the thing on, but getting it off without ripping it in an overly risque fashion seems to be beyond your ability to do.

Hm, you say. Is there an issue, the lady asks. You say that you can't seem to get the thing off. Oh, she says, oh. You're wearing the dress. Well, er... could she ask you to find a different garment she could put on? Now that you've brought it up it really does feel indecent to wander out there without any sort of reasonable clothing.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 03, 2016, 09:50:58 pm
Oof. Let's hope that's happening to most of these guys.

I keep running away. This storm has to run out of steam eventually. Or maybe that's assuming too much.

[We've Got To Get Out Of This Place: 6]

You keep running, and as you put in the distance and effort the square-cube law gets increasingly favorable toward your prospects of survival, the storm slowing down and the gaunts thinning out. That doesn't mean you slow your running, of course. You just keep powering through the wilderness at a flat-out sprint through the undergrowth until there is absolutely no shrieking, gale force winds or indeed anything at all out of the ordinary even vaguely within hearing range.

That takes a while, mind you. You're not sure how long exactly, as you weren't really counting minutes while running for your life. Enough for you to be quite a few miles out, you would think, and for the elevation of the landscape to start inclining a little as you reach the summit of a considerable hill along a particularly overgrown ex-trail that must not have been well-traveled in its prime, let alone now that horrible creatures of the night prowl the area.

[Over The Hill: 3]

Up top you find the collapsed remains of an old stone watchtower amid the collapsed old trees characteristic of long untended wood. The ruins must be at least a century old, you would think, and there is absolutely no sign of people having been here after this particular point. Most of the trees are taller than the tower's remains at this point, and the only things properly inhabiting the place seem to be birds nesting in hollows and foxes that have taken the time to evict some badgers from their former dens. You spot a few yellow eyes within them watch you guardedly as you rest against the remnants of a wall to catch your breath and let your heart pump something other than battery acid.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 04, 2016, 02:35:28 am
"Did I just get another side quest?"

Eyes among stars... stars are starting sound important. I should stare them some time. Mental note: date with stars.

APOCALYPSE once again, maybe something decides to stick around. Like a guiding pillar of flame and smoke. Oh wait, no, wrong mythology.

It's less of a side quest and more of a helpful tip, you feel. Maybe you're not really the one who was supposed to see it, hence the lesser urgency, but you suppose it'll be fine anyway.

APOCALYPSE

[Word: 2]

The bush waves in the wind of your Word, but burns no more, the land having exhausted its reserves of meaningful prophecy for you this day. Though you guess you could get a little less literal with it and just bring about mass destruction instead.

Quote from: TopHat on September 04, 2016, 05:17:30 am
"Should work just as well. If this'll even work, of course. Hold the Measure for a minute, would you?"
Take two pots, hold them out into the darkness of the Well, then try to catch some air or whatever it is in there between them. Preferably without looking like a complete idiot.

You grab two of the surrounding pots, emptying them of collected basement dew, cobwebs and droppings, then step over to the door to the well. As always it parts before your touch, revealing deeper darkness beyond, the pure blackness of an event horizon at once unsettlingly close and hopelessly distant.

[Bang Two Pots Together: 6]

You reach into the dark and put the pots together. You don't think you have a hermetic seal there, but you guess a pure sample wasn't really in the cards anyway. Okay, you decide to try again, this time with feeling - pull them apart, then put them back together! Yes, like that. Now once more - third time's the charm, you think you've got it.

You distance the pots again, ready to sprint away with them in hand, and as you snap them together the darkness pulls close, surging forward, an infinitesimal part of it nearly touching you as you catch it with the pots, the tendril-like protrusion bending and disappearing within like a snake in a trap. You hold the pots shut and run right out at a brisk and scientific pace, eyes wide at your sudden and serendipitous find. You're guessing the measure is going to like this.

Your assessment is incorrect, however. A superior recommendation would be to tighten the seal around your improvised holding device. It takes active and intense effort for this projection to fail to escape it. Consider a golden seal. Mr. Daniels has plenty on his person, and his physical abilities mean that he can likely shape it into a vessel by hand (see: containment science, extrauniversal studies, the divine dilemma).

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on September 04, 2016, 08:25:24 am
"Well, yes, I suppose that would make sense.  There was a lack of available clothing, but I'll see what I can manage."

See if we can find some appropriate clothing.  Ask around; maybe the lord of the keep knows something?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 04, 2016, 03:18:20 pm
"This APOCALYPSE is not living up to its name."

Third time's the charm. Sit down on the so called holy ground and mediate my little personal world. What's up dudes, new world here yet?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 04, 2016, 03:45:24 pm
It's still alive once seperated. Interesting.
"Daniels, if you would care to press enough gold around this join here to seal the thing inside before it can escape and start eating thoughts or something, I'd be eternally grateful."
Either assist in the sealing if necessary or start swearing at Daniels (as appropriate).
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 04, 2016, 04:42:15 pm
"You went and trapped a bit of it in there, didn't you? Allow me to warn you ahead of time, not a super idea - this will almost inevitably end up converting whatever place you bring it to into a new access point for the well. What are you planning to do with it anyways?

Oh, and you normies go get some distance. Me and Wilde will be alright, but if this is released here and it gets you I don't quite think you'll continue to exist."

Seal the join with some of my plentiful gold, I suppose.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 04, 2016, 06:35:42 pm
I find an unoccupied crevasse or opening in the rubble and rest in it for a minute. Probably not an ideal place to stop, but it seems quiet enough for now.

Also, does it seem like morning is soon?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 06, 2016, 06:04:26 am
Quote from: Toaster on September 04, 2016, 08:25:24 am
"Well, yes, I suppose that would make sense.  There was a lack of available clothing, but I'll see what I can manage."

See if we can find some appropriate clothing.  Ask around; maybe the lord of the keep knows something?

[I Need Your Clothes: 1]

You decide that there is nothing to it - have to go straight to the highest echelons of power for this particular request. So you walk back into the keep past a few busy servants, then head up to the second floor, where the lord of the keep is standing around looking worriedly at servants packing most of his earthly possessions and family heirlooms into quite a few bags.

Hello, you say, startling the lord somewhat. You were wondering about the possibility of securing a quality dress from around here somewhere, you tell him as he stares at you. He raises an eyebrow at you and tilts his head. Uh, you want... a dress? You look down at the dress you're wearing and chuckle. Oh no, it's not what he thinks. It's for his mother.

Wait, the lord says, his mother? Why does she need a dress? Well, you say, she seems to have been released and would really prefer not to wander about in an immodest state of dress, so-

She's released? Hold on! How did this happen, the lord asks. And when? Did she get out of her cell? Oh my, nobody looked at her, did they? Oh dear. This is terrible. This is worse than terrible! This may be the worst, in fact!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 04, 2016, 03:18:20 pm
"This APOCALYPSE is not living up to its name."

Third time's the charm. Sit down on the so called holy ground and mediate my little personal world. What's up dudes, new world here yet?

C'mon baby, world's gotta end someday. Why not sooner? Why not right now?

APOCALYPSE

[Word: 3]

You feel the fire start up once more, but this time in a less mystical fashion, your words setting sparks among dry leaves, the bush starting to smoke gently as a little orange flame starts to spread along its surface.

[Only You Can Prevent Brush Fires: 4]

It's a humble beginning, you suppose. But you do notice the rest of the brush is quite dry as well. Maybe setting things on fire around here isn't the best idea.

Quote from: TopHat on September 04, 2016, 03:45:24 pm
It's still alive once seperated. Interesting.
"Daniels, if you would care to press enough gold around this join here to seal the thing inside before it can escape and start eating thoughts or something, I'd be eternally grateful."
Either assist in the sealing if necessary or start swearing at Daniels (as appropriate).

Mr. Daniels fortunately decides to not fuck around and just get to it after telling the other two to step away, something Deirdre does with extraordinary efficiency.

It's quite something to behold, a man working gold like it was Silly Putty in his hands, wrapping it around and around the pot a few dozen times until you can almost no longer sense the serpent within, covering its improvised egg with a protective metal shell.

Before all goes quiet, though, there is one last thing. Should the container be opened, open it in a secluded place. Preferably a dark one, where a well may grow with fewer restrictions. Most importantly of all, this place should be near people - many of them. Do this and you will receive seven answers of your choice. After these, one fulfillment.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 04, 2016, 04:42:15 pm
"You went and trapped a bit of it in there, didn't you? Allow me to warn you ahead of time, not a super idea - this will almost inevitably end up converting whatever place you bring it to into a new access point for the well. What are you planning to do with it anyways?

Oh, and you normies go get some distance. Me and Wilde will be alright, but if this is released here and it gets you I don't quite think you'll continue to exist."

Seal the join with some of my plentiful gold, I suppose.

NONSENSE, says the blacksmith. If he is to cease existing, then let it be in the name of science! Deirdre, meanwhile, has split even before you finished your sentence. Smart girl.

So you get out your big bag o' gold and grab a few handfuls of coin, the gold feeling like plasticine when you flex your fingers around it. Heh. Fun! Now to try and get this around the vessel.

[The Golden Egg: 5]

You scoop several handfuls of gold and work them into a single several pound wad of metal, which you then laboriously stretch out with your bare hands, then very carefully start bending it all around the clay pots, the much more fragile things nearly breaking at several points as your fingers run across their rough surface. The serpentine well-fragment withing prunes your thoughts as you work with utmost care, wrapping the entire thing in a thin film of metal until it becomes nearly impossible to feel its influence anymore - the sign of a job well done, you think.

You step back to admire your handiwork. It looks a little bit like a golden mummy, the curves of the pots resembling those of a human being. It's just about the most expensive-looking thing you've beheld for a long time. And all with a very conservative expenditure of your own gold.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 04, 2016, 06:35:42 pm
I find an unoccupied crevasse or opening in the rubble and rest in it for a minute. Probably not an ideal place to stop, but it seems quiet enough for now.

Also, does it seem like morning is soon?

[Nooks To Live By: 3]

There is a bit of rubble nearby that does keep you out of sight, so you lay down on the hard stone and try to curl up in peaceful sleep, hoping morning comes soon, though you have a very strong feeling the sun is not about to come up for a long while yet. Your shredded and pierced gut starts to hurt in earnest as the adrenaline wears off completely, and you do your best to let your wounds knit together and clear your mind of any troubling thoughts. Eventually you lose consciousness, only to wake up later when you twist in your sleep, some of your wounds flaring up in pain again. Man, you got really fucked up back there, didn't you? Your robe's turned partially brown with your dried blood, and while it's held up better than some of your other clothes of the past few days, it's going to need some heavy repairs when you get back to town.

[Just Another Night In The Forest: 3]

Over the next hour you think you hear a few more distant gaunts, but they appear to be heading away from the area, their disastrous gathering scattering them to the four winds as they head for dens even further in the untamed wilderness.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 06, 2016, 11:18:17 am
"Now then, the fragment in there probably gave you an offer, didn't it? Bunch of answers and a fulfilment? An attractive proposal on the surface, but if you want to accept it, think carefully beforehand. The thing is extremely specific with its responses to questions, so if you ask it something vaguely worded you've essentially wasted a question. Also, anyone you let it get its extradimensional mitts on is gone. Forever. Like retroactively, even, you'll forget they ever even existed type deal. So be cautious, and don't fucking drop it.

So, blacksmithy, what say you we get this armor project going?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 06, 2016, 11:46:11 am
"Thanks for the warning. Sounds like it wants me to create a new access point, or whatever you called it earlier. I suppose if it's as literal-minded as you say, I could open it now and technically be elegible for the reward since this place fulfills all mentioned requirements, but somehow I doubt it'll appreciate that."

Look for a sack to put the egg in, if there are any more lying around. Probably best not to go around advertising this thing to every potential mugger around.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 06, 2016, 11:56:06 am
"More importantly, since it doesn't eat us, I'd still be around and you'd have invalidated a great portion of my past effort with erasing the blacksmith. So yeah, not a super idea right at this moment."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 06, 2016, 12:00:14 pm
"True. On another note, what exactly are these answers and fulfilments you mentioned?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 06, 2016, 12:29:31 pm
"Answers answer any question, though the way which it answers is very literal, and fulfilments are basically magic wishes, get you anything you want. Again, literal indeed in the extreme so be careful."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 06, 2016, 12:32:16 pm
Hm, do I rest more here or try to make my way to civilization first?

I suppose I have no idea where I am or how far I am from anyone else, so I should try to play it safe. I sleep just a little longer.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 06, 2016, 02:28:48 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on September 06, 2016, 12:29:31 pm
"Answers answer any question, though the way which it answers is very literal, and fulfilments are basically magic wishes, get you anything you want. Again, literal indeed in the extreme so be careful."
(("I call bullshit." echoes voice you have heard before in your mind. "Fulfilments are partial at best."))


"Another underpowered word. At least I didn't have to pay for it."

Stomp/slap the fire out of existance. If it isn't mythical flame it isn't worth of it.

Sit down on the so called holy ground and mediate myself into my little personal world. "What's up dudes, new world here yet?" Survey state of my new beginning. And drink.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on September 06, 2016, 06:30:16 pm
"Er... she was let out by the warden?  Nobody seemed to have a problem with it.  From what she said it seemed she was in there voluntarily.  And she just wanted to leave this place entirely.  No harm done, right?"

Errrr
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 08, 2016, 07:03:16 am
Quote from: Xantalos on September 06, 2016, 11:18:17 am
"Now then, the fragment in there probably gave you an offer, didn't it? Bunch of answers and a fulfilment? An attractive proposal on the surface, but if you want to accept it, think carefully beforehand. The thing is extremely specific with its responses to questions, so if you ask it something vaguely worded you've essentially wasted a question. Also, anyone you let it get its extradimensional mitts on is gone. Forever. Like retroactively, even, you'll forget they ever even existed type deal. So be cautious, and don't fucking drop it.

So, blacksmithy, what say you we get this armor project going?"

He says YES, yes indeed! Time to test out some of his ideas. Find him in his workshop - bring in the sacrificial slab or the window, whichever you prefer. He will prepare some instruments! Haha!

The blacksmith runs off at this point, climbing up the chain like a man possessed. You guess you should... follow him?

Quote from: TopHat on September 06, 2016, 11:46:11 am
"Thanks for the warning. Sounds like it wants me to create a new access point, or whatever you called it earlier. I suppose if it's as literal-minded as you say, I could open it now and technically be elegible for the reward since this place fulfills all mentioned requirements, but somehow I doubt it'll appreciate that."

Look for a sack to put the egg in, if there are any more lying around. Probably best not to go around advertising this thing to every potential mugger around.

There are sacks about. You empty a particular one of a considerable amount of gold and put the egg inside it, then wrap the burlap around it several times. You guess that's ready for transit, then. Now there's just the question of where to take it. You get the feeling someplace far away from here would be preferred. It takes a moment to realize this feeling is emanating from the egg itself. And that it's not so much a feeling as it is a distinct absence of feeling about other alternatives that occur to you.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 06, 2016, 12:32:16 pm
Hm, do I rest more here or try to make my way to civilization first?

I suppose I have no idea where I am or how far I am from anyone else, so I should try to play it safe. I sleep just a little longer.

The rubble might be one of the worse beds you've slept on these past few days (and not for lack of competition, mind you), but it sure as hell beats sleep's first cousin. You let the hour pass, the horrible hollers of wandering foxes, the howls of distant wolves and the occasional screeching bat or a great dark silhouette of an owl in flight signalling the forest coming to its own kind of life as all the terrifying night creatures scatter to their distant hollows and smoking fissures, the witching hour well and truly gone by the time you can perceive a marked decrease in your deep hurting.

[Call of the Wild: 5]

You are somewhat startled when you open your eyes to find a bear sniffing at your much-abused body, seemingly having followed the scent of blood. It reacts with equal surprise when you give an involuntary start, rearing up on its hind legs as it looks you over silently with thoughtful brown eyes, then stands on all fours and backs away out of immediate sight.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 06, 2016, 02:28:48 pm
"Another underpowered word. At least I didn't have to pay for it."

Stomp/slap the fire out of existance. If it isn't mythical flame it isn't worth of it.

Sit down on the so called holy ground and mediate myself into my little personal world. "What's up dudes, new world here yet?" Survey state of my new beginning. And drink.

You take a few moments to stomp the burning bush until it stops smoking at all, being an enthusiast of non-Promethean fire safety.

[Spring Cleaning: 4]

You jump into your inner world, where Hœnir seems to be doing an okay job picking up all the bits from the party. They seem to have put up a fence around the horizon so that the grapefruit ocean stops spilling over the edge of the world (fortunately they had a lot of snake bone to work with on that, plus a whole lot of giant remains to shore up any remaining holes, and maybe a bunch of dwarves or a god nobody liked or two, look, don't ask). The new king of the gods seems to really like that prophecy stick he's got especially. It's a bit better than walking around with two birds crapping on your shoulders and a decapitated head talking nonsense at you.

[The Gift of Prophecy: 4]

Speaking of, Hœnir mentions offhand as you christen his mead hall by smashing the door in with a barrel of mead as per ancient viking custom, you might want to get into cover in your other world. You ask him what he means, and he just sort of smiles mysteriously at first and says that you'll see when it happens, but then cracks up. Nah, he doesn't really know what that means, he just twirls the stick and what he understands to be wisdom comes out in vaguely cryptic ways.

Quote from: Toaster on September 06, 2016, 06:30:16 pm
"Er... she was let out by the warden?  Nobody seemed to have a problem with it.  From what she said it seemed she was in there voluntarily.  And she just wanted to leave this place entirely.  No harm done, right?"

Errrr

The lord begins to resemble an enormous rodent as his eyes go wide, whiskers quivering violently and he sputters for a moment and wrings his hands. Damnation! He was authorized to do no such thing! What if somebody sees her? She drove his father completely mad just like that! Now they have to get her back in there somehow!

Champion of Anglefork, the lord suddenly addresses you, you need to do something about this disaster! His mother needs to be kept under lock and key at all costs! So thus it falls to you to talk some sense into her! Tell her, uh, tell her this is a bad thing she is doing and she should go back into the cell! Yes, right back in there!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 08, 2016, 01:47:51 pm
Well that was unnerving. Pretty tame compared to what I'm used to, but definitely more than I want to deal with right now.

I find the least bloody parts of my robe and tear them into a bandeau and loincloth for myself. Then I discard the rest. Even if they're still bloody, that's less blood on my person overall.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 08, 2016, 02:09:29 pm
"Heh, Hœnir my buddy. Have you even seen the other world? Useless flat land where even Loki would have trouble finding anything fun. Except the canyon. That was unusual, but not in fun way. But fine, you made it through Ragnarök, I'll give you benefit of doubt."

Place Hymir's cauldron somewhere before checking out in the other world if Hœnir was pulling a joke on me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 08, 2016, 02:44:44 pm
"Alright, see ya Wilde. Don't fuck up the local metaphysics for the next hour or so, okay?"

Follow blacksmithy! Given that my strength is unbound, am I capable of just leaping out of the well? Maybe give that a try.

Whatever the case, make my way to the blacksmith's forge, and bring the slab.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on September 08, 2016, 10:51:43 pm
"Why not get her some clothes?  I don't think she's repeatedly committing indecent exposure on purpose.  If you'd just let her get dressed, I don't think there would be any issue!  I'll even bring her some clothes if you help me find some."

Continue to misunderstand
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 09, 2016, 12:52:09 pm
"I'll do my best."
.
"Right, Deirdre. If we're leaving, it's probably best if I can get my bearings first. You wouldn't happen to know if there are any maps in the keep somewhere, would you?"

Follow directions to source of directions. Or just get out the well, otherwise.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 10, 2016, 03:15:27 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 08, 2016, 01:47:51 pm
Well that was unnerving. Pretty tame compared to what I'm used to, but definitely more than I want to deal with right now.

I find the least bloody parts of my robe and tear them into a bandeau and loincloth for myself. Then I discard the rest. Even if they're still bloody, that's less blood on my person overall.

[Improvised Tailoring: 5]

Fortunately, there are a few bits of your robe that remain wholly unbloodied, so you fashion those into a humble, but fortunately quite clean bandeau and loincloth combo. Your new wild woman image firmly established, you toss the remaining bloody rags into the crevice, where hopefully a woodland animal will find them and eat them or something, and slide right out yourself.

Interestingly, your stomach doesn't look quite as horrible as you'd expect from getting stabbed and nearly disemboweled by a horrible night creature. At worst it just looks rather lumpy and irregular with scar tissue, a sunken pit on both the front and back of your waist where the wayward arm of the great gaunt went straight through.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 08, 2016, 02:09:29 pm
"Heh, Hœnir my buddy. Have you even seen the other world? Useless flat land where even Loki would have trouble finding anything fun. Except the canyon. That was unusual, but not in fun way. But fine, you made it through Ragnarök, I'll give you benefit of doubt."

Place Hymir's cauldron somewhere before checking out in the other world if Hœnir was pulling a joke on me.

You're not sure if Hymir's dead, but even if he isn't it's not like he can stop you from putting down his mile-wide cauldron atop a particular atoll in the grapefruit ocean, which wastes no time in sinking into the sea under the massive weight of a cauldron pushing down on it.

That done, you look back into the mortal world.

[Danger On The Horizon: 6]

For one, there is the matter that you were kind of sitting down gormlessly in the middle of a plain there. Who knows what could happen to you if you were not careful and your old buddy Hœnir looking out for you.

More pertinently, though, you see a hunting party of the Stork Clan assembling at the edge of the camp, armed with exceedingly sharp swords, spears and nets, about a dozen of them on the whole. Their feathered shapes start to move quietly into the plains, following along the canyon. Probably looking for the backpack you kindly offered them.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 08, 2016, 02:44:44 pm
"Alright, see ya Wilde. Don't fuck up the local metaphysics for the next hour or so, okay?"

Follow blacksmithy! Given that my strength is unbound, am I capable of just leaping out of the well? Maybe give that a try.

Whatever the case, make my way to the blacksmith's forge, and bring the slab.

[In A Single Bound: 5]

You rush to the edge of the well and, eager to test the limits of your abilities, calculate roughly the force you need to jump out of the well, then bend your knees and jump upward with a force wholly untethered from the movement that put it out. You fly up to the top of the well in a graceful arc, the apoapsis of the jump but a few feet above ground level as you land a little precariously on the edge of the well, using the leftover momentum to launch into a reasonably nice-looking roll that, while not strictly necessary, nevertheless makes you feel professional as hell.

You spend a few moments congratulating yourself on a job well done, then proceed to the workshop, outside of which the slab awaits, still as massive as you remember. So massive, in fact, that you are fairly sure there is no way you'll fit it through the door in its present state.

Quote from: Toaster on September 08, 2016, 10:51:43 pm
"Why not get her some clothes?  I don't think she's repeatedly committing indecent exposure on purpose.  If you'd just let her get dressed, I don't think there would be any issue!  I'll even bring her some clothes if you help me find some."

Continue to misunderstand

[Do It For The Exposure: 5]

Indecent exp- indecent exposure? Is this an issue of clothing? Is that what she wants? Yes, you say, exactly! It's really very simple, and you don't see why such a fuss should be made over the issue when the trouble itself is eminently and obviously solvable.

The lord pauses, thinking. And so if she were to... get access to her clothes, the problem would be entirely solved? Yes, you voice your very reasonable assumption. Now, can he help or not?

The lord taps a servant. Servant person! Get into the old chamber and fetch her clothes! Pack a full bag of them, just in case! Chop-chop! The servant runs off at a quick pace, disappearing into one of the rooms, returning a minute or two later with a bag packed full of rather dusty, faded clothes. The lord nods toward you and the servant hands you the bag.

Now, the lord says, get back there and give these to her. Hopefully that will settle her down well enough, he says in a frustrated tone.

Quote from: TopHat on September 09, 2016, 12:52:09 pm
"I'll do my best."
.
"Right, Deirdre. If we're leaving, it's probably best if I can get my bearings first. You wouldn't happen to know if there are any maps in the keep somewhere, would you?"

Follow directions to source of directions. Or just get out the well, otherwise.

Deirdre seems to have already left - fortunately, she's found up top easily enough, wondering if that egg of yours is safe to be around now. You think for a second, and rather than offer a definitive answer reply with a counter-question - does she know of any maps in the keep?

[Cartographer's Folly: 5]

And it turns out she does! She has one herself, actually. The parchment was quite high-quality, so she thought she'd save it to eat when times got particularly desperate, but since that is quite a bit less of an issue now she- you know, she'd actually love to help you now, but it does occur to her that there is quite a lot of food outside. Would you mind if she left you for a bit to get some? The idea is starting to drive her crazy. She'll get you the map from one of her hiding spots in a moment, of course.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 10, 2016, 04:01:32 pm
INEVITABLE out the possibilities where bad stuff would happen to me in near future, and relocate self to position (and a good guru pose) where they won't happen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 10, 2016, 04:48:42 pm
Okay, now to find civilization again. If the old trail I followed to these ruins continues past them, I keep following it in case it meets up with a road. If the trail ends here, I trudge into the woods on the opposite side of the ruins.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on September 10, 2016, 08:41:19 pm
Thomas flashes his best salesman's smile at the lord of the keep.  It's not the best salesman's smile (Fred Lingis at the satellite office has one that's just amazing) but it's passable.  "See?  We solved this quickly and easily.  I'll return these to her straight away and everyone will be happy."

Bring them back to the lady.  What she does with them (and with herself) afterwards is up to her.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 11, 2016, 04:11:19 am
"Of course you can! It'd probably be best if you can get enough provisions for a few days of journeying as well, while you're at it. I'll update the minders regarding what I've learnt about my creation in the meantime. Oh, and this thing's probably safe now. As long as I don't drop it or something."

Find the minders and return the favour. They could probably use the information.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 11, 2016, 04:17:20 am
"Welp. Sorry stone, but this edition of Weight Watchers is gonna get a little extreme."

See how well my murder-thought works at cutting the stone down to a manageable size. If it doesn't work all that well, carefully REND it down to a smaller size. Assist my efforts with my strength if need be.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 11, 2016, 11:32:23 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 10, 2016, 04:01:32 pm
INEVITABLE out the possibilities where bad stuff would happen to me in near future, and relocate self to position (and a good guru pose) where they won't happen.

Hard to say what could happen, so why not try and hasten the unfolding?

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

You observe the party of Storks head on closer as if on fast-forward, talking to one another in hushed, sped-up voices as they come closer and closer. These are the open plains. You will be spotted regardless of what you do. You stand still in time as they come closer, mark you out and surround you, curious about the find.

[A Thing That You Don't Know What It Is: 3]

They converse rapidly, poke you with their weapons, give a good stab or two, not noticing your rather loud complaint when the extraordinarily sharp steel of one's spear goes straight into your liver, and after about ten more minutes of conference they agree that this is probably some kind of anomaly and they better not aggravate it. Perhaps on the way back. That said, they head out quickly. One of them looks back as they leave, blinking a little at you as any information about what you are fails to take, but seems to decry this as a figment of his imagination as the hunting party head on through.

Time slows down as it stops working double time, leaving you with a nasty wound in your side, but otherwise unmolested. Though you do get the feeling that sticking around here might not be the best idea.

[Clan Business: 3]

You don't particularly see Lee anywhere. You wonder how long she'll be in that camp, honestly. Hopefully not the whole night, at least.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 10, 2016, 04:48:42 pm
Okay, now to find civilization again. If the old trail I followed to these ruins continues past them, I keep following it in case it meets up with a road. If the trail ends here, I trudge into the woods on the opposite side of the ruins.

[The Untamed Green: 2]

You resume your path, heading on deeper into the woods, the noises of the wilderness not abating as a variety of nocturnal birds sing and the woods twist and turn, with you walking on and on through them as you are serenaded by the occasional scattering forest creature. It's a long walk, and the woods get low and damp as you head on, the vegetation changing as mosses start to line the trees and a dank layer of green starts to squelch coldly under your bare feet. As you head onward the woods get wetter still as parts begin to sink lower and lower, the forested environs giving way to deep swampland.

You've been walking for many hours now. The sky is starting to get bright again as the sun begins to rise... in roughly the direction you've been going. Which means, you think, that you may be as much as 10 to 15 miles off-course. Crap. You rest your back against a nearby tree, the revelation taking a bit of the spirit out of you, and spend a few minutes looking into the sky. This really isn't going according to plan. Maybe you should-

-hm. Is that a smoke plume a little ways northeast? A bit thin, but certainly there.

Quote from: Toaster on September 10, 2016, 08:41:19 pm
Thomas flashes his best salesman's smile at the lord of the keep.  It's not the best salesman's smile (Fred Lingis at the satellite office has one that's just amazing) but it's passable.  "See?  We solved this quickly and easily.  I'll return these to her straight away and everyone will be happy."

Bring them back to the lady.  What she does with them (and with herself) afterwards is up to her.

The lord nods intently and repeatedly as you leave. Yes, yes! Solving problems! Now solve this problem quickly! And that's exactly what you do, trotting back over to the dungeon's entrance. You're back! Did anything happen while you were gone?

[Terrible Incidents: 4]

Oh, not at all, says the lady of the castle. She's been quite fine in this corner. Suppose it's good the jail doesn't have rotating shifts, right? The joys of having a turnkey willing to live in a squalid basement. Poor fellow. She wonders how he doesn't catch consumption down there, the way he's carrying on.

Anyway, you have her clothes! Quite a few of them. The lady emits a very pleased noise at this. Wonderful! Slide them over, will you? She's honestly forgotten what it's like to have clothes. A strange thing, you must agree, a strange thing indeed - you head on over to the doorway and hand the bag around the corner, and the lady takes it readily. You hear the sound of the bag being rustled and searched. Ooh, you hear, she loved this gown! Oh, but this one! And that. So many ones to choose from!

Oh, but she's lost so much weight, could she - oh my, she could! She hasn't worn this since she was but a girl! And it fits! She nearly squeals with delight. So lovely! You hear the tapping of the lady's feet as she twirls around in her new gown before fetching a set of fine slippers to match it (similarly met with a few moments narration of an anecdote about her younger days - apparently she was quite the dancer).

Her excitement does not at all subside as she gets her things in order, hefting the bag audibly. Yes, she says. Yes! Are you quite ready, Mr. Minstep? She is about to come out.

Quote from: TopHat on September 11, 2016, 04:11:19 am
"Of course you can! It'd probably be best if you can get enough provisions for a few days of journeying as well, while you're at it. I'll update the minders regarding what I've learnt about my creation in the meantime. Oh, and this thing's probably safe now. As long as I don't drop it or something."

Find the minders and return the favour. They could probably use the information.

Solid idea, Deirdre says, and she's even gladder to hear that she probably won't get eaten by horrible creatures from the beyond. She agrees to chase up some supplies - provided, of course, that the war camp hasn't been completely looted yet. You do your thing in the meantime.

And you do, heading inside of the keep to find the ever-convenient room of the minders, where the remaining children stand around the mistress of the tower, who appears to be floating up behind a stoatman chained up to a chair, her fingers on his temples. Her eyes are closed, and the stoatman is looking forward, eyes bugging out, sharp-toothed mouth slightly open. As you open the door, the children look in your direction all at once, and the stoatman jerks his head in your direction, tilting it slightly.

Why are you here, Mr. Wilde, he mouths, why are you here, why are you here? What are you doing here? Why are you here? No sound escapes his mouth, but the words ring out clearly in your mind.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 11, 2016, 04:17:20 am
"Welp. Sorry stone, but this edition of Weight Watchers is gonna get a little extreme."

See how well my murder-thought works at cutting the stone down to a manageable size. If it doesn't work all that well, carefully REND it down to a smaller size. Assist my efforts with my strength if need be.

[Think Sharp, Think Hard: 4]

You look at the stone, and glare at it intensely in pulses as you squeeze your mutilated hand, the sharp agony coupled with the thought driving into the stone at a massive speed. It chips, it cracks, it breaks under the incisive blows of your mind, large chunks falling off as it partially collapses amid a flurry of somewhat targeted strikes. You start to sweat as the pain begins to get to you, but the stone is cut well, sized down to about the proportions of a large coffin. You go up to it and start to heft it - you do need the strong support of the ground so as to not merely pull yourself toward it, and actually carrying it requires something of a counterintuitive stance on your part, but it does seems quite possible to carry, even if a bit of a tight fit.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 11, 2016, 02:50:36 pm
"Whole god damn clan? That's a bit more than sixth. YOU HEAR ME, BASTARD?! THAT'S MORE THAN PROMISED! FAR MORE!"

It's not like there's any better places to be other than the camp and canyon. Hmph. Check out the canyon closer. Can I climb it down? Is it product of mining operations?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 11, 2016, 06:00:44 pm
"Oh blacksmith, I've got the stone!"

Set the stone down, open the door to the blacksmith's place, and shove the stone in ahead of me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on September 11, 2016, 06:38:46 pm
"Yes, yes!  Again, I could go with you if you prefer.  If not, I will go alone."

Indicate I am ready.  Follow her lead with regard to going along/together/any strange "don't look" requests.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 11, 2016, 11:52:01 pm
I make my way towards this smoke.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 12, 2016, 12:36:06 pm
"It can wait. I see you're... busy."
Sit down, watch and learn. Probably best not to distract her if she's doing what I think she's doing. Could result in permanent brain damage.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 13, 2016, 12:11:25 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 11, 2016, 02:50:36 pm
"Whole god damn clan? That's a bit more than sixth. YOU HEAR ME, BASTARD?! THAT'S MORE THAN PROMISED! FAR MORE!"

It's not like there's any better places to be other than the camp and canyon. Hmph. Check out the canyon closer. Can I climb it down? Is it product of mining operations?

Perhaps a connection is something vaguer than you were led to believe. Oh well! Hmph! Hmph to all of them, the cheeky fuckers!

But yes, the canyon. It's pretty clearly not natural. You've heard of the earth naturally forming slopes due to how gravity accommodates certain configurations of debris - this is not that by any means. It's a steep 45 degree slope all the way, no deviation or any sign of the earth sliding down, just a wedge seemingly cut out of the ground itself. Smooth all the way through as if the half-mile width of canyon were sliced out by a cosmic surgeon with an unshaking machine-like hand, and untouched by either weather or nature. You feel a little weird standing at the edge of it from about the ankles up, a strange pressure over the whole of your body that makes you feel vaguely uncomfortable as you look down to where by all rights land should be, and yet isn't.

At the bottom of the canyon is something you might confuse for a river at first glance. But no. This is something different, a black gash in the earth where the two opposing slopes fail to meet. You can't make out anything about it at this distance, which is a little troubling. You suppose you could try and climb down to take a closer look, though the slope is definitely very unfavorable, and you're not sure if even if you do get all the way down without trouble that getting back up the other way would be strictly possible without specific equipment.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 11, 2016, 06:00:44 pm
"Oh blacksmith, I've got the stone!"

Set the stone down, open the door to the blacksmith's place, and shove the stone in ahead of me.

You open the door before the blacksmith himself manages it, then carry the slab in like a rather unwieldy several ton cabinet. The workshop is far better lit than you recall, and the blacksmith stands fully clothed before you, eying the slab. Ah, he says, BRIL-LI-ANT! This will work spectacularly! Set it down there, will you. No, not on the side - there, very slablike. Excellent!

Now, the blacksmith says, you will need to lie down upon that. His fingers run along a hammer on his belt, then a chisel. And then an instrument you don't quite recognize. And then he'll have to blindfold you.

Oh, by the way - should you have reservations, NOW would be the time to voice them. And do try to not punch his head off in the middle of all this, will you? It'll be a little difficult to concentrate on unmaking certain things without resistance on your part! Ah, and of course, he mentions, pointing at the exit, check if you can leave that murder-thought outside as well!

Quote from: Toaster on September 11, 2016, 06:38:46 pm
"Yes, yes!  Again, I could go with you if you prefer.  If not, I will go alone."

Indicate I am ready.  Follow her lead with regard to going along/together/any strange "don't look" requests.

[Making Sure: 4]

Go with her? Surely you jest. She's afraid that's not really possible. Not that she wouldn't like company, mind you, or that she objects to you in any possible way - you've been very friendly and helpful, Mr. Minstep. It is simply that she is unfortunately quite unhealthy to view for anyone! Oh, all right then, you say. You suppose she wants you to look away as she leaves? Why yes, she says, many thanks for reminding her!

Very well, you say and turn away. Nobody's looking. She may feel free to make a run for it, then.

You hear the woman come out in long steps, throwing her bag of clothes up on the wall, her hands then catching onto the wall as she climbs straight up with a speed you would not really expect from a proper lady. For a moment you feel an odd sensation as you sense her staring at the back of your head, something strange welling up in your skull for a moment. It's a feeling, an impression. You scratch at it, but it gets only worse. You hear the lady compose herself after a few moments, the height of the wall reminding her of old times and a freedom she thought lost until now.

Thank you for your help, Mr. Minstep. May your days be half as wonderful as you've made hers!

GOODBYE

You shiver, a farewell diamond of thanks crystallizing in the back of your head, a feeling of nostalgia filling you as you continue to try and get at that damnable itch. You breathe out, and you sense the lady has made her way down. You stand a few minutes longer, and feel yourself drawn to the top of the wall, looking out to the horizon. Seems she made it down all right. Looks to be long gone by now. Fast on her feet for somebody who must be at least 80 years old if the look of the lord was any indication.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 11, 2016, 11:52:01 pm
I make my way towards this smoke.

You follow along for a while yet, the swamp getting deeper and darker as you come upon a small, long-overgrown lake filled with reeds, its green and thick waters choked with life, the heady scent of thickets of wild rosemary filling the air. The crescent shape of the lake suggests it was once part of a river meander.

Upon the lake is a construction not unlike a beaver dam, sticks jammed together in a continuous wall of mounds jutting a little above the water, extending about halfway across the lake before ending in a rather large structure, in which you can see about a human-sized hole leading down, a lone human skull sitting on the edge of the construction, leering at you with empty sockets. The hole is belching smoke continuously, a little firelight flickering from deep within.

Quote from: TopHat on September 12, 2016, 12:36:06 pm
"It can wait. I see you're... busy."
Sit down, watch and learn. Probably best not to distract her if she's doing what I think she's doing. Could result in permanent brain damage.

The stoatman looks away, and all the children save one turn back to their fascinating subject. The last one continues to stare at you unblinkingly. The stoatman twitches, gurgles, occasionally speaks gibberish and drools from both corners of his mouth as his head lolls to either side every now and then.

[The Split Brain: 3]

The children gasp every now and then as one as the minder girl starts to shake violently and sweat from all her pores, her hair quite wild as she takes on the aspect of a deranged faith healer. The stoatman begins to emit a low tone from his mouth as his sharp-toothed jaw falls open. You have no idea what any of this is supposed to be. An interrogation, you suppose? It doesn't look like it's-

The child watching you walks up, and though she is a scant six years old at best her dewy, shining eyes are filled with dreadful menace as they peer at you. Hush, she whispers. And no, you are not being quiet. Remain still. Remain quiet. Don't think. Don't leave. Look at you. Nucleating like you are. Have you no shame?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Xantalos on September 13, 2016, 12:27:43 pm
"I'll try, but I'll note that the thought is somewhat tied to my hand, I think. Leave that alone and you shouldn't be sliced apart too much."

Try to make the murder-thought hang around just outside the door for the duration of the operation. Then strip down (I don't want these clothes damaged just after I got them) and lie down on the slab. Deep breaths. Pain only exists in the mind.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: TopHat on September 13, 2016, 01:28:41 pm
"Sorry. I'm not exactly used to this sort of thing."

Mentally shut up / clear my mind / stop 'nucleating' or whatever.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 13, 2016, 03:38:24 pm
Okay I'm not sure about the local customs but I can probably guess the meaning behind the skull.

I hide near the edge of the lake and watch the building for a while to see if I can see someone enter/leave, or any sign of what's going on in there. I also look around the lake clearing to see if there are any paths or roads leading away from here.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 13, 2016, 03:39:00 pm
When miner's guts tell him it's bad idea to stand on edge, miner does well to obey. Therefore Leif falls flat on his stomach, only carefully peering down.

Tear off biggest bush I can, set it on horrible APOCALYPTIC fire and throw down into the canyon. Hopefully it manages to tumble down all the way. Observe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: To The Four Corners Of The World
Post by: Toaster on September 13, 2016, 04:54:25 pm
Thomas pondered the itch fleetingly.  Didn't that happen before?  Oh well.  It's probably best to just go; the lord seemed to have quite a bit on his mind.  No sense in dragging out goodbyes.  He'd just let a guard know if he saw one.  Time to go!


Time to start heading out.  Wasn't there a bridge going up?  It's time to start heading to the airport.

If a guard is passed, pass the word that the lord's problem is solved satisfactorily.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 14, 2016, 04:19:07 am
Quote from: Xantalos on September 13, 2016, 12:27:43 pm
"I'll try, but I'll note that the thought is somewhat tied to my hand, I think. Leave that alone and you shouldn't be sliced apart too much."

Try to make the murder-thought hang around just outside the door for the duration of the operation. Then strip down (I don't want these clothes damaged just after I got them) and lie down on the slab. Deep breaths. Pain only exists in the mind.

[Leave Your Thoughts At The Door: 2]

You place your murder-thought outside, pointing it at a handy rock to try and destroy, then shut the door. As it burrows back in through the wood, you get the feeling it might not be all that easy to leave your own mental projection somewhere else. Oh well. You guess there's only so much you can do. Now it's time to get naked, lie back and try not to think of manslaughter. Lay your body down, forget about your troubles, hit the lights. The blindfold goes on. All is dark.

[Romancing the Stone: 1]

Rather predictably, the blacksmith starts on the other hand. Good god, that hurts. Pain is just an illusion, pain is just an illusion, pain is weakness leaving the body, oh good god almighty, pain is anything but this! You feel like a slab of meat as the bones in your other hand are crushed, ruined, hammer blows raining down up your arm, liquefying flesh, rubbing the nerves into stone, moving up to the shoulder joint. Somehow it hurts even more with each hit. You're not even sure how that's possible, but every moment comes with a new surprise.

[Blessed Agonies: 5]

Nevertheless, you hold on tight, remain still. Feel the pain, recognize it, internalize it. Pain becomes a fact, an unavoidable reality that you may as well get well acquainted with now. You concentrate on keeping your murder-thought completely still, using it to count the cracks in the stone foundation as it circles round the blacksmith doing his work. He moves along, hammering your chest now, shattering the spine, spilling the organs as he slices your skin with a number of sharp knives of varying sizes, grinding the ichor that remains into dust, then shoveling it back into vaguely human-shaped mounds methodically. He goes along the leg, the feeling of your kneecap shattering bothering you perhaps less than you would have thought now that your spine is completely ruined. The other leg gets the same treatment, and then the last arm. At this point even your injured hand doesn't feel more than a mite uncomfortable against the background of sheer displeasure you're experiencing, your entire body trembling weakly under the hammer as your glorious transformation into jellied gore nears completion.

You feel the hammer being raised once more, this time above your throat, but the blacksmith slows his hand so that the hot, gore-covered tip of it merely touches your Adam's apple. Your entire body twitches, and though you've clearly gone through a phase transition for the most part, it still all seems vaguely connected. But only vaguely. You don't think you can take any more, and the blacksmith seems to have noticed also. Ah, he says, are you ALL RIGHT there? You gurgle something back, not having the lungs to formulate a coherent reply.

The blindfold comes off. You dare not look at the rest of yourself.

WELL, the blacksmith says. Seems that reprogramming your substrate is going to be a little more DIFFICULT than anticipated. Though he, er, must CONGRATULATE you on your durability. The measure seems to have not steered him wrong as to your capacity to endure punishment! Mind over matter, as it were!

[Every Tear A Lesson Learned: 2]

You rise, not one bone beneath your neck left unshattered, your body mostly a bag of disjointed flesh. It doesn't hurt even slightly less than a few moments ago.

HM, says the blacksmith. The method needs work. A LOT of work! But such is the nature of experimentation! Some leads invariably don't pay off! Somehow this fails to reassure you.

Quote from: TopHat on September 13, 2016, 01:28:41 pm
"Sorry. I'm not exactly used to this sort of thing."

Mentally shut up / clear my mind / stop 'nucleating' or whatever.

[Your Nuclei Are Showing: 6]

You stare ahead, emptying your mind. The room starts to darken as you see, hear and feel, but decreasing amounts of sensation lead to perception. You sense the hand of the child on your head as she sees what you're doing, and your feeling suddenly meets a precipice - into the abyss it tumbles, and senselessness ensues.

[Mischief In The Dark: 1]

You awaken some time later to an empty room, the minders having gone somewhere. How rude. You try the door. It does not open. Or rather it does, but not more than about half an inch, something very heavy, perhaps seven or even eight separate pieces of furniture judging by the sound, having been moved in front of it. You notice the window has been broken as well. How very strange.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 13, 2016, 03:38:24 pm
Okay I'm not sure about the local customs but I can probably guess the meaning behind the skull.

I hide near the edge of the lake and watch the building for a while to see if I can see someone enter/leave, or any sign of what's going on in there. I also look around the lake clearing to see if there are any paths or roads leading away from here.

[Strange Comings And Goings: 6]

As the sun continues to climb higher in the sky, the green water of the lake becomes more and more reflective, the warm and sunny day reaching all the way down even here. You look on until you spot a reflection in the calm, still water, a murky shadow on the opposite coast, built like a bear with longer forelegs - or, rather, longer arms as you look closer, the shadow growing more humanoid as it steps closer to the edge in an ungainly fashion, a sizable net you'd think would be used more for butterflies than fish dragging behind it. The waters start to wave a little as fish grow agitated, some of them jumping upward out of the water.

You notice that there is no equivalent figure to the shadow in the same spot on the coast, the reflection moving with a life of its own as its net meets water and emerges on this side, catching one of the larger fish with intriguing deftness and pulling it back into the other side.

[Fisher's Eye: 3 vs. 3]

As you gaze into the reflection, the reflection gazes also into you, and gazes for a good long moment, leaning in with its eyes remaining invisible and tilting its head. As it makes out your shape, you hear a muffled burble emanate from the water, its disproportionate arm rising in a wave with a surprising lack of hostility in it.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 13, 2016, 03:39:00 pm
When miner's guts tell him it's bad idea to stand on edge, miner does well to obey. Therefore Leif falls flat on his stomach, only carefully peering down.

Tear off biggest bush I can, set it on horrible APOCALYPTIC fire and throw down into the canyon. Hopefully it manages to tumble down all the way. Observe.

[I Have The Shrubbery: 4]

You head a few steps back, and soon an opportunity presents itself. Emitting your best viking death growl (Bathory would be proud!) you pull a smaller shrub right out of the ground, lifting it triumphantly above your head as you scream your Word of power!

APOCALYPSE

[Word: 6]

It bursts into a terrible flame above your head, and in the heat of the moment you leap upward like some kind of magically enhanced Torgeir Bryn and slam dunk the bush into the canyon. It skips along the side, punctuating every skip with a boom no doubt heard for miles around, rocks scattering as they are set aflame, sandstone and gneiss set aflame as if they were anthracite, and about halfway down it settles into a burning roll, leaving a brightly flaming trail in its wake before tumbling twice more, three dots and three dashes of flame leaving an SOS to the gods themselves before into the black separating line it tumbles and sinks, its white-hot flame dancing in the blackness briefly.

[This Is The End: 1]

It doesn't seem to be water, that much is clear. You don't think water tends to be very explosive for the most part, for not five seconds pass as you hear a violent explosion emanate from where the bush landed, a little bit of the canyon side crumbling and falling down into it as the line starts to glow bright and spread. You step a short distance back as the ground starts to shake. Huh. You're not really sure if that's how fault lines are supposed to work - you've never really done much hydraulic fracking, being a gold mining man at heart. But you think you've definitely upset something with that maneuver!

Quote from: Toaster on September 13, 2016, 04:54:25 pm
Thomas pondered the itch fleetingly.  Didn't that happen before?  Oh well.  It's probably best to just go; the lord seemed to have quite a bit on his mind.  No sense in dragging out goodbyes.  He'd just let a guard know if he saw one.  Time to go!


Time to start heading out.  Wasn't there a bridge going up?  It's time to start heading to the airport.

If a guard is passed, pass the word that the lord's problem is solved satisfactorily.

You do head on over to the bridge outside, helpfully informing the rather large concentration of guards over there that they can tell the lord you've successfully helped him with his mother troubles. Excellent, says the royal guard commander overseeing the operations. What do you think of her new bridge, she asks, pointing at the rather wide construction of rope and boards her cadre of guards in varying states of undress have almost completed over the river, securing the last few boards at the moment. Insurable or not, she asks with a genial smile.

Spirits seem high around here. You see a few guards greedily eating some leftover rations from the war camp, and laughter comes from left, right and center as the guards are abuzz with ideas of plunder and raiding, but most of all being out of this goddamn castle at last. Most of them seem to scarcely believe it.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 14, 2016, 04:56:09 am
"Uh... Jörð, is that you? Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up." Please don't be Níðhöggr or Fafnir... Definitely not Hel.

On one hand that's a good sign for Lee to follow, but one the another underground explosions are really bad.

Let's, like, run away? Like, real quick. Maybe in direction of the camp?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 14, 2016, 05:31:26 am
Daniels is grinning in a manner quite similar to a chimpanzee. It's an unpleasant expression at best on a normal human face, let alone someone like him, but he's not feeling particularly endeared to the concept of friendliness right about now.

"I am going to lay down and recover from the damage you did to me. In the meantime I want you to go to the keep and find out if there are any stoatmen there. Then come back and inform me, and I will use it to give you the knowledge necessary to modify me without subjecting me to such agony that it is only my refined hate that keeps my thought from flensing your individual muscle fibers apart. You understand my words? Good. This will end well for both of us if you do as I say."

His speech is likely not intelligible, but he makes the effort nonetheless.

Lay down. Is there a bed here? If so lay down in bed. If not, lay down on nearest thing I can lay down on. Recover.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 14, 2016, 07:11:35 am
Well that's not what I expected.

I approach the lake cautiously and wave back to the figure.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 14, 2016, 11:40:18 am
"... It's happened again, hasn't it. And without Chaos this time. Shit."

One REVELATION of what exactly just happened, please. Probably shouldn't be using Words given that Grim Prophecy, but this is important. Can't keep losing control like that. I wasn't even capable of thinking this time.

((I do have the highest current body count now, though, and I'm not even trying. Try to keep up, guys.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 14, 2016, 03:55:46 pm
Quote from: TopHat on September 14, 2016, 11:40:18 am
((I do have the highest current body count now, though, and I'm not even trying. Try to keep up, guys.))

((Trying hard hardly trying.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 14, 2016, 07:17:55 pm
((Thomas has two, and that first one hardly counts!  Not his fault he missed the catch.))

"I don't believe rope bridges can be, but I am sure the permanent one that will follow will be insurable.  Well built and completely up to code, no doubt.  Well done.  On a side note, have any of you been north past the end of the road?  Where the airport... um, place that metal dragons land and carry people is?  I am headed that way."

Appraise.  Inquire.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 14, 2016, 07:26:11 pm
((Hey, I've actively been trying not to kill people! D'you know how hard it's been not to try and murder everyone who pisses Jack off? More so than you'd think for an ostensibly psychologically normal human.
...
Oh right, he's been slowly going mad with power over the course of the game.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 14, 2016, 09:45:15 pm
((I'm pretty sure I've killed more things than anyone else. Just not very many humans.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 14, 2016, 11:52:53 pm
((Technically Derm has highest body count. Shared with his sun moon buddy.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 15, 2016, 06:55:34 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 14, 2016, 04:56:09 am
"Uh... Jörð, is that you? Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up." Please don't be Níðhöggr or Fafnir... Definitely not Hel.

On one hand that's a good sign for Lee to follow, but one the another underground explosions are really bad.

Let's, like, run away? Like, real quick. Maybe in direction of the camp?

A sound plan! And hey, there's Lee coming toward you as the earth stops messing around and begins to properly shake!

[Visit From The Stork: 2]

She sprints your way and, as you near each other, she asks the obvious question: WHAT DID YOU DO? The look of panic on her face is something else entirely. WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO, she asks again when you're face-to-face, the sound of rising and multiplying explosions from the canyon merging into a horrible roar as they blend into one another in a cascading furious conflagration.

[Resonance Cascade: 3]

The canyon glows brightly now, little glowing cracks spreading along the shrubland from its edges. What, you say, you said you were going to do some apocalyptic fire. And there's your apocalyptic fire! Lee looks on in horror at the continuing explosions, and you see the Storks in the camp start quickly gathering their tents as the light, sound and fury creep toward them at a geometric, though still manageable pace. The lookout on the pole seems to have long left his post, and warriors guide their masked wards away from the canyon as a hurried evacuation starts to take place.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 14, 2016, 05:31:26 am
Daniels is grinning in a manner quite similar to a chimpanzee. It's an unpleasant expression at best on a normal human face, let alone someone like him, but he's not feeling particularly endeared to the concept of friendliness right about now.

"I am going to lay down and recover from the damage you did to me. In the meantime I want you to go to the keep and find out if there are any stoatmen there. Then come back and inform me, and I will use it to give you the knowledge necessary to modify me without subjecting me to such agony that it is only my refined hate that keeps my thought from flensing your individual muscle fibers apart. You understand my words? Good. This will end well for both of us if you do as I say."

His speech is likely not intelligible, but he makes the effort nonetheless.

Lay down. Is there a bed here? If so lay down in bed. If not, lay down on nearest thing I can lay down on. Recover.

[Sinister Gurgling: 2]

WELL, says the blacksmith, clearly not having understood a goddamn word you just attempted to say despite putting in his very best effort to listen, he supposes you could use a rest now, yes? His bed is over THERE, he points at a slightly less filthy corner than you remember last time you paid attention to such things. You can go ahead and sleep there! He intends to be leaving in a short while anyway, you see. Just have to find Mr. Wilde, and work more on the THEORIES! Sweet, lovely theories.

Before you can gurgle more at him like a vengeful zombie he decides to quickly wipe some of his tools on a bit of cloth, then wrap them up in his bloodstained apron, which he takes under his arm. There! Ready for travel, pretty much. He observes a moment as you worm your way off the slab, skin and meat dragging along the ground, leaving thick trails of red as you clamber into his former ragged bedding. Good luck with your recovery, he shouts encouragingly as you start to leak from all of your bits into the bedroll. And his SINCEREST APOLOGIES for the setback!

And with that, he's gone, and you manage the apelike grin on your face for an hour longer as you stew in agony and misery on the floor, staring at the ceiling as you decide, after running out of cracks to count, to settle for making new ones with your murder-thought. Your bones fail to knit themselves back together, but you do scab, your jelly-like consistency developing a thick enough outer skin that you feel confident you won't just fall to pieces if you attempt to get up.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 14, 2016, 07:11:35 am
Well that's not what I expected.

I approach the lake cautiously and wave back to the figure.

The figure puts its net away a second, casting a clumsy look around its reflected shoreline, then jumps - downward, in your perspective, its enormous, long-armed shape spreading out as it seems to swim through the air, its fingers webbed, powerful and very long, closing together as it thrusts its arms forward, then spreading as it propels itself along the reflection, floating closer to the water, struggling to stay deeper down as it is pulled toward the surface. It points toward the mound of sticks, then starts swimming toward the primitive building, seemingly quite eager to meet you for a closer look.

Quote from: TopHat on September 14, 2016, 11:40:18 am
"... It's happened again, hasn't it. And without Chaos this time. Shit."

One REVELATION of what exactly just happened, please. Probably shouldn't be using Words given that Grim Prophecy, but this is important. Can't keep losing control like that. I wasn't even capable of thinking this time.

((I do have the highest current body count now, though, and I'm not even trying. Try to keep up, guys.))

They say some truths are too horrible to contemplate. But how would you know if this is one of them without finding out the contents first?

REVELATION

[Word: 1]

You do not see the reality. But you do feel it, your substrate springing to life with your mind's implicit permission. It can demonstrate. It will demonstrate. Material is needed, however. You feel a pull as your center of mass is pulled forward, your arms flailing, lengthening, legs searching for support, your mouth opening wider than you would think physically possible, and you feel yourself unfold with a thousand mouths as a hunger for material to innovate with presents itself.

[The Means Present: 5]

The door! You wrap your fingers around the hinges, the iron like chocolate in your hands, disappearing into your hungry fingers as you bend it, swallowing whole boards moments later, the bracing disappearing into your stomach, rivets and all. You stuff tables, chairs and barrels into yourself. It does not seem to matter. The barricade was no real obstacle, you realize, at least not when approached with a measure of thought. The metal feels foreign at first as you add it to yourself, but goes down within a short while. The wood? The wood feels downright delicious - organic, light, like a more ethical sort of bone. You wonder if you'd like to be made of wood briefly. You could be, you realize. If you tried, and studied, and made sure the rats agreed. You need-

You notice somebody running down the hallways as you finally eat up the last piece of barricade. The sound snaps you back to reality, the site of a humanoid figure reasserting your mind's better impulses. Ah! Right. You should, er, mind yourself, you suppose.

Quote from: Toaster on September 14, 2016, 07:17:55 pm
"I don't believe rope bridges can be, but I am sure the permanent one that will follow will be insurable.  Well built and completely up to code, no doubt.  Well done.  On a side note, have any of you been north past the end of the road?  Where the airport... um, place that metal dragons land and carry people is?  I am headed that way."

Appraise.  Inquire.

[Pleasant Conversation: 1]

Oh, they won't need a permanent one, the commander says. That would imply they were intending to go back.

As for northward, that was where she was intending to go, actually, along with all of the royal guards. The queen is a little reluctant, the commander relates, watching the last few boards being put up. But that's mostly because of certain hearsay. For one, the dragons are-

Alarm suddenly flares in your mind, and the commander as well as about ten of the nearby guards looks in the opposite direction immediately. You notice the minder girl floating rather rapidly, though still going through the trouble of moving her feet as quickly as possible, to no apparent effect. Seems she's quite distressed. He ate them! And then he was gonna eat her!

You also become aware of a much slower-moving procession of some of her commonly attending children, trailing the minder girl at a long distance mostly due to there being only so much distance they can cover on their tiny legs. Some trip and tumble through the mud, another child invariably tripping over them before both get up again, scrambling in your direction.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 15, 2016, 08:07:18 am
"Though I didn't anticipate presence of massive underground natural gas reservoirs. This one seems unfortunately large. I hope this won't become another Door to Hell. The previous one is still burning, sixty years after its ignition."

Evacuation seems like a proper plan. Pay attention on those glowing cracks spreading.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 15, 2016, 08:10:33 am
This thing seems friendly enough. I follow it into the building.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 14, 2016, 11:52:53 pm

((As far as I can tell, Derm killed 145 stoats with help from his sun thing, while I killed 175 with my sea monster, as well as killing various gaunts and ancient royal constructs at other points. Considering he only played the first third of the game, though, I'm very impressed with his efficiency.))


Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 15, 2016, 08:14:50 am
((He got praise worthy words early on, so it's no wonder.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 15, 2016, 01:32:13 pm
*ggghhhhhhhh*

Mouth foaming. Mind bloody. Find blacksmith. Disable legs. Must not leave until fixed.

Stand up and find blacksmith. If blacksmith is not near his cabin, find nearest person and ask where he is. Write in the dirt if I need to. Don't tolerate any delays.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 15, 2016, 02:14:18 pm
Interesting! Great potential here, if I can ever master it. And not do it involuntarily. In a room full of children.
Oh.
"Oh, hello there! You wouldn't happen to know what's just happened, would you? I'm rather confused about it myself."

Check I'm fully back to normal and start heading for the exit. Engage in conversation but don't stop walking whatever they say.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 15, 2016, 07:54:09 pm
Nope.

"Gee well that sounds like fun maybe we will meet along the way I do hope things go well for you here oh you should probably take care of that bye now."


Head on to the north.  This sounds like an internal problem that doesn't need interference.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 16, 2016, 11:21:14 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 15, 2016, 08:07:18 am
"Though I didn't anticipate presence of massive underground natural gas reservoirs. This one seems unfortunately large. I hope this won't become another Door to Hell. The previous one is still burning, sixty years after its ignition."

Evacuation seems like a proper plan. Pay attention on those glowing cracks spreading.

Lee doesn't quite understand what you're referring to there, but her momentary quizzical look gives way to the obvious wisdom of continuing to evacuate as swiftly as possible. You choose the most orthogonal direction from the canyon and start running at the same time. It's a lot like a race, except everyone's a winner! Except the ones who are dead.

[Run For Your Lives: 4]

Sprinting flat out, you make it about a mile out before you feel safe enough to say that if you still get killed, there was probably no way for you to escape death to begin with. Lee stumbles as you slow your pace, her heart nearly giving out even under all the adrenaline, and you yourself feel a lot like somebody's replaced your blood with liquid helium, a chilling crawly sensation making you suspect you'll be feeling this next morning.

As you both stop a long distance away, breathing heavily as explosions ring out in the distance, you see that the flashes of light behind you are taking a while to emit their corresponding bangs. Though they've definitely kept spreading at a geometric pace, the horizon now lined with waves and ripples of white, scouring flames. You almost think they're getting closer as they increase in size every minute or so. The earth has begun to shake violently, spiderweb cracks spreading along it in your direction from afar.

[Women And Children First: 6]

Some distance to your right you see the Stork Clan, or however much of it stayed around here - a hundred people perhaps, you would say, a few of them carrying tents that they've grabbed in the confusion, four warriors watching the others like hawks as quite a few others seem to have returned to grab the rest of their valuables from the camp.

This, as it turns out, proves a rather critical mistake, as there is a sudden great flash as the flames rise to the sky and a blast knocks you, Lee and pretty much the rest of the gathered clan off their feet, dirt rising in a massive cloud as a tract of land is disintegrated by the exploding canyon, trailing along the entire horizon as the reaction goes on in a massive chain, cracks spreading in the wake of its progress. Everything shakes violently, the cracks not so slow in spreading in your direction anymore, looking like flat, dwindling lightning bolts as they race along the landscape under the massive stress the ground is being subjected to.

The air is choked with dust, and you can't see a goddamn thing as more and more of it keeps washing over you in lazy waves as it billows outward and settles at the same time. You hear Lee cough a few times before audibly pulling up her dress to cover her face. The roar continues as a massive earthquake rips through the land, though the explosions start to grow a little more distant.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 15, 2016, 08:10:33 am
This thing seems friendly enough. I follow it into the building.

The beaver-esque bridge to the hollowed mound of branches crunches under your feet as you head over to the opening and lean in as you spot a fire... going sideways above a pool of water? And you think deeper down in there is the... you lean in a little to make out the details and your sense of balance goes completely haywire for a second as you tumble forward.

When you get up, gravity seems to have taken a 90 degree turn, the vertical tunnel of the hole looking strangely horizontal as you stand next to a gently smoking campfire, the smoke rolling to your right toward a distant wall of blue, slightly cloudy sky.

You look to the other side, and see a rippling wall of water. Behind it, dimly visible in the firelight mostly on account of sheer proximity, is the long-armed figure of the fisher, which stands still and stares at you. Four nautiloid vision-holes with no eyeballs to speak of are organized symmetrically around its puckered mouth, each narrowing or widening independently as it angles its head to get a better look at you for a few moments, floating along the breadth of the water wall to try and get a sense of what exactly you seem to be.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 15, 2016, 01:32:13 pm
*ggghhhhhhhh*

Mouth foaming. Mind bloody. Find blacksmith. Disable legs. Must not leave until fixed.

Stand up and find blacksmith. If blacksmith is not near his cabin, find nearest person and ask where he is. Write in the dirt if I need to. Don't tolerate any delays.

[The Worm That Walks: 2]

You can't stand up, actually. Well, not for long. You can do a snaking sort of S-shape with some effort that is about as easy to walk in as you would expect. You press on, trying your best to walk as fast as you can, and eventually make it over to the door. Flopping your sausage-like arm into it you manage to bust it open and then land out in the courtyard on your back, your head making soft contact with the dirt just as the ground starts to rumble menacingly.

Quote from: TopHat on September 15, 2016, 02:14:18 pm
Interesting! Great potential here, if I can ever master it. And not do it involuntarily. In a room full of children.
Oh.
"Oh, hello there! You wouldn't happen to know what's just happened, would you? I'm rather confused about it myself."

Check I'm fully back to normal and start heading for the exit. Engage in conversation but don't stop walking whatever they say.

The running person doesn't seem to be in the mood for conversation, which you suppose is fine. You head over to the foyer, where more people waste no time in scattering as you give them a quick greeting, leaving but two in place by the keep's open door. The first is Nately, who walks in your direction. Mr. Wilde! He was WONDERING when you'd come to!

Slightly behind him is Deirdre, hanging around the open doorway with a look of concern, raising an eyebrow at your once more quasi-normal bearing, feeling her chances of not being eaten if you come closer to be about 50-50. She asks if you'd mind staying a little ways back - for safety purposes, y'know?

It's perfectly safe, Nately says with a conviction that makes you seriously doubt he legitimately knows what he's talking about, then walks up to you and taps you on the shoulder. As your entire skin twitches on your body exactly once at the tap, he draws his hand back hurriedly. Yes, he says reassuringly to himself, perfectly safe!

What happened, you decide to ask, as you can't really remember yourself, and from both Nately and Deirdre you come to understand that clearly something went wrong in that room you were in. Some bloody minders got bloody eaten, Deirdre explains, that's what happened! And then most everyone decided to barricade the door and run, adds Nately. Simple affair, really!

The castle starts to rumble and shake gently. Nately looks around excitedly. Aha! An earthquake! Earthquakes are good luck for trips, did you know? He seems to be waiting for you to ask why.

Quote from: Toaster on September 15, 2016, 07:54:09 pm
Nope.

"Gee well that sounds like fun maybe we will meet along the way I do hope things go well for you here oh you should probably take care of that bye now."


Head on to the north.  This sounds like an internal problem that doesn't need interference.

You're not sure what these children want, but it surely can't be hygienic, so you exercise the better part of valor and head over the bridge into a brand new day of presumable travel. Looking back, you see the children approach closer, the commander looking gravely alarmed at something. Shortly after the children the castle is also vacated by the queen herself, and a rather sizable entourage of her attending staff, the girl holding up her dress a little as she too tries to run as quickly as possible to the commander's side, solidly outpaced by the lord of the castle, who has no worries about taking a tumble or two in his quest to get the hell out of dodge. Soon the riverside is even more filled with people than before as you head north along the road, looking back.

You stare straight ahead. There is a road sign stuck into a mound of rocks. Elizabeth, 53 miles north-northwest. Anglefork, 2 miles south. To Be Announced, 20 miles north. Seems you have quite a distance to cross before you get there. And... huh. Do your senses deceive you, or is the ground rumbling?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 16, 2016, 11:39:22 am
*nnnnnnnggggggghhhhhhh*

Nope. Nope. Not happening today. Get back up. Walk. Walk to the ... they were taking a stoatman into the keep. The well wants stoatmen. The well can provide me with the means to heal myself. Go to the keep.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 16, 2016, 12:22:36 pm
Thomas took a quick note to add checking for earthquake stability on his insurance inspections, and headed on his way.

Northward!  Toward... TBA?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 16, 2016, 03:22:29 pm
Leif covers his mouth with hand and tries to speak.

"I probably should have asked this first, but do you happen know anything about that canyon other than the bottom being filled with oxygenated and highly explosive gas?"

((Whoopsie.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 16, 2016, 03:34:01 pm
I wave at the creature again. "Hello," I say loudly enough to be heard through a bit of water. "Do you speak?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 16, 2016, 04:02:27 pm
"In what way is it good luck? Especially if it's due to that thing I had a vision of earlier. Very bad news in that case. Just like the news that whatever my body is made of seems perfectly capable of running on autopilot and said autopilot's first instinct is to feed. Blame the rats for that, I suppose."
Keep talking. Oh, and stop it with that twitch-when-touched thing. I'm in control now. Just don't stop talking.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 18, 2016, 06:46:56 am
Quote from: Xantalos on September 16, 2016, 11:39:22 am
*nnnnnnnggggggghhhhhhh*

Nope. Nope. Not happening today. Get back up. Walk. Walk to the ... they were taking a stoatman into the keep. The well wants stoatmen. The well can provide me with the means to heal myself. Go to the keep.

[Stand Tall: 4]

You rise up with less effort this time, undulating to keep stable, exerting constant muscle movement to maintain some semblance of posture as you shamble toward the keep. You observe Deirdre run out the door. She starts instinctively running away perpendicular to your approach before she recognizes you, stopping mid-step to stare in a mixture of disgust and morbid curiosity. Good god, what the hell happened to you, she asks.

Moments later, you see the blacksmith dive out of the keep. Everything's shaking. You think something's collapsing within. This earthquake seems to be building in strength rapidly.

Quote from: Toaster on September 16, 2016, 12:22:36 pm
Thomas took a quick note to add checking for earthquake stability on his insurance inspections, and headed on his way.

Northward!  Toward... TBA?

[Walk The Trembling Earth: 2]

The road goes from shaky to violently trembling, bits of it rising and falling as you try to make progress. You head on nevertheless, only for your progress to be interrupted a mile out when a rather large crack opens in the ground ahead, layers of the earth peeling upward and back as it spreads out, filling rapidly with water as the river blasts into it from nearby. All the sensible animals, you notice, appear to be running in the opposite direction that you're going in.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 16, 2016, 03:22:29 pm
Leif covers his mouth with hand and tries to speak.

"I probably should have asked this first, but do you happen know anything about that canyon other than the bottom being filled with oxygenated and highly explosive gas?"

((Whoopsie.))

WHAT, asks Lee. You said, do you know anything about the canyon beyond it being explosive? She still can't hear you. CANYON, you shout, WHAT'S ITS PROBLEM.

[Lore of the North: 6]

SEAM, she clarifies. OTHERWORLD BELOW. The explosions continue in the background, migrating on as you turn your backs to the incoming dust waves, pillars of blinding light exploding upward like lightning bolts from the shining sea now revealed.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 16, 2016, 03:34:01 pm
I wave at the creature again. "Hello," I say loudly enough to be heard through a bit of water. "Do you speak?"

[Xenolinguistics: 5]

Its mouth dilates ever so slightly as it burbles in surprise. It speaks, you hear it pose quizzically as it tilts its head. You speak. But you are not from this side. Strange.

Are you a mermaid, it asks after a moment's thought, having no more rational explanation for this.

Quote from: TopHat on September 16, 2016, 04:02:27 pm
"In what way is it good luck? Especially if it's due to that thing I had a vision of earlier. Very bad news in that case. Just like the news that whatever my body is made of seems perfectly capable of running on autopilot and said autopilot's first instinct is to feed. Blame the rats for that, I suppose."
Keep talking. Oh, and stop it with that twitch-when-touched thing. I'm in control now. Just don't stop talking.

It's good luck, says Nately, because then it's clearly a good idea to get out while you still can! As the rumble intensifies, you fail to produce any belly laughs at this clever wordplay.

[Build Them Like They Used To: 1]

You hear something collapse in a hall to the side. The walls start to buckle and weave as the rumbling reaches a very much resonant frequency. Deirdre decides immediately to back the hell away into the courtyard.

[Unfortunate Architecture: 2]

At about this point a very exquisitely painted block from the ceiling lands straight on your head. You stumble forward, then to the side, your brain very palpably impacted, and fall to your knees as everything starts to shake wildly.

[Helpful Minions: 2]

Nately seems to very strongly consider helping you, but then the realization that he has a much lower tolerance for physical punishment than you do sinks in, and so he just follows in Deirdre's footsteps, diving out of the foyer as you try to get your bearings.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 18, 2016, 08:51:36 am
((Well, I think that's the body count contest sorted.))

Okay, maybe the trip can wait a moment.


Seek cover, probably in the same direction the forest creatures are going.  Brace in a doorway?  That probably doesn't apply if you're already outside.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 18, 2016, 10:49:19 am
Pah. I'm pretty sure I can't suffer any permanent internal damage. Best not to stick around, though.
Time to go. Out of the castle entirely if that looks practical, but getting away from the keep should be a good start.

((Hmm. Would it be a spoiler to ask if This Is The End would have happened anyway or if it was assumed one of us would set it off sooner or later?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 18, 2016, 04:23:45 pm
((Dropping apocalypse fire into seams of world probably wasn't such a smart idea. But now the word very much lives up for its fame. Finally 8) ))

"SEAM? IS THIS A PATCHWORK WORLD?"

I order a drink of liquid truth with side order of clarity, please. Alcoholic variant. Honey and blood based, if possible. Would APOCALYPSE end what APOCALYPSE started? And what the hell is going on with world so weak that it can't take a little of unnatural fire?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 18, 2016, 05:20:15 pm
"I'm not entirely sure what I am. Who are you?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 19, 2016, 01:41:00 am
"Going to fucking murder whoever caused this. Probably that Eileen lady. Never leave her to wander off by herself.

Listen! This place probably not safe for long. Well is safer. For me at least. I can store you in my presence to stop you from getting hurt if need. Lay down. Don't resist."

Store the blacksmith and Diedre in my connection absorption space thing. Well, Diedre's optional, but get the blacksmith. Explain that I'm not gonna kill them or anything, in fact this'll make them safer, to make the process quicker.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 19, 2016, 06:53:56 am
Quote from: Toaster on September 18, 2016, 08:51:36 am
((Well, I think that's the body count contest sorted.))

Okay, maybe the trip can wait a moment.


Seek cover, probably in the same direction the forest creatures are going.  Brace in a doorway?  That probably doesn't apply if you're already outside.

[Chaos On The Borderlands: 2]

The earth becomes like the surface of a lake in a rainstorm, waving and shaking beneath your feet. You run with the animals, but they seem to have the strategy of running away from the source - you run about a mile back before you realize as a doe tumbles into an opening crack in the ground that they don't have any idea what they're doing either. Pores open in the ground, then close again, trees fall, water starts to flow unusually.

[Evacuation Procedures: 5]

You are back at the riverside by the castle. Quite a few more people appear to have joined the guards, and oddly enough they seem to be very well-versed in evacuation procedure, to the point where pretty much everybody seems to have gone over to this side, very few people remaining unaccounted for as the guards check up each and every one of their fellows. One of them - one of the two guard sisters you recall from before - approaches you, asking if you're all right, and more importantly whether you know anything about this earthquake.

Odder still, the rope bridge seems to be in awfully good shape. You guess having moving parts is actually a good thing in an earthquake. It looks especially nice in relation to the castle. Oh dear, the castle. It really does seem to be doing poorly. There's a giant crack in one of the walls. And the minder tower is about this close to falling over, you believe.

Quote from: TopHat on September 18, 2016, 10:49:19 am
Pah. I'm pretty sure I can't suffer any permanent internal damage. Best not to stick around, though.
Time to go. Out of the castle entirely if that looks practical, but getting away from the keep should be a good start.

((Hmm. Would it be a spoiler to ask if This Is The End would have happened anyway or if it was assumed one of us would set it off sooner or later?))

You get the strange feeling that when you originally saw the horrible end of the castle, the ETA on it wasn't quite "early tomorrow". But hey, it's happening! Oh boy, it's definitely happening!

[I Should Go: 4]

You duck through the nearby doorway and get out of the castle just as it starts getting serious about its collapse business. You hear shrieking from deeper within as you leap through the open doorway, accompanied by a horrific, very dubiously human shrieking coming from deep within the ground floor wings.

Out in the courtyard the buildings dance to the rhythm of the earth, bits falling off them as they do, roofs bending, walls cracking. The earth undulates and heaves in ragged breaths.

Deirdre looks very happy to see you, backing away behind you as you stumble through the doorway. Nately, meanwhile, steps back toward you as well. It takes you a moment to identify what they're backing away from - Mr. Daniels, his boneless body waving like charmed snake, trying to invite your two companions to come into himself. It's probably a good time to leave, Deirdre suggests. Very quickly. As quickly as possible.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 18, 2016, 04:23:45 pm
((Dropping apocalypse fire into seams of world probably wasn't such a smart idea. But now the word very much lives up for its fame. Finally 8) ))

"SEAM? IS THIS A PATCHWORK WORLD?"

I order a drink of liquid truth with side order of clarity, please. Alcoholic variant. Honey and blood based, if possible. Would APOCALYPSE end what APOCALYPSE started? And what the hell is going on with world so weak that it can't take a little of unnatural fire?

YES! Lee seems positive on that. IT'S THE CORNER OF THE WORLD! DIDN'T YOU KNOW?

[The Laws of the Sea: 4]

You turn toward the raging storm, liquid poetry running through your veins. And you start to discern a pattern. This is a seam - was a seam. But not a seam of the world - the world continues beneath uninterrupted, but not in any shape you would recognize. You see the flashes of light, bubbles of light forming clouds up in the sky, raining memories of a different world, taking strange and familiar shapes. It is matter, but matter abused, twisted, changed.

Where does it come from? Deeper in, you think. It is not quite from here. Its alien nature corrupts what it touches. It comes from the actual corner, many miles northward, shaped by extrauniversal voltages. You see traces of exhaustive experimentation in its architecture. It is deconstructed, broken, the waste of some massive effort undertaken by entities vastly more alien than itself.

What will it do? It will form a great river as its seal breaks. Your apocalyptic power has touched the sea, and now it responds with imitation. It will go on for some time, as your inspiration is compelling and easy for it to imitate. Not infinite, mind you. You can see it weakening even now. Why, it'll hardly go on for more than a hundred miles in either direction. Should settle down within the week. Or you could inspire it otherwise - the sea is much like the substrate, suggestible in nature, but lacking a guiding force. But certainly not with the Words you possess. Either would hasten or amplify the effect. This you can guarantee. And Words upon Words can only create horrific disaster.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 18, 2016, 05:20:15 pm
"I'm not entirely sure what I am. Who are you?"

She fishes in the light - she is a fisher. Would you like to see? If you are a mermaid, you could cross to the other side. Would you like to try?

The fisher floats over to one side of the water wall, giving way. Would you like to swim? You have an aspect of the dark, now that she looks. Would you like to observe?

Quote from: Xantalos on September 19, 2016, 01:41:00 am
"Going to fucking murder whoever caused this. Probably that Eileen lady. Never leave her to wander off by herself.

Listen! This place probably not safe for long. Well is safer. For me at least. I can store you in my presence to stop you from getting hurt if need. Lay down. Don't resist."

Store the blacksmith and Diedre in my connection absorption space thing. Well, Diedre's optional, but get the blacksmith. Explain that I'm not gonna kill them or anything, in fact this'll make them safer, to make the process quicker.

Yeah, how about no, Deirdre says, backing away briskly. Quite, Nately seems to agree, he'd really rather wait for Mr. Wilde to show up and look there he is! Mr. Wilde seems a bit confused stumbling out of the crumbling keep as Deirdre stands behind him and Nately retreats over to his side. For some reason neither of them are quite willing to trust in your good intentions. You wonder why.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 19, 2016, 08:18:06 am
The dark? Hm, this lady might know something about the well.

"I would like to try crossing over. I'm not sure if I can breathe over there, so I might not be able to stay." I try to enter the wall of water.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 19, 2016, 01:24:56 pm
"Indeed it is."
.
Eh, can't leave him. "You need a hand, Daniels?"
Leave quickly. Help Daniels along if he asks me to.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 19, 2016, 03:14:02 pm
"Yes. We get out of castle now. Wish to live long enough to reverse this. Extract retribution if necessary."

Accept help.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 19, 2016, 04:03:23 pm
"Oh wow. THIS WORLD SUCKS! NOT THAT MINE IS MUCH BETTER, BUT AT LEAST IT WASN'T WASTE PRODUCT OF... OF... OF WEIRD THINGS! BY THE WAY, THIS WILL END WITHIN A WEEK."

Idea of heroic sacrifice popped into my mind, but gonna ignore it now. It Ain't The End Of The World.

Actually...

Time to do the stupid.

Give the brass box to Lee. "YOU KNOW WHERE TO TAKE THIS, RIGHT? NOW I GOTTA GO AND FIX MY FUCK UPS. SEE YA LATER!" Leif gives Lee his most charming smile and runs back towards the seam. All the way back, slide in, jump in, down into depths. Take over the world!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 19, 2016, 06:47:18 pm
"Is the castle on a faultline?  Are earthquakes normal around here?  I really don't know much about Australia; is it near the Pacific plate?  In any case, there's much to do in preparing a structure for earthquakes.  I don't really know the specifics; not many earthquakes in New York."

Discuss structural preparedness while the ground shakes.


((PS: No, Australia is not directly on the Pacific plate.  The border sort of follows New Guinea/New Zealand.  Today I learned.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 21, 2016, 03:20:32 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 19, 2016, 08:18:06 am
The dark? Hm, this lady might know something about the well.

"I would like to try crossing over. I'm not sure if I can breathe over there, so I might not be able to stay." I try to enter the wall of water.

[Lady In The Water: 2]

As the fisher gives way, you step into the murk and cold. It's dark, it's green, it stings your eyes and feels thick around your nose as you hold your breath, not daring to inhale. Gravity shifts suddenly and precipitously, and you almost start flailing to try and keep balance before the fisher closes her handlike set of tentacles around your arm to steady you for a moment.

If you are a mermaid, you should be safe. To be a mermaid is to belong in both worlds in equal measure.

Quote from: TopHat on September 19, 2016, 01:24:56 pm
"Indeed it is."
.
Eh, can't leave him. "You need a hand, Daniels?"
Leave quickly. Help Daniels along if he asks me to.

[Leaving Quick-Like: 6]

Mr. Daniels is a lot less weighty now that he's lost most of his bones and such. You grab him, eliciting a groan of immense displeasure, and turn around just in time to observe the venerable minder tower violently collapse before you in a surprisingly convenient, if nevertheless cataclysmic and disastrous manner, leaving a path of rubble leading straight up to the nearby wall. As you watch the gatehouse start to fall apart, you figure this to be your best chance, and lead the way, the wormlike shape of Mr. Daniels dragging behind you, making noise as he occasionally impacts a stray piece of debris.

[Driving Up The Wall: 2]

Of course, just as you step on top of the rubble, seeking to take advantage of its elevated nature, it starts to also collapse in on itself, which casts serious doubt on the idea that it'd be workable as an escape route. Particularly since you need to drag a whole other guy up it as you run.

[Social Climbing: 6]

And particularly since neither Deirdre nor Nately seem to have a similar problem as they climb on up, bits of the ruins collapsing in their wake as they balance along pieces of stray wall and other loose bits, getting all the way up to the wildly shaking castle wall, which seems sturdy enough to hold a little better than the rest of the structures, though now they seem to be facing the problem of how to get down the other side.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 19, 2016, 03:14:02 pm
"Yes. We get out of castle now. Wish to live long enough to reverse this. Extract retribution if necessary."

Accept help.

Mr. Wilde is eager to help, grabbing you by your gelatinous arm and dragging you with him all the way to the collapsing ruins of the minder tower, which he seems to have considerable trouble navigating while lugging you around at a pace that wouldn't get him buried as the rubble beneath him continues to cave in.

[A Pile Of Rocks: 1]

Speaking of, as Mr. Wilde starts to consider if climbing up this tower is a good idea at all, you notice that the nearby shrine has split in half right down the middle, and is starting to fall inward. Out of it seem to protrude very perceptible tendrils. They tickle your perceptions, coaxing out small pieces of experience as you stare on glassily. Cracks are spreading along the ground.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 19, 2016, 04:03:23 pm
"Oh wow. THIS WORLD SUCKS! NOT THAT MINE IS MUCH BETTER, BUT AT LEAST IT WASN'T WASTE PRODUCT OF... OF... OF WEIRD THINGS! BY THE WAY, THIS WILL END WITHIN A WEEK."

Idea of heroic sacrifice popped into my mind, but gonna ignore it now. It Ain't The End Of The World.

Actually...

Time to do the stupid.

Give the brass box to Lee. "YOU KNOW WHERE TO TAKE THIS, RIGHT? NOW I GOTTA GO AND FIX MY FUCK UPS. SEE YA LATER!" Leif gives Lee his most charming smile and runs back towards the seam. All the way back, slide in, jump in, down into depths. Take over the world!

You hand Lee the box! YOU KNOW WHERE TO TAKE THIS, RIGHT, you say, and she says ELIZABETH, so you say CLOSE ENOUGH and head out to enact THE BEST PLAN.

[Walking Toward The Explosion: 5]

You duck through pillars of white flame and bubbles of dire warning, navigate eddies of physics gone wrong and the storm of horrible dust, and as the booming noise of the canyon continuing to explode grows quieter and quieter, until finally it stops. When you are at the edge, all that you hear is a hum.

Beyond the precipice is an ancient sea, pieces of the canyon crumbling into it, floating as they slowly dissolve in unnatural currents of light and impossibility. It is blindingly bright, and seemingly infinite beneath you, contracting and expanding in explosions. You jump a little to the left as a large piece of canyon falls into it, slowly starting to float down, whirls of glittering smoke coming off the edges as they grind against matter that should not be.

It stands almost half a mile wide, this glimpse of the sea, and you think you see faint outlines of various figures in it, afterimages. A stork with wings spread. A sword tearing violently outward. A spear flying. Small meadows emerging from the soup, then melting away once more. A bubble of white floats up past your face, blossoming into a golden moth. Curious, shapeless currents turn to examine you, surrounded by waves of erupting divine fire.

[The Best Plan: 3]

You wonder if the mead is still working, or whether this is truly what it looks like.

Quote from: Toaster on September 19, 2016, 06:47:18 pm
"Is the castle on a faultline?  Are earthquakes normal around here?  I really don't know much about Australia; is it near the Pacific plate?  In any case, there's much to do in preparing a structure for earthquakes.  I don't really know the specifics; not many earthquakes in New York."

Discuss structural preparedness while the ground shakes.


((PS: No, Australia is not directly on the Pacific plate.  The border sort of follows New Guinea/New Zealand.  Today I learned.))

It is not, the guardswoman says, and they are most certainly not. Or at least she should hope they'd build the castles better if that were the case, she points at the currently buckling walls of the castle.

[Structural Preparedness: 3]

Hrm. Can't say she'll miss the place. Almost satisfying to see it fall to dust as a recompense for the past few months. She never could get used to staying in one place. Speaking of, how long is this earthquake going to take, do you think? She was rather looking forward to raiding that damn town. You think asking the commander would be a good idea?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 21, 2016, 03:56:26 pm
((I have two separate body counts?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 21, 2016, 08:38:30 pm
"Uh.  I've never been in one myself, but I do think this one is going on a bit long.  Surely it's wearing off.  Or maybe it's an aftershock.  Might as well ask her!"

Converse.  Be helpful.  Just generally observe, really; this isn't travelling weather.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 21, 2016, 11:26:46 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 21, 2016, 03:56:26 pm
((I have two separate body counts?))

Good catch! You now stand at 33.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 22, 2016, 12:19:58 am
angry

"You get the FUCK back into the shrine this is NOT the TIME"

Hopefully Wilde gets us out; if not, REND the nearest castle wall to bits to make an exit.

Necessary clarification: not the entire wall, just a section of it. Assist the demolition with floppy worm-arm punches if necessary.

Spew profanity.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 22, 2016, 02:03:49 am
"Hello there you weird thing. You are in need of guidance, right? Wanna see how viking handles things? Follow my example!"

Leading by example, Leif withdraws into his mental world, inviting the sea in. Repeatedly, if it doesn't catch my drift. There he shows aftermath of apocalypse, and how to rebuild broken anew. Especially gods like Hœnir. From memory of knowledge new beings imagined into existance. Recreate all Æsir and Vanir just to show it how it's done. Maybe it can follow my example. Bring my gods into reality.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 22, 2016, 07:02:38 am
"I'm starting to feel like I belong in neither world," I try to say. I then try breathing, and if that doesn't work, I try leaving.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 22, 2016, 02:04:37 pm
"You better not be talking to me."
Deep breath, run up the wall. We can make it! Then chuck Daniels off and use him as a crash mat.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 22, 2016, 04:14:27 pm
"Something else!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 23, 2016, 06:22:17 pm
Quote from: Toaster on September 21, 2016, 08:38:30 pm
"Uh.  I've never been in one myself, but I do think this one is going on a bit long.  Surely it's wearing off.  Or maybe it's an aftershock.  Might as well ask her!"

Converse.  Be helpful.  Just generally observe, really; this isn't travelling weather.

Should she? Probably should. She's getting a bit impatient, see. Been so long since she's moved around again, she says, then walks on the wobbling ground over to the commander, who seems to be watching out for other likely events today such as meteorites falling out of the sky or the clouds coming down as per their thousand-year-bargain of rains with the King In Green to harvest the unwary living.

[What's The Harm: 2]

After her question of whether this earthquake is going to be ending soon is met with one of the evilest glares you've ever seen the guardswoman returns dejected. She's getting antsy, could you-

Somebody calls out from the gathered crowd. Two people seem to be running this way from the castle. And one more threw some kind of weird wobbly thing off the castle wall and fell onto it. You can't quite see from behind all these people, but you assume it's not too outlandish a claim given what you've seen.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 22, 2016, 12:19:58 am
angry

"You get the FUCK back into the shrine this is NOT the TIME"

Hopefully Wilde gets us out; if not, REND the nearest castle wall to bits to make an exit.

Necessary clarification: not the entire wall, just a section of it. Assist the demolition with floppy worm-arm punches if necessary.

Spew profanity.

[Asking Nicely: 3]

The tendrils recoil at your words, seemingly more sensitive than you'd expect an eldritch hunger from beyond time and space to be. You are about to say yet more, but you are interrupted when Mr. Wilde uses you as a whiplike climbing tool in a way you can only describe as extremely unpleasant as you do your best to wrap your limbs around stray architecture as he drags his own, much less flexible carcass after you like some wanton explorer. Fortunately, it does not take all that long to ascent the impromptu tower-ramp, and you are slung at solid stone only about twice more before you're up.

You're about to wonder what the plan is to get down from here, but before you manage to ask Mr. Wilde tosses you right off the wall. Surprisingly it doesn't hurt all that much even when you bang your head against the dirt. You guess having no bones to break does have certain advantages.

No sooner than you think this, however, Mr. Wilde comes flying off the wall right onto you, and you discover exactly how it feels to be a cheap stretchy rubber toy in the hands of an all too cruel child as his weight causes your organs to momentarily find themselves in a much flatter and more spread out configuration, and you hear an involuntary squeak start to come from your mouth and not stop as you realize that this is a lot like the last time you were in this much pain, except this time it's gone from 0 to 100 in a fraction of a second.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 22, 2016, 02:03:49 am
"Hello there you weird thing. You are in need of guidance, right? Wanna see how viking handles things? Follow my example!"

Leading by example, Leif withdraws into his mental world, inviting the sea in. Repeatedly, if it doesn't catch my drift. There he shows aftermath of apocalypse, and how to rebuild broken anew. Especially gods like Hœnir. From memory of knowledge new beings imagined into existance. Recreate all Æsir and Vanir just to show it how it's done. Maybe it can follow my example. Bring my gods into reality.

You don't need to invite it in. Your thoughts reflect as bubbles rise to intercept them, eager to taste of your imagination.

[Finding Meaning: 1]

And what an imagination it is.

There were eddies underground that had never seen the sun, and you teach them from experience how it is that the gods party. Afterimages of the Stork Clan fly in on wings of light, not yet fully consumed in meaning as they start to circle you. Worlds swim like waves beneath as stories spill from you unbidden, of long wars of the past, of great men who outlasted them! The great tribes of the gods, and their even greater wars! Intrigue! Violence! Alcohol!

One story bleeds into another, and most bleed on their own - very literally, as words take shape even before they are spoken, and your thoughts form a feedback loop of free association, giants! Aesir and Vanir, Loki, great Loki! They dive out, and dive back in, their realms crashing in the raging sea. Your stories rise and swell, and take on life, and then take flight, figures in winged helms and tall snaking ships like angry dragons flying up and outward, trailed by giant half-formed shapes of primordial creation riding upon great glaciers of the closest that annihilating light can get to solid ice. You see Surtr's mirror image, glowing even brighter than the sword he was to wield! They rise and come forth, gods and enemies and whoever else, wolves and giants and ships made of toenails, all made of light, all leaving trails of luminescent bubbles forming into small glories seldom seen, each shape shifting as new stories nestle into it!

A whole five generations of the sort of fuckup that mythology invariably enshrines relish the chance to ride again - as they float into the air, their sins evaporate from their impermanent minds. To you they raise their pints of light, and they roar and sing with the rumbling earth - they shall fight and dance until the dawn and beyond, they swear as a terrible wind starts to rise!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 22, 2016, 07:02:38 am
"I'm starting to feel like I belong in neither world," I try to say. I then try breathing, and if that doesn't work, I try leaving.

[Taking In The Murk: 5]

It takes a certain abandon to even attempt to breathe water. Something inside your head reels at the mere thought. Rightfully so, you immediately figure as you let the water enter your nose. It feels thick, it burns your sinuses as algal toxins scour your insides. You double down, open your mouth and eyes, and start dragging more in, and vomit bits of air out of your lungs as you embrace drowning, abandon survival, finding yourself in an airless state where by all rights you should die. Your body tries to fight it, but the fisher holds you steady.

You feel it, the lightness, the closeness of death. It comes close, but does not quite cross the distance, lingering at the edge of your perception as your lungs fill completely with the disgusting water of the lake, your eyes bulging, waterlogged and stinging, the cold of the lake after a cool night reaching to your very bones. Your heartbeat slows so much as to be imperceptible, and you go still.

And yet you do not die, and you stay in the fisher's hands, breathing no longer, but not dead. Minutes pass, or possibly hours. Your consciousness does not fade, and your eyes begin to discern more as you face downward. You move your arms experimentally, and they respond - sluggishly at first, and without real feeling, but they move. Your skin has turned bluish from cold and lack of air. Your voice sounds a little strange when you speak, something having gone a little wrong in the vocal folds.

You live, mermaid. You belong on both sides after all. And in this, you belong to the border.

Quote from: TopHat on September 22, 2016, 02:04:37 pm
"You better not be talking to me."
Deep breath, run up the wall. We can make it! Then chuck Daniels off and use him as a crash mat.

[Spider Parkour: 5]

You decide upon the conscientious course of action, and instead of dragging Mr. Daniels around like an animal decide to wave him at a nearby elevated piece of debris in a one-handed giant swing. Taking your subtle hint, he wraps his sausage arms around it for dear life, and you utilize the man to make progress up to a steady piece of rubble. You repeat the process about two more times, Mr. Daniels groaning the whole way through as his jelly-like form is put through its paces, and eventually make it up to the wall. It has, much to your delight, failed to crumble! Thus far, anyway.

[Avenues of Escape: 4]

Both Nately and Deirdre have already made it down in a fit of unusual productivity, you notice as a parapet that she had wrapped a rope around crumbles away and falls to the ground, nearly squashing the nearby Nately. They look up at you. You look down at them, then at Mr. Daniels. This will require you to take your cooperation to the next level, you explain, and before he can ask what that might entail you toss him unceremoniously off the battlements, his boneless form impacting the shaking earth with a harmless flop.

Pleased at his excellent elasticity, you proceed to execute a leap from the battlements right atop the poor man, an unearthly squeak of agony issuing from his gaping mouth as you land on his rubbery, boneless torso and bounce right off with a timely roll, only to find Deirdre a good hundred meters away as she seems to have started sprinting away as soon as it became clear what you were doing, and even the normally much more robust Nately appears to have followed her shortly afterward.

You look at Mr. Daniels. He is still squeaking, though his pitch has lowered from nails on chalkboard to a more respectable busted accordion-like tone.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 23, 2016, 06:39:32 pm
"Hhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaateeeeee"

Recover from the pain of that the best I can and then try to stand up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 23, 2016, 08:40:39 pm
"Oh dear."

Watch for those four figures.  See if they know anything about what is going on.


((Harry, have I said your writing is great lately?  Because your writing is great.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 24, 2016, 01:32:19 am
Pints of light? I want those. Forget the world domination, it's party time after all.

Leif lifts his own imaginary pint for them. "LET THE GREATEST PARTY OF AGES BEGIN!"

Come forth, Ægir, and shine! Rise, o great Loki, and play! Blow your horn, Heimdallr, and begin the party earnest!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 24, 2016, 07:22:32 am
"So... what is this place exactly?" I look around a bit, but don't move far.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 24, 2016, 03:45:33 pm
"Sorry about that, but at least this way one of us can still walk properly. We'd look a real pair of fools if I'd avoided you and broken my legs on landing, wouldn't we?"
Follow Deirdre and Nately. Carry on helping Daniels along if he doesn't object.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 25, 2016, 05:46:40 am
Quote from: Xantalos on September 23, 2016, 06:39:32 pm
"Hhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaateeeeee"

Recover from the pain of that the best I can and then try to stand up.

[Agony Management: 2]

You never really bought into the idea that pain is an illusion, and it sure as hell doesn't seem that way now. But hey, you think you're kind of topped out on pain, which would be good if it didn't hurt so goddamn much. So it's with this in mind that you try to stand up, which seems like it's going to take a while before Mr. Wilde loses patience and picks you up in order to lug you over to the riverside, where a rope bridge has been taking several minutes to become increasingly rickety. At least he uses a fireman's carry this time, letting your noodle of a torso flap around his shoulders as he brings you out to a questionably stable rope bridge.

Quote from: Toaster on September 23, 2016, 08:40:39 pm
"Oh dear."

Watch for those four figures.  See if they know anything about what is going on.

[Navigating the Crowd: 4]

You push and perhaps slightly elbow your way through the crowd until whoever is standing in front of you is short enough for you to comfortably see over. In this case that would be the queen, who appears to have sat down in an effort to manage a rather terrible bout of motion sickness, a few servants (and the lord as well, but he hardly counts anyway) kneeling down in front of her and offering nauseatingly ineffective moral support in her time of need.

You look over this less than heartening scene to observe a young, wild-eyed lad cross the increasingly unsafe rope bridge, followed by the careful crossing of a young woman wearing the garb of a castle servant. They are received with lukewarm enthusiasm, apparently having little in the way of friends or relatives. A rather small, dwarfish fellow in particular asks rather intently whether they've seen his brother, but it appears they've had no such luck.

Meanwhile, the castle continues to crumble behind you, walls splitting and coming apart, the main keep collapsing in on itself.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 24, 2016, 01:32:19 am
Pints of light? I want those. Forget the world domination, it's party time after all.

Leif lifts his own imaginary pint for them. "LET THE GREATEST PARTY OF AGES BEGIN!"

Come forth, Ægir, and shine! Rise, o great Loki, and play! Blow your horn, Heimdallr, and begin the party earnest!

[Hitching A Ride: 1]

You seem to have a rather noticeable disadvantage compared to these specters conjured by mythology, which is that you, very noticeably unlike them, are still very much beholden to the laws of gravity. As their mighty ships cast off to the four winds, carrying raiding parties heralding the end of all things, they seem to rather forget this also, and after a solid fifteen minutes of you shouting for the bastards to wait up and take you along you're left all alone by the widening canyon, the quakes calming down as their violent elements spill out to perpetrate chaos in a much more direct fashion. Distant detonations of bright white start to kick up mushrooms of dust on both sides of the canyon, leaving you feeling a little left out here as the inspiration rolls away from this region and miles toward the east and west, their shapes becoming slowly unrecognizable as your imagination is relayed through an otherworldly game of Chinese whispers.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 24, 2016, 07:22:32 am
"So... what is this place exactly?" I look around a bit, but don't move far.

Here is where the other half lives, and light seldom enters. Would you like to look around? You certainly would.

It is still difficult to see anything, however, but the water does certainly feel like water even as your body becomes numb to the wet and cold. You briefly relearn how to swim as the fisher begins to take you a slight distance away from the water wall, god-rays filtering through the water as you turn to face the water line.

You notice that you still seem to float, the water trying to displace you to the surface, pushing you upward. You begin paddling as well, trying to keep yourself low as the fisher swims to shore in great strokes of her free arm. For most it is unwise to touch the surface, for air brings drowning if not approached carefully.

You land at the spot where you first saw the fisher in the reflection, your feet resting softly on the sludgy inverse-ground as the fisher orients you upside-down next to herself. It takes a moment to figure out how you're supposed to stand, your sense of balance trying to betray you at every turn, and eventually you manage to not float right into the sludge, which seems to support your weight, and also not sink into the depths which, now that you look up, don't actually have a bottom that you can see, even though your vision is very limited.

From here the water's surface looks a lot like it did from the other side, a dim reflection of the lake's own depths. Or is it? It seems oddly still, the motion of the water producing no distortion or change. You delicately maneuver with your arms to look behind you, where great towers of algae extend downward from the sludge and wave gently, their thick stem-like bodies leading you to confuse them for trees at first glance. You see a school of small fish streak rapidly underhead with a bubbling noise, the fisher readying her net briefly before realizing it's too late to catch any.

As your eyes adjust, stinging less with each minute as you lose feeling in them, you begin to see more. Deeper in, the algae grow into stranger shapes as less and less light grows available, their shapes decreasingly reflective of anything you remember from the surface.

Quote from: TopHat on September 24, 2016, 03:45:33 pm
"Sorry about that, but at least this way one of us can still walk properly. We'd look a real pair of fools if I'd avoided you and broken my legs on landing, wouldn't we?"
Follow Deirdre and Nately. Carry on helping Daniels along if he doesn't object.

Fortunately, Mr. Daniels offers little coherent resistance to your efforts to carry him out to relative safety, and you flop him across your shoulders like an oversized mink before getting straight out to what you're fairly sure is a rope bridge.

[Escape From Anglefork: 4]

Fortunately it appears to have held up - mostly, anyway. Deirdre seems to have let Nately take the initiative on crossing and, when he doesn't seem to have plummeted into the river as a result, proceeded to cross herself, stepping onto the shaking shore where a rather large crowd of castle residents and guards await. You wonder if this bridge is calibrated for the weight of both you and Mr. Daniels. Or, rather, whether it still would be as its foundations have become increasingly unsecured in the violent upheaval of the earth.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 25, 2016, 07:42:51 am
"They ditched me? I can't believe this! My own gods ditched me! My party... Well fuck it then, back to world domination."

As a son of vikings, I'm master seas and king of oceans, it is my birthright. Heed my call, ye who are broken, and calm thy tits!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 25, 2016, 08:01:40 am
Thomas called out to the recent crossers.  "Pardon me!  Do any of you know anything about earthquakes?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 25, 2016, 09:10:41 am
"Do you live in a town or city? Maybe down there?" I gesture towards the depths.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 25, 2016, 12:51:13 pm
"Just fucking fling me across, I'll live. Oh wait you're not strong like me. Never mind, I'll go across myself."

While I'm talking, try to snag that well containment thing he still has. If I succeed in that, fling it into the crowd on the other side, hopefully hard enough to break the container.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 25, 2016, 03:45:02 pm
"If you say so. We probably won't be seeing each other again, so best of luck out there. Cheerio, then!"
Drop Daniels and then try to catch up with Nately and Deirdre.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 25, 2016, 05:12:55 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 25, 2016, 07:42:51 am
"They ditched me? I can't believe this! My own gods ditched me! My party... Well fuck it then, back to world domination."

As a son of vikings, I'm master seas and king of oceans, it is my birthright. Heed my call, ye who are broken, and calm thy tits!

[Getting Your Sea Legs: 6]

Tired of shouting at the sky, you start shouting at the sea instead. You've got a lot of shouting in you, you discover. The sea, meanwhile, seems to have calmed down considerably after purging its most violent elements into the skies, and then back down to explode the earth violently for miles around. That is, until you shout it back to some measure of attention, at which point the earth noticeably sinks beneath your feet, a wave of chaotic wills crashing against it to bring you closer so that a better look and feel can be had of your ideas and intentions.

Quote from: Toaster on September 25, 2016, 08:01:40 am
Thomas called out to the recent crossers.  "Pardon me!  Do any of you know anything about earthquakes?"

The two look at you as you edge through the crowd to get closer.

[Forbidden Knowledge: 6]

WELL, the young lad starts to explain, as it happens, an earthquake is how the earth relieves stress! You see, a lot of stress builds up in the earth as a result of a variety of unnatural acts perpetrated upon the fabric of reality by mysterious entities from beyond time and space and-

No, the young lady says. No they do not.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 25, 2016, 09:10:41 am
"Do you live in a town or city? Maybe down there?" I gesture towards the depths.

The fisher looks downward. Would you think so? A town or city, down there? She remembers the brightest day she has ever seen, barely thirty thousand days ago. She would look down, and maybe there was a tower? She has never seen a tower, but if it were anything at all, it would likely be a tower.

And then there was the darkest of nights, some thirteen days in the past. Visitors came up, she heard. Reliable sorts. Would you believe? But what they wanted or ate, nobody found out. They did not speak anyone's language.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 25, 2016, 12:51:13 pm
"Just fucking fling me across, I'll live. Oh wait you're not strong like me. Never mind, I'll go across myself."

While I'm talking, try to snag that well containment thing he still has. If I succeed in that, fling it into the crowd on the other side, hopefully hard enough to break the container.

[The Logic of Space: 2]

You begin searching inside Mr. Wilde's clothing for a large egg covered in gold, disappearing into folds you decide not to question as your hands quest and search far and wide.

[Fast Fingers: 6 vs. 3]

You're about elbow deep in there before- aha! There it is! Your boneless fingers close around it. Now to retrieve it without him...!

[Shadow Thievery: 3 vs. 2]

As Mr. Wilde unceremoniously drops you on the ground, you flop on your stomach, having extracted the serpent's egg with an unsettling fleshy sound perfectly covered by the unsettling fleshy sound you make upon hitting the ground. Success! Now to execute your best idea yet!

[Olympic God Put: 2]

You stand up and then proceed to vastly overestimate the precision of your throwing arm as it whips and flops with the egg in hand, letting go at an inopportune time as you send it flying into the riverside sludge on the other side far to your left, where it lands softly enough to not suffer a single scratch in the process. Though it does start to gently roll toward the river as the earth continues to shake.

Quote from: TopHat on September 25, 2016, 03:45:02 pm
"If you say so. We probably won't be seeing each other again, so best of luck out there. Cheerio, then!"
Drop Daniels and then try to catch up with Nately and Deirdre.

You drop Daniels, his twisted and abused body making a terribly awful noise as you do it, and leave him to his own devices as you go toward the bridge.

[Astute As Always, Mr. Wilde: 3]

You are vaguely aware of Mr. Daniels emitting a rather terrible groan a few moments after you drop him, and you think you see something rather shiny flying over the river in the corner of your eye. And if you're not mistaken, that's definitely some kind of weird menace you feel in the air now. Huh.

Oh well, you suppose you'll worry about that after you cross the bridge, which proves eminently doable now that you're not particularly heavy and can concentrate on not falling off or stepping on anything that looks particularly precarious. You make it to the other side and see Nately and Deirdre making friends with Mr. Minstep. Or perhaps the other way around.

The shiny glint of something in the far distance catches your eye before you can join the conversation, though. It's a bit difficult to make out at this distance, though.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 25, 2016, 05:24:59 pm
Hey wait, I have Words for this.

REND that there container apart.

((I halp))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 25, 2016, 10:25:08 pm
"Ah.  Uh.  Well, this one seems to be rather unusually long, does it not?  It doesn't seem like the structure was built with earthquakes in mind, really.  Oh, I am Thomas Minstep!  I'm trying to get back to Albany.  The lord's mother said I could find an airport to get there to the north.  Er.  Where the metallic dragons land and take off, I believe?"

Talk to new friends while the world falls apart.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 27, 2016, 10:33:37 am
This is a very strange place. "You asked me if I wanted to observe. What is there here for me to observe?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 27, 2016, 12:54:15 pm
Strange, I should probably check that out. They seem to be fine with Mr. Minstep.
Have a closer look at the shiny thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 27, 2016, 03:28:15 pm
My ideas: Sublimate ocean's directionless chaos into more constructive form.
My intentions: Dominate the world as supreme being. And party hard.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 29, 2016, 03:34:37 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on September 25, 2016, 05:24:59 pm
Hey wait, I have Words for this.

REND that there container apart.

Helpful as always, you let it rip. Or more accurately, you let it

REND

[Word: 2]

And rend it does! About twenty feet to the left of your target, granted, but it rends! You really show that shoreline what for, you tell yourself what.

Quote from: Toaster on September 25, 2016, 10:25:08 pm
"Ah.  Uh.  Well, this one seems to be rather unusually long, does it not?  It doesn't seem like the structure was built with earthquakes in mind, really.  Oh, I am Thomas Minstep!  I'm trying to get back to Albany.  The lord's mother said I could find an airport to get there to the north.  Er.  Where the metallic dragons land and take off, I believe?"

Talk to new friends while the world falls apart.

[Being Friendly: 5]

She wouldn't know, she hasn't actually been in any earthquakes, the young lady says, looking back at the castle, now little more than a large pile of rubble. Sure picked a hell of a time to start quaking, though. Deirdre, by the way - she- wait, she says, you're one of them, aren't you? One of who, you logically ask. She looks at you, trying to think of a good description. You know, she decides on one at last, like Mr. Wilde. Not from here. So to speak.

Fruit of mysterious arcane powers, says the other guy! Made of a malleable substrate, able to assume forms and capabilities undreamed of by mere-

REND

-huh, the fellow turns around. That sounded like a Word! Fascinating!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 27, 2016, 10:33:37 am
This is a very strange place. "You asked me if I wanted to observe. What is there here for me to observe?"

Deeper in, things are different. There is much to see, more to feel. Would you like to head into the wilds? They are safe, as long as you do not swim too far down, or agitate the darker places. There are more puddles, more lakes. She has traveled among many. They are harder to reach through, however, so she does not fish there for the most part. Would you like to see?

Quote from: TopHat on September 27, 2016, 12:54:15 pm
Strange, I should probably check that out. They seem to be fine with Mr. Minstep.
Have a closer look at the shiny thing.

[Ooh, Shiny: 4]

There is something shiny in the sky, you notice, like little twinkling stars. Must be pretty bright to show up in daytime, you suppose. And, if you're not missing your mark, they're also coming closer. You wonder how far they are, because they sure seem to be moving pretty fast, a distant roar building up as the earthquake starts to weaken.

REND

You snap to attention as you notice a bit of the shoreline being rather brutally rent apart some distance ahead. Oh, and look, there's your precious well-egg! How'd it wind up there? Is Mr. Daniels being cheeky again?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 27, 2016, 03:28:15 pm
My ideas: Sublimate ocean's directionless chaos into more constructive form.
My intentions: Dominate the world as supreme being. And party hard.

[Fight The Ocean And You Will Drown: 4]

Forming something permanent or purposeful out of this complete mess would be like making a snowman out of radioactive waste - a noble effort at providing much-needed cheer, and pretty fun to attempt at that until your hair falls out and your face begins to melt.

[Touch of the Sea: 4]

Which does raise the question, should you really be breathing this? The sea-spray is making your lungs tickle more and more, and you can see episodes of your life as a miner flash on your skin as they play in fast-forward, leaving small pits of annihilated flesh when they disappear. Tingles a lot, actually. Plus the ground beneath your feet is crumbling a bit quickly, and there's quite possibly a whole infinity of terrible light beneath all that.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on September 29, 2016, 07:29:09 pm
"What?  Oh, yes, I am a visitor.  I came from Albany, actually.  New York, you know?  Was about to head off to go there when this mess started.  Oh dear, that'll be a mess to clean up.  Did Mr. Wilde come from New York as well?  Maybe the city?"

He just ignored the raving fellow.  Probably torn up over seeing his home crumble.

Ask silly questions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on September 29, 2016, 07:54:26 pm
FUCKING UNRELIABLE REALITY WARPING

MURDER-THOUGHT GO-GO CUT THAT CONTAINER OPEN
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on September 30, 2016, 11:25:40 am
"Incoming flying objects!"
Shout to warn everyone whilst running to grab the egg. And hopefully distract Daniels from whatever he's doing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on September 30, 2016, 03:30:36 pm
"Hey hey, not so close! We aren't married yet."

Miner's lung is a bad disease I don't plan catching.

Hmm, this control thing doesn't seem to be working very well. While I advance backwards I think what kind of guidance I can actually give this waste of aliens. And its relationship with the well. Both seem equally unreasonable.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 30, 2016, 04:30:19 pm
"Yes, that sounds great." I follow wherever she leads.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 01, 2016, 01:00:15 pm
Quote from: Toaster on September 29, 2016, 07:29:09 pm
"What?  Oh, yes, I am a visitor.  I came from Albany, actually.  New York, you know?  Was about to head off to go there when this mess started.  Oh dear, that'll be a mess to clean up.  Did Mr. Wilde come from New York as well?  Maybe the city?"

He just ignored the raving fellow.  Probably torn up over seeing his home crumble.

Ask silly questions.

That... doesn't sound familiar, sorry. She wouldn't know, but he sounds like he's from a different place than you are - different accent, y'see. Another country, maybe?

Oxford, raves the young blacksmith, he's a master from Oxford! That was the place! Deirdre stares at him, then at you. She's not heard of Oxford either, clearly.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 29, 2016, 07:54:26 pm
FUCKING UNRELIABLE REALITY WARPING

MURDER-THOUGHT GO-GO CUT THAT CONTAINER OPEN

[Acting With Initiative: 1 vs. 2]

By the time your murder-thought, confused with all this relatively undirected pain troubling you at all times, manages to try and get moving in the right direction, Mr. Wilde has unfortunately seized the container and secreted it away on his own person, your thoughts scratching at the ground where he stood as he goes to warn the others!

... for a moment you think he might be warning them about you, but then you notice distant bright lights, and slightly less distant bright explosions as the lights come closer. Uh.

Quote from: TopHat on September 30, 2016, 11:25:40 am
"Incoming flying objects!"
Shout to warn everyone whilst running to grab the egg. And hopefully distract Daniels from whatever he's doing.

[Acting With Initiative: 2 vs. 1]

You do manage to grab the egg, and your shouts fall upon rather ready ears, the guard commander turning to the horizon.

[Emergency Response: 1]

Well, she says to the approaching lights as the distant countryside starts to explode beneath them. Maybe today isn't going to be such a good day after all. The others also look up, the last time they've seen anything of the sort being... actually a couple of days ago, truth be told, but still it's pretty unusual.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on September 30, 2016, 03:30:36 pm
"Hey hey, not so close! We aren't married yet."

Miner's lung is a bad disease I don't plan catching.

Hmm, this control thing doesn't seem to be working very well. While I advance backwards I think what kind of guidance I can actually give this waste of aliens. And its relationship with the well. Both seem equally unreasonable.

Advancing backwards, that bravest of euphemisms.

[Pulled Up By The Bootstraps: 2]

You turn around and notice that the island of rock you've been standing on has been progressively sinking down and floating into the center of the canyon, having slid about thirty feet down and five feet off the edge. You suppose that explains the rising feeling of dread, then!

As for what guidance you can give, the answer is simple - very limited guidance. Compelling images and intriguing instructions to capture the limited imagination of the more sentient currents, with the understanding that it may be a matter of seconds or minutes before they lose interest and discorporate.

[Otherworldly Contemplation: 3]

As for the well, interesting question. The well is dark and wants to screw you over. The sea is light and wants to eat you. Could they be the logical opposites of each other?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 30, 2016, 04:30:19 pm
"Yes, that sounds great." I follow wherever she leads.

Stay close. It gets confusing in the dark.

[Where The Sun Don't Shine: 3]

You brush up against algal towers as you head deeper, balancing carefully to keep to an adequate clip as you practice your underwater kangaroo hops, getting to a decent pace as you trail behind the fisher, holding on to her back. Your sense of balance is trained slowly into walking upside down, and your movements grow more natural as you move through the other-swamp, passing banks rich in bony shells, the occasional tiny mollusc landing on your face and examining a patch of it with ticklish feelers before pronouncing it unfit for its eggs and moving along.

The algae die off rapidly at first as you move away from the light, the shapes touching you becoming more stunted and less recognizable, reactive stalks and tentacles touching you several times before retracting, a slight irritation persisting as you move along. Some hops disturb teeming hives of invertebrate bottom feeders, others land on the solid surface of a feeding clam or produce the unnerving squelch of a sponge. A whole unseen ecosystem writhes around you in passing, shrouded in dark and fed by detritus from a source that currently still eludes you.

Eventually the fisher leads you to what looks a lot like a small pond. At best large enough for three to lie in, it constitutes a small break in that a little light comes in through it, a dark and murky reflection forming on the surface.

[An Excellent Spot: 5]

The fisher becomes still suddenly. You are about to ask what the matter is, but she shushes you as well. Over there, her tentacled hand points. Do you see?

You look ahead, and you do notice something - a considerable shadow on the surface of the pond, continuous with a delicate underside and two upside-down paddling feet. Though... not actually upside-down, now that you think about it. The fisher prepares a net. Give her your blessings, mermaid. This may prove to be a good day for catching yet.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 01, 2016, 03:54:33 pm
"The well and the sea are two sides of same coin. And it sucks on both sides."

It's a fine day for stupid plans. INEVITABLE way to safe(r) ground.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 01, 2016, 04:24:00 pm
Oh my. This doesn't look good.
One REVELATION as to the nature of the UFOs, please. Daniels can wait.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 01, 2016, 05:51:32 pm
I'm not sure what's about to happen. I guess I'll just go with it.

"May your net swing true."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 01, 2016, 05:57:42 pm
"WILDE! SERIOUSLY! IF YOU'RE ABOUT TO DIE, BREAK IT! IT'LL SAVE YOU AND MYSELF!"

Well fine then, no easy way out I suppose. Stand up and make my way across there bridge before something else bad happens.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 01, 2016, 11:10:57 pm
"Ah!  An Englishman!  Yes, Oxford is quite the prestigious university!  Perhaps he would know more.  Ah, Mr. Wilde!  Perhaps you might know something of geology?  Why this earthquake is acting as it is?"

Ask.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 02, 2016, 08:34:24 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 01, 2016, 03:54:33 pm
"The well and the sea are two sides of same coin. And it sucks on both sides."

It's a fine day for stupid plans. INEVITABLE way to safe(r) ground.

Speaking of two sides of the same coin!

INEVITABLE

[Word: 6]

The world begins to skip and leap where it once ran, swaths of ground disappearing beneath your feet, waves rising, your mind forcing winding bridges, the sea twisting them - you loop above the abyss, dance around the edge, nearing safe ground, but the sea edges forward, and it too crumbles before you. For the sea will advance, but by that same measure you will learn to sail it.

You go on for a time, but the ground gets no closer. Other things do, however. Boulders fall into the sea, and plumes of imitation light-rock rise like great fangs, shrubs give rise to streaking rows of deforming flora, iterating into uselessness before crumbling. You move for a time and find Lee by the edge, in the middle of running away. You call out, and she turns. You, she says.

You left something of yours with her. A crucial element of your fate. You move closer, and the sea does not advance, and you clamber up a short stretch of cliff to take up position by her side. She looks on in puzzlement at you, then at the stretch of land behind you.

You look as well. A furrow one and a half miles in length stretches behind you, glowing brightly as pieces of your mind bubble out of it and crawl out onto the land, shouting imitation Words at anything nearby with no apparent effect.

You feel a pull from Lee - the path of least resistance lies to the north. It is where the box pulls in an otherworldly sense, and Lee's own more humble ambitions line up with it perfectly.

Quote from: TopHat on October 01, 2016, 04:24:00 pm
Oh my. This doesn't look good.
One REVELATION as to the nature of the UFOs, please. Daniels can wait.

If ever there was a time for revelation, an apocalypse would quite literally be it.

REVELATION

[Word: 6]

You breathe in the news, and look to the horizon. The lights in the sky, inspired to debauchery, are coming to annihilate-

Mr. Wilde! Perhaps you might know something of geology? Why this earthquake is acting as it is? Instinctively you turn and begin to explain.

It's really very simple, and you explain to him the full reasons. Not in your own words, mind you. The Word speaks very much for itself. As such, you do get a little lost midway through. Suffice to say, the reasons are gravely unnatural. Somebody seems to have done the exact worst possible thing at the worst possible time. Presumably an ill-informed attempt at mining with equipment far exceeding the permitted stresses on reality of a certain area.

Anyway, you turn back toward the sky, the lights in the sky... huh. They're close enough to start making out now. You see sails on one, and a writhing draconic shape beneath them, trailed by a large illuminated blob with a horned figure the height of four men holding its reins. Distorted laughter begins to make its way to your position as distant echoes.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 01, 2016, 05:51:32 pm
I'm not sure what's about to happen. I guess I'll just go with it.

"May your net swing true."

The fisher nods, and noiselessly swims closer, leaving you sitting in a patch of algae.

[Fisher's Hand: 1+1]

You look at the shape. Some kind of waterfowl. But... a bit too large to be a duck. The fisher prepares the net, then goes in for the catch. The bird spreads its wings as the net almost goes over, stopped before it is fully seized. And then the creature goes on the offensive!

[Defense of the Nest: 5+1 vs. 3]

Its elongated neck goes underwater, a powerful beak striking precisely into the shoulder of the fisher with a squelch that travels all too readily, the bird beginning to pull the fisher upward as she tries to resist. There is a splash as another bird of the same kind lands next to her and joins the battle, attacking the fisher in a similar fashion, well-conditioned for violence on both sides of the great divide. She cries for help as she thrashes with ferocity, her two assailants pulling her up with shocking, unerring strength.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 01, 2016, 05:57:42 pm
"WILDE! SERIOUSLY! IF YOU'RE ABOUT TO DIE, BREAK IT! IT'LL SAVE YOU AND MYSELF!"

Well fine then, no easy way out I suppose. Stand up and make my way across there bridge before something else bad happens.

[Doing the Shimmy: 4]

Fortunately, the earthquake is calming down as you head on over the bridge, undulating in a way that makes the crowd on the other side clear the way and keep a constant distance of at least ten paces. Such suspicion, really.

Rather unfortunately, something is definitely coming this way. The crowd looks in fatalistic wonder as the lights in the distance take the shapes of living ships full of laughing, jeering raiders. A fleet up in the sky - they've never seen the like. And maybe never will again, if the detonations accompanying their periodic landings are any indication.

REVELATION

Mr. Wilde seems to be trying to find out more, and the blacksmith, Deirdre and Mr. Minstep have joined him. Wonder if they've discovered anything, though.

Quote from: Toaster on October 01, 2016, 11:10:57 pm
"Ah!  An Englishman!  Yes, Oxford is quite the prestigious university!  Perhaps he would know more.  Ah, Mr. Wilde!  Perhaps you might know something of geology?  Why this earthquake is acting as it is?"

Ask.

You go on and ask him, trailed by Deirdre and also the young raving lad, and suddenly

REVELATION

[Filtering The Input: 4]

He opens his mouth, and you behold a rather large fault in the ground, sepia-toned to establish distance. A large nordic man twirls his incongruously waxed mustache, and proceeds to pour a barrel of glowing waste into an opening leading into the unseen depths, seeping down toward a pulsing point of weakness, where it proceeds to spread! A cartoon barometer goes up and pings, a stream of exclamation marks running across the image in looping patterns as the picture begins to shake violently.

This has been a public service announcement - be careful when pouring unusual substances into sensitive locations! We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from the extradimensional entity that made it!

Informative, you suppose as Mr. Wilde closes his mouth and turns back to the sky, examining what looks like a strangely animate set of airplanes coming this way, making quite a good deal of ruckus. An air show, perhaps?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 02, 2016, 09:13:11 am
((Whoopsie! Enjoy the ethreal viking raiding party, provided by yours truly. :D ))

I offer an explanation: "Magic."

Why is my mind all over the place? Get back in my head, please.

"To north we go. Straight like an arrow. The box is fine, I assume?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 02, 2016, 09:29:58 am
Thomas stands there with his mouth open for several moments, before distracted by the show coming in.  "Uhm.  Er.  Yes, air show!  My, this performance keeps one-upping itself, would you not agree?"

An ancestral memory tugged at his arm, and Thomas pulled out the sword.  "Isn't this quite the show?  Yes?"

Unsheathe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 02, 2016, 10:04:17 am
No!

I imagine a powerful current pulling her and the birds underwater, and shout "SEA."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 02, 2016, 02:11:15 pm
"So. In the wake of that. If. I. MAY."

Grab the container from Wilde and smash it on the ground.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 03, 2016, 01:30:37 pm
"Idiot."
Is there a forest or some other cover nearby (not the castle)? Because these people should be running towards it. Encourage them to do so. Oh, and ready the measure. Could work.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 04, 2016, 10:02:10 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 02, 2016, 09:13:11 am
I offer an explanation: "Magic."

Why is my mind all over the place? Get back in my head, please.

"To north we go. Straight like an arrow. The box is fine, I assume?"

[Riding the Waveform: 4]

There are no doubt many reasons she would refuse to come along, not least of all an ancestral well-founded fear of the unknown, or the increasingly dubious and destructive nature of your sorcery, or even the fact that you clearly know even less about where you're going than you initially appeared to.

However, what it comes down to is this - she needs to be on the other side. She is carrying the box. You also need to be on the other side. So whatever arguments are made, inevitably they crumble, and all that's left is you, forging ahead on your bridges of memory, trying to stuff these wayward recollections back into your brain on the way - no need, really, they disintegrate perfectly well on their own if not made particularly durable by a very understandable purpose. And behind you is Lee, carrying the box for safety, treading as lightly as possible on these constructs of imagination and suggestible matter, batting away the moths that keep accumulating on her dress with extreme caution.

And in not too long (or very long indeed, all you know is you're ultimately there) it is done, and you find yourself hopping off on the other side, giving Lee a hand as she jumps off after you, your last suggested platform turning to tumbling grapefruits that erupt into hissing scorpions, a solid mile and a half of bright canyon now opening up behind you as time reasserts itself properly.

Right, you say as you turn to Lee, and note her walking very rapidly northward. Better move quickly, she says. Put as much distance behind this as possible.

Quote from: Toaster on October 02, 2016, 09:29:58 am
Thomas stands there with his mouth open for several moments, before distracted by the show coming in.  "Uhm.  Er.  Yes, air show!  My, this performance keeps one-upping itself, would you not agree?"

An ancestral memory tugged at his arm, and Thomas pulled out the sword.  "Isn't this quite the show?  Yes?"

Unsheathe.

Somebody would agree, clearly. You don't quite see who, a bit absorbed at the moment. But you do draw your sword in its full length, pointing its blade up at the incoming airplanes. What shiny airplanes they are.

One would go so far as to say, in fact, that they are quite an interesting piece of material. Would you do one a favor and step closer? It looks like they are going for a buzz. Imagine if one could touch the bottom of the plane in passing - what a tale that would make, surely.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 02, 2016, 10:04:17 am
No!

I imagine a powerful current pulling her and the birds underwater, and shout "SEA."

You wonder if it works better from the inside.

SEA

[Word: 2]

The pond begins to wave and whirl as your Word resonates through it, the reflection distorting momentarily as the shapes of the swans become indistinct.

[The Sensation of Magic: 5]

There is a feeling that accompanies the deployment of a word, the feeling of meaning and purpose and subtle alteration (normally overshadowed by greater alterations yet to come) - simple enough for a human to explain away, or even ignore. But an animal, least of all a northern one, can ill afford not to fear such things, and both the swans, realizing in an instant that certain nesting spots probably aren't worth the bother of the water itself potentially betraying them, take off with a wild beating of wings, webbed feet tapping for an instant on the disturbed water's surface before they disappear into the swamp, presumably.

The fisher swims back to you in a lopsided manner, her shoulder considerably wounded by the vicious beaks of the swamp denizens - she swims to your side and floats up to the top, letting herself rest against it for now. Very close, she says. Would you believe? Two whole swans, about to make a nest. Very dangerous when approached alone. Many thanks for your help.

She straightens out. It is good to know for sure that you are a white mermaid, and that her good feeling did not lead her astray.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 02, 2016, 02:11:15 pm
"So. In the wake of that. If. I. MAY."

Grab the container from Wilde and smash it on the ground.

He's already put it away, which means you're gonna need to search. Sigh. You shimmy up to his back and lean forward!

[Excuse Me, Sir: 1 vs. 2]

You go up to Mr. Wilde and are about to plunge your hand into his back, but he just puts his hand on your face and pushes you backward, causing you to double over and nearly tie yourself into a knot before flopping down on your face. Seems he's not in the mood for this kind of supernatural fuckery. Got magic shit of his own to do, mate!

Speaking of, what's that Mr. Minstep's got? Looks... very abnormal. A sword, but also something else? It makes your eyes tingle just looking at it!

Quote from: TopHat on October 03, 2016, 01:30:37 pm
"Idiot."
Is there a forest or some other cover nearby (not the castle)? Because these people should be running towards it. Encourage them to do so. Oh, and ready the measure. Could work.

[Sage Words of Retreat: 3]

You advise this rather motley crowd of people to start evacuating, pointing to the approaching bits of exploding countryside as evidence that things are about to take a marked turn for the worst. This is in and of itself perfectly reasonable, and quite a few folks present start running down the road as soon as you suggest it. Quite a few more perceptive others, though, are looking at Mr. Minstep, who appears to have drawn his very familiar-looking gray sword as he looks up at the sky. That, says Nately, is the look of somebody about to make things happen! Surely it wouldn't be wise to miss that!

Fortunately, only a couple more people seem to feel the same way, and most of the others do begin moving toward Anglefork - maybe they can get some raiding done before the day is through, the commander suggests, and the royal guards, some of them ushering ahead the queen, a few others going off to scout for any potential resistance, most others filing out in an orderly and organized fashion, notably among them Deirdre herself, who feels it best to maybe watch from a distance, if not head for Anglefork entirely.

That just leaves you, Mr. Daniels, Nately, a tall woman arrayed much like a knight, the old captain of the guard and a few of his associates, including a fellow with a shaved head and a scarified eye in his forehead, Mr. Minstep, his rather unnerving sword, and right next to you a somewhat grubby, barefoot woman wearing a rather tastefully folded and pinned sheet much like an evening dress, a smaller and much lovelier young woman dressed considerably more modestly tugging on her hand as she urges her to come along more than a little drunkenly.

[Excuse Me, Sir: 2 vs. 1]

In any case after warding off a peculiarly amorous advance from Mr. Daniels by grabbing him by the face and pushing him handily onto the ground you step forward, roughly in line with Mr. Minstep and the armored woman by his side as you bring out the measure. You stare ahead at the approaching figures. One great boat tumbling and waving through the sky, descending closer like a plane about to crash, a giant on a glacier of light riding not far behind. There is little doubt they've seen you. They begin to charge from half a mile, soon to bear down upon you!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 04, 2016, 10:49:09 am
"Solid advice." One last glance at the canyon of bad ideas before following Lee's fine example.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 04, 2016, 11:17:38 am
"Fine, you did this to me you bear the consequences."

Clamber up onto the blacksmith's back and clamp my limbs onto his own. For instance, grab his hands from the back so I can crudely operate them, and approximate the same thing with my feet as best I can. He shall be my improvised puppet in the fact of what looks like this vaguely Nordic-themed extraterrestrial invasion.

Internally plot about stealing that sword to satisfy my budding kleptomania.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 05, 2016, 11:31:33 am
"What an interesting sword. Where did you get that?"
Let Minstep do his thing first. Wouldn't do to suck away that sword of his by accident, would it? Oh, and get ready to dive out of the way if necessary.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 05, 2016, 05:16:47 pm
"A what mermaid? And do you know where to find a healer? My magic doesn't help much with wounds."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 05, 2016, 08:16:33 pm
"This?  Oh, I won it as a prize in a fencing contest.  Quite fun, really!  It almost feels like it can touch the sky, now..."

Hold it up as suggested.  Just like the guys in high school slapping their hands on door overhangs and overhead signs and whatnot.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 06, 2016, 06:11:34 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 04, 2016, 10:49:09 am
"Solid advice." One last glance at the canyon of bad ideas before following Lee's fine example.

[Set The Course To Magnetic North: 6]

You start at a very respectable jog as the plains become increasingly blasted, large and faintly humming craters rising up from the land, filling with groundwater and memories like haunted fish, the countryside angling upward as the foothills of the Corner of the World begin in earnest.

After a mile or two both you and Lee slow your pace, and continue putting in some distance between yourselves and the lit up canyon, which faintly rumbles for some time as you head out, though the tremors have calmed down almost entirely. Some of the craters bubble up with spires of aerated minerals reminding you of one of those elementary chemistry experiments, and every now and then you pass an oak or two.

You manage four whole hours of travel, night falling shortly after you get clear of the canyon, before it becomes readily apparent that Lee is completely running on fumes, slowing down progressively over the course of the last hour, until finally she stops at the largest oak you've seen today for a five minute rest that turns into a fifteen minute slump, at the end of which she seems to have passed out, breathing slowly as she decides to rest her eyes for a moment or two.

Hm. Maybe you should build a fire or something. Night's a little cold, and more than a little dark, and no doubt exceptionally full of terrors.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 04, 2016, 11:17:38 am
"Fine, you did this to me you bear the consequences."

Clamber up onto the blacksmith's back and clamp my limbs onto his own. For instance, grab his hands from the back so I can crudely operate them, and approximate the same thing with my feet as best I can. He shall be my improvised puppet in the fact of what looks like this vaguely Nordic-themed extraterrestrial invasion.

Internally plot about stealing that sword to satisfy my budding kleptomania.

[The Weight of Consequence: 3 vs. 6]

You decide to try the blacksmith while those other guys deal with the incoming nuclear apocalypse, and slink toward the blacksmith, who notices your advances and rather politely refuses after Mr. Wilde's own example, putting his hand on your face and sending you rolling toward the riverside as your muscles twitch in horrible pain upon being accidentally folded in half, knotting up and loosening up like an earthworm having a seizure.

At about this point Mr. Minstep and his rather fascinating sword get punted into the sky by a rampaging light-giant riding a glacier, somewhat thinning the numbers of those present.

Quote from: TopHat on October 05, 2016, 11:31:33 am
"What an interesting sword. Where did you get that?"
Let Minstep do his thing first. Wouldn't do to suck away that sword of his by accident, would it? Oh, and get ready to dive out of the way if necessary.

Mr. Minstep manages to touch one of the incoming shapes, both of them clearly very intrigued by the properties of his sword - the first one buzzes him, getting a small screaming chunk taken out of it for its trouble. The second one, taking advantage of the distraction, bears down on him like you imagine a speeding glacier would, throwing him a solid 200 feet into the air on impact and making him land about half a mile down the road, clearly quite horrifically injured.

[Bad Luck At Pilot School: 1]

That done, you see the twin shapes bank around for another swoop, this time at the rest of you, seemingly very interested if all of you possess similar tricks. You see the knight ready her sword, clearly entirely unsure if it is likely to help, and the captain of the castle guard hums quietly at this development, seemingly rather unimpressed. Meanwhile, the lovely girl has taken off perpendicularly for the woods, leaving her sheet-clad friend staring with fascination at the skybound shapes, and Nately is currently busy being chosen as Mr. Daniels' next unfortunate target.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 05, 2016, 05:16:47 pm
"A what mermaid? And do you know where to find a healer? My magic doesn't help much with wounds."

A white mermaid - a good mermaid. Not one who eats people, but one who helps, yes? Would you not have heard of such a thing?

And fret not, the fisher says, poking at her wound, squeezing out a little bit of blue-black blood. This will heal on its own. Only need to give it time.

[Cabin In The Depths: 6]

Although, now that you mention it, she has not shown you the temple. Would you like to see? She is well enough to swim the distance.

Quote from: Toaster on October 05, 2016, 08:16:33 pm
"This?  Oh, I won it as a prize in a fencing contest.  Quite fun, really!  It almost feels like it can touch the sky, now..."

Hold it up as suggested.  Just like the guys in high school slapping their hands on door overhangs and overhead signs and whatnot.

[Kiss Your Fist And Touch The Sky: 2]

You extend your sword upward, reaching far as you walk closer, and the twisting, snakelike airplane comes closer, your challenge met with a valiant cry from its many pilots, and it flies lower, lower, lower... oh dear, too low?

[Too Late: 2 vs. 2]

Seeing it come very close indeed, you step to the side and duck, sword still out as a formless wing crosses over you, the blade scoring the faintest of touches on its glowing ribbed surface, the plane looking like something between a mythical snaking dragon and a longboat, fifty misshapen men yelling distorted encouragement from the deck.

[Call of the One: 6]

A small piece of the plane dislodges as it passes over you and back into the sky, a little chunk of light shrieking on your sword for a moment before it disappears within it with a noticeable sucking noise. You see the plane begin to bank, seemingly eager to reclaim the piece you just took.

Familiar material, one should say. But more would be useful to make a thorough analysis.

[It's Not Too Late: 6+1 vs. 1]

It's at about this moment that the second plane collides with you rather violently, sending you rocketing upward as it scoops you off your feet, and you sail in a 200-foot-tall arc as you take off and then land rather heavily upon the cobbled road, a good half of your bones shattering on impact as a boiling sensation spreads across your skin, little bubbles forming on your skin and lifting off, forming images of that one time this guy you don't know came into your office. First prize that month was a Cadillac Eldorado, second prize was a set of steak knives, and the third was that you were fired - you still keep your steak knives in a place of honor back home...

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 06, 2016, 11:25:16 am
((Oof. Has anyone ever lost 2 Wounds to a single attack before?))

Welp, nice try Minstep. My turn.
Wait for the UFOs to get into range, then take the Measure of them. They don't really look entirely alive, at least, and there's nothing else to do which could stop them.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 06, 2016, 11:27:40 am
Quote from: TopHat on October 06, 2016, 11:25:16 am
((Oof. Has anyone ever lost 2 Wounds to a single attack before?))

It's what happens when there's a difference of at least 4 between the rolls.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 06, 2016, 02:23:05 pm
Fire? With what? Hmh. Time to test minding again. APOCALYPSE seems possibly too dangerous this close to the Corner.

One ring of fire, please! Completely surrounding the oak safe distance away. Substituting reality with my own. Too bad I can't really tell if it is mere illusion in my head or real.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 06, 2016, 09:46:17 pm
((Ow))

Ugh.  Thomas wasn't sure what had just hit him, and he wasn't keen on finding out.  "No, no, I think that's quite enough for today.  I rather think I don't want that to happen again.


Quietly nope off into some cover, and maybe see about tending to injuries.  Mainly don't get hit again though.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 07, 2016, 01:07:24 am
angry

Attempt to pickpocket the well's vessel again. Two times a charm!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 07, 2016, 02:17:51 pm
"Yes, that sounds fascinating." I follow the fisher to the temple.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 07, 2016, 04:42:54 pm
Quote from: TopHat on October 06, 2016, 11:25:16 am
Welp, nice try Minstep. My turn.
Wait for the UFOs to get into range, then take the Measure of them. They don't really look entirely alive, at least, and there's nothing else to do which could stop them.

[Measure What Is Measurable: 2]

You break out the measure, and point it toward the incoming snaking longboat, noting how it seems to have a surprisingly inconsistent size as perspective seems to utterly fail to apply to it at times. The measure appears similarly confused, its presence bursting forward and meeting the thing mid-air, then abruptly returning as it starts to bear down on you, leaving you looking a little silly as you stand there holding a skull in the face of an oncoming ship attack.

[Deer In The Headlights: 3 vs. 3]

Fortunately, you do manage to get the hell out of the way mostly by virtue of a convenient Mr. Daniels coming over to steal your shit providing you with a handy face to kick off from, popping the cover back over the measure in a smooth motion as you roll out of the way, this round of supernatural jousting proving just as unsatisfying for the ghost ship as the last.

Although that's definitely a better fate than what happens to its friend, you notice as you continue to observe as Mr. Daniels mindstabs the incoming glacier seemingly more than half to death, the strange skybound object dragging along the ground for a moment longer in surprise and sudden weakness before the other armed psychopaths in the area decide to take the opportunity to finish the job with startling success.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 06, 2016, 02:23:05 pm
Fire? With what? Hmh. Time to test minding again. APOCALYPSE seems possibly too dangerous this close to the Corner.

One ring of fire, please! Completely surrounding the oak safe distance away. Substituting reality with my own. Too bad I can't really tell if it is mere illusion in my head or real.

That's... certainly a solution of some kind.

[The Mind Is A Burning Thing: 3]

Or so you'd assume. It's fairly easy to imagine yourself being surrounded by horrible fire, since you kind of were earlier today. You have a little more trouble with the notion of burning to death within it, which is a sensible assumption for what would happen if you stood inside a ring of fire encircling an oak, and so you consequently also have more than a bit of trouble warming yourself on it by that same measure. Needless to say, Lee, who can't even see any of this, seems unimpressed even while entirely asleep.

Quote from: Toaster on October 06, 2016, 09:46:17 pm
((Ow))

Ugh.  Thomas wasn't sure what had just hit him, and he wasn't keen on finding out.  "No, no, I think that's quite enough for today.  I rather think I don't want that to happen again.


Quietly nope off into some cover, and maybe see about tending to injuries.  Mainly don't get hit again though.

[Scurrying Like A Rat: 6]

You crawl away on all fours, going away from the sounds of kicking, stabbing and screaming, until you make it safely to a crevice slightly off the road, climbing blindly into the first shadowy hole that will take you. It's not too bad of a shadowy hole at that, and seems to go down pretty deep, though right now you can't say you feel like spelunking much, being a little more concerned about your bodily integrity presently.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 07, 2016, 01:07:24 am
angry

Attempt to pickpocket the well's vessel again. Two times a charm!

You guess it's technically the third time, and hey, both of Mr. Wilde's hands are busy so this really can't fail in the exact way it failed a few moments ago!

[EXCUSE ME SIR: 3 vs. 5]

And indeed it doesn't, as Mr. Wilde, perhaps panicking a little, kicks you square in the face as he uses you as a platform for his attempt to duck out of the way, a rather large ship of light going right past you as your head smacks against the guard as you literally fold in half this time, taking a moment to straighten out. A red mist begins to fall as you contemplate maiming someone to hold back your stress.

[You're In My Way, Sir: 2 vs. 5+1]

And at exactly this moment you are startled by the metallic buzz and discordant hollering of a giant glacier of solid light about to run you over and, not having any convenient faces to jump off of like your good friend over there, you go for the fight response instead, making up for your lack of bones with sheer ill intent as you send your murder-thought reflexively into the approaching form and sends black hairline cracks through it virulently as it slams into you like a gentle summer breeze, pieces of it flowing over you, reminding you of the hottest shower you've ever taken as steam rises off your naked body and the glacier reforms on the other side of you as if assembled by a blind man, limping in its trajectory, pieces dragging along the ground as it tries to take off.

[Moment of Truth: 3+1 vs. 6]

The Worm-knight chooses this moment to strike, surging forward with sword in hand, stabbing at the injured form of the sea-raider, only for it to find no purchase in the misty, indistinct shape as it counterattacks, a piece of it striking her square in the chest - she twitches as she falls backwards as if electrocuted, and you hear the sound of holy mantras fill the air as little wisps of light rise off her.

[Attack of Opportunity: 3+2 vs. 4]

No sooner does this happen than you see the turnkey move up from the back. He tilts his head, narrowing his eyes, looking carefully into the wounded form. You think he sees something as his eyes darken briefly, and he hurls his trusty knife right into the middle, and suddenly the whole thing shrieks powerfully, the nearby guard captain, having taken position up on a bluff, smiling gently as the dying fire glimmers in his eyes.

[Death of a Sea Beast: 5]

The nearly shattered thing lets out a poorly imitated scream and jitters wildly as its shattered form proceeds to liquefy around the turnkey's knife, its voice slowing and becoming more and more garbled as it melts into the ground. Rather peculiarly the knife hangs in the air for a good long while as the heart of the glacier and the giant upon it melt into a primordial soup that pours onto the ground, bubbling as it corrodes reality along the ground before dissipating entirely.

Oddly enough, the knife still hangs there even as the turnkey goes to get it, pulling it out of the air with a strange loud twang before putting it back in his sleeve where it belongs.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 07, 2016, 02:17:51 pm
"Yes, that sounds fascinating." I follow the fisher to the temple.

The fisher seems a little excited, though also still rather injured as she begins to swim out, not particularly needing to pause to let you keep up as her shoulder slows her down noticeably. You head into the dark, and she once again wraps her handlike tentacles around yours and pulls you deeper in, and you feel a passing urchin tickle your face slightly and tiny tentacles probing at bits of you as you twist and turn through the sessile jungle of the pitch black deep.

Eventually, though, you reach what feels like a passage, soft undulating life lining a passage made of spongy, yet rather sharp coral, the fisher pushing through membranous webs and veering along labyrinthine turns, until finally you come to what feels like a considerably larger chamber, and through the overgrown darkness you see a faint blue light.

This is the temple, the fisher says. Nobody comes here - good place to rest a while. Too small for dangerous fish, you see. No food here, though.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 07, 2016, 06:34:41 pm
Rest and recover; best way to ride out this storm.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 08, 2016, 02:36:14 am
"Pfffft."

Let's be traditional then. Dismiss that failure of imaginary fire and look around for something to burn. Stuff that isn't moldy or damp. Build a camp fire and set it on fire with... well I don't know. Go full caveman, maybe? I don't exacly want to give Lee a frisking to see if she got any firestarter kits.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 08, 2016, 05:10:12 am
Angry

"Wilde give me the egg right now"

Unless there are any more aberrations in reality making their way towards me (my current attitude towards them is summed up here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSe0NWzJDWE)), curl up into a ball and rest up a bit. Simmer my growing anger.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 08, 2016, 05:56:08 am
"Do other people come here?"

If the blue light has a perceptible source, I move towards it a little, but stay within conversation distance of the fisher. If I can't tell where the light is coming from, I search the area immediately around me to find out more about this place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 08, 2016, 03:00:59 pm
"Oh, yes, so you can open the magical thing which is supposed to be opened in a dark, secluded area near a human population in an open, light, currently busy area in a place it'll probably take a generation for lots of people to return to. Forgive me for failing to see the benefit of your plan."

Time to bail. There's nothing more I can do here and it looks like the others have the problem well in hand.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 09, 2016, 05:15:45 am
Quote from: Toaster on October 07, 2016, 06:34:41 pm
Rest and recover; best way to ride out this storm.

You curl up in the cramped and dark passage and try to nope the pain away. Your bones slowly settle into the places you remember them being in. Guess they weren't really broken after all, huh.

That was a nice effect, though. It really did feel like you flew into the sky for a bit there. You wonder how they did that. You didn't feel any lines, or really any other kind of interference.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 08, 2016, 02:36:14 am
"Pfffft."

Let's be traditional then. Dismiss that failure of imaginary fire and look around for something to burn. Stuff that isn't moldy or damp. Build a camp fire and set it on fire with... well I don't know. Go full caveman, maybe? I don't exacly want to give Lee a frisking to see if she got any firestarter kits.

[Art of Survival: 6]

You stack some branches and dry grass together in a vague campfire and stack some stones along the edges for a very much by-the-numbers Phase One of being a master survivalist. That leaves you with Phase Two, which is actually making the damn thing burn. You try for about half an hour with the old desert island trick of rubbing a small stick into some dry grass, but the damn thing refuses to light.

So what you do instead is grab a dry branch and head over to one of the more glowy nearby craters, and light the end of it in the water, then bring the white flame back to the campfire, whereupon you find it catches fire very readily. It's really quite warm, except when it's unusually cold. But hey, at least it shows funny images and faces in the flames, so at least you won't be dying of boredom while Lee has her nap.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 08, 2016, 05:10:12 am
Angry

"Wilde give me the egg right now"

Unless there are any more aberrations in reality making their way towards me (my current attitude towards them is summed up here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSe0NWzJDWE)), curl up into a ball and rest up a bit. Simmer my growing anger.

[Looking Elsewhere: 3]

The longboat in the sky snakes about, examining the situation on the ground for a short while as you look up at it. It seems to be weighing the options for a bit. On the one hand, what happened to its comrade seems to be pretty dang unfortunate.

On the other hand, if you're gonna die, why not die gloriously?

[Divebombing For Valhalla: 5 vs. 3+1]

The boat spirals through the air as it flies toward you, and you send your murder-thought forth to strike it, only for the thing to nimbly snake right out of the way. You swing the murder-thought back, but the boat executes a roll you can best describe as physically impossible, your sharp murderous intent scraping along its hull, leaving a small black mark. You roar and go for one more stab as it goes in for the low strike, and the boat abruptly splits into two on either side of you, its crew letting off a chorus of extremely pleased guffaws as they hang off the inside of the bisected hull, broad undulating swords drawn and swinging toward you like

Ninety nine blades exactly pass through your flesh, blood pouring out of you as each carves out a chunk of your flesh for itself, flowers of gore that explode into multicolored cinders blooming as your flesh dances upon their unnatural blades. You stumble and nearly fall as the ship starts to get back together on the other end, the crew raising their swords to the sky as they praise distorted versions of Norse gods for their immaculate success.

[Worm's Revenge: 6+1 vs. 5]

As the ship passes low, however, you see the Worm-knight, rising from the ground and running for another swing at things - she jumps at the front of the ship from a dead sprint, where on the bow a dragon's head roars along with the crew, faint otherworldly flames emanating from its throat, her sword going straight for the jugular and striking true, sawing into the side of the ship, a spray of arterial blood going out to the sky, droplets of blood elongating into elaborate tapeworm patterns as they arc and curl unnaturally. The dragon shrieks, letting off a gust of flame, and the Worm-knight does not finish the job before the crew stops their celebration and starts to descend toward her with otherworldly fury, at which point she lets go of the ship, hitting the ground at a roll as she flees the ship, blades flying her way as raiders hang off the hull, trying to reach her without stepping off the ship, the dragon starting to veer chaotically along the landscape as it tries to close its horrific wound and fails.

[Murder In Silence: 1+1 vs. 5]

At this point you notice the turnkey, who seems to have climbed atop the ship with the advantage of distraction, approaching the beating sails of the thrashing dragon for a moment before the crew, sensing his unsteady footsteps on the shivering deck, turn to him in unison and charge.

[The Joy of Annihilation: 2+2 vs. 3]

As he turns to go and dive off the ship, you see the captain of the castle guard beneath the ship, looking terribly satisfied as he plunges his sword experimentally into the keel of the dragon with a decisive thrust, then twists and holds still while kneeling. The dragon thrashes one way, opening up a large gash as its motions work against it, its actual weight horribly inconsistent with any laws of physics you are familiar with. His sword parts the keel as the dragon effectively disembowels itself, otherworldly treasures spilling out of its hold, unfamiliar objects and distressed raiders alike falling out of it and shattering against the ground with musical screams, and in the middle of them the turnkey also falls, now five bubbling scars richer for his failed sneak attack as he quickly recovers, shooting the elderly guard a meaningful and more than a little grateful look.

[Die Gloriously: 4]

The dragon tries to ascend up again and fails, falling down to the ground, a blazing trail of twitching, smoking grass left in its wake as it drags itself to face its opponents, ready for one last round of fighting before it dies as it inevitably should. It roars with the same voice as its crew, and you see fire building in its eyes as it pulls its carcass forcibly forwards.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 08, 2016, 05:56:08 am
"Do other people come here?"

If the blue light has a perceptible source, I move towards it a little, but stay within conversation distance of the fisher. If I can't tell where the light is coming from, I search the area immediately around me to find out more about this place.

Only rarely does someone arrive. Some are more different than others. She knows someone saw a person from the deep come here, but for what reason they could not say. Perhaps something on the other side.

As for the blue light, that is easy enough to go toward, and the fisher follows you as you head on, reaching what feel like stairs coated in slimy algae, your touch disturbing little hills on them that disgorge small swarms of scavenging crustaceans - they nip at you for a moment, but produce little more than a tiny burning sensation as you pass over them. You ponder whether you're really ascending or descending. Descending, you suppose, in relation to gravity. Though your brain seems to have adapted well to inverted subjective gravity.

Coming closer, you observe the bottom of the chamber, illuminated in a faint blue light, fauna and flora arranged in the shape of a long-forgotten mural of something you do not at all recognize. And then, once you reach the very top of the stairs, you see where the light was coming from.

It's a blue pillar of light let off from a single luminescent organ behind which it takes you alarmingly long to notice a large, stony mouth of an even larger petrified eyeless fish, and at its foot is a pool of water, well-lit in blue. On the other side you see its counterpart, an eternal flame, still operating unabated by some unknown mechanism, and little more beyond that.

She has always wondered what was on the other side, the fisher breaks the silence, the slight noise causing the jaws of the disguised fish twitch and nearly slam shut. She tried to check once. Was hard to see anything, and she ran out of breath.

Quote from: TopHat on October 08, 2016, 03:00:59 pm
"Oh, yes, so you can open the magical thing which is supposed to be opened in a dark, secluded area near a human population in an open, light, currently busy area in a place it'll probably take a generation for lots of people to return to. Forgive me for failing to see the benefit of your plan."

Time to bail. There's nothing more I can do here and it looks like the others have the problem well in hand.

You leave Mr. Daniels and friends to it as you run for the hills. They don't seem to mind much. Well, except Nately, who runs after you, simultaneously a little disappointed that you seem to be running away from this excellent adventure and more than a little relieved to be further away from Mr. Daniels.

[Sense of Excellent Direction: 4]

You run down the road and rendezvous with Deirdre, who seems very much sympathetic to the issue of running away, but also suggests that maybe a good direction to do that in would maybe be into the woods, at least for a bit. You'd be much more difficult to find in there, she's fairly sure.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 09, 2016, 05:54:49 am
((Whoah, what happened to my body count? It literally exploded.))

I stare at the fire for few minutes before adopting "warrior sage meditating by fire" pose and going back to my mental world. There I construct Bifröst which will be my point of entrance and exit between the two realms. Check in with Hœnir about that prophecy of his before I go cooking more fine mead in Hymir's cauldron.

"I'm pretty sure it wouldn't gone that way if you hadn't warned me in first place. Damn self-fulfilling prophecies."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 09, 2016, 06:11:08 am
((What do you mean by "the other side"? Do I see this flame through the fish's mouth?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 09, 2016, 06:22:19 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 09, 2016, 05:54:49 am
((Whoah, what happened to my body count? It literally exploded.))

A lot of other people did as well. I figure rather than keep a running count I just did a tally for the earthquake at the end of the day.

And that's not even counting what the Norse manifestations did, mind you.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 09, 2016, 06:11:08 am
((What do you mean by "the other side"? Do I see this flame through the fish's mouth?))

The fish is at the end of the chamber, and the sacred pool is right before it, as a clarification, the light of the fish and the eternal flame forming mutual overlapping reflections in the water line.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 09, 2016, 10:16:13 am
Thomas felt like he was missing part of the show, but he also felt like he'd hardly rested at all recently.  His body didn't really want to get up yet.

Rest.  Watchful waiting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 09, 2016, 10:42:36 am
((Ah, so I've reached another exit to the surface world. Weird upside-down physics are hard to visualize.))

"Hm, I could probably see what's over there, being a mermaid and all. But first I think I need rest. The other side can be very dangerous, and before I met you I ran into some trouble. Is there a place in the temple I could lay down for a little while?" If the fisher knows somewhere I can rest, I sleep there. If not, I lay down anywhere free of biting animals.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 09, 2016, 12:48:31 pm
Norse shit? This is because of someone from earth.

SOMEONE FUCKED UP

Lie on the ground and heal, plotting my inevitable and completely unnecessarily elaborate killing of whoever caused this.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 09, 2016, 01:00:26 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on October 09, 2016, 12:48:31 pm
SOMEONE FUCKED UP

(http://www.wingsunfurled-web.com/da/titi/images/titi-siffle-note-musique.jpg)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 09, 2016, 01:23:52 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 09, 2016, 01:00:26 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on October 09, 2016, 12:48:31 pm
SOMEONE FUCKED UP
(http://www.wingsunfurled-web.com/da/titi/images/titi-siffle-note-musique.jpg)
I've gotta sig this now, you realize.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 10, 2016, 01:01:00 pm
"That sounds good. In other news, I think I'll try to head for El; if they've already developed alchemy my knowledge will be of most use there. Any objections? Oh, and if either of you want to drop out now feel free to do so. I'm not exactly safe to be around."
Into the forest it is. Preferably in a Westerly direction.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 11, 2016, 03:14:39 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 09, 2016, 05:54:49 am
I stare at the fire for few minutes before adopting "warrior sage meditating by fire" pose and going back to my mental world. There I construct Bifröst which will be my point of entrance and exit between the two realms. Check in with Hœnir about that prophecy of his before I go cooking more fine mead in Hymir's cauldron.

"I'm pretty sure it wouldn't gone that way if you hadn't warned me in first place. Damn self-fulfilling prophecies."

You adopt your best "bearded shirtless dude passing out by a fire" pose and head straight into dreamland, this time in style as you ride a rainbow down to the scattered islands of bone-strewn earth in the vast oceans of alcoholic grapefruit. It is on one such island that Hœnir meets you - as was prophesied, it seems!

As he shakes his stick in greeting, you take a moment to offer some constructive criticism about his gift of prophecy. For instance, the way this one seemed to be mostly self-fulfilling. He shrugs in response. All good bits of prophecy are, aren't they? Actually, wait. Hold that thought. He holds up the stick.

[Prophetic Ponderings: 6]

Ha! Aha! Yeah, Hœnir says. Suffice it to say that your future probably includes a lot more in the way of explosions. Especially once you master the three magic words! Find out what makes men into houses, and you'll have the first!

Wait, you say, is this a prophecy or a quest, to which Hœnir asks if there's any real difference between the two. You'd fail either if you're shit enough at this, wouldn't you?

Quote from: Toaster on October 09, 2016, 10:16:13 am
Thomas felt like he was missing part of the show, but he also felt like he'd hardly rested at all recently.  His body didn't really want to get up yet.

Rest.  Watchful waiting.

You've never thought yourself much of a claustrophile, but you have to admit there's a certain inviting quality to being able to feel the limits of the space you're in. Well, except in the direction that leads deeper down. You're not sure how deep that goes, really. Or if anything lives down there.

[Curious Little Creatures: 2]

You're not sure what would be living in here if that were the case, though. The hole feels kind of man-sized. Or, now that you think about it, a little smaller than that. Or a lot smaller. Thinking about the question makes you weirdly uncomfortable for some reason.

[Hear the Soft Padding Feet: 4 vs. 4]

You also think something's approaching from deeper in, mostly by the sniffing noises that are slowly closing in. Oh dear. You hope you haven't disturbed anything.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 09, 2016, 10:42:36 am
"Hm, I could probably see what's over there, being a mermaid and all. But first I think I need rest. The other side can be very dangerous, and before I met you I ran into some trouble. Is there a place in the temple I could lay down for a little while?" If the fisher knows somewhere I can rest, I sleep there. If not, I lay down anywhere free of biting animals.

[Gimme Shelter: 5]

Oh, there is, the fisher says. Few things come here in general. But for when they do, it is best to find a place to hide. She ushers you off the steps and past a tall hedge of coral into the darker recesses of the chamber, where along the side the wall grows increasingly porous and organic, and a man-sized hole is found, lined with compacted, yet soft algae. The fisher sinks her arm into it briefly, clearing out an ornery lobster that's taken up residence within as well as pulling out a very much resisting squid, hurling it away as it starts to spray black ink in great spouting rivulets and menaces her briefly with a great many hooks.

In any case, for when safety is required, sleep here - there are several along the wall for when she has guests, and in each she has never heard of anyone finding trouble, provided you check it before your rest. Would you like to try?

Clearly you would, you think as you slip into the recessed little cubbyhole, and find it surprisingly snug and comfortable, the rhythmic waving of the algae lulling you into a surprisingly easy rest, a dreamless sleep coming and going as you close your eyes one moment and open them the rest, barely noticeable apart from the great sense of relief throughout your body and the vague sensation of time passing.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 09, 2016, 12:48:31 pm
Norse shit? This is because of someone from earth.

SOMEONE FUCKED UP

Lie on the ground and heal, plotting my inevitable and completely unnecessarily elaborate killing of whoever caused this.

You very deliberately sprawl on the ground with a displeasing wet flop, not so much resting as letting your thoughts of horrible vicious revenge upon any and all who inconvenience you age into a slightly more premeditated cold-blooded murder in the making.

[Not A Real Worm, But A Real Knight: 5 vs. 5]

Clashes of steel upon ineffable luminous mist accompany your rest as you stare into the sky, seething quietly.

[And Not A Word Was Spoken: 3+1 vs. 3]

Followed quickly by the unmistakable sound of a pitch-perfect shank to the eye of a dragon. And then seventeen more in similarly sensitive places from the sound of it. You hear a terrible death gurgle as the great beastly boat is presumably brought down in a team effort no doubt worthy of song and all that, and the fizzing noise of reality growing unstable as it falls limp and starts to dissolve onto the ground.

[The Dragonsong: 6]

But before that ceases, you hear a keening noise that, despite your best efforts to ignore it, sets your entire being on edge in a way you didn't think was entirely possible, a restlessness making you look in spite of yourself. The smiling captain of the guard, engaging in his solitary joy of watching things be annihilated. The turnkey, returning to his side. The Worm-knight, backing away cautiously. And the crew of the ship, gathered and singing as the melt and bubble away, safe in their knowledge that they have done as they should, and now know the fate they were promised.

[Listen, And Listen Well: 3]

Can the goddamn noise, you shake your floppy fist at the ship as you give it one last almost-voluntary stab with the murder-thought, cutting off a few of the voices as you separate their heads from their bodies, whereupon they explode into elaborate tableaus of people being flayed alive and lashed to trees. Sheesh, some people are trying to sleep here!

As you start to lie back down, you notice a rather grubby young woman draped in an artfully arranged bedsheet standing over you, glancing at the dying longboat dragon before turning her eyes to you. You exchange mutual dead-eyed stares before she smiles gently. Oh, don't mind her. She's just intrigued by the rather wretched state of your body. How on earth did you survive all that, if you don't mind her asking?

Quote from: TopHat on October 10, 2016, 01:01:00 pm
"That sounds good. In other news, I think I'll try to head for El; if they've already developed alchemy my knowledge will be of most use there. Any objections? Oh, and if either of you want to drop out now feel free to do so. I'm not exactly safe to be around."
Into the forest it is. Preferably in a Westerly direction.

Abandon you, Mr. Wilde? Nately shakes his head. You're the only one who can make sense of any of this! He could never forgive himself if he left you to find out all these answers by yourself!

[See You On The Flip Side: 1]

Deirdre looks at Nately, then at you as you begin to head for the river, which you presume you'll need to cross to head westward. As you stop on the shore a little ways away from the town of Anglefork, she looks out west. Yeah, she says, if it's all the same to you she might take you up on that offer, she says as Nately raises an eyebrow. She gets that overpowering feeling that going on a cross-country trip with you is only going to get her into yet more trouble.

So yeah, she shrugs. Guess this is where you part ways. For what it's worth, Mr. Wilde, you're probably the least insane of all these otherworldly guys, and even if you and her didn't really help each other that much in the end, it's been kind of a pleasure to hang around (when it wasn't completely goddamn terrifying). So all the best to you, and she'll try to make her own way. Maybe find herself some lunch first, though, she says, and turns to head toward Anglefork, where you see the rather large host of guards and servants, the former arrayed in fine arms and armor and the latter arrayed in whatever sharp and heavy things they could find, head into the town proper, meeting little in the way of immediate resistance.

Anyway, the river. At this point in the river there is only one crossing, but it does seem to be a bit of a wide one compared to its branches. On the other hand, the waters seem a mite calmer here than upstream, though not by much.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 11, 2016, 06:51:31 pm
"Spite."

C'mon lady, let me rest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 11, 2016, 07:00:33 pm
Thomas rather quickly decided it is best if he quit intruding on whatever fine upstanding creature lives in this hole.  He burst out as quickly as possible, thinking it time to see what he had missed.

Get out.  See what is generally up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 11, 2016, 07:46:39 pm
That was the best rest I've had in a while.

Anyway. Back to exploring. I make my way to the fish/fire area and see if I can stick my head through to the other side. I'm not sure how far through I have to be for gravity shenanigans to happen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 12, 2016, 04:23:26 am
"Well no, if it is self-fulfilling variety, I suppose they are same. Now it also starting to sound like a puzzle. Erm, men are houses when... they house something? Like disease perhaps? Or arrows. Or spirits. Or ghosts. Or eldritch horrors from beyond, you know that one? What a cheap bastard..."

Playing puzze games with Hœnir while making a big serving of mead for upcoming party in my world.

((Doesn't wandering in my mindscape mean that my body is resting?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 12, 2016, 12:01:12 pm
Well, best of luck to you.

Anyway, treacherous river crossing + rope = slightly safer river crossing. I think. Not really sure how to do this, but I'm sure Nately and I can figure something out.
((I'll be off till Monday I'm afraid, sorry about that. Plan is basically to begin the trek to El, examine anything interesting along the way, and probably regret not getting that map off of Deirdre. Just risk it on the river front if the rope stuff falls through.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 13, 2016, 12:36:51 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on October 11, 2016, 06:51:31 pm
"Spite."

C'mon lady, let me rest.

She does let you rest, oohing at your answer. Spite. She has heard of such things, but mostly from very unreliable sources. Wonderful.

The rest of her contemplation, fortunately, is rather quiet as you lay there on the ground, staring up at the sky, the sound of pretty much everyone except your new admirer leaving giving way to mostly silence, most natural creatures still too busy hiding for dear life to bother making noise.

Quote from: Toaster on October 11, 2016, 07:00:33 pm
Thomas rather quickly decided it is best if he quit intruding on whatever fine upstanding creature lives in this hole.  He burst out as quickly as possible, thinking it time to see what he had missed.

Get out.  See what is generally up.

[Back Out The Rabbit Hole: 3]

You start to slowly wiggle back out, inching along like a middle-aged caterpillar as you attempt to extricate yourself. You get about halfway out before you realize that your shoulders, while they seem to have fit on the way in, do not seem to be experiencing quite as much luck on the way back out.

[Get Off My Property: 2]

And no sooner than you think this than a miniscule, yet incredibly savage growl emanates from down the dark tunnel as something deeper within appears to disapprove of your choice of hiding place.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 11, 2016, 07:46:39 pm
That was the best rest I've had in a while.

Anyway. Back to exploring. I make my way to the fish/fire area and see if I can stick my head through to the other side. I'm not sure how far through I have to be for gravity shenanigans to happen.

You swim back over to the pool, looking squarely at the snapping fish for a moment to make sure it doesn't try anything before you put your head into the pool of water, and emerge with little issue on the other side. Rather surprisingly, no change in gravity occurs. This seems to have been a property of the strange beaver dam house rather than the water line. Similarly, gravity still points the right way just as it did underwater.

It's a little weird to look at the chamber on the other side - it seems to benefit little from having an actual flame within it. In fact, it looks considerably darker if anything, the walls hardly visible at all, the ceiling mural almost completely dark, its peeling paints bearing more than a passing resemblance to a humanoid figure of some kind, though much more than that you cannot say, its full form lost to time and tide.

Something feels odd, and you realize it's the way you're still not breathing. You open your mouth and a little water pours out, a small sampling of the much larger quantity sitting in your lungs presently. Somehow the lack of oxygen still fails to catch up with you, though. Perhaps it's best not to question it.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 12, 2016, 04:23:26 am
"Well no, if it is self-fulfilling variety, I suppose they are same. Now it also starting to sound like a puzzle. Erm, men are houses when... they house something? Like disease perhaps? Or arrows. Or spirits. Or ghosts. Or eldritch horrors from beyond, you know that one? What a cheap bastard..."

Playing puzze games with Hœnir while making a big serving of mead for upcoming party in my world.

((Doesn't wandering in my mindscape mean that my body is resting?))

Hey now, Hœnir says, no trying to preempt the prophecy. You gotta find this one out there somewhere. Presumably it'll even pay off! The last clue did, right?

Of course, not like what Hœnir thinks stops you from trying anyway, and you spend some time brewing up a nice little lake of mead within Hymir's cauldron making educated guesses as he hangs around and chuckles enigmatically, tapping his stick against the ground every now and then.

[Mead of Heavens: 3]

Though you seemingly get no closer to a proper solution, at least the mead comes along somewhat smoothly. You gotta say, though, mass production doesn't seem to do it too many favors. Hopefully it'll get the rest of your figments drunk enough that they won't mind, though.

Quote from: TopHat on October 12, 2016, 12:01:12 pm
Well, best of luck to you.

Anyway, treacherous river crossing + rope = slightly safer river crossing. I think. Not really sure how to do this, but I'm sure Nately and I can figure something out.
((I'll be off till Monday I'm afraid, sorry about that. Plan is basically to begin the trek to El, examine anything interesting along the way, and probably regret not getting that map off of Deirdre. Just risk it on the river front if the rope stuff falls through.))

Ah yes, the river. You do believe there should be a way. And Nately seems to feel the same way, though neither of you have a terribly excellent idea of what that might be. Or do you?

[Brilliant Ideas: 3]

... no, you mostly don't, you have to admit. You guess you'll have to make up the difference with otherworldly durability and persistence, then. You roll up your sleeves and prepare to get down to business.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 13, 2016, 02:06:36 pm
Rest for a little while longer. Vengance can wait a few moments.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 14, 2016, 03:19:27 pm
If quality doesn't get them drunk, then quantity will.

"Last clue? The part where you suggest me being shit in this or the part where I get paid? Are you referring to that grave and the box?"

"Alright folks, beer is here! Let's start this party!"

I declare first party of the new age open for all participants! Beer and mead is widely avaible for everyone!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 14, 2016, 03:24:24 pm
Thomas did the only sane and rational thing to do in this circumstance; panic.

Start rather pointedly thrashing around in an attempt to get out.  Blind panic will carry the day!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 14, 2016, 06:38:24 pm
Hm, I don't need to eat or breathe? I wonder what else is optional now.

Anyway, I leave the water and start moving along the wall, looking for exits or anything interesting. I stop if I hear anything strange. Hey, not breathing should make me a bit quieter.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 17, 2016, 12:05:16 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on October 13, 2016, 02:06:36 pm
Rest for a little while longer. Vengance can wait a few moments.

You lay there peacefully as a strange woman continues to watch you intently, walking around you to get multiple angles on your mutilated body without disturbing your rest.

[Thoughts On Roadkill: 3]

Odd, she says after a while. You look like you are healing slowly, but there is little to no actual change in the look of your body. Is it merely a matter of regaining your strength?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 14, 2016, 03:19:27 pm
If quality doesn't get them drunk, then quantity will.

"Last clue? The part where you suggest me being shit in this or the part where I get paid? Are you referring to that grave and the box?"

"Alright folks, beer is here! Let's start this party!"

I declare first party of the new age open for all participants! Beer and mead is widely avaible for everyone!

Hœnir is about to commit to an answer before deciding that nah, that'd be telling! Better to let you proceed in uncertainty. It'll make the reveal that much more worth it. Or will it? Ooooh, he wiggles his fingers mystically as he frolics along and puts his stick to his ear, disappearing from sight in short order.

Fine, you guess, be that way! You've got a party to run, with enough mead for everyone. Needless to say, the smell has attracted a great number of gods already, and they take turns holding each other by the ankles and submerging them in the vat of mead until the mead level in it has noticeably decreased.

It is, of course, more of a party in the Russian tradition rather than Norse, which is to say that a bunch of people get together to somewhat quietly and quasi-privately get shitfaced at someone else's expense. Or maybe this is just how the party starts?

Quote from: Toaster on October 14, 2016, 03:24:24 pm
Thomas did the only sane and rational thing to do in this circumstance; panic.

Start rather pointedly thrashing around in an attempt to get out.  Blind panic will carry the day!

[Get Loose: 4]

You start to thrash wildly, trying to get free - you're not sure if it helps with the getting out as such, necessarily, but you do hear the growls from within get slightly confused, then fearful as you make noises the resident hasn't heard human beings make very often.

Somewhere along the way trial and error begins to work in your favor, and after orienting your shoulders in a way that after the fact occurs to you as somewhat highly improbable you manage to pop free of the hole, rolling out and, taking a little time to properly compose yourself, standing tall and proud.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 14, 2016, 06:38:24 pm
Hm, I don't need to eat or breathe? I wonder what else is optional now.

Anyway, I leave the water and start moving along the wall, looking for exits or anything interesting. I stop if I hear anything strange. Hey, not breathing should make me a bit quieter.

You emerge into the chamber, taking a moment to get used to walking on land, your sense of gravity slightly off as you begin to look around.

[Legends of the Hidden Temple: 1]

You go toward the eternal flame, your feet leaving wet footprints on the damp stone, and touch the wall behind it, and drag your hand along it as you head into darkness.

Now, the first thing that happens is you trip, and fall a considerable distance off the central dais as you fail to register where the drop is, the chamber far too dark to see even that much. You land wetly on the floor below, not hard enough to really hurt yourself but enough that it really smarts for a few moments.

As you get up, though, you realize you can't see anything. Not yourself, not the flame, not anything. Your surroundings feel dark and airless and deathly silent, and even the feeling of stone beneath your feet is distant and slightly unreal.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 17, 2016, 01:37:35 pm
Can't blame the man for adopting some russian party practices. Drop some long ladders into the cauldron and enjoy the fruits of my labor.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 17, 2016, 02:30:16 pm
Across the river we go (went?) then.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 17, 2016, 02:43:30 pm
"...kinda? Look, if you're gonna ask me questions, do me a favor: look about and tell me if you see a ... well, since you wouldn't know who they are, a crazy-looking kid and someone like me. Are they anywhere nearby?"

Resting resting 1 2 3
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 17, 2016, 05:41:08 pm
Crap. Uh. Why isn't there water here?

I reach around for the central dais. If I find it I start circling it to look for a way up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 17, 2016, 11:57:46 pm
Right, much better.  Now... where were we?  Thomas wondered if he had missed the show.

Assess situation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 19, 2016, 02:35:50 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 17, 2016, 01:37:35 pm
Can't blame the man for adopting some russian party practices. Drop some long ladders into the cauldron and enjoy the fruits of my labor.

And then they drink and drink and drink, and then they drink some more! Quantity over quality is the word of the day, and though it takes more effort than usual, everyone gets where they want to be, which is to say passed out face down on an open field, their trousers having gone missing.

You behold this battlefield of wasted gods, and declare yourself the winner of the day by default.

Quote from: TopHat on October 17, 2016, 02:30:16 pm
Across the river we go (went?) then.

[I Came, I Saw, I Went: 1]

Well, you tried at least. It didn't quite work out. Turns out the river's a bit faster than you bargained for. And also far more turbulent. Perhaps looking for a boat would have been more prudent, you think as the stream pulls you under during another unpredictable turn, a confused and drowning Nately kicking at the water in your wake as the raging river carries you onward.

[I Hear A Voice Calling: 4]

You do make sure to hold your breath at the appropriate moments, which does protect you from drowning as long as you manage to rise back up to the top, which you almost invariably do. You have, however, migrated to the center of the river in your efforts, and are just about to unceremoniously enter the rather noticeably ruined town of Anglefork.

[A Blacksmith's Destiny: 2]

Nately, meanwhile, seems to be having a lot more trouble staying, in order and consequentially, afloat, oxygenated and alive. Maybe you should help him with that. Guess he's not a terribly confident swimmer at the best of times.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 17, 2016, 02:43:30 pm
"...kinda? Look, if you're gonna ask me questions, do me a favor: look about and tell me if you see a ... well, since you wouldn't know who they are, a crazy-looking kid and someone like me. Are they anywhere nearby?"

Resting resting 1 2 3

[I Do Not Know This Man: 1]

There unfortunately don't seem to be any boneless naked worm people in the area trailed by solidified murderous thoughts, the woman mentions after a careful look around. As for the crazy-looking kid, she ran off into the woods to the east. What a strange direction to go in. Doesn't she know about the night creatures? It's almost like they never taught her about the eastern uprisings of the Interregnum, and she is almost perfectly certain she mentioned those in her own lectures on the subject.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 17, 2016, 05:41:08 pm
Crap. Uh. Why isn't there water here?

I reach around for the central dais. If I find it I start circling it to look for a way up.

It'd stand to reason that there wouldn't be any - the pool of water seems very much artificial. Perhaps it served a ritual purpose. Of course, that's not quite as much your concern as getting back up to it.

[Fumbling In The Dark: 6]

You feel around, but find no sign of the dais. What little you do manage to feel just points to a great deal of floor. You feel for the wall, but that seems gone as well. Where have you found yourself? How far did you fall? Not very far, you should think. But somehow everything seems to have profoundly changed during your fall, and you almost immediately would begin to suspect you've turned around somewhere if it weren't for the obvious fact that the chamber can't possibly be as large as the distance you try to go every which way.

However, with time your eyes begin to adapt. It slightly hurts to look out into the dark now as it shifts around you, breathing softly, mocking you with its inscrutability as darker shapes snake through it, leaving traces of oblivion in the overall sightless dark. You follow one such trail, tracing a finger over absolute nothingness briefly as you head in the direction that it leads. What such exploration avails you is larger splotches of the same, little holes in the dark, some on the ground, some at eye level, some far too high for you to reach. All of them, however, seem to very much exert a certain voiceless pull on you. Alien to your sensibilities, perhaps, but familiar in spirit.

Quote from: Toaster on October 17, 2016, 11:57:46 pm
Right, much better.  Now... where were we?  Thomas wondered if he had missed the show.

Assess situation.

Right, so you're out here, on the road. The earthquakes and storms appear to have calmed down, and most of the people about have left with very little ceremony, which you suppose is perfectly fine. You walk around a little, hoping to catch sight of anybody who might be able to explain to you what's happening.

[Do You Know The Way To The Airport: 4]

You're about to head north, but you notice that the good doctor appears to be standing next to a Mr. Daniels in repose. Neither of them seem like they'd be helpful, so you head southward, where you notice two things. First of all, in the distance the residents of the castle seem to be heading through the town, encountering little to no resistance to their armed column of royal guards, castle guards, one knight, two and two thirds of a minder and a whole lot of really hungry people with sticks and sharp objects. And then in the river you see Mr. Daniels and one of the several youths you've seen following his example. Both of them appear to have fallen in the river, but the youth is having an unquestionably worse time of staying afloat and breathing, shrieking for help as he kicks and flails in the water helplessly. Oh dear. Perhaps it'd be a good idea to help him.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 19, 2016, 02:41:05 pm
"No, I meant - never mind, I'll have to find them on my own I guess. Do you know which direction El is in? Or where the rest of those fuckers people from the castle went? I remember there were a bunch of them."

Stand up. Use the lady as assistance.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 19, 2016, 03:07:51 pm
"Do you two need assistance?"

Offer help.  Not the jump in and save them kind, but the hold a big stick out for them kind.  Or throw a rope if there's one around.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 20, 2016, 02:52:22 am
Wasteland of wasted gods, it's a great day to be the winner. Enjoy some of the finest grapefruits and ponder nature of spontaneous materialization.
Oh, can I open window to see into the boring reality while still chilling in my mindscape? Actually, if I can, why not make it outdoors drive-in movie theater so everybody can enjoy show from other realm. And a microphone stand so my gods can offer their advice directly into my ears while I'm out there in the other reality. Hœnir can then throw out his puzzles and prophecies all the time without having to wait for me come back in.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 20, 2016, 06:13:53 am
"What does it look like?"

Grab Nately with one hand and whatever Mr. Minstep offers with the other.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 20, 2016, 09:56:55 pm
Hey, wander around in pitch blackness enough and you'll get better at it.

I follow the highest splotches that I can get to.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 21, 2016, 05:13:56 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on October 19, 2016, 02:41:05 pm
"No, I meant - never mind, I'll have to find them on my own I guess. Do you know which direction El is in? Or where the rest of those fuckers people from the castle went? I remember there were a bunch of them."

Stand up. Use the lady as assistance.

What sort of fool does not know where El is, the grubby woman says dismissively as she pulls you to your feet, holding with the other on to her sheet for modesty. Westward. Just past the end of the rainbow, if you are the sort to enjoy a walk of one hundred and seventy two miles through the untamed and mostly uninhabited borderlands where the unintegrated may run free. That would take you to the northeastern border. Then, if you are of a mind to proceed, roughly eighty more miles southwest will take you to the hilltops in the heartland, where the great promontories no doubt still stand unless the overall chaos has claimed them as well.

As for where all others went, southward, less than a mile. They would loot Anglefork before proceeding north if she understands correctly. To find the King, she suspects. Or a suitable proxy. The sense of being Ordered seems to have been very carefully crushed out of both the court, the remnants of the army and even the stunted few minders. A fascinating turn to be sure, one almost certainly lacking non-Imaginary precedent. Don't you agree?

Quote from: Toaster on October 19, 2016, 03:07:51 pm
"Do you two need assistance?"

Offer help.  Not the jump in and save them kind, but the hold a big stick out for them kind.  Or throw a rope if there's one around.

[Lucky Debris: 4]

You do manage to find a very convenient and rather enormous stick. Really, it's more of a whole tree branch - seems to have fallen off in the ruckus with the earthquakes and such. So you go and try to help out Mr. Wilde with it as he makes his immense desire for help clear. So you run a little ways down the river as he maneuvers along the stream, and eventually manage to fish him and his poor, half-drowned companion out of the water. Really, you'd think they would know better. Lucky you came along. Somebody could have drowned, for goodness' sake!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 20, 2016, 02:52:22 am
Wasteland of wasted gods, it's a great day to be the winner. Enjoy some of the finest grapefruits and ponder nature of spontaneous materialization.
Oh, can I open window to see into the boring reality while still chilling in my mindscape? Actually, if I can, why not make it outdoors drive-in movie theater so everybody can enjoy show from other realm. And a microphone stand so my gods can offer their advice directly into my ears while I'm out there in the other reality. Hœnir can then throw out his puzzles and prophecies all the time without having to wait for me come back in.

[Tricks of the Mind: 4]

Spontaneous materialization is a top-tier trick, you begin to suspect after contemplating the deeper mysteries of minding for a little while. The difference between imagination and reality, after all, is that at least two people can agree on the latter.

[Peering Without: 4]

As for a window out of your mindscape, that is certainly within your ability. Or, rather, it is trivial for you to look outside of your mindscape, and equally trivial to keep your mindscape's gods very well informed of your antics in the wider world. These things tend to be a little abstracted in circumstances such as these. As for letting your gods get a direct line to your skull, that seems equally possible. So you make sure to add that to your mindscape in case one of these figments really wants to tell you something horribly important, and begin peering outside.

[A Less Eventful Place: 3]

You see yourself by the fire in a weird kind of out-of-body experience. And boy, is the fire looking weird as hell, swaying around drunkenly as licks of white flame laden with apocalyptic images stream from it. It seems to be trying to sing a song in its own distorted, haunting crackle as it's burning through the last bits of fuel.

Lee, for her part, is still sound asleep, her alert sleep cycle seemingly having given out under travel exhaustion, and you see her still curled up by the oak in a position that you can't help but feel is more comfortable than yours when you realize that one of your legs has fallen asleep from your manful meditation. All in all, not at all much is happening near as you can tell.

Quote from: TopHat on October 20, 2016, 06:13:53 am
"What does it look like?"

Grab Nately with one hand and whatever Mr. Minstep offers with the other.

[A Job For Many Hands: 5]

Nately offers token resistance as you seize him and order him to stop drowning immediately, which he does. That done, you swim desperately to shore against the stream, and make slow, but steady progress, although Mr. Minstep has to follow you with his rather large stick for quite a ways down the shore before you quite manage to grab it and remove yourself from the stream, not particularly worse for wear, but definitely quite convinced that you probably need a better plan to get on the other side of this here river than mere swimming.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 20, 2016, 09:56:55 pm
Hey, wander around in pitch blackness enough and you'll get better at it.

I follow the highest splotches that I can get to.

The splotches grow long and loom large as you go onward and upward, the topology of the ground beneath you growing uncertain as all noise ceases and you begin to feel untethered from the laws of gravity and motion, growing terribly unsure of where, how and for what purpose you are going, or whether you are going anywhere at all.

[The World's End: 1]

Sensation begins to leave you entirely as you wander on, deeper and deeper, further away from anything at all. You feel a cool detachment seep into you with each step, and when you look around, you see nothing in any direction. It pulls at your eyes, your skin, softly drawing you into itself to fill the vacuum you otherwise stand in (float in? it's hard to tell).

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 21, 2016, 05:27:58 pm
"You're making the ill-advised assumption that I'm not an extradimensional probe into this realm with no prior knowledge of the metaphysics of where I am or anything outside of Anglefork. You're going to walk with me as I go to find Wilde, and you're going to explain what unintegrated, Imaginary, Order, and now that I think of it, a basic summary of what the world looks and behaves like are."

I may have no bones, but I still have uncoupled strength. This lady's coming with me as I head ... south, she said? South. To Anglefork town.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 21, 2016, 05:31:42 pm
Goddamn it I hope that fisher lady learns to never send strangers through weird holes.

I turn around and attempt to progress in roughly the opposite direction than the one I've been going. As best as I can estimate that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 22, 2016, 06:56:08 am
"Are you okay?  That river is rather tricky."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 22, 2016, 08:16:59 am
Well, slide the rainbow bridge back out, add some more fuel into fire and figure out better position to pass out.

I wonder if I can bring my figments of imagination gods outside with me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 22, 2016, 10:51:43 am
"I'm fine, thank you. Nately?

How are you doing, by the way? It looked like quite a fall you took there."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 22, 2016, 09:40:25 pm
"What, me?  Oh, I think I am okay.  It hurt a bit but it must have just been a light bruise; I'm fine now.  Mr. Nately?"

Check on the health of the blacksmith.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 23, 2016, 07:37:31 am
Quote from: Xantalos on October 21, 2016, 05:27:58 pm
"You're making the ill-advised assumption that I'm not an extradimensional probe into this realm with no prior knowledge of the metaphysics of where I am or anything outside of Anglefork. You're going to walk with me as I go to find Wilde, and you're going to explain what unintegrated, Imaginary, Order, and now that I think of it, a basic summary of what the world looks and behaves like are."

I may have no bones, but I still have uncoupled strength. This lady's coming with me as I head ... south, she said? South. To Anglefork town.

There's really no need to manhandle the poor woman, she's more than eager to follow a naked boneless man down the road to inevitable disaster while explaining the history of the world, as this seems to be the exact situation her unique education has prepared her to do. Eager listeners seem to be at a premium in these parts.

But where to begin, the historian considers. Where indeed! The world, as it seems you are quite interested in that - relatively little of it is known to those in the north, you understand. Benzerwald hugs the Corner of the World, where the two planes of the physical world meet at a right angle - some believe it leads to the next world, although very few have managed to master the secrets of gravity to be able to scale the seemingly infinite wall of earth there. Up from the corner, it is believed, live the time-enders, and of them few rigorous reports exist, and those that do are invariably from a far too long distance (more than a few purely telescopic in nature), and even then incoherent at times - they move like stars on the horizon, and are said by fools to portend acts of great destruction, though very little evidence exists of this that hasn't probably been very thoroughly destroyed after being prophesied. Thus it's hard to say how predictive any such observations really are. Rather frustrating to encounter a force that actively resists any attempt at being deciphered - causal cryptography is a confusing science at the best of times. Would you know yet more?

You would, but step back on the esotery, you warn. Very well - where you are, she expounds, is a several hundred mile band of lands near the Great Ocean, where the splintered state of Benzerwald stands, broken by the stoatmen at the beginning of what she likes to term the Splintered period, the beginning of which she likes to place roughly eleven months ago during the great stoat ghetto riots when the tensions of the splintering of the blood came to a rather catastrophic head. Since no other historian has opposed such classification (presumably because stoatmen take a dim and overly sharp view of academic examination of their practices), you can safely assume an academic consensus on the subject for now. In any case, Benzerwald - flanked on the east by the Kingdom of the Dead, where the Wicked King, a long-time Benzerwald ally, holds court over his subject corpses, and on the west by the Wondrous Land of El, legendary home of the science of alchemy, and on the south bordering the free ports, though what exactly has become of them she hasn't quite had any news about. Would you know yet more?

Of course you would know yet- hey, there's the people you were looking for - Mr. Wilde, the blacksmith, and also Mr. Minstep, all commiserating after a less than inspiring brush with drowning on the blacksmith and Mr. Wilde's part. Oh, says the lady, you were looking for the blacksmith? You really should be more specific about these things, she says.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 21, 2016, 05:31:42 pm
Goddamn it I hope that fisher lady learns to never send strangers through weird holes.

I turn around and attempt to progress in roughly the opposite direction than the one I've been going. As best as I can estimate that.

[Where Am I: 1]

In here, direction does not exist. And neither does purpose. Your desire makes less sense the more you think about it, your thoughts beginning to evaporate as the pressure of reality slackens on your very being and you walk. You do make progress - but not in any conventional direction. Many words come to you, and then are lost - depth seems to be the only one that makes even a little sense. You have found yourself at the very bottom of the curve, inert and deteriorating, impossibly tall slopes of energy on all sides from where you stand.

[Who Am I: 1]

And somewhere along the way you seem to have shed a great part of yourself as you've traversed the slope down, your self having bloomed and shed its petals in your wake, leaving but a naked core, a mere nigh-motionless nucleus where once a woman was, reduced to charge, mass and motion from a more complex set of feelings.

You feel strangely compelled to rest, trapped as you are. A sense of impossibility pervades any thoughts of escape.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 22, 2016, 08:16:59 am
Well, slide the rainbow bridge back out, add some more fuel into fire and figure out better position to pass out.

I wonder if I can bring my figments of imagination gods outside with me.

You shift back into the world of relative reality, and add some twigs to the fire as you poke it. The flame growls as you stir it, but seems ultimately thankful for the provision of more matter to annihilate for warmth and light. That done, you sit down by the tree and let your leg regain sensation as you contemplate the possibility of dragging some gods out into the world. No reason you shouldn't be able to, you suppose, although they're probably a little more complex to bring out than, say, an alcoholic grapefruit.

[Shadows In The Moonlight: 5]

Having come into your body in earnest, you do notice something more. Shadows all around, moving quietly around the tree. You look a little deeper, and see the unmistakable shape of what seems to be a teepee. Quite a few of them, in fact, arranged in a circle a respectable distance away from the tree, the shadows moving in a circle around the area, a few of them turning their heads toward you as you sit there. Noticing you, one such shadow waves quietly, yet affably.

Quote from: TopHat on October 22, 2016, 10:51:43 am
"I'm fine, thank you. Nately?

How are you doing, by the way? It looked like quite a fall you took there."


Phlargh, says Nately with a prodigious stream of water coming out of his mouth as he evacuates his lungs as swiftly as he is able. He seems waterlogged, but ambulatory, and you figure that's probably good enough.

Rather more worryingly, however, Mr. Daniels turns up shortly after the question is asked, trailed by a woman wearing a bedsheet explaining him the finer points of local and world history.

Quote from: Toaster on October 22, 2016, 09:40:25 pm
"What, me?  Oh, I think I am okay.  It hurt a bit but it must have just been a light bruise; I'm fine now.  Mr. Nately?"

Check on the health of the blacksmith.

He seems partly drowned, and seems to be trying very hard to not go the rest of the way now that he's clear of the water. Rather understandably he can't offer much in the way of a report beyond hacking and disgorging water wildly, so you pat him on the back gently and assure him it'll be all right, which seems about the best you can do for him presently without a concrete commitment to invading his personal space.

As you contemplate this, a rather put out Mr. Daniels accompanied by the good doctor (who seems to be providing another of her nonsensical lectures) turn up. Mr. Daniels gives poor Nately a look you can't help but read ill intentions into for some reason.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 23, 2016, 08:23:47 am
"Ah, hello again, Mr. Daniels.  You look rather beat up, I must say."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 23, 2016, 11:09:37 am
Moving has only made things worse. Maybe laying here for a bit will make things better.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 23, 2016, 11:39:43 am
Oh, great to see someone who identifies me as a person. Using improvised sign language I talk to them Nice to meet you, how's your day? Mine was weird. But let's be quiet, Lee needs her sleepy time. Invite them to decipher message of apocalyptic camp fire together with me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 23, 2016, 12:00:21 pm
"Oh. I had not noticed." Daniels says, enunciating his words incredibly carefully.

"Gentlemen, you have two choices. Whoever this is tells me that El is to the west of here. You will travel with me to there, or I will take the gold egg thing you have with you, Wilde, and unleash what is inside of it upon ... well, whichever sufficiently large group of people I come across, really. Also probably give the blacksmith here some extremely unpleasant experiences before his body gives out. Minstep, I'm not really going to harm you since you have not subjected me to numerous things worthy of retribution."

Extortion!

((I tried not to be an avatar of pettiness, I really did.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 23, 2016, 01:08:29 pm
"That's nice. May I ask why you want to get to El so much?"

... And he's finally snapped. Brilliant.
Back away from the madman. Make sure I'm between him and Nately.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 23, 2016, 02:10:09 pm
"No you may not."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 23, 2016, 08:44:37 pm
"Uh.  Er.  I don't know what or who or where El is.  I was just about to head north to the airport, myself.  Did you know we're in Australia?  I'm not sure what part, though."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 24, 2016, 01:41:20 am
"You're not on Earth anymore, you stupid fucker. You're not even human anymore. This is why we possess reality-altering words, I can survive without bones in most of my body, and you possess a sword that is incredibly ... interesting."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 24, 2016, 04:33:01 pm
"It's really all just impressive lights and effects.  I saw something like this at a dinner theater once.  This just has a bigger budget, I suppose.  But yes, it is quite the souvenir.  I'm impressed with how well they made it respond to what I say.  People can do all sorts of things with computers these days.  I'm just happy they can process my actuarial tables, really."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 24, 2016, 11:53:31 pm
Daniels' lips press together worryingly tight, and the blood vessels in his eyes are standing out.

Statement retracted statement retracted statement retracted statement retracted statement retracted
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 25, 2016, 04:47:01 am
Quote from: Toaster on October 23, 2016, 08:23:47 am
"Ah, hello again, Mr. Daniels.  You look rather beat up, I must say."

Poor Mr. Daniels. Australia has clearly taken a terrible toll on his fragile body and mind.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 23, 2016, 11:09:37 am
Moving has only made things worse. Maybe laying here for a bit will make things better.

Yes. You will lay here, inert, unmoving, at rest. Or, rather, approaching rest. All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 23, 2016, 11:39:43 am
Oh, great to see someone who identifies me as a person. Using improvised sign language I talk to them Nice to meet you, how's your day? Mine was weird. But let's be quiet, Lee needs her sleepy time. Invite them to decipher message of apocalyptic camp fire together with me.

The shadow seems incredibly confused for a moment as you signal a rather elaborate message to them, but then approaches, stepping into the light with a remarkable lack of noise, revealing itself to be a middle-aged woman wearing an odd-looking gown that reveals her bare shoulders. You take very immediate note of this because on her shoulders you see a wealth of strange-looking growths like bent and twisted ears resembling poor imitations of rose buds - they start small around the tops of her arms, and continue along her shoulders to her neck, where one or two reach the size of your fist, and terminate at large bulbs on opposite sides of her head, a bit less easy to characterize on account of the wild mess of thick, wool-like hair covering them.

[Sorcerous Deduction: 6]

She nods at you with a smile, her face covered in deep grooves and furrows (which, when you look, seem to each deepen a little with the smile) flanked by white galls, and kneels opposite you next to the fire. She starts to experimentally sign herself, clearly improvising, but you sense the idea well enough - are you well-rested? Do you need anything? You didn't hurt yourself in the nasty things earlier in the day, did you?

Quote from: Xantalos on October 23, 2016, 12:00:21 pm
"Oh. I had not noticed." Daniels says, enunciating his words incredibly carefully.

"Gentlemen, you have two choices. Whoever this is tells me that El is to the west of here. You will travel with me to there, or I will take the gold egg thing you have with you, Wilde, and unleash what is inside of it upon ... well, whichever sufficiently large group of people I come across, really. Also probably give the blacksmith here some extremely unpleasant experiences before his body gives out. Minstep, I'm not really going to harm you since you have not subjected me to numerous things worthy of retribution."

Extortion!

((I tried not to be an avatar of pettiness, I really did.))

For some reason you don't think they're taking you too seriously. Might be the way you're undulating. They must think you're absolutely spineless, the fools!

Quote from: TopHat on October 23, 2016, 01:08:29 pm
"That's nice. May I ask why you want to get to El so much?"

... And he's finally snapped. Brilliant.
Back away from the madman. Make sure I'm between him and Nately.

You make sure to stand between Mr. Daniels and Nately as you motion for the latter to back off, making a slight retreat yourself. You get the strange sense that this is likely to end poorly for at least one of the parties involved. Question is, do you dare make the first move?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 25, 2016, 05:28:46 am
Quote from: Harry Baldman on October 25, 2016, 04:47:01 am
Poor Mr. Daniels. Australia has clearly taken a terrible toll on his fragile body and mind.
This legitimately made me burst out laughing. I'll post actually later, just ... man. goddamn. That's a sigbox.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 25, 2016, 07:55:10 am
Goddamn all-consuming darkness. Maybe... "Well? Is that you?"

If there's no response, then I try to shake up my situation with some CHAOS. The natural order of this place seems to be working against me, so I'll upturn it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 25, 2016, 03:57:54 pm
She's a little weird, but weird is word of the day anyway. Keeping up with theme of non-verbal language, I sign I'm probably well rested, thanks for asking. Actual clothes would be great if you got any to spare. And yes, I'm unhurt but Lee got tired from brisk walking pace. What about you? Doing fine? Are you member one of the clans?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 26, 2016, 12:00:27 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 25, 2016, 07:55:10 am
Goddamn all-consuming darkness. Maybe... "Well? Is that you?"

If there's no response, then I try to shake up my situation with some CHAOS. The natural order of this place seems to be working against me, so I'll upturn it.

You call out to the well, wondering if in the nothingness something yet stranger lurks.

[Call of the Deep: 1]

There is no response, and you only feel yourself sinking deeper into the depths, emptiness pressing upon you from all directions. Drastic measures are required.

CHAOS

[Word: 2]

You shout into the void, and feel all the emptier for it as the word leaps out of your mouth and into the darkness, the kernel evaporating as it is pulled from your being, and you remain destitute and alone, and approach rest at an ever-increasing pace.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 25, 2016, 03:57:54 pm
She's a little weird, but weird is word of the day anyway. Keeping up with theme of non-verbal language, I sign I'm probably well rested, thanks for asking. Actual clothes would be great if you got any to spare. And yes, I'm unhurt but Lee got tired from brisk walking pace. What about you? Doing fine? Are you member one of the clans?

[Helpful Strangers: 6]

Clothes! Very easily done! She walks off for a moment, and you see her shadow poking another of the less-than-visible folks, and soon she returns with a set of clothes very similar to Lee's own - a dress, or perhaps a robe with winglike flaps connecting the arms to the torso. They took in a Moth, the woman explains, but the poor thing did not survive for too long. It had been mistreated, and terribly hungry, and they had not the right herbs to keep it alive. It spoke of disaster in the south - would you know more? Perhaps, you say as you examine the moth-robe. But first, how is she? Doing fine?

Oh, her? Perfectly fine, she says, tapping the side of her head, one of the growths pulsing slightly. Getting a little heavy, mind you, but she's in good spirits, and so are her fellows - the clan has weathered the storm admirably well, all things considered. What a strange phenomenon that was. The clan, you say. Yes, she replies. There is a moment of silence as you wait for her to go on, making an appropriate hand motion, and she breaks the silence around the campfire as she laughs at what seems to be a very amusing remark.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 26, 2016, 12:55:41 pm
Wear the dress thing, assuming it fits for my large frame, and get rid of the old skirt thingy. It has served me long and well enough.

"Apparently stoatmen took over the... the banzerwarld or something, I forgot the name of the country." Leif whipers quietly. "Things have not been going well for humans in there. So minders of Anglefork Castle decided summon demons to help, failed, and instead got attention of something far worse. That recent event was kind of side effect of that. Yeah, Lee was captured by stoats as well. I managed to free her so now we are on our way to north to meet Great Moth or whatever their boss was called. Talking about clans, one of my gods said now would be good time for the clans take over. It was in context of Moths and Storks, so if your clan is one of those type of clans, I suppose it includes your people too."

Explaining stuff, greatly downplaying my part in recent events and delivering the prophecy Hœnir told me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 26, 2016, 12:58:32 pm
Well, I'd love to stay and chat but hey, look at the time.
Toss off a truly blinding REVELATION at Daniels to distract him, grab Nately, run for it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 26, 2016, 01:27:53 pm
((Whoops, meant to wait for Tophat to post before I did since I provided the ultimatum.))

Bar their escape with my murder-thought, and don't be shy about removing a few peripheral parts.

SILENCE the revelation if I can react in time - this might seem like I'm acting a tad bit meta, I admit - I'm just using it as a catchall conditional for if words are fired off at me in any situation at the moment.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 26, 2016, 04:58:34 pm
Okay, so... moving is bad, staying still is bad, magic is bad... maybe some explosions will shake things up? I try to lob the cysts away from myself a decent distance, but I'm not sure if that matters at this point. I'm not sure if anything matters here.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 26, 2016, 10:06:03 pm
These people are being silly.  Best give them a bit of distance while things happen.  Enjoy this show since I missed the last.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 28, 2016, 12:40:18 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 26, 2016, 12:55:41 pm
Wear the dress thing, assuming it fits for my large frame, and get rid of the old skirt thingy. It has served me long and well enough.

"Apparently stoatmen took over the... the banzerwarld or something, I forgot the name of the country." Leif whipers quietly. "Things have not been going well for humans in there. So minders of Anglefork Castle decided summon demons to help, failed, and instead got attention of something far worse. That recent event was kind of side effect of that. Yeah, Lee was captured by stoats as well. I managed to free her so now we are on our way to north to meet Great Moth or whatever their boss was called. Talking about clans, one of my gods said now would be good time for the clans take over. It was in context of Moths and Storks, so if your clan is one of those type of clans, I suppose it includes your people too."

Explaining stuff, greatly downplaying my part in recent events and delivering the prophecy Hœnir told me.

You put on the moth-dress, and it fits with a pleasing dry snugness, you think as you cast away your now-useless skirt, figuring the extra warmth and camouflage is likely to come in more handy than the ability to show off your immaculately stout viking physique. Speaking of, the lady does regard you rather admiringly as you put the robe on, a question momentarily on her mind, but one she doesn't sign to you in any obvious fashion.

Fascinating, she says as you explain more to her. The Moths have a very fine story gift indeed to present in the meet if what you say is accurate. Though she does wonder who you might be in that case - you seem to be very heavily implying some sort of otherness. But you do not appear to be from El, or a dead man, and neither are you from the kingdom of the strange. And you speak of gods, and speak with gods - are you some form of exotic pilgrim, then? Not to pry, mind you. She's just never seen anyone quite like yourself here in the north.

Quote from: TopHat on October 26, 2016, 12:58:32 pm
Well, I'd love to stay and chat but hey, look at the time.
Toss off a truly blinding REVELATION at Daniels to distract him, grab Nately, run for it.

You're not quite sure who says it first, it's a little hazy, but the Words come out, and they come out in a most prodigious fashion.

SILENCE REVELATION

[Words: 3+4]

The Words meet and explode into a wave of spreading silence, enveloping your mind like thick, damp sheet of lead, and all of a sudden everything becomes heavy and strangely clear, far too real for your liking, and you feel your own heartbeat start to boom in your ears, and quicken persistently in a suddenly extremely uncomfortable feedback loop.

[The Sound of Silence: 5]

Seeing Mr. Daniels twist and turn in your direction as death stalks the skies, you act quickly and decisively, seizing Nately by the shoulders and tucking him under your arm - he offers but a shell-shocked look in response as you tuck him under the arm, callow and very clearly starved as he is you find him remarkably easy to carry, and with him in hand you start to make your escape.

[Circle of Death: 5 vs. 1]

Luckily for you, Mr. Daniels seems less in command of his faculties than you are, and his murder-thought flails noiselessly around as you walk the middle ground between running the fuck away and a grand mal seizure - your pursuer gestures like a murderous naked rag doll as he tries to bar your path, looking like he's conducting for an imaginary, yet remarkably unruly horn section, with all the results that you'd expect.

You run, and keep running as he fails to follow - the silence continues on much further than you would expect. Is it spreading.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 26, 2016, 01:27:53 pm
((Whoops, meant to wait for Tophat to post before I did since I provided the ultimatum.))

Bar their escape with my murder-thought, and don't be shy about removing a few peripheral parts.

SILENCE the revelation if I can react in time - this might seem like I'm acting a tad bit meta, I admit - I'm just using it as a catchall conditional for if words are fired off at me in any situation at the moment.

You try to preemptively catch Mr. Wilde in the Word he is about to speak, or do you speak yours after him? It's hard to tell now as it pours out of you, menacing reality itself with its power. Does the question even make sense?

SILENCE REVELATION

[Words: 3+4]

The Words! The Words! They blend together and blossom outward into a silence as heavy as the world itself, eating sound and stifling thought as they wash over you.

[The Sound of Silence: 4]

You bend and twist uncomfortably, seeking a place to hear, you shiver and shake, but the feeling doesn't quite leave you, this animal feeling of being in a place you should not be - you control your twisting and look upon Mr. Wilde, who has begun to make a run for it. You must stop him - you will stop him. You let loose the murder-thought, flopping your arm grotesquely to all the more viciously aim its soundless path through the air.

[Circle of Death: 1 vs. 5]

It spins and circles, but it, much like your own thoughts, is hard to place when it is so far outside its head. You do not sense its presence in any way but the most abstract, and it solidly misses anything of value or importance as Mr. Wilde dodges and weaves like a victim of tetanus, his limbs somehow far more responsive than yours as he speeds away, a visibly shaken blacksmith under his arm, and they run as you try to sweep with your thought and pursue, but to no avail as they rapidly outpace you and flee beyond any reasonable distance at which you could harass them with your ill intentions alone.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 26, 2016, 04:58:34 pm
Okay, so... moving is bad, staying still is bad, magic is bad... maybe some explosions will shake things up? I try to lob the cysts away from myself a decent distance, but I'm not sure if that matters at this point. I'm not sure if anything matters here.

[Explosive Ascent: 6]

You wonder. A cyst forms, and releases energy. Standing at the bottom, you feel yourself shake, and the explosion go through you.

Is there a problem you can't solve by leaping from an explosion, you wonder as you slide upward on the flat plane of nothing you find yourself squeezed into, having shed your third dimension somewhere along the way. You feel yourself slow down, and let loose another cyst for good measure - you continue to fly upward and onward, ever higher. Curious and surprisingly free of pain, you keep it up, having no real sense of where you might be or what this might mean, but treasuring the rush of an explosion rubbing its energy off on you and taking you higher.

By the time you consider that you've maybe had enough of that explosion juice, you notice yourself extremely high up. You look at your hands. They appear to be glowing. And beneath you there is a great sea of nothingness, but in it you see a few things - patches of deep dark, patches of pure blackness, patches of blinding light, and patches of strange color - a thousand points of light and dark, none of them terribly easy to discern under these conditions. Beneath you could be anywhere, and you've got a long way down.

Quote from: Toaster on October 26, 2016, 10:06:03 pm
These people are being silly.  Best give them a bit of distance while things happen.  Enjoy this show since I missed the last.

You let the boys have their staring contest, but then it suddenly turns into a shouting match, simultaneously both terse and monosyllabic, but strangely powerful all the same.

SILENCE REVELATION

You see Mr. Wilde spasm, Mr. Daniels bend, and both the good doctor and the fine blacksmith buckle on the spot as everything goes oddly quiet, and a muted waterfall of colorless relaxation goes over your mind. It feels a lot like work, you find.

[The Sound of Silence: 5]

You look on in anticipation at what could possibly happen next, remaining meditatively still as your insurance salesman instincts take over and you get that tingling feeling you get when the probability curve comes up your way - which, you being an insurance salesman, it does more often than not, it's really the main perk of the job. Kind of like running a casino, except people are betting that they'll die and actually want to lose.

But putting aside this slight lyrical waxing, Mr. Wilde seems to have suddenly realized he needs to return some videotapes with his young friend, to which Mr. Daniels is responding with a friendly, if rather exaggerated wave, though you're not at all sure what's happening to his face at the moment.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 28, 2016, 02:30:12 pm
That went a lot better than expected.
Keep running a bit further, then stop and Measure this zone of silence.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 28, 2016, 05:19:43 pm
Oops.

Quickly, before they get away! Sharpen my mind with my anger and murder their legs away!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 28, 2016, 08:56:21 pm
Interesting reverberations they've set up.  Setting up the acoustics must have taken quite some planning.

Ditch the branch and head back to the north.

A nagging feeling bothered Thomas for a moment; he thought this might not be the last he had seen of these two.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 29, 2016, 02:02:28 am
"Me? I, my friend, am just an outsider who got dragged into this mess against my will. Pretty sure I'll be that exotic pilgrim soon, I'm very far away from home and I don't know the way back. Name's Leif Erikson, by the way, miner by profession and explorer of far away lands by blood. Pleased to meet you!" I say with a wide smile and offer my hand.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 29, 2016, 08:20:52 am
Okay, so physics have clearly been thrown further out the window than usual. There's no reason to assume I'm about to go into free fall. I try to see if I can control my descent in any way, aiming to gently guide myself towards a bright spot, though maybe not a blindingly bright one. I wave my hands around a bunch because hey, they just started glowing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 29, 2016, 07:30:37 pm
Quote from: TopHat on October 28, 2016, 02:30:12 pm
That went a lot better than expected.
Keep running a bit further, then stop and Measure this zone of silence.

You run a short distance more and when you're reasonably positive that Mr. Daniels is quite a distance out of immediate range you decide to unveil the measure!

[The Revelation That Isn't: 6]

And boy does it seem to like whatever this supernatural silence is, yawning open and letting loose its great invisible tongues, lapping it up all around you, and you feel an immense sense of relief as the air grows noisy and quasi-natural once again, an expanding sphere of refuge and normality forming around you as the measure gets a maximally representative sample!

You look at the measure as it snaps shut after a short while, not having taken all of the silence around, but definitely having raised the noise levels a considerable amount, and it vibrates meaningfully for a moment as it seems to indicate it's almost done processing, but then goes silent and still. Then it starts up, then stops again, seemingly having a little trouble giving you a precise estimate of exactly how long this latest measuring might take.

[The 5,000 Fingers of Jack Daniels: 6 vs. 6]

In all this excitement and anticipation, however, you completely neglect to pay attention to Mr. Daniels' whereabouts right up until the moment when congealed murder comes knocking at your poor kneecaps like a spot of arthritis, and the wormy fellow himself is undulating once again at a distance where he can effectively menace you.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 28, 2016, 05:19:43 pm
Oops.

Quickly, before they get away! Sharpen my mind with my anger and murder their legs away!

[Hot Pursuit: 5]

Were Mr. Wilde to do the wise thing and just keep running until he is well out of sight and even more out of reach, you would absolutely never have caught up to him, you're fairly sure.

Fortunately for you, he gets distracted by science instead! Which actually manages to eat much of the silence you so carelessly generated, much to your delight as you prepare to give him a most instructive evisceration.

[The 5,000 Fingers of Jack Daniels: 6 vs. 6]

Bastard's a bit too quick, however. Or maybe he just spots you - point is, he jumps out of the way, and you are robbed of the sweet satisfaction of ruining his kneecaps something fierce. Bit of a shame, you did do a pretty good job with that thought-lob. Exquisite form!

Quote from: Toaster on October 28, 2016, 08:56:21 pm
Interesting reverberations they've set up.  Setting up the acoustics must have taken quite some planning.

Ditch the branch and head back to the north.

A nagging feeling bothered Thomas for a moment; he thought this might not be the last he had seen of these two.

The show appears to have drawn to a close, and the silence is dropping as well, so you go on ahead and start walking off.

[Skies Are Darkening: 2]

Of course, it does seem to be getting slowly darker. Might not be the best of times to travel on foot, but perhaps you can make some progress before the day ends. You head on along the northern road, jumping over large rifts in the landscape every now and then caused by the earthquakes, passing a rather large crater a few miles out that seems to be giving off something of an unhealthy white glow. You think you might be entering the outback now. You do hope that airport's not too far.

[Dogs Are Barking: 2]

Your pause to admire the beauty of the not quite natural Australian landscape does make you take notice of the fact that somebody is following you. And not just any somebody - it's the good doctor herself, albeit her usual wild-eyed look seems to be replaced with a more confused, listless expression as she holds on to the sheet she's wearing, looking very troubled by something. Noticing you finally look her way, she furrows her brow, beginning to say something.

[The Earth Dies Screaming: 6]

It probably wasn't all that important, you reflect as suddenly the nearby crater explodes with extreme violence that leaves a very persistent, loud ringing in your ears for the next minute or so. Luckily, it's mostly focused directly upward, so you don't quite explode along with it, though it does take you handily off your feet. On the other hand, the dust kicked up by this sudden uptick in volcanic activity does roll down in great sparkling gouts that sting your eyes with strange images of butterflies fighting, which understandably makes it very difficult to see anything or, for that matter, breathe, not that you're at all sure you'd want to be breathing any of this anyway.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 29, 2016, 02:02:28 am
"Me? I, my friend, am just an outsider who got dragged into this mess against my will. Pretty sure I'll be that exotic pilgrim soon, I'm very far away from home and I don't know the way back. Name's Leif Erikson, by the way, miner by profession and explorer of far away lands by blood. Pleased to meet you!" I say with a wide smile and offer my hand.

Likewise, she says and shakes your hand, returning the smile. She is Rose, eldest of three, wise woman's apprentice.

But enough about her! Would you like to come into the camp proper? Sleeping upon that oak does not seem overly comfortable. Especially for your companion - do you suppose she would mind if they tucked her in? She's heard the Moth Clan are a somewhat cagey lot.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 29, 2016, 08:20:52 am
Okay, so physics have clearly been thrown further out the window than usual. There's no reason to assume I'm about to go into free fall. I try to see if I can control my descent in any way, aiming to gently guide myself towards a bright spot, though maybe not a blindingly bright one. I wave my hands around a bunch because hey, they just started glowing.

Your height is a much more literal form of potential energy here than you would typically assume, and from said height a great many states to occupy are very much open to you. Most of them look the same, granted. You think you'll pick...

[Points of Light: 1]

That one looks rather good, yes! You decide to fall toward that one. Seems vaguely promising in a strange kind of way. Your fall is rapid and luminous as you wave your arms around leaving streaks and afterimages in your wake as the raw power of several dozen explosions (now that you think about it, you did get pretty carried away back there).

You fall and fall, but the point doesn't grow any clearer. If anything, what you're seeing just gets more confusing. Buzzing, noisy. It reminds you of something briefly, and then you suddenly hit it, all hell spontaneously breaking loose as you feel as if you've been dropped into water that is simultaneously scalding and freezing - this lasts a split second at best before all the energy stored within you releases upon you hitting actual air and conventional physics. The sky in particular is a very refreshing sight as you hurtle toward it like a literal rocket, a prodigious amount of reaction mass burning off as you spontaneously regain a semblance of your original shape and form.

The next thing you see is a landscape that looks a bit unfamiliar at first, only to resolve into the disappointingly well-known shape of the island upon which Anglefork Castle rests. Or used to rest - you're pretty sure that's the island, but man, that castle looks absolutely fucked. As does the nearby Anglefork Town. And even the nearby woods. What the hell happened here?

Well, you guess you have plenty of time to think about it, being about a mile up from the ground, hurtling down at what feels like terminal velocity.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 29, 2016, 07:34:34 pm
"STAND STILL YOU FUCK"

MURDER REND

to be specific, murder them with REND

((This has kinda escalated just a bit out of hand, I think.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 29, 2016, 09:27:03 pm
Well. I ended up in free fall anyway.

I see where I'm going to land. Hopefully it's the river. If it's not, I throw an explosive cyst in the opposite direction from the river to propel myself towards it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 29, 2016, 11:37:50 pm
This is the sort of thing that venues get sued over.  Do they have personal injury insurance?

Take cover.  Ride out this downfall somewhere safe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 30, 2016, 12:06:47 pm
"Nately, remind me not to save his life again if there's a next time."

Repeat the REVELATION-grab Nately-run thing that worked so well last time. Just don't stop running this time.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TheBiggerFish on October 30, 2016, 12:16:14 pm
Spoiler: Never too late to waitlist... (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 30, 2016, 01:56:00 pm
"Oh, absolutely! I haven't been blessed with good sleeping spots lately, you know? A hole in ground, out under stars, prison... Dunno about how she would feel about it, but she's exceptionally tired. Having a proper place to sleep would probably do good for her."

Let's accept the invitation. Carefully princess carry Lee in, assuming she doesn't put up resistance.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 31, 2016, 06:16:45 am
Quote from: Xantalos on October 29, 2016, 07:34:34 pm
"STAND STILL YOU FUCK"

MURDER REND

to be specific, murder them with REND

((This has kinda escalated just a bit out of hand, I think.))

You are beginning to suspect fighting Words with Words is perhaps not the way forward as Mr. Wilde invariably tries to block your own efforts.

REND REVELATION

[Words: 5+3]

Your Word comes as a great cleave, an extension of your murder-thought as it widens and sweeps with a force mere will could not hope to manage, and Mr. Wilde raises his arms and shouts in defense. The Words meet with a powerful clash, and your swipe is almost deflected - almost. You nearly let off a cheer as he catches the sawing blade of your Word straight in his face even as it is enriched with his very own light and magic. It tears into his skull with a horrific grinding sound, leaving through the top right of his head, hot glowing chunks of gore spinning out of it more like cinders than actual bits of flesh. As he drops Nately and falls to the ground, facing away from you, you see his face begin to shed an unnatural light, the origin of which you do not yet see. Disappointingly, however, this has not at all put the man down.

What has occurred, however, is that the blade just seems to have kept on going, twinkling above the horizon briefly before it explodes in a flash, two prongs of it shaping into a single bright arc reminiscent of a rainbow as they strike the ground on both sides. Staring at it as you can't help but do, you get the strange feeling that it seems to be... opening somehow.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 29, 2016, 09:27:03 pm
Well. I ended up in free fall anyway.

I see where I'm going to land. Hopefully it's the river. If it's not, I throw an explosive cyst in the opposite direction from the river to propel myself towards it.

[I Can See For Miles And Miles: 1]

Well, let's see. The ground beneath you is covered in billowing surges of luminous dust from where you seem to have exploded a good portion of the landscape in your dramatic entry. So it's somewhat hard to tell what might be below. One thing is clear, however - you probably don't want to land where you came from, and considering that your upward flight is only slightly set off by wind, you think you'll do an explosion or two to propel yourself anyway.

[Powered By Explosions: 5]

This does give you a moment's pause. You're fairly sure grenade jumping shouldn't actually work in whatever semblance of real life this is. But then, this is no ordinary grenade. You generate the cyst with a spreading tingle, and cook it for a good couple of seconds, timing the explosion ideally as you let it blow you rather efficiently in a certain direction - now, said direction is also quite random, although vaguely in the direction of the river that you can see in the distance.

As the explosion in the sky rocks your bones and sends you careening through the air, mostly unharmed apart from the rather terrible shock, you briefly note a sudden appearance of a star not too far from the horizon. And it is at about this point when you impact the water.

[Come In, The Water's Fine: 2]

Fun fact - hitting water at this velocity is roughly comparable to hitting solid concrete. And though you do not see a goddamn thing as you disappear into the choking, burning dust, you definitely become intimately familiar with the sensation of bones breaking, skin lacerating and virtually all of your organs getting very close to each other and mingling. You bounce off the surface of the water before sinking beneath the waves with a splash, leaving a trail of blood and loose bits as you float to the shore slowly, quietly lamenting the way all journeys must come to an end.

Quote from: Toaster on October 29, 2016, 11:37:50 pm
This is the sort of thing that venues get sued over.  Do they have personal injury insurance?

Take cover.  Ride out this downfall somewhere safe.

[The Hole You're In: 1]

You scramble for cover, but you effectively operating blindly has about the effect you would expect - first you trip over the good doctor, who seems to have lain down, pressed her face into the ground and covered her ears, then you tumble on, rise briefly to your feet and proceed to trip over a piece of debris, smack face-first into the shredded remains of a tree and fall onto a gentle slope, which you roll down, landing into something that feels a lot like you'd expect liquid helium to feel, in that it is not at all as ruinous to your good health as plunging into actual liquid helium, but roughly as incredibly weird to feel on your skin as it crawls on you, moves to envelop you. You begin to gently sink into it as a buzzing that reminds you strangely of Mr. Munderly fills your ears and a tingling spreads over your skin, also a sensation you've come to associate with Mr. Munderly over decades of experience.

Quote from: TopHat on October 30, 2016, 12:06:47 pm
"Nately, remind me not to save his life again if there's a next time."

Repeat the REVELATION-grab Nately-run thing that worked so well last time. Just don't stop running this time.

Where he has a Word for you, you have a Word in return. The same one, unfortunately. It's a little inconvenient to have only one.

REND REVELATION

[Words: 5+3]

As a hypersonic cleave tears toward you, your own Word meets it uncomfortably close to you, deflecting it, but not entirely.

[Extraordinary Dodge: 1]

You have no time to react - the saw blade of revelation strikes you squarely in the face, carving into the bridge of your nose, tearing into your skull, ripping out a gaping hole in your face as you spin to absorb it - it comes out the top right of your head, unseating one of your eyes. And what the other sees as you topple to the ground and lose your grip on Nately is something else.

You feel your face slowly cave in on itself, and you see light shedding on the ground from a head wound you are sure would be fatal if not for your own remarkable physiology. Pieces of your skull glow softly as they dance out of your head, obeying strange laws of motion as you stumble away, your head growing asymmetrical as the rift continues to shift and deepen.

You scramble to your feet, a horrific itch spreading to your skull. It's getting difficult to see as the brilliance of your wound is starting to hurt your one working eye. But even so you feel compelled to look up - and there you see the arc of a rainbow, blinding white to the point where it makes the rest of the sky look black. It reminds you of a mouth. It seems to be slowly opening.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 30, 2016, 01:56:00 pm
"Oh, absolutely! I haven't been blessed with good sleeping spots lately, you know? A hole in ground, out under stars, prison... Dunno about how she would feel about it, but she's exceptionally tired. Having a proper place to sleep would probably do good for her."

Let's accept the invitation. Carefully princess carry Lee in, assuming she doesn't put up resistance.

[Sleeping Beauty: 4]

You pick up Lee - she shuffles a little, but seems to be sleeping a little too deeply to be awakened by this. You carry her gently where Rose leads you, ushering you through the dark clanfolk encampment. You pass shadows every now and then, and take note of their silhouettes - endlessly varied, but uniformly lumpy and not-quite-human. You see a bit of eyeshine as they glance your way curiously before Rose gestures something at them, mentioning that you're a guest. You weave along the various tents and eventually she goes into one, with you following behind.

It's only a little brighter in here than in the encampment proper, a small steel lantern with an even smaller glowing ember in it shedding a bare minimum of light on the surroundings, enough to let you see a rather large figure sleeping wrapped head to toe on one end, and two smaller individuals laying intertwined a slight distance away. There is another bit of bedding prepared already slightly off to the side, and Rose wastes no time in rolling out an extra bedroll that she fetches from a wicker basket lying at the foot of the large individual.

This is her tent, she signs to you as she gently prepares the fourth spot. Over there is her father, she nods at the large sleeper, and the two over there are her aunt and mother, she indicates the two others. They'll like you, she's sure. And your friend too! Just lay her down over here, she discreetly signs toward the bedroll, so this is what you do, laying Lee to rest and covering her as she stirs only slightly.

Rose puts her hands together as you stand up after putting Lee to bed. What would you like to do now? Should she show you around? Have you any questions? Perhaps you'd like a smoke? She's not had hers tonight yet, now that she mentions it.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 31, 2016, 07:07:23 am
"I don't smoke, but if you have alcoholic beverages around I truly would like to taste some of those. Tell me about your clan. You folks do not seem to be exactly avarage human."

If no alcohol is available, then I make some on my own. If any questions raise about it, then it is officially the only minder trick I have learned.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 31, 2016, 07:49:05 am
I get ashore, collapse, and then rest there for a bit.

Man, I never thought I'd be relieved to be back here.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on October 31, 2016, 05:11:26 pm
No idea what this is, but Thomas decided quickly he shouldn't be in it.

Abscond mightily.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on October 31, 2016, 06:01:23 pm
Okay, I'll admit that perhaps wasn't the smartest idea.

... and the measure's still processing, isn't it, so I can't use that. Great. Should have known stopping to use it would bite me.

Body? Rats? Can you do anything to deal with this before it swallows the rest of our face? I'm all ears. Or probably just one ear, now, though.

((Oops))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on October 31, 2016, 07:22:13 pm
"...Why do we keep on doing this? Escalating shit out of our control like that?
I mean damn. I don't think I even wanted to kill you, Wilde. Maybe hurt you a little, step on your face once or so, but nothing permanent.
Well, nothing that I can fix now I suppose. Should I mercy kill you? ...see, I'm not sure. That rift we made in reality also seems kinda ominous. Running away might be a good idea, if only I had leg bones to run away with. Thanks blacksmith.
...
Where'd he go anyway?"

Go chase after the blacksmith. No escape for you now, we're going to El me and you!

Assuming we don't get eaten by whatever it is me and Wilde did to reality of course. Try not to be eaten.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 01, 2016, 10:59:50 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on October 31, 2016, 07:07:23 am
"I don't smoke, but if you have alcoholic beverages around I truly would like to taste some of those. Tell me about your clan. You folks do not seem to be exactly avarage human."

If no alcohol is available, then I make some on my own. If any questions raise about it, then it is officially the only minder trick I have learned.

Oh, Rose says, she's terribly sorry. She assumed you were a Moth as well at first sight, judging by your companion. So all this must seem a little strange to you, yes? There's no need to fear, however. You find yourself among the Gallflies. Don't mind the buzzing, she chuckles affably.

[Where's The Booze: 4]

As for a drink, that can certainly be arranged. Would you care to join her for a midnight raid on the healer's tent? If you'd like something to soothe your soul, there would be the place to find it.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 31, 2016, 07:49:05 am
I get ashore, collapse, and then rest there for a bit.

Man, I never thought I'd be relieved to be back here.

You emerge from the water feeling like an abused lungfish, and lay naked and bruised on the shore as you look at the skies, still not breathing or showing any real signs of life apart from a considerable amount of laceration.

[Somewhere Over The Rainbow: 4]

As the dust settles on the area you can't help but notice an ominous arc of light on the horizon, widening and gaping apocalyptically at you. It tickles with implication at the back of your mind, as if waiting for you to ask what it might possibly mean. You get the sense it is very eager to tell you something.

Quote from: Toaster on October 31, 2016, 05:11:26 pm
No idea what this is, but Thomas decided quickly he shouldn't be in it.

Abscond mightily.

[There Is No Sign Of Land: 6]

You flail wildly, splashing unidentified substance all around as you reach for nearby actual land and find brief purchase on a bit of the slope you fell in along - you push down on it and a piece crumbles away into the water, and you scratch at the shore like a cat fallen in a bathtub, feverishly scrambling to escape, dragging yourself out after a minute or two of concentrated effort, coated head to foot in sizzling, tingling liquid that reminds you a lot of the dust you're currently trying very hard not to inhale. As it evaporates off you a feeling like carbonation goes over the entirety of your skin through your clothes, and when the dust settles at last you notice that your skin is a lot redder than you last recall.

You look behind you, and notice that where you fell into a few moments ago seems to be a large, glowing crater filled luminous, bubbling liquid that persistently seems to be trying to crawl up the walls, waving restlessly all the way. Is that toxic waste? Ugh! At this rate you'll be needing to see a dermatologist before long!

You again nearly trip on the good doctor as you start to retreat from this clear public health hazard. She whimpers slightly at the disturbance as you delicately step over her.

Quote from: TopHat on October 31, 2016, 06:01:23 pm
Okay, I'll admit that perhaps wasn't the smartest idea.

... and the measure's still processing, isn't it, so I can't use that. Great. Should have known stopping to use it would bite me.

Body? Rats? Can you do anything to deal with this before it swallows the rest of our face? I'm all ears. Or probably just one ear, now, though.

((Oops))

[Appeal To Substrate: 2]

Look, there's a good reason you're here, and that's because a formless mass of otherworldly flesh unbound by physics is not renowned for its problem solving skills. So you're afraid you're kind of on your own here.

Admittedly, while having a glowing rift in your face mirroring a highly ominous rainbow of blinding light in the sky is definitely highly alarming, you're fairly sure the rate of your face collapsing into it is slowing down at a more than reasonable speed, the square-cube law seemingly working very much in your favor as your flesh slowly begins to stabilize around it, though not before claiming your eyes. On the bright side your eyes falling into a white void of revelation seems to affect your ability to see to a surprisingly minimal degree. In fact, you think you see a little better now than a couple moments ago.

[Madness On The Horizon: 5]

You look up toward the arc of light in the sky, and it does actually feel like looking into a mirror. The sky flashes briefly as if lit by soundless lightning, and you see yourself reflected in it, your face gone, bisected by the arc of light. You seem a little more calm up there than down here, strangely enough.

Not a vain sort at the worst of times, you look away. Mr. Daniels seems to be giving boneless and wildly unsuccessful chase to a rapidly fleeing Nately. You get the sense you have a few things to say to him. The exact nature of the message eludes you, but it seems important somehow.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 31, 2016, 07:22:13 pm
"...Why do we keep on doing this? Escalating shit out of our control like that?
I mean damn. I don't think I even wanted to kill you, Wilde. Maybe hurt you a little, step on your face once or so, but nothing permanent.
Well, nothing that I can fix now I suppose. Should I mercy kill you? ...see, I'm not sure. That rift we made in reality also seems kinda ominous. Running away might be a good idea, if only I had leg bones to run away with. Thanks blacksmith.
...
Where'd he go anyway?"

Go chase after the blacksmith. No escape for you now, we're going to El me and you!

Assuming we don't get eaten by whatever it is me and Wilde did to reality of course. Try not to be eaten.

A lot of this surely could have been avoided if these people weren't so insistent on being shit.

[The Sound of Silence: 4]

Speaking of, there's the blacksmith, currently running away very quickly in a southward direction toward Anglefork Town. Hold on, fucker! There's debts to be paid, and paid they will be!

[Running On Empty: 3 vs. 5]

Maybe you shouldn't actually have shouted that out loud, you reflect after five minutes of being hopelessly outpaced by a boy running for dear life, disappearing into the town before you're even halfway there. Only seems to have made him run that much faster. Way faster than your boneless ass can manage for sure.

[Skies Are Darkening: 2]

Rather more unnervingly, you discover that not looking at the arc of terrible light that your Words seem to have produced is not at all enough to prevent it flashing across your eyes every time you blink. So you try not blinking, and it continues to flash in front of you regardless, each flash a little longer than the previous. Uh oh. Probably not a good sign.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 01, 2016, 11:13:28 am
"No worries, I'll be buzzed too soon enough!"

Midnight raid? Absolutely! All in proper viking fashion!
Quiet and civilized viking fashion.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on November 01, 2016, 11:14:10 am
"Fuckin reality warping. Fortunately I have a backup plan for shit like this."

Keep going toward Anglefork town, I'll catch up with the blacksmith eventually, if only for lack of sleep. If any supernatural bullshit tries to manifest at me, attempt to utilize the well's absorbtion powers that it gave me (I know I'm simplifying it) to suck it into extradimensional oblivion. Or just murderthought it if it's a regular thing accosting me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 01, 2016, 04:58:38 pm
Okay, maybe I'm not relieved to be here.

I seek shade or shelter from the ominous rainbow.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on November 02, 2016, 12:10:32 pm
"Hoy, Daniels, hold up! I have a few things to say to you!"
Relate message to Daniels, or failing that a handy rock or shrub. Keep an eye out (hah!) for any new behaviour on the part of the rifts.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 02, 2016, 04:18:45 pm
Well, crazy as she is, it'd be unseeming to not at least try to help.

Grab the doctor and shepherd her along.  The town is at least generally north of here, right?  We should go there first.

Thomas made a note to see a doctor as soon as he got back.  Hopefully he would still have a job and the sensible health insurance that went along with it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 03, 2016, 02:21:29 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 01, 2016, 11:13:28 am
"No worries, I'll be buzzed too soon enough!"

Midnight raid? Absolutely! All in proper viking fashion!
Quiet and civilized viking fashion.

Lovely! She leads you by the hand out into the dark again, and you weave along a particular path through the thick circle of teepees arranged around the oak tree you rested at, slowly heading down the bluff. It feels like you've gone more than a respectable distance when you finally seem to reach your destination, Rose managing to chart a rather successful path in the dim starlight. She parts the flap of the tent and pulls you in gently, and you resist the powerful urge to holler menacingly to announce your entry.

This tent is very conspicuously unlit, in that you can barely make out anything at all in the consuming darkness. Rose splits from you almost immediately, not particularly needing to see anything to find her way through here. Should only take a minute or two. You'd like a tonic, yes? A lighter or stronger kind? There's several sorts. Any flavoring preferences? There's plain, rich, sour, blood, orange and blood orange, she whispers to you very slightly from a deeper recess of the oddly shaped tent.

Spoiled for choice, you give this some thought. And as you do so, you realize the itching on your shoulder is actually a scratching, a rather long fingernail presently tapping on it. You stir a little, and you hear the barest whisper of a woman's voice reach your ears.

Stranger, it says, I can see you.

Quote from: Xantalos on November 01, 2016, 11:14:10 am
"Fuckin reality warping. Fortunately I have a backup plan for shit like this."

Keep going toward Anglefork town, I'll catch up with the blacksmith eventually, if only for lack of sleep. If any supernatural bullshit tries to manifest at me, attempt to utilize the well's absorbtion powers that it gave me (I know I'm simplifying it) to suck it into extradimensional oblivion. Or just murderthought it if it's a regular thing accosting me.

The flashes of preternatural rainbow continue across your eyes, and you try to ignore them. You can ignore a lot if you put your mind to it! The flashing doesn't abate. You keep running. Doesn't help.

And then, the voice of Mr. Wilde.

[That Golden Voice: 4]

The rainbow flashes bright and becomes a sawtooth wave, blasting a 9-story wall of sound into your skull as its waves go mad before your eyes. You only narrowly keep your balance as you scream, your murder-thought knowing its destination to the point where you need not even look.

[Cut The Signal: 4 vs. 2]

You hear it impact satisfyingly into Mr. Wilde's torso, a razor-thin entry followed by an explosive splash of an exit - Mr. Wilde stumbles mid-sentence, and the blast of sound weakens momentarily as he pauses in his pursuit, abating slightly as you get away.

[Run For Your Lives: 3]

You must get away from him, you think repeatedly and intensely as you power undulate and nearly tumble head over heel in your rush, your body not particularly enabling the quick sprint you are attempting. As you sense him rise once again, the wave crossing your eyes pulses wildly and your entire body spasms briefly.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 01, 2016, 04:58:38 pm
Okay, maybe I'm not relieved to be here.

I seek shade or shelter from the ominous rainbow.

[Gimme Shelter: 5]

You clamber up the shoreline, trying not to look at the astrological anomaly right behind you as you quickly make your way to what you realize is the road, where you see none other than one Mr. Minstep, currently having helped up that other lady Claire was entertaining the... other day, you guess? You're not sure if you've lost or gained a day somewhere. Time can be hard to follow. You exchange a meaningful look with both of them as they simultaneously appear to wonder what impulse it is that possesses a woman like you to be naked at a time and place like this. You duck down into a nearby trench you don't recall being a part of the landscape when last you were here, and make a shushing gesture at them as you press your back to the dirt wall, feeling a not inconsiderable sense of relief as the arc in the sky no longer feels like it's staring into your skull and smacking its lips.

Quote from: TopHat on November 02, 2016, 12:10:32 pm
"Hoy, Daniels, hold up! I have a few things to say to you!"
Relate message to Daniels, or failing that a handy rock or shrub. Keep an eye out (hah!) for any new behaviour on the part of the rifts.

Mr. Daniels doesn't seem like he's heard the good news, so you sprint after him to make sure he gets the information. You don't think he sees you, and he seems rather preoccupied, so you give him a shout to hold up. He responds, and you're not sure why you didn't predict this, with animalistic violence.

[Cut The Signal: 2 vs. 4]

It hits you like a highly illegal shotgun round, catching you in the chest and coming out the other side with a hole the size of your left lung, sending you spinning and tumbling along the ground. You take a moment to reflect on this tragic loss of dear Lefty before a certain urgency pulls you to your feet.

It is imperative that Mr. Daniels gets this message, you feel a thought pulse in your head. Nobody else would find it useful, at least.

Quote from: Toaster on November 02, 2016, 04:18:45 pm
Well, crazy as she is, it'd be unseeming to not at least try to help.

Grab the doctor and shepherd her along.  The town is at least generally north of here, right?  We should go there first.

Thomas made a note to see a doctor as soon as he got back.  Hopefully he would still have a job and the sensible health insurance that went along with it.

You go and lift the doctor up to her feet. She doesn't appear to need the help, really, being of rather sound body. She simply wasn't sure if it was over. Is it over, she asks hesitantly as she gets up under her power, holding on to her sheet intently.

You look around. The sky looks quite dark, and there's a rather large arc of light presently decorating it, yawning in your direction in a way you can't help but read an uncaring malevolence into. Erm. It's possibly over, you say. Though even if it isn't, it most certainly is no longer safe to be in the area. Say what you will about commitment, but you draw the line at improper disposal of radioactive waste.

But anyway, is she well to travel, you ask. She thinks for a moment, and replies that she feels very odd. You know how you hear a very insistent buzzing in your ears, and your skin feels like it's burning? And there's these strange feelings of tension, where your every muscle ties itself into a knot? And these periods where you get nervous tics, but it's a lot like they happen to your entire body and have a peculiar agency all on their own? When life seems like a constant seizure where all you can do to not bite your tongue off and stave off the white noise building up in the corners of your eyes is talk, talk, talk?

You don't think people tend to commonly experience such things, no. She raises an eyebrow. They don't? She stares at you quietly before shrugging. Just as well it's gone now, she supposes. It wasn't a very pleasa-

You notice the doctor look away at something, and turn to notice none other than Ms. Minett duck into one of the opened faults in the ground, stark naked and heavily bruised as she rests her back to the wall. Shh, she says. Don't look at the sky. That's how it gets you.

You wisely look back at the good doctor. You think it's a good time to leave. Toward a town. Northward, right? The doctor scratches her head. Anglefork Town is southward from here, she admits to being fairly sure as she gets an uncommonly clear look at her surroundings. Though it's been a while. Northward is the Corner. Elizabeth as well, she supposes, but that's a little far off and-

-wait, have you seen her father? Old, colorblind, runs, she begins before glancing at the ruins, ran the castle affairs? Had a penchant for livery? She's, well, somewhat lost track of him in the past few months. Do you know if he's all right?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 03, 2016, 04:04:28 pm
"No shit, you folks have very good eyes." Leif says with genuine respect. "I wish my nigh vision was as good as yours. Oh, Rose? Strong type, rich and orange flavour please. I want to taste all variants eventually, but let's start with those."

Turn around and try to see who's scratching me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 03, 2016, 06:02:26 pm
I whisper to Mr. Minstep and the woman. "Hey, do you guys know what's happening right now? I just got back here and things seem weirder than usual."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on November 03, 2016, 06:16:08 pm
"What the hell was that for? I'm trying to help you!"
You know what? If he's going to be like that he can jolly well forget about getting any useful information out of me. That'll teach him. Next message?

((I'm afraid that I'll be off until Monday once again, unfortunately. Any semblance of an action plan has recently been smashed beyond all recognition so not much to put on that front, sorry.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 03, 2016, 07:09:53 pm
Thomas thought for a moment.  "Oh, the lord of the keep?  He's well, just saw him yesterday, before the castle... fell over.  His mother, I guess your grandmother then, was able to get out safely as well.  Got her her clothes and things and she left the castle before it fell.  Nice lady, really.  But yes, I am going north past Elizabeth, but I can accompany you if you'd like."  He sighed a bit.  "I suppose I should offer to take you to Anglefork southward if you would rather and need my help.

He looked up at the calling.  "Or yes, Ms. Minett!  She'd take you to Anglefork if you rather.  Yes, Ms. Minett!  There was an earthquake.  The castle fell over a bit.  I believe your friend here the doctor may want an escort!

Take the doctor northward with me if she'd like.  Pawn her off on Ms. Minett otherwise.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 03, 2016, 08:34:18 pm
"Just an earthquake?" I pause and look at the doctor. "I could accompany her; she gave me mead once so I owe her a favor. I'll go anywhere except indeterminate darkness."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on November 03, 2016, 09:47:51 pm
Daniels pauses suddenly.

"Wait, you're not trying to kill me for obliterating your face?"

What's all this about?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 03, 2016, 09:51:31 pm
"Yes, an earthquake!  And some sort of light show.  No big deal, really.  Yes, I'm sure she'd love to go with you!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 04, 2016, 01:18:33 pm
"Uh huh." What, is this guy not afraid of weird magic shit? His problem, I guess.

I look back at the doctor. "Where are you trying to go? We can probably head over there after the 'light show' ends."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 05, 2016, 10:32:49 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 03, 2016, 04:04:28 pm
"No shit, you folks have very good eyes." Leif says with genuine respect. "I wish my nigh vision was as good as yours. Oh, Rose? Strong type, rich and orange flavour please. I want to taste all variants eventually, but let's start with those."

Turn around and try to see who's scratching me.

It's really a matter of practice, and honing your sense of touch, Rose comments quietly as she rifles through the supplies. Aha, here's a strong orange, and now for the-

Rose, you hear a voice rasp as you turn around, causing Rose to immediately cease all motion. The long fingernail loses contact with your shoulder for a second before it and two more gently tap on your face, scratching at both temples and your chin in a way that tickles more than a little. You squint your eyes at the dark and you see that these seem to belong to two rather long, bare arms, their owner looking you over as she clicks her teeth together.

What is the meaning of this, the healer asks rather sternly. Why is this differently-fleshed stranger here? And why is she stealing supplies on his behalf? You hear Rose shuffle a little. She wouldn't call it stealing, it's just... treating a guest? You seemed to really want a drink, and she thought it her duty to accommodate you, and that's perfectly all right, no? She seems to grow increasingly unsure as the healer does not reply.

[Plight of the Otherfleshed: 1]

Out with you, the healer says through her teeth as her hands retreat from your face. The supplies are for disinfection and formulation. Not inebriation. Rose will stay here. Words must be had, she says, and you see a strange glint not just where you'd expect her eyes to be, but at several points on where you surmise the rest of her occupies. You hear Rose start to quickly put the things she's hastily grabbed back into their proper places, remaining completely silent.

Quote from: TopHat on November 03, 2016, 06:16:08 pm
"What the hell was that for? I'm trying to help you!"
You know what? If he's going to be like that he can jolly well forget about getting any useful information out of me. That'll teach him. Next message?

((I'm afraid that I'll be off until Monday once again, unfortunately. Any semblance of an action plan has recently been smashed beyond all recognition so not much to put on that front, sorry.))

Mr. Daniels is strangely convinced by your refusal to play his game, and comes around in a way that you find peculiarly difficult to resist. He dares not look directly your way, and your approach causes him obvious physical discomfort. So much like ripping off a bandage, you decide to get it done quickly. You let go, and the message surges from you.

[Words of Wisdom: 2]

Your words sit on top of other words, so much information to relay, so many perspectives, so many varying signals! Like the breaking of a dam the message pours out, about as intelligible as a flood and as meaningful as a book set on fire. Mr. Daniels shrieks as he involuntarily looks at you, the rift in your face catching him as if in a spotlight, growing brighter and brighter as the signal reaches a crescendo. Your throat feels like it's full of molten gold as you scream the final manifold syllable, and a flash of light envelops the nearby area, and space caves in around you in a soundless cessation of experience.

You wake up much like you passed out, screaming and electrified with revelation. You stand with arms outstretched in a clearing. Night has fallen, your face casting a bright beam on your surroundings, which look like they were scoured by lightning, tree trunks split and wildlife laying charred and cooked on the ground. You stop screaming as you run out of breath, and the light from your face lowers as you suck in the cool night air through it, your repurposed airways humming as you try to get a sense of where you might possibly be.

Quote from: Toaster on November 03, 2016, 07:09:53 pm
Thomas thought for a moment.  "Oh, the lord of the keep?  He's well, just saw him yesterday, before the castle... fell over.  His mother, I guess your grandmother then, was able to get out safely as well.  Got her her clothes and things and she left the castle before it fell.  Nice lady, really.  But yes, I am going north past Elizabeth, but I can accompany you if you'd like."  He sighed a bit.  "I suppose I should offer to take you to Anglefork southward if you would rather and need my help.

He looked up at the calling.  "Or yes, Ms. Minett!  She'd take you to Anglefork if you rather.  Yes, Ms. Minett!  There was an earthquake.  The castle fell over a bit.  I believe your friend here the doctor may want an escort!

Take the doctor northward with me if she'd like.  Pawn her off on Ms. Minett otherwise.

No, no. Not the lord of Anglefork. The majordomo! But wait, the lady of Anglefork, you say she escaped? The doctor looks around worriedly. That's- okay, it doesn't actually matter. Look, she says, trying to center herself in the midst of all this confusion.

[Relevant Information: 2]

Look, she says. Look, she repeats, still not able to think of how to finish or perhaps even start off the thought. She gets lost briefly as she notices the arc in the sky flash before starting to fade. Look, it's probably important that she get to a safer place to think all of this over. And maybe find something more robust than a bedsheet to drape herself in. She lifts up her foot a little. She doesn't even have any shoes, for pity's sake. This is no way to be traveling.

She pauses. Would you happen to know where she could find any clothes, perhaps? Anglefork Town is looking a little bit... ruined from here as well, and the castle is similarly a no-go.

Quote from: Xantalos on November 03, 2016, 09:47:51 pm
Daniels pauses suddenly.

"Wait, you're not trying to kill me for obliterating your face?"

What's all this about?

It's painful to try to look in Mr. Wilde's direction, and unpleasant to feel him come closer. But you are intrigued, and this momentary pause is all he needs to get close enough. You listen, and he speaks.

[Words of Wisdom: 3]

The oscillating wave of light goes mad before your eyes as he rants defiant of reality and logic, the signal overpowering your senses and threatening to squeeze your brain out of your skull by the sheer forceful drive of its information burrowing into your mind and overflowing. You flail and let your murder-thought fly to make it stop, but Mr. Wilde is impossible to hit, his silhouette indistinct, blending with the wave, as much a figment of your imagination now as anything else you think you see.

The message is hard to grasp, continuing in circles and coming from many directions, containing multitudes of threads and thoughts tied into knots beyond comprehension or unpacking as it overwhelms your interpretation. What little makes it through is admonishment - you fool, north, lights, doom. And it only grows more incoherent still, referring to concepts you have not the sensory ability to even guess at, let alone understand, layers and levels bleeding in as something not at all Wilde, but something undeniably related in some nebulous fashion, screams at you, screams at El. The message travels through infinite configurations, and for an instant it comes into focus, and three thoughts exactly resolve themselves, a mere sampling of a vast signal that washes over your mind.

El has no king. El has no secrets. El has no purpose.

Mr. Wilde, glowing with pent-up energy, flashes with light, the rift on his face a perfect imitation of the wave in your sight, and from residual revelation you feel an unnameable change permeate the air as you are blinded for a few seconds.

When you can see again, Mr. Wilde is utterly gone, the only trace of his passing being a blackened scar on the ground.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 04, 2016, 01:18:33 pm
"Uh huh." What, is this guy not afraid of weird magic shit? His problem, I guess.

I look back at the doctor. "Where are you trying to go? We can probably head over there after the 'light show' ends."

She doesn't know! Things have, she admits, stopped making much sense even in the nonsense kind of way they did before. She'd like to check if her father's all right, and get some clothes. Maybe shelter as well. Honestly, you look like you could use the same thing. So, she shrugs, maybe you can look together? Mr. Minstep seems quite set on going northward, but she thinks she speaks for both of you when she thinks that the north is no place for people to be around without any form of clothing or supplies. Joining the Rabbits is a doubtful proposition at the best of times - this is just asking for death by exposure or worse, capture by roving clanfolk.

On the bright side, though, the light show seems to be ending on its own, she points at the sky. At least she thinks it's ending - her astrological education, while comprehensive, sure as shit didn't cover anything like this.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 05, 2016, 11:41:12 am
"Oh come on now, you are a hypocrite if you claim you wouldn't be sampling your own products. No healer would have that big variety of spirits if not for sampling their own medicine. So why not share a little? I can offer some good vodka fruits of my own in exchange, even if it isn't exactly real."

Accusation of hypocrisy.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on November 05, 2016, 11:42:20 am
"...fucking ow.

I suppose that was telling me not to go to El. Or something. North doom lights? Fucking ... better not be more of those damn flying Viking shits."

Take what parts of the message got through and put them in my well-given extradimensional thought storage space. Then head ... I dunno. Message said north, but I'm still a bloody noodle for the most part, I need a meatshield if I'm gonna be travelling alone. Head to Anglefork town, I suppose.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 05, 2016, 11:53:39 am
"Oh, right, of course, excuse me.  Um... I'm not sure that I did?  I'm sure he left with one of the big groups, though.  And... clothes?  All I really have is what I am wearing, though I could give you this shirt if we could get it off.  It's a bit tight.  Otherwise, I'm headed north to uh... To Be Announced?"

I didn't see him, did I?  Offer anyway.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 06, 2016, 07:43:11 am
"Hm, clothes are definitely a priority. Do you know of any other nearby towns or settlements?"

While we're talking I briefly peek out of the ditch to see if the rainbow is still doing its weird invasive magic thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 06, 2016, 09:11:27 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 05, 2016, 11:41:12 am
"Oh come on now, you are a hypocrite if you claim you wouldn't be sampling your own products. No healer would have that big variety of spirits if not for sampling their own medicine. So why not share a little? I can offer some good vodka fruits of my own in exchange, even if it isn't exactly real."

Accusation of hypocrisy.

Supplies are scarce, you should not be here and time is short. Leave. Your prattling irritates her.

[Out With You: 5]

You feel the healer stare at you with many inhospitable eyes, stepping soundlessly between you and the rest of the tent. However, she seems either unwilling to eject you herself or fairly confident that she would be unable to do so on her own. However, something about her stare does tell you she's the sort of clanswoman that would be rather unwise to annoy unless you're entirely unconcerned with wearing out your welcome.

Quote from: Xantalos on November 05, 2016, 11:42:20 am
"...fucking ow.

I suppose that was telling me not to go to El. Or something. North doom lights? Fucking ... better not be more of those damn flying Viking shits."

Take what parts of the message got through and put them in my well-given extradimensional thought storage space. Then head ... I dunno. Message said north, but I'm still a bloody noodle for the most part, I need a meatshield if I'm gonna be travelling alone. Head to Anglefork town, I suppose.

Planting messages in your garden of souls is like sticking hams into flowerbeds, charmingly quaint yet completely unhelpful, at least for what you're trying to do. Not to mention trying to memorize and repeat the mental equivalent of white noise, which rather compounds the issue. The signal was there, and now it's gone. What you could take with you, you already did.

So instead you head into Anglefork Town, which seems to have mostly collapsed. You pass several outlying farms currently in the process of being looted by the cartload at the hands of the royal and castle guards assisted by ravenous castle residents chasing stoatman stragglers and their human sympathizers (or, well, people they'll call sympathizers when anyone asks) and beating them with whatever they've managed to catch on the way. Scenes of wolfpacks of starved servants kicking the shit out of defiant farmers mingle with frightened townsfolk carting out stores of meat and wine from remaining uncollapsed cellars to gangs of guards rubbing their hands with bared teeth and eyes like dinnerplates, and following the overall procession of goods leads you deeper in. Every now and then you pass a tree from which the thoroughly looted body of a stoatman is unceremoniously hanged by its feet, each bearing its very own creative variation of stab wounds, dismemberment and fresh blood that's by now stopped pouring from empty arteries. You pass one tree in particular where what must have been a whole militia patrol hangs side by side, their surrender having no doubt made stringing them up a simple matter.

Eventually you come to the nerve center of this atrocity in progress, where upon the ruins of the town hall the young queen, the lord of the castle and a cadre of the least aggressive servants are holding an awkward picnic as their minions bring back supplies and goods, piling barrels and sacks into whole mountains of loot. The queen and her adjutants appear to be doing their best to try and ignore the bloodstains on quite a few of the supplies with the help of a polishing line of servants with trusty rags, but their worried looks speak to you of a certain distaste for the whole affair. Or maybe for the line of well-dressed stoatman prisoners kneeling by the hall, watched very carefully over by spear-wielding guardsmen who patrol at their backs while the minder girl and her few remaining students float along the front, passing their hand over their black-bagged heads unsteadily every now and then.

It's a busy evening in Anglefork Town, and from the shouting and motion emanating from the direction of the docks you gather there is still some sort of fighting occurring.

Quote from: Toaster on November 05, 2016, 11:53:39 am
"Oh, right, of course, excuse me.  Um... I'm not sure that I did?  I'm sure he left with one of the big groups, though.  And... clothes?  All I really have is what I am wearing, though I could give you this shirt if we could get it off.  It's a bit tight.  Otherwise, I'm headed north to uh... To Be Announced?"

I didn't see him, did I?  Offer anyway.

Keep the dress, Mr. Minstep. It seems like you've grown into it. Or at least torn it to accommodate your... proportions, no offense. She'd rather find something less used, if you don't mind. Good luck on your travels - the North could use more friendly souls like you in its high wilderness.

Word of advice, however, Anglefork is the last civilized place you are likely to run into before Elizabeth - they were planning to make another outpost to the north as the road grew longer, perhaps all the way by the great notch - this was before the kingdom collapsed, however, so temper your expectations. The place was not in frequent communication with the rest of the country even before the splintering came to a head.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 06, 2016, 07:43:11 am
"Hm, clothes are definitely a priority. Do you know of any other nearby towns or settlements?"

While we're talking I briefly peek out of the ditch to see if the rainbow is still doing its weird invasive magic thing.

Anglefork is just over that way, the doctor points southward along the road. Other than that, there may be outlying villages and farmsteads, but those tend to be... peculiar. Or meticulously hidden. Or both. Often both. The wilderness becomes increasingly unsafe the further you get from castles and roads, and its inhabitants increasingly unbound by good sense and the laws of physics, and that's when they haven't been subsumed by Stork changelings, ruined by a Dragon deep raid, made destitute by Monkeys, driven mad by the nearness of the Corner or run off to try and invariably fail to join the other unintegrated for safety. It's a societal ecology as old as the Interregnum, and infrastructure has done little to soothe the troubles of those desperate enough to seek their fortunes there.

As she speaks, you peek out from the ditch. That rainbow seems to have dimmed significantly, and only seems to be subsiding further. It seems relatively uninterested in you, fortunately, and appears to have conducted its pressing business adequately enough.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 06, 2016, 09:59:59 am
"Ah, well, thank you for your advice.  Good luck on finding a shirt!"

Onward to TBA!  Maybe even for real this time!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 06, 2016, 11:26:53 am
"I guess we should look for clothes in Anglefork then. And maybe we'll run into someone there who's seen your father." I hop out of the ditch and head south towards the town.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 06, 2016, 12:14:38 pm
*Sounds of disappointment*

"Fun hating brunnmigi.."

Wander back to where I left Lee and cover my growing disappointment with healthy dose of vodka fruits.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on November 06, 2016, 01:46:51 pm
"Hiya queen. Oh and look, everyone else too. Right, right, good. Someplace to recuperate, hopefully. Do you folks have any objection to me taking one of those prisoners you have over there? I just need one."

Just kinda say this to no one in particular as I worm towards the stoatmen prisoners. Entreaty the guards to give me one of them.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on November 07, 2016, 02:08:34 pm
"Oh. Ah. Daniels? Are you there? Mr. Minstep? Nately?"
Look around a bit. Is the sky-rift still there? Anyone else about?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 08, 2016, 02:14:09 pm
Quote from: Toaster on November 06, 2016, 09:59:59 am
"Ah, well, thank you for your advice.  Good luck on finding a shirt!"

Onward to TBA!  Maybe even for real this time!

And good luck finding... whatever it is you are hoping to find in the North, Mr. Minstep. God knows you'll need it.

On that rather ominous remark you bid the good doctor and Ms. Minett farewell, and head northward at a steady pace, minding not the encroaching dark, the way the ground seems to have bunched up in places and torn itself open in others and the increasing number of glowing craters of toxic waste. It makes for a slightly circuitous journey as you navigate along the woods, trying to follow the increasingly erratic course of the road and, when that starts to fail more often than not, the almost as erratic course of the river.

[The Hero's Journey: 5]

There are distant lights here and there, and Polaris shines bright up above with a brightness that makes you wonder if this is perhaps one of those astronomer parks. The Australian fauna appears rather quiet in the wake of the previous day's massive upheavals, having sensibly vacated the area for safer southern climes. As such your journey seems destined to be something of a lonely one, although not entirely unpleasant. You almost feel like an explorer as the wilderness starts to overtake signs of human construction, and side trails from the road, when not destroyed entirely, become vanishingly rare. You even pass a few trails that lead straight toward craters nearly a hundred yards wide. What might have been there once is rather difficult to say.

Some ten to fifteen miles out, however, civilization has all but ceased. All that is left ahead, as a signpost fallen across the road eagerly promises after you manage to trip on it in the dark, is TBA.

[Still In Development: 4]

As you might expect of an as-of-yet unannounced colony, there's hardly more than foundations and half-built walls in place, with most of the former interrupted by sizable, chained craters and most of the latter having fallen over in the quake. The only thing that could be vaguely described as standing is what looks like a watchtower - a vaguely pyramidal structure of iron and stone, once reinforced to weather an age of abandonment and destitution. Right now it seems to be halfway imitating the Leaning Tower of Pisa, mostly on account of a good chunk of it being blown off, the missing cavities at several points emitting slow plumes of white bubbles. As such, the tower is very visible even now, just before dawn, if seemingly entirely unoccupied.

The grounds around the tower, mostly ruined though they may be, are anything but empty, however. You see many figures ambling around wearing strange masks with long, orange beaks that a lot of them are holding in both hands in what you assume is an expression of concern. Quite a few - women and men in equal number - appear to have taken to wailing, and many others seem to have huddled around small fires built of whatever is left in the area. Children, masked just like their parents, either huddle around the same fires or are standing at the precipices of the craters, looking down into them. The scene is one of chaos - nobody knows anything, everybody is confused, frightened.

And in the midst of this, you see two familiar faces atop one of the taller unbuilt ruins. An elderly man in the armor of the castle guard whose features are alive with disturbing satisfaction, and his trusty turnkey, who unblinkingly stares at the surrounding area. Next to them is a young and rather attractive-looking woman glancing around with little faith, periodically moving closer to the turnkey before he consequently steps away, then toward the captain, who does the same. They perform a strange dance atop the foundation stones, only the woman saying so much as a few words every now and then, only to be met with silence from her two companions.

Off in the distance you see a bright light along the horizon. You might have mistaken it for the sun if you did not know for a fact that the sun doesn't rise from the north.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 06, 2016, 11:26:53 am
"I guess we should look for clothes in Anglefork then. And maybe we'll run into someone there who's seen your father." I hop out of the ditch and head south towards the town.

You head south with the doctor and bear witness to a quake-torn countryside being looted by the Queen's finest. Stoatmen hang from the trees in places, and food stores are carted by those complying with the directives of the guards, spurred on by the wealth of examples made of those that refused to do the same. It's a grim journey through the dusk, and nudity does little to lighten the overall experience. You get the sense a lot of stress is being worked out here as you notice something starting to burn off to the other side of town.

[Surveying The Ruins: 3]

You pass one particular farmstead and notice a rather tranquil red-nosed guardswoman sitting atop a cart of grain as she munches on bread and ham, a gangly, starved and beaten, but seemingly very happy farmer lying by her side. They seem to be watching the sunset together while several friends of hers are swapping stories with a group of very raggedy-looking children, also enjoying rather bountiful lunches. The farmhouse behind them seems to have seen far better days, having collapsed at least halfway in on itself, but the folk present don't appear to mind much, being more in the mood to relax and enjoy a rather pleasant evening after what seems to have been a busy hour or two of pillaging.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 06, 2016, 12:14:38 pm
*Sounds of disappointment*

"Fun hating brunnmigi.."

Wander back to where I left Lee and cover my growing disappointment with healthy dose of vodka fruits.

You shove off and try to find your way back to the tent - would it really kill these people to leave some kind of marker around all these near-identical teepees?

[Footsteps In The Dark: 3]

As it is, it's a bit of a heroic effort to find much of anything - it takes you all too long to try and retrace your steps back to the great oak you initially rested under, where your fire still seems to be burning in the pre-dawn darkness. From here it takes you a few minutes to recall the overall direction of Rose's tent. In fact, you are about to head that way when you notice none other than Lee come out at you, still looking rather exhausted, but seemingly put out enough to keep moving regardless.

She notices you easily enough as she comes out of the circle of tents, and is about to say something before she pauses and looks you over, narrowing her eyes. The colors, she says, pointing at your robe. They are not yours. She steps closer. Where did you steal them from?

Quote from: Xantalos on November 06, 2016, 01:46:51 pm
"Hiya queen. Oh and look, everyone else too. Right, right, good. Someplace to recuperate, hopefully. Do you folks have any objection to me taking one of those prisoners you have over there? I just need one."

Just kinda say this to no one in particular as I worm towards the stoatmen prisoners. Entreaty the guards to give me one of them.

The queen looks at you briefly and it takes her a moment of whether you being naked or you being a noodle person is worthy of more thought. She gets as far as surprisingly loudly returning your greeting before the lord of the keep covers her eyes for the sake of your modesty. Not particularly minding this, you step over to the people by the prisoners.

[Hostage Negotiation: 4]

As soon as you ask a question, the minder girl floats out of the way. No sir, she's quite done with the prisoners. They probably didn't have too many secrets anyw-

You can't have any of these, the guards interrupt the minder girl, giving you a level look. These are actually semi-important ones, so you can't just go slitting their throats or hanging them from trees and such. At least not before they're interrogated and the town's defenders have been fully dispatched and they're supplied for an expedition and so on and so on, you know how it is, a guard rattles off without particular conviction. So you'll have to get your own, another guard adds. She'd suggest the dockside warehouse if you're looking for any uncaptured - there's a bit of a siege going on there last she heard. Or maybe hunt down some stragglers in the streets if you're feeling lucky, but after the first pass over most of the area there should be relatively few left.

Quote from: TopHat on November 07, 2016, 02:08:34 pm
"Oh. Ah. Daniels? Are you there? Mr. Minstep? Nately?"
Look around a bit. Is the sky-rift still there? Anyone else about?

[Call of the Wild: 2]

The rift in the sky is gone, and if anyone is about, they don't feel like shouting back to you. Feels like you've gone a ways, but you'll be damned if you know where or in which direction. You walk out of the clearing and try to get your bearings.

[Where Did You Come From, Where Did You Go: 5]

You pass a few craters full of the same kind of light-stuff that the weird northern raiders were made of, and it takes you a considerable amount of time wandering before the forest starts to thin, transitioning to brushland upon rolling hills. Off in the distance you see a road, and a hazy, slender figure traveling a good distance away from it, moving soundlessly through the bush, the moon at her back. She's considerably ahead of you, and moving rather fast. A bit faster than you'd expect of a person blundering through the bush at the middle of the night, truth be told. Certainly a lot faster than your walking speed.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on November 08, 2016, 03:52:18 pm
"No no no you misunderstand me, I'm not gonna be killing them I just need to ... store one of them for a bit in case I find another ... well, you wouldn't understand. They'll be safe, no need to worry, I can even redeposit them in the world afterwards if need be. It's just safekeeping for both me and you."

Try to look convincing and not like ... the Xantalos archetype. If I do convince him, go put as many prisoners as he allows me into source storage space. At max 3 sources, I think it was.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 08, 2016, 08:54:25 pm
Well, that's a start, certainly.  "Ah, hello there!  I think you remember me, Thomas Minstep?  From the castle?  Yes, yes, good to see you too.  I'm passing through on my way northward; do you know what all those craters are?  Looks like this place is pretty damaged, you know."

Converse.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 09, 2016, 03:59:10 am
"Don't you go accusing me of stealing shit too! Rose gave this to me, said they salvaged it from Moth who died despite of their efforts to save his life, and frankly I need clothes more than dead do."

All these baseless accusations annoy me. Fix it with alcohol.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on November 09, 2016, 12:45:06 pm
"Hello there! What brings you travelling at this time of night?"
Address whatever this thing is and pray it's friendly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 09, 2016, 11:06:36 pm
"Hello," I say, waving to the group. "Have any of you looted an extra pair of clothes? I and my friend are each looking for some."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 10, 2016, 02:05:45 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on November 08, 2016, 03:52:18 pm
"No no no you misunderstand me, I'm not gonna be killing them I just need to ... store one of them for a bit in case I find another ... well, you wouldn't understand. They'll be safe, no need to worry, I can even redeposit them in the world afterwards if need be. It's just safekeeping for both me and you."

Try to look convincing and not like ... the Xantalos archetype. If I do convince him, go put as many prisoners as he allows me into source storage space. At max 3 sources, I think it was.

[You Cannot Grasp The True Form: 1]

What, the female guard says, you're gonna eat them like you did the prisoner back at the castle? Nuh uh, no way. No, you say! Haha! No, you're not going to eat them quite like you did the prisoner! For one, they won't die even after you do it. At least you don't think. And you can totally vomit them out later, none the worse for wear!

That does sound endearingly perverse, the guard replies, but maybe after they don't need them anymore. Depends on what the queen and the captain say on the matter. And how well-behaved they are, she adds as she pokes a spear into the back of a fidgeting stoatman who whimpers into the bag over her head.

Quote from: Toaster on November 08, 2016, 08:54:25 pm
Well, that's a start, certainly.  "Ah, hello there!  I think you remember me, Thomas Minstep?  From the castle?  Yes, yes, good to see you too.  I'm passing through on my way northward; do you know what all those craters are?  Looks like this place is pretty damaged, you know."

Converse.

The woman is the first to respond, stepping out from behind the other two. Hello, Thomas, she says. The turnkey glances at her, then at you, then taps the elderly guard, who pauses in his regard of the surroundings to look squarely at you - the turnkey blinks in recognition, and the guard nods.

You do seem vaguely familiar, he remarks, though not altogether remarkable apart from your strange choice of wardrobe. Ambivalent greetings. As for your question, he continues, the land has been struck by both an earthquake of an extreme magnitude and what looked like naval vessels and miscellaneous objects raining from the sky, exploding violently upon impact. He looks you over a little longer. He does begin to recall you - you were hit by one such object, were you not? Would you happen to have any impressions you could share? Perhaps a guess as to why it failed to explode upon hitting you?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 09, 2016, 03:59:10 am
"Don't you go accusing me of stealing shit too! Rose gave this to me, said they salvaged it from Moth who died despite of their efforts to save his life, and frankly I need clothes more than dead do."

All these baseless accusations annoy me. Fix it with alcohol.

[Compelled To Explain: 3]

The colors are stolen - they belong to the wearer even after death. They are to be burnt, Lee explains. Hand them over. She walks until she is right in front of you, looking very much serious about the demand. You sigh and take a moment to water your brain by squeezing a grapefruit of vodka over it, a pleasing warmth going through your skull and spreading through your spine as you get very rapidly brain-drunk. This does not at all help with coming up with a response.

Quote from: TopHat on November 09, 2016, 12:45:06 pm
"Hello there! What brings you travelling at this time of night?"
Address whatever this thing is and pray it's friendly.

[Voice in the Darkness: 2]

You shout after the creature running off in the distance. You see it turn vaguely, its shape indistinct, shifting. Oh, it says in a woman's voice! Oh, don't look! Don't look, she warns before starting to run away even faster, getting down on all fours (although for all you can see, she could have any number of limbs, and even considering the matter makes your head hurt a little). Oddly enough this sounds like peculiarly good advice, some element of your worse nature almost compelling you to look away as she takes off at a rapid pace. Of course, she is still moving in mostly a straight line, so if you felt like following her, it seems inevitable you'd catch up with her eventually when she feels like stopping.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 09, 2016, 11:06:36 pm
"Hello," I say, waving to the group. "Have any of you looted an extra pair of clothes? I and my friend are each looking for some."

[Lean Times In Anglefork Town: 6]

Looted, the beaten man next to the guard rises from the cart. Why, the nerve. The sheer nerve! To be accused of looting in his own home! Is long-sought freedom to be but another indignity to suffer through! Is it not enough that he had to slay the foul servant who had usurped his homemaker's mantle, now naked strangers must wander in and accuse him of being some sort of vagabond? He'll have you know this was all liberated from the stoatman oppressors. All of his and his wife's stuff, if you must know. Plus interest, the guardswoman adds. Plus damages, the man furiously corrects, a vein pulsing gently at his temple.

That's all very troubling and all, the good doctor mentions, but that does not really help with the nakedness and such. Don't suppose he'd have something to spare for two women on the road without a penny to their names, having come into such good fortune as of late?

Aha, he says, when you put it that way, perhaps he would. You could dig around the old farmhouse, the guardwoman suggests, she recalls having at least one dress that she's unlikely to fit into anymore. As long as it doesn't collapse on you it should be perfectly fine. The husband nods. He supposes you could at that! And perhaps retrieve anything else that looks valuable, because he'll be damned if he's risking his newfound liberty at the hands of his father-in-law's shoddy architecture.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 10, 2016, 03:31:09 pm
Ah, alcohol is indeed a solution! Innuendo!

"You wanted to see me naked so badly? Well, you should have told me so! Behold!"

Undress slowly, gauging her reaction.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on November 10, 2016, 04:48:24 pm
"Kay, I really just need the one honestly. Hey captain! Guard captain or whatever! Gimme one of the disposable prisoners for me to store!
...
Please!"

Try a completely novel tactic and be polite.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 10, 2016, 09:45:58 pm
Thomas shrugged.  "Well, I'm no sailor, but I have seen a few boating accidents; at least the aftermath of them.  Boat insurance is one of the many products we offer at Sureness Assurance, you know.  Anyway, it is my understanding that boats typically do not explode when they run into things.  It felt quite reasonably solid and non-exploding.  Perhaps the exploding ones were actually meteorites?  I'm not sure what time of year Australia is subject to meteor showers."

Converse.  Understanding space debris is not one of Thomas's strong points, except how it pertains to insurance.  If it hits your car, you better have comprehensive.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 11, 2016, 06:58:04 am
Rummaging around in a rickety house sounds fun. Or dangerous. Maybe both.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on November 11, 2016, 02:04:29 pm
"Bye then."
Strange. Well, I'm sure there's a reason for her behaviour.
Speaking of seeing, how's the Measure doing? Hope it took the Words well...
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 12, 2016, 06:30:46 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 10, 2016, 03:31:09 pm
Ah, alcohol is indeed a solution! Innuendo!

"You wanted to see me naked so badly? Well, you should have told me so! Behold!"

Undress slowly, gauging her reaction.

You decide to take off your robe in the manner of a bar fly who's got lucky - slow and a mite wobbly, swimming against a stream of booze in your effort to be even vaguely seductive.

[Behold The Holy Presence: 2]

Lee does not take her eyes off you during the process. Or, to be more specific, she does not take her eyes off the robe, and you seem to be an unfortunate byproduct of the scene. As you wiggle your way out of the thing and lift it up for her enjoyment, she takes it off your hands rather gingerly, and regards it for a few moments to check its overall condition. It takes a few moments, and when she's done, she looks back at you by default. You offer a grin. She glances down briefly, raising an eyebrow, then looks at you again, seemingly very unimpressed. Saying nothing, she walks to the oak and starts gathering up dry twigs, unwilling to entrust the robe to what remains of your white fire.

Quote from: Xantalos on November 10, 2016, 04:48:24 pm
"Kay, I really just need the one honestly. Hey captain! Guard captain or whatever! Gimme one of the disposable prisoners for me to store!
...
Please!"

Try a completely novel tactic and be polite.

The captain's not around, the guards say after you spend a few moments shouting at nobody in particular, since the . She's at the forward command post, which is to say she's shouting at people by the warehouse. Besides, one of them adds, the point is that these aren't disposable prisoners. There'd be hardly any problem if they were, would there?

Quote from: Toaster on November 10, 2016, 09:45:58 pm
Thomas shrugged.  "Well, I'm no sailor, but I have seen a few boating accidents; at least the aftermath of them.  Boat insurance is one of the many products we offer at Sureness Assurance, you know.  Anyway, it is my understanding that boats typically do not explode when they run into things.  It felt quite reasonably solid and non-exploding.  Perhaps the exploding ones were actually meteorites?  I'm not sure what time of year Australia is subject to meteor showers."

Converse.  Understanding space debris is not one of Thomas's strong points, except how it pertains to insurance.  If it hits your car, you better have comprehensive.

[Consideration of Risks: 5]

The elderly fellow gives this some thought. Very reasonable point. Though if he recalls correctly those would be meteors rather than meteorites. A meteorite would imply that there is anything that remains of the impacting meteor. He steps slowly off the foundation, trailed by the turnkey and lovely girl, both of whom keep an eye on you as their leader passes you by, beckoning to follow as you walk through the devastation and the masked people milling about and lamenting their cruel fates.

Indeed, he continues, it is very possible that the exploding ones were not boats at all. Or at least not far enough from boats in concept to explode satisfyingly upon contact with the ground. But similarly they are unlikely to be meteorites in any conventional sense, he says as he leads you up to the edge of a crater, where you see another of those pools of glowing toxic waste. You are about to bring up how standing here might not be the best idea, but the guard goes on - observe the crater. It seems to be filled with some kind of liquid matter with fascinating properties, which may be remains of the meteorite that have melted - this, however, does not satisfactorily explain how the meteors in question maintained apparent solidity on the way down. In fact, they resemble lava to a greater degree, if considerably cooler than he would assume lava to normally be, which would hint at it emanating from the earth below, unable to bubble over due to insufficient pressure from deep below.

This idea, he goes on in a monotone, is supported by the nearby faultline - the northern notch - which seems to have similarly overflowed with matter of an identical nature, except slightly fuzzier and considerably more disturbing to find oneself in the vicinity of. It is difficult to say for sure, but one would strongly suspect that there is a causal link between the happenings there and the shower of so-called meteors coming in from the north. And truthfully, the obviously unusual nature of this event - meteor showers here are a very rare occurrence, particularly ones of northward origin - would point toward all of this being some form of force majeure - unpreventable, unpredictable and absolutely uninsurable.

What does it matter what caused this, the lovely girl asks, and you notice she seems to be standing behind you now. It's a disaster! Shouldn't there be something you all can do about this?

The elderly guard thinks. Why, yes, of course. But before anything at all can and should be done, one should take a moment to appreciate the madness, and look for its appropriate method. How else would one prepare themselves against it happening again? Even if it is an act of god, one shouldn't just lay down and just take such treatment from an indifferent and only possibly existent power. Or, more simply, if a given god is set to make an enemy of you, it's only fair to respond in kind, no?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 11, 2016, 06:58:04 am
Rummaging around in a rickety house sounds fun. Or dangerous. Maybe both.

[Occupational Safety: 6]

You head in first - the doctor follows despite her doubts about the idea. The house, considerably larger than you would expect of a country farmstead, creaks and shifts as you struggle to pull open the door that has settled poorly in its crooked frame. You are keenly aware of all the people outside looking on as you do, wondering with mild excitement if you know what a terrible mistake you may have just made. You step over the threshold and the plank floor bends a little. You hear something gently roll along the inclined floor. Quite a few of the furnishings are jostled out of place, and you think one of the walls is very slowly caving in on the far side of the main room. A pot seems to have fallen off the hook over the hearth. Everything is still gently swaying from your entrance. This seems to be the safest room in the house, being merely unnervingly imbalanced rather than actively dangerous at every point. As such it's hardly surprising that it's been clearly liberated of its valuables apart from one corner where the roof seems particularly precarious - there you see a large and rather comfy-looking chair, over which a sumptuously ornamented woolen blanket is draped.

A misshapen doorframe with a curtain gently wafting from the house's constant swaying leads to what looks like a kitchen, and an outwardly bent door blocks the way to what you would guess are bedrooms. There's also a third door of unclear purpose off to the other side of the room from the two others - right in front of this one you see resting a spear-wielding stoatman's body, stabbed in the chest with a spear and left in place when that side of the room no doubt started to bend inwards from him pushing up against the door.

This does not seem very sa- oh, the doctor says as the sound of her voice causes something to fall and shatter in one of the nearby rooms. Looks like a late Interregnum house, she whispers meaningfully, so best tread very carefully. They get like this with age, she's heard, even without earthquakes at work.

Quote from: TopHat on November 11, 2016, 02:04:29 pm
"Bye then."
Strange. Well, I'm sure there's a reason for her behaviour.
Speaking of seeing, how's the Measure doing? Hope it took the Words well...

You watch the perplexing woman run off as you stop and take a moment to look over whether the passage of time has given you any extra data.

The measure seems to be very much indecisive about whether it is done or not. You suspect feeding it something that very literally silences revelation may not have been the greatest idea, as now you seem to have absolutely whether it's done or not, and whether it can even possibly be done at all. Hm.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 12, 2016, 08:05:36 am
"Hoi Baldr, what I'm doing wrong here?"

As far as funeral rites go, burning the body is fine way. Help and pray original owner of the cloth got taken to Valhalla, Fólkvangr or Gimlé.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 12, 2016, 10:56:06 am
Thomas's eyes glazed over a bit.  "Um, sure, meteors.  Hey, that sounds like something my sister said once, about shouting against the storm.  I can't remember the context, though.  But, uh, I don't think one can really strike against a force of nature, no?"

Thomas found himself edging away from the crater a bit.

Keep talking.  Also back off a bit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on November 12, 2016, 02:26:42 pm
[color]"... I'm an idiot."[/color]
Well, anyway, better get moving. El's to the West, Daniels is heading to El, so East it is.
Find Polaris, head East using that. If the constellations are even the same here, that is. Failing that, make an uneducated guess. Nothing else to do until daylight.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on November 12, 2016, 09:11:47 pm
"Well I need one and I'm not going to get any more. Look at me, I'm 95% noodle right now. Besides, like I said, they're not gonna be killed and if you need to interrogate them again or something I can just put them back out."

C'mon I gotta get at least one please guards queen anyone
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 13, 2016, 09:25:49 am
"Okay, we should probably get in and out in a hurry, so there's no time to waste. Let's go straight for the good stuff."

I make my way through the door with the dead stoat guard.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 13, 2016, 05:14:19 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 12, 2016, 08:05:36 am
"Hoi Baldr, what I'm doing wrong here?"

As far as funeral rites go, burning the body is fine way. Help and pray original owner of the cloth got taken to Valhalla, Fólkvangr or Gimlé.

Baldr isn't quite sure what went wrong. Hitting on women while they're asking you to respectfully obey the funerary rituals of their culture has worked pretty well for him in the past. Then again, viking funerals are pretty hot, and it's just not the same if you can't romantically watch a boat float away while it's on fire.

[A Lovely Funeral: 5]

You decide to help Lee out, gathering twigs and dry grass for a respectable fire that it takes the two of you only a couple of minutes to get to smoke gently, then eventually erupt into a small flame after a few minutes of blowing on it. The flame crackling away, Lee unfolds the robe and, rising to her feet from a previous kneeling position, lowers it gently into the fire - a tongue of flame licks it, and it begins to slowly smoke, then catch on fire as well. She adds it to the fire in a ceremonial fashion, folding it into a neat pile that begins to joyfully burn, and kneels back down. She begins to mutter the requisite words, closing her eyes.

[You Will Never Break The Chain: 6]

You do the same, but you continue to see her, a bright kernel of memory in your mind's eye as she brings back what she was once taught to recite by heart. A little inebriated and curious, you fail to resist. You engage.

Let your way in the world be silent, dear Moth, and let your colors be invisible. And now that you have passed, let no trace of you remain, and let nothing slow you as you go into the night where you belong.

You travel up the chain, and start picking away at the sensations - the night air, the crackling of the flame, the smell of smoke as the robe's strange fabrics slowly burn away. You drag away the subtlest first, the sounds of the wind disappear unnoticed, then the sound of distant motions in the camp, then the light of the fire shining through your eyelids, leaving you in perfect darkness.

Let your name be gone, and never said again upon the sunlit earth, so that you may be in death as you were in life. Let no eyes behold you in the halls of the dead, and your passage be as easy here as it is there.

You compact the fire into its component sensations, and operate upon the knowledge they bestow. You formulate the fire as a perfect image - not what your senses bestow upon you, but the underlying reality that they reflect. The fire becomes not a phenomenon, but rather a concept. An abstracted concept between your two hands, momentarily limitless in potential. You press them together around the flame, and the crackling quiets, the smoke ceases, and for a moment you (and Lee, for your perceptions are very much shared in this moment, even absorbed as she is in the chanting).

Let your flight be quick, and carry you to the hidden place behind the veil of knowledge, so that you may find the ground from which you were spawned. Let nobody follow you into the home of the Moth, and your soul find eternal quiet and rest in the nothingness that awaits.

You pull your palms apart without a sound, and you and Lee open your eyes in perfect sync as you exhale. The fire is gone, as is its fuel, extinct without a trace beyond the two of you still kneeling around its former place. The only thing that remains is a profound sense of never-there, and Lee leans forward as she puts her hands where she recalls the fire to have been with a look of genuine wonder, finding nothing. No ash, and the grass seems almost primordially undisturbed.

No mere minder trick, she says with a noticeable sense of relief. Not any she has seen. You keep the feeling of closure in the air as she chooses to say no more, and merely smile as she looks to the sky, quietly reveling in the nullification. You keenly sense her emotions through the haze of alcohol as they radiate in gentle ripples from her mind, drinking in her satisfaction to the point where you involuntarily begin to smile as well. You regard the perfect symmetry for a moment before a distortion begins to sneak in, a little tapping on the side of this ideal picture of coherence. You frown, the high of the moment beginning to fade, and look to the side.

It's Rose, standing behind the tree, wondering why you're naked and kneeling face-to-face with the Moth woman - she inhales sharply as your eyes fall on her and ducks behind the trunk in a heady mix of fear and wishful thinking. Oddly enough this only makes her easier for you to see as you look on in the strange hyper-awareness and clarity of a man awoken from a vision.

Quote from: Toaster on November 12, 2016, 10:56:06 am
Thomas's eyes glazed over a bit.  "Um, sure, meteors.  Hey, that sounds like something my sister said once, about shouting against the storm.  I can't remember the context, though.  But, uh, I don't think one can really strike against a force of nature, no?"

Thomas found himself edging away from the crater a bit.

Keep talking.  Also back off a bit.

The guard follows you in lockstep with serpentine precision as he keeps up the monotone. Very true. Nature is indifferent, as you might expect. But there are many elements of it that hint at greater and deeper influences such as deities, demigods, overgods, spirits, djinn, faeries and any other variety of hobgoblin that you may be able to think of. These are the unnatural elements. For instance, would you believe that this pool of toxic waste illegally disposed of in the middle of the wilderness is explicable by a perfectly natural phenomenon? Indirectly, perhaps. Disobedience of sensible regulation is not unexpected. Despite this, there has to be someone disobeying such regulation. And someone with a motive for doing so.

In summary, somebody is responsible. And this somebody is presumably not entirely indifferent - it is inconvenienced, therefore it can be thwarted, harmed, hurt, injured and otherwise prevented from normal functioning. And it is thus the duty of all citizens and non-citizens alike to hunt down this somebody and force them to either pay restitution or be made incapable of perpetrating similar acts yet again. Perhaps by a summary removal of the hands or whatever other appendages it possesses. He has given this some thought, he says as he draws his sword and invites you to watch as he starts to draw diagrams on the ground for several elaborate proposals on how one would possibly dismember a god, considering such factors as size, shape, anthropomorphism and omnipotence. He explains at length, and the turnkey squats by the drawings, cocking his head and occasionally pointing at imprecisions that the guard proceeds to notice and meticulously correct.

He's going to be at this for a while, the woman whispers into your ear from behind, her hands on your shoulders as she leans in on you. It's best to ignore him.

Quote from: TopHat on November 12, 2016, 02:26:42 pm
"... I'm an idiot."
Well, anyway, better get moving. El's to the West, Daniels is heading to El, so East it is.
Find Polaris, head East using that. If the constellations are even the same here, that is. Failing that, make an uneducated guess. Nothing else to do until daylight.

[Astronomical Aptitude: 2]

You find Polaris rather easily - it's the brightest star in the night sky, a brightness to almost rival the moon. It hangs in the sky circled by a ring of smaller lights. You nod, getting the sense you've established a good sense of where to go, and proceed to head eastward, to the Kingdom of the Dead. It promises to be a long trip.

And a long trip indeed it is - you head east for a time, keeping the north star firmly to the left until it's drowned out by the approaching dawn, putting a great deal of distance between yourself and wherever it is that Mr. Daniels could possibly be heading. The landscape stays largely steady, although you eventually wander into the forest once again as the biomes curve around you.

[The Land of the Rising Sun: 4]

It is midday when you start noticing a change in the environment. The leaves on the trees begin to look greyer and paler, and the undergrowth starts to become waxy as you walk on. The birds seem quieter and you see a murder of crows rise from a nearby ancient oak tree. Pushing through the overgrown forest floor you head on, occasionally crossing a black, largely silent river or two, shallow enough to comfortably ford and slowly being choked with sediment and reeds. The landscape droops and grows wetter, the forest turning increasingly swampy and dark. You occasionally see figures in the distance, but they flee at the sight of you, some of them strangely bipedal-looking for wild animals.

Midday has turned to sunset again as the swamp grows thinner and the trees become stunted and blackened, and the watery swamp floor is coated in a thick layer of treacherous red moss. You are about to pause and consider whether this is a particularly good direction to keep going in when you notice a little path - a footbridge of what look to be assorted bones connecting little islands of relatively solid ground. It proceeds in two directions, one leading toward what looks like a lone shack further east in the bog, the other stretching south and east, zigzagging precariously with no end in sight.

Quote from: Xantalos on November 12, 2016, 09:11:47 pm
"Well I need one and I'm not going to get any more. Look at me, I'm 95% noodle right now. Besides, like I said, they're not gonna be killed and if you need to interrogate them again or something I can just put them back out."

C'mon I gotta get at least one please guards queen anyone

Look, the guard says, she's not sure how supernaturally devouring a stoat is going to help you become less of a grotesque noodleman and frankly she is confident she doesn't want to find out. So if you need one, why don't you go find a straggler or a pocket of resistance that hasn't been eliminated yet and grab them? You'd be doing a great service to the community.

[The Queen's Eye: 6]

Surely he can have one, the queen mentions, briefly poking her head out from under the lord's hands before he scrambles to cover her eyes again. She starts warding him off, clearly interested in what you might possibly want one of them so badly for, and the servants start crowding around them as they try to prevent a rather embarrassing slap fight from starting between the ruling teenage monarch and her rather old adjutant.

The guards all look at you. You look at them. They heard the queen, right? They sort of shrug. Okay. Maybe you can have one. But you better be ready to give it back if the commander comes back and wants to know something. So no chewing, okay?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 13, 2016, 09:25:49 am
"Okay, we should probably get in and out in a hurry, so there's no time to waste. Let's go straight for the good stuff."

I make my way through the door with the dead stoat guard.

You weave through the room, trying to not make anything collapse by moving in sync with the vibrations, and the doctor follows in your footsteps, imitating your motions. You scurry over to the door and pause to gently nudge the corpse out of the way with your foot.

[Impressive Constructions: 6]

The house creaks and shifts as you do so, but luckily that appears to not have been a load-bearing corpse. You pull the door - it opens slightly before you realize you're supposed to be pushing it, and after a minute of applying firm pressure, the doctor lending her shoulder to the effort, you push your way through. And not a moment too soon, for exactly as you tumble into the next hallway you hear and very much feel the room behind you start to fold in on itself as the roof meets the floor in places, all of it closing together like a set of jaws before it slowly and incompletely rises back to its original configuration.

Yes, about what you would expect, the doctor whispers. Disorderly to begin with, and poorly insulated against the madness of the earth. Best to not spend more time in here than absolutely necessary.

Speaking of, you now find yourself in a side room - a hallway, to be specific. It curves and twists, staircases leading upward into darkness and downward into light, both swaying and undulating in ways that make you dread walking upon them. On the side of either the hallways continue for a bit - there's a cubby beneath the staircase, you think, its door breathing and splintering as the staircase moves around it, and a desk slowly crawls from one side of the room to the other, an undisturbed vase of flowers standing on it, almost taunting you to examine it closer. A trail of blood leads along one of the walls, terminating at it in a person-shaped splotch, as if a man had stumbled into the paneling and somehow been ground through it. You step away from the nearby wall just in case.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on November 13, 2016, 09:27:12 pm
"Awesome, good, good."

Store a stoatman in my storage space! Check their reactions afterwards; if I'm lucky they might not notice because it kinda retcons them out of the universe temporarily and I'll be able to get more than one.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on November 14, 2016, 02:06:13 pm
Hmm. Well, it'd probably be best to get an idea of whether the place is inhabited or not before going in.
Sit on one of the islands, rest a bit whilst watching the shack.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 14, 2016, 02:58:50 pm
Fight to keep this state of hyper awareness! It's awesome!

"Why you are afraid?

We are finishing funeral rites. Death is one of three most profound events in one's life, so proper respects must be paid and rituals followed. Moth rites apparently involve burning one's posessions, sending them away with soul of dead. Very much like my people do, except we prefer burning the body and its posessions with a boat.

...Do you happen to have any pants that do not belong to anyone dead? I'm really out of luck with clothes."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 14, 2016, 05:05:07 pm
"Did people live here?"

I check the compartment under the stairs. Maybe it's a closet or something.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 15, 2016, 01:50:32 am
Thomas turned toward the woman, a bit surprised.  "Er!  Um, okay.  He raises a point, I suppose, but what do you make of all this?"

Converse differently.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 15, 2016, 02:39:36 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on November 13, 2016, 09:27:12 pm
"Awesome, good, good."

Store a stoatman in my storage space! Check their reactions afterwards; if I'm lucky they might not notice because it kinda retcons them out of the universe temporarily and I'll be able to get more than one.

[Give Them An Inch: 2]

You place your hand over one of the stoatmen, and let the emptiness within you take hold - set loose, it takes no longer than a second to consume the helpless, whimpering prisoner. A magistrate and arbiter, she oversaw the executions of over a hundred dissidents in the early days of the takeover. She feels much less proud about these now, you think, insofar as she may still feel anything at all, enveloped in nothingness as she is. You raise your hand, and the prisoner is there no longer. Perfectly absorbed.

Awesome, you say to the guards as they look on, not quite sure what just happened, good, good! Now to business, you say and begin to step over to the next one, hopeful you might get a couple more out of the bargain. You nearly manage to place your hand on the head of the next one in line before the sharpest of the guards pipes up - hey, there were six of these prisoners. And now there's five. Don't try to pull a fast one on them, she notes distrustfully. The other guards look as well, and seem to agree - yeah, weren't there six to begin with? Strange trick, they seem to all agree.

The queen, for her part, is still very busy trying to fend off the lord of the keep, and it's only by the time you're done that the two are gently separated by servants. All right, she says, are you ready to begin? He already did the thing, the astute guard says before you can go for doubling down on the bluff. See, there were six - now there's only five. Oh, the queen says. That was all? Strange trick, she comments.

Quote from: TopHat on November 14, 2016, 02:06:13 pm
Hmm. Well, it'd probably be best to get an idea of whether the place is inhabited or not before going in.
Sit on one of the islands, rest a bit whilst watching the shack.

You sit down on one of the more solid pieces of bogland, or at least one in which you sink slowly enough for it to be irrelevant, and watch the distant shack as you relax in the steady flow of damp and misery from further in the bog, a wasteland of peat moss offering little to contemplate beyond the scarce signs of habitation.

The shack itself looks very quiet and still from here, and there is no light in its windows or smoke from its chimney - or, for that matter, any sort of chimney. You're not sure if people are even meant to live there or if it serves some other purpose - a storehouse, perhaps, though what you would keep in a storehouse this far away from pretty much anything is a good question.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 14, 2016, 02:58:50 pm
Fight to keep this state of hyper awareness! It's awesome!

"Why you are afraid?

We are finishing funeral rites. Death is one of three most profound events in one's life, so proper respects must be paid and rituals followed. Moth rites apparently involve burning one's posessions, sending them away with soul of dead. Very much like my people do, except we prefer burning the body and its posessions with a boat.

...Do you happen to have any pants that do not belong to anyone dead? I'm really out of luck with clothes."

It's a matter of place rather than a matter of time. You are aware because you have this place very firmly in your mind, having spent time on absorbing its details - thus any disturbances, such as your good friend Rose, burn far brighter than they should, tiny signs adding up to very coherent images of the exact nature of any intruders.

[The Mind Is Like A Muscle: 5]

You don't actually need to say a word by that same measure. At least not aloud - you can convey yourself far more efficiently. You manifest your thoughts directly to the clanswoman, and through her acceptance of the message, as much through surprise as it is through willingness, allows you a handy in. This is even more helpful. You catch her fears and anxieties at play, the woman having not the time to hide them from you.

And what fears they seem to be. They stem from a single fact - whatever you are, you are certainly not what you seem to be. She seems uncertain, however, as to what exactly she thinks you might be. A friendly face on the road? An exotic, handsome foreign traveler? A human being? Of these she rather dearly hopes at least two are true.

She seems very open, so you decide upon a question. Could she help you find another set of clothes? You seem to have had terrible luck with them as of late. You rise from your position, turning fully toward her. She peeks out from behind the tree. Well, you sense her immediate thoughts, the current state of affairs doesn't really afford the worst of views, but- she begins to trail off with a glassy stare before snapping to attention. But of course! Of course! Wait here, she should have something on hand post-haste! And with that she runs off at a very sprightly pace, no doubt soon to return.

Strange people, these Gallflies, Lee says, looking you over as well. Thieves, but not deliberately so.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 14, 2016, 05:05:07 pm
"Did people live here?"

I check the compartment under the stairs. Maybe it's a closet or something.

They undoubtedly did, the doctor comments in a hushed tone, but it probably did not look this way when that was the case. The earthquake has upset the architecture on a metaphysical as much as a conventional level, she fears. There's no telling what you might find in here with north-stuff running wild in the walls. North-stuff, you ask. North-stuff, she shrugs. Madness, in more poetic terms. Or chaos - yes, chaos would be a good word. She's never seen this much chaos concentrated into a single structure, mind you. It's really something else, she must say, though she gets the feeling you'd be well-served in minding your step.

[Under the Staircase: 2]

You need to get a little rough with the door of the compartment to pull it open, and once you do it comes readily off its hinges. You rest it very gently against one of the walls, but the door just responds by starting to crawl upward along the paneling. Both you and the doctor stare for a minute as it makes a good three feet of progress, its movement slightly hypnotic in its mechanical precision, but then decide to get back to business.

The compartment seems to have been the living quarters, cramped and horrid enough to suggest a relatively unwanted or impoverished occupant. Beyond that it's hard to tell - the floor bends sharply upward, and a bed standing precariously on its edge within seems to be the only thing holding up the very shaky staircase leading upward. There is something behind it, however. A pile of stuff, you think? It's a little hard to see in the unlit corner.

Quote from: Toaster on November 15, 2016, 01:50:32 am
Thomas turned toward the woman, a bit surprised.  "Er!  Um, okay.  He raises a point, I suppose, but what do you make of all this?"

Converse differently.

The woman remains very much within what you would consider your personal space as you turn around. He does raise a point. A lot of points, very reasonable points, she says before placing her head on your shoulder and emitting the very barest of whispers. But they're both mad, she confides to you in a tone of sweet conspiracy. Please, you have to help her get out of here. She can't possibly get anywhere on her own. Could you help her?

Ah, you begin to say, but she shushes you. Don't say anything while they can hear. Just leave, and she'll follow. She raises her head and steps back, one of her hands running along your arm as she breaks contact. She nods and motions for you to turn back toward the elderly fellow, who seems to be presently droning on about eradication of aesthetics, or would that be the aesthetics of eradication? It's admittedly hard to follow without a background in applied deicide and/or raving lunacy.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 15, 2016, 03:33:00 pm
Yep, drunken warrior sage is the way to go.

Does this way of communicating work on Lee too?

Indeliberate thieves? Like crows who gather what they find on road and strikes their fancy? I see. Though their healer seemed to be less open about alcohol thievery. Have to rely on my own products. What you know about them?

Meditate Lee's teachings under influence of imaginary alcohol and put on clothes when they are delivered. Offer imaginary bottle of quality mead for anyone who's within arms reach and willing to partake, including myself (and I'm very willing, thanks for asking).
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Xantalos on November 15, 2016, 04:19:07 pm
Daniels shrugs.

"Had to try. Anyhow, if you need to know anything about her just let me know. I'll stick with you lot until I find the other thing I need. You have a bed anywhere?"

Beds? Beds please?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 15, 2016, 04:49:35 pm
I grab the stuff and get out of the compartment. Hopefully it's some nice clothes so we can leave.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: Toaster on November 16, 2016, 10:14:12 am
Thomas nodded quietly, and backed off to a quieter part of the town, such as it was.  "So what would you say is going on?" he asked once they were clear.

Talky talky
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Tearing the Stitches of Reality
Post by: TopHat on November 16, 2016, 12:29:29 pm
Let's have a look, then.
Go up to the shack and knock on the door. Take a closer look through the windows if there's no response.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 17, 2016, 07:20:47 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 15, 2016, 03:33:00 pm
Yep, drunken warrior sage is the way to go.

Does this way of communicating work on Lee too?

Indeliberate thieves? Like crows who gather what they find on road and strikes their fancy? I see. Though their healer seemed to be less open about alcohol thievery. Have to rely on my own products. What you know about them?

Meditate Lee's teachings under influence of imaginary alcohol and put on clothes when they are delivered. Offer imaginary bottle of quality mead for anyone who's within arms reach and willing to partake, including myself (and I'm very willing, thanks for asking).

You can communicate to Lee, and as you think in her direction she realizes she can do the same, which seems like a rather strange revelation to her.

[Freedom of Thought: 2]

Do you know what she's thinking, she seems to wonder? How long have you been listening? How much have you discovered? Did you figure out- no, perish the thought. Her eyes dart around as paranoia flares. Have you been listening the entire time? Can you hear her dreams? Oh dear. Wait. You can hear what she's thinking right now. Shit!

Okay, she blinks. Silence. Quiet. Emptiness. Now, she declares in words rather than thoughts, inhaling and stretching out her arms. Suddenly you can hear no more. She breathes calmly and deeply for a few moments with her eyes closes, shoring up her mind as slight whispers of old instructions bleed out of her consciousness.

She opens her eyes with an unreadable expression. There, she very deliberately and slowly says. That should do. She seems tense, you observe aloud. Would she like some mindbooze to settle her nerves? When she replies with an "absolutely not" that you hardly need minder skills to predict, you can only shrug. All right, more for you then! As always, you waste no time in getting wasted.

[A Shipment of Trousers: 1]

And it's quite fortunate that you do, for it seems like you might be here for a while, and Lee seems to be about as good a conversationalist as always, staring at you, the pupils of her eyes dilating and narrowing as she cycles through states of altered ego for the sake of scrambling her thoughts for unreadability.

You're not really paying that much attention to the time yourself, cycling through states of altered consciousness in your own way as you crouch down and proceed to get absolutely shitfaced on mindbooze. It's at about the time that you have difficulty getting up and the combination of cool ground and unfriendly wind starts to get to your giblets that you start to wonder if maybe Rose got lost someplace.

Quote from: Xantalos on November 15, 2016, 04:19:07 pm
Daniels shrugs.

"Had to try. Anyhow, if you need to know anything about her just let me know. I'll stick with you lot until I find the other thing I need. You have a bed anywhere?"

Beds? Beds please?

[Where A Man Might Find A Bed: 3]

The guards all look around. Well, this is the main square, and there's the inn, you should be- oh wait, the astute guard says as she notices the inn leaning a rather precipitous way, and that the gouts of smoke seem to be coming out of its windows rather than the chimneys. Maybe not the inn then, she says and scratches her head.

Try a house, another guard suggests offhandedly. Though try not to evict anyone - they did do a pass over this neighborhood, and anybody who hasn't been stabbed is supposed to be there and is at least a quasi-loyal subject of the queen and thus nominally under their unflinching protection. Basically if the front door isn't half-open and covered in telltale marks of violence, feel free to invade and sleep there. They're going to be leaving in not too long anyway.

Or you could look for an insurgent or two, the astute guard pipes up again. If you could direct your mystical powers of eating people and destroying shit toward something productive, such as pacifying the remaining pockets of resistance and saving them precious time better used for pillaging and preparing a caravan for the journey north, maybe they could see about actively taking care of your needs rather than what you're doing right now. Hint hint, she conspicuously appends without inflection.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 15, 2016, 04:49:35 pm
I grab the stuff and get out of the compartment. Hopefully it's some nice clothes so we can leave.

[Disturbing the Bedpost: 6]

You hold on to the bedpost as you maneuver through, steadying its wanton vibrations as you circle round it and plunge one hand into the pile of stuff in the corner.

The pile in question seems to be mostly made up of fabrics - more wool, specifically, dusty as hell and partly eaten by moths, which goes a long way toward explaining why they'd be left in a disorderly pile in a cubby such as this. You grab them anyway, noting each one to be some kind of cover for a chair or perhaps a sofa, and pass them one by one to the doctor with your free hand. In a few moments she has an armful of moth-eaten covers, and you find yourself at the bottom of the pile, where an old knife browned with rust and old blood in equal measure rests. You grab that too, figuring there's no point in leaving anything behind, and proceed out the compartment.

As you let go of the bed, the compartment wastes no time in buckling as its precarious balance is irrevocably disturbed, the staircase above bending and cracking as it detaches from the second floor hallway it used to lead to, swinging up and down precariously as the bed holding up the whole thing starts to ponderously break in half under the strain. The near wall starts to bend toward you as well, waggling back and forth out of sync with the staircase, almost daring you to try and get upstairs against such incredible odds.

The doctor looks at her moth-eaten collection of rags, then at your knife, trying to remain positive in the face of such meager loot.

Quote from: Toaster on November 16, 2016, 10:14:12 am
Thomas nodded quietly, and backed off to a quieter part of the town, such as it was.  "So what would you say is going on?" he asked once they were clear.

Talky talky

[A Lecture Interrupted: 4]

You start to back away. The elderly fellow does take note of this, but seems to care little, instead turning to explain more to the turnkey, switching gears into more advanced deicide theory. You hear something about antideific acts and supreme annihilation as you retreat along with the woman across a short distance, far enough to be out of comfortable earshot.

Thank you, she says as she looks back at the two crazy people, now carrying an incredibly one-sided conversation about the nature of... well, whatever it is they're really talking about now, you can't say you'd particularly care to know. It's been nightmarish following those two around, but what's a girl like her to do in the wilderness? Her name's Claire, by the way. She's not being too forward, is she, she asks as she leans closer, pressing gently into your arm. She smells rather noticeably of sawdust, mild sweat and perhaps a little wine.

Erm, you say, trying to remember what you were about to ask, ah yes - what would she say is going on? She looks around - well, she starts tapping her fingers on your back. Honestly, it is a little difficult to say. These look like members of the Stork Clan, she points at the surrounding wailing masses. She tried talking to a couple of them a little earlier... did not go very well, she has to admit. She's positive they speak her language, being Storks and all, you know how they are, but they seem a mite sensitive - they're mourning something, she presumes. Loved ones, or maybe just the disaster, but it's definitely thrown them off doing anything much of use. Maybe that's for the best, however. She's heard things about these clanfolk. Terrible things.

She rests her chin on your shoulder and furrows her brow as she looks up into your eyes. Doesn't she know you from somewhere? Were you around in Anglefork, perhaps? You look, she glances down at your rather tight blue dress, distinctive.

Quote from: TopHat on November 16, 2016, 12:29:29 pm
Let's have a look, then.
Go up to the shack and knock on the door. Take a closer look through the windows if there's no response.

You jump from island to island, your feet sinking into the ground as you do, and finally you make a heroic jump onto the footbridge. Getting closer, it seems to be unmistakably made of bone - human bone, you realize as you notice a pelvis acting as one of the joints.

[A Bridge Too Far: 3]

What you do not quite expect is the bones being more like rope than wood as they wrap themselves around your feet and you nearly wind up plunging headfirst into bogwater, only holding barely onto the ropy cadaverous knitwork by weight of sheer fumbling. Having something to hold on to is quite handy, it turns out, because otherwise you're fairly sure you would have made far more than a passing acquaintance with the bone-shattering cold of the bogwater.

As it is, you emerge atop the intertwined bones, your stomach barely touching water as you rest between two islands, where the bone bridge is anchored more firmly in place by metal posts. Not daring to balance on such a thing lest you go tumbling off, you nervously crawl toward the shack. It's tough going, but in about half an hour you make it.

It does look more and more like a shed as you draw closer, if a peculiarly large one. No consideration seems to have been given to such things as windows or chimneys, and the thing seems to be assembled mostly of driftwood much like what you'd occasionally see floating around in the swamp. Being upright has done little to address the overall dampness and rot. The whole thing is tied together with the same kind of soft bone as what the bridge was made of. There are two things of note outside the shack that you manage to see on the way - firstly, a bog-mummified, tuskless mammoth head resting above a door you are about a head too tall to easily pass through, staring at you with dead, empty sockets, its unhealthy complexion filling you with a nameless dread. The second is a large parcel hanging off from the higher end of the shack's half-gable roof, something well beyond the size of a horse wrapped up in a strikingly filthy tarp, completely failing to swing around in the wind.

[Helpful Residents: 5]

You decide to knock on the door, but your knuckles make little to no sound on the wet wood it's made of. Nevertheless there is a stirring, and you see a glint of eyeshine before a bony hand undoes a wooden latch on the door and it swings inward a tad as a head looking a lot like a skull wrapped in a thin, almost translucent layer of skin dotted with somewhat illogically placed long tufts of hair slowly wedges itself into the crack. Two solid black eyes regard you as a mouth slowly chews on its own cheek out of habit.

[The Face of Revelation: 2]

A long gurgle comes as the caretaker squints and backs off from your shining face, electing to speak from the comfort of the darkness within. Why so shiny, he complains in a belabored wheeze. Why not drab like other westerners. How supposed to warn direly if so shiny.

He leans toward the door, clearing a handful of phlegm from his throat before asking, rather simply, what is that you want.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 17, 2016, 08:41:51 am
"Only sense... since furrn-funeral started. Annd whhat a wundeerful it wash! Shimply beautiful!" Leif wobbles on his feets. "Dunno ya butterflies, buht we vik-*hic* vikings drink too! And sing!"

Leif dunkenly sings (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6loWrABr8gA), including sounds of instruments and other voices via minding and beatboxing. Appropriately ignoring the fact others may be sleeping. Maybe Rose can home in with this. Pass out when done.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on November 17, 2016, 11:27:10 am
"Hint hint my largely nonexistent at this point ass, don't take that tone with me young lady I'll cut your hamstrings I will.
Anyway, sounds alright. Where might I find these pockets of resistance?"

State-sponsored murder sounds like a good deal, I suppose. Where do I start?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 17, 2016, 01:42:42 pm
"Well... it's a start. Let's try another part of the house... I don't appreciate all the flailing going on here."

I make my way back to the entry room and then head for the bedrooms.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on November 17, 2016, 11:47:30 pm
Thomas edges back a little.  "Ah, uh, yes.  My name is Thomas Minstep, and I sell insurance for the Sureness Assurance company.  I helped out with the queen and the guard back at the castle before it fell over.  Perhaps we saw each other around the guard barracks?  I did some contract work for them."  Thomas patted the sword when he said that.  "Quite exciting, really."

Review what was done in the castle.  Indicate sword.  Recount that story in boring detail if requested.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on November 18, 2016, 04:33:18 pm
"Oh, sorry about that; nothing much I can do about it at the moment. I'm Oscar Wilde, by the way, pleased to meet you.
What do I want? Information, mainly. And preferably a place to stay for the night, if possible.
So what is this place and, if I may ask, who are you?"
Introductions.

((sorry for the delay))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 19, 2016, 06:52:31 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 17, 2016, 08:41:51 am
"Only sense... since furrn-funeral started. Annd whhat a wundeerful it wash! Shimply beautiful!" Leif wobbles on his feets. "Dunno ya butterflies, buht we vik-*hic* vikings drink too! And sing!"

Leif dunkenly sings (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6loWrABr8gA), including sounds of instruments and other voices via minding and beatboxing. Appropriately ignoring the fact others may be sleeping. Maybe Rose can home in with this. Pass out when done.

[The Song of My People: 1]

Your song is dunken indeed, dunken beyond any reckoning. Such a hellish noise it makes, in fact, that even Lee can't help but suddenly realize that there really is no compelling reason for her to remain here when she could instead be doing literally anything else. Such as catching some sleep far, far away from this damnable clearing. So she walks off while she thinks you aren't looking (to be fair you really weren't, but you just can't help seeing everything in the near vicinity).

You beatbox and bellow for a while yet, oscillating wildly around the tune of moderately authentic Norse folk, creating an ungodly racket for a good five or perhaps fifty minutes before you pass out and the sights of the camp give way to the sensation of sinking in a sea of alcohol, everything growing darker and murkier until all that remains is laminar flow and an ethanol burn in your nostrils.

What happens next you have no recollection of, but you wake up in the tree. Rather high up in the tree, actually. High enough to make you seriously doubt you could have climbed all the way in the state you were in. The sun has risen, which means that from your sixty-foot perch you manage to get a good vantage point on the Gallfly camp - goodness, there must be a hundred teepees around this single tree. As they sway drunkenly in the morning breeze you weakly hug the branch you seem to have been lounging upon until now. This ever-so-slightly soothes your mounting sense of vertigo.

Quote from: Xantalos on November 17, 2016, 11:27:10 am
"Hint hint my largely nonexistent at this point ass, don't take that tone with me young lady I'll cut your hamstrings I will.
Anyway, sounds alright. Where might I find these pockets of resistance?"

State-sponsored murder sounds like a good deal, I suppose. Where do I start?

Hey, she's been suggesting you do that the entire time and it's taken until now for you to take the hint. Give a girl a break, will you?

Anyway, there's that warehouse over there by the docks. Bunch of stoatmen plus sympathizers apparently blockaded themselves in there in hopes of reinforcements coming along - tough luck for them, but it's still taking too much time if you believe the shouting coming from that way. Both of you pause to listen in, and there's less shouting than a few moments ago, but the guard assures you that this is probably just the plotting phase in progress. It oscillates between efforts to break through and attempts to figure out a better way to break through when that fails.

Don't let her keep you, the astute guard bows slightly - she's sure that the sooner you get to helping the captain, the sooner everyone can loot the town for everything it's worth and move on with their lives, you know?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 17, 2016, 01:42:42 pm
"Well... it's a start. Let's try another part of the house... I don't appreciate all the flailing going on here."

I make my way back to the entry room and then head for the bedrooms.

[Closing Jaws: 1]

The entry room, you note with some distress, seems to have crumpled entirely together after you passed through it, the ceiling gently mashing on the floor like an elaborate digestive mechanism. The doctor looks on, her face drawn. She does not look forward to seeing the other escape options, you could say, but surely there couldn't be many that are much worse than this one?

Quote from: Toaster on November 17, 2016, 11:47:30 pm
Thomas edges back a little.  "Ah, uh, yes.  My name is Thomas Minstep, and I sell insurance for the Sureness Assurance company.  I helped out with the queen and the guard back at the castle before it fell over.  Perhaps we saw each other around the guard barracks?  I did some contract work for them."  Thomas patted the sword when he said that.  "Quite exciting, really."

Review what was done in the castle.  Indicate sword.  Recount that story in boring detail if requested.

You sell insurance, she mouths along as she attempts to recall, and you- oh my, that sword!

[Stand Well Back: 3]

She stares at the blade, looking for her reflection but finding none. There is merely gray blankness, and one's voice behind it. Her hand nears the sword, but at the last moment before making contact she draws her fingers back, inhaling sharply as a shiver passes over her.

Yes, she says, she did hear of you. You were the one who defeated the stoatmen, she says, looking you over again as if not entirely sure whether you fit the description she's been given. And right now you are heading toward..., she begins curiously, waiting for you to finish the thought for her.

Quote from: TopHat on November 18, 2016, 04:33:18 pm
"Oh, sorry about that; nothing much I can do about it at the moment. I'm Oscar Wilde, by the way, pleased to meet you.
What do I want? Information, mainly. And preferably a place to stay for the night, if possible.
So what is this place and, if I may ask, who are you?"
Introductions.

Watchman is he, and house is the place. What was other question? You remind him gently.

Information! Not much information here. But place to stay, that can do. Come inside - stubborn door, give swift kick. You hear the door creak as the watchman stops resting his weight upon it. Beyond the door you can see very little, even when you shine your facial flashlight in there, but you do register an aroma best described as intensely off emanating from within.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on November 19, 2016, 08:35:07 pm
"Probably, I suppose. I'll see you in a bit then."

Well, let's follow the shouting in that case. Time to go make some people regret whatever course of fate brought them in contact with me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 19, 2016, 08:49:29 pm
"I'm starting to dislike this place."

I guess there's only one real choice left. Downstairs into the light we go.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on November 19, 2016, 09:13:43 pm
Thomas shrugged.  "Nothing that special, really.  It was just the one big one.  Quite an exciting duel, though.  But yes, I am headed north toward Elizabeth.  Then beyond that, past where the road ends.  There is an airport... er, a place where metallic dragons land and take off.  That is where I am headed.  I am not sure how far past Elizabeth it is; hopefully someone there knows more detail."

Converse.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 20, 2016, 02:55:26 am
"Víðarr? Váli? Baldr? Höðr? Did anyone see how I ended up here?"

It sounds like time to try levitating down. Eyes closed. If I can't see them, they can't see me.

By the way, my totally real gods need ability to speak with my mouth whenever they want to say something to these mortals.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on November 20, 2016, 11:33:14 am
"Riiight. So what do you do here?"
Cautiously step inside, try to squeeze some blood from this stone.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 22, 2016, 07:31:10 am
Quote from: Xantalos on November 19, 2016, 08:35:07 pm
"Probably, I suppose. I'll see you in a bit then."

Well, let's follow the shouting in that case. Time to go make some people regret whatever course of fate brought them in contact with me.

The shouting has largely subsided by the time you make it to the docks, but you find the place easily enough. It's the largest warehouse in town, sturdy enough to have withstood the quake, and definitely sturdy enough to withstand a short siege, which seems to be the situation that's developed in the area. Most of the royal guards appear to be covering the two large entrances on opposite sides of the building and watching carefully for any escape attempts. A few are watching the dormers set into the warehouse's roof - you see one guard in particular nocking an arrow on her longbow as another one keeps a watchful eye on the windows.

[A Poke In The Eyes: 2 vs. 1+1]

The spotter marks a shadow up top, and makes a discreet nod - the archer aims and looses an arrow at it without a word, the projectile flying into the window and disappearing. Eh, she says. Probably missed. Yeah, the spotter concedes, there'd probably be more screaming if she did. So that's one and a half for nineteen, he counts as he hands her another arrow. Oh come on, she grumbles back, one and a half? Definitely two, that second guy definitely fell off the attic. She heard it herself! Concentrate, the guy says back, or else she'll never make two in twenty. They both recommence scanning the roof.

As you watch, you notice the commander of the royal guard has walked up by your side. Remarkably quiet when she wants to be. You're finally here, she says with an air of relief, choosing not to question your noodly shape and count her blessings. You notice some distance behind her a delegation of the smarter guards, currently working on what looks like an improvised battering ram. Can you resolve this quickly? There are about a dozen holdouts in there, presumably not well-armed, but very much intent on wasting her time. If you could somehow make them regret this decision - preferably in an extremely painful fashion - she'd be very appreciative.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 20, 2016, 02:55:26 am
"Víðarr? Váli? Baldr? Höðr? Did anyone see how I ended up here?"

It sounds like time to try levitating down. Eyes closed. If I can't see them, they can't see me.

By the way, my totally real gods need ability to speak with my mouth whenever they want to say something to these mortals.

The resounding silence of "no comment" is all the answer you get from your gods. You suspect your wasted state might be filtering down to them more than they'd care to admit.

[A Quick Way Down: 1]

Lacking better input, you close your eyes and let your mind take you where it may, and where it takes you is on a long trip off a very short branch as you spread your arms and belly flop onto the soil below, getting a hearty faceful of dirt as you bounce off the ground and roll downhill, drunkenly flailing as you try to make the world stop spinning. Fortunately the environment compensates your incapabilities as you roll onto one of the nearest teepees. In fact, you nearly roll over it entirely, but the slight incline left in the wake of its collapse under your weight stops your progress.

As something panics below you, you utilize the momentum to half-roll to your feet, standing nakedly atop the freshly created ruins. A few Gallflies gather, lumpy and bulbous to a man, and whisper to each other as they regard you with obvious worry. You are about to offer greetings, but when you open your mouth only a 20-pound burp tinged with a little bit of vomit comes out. You decide to try and make up the difference with expressive gesturing, but when you lean forward to engage your tenuous balance gives in and you instead find yourself sprawled on the dirt, your naked ass in the air as the whispers turn to outright chatter.

Quote from: Toaster on November 19, 2016, 09:13:43 pm
Thomas shrugged.  "Nothing that special, really.  It was just the one big one.  Quite an exciting duel, though.  But yes, I am headed north toward Elizabeth.  Then beyond that, past where the road ends.  There is an airport... er, a place where metallic dragons land and take off.  That is where I am headed.  I am not sure how far past Elizabeth it is; hopefully someone there knows more detail."

Converse.

You're looking for the Dragons? She seems incredulous. Most people tend to have a very healthy fear of them. Though she can see, she glances at the sword again, how you might not be quite like most people in a great number of ways.

She offers a smile. She was thinking of heading north also. Perhaps getting away from, she indicates the craters and the surrounding landscape, all this, you know. You wouldn't mind if she came along, would you? You seem like you would do well on the way. Rather... strong, she gently touches your arm again.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 19, 2016, 08:49:29 pm
"I'm starting to dislike this place."

I guess there's only one real choice left. Downstairs into the light we go.

They sure know how to build their houses unsafe around here. You turn toward the only reasonable way remaining, and head downstairs, a bright light shining toward you from the open cellar door. The swaying of the staircase hardly even registers to you anymore.

[By The Light: 6]

Of course, this only makes it slightly disorienting when you get down there proper, the doctor following closely behind. If the rest of the house is teetering back and forth, the cellar appears to be the pivot around which it is doing so.

The first thing you notice is undoubtedly the enormous crack running across half the floor, up the wall and across the entire ceiling, imitating a seismic fault as its two sides rub against each other, heat and a great deal of light emanating from it as some form of eldritch friction takes place within the makeup of the house's foundation. The doctor steps in front of you a little as she takes a closer look. Good lord, she says. Is that thing wagging the rest of the house? She looks at you, pointing at the crack. You're seeing this as well, aren't you, she says before suddenly what looks like a lightning bolt strikes out from the fault, wrapping a nearby barrel of well-aged ale in a bright and fuzzy webbing before pulling it into itself, never to be seen again. The doctor wisely backs away in response.

[The Better Half: 2]

You look thoughtfully at the relatively normal half of the cellar. It seems to feature a good deal of stuff - old furniture, including a few cupboards and cabinets. You poke at some of the sacks arranged in a row, revealing a downright decadent stockpile of salt, and also an errant sack of potatoes that's made its way in there. A particularly gauche tapestry seems to have partly fallen away from the wall, revealing a not-quite-man-sized rift in the wall which seems altogether less fresh than most of the structural defects of this house. You hear the scratching of stone on stone emanating from it, and sigh before looking back at the side of the room with the crack.

Yep, much of the good stuff seems to be over in the direction of the hungry reality aberration. At a glance, you see a stepladder in one of the corners, a bed no doubt belonging to a former servant complete with a set of rather humble men's clothing arranged on top of it, and a stack of barrels rolling gently back and forth as the cellar oscillates around them.

Quote from: TopHat on November 20, 2016, 11:33:14 am
"Riiight. So what do you do here?"
Cautiously step inside, try to squeeze some blood from this stone.

The watchman cautiously avoids your eye as you squeeze through the crack after kicking it to a slightly more open state. Something cracks as the door gives way. Nothing to worry about, you are advised.

The place looks no brighter on the inside, although your face is proving to be a fairly handy flashlight. It's about what you would expect from a lone shed in a dismal swamp - a desk covered in rusty, though well-used embalming tools strewn about, horned skulls looking down on you from above. Your eye wanders along the wall and- oh dear, that is most definitely a human skeleton resting against that wall. Brown-boned and covered in scraps of skin and sinew as of yet unclaimed by swamp, it grins at you much like you'd expect before twitching suddenly, a low unearthly groan escaping from what should rationally be a complete lack of vocal cords.

Stare not, the watchman says, putting his misshapen shoulder to work as he pushes the door closed. You take this wonderful advice as his knobbly hands guide you to one side where a moldy, uneven leather loveseat upholstered seemingly entirely from the cured faces of various animals rests. On one side of it rests a bog-mummified person wearing only a shockingly well-preserved metal helmet with a faceplate reminiscent of a Chinese guardian lion. The rest of its outfit seems to have gone missing along the course of time and tide, though it appears not to particularly mind. To the left of it on the other cushion is a curious array of glass eyes, sharp implements and a good few stoppered bottles - the watchman gathers these up in a worn leather bag before taking a lumbering look around to see where he could put them - he settles on the mummified one's lap, and you note its hands start to fiddle bonelessly with the kit, fingers crawling over it like worms as it tilts its helmeted head this way and that.

The watchman guides you carefully to sit next to the helmeted thing, the loveseat conforming wetly to your shape, reminding you of a dozen questing snouts as it wriggles over you partly of its own accord. You try to find a place for your eye to rest - first on the watchman, who slides out of the way in displeasure, then on the skeleton again, which hisses in response, then on yet another pile of mystifying tools, which shuffle a little. Finally, you decide to simply stare dead-on at one of the wall-mounted skulls - either out of politeness or legitimate deadness it makes no move in response.

You let a brief silence descend as everything within gets comfortable with your presence. Um, you begin as you try to remember what your question was, what do they all do here? The question hangs with particular relevance as the watchman thinks and makes a discomfiting damp noise.

Here they while, he settles on an answer eventually. Fish. Every few years warn wanderers direly. Sometimes celebr-

The mummified one starts floppily banging its hand on the helmet, producing a ringing clear enough that you wonder how much of a head it actually possesses under the metal. Teeaaa, it forces out a long whine. The skeleton echoes this with a meaningful groan. The watchman shrugs. Tea sometimes also, he says as he goes to retrieve something gently hissing from behind the sofa. Want some?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 22, 2016, 04:11:42 pm
"Whoah, what a night... Did anyone see my pants?"

Get up, cover family jewels with one hand, I'm not a display to gawk at. Locate pair of pants to borrow.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on November 22, 2016, 06:38:50 pm
"Yeah, I can't punch through the door or anything like that since my bones are currently nonexistent, but I can open a hole in the door or one of the walls for you. Where d'you want it?"

Allow the guard captain to indicate where she wants the hole and presumably form up a bunch of soldiers near the place, then REND the door/wall/whatever to bits.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on November 22, 2016, 07:05:17 pm
Thomas shrugged, completely missing her overtures.  "I suppose it would make sense to travel together.  Is there anything you need to do here first?"  He looked around the area.  "I could probably eat something.  It'd make sense to eat before we left."

Accept offer.  Look for eats.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 23, 2016, 08:39:24 am
"Okay, I'm going to try to fix this, but it's probably going to go poorly, so I'd hide on the stairway for a minute or two if I were you."

I give the doctor time to back off, then address the crack in the ground in an attempt to calm it down a bit. "Your HUNGER is sated."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on November 23, 2016, 12:22:03 pm
"Yes, please. Then I suppose you'll want to start with the warning direly?"
Accept his hospitality. I doubt any poison is capable of harming me, anyway.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 25, 2016, 06:59:17 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 22, 2016, 04:11:42 pm
"Whoah, what a night... Did anyone see my pants?"

Get up, cover family jewels with one hand, I'm not a display to gawk at. Locate pair of pants to borrow.

[A Man Of Pitiable Nakedness: 4]

They don't seem to particularly mind you keeping one hand squarely locked on your nuts as you ask them to help you locate some pants. In fact, they seem absolutely keen on assisting, their knotty and greatly varied shapes getting to work almost immediately before you have the chance to blunder much further - a team in particular is quickly dispatched to liberate the person you nearly crushed under their own tent and politely nudge you into a place where you can hopefully do less damage.

[The Loaners: 2]

You are in no time at all brought a pair of sublimely itchy woolen breeches. Or maybe they're slacks for a person much shorter than you are - either way they're pants and they're free, and you think it wildly impolite to say no. In the process Lee is also brought along somehow, or maybe she brings herself - she's not behind you one moment, and then she is the next in a confusing turn of events, staring intently at the back of your head in a way you don't need minding to at least suspect.

Quote from: Xantalos on November 22, 2016, 06:38:50 pm
"Yeah, I can't punch through the door or anything like that since my bones are currently nonexistent, but I can open a hole in the door or one of the walls for you. Where d'you want it?"

Allow the guard captain to indicate where she wants the hole and presumably form up a bunch of soldiers near the place, then REND the door/wall/whatever to bits.

[A Sound Plan: 5]

The commander considers this idea, and seems to consider it practicable enough... one one condition, which is that her troops get to retreat beforehand in case this, much like seemingly half but mathematically more like a third of these events, goes catastrophically and unnaturally wrong. You shrug - same difference to you, you suppose.

The commander signals a retreat and a very generous widening of the perimeter, just enough to cordon off the area while remaining as far as possible from the action before it's time to move in. You would chuckle affably at their overwhelming caution if the act of doing so wouldn't be extremely painful. You'll have this done in a jiffy. Easiest souls you have ever made, you think as your murder-thought hums with power and petty malice.

REND

[Word: 2]

With a shriek the murder-thought shoots forth at twice the speed of sound, and carves through wood and stone with equal ease much like a bullet would not, leaving a hole the size of your thumb that would most likely be lethal to any mere human it hit - storehouses, unfortunately, are built to withstand such stresses and thus even after it bursts out the other end and cuts off a chunk of a neighboring roof on its shrieking return the place remains standing, and unfortunately very much barricaded.

[A Handy Commotion: 4]

Although you are fairly sure that got someone's attention - several someones, in fact, currently gathering cautiously around the dormers on the roof, most of them looking at your strange and naked alien figure for a good long second or two.

Quote from: Toaster on November 22, 2016, 07:05:17 pm
Thomas shrugged, completely missing her overtures.  "I suppose it would make sense to travel together.  Is there anything you need to do here first?"  He looked around the area.  "I could probably eat something.  It'd make sense to eat before we left."

Accept offer.  Look for eats.

Is she being too subtle, her eyes seem to ask, or are you merely too polite to outright refuse her? She regards you like some kind of riddle as she fails to miss a beat in conversation - why no, Mr. Minstep, to be perfectly honest it would be very much appreciated if you could assist her with leaving as soon as possible. You see, there's a bit of a canyon on the way, and it's seemingly very unfriendly to human life attempting to cross it and- yes, actually, she backpedals briefly, lunch of some kind would also be very good.

[Good Eats: 3]

Although she can't say she can easily imagine where you might find something edible out here. She's hardly a woodswoman, so she couldn't tell you whether, say, these berries would be safe to eat, she begins to explain as you stop in front of a small bush laden with blue-black berries. Though there is an easy way to check, she says as she picks out a handful. She parts her lips ever so slightly as she nears a particular berry to her mouth, but stops as she looks around - ah, she says with a smile, look at the two clanfolk gawking there. Probably not safe then, she says, carefully pocketing the handful.

You suppose there's also a simpler solution than foraging about - surely these clansmen here are at least familiar with the lay of the land. You've heard they tend to be rural folk, maybe you could ask if they have some food or know where to get some, even if you don't quite like the way they're looking at you through those pointy masks of theirs.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 23, 2016, 08:39:24 am
"Okay, I'm going to try to fix this, but it's probably going to go poorly, so I'd hide on the stairway for a minute or two if I were you."

I give the doctor time to back off, then address the crack in the ground in an attempt to calm it down a bit. "Your HUNGER is sated."

[Esoteric Considerations: 5]

Oh dear, the doctor says. Are you sure? Yes, you say, you're very sure this is probably going to go poorly. She looks at the crack - on one hand, the rest of the house is rationally unlikely to be much safer, considering this is the origin of the movement. Much less safe, in fact. On the other hand, there is the strong possibility that anywhere at all is safer than in here, especially given your misgivings about what you're about to do.

She thinks for a second. So that leaves the third hand, which is that she's terribly curious about what it is you intend to do, and that to be frank then if she has a good chance of dying either way, she'd rather it be facing a very unusual phenomenon rather than while running away from it. If you don't mind, that is. As such, she'd prefer to stand behind you if it's all the same to you, she offers with a smile. You... guess, sure.

The doctor makes good on her word after taking a moment to deposit all her woolen blankets in the stairwell, and stands behind you as you face the gaping wound in reality and make good on yours. You attempt to speak the Word in conjunction with mere human language - it is an attempt doomed to fail, the anticipation of its speaking drowning out your thoughts even before you manage to form the thin core of context around it, but you try anyway.

HUNGER

[Word: 5]

Your companion shrinks back and clamps down on your shoulders instinctively as the Word makes the house quiver with a fine vibration as the spacetime-wound catches your wavelength and owns it, adjusting itself in light of inspiration. It rumbles with a newfound human desire for flesh and a newborn inhuman thirst for form, and its jaws open in a roar as interpreted by a thing unfamiliar with the concept of sound, stopping just short of outright exploding your eardrums as it begins to pounce with innumerable limbs of searing, arcing lightning coalescing into a shape as close to you as a second of terrible clarity can convey.

[Burning Desire: 6+1 vs. 2]

You are about to jump to the side as it occurs to you just how screwed you might be here, and the doctor pulls back - together you manage something of a backward diagonal dodge - she falls to the ground and you land softly on her as the surreal wound-beast crackles on over and past, and you hear a set of wardrobes horrifically dissolve into so much quark slurry and strange matter, proving once and for all that there is a sound that can terrify on an atomic level. The cellar simultaneously broadens and shrinks, rotates and elongates and spaghettifies as spacetime feels like it's being rendered into a spectrum of its component parts, and your eyes fill with bright light briefly.

But as unreality corrodes the laws of the world, so too can unreality overreach where it does not belong. And so do the pieces picked apart fuse once more, the spare weight of impossibility becoming magnetism, gravity and light reasserting itself with an ignition that sets the wound itself aflame. It shrieks in what is almost your voice before it is undone, and as electricity arcs from every sharp edge and you feel yourself suddenly pulled down along with the doctor your next breath enters your throat with a refreshingly real quality to it, your brain celebrating the return of causality with a sudden rush of endorphins as the wound explodes into one last surge of light, then is no more.

[A Resolution: 4]

The doctor gasps for air as your weight stops bearing down on her quite so much. Her next word comes with a nigh-religious thrill.

SYNTHESIS

Academic, but apt. Your own mad grin subsides as the sensation of time passing in three whole dimensions of space begins to lose its ecstatic novelty.

Quote from: TopHat on November 23, 2016, 12:22:03 pm
"Yes, please. Then I suppose you'll want to start with the warning direly?"
Accept his hospitality. I doubt any poison is capable of harming me, anyway.

The hissing turns out to be a glass jar filled with extraordinarily strong kombucha. So strong in fact that you smell it before the jar is even properly opened. The watchman digs around in a pile for something resembling a mug - something is indeed found, though its half-melted condition does seem to indicate it came here by rather unlikely means. The mug goes to you.

First to drink is the watchman, checking for impurities and finding none from the looks of it (though his unchanging expression does make you wonder if he can taste anything at all). He swills it a good twenty seconds, thoughtfully holding the open jar the entire time. Good, not best, he pronounces after painfully swallowing the brew, the strength of it clearing a good deal of his throat congestion to the point where he sounds almost human.

Next is the skeleton. Despite a certain liveliness to its twitches, the watchman pours the tea on it like a libation, and the skeleton hisses in a sort of approval that seems intuitively reasonable to you, but you can't for the life of you pinpoint why that might be. It starts to tap its foot slowly on the ground, the rhythmic clacking substituting for actual music that the mummy is quick to supplement with arrhythmic banging on its helmet.

Third is you - you hold out your mug hesitantly and the watchman tips the jar very deliberately. A good deal of the brew pours in, and in a fluid motion a watery flat chunk of yellowish-whie follows, splashing a bit of the drink around as it settles atop your mug. Mother of tea, the watchman rasps out. Lucky, but drink in one gulp.

You look at the "tea" as the watchman tries to figure out how the mummy's faceplate works again, and how to make it stop banging on its helmet. He looks at the skeleton, but its constant grin betrays its complete unhelpfulness to the situation immediately. He turns back toward you, and you are about to exchange a meaningful look before the watchman gets a painful reminder why looking at you directly is a poor idea.

So, you say after the first minute, the kombucha steaming in your hands inexplicably, how about some dire warnings? You relish this chance to avoid eye contact. The watchman coughs, then starts hacking, and finally goes into something between cackling and choking. What was question, he asks. Dire warnings, you say. Oh, he says. Not many ways to warn. Further is death - what more need you know?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on November 25, 2016, 07:19:18 pm
"Oh for fuck's sake. Hang on, and maybe back up like 20 more feet."

SILEN(TLY) REND it apart.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on November 25, 2016, 08:59:01 pm
Thomas pondered a second; didn't they go in for hoods?  No matter; best just ask and get out of their way.  "Excuse me good sirs!  Where might we find something for lunch?"

Inquire.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on November 26, 2016, 05:50:56 pm
"What sort of death? Your companions seem to lack the symptoms I am used to. Your handiwork, I presume? Most impressive, I must say."
More light conversation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 27, 2016, 08:42:37 am
"I don't know if that went better or worse than expected. Both, I guess?"

If it seems safe now, I make my way over to the far side of the basement and take a closer look at everything.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 27, 2016, 08:47:25 am
Eh, better than nothing. Hopefully I won't lose these as quickly as I did lose previous ones. Put them on.

"Good morning, Lee. ready to continue the trip?"

Also explain Lee I don't do mind reading as often as I do stupid shit. It was the place, not me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 29, 2016, 12:24:01 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on November 25, 2016, 07:19:18 pm
"Oh for fuck's sake. Hang on, and maybe back up like 20 more feet."

SILEN(TLY) REND it apart.

You don't think they heard you. You said,

REND

[Word: 3]

It goes in wider this time, and you see a crack spread through the side wall as one hole made by your murder-thought joins another. This time you curve the path ever so slightly, and you briefly taste blood as a shriek comes through the wall. You twist the thought around in exhilaration and it sweeps in a great lash along the interior. Something falls, someone is neatly parted. Your thought escapes through the roof, bleeding the last of its murderous momentum as it arcs back to you, recommencing its tense and unpredictable orbit. A step in the right direction, you should think.

[This Isn't Going To End Well At All: 3]

The wall right now seems perforated enough that the inhabitants within have taken to barricading the holes in it - before they do, however, you do sense chaos and commotion, and more than a little fear. What few shadows remain in the top windows have gone almost completely out of sight.

Quote from: Toaster on November 25, 2016, 08:59:01 pm
Thomas pondered a second; didn't they go in for hoods?  No matter; best just ask and get out of their way.  "Excuse me good sirs!  Where might we find something for lunch?"

Inquire.

[Where's The Food: 1]

You approach a sufficiently lucid-looking group of clansmen and ask where a respectable eatery might be found, but they can only respond in strange cries and startled escape attempts. You try another, and they merely stare at you completely perplexed. You continue on and find a solitary one - she laughs at the question, but flatly refuses to elaborate why. A few ancient clansmen visibly on the edge of mental breakdown think you're offering them lunch, and ask where you found any and if they can have it, growing a little insistent before you wave them off in the hopes of saving them and yourself further torment. A masked child offers you a handful of dirt - good for the soul, he says before what you assume is his mother pulls him away.

They really are disturbed, Claire discreetly whispers as she keeps you between herself and the others at all times. Though surely they'd be even less charitable were their spirit not utterly broken.

Quote from: TopHat on November 26, 2016, 05:50:56 pm
"What sort of death? Your companions seem to lack the symptoms I am used to. Your handiwork, I presume? Most impressive, I must say."
More light conversation.

No, the watchman says. Not his handiwork. Is the land instead. The bog. Comes from strange places. Vomits stranger things. He nods and sits down on a pile of unidentifiable refuse, staring at his mummy friend. Here is long death, weak death. Drags and scratches before string comes loose. Until then, waiting, dying, searching.

The banging continues unabated. The watchman continues to stare, committed to waiting it out after seeing no better alternative. How long does it usually take, you ask after a few moments. Sometimes years, he replies.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 27, 2016, 08:42:37 am
"I don't know if that went better or worse than expected. Both, I guess?"

If it seems safe now, I make my way over to the far side of the basement and take a closer look at everything.

As you rise to your feet and the doctor does the same, you take a moment to evaluate the profound change in the room.

[Time's Scar: 2]

Said evaluation is made slightly difficult by the fact that the brightly glowing wound in the earth that illuminated the basement seems to have completely evaporated, leaving you in, you now realize as your eyes begin to adapt, utter pitch blackness.

The doctor rises up as well. She's not sure what you're on about, frankly, that was the most brilliant thing she's ever seen. Extremely terrifying to behold in person, she'll grant you, but definitely brilliant in retrospect. And against all odds it even seems to have fixed the issue. You notice her fumble a little in the dark before she manages to brush her hand along your back. Ah, there you are - apologies.

What was that, by the way? That word? Very much unlike anything she has seen documented, if you'll pardon her curiosity.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 27, 2016, 08:47:25 am
Eh, better than nothing. Hopefully I won't lose these as quickly as I did lose previous ones. Put them on.

"Good morning, Lee. ready to continue the trip?"

Also explain Lee I don't do mind reading as often as I do stupid shit. It was the place, not me.

Your junk now safely hidden from view, you turn to Lee unsteadily. She declines to comment on the morning, but she is ready to continue if you are.

[Matters of the Mind: 1]

You also begin to explain how you don't really wanna read her mind and that really you just kinda did it by accident due to the circumstances, and that to be honest you're probably gonna do a lot of stupid shit but really you're not really into that whole mind control thing if she's not. Cross your heart and hope to, uh... you kind of forget. Hope to something.

She gives a barely perceptible nod as her eyes and breathing remain steady and perfectly controlled. She is ready to continue. Are you?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on November 29, 2016, 02:14:22 pm
"Oh, come on. Don't be like those rude storks and ignore me! Sure, yeah, ready to go. After a breakfast."

Locate breakfast, share legends of Norse gods as payment, and/or continue our travels with ice princess Elsa.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on November 29, 2016, 02:49:27 pm
"Wait a minute, searching for what?
How does the bog even do that?
Does anyone rule this land?"
That just brings up even more questions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on November 29, 2016, 03:34:42 pm
"I guess they don't have anything.  Come on; maybe we'll see something on the way."

Onward, northward!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on November 29, 2016, 04:20:51 pm
"Alright, now we're getting somewhere."

REND those existing holes a little wider, shall we?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 30, 2016, 07:55:10 am
"It's magic! I guess people around here don't stumble upon magic words every once in a while?"

While we talk I head over to the other side of the basement and start rummaging around blindly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 03, 2016, 11:22:38 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on November 29, 2016, 02:14:22 pm
"Oh, come on. Don't be like those rude storks and ignore me! Sure, yeah, ready to go. After a breakfast."

Locate breakfast, share legends of Norse gods as payment, and/or continue our travels with ice princess Elsa.

Not ignoring you at all. Keeping you at the forefront of her mind at all times. Takes some concentration.

[Know Where I Can Get Some Grub: 3]

If you need food, some should be left around the morning gathering. You follow Lee's lead as she efficiently guides you along the tents to a clearer area, where a set of hides is pleasingly laid out. Gallflies of disparate ages lounge out in the morning sun, some having eaten themselves into immobility, some taking the chance to bask in the light and relax. You pass a group of women sunbathing in the nude, the wealth of protruding ears and pale horns on their bodies rising to the sun and gently quivering in the wind. A few elderly women and fellows watch them from nearby, smoking long pipes, rosy bulbs hanging from their arms like ripening apples. A small group of young men, their backs carrying a mountainous load of raspberry-like cysts as they walk around on hands and knees, graze idly on a small pile of dried meat, their eyes closed and expressions meditative. A woman whose forearms have sprouted into a forest of fingers plays a byzantine, yet enchanting tune on what looks like a modified zither.

To one side, you see Rose, much the same as you recall seeing her last except for the way her gown is now flecked with gold. She's sat near the musician along with three others - one is a spectacularly enormous man of indeterminate age wearing no shirt, his entire back broken out in a massive number of fleshy bulbs much like the ones on the young men. He, unlike them, seems to have no trouble at all bearing this mountain of cysts. They are joined by a pair of elderly, yet still very much svelte women with long golden hair, one of which seems to be hanging on to the back of the other before you realize that they instead appear to be conjoined. Across their arms you see running lines of vertical slits that squint at the sun while reflexively attempting to open every now and then. All four of them appear to be in the process of finishing up a minor morning feast.

Sorcerer! the large man roars at you as his eyes wander toward you in the middle of breakfast conversation, snapping up a roasted vole with his powerful jaws. Rose swivels her head as her attention is drawn to you, then lowers her eyes in embarrassment. The two women chuckle in unison as they dine on a surfeit of berries. Yes, you! the man repeats. Come here and present yourself! And your young Moth too! he is quick to add as Lee starts to shuffle out of sight, and she sighs and follows as you go up to see what they want.

Rose spoke of you! the man proclaims even before you're there, able to make himself heard across fifty feet without effort. The rest of those gathered seem to be rather used to the volume. Blond! Tall! Muscular! And very possibly not human! How exciting! Very exciting, one of the twins offers. She agrees, the one on her back says as well. It's a terrible pleasure to meet you, they all explain in their own way. Rose remains quiet for a second before summoning the will to look up at you. Hello, she says, uh. These are, well, her parents, and... she trails off, unsure of how to proceed.

Quote from: TopHat on November 29, 2016, 02:49:27 pm
"Wait a minute, searching for what?
How does the bog even do that?
Does anyone rule this land?"
That just brings up even more questions.

Treasure, the watchman says, and is met with a chorus of the others - treasure! Treasure in bog has sunk, treasure rising sometimes also. But how bog does bog things, to say is to lie. Things sink in bog. Things rise from bog. The watchman shrugs. All to say on matter.

What of the ruler, you ask? Who rules this land? Simpler question, watchman says. Wicked King is ruler. Now and forever. Drink tea, he nods, else get colder.

Quote from: Toaster on November 29, 2016, 03:34:42 pm
"I guess they don't have anything.  Come on; maybe we'll see something on the way."

Onward, northward!

You head on north and Claire follows, eager to be out of this place. Your trip, however, comes to a very short stop as it becomes clear what lies ahead - a canyon, you think, or what undoubtedly used to be one. About half a mile wide, you would suspect it looked quite majestic before somebody came along and filled it with a similar kind of toxic waste that you saw in the craters leading up to this point - perhaps even the same kind, but a little airier and fuzzier. Perhaps part of it has vaporized into a mist - this is a calming thought that distracts you from considering the exact logistics of filling up an enormous canyon with hazardous material, let alone that an operation producing such an amount of waste must exist, most likely somewhere not very far away.

Yes, Claire mentions as she looks out into the white and roiling mess ahead of you, she may have mentioned this before. It's something of a problem for proceeding northward. Probably not at all a good idea to try and swim the breadth of the thing. She saw one of the Storks try it, she whispers into your ear - it was the single most awful thing she had ever witnessed.

Quote from: Xantalos on November 29, 2016, 04:20:51 pm
"Alright, now we're getting somewhere."

REND those existing holes a little wider, shall we?

You huff and you puff, and prepare to blow this warehouse down.

REND

[Word: 1]

Your murder-thought spins up and flies forward into the hole in the wall. You curve it on the backswing, but it finds no purchase, simply flying back through the other hole you made. Still empowered. Frustrated. Very murderous, too.

[Like A Boomerang: 5]

Rather than fall victim to hubris and do something like ask it to stop, you do the safe thing and duck as it passes overhead. It shoots off into the distance, and it takes exactly five seconds for screaming to begin. Huh. Hope it's nobody important getting eviscerated over there.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 30, 2016, 07:55:10 am
"It's magic! I guess people around here don't stumble upon magic words every once in a while?"

While we talk I head over to the other side of the basement and start rummaging around blindly.

[History Of Magic: 1]

When you put it like that, the doctor thinks, no. No they do not. The only thing possibly like it that she knows of is minding, or possibly alchemy from El, but nothing even nearly this powerful or chaotic even from those - and mind you, she has read the works of the masters of both. Where did you learn this? And how? You seemed to say a word, and things happened as a direct result? A very elementary form of magic, it would appear. So many questions!

[Digging In The Dark: 2]

As you fumble around on the other side of the basement, you run into a stepladder and stub your toe. Then you trip over a cabinet and nearly fall headfirst into the ground. A barrel almost rolls onto you as you kick it by accident. This really isn't working at all.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 03, 2016, 04:59:33 pm
"Whoops. Sorry!"

Daniels shakes his head. This is just becoming embarrassing, wasn't he supposed to be the prolific violence guy?

Take a moment to aim my next shot.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 03, 2016, 05:57:10 pm
Hm. Not very helpful, but she seems to know more about magic than anyone else I've met. Maybe if I fill her in on the details it'll jog her memory.

"I got my first Word down in the well in Anglefork. The minders summoned me and a few other people to Anglefork during the siege, in case you somehow didn't know already. Something about the summoning process linked us to the entity in the well, and because of that we can exchange things it wants for Words or other abilities.

"The well isn't the source of the Words. I've seen others use them - the first was a mechanical king in the catacombs below Anglefork, and the second was the gray stoat that attacked at the end of the siege. The stoat even used multiple words in combination, something I am physically unable to do.

"In addition to dealing with the Well, I've stumbled upon words while interacting with magical phenomena. I believe I acquired a word this way just a moment ago when the rift was sealed."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 03, 2016, 10:16:45 pm
"Hmm," hmmed Thomas.  This wasn't going to be easy, was it?  And so unsafe; the EPA would have a field day here.  Or a coronary.

"Is there a way around this?  A bridge?  A crossing one way or the other?  If the goal is north, north we must go."

Seek alternate routes.  Ask the unhelpful townsfolk if she knows of nothing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 04, 2016, 05:24:02 am
Quote
while reflexively attempting to open every now and then. All four

Sorcerer! the large man roars

All four what?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 04, 2016, 05:30:05 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 04, 2016, 05:24:02 am
All four what?

Ah, the classic mistake of writing several paragraphs at once. All four were in the process of finishing up breakfast, essentially.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 04, 2016, 06:59:40 am
"Big man!" Leif shouts cheerfully in response. He shamelessly joins their breakfast, grabbing food without reservation. "I believe in my humanity very much, thank you. What's up?"

"Good morning, Rose. I have no memory if you found me any pants last night, but if you did then I lost them again. Sorry about that. You see, I woke up naked on top of that tree there. No clue how I ended up there."

No reason to ruin this good cheery mood going on. Please do not be marriage interview.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 04, 2016, 10:38:00 am
"Oh yes, of course. Could you tell me more about this Wicked King, though?

Drink the tea.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 04, 2016, 04:54:15 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on December 03, 2016, 04:59:33 pm
"Whoops. Sorry!"

Daniels shakes his head. This is just becoming embarrassing, wasn't he supposed to be the prolific violence guy?

Take a moment to aim my next shot.

It's a little hard to aim something you don't have. Luckily, your murder-thought does return in a few minutes' time just before you start getting bored, feeling a lot like an excited dog with not even the barest notion that it has done something deeply terrible just now. So you stand there a moment, regarding the warehouse.

[Thoughts On Ultimate Destruction: 1]

You guess you can just keep at rending the thing. Either they'll die or everyone else will, and you don't think either is an entirely unacceptable option.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 03, 2016, 05:57:10 pm
Hm. Not very helpful, but she seems to know more about magic than anyone else I've met. Maybe if I fill her in on the details it'll jog her memory.

"I got my first Word down in the well in Anglefork. The minders summoned me and a few other people to Anglefork during the siege, in case you somehow didn't know already. Something about the summoning process linked us to the entity in the well, and because of that we can exchange things it wants for Words or other abilities.

"The well isn't the source of the Words. I've seen others use them - the first was a mechanical king in the catacombs below Anglefork, and the second was the gray stoat that attacked at the end of the siege. The stoat even used multiple words in combination, something I am physically unable to do.

"In addition to dealing with the Well, I've stumbled upon words while interacting with magical phenomena. I believe I acquired a word this way just a moment ago when the rift was sealed."

You can almost hear the doctor drinking in the information with the utmost attention, although she remains just short of interjecting with actual questions throughout your recital of the many adventures you've had. It takes a few moments to process it all, it seems.

[Secrets of the Distant Past: 5]

Well, she says, where to start. These words - Words, you correct - yes, these Words. You say you encountered them in the catacombs beneath Anglefork Castle - these would be the Imaginary catacombs, she assumes. You reply that you didn't find them at all imaginary - no, she corrects, Imaginary. As in the period. It's a very confusing affair, do remind her to tell you more about that later. In short, it's a period of time spanning six thousand years, more or less, none of which can be conclusively said to have happened. In fact, strong evidence exists in the historiography of El that it categorically did not happen, and even the flimsiness of evidence at home made sure the Glorious period following the Imaginary lasted but a few months before the entirety of the kingdom entered a catastrophic breakdown due to its shaky foundations. Unusual, you admit. But what does that have to do with anything?

She was getting to that - you see, a lot of Imaginary monuments tend to have a great many traces of their mostly unknown and perhaps even unknowable creator, popularly known as the King In Green. It explains why many of them tend to seem... otherworldly, for lack of a better word. The kingdom is absolutely littered with little curios from that time, most of them incredibly hazardous to both mind and flesh when approached, as she's sure you no doubt discovered upon attempting to explore down there to any great degree. So something down there having arcane powers not easily explainable in the framework of modern minding techniques and such isn't unusual as such, in that it's exactly the kind of nonsense you'd expect from down there.

However, you hear her raise a finger! The gray stoat - she must admit that much of the latter times in Anglefork Castle are something of a blur to her. The haze was a little overpowering in those days. Though she does know that the stoatmen had some form of trick on their side, as otherwise their streak of victories over the kingdom's own armies and the ultimate outcome of the revolution would be absolutely impossible rather than merely spectacularly improbable. So the idea that they may have courted a power of some kind is not at all unlikely - perhaps the very Imaginary sort you encountered, perhaps something different like what their own minders seemed to be trying (seemingly very successfully, judging by your presence).

But it's the form of this strange magic that is the most peculiar. Words - a very primal sort of myth, the power of language. The sort of thing you would expect of a more folkloric form of entity - singing the world into shape, speaking light into being, words of creation acting as prime mover for a cascade of improbability. And of course incredibly common in tales of the King In Green - his Word is Law, the doctor begins to recite. And by his Law was the realm pulled from the sea, and its people pulled from dreaming. And they sat in a circle as the Law was dictated, from beginning to end, and the people saw the inevitable truth of his Words.

Something to think about, and your explanation does give rise to certain interpretations about the choice capitalization, she supposes, but not something to lend undue credence - none of these accounts, near as she has been able to tell, have anything approaching legitimate fact to them. At best they couch a little truth in a great deal of creative interpretation. There is certainly more to know, and certainly a lot more she could tell you if you'd like. Perhaps not in a dark basement in the middle of doing something else, of course.

But this well, she asks, you say there is an entity in it? It had been renowned as a haunted place, but she hadn't known there was so much more to that. The minders were deeply involved in experiments down there, she recalls, but in her obsession at the time she neglected to actually discover what those might have been. Did require a lot of rats, of course, but minders always do.

Quote from: Toaster on December 03, 2016, 10:16:45 pm
"Hmm," hmmed Thomas.  This wasn't going to be easy, was it?  And so unsafe; the EPA would have a field day here.  Or a coronary.

"Is there a way around this?  A bridge?  A crossing one way or the other?  If the goal is north, north we must go."

Seek alternate routes.  Ask the unhelpful townsfolk if she knows of nothing.

[Bizarre Topologies: 4]

If there is one, says Claire, it is most certainly not for miles in either direction. Probably for good reason, she adds, this does look rather fresh to her untrained eye. You'd think somebody would have mentioned it were it older than, say, a month. As it is, she did know there was a canyon this way, but she was under the impression it was not in fact filled with the stuff of nightmares. Speaking of, do you have to keep standing around here? She can't help but hate the way the, er, water? Let's say the water. The water seems like it's staring at her, she says as she edges closer to you and shivers. A lot like the master, now that she thinks about it, shivering a little more intensely.

[Tapping For Rumors: 5]

You decide she's got the right idea, and head back toward To Be Announced, shortly finding yourself in the company of the clansmen once again. You approach one currently not holding her head in her hands, and ask if she knows a way over the canyon over yonder. Hohoho, she says, oho, yes, yes she does! Yes she does indeed! Excellent, you reply, what is it? Hoho, you want to know, you really want to know? It's really very simple! You walk across! Hah! Yes! You walk across!

Really, you raise an eyebrow skeptically. Yes, she says. Well, no. Not really! Hoho! She saw a man and a Moth walk across! They made earth appear beneath them! Some tried to follow - they fell in! It was a minder trick, you see! Hohoho! Devious minders, skillful minders, tempting poor Storks to terrible fates! She saw one yesterday, a shadow made of solid light! It laughed at her, and she laughed back, and that was all! Hohoho!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 04, 2016, 06:59:40 am
"Big man!" Leif shouts cheerfully in response. He shamelessly joins their breakfast, grabbing food without reservation. "I believe in my humanity very much, thank you. What's up?"

"Good morning, Rose. I have no memory if you found me any pants last night, but if you did then I lost them again. Sorry about that. You see, I woke up naked on top of that tree there. No clue how I ended up there."

No reason to ruin this good cheery mood going on. Please do not be marriage interview.

The roasted voles are exquisite here, you find as you follow the big man's example, though you settle for biting one's head off as the dimensions of your mouth do not allow the same gastronomic feats he's capable of. He watches you eat, clearly amused at your foreign quaintness. It's a fine day, would you not agree? You nod - any day with a solid breakfast such as this promises to be a fine one indeed. He slaps you on the back in a way that nearly makes you cough out a good portion of vole.

As you relate the anecdote of waking up naked in a tree, the two conjoined women giggle in delight. Oh, the joys of youth. They recall when they were in the habit of waking up in strange trees. It's how they met, they say as they look at each other, and you can't help but notice upon closer inspection that they look nothing alike. Rose continues to look somewhat embarrassed. Yes, she says, she was going to get you clothes, but then she got caught up in some nightly business - the healer is so very busy at that hour, and the man was shouting so. It was dreadful to behold. Nevertheless, she is very sorry for disappearing in such a manner.

She's skittish, our Rose, the large man says! Yes, even at her age! Honestly, the man says, it was probably your Moth wife that scared her off, competition's always nasty in that sense! Rose blanches, and Lee's distinct lack of amusement is such that you feel an almost literal chill from her direction.

Quote from: TopHat on December 04, 2016, 10:38:00 am
"Oh yes, of course. Could you tell me more about this Wicked King, though?

Drink the tea.

[The Mother of Tea: 3]

The tea makes you wonder exactly how it was possible to create something so noxious without advanced processes of distillation, but the reality of the brew hits all too hard regardless. Following the advice of the watchman, you try to choke back the mother of tea in the process. It's a surprisingly monolithic mass of bacterial waste, you find, and is at once extremely spicy and incredibly rich. Your eyes start to water uncontrollably as you swallow and attempt to ask a question. Wicked King, what is?

Wicked King, the watchman thinks. First, foremost. Bad king, head came off. Still would not die. Broke something. Not dying easier now. Also grew bog. Less damp in past. Now deep and black. Ate mountains, ate forests, ate hills, ate animals. Now just bog. And more bog. And things above bog. And more bog.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 04, 2016, 07:27:07 pm
"Well, nothing for it."

REND
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 05, 2016, 03:04:39 am
"Hahaha! Please don't joke around or she gets angry." Causing misunderstanding why Lee would get angry. "We are just traveling together out of convenience since our trip takes us in same direction, my goal being Elizabeth and hers her clan. I'm still strictly unmarried man and plan to stay that way for a while until I learn which way I must go to return home, if I can indeed return home."

Listen stories, finish breakfast, get to know people, and focus on the place. See if I can archieve that state of hyperawareness again.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 05, 2016, 10:58:57 am
Thomas stared blankly for a good eight seconds.  "Ah!  Well then, very good!  I will take your suggestion under advisement!"

He then backed away as quickly as possible while still being polite.

"Obviously they don't know anything and are also insane.  I suppose we must go around."

Investigate ways around.  Maybe the less-insane guard we met first knows something.  Otherwise, pick a way and head out.  East, if there's no preference.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 05, 2016, 02:08:00 pm
"Interesting. How long ago did this happen? Did he make the roads, too?
... could I have a glass of water?"


Nope, not like proper tea after all.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 05, 2016, 05:02:01 pm
"Yes, a shadowy being behind a strange doorway. As far as I can tell, only the people the minders summoned can pass through and speak to it. It has a keen interest in the social connections between people. If you trade one to it, then the other person is basically unable to perceive you."

While we're talking I try to remember where I saw the set of clothes earlier, and make my way over to grab them.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 07, 2016, 11:06:47 am
Quote from: Xantalos on December 04, 2016, 07:27:07 pm
"Well, nothing for it."

REND

This is taking too much time!

REND

[Word: 3]

You get the feeling your murder-thought is starting to feel a little worn out by all this attention. Mind you, it still surges forward, and it still burrows into the wall! And it even goes around a few times in there, much like you would expect of a dog perplexed at whether it's doing this right. It does seem a bit sluggish though, slightly unenthused by being ordered around in such a fashion. And your pain, such as it is, doesn't feel quite as constant and sharp as it used to when indulged so terribly often.

[Hit The Deck: 6]

It circles every which way, and returns to you seemingly entirely unbloodied. You suspect that the stoatmen may have learned something from previous experience. Such as ducking out of the way of any supernatural projectiles coming through the walls. Just to be on the safe side, you know.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 05, 2016, 03:04:39 am
"Hahaha! Please don't joke around or she gets angry." Causing misunderstanding why Lee would get angry. "We are just traveling together out of convenience since our trip takes us in same direction, my goal being Elizabeth and hers her clan. I'm still strictly unmarried man and plan to stay that way for a while until I learn which way I must go to return home, if I can indeed return home."

Listen stories, finish breakfast, get to know people, and focus on the place. See if I can archieve that state of hyperawareness again.

His eyes glint as you explain your situation - he remembers when he used to be like you, all brash and young and dedicated to bachelorhood! And look at him now! Seventy years old, twice married, a dozen children at last count, and couldn't be happier! Take these words to heart - you have never found a home before you have started a family! He wouldn't trade all the adventure in the world for his lovely wives, he nods at the two women, who both smile in a peculiarly synchronized manner. And he can only hope that the many betrothed of her lovely daughters would say the same even now, for he did and still does intend to hold them to that word!

You glance at Rose, and she gives you a look that very much communicates a great deal of discomfort at this line of discussion. Father, she begins, perhaps it's not the best time to be bothering the stranger with this kind of t-

Nonsense, the large man declares! There are no strangers - only people who have not seen the obvious benefit of having a friend in you! It's a rare opportunity for an outlander to befriend one of the far clans! Besides, it's high time someone made an honest woman of his eldest daughter! Rose's eyes go suddenly very wide as she looks at you in rising panic, breathing quickly.

Her father locks eyes with you, and you notice her mothers edge closer with interested eyes. What a coincidence! They're going to Elizabeth as well - she's said to be hosting the clansmeet, would you believe? Absolutely beautiful! You hear Lee sigh, and strongly suspect a rolling of the eyes has just occurred.

Quote from: Toaster on December 05, 2016, 10:58:57 am
Thomas stared blankly for a good eight seconds.  "Ah!  Well then, very good!  I will take your suggestion under advisement!"

He then backed away as quickly as possible while still being polite.

"Obviously they don't know anything and are also insane.  I suppose we must go around."

Investigate ways around.  Maybe the less-insane guard we met first knows something.  Otherwise, pick a way and head out.  East, if there's no preference.

The clanswoman takes all of this in good humor. Hohoho, yes! Listen to her words and listen well! Or do not, hoho!

You get well clear of her as quickly and politely as you can before sharing your candid impressions with Claire. She heartily agrees. Perhaps it's best she couldn't get anything out of them after all. It sounds like they are just as addled as they initially appeared. Perhaps you could ask that guard over- no, Claire says and leans in as she glances their way, the elderly fellow still going on about something to his mute friend, she'll save you a little time and tell you right away that they do not know anything. And are also insane, of course. Ah, you say, you somewhat suspected that also. You have no idea, she shakes her head with a regretful look.

Okay, you suppose you'll just need to try and find a way around. Eastward, you suppose? Claire shrugs. Either way seems not very promising. These canyons go on for miles and miles to her knowledge. But perhaps someone has another method of crossing? All those clansmen have to get back and forth over it somehow, don't they? Good thinking, you suppose! East it is then.

[The Rising Sun: 4]

So you head out eastward, putting as much distance between yourself and the wayward Storks as you can. Claire trails behind you, whistling with a cheer that seems more affected than real as she regards the edge of the forest you tend to skirt to the right, the thickening of the grass straight ahead and especially the still-glowing canyon to your left with no small amount of concern as you occasionally veer to avoid the frequent waste-filled crater. The dark, such as it is, tends to be kept quite nicely at bay by the various toxic glows, and you manage to go quite a distance before Claire begins to seem increasingly exhausted and her musical efforts grow pronouncedly erratic as she loses concentration every now and then.

You are considering if perhaps a stop for the night would be in order when, upon passing yet another particularly large glowing hole in the ground you notice a very short, possibly even dwarfish individual standing next to it. He adjusts a wide-brimmed hat banded with an intriguing and bizarre variety of teeth as he looks into the bright waters, and upon your approach looks up, his eyes hollow and teeth more than a little blackened as he grins at you. Good evening sir and madam, he says. Have you seen any worms about?

Quote from: TopHat on December 05, 2016, 02:08:00 pm
"Interesting. How long ago did this happen? Did he make the roads, too?
... could I have a glass of water?"


Nope, not like proper tea after all.

Was first, Wicked King. Ordered second. Second got help, got third. And so was kingdom. Simple, no?

The watchman rises at the request for water and looks around, his whole body creaking at the effort. He kneels down and starts to root in yet another of the ubiquitous piles of refuse in the shack, and retrieves a delicate crystal wine glass. He then crawls on his hands and knees to a particular spot on the floor and works his fingers between the boards, loosening one and pulling it aside, revealing a dark hole. Reaching down with one twisted hand he pulls out a considerable length of sphagnum, and twists out a steady stream of water from it into the glass, tossing the moss back in as it's filled, then putting the board back into place.

He hands you the glass. Not clean, he shrugs as your tears just keep coming. But cleaner.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 05, 2016, 05:02:01 pm
"Yes, a shadowy being behind a strange doorway. As far as I can tell, only the people the minders summoned can pass through and speak to it. It has a keen interest in the social connections between people. If you trade one to it, then the other person is basically unable to perceive you."

While we're talking I try to remember where I saw the set of clothes earlier, and make my way over to grab them.

That's certainly vaguer than she'd like, the doctor says. And you say it gave you one of these Words? It must be something extraordinary indeed. Why can you speak to it when most others seemingly cannot? And why would it want social connections? Those seem like fairly abstract things. On the other hand, it's not as if a soul is much better, is it?

[The Way To The Bed: 5]

You suppose not, you begin to say as you resume fumbling once again. Orienting yourself from the stepladder, you stumble over to the bed over all the junk upset by the sudden closing of the rift, and trip into the bed at last, where you locate the set of clothes. From purely a tactile standpoint it is readily apparent that these were meant for a stoatman who was fortunately more or less your size - there's a linen shirt and a set of trousers, but the comparative dimensions of your torso and limbs mean these come out to the equivalent of a short-sleeved linen dress reaching down slightly short of your knees, and a pair of Capri pants. Unfortunately there aren't any shoes to go with that, but it's infinitely more clothes than you had when you came down here. And the pants even have a decent set of pockets on them - sadly empty, but you appreciate their presence nevertheless.

The doctor comes up with a question after a moment's silence: how powerful would you say this shadowy being is? And did the minders speak to it, do you know?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 07, 2016, 12:29:00 pm
"Thanks.
Where does the road lead, then?"

Drink and ask one last question. Then answer any of his.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 07, 2016, 01:38:55 pm
"Seventy? You look a hella lot younger than that, you lucky bastard!"

In regards of "coincidental" clansmeet: "Really now? What a coincidence indeed. It matches suspiciously with prophecy of that apocalyptic burning bush." Elaborate said prophecy (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=154045.msg7162113#msg7162113) if requested, but make sure mention "a guy like you" part doesn't necessarily mean me. There are others matching that description, like Mr. Daniels, Ms. Minett and... have I even seen others? I don't remember anymore.


((I forgot about this one.))

"Oh, and talking about prophecies, Hœnir, one of gods, gave me another that's slightly puzzling. I have to find out 'what makes men into houses'. Got any puzzle solving skill in you?" It's rain, isn't it?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 07, 2016, 02:46:00 pm
"Er.  I can't say that I have, sir. We've been walking this way all day though, and we just about to stop for the night.  I can't even say I would know where to look for worms!"

Converse.  Also ponder places to sleep for the night.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 07, 2016, 06:08:47 pm
"Man, who knew assaulting fortified locations was so damn boring? If only I still had my bones, then I could probably just tear down those walls myself."

How's the warehouse looking? Particularly vulnerable to an assault, or ...? How large are those holes I've drilled in the walls?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 08, 2016, 08:51:37 am
"I don't think the minders could speak to with the well, but they must have been using its power somehow. I think we can talk to it because of how we were summoned. We're not, uh, entirely human anymore. As far as the well's power... I have no way of knowing. It's definitely more powerful than I am."

I start heading upstairs as we talk.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 08, 2016, 03:42:09 pm
Quote from: TopHat on December 07, 2016, 12:29:00 pm
"Thanks.
Where does the road lead, then?"

Drink and ask one last question. Then answer any of his.

Deeper in, but around also. There is town, maybe. Castle further, probably. Capital somewhere. Sometimes closer. Sometimes further. They walk when restless. Bog shifts when hungry also.

You have a sip of water. It tastes a little antiseptic, but you get the feeling that clearing out that mother of tea is well worth it. Very helpful, you compliment the watchman. But you've been talking for so very long at this point - does he have any questions? The watchman ponders, his black eyes staring off into the distance for a minute. You let him think as you continue to sip from the glass. The water is startlingly palatable despite its rather off color.

The mummified creature begins to bang on its helmet again, and the watchman looks its way. He nods. There is question - what is shininess on face? Unusual. A hiss sounds from the skeleton - another question, the watchman translates, what was shaking? Came from north and west. See what made?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 07, 2016, 01:38:55 pm
"Seventy? You look a hella lot younger than that, you lucky bastard!"

In regards of "coincidental" clansmeet: "Really now? What a coincidence indeed. It matches suspiciously with prophecy of that apocalyptic burning bush." Elaborate said prophecy (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=154045.msg7162113#msg7162113) if requested, but make sure mention "a guy like you" part doesn't necessarily mean me. There are others matching that description, like Mr. Daniels, Ms. Minett and... have I even seen others? I don't remember anymore.


((I forgot about this one.))

"Oh, and talking about prophecies, Hœnir, one of gods, gave me another that's slightly puzzling. I have to find out 'what makes men into houses'. Got any puzzle solving skill in you?" It's rain, isn't it?

It is a blessed life they lead here, Rose's father responds, hardly a surprise death's not keen to come knocking! Not to say there aren't dues to be paid, mind you! They're just paid in a far more creative fashion than the other folk tend to manage, hah! You hear Lee snort at this, but the man doesn't seem to be minding her at all still.

Speaking of blessed, you attempt to segue a little awkwardly, you do recall a prophecy! Told to you by a burning bush, in fact. A burning bush doesn't sound like an overly credible source, Rose's dorsal mother says. But a talking one might be of more interest, the ventral finishes the thought. It's not a disturbing prophecy though, is it, Rose asks with slight concern. Don't keep the people in suspense, the father booms, spit it out!

Well, you begin, it went a little like this: eyes among the stars have beheld the fate of the unintegrated clans, and would like them to know that if they were ever into reclaiming their not particularly ancestral homeland, now would be the time to do so! Especially if they could get some kind of otherworldly traveling sorcerer to help. Now, you're of course not saying that's you - it could be one of those other otherworldly traveling sorcerers you've met (at least two, in fact! hopefully they haven't died yet and you're not just talking out of your ass here!).

[Jumping At The Call: 2]

Haha, the father says, they do get those every now and then! Prophecies, that is! Yes, every now and then a Dragon does pipe up, usually when the clansmeet rolls around at that! Sensible, mind you! But you'll find the Gallflies to be the wrong kind of audience for that sort of talk! Downright tranquil sorts they are! Indeed, one of the mothers begins and the other continues, you'd be best off not mentioning such guff to the Storks or Monkeys or, god forbid, Dragons, or even somebody like the, er... Moths...

You look over at Lee. She's giving you another of those faintly angry looks. You decide not to return it. Right! So you were interested in a bit of a puzzle as well, now that you've gotten your mind on prophecy at all. Say, would the old man know what makes houses of men? Rain, perhaps?

[Mythical Cunning: 2]

A good foundation, says the father! That's how you make yourself a proper house - set down roots and sow your oats! You'll be a castle in your own right in no time at all! Or perhaps more like in thirty years or so, one of the mothers suggests. But well worth it nevertheless, the other one smiles. But rain's a good answer too, Rose offers in a conciliatory way.

Quote from: Toaster on December 07, 2016, 02:46:00 pm
"Er.  I can't say that I have, sir. We've been walking this way all day though, and we just about to stop for the night.  I can't even say I would know where to look for worms!"

Converse.  Also ponder places to sleep for the night.

If you saw one, the fellow says, you'd certainly know it. Hell, you'd almost certainly feel it. You remember that earthquake? That was the Big One! Most he's seen are smaller, of course. But you get the idea what kind of worm he's talking about. You've heard Australia tends to have them bigger than most places, you offer. The dwarf stares at you for a moment, unmoving and unbreathing. Yes, exactly!

Does he know of any good places to rest nearby, Claire asks, resting herself against your back for a moment. Well, he considers, there is his camp! He didn't bother setting a fire, of course, but he figures all the ingredients are there. Probably. It's been a while before he's had to set one himself. Tends to save them for emergencies! Right this way, he points you toward a nearby miniscule tent.

[The Blasted Lands: 5]

It takes a while to notice that there's another tent just nearby, mostly collapsed as it is, and the remains of a campfire that must have been lit not very long ago. Was the strangest thing, the dwarfish man explains, must have been people in it not too long ago. Found one of them a little ways off face-down in the dirt - she was bright orange and her tongue had been misplaced. Hadn't seen anything like it in all his years as a ranger, he'll tell you what.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 07, 2016, 06:08:47 pm
"Man, who knew assaulting fortified locations was so damn boring? If only I still had my bones, then I could probably just tear down those walls myself."

How's the warehouse looking? Particularly vulnerable to an assault, or ...? How large are those holes I've drilled in the walls?

Turns out sieges take forever and aren't very fun for either side. Who knew, right? You give the warehouse a discerning look. There's quite a few holes in it now. You'd suppose it wouldn't be very difficult to go and maybe punch through the side wall properly if you had, say, some kind of pick, or maybe if this damn Word stopped being so consistently underwhelming and got back to shearing holes in reality and nonsense like that.

[Now We Wait: 3]

Maybe you just need to get in there or something. Or get closer at least. You bet if you could see inside this would all be over in a jiffy.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 08, 2016, 08:51:37 am
"I don't think the minders could speak to with the well, but they must have been using its power somehow. I think we can talk to it because of how we were summoned. We're not, uh, entirely human anymore. As far as the well's power... I have no way of knowing. It's definitely more powerful than I am."

I start heading upstairs as we talk.

You were summoned, and yet you sound a lot like you're from Throne College. Which is strange, she admits, because if that were true you'd think she would remember you, given you don't seem that far apart in age.

As for you not being human anymore, she says as the two of you cautiously go up the stairs, do elaborate. Were you once human, and now are not? Did you lose some degree of humanity on the way here? Something else?

It gets fortunately easier to make your way as you near the top of the stairs and light properly filters in to light your path, and you find yourself back in the hall. Much to your relief it doesn't appear to be shaking or twisting anymore, even if the staircase upward seems to have collapsed, the entrance is still folded in on itself and there is still a distressing red splotch on the wall in the shape of the wall. But the big picture, you know, the big picture!

Place looks much better already, the doctor says as she emerges from behind you. You notice she's lost her bedsheet, and she notices right after. Ah, yes. It was a bit precarious to begin with. The bit with the rift seems to have unfortunately gotten it well and truly lost. Well, it and those wool things you gave her. A little awkward to carry in an emergency, it turns out. Good that you've found clothes, however! They're a little gray, sure (stoat clothes often are, but at least these are clean). You think they'd fit her? Maybe she should take a bath first, though. She seems to have neglected herself a little in past weeks, she notices.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 08, 2016, 06:38:58 pm
"Well, this is what contingencies are for."

Fortunately, I have that wooden door still. Use that as a makeshift shield while I get closer to the warehouse.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 08, 2016, 10:56:18 pm
Ah!  A park ranger!  Quite a good find.  "Ah, yes, very good!  We will stay here the night; thank you for the offer!  So, how long have you been a ranger here?  Finding it quite enjoyable?"


Prepare for the night.  Converse more.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 09, 2016, 03:14:30 am
((Interestingly, Jack still has those rats.))

"Hoh, packed with prophecies? Where I come from prophecies are rare and almost universally made up with no divine backing. Guess I should pay no heed to any that's not coming directly from Æsir, and theirs tend to be self-fulfilling."

Inquire about the clans around this (to me) unkown side of the world.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 09, 2016, 06:46:19 am
"Thorne College? Never heard of it. I went to Kent State University, at least until I wound up here. Back then I was a normal human, as far as I can tell, but being brought here has changed my body somehow. I can survive wounds that would have killed me before, and heal from them in hours. I also don't feel hunger, and don't have to breathe."

I begin looking around for an escape hatch. Surely a building this unstable would have something like that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 09, 2016, 02:16:00 pm
"The glow is the result of... misused magic, itself a result of my brother doing his level best to kill me for reasons I still don't grasp. The earthquake was a seperate incident, apparently caused by some idiot messing about with the worst possible magic in the worst possible place and calling forth some kind of underground reservoir of magic. You seem to have got off lightly here, though, unlike near Anglefork."


Exposit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 10, 2016, 09:32:13 am
Quote from: Xantalos on December 08, 2016, 06:38:58 pm
"Well, this is what contingencies are for."

Fortunately, I have that wooden door still. Use that as a makeshift shield while I get closer to the warehouse.

You hold up your wooden door on your boneless arms and slowly begin to wobble forward. Slings, stones and arrows fail to rain upon you at every step, and both danger and mortal peril are nowhere to be seen as you make clamlike progress toward the wall, dragging yourself forward as you hold the door up at a 45 degree angle. The storehouse seems to have been disquieted by your persistently murderous assault, and barely a motion can be heard for the time being as you shuffle up to examine the hole in the wall, putting your eye up to it.

[Eyes On You: 6]

What you see inside is quite an assemblage of supplies, pallets and barrels and a multitude of boxes, no doubt once ready to ship out at a moment's notice. Right now, however, you notice that they seem to be smoking gently, a flame beginning to rise to one side. Nearby you see two stoatmen and a small old man, each of them missing seemingly very vital chunks as they lay on the ground in large pools of quickly drying blood. And above, on the walkways lining the top of the building, you see about half a dozen stoatmen and a very much human woman, most of them cowering by the walls in an effort to not be seen. The way they look at the opposite side tells you that there's probably a similar number over there. You hear them all shift suddenly as what you assume to be a meaningful nod comes from that direction, and with a look of obvious panic they all go for the windows.

You hear footfalls on the roof above, coming in your direction. You look up, and a man in surprisingly excellent clothes meets your eyes, his eyes filled with desperation as he dives off the rooftop toward you.

[Death From Below: 6 vs. 2]

You hold your shield up and the man lands onto you, squashing you beneath the door for a moment as your nerves go wild from the compression and the fragments of your bones grind sharply into your innards. You roar and push back up again in retaliation, and the man goes flying away, bellowing helplessly as he shoots away toward the river, clipping one of the nearby piers before tumbling into the river with a splash. You hear him start to instinctively tread water for dear life.

You do not manage to see this, of course, because immediately afterward a stoatman lands sinuously atop your door, crushing you once again briefly before you push back with a much less persuasive roar this time, and send this one flying a shorter distance upward and behind you, rolling on the ground and almost immediately afterward making a break for the river as well. Two more drop upon you as the royal guards start to charge in from afar, seeing the disastrous way this is about to unfold, and you violently throw them away like a humanoid springboard, your mouth and eyes now full of blood, your shape increasingly indistinct beneath the wooden door.

[A Royal Intervention: 6]

You hear the sound of an arrow being planted into the skull of the next one to fall upon you before you hurl them into the air. As they impact the ground nearby with the telltale sickening crack of a skeleton breaking in half, a royal guardsman decapitates one of the disoriented stoatmen you threw off previously. One stoatman does not chance jumping onto you - he lands in the clutches of a guardswoman who takes her time in strangling the life out of him. A couple holding on to each other land onto you, and you rocket them off into the township's general direction, their shapes making a sizable hole in one of the smoking roofs. You feel strength begin to drain out of you as a particularly corpulent stoatman squashes you beneath the door, and you don't so much throw him as roll him off. He starts to scramble away on all fours, and you catch a glimpse of him skittering into an alleyway as your murder-thought mutilates an adjacent street corner in failed and confused retaliation. You see a somewhat sizable dog get thrown at the charging commander from above. It starts licking her face and whimpering, and she is distracted for a moment as she puts it down and resumes charging the warehouse, the dog standing around in confusion before following behind and yapping with excitement. And finally the woman you recall seeing from before jumps on top of you, and you deflate under the door as you are ground into the dirt one last time. She stands up unsteadily over the door as guardsmen surround her. Don't hurt her, she shouts, she didn't-

You keen, your ruined throat unable to make any particularly human noise presently, and don't so much stand up as expand, your muscle oriented in a single direction as you raise the door by one side, pushing it and the woman on it into the wall. You push, seamlessly continuous with the door and ground, more starfish than man with your wealth of sucking wounds, shards of bone jutting out like spikes, boneless limbs moving in profoundly inhuman ways as you orient all your muscles in one direction and spend half a minute meticulously straining this woman through the hole in the wall you made while the guards observe with equal parts amazement and bemusement as her screaming becomes gurgling, and falls to an extended splortch as she makes it to the other side with a much more uniform texture and consistency.

That's certainly a solution, the royal guard commander says as the dog slowly approaches you and starts lapping at the door while you glare at the carnage all around you, a little disappointed there aren't more people to safely take out your frustration on. Got most of them, and the spectacle was really something else. Not to mention that... wait, is that crackling coming from inside the storehouse? The guardsmen exchange glances as the commander shoots a commanding look at them, and run off to investigate.

Quote from: Toaster on December 08, 2016, 10:56:18 pm
Ah!  A park ranger!  Quite a good find.  "Ah, yes, very good!  We will stay here the night; thank you for the offer!  So, how long have you been a ranger here?  Finding it quite enjoyable?"


Prepare for the night.  Converse more.

You head over to the larger tent and look into propping it back up - all the things you need seem to be there, even if the tent itself has a rather large gash cut into its side, seemingly for lack of patience in going out the proper way. Claire stands by and watches as you try to get it back together, occasionally offering a hand or a motivational yawn.

As for the ranger, he finds his line of work extraordinarily fulfilling! You wouldn't be in the same business for... well, must be fifty years! Yes, fifty years if you didn't enjoy it to some level! Only thing bothering him really is all the worms and such! Always moving about and wriggling, you know. Unseemly! He's not a big fan of bears either, personally. They're a tad overrated in his experience. But other than that, he must say that nature is indeed amazing!

Claire inhales sharply as you look inside the tent and takes a step back. Ah, says the ranger, there's another one! Wait, that's two - bit hard to tell where one ends and the other begins! Somewhat grisly, he supposes. Are they frozen solid? Oh my, and those expressions on their faces. Should probably put them somewhere else for the night at least!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 09, 2016, 03:14:30 am
((Interestingly, Jack still has those rats.))

"Hoh, packed with prophecies? Where I come from prophecies are rare and almost universally made up with no divine backing. Guess I should pay no heed to any that's not coming directly from Æsir, and theirs tend to be self-fulfilling."

Inquire about the clans around this (to me) unkown side of the world.

That's the way, yes! Prophecies are a fool's game at the best of times! Instead you'd best be tending to your own business - in agitated times like these, hardly need to stir the pot much more if you catch his meaning!

You chew contently on a whole sparrow for a moment, and ask about the clans. The clans, the father says! Ah, the ventral mother chuckles, a surefire way to get a discussion rolling, that question. You'd hardly even know where to begin, the dorsal mother adds. Nonsense! All things begin at one's own clan! And all too often end there, Rose mutters.

[An Unbiased Recounting: 2]

He laughs as he recalls something. He supposes there's no better place to begin than the Gallflies themselves! Familial! Trustworthy! Loyal! And very hospitable, he says as he places another vole in your hand! No other clan has quite the same kind of reputation, he's sure you'll find! Keep your things close next to a Monkey, they say, and keep your children safe from the Stork! Make way for the Dragon, and never touch a Treefrog! Keep your eye on any Moth, he smiles at Lee in apparent good humor that is similarly apparently not shared, and tread not in the web of the Spider! Deal carefully with the Dog, hunt not for the Snark, do not let the Goat run free! Treat the Worm with utmost respect, and look always uninteresting before the Shrike! But the Gallfly is always your friend if you are prepared to return the gesture! Even for a Rabbit such as you, the dorsal mother adds. Especially for a Rabbit, the ventral mother continues. Those poor things are always so lost, Rose shakes her head. Indeed, her father nods, but such is the way in the northlands!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 09, 2016, 06:46:19 am
"Thorne College? Never heard of it. I went to Kent State University, at least until I wound up here. Back then I was a normal human, as far as I can tell, but being brought here has changed my body somehow. I can survive wounds that would have killed me before, and heal from them in hours. I also don't feel hunger, and don't have to breathe."

I begin looking around for an escape hatch. Surely a building this unstable would have something like that.

So you've been altered in some myste- wait, you've never heard of Throne College? She claps her hands together. It's a wonderful place - simply wonderful! Imagine a library of ten million volumes and uncountable scrolls, preserved perfectly throughout the ages, lining shelves many stories tall winding around in dust-filled labyrinths you could walk around in for weeks and see no end in sight, where you could delve for a lifetime simply to discover its true extent and contents, or perhaps to find that one crucial clue that makes it all make sense. Imagine organizing conferences to try and decipher the topology of such a place, or how it came to be. Consider the length of study required to unravel the mysteries of such an incredible ancient place, and jumping into the fray to chip away at its foundations, hoping to god that in twenty years you might possibly dig out a diamond of searing truth!

Yes, that just about describes the Imaginary section of Throne College's great library, the doctor says wistfully. She tended more toward the newer sections. Didn't have the head for many of the algorithms required to navigate too deeply, but she did go on regular trips with one of the professors' groups. It was a lot like climbing a mountain, right down to the lack of oxygen in certain places. A fantastic place if you've a mind for adventure - she tended to work with what they brought back for the most part. The rest of the College was no less impressive - ostentatious in a way only something built with no sense of practicality could be, a repository of six thousand years of history, art, science and literature that never happened, and yet strangely existent all the same. A whole other world. She sighs. It's a shame there's no going back there, really.

[A Convenient Hatch: 2]

But what of this Kent State University, she asks. Huh, you reply as you search around for an alternative exit, and conclude that there are unfortunately no windows to dive through in this hallway, and that any hatches to, say, an attic are probably on the second floor. This university you went to, she repeats. What was it like?

Quote from: TopHat on December 09, 2016, 02:16:00 pm
"The glow is the result of... misused magic, itself a result of my brother doing his level best to kill me for reasons I still don't grasp. The earthquake was a seperate incident, apparently caused by some idiot messing about with the worst possible magic in the worst possible place and calling forth some kind of underground reservoir of magic. You seem to have got off lightly here, though, unlike near Anglefork."


Exposit.

The mummified thing squeaks and continues to play its helmet like an off-rhythm drum. Good knowing that, the watchman translates after a long minute. Bog shelters, bog preserves. Nothing gets far into bog before bog gets into it.

You sip your water sagely from the glass. It's a bit of a shame when you run out. Was rather good, truth be told.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 10, 2016, 01:30:49 pm
*wheeze*

"Hhhhhaaate ... fffffuckinnng ... jumpers. Kill them slow."

No time to waste, quickly make my way away from this damn warehouse. What was the reward for doing this again? Getting to sleep on a bed, I think?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 11, 2016, 09:56:36 am
"Oh, you know, a pretty normal state college. Brick buildings and boring landscaping, a few dozen thousand students, and a lot of black squirrels. A ton of research is done there, but not on magical topics. All in all, I think Thorne is a bit more interesting."

I inspect the collapsed upward staircase. How high up would I have to be to reach the second floor? If it seems like I can climb up on the rubble, or stack the nearby desk/bed and climb up on them, then I do so.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 11, 2016, 10:12:04 am
Thomas looked into the tent.  Uhhh...  "Ah, uh, yes?  Indeed?"

What am I seeing here?  Offer words of advice, though they're probably not really helpful at all.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 11, 2016, 04:54:54 pm
"Very interesting. If you'll excuse me though, I'd like to rest a little now. Best be fresh for the morning journey."

Conclude the conversation, then it's time for a spot of rest, methinks. Stay awake, though, and try to monitor the healing process if at all possible. Could be interesting.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 11, 2016, 11:54:03 pm
"I see. Hospitable is certainly true, though healer wasn't keen on sharing their spirits."

I have pants and I got breakfast, I think it is time to continue our trip. Farewell, until we meet again.

Once we have left the camp, or at least gotten outside of their hearing range, I want to hear Lee's opinion about various clans.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 12, 2016, 08:45:28 am
Quote from: Xantalos on December 10, 2016, 01:30:49 pm
*wheeze*

"Hhhhhaaate ... fffffuckinnng ... jumpers. Kill them slow."

No time to waste, quickly make my way away from this damn warehouse. What was the reward for doing this again? Getting to sleep on a bed, I think?

They were going to, but then they tried to run. Smart of them in a way, the commander says. She gets two of her men together to help you up and away. If it's a bed you want, you've certainly earned that at the very least. The two fellows look profoundly dissatisfied at lugging your boneless half-corpse, but the work's easy enough and the commander's more than stern enough to keep any grumbling to a minimum - get this man the finest of beds not yet set aflame, and make sure he is not disturbed!

[A Day's Resolution: 2]

The next few minutes are a blurb as you are lifted off your feet by strong hands, a warehouse going slowly up in flames behind you as they whisk you away along several streets and through several likely candidates for houses that haven't collapsed. You lose consciousness before you are deposited anywhere in particular, and sleep like the dead.

[The Sea of Dreams: 4]

You awaken to the sound of water sloshing around as you roll over on a covering of boiled natural rubber. There are no sheets or covers, not even a pillow, but you feel profoundly free of pain as you open your eyes. You begin to rise and all of a sudden your bones pop and creak in unison like a rusted machine, your muscles taking a moment to define your skeleton as it used to be, as it should be. The crick-crack of everything settling into place as you slide out of bed quiets. You experiment with stretches more out of a bodily restlessness than any deliberate attempt, and finally manage to even out everything, standing up for the first time in a while without needing to undulate into an approximation of stability.

The room you're in is on the second floor, and also evidently looted of all its valuables - not recently so at that, as the dust has resumed gathering in places that used to hold paintings, tapestries and even a desk, the only thing that thieves knew not how to properly move being the waterbed itself. You look out the window, and make out the warehouse burning in the distance, by the docks, and houses in many a state of collapse lining the street outside. A pair of royal guardswomen walk down the street, dragging a well-dressed man behind them by his beard. They are chatting between themselves - he is very weakly screaming, nearly having fallen to the ground from lack of air.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 11, 2016, 09:56:36 am
"Oh, you know, a pretty normal state college. Brick buildings and boring landscaping, a few dozen thousand students, and a lot of black squirrels. A ton of research is done there, but not on magical topics. All in all, I think Thorne is a bit more interesting."

I inspect the collapsed upward staircase. How high up would I have to be to reach the second floor? If it seems like I can climb up on the rubble, or stack the nearby desk/bed and climb up on them, then I do so.

A few dozen thousand, she says incredulously as the two of you stand by where the staircase has broken off and receded from the wall. That's a city in its own right! Would it not take a thousand staff at least to see to them all? Throne College had but a few hundred scholars there at its peak. Had they as many as this Kent State working toward a singular purpose, they'd have even the Imaginary section figured out in but a few years.

[Upward Mobility: 5]

Speaking of, she says as the two of you begin digging out the bedframe from under the staircase, what did they research there? It's not as if the people in her college were minders, or even alchemists. Well, except that one man - strange fellow, he was, very fascinated with the Imaginary. Mythical alchemy, he liked to call it. Spent a lot of time in the library, much of it far before her own time as it happens. His students had a less poetic name - practical history, though she always found it a little misleading. A great way to find yourself going north, this practical history turned out to be. And then there were the futurists, who were a slightly different offshoot. Called themselves "predictive historians" when they didn't fashion themselves interdisciplinarians. The strangest lot of all, the three she actually heard of. Had another alchemist among them. Also went north, none returned. A fairly standard story for anybody who spends enough time in the Imaginary section - they tend to develop the strangest kind of revisionist ideas. And quite a lot try to make their own in a much more direct sense. Perhaps its best she's heard little of them since. Unless of course they did do it, but the change extended far enough into the past that nobody noticed. It was a distressingly common argument among them, you see - they, or maybe the King, were changing history, but we simply did not have the manifold sight to observe it directly. Or that history itself changed upon observation. Honestly, things did get very esoteric there, but that's Benzerwald history for you, she supposes as you manage to finally get the thing free from the ruins.

You both carry the frame up the stairs, which seem to be holding up at least halfway up, and start carefully setting it up. Apologies for digressing, she says, it's something of a hab- though when you say a lot of black squirrels, how many do you mean? One or two in every tree, or chirping and swarming in the rafters without end? She is attempting to imagine a city of brick on a flat plain presently, and the squirrels do add something of an... interesting impression either way. How intelligent are they? Like northern rats, perhaps, in that you sense them watching, chittering, waiting? A little more intelligent than they should have any right to be? She has heard accounts that this tends to happen when you let pests proliferate far too much, they build up some kind of unfathomable connection with the land itself. Become the spirit of the place after a sense, she gestures with one hand at the ground as you prop the bedframe across the gap between the staircase and the top floor as an improvised bridge.

There, the doctor says as she walks across the frame, arms outstretched in case balance becomes an issue, far better now, wouldn't you say? You walk across as well - yes, very adequate. The hallway ahead curves in a much more natural way than the inconstant way the rest of the house used to, the second floor bedrooms and adjacent chambers arranged in a very deliberate spiral, the side lined with partly broken, warped windows of paneled. Out of them you see the central room of the house on the first floor, or rather the roof that crumpled in on itself over them, drawing the second floor hallway to close around it in a spiraling manner. The floor feels a little unsteady, but it seems to hold you and the doctor for the most part regardless, so further exploration seems less like wandering into the belly of a raging beast and more of a regular abandoned house trawl - mostly safe, except when it isn't.

Seems reasonably well-preserved, the doctor shrugs. No doubt the owners - probably not the goons outside, mind you, the actual owners from before they were likely horribly killed - lived up here. Hopefully they've left something behind up here to mark their passage.

Quote from: Toaster on December 11, 2016, 10:12:04 am
Thomas looked into the tent.  Uhhh...  "Ah, uh, yes?  Indeed?"

What am I seeing here?  Offer words of advice, though they're probably not really helpful at all.

You'd very much like the answer to that question yourself. There's arms and legs, and fingers too. Far too many fingers, jutting out every which way. There are no eyes, but there are teeth. The shape is reminiscent of something, but that is the most confident assertion you can make. You look at Claire, who appears to have retreated several more steps, putting the inside of the tent out of sight. Not going to go in there. No sir.

[How Do We Bury This: 2]

The ranger walks inside, the floor of the tent crunching under his feet in a way that raises far too many questions. He gives the thing a swift kick, and though a part of it caves in under his boot, producing a stream of five-legged crawling things that waste no time in burrowing straight down into the ground, it remains stuck fast through some unknown means.

Well, he says, will probably need a tool of some kind here. Have you a trowel handy, or perhaps a spatula? A bucket could be useful as well, thing's about as ripe as it is frost-crisped. Impressive, really - it can't have been like that for very long, else you'd imagine something would have eaten it.

Quote from: TopHat on December 11, 2016, 04:54:54 pm
"Very interesting. If you'll excuse me though, I'd like to rest a little now. Best be fresh for the morning journey."

Conclude the conversation, then it's time for a spot of rest, methinks. Stay awake, though, and try to monitor the healing process if at all possible. Could be interesting.

Not problem, the watchman shrugs creakily, and to the sounds of a bog gently bubbling, a skeleton hissing to the tune of several more unattended jars of kombucha and the mummy providing percussion you pass out on the couch for a while, your facial rift closing as your head lolls back.

[Considering A Nap: 2]

You are surprisingly quick to relax given the circumstances. As a matter of fact, you've been surprisingly quick to relax throughout the last... week, is it? You wouldn't exactly describe yourself as an individual who could lay down anywhere and pass out, and yet this seems to be exactly what you're doing right now. Obviously being passed out does not do wonders for your powers of observation.

That is, if you did actually pass out. You do close your... er, rift. And then when you open it again everything looks broadly the same, the occupants of the shack now having particularly moved until a light shines on them again and the helmet-banging, hissing and gentle shying away resume in earnest.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 11, 2016, 11:54:03 pm
"I see. Hospitable is certainly true, though healer wasn't keen on sharing their spirits."

I have pants and I got breakfast, I think it is time to continue our trip. Farewell, until we meet again.

Once we have left the camp, or at least gotten outside of their hearing range, I want to hear Lee's opinion about various clans.

Oho, there's only so much of those present! Really, if it's a stash you're after, everyone has a little secreted away! For special occasions, you realize, haha! You'd suppose this might be an adequate time to break out his, but he would warn you in advance - a man of his size does need rather a lot for the medicine to work! Usually all of it, his mothers add and shrug, but an exception could possibly be made.

Right, you say, that's all fine and good, but you do need to be on your way. What, Rose's father says, already! But you've only just met! And you are, it seems, going the same way! What's the rush, good fellow! They'll be moving out within the next few hours, when everyone's good and ready - it would only be sensible to stay! Strength in numbers, you know! You look at Rose. She looks at her mothers. Her mothers stare at you much like her father, but with more congeniality than the wild glint of interest in his eyes.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 12, 2016, 02:21:24 pm
"Good morning! Maybe. What time is it, anyway? Do you know?
.
Come to think of it, what do you call this language we're speaking?"

Back to basics.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 12, 2016, 03:47:36 pm
"Um.  er.  I have a bowl?  Or I could use this..."

Offer bowl.  Also show sword and offer to use it as per instructed.  Don't let him use sword though.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 12, 2016, 05:52:32 pm
"Well, that was rather refreshing, I must say. And now I have bones again! So what now, then. I suppose I should find him and eliminate him and his unfortunate knowledge, but that can come whenever I find him, if I ever do. I don't really wanna go back to earth, truthfully, so ... I suppose stick around here for the meantime. See what comes of it."

I notice all the Traces of Mischef are gone, including my mangled hand. Is this true? Do I have ol' lefty again?

Regardless of that result, take a moment to luxuriate in the sensation of standing on stable legs again before heading downstairs from wherever I am.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 13, 2016, 11:36:27 am
"Well, perhaps I could postpone departure a little. Medicine needs some time to work, doesn't it?" Leif says while glancing at Lee. Does her stone face betray any reactions?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 13, 2016, 09:21:43 pm
I begin exploring the closest bedroom, talking to the doctor as we walk. There are probably some clothes up here she could wear. And maybe something valuable, or at least sharp.

"I guess our schools were quite different. Without any spatial or historical anomalies on campus, the students are spread out among hundreds of specializations. And there are a few squirrels in every tree and field. They don't have the teeming hordes or the suspicious intelligence of the rats I've seen in Anglefork. Anyway, enough about my boring university... where is Thorne college? Far from here, I assume?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 15, 2016, 04:36:04 pm
Quote from: TopHat on December 12, 2016, 02:21:24 pm
"Good morning! Maybe. What time is it, anyway? Do you know?
.
Come to think of it, what do you call this language we're speaking?"

Back to basics.

The watchman shrugs. Only check time when go out. Now not going out. So no need to check time. No?

[Linguistic Mysteries: 4]

And language. He thinks for a good long time on this. Language has name. What is name? Name is. Name is. Name is.

His head lolls one way, then the other as he ruminates on the words. Name is low tongue. Is tongue of borderlands, but name is low tongue. Close to new tongue, but new tongue is shinier. Cleaner. Not so real as low tongue. Maybe not real at all.

Quote from: Toaster on December 12, 2016, 03:47:36 pm
"Um.  er.  I have a bowl?  Or I could use this..."

Offer bowl.  Also show sword and offer to use it as per instructed.  Don't let him use sword though.

That's a start, the ranger says as he looks at the bowl, but you really would likely need to have some kind of scoop as well and hello, what's that you have there?

You look at your sword. Ah, you say, that's your sword. One feels the need to introduce oneself. You warn off the ranger as he instinctively goes to touch it, it can be a mite ornery if touched inappropriately, you say. One wouldn't mind being touched, of course, but one would surmise that it would also not let slip the possibility of more material as a sheer matter of excellent conditioning. The ranger stops, looking between you and oneself as a clearer picture begins to form. Aha, he says, some kind of sorcerous thing! He's not quite seen the like, but the principle's clear enough! Sword away, good sir!

[A Most Uncommon Material: 3]

You let one at it, not needing more provocation than that, and shank the long blade right into the mess on the tent floor. What follows is quick, clean and surprisingly nonviolent - there is but a momentary sucking sound before you find yourself before a relatively clean tent floor, the only thing remaining being a few stray droplets of bright orange, a little too difficult to pinpoint exactly for you to start waving oneself around carelessly lest you find yourself short your nightly shelter, but also perhaps not overly bothersome despite this.

Efficient, the ranger comments. Where can he get one of those? He'd imagine there'd be less trouble from forest varmints for sure if he had a thingum like that, yes sir! Is it gone, Claire asks from behind with an air of disgust, is it clear? Clean as the driven snow, the ranger replies! Claire seems unconvinced as she looks to you.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 12, 2016, 05:52:32 pm
"Well, that was rather refreshing, I must say. And now I have bones again! So what now, then. I suppose I should find him and eliminate him and his unfortunate knowledge, but that can come whenever I find him, if I ever do. I don't really wanna go back to earth, truthfully, so ... I suppose stick around here for the meantime. See what comes of it."

I notice all the Traces of Mischef are gone, including my mangled hand. Is this true? Do I have ol' lefty again?

Regardless of that result, take a moment to luxuriate in the sensation of standing on stable legs again before heading downstairs from wherever I am.

Papa's got a brand new hand! Well, of course it doesn't look exactly right. But a very reasonable - hang on a second. You go to the wall and punch it rather hard, simultaneously creating a sizable hole in it and dislocating most of the bones in your hand, then take a moment to painstakingly rearrange them, your murder-thought scratching at the walls as this fails to register as more than a blip on your desensitized agony radar. Aha, there you go, you say out loud as you manage to get both hands looking broadly the same. Seems like they weren't kidding about waterbeds being therapeutic.

Anyway, you head downstairs, hanging a left from the bedroom door. The rest of the house looks no less looted - indeed, the only things not taken away seem to be nailed down, or rather integral parts of the interior. There's a peculiar-looking copper desk fused into one of the walls, its drawers pulled out and made off with, and as you head down the stairs a surprisingly effective optical illusion painted on the side wall manages to create a feeling of contrasting motion, which does make you wonder what the artist was thinking in putting that on the side of a flight of stairs.

As you get down, you find yourself in the main room of sorts, where not so much a hearth as a boiler rests to one side next to a set of broken chairs and destroyed ceramics, all covered in no small amount of rather old blood nobody's bothered to clean up. You push open the door and dance nakedly into the street, giddy with excitement at getting so delightfully boned when you least expected, and as the guardswomen wave to you, then force their captive to wave weakly as well, you wonder what sort of murder will this remarkably pain-free night will entail as you look on the starry sky, plumes of smoke still rising from distant fires to partly obscure the overbearing moon looking down on the town.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 13, 2016, 11:36:27 am
"Well, perhaps I could postpone departure a little. Medicine needs some time to work, doesn't it?" Leif says while glancing at Lee. Does her stone face betray any reactions?

You should! It is best to take it easy with these things! You may be young, but there are only so many mostly naked adventures a man can enjoy without a good bit of relief! And what better way to find such a thing than to sit back and relax among your peers, or at least he would hope you consider him such a thing! One would hope indeed, the ventral mother adds. If you don't mind of course, the other one says as well. Don't feel troubled by it though, Rose is quick to say, it is no real obligation, honest! You can go if you like, it is not any sort of problem!

[More Important Things To Do: 5]

You look to Lee, who you suppose has had enough of this shit. And you would suppose more than correctly, her eyes appear to say. Time is short, she says. And there is much to do. Apologies, she says in a manner charitably described as terribly begrudged, but she must take you along. Much to speak of. Many things to discuss. She nods exactly once after a few seconds of silence, then motions for you to follow as she starts heading quickly away as the father begins to raise his finger with a no doubt intriguing counterargument.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 13, 2016, 09:21:43 pm
I begin exploring the closest bedroom, talking to the doctor as we walk. There are probably some clothes up here she could wear. And maybe something valuable, or at least sharp.

"I guess our schools were quite different. Without any spatial or historical anomalies on campus, the students are spread out among hundreds of specializations. And there are a few squirrels in every tree and field. They don't have the teeming hordes or the suspicious intelligence of the rats I've seen in Anglefork. Anyway, enough about my boring university... where is Thorne college? Far from here, I assume?"

[And What Do I Find: 4]

You head into the nearest bedroom, and find it rather fortunately to be in fairly good shape, and quite recently inhabited at that - the bed has clearly been slept in no later than just last night, and the walk-in closet door is a little ajar. A young woman's room, the doctor supposes as her eyes rest on an impressive vanity at one side of the room. Then again, she takes another look around, most of the furniture does look dragged in here. Scratched the parquet, even.

But yes, she says, Throne College is fairly far away. Just off Emperor's Glen, she says, and stares as she notices that this isn't ringing any bells. Not too far from Leavenpool! No? It's, er... well, it's not exactly close to First Principle, but- and you don't know what that is, do you. You look around awkwardly - the place seems a bit too small for all the couches, tables and such placed in here, as if someone began to furnish it and simply couldn't stop. You pick up a music box from atop a dresser wedged in between an armoire and what looks like an overly serious cross between a chess set and a Candyland board, all carved out of redwood and bear-ivory. You start winding it and it produces a tune you remember singing along with the memorizer back in the inn. It seems suddenly like a very long time ago.

You're playing it too fast, the doctor says as she fetches a different box from a dangerously unbalanced end table. Aha, she says as she opens it, jewelry. She drags out a long, fine silver necklace. In the sparing, dying daylight it still manages to glitter. Anyway, she says, Throne College is... well, in absolute terms she'd suppose it to be a little more than a hundred miles south, and also a little west from there. Oh, you say, so not far from Ark City?

The doctor nearly drops the jewelry box. Ark City, she says, clearly a little incensed. That's not even a real place! Honestly you'll want to perhaps educate yourself more thoroughly on- you know something, let's just you and her check the closet already. And you do - much to your delight, somebody has taken the time to collect quite a wealth of clothing in here. Mostly women's, and of a vast variety of different sizes, most of which appear to have been dumped in the corner ignominiously and the rest of them quite a bit too small for either you or your companion. You sit down a moment and root through it. With your help the doctor unearths a fairly stately blue traveling dress after tossing away a few rather delicate and incredibly uncomfortable hoop-skirted, corseted things. Taking the time to find a few other matching articles to complete the look, she manages to clothe herself quite fully - not as academic as she'd like to travel, mind, but certainly a damn sight better than running around naked. Even found a nice dark woolen shawl to go with it. Who knows, might be enough to actually keep her warm at that.

[Bottom of the Pile: 2]

You're less fortunate, as the pile seems to get increasingly more impractical and at times disastrously revealing as you go through it, and there's not a pair of shoes in here that you do not strongly suspect would neither hold up on a protracted hike or let your feet survive it to a particular degree. The selection here looks like a magpie went specifically through a house looking for the shiniest and strangest-looking outfits they could find.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Hot Tip of the Day (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 15, 2016, 08:25:30 pm
"Things are looking up for ol' Jack! Excellent, excellent.

Say, guardswomen, how's the looting and pillaging or what-have-you of this place going? And where can I find the queen from here? I'm in a mood to get out and accomplish something. Probably involving violence."

Get info from nearby guardswomen! Regardless of their answer, head back inside momentarily - I want to try to store the bed I slept in inside my well-given storage space. It probably won't work, but best to try.

Then, if I've been given directions to the queen, go head in her direction.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 15, 2016, 10:42:09 pm
"Well, I got it after winning a sword duel with the leader of the stout fellows sieging the castle; I imagine there aren't many like it.  Or they might have some spares; I really don't know.  It's quite nice, though.  Yes, Claire, it is clean in here."

Now that that's sorted, perhaps aim toward settling down for the night?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 16, 2016, 01:59:19 am
Leif glances at back of leaving Lee and shrugs.

"Well, she's not wrong about that. I suppose we will meet in Elizabeth then, once I have done my task there I have a plenty time to hang around. Thanks for breakfast and pants, have a good time and see you later!"

Jog after Lee, and after some time inquire about her opinion of various clans.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 16, 2016, 04:26:21 pm
"Not real? What do you mean by that?
And how many people speak... Low Tongue? It seems rather widespread."


Probably best to put the glass back while I'm at it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 18, 2016, 06:06:27 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on December 15, 2016, 08:25:30 pm
"Things are looking up for ol' Jack! Excellent, excellent.

Say, guardswomen, how's the looting and pillaging or what-have-you of this place going? And where can I find the queen from here? I'm in a mood to get out and accomplish something. Probably involving violence."

Get info from nearby guardswomen! Regardless of their answer, head back inside momentarily - I want to try to store the bed I slept in inside my well-given storage space. It probably won't work, but best to try.

Then, if I've been given directions to the queen, go head in her direction.

Oh, the guardswoman says, they're nearly done. Mostly they're only resting so that they're nice and ready to move out in the morning. That and the interrogations and executions of course, these dissidents don't repress themselves and they have accumulated a lot of stuff. Some of it not even buried under tons of rubble and ruin.

[So Many People To Kill: 5]

You might want to come along maybe, the other one winks at you, there's a whole bunch that the queen's supposed to pass final judgment on in the morning after she wakes up. Then there's also splitting the loot - they made a big pile, you know! Pretty much everything's there now, waiting for the big split which should be in... hell, she hasn't been paying that much attention, three hours maybe? Something like that. They're figuring out the raffle as you speak.

Actually, probably should get there sharpish, the other guardswoman suggests. Otherwise the line might get too long. Excellent point, the other one nods. You notice they look extremely similar when you look closer. They hand you the beard of their captive and you, rather delighted with your ability to grip things, can't help but immediately accept. It's a very well-kept beard, you must admit. The man whimpers as you crumple it in your hands. You probably know what to do, one of the guardswomen shrugs. And if you don't, the other one adds, just keep him anyway. Honestly he probably doesn't even know anything. See you!

And with that they're off, the fellow staring at you with wet, miserable eyes, knelt in front of you in pain. You suppose that's something. You pull him with you delicately enough to not rip out his magnificent facial hair as you guide him into the house and up some stairs, where you stand in front of the waterbed. You place your free hand on it as your captive looks on in bemusement, but somehow you suspect that whatever extradimensional horror is implanted into you, it's not exactly hungry for waterbeds.

[Excellent Deals On Bedding Solutions: 5]

Although when you touch it you do perceive the faintest flicker of doubt, which may mean it's not quite as hopeless as you would ordinarily think. Probably a bit of a hard sell though. You'd need a cunning argument for certain.

Quote from: Toaster on December 15, 2016, 10:42:09 pm
"Well, I got it after winning a sword duel with the leader of the stout fellows sieging the castle; I imagine there aren't many like it.  Or they might have some spares; I really don't know.  It's quite nice, though.  Yes, Claire, it is clean in here."

Now that that's sorted, perhaps aim toward settling down for the night?

And it's got a story too, the ranger marvels! Very nice, very nice indeed!

[Terrible Things Have Happened Here: 3]

Claire moves closer and takes a look inside before hesitantly getting in. She roots through the stuff in there, retrieving a bedroll. She... supposes it will do, after checking it for any terrible things remaining within and finding blissfully few. The same does not appear to be just as true of the other three bedrolls. One seems to have been torn open in an attempt to escape, and one seems to host something rather terribly liquefied (or perhaps has partly liquefied in its own right). And the third just suddenly twitches when she pokes at it, shying away from her touch, navigating toward the large gash in the side of the tent that somebody appears to have ripped open.

It's not the best kind of shelter, clearly. But, Claire shrugs, she supposes it is better than nothing at all for certain, no? You would be all right with her taking the clean bedroll, she says in the most gently implied imperative you have ever heard. And you must do something about that terrible opening in the side - the wind will no doubt be picking up, she comments. As it does out here, the ranger offers! He might have some needle and thread for you, he says - never know, might have left it in someone on the way.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 16, 2016, 01:59:19 am
Leif glances at back of leaving Lee and shrugs.

"Well, she's not wrong about that. I suppose we will meet in Elizabeth then, once I have done my task there I have a plenty time to hang around. Thanks for breakfast and pants, have a good time and see you later!"

Jog after Lee, and after some time inquire about her opinion of various clans.

The large man seems terribly disappointed, but his wives are all smiles as they bid you a synchronized farewell, and when you look back briefly as Lee leads you on a very straight path out of here you see Rose, lost in wistful thought as she watches you go. She smiles absently and waves, and then both you and Lee are gone. You do need to step up the pace every now and then as you start to fall behind, and she shows no signs of stopping until you are a good mile away from the Gallfly camp, the morning looking absolutely splendid as you get quite a bit underway.

So, you begin to ask, what about all these clans, you do get the sense-

[An Important Discussion: 1]

She very suddenly turns around, her face fixed. Never mind that, she very resolutely says to you, inhaling slowly. When she said there were things to discuss, she meant other things. More important. Oh, you say, would this be about-

Shut up, she replies and begins to compose her thoughts. She looks around as if to check for anyone at all possibly listening, her gaze lingering in particular on a nearby hillock that's been sundered in half by another of these ubiquitous craters from your earlier misadventure.

This, she indicates all around herself. This is all confusing. Things have moved fast. But now you approach important places. Sacred places. It is important to keep composure. And hold on to dignity, what little you have. Do you understand? She casts an eye toward the Gallfly camp with obvious distaste, possessed of a wild-eyed tension.

Quote from: TopHat on December 16, 2016, 04:26:21 pm
"Not real? What do you mean by that?
And how many people speak... Low Tongue? It seems rather widespread."


Probably best to put the glass back while I'm at it.

Means what he means. Not real. Made up. Fake. That is high tongue. Low tongue is here, kingdom-speak. Tongue of dead and lost, washed up in bog of ages. You speak low tongue well, for man who is neither. It is thing you pick up, when throat-noise gets harder, when organs dry up. Suits low folk, kings, Wicked King himself. In kingdom low tongue is tongue of all. He looks into the distance, or rather keeps doing so in a more thoughtful, philosophical way.

You put down the glass on a nearby mound of garbage. Leaving soon, the watchman says. You're unsure if that's a question.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 18, 2016, 07:17:54 pm
My argument is thus: keeping a bed around where I can deposit it at anytime will let me heal fully should I become injured like before, which drastically aids efficiency by allowing me to move faster than a crawl should my legs become disabled again. Additionally, it'll free me from having to go back to settled places should I need to venture to bedless places in search of souls. Is that sufficient persuasion?

Regardless of the result, also store the bearded fellow in storage space and head to the queen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 19, 2016, 03:47:18 am
"Dignity? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. That's how I work when I have confidence about situation. So when dignity is called for then dignity is what I provide, although these itchy britches do drop amount of available dignity to very low."

"I get things are confusing. These things are all new for me too, I'm experiencing almost all of this for first time. I have no clue what's happening half of the time, but I'm taking it on the stroll, riding the current so to speak and see where it takes me. There's no captain on this boat. I want out of the boat, but there's no shore on sight and ocean is full of monsters, so all I can do is to enjoy what I can see. If I gave you impression I know what I'm doing, then I'm sorry. I really don't."

Bleed my heart, and win hers.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 19, 2016, 09:49:37 am
"Right, sure, that's no issue.  This one... isn't ripped too badly, really.  And yes, patching.  Uh.  It's just a matter of using the thread to close the hole, right?"

Try to locate this needle in a darkness-stack.  Fix the hole, maybe?  Maybe even patch up the torn bedroll?  Also should probably put the moving bedroll outside.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 19, 2016, 02:59:14 pm
"So do you know much about Anglefork Town? Like maybe which stoatmen could have lived here?"

I rummage through the jewelry box for whatever small trinkets look most valuable, stuff my pockets with them, and then search the rest of the room to see if there are some shoes tucked away somewhere. There's got to be some around here, with all these dressers to put things in and tables to kick things under.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 20, 2016, 04:46:43 pm
"Yes, I should probably get going when it gets light enough to see. I can't thank you enough for your hospitality."

Thanks are in order. Anything I can do in return? Also, be glad the body comes with a Babel fish.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 22, 2016, 02:27:08 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on December 18, 2016, 07:17:54 pm
My argument is thus: keeping a bed around where I can deposit it at anytime will let me heal fully should I become injured like before, which drastically aids efficiency by allowing me to move faster than a crawl should my legs become disabled again. Additionally, it'll free me from having to go back to settled places should I need to venture to bedless places in search of souls. Is that sufficient persuasion?

Regardless of the result, also store the bearded fellow in storage space and head to the queen.

That's certainly an argument for why it would be practical, but not at all for why it would be delicious, and you get the sense that the ravening idiot void behind your eyes very noticeably loses interest quickly as a result.

You look at the bearded fellow, who looks on pathetically. It's all right, you nod reassuringly. He'll be in a better place soon. His eyes widen and you chuckle, oh no, no! Not in the way he's thinking. Much worse, probably.

You pull him toward you and let your garden of thoughts fold in around him, sequestering his body, mind and his very presence in this world behind your eyes. Pieces of him shed and orbit around his minimal presence, names and places. His name was Alphonse, and he had plans - he was to be the judge where before he was but a clerk. But they put a stoat in there instead - nevertheless, his spirit was appreciated, and he was made a barrister for his future collaboration and useful advice. He had a woman writing down what he said, every word. He could have been somebody before the quakes came, and the queen's men.

You shake your head to clear this sudden onslaught of dreams. Don't really need to know the life story of everyone you eat, do you? Better go see the queen soonish, though unfortunately you're a bit unsure as to where she might be. And also naked, you guess.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 19, 2016, 03:47:18 am
"Dignity? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. That's how I work when I have confidence about situation. So when dignity is called for then dignity is what I provide, although these itchy britches do drop amount of available dignity to very low."

"I get things are confusing. These things are all new for me too, I'm experiencing almost all of this for first time. I have no clue what's happening half of the time, but I'm taking it on the stroll, riding the current so to speak and see where it takes me. There's no captain on this boat. I want out of the boat, but there's no shore on sight and ocean is full of monsters, so all I can do is to enjoy what I can see. If I gave you impression I know what I'm doing, then I'm sorry. I really don't."

Bleed my heart, and win hers.

[Progress: 4]

She relaxes a little as you speak, and sighs. Yes, she says, she can tell how much you know - this is the problem.

She trusts your intentions, she says after a moment. If she did not, she would not travel with you. But you are too eager to make a fool of yourself. These are the clanlands - mind yourself. Do not bring shame on the Moths, and beware the hospitality of the other clans. You are a Rabbit, and thus fair game for them.

Quote from: Toaster on December 19, 2016, 09:49:37 am
"Right, sure, that's no issue.  This one... isn't ripped too badly, really.  And yes, patching.  Uh.  It's just a matter of using the thread to close the hole, right?"

Try to locate this needle in a darkness-stack.  Fix the hole, maybe?  Maybe even patch up the torn bedroll?  Also should probably put the moving bedroll outside.

[For Want of a Needle: 3]

The ranger has what he calls a needle and thread on hand - really it's more of an ancient tooth, a hole drilled in it and threaded with ropy sinew from what must have no doubt been an impressive beast. You figure it impolite to refuse as you take the ungainly thing, and try to conduct repairs while Claire prepares to rest.

[A Hack Job: 3]

The hole is closed, or at least addressed as you sew it reasonably shut and tie both ends of the sinewy thread together, making the gash merely drafty rather than outright perilous. The ranger sits by and watches throughout the process, providing moral support. Yes, like that! Ah, just like in his scouting days! Smashing! Now that's ingenuity!

Despite this you eventually manage to get the job done, and inspect your handiwork. Alleviating the problem's about as good as you can hope for with your needlework, but it'll do. You turn to return the tooth-needle, but the ranger shakes his head - no thank you, keep it! His compliments! You do that very well, after all!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 19, 2016, 02:59:14 pm
"So do you know much about Anglefork Town? Like maybe which stoatmen could have lived here?"

I rummage through the jewelry box for whatever small trinkets look most valuable, stuff my pockets with them, and then search the rest of the room to see if there are some shoes tucked away somewhere. There's got to be some around here, with all these dressers to put things in and tables to kick things under.

You indicate you'd like to take a look at the jewelry box, motioning for the doctor to pass it your way. Oh, of course, here you go - she passes it on, pausing a moment to put the necklace back in. Anyway, the stoatmen who lived here - presumably the former servants and possibly their friends. This was likely the residence of someone fairly affluent - you know the kind, rich enough to have excellent lodgings, unfortunate enough to find themselves this far north. The northern reaches do tend to attract the strange and unwanted, when said strange and unwanted aren't made such by exposure to the northern currents.

You look through the jewelry in the box yourself, and find the rest of its selection to be a little eclectic. Quite a lot of it seems to be costume jewelry, invariably colorful and rather cheap, mixed in with some polished semi-precious stones, mostly amber and amethyst, seemingly meant to be hung on the necklace from the way they have a small silver ring set into them. There are also two rings, both made of what feels like wood, and a pair of somewhat ostentatious diamond-shaped golden earrings encrusted with unusual spirals of black onyx that you find yourself staring at for a little longer than you perhaps should. You pick out the stones, the earrings and the wooden rings (they do feel a little strange in a manner you find difficult to immediately place).

-so yes, the doctor says, seemingly having gone into something of a longer explanation there, she would assume the real owners are long-dead, and these are merely opportunists - presumably the lower house staff, from the way one of them seemed to have left their clothes down in the basement. Oh, you say, very good then. Now to find some shoes, you say and head out of the closet, the doctor following behind - there should definitely be some around, she has to agree.

[Exquisite Footwear: 3]

You poke around beneath the dressers, but find little other than dust at first, and check inside as well. You find one dresser that's absolutely empty, but smells rather awful. Another seems to be used for storing quite a lot of cheese, one wheel showing a lot of signs of being frequently nibbled. And another seems to be filled nearly completely with a selection of silk stockings. None of these are quite what you require at the moment, so instead you look beneath the bed, where you find a rather nice pair of slippers. Not quite something you'd wear on the road, but you do suppose they're better than going places barefoot, so you put them on - they feel quite pleasingly soft and warm.

Quote from: TopHat on December 20, 2016, 04:46:43 pm
"Yes, I should probably get going when it gets light enough to see. I can't thank you enough for your hospitality."

Thanks are in order. Anything I can do in return? Also, be glad the body comes with a Babel fish.

There is something, the watchman says. He creaks to his feet and shuffles over to the mummy. Wrapping his fingers around its shoulders, he proceeds to shake it a little bit. The mummy groans dryly and bangs on its helmet in what you assume is anger. The watchman doesn't seem to mind, and merely lifts the thing up - much of its weight appears to be the helmet. He hands it to you. Here. Take to town. Probably broken. Ask to fix. Also add to registry.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 22, 2016, 04:19:52 pm
"Will do; do you want me to take him back once that's done? And do I just follow the road to get to the town, then?


Quick clarification, then farewell and onwards once more.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 22, 2016, 09:30:31 pm
Well, fair enough. Just carry the bed with me as I go searching for the queen, then. If all else fails, follow any shouting I hear.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 22, 2016, 11:43:43 pm
"Well, uh, thank you!  My mother always said one should know how to sew.  I didn't think I quite took to it, but I suppose it beats nothing?  Maybe this bedroll next."

Okay, fix the torn bedroll?  Then we can camp in earnest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 23, 2016, 05:39:58 am
Leif smiles. "It is easy to underestimate fool, isn't it? But let's address the problem then. At the moment you are my only option for fixing it. What I need to do to not shame the Moths?"

For once be a serious student. This seems to be important. Morals and ethics of the Morths? Definitio of a Rabbit? What's significance of clans other than being groups of people under one name?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 25, 2016, 06:45:27 am
Quote from: TopHat on December 22, 2016, 04:19:52 pm
"Will do; do you want me to take him back once that's done? And do I just follow the road to get to the town, then?


Quick clarification, then farewell and onwards once more.

No, and yes. The watchman feels no need to say more, and continues to avoid eye contact as he hands you the mummy - it's just as light as it looks as you take it into your hands, its leathery flesh perpetually damp. You need to make a brief catch as its boneless head lolls back, the weight of the helmet threatening to snap it off. You consider how best to carry it, and the thing seems to require a bit of persuasion to permit much of anything, but eventually you manage to have it hang on to your shoulders limply, vinelike arms wrapping around your neck as it rests its head on your shoulder. And with that you bid your farewells and push the shed door open, making your way outside.

The bog is faintly illuminated by the diffuse light of the rising sun struggling to filter through the dark eastern haze on the horizon. You carefully move onto the bone footbridge between the islands and begin a ponderous crawl, the unsteady and displeasingly rubbery construction swinging to and fro as you move along.

[Rubbery Crimes: 5]

All the while you hear the mummy mutter and moan on your shoulder, shying away from the waters of the bog. It seems surprisingly effective at balancing as it shuffles to one side or the other to help you avoid falling into the murk, and so you make your journey of many hours as the path winds along, bending eastward as you take what seems to have been some amateur architect's idea of a scenic route. Very occasionally you see something jutting out of the bog - the tops of half-decomposed trees that have sunk into the water along with their forming substrates, mingling with islands of free-floating detritus composed of things both man-made and natural that travel on the minimal bog currents, or perhaps even under their own power. You even see a single rocky spire, its sharpness suggesting an artificial origin, partly eaten by the bog, leaning precipitously toward the west.

The footbridge winds upward after several hours of crawling, and you see that ahead something of a causeway is poised to begin - you quicken your pace and get atop it quickly, standing on your own two feet again as the mummy very noticeably shivers on your back. The gravel crunches beneath your feet in a most unusual way, seemingly composed entirely of dead spiders, pillbugs and insects, sharp little bits of cockroach chitin crunching as you step onto the causeway proper, your feet sinking ever so slightly into the strange material.

It's a very tall causeway, you find, and it goes up and down along the way as the exoskeletons have possibly naturally evened themselves out into gentler angles, their sharpness and roundness varying greatly and seemingly determining the properties of the road along with it. You walk a little while along it, and hour perhaps, before you see it branch off into two directions, to the right and to the left, going roughly northeast and southeast. The mummy around your neck begins to pull back, trying to make you rear up like a horse, but lacking the actual strength to compel you in any fashion.

You think you see a break in the path to the northeast half a mile away, and something moving around it, you figure after taking a minute to take stock of your options, while on the other one you see another fork about a mile off, two ways heading east and south from there.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 22, 2016, 09:30:31 pm
Well, fair enough. Just carry the bed with me as I go searching for the queen, then. If all else fails, follow any shouting I hear.

[Taking This With Me: 4]

You are about to set yourself to work on removing the bed from the premises before you realize the bedframe actually has no legs, and seems to be just a part of the floor. So instead you just take the rubber mattress, which seems to hold up relatively well as you raise it up, water sloshing inside it as you carefully navigate it outside of the room and down the steps, then out the door into the street. Holding it above your head you move out, and begin to wander the town.

[Dismal Places: 6]

They seem to have done a rather admirable job clearing the place of any bodies - not a noose remains filled, not a single victim lays on the streets as night has fallen, and nothing has been left for the dogs to get to. All that remains on the air is a faint, sweet smell, and the only shouts that you can hear are rather distant. You head on through the streets and come to the last known location of the queen - the ruined town hall.

There's a lot more people here than before, you notice as you approach - a hundred, perhaps two hundred. Possibly three, even - you keep seeing more along the edges of our vision, standing on rooftops, looking through windows, hidden in alcoves. And... a lot of stoatmen appear to be among them, come to think of it. You slow your approach. And... none of them appear to be moving at all, their fuzzy shapes standing like statues among the ruins, all facing toward the center, where you see only a vaguely humanoid figure, arms outstretched, a dark and indistinct line running from indistinguishable face to its waist, the plate armor beneath it having ruptured from an emerging bloom. All is still, all is silent, and only the faint moonlight illuminates the area, which despite having more than half the crowd of the stoatman army nevertheless feels completely abandoned, the figures looking more like grave markers than living things, the overwhelming majority of them being stoatmen, with a few humans mingled in for a little variety. All of them bear marks - some are partly crushed, some have great trails of blood coming out of their throats, a few seem mangled to be almost unrecognizable, and you nearly step into a bit of paste that has bloomed into a colorful fungal patch.

Quote from: Toaster on December 22, 2016, 11:43:43 pm
"Well, uh, thank you!  My mother always said one should know how to sew.  I didn't think I quite took to it, but I suppose it beats nothing?  Maybe this bedroll next."

Okay, fix the torn bedroll?  Then we can camp in earnest.

[Supreme Needlework: 2]

You are about to get right down to it before you realize that you do not actually have any more thread. You look at the ranger, but he's sorry to say he's fresh out as well - good sinew's hard to come by in the bush, don't you know! Have to wrestle something big and toothy for it most often. Or worse, a moose! You ever wrestled a moose? It's a lot of work!

You turn back toward the tent. Claire seems to have fallen asleep at this point, curled up in her bedroll, confident that you'll be able to provide your own sleeping arrangements. You look at the needle in your hand, but it seems similarly unhelpful without something to thread it with.

Ah, the ranger chirps helpfully, perhaps you could go on and hunt something! You are far larger than he is. Why, he'd foresee you'd have no trouble at all subduing a moose. At least for long enough to harvest some sinew, he means. He can hand you his trusty fork if you like: it's served him well for many years now, he says as he retrieves a rusty, yet seemingly incredibly sharp two-pronged fork from his pocket.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 23, 2016, 05:39:58 am
Leif smiles. "It is easy to underestimate fool, isn't it? But let's address the problem then. At the moment you are my only option for fixing it. What I need to do to not shame the Moths?"

For once be a serious student. This seems to be important. Morals and ethics of the Morths? Definitio of a Rabbit? What's significance of clans other than being groups of people under one name?

She motions for you to resume walking, and recites the requisite guidelines as you move: be subtle, ideally be unseen. Speak with other clans, but say nothing of use. When asked about important matters, lie - moreover, lie convincingly. Say no more than you must. Leave false tracks - several sets, preferably. Keep sharp, and keep your weakness to yourself. Do not trust another clan, but suffer their excesses with dignity.

Do all this, and you will be a Moth-friend, and not a Rabbit as you show yourself to be - foreign, ignorant, stranded, naive. Acceptable for Gallflies to lay eggs into, good for Dogs to surround, great for Monkeys to rob, excellent for Shrikes to vivisect and perfect for Dragons to butcher. Beneath concern for Moths, until they get close enough. You understand, yes?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 25, 2016, 07:04:03 am
"Well. Of course I couldn't go like five minutes without random cosmic powers trying to fuck about in my business. Well. Who needs a whuppin today, I wonder?

Also I should note that I've drastically underestimated these guys' tech base, I didn't think they knew what rubber was. Good stuff."

Approach this central figure and see who's disrupting the fabric of reality today.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 25, 2016, 12:48:03 pm
Leif rubs his chin. "Not quite matching my personality, but I suppose I can pull that off. False tracks are easy enough. INEVITABLE, even."

Which way did we go, nobody knows. There is many paths to north, only one true. Many tracks of INEVITABLE futures are left behind, yet only one is truly taken.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 25, 2016, 05:59:27 pm
"Hm, they'll do for now. Let's move on."

I leave this room and check out another one.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 26, 2016, 03:31:51 pm
"What is it? Be careful, or you might knock us in!"
Take the left path and address whatever's moving around there. Might be able to get directions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 28, 2016, 08:35:01 am
Quote from: Xantalos on December 25, 2016, 07:04:03 am
"Well. Of course I couldn't go like five minutes without random cosmic powers trying to fuck about in my business. Well. Who needs a whuppin today, I wonder?

Also I should note that I've drastically underestimated these guys' tech base, I didn't think they knew what rubber was. Good stuff."

Approach this central figure and see who's disrupting the fabric of reality today.

[Through The Woods: 3]

You start to elbow your way through the thick crowd ahead, and are a little surprised when the stoatmen prove quite unyielding - well, to a point anyway, a bit more of a nudge does let you break one right in half, the top just falling to the ground as a veritable miasma of sweet-smelling dust is kicked up into the air. You cough and move along, a little more carefully now. They seem very inflexible, these people.

Continuing on, you make your way to the top of the ruins, clambering over the horde of corpses to do so. They grow decreasingly humanoid as you go on, more overgrown, some of them bursting at the seams with white fluffy growths, some covered from head to foot in black forests of spiraling fungus. The atmosphere becomes thicker as you go on, almost overbearing, and finally you make your way to the figure in front, its arms still outstretched. To his side is a familiar-looking woman, though a precise resemblance is difficult to pin down under all the deforming growths. They hold themselves open to you, not a shred of hostility in their posture apart from the way they do not seem to move in any way.

The silence of the ruins is pierced briefly by a gust of wind blowing gently past your ears, and you feel there is someone behind you.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 25, 2016, 12:48:03 pm
Leif rubs his chin. "Not quite matching my personality, but I suppose I can pull that off. False tracks are easy enough. INEVITABLE, even."

Which way did we go, nobody knows. There is many paths to north, only one true. Many tracks of INEVITABLE futures are left behind, yet only one is truly taken.

You point the course northward, and as Lee wonders what you are indicating you speak the Word.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 2]

You see a great many paths ahead of you, a million different possible fates for you on the way, infinite possibilities! Of course, that's all a little bit irrelevant when you think about it a tad, because there really is only one or maybe two that take you where you were going, where the grave you are looking for and the meet that Lee hopes to attend is - the Free City of Elizabeth. And if your destination is well-known, there is absolutely no point in a false trail. You lower your hand, slightly disappointed.

Lee looks at you. You keep using that Word, she says. She is not sure it means what you think it means. Now get underway. There are still the rest of the Moths to meet with.

[Moth's Flight: 5]

And underway you get, with Lee leading the way at times as the craters become rarer and the landscape begins to transition into more mountainous terrain as you head north, at times northeast as you navigate the occasional ridge or head for a pass, and sometimes circle round a particularly unfriendly rocky area. You hear the cries of vultures flying above, hunting for the bones of careless travelers, along with more distant, entirely unfamiliar noises that Lee seems unconcerned with explaining. You stop briefly by another lone tree of many thousand years, gnarled and leafless, and as you take a brief rest and forage for food, you notice the landscape slowly breathe, rising and falling rhythmically for a minute before it seems to notice you and immediately stops.

You make it to a mountain river flowing through a rift in the earth, the rocks on the sides broken along quasi-natural layers that seem to have come apart to create reasonable walkways in the earth. The cliffs of configuration, Lee notes, and in her voice you hear relief as she can't help but smile at the sight. You have returned in time, she says. In time for what? In time for the pass to still be here, she says as a slight, but palpable tremor goes through the cliffs. The entrance should be here somewhere, she adds cryptically, quickening her step as you proceed along the side.

You have gone a ways into the pass after an initial climb down to an appropriate walkway when you hear a distressingly nearby shriek, a lot like what you would expect a man having his arms cut off would sound like mixed with the sound of breaking glass. At this Lee goes with her back to the cliffside instinctively. Dragons, she says. Wild. Hunting for goats, hoping for Moths.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 25, 2016, 05:59:27 pm
"Hm, they'll do for now. Let's move on."

I leave this room and check out another one.

It's a delightful sensation, not having to walk places barefoot. And these slippers are surprisingly warm as well. You head out the room with the doctor, and try the next door along the hall.

[The Country House Expedition: 6]

And as you walk in it becomes abundantly clear where all the shoes must have gone, as the next room seems to be some kind of drawing room turned peculiar museum. It looks to be filled with end tables and similar quasi-functional surfaces no doubt plundered from the rest of the rooms, all arranged in a spiraling pattern that some time has been dedicated to fully realizing (thrown into sharp relief by the way a sizeable sofa rests upturned in a corner and partly covered with a tarpaulin. Upon each of the impromptu displays rests a different kind of shoe or boot, some of them high-heeled colorful men's affairs, some altogether more sensible women's slippers, there's even a right and proper jackboot that seems to have slipped off a display in all the quakes.

Of course, all this footwear is hardly all of the art on display - the next most eye-catching thing are the masks on the walls, very reminiscent of tacky tribal masks, but unpainted, all dozen of them carved from the same sort of wood with a certain smoothness to their features. Stoat art, the doctor gives her best guess, recently made. All dozen of them occupy about half of the right wall, noticeably bunched up in one of the corners. The longer you look at them, the uglier they seem, to the point where even keeping them in your peripheral vision gets a little unpleasant.

A few parts of the wall are scribbled on in many layers, the scribblings competing for space with finger-painted drawings on the spots where paintings must have once hung (they've even painted the frames, you notice). They seem to mostly be awful-looking free verse and pastoral landscapes, respectively, but the artistry is poor enough that it is a little difficult to say for sure. The doctor reads one out loud, and it is about as unfortunately written as your cursory glance indicated.

It occurs to you that you do not see any windows, and putting two and two together you notice that the two bookshelves in the room, both liberated of books to make room for more shoes and as a consequence now an ungodly mess of upturned footwear, are presumably blocking the actual windows, perhaps to less effect than you would expect, considering that the windows still let in some light and the shelves are actually now resting against the wall at a considerable angle.

Quote from: TopHat on December 26, 2016, 03:31:51 pm
"What is it? Be careful, or you might knock us in!"
Take the left path and address whatever's moving around there. Might be able to get directions.

You start heading left, and the mummy continues to try and pull you back as you crunch your way along the insect path. What seems to be going on there is that two people, and you do use the term loosely, are seemingly working on the road in strikingly different ways.

The first is a man easily one and a half times your height if he were standing up and considerably more times your weight if the way he sinks into the path is any indication, looking more like a petrified mass of humanoid scar tissue than an actual person. He has no actual features - merely bulges and depressions in his grayish mass. He crawls on all fours, his long-fingered hands moving around and trying to smooth out the road, shuffling masses of derelict chitin back and forth as he goes up and down the road.

Slightly further ahead is a woman in a tattered dress, her eyes and mouth looking like great black holes, her nose collapsed into her face as she contorts and dances back and forth, shaking a rattling stick festooned with abnormally large dragonfly wings at the heavens and making a variety of terrifying clacking and gurgling noises.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 28, 2016, 01:19:43 pm
"Greetings! Explain this bullshit, please."

Step to the side so I can hopefully see whatever it is behind me in my peripheral vision. Failing that, let my murder-thought investigate it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 28, 2016, 02:56:07 pm
"Dragons? Should I shove apocalypse up into their ass?"

Offer terminal solution to the dragon problem.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 28, 2016, 08:48:39 pm
Thomas blanches at the suggestion.  Uh oh.  "Ah!  Er!  Hunting!  The great sport of men, I believe?  Well, uh, er, ah, I suppose I could give it a go?"

That didn't sound appealing at all, but he didn't want to back down.

Take the offered fork, and go put on a show of hunting.  A couple laps around the camp, still where he can see the firelight, you know?  Just long enough to look like a real attempt.  Not really actually HUNTING, you know.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 29, 2016, 04:21:06 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on December 28, 2016, 01:19:43 pm
"Greetings! Explain this bullshit, please."

Step to the side so I can hopefully see whatever it is behind me in my peripheral vision. Failing that, let my murder-thought investigate it.

[Excellent Angles: 1]

You turn to look who might be attempting to sneak up on you, and what you immediately spot is a momentary glint of moonlight from a familiar set of sequined robes on the body of that sun-priest. In your surprise you focus on him, his arms now broken zig-zags with protruding bones, his body noticeably crushed in places, each open wound now sporting a rich bouquet of white, faintly luminescent fungi. Shining trails run down from the corners of his eyes, his face contorted into a not-quite-correct grin. He is frozen mid-bow, and the first thing that you notice is that he appears to be completely alone where once there stood a sea of stoatmen.

You recall to keep him in your peripheral vision as another faint chill passes over you, and you glance back - the central figure is gone now, as is most of the crowd. You see the faint silhouette of a few still standing atop distant rooftops, but even as you attempt to keep all within some form of sight, one or two disappear with each moment of inattention, and as you tilt your head to try and keep the last few in your continual sight, only the priest still hasn't moved - well, he has moved a little, turning one of his ears (also with a shining trail running down from behind it) toward you and putting one of his hands to it, as if to try and hear you better.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 28, 2016, 02:56:07 pm
"Dragons? Should I shove apocalypse up into their ass?"

Offer terminal solution to the dragon problem.

Absolutely not, Lee says through her teeth. You'll bring the canyon down on your own head. Worse, you will destroy the entrance. Better keep an eye out instead. Spot the dragon, then avoid. Not worth trying to fight.

[Eye of the Dragon: 1 vs. 6]

She urges you to move along quietly, and looks to the skies with great concentration, attempting to spot any approaching shapes as she cautiously leads the way, stepping quietly on the walkway and checking for anything swooping down.

[Situational Awareness: 5]

As Lee covers the higher angles, it occurs to you at a certain point to try and look down after roughly ten minutes of fruitlessly proceeding. And you immediately feel rather glad that you did, because what should you immediately see but a dark winged silhouette making its way between two alcoves quite a distance below - it's about the size of a Great Dane, and moves with an alarming lack of sound as its two winged, clawed forelimbs wreathed in steely feathers carry it extremely rapidly along the cliffside, its yellow eyes flashing briefly in the sun as you spot it. There is a moment of mutual recognition as you exchange a look, and then you feel it tense suddenly, about to make a hell of a leap in your direction.

Quote from: Toaster on December 28, 2016, 08:48:39 pm
Thomas blanches at the suggestion.  Uh oh.  "Ah!  Er!  Hunting!  The great sport of men, I believe?  Well, uh, er, ah, I suppose I could give it a go?"

That didn't sound appealing at all, but he didn't want to back down.

Take the offered fork, and go put on a show of hunting.  A couple laps around the camp, still where he can see the firelight, you know?  Just long enough to look like a real attempt.  Not really actually HUNTING, you know.

That's the spirit, he says as he pushes the fork in your hand and closes your fingers around it - hold it slightly over your head, at about a 45 degree angle, yes, that's it! You're a natural! Now go out there and get you some precious organs!

[A-Hunting We Will Go: 2]

Er, certainly, you say, and head out to a respectable, but not at all unsafe radius along the side of the camp, lifting the fork up as indicated, and jumping from one foot to the other as you pantomime a perhaps more than culturally insensitive effort at hunting. You circle round the camp three times, the ranger shouting encouragement at you all the while, and at the end of the third lap he seems terribly pleased with your progress at this whole ranging business.

You turn away from the surrounding landscape, and hear a sudden growl. Aha, says the ranger, there's your quarry! Must have heard the stomping about. He squints at the darkness behind you. Doesn't look overly large, at least not from the camp. But very enthusiastic! It'll make good sport for sure, he nods affably. Now go get it, he points into the growling darkness. You look as well, fork still held aloft instinctively. The growling deepens, and growls closer.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on December 29, 2016, 05:52:15 pm
"Greetings to you both! Is this the way to the town?"
Hi.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 29, 2016, 05:57:18 pm
"You want to hear me better? Fine then."

Daniels cups his hands around his mouth.

"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED HERE PLEASE"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 29, 2016, 08:24:49 pm
((I just love that in trying to avoid hunting anything, Thomas rolled a two and found something.  Or was found by something.  Either way.))

Oh dear.  Can't back down now.  What was it that hunters did now?  "Have at you, foul beast?"  That sounded right.  Maybe from a movie.

Approach and do what must be done?

Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 30, 2016, 04:14:59 am
"Below."

Arrival to the grave of Red Clouds Parting (or whatever the name was) is INEVITABLE, therefore this dragon encounter will end as our undeniable victory. Or at least we survive it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 30, 2016, 09:18:11 am
"What a strange place."

I look for a pair of durable boots that fit me (they don't have to match) and put them in my pockets. I'll keep wearing the slippers for now.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on December 30, 2016, 03:18:08 pm
Quote from: TopHat on December 29, 2016, 05:52:15 pm
"Greetings to you both! Is this the way to the town?"
Hi.

[Do You Know The Way: 4]

You're not sure quite what you expected when you asked them such a thing, but they seem eager to acquiesce however they can - the giant rolls on his back and begins to gesture wildly all around, the sucking hole in the middle of his head trying and failing to form words, and the feticheur shakes her rattling stick intently toward where the road appears to lead, seemingly in agreement. Of course, the two of them are split by a considerable gulf of bogwater - no doubt a little shallower than the rest of the bog, but still rather ominously dark, no doubt incredibly cold and perhaps even a little viscous. Caught up in the excitement, the mummy on your back starts to bang on its helmet in perfect rhythm with the rattling fetish. This together with the groaning of the giant produces a rather impressive level of noise.

All in all, they seem pretty positive, or at least not very able to oppose the idea that where you are intending to go might be down this road. Of course whether they would be qualified to judge such a thing is another question. Or maybe that's just your face they're reacting to, they're not exactly easy to understand precisely.

Quote from: Xantalos on December 29, 2016, 05:57:18 pm
"You want to hear me better? Fine then."

Daniels cups his hands around his mouth.

"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED HERE PLEASE"

[Compelled To Explain: 4]

The priest remains unmoved by your question, but you do sense that same shifting from before. It seems they're determined that you play their game and turn to look. So you do, not keen on wasting more time than strictly necessary, and see that several figures have returned - stoatmen, the most broken and ruined of their number, all laying on the ground. Next to each is another - the familiar woman, the knight in bloom, a few others. All are kneeling down, placing a hand on their face. Their bodies seem frozen in time as you look upon them.

The sun priest shifts as you turn your attention away from him altogether more noticeably, as if to deliberately draw your attention back to himself. His arms are crossed, his eyes wide, posture leaning in toward you from a slight distance. Does that answer your question?

Quote from: Toaster on December 29, 2016, 08:24:49 pm
Oh dear.  Can't back down now.  What was it that hunters did now?  "Have at you, foul beast?"  That sounded right.  Maybe from a movie.

Approach and do what must be done?

Wielding your ranging fork you forge boldly into the bush, and seek a worthy battle.

[Get Forked: 2 vs. 4]

A glint of northern steel sunders the somewhat well-lit night as you completely whiff the stab, unable to see what you could possibly be attempting to hit. Your opponent evidently makes no such mistake as the growl turns into a snarl, a large red-furred mass jumping forward and onto you, sharp claws and teeth digging into your flesh as it bites down and rends it with an impressive, ravening greed.

You flail and fall backward as the creature, with its overgrown foxlike body and horrific batlike face, all in all the size of a wolf and the malice of a cornered rat, seems to handily turn the tables on how you would have hoped the encounter to turn out.

Aha, the ranger shouts! The beast is in your sights! Look how it has exposed itself, thinking you to be some beggar in the night! Stab it in the joints, good fellow! Throttle the life right out of its throat! Bite back! Scream! Give it a taste of its own savagery, he comments as he punches the air demonstratively!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 30, 2016, 04:14:59 am
"Below."

Arrival to the grave of Red Clouds Parting (or whatever the name was) is INEVITABLE, therefore this dragon encounter will end as our undeniable victory. Or at least we survive it.

Lee immediately looks to see what you are referring to. You hear the sound of her slipping a knife out of her sleeve instinctively. The dragon leaps, and you speak the Word.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 1]

The frame of time is upset in one fell swoop, time beginning to pass logarithmically as things foretold begin to occur all at once, inexorably drawn into simultaneity.

[Moth's Flight: 4]

A flurry of steel feathers carve into you again and again like white-hot knives, slicing increasingly large chunks of you away as the dragon flies into you first of all - it is half your size and easily twice your ferocity, and every part of it seems aimed at the express purpose of killing as quickly as possible. You manage exactly once to smash it into the cliffside as it gets perhaps too excited about eviscerating you, all in fast-forward as the valley itself rumbles and starts to close in. Lee slips a knife in between its feathers, and in return it narrowly missed her windpipe and arteries as it slashes across her throat. Combat becomes feverish quickly, and is very obviously not going in your favor at all as the thing seems to laugh off your very best efforts at harming it.

It is about to finish you - in fact, it seems perplexed about how you have not yet died, it having struck at all the spots it instinctively knows to sever. People tend to expire, after all, once you're cut both of their arms and one of their legs off. Lee has begun to take off at a sprint, and rocks begin to fall as the valley closes rapidly, and pieces of it begin to fall down. The dragon spreads its wings and leaps up again, jumping off the side of the canyon as it starts to close, leaving you there in the middle with less than a quarter of your blood still in your body as you notice cracks begin to form around your current resting place.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 30, 2016, 09:18:11 am
"What a strange place."

I look for a pair of durable boots that fit me (they don't have to match) and put them in my pockets. I'll keep wearing the slippers for now.

It does seem a lot like the folk that took up residence here had specialized tastes, the doctor comments. The strangeness does bleed into the mind if the structure is not soundly built, which this most certainly isn't. The less obvious ones can be a serious hazard, and you do see them a lot more often in the north. Suppose everyone's a little strange here, not unexpected that a lot of eccentricities might just slip you by.

You regard some of the boots on display, and are rather pleased when you discover that a particular black leather boot on display, more or less your size, seems to have a counterpart secreted away in the drawer of its display table. It seems to have held up well in here, and you would expect it to be waterproof as well, which is about as much as you could ask for. They do seem rather nice, the doctor opines as she shops around for footwear of her own, settling at last on a pair of respectable riding boots that she puts on while you keep yours hanging out of your pockets. Feels a little strange to wear men's boots, she admits, but not at all bad!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on December 30, 2016, 09:26:12 pm
"No, not at all. No clue what happened. Unsanitary hand-to-face contact fuelled growth of you supernatural fungus peoples? Dunno, don't really care. Bye."

Where was El? West, I think? Start going west, or whichever direction it was in.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on December 31, 2016, 07:32:28 am
"Eh, that didn't go right."

I did that "walk through stone" trick once before, surely I can do it again. It would be fantastic if I could include "walk through dragon" part into it. It was INEVITABLE, right? Important part of my fate or something.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on December 31, 2016, 04:49:12 pm
"Eeeeyaaaag!"  That probably counted as a battle cry.

Okay, better fight back for real.  Recall battle training with the guard.  Maybe fork that joint?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on December 31, 2016, 10:36:33 pm
"Maybe there's a room with someone's weapon collection."

I continue exploring the house.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 01, 2017, 08:48:59 am
Quote from: Xantalos on December 30, 2016, 09:26:12 pm
"No, not at all. No clue what happened. Unsanitary hand-to-face contact fuelled growth of you supernatural fungus peoples? Dunno, don't really care. Bye."

Where was El? West, I think? Start going west, or whichever direction it was in.

Since they don't seem interested in fucking with you, you quickly lose interest in the fungal statue people and try to remember what you were doing. A moment's think lands you at El - probably far away, but not like you're in a particular rush or anything. You head westward, passing by the storehouse you vividly recall assaulting, now a charred and smoking husk. There's a few people around, but screw this, you've been delayed long enough by their silly distractions.

You take a long walk off the shortest available pier and jump into the river, aiming to cross westward. It makes for a curious scene as you easily manage to paddle yourself out of the water, surprising even yourself as you rise out like a speedboat at full tilt, almost running on all fours in the water as you exert disproportionate force in relation to your mass. Emerging from the other side, where the relative density of the east bank has given way to scattered and mostly collapsed fishing huts and outlying farms (no doubt due to the treacherous, even if in your case unchallenging crossing).

[Life Is Peaceful There: 5]

Your walk through the outskirts of Anglefork attracts eyes. Familiar eyes, and more than a few belong to stoatmen, uniformly frightened and unsettled at your presence, quick to hide as you look back. Some of them even vacate the ruins of the houses they've set up in and take off at an ineffectual run on their short, stubby legs. You see a bear walking down a side street, pawing at piles of rubble, presumably in search of survivors. A pack of mongrel dogs holds court over the remains of an improvised shrine, but the mere presence of your murder-thought scatters them easily.

At the western edge of it all is a house, and beyond it the woods properly begin. It looks like something between a duplex and an archway, striking in its peculiar architecture. The right part of it has collapsed along with the archway, bent rooftop statues of shining solid gold littering the rubble, but the left seems to have held up very nicely, the three-story affair looking downright livable, especially considering the light shining in its top floor window. Beyond it you see a path leading west, a long road of hardened black earth with readily distinguishable segments where the side of the road waves and curves regularly.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on December 31, 2016, 07:32:28 am
"Eh, that didn't go right."

I did that "walk through stone" trick once before, surely I can do it again. It would be fantastic if I could include "walk through dragon" part into it. It was INEVITABLE, right? Important part of my fate or something.

You're not sure a man in your state of dismemberment would be wise to court inevitability. Wisdom, however, was never your strong suit.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 6]

The valley shakes as you let the Word rip through it, and suddenly your resting spot crumbles and you fall, the entire crevice folding in on itself rapidly as you tumble down the cliff wall. Solid rock snaps shut over you. The roaring continues for a good minute as the entrance closes, and you are left in pitch blackness here beneath the earth, water gently rushing along your back as you become acutely aware of several hundred feet of rock now separating you from the surface.

Quote from: Toaster on December 31, 2016, 04:49:12 pm
"Eeeeyaaaag!"  That probably counted as a battle cry.

Okay, better fight back for real.  Recall battle training with the guard.  Maybe fork that joint?

[Valuable Recollections: 5]

This isn't quite like beating people up with sticks at arms' length, but you do recall your training! Combat is, after all, a state of mind. And it's one you try to adopt as best you can as you free your hand and go for a good forking.

[Fork The World: 3+1 vs. 4]

This does not work out quite as intended, but the scratch along the back of its leg that you expertly deliver is enough to throw the beast off - sensing that getting into a close quarters fight is perhaps not to its advantage it yelps and withdraws a little, giving you time to get on your feet and regain your composure as you assume a more proper combat stance, the creature seemingly ready for a winner-take-all duel with you as it attempts to circle round and look for an opening. Go around it, says the ranger! He'll help in a pincer attack! The creature shoots a distrustful glance in his direction before refocusing on you.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on December 31, 2016, 10:36:33 pm
"Maybe there's a room with someone's weapon collection."

I continue exploring the house.

Wouldn't be unexpected, the doctor supposes. Many country nobles are also avid hunters, or at least avid hunting enthusiasts when the local wildlife is a little too ferocious to personally hunt. And what's a hunter without a favored weapon?

[The Country House Expedition: 6]

After a false start with a guest bedroom that seems to have been stripped of anything but a canopy bed and littered with now-decaying rose petals, you and the doctor try the next door and find that it leads to a study - and also a trophy room! The doctor seems more excited than you are about this discovery, rushing in ahead of you at the first glint of heads on the walls.

And what heads they are! Quite an avid hunter, the doctor comments approvingly, or at least a gifted taxidermist! There's the head of what resembles a proboscis ape, but with enormous, jagged, antler-like tusks coming from its mandible, its dark glass eyes of pupilless red apparently very anatomically accurate according to the doctor. Springheel, she provides a name. They live in treetops. Rooftops too, sometimes. Very nimble for their weight. There's also the skull of a night gaunt, smaller than most of the ones you've seen, but still an impressive and very shiny trophy regardless. There's the length of something that looks a lot like a lamprey, except instead of the usual teeth it seems to have a wealth of hooks in its mouth, the entire thing disinfected and coated in varnish for posterity. The doctor taps one of the hooked teeth, each one about the length of her hand. River grinder, she calls out! See, how it works is that it unfolds its mouth of hooked teeth and juts them out, then uses a combination of its powerful tail fin and good old suction to pull in its prey, such as the leg of an unwary swimmer! At which point, she demonstrates as she makes a spinning motion with her hands and a very illustrative noise with her mouth, it uses its adaptable musculature to turn it into a digestible slurry.

She's quite knowledgeable on this, you note. You're kidding, the doctor says, this is essentially a breakdown of the big five of northern killer fauna. Look, there's a gorebeast head as well, she points at something a lot like a more menacing version of a rhinoceros beetle. Looks blunt, of course, but it makes up for the difference in sheer force. Less prominently displayed than the others is a strange-looking skull with two rows of stubby horns along its top, the maxilla tapering to a single long tooth, the lower jaw seemingly missing. The fabled antwerp? The doctor shrugs - maybe? Doesn't look like what she's seen in any of the books she's read.

But look, there's even a dragon souvenir, she coos and goes toward what looks like a fan made of feathers on the wall, engraved with what look to be war chants. Bought off some wandering clanfolk, presumably, but it's a presence of some kind. Rather nice workmanship, she says as she takes it off the wall and gives it a delicate sweep through the air, the fan making the distinct noise of steel being swung through the air. Would be a shame to leave it here for somebody else to steal, wouldn't you think? She sits down by a desk covered in failed attempts at writing letters and a good deal of spilled wax, fanning herself with the artifact as she gives a smile.

Spoiler: Stats (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on January 01, 2017, 11:12:27 am
Suddenly remember I have clothes now. Probably a good idea to put those on.

Anyway, after that extract Alphonse from my garden of thoughts and transplant him into the world ... right in front of me, let's say. He's going to be my new travelling companion!

Not that he has a choice, naturally.

"Hello Alphonse. See, wasn't so bad, was it?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 01, 2017, 11:35:15 am
"..."

"Shit."

Well, since it appears I'm all alone here it should be easy to persuade reality: I have aura of light.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 01, 2017, 02:25:34 pm
Ah, that's it!  "Ah, yes!"

Maneuver for the pincer.  Go in together.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on January 02, 2017, 02:50:18 pm
"Where was I? Oh, thank you. I'll be along then."
If the gap looks small enough, chuck the mummy across and jump it. Otherwise, just walk through.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 02, 2017, 05:05:53 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 01, 2017, 11:12:27 am
Suddenly remember I have clothes now. Probably a good idea to put those on.

Anyway, after that extract Alphonse from my garden of thoughts and transplant him into the world ... right in front of me, let's say. He's going to be my new travelling companion!

Not that he has a choice, naturally.

"Hello Alphonse. See, wasn't so bad, was it?"

You put your clothes back on, a little surprised at how well they've kept in your possession. Hardly any blood - no, hardly even any creases. You put them on. You keep forgetting how nice it is to be clothed. Makes you feel almost human.

Anyway, you uproot Alphonse with a sweep of your hand. He appears without a sound, your hand around his throat. See, you say as he looks at you paralyzed with fear, wasn't that terrible at all, was it?

[I Have Seen Things: 4]

He stares at you terrified for a few moments before you realize you're constricting his windpipe. You loosen your grip. Better?

Yes yes yes thank you thank you don't kill him good lord thank you thank you, he keeps saying. Content with his arrangements, it seems. You say he's to come with you, and he dares not object. Great to find common ground so quickly!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 01, 2017, 11:35:15 am
"..."

"Shit."

Well, since it appears I'm all alone here it should be easy to persuade reality: I have aura of light.

Indeed it is - you hardly need to strain yourself to make your eyes see more than they probably should. You engage the darkness with your vision, and then negate it - all that are left to engage are the walls, so you get a very good look at the surrounding area.

[Warrens of the North: 2]

There's not a lot of it presently. You seem to have wound up in a crevice, and not a very large one at all. Barely enough to crawl in, far less than you would be comfortable with. Goes on for a while too, hundred feet both ways at the very least (mindsight gets a little fuzzy beyond that, unfortunately) in an approximate, north-south line gently curving both ways toward the west.

Quote from: Toaster on January 01, 2017, 02:25:34 pm
Ah, that's it!  "Ah, yes!"

Maneuver for the pincer.  Go in together.

[Pack Tactics: 2]

Unfortunately for you the beast seems to understand enough human communication to have at least a notion of what your plan might be, and as you try to maneuver to the side of it the thing instead rears back and goes to the same side, making sure to keep a careful eye on the approaching ranger. You go all in regardless, and this goes on for a good 30 seconds before the ranger has about enough of observing bemusedly and goes in for a tackle, screaming wildly and baring his black teeth for a good gumming of the thing's exposed neck.

[Favored Enemy: 2 vs. 2]

It... sort of works, you observe as the dwarfish figure collides with the bat-jackal-fox thing, and the two of them engage in a grapple to the death on the green, the ranger seemingly having the upper hand but lacking the dentition to take proper advantage of it. It's not quite a compelling enough battle to consider observing from afar, so you go in for the decisive blow.

[Fork 'Em: 3+1+1 vs. 5]

You stand over the pile of both ranger and forest fauna, and periodically bring your fork up to strike at the creature, but then lower it as the ranger rather inconveniently winds up on top of the grapple. You trot after them as they roll down the plain, awkwardly attempting to interject but failing as the ranger, seemingly quite into this wrestling thing, spits foul blood curses at the creature and tries to throttle it only for the thing to keep wriggling out of convenient strangling position.

[Man Flip: 1]

As they roll over to a crater and start going uphill, the incline slightly disorganizing but not at all impeding their continued progress, you wonder if perhaps warning them about the humming, buzzing pool of boiling toxic waste would be appreciated under the circumstances.

Quote from: TopHat on January 02, 2017, 02:50:18 pm
"Where was I? Oh, thank you. I'll be along then."
If the gap looks small enough, chuck the mummy across and jump it. Otherwise, just walk through.

They're either glad to help or every second of their lives is unending torment. They don't seem to have a solid opinion either way. So you head on toward the break in the road and consider crossing on your own.

[Mind The Gap: 3]

Rather unfortunately it seems to be right in the middle between what you would consider a sure jumping distance, a little more than five feet but definitely a little less than ten. You figure you can risk it, and pick the mummy up off your back and chuck it across. The feticheur on the other side helpfully catches it and wastes no time in lifting it up and shaking it resolutely.

[Running Start: 5]

Then you get ready to leap to the other side as well, and it's really a lot less difficult than you'd perhaps feared, the exoskeletal footing sure enough for you to get across in a single leap and not a drop of bogwater disturbed. Clambering up to the top, you go over to retrieve your mummy. The feticheur has begun banging her stick against its helmet, the clatter produced being quite resonant. You pull the poor creature from her hands and wrap it back around your shoulders. She is about to shake her stick at you but suddenly stops, raising one shriveled earhole to the wind. The giant quiets down as well.

You listen as well. Is that a buzzing in the air?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on January 02, 2017, 05:13:29 pm
"Right, good. I figure travelling with someone's better than alone, and I can always just put you back in that storage if we run into trouble. Oh, and before you ask, you're not going back to your village, not that you'd want to anyway. Got overtaken by some sort of supernatural cordryceps fungus or something, I had nothing to do with it but it'd probably be hazardous to someone not like me. Ever fancied visiting El? We're going there, or thereabouts. Let's go, shall we?"

After setting things straight, let's the both of us start going down that path I saw.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 02, 2017, 11:41:45 pm
Leif sighs. This is a very bad monday.

Wiggle and worm my way in direction that feels mostly like north.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 03, 2017, 06:08:26 am
Hm, there's got to be something else in here I can use as a weapon. I begin rummaging through drawers and cabinets.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 03, 2017, 11:03:55 pm
"Oh!  Mind the toxic waste pool!  Looks dangerous?"

Warn them.  Maybe kick the thing when it's down.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on January 04, 2017, 08:24:32 am
Oh, dear; that's probably not good. Listen.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 05, 2017, 12:11:34 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 02, 2017, 05:13:29 pm
"Right, good. I figure travelling with someone's better than alone, and I can always just put you back in that storage if we run into trouble. Oh, and before you ask, you're not going back to your village, not that you'd want to anyway. Got overtaken by some sort of supernatural cordryceps fungus or something, I had nothing to do with it but it'd probably be hazardous to someone not like me. Ever fancied visiting El? We're going there, or thereabouts. Let's go, shall we?"

After setting things straight, let's the both of us start going down that path I saw.

He nods readily to all of your suggestions right up until you mention the wondrous land of El. He preambles this with profuse apologies, afraid to ask a rather silly question, but isn't El some 200 miles away? You pause. Maybe. But if so, you'd suggest to start walking sooner rather than later. Road's right there, after all. He looks as well. The blazed trail, you mean? The blazed trail, ah! Yes, you can go on the glass road! He glances back at the town of Anglefork. Preferably speedily!

And it is indeed speedily that you mosey along over the ruins and onto the road. It's fairly smooth going as you wander into the night, the road lacking any particular signage as it winds through the forests and the hills, its rough outlines making it look more like a lava stream than an actual path.

[The Blazing Trail: 5]

It does not take long at all for you to see an outline in the distance as the woods, having initially deepened for a good few miles, start to rapidly thin again, and it is a little after dawn when civilization is once again within sight, with Alphonse trailing exhaustedly behind you at this point, not daring to slow down as your murder-thought nips at his heels. The black path continues on between several farms with uncultivated fields stretching on for quite a distance, and beyond them you see a village surrounded in a tall wooden palisade, a gentle river meandering past it to the southwest as the blazed trail circles the palisade exactly once and follows it very closely. Behind the village you see a tall mast of shining copper, a white-and-gold banner emblazoned with the radiant image of the sun flying from it.

Hornsweir, your companion says weakly. Best not go there. Maybe, he says as his knees begin to give way, maybe you can stop in one of the farms? Nobody lives there anymore.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 02, 2017, 11:41:45 pm
Leif sighs. This is a very bad monday.

Wiggle and worm my way in direction that feels mostly like north.

[The Veins of the Earth: 5]

Fortunately for you the tunnel widens as you crawl northward, committed to at least that much in the way of direction. Water flows in underground brooks and tiny troglodytic fauna nibbles at you every now and then before you chase it off with a stern word. You manage to get to your single foot and start jumping ahead, a gallery of split earth opening up ahead of you, trapped bats flying every which way at your approach, scattering into a myriad passages from the ceiling which has now grown rather incredibly tall.

The river continues on here underground now that the crevice seems to have closed up, rushing water at the bottom of a hundred-foot drop, both sides bridged by quasi-natural-looking connections of stone. It is about as dramatic a cave as you've ever seen, with stalactites menacing from above and blue, glowing torches lining the walls, illuminating the rather long gallery in a faintly mystical light that plays tricks with your eyes as mindsight and regular vision overlap and fight for dominance of your mental focus. Tunnels lead every which way from here, some with torches along their sides and quite a few without, and most of them not even accessible from the floor of the gallery, instead serving as little balconies, presumably for unseen figures to watch you. Not that any appear to be around as you check the various vantage points and hop around the place, still leaking blood all the way. Maybe if you shout for them or something.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 03, 2017, 06:08:26 am
Hm, there's got to be something else in here I can use as a weapon. I begin rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

[Tools of the Trade: 5]

You root through the desk for anything at all useful for the noble art of murder, and mostly find writing supplies of various kinds in the first few drawers - there's a drawer full of quills of varied sources, with a fountain pen mixed in here and there along with a strange-looking stylus that reminds you strongly of pencil lead in texture - a pen from El, the doctor says as she looks over your shoulder, folding up her steel feather fan and tucking it into her dress. Like writing in charcoal, but far more precise. Erasable too. She grabs a couple of quills as well as the pencil for good measure - you never know.

The next drawer is filled with many sheets of parchment as well as wooden tablets, clay tablets, and a single sheet of brown paper. The doctor helps herself to these - always good to take notes, wouldn't you agree? She tests out the El-pencil on a sheet, producing a quick doodle of the mysterious skull she couldn't identify while you look through the rest of the drawers - the next one is filled with various containers of what you assume is ink - most are black or blue-black, but one is very definitely filled with some kind of processed blood, and another, altogether newer-looking one is filled with very definitely unprocessed blood in a highly inexpert fashion and seems to have dried up and scabbed over completely.

Then there's the rather large drawer next to the three smaller ones, taking up two thirds of the desk's underside - it takes a bit of pulling to get it open, and it quickly becomes apparent why as it opens with a clatter - within you see a now somewhat disorderly collection of tools of ascending size - a miniscule silvery gaunt-ivory letter opener catches your eye, and a set of small bone cutters with little curly spirals on their blades, and an absolute multitude of scalpels - beyond that are kitchen knives that have very obviously been brought here from somewhere else, and a sizable hunting knife that you'd feel very comfortable threatening a mugger with, its handle made from a frighteningly large tooth. But the problem object complicating the opening of the drawer looks to have been what you can best describe as a scimitar, a broad black curved blade that seems to have been wedged into the drawer diagonally in a way that's left deep gashes in the otherwise immaculate woodwork of the desk.

The scimitar looks to have been caught in some kind of fire in the not too distant past, and is perhaps not the sharpest thing, but once you manage to pull it out it has the look of a proper sword, nicely balanced and almost a joy to swing through the room in a way, the way it sings making the doctor spring suddenly to attention. Oh, fascinating! Is that never-made? She goes up to take a closer look - why, seems like it could be, perhaps of sand people origin from the shape? Hard to tell with how filthy it is, of course.

Quote from: Toaster on January 03, 2017, 11:03:55 pm
"Oh!  Mind the toxic waste pool!  Looks dangerous?"

Warn them.  Maybe kick the thing when it's down.

[A Ranger's Duty: 2 vs. 3]

Aha, the pool! Thank you for the arglblargleargh, the ranger says as the creature on him takes advantage of the distraction to sink its teeth into his throat something fierce. He starts punching it back in the side of the throat, but this seems far less effective. You decide you should do something.

[Saving The Day: 5+1+1 vs. 4]

So you kick the bastard thing right in the ribs before it gets too far in the savaging, the beast giving a surprised yelp as it lets go of the poor ranger with a mouthful of dust and leather and rolls uphill a moment before the incline pushes it back, just in time for you to kick it in its impertinent bat face and break a good few teeth in the process. It stumbles back again, this time far more precariously as it teeters on the edge of the pool, looking very much stunned.

Haha, the ranger yells and points with one hand on where absolutely no blood is coming out of his torn throat, got the thing right and proper in the gullet! Go in for the kill! Use the fork, man!

Quote from: TopHat on January 04, 2017, 08:24:32 am
Oh, dear; that's probably not good. Listen.

You'd think it's not good at all, actually, but the two road workers seem absolutely delighted. The feticheur waves her arms and shakes her stick, and the giant jumps up and down and twirls about. You look to the horizon, and see that it's very visibly and spottily darkened. A few minutes pass as you begin to make out the details, and the buzzing gets louder and lower-pitched, the beating of thousands of wings as a plague of airborne beetles bears down in your direction, resolving into a solid black cloud in a matter of minutes.

The mummy on your back lets go suddenly, and starts crawling along the road at a rapid pace, seemingly eager to escape before the feticheur steps over and places a foot on its helmet, the infirm creature unable to move further as a result.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 05, 2017, 12:55:57 pm
"Right!"

Get forked
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on January 07, 2017, 02:03:26 pm
"Oh, get off him."
Help the mummy up and get moving. We definitely won't make it to cover but may as well make a go of it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 07, 2017, 02:45:21 pm
"Hey, cool." I was starting to miss my last fancy imported sword.

I look for a coarse rag or something similar and wipe down the blade. If I don't find anything, I clean the sword off as well as I can with my shirt.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on January 07, 2017, 05:04:04 pm
"Hmm, that'd probably be a good idea. I forgot you guys need food and rest. Let's do that."

Carry Alphonse over to one of the farms and procure some food for the poor sod.

((Whoopsie, thought I'd already posted here.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 08, 2017, 05:54:26 pm
Quote from: Toaster on January 05, 2017, 12:55:57 pm
"Right!"

Get forked

The ranger rises to his knees and cheers you on as you dive in for a forking to remember!

[Fork the World: 5+1 vs. 3]

You stab wildly, yet truly into the shoulders of the thing, accessing its precious tendons and joints! The creature shrieks as you pause to take a cue from the ranger and start winding the fork around, catching all manner of fascinating internal components onto it like so much fleshy spaghetti. Right, he says, exactly like that! Now do the same for the other joints!

And so you do, the horrible noises the beast is making rising to a fever pitch as you harvest quite a bit of sinew from its twitching, thrashing body and it eventually is left laying there like a puppet with its strings cut, most of its precious connective tissue well and truly harvested for your purposes. Well done, the ranger says! He'll make a proper woodsman of you yet! He listens for a moment as he pats the creature on the stomach in a few different places - aha, there! He plunges his hand into the creature's flank with distressing ease, pulling out a nearly black fistful of flesh. There's the liver! That'll be his humble share - best not let anything go to waste, right? He'll leave the rest to you and yours!

But now if you'll excuse him, he's got a liver to attend to, he says and runs off on his little legs, leaving you alone with the strange thing. You notice that it's still breathing. And twitching.

Quote from: TopHat on January 07, 2017, 02:03:26 pm
"Oh, get off him."
Help the mummy up and get moving. We definitely won't make it to cover but may as well make a go of it.

[The Swarm: 1]

You push the feticheur before she causes any damage to your poor little mummy friend, but she stands resolutely in place, shaking her stick, a certain fervor holding her fast even when you would expect her bones would not. She gurgles and calls to the incoming swarm, which gets lower and more focused, the faster beetles forming a visible vanguard that gives the whole of it a distinct arrowlike shape.

The giant, meanwhile, crawls over the side as well, sidling up next to the mummy. The hole in his face twitches, and he begins to visibly drool over your poor companion, which continues to thrash and bang on its helmet in response. The swarm is getting perilously close, and seems to be accelerating still.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 07, 2017, 02:45:21 pm
"Hey, cool." I was starting to miss my last fancy imported sword.

I look for a coarse rag or something similar and wipe down the blade. If I don't find anything, I clean the sword off as well as I can with my shirt.

[The Restoration: 5]

It seems to be very old, and burnt in a way beyond the ability of a mere rag to solve - you get to empirically test this in rather short order, and the only thing you get for it is a blackened rag and a sword no more cleaner for it. Yes, they do get like that, the doctor says. Restoring one of these is something of a more involved project, you see. They had a whole department for it back at the college, you know! Needed quite a lot of curious chemicals for it. Whole place smelled rather strongly of reagents. Distilled alcohol would be a good start in several ways, of course. And a minder, of course, to unlock the more exciting properties. They actually had one on site. Summer was her name. Sweet girl, the doctor's dark eyes become wistful. Wonder where she is now?

Quote from: Xantalos on January 07, 2017, 05:04:04 pm
"Hmm, that'd probably be a good idea. I forgot you guys need food and rest. Let's do that."

Carry Alphonse over to one of the farms and procure some food for the poor sod.

Rest would be excellent though er he did eat this morning so maybe that's not so very important wait actually he could eat again if you're offering and that's not a problem or anything.

[The Outliers: 5]

You carry the sod off to the nearest outlying farm. Looks a bit on the abandoned side, truth be told. Actually a lot on the abandoned side, though not in any particular disrepair. You politely kick the door off its hinges and walk inside, and find the place rather well-appointed, even if it's only a single large room. Hearth off to one side, empty and dark. Bed without any sheets or pillows, several smaller ones around as well. No food in sight whatsoever. You deposit Alphonse on the floor and go to check the storehouse.

After peeling the sturdily barred door of that open with your bare hands, the storehouse looks similarly empty but for a rather large supply of wooden rakes and a single primitive wheelbarrow. But you persevere and after looking around for a good few minutes locate a single potato laying around in a corner, presumably left behind by its inattentive owner. Bit dusty, but probably edible and- oh my, another potato! That's two! And if your eyes do not deceive, there's another beneath the stairs. Unfortunately no others, so you go ahead and return to Alphonse with your bounty. He seems to have passed out in the meantime. You go outside and break off a nearby tree, snapping it into firewood as you go back and quickly build up a fire. The place looks a lot more homely already!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 08, 2017, 10:39:57 pm
"Ah.  Uh.  Yes, sure."

With the passing of the fury of battle, the lack of appeal of the situation began to rise.


Is there anything visibly useful in the beast?  Fork it if so.  If no, put the thing down with the sword.


Maybe see about using said sinew to fix that bag?  Get some of the blood off first please
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 09, 2017, 03:03:27 am
Shouting sounds like a good idea. I'll do that after resting in a dark, relatively clean sport.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 09, 2017, 07:49:43 am
"Hm, keep your eye out for any bottles. I have an idea for getting any chemicals we might need, but it's probably more dangerous to attempt inside. Do you know anything besides alcohol that would be useful?"

As we talk I start heading to the next unexplored room in this part of the house. Does it seem like we've still got a lot of exploring/ransacking to do or have we seen most of the house now?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on January 09, 2017, 04:54:39 pm
Ah, excellent. It would probably be better if I remembered how to cook, but them's the breaks.

There isn't any water and/or pots around here, is there? If not, there's probably ... I dunno, I could spit them on some sticks and roast them like marshmallows or something.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 10, 2017, 08:09:21 am
Quote from: Toaster on January 08, 2017, 10:39:57 pm
"Ah.  Uh.  Yes, sure."

With the passing of the fury of battle, the lack of appeal of the situation began to rise.


Is there anything visibly useful in the beast?  Fork it if so.  If no, put the thing down with the sword.


Maybe see about using said sinew to fix that bag?  Get some of the blood off first please

[Evisceration For Fun And Profit: 2]

As with all fine things in life, the usefulness of a gently steaming pile of bloody organs lies in the eye of the beholder. So if you were to ask, say, a wandering artisan chef or perhaps a complete lunatic on what they could do with this, you'd no doubt would get some form of answer. As it is, however, you're in no mood to get elbow-deep into a still-living creature's innards to harvest its sweetbreads or some nonsense, so instead you draw the sword. The creature shrinks as the blade comes into view, uniformly gray. You raise it quickly and stab it into the thing - no sound is made as it pierces flesh, and the whimpering of the creature is cut off suddenly by a faint whoosh as air rushes into where it once was.

One must compliment you on the choice of material. Livelier than stoat and man, different in many senses. A welcome comparison to be sure.

[A Fistful of Sinew: 3]

As for the sinew in your hand, the blood seems rather an integral part of it that no amount of wringing into the nearby crater of toxic waste can fully remove. You're fairly sure there's something you're supposed to do with it before it's properly suited for repairs, but what that would really be you can only guess. Drying seems like it could go both ways. Burning doesn't seem like a good idea. Smoking, perhaps? Or is that only for food?

Ultimately you just decide to wash it in a nearby puddle and thread your needle with it. Bit of a chunky thread to be sure, but the needle's chunky enough in its own right that you suspect this was the way it was meant to be used anyway. You realize somewhere midway through your repairs to the bedroll that you'll have quite a bit of sinew left over by the end of this. About two feet of it, in fact. This intuition proves accurate as you manage to reseal the bedroll adequately. Still smells like blood (as does the tent, you realize), but you suspect that's just something you'll have to get used to. Claire does not stir one bit as you sit there stitching for about an hour, sleeping soundly with an oddly content, almost happy expression on her face. Must be having a fine dream.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 09, 2017, 03:03:27 am
Shouting sounds like a good idea. I'll do that after resting in a dark, relatively clean sport.

[Gimme Shelter: 5]

No shortage of alcoves here. No beds, unfortunately, but between a particularly menacing set of stalagmites off by the side you find a rather well-concealed hidey-hole, where on an overhang above the uncomfortably small entrance you locate what looks to be a kind of guard post, seemingly completely empty - there is a hole in the wall permitting easy view of the chamber, resembling an arrow slit greatly in its construction. It takes a bit of doing to climb up there, requiring full use of your one and a half legs as well as your teeth (side note, the fungus on the walls turns out to be perplexingly delicious).

Beside the arrow slit is a fibrous little bit of bedding, recently used and very orderly, as well as what is clearly a shaft leading upward, complete with a black little trap door at the top, similarly in excellent condition. You decide to be a little more alert than usual in your sleep habits as you lay down to recover, and set your mind's alarm to whenever someone sees fit to bother you before slipping into restfulness.

[Unconscious Perception: 1]

It's a much-needed bit of rest, you find. Lets your stumps scab over, and your body at least somewhat recover from being sliced nearly to bits by that damn dragon. Luckily for them, nobody appears to have worked up the courage to come and poke you while you rest.

However, they do appear to have left something instead, seemingly very gently lowered through the trap door - a basket of apples, you'd guess from the shape in your mind's eye.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 09, 2017, 07:49:43 am
"Hm, keep your eye out for any bottles. I have an idea for getting any chemicals we might need, but it's probably more dangerous to attempt inside. Do you know anything besides alcohol that would be useful?"

As we talk I start heading to the next unexplored room in this part of the house. Does it seem like we've still got a lot of exploring/ransacking to do or have we seen most of the house now?

Some form of oil would no doubt be appreciated, the doctor says. Nothing too exotic, mind you, any kind should theoretically do, though obviously the purer the better. Beside that, perhaps some acid or vinegar? She's heard good things about aqua fortis, or maybe aqua regia if you can find some. And soap, soap might work as well.

[The Country House Expedition: 5]

There are two more rooms remaining, and this next one appears to be something of a doozy - the doctor claps her hands together as you enter. A library, ah! Look at all the shelves! And indeed there are quite a few, lining each wall with a few more in the middle, each shelf half-full of a wild variety of scrolls and manuscripts, the other half strewn about on the floor as they have been shaken out of their resting places. The doctor steps to a particular section - history! She- wait, what's this? They've got Urban here! And Fontaine! And Innocent too! What nonsense is this? She pulls a scroll out with a clearly displeased expression. Sun-priest apologetics! The descending moon theory! Bloody heliocentrism! Good heavens, she doesn't even know where to start on- shouldn't they have burnt these? Where's the actual history then? Bewildered, she starts rooting through the shelves and the piles where , each new tome causing even more frustration. Rubbish, all of it!

You leave her to it for a moment and look at the other shelves. There's a fairly meaty section of natural philosophy on a variety of topics, even printed primers and pamphlets on alchemy with curious names like The Spheres or The Seasons, their neatly and uniformly printed volumes very much standing out from the artisanal illuminated manuscripts surrounding them. There's what no doubt used to be a whole shelf full of what looks to be original Sun-monastic research on the growing of grapes and making of relatively drinkable wine. And a few manuscripts on the geology of the northlands, even a single anthropological pamphlet on "the myriad folks of the clan-ridden north". You do get the feeling, however, when you discover that "An Inquiry Into The Mechanism of Splintering" appears to have half its volumes very conspicuously missing, that there used to be more here.

One shelf in particular appears to have been completely empty even before its collapse - a single scroll describing best policies on trade with El (such as how exactly an inspector is to determine the difference between their gold and pyrite, and how to spot an alchemical counterfeit coin) would indicate that this was possibly the section on law. The romance section, containing quite a lot of extremely dog-eared and supremely salacious prints of foreign fiction, most of them incredibly fresh and rich in full-color pictures, leaving the single unburned piece of chivalric romance looking downright destitute in comparison, looks to have been nearly bursting with tomes on its end.

And finally there is a section on cartography, which appears to have rested back against the wall and thus not fallen over - the maps here look rather good, if a bit rich in dragons, clearly denoting both the nation of Benzerwald and quite a few places beyond, including the Kingdom of the Dead to the east, the wondrous land of El to the west, the patch of northlands right up to Elizabeth and even slightly beyond, with particular attention devoted to the seven coastal free ports. There's even a map of the very far south, delineating improbable shapes of distant shores with frankly ridiculous names.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 09, 2017, 04:54:39 pm
Ah, excellent. It would probably be better if I remembered how to cook, but them's the breaks.

There isn't any water and/or pots around here, is there? If not, there's probably ... I dunno, I could spit them on some sticks and roast them like marshmallows or something.

[Kiss the Cook: 3]

Hey, it's not like your companion's likely to complain, so you just stab a twig through all three potatoes and set to roasting them adequately. And adequate is, you suppose, indeed a good word to describe your efforts, the potatoes in question looking somewhat more edible after some time spent above the fire. In a fit of creativity you consider using your murder-thought to peel them, and soon you have a perfectly acceptable mash of potato (and maybe some peel as well, most of it kind of exploded off in the process) ready to eat.

Alphonse, naturally, is still asleep. So you poke him gently in the foot with your vicious mental projection and that springs him to attention quickly enough. You give him your handful of mash. He looks at it in confusion for a second. You motion for him to put it in his face and he decides it best to comply without protest, gobbling it down with extreme urgency. Yes yes very good thank you, he says, very good mash-thing you made there he is now well fed and there are no further problems aside from terrible exhaustion and he thinks he maybe sprained his ankle but that's no problem really did he already say the mash was very good?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 10, 2017, 08:52:05 am
Probably part of the authentic experience.  Oh well.


Night night.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 10, 2017, 10:39:39 am
"Apples? Great."

Mind lift them right into my mouth and eat. Then hover up and see what's behind the trapdoor.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on January 10, 2017, 01:58:21 pm
"Ah yes, very funny, now stop. I have to take him to the town."
When that doesn't work, try staring them down. Regardless of results, get a hold on the mummy before the swarm arrives.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on January 10, 2017, 07:36:16 pm
((Well, seems I've accidentally formed this duo (http://static2.thisisinsider.com/image/581109a4b9391921008b4722-2000/lawrence%20and%20the%20man%20in%20black%20with%20snake%20-%20credit%20john%20p.%20johnson%20westworld.jpg).))

Daniels shrugs. "Just making sure you don't go dying on me and all. Just because I could kill you effortlessly at any moment doesn't mean I will. You haven't treated me badly or crushed my flesh or tried to kill me like pretty much* everyone else I've killed, and I'm travelling with you, aren't I? Heck, when we reach El I'll probably let you go live your own life if you want. Now then, what're you saying about a sprained ankle? How does one fix that?"

Teach me how to medicine, Alphonse!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 12, 2017, 01:03:54 am
Note:  I am away until Sunday and probably won't be able to post.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 13, 2017, 10:25:05 am
Quote from: Toaster on January 10, 2017, 08:52:05 am
Probably part of the authentic experience.  Oh well.


Night night.

You squeeze into your bedroll and, lacking a night light to symbolically extinguish, fall asleep in the perpetual dusky canyon-light, a sudden wave of exhaustion carrying you into almost immediate dreamless oblivion. It's both comforting and subjectively very brief, for when you open your eyes once again things look suddenly much brighter. The tent smells a little less like blood, the meadowy scent of the surrounding plains wafting in through the tent flap accompanied by downright idyllic god rays. You wriggle your way out of your bedding, noting that Claire seems to have already woken up and gone outside. Supposing they're all waiting on you in that case, you waste no time in getting up and out yourself.

[Morning Has Broken: 6]

No sooner do you get out and stretch yourself than you hear a call from a ways off. The ranger, it seems, is shouting for you to get over to him this instant, with Claire, looking rather wet and with her clothes only half on at the moment, following some fifty feet behind. He sprints in your direction, continuing to shout! The worms are coming! The worms are coming! Get over here man, the worms are coming!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 10, 2017, 10:39:39 am
"Apples? Great."

Mind lift them right into my mouth and eat. Then hover up and see what's behind the trapdoor.

Not apples, you discover. A bit too clammy and fleshy for that. Definitely some kind of mushroom, probably quite elaborately cultivated. The flavor of it is nevertheless quite fantastic, and each one appears to be something different. The first two or three only serve to drive up the appetite - it's only when you're about half through the entire basket that you feel like you've had a hearty enough breakfast. Not bad, anonymous cave dwellers! Not bad at all! You grab the basket and start to contently hover upward toward the trap door, still in a reclined state as you get up close.

[It's A Trap Door: 5]

You give it a polite knock and the door ripples and rumbles. Who goes there, it asks. It's you, you reply enthusiastically! And you're not about to take any guff from a trap door, so open the hell up and let a man pass before you have to get rough. You've got a Word burning a hole in your skull and you need but the slightest excuse to use it. This gives it some pause. Grr, it says! Harumph! Show a door no respect, and it's liable to hit you on the ass on the way out! Bear that in mind, it grimly warns before slowly opening. There's a good door, you tell it as you float on through.

The room above is unfortunately not very well lit, so you have to make do with mindsight as you get a feel for its shapes. And lively shapes they do appear to be, a sizable cavernous hall gaping before you, leading deeper into the stone. You reach for its edges with your mind in each direction, but they appear to retreat at the slightest touch, growing wider and wider as you try to scan them. Little shapes of noise jump into your eyes, a train of nubile dancers moving hand in hand before retreating into darkness, an uprooted tree stump somersaulting without any regard for gravity, a round table spinning and circling you like a disc in flight.

You push forward with your thoughts, and notice that things appear less certain the further you go. You question the dark and it questions back - who's asking? Whose tendril is this? Who let the minder in here, huh? Who the hell do you think you are, touching the dark without permission?

Quote from: TopHat on January 10, 2017, 01:58:21 pm
"Ah yes, very funny, now stop. I have to take him to the town."
When that doesn't work, try staring them down. Regardless of results, get a hold on the mummy before the swarm arrives.

They don't seem to think this is funny at all. Deeply gratifying, perhaps, but not at all funny. The feticheur glares at you with holy fervor, shaking her stick resolutely as you approach and open your eye wide.

[Death Glare: 5]

You start to glare and your face-scar complies, opening wider and wider, your facial features growing sidelined as it parts and shows more of itself. The feticheur tries to meet your gaze, but as the light grows blindingly bright and terrifying beyond comprehension, you sense her resolve suddenly break as she jumps back and turns away, breaking into a surprisingly quick sprint. The scar lets out a hiss as the air before it starts to ripple, but you reason that going further is perhaps ill-advised, and instead snatch up your helpless ward from the ground.

This proves well-timed, because no sooner do you do this than you are set upon by the swarm.

[Gotta Get A Grip: 3]

One hand is probably not enough, you figure as you are lifted off your feet and a thousand ravenous mandibles begin to peel your fingers away from your ward. You lock another around its throat. You are presently flying, you think - the corpse beetles are somewhat impeding the view. The mummy groans and shrieks and moves to take shelter in your arms.

Wait, that's a great idea! Do a hug! Decrease your surface area! You bend your head down and lock limbs with your mummified friend, and both of you make a reasonably small sphere. You feel yourself lurch downward, the beetles struggling to lift you, their mouthparts sliding off you, breaking under strain. Something slips as the insects start to bite into you particularly desperately and deeply, and finally their wings fail and you begin to fall in earnest, falling into ice cold bogwater, thousands of beetles going for a suicide dive to attempt and drag you back out.

[The Black Water: 1]

What you hit when you reach the surface of the bog is not quite water. It grabs into you like a hundred icy claws, actively pulling you down, devouring you and the insects on you like a ravenous beast. It forces itself through your skin, feeling like petroleum in your veins, your body spasming to try and get it out somehow while you try and balance this with not losing hold on your mummy companion, getting dragged down all the way as the bog itself seems eager to crush the very life out of you.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 10, 2017, 07:36:16 pm
((Well, seems I've accidentally formed this duo (http://static2.thisisinsider.com/image/581109a4b9391921008b4722-2000/lawrence%20and%20the%20man%20in%20black%20with%20snake%20-%20credit%20john%20p.%20johnson%20westworld.jpg).))

Daniels shrugs. "Just making sure you don't go dying on me and all. Just because I could kill you effortlessly at any moment doesn't mean I will. You haven't treated me badly or crushed my flesh or tried to kill me like pretty much* everyone else I've killed, and I'm travelling with you, aren't I? Heck, when we reach El I'll probably let you go live your own life if you want. Now then, what're you saying about a sprained ankle? How does one fix that?"

Teach me how to medicine, Alphonse!

Oh no he doesn't think he'll die or anything sir he's just saying he might not be able to keep up with you on the road is all and you don't have to worry about him going anywhere no sirree and please don't try to fix it he's sure it'll sort itself out without whatever sir cares to do it please no attempts at medicine okay?

[First Aid: 3]

You give him a skeptical look. He's not up to something, is he? If he is, you feel you should make him aware that while he's not on the shit list yet this can be very easily corrected. You put your thumb on one side of his ankle and your index finger on the other and gently push them together. He shrieks horribly. Must be actually sprained! Okay, so what were you supposed to do to fix that? Er maybe just leave it alone and it'll heal on its own please sir, Alphonse begins to say, but you decide to hear nothing of it. You figure you gotta rest it, ice it, compress it and probably elevate it. You can do two of those with the means present. So you tie Alphonse's foot to the top of the bed frame. Don't move it from that spot, you instruct. Gotta keep it elevated. And don't go anywhere. Then he'll be healing up just fine. Oh thank you sir that's very useful advice, he says, he'll stay here then and not move at all like he was going to that's fine yes thank you.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 13, 2017, 11:05:42 am
I think I am Leif Erikson, miner, not minder, descendant of great vikings. And clearly you haven't seen real darkness yet, like one in the well. Now that was dark, so don't get so pissy.

Move in direction of the answer, perhaps it is not mushroom induced hallucination. Let's make friends!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on January 14, 2017, 04:31:29 pm
No, having survived all that I am not going to drown.
Swim for it! And do not. let. go.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on January 14, 2017, 06:25:51 pm
"Huh, you're a lot more scared of me than I remember people being. Then again, I suppose I wasn't exactly associating with normal individuals myself. So, how long do sprained ankles normally take to heal?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 15, 2017, 07:14:06 pm
I grab a few maps: a map focusing on Bemzerwald, the map of the far South, and a couple depicting other foreign areas.

Then I head to the last room in the house.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 15, 2017, 07:40:18 pm
((Back))

What?  "Ah, yes, of course!  The worms!  They are coming?  Where?"

Look down for worms.  Be unsure of what to do about it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 16, 2017, 01:10:30 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 13, 2017, 11:05:42 am
I think I am Leif Erikson, miner, not minder, descendant of great vikings. And clearly you haven't seen real darkness yet, like one in the well. Now that was dark, so don't get so pissy.

Move in direction of the answer, perhaps it is not mushroom induced hallucination. Let's make friends!

[The Darkness Is Your Friend: 3]

You aim forward and dive into the dark, reaching for something to wrap your hands around and anchor yourself to. You tumble forth, the ground getting further and further away until you've completely lost sight of it. And from here any direction begins to feel increasingly similar, and the darkness increasingly abstract. You pass by a nearby cube made of what feels like plush, except when you pat it you get a faceful of moldy spore-dust. Reflexively you kick it away, and as it travels through the dark you notice it pick up speed and rotational velocity until it becomes a blur, then progressively fades out of sight.

You wonder if you're actually going in the same direction as you were previously. You step onto a convenient nearby patch of ground, free-floating in the void and the dark. It lets you stop and think a moment despite spinning very quickly, but you don't have a frame of reference to compare that to so you're surprisingly okay with this. You ponder the darkness, which still appears to be obstinate and responds with only more questions. What do you want? Why are you swimming this way? Which way are you swimming? What's your angle? You scratch your head. You're not really sure you speak its language. Well, you kind of do, you think. There's words there. But you get the feeling they mean something different. Better start simple.

You open up your arms and shout into the dark, hello! Friends! Friends, come here! Come hither! You suddenly feel a little dizzy, but you shake it off! Hello, you say again! Friends! There is a papery flapping noise somewhere behind you. The darkness ahead shivers at your words. To your left, something creaks. And you discern a gentle dripping to your right. Are you still spinning? You don't think you're still spinning. You try to discern what they may be, but only get a vaguely stony sensation in the back of your throat as you reach out.

Quote from: TopHat on January 14, 2017, 04:31:29 pm
No, having survived all that I am not going to drown.
Swim for it! And do not. let. go.

[In The Arms Of An Angel Of Death: 6]

You kick at the bogwater trying to keep you still, and your heel paradoxically finds a face, your foot breaking a nose and dislocating a few teeth. The hold of the water lightens, and you mash the other foot as well, crushing a windpipe and eliciting a gurgling sound. You run your hand over your shoulder and with an animalistic fury tear several snaking, emaciated fingers off yourself, then tear them off the hand they belonged to. You force the mummy's hands around your neck and start using all four limbs. Your eye opens wide and the bog starts to scream as you make the faces of the hungry dead into your staircase, crushing them and collapsing them with your step as you start to shake off their grip, insects flying from each sweep of your arm as you resist with all of your might.

[Breaker of Bones: 2]

You mash at the thick, viscous bogwater and whatever it is that's possessed it, and are accompanied by the most horrific shrieking as you dive out to the surface, gasping for air. You start running for the road, but your feet begin to sink again immediately, the water pulling at them, forcing you to pause to stomp into it to keep away the murderous powers beneath. They recede and flee as you stare and kick them down, and the water grows thinner close to the road. You trip into it quite by accident, and the rest of the way is made by crawling out, coughing up dark fluid from your lungs and shaking insects from your body. You flop out onto the gravely chitin of the road and very nearly roll onto your companion as you spend a few moments to regain your composure. Seems it's not quite quicksand that you need to beware around here.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 14, 2017, 06:25:51 pm
"Huh, you're a lot more scared of me than I remember people being. Then again, I suppose I wasn't exactly associating with normal individuals myself. So, how long do sprained ankles normally take to heal?"

Oh he's not scared good sir he is just very respectful of powers that may or may not have trapped his immortal soul in oblivion to be called upon whenever they feel like it or maybe eat it instead please don't eat his soul he had enough of that with the stoatman occupation have you seen the way their Speakers look at people it's pretty horrifying actually oh and he's probably fine he just needs er something to help him walk around like a cane or some crutches or something if it's not too much of a problem good sir he wouldn't want to be a bother or anything.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 15, 2017, 07:14:06 pm
I grab a few maps: a map focusing on Bemzerwald, the map of the far South, and a couple depicting other foreign areas.

Then I head to the last room in the house.

The doctor wanders over while shaking her head. That history section is really quite horrif- oh hello, she stops by the romance section. Now this certainly hasn't been expunged, she notes as her eyes run across the titles. She goes up to one printed volume in particular, oh! They didn't have this one in the capital! Burning Desire In The House of Meats! She checks the publishing date - this is a month old! Don't mind if she does, she says as she slips the volume in her dress. Oh, and there's one from the month before that, she says and grabs another, very similar-looking book. Wait, do they have the whole series? They do!

You hold up two roughly similar maps of Benzerwald as you shop around the cartography section. The doctor looks at them - take the left one, she advises. Less recent, but the other one's from 10 years ago and there was a lot of questionable surveying going on there. As in, parts of that might have literally been dreamed up. Possibly minding, perhaps infiltration from El, but probably just a lot of hearsay and mass hysteria involved. She then turns back to her perusal as you pocket the older map, and take a few printed maps of El, an artisanal and fairly incomplete rendering of the Kingdom of the Dead (lot of skulls on that, you notice), a map of the northern borderlands in particular, including lands up to as far as Elizabeth. And then for fun you pick up a vague map of the Grand Republic of Alfalfa, the improbably named state apparently found south beyond the Corner Sea that unlike the rest of these clownshoes maps is actually attested twice, and in shapes close enough to each other that you might believe something is there after all.

You look up to see the doctor wrapping a fair dozen books up in a gown she seems to have quickly run off to steal from the bedroom. It makes for a rather lacy parcel, which she supposes is in keeping with the contents. You both then head out to see the final room.

[The Country House Expedition: 5]

It's a considerably smaller room than the others, and doesn't really look like much to begin with and frankly smells a little odd. Would have been a bit of trouble to get into, since the door that appears to have been snapped in half by the earthquake was clearly locked at some previous time. As it is, the two pieces of door are fairly easily pulled apart. Within there are three tables, one against each wall, with tall cabinets standing in the corners. All of it, even the small stools next to the tables, is covered in at least one tarp. You and the doctor pull one tarp off and reveal a sturdy-looking work table beneath it, and very narrowly avoid upsetting a row of bottles standing freely at one end of the table as the doctor nimbly steps over to catch one that's about to fall.

Oh, she says, something else must have fallen down here as well. Broken flask full of, she lifts it up to check the label, ah. Unidentified neurotoxin K-1. She blanches, then exchanges a look with you. Well, she says after a few moments, it's definitely dried out completely. So it's probably safe. Must be months old by now. She picks up one of the still-intact bottles. Unidentified neurotoxin K-2. And unidentified neurotoxin L! That's... not very encouraging.

You very carefully check under the other tarps - pins and ether, an elegant set of taxidermy tools, a miniature and fairly primitive, but no doubt somewhat effective set of alchemical odds and ends, and an unfinished collection of what look to be jellyfish, perfectly fixed and preserved in a shape almost exactly like you'd imagine they would appear in nature - an amazing feat, given they're all pinned inside delicate glass flasks. The cabinets loom over the rest of the lab, chock full of fixatives kept in varyingly sealed containers, from a single carafe of distilled alcohol to a wealth of "unidentified toxins" to creatively named discoveries to even a triple-sealed, generously wrapped flask of "dragon's doom". Do the Treefrogs even sell that, the doctor wonders aloud.

A dusty, exotic paper notebook sits on one of the tables, untouched in quite a long time, the room fixed much like many of the things in it. A cursory look reveals it to be full of cryptic notes, the name in the front identifying the owner as one Augusta the White. Ah, must be the mayor's wife. She did like to style herself as something of a sorceress. Though really this is more of a... well, to be frank it's nothing like any alchemy lab she's seen. A bit too neat and well-organized. And the arthropods here are very much deliberate, she says as she pulls out one of the drawers of a cabinet to reveal a stupendously large collection of preserved scorpions petrified for posterity.

Quote from: Toaster on January 15, 2017, 07:40:18 pm
((Back))

What?  "Ah, yes, of course!  The worms!  They are coming?  Where?"

Look down for worms.  Be unsure of what to do about it.

[Yeah The Worms Are Coming: 2]

You look down. No worms that you can see, unfortunately. Oh wait, there is one you suppose. You bend down to pick it up as Claire manages to run up as well, stopping to get fully dressed on the way. What, she says, what's going on?

The worms are coming, the ranger says with a great deal of excitement! The worms are coming, you shrug and lift up your earthworm. The worms are coming, she repeats doubtfully. The worms are coming, the worms are coming! The ranger seems quite resolute in this, though completely ignores your worm in the process. As does Claire herself.

The ground rumbles gently. You notice a patch of earth rising a little ways off, much like a molehill if molehills tended to be ten feet tall. Another pops up a little ways closer. The worms are coming, the ranger repeats, pulling out a sizable knife from his pocket, his head lolling a little and displaying a very much open hole in his neck you recall from last night. Still not bleeding, which you suppose is a good sign? Bit dark though.

Oh dear, says Claire as the large wormhills continue to approach, the worms really are coming, aren't they? Yes, the ranger shouts! This is what he's saying! The worms are coming! Well, maybe just one worm. The others might turn up later! Or they're deeper down! To know for sure you'd need the wormsong. Quick, he motions to you, you all need to go after it! Before it gets away!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 16, 2017, 04:40:49 pm
"Right!"

Throw the earthworm at it.


Also should probably get the sword out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on January 16, 2017, 05:39:15 pm
"Ah, I see. Don't worry on that account, I'm not going to eat your soul. I have a stoatman kept in me for that, I just brought you along for company. Going to El by myself isn't a horribly inviting prospect, after all. Anyhow, good to hear that'll heal with time, I'll find you a crutch or cane or what have you. Stay here."

Crutch/cane hunting I go! Mayhaps get a suitable tree branch and just kinda trim it into shape or something?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 17, 2017, 02:37:40 am
"Friends?"

I think a shining revelation is in order. Or two.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on January 17, 2017, 01:44:48 pm
"That is not at all what I was expecting. Are you okay?"
See how the mummy's doing, then back along the road it is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 17, 2017, 03:18:07 pm
"Wow, and I thought this place couldn't get much stranger. Do you think the lab has what we need to restore my sword? I already see one thing." I grab the container of alcohol and begin carefully looking for the other things the doctor mentioned. Soap, oil, and acid, I believe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 18, 2017, 01:51:15 pm
Quote from: Toaster on January 16, 2017, 04:40:49 pm
"Right!"

Throw the earthworm at it.


Also should probably get the sword out.

The earthworm sails through the air gracefully. You have your sword in hand nearly instantly. One can't help but express anticipation. Claire looks at you, then at the approaching wormhills. The ranger grins madly.

[The Hunt Is On: 1]

The wormhills draw closer and closer, and suddenly multiply into two, three, then four - the earth rumbles as they wind along the craters and even below them, the earth trembling at their approach. One passes under a tree, handily sucking it below the earth, a few dancing leaves remaining in its wake above a gaping pit. They come to you readily and rapidly, your tent nearly collapsing from being suddenly upset... and then appear to continue, having no interest in surfacing for the time being.

Bugger, the ranger shouts! Plan B, then! Deploy the wormsong! He looks at you. Wait, you don't know the wormsong, do you! Would that you only had some time! Say, have you experience in throat singing? What about your girl there? Claire does fancy herself a bit of a singer, as it happens - yes, yes, the ranger says hurriedly, but can she sing from the throat? The wormsong is a very particular musical hunting tradition! Watch, he says as he inhales and then lets off a warbling monotone.

Wooooooorm, he starts to sing! Wooorm! Wooorm! Come on, he says, harmonize with him! Quickly, before they're gone!

Quote from: Xantalos on January 16, 2017, 05:39:15 pm
"Ah, I see. Don't worry on that account, I'm not going to eat your soul. I have a stoatman kept in me for that, I just brought you along for company. Going to El by myself isn't a horribly inviting prospect, after all. Anyhow, good to hear that'll heal with time, I'll find you a crutch or cane or what have you. Stay here."

Crutch/cane hunting I go! Mayhaps get a suitable tree branch and just kinda trim it into shape or something?

Yes that is very good to know thank you!

You leave the man to his suffering and healing, hopefully more of one than the other, and look outside.

[When In Hornsweir: 2]

You look outside for a tree, and luckily one readily presents itself - and next to said tree you see a dark-skinned fellow dressed a lot like you would expect from a pirate, although considerably better-groomed, his curled and braided black hair and beard glistening from extreme care as he looks in your direction. His features are sharp, and while he's adopted the perfect posture of a layabout as he slouches against the tree, the look he gives you is nothing short of authoritative.

Welcome to Hornsweir, wanderer! The man appears to be affecting a certain degree of good humor. Here to stay, perhaps?

[In The Hedges: 1]

He claps his hands together. Guess it doesn't really matter, does it? You look like a formidable man to be wandering almost unaccompanied through the wilderness. Running from the occupation, or maybe a traveling brigand of some description?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 17, 2017, 02:37:40 am
"Friends?"

I think a shining revelation is in order. Or two.

You have a drink for courage, and it goes straight to your head and the darkness twinkles and sings to you in plinking tones. You turn three times around as you close your mind's eye for a second, and listen - there's that flapping noise, closer now. Close enough to-

Aha, you shout as you leap toward the noise, speeding forward and barreling straight into it - there is a terrible flapping and you feel almost as if a chicken was attempting to escape from under you - with practiced grace you maneuver into place and sit down on it, fixing your quarry in place.

You look down at its face with its faceted eyes and quivering antennae. Friend, you say! Let's be friends together!

[A Kind Word And A Slam: 5]

Yes, it quickly says in a surprisingly deep voice! Friends! Just don't hit him! He'll tell you anything you want!

Quote from: TopHat on January 17, 2017, 01:44:48 pm
"That is not at all what I was expecting. Are you okay?"
See how the mummy's doing, then back along the road it is.

The mummy does seem fairly insect-bitten and drenched in ice cold water, but the same applies to you so you think you're doing about as good as it is. It doesn't seem terribly satisfied with its lot in life by any means as well as looking shaken by its experience in the deep. You leave it to sort itself out as it holds on to your shoulders and move along, heading down the road to find a truer destination.

[The Sunken Lands: 4]

You walk for a day and a night, the day only dimly illuminating the surface of the bog, the night almost the same save for the haze rising from the bog - you see little sign of the sun, merely a lightening and darkening to inform you of the time. The road winds on, but does not branch. The shells of thousands of insects crackle and snap beneath your feet as you trudge on, the bog taking on an increasingly unnatural darkness as you go on, looking more like a tar pit in its darkest places than an actual bog, its long-dead life decomposed into a slurry that emits a deeply repulsive smell that soaks you even as the coldness of the water dries off over the course of the day. You nearly get used to it several times before suddenly gets worse as you pass a sunken house or an upturned temple. A row of statue heads, sunken down to eye level, observe you like stone crocodiles with dark eyes from which nesting carrion birds occasionally poke out their heads.

The occasional cry of birds grows quieter and quieter as you head on, losing yourself as you trudge forward, the hours blending into one another as the road ahead goes on and on. The moon disappears and the surroundings brighten, and you pause for a moment, wondering how long you've still got to go. You look back.

Some distance behind you, off to one side of the road, you observe an island - a man-made one from the looks of it, a half-crumbled mass of stonework floating on the bog by uncertain means, going what looks to be your way. It is covered in structures of a wide variety of styles and forms, from ancient-looking structures rising from what must have been its original design with many an elaborate spire to driftwood shanties attached to their sides like wooden barnacles to small neighborhoods of foreign brickwork standing on piles of rubble from older generations. It is an impressive smorgasbord of mismatched architecture, lopsided and unstable on every level.

And yet it seems to be keeping pace with you, following slowly a good hundred feet from the road. Emaciated, boneless figures hang on the walls, obviously watching you with yellow, shining eyes.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 17, 2017, 03:18:07 pm
"Wow, and I thought this place couldn't get much stranger. Do you think the lab has what we need to restore my sword? I already see one thing." I grab the container of alcohol and begin carefully looking for the other things the doctor mentioned. Soap, oil, and acid, I believe.

It definitely is among the most curious manors she has had the opportunity to explore, the doctor says. Not that she's been in many, but northern nobility are in her experience far stranger than most. And since there are alchemical supplies, acid would certainly not be a stretch, she thinks.

[We Can Fix This For You: 5]

And indeed there are quite a few things - distilled alcohol is on hand, and the doctor roots through one cabinet to come up with spirits of salt to assist as well. There's a whole bucket of potash at the bottom of one of the cupboards and, sure enough, you find one drawer filled with soaps set to dry over a long period of time - there's elk soap, bear soap, bat soap and even snake soap - you aren't quite sure how most of those work exactly, but you pocket much of the collection. Oil is similarly easy to find - there are several vials of essential oils, which aren't quite what you're looking for, but in several neat flasks in a separate shelf behind several cases of snail shells you find a generous supply of lamp oil, which the doctor supposes would do well enough for the purpose.

All in all, she says, this worked out far more efficiently than expected!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on January 18, 2017, 02:38:20 pm
Break off a branch from the tree and start trimming it down while I reply.

"Oh, just heading to El with a friend. Why do you ask? And why the Johnny Depp getup?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on January 19, 2017, 01:55:59 pm
Wait for the town to catch up, then call out to the inhabitants.
"Ahoy there! Is this the town the watchman spoke of?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 19, 2017, 02:50:10 pm
"Uh... never been a singer, but I can try!"

This is a more likely part of the show- the audience sing-along!

Attempt to harmonize.  Can't be that hard, right?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 19, 2017, 11:49:26 pm
"Good morning, my friend! I'm Leif! What's up? What's the way up? Would you like to show me the way?"

Friendly questioning.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 21, 2017, 12:15:34 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 18, 2017, 02:38:20 pm
Break off a branch from the tree and start trimming it down while I reply.

"Oh, just heading to El with a friend. Why do you ask? And why the Johnny Depp getup?"

Traveling brigand it is then, the man says as you walk up next to him and break off a branch from the beech tree, letting your murder-thought start shaping it into a viable cane. But where are his manners? They call him Big Dipper, third mate of the Vault of Heavens. And he was here to ask your business in Hornsweir. And now that that's established well enough, also to invite you to the Captain's table for dinner - they're passing through themselves, mind you, but the village itself is a lot more accommodating for a wanderer than these deserted farmlands.

[Whittle Down: 4]

You consider this as you look at the whittled-down branch. Certainly it'd make a serviceable walking stick. Perhaps also a quarterstaff if the wielder felt like striking someone in the face with it.

Quote from: TopHat on January 19, 2017, 01:55:59 pm
Wait for the town to catch up, then call out to the inhabitants.
"Ahoy there! Is this the town the watchman spoke of?"

It catches up rather easily, at which point it slows its pace a little bit. You see dark figures gather on the walls, some out for a peek and leaving shortly, but most of them lingering. A few retain skin and eyes to see. Many stare with empty sockets. Some are decayed to nearly skeletal forms, and a few appear to have gone beyond that, looking like piles of mismatched old bones strung together by ancient leather, paper and desiccated flesh - the latter, you find, stare most intently of all, their eyes glinting in the clammy darkness of the bog.

[Gangway: 1]

And this seems to be what they are content to do - watch you, consider you. They certainly don't appear to be making an effort to speak with you, or communicate in some other way. They just continue to watch and progressively gather and chatter to each other in tongues even you scarcely can recognize, for there is little to even begin to make sense of.

Quote from: Toaster on January 19, 2017, 02:50:10 pm
"Uh... never been a singer, but I can try!"

This is a more likely part of the show- the audience sing-along!

Attempt to harmonize.  Can't be that hard, right?

[Very Free And Easy: 5]

Wooorm, you harmonize and sing with the ranger. Claire joins in awkwardly, raising her arms to the air. Wooorm! Wooorm! The two of you begin a little dissonantly, but you manage to work out a balance. Wooorm! Woorm! Worm! All three of you follow the worms as they make their way toward the canyon, waving your arms in the air as you sing your song of attraction. You dare say it's the dumbest-looking ritual you've ever taken part with.

You need to dial it up, says the ranger! Put your heart into it! More importantly, put your throat into it! The vibration matters! You have to hit the right resonance for this to work! He demonstrates - wooooorm, he sings in a way that makes your bones tremble a little. Woooooooorm!

You look at Claire. She clears her throat a little. She's never done this before, does the ranger have any advice? Well, he says, first you need to arrange your lips like this, and conduct the air just like that - it'll be one note, but if you hit it right it'll be the only one you need. Wooorm!

[Sing From The Throat: 5]

It does seem weird to her, but she tries a few times to get herself into just the right state of song, and then lets loose with the sound - it synchronizes beautifully with the ranger's own wheeze, and the sound of wormsong fills the air. He motions for you to go for it, quick! You're nearly there!

Okay, so if you get this right, you need to lay your tongue out like this, inhale deeply, settle your neck exactly like this, and then you need to exhale, flex those vocal cords and then you have it! Woooooooorm, you sing in threefold harmony together, woooooooooorm! You feel yourself against all odds nearing some higher state of natural attunement as you see the wormhills in the distance pause, and begin to turn. You tingle inside as you synchronously take a deep breath, now confident of your abilities, and make one great call of

WORM

The wormhills veer suddenly as the earth shakes and the few remaining trees tremble, and split into four separate trails as they circle round in perfect symmetry to your collective song. The earth rumbles and you see a great three-jawed head easily the size of a double-decker bus emerge from the ground and sinuously twist into the sky as its oligochaete form weaves in a dance of successful seduction. Another emerges behind you, and to your right and left, one for each of the cardinal directions. Their mouths open in delight to reveal nightmarish dark cavernous maws.

Most bizarrely of all, however, you notice little pockets opening on their sides, shaved heads of men and women poking out from underneath folds of flesh and whole groups of people standing up out of the mouths, halfway between panic and utter confusion as some nearly fall out of their hiding places, their hands narrowly managing to catch on to the oversized slimy hairs on the sides of the great worms, hanging precariously and not a little comically from their incredible mounts as they shout for you to please stop.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 19, 2017, 11:49:26 pm
"Good morning, my friend! I'm Leif! What's up? What's the way up? Would you like to show me the way?"

Friendly questioning.

Up is the sky, and the way up you've already found, he responds. You just need to follow it!

You look around at the mass of abstract images rising in great plumes and clouds as your mind's eye taps at crevices briefly before they skip out of view. Huh. You don't really see a way here. Just a bunch of cubes and orange-smelling things, little jack-in-the-boxes of perception that explode into strange confetti when you touch them. Today has been a lot like an octopus - you need only try and seize it to get a faceful of blackness and confusion.

[A Helping Hand: 5]

Oh right, he responds in three separate voices. You can't actually see that anymore. His mind is like a fountain of sensible chuckles as you close your jaws around it, grains of wisdom slipping through your teeth or grinding on them, and his curious curled snout dances like a kaleidoscope as he eludes simple meaning. You're not sure if you're still sitting on him, to be terribly honest, as he could just as easily now be behind you or someplace else entirely. You feel momentarily frustrated, and your bubbling does not pass unnoticed.

Okay, okay, he can show you the way but you, uh, will need to hold onto him somehow. You seem to have... misplaced your arms somehow.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Xantalos on January 21, 2017, 05:30:13 pm
"Vault of Heavens? You guys a merc group or something? 'Cause honestly that sounds like the name of a bandit group from this one game I used to play. Anyway, sure, I'll just go get my friend, he'd probably appreciate the food. Wait here."

Go get Alphonse and see if he can walk/limp with his new walking stick. If not, I'll just carry him back to ... Mustachio or whatever his nickname was. Then presumably it's go to meet the Captain or whoever!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: Toaster on January 21, 2017, 09:20:28 pm
((And again Thomas stumbles into power he doesn't believe in.  This game is great.))

While one part of him wanted to stop and see what in the world these people thought they were doing, another part was rather enjoying this newfound singing ability.  As a compromise, he turned to the ranger and attempted to signal a question as to if they should stop.

Ask the ranger non-verbally if we should stop.  Stop he does.  If stopping, greet the newcomers.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 22, 2017, 05:56:20 am
"That's what friends are for! I still have legs to catch things with, so help me out a little."

Grab his neck or waist or something with my legs and hang like a cape or something on him.

"Up and out to the surface we go! By the way, I didn't hear you introducing yourself."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: TopHat on January 22, 2017, 03:40:20 pm
"Well, the language barrier is nothing a good REVELATION can't take care of."
Repeat question and communicate desire to enter town in a hopefully more enlightening manner.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Halfway To Sheol
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 23, 2017, 08:14:49 am
"Fantastic," I say. "We also want a minder, right? The head minder girl seems pretty good at what she does. She also doesn't like me much, but I think she should still cooperate if we appeal to her ego and her curiosity."

I look around the room. "But first we have to leave here. The only obvious exits I've seen on this floor are some windows, but hopefully there's something a little gentler. This lair has to have some sort of escape hatch, right? I wouldn't build a lair without one." I begin searching the alchemy lab for hidden exits.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 23, 2017, 01:40:41 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 21, 2017, 05:30:13 pm
"Vault of Heavens? You guys a merc group or something? 'Cause honestly that sounds like the name of a bandit group from this one game I used to play. Anyway, sure, I'll just go get my friend, he'd probably appreciate the food. Wait here."

Go get Alphonse and see if he can walk/limp with his new walking stick. If not, I'll just carry him back to ... Mustachio or whatever his nickname was. Then presumably it's go to meet the Captain or whoever!

Mercenaries, the man laughs, good god no! Merchants! And the Vault of Heavens herself, she is a beauty of a vessel. But why prattle on? Come and see - the village is more than ready to welcome you, and they do intend to have one last feast before heading back. After all, there were plenty of profits made!

Yes, you say, you'll be back in a moment. You head back inside and look at Alphonse. You hand him the cane, which he examines in bewilderment. Buckle up, Alphonse, you're heading into the village! His eyes go wide. Do you really have to do that he'd really like to stay here actually on second thought that's probably not a great idea sure he'll follow you right away and stay within sight at all times. That's the spirit, you guess. He limps after you as you walk out, and Big Dipper looks him over with a critical eye. Doesn't he know this man?

[Have We Met: 3]

One of the occupiers, wasn't he? A collaborator? Fallen on hard times then? Er yes sir you could definitely say that is a thing that has happened in a great many ways, Alphonse replies nervously. Become a trader as well then, Dipper inquires, and Alphonse shrugs noncommittally, er there's been something of a change in management and such very nasty business not really at liberty to speak about that presently he'll have to forgive him. Dipper laughs - such is the way of revolutions and their children. Oh well. Come along! Hornsweir awaits!

You travel between the deserted farms, and as the three of you move you see occasional shadows in the hedgerows and moving between trees, following you from afar. You mention this to Dipper, who seems unperturbed. Don't mind them, he chuckles, they're just shy. You notice the town is a little more active - there's even what you could consider a bustle emanating from beyond the gate, which begins to open well in advance of your approach as several sleepy-looking heads poke out from above the sharpened wooden palisade.

It's not uncommon for villages to have a main artery, so to speak, but Hornsweir has something better described as a spine - a single thoroughfare from the gate to the docks, where a square opens up and you see in the distance the origin point of the mast that towers over most of the structures - a sleek bronze longboat, gleaming darkly in the early morning sun, attended by crowds of dark-skinned sailors with the occasional locals mixed in, filtering in and out of the boat and into the streets of the village, which boasts more broken windows and open doors than you would expect of a vibrant riverside community. An inn by the gate stands unmolested and roaring with the last of a long night's festivities, a drunken local-looking fellow falling out of a third floor window and flopping on the ground, getting up seemingly unharmed and stumbling back in through the door.

Big Dipper, comes a sudden shout from a nearby rooftop, back from his morning skulk already! You look up - atop a house that was no doubt once well-appointed before several people applied considerable skills to making it otherwise stands a tall, rather elderly woman with a veritable mane of white hair that a comb seems to have never quite tamed. She balances on the gable on one foot, lifting her other foot to about eye level slowly before lowering it again. And he's brought a handsome stranger as well! Her voice, though grandmotherly and spoken in very much an indoor tone, carries through the noise perfectly. Behind her, balancing with a variable degree of incompetence and inversely proportional mortal fear, are three young women in slightly more piratical garb.

Great Rainbow, Dipper bows, he has taken the liberty of inviting these strangers to the Captain's table tonight. They are to be treated well. Oh, she says as she crosses her legs, places her hands behind her back and puffs up her chest, does he think her to be some kind of thug? She gently steps off the roof and floats three floors down to the ground, sashaying your way with a very pleased expression. She flutters her elaborately painted eyelashes and you feel a tingling in the back of your skull.

[Intriguing Thoughts: 2]

She stops in front of you and curtsies - third mate Rainbow at your service, sir. You seem like an altogether spicier find than the usual fare, she says as she offers a well-manicured hand. Dipper steps back a little, frowning discreetly.

Quote from: Toaster on January 21, 2017, 09:20:28 pm
((And again Thomas stumbles into power he doesn't believe in.  This game is great.))

While one part of him wanted to stop and see what in the world these people thought they were doing, another part was rather enjoying this newfound singing ability.  As a compromise, he turned to the ranger and attempted to signal a question as to if they should stop.

Ask the ranger non-verbally if we should stop.  Stop he does.  If stopping, greet the newcomers.

You look at the ranger. He does not look back. You decide to keep singing in spite of the worm-riders' protestations, and inhale briefly before starting off another verse, same as the first!

WORM

[Word: 1]

The worms start to undulate as they continue to emerge, their long tails emerging from the ground at points diametrically opposed. The earth shakes, and you feel twenty-seven hearts beating to the same rhythm, your own included. You begin to lose yourself in the song, and start to undulate yourself despite the movement coming off as distinctly improper to you. The worms emerge fully from the ground, each several thousand feet long in total. For a moment you feel terribly insignificant in the face of these veritable Empire State Buildings of the annelid world, and you notice Claire fall silent as they begin to wind together, their bodies intertwining as they start to block out the morning sun. One of the riders falls down next to you, groaning in pain as he rolls on his side. People continue to rain down, and then the worms close in around you in the most incredibly well-coordinated group hug you've ever seen.

[The Worm God: 2]

You continue to sing for as long as the ranger does, and he draws a large knife as you see a little trail of saliva run down from the corner of his mouth. As all goes dark you see him leap into the mass of worm-flesh, and Claire hugs you from the side and closes her eyes as panic overtakes her.

The next few moments are ones of sliding flesh and many, many hairs running over you as you feel yourself drawn into a massive ball of seduced worms, your sense of direction utterly confounded as everything becomes earthy-smelling, clammy wormskin sliding all around, forcing you into a dark alcove between segments, damp from head to toe, Claire helplessly hanging on to you as she tries not to move in the face of all this. You try not to as well, as you figure it'll be a little simpler this way. There is a lot of motion and a lot of slime, and you can discern little else for the time being in the interests of keeping as much of this out of your eyes as possible.

Everything comes to a sort of equilibrium in a matter of minutes, and the rampant motion of the worms starts to oscillate, settling into a pattern of sliding gently back and forth. Beyond the sounds of friction between them, and muffled groans from further on, you hear only silence for a few moments more before Claire starts to say something, her face buried into your neck. A little hard to make out amid the general worminess, but you think it's something to the effect of whether you have any ideas on how to get out of this.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 22, 2017, 05:56:20 am
"That's what friends are for! I still have legs to catch things with, so help me out a little."

Grab his neck or waist or something with my legs and hang like a cape or something on him.

"Up and out to the surface we go! By the way, I didn't hear you introducing yourself."

You hold onto the fellow's back with your one and a half legs as you instruct him to fly! Fly and take him back to the surface, back where things began to make sense! Onward, loyal friend! Whatever his name is!

Say, what is his name, you wonder of him. He looks back. Oh, uh, Earnest. Yeah, Earnest. You shrug - very well then, Earnest, to the surface! And Earnest spreads his wings as you hang onto his back (well, more like off his back) and float gently behind him as he takes flight, his eyes darting every which way to check if anyone can see, and up into the dark you go. He flies as you would expect, with precipitous dives and sudden turns, seemingly a little disoriented by your presence. You occasionally see others like him flit past, diving out of darkness briefly before they see you and retreat back in mostly. Some watch, however. And quite a few follow. A procession begins to form as followers swarm behind you, chittering to themselves as you are dragged in front of them, looking to each other with their compound eyes, their heads twisting rapidly back and forth, antennae twitching.

You feel warmer, and progressively claustrophobic as you are taken further and further, and soon the people following behind you are legion, their many eyes settling upon you as you come to a stop in a place that burns with blue, pulsing fire, creatures of a vast variety of changing shapes cartwheeling along the edges, transforming constantly to fit into spaces as they gather round in force. You see, but do not feel a ceiling - and neither do you sense a floor. You simply hang there on Earnest's back as he settles into place.

He was brought here, a stern voice remarks. Indeed he was, Earnest replies. He ate half. Half an apple, one voice asks. Half the basket, Earnest returns. You hear the gentle noise of chitinous heads nodding in what might be approval.

[The Tree of Knowledge: 6]

He has endurance, a smaller, girlish creature says. He also can be astute, Earnest replies. This is doubtful, an oddly familiar sound comes from right above you, and briefly you think you have seen a face. One of his tricks, presumably. No true sign of worthiness. You sense Earnest shrink back a little. Tricks would not work, he says experimentally before a smidgen of doubt creeps into his voice, would they?

A vigorous argument seems to break out. They would, some voices say, and to assume they wouldn't is folly. They would not, others dissent, and to immediately assume they would is to defeat yourself before the battle has begun. You feel them mingle together, ebbing and flowing around your body like a patch of surf.

Quote from: TopHat on January 22, 2017, 03:40:20 pm
"Well, the language barrier is nothing a good REVELATION can't take care of."
Repeat question and communicate desire to enter town in a hopefully more enlightening manner.

You face the town and let your eye gape at them as you shout the Word.

REVELATION

[Word: 5]

You split the night with a sudden flash of inspiration, your eye growing vast and dreadfully incandescent as you step confidently onto the bog, the waters retreating around you, scrambling and clawing themselves to be out of your way. The bottom of the bog is like bubbling tar, and it burns under your feet as you walk forward and toward the town, where you see it continue below the water line - under it lie yet more people - thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, an aggregation of lost souls holding on to the town above them for dear life as they are dragged through the bog.

You are soon next to them, and most scramble away under your gaze, retreating deeper, causing the town above to lean gently in your direction. But soon many more flow back into place, intrigued - perhaps even hopeful. They clutch on to you, and you know better than to fear them. Clambering over each other they pile on, lifting you and your companion up as they compose a single, crawling tower of bog-eaten boneless flesh which you ascend like a living escalator to the foot of the stone wall and rise further as the foundation of the town itself welcomes you.

You look one of the creatures on the walls, its full and intense yellow eyes in contrast with its malnourished body lending it the look of an aye-aye. It groans quietly as it tilts its head and offers you a hand - you take it and with seemingly no effort at all it lifts you above its head, placing you at the top of the wall where a grand assembly of ghouls stand around you. You sense that they have nothing for you, and with a wave of your hand effectively dispel them every which way down the roofs and into the darkened alleys below, leaving but one grinning creature as the rest scatter, a tall, hunched figure that resembles the giant on the road - standing nearly upright it handily towers over you, and it takes care to bow very low indeed to make its position clear, its elaborate yellow alderman's robe catching a great deal of dust and damp on the terrace he greets you from. You walk up a ramp along the gutted ruins of a tavern laid atop an ancient cathedral, the rickety wooden planks connecting roofs bending under your step. One of the ruined walls swoons at a glance from you, and collapses into an alley upon no doubt quite a few scurrying creatures if the gurgling is any indication.

You walk up to the alderman and greet him politely, your companion nodding in rhythm to your words in what seems like holy ecstasy. The alderman raises his head, featureless but for one solitary hole that opens into an undulating mouth full of lamprey teeth. A growl escapes him and resolves into terribly polite words - greetings, wonderbringer. How can this fair township serve your needs?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 23, 2017, 08:14:49 am
"Fantastic," I say. "We also want a minder, right? The head minder girl seems pretty good at what she does. She also doesn't like me much, but I think she should still cooperate if we appeal to her ego and her curiosity."

I look around the room. "But first we have to leave here. The only obvious exits I've seen on this floor are some windows, but hopefully there's something a little gentler. This lair has to have some sort of escape hatch, right? I wouldn't build a lair without one." I begin searching the alchemy lab for hidden exits.

Oh, so you know her personally! That makes this easier! Well, assuming you can find her.

And, the doctor looks around, this doesn't look very much like a lair as such. More of a den. Not very well-hidden either. More than anything it reminds her of a reinvented closet. The lack of windows certainly says as much to her. All credit to Ms. Augusta, however, she appears to have made the best of what she had. Whatever this thing she's made really is, of course.

[Emergency Exits: 5]

You appreciate the speculation, you mention as you check the walls, but could she help you search as well? Oh right, yes! She's somewhat unsure about exits, mind you, but it would be a very poor manor if it didn't have a secret passage or two. Probably not in here, of course, since this place is wall-to-wall workbenches and cabinets.

You pause and look around as something occurs to you - you don't really see any kind of bin in this room, or even a bucket. But what does catch your eye, however, is a floorboard jutting out a little near one of the desks - unobtrusive, but upon a closer look undeniably artificial. You step up to the workbench, placing your hands on it. So you're working here, and you've just done a bit of work on... poisoning something, you guess, and then you have some leftovers, so you put your foot here and press on the board - well no, seems a little stuck, you give it a swift kick and voila! A panel pops open on the ground, revealing an oddly elaborate little tunnel leading downward into darkness. It seems like it'd be fairly unpleasant to fall down through. And the smell that starts wafting up it is one of corpses - assuredly many of them, in fact.

On the bright side, the doctor says, it might not just be a hole that they dumped undesirable corpses into.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on January 23, 2017, 03:39:46 pm
"Ah.  We might have to cut our way out of here," Thomas attempted to say.  It was quite close in here, and Claire was probably quite uncomfortable pushed in close like that.

Is there any wiggling out of here?  If not, there's cutting out with the sword.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on January 23, 2017, 04:13:25 pm
"Jack Daniels," I reply as I shake her hand. "Spicy's not exactly the adjective I've seen used to describe me, but it fits just fine. I take it you're a minder of some sort? I felt that thought probe thingy you did."

Introductions! Introduce Alphonse to the lot of them also.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 25, 2017, 07:26:44 am
"Well that's welcoming."

I grab a bar of soap (or any nearby object that won't shatter), drop it down the hole, and listen to attempt to discern how deep the hole is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2017, 11:57:19 am
"Hey, Earnest. Buddy. Pal. Friend. I said to surface. As in up, above ground, under sky. Not in big cave with pyre. Unless this is in route to above, then it's fine.

And hey, rest of you! Don't talk like I'm not here listening!

What was in that basket, by the way?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on January 25, 2017, 02:53:07 pm
Return the bow.
"Thank you for your kind welcome. I myself desire simply to learn about this place, but first, I'm bringing this mummy from the watchman; It needs to be repaired and registered. How might I go about doing so?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 26, 2017, 09:34:02 am
Quote from: Toaster on January 23, 2017, 03:39:46 pm
"Ah.  We might have to cut our way out of here," Thomas attempted to say.  It was quite close in here, and Claire was probably quite uncomfortable pushed in close like that.

Is there any wiggling out of here?  If not, there's cutting out with the sword.

There are worse places to be trapped in than an overwhelming mass of wiggling slimy flesh, Claire mumbles into your neck as she tries to navigate into a less compromising position. And the worms are hardly the worst possible thing either.

You consider wiggling out, and get the feeling that it would be possible. Though the wiggle in question would be the work of miles, and that's assuming you can keep your direction straight and nothing moves too much. Figuring those to be unsafe assumptions, you draw the sword.

Now, you're not sure how exactly you do that. Or where you draw it from. You don't imagine you have the range of movement to draw much of anything. Despite these objections, however, you feel the sword in your hand. And one can't help but appreciate your timing. There appears to be a lot of material in one's vicinity. One might be forgiven for thinking it would be spoiled by such treatment.

[The One They Fear: 1]

You would not think being trapped in a writhing planetoid of wormflesh would be conducive to much in the way of seeing things. But you do see the sword like a strip of overcast sky, arching above your head and over to your other side, and winding on and on in mysterious ways as you will it to run wild and free. It spins up with an absence of sound at first, taking a second as it senses the material around it and moves to encompass it. Claire instinctively clutches you harder. You feel like there is something pulling at her, violently. A whirlwind rises in your ears in place of the slimy friction of the worms, accompanied by brief, far-off screams that start and stop in short order. Your vision fills with gray in spite of your eyes being closed. For a moment it feels like you are swimming in a sea of mercury.

It is a process of minutes as warmth leaves you and a mass of air comes rushing in, and as the wind dies down and you open your eyes. The worms are not here, and all you see is an empty field for about a mile around, just bare earth cleansed of grass, brush and all other life, interrupted by the occasional crater. Your hand is outstretched, and from it you see a vast tower of gray reach to the heavens briefly, and suddenly collapse in the space of a millisecond, feeling like lightning striking into your hand as it coalesces back into your sword. With a practiced motion you sheathe it, and the vibration in your hand spreads to the rest of your body. You buckle and fall to the ground all at once.

[Holding On: 6]

Claire appears to have experienced something similar, having relaxed her death grip on you and fallen off to the side, looking up to the sky with her eyes wide open and breathing heavily.

This did leave one feeling rather replete, if you do not mind one saying. If there were perhaps regrets to be felt in not achieving one's purpose upon your meeting, very few can now be said to remain.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 23, 2017, 04:13:25 pm
"Jack Daniels," I reply as I shake her hand. "Spicy's not exactly the adjective I've seen used to describe me, but it fits just fine. I take it you're a minder of some sort? I felt that thought probe thingy you did."

Introductions! Introduce Alphonse to the lot of them also.

She gives your hand a rather firm grip with an encouraging smile and unblinking eyes that stare into yours resolutely. A thought probe would be something of an overstatement, she chuckles. More of a tap. Getting a sense of the shape of things within and without. You've got a lovely mind, Mr. Daniels, has anyone ever told you that? Like a blasted heath, running wild and strange above an undercurrent of the deeply supernatural. A warm, ticklish feeling wanders over you as she takes you in. You decide to speak before she's quite done.

Right, you say, that over there is your friend. Yes, Rainbow says, Alphonse - a clerk from Anglefork, stoat collaborator, formerly. He does appear to fear you quite deeply, Mr. Daniels, but not like you would an adversary. More like you would the forest at night, or a temple's inner sanctum. Fascinating, she says as Alphonse begins to cautiously extend a hand but draws it back when she loses interest in him almost immediately.

Perhaps she should return to her students, Dipper says in a less than subtle tone. Rainbow looks up at them, one of the girls on the verge of falling from the rooftop as she seems to be leaning to observe the happenings below. She snaps her fingers and their spines go straight, eyes forward. Not that the snap is strictly necessary, you hear her pointedly think in your direction. Dipper, she turns to the fourth mate and claps her hands together, perhaps you should show Alphonse to the doctor. He appears to be injured. She'll attend to you - after all, he is no ordinary guest by any means. Dipper looks at Alphonse disapprovingly, and then both Alphonse and he look to you as the minder's eyes exude a sense of pulling rank.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 25, 2017, 07:26:44 am
"Well that's welcoming."

I grab a bar of soap (or any nearby object that won't shatter), drop it down the hole, and listen to attempt to discern how deep the hole is.

[Listening In The Dark: 3]

You drop a fragrant bar of elk soap down the hole, and listen for a noise. It's not quite what you would expect. It sounds not very far off, and seems to have been a soft landing. It's certainly not a bottomless pit, though you would expect it goes down to at least the ground floor, and more likely than not deeper. The good news, you suppose, is that it's not a 200 foot drop or anything like that.

That does sound rather navigable, the doctor says as she's knelt down next to you, listening in the same way. Hope dropping down there won't ruin her dress, she just got it and she has to say that it's rather comfortable. Perhaps you could make a rope out of bedsheets or all those silken dresses or something of that nature? Just in case there is no way out, that is. The dress is something of a secondary concern next to that.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 25, 2017, 11:57:19 am
"Hey, Earnest. Buddy. Pal. Friend. I said to surface. As in up, above ground, under sky. Not in big cave with pyre. Unless this is in route to above, then it's fine.

And hey, rest of you! Don't talk like I'm not here listening!

What was in that basket, by the way?"

[On The Wave: 4]

Er, in due time, Earnest replies and flaps his manifold wings at the audience as you call out to them. You feel a thousand eyes drill into you at once, and their insect stares leave you feeling like a bowl of aspic as the atmosphere coalesces around you. A questioning is in order.

A smile of a hundred teeth with shining eyes orbiting around it show themselves above you. A voice booms through the chittering of the space you have found yourself in - explain yourself, surfacer! How is a little lost rabbit to find his way to the sun, a smaller voice chimes in. And did you have to eat so many of the apples, they don't grow on trees you know, another voice openly laughs.

Quote from: TopHat on January 25, 2017, 02:53:07 pm
Return the bow.
"Thank you for your kind welcome. I myself desire simply to learn about this place, but first, I'm bringing this mummy from the watchman; It needs to be repaired and registered. How might I go about doing so?"

A foundling, the alderman growls, the watchman is always slow to deliver these things. His enormous hand travels behind you easily, and the mummy notices it far too late for its scrambling attempt to get away from it to have any real effect. It tries to shift but the alderman grabs it by the throat and wrenches it off you with uncaring ease. He looks it over, and places its hand into his mouth, chewing on it horribly yet thoughtfully for a few seconds.

Yes, he says after the mummy's hand emerges from his mouth a ruined mess, no bones and much damage. Hard to fish these things out in time to preserve much of them these days. He'll have something done with him in short order. He stands up to fully twice your height and peels the helmet off the creature's head, then balls the rest of him up like an old sock and shoves him into an enormous pocket on his robe. Holding it up between a sausagelike thumb and forefinger, he grunts. Cornerstone design, done in edge-metal from the looks of it. Handy for insulation. He hands it to you - only fair you should keep it for your effort, wonderbringer. Might help keep your light shaded with that visor, unless you'd care to disturb the citizenry further. Goodness knows they could use the excitement. He will handle the paperwork, never fear.

Now, what would you care to see first? The arena, perhaps? He had the committee of elders throw together something of a concert. Fortuitously, as it turns out. Or the "market district", he air-quotes, the overseers would very much appreciate some business being steered their way. Oh! You could watch him work, perhaps, today he'll be doing a tour of the dungeon. Have to make sure they aren't slacking off there. The tavern, he looks back at the way you came, that's unfortunately fallen apart a tad in recent years. Should get to ordering that reconstructed and getting a labor force together. Could do that at the dungeon, come to think of it, he rubs his profound lack of chin and rumbles deeply.

Perhaps you'd like to make an address to the people, wonderbringer? That ought to motivate them. Especially if you can do that godlike thing again. He dares say they haven't been as impressed in aeons, and morale is a perpetual issue. He could no doubt have the overseers corral them into some kind of enclosure. Just need to get his emergency horn and it'll probably be done then and there.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on January 26, 2017, 01:06:00 pm
A neat trick, really.  Pretty sure they use a curtain for that.  "Well, that's that problem taken care of.  Wonder where the ranger went?   Oh, Mister Ranger sir!"

Hunt for the ranger; see where he went.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on January 26, 2017, 02:40:34 pm
((I am not sure how the text turned orange there. I'm forced to assume Daniels was idly reminiscing about Doritos at the time.))

Daniels shrugs. "Hey, listen to the lady. Not like I really know how to fix your ankle.

So, Rainbow. I know you probably wanna do mindery things with me, but what's all this about a captain? Where's he? Or she, I shouldn't discriminate."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on January 26, 2017, 02:51:25 pm
((A little meta-universe crossover with Alan?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on January 26, 2017, 02:58:33 pm
((I'm not sure I want to contemplate the results of my RTD characters, who have all been of exceedingly unsound mind, morals, or both, meeting each other.
...
Actually that sounds hilarious.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on January 26, 2017, 03:21:31 pm
"Oh, er, I think I'll watch you work, if you don't mind. That should be interesting.
... You mentioned 'edge-metal'? May I ask what that is? I consider myself fairly well-versed in materials but I can't say I've heard of it before."
Put on the helmet, then let's see what this place is like. Even if I don't like the sound of this 'dungeon'.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 26, 2017, 03:28:45 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 26, 2017, 02:40:34 pm
((I am not sure how the text turned orange there. I'm forced to assume Daniels was idly reminiscing about Doritos at the time.))

I thought it worked nicely as a way to accentuate the name. It works if you imagine him flashing a grin and there being an immediate twinkle.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on January 26, 2017, 06:15:35 pm
Quote from: Harry Baldman on January 26, 2017, 03:28:45 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on January 26, 2017, 02:40:34 pm
((I am not sure how the text turned orange there. I'm forced to assume Daniels was idly reminiscing about Doritos at the time.))

I thought it worked nicely as a way to accentuate the name. It works if you imagine him flashing a grin and there being an immediate twinkle.
Oh, that's nice. I'll switch it back to that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 26, 2017, 07:32:21 pm
((Haha, I thought the orange text was intentional and a neat roleplaying detail.))

"Oh, hey, that's a good idea. Usually I approach situations like these by jumping in without a backup plan."

I search this floor for sheets, coats, anything made of cloth tough enough to hold a person's weight, and tie these objects together into a thirty-ish-foot rope. While I'm at it, I search for a lamp, candle, lantern, or any portable source of light. When I have completed the rope, I tie one end to something sturdy near the hole and drop the other end down into the darkness.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 27, 2017, 01:46:44 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 26, 2017, 07:32:21 pm
((Haha, I thought the orange text was intentional and a neat roleplaying detail.))
((That was my impression too.))


"Come on, I was hungry! When someone leaves a breakfast next to your bed, it's common courtesy to enjoy it. I didn't exactly ask for apples, but thanks anyway.
How to find way to sun? Well, I could use same trick I used last time when I had to get up, carving my way through miles of solid stone in seconds towards my beacon, but I'm not in such hurry this time. I figured I could employ some less destructive method this time around. You people would appreciate that, wouldn't you? It's not like I let loose inevitable apocalypse every time I fall below local surface level."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on January 27, 2017, 08:43:35 am
((Well, the accidental shall now be continued into the intentional. Funny how these things develop.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 27, 2017, 08:45:50 am
Quote from: Toaster on January 26, 2017, 01:06:00 pm
A neat trick, really.  Pretty sure they use a curtain for that.  "Well, that's that problem taken care of.  Wonder where the ranger went?   Oh, Mister Ranger sir!"

Hunt for the ranger; see where he went.

You get up slowly and look around - among the wormhills, the craters and the bare, sandy earth in between them you see nobody and, indeed, nothing living or otherwise within a mile or more around you, the outback having given way to utter wasteland, an occasional gust of wind kicking dust up into the air as you look all around you.

You shout a call for the ranger, but there is no response. Seems to have gone off somewhere, you think.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 26, 2017, 02:40:34 pm
Daniels shrugs. "Hey, listen to the lady. Not like I really know how to fix your ankle.

So, Rainbow. I know you probably wanna do mindery things with me, but what's all this about a captain? Where's he? Or she, I shouldn't discriminate."

Rainbow laughs. She'd like to do mindery things with you indeed.

Big Dipper grumbles and starts to show Alphonse the way shipward as Rainbow comes over to your side, seeing them off. Dipper makes an excellent fourth mate, she says, demotion's done him a world of good. The man's far better at taking orders than giving them to be sure.

[The Business of the Day: 4]

But yes, the captain. Rainbow takes a measured step to the side and flags down a passing local-looking man. They exchange a stare before Rainbow looks at you. The captain seems to be awake, curiously enough! Must have had one of his ominous dreams. It would probably be reasonable to introduce yourself to him at some point, but no use in rushing things overmuch, is there? No doubt when he is ready to receive you he will tell you himself - Dipper will be sure to notify him sooner rather than later.

Until that point, perhaps you'd care for breakfast? She is rather curious what they've come up with in the inn today. They haven't quite topped the roe-glazed snake cake from last week, but if any day's the one for them to sincerely try, this would no doubt be the one.

Quote from: TopHat on January 26, 2017, 03:21:31 pm
"Oh, er, I think I'll watch you work, if you don't mind. That should be interesting.
... You mentioned 'edge-metal'? May I ask what that is? I consider myself fairly well-versed in materials but I can't say I've heard of it before."
Put on the helmet, then let's see what this place is like. Even if I don't like the sound of this 'dungeon'.

You put on the helmet and feel altogether less disturbingly luminous, the helmet's material feeling very odd as your light hits it from the inside - it seems to wash up against it and gather up, growing sluggish and collecting in place, even congealing as it begins to exert minute pressure on your head.

The alderman seems very pleased to have your interest - follow him, the dungeon is right below the old cathedral! You look around and notice there seems to be no shortage of those around. When you remark on this he feels compelled to explain - no, that right there is a promontory, he says as he points out one of the more cathedral-looking buildings with strange funnel-like windows covered in reflective stained glass. Just like they have in El, he's heard. You wouldn't know personally, but he says that's what they look like. And that right there is a temple of the machine-gods of Vus, he points at something reminiscent of the Sagrada Familia if it were fashioned out of steel and miniaturized, its exterior patrolled by a pair of steel-clad individuals whose hands and feet end in long blades crab crawling around - one approaches to give their regards and perhaps ask for a donation to the cause of the swarm that will devour all. The alderman responds by kicking him away into the spire of the temple, which the poor guard appears to stick to. Simplest solution, he confides, as the machinists like to employ advanced sophistry.

But yes, you were asking about edge-metal - it's not the most scientific term, he must admit. Edge-metal is hazy in definition, and really it could be a lot of things without further clarification. It is a blanket term, you could say, for metals extracted from the vertex of the world. There's a lot of guff about extrauniversal voltages and similar things to be talked about there, but honestly it's just metal that is a bit weird in some way. For instance, yours does seem to interact curiously with the light in places. Not really the most expensive kind of edge-metal, you understand - usually people look for something like supernatural strength or a lack of friction or the ability for even a cylinder made of it to be ungodly sharp, but he supposes not all batches of transformed ore can be winners.

You come to the old cathedral, which apart from being made of wood seems about in keeping with what you'd expect a cathedral to look like. It happens to be at the dismal bottom of one of the alleys. Emaciated, wretched corpse-folk scatter as you pass, and things with bear trap maws, teeth like squirming worms, altogether too many eyes and too many other deformities to helpfully tabulate tip increasingly bizarre varieties of exotic hats to you. The alderman wrenches the stubborn side door of the cathedral open, sending a noticeable crack creeping a little further in the wall, and you head through a darkened, deserted main hall filled with broken pews to find a side passage down, its door far newer than the rest of the building. The alderman fishes an enormous key out of his pocket and unlocks it with a bit of trouble, ushering you down into a passage that goes on for a bit longer than you would consider reasonable. That there are also gurgling screams that grow progressively louder as you head down similarly sounds like an ill omen.

Eventually you reach the dungeon proper, which does look a bit more open than you would expect a dungeon to be, its main chamber placed in an ancient, cracked stone dome of unrecognizable make, covered in faded carvings of faces in varying states of anguish that seem to have grown only more vividly deformed with age. A gang of gangly fellows with sharp, bloodstained beaks that appear to have subsumed about ninety percent of their faces regard you with shining eyes as both you and the alderman head down, and in front of them you see a throng of mistreated creatures in chains - mummified, skeletonized or merely decayed, all with frayed limbs and pitiful expressions, they kneel on the ground as their wardens raise a variety of sharp and uncomfortable implements. Greetings, the wardens say in unison, just business as usual today, and their many hands move suddenly to stab, smash and tear into them in staggeringly painful-looking ways.

[Dread Eternity: 2]

Admittedly well-rehearsed, the alderman compliments reservedly as the daily torture ensues. Can't fault the wardens for enthusiasm, though he is a little disappointed in how dispirited the shrieking is today. He looks to you - do they seem a little down to you as well? The prisoners, he means. Morale is a perpetual issue, after all.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 26, 2017, 07:32:21 pm
"Oh, hey, that's a good idea. Usually I approach situations like these by jumping in without a backup plan."

I search this floor for sheets, coats, anything made of cloth tough enough to hold a person's weight, and tie these objects together into a thirty-ish-foot rope. While I'm at it, I search for a lamp, candle, lantern, or any portable source of light. When I have completed the rope, I tie it to something sturdy near the hole and drop it down into the darkness.

Luckily for you there happens to be a reasonably appointed bedroom within very easy reach, and the dresses held in there tend to have a good amount of silk in them when not made of it entirely. So you're hardly lacking stuff to make a rope out of. You and the doctor set down to it with the gusto of two prisoners working on an escape plan.

[Urban Spelunkers Extraordinaire: 3]

At the end of it you dare say you have a somewhat respectable rope - respectable enough to climb down in any case. And a lamp is easy enough to find in the laboratory as well, which goes rather well with your own little supply of lamp oil. Putting a flask of it in there and lighting it, you tie the rope around your waist and tell the doctor to wrap the other end around something sturdy - the doctor, after lengthening the rope a little with some additions, goes for a bookshelf in the nearby library, and holds on to the other end as you start to lower yourself into the pit.

Luckily for you, it does only seem to go down for perhaps forty feet. Somewhat unluckily, your own rope appears to take you down about thirty feet plus not quite enough change. It doesn't really secure you a landing, but you do get a good look at what exactly seems to be at the bottom - unsurprisingly it's corpses. A lot of corpses.

Not human corpses, either. All kinds of them - hairless dogs, cats, a spectacular selection of cavern-dwelling rodents, quite a lot of birds, a massive number of carrion insects, worms and more besides that - all just gathered into one pile, one on top of the other, not decayed in the way you would expect but rather looking strangely jellied and darkened, a faintly choking, significantly medicinal odor emanating from the pile underneath the overall smell of rot that seems to be coming from the sides of the chamber below - and it does appear to be something of a chamber, although your elevated position hardly lets you see much more. Natural from the looks of it, although you'd need to drop down to see more.

The doctor looks down, no longer needing to lower you down. There do appear to be a lot of dead things down there. Can you see anything else, perhaps?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 27, 2017, 01:46:44 am
"Come on, I was hungry! When someone leaves a breakfast next to your bed, it's common courtesy to enjoy it. I didn't exactly ask for apples, but thanks anyway.
How to find way to sun? Well, I could use same trick I used last time when I had to get up, carving my way through miles of solid stone in seconds towards my beacon, but I'm not in such hurry this time. I figured I could employ some less destructive method this time around. You people would appreciate that, wouldn't you? It's not like I let loose inevitable apocalypse every time I fall below local surface level."

He does have a point, a voice that makes the back of your skull itch says. He is able to manifest powers unlike mere tricks, and bring about mass destruction through carelessness just as easily as through effort. It would be unwise to test him even here, as even he scarcely knows the real extent of his power.

Fair point, the booming voice says! Yeah, tricks for rabbits would likely bring doom upon all their heads, the smaller voice concurs. Though it would be funny to see if apple-knowledge changes matters any, the irreverent one chitters as well. But what could they do instead? The rules do specify a certain level of obfuscation is required. Earnest, the booming voice calls out! Has he got any ideas? Earnest meekly proposes that maybe this is an extraordinary case of sorts and that the rules do not necessarily apply, yes? A murmur is sent through the masses, and resolves into affirmation! Yes! The rules should likely be bent a little, the greater voice says - but only a little!

So let it be this way, wandering rabbit! You name the game, and leave the stakes to them! In this they will assess your worth and worthiness, and your suitability in all manner of things! You seem like a nice enough fellow after all, untold cosmic power at your fingertips notwithstanding.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on January 27, 2017, 10:08:18 am
"Mr. Ranger?  Sir?   Ah.  Well, Claire, I don't suppose you know where he went either?  Sword, what about you?"

Either of them have ideas?  If no, pack up whatever is left of camp and head onward.  I believe we were headed along the canyon looking for a bridge.

If they do have a lead, follow it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on January 27, 2017, 10:16:02 am
"Oh, if you need to eat feel free, but I don't really seem to be affected by hunger. It's really convenient, actually. Side note, what does the word 'well' mean to you?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 27, 2017, 01:25:05 pm
"Game? I'm not much of gamer, but if there's one game I'm good at, and it's a drinking game! Contest of drinking mind altering liquids to see whose mind and body can withstand largest quantity and quality! After all, I'm devout follower of Ægir, the brewer of gods!"

"Let's get wasted!"

Let's get wasted! And let Ægir know about approaching drinking contest. Assuming it indeed approaches. Gonna need his blessings.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on January 28, 2017, 09:40:33 am
"Well, to be honest I'd certainly be more than a little down following what looks like an eternity of torture. What did they even do?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on January 29, 2017, 05:38:05 pm
"No, I can't get close enough to the floor to see much," I yell. "We'll need to make the rope a little longer. Help me back up." I climb back up the rope, pull it up into the lab, lengthen it with some more cloth from the bedroom, and then climb back down into the cave.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on January 30, 2017, 02:04:00 pm
Quote from: Toaster on January 27, 2017, 10:08:18 am
"Mr. Ranger?  Sir?   Ah.  Well, Claire, I don't suppose you know where he went either?  Sword, what about you?"

Either of them have ideas?  If no, pack up whatever is left of camp and head onward.  I believe we were headed along the canyon looking for a bridge.

If they do have a lead, follow it.

Claire breathes calmly for a moment and continually fails to blink as she gets up, little gray shapes dancing in her mind's eye as she looks at you. No comment, she mouths quietly. You look at your sword, looking unusually and ineffably turgid.

One must admit that one has little idea on who you might mean. Material is material, after all. As for a bridge, one may have a solution for that - much material has been tested and checked along the course of the year, and there is rather a surplus of it on hand. Stab it where you would like a bridge to begin, and look to where you would like it to end. The rest will be taken care of accordingly.

You notice Claire looking distrustfully at your sword. Only for a moment, mind you. She averts her eyes and starts walking quickly away right after.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 27, 2017, 10:16:02 am
"Oh, if you need to eat feel free, but I don't really seem to be affected by hunger. It's really convenient, actually. Side note, what does the word 'well' mean to you?"

Join her anyway, then - conversation without a good meal to go with it is such a waste of time, and vice versa. She ushers you inside - the inn is littered with many an unconscious and half-conscious body, and reeks of vomit mixed with excellent ale thickly enough to give you a moment's pause as you head in. Rainbow navigates the remainder of the awake patrons handily, and motions to a pair of men, brothers most likely, clad in white smocks stained with a great deal of powdered spices as well as many-colored sauces, oils and meaty juices. A feast, she whispers in a way that makes them snap to attention, for an honored guest!

You take a spot at a table that empties instantly for you, and are brought a hearty breakfast of minced turkey and omelette in the style of faraway El with a side of what looks like well-done falafel. Rainbow digs in, and offers you to have some as well - it's tempting enough to dig into, and as you do so you get the sense that you were far hungrier than you thought you were, as if your body were remembering the sensation and attempting to compensate. A fierce appetite awakens in you, and proves more than equal to the breakfast. Coffee is readily brought along with oddly colored biscuits that snap and crackle in your mouth, and ice cream in unfamiliar favors covered in cloudberry jam followed by a rather lovely thing you can't readily describe made out of bacon, cheese and what turn out to be living maggots. Rainbow eats most at the start, but you readily overtake her as the sights and smells begin to easily get to you.

And as you eat, conversation flows as well. Not that you really speak, mind you. She finds that her appreciation for regular speech rapidly drops when her mouth can be put to better use. You find the sound of the ensuing mental chuckle inordinately amusing - entirely by design, you suspect, and accurately at that. But you had a question - the well? You are asking what the word means to her, and she notices that you are asking a particular thing - for while she, much like you, knows wells to be dark, deep and lonely places. She also knows that most of them do not contain strange and terrible forces beyond simple comprehension.

[Places of Power: 5]

And you ask this, furthermore, because the minders you have met seem to have found a salient exception. A thing that trades in souls and connections, and traffics with mortals to the best of its ability. A god in the darkness for which you hope to be an important agent in return for receiving its favor? You seem to lead a very interesting life, Mr. Daniels, if you do not mind her saying so.

Best of all, darkness like what you describe may not be a thing merely found in Anglefork. Such things are whispered of sometimes, places of extraordinary danger and emptiness on the manifold edges of the world. And at least one monastic retreat, she suspects. Not here, mind you. El has had much more time to cultivate these little gardens of impossibility - the ground here may be threadbare, but its freshness does gird it in many ways against this kind of thing.

One of the cooks comes up to you as the foods run out - having sampled the menu, he says, what would the honored guest and third mate like today? Rainbow opts for the bacon maggot thing, and you order the same in the interests of not dragging things out. They come back with an American-sized tray filled with freshly-made, gently wiggling breakfast. It does not lose anything in being scaled up.

There is a place on the way in fact, Rainbow continues. She hasn't been personally, mind you. But the crew seem to have very entertaining notions about it. She'd love to guide you to if you would be interested - were half of what she has gleaned correct, it ought to be a most intriguing place.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 27, 2017, 01:25:05 pm
"Game? I'm not much of gamer, but if there's one game I'm good at, and it's a drinking game! Contest of drinking mind altering liquids to see whose mind and body can withstand largest quantity and quality! After all, I'm devout follower of Ægir, the brewer of gods!"

"Let's get wasted!"

Let's get wasted! And let Ægir know about approaching drinking contest. Assuming it indeed approaches. Gonna need his blessings.

A drinking contest, the air trembles! Only very rarely has a drinking contest been issued in these halls, the greater voice booms! Officially, anyway. Luckily, the familiar voice notes, you are nothing if not entirely predictable. A drinking contest it will have to be!

You feel yourself lifted suddenly as things swarm and spin around you, raising you on a wave of chitinous feelers and legs. You are deposited along tunnels and yawning chasms, spun through passages and finally tumble into place, nearly fall over and are then raised to eye level.

Before you sits the devil, a Baphometian figure with horns, burning eyes, smoking nostrils and an excellent rack separated from you by a table of black glass. You look at the surface and see yourself, dead and decomposed. You ask Ægir to come and check this shit - he sits down next to you as small cups grow out of the surface and fill with something - the scent of it is alcoholic without a doubt, and makes the room sway gently as it hits your nostrils.

Now, the devil tells you in a friendly tone, your arm situation is unfortunate if you would like to drink on your own. Earnest will have to be your second in this. Just to be fair, she will have one as well. Elder, would you assist?

A grinning shadow hesitantly rises on her side, barely visible even when right in front of you. He sits down. The man looks even more stoned up close, he says in his booming voice, remarkable! And next to you, conforming perfectly to Ægir's own shape in a way that feels more profound than it really should be. So, uh, is he supposed to pour it down your throat? The devil shrugs almost imperceptibly. Your preference, she says to you. Her second will do the same thing. First one under the table will be pronounced a loser and defaced with ritual markings. The audience may drink along at their own pace. There is a small cheer.

Quote from: TopHat on January 28, 2017, 09:40:33 am
"Well, to be honest I'd certainly be more than a little down following what looks like an eternity of torture. What did they even do?"


They were criminals, the alderman helpfully explains. Heinous ones, usually - you can see by the markings. Look at this one, he picks out one fellow in particular who looks to be incredibly deformed. Had to stitch him back together manually! Hanged, drawn and quartered. High treason is quite a crime! The creature struggles in the alderman's hands like a wild animal, seemingly in terrible pain even after being removed from immediate torture. It is frayed much like the other prisoners, but it also seems like it's been taken to pieces many times since the original execution. The alderman examines it - teeth are gone, most of the bones are broken, partly flayed in places - very thorough work! He upends the creature, and you notice the wardens start to torture a little more absentmindedly as they look at what the alderman is doing.

A few moments pass and a thin string of drool comes out of the struggling prisoner's ruined mouth. The alderman raises it to eye level and wiggles it around. That's good phlegm, it is. Shame it doesn't seem inclined to spit much. Or even, say, rake its claws over his face or anything. But it is, one of the wardens protests! Look at its hands flail helplessly against sir's implacable head! The alderman shakes his head at this batting and growls back. That seems more like an accident than a purposeful act of malice, he replies. Not at all appropriate, he's afraid. He has to agree with you - torture doesn't seem to be doing them any good. Should let them lay fallow a little bit, maybe - could he see the cells, he asks as he gingerly balls up the prisoner and tosses it back to the wardens. He has a thing he'd like to check.

You are collectively taken down a dark and terrible cell block with but a little flame to guide your way, the air feeling uncomfortably muggy and oppressive in addition to slightly burning in your lungs as you attempt to breathe. Great atmosphere they're building here, an enthusiastic warden explains to you, who doesn't appear to be listening. They do try to make it as wildly unpleasant as they can - the walls especially take a lot of work, you need to cultivate exactly the right kind of mold - had to have it shipped in from the King's own castle! Only the best for these prisoners, he assures you. The alderman picks a random cell and the warden opens it.

The first thing the alderman picks up on seems to be the door, which he nearly crawls through as he examines the cell - yes, as he suspected. Chew marks on the bars, very light since they're iron bars of course. But he doesn't see any real traces of more systematic attempts at escape. The day count on the wall - absolutely disheartening, seems like it hasn't been touched in weeks. And the escape tunnel under the cobblestones seems to have barely progressed at all. He emerges. Yes, seems like these prisoners are in something of a depressed state. You see the warden's bloody beak visibly sink at this. Unacceptable, he says. Definitely let them lay fallow for a bit, otherwise they'll absolutely break them. And then where will they be?

It's the community involvement, the warden mutters half to himself, should probably work on that. How are they at lunch hour, the alderman continues to ask. Suspiciously well-behaved? Er, the warden says, not very. Mostly they, well, have a little trouble understanding what they're supposed to be doing. Hm, says the alderman, that would be a bit of a problem. Should certainly work on that - less torture would be a good start, he suspects. Perhaps slave labor? Have them maybe build something. The less horrible air would do a bit of good! And maybe one of them would try to escape, or at least deliberately get lost, the warden offers with an air of excitement! He'll be sure to suggest it at the weekly meeting.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on January 29, 2017, 05:38:05 pm
"No, I can't get close enough to the floor to see much," I yell. "We'll need to make the rope a little longer. Help me back up." I climb back up the rope, pull it up into the lab, lengthen it with some more cloth from the bedroom, and then climb back down into the cave.

It's a bit of an ordeal to get back up, but you manage it in several minutes of climbing, crawling and other kinds of physical effort. You and the doctor then lengthen the rope some twenty feet, and get down back into the underground chamber.

[One Hundred And Eighty Days In The Hole: 5]

This time you manage to plant your slippered feet solidly on the ground, swinging to the side so as to not have to step into the obviously jellied pile of corpses. The rest of the room seems like a veritable graveyard, filled with a lot of creatures - some with broken limbs, some cut or ripped in places, but most with absolutely no marks on them. Most noticeable of all is a rather large bear that you find yourself face to face with as you turn to look to one side of the chamber - it simply stands there, motionless and dead, staring off into the distance. You poke at it, and it seems to have been coated in some kind of strange, pine-smelling resin about halfway to becoming amber. Generously sized though the hole may be, this absolutely could not have got in here through it - you look around for how it could have entered, and spy a passage leading off into darkness.

Slightly down this passage, however, you also spy a little natural alcove - there is an old lamp standing in it, now long-extinguished, and also a table and chair of clearly different extractions. And next to it, on the ground, you see signs of not-quite-fresh straw that would point to there having been a bedroll there fairly recently.

Is that better, you hear the doctor call from above. Anything good down there?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on January 30, 2017, 04:51:17 pm
"Well, I guess that's the next step.  Onward!"

Look for somewhere suitably bridgey, then do the thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on January 30, 2017, 05:32:19 pm
"Heh, I'd say you have a reasonable inkling of what my relationship to the thing that dwells in the darkness beyond existence is. I'd enjoy visiting this site you mentioned at some point soonish, I left some things unfinished when I departed Anglefork that I'd like to possibly wrap up. Damn this food is good, though. Never would've thought maggots could be of such culinary value."

Daniels chews for a while longer before something occurs to him.

"Oh, one other thing about the well place or whatever you wanna call it. If you guide me there, that's fine and dandy, but I'd recommend not actually interfacing with the entity at any point if you value the sanctity of your existence and whatnot. It has a tendency of ... well, eating's the best way to put it, those who aren't like me. Body, soul, any evidence you ever existed or interacted with anything, all gone."

He takes a big bite of bacon maggot thing, the subtle pop of the insect larvae between his teeth accentuating his words.

"Also judging by what happened when some minders did try to make a deal with it ... well, doesn't seem like it'd be too good for your personal health."

He leaves the implications of that statement unanswered as he continues eating, presumably eventually finishing the plate.

"Gotta say, that was fucking tasty. Is that a thing you guys make regularly here?"

Give ominous warnings, enjoy food.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on January 31, 2017, 11:44:11 am
"Yeah, I'm not experienced using my feets for drinking so pouring sweet alcohol into my mouth would be helpful. All right, may the best man win!"

Begin the contest, first round for honor of Ægir, second for Odin, third for Freyja because she and the demon both have great tits, and each subsequent cup for honor of whatever god or primordial being that comes into mind.

I'm a big man with a big strong liver, coming from generations of mead drinkers, trained and hardened in cold winters of Siberia with pure vodka. I should say I have advantage here.

I make sure to offer my own imaginary drinks as well. It's not fair for one side to be providing all the mind altering substances.

If I'm not a clear winner after getting decently drunk, kick the demon under table with APOCALYPTIC power. After all, nobody said HOW one should end under the table...
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on February 01, 2017, 04:51:55 pm
"..."
Continue to observe. This is a bit surreal.

((I'm afraid to say that once again I'm off for this weekend. Sorry about that.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 01, 2017, 09:56:51 pm
"Yeah!" I shout back. "It looks like there's a way out."

I put on my boots, drop the slippers, and walk over to inspect the alcove with the furniture.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 02, 2017, 04:05:03 pm
Quote from: Toaster on January 30, 2017, 04:51:17 pm
"Well, I guess that's the next step.  Onward!"

Look for somewhere suitably bridgey, then do the thing.

You step up to the canyon, sword drawn and ready. You hold it a little like a dowsing rod as you check out several likely locations. You wonder where would be a good point for it to begin. Twenty feet from the crumbling edge disappearing into the vast gulf of toxic waste? Fifty? Perhaps a hundred? You decide to start well away. After all, this would be a half mile bridge if you're gauging this appropriately. Need a little clearance for it to not fall in or some such. Within about five minutes of walking around and considering several angles you find a place that seems insurable enough, and take a right proper stab at it.

[Pontifex Maximus: 2]

The sword takes root, and from the ground a tree begins to grow, its bark like taut leather stretched over thousands and thousands of bones as it roils and waves out of the ground, rooting itself deeply, shapes of lifeless faces pressing themselves into the membranous skin of the thing as the pillar rises and bends over in a tall arch, growing broader and longer until it comfortably stretches over the canyon, rows of sharp protrusions puncturing it like wisdom teeth. Muscle grows in the gaps, twitching chaotically as it configures itself into the correct shape, thin trails of connective tissue coming out of the great bridge's many teeth. It moves for a while yet, gyrating back and forth along its length in an unnatural time lapse as the laws of the universe bend to accommodate its profoundly strange bulk and capabilities. It moves into place, wide enough to accommodate a crossing army, and begins to breathe slowly.

One feels a certain degree of house cleaning was long overdue. The stout folk, albeit useful, did bring rather samey material with their collective efforts. One can't help but be pleased at this sudden burst of novelty.

Er, you ask, what's that over there? It looks a little ghoulish. It's got two legs, admittedly, and two arms. And it's about ten feet tall at that, and most terribly angular. And it's not so much got a head as it looks like its throat has about triple the teeth allowance it should. Oh my, and those claws. One can't help but be amused - that is the bridgekeeper. It will collect the toll from further travelers - ten pounds of material per person, to be exact (the upkeep may become demanding, you see). Not from you, however, as you're a friend of the sponsor.

You look at the bridgekeeper. It looks back. It seems to have a very good idea of what it's here to do as it sharpens its claws intently and ruminates on a bit of gristle. One feels this was a successful experiment - a sort of proof of concept for reassembling material into a desired shape, you see. You suppose it looks happy enough with its lot in life, and one would say that with how much endorphins were packed into the thing it damn well better be.

Quote from: Xantalos on January 30, 2017, 05:32:19 pm
"Heh, I'd say you have a reasonable inkling of what my relationship to the thing that dwells in the darkness beyond existence is. I'd enjoy visiting this site you mentioned at some point soonish, I left some things unfinished when I departed Anglefork that I'd like to possibly wrap up. Damn this food is good, though. Never would've thought maggots could be of such culinary value."

Daniels chews for a while longer before something occurs to him.

"Oh, one other thing about the well place or whatever you wanna call it. If you guide me there, that's fine and dandy, but I'd recommend not actually interfacing with the entity at any point if you value the sanctity of your existence and whatnot. It has a tendency of ... well, eating's the best way to put it, those who aren't like me. Body, soul, any evidence you ever existed or interacted with anything, all gone."

He takes a big bite of bacon maggot thing, the subtle pop of the insect larvae between his teeth accentuating his words.

"Also judging by what happened when some minders did try to make a deal with it ... well, doesn't seem like it'd be too good for your personal health."

He leaves the implications of that statement unanswered as he continues eating, presumably eventually finishing the plate.

"Gotta say, that was fucking tasty. Is that a thing you guys make regularly here?"

Give ominous warnings, enjoy food.

The merchants, and the word tingles in your mind, they do have many talents and have had many weeks to apply them. Most often they are merely delicious, but every now and then a heartland delicacy manages to surprise you. It helps, of course, that the flies that make such things possible have traveled along as well. They do marvelous things with insects downriver - not the kinds known by you or her, but meaty and cultured things. A brief sampling of flavors goes through your mind, and despite having just eaten several pounds of meat and desserts you find yourself drooling a little. You quickly finish your food, and this proves an adequate reprieve.

And she's well aware, Mr. Daniels - exploded heads and business like that do not a glowing recommendation make. At least not for minders - you appear to have made it out perfectly fine, no? And you also happen to have a thing it is interested in, which will obtain you a wish and questions. And as it happens, she can help you obtain another. Would you know yet more?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on January 31, 2017, 11:44:11 am
"Yeah, I'm not experienced using my feets for drinking so pouring sweet alcohol into my mouth would be helpful. All right, may the best man win!"

Begin the contest, first round for honor of Ægir, second for Odin, third for Freyja because she and the demon both have great tits, and each subsequent cup for honor of whatever god or primordial being that comes into mind.

I'm a big man with a big strong liver, coming from generations of mead drinkers, trained and hardened in cold winters of Siberia with pure vodka. I should say I have advantage here.

I make sure to offer my own imaginary drinks as well. It's not fair for one side to be providing all the mind altering substances.

If I'm not a clear winner after getting decently drunk, kick the demon under table with APOCALYPTIC power. After all, nobody said HOW one should end under the table...

[Drink, Drink, This Town Is So Great: 3+1]

You have the first drink be poured down your throat, and even through the vague unreal haze of things you know instantly the burn and taste of the great healer, the booze hitting you in the back of the head like a brick. That one was for Ægir, giant of the sea, brewer for the gods, you shout as you have Earnest put down the cup. The devil laughs, her eyes flashing as the elder puts an empty cup down as well, grinning wider than before. Nicely done! First swig is a rough one for most - you seem to be holding together well! Especially given the number of apples you ate beforehand! You hear the seductive noise of hard liquor bubbling back into your cups.

[Drink, Drink, 'Cause It's Never Too Late: 6+1 vs. 3]

The second is for Odin, clever bastard among clever bastards, and together you drink the waters of wisdom! The devil seems terribly amused once again - for Odin, she echoes, sounds like a right hearty sort! The elder pours one down the devil's throat and she shakes her head. There's a good man, she's feeling the wisdom coming already! You get yours as well, and you feel one of your eyes go out of focus while the other gets suddenly sharp, a clear sign of divine favor if you've seen one. You give the devil your focused one-eyed stare. Eye of the tiger, she points a little unsteadily.

[To Drink, Drink, To No Big Surprise: 6+1 vs. 4]

And the third for Freyja! She with the melons to launch a thousand ships, and to which the earth can have but mere grapefruits in comparison - though a more splendid set of grapefruits than those of present company are rare indeed! Why thank you, the devil nods, two vodkafruit in her hands, don't mind if she does! She sinks her teeth in, and you have some of your own. She finishes them in record time, a rapid infusion of mental vodka making her nearly fall out of her seat as she tries to stay still, your discerning eye unwaveringly on her.

[But What Words Rhyme With Buried Alive: 6+1 vs. 1]

And then the two of you have the third round slammed down for you - you hold fast as you let incredibly real drunkenness wash over you and scour away the merely mental kind, while the devil's horns just curl suddenly as the two magnify each other - she leans forward, those were some potent fruits you got there, sir, she'd like to subscribe for some more if you've... and the rest becomes a little inaudible as her face sinks into the table.

You rise to your feet, your second wind having given you a positive energy to stand tall despite having exactly one and a half limbs to your name, and the devil is raised to her feet by the elder, only to slide under the table after he lets go of her. A cheer goes through - well done, the elder says! And with that, let the festival of the return be considered open! The sound of a dozens of drinks being quaffed to your health go through the space around you like an ocean wave, and you sit back down.

Now, the elder says as he spins wildly around you, bubbles of spirits rising from him all around, now the drinking really begins! A victory speech from the winner!

Quote from: TopHat on February 01, 2017, 04:51:55 pm
"..."
Continue to observe. This is a bit surreal.

((I'm afraid to say that once again I'm off for this weekend. Sorry about that.))

The alderman seems content with what he's seen - not good news in particular, he says to you as the warden runs off to get the attention of its fellows, but at least there's cause to hope for improvement! Have to keep these fellows in good shape, you understand, it's really all for their own good. He motions with his enormous hand as you head out, wardens filtering out of the main hall into the cell blocks with armfuls of prisoners that they toss one by one into their respective cells. They bow in passing at the alderman and also at you, and he offers them best wishes and hopes to hear of any further progress.

You head up the stairs, and back into the old wooden cathedral. Next, the office! Have to file a report, you understand. The king has to hear about all this. And about you as well, most likely. He leads you back out into the streets and you head along the low alleys filled with corpses that twitch at your passing, continuously hounded by creatures with what look like giant rats for heads if rats had very human arms instead of legs, each wielding a spike or a hammer or something similarly painful. Many such things prowl the streets, tapping and stabbing at each corpse that isn't moving, kicking them down the street if they do not respond. Street sweepers seem to be as cheerful as ever, the alderman notes half to himself.

A yellow trio of eyes glares at you from one particular alleyway. Twelve o' clock, it whispers at you in several asynchronous voices, and all is well. You quicken your pace until you reach a ruined, leaning tower made of white brick turned yellow with age and misrule, the building it once belonged to seemingly crushed underneath a collection of statues, many of them depicting things clearly intelligent, yet not in any way, shape or form human. Here you are, the alderman says, Administration Square! This is where the magic happens, he growls in a manner not unlike laughter as he kicks open the tower door and you ascend an incredibly steep and astoundingly rickety set of steps.

The alderman's office takes up the entirety of the not inconsiderably sized tower, and the writing desk alone makes up fully half of it, your head not rising nearly above it. The alderman looks a little too small to use it, in fact. The rest of the room is similarly cramped with things far too large, from shelves to reports to what look like disused, dusty aquariums where dead fish twitch briefly to life in the congealed water after the alderman taps on them lightly and rumbles to himself with obvious satisfaction. Before the desk is a rug definitely made of a human being - several, in fact, stitched together in quite a creative fashion - you can't step on it without making something gently dislocate or press into something else painfully, judging by the sound your own foot makes when descending on it.

After a quick look and a gentle brushing of some dust off his most cherished trophies - chief among which seems to be a wildly deformed skull on a spike, its eyes nearly melted together, its teeth curled and fingernails coating it like scales (The Administrative Prize For Least Content Populace, apparently) - the alderman sits down at the desk and steeples his fingers, his lamprey mouth experimenting with a number of shapes before approaching one that looks like a smile. You notice he's got a wicked bone stylus in hand, dipped in something thick and dark as he has simultaneously started to write his report.

So, wonderbringer, how do you find this fair town, he asks. Very promising, don't you think? He's had some restoration work done since he was inspected - he likes to keep up on these things. Not like those lazybones in other border towns, they hardly bother doing anything until inspection time rolls around, then they're suddenly deeply concerned for the well-being of their wards. It's sickening, sometimes.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 01, 2017, 09:56:51 pm
"Yeah!" I shout back. "It looks like there's a way out."

I put on my boots, drop the slippers, and walk over to inspect the alcove with the furniture.

You get your boots on, figuring them to be more appropriate for cave exploration, and head into the alcove after untying your improvised rope. There seems to be a way out, you tell the doctor! Excellent, she shouts to you. She'll be down in a bit then.

[Investigating the Premises: 5]

That being said, you look into the alcove, and it becomes immediately apparent that it was vacated in a hurry - and certainly not very long ago at that. Perhaps as recently as fifteen minutes ago. Probably, it occurs to you, when you went and opened that hole to take a look down, even.

Something stirs in the darkness. You turn to look, and see two glinting eyes like dinner plates. Oooooooohhhh, comes a voice from them. You're not a stoatman at all, are you?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on February 02, 2017, 06:20:46 pm
"Hey, I'm always up for capturing another soul for my own benefit. Do continue!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 02, 2017, 06:26:33 pm
"No," I say to the eyes, "just a peaceful human traveler. Sorry for the intrusion - I'm sure you were down here because you wanted some privacy - but my friend and I were, uh, checking for earthquake survivors upstairs when the door collapsed. If you could direct us to an exit then we'll be on our way."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on February 03, 2017, 12:35:08 am
Ten pounds?  That was, what, fifteen dollars or so?  And didn't Australia switch away from the pound?  Maybe not out here in the wilds.

"Well, that all seems reasonable enough.  Not sure how you managed all the bridge effects, but they're well done.  Cheers to you!  Shall we be off, Claire?  Oh, right, if you see the ranger, can you tell him which way we've been?  If he's looking for us?  He was quite helpful; you should give him free passage as well."

Onward!  To the north!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 03, 2017, 09:01:44 am
((Was that one line supposed to end so suddenly? "Especially given the number of apples you ate beforehand! You hear the"))


"A victory speech?" Leif clears his throat a bit and hops on the table.

"Dear drinkers and budding alcoholists!" he starts, sharp eye scanning audience while the other one dances around. "We have gathered here today to drink and worship Ægir by drinking! He doesn't need much of worship anyway, but let's thank him for the gift of alcohol anyway! Cheers!"

Plenty of vodka fruits for everyone! Festival in honor of slowly approaching hangover!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 03, 2017, 09:42:54 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 03, 2017, 09:01:44 am
((Was that one line supposed to end so suddenly? "Especially given the number of apples you ate beforehand! You hear the"))

I sometimes write several sentences at once and don't finish a few of them before moving on, good catch!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 05, 2017, 08:10:14 am
Quote from: Xantalos on February 02, 2017, 06:20:46 pm
"Hey, I'm always up for capturing another soul for my own benefit. Do continue!"

She sips her coffee delightedly. Figured you would be! But much like in an exhibition of powers, it is best to obtain full consent beforehand.

A vision forms in your mind. It is what you know to be the Vault of Heavens, resplendent and brimming with riches taken on a merchant expedition gone on for far too long. In quarters far more ostentatious than any you've seen in your life, layered in gold leaf and alchemical silk behind a bronze bulkhead, sits a shadowed figure of a man best described as incredibly large in both height and width, with a beard that stretches to the ground from a bed that he seems physically unable to leave, his meaty hand occasionally raising a pipe emitting colored smoke to his mouth. His squinted eyes watch as clay men run back and forth along his room in a little pantomime court. He reaches for his golden backscratcher and uses it briefly to swat at one that is tugging at his bedsheet, chuckling in a voice you'd expect of God himself. The captain of the Vault of Heavens. He is to be your goal and reward. Find him, take him, and let no one suspect you of doing this.

You see a gorgeous, dark-skinned young woman with long curls of black hair, wearing an elaborate dress with a myriad ribbons on it, practicing on deck with an ornate two-handed sword that would seem ceremonial in purpose were it not so incredibly sharp. She wears a content, placid expression as she goes through sword forms, and at the core of her mind you feel a strange, unnatural blankness. Two Shores, first mate, handmaiden to the captain, she carries his orders down to the crew and oversees all. A minion by nature and vocation. Contempt streams from Rainbow as the vision fades from sight. She may be the key.

Discretion will be all-important. Find the captain. Take him. And before anyone can see, bring him to her so that you may learn his way.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 02, 2017, 06:26:33 pm
"No," I say to the eyes, "just a peaceful human traveler. Sorry for the intrusion - I'm sure you were down here because you wanted some privacy - but my friend and I were, uh, checking for earthquake survivors upstairs when the door collapsed. If you could direct us to an exit then we'll be on our way."

Ooooohhhh, lies! Peaceful, maybe! Human? Absolutely not. The owner of the shining eyes lurches forward soundlessly. Looking for an exit, yes! Checking for survivors, no! It is funny, being lied to. Had forgotten the feeling. The voice takes shape as it emerges into the near-darkness next to you.

It's a somewhat short creature, wiry and long-fingered, reminiscent very much of a warthog-orangutan crossbreed in its look with eyes that bulge out of its misshapen skull along many miscellaneous, yet symmetric bumps, the few pathetic remnants of a dress having given way to a withered, ambiguously feminine form coated in grayish hair that looks like straw. The hairs move in waving motions as minute muscles tense beneath her skin, feeling around the dark like full-body whiskers. Her arms reach down to her prehensile feet, her skin hanging loosely over her body like a bag.

Tell Oggie your secrets, delicious traveler. What brings you to her home away from home, and also her home which was her home?

Quote from: Toaster on February 03, 2017, 12:35:08 am
Ten pounds?  That was, what, fifteen dollars or so?  And didn't Australia switch away from the pound?  Maybe not out here in the wilds.

"Well, that all seems reasonable enough.  Not sure how you managed all the bridge effects, but they're well done.  Cheers to you!  Shall we be off, Claire?  Oh, right, if you see the ranger, can you tell him which way we've been?  If he's looking for us?  He was quite helpful; you should give him free passage as well."

Onward!  To the north!

You turn to Claire in the middle of thanking your lovely sword, only to see her running in the opposite direction of the bridge. You call out to her. She begins to run faster. You suppose she's got somewhere else to be then. Onward!

The bridge crunches and occasionally sloshes under your feet as you go the distance, bits of it rising up behind you as you step on something apparently sensitive. It groans and twists occasionally as you pass onto a more tender segment, and all this makes for a somewhat uncomfortable and at certain moments perilous ten-minute walk over the giant canyon of nuclear waste. Hope somebody's called that in. Maybe they can send in a crew to clean it up or something.

In any case, you eventually make it on the other side, where another enterprising bridgekeeper greets you. It looks so similar to the first one you'd be forgiven for thinking they were related, really. He doesn't seem much for conversation, so you just bid him good day and move along northward. Hopefully you'll find something useful.

The landscape rises as you move along, leaving the canyon behind you. Occasional trees pop up on the hills which start to slope ever upward as the hours pass and you hike onward. The sound of birds returns to the air as the craters grow rare and then eventually disappear entirely from view. A 6-foot marsupial glares at you from a tree while emitting a terrible whine as its large fangs drip some kind of unsavory substance. You give it a wide berth.

The airport should be here somewhere, you tell yourself several times along the course of the day as everything gets progressively rockier. The walk starts to become dreadfully like a climb over time, and eventually you find yourself against a sheer cliff face, going upward with a bit of an overhang for quite a distance to both the right and the left. You scratch your head and wonder if you're expected to climb this briefly when suddenly you become aware of an approaching sound. Whistling, you think. Coming from above.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 03, 2017, 09:01:44 am
"A victory speech?" Leif clears his throat a bit and hops on the table.

"Dear drinkers and budding alcoholists!" he starts, sharp eye scanning audience while the other one dances around. "We have gathered here today to drink and worship Ægir by drinking! He doesn't need much of worship anyway, but let's thank him for the gift of alcohol anyway! Cheers!"

Plenty of vodka fruits for everyone! Festival in honor of slowly approaching hangover!

Straight to the point and irreverent, that's the way to begin a festival! Everyone thanks Ægir for the short length of the address and begins drinking. You down the round and pass around some vodkafruit - vodkafruit for everyone! Needless to say, their perceptions are very much all on you - makes it so much easier to work the process, you find. Most of them even eat the fruit at that, and compliment its exquisite mental kick. Jokes and merriment erupt from the shapeless crowd, antennae quiver, and you get the sense that a vast exchange of fluids is about to ensue just outside your view. In the alcoholic haze you feel something bubble up within you like a 2-ton burp. You have not the inhibition to hold it back as your mouth opens wide and you let loose the sound.

DRINK

[A Night To Forget: 5]

And that is about the last you can remember of what happens next, but you get the feeling a good bit of time has passed when you come to once again. You're lying on something soft and slowly breathing. And, in a staggering inversion, wearing more clothes than you were when last you remember - it's the familiar feel of the gray-brown silken robe of excellent make, the sleeves attached to the body like wingflaps. And in possession of a few more limbs. Specifically, all the ones you were missing, each of which feels tender and more than a little bit slimy. You rub your puffy eyes, but still can't see anything. A paper crown falls off your head and onto a nearby person. You pick it up and regard it with your mindsight, but see little more than its general crown-like shape. You assume something is written on it, but you'll be damned if you can make it out.

You turn your mindsight to the rest of the room, and immediately perceive two dozen slumbering intellects sprawled out beneath you and around you in several piles upon a wealth of fungal cushions, empty cups laying all around, remains of a great deal of quaffed alcohol having mostly evaporated, leaving large puddles of stagnant herb-flavored water in their wake. An upturned brazier lays across the single passage leading out, and several more stand along the edges of the room.

Among the people laying here you find Earnest! He's fairly close to the top of the pile, laying face-down on several older women and snoring gently. More surprisingly, Lee is a little further away, sprawled a little further from the rest, having hogged a cushion all to herself from several people who now must lie passed out on the hard stone of the cavern. The others you do not quite recognize save an elderly fellow who seems to have tried to go out the door before tripping on the brazier and then passing out, seemingly completely unhurt - his thoughts boom gently to you even when you do not attempt to pry.

Despite the pounding headache and the aching joints, you're fairly sure you haven't felt this good in a while.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on February 05, 2017, 09:07:36 am
Go up and investigate the whistling.  If it's an animal, watch out for it.  If it's a person, warmly greet and ask if they've seen the airport.  Er, the place with the metal dragons that let people ride them.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 05, 2017, 11:39:32 am
((DRINK. Of course.

- Moth's Flight: A? Is that right?))


Best. Party. Ever!

Lee? Is this Moths' nest?

Observe people with a bit more clarity than yesterday. Are these all Moths? As in dressed in Moth-robe. Or did I perhaps steal it from somebody before I passed out?

Did I accidentally join Moth clan while totally piss off drunk? I feel like I need to clarify this, but better wait for other people wake up first rather than use my precious Mead of Poetry.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on February 05, 2017, 04:07:36 pm
"By 'take' I assume you want me to capture him in my soul jar thing? You wanna be captain? That's what's happening? 'Cause if that's so, I need you at least to gimme, like, a potion of sleep or something so I can put the guy down without killing him or making a commotion."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on February 06, 2017, 01:41:14 pm
"Heh. While I can't comment much on the town itself, other than that life he is radically different to anything I've previously encountered, I certainly know what you mean. It's amazing how different some places are when Ofsted or prospective parents are coming round.
.. It's this king of yours that orders the inspecting, right? What can you tell me about him?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 07, 2017, 11:25:35 am
"Ah, I'm sorry for the, uh, deception. My friend and I were looting the house, as we were naked and unarmed, and it appeared that the occupants had died."

I hope the doctor gets here soon. She'd probably know what this is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 07, 2017, 05:01:55 pm
Quote from: Toaster on February 05, 2017, 09:07:36 am
Go up and investigate the whistling.  If it's an animal, watch out for it.  If it's a person, warmly greet and ask if they've seen the airport.  Er, the place with the metal dragons that let people ride them.

There's a bit of a climb ahead of you, but you suppose you'll have to do it sooner or later if you'd like to proceed. So you make a good start at it.

[Climbing The Walls: 5]

It hasn't rained in a good long while around here, you think, and the rocks seem cracked enough to make good progress along them. You put one foot above the other, and make sure to keep one hand firmly gripping the rocks at all times. It's only about twenty five feet of climbing, and you make fairly good time on it as not much longer than a minute later you poke your head over the side.

The top of the cliff seems to be some kind of roadside - and what a road it is, noble and proud and ancient with rather impressive mile markers. A tad overgrown, mind you, with weeds poking out of the cobblestones and bushes having rendered its surface uneven with their roots displacing the roadwork. A row of trees pollarded in some ancient past have grown into great twisted towers on the far side of the road, bracken having erupted from the untended wood along with a few bushes laden with small black berries.

It is right next to one such berry bush that you see a middle-aged man in ragged clothes, picking his way through the berries and occasionally tasting a few in approval as he whistles his song, a repetitive pentatonic sort of thing you wouldn't really expect to hear along a backcountry road. He's got his back turned to you, obviously not at all expecting a traveler to silently scale a twenty five foot cliff behind him.

[What Ho: 2]

G'day, you heartily bid him in the traditional Australian way. He responds by tumbling into the bush and over it, letting off a yelp of surprise before ducking behind a tree somewhat ineptly. You climb all the way up and brush the dust off your dress before straightening out. The man pokes his head out from behind the tree briefly.

He's the kind of man you'd immediately peg as a clerk. Startlingly similar to yourself in more ways than you'd be keen to admit, albeit he's clearly had something of a rough time in the wilderness by the state of his clothes. You wave to him. He ducks behind the tree again. You seem to have given him a bit of a shock.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 05, 2017, 11:39:32 am
Best. Party. Ever!

Lee? Is this Moths' nest?

Observe people with a bit more clarity than yesterday. Are these all Moths? As in dressed in Moth-robe. Or did I perhaps steal it from somebody before I passed out?

Did I accidentally join Moth clan while totally piss off drunk? I feel like I need to clarify this, but better wait for other people wake up first rather than use my precious Mead of Poetry.

They do seem to be Moths as well, yes, although far different from how you remember them. More humanoid, overall. Fewer antennae. More robes - not for all of them, as quite a few appear to have either halfway or fully peeled them off themselves in the process of last night's (?) festivities.

[A Night To Remember: 3]

You don't really remember how you got your robe though. You guess you might have stolen it from some of these lads or lasses, especially given that you were on top of the pile. Though why exactly you'd get dressed before passing out is one of those Dyatlov Pass kind of questions, especially given how more than a few folks have seen fit to do the opposite. How you got a pair of arms on you is probably a better question, 'cause you're fairly sure you can't steal those without advanced surgery.

You sense a presence, approaching somewhat lazily along the outside passageway. A woman, you think from the shape, but the distance makes it difficult to know for sure. Something hot and bright is in her hand. You turn around, and see a faint blue light coming from the passageway into the room.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 05, 2017, 04:07:36 pm
"By 'take' I assume you want me to capture him in my soul jar thing? You wanna be captain? That's what's happening? 'Cause if that's so, I need you at least to gimme, like, a potion of sleep or something so I can put the guy down without killing him or making a commotion."

You've got the idea, clearly. And she can help with some of that, but do understand that she is no alchemist. She is a minder, and a very specialized one at that. People can be read with little effort. Influence, however, remains mostly a matter of cunning rather than power. But she would think there is something she can do with your soul jar.

So unfortunately she cannot provide you with anything so simple as a potion of sleep in this task. Although you could ask the second mate, Peaks Ever-Crumbling - an image flits before your eyes, a woman dressed similarly to the first mate, her large, dark eyes drawing yours in a veritable gravity well of attention. Her dress is muted, less exquisite than that of the first mate. Fast hands. White teeth, bared frequently in smiles with many meanings. Vocational alchemist, unconcerned with mysteries.

Quote from: TopHat on February 06, 2017, 01:41:14 pm
"Heh. While I can't comment much on the town itself, other than that life he is radically different to anything I've previously encountered, I certainly know what you mean. It's amazing how different some places are when Ofsted or prospective parents are coming round.
.. It's this king of yours that orders the inspecting, right? What can you tell me about him?"

Exactly, the alderman says with incredible relief. It's those kind of people that cast doubt on the system - you have to torment in good faith, with the best intentions! If you're not tormenting people correctly, what really separates one from those poor slobs in the cells? You've lost sight of the whole point! You're just tormenting for the sake of it, really. No wonder the wardens regrew their ordinary limbs last decade if that's how they go about their business. That's an alderman's job - keep an eye on the poor, but more than anything watch out for the minions! If they're unwatched, anything can happen.

As his rant winds down and his large hands start to scribble with less furious purpose you ask him about the king. The king, he says, don't let the name fool you, he's a right fine sort. Knows how things should be operated - if you have to choose, the king says, it's better to be feared than to loved! Well, he said that, you understand, back when he was still able to say things in words us less advanced beings could understand. Now he writes mostly. Pretty things, his edicts. The alderman fetches a large scroll from a nearby shelf and unfurls it.

The drawing on it is incredibly strange - for an instant it's a circular mishmash of hieroglyphics written like some kind of hellish, mindbending diagram before it abruptly swims around in your head and resolves into legibility. It's heavy reading, you could say, in that you feel like you've been slammed in the back of the head with a third-world constitution as you try to read it. It's a condensation of the complexities of elaboration about over a thousand different methods of systematic torture as considered by some strange and alien intellect. The recommendation for sizes of breaking wheels, the temperature of red hot pokers and the exact amount of chunk to be cut away in an instance of dismemberment all are subtly modified in a single swoop, the entirety of a nation's policy on torment told to be moved an inch to the left. The context alone, included appropriately in the background of the main body, burns at senses you didn't know you had.

The alderman looks at the scroll as well as you stare transfixed. It has that effect on people, he's observed. Takes a practiced squint to get into the spirit of it, you could say.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 07, 2017, 11:25:35 am
"Ah, I'm sorry for the, uh, deception. My friend and I were looting the house, as we were naked and unarmed, and it appeared that the occupants had died."

I hope the doctor gets here soon. She'd probably know what this is.

Looters, Oggie says in an uncertain way. Naked and unarmed too, very brave. Not a safe house, the one above. Not since the earthquake least of all. Did you tell the serving staff? They did think themselves new masters, silly animals that they are. You mastered more than they ever did, clearly.

The doctor chooses this moment to very gently slide down the rope, stopping before the jellied pile and swinging off much like you did. Sorry for taking this long, she was taking care to not mess up the dress! It's a very nice dress, she says, and good heavens would you look at that, she says as she looks Oggie over.

[Savage Looters: 6]

Very good look for you, Oggie says to the doctor. Excellent dress - bought it for trips to the capital, many delicious travelers on the way. Hoped to impress them with good taste. Not right for capital, it turned out - not baroque enough. City women did not appreciate enough. Did have to buy a new dress, more fashionable - had many feathers, needed to buy a stoatman to carry the back of it. And another for the hat that came with it. Was a displeasing experience for the old boy. Oggie's eyes fog in reminiscence.

She's had a lot of exposure, the doctor whispers to you while she is very much eyed by the creature. Seems friendly enough though oh dear, she begins to say as a set of hands are put on her, gripping her with a gentleness that almost disguised the obvious fact that, if she wanted, the creature could almost definitely snap the doctor in half.

Wish she could have had a shape like yours, Oggie tells the doctor as she sniffs, though may want to take a bath sharpish. Could smell you coming down even before the sound. Eat a little more also to fill out the thing better. The doctor looks at you a little helplessly as the creature begins to take her various measurements, coupling them with a steady stream of cosmetic wisdom. Most of it not at all questionable, you have to admit. You are tempted to take some notes when she starts rattling off peculiar, but compelling methods of dental care (well, at least if toothbrushes continue to remain nonexistent in the near vicinity) after examining the doctor's teeth carefully.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on February 07, 2017, 05:08:53 pm
"Er.  Sorry, didn't mean to startle you, sir.  Mate."  That was the Australian term, right?"  "I'm on the way to the airport... uh, where the metal dragons land and take off and carry people around.  Perhaps you could confirm for me I'm going the right way?  Pleasant day, isn't it really?"


Converse.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on February 08, 2017, 12:07:55 pm
"This is incredible! How on Earth does he do it? Did invent the language himself? Could I have a sample? I simply must Measure it, when I get the chance. Speaking of which, do you know anyone here who's good at fixing things?" Not the nicest subject matter but that really is something.
Questions, questions, so many questions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on February 08, 2017, 12:43:26 pm
"Okay, point the way to first wherever they have more of that maggot cheese stuff, then her. Him. Whatever gender."

First go exploit my 'carry stuff and forget about it' property which allows me to port around far more shit than is feasible for an actual human being to get a ton more of that maggot cheese pizza stuff. Then go see this alchemist lady.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 10, 2017, 01:46:16 am
Snack few apple-mushrooms and wash them down with most realistic alcohol I can find in this place while waiting for lightbringer.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 10, 2017, 06:54:07 am
"Well, we appreciate the advice. We should probably be on our way, though. We don't want to take up any more of your time than we already have, and now that you mention it, I feel like we should find food." I point to the passage leading away from this chamber. "Is that the way outside?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 11, 2017, 07:35:25 pm
Quote from: Toaster on February 07, 2017, 05:08:53 pm
"Er.  Sorry, didn't mean to startle you, sir.  Mate."  That was the Australian term, right?"  "I'm on the way to the airport... uh, where the metal dragons land and take off and carry people around.  Perhaps you could confirm for me I'm going the right way?  Pleasant day, isn't it really?"


Converse.

Yes indeed, a pleasant day like few others. Not a cloud in the sky, you say as you go closer to the man behind the tree, feeling a little uncomfortable speaking to him while he's behind a tree. You step around the side. His eyes do not turn to you. Say, you think you already asked, does he know where the dragons land? You think you ought to locate one sharpish and get out of here. Good old Straya has her charms, one has to say, but you do think you're very late for some crucial business at Sureness Assurance. Can't let these matters go unattended! Absolutely not!

[In The Grip Of Tharn: 2]

You look at the man, who appears absolutely petrified. He stares at you with wide eyes and extraordinarily dilated pupils, something very crucial in his fight-or-flight response having completely jammed. Poor fellow must have something on his mind.

Quote from: TopHat on February 08, 2017, 12:07:55 pm
"This is incredible! How on Earth does he do it? Did invent the language himself? Could I have a sample? I simply must Measure it, when I get the chance. Speaking of which, do you know anyone here who's good at fixing things?" Not the nicest subject matter but that really is something.
Questions, questions, so many questions.

[From On High: 6]

The alderman seems greatly flattered at your interest! It's wonderful to see a man so appreciative of the magnificence of these. It's not even the best one he's received - there was that one from a few decades ago, he had it somewhere in here, he growls out and starts to wrestle open one of the enormous, sticky drawers of the desk. There is a pop and a rattle of dozens of scroll cases, and a great quantity of dust to accompany this. The alderman's large hands both go into the thing up nearly to his elbows, and finally he withdraws a particularly well-etched, elaborate silver case that, though quite incredibly large, seems to your eyes nearly bursting in some unfathomable way. This was when the land reform came into play, the alderman explains and hands you the case in a motion that makes you doubt the laws of perspective. It is sufficiently large to accommodate an orangutan contortionist and sturdy enough to make sure it doesn't escape. You strain a little under the weight. It begs you to take a look.

What language is this written in, you ask again as you consider the scroll in your possession, possibly delaying its opening (possibly even deliberately). Did the king invent it? The alderman declines to comment on this - the King has his ways, and if you would inquire more about them you may as well ask him yourself, wonderbringer! His palace isn't far if you've got the legs to walk and the mind to dream of it, or so goes common wisdom. He hasn't gone recently, mind you, so he couldn't tell you where exactly it's gone off to, just that it was indubitably because his attentions were needed there. The king sees many things, you know. Often very far in advance.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 08, 2017, 12:43:26 pm
"Okay, point the way to first wherever they have more of that maggot cheese stuff, then her. Him. Whatever gender."

First go exploit my 'carry stuff and forget about it' property which allows me to port around far more shit than is feasible for an actual human being to get a ton more of that maggot cheese pizza stuff. Then go see this alchemist lady.

They'd have to make it, Rainbow says and claps her hands. A cook comes by shortly, and Rainbow merely looks in his eyes meaningfully. He runs off post-haste - they'll have that prepared for you a little later. In bulk, of course. The ingredients need a little time to come together and ripen. Then they can be made yours, and allowed to slip into your impressive collection of things momentarily forgotten. Come now, she rises from the table. Peaks Ever-Crumbling would most certainly be pleased to see you.

You head out, casting one last glance at the now rather calm inn, the drunken sailors having either passed, stumbled or fallen out of it as befits their state, your last glimpse that of the two cooks pondering the logistics and unquestionable risks of putting that many maggots into that much bacon at the same time.

The second mate does not appear to see fit to reside on the ship, and instead has taken up residence in a fetching little abode off the main street, right by the palisade. It looks like somebody took a hovel and began to build upon it much as you would with a snowman, sticking loose, balled-up bits of concrete onto it until it resembled a proper building. Proper in a very broad sense of the word, it's a lumpy and organic thing, practically screaming of witchcraft at you as you and Rainbow both make sure to wipe your feet on the outdoor mat before knocking. A voice shouts for you to come in.

The door opens readily outwards on well-oiled hinges, and out rolls the oily, miasmatic reek of an alchemy lab in operation, traveling along a labyrinth of heavy, colorful drapes and fresh-made shelves stocked with very neatly if not comprehensibly labeled arcane supplies. It takes about a minute too long to walk through it all to the workbench of the day where the alchemist stands, observing a bubbling, intricate experiment in progress with a weight to her gaze that leads one to suspect some of it surely wouldn't bubble without her full attention.

[Peaks Ever-Crumbling: 6]

She nods for a moment as you stand there silently, expecting some form of introduction from Rainbow. A strong scent of pineapple begins to pervade the vicinity. A grin on the second mate's face suddenly blossoms and keeps growing. Her fingers dart to adjust a valve every now and then. A moment or ten passes as the reaction develops.

Oh, she says after a few more seconds in a voice richer than you would have expected from so slight a woman. You aren't one of those, are you? Something different, as she says. Different and peculiar. You wanted some kind of drug?

Rainbow steps back a little. She will leave you to it. Act as a bringer of business and good fortune, and business and good fortune will come back to you, she implies as she leaves.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 10, 2017, 01:46:16 am
Snack few apple-mushrooms and wash them down with most realistic alcohol I can find in this place while waiting for lightbringer.

You don't feel very hungry, but you feel like a little food might help you set this hangover behind you, or at least take the edge off. You have three for now to start off easy. The lightbringer is not far off - in fact, it's hardly a minute before she comes to this room, bearing a rather large oilskin and a blue light. You get a good look at her in the light - on the robust side, perhaps around thirty or so. She has the full moth-robe and more beyond that - on her head is a skullcap bearing two antennae that wave gently in the cavern air like skeletonized leaves, and around her neck you see several amulets and strings of beads. She steps over the elder and lifts up the brazier, refilling some of its oil and wiping down any hazardous spillage before lighting it, bathing the room in a soft blue glow. She looks around the rest of it and spots you sitting up on the pile, still chewing on your mushrooms as you contemplate where among the empty cups you might find some actual booze.

Didn't expect you to be up after such a heroic effort last night, she says after looking you over. Good show, Leify! Rare to have a guest like you about, absolute pleasure to have drunk with you till the very end. You rub your temples, not quite remembering her. Does she have anything to drink, you ask after a moment. She smirks and tosses you a half-empty vial after fiddling in her robe a moment. It's hardly more than a shot or two in there, but you down it anyway, chomping on another mushroom to drive the burning from your sinuses. Want some actual food? The happy-happies, don't get her wrong, the happy-happies are all good but you do not want to make a diet of them. She found that out the hard way in her time.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 10, 2017, 06:54:07 am
"Well, we appreciate the advice. We should probably be on our way, though. We don't want to take up any more of your time than we already have, and now that you mention it, I feel like we should find food." I point to the passage leading away from this chamber. "Is that the way outside?"

[Home Sweet Home: 4]

Oggie looks to you, her large hands still on the doctor's face, kneading it idly. She has time, she says. A lot of time to think and work and think and work and think and sleep and dream. Talking is a reprieve. Centers the mind. Voices on the outside are always louder after all.

If you want to leave, sad days. There was a way out. It was drafty and unsafe, so she closed it. There was too much light coming in as well. Can concentrate better in the dark and stillness and lack of bears coming in. Same amount going out though. Funny how that works.

Food though, food is possible. Many things can be scraped off walls. Follow Oggie, delicious traveler. She will show you.

The creature lumbers into the passageway, hair bristling as she brushes up against a wall gently. The doctor leans in - did you know what that thing was saying or was this merely a very unlikely bluff that paid off? It's a little hard to tell with you sometimes.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on February 12, 2017, 12:18:42 am
"You okay, mate?  None of the worries, as they say?"

Maybe a gentle poke?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 13, 2017, 01:18:01 am
"Food would be good, yes, thank you. I'm not particularly hungry, but I need something to shave edge off of the hangover. Some water would help too, no doubt. Say, I don't remember anything what happened after the drinking contest and everything before it is a bit hazy too. Mind summarizing some of it for me? I didn't do anything excessively stupid, right? I seem to have new limbs and clothes too, wonder where they came from..."

Learn from another person's experience and put all mushooms aside. Accept any and all foodstuff she offers as well as summary of missing memories should she give one. Oh, since we have light now I might as well observe my party hat in greater detail.

"Was there really a demon? Or was that just another hallucination?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on February 13, 2017, 03:39:30 am
Daniels shakes his head to clear it of a rather convoluted train of thought that had been going through it.

"Right, who were you again? Not that I care, but I should probably remember you. Not your name, just describe an easily identifiable feature of yours. Also I think the minder lady with the rainbow bandanna or something like that wanted me to get you to make a sleep potion so I can drug the captain of whatever bizarre land-based mercantile enterprise you people run, absorb what is effectively the summation of his being into an extradimensional storage space that I carry somewhere between the back of my skull and the depths of my soul, and then she'll lead me to a nodal access point to an intelligence that exists in what seems to be the primordial darkness between universes so that I can then trade your captain for notable favours to myself, retroactively deleting him from the memory of everyone he ever interacted with in the process. Also this one stoatman I already have in there, I'm set to make a bundle in a short while. I think the rainbow minder lady probably wants to be captain in his place and is using me to get him out of the way is the point, and she wants me to get your help to do that. She mentioned rewards or something for you, so you'd probably benefit a good deal from the transition of power assuming you don't get gutted during the uncontrolled chaos that's going to result when this affair inevitably gets blown into what passes for the public eye around these parts. Oh, I've probably been talking too long without pausing, conversations are supposed to be a two-way street. You may speak now."

Ramble distractedly, completely spilling all the sensitive details of Rainbow Lady's planned mutiny or whatever it is she's wanting to do in the process.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 13, 2017, 07:42:54 am
"I can understand her. You can't?" I whisper to the doctor. "I guess that's one more weird magic power I have. You should have seen this squid lady I talked to. Anyway, it sounds like she's taking us near the exit, but we'll have to figure out how to get it open. And then probably reseal it for her, since she blocked it off. But hey, it's something."

I then follow Oggie into the passage.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on February 13, 2017, 10:46:05 am
"Ah. How large is his kingdom, then? Are there any others in this land?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 14, 2017, 07:46:50 am
Quote from: Toaster on February 12, 2017, 12:18:42 am
"You okay, mate?  None of the worries, as they say?"

Maybe a gentle poke?

You step up to the man and poke him gently on the nose.

[Fearful Reverie: 6]

Something snaps inside him, you think, and his expression suddenly changes. He exhales for the first time in a minute and slumps back against the tree. Whoa, ohohoho! Hoho! Haha, woo! He shakes his head and has a few of the dark berries. Hohoho! Oh boy!

Is he all right, you ask after a little bit of this. Don't mind him, the fellow replies, just had a spot of the bleak despair! Happens when he gets proper startled! 'S a good sign, really! He was beginning to wonder he wasn't going to fit in, with all the hazings and the trials and the being sent into increasingly dangerous places! At least he's mastered being afraid, and that is fairly crucial if he understands correctly! Got to have a healthy fear of things if you're in the refuge business!

Anyway, he bats you on the shoulder, you were asking something about dragons, was it? He's never seen one, they usually carry off anyone who gets near, hoho! They leave little evidence, dragons! Frankly he's unsure what he'd do if he saw one, but then it's not like the matter will be in his hands in that case, hohoho... hoho... hoh...!

... you're new here, aren't you? He was a lot like you once, dressed in rags, clueless of the ways in the savage northlands! How distant last month seems now! Lucky you ran into him, you are - there's things here that will rot the flesh off your bones, he's been told! Spiders the size of your head! Aborigines who'll as soon stab you as tell you the way to go! And the dragons! Oh, the dragons!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 13, 2017, 01:18:01 am
"Food would be good, yes, thank you. I'm not particularly hungry, but I need something to shave edge off of the hangover. Some water would help too, no doubt. Say, I don't remember anything what happened after the drinking contest and everything before it is a bit hazy too. Mind summarizing some of it for me? I didn't do anything excessively stupid, right? I seem to have new limbs and clothes too, wonder where they came from..."

Learn from another person's experience and put all mushooms aside. Accept any and all foodstuff she offers as well as summary of missing memories should she give one. Oh, since we have light now I might as well observe my party hat in greater detail.

"Was there really a demon? Or was that just another hallucination?"

[A Night To Remember: 3]

To be perfectly honest, she only remembers bits and pieces herself. First you pretty solidly outdrank her - good job there, and great trick with the vodkafruit - then you said something she didn't register on account of being completely pissed, and then everything exploded into debauchery. Usually these others aren't up for all that much, she says incredulously, but by the time she was back in drinking condition you should have seen the shit that was going on. Best night she's had in months. Everybody was cutting loose. The booze supply nearly ran out completely, had to hit the reserves.

Gets a bit hazy from there, she's got to say. Don't know about a demon or nothing, but there was dancing and singing and a lot of minderbooze when the regular stuff ran low. She may have made out with you at one point during a late-night rematch. Or maybe with Lee. One or both of those might have just been a dream though. Or that bit where you strained so hard you sprouted a whole new arm - she was thinking that couldn't possibly be real, but there you are, fully limbed and everything.

Mind you, shitfaced as she was, she'd wager she's probably the only one who remembers even that much. Dunno what came over these other people, but they were partying like there was no tomorrow, and they sure as hell don't got her tolerance. It's going to be a real zombie apocalypse around here in an hour or two, mark her words.

She leads you out through the passageway into a maze of small tunnels. Watch your head, the lamplighter instructs. She pauses every now and then next to a brazier or goes inside a side chamber, each hosting at least one passed-out Moth, many of them very familiar-looking to your somewhat pickled intellect, until at last you come to what seems like a small dining hall, cold leftovers lining a well-polished stone table. Most of them seem to have migrated out of their plates, and the few Moths remaining here have either slumped on the table or rolled off along the floor. The lamplighter sits you down next to a less objectionable plate. Dig in! This'll be going off before the day's done, so might as well finish as much as you're able.

By the way, you ask as you try some troglodytic crab, lightly fermented in the original shell (it's like a Norse delicacy in that you're making the best of something a little rancid and expected to smile about it), where'd you get the robe? And the crown, which it occurs to you to take off and look at. It seems to have been hastily cut out of some compressed and treated chitin, the words "Igor, Party God" written on it.

The robe! Yeah, you might have missed it in all the fun, she doesn't blame you a bit, but somewhere along the way they made you a Moth. The elder was so sauced he couldn't remember the procedure for honorary induction, so they all just agreed on the simple thing of saying you're in the clan now and that's that.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 13, 2017, 03:39:30 am
Daniels shakes his head to clear it of a rather convoluted train of thought that had been going through it.

"Right, who were you again? Not that I care, but I should probably remember you. Not your name, just describe an easily identifiable feature of yours. Also I think the minder lady with the rainbow bandanna or something like that wanted me to get you to make a sleep potion so I can drug the captain of whatever bizarre land-based mercantile enterprise you people run, absorb what is effectively the summation of his being into an extradimensional storage space that I carry somewhere between the back of my skull and the depths of my soul, and then she'll lead me to a nodal access point to an intelligence that exists in what seems to be the primordial darkness between universes so that I can then trade your captain for notable favours to myself, retroactively deleting him from the memory of everyone he ever interacted with in the process. Also this one stoatman I already have in there, I'm set to make a bundle in a short while. I think the rainbow minder lady probably wants to be captain in his place and is using me to get him out of the way is the point, and she wants me to get your help to do that. She mentioned rewards or something for you, so you'd probably benefit a good deal from the transition of power assuming you don't get gutted during the uncontrolled chaos that's going to result when this affair inevitably gets blown into what passes for the public eye around these parts. Oh, I've probably been talking too long without pausing, conversations are supposed to be a two-way street. You may speak now."

Ramble distractedly, completely spilling all the sensitive details of Rainbow Lady's planned mutiny or whatever it is she's wanting to do in the process.

Peaks looks up at you. Her eyes aren't quite as captivating as Rainbow would have led you to believe, but you do feel a very acute, inquisitive pressure as they rest on you.

Huh, she says and smiles at you. Goes to show you shouldn't trust help hired off the street, wouldn't you say?

She wouldn't want to rock the boat, she shrugs and laughs to herself. The captain is a solid enough sort and, more importantly, pays quite well. Not to mention that drugging a man of over 400, perhaps more than 500 pounds is a questionable and very expensive proposition, she can say from personal experience.

If you're not very committed to this conspiracy, however, and she gets the strange feeling that you are not, could she perhaps provide you with a sensible counteroffer?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 13, 2017, 07:42:54 am
"I can understand her. You can't?" I whisper to the doctor. "I guess that's one more weird magic power I have. You should have seen this squid lady I talked to. Anyway, it sounds like she's taking us near the exit, but we'll have to figure out how to get it open. And then probably reseal it for her, since she blocked it off. But hey, it's something."

I then follow Oggie into the passage.

Frankly the doctor is surprised that the creature speaks a language. It, er, she looks like she's been maddened by the underground. Scrambled in body and mind. It happens when you're alone and think too much about things. She looks at Oggie walking ahead of you into the dark. You should do something. Maybe talk to her?

Oggie looks back at you to make sure you are following. There is quite an extensive network of tunnels down here. Many of them certainly not natural, clearly clawed out of the bedrock over a long period of time. It is down one such tunnel, the light fading to the point where you can't see anything beyond the occasional eyeshine from Oggie's direction or a firm hand guiding you onward, that you eventually stop. There is a heavy, stagnant smell in the air, and a scraping noise as your host lumbers toward a wall and gets to work.

You are passed a generous handful of insect-ridden flesh of not-quite-fungus. Judging from the noise she makes, you think the doctor gets one too. Eat well, says Oggie. Very nutritious. Will help grow your whiskers strong and acute.

Quote from: TopHat on February 13, 2017, 10:46:05 am
"Ah. How large is his kingdom, then? Are there any others in this land?"

Distance is hard to quantify in the kingdom, the alderman says. The places wander around, and the bog ebbs and flows. Larger than you think, he believes the official answer is, to the point where he is not entirely positive where it might end. He has heard of an end to the far side of the bog, but he has certainly not seen it himself. The King would know for sure, he'd expect. No other kingdoms here, of course. There is Benzerwald, he supposes, but they're somewhat new. Good to have them, an occasional raid does much to invigorate the more piratical citizens. Used to be you had to sail south for months either way to get any real raiding work done, this is considerably more efficient!

He tilts his head a little. Damnedest thing though, now that you mention it. There used to be places nearby, he's fairly certain. The proximal kingdoms to the land of departed souls. Don't hear much from them anymore, not in the past few centuries at the very least.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on February 14, 2017, 12:11:20 pm
Daniels shrugs.

"Sure, I'll listen to ya. Best for both of us if you don't ramble on too much, though, my attention tends to wander."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on February 14, 2017, 05:23:38 pm
Thomas nodded.  "Yes, indeed, I have heard tales of spiders.  But yes, these dragons... which way would I go to find them?  I'm rather looking for a ride on one."

Converse, yet get to the point.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on February 16, 2017, 02:49:35 pm
"few centuries? How long to you people live, if you don't mind me asking?
And could you tell me more about these kingdoms? Were they also part of the bog?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 17, 2017, 12:26:01 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on February 14, 2017, 12:11:20 pm
Daniels shrugs.

"Sure, I'll listen to ya. Best for both of us if you don't ramble on too much, though, my attention tends to wander."

Put simply, let Two Shores know about Rainbow's plot to kill the captain. She should be on the ship. Optionally bring her Rainbow's head, preferably unattached to her shoulders. That should settle things adequately, the alchemist tells you quite genially, and would presumably net you some form of reward. It would be a simpler and more elegant solution to things, she feels, than attempting to drug the captain (not a very accessible, easily drugged or even physically influenced individual) and then perform an unusual act of theft on his enormous body.

Though that would depend on Rainbow being unable to read you, so you may want to let Shores handle that instead. Should be a simple enough excision once the minder tricks are cut through.

Quote from: Toaster on February 14, 2017, 05:23:38 pm
Thomas nodded.  "Yes, indeed, I have heard tales of spiders.  But yes, these dragons... which way would I go to find them?  I'm rather looking for a ride on one."

Converse, yet get to the point.

Hohohoho! Hohoho! Hoho! Ho... ho... ho...!

Ah, you're serious, aren't you? That's troubling, it is. Straight troubling. You don't want to try and ride a dragon, good fellow! That would be really quite hazardous. Perhaps you might be interested in some lesser forms of doom here in the northlands? Try the berries, perhaps! Or dive off a cliff headfirst, he's heard that's an excellent way to do it.

[Conversing Meaningfully: 6+1]

Nonsense, you say. Airpl- metal dragons are perfectly safe. Has he looked at the statistics on these things?

The man has to admit he has not. He wouldn't imagine they were encouraging, surely.

You'd be surprised, you pitch to him! It's among the safest forms of travel, riding a dragon. Safer than the roads at any rate. The things have enough, you look for a suitable euphemism, enough instincts to cover most of the common sticking points any human pilot may encounter. The risks, when one really takes the time to run the numbers, are honestly minimal. And you should know, actuarial science is a very important foundation of your job!

Haven't you heard of what happens with dragons, the man says incredulously. There was that one time a dragon touched down in a populated area! Hundreds died!

Ah, you say, but that's because disaster sells! You always hear about disasters. However, the tens, nay, hundreds of thousands of people safely making their way across the world safely on dragonback seldom make the news at all despite being vastly more common and likely by any sane measure. He's never seen a newspaper write about a mild-mannered group of clerks going on a flight to make it to a convention, has he?

No, the fellow admits thoughtfully. He honestly has not.

Right so, you pat him on the shoulder. Mate. Glad to set him straight on this matter. Where would you find one then? You've tarried here long enough.

Well, he thinks. Maybe at Elizabeth? He's heard the, er, dragonkeepers are going there? They're not very nice folk though, there's definitely a lot of stories about that.

Nothing you can't fix without duly declaring all of your fluids ahead of time, you confidently tell the fellow. Don't carry anything ticking or vibrating either, and pack your valuables inside things they aren't likely to want to dig through.

Does that work, he asks. Certainly, you say! Oh my, he says. The elders will definitely want to hear about this. You seem a very knowledgeable sort! Come, they'll break out the safe berries for you for sure!

Quote from: TopHat on February 16, 2017, 02:49:35 pm
"few centuries? How long to you people live, if you don't mind me asking?
And could you tell me more about these kingdoms? Were they also part of the bog?"


Not very long, the alderman rumbles thoughtfully, no longer than the average person, he'd suppose - rather difficult to remember the days before he died, to be honest. Having seen both sides, he'd have to say he prefers being dead. Solid work with a lot of room for career growth, he says and guffaws monstrously behind his desk.

And no, the bog is something of a particular feature of the kingdom itself. It's deepest around the King, always. You need to shore up a place rather heavily if he comes to visit, in more ways than one. You have a real hustle and bustle then, everyone gets put to work no matter the age or number of limbs or basic mental capacity. They'd better unless they enjoy being clawed by their jealous peers down under (mostly they don't, the alderman immediately clarifies).

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 17, 2017, 02:22:42 pm
((Toaster, man, you are gonna get people killed! :D))

Wolf down the crab thing.

"I had vague feeling of having a really great time, so that pretty much confirms it. Ægir would probably remember details if he stayed to the end, I recall asking him to watch over the contest. Hmm, gotta ask him later. Who was my drinking opponent? I think I might been hallucinating through the whole thing."

"Huh, Igor..."

Briefly check if people in my mental Asgard vacation resort are wasted and if they watched what happened.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on February 17, 2017, 02:28:05 pm
((That's what insurance is for!))

"Excellent!  Glad that is settled, then."  Thomas nodded encouragingly.  "Let's go!"

Toward Elizabeth!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on February 17, 2017, 08:00:00 pm
"Hmm right okay. Minder tricks though, I remember those being tricksy. Please hold, and don't touch me."

Sink back down into my internal mind/fortress-monastery thing with my abomination kung fu disciples. Warn them to be on the lookout for minder tricks and/or probes entering my mindscape in the near future, and ask them to terminate said links with an appropriate amount of viciousness if they do locate any.

Assuming I manage to get back into my mindscape successfully, of course.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on February 18, 2017, 12:27:31 pm
"Yes, I think I've had some experience of that myself. What exactly are those things in the fens?"
Obtain information on local hazards. The dead marshes themselves, plagues of insects etc.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 19, 2017, 07:53:25 am
Well... it's been a while since I've eaten. I take a large bite of the fungusy stuff. After I've swallowed them, I speak to Oggie again. "Thank you for the food. Did you say the exit was around here somewhere?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 19, 2017, 09:52:29 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 19, 2017, 07:53:25 am
Well... it's been a while since I've eaten. I a large bite of the fungusy stuff. After I've swallowed them, I speak to Oggie again. "Thank you for the food. Did you say the exit was around here somewhere?"

((Yessss, eat mushrooms! Join the club!))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 20, 2017, 08:26:07 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 17, 2017, 02:22:42 pm
Wolf down the crab thing.

"I had vague feeling of having a really great time, so that pretty much confirms it. Ægir would probably remember details if he stayed to the end, I recall asking him to watch over the contest. Hmm, gotta ask him later. Who was my drinking opponent? I think I might been hallucinating through the whole thing."

"Huh, Igor..."

Briefly check if people in my mental Asgard vacation resort are wasted and if they watched what happened.

You crack the shell right open and munch on the wealth of organs held within, each structure having gone slightly off in its own special way. It's part of the charm, the lamplighter explains, much like the smell or the faintly unsettling consistency. It's a great hangover cure, you find, in that it adequately confuses your mild nausea with its unclear position on the spectrum of unsafe foods.

Swallowing a particularly chunky bite of crab, you continue your breakfast conversation. The lamplighter has chosen to slather some whitish, heterogenous substance onto a set of fungal crackers that she sets about nibbling. She seems a little surprised by your question, though with how many shrooms you were on it shouldn't be too unexpected. She was the one! You're among the first to ever outdrink her among the Moths, and the other two died of liver failure and falling into a pit (presumably followed by liver failure) respectively. So technically you're the clan champion now.

Huh, you say. She looks a lot less demonic now, although from the way her shape and movement races into your eyes with a striking profundity leads you to believe that the mushrooms may have started to kick in again. You ruminate on what may be a fermented crab stomach as you look her over. Still got a pretty good rack, you offer after a moment. Good to have confirmation on that, she laughs. You tell her to hang on for a second, gotta check something.

... turns out yeah, the Norse gods in your mind being completely wasted was a very safe assumption to make. They litter the strange reformed earth, some face-down, some on their sides, some on their backs, many of them in piles similar to all of the drunken moths.

[A Night To Remember: 5]

Actually, you notice, exactly in piles like all of the drunken moths, with paths leading between them similarly to the tunnels you went through. Many of them in places you don't recall visiting, mapping places you must have arrived in, but for the life of you can't remember. The world of the gods seems to imitate the world of men and women to a detail that surely couldn't be conscious.

Iðunn comes into your view, seemingly amused by the debauchery on display. She offers you an apple from her basket, and you ask her if she observed the happenings while you were back in the mortal world. She didn't. Plenty of fun to be had up here, after all. They'll be waking up soon, however - run along now, and she'll get back to her gathering.

You snap back, the goddess' amused expression giving way to the sight of the lamplighter looking at you impassively. Consulting those gods of yours again? Your face went all funny there for a second. You did rant a lot about them in the night, she remembers that much. Some Igor person and a lot of other names too.

Quote from: Toaster on February 17, 2017, 02:28:05 pm
"Excellent!  Glad that is settled, then."  Thomas nodded encouragingly.  "Let's go!"

Toward Elizabeth!

And you do indeed go! You follow the man's lead, unsure where exactly Elizabeth might be. He leads you a little deeper into the woods, making sure to try and obscure any trail he leaves (otherwise the bears will find him, he says, greedy blighters that they are), and you wind up at something that may have been a clearing before the forest grew right over it, saplings and other young trees having sprouted right out of it, bracken filling out the space between them.

A few faces poke out from between the trees. Six, to be exact, the youngest of them barely a teenage girl with a face covered in equal parts old scars and dried up berry juice arranged into appropriately childlike drawings, the eldest of them a man still a little younger than your own companion. Elders, the cheery fellow tells them, it's all right! He's found an all right sort out by the path, he indicates you. Knows a lot about things like statistics and such!

The girl steps out from behind a tree. You notice she's using a walking stick, but not because she needs it. She is followed by the oldest of the number, a fellow with a bushy dark beard and not a single hair on his head, wild-eyed and immediately suspicious. And a third - a young woman with cold eyes who appears to have been experimenting with camouflage rather recently from the quantity of mud and leaves on her. They all cautiously proceed toward you, and immediately adopt an imperious tone.

You there, they start to shout before all looking startled at each other and quietly agreeing that less volume is a good idea. Ahem, you there, the girl begins. You stand before the council of elders, the man whispers a warning! Why has Silver brought you here, and what are you prepared to do to attain refuge among the Rabbits, the woman asks impassively?

Well, the man presumably called Silver begins, but the girl shoots him a withering glare. Silver, where are the berries? He provides them. Were there any effects, she asks, poking at him with the stick. Not yet, Silver shrugs in response. Best wait it out, the girl says. Go over there and don't move, she indicates a nearby tree. When it starts to hurt or rumble, tell the others at some point. He complies sheepishly and heads over to the nearest sapling, where he stands with his hands behind his back, occasionally glancing at you and smiling politely.

Right, the bearded man whispers sharply, you're about to be subject to the ritual initiation! Yeah, the woman says, you'll have prove your worth and what have you before you can join the clan. Them's the procedures what you do, she repeats a little less confidently.

Quote from: Xantalos on February 17, 2017, 08:00:00 pm
"Hmm right okay. Minder tricks though, I remember those being tricksy. Please hold, and don't touch me."

Sink back down into my internal mind/fortress-monastery thing with my abomination kung fu disciples. Warn them to be on the lookout for minder tricks and/or probes entering my mindscape in the near future, and ask them to terminate said links with an appropriate amount of viciousness if they do locate any.

Assuming I manage to get back into my mindscape successfully, of course.

Your mental mountain monastery has changed very little at first glance, still the perfect image of a place you'd got to for inner enlightenment. It does occur to you, however, that it has been some time since last you saw it. And as you go up its steps, the faint glistening of the walls and the pulse of the mountain below make you feel like there has been something of a change here.

[The Findings: 3]

The First Brother meets you at the top of the steps, the least deformed of his lot. His teeth are rounded and rare, his eyes bulging slightly from long meditation. You ask him of what he has discovered, and he responds in guttural tones. The best way to gain mastery of mind and reality is to seek out masters, unwitting or not. Work with them or defeat them, and you will have obtained their power, or shown that you do not need it.

Is that all, you ask him. Seems a little bit underwhelming as far as insights go. The First Brother recoils dramatically as if stung by the words, but regains composure quickly. There is also another thing, he drags out in a tone of suggestion. You have planted a soul in your secret garden. It has secrets. They could be extracted, at the soul's expense. A long time was spent watching it, helpless in the void. The disciples would like to sink their teeth into it. Many ideas have arisen on that front.

[Defilers in the Sanctum: 5]

You also recall you told them to keep intruders out of this fortress that is your mind. The First Brother looks quite nervous at this. The minder, yes. She took the form of the wind, and searched for secrets. The disciples did not see her at first, the ruse was excellently done and the influence on the fortress was minimal.

When she left, some plans were formulated. Some more complicated than others. The wind is difficult to hear, even in a place such as this. Could you assist, master, with some exquisite silence? The wind will be easily found, caught and strangled then if you so wish.

Quote from: TopHat on February 18, 2017, 12:27:31 pm
"Yes, I think I've had some experience of that myself. What exactly are those things in the fens?"
Obtain information on local hazards. The dead marshes themselves, plagues of insects etc.


You'd have to be more specific, the alderman says. Many things out there, you see! Hardly anyone's counted the sheer variety. Very well, start with the clawing things in that case - the things at the bottom of the bog.

The alderman rumbles gently. The bog, he says, it often has no real bottom! Especially further in. Many things fall into it, many more are drawn toward it! The Kingdom of the Dead has a great number of arrivals, mostly in the bog itself. The majority of them sink, of course, presumably forever. A few start to swim - very few make it, and these are the citizenry of the Kingdom. A rather large number get unfortunately close as well. Their spirit is extremely admirable, of course, but they do come off as a little unfriendly to anybody, say, falling into the bog by accident. You'll grab onto anything to provide some buoyancy, you know how it is! Or at least a much-needed dose of reality to stave off the abyss, as it were. Often not enough of that to go around, as it happens. Every now and then the higher-ups send out some trawlers to drag out the most promising sorts, they're handy to have about. Usually the ones who swim up are good for civil service positions, he growls a little proudly, and the trawled ones are more fit for menial roles. Less initiative, you see.

And the insects, you inquire. Oh, the alderman claps his hands together thunderously, you've seen them? Were they coming in the direction of the road? Thing's been sadly broken for years, he's heard. You tell him briefly of what you have seen - aha, he says, glad to hear the rituals seem to have worked, though sad it came at such inconvenience to you! They'll have the road fixed in no time. The insects do come in every now and then, you see, mostly in great incursions to make off with a bit of prime flesh to lay eggs in. Appreciable! And handy, if you can kill the buggers and put the spare chitin to good use. Not a lot of material going around otherwise apart from a drifting castle or something like that, and those tend to be fairly rare as you'd imagine!

Aha, you say. And if you were to travel further, is there anything you ought to beware of? The alderman thinks a moment. Whales, he'd suppose - some get very much enraged with time. Those that don't get recruited, of course - some are a little too angry to make for good subjects, and do not take rejection very well. Luckily the hunters do split most of them into more manageable chunks, though not without some difficulty. Been a while since one was last seen here, the alderman mentions, hopefully the good fortune will last!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 19, 2017, 07:53:25 am
Well... it's been a while since I've eaten. I take a large bite of the fungusy stuff. After I've swallowed them, I speak to Oggie again. "Thank you for the food. Did you say the exit was around here somewhere?"

It's cold, damp and tasteless at first, which tricks you into taking about three bites before it begins to wiggle, tickling your esophagus a little bit before settling in your stomach, where it starts to thrash of its own accord. A crawling sensation spreads through you, and the sudden feeling of expanding heat that's followed by a pronounced coldness. It takes some getting used to, but doesn't appear to be in any way actively harmful, merely considerably unpleasant.

[Realizations of Cave Cuisine: 1]

The retching and miscellaneous terrible noises coming from the doctor as she ill-advisedly had some as well would indicate that not all would share your experience. There is a sound as a pair of large hands close around her waist and a very possibly rib-cracking Heimlich-esque maneuver is applied. It sends a few chunks flying into the dark, splattering into the wall rather noisily and then apparently crawling away into silence. The doctor breathes heavily, hanging on to your waist as she tries to get her bearings. She still feels them, she says, some of them are still in there, oh god.

Good, good, Oggie says. You ask about the exit a little hurriedly - oh, exit. Exit is around here, blocked some time ago. Come here, she says from the darkness, and you follow along, the doctor not so much following as being dragged along. You brush up gently against Oggie as she indicates what to your touch seems like a lot of boulders stacked up together. Exit. Blocked. Could unblock in time. Days? Weeks, maybe?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 20, 2017, 01:55:54 pm
((I must remember to sing praises for your writing skills every now and then, quality of your prose is mindblowing! Playing and reading this game has been constant pleasure from the beginning and it doesn't show any signs of fading. Keep up excellent work!))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on February 20, 2017, 04:55:23 pm
Thomas was a bit wary of any idea involving getting involved with the clan around here, but these people didn't seem too dangerous.  Might as well play along for now.  "Well, I do have a fair actuarial knowledge..."

Go into boring detail of insurance management and sales expertise.


Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 20, 2017, 01:55:54 pm
((I must remember to sing praises for your writing skills every now and then, quality of your prose is mindblowing! Playing and reading this game has been constant pleasure from the beginning and it doesn't show any signs of fading. Keep up excellent work!))

+1
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on February 20, 2017, 06:36:50 pm
Daniels nods sagely.

"The soul in my secret garden is unfortunately too valuable at present to be damaged so. I am, however, pleased at my disciple's willingness to unravel it so, and I shall endeavour to capture another soon. Perhaps the minder herself. And of course, I shall assist you with the matter. I don't doubt your prowess, but it perturbs me that a minder is able to infiltrate our sanctum so easily. Give me but a moment to center myself and you will have your silence, First Brother."

Make my way to my inner sanctum/meditation room and prepare myself for the casting of the silence.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 20, 2017, 01:55:54 pm
((I must remember to sing praises for your writing skills every now and then, quality of your prose is mindblowing! Playing and reading this game has been constant pleasure from the beginning and it doesn't show any signs of fading. Keep up excellent work!))
((This is very truthful. It's really dang easy to get immersed in the world you provide, and being a part of this has actually helped me write better myself.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 21, 2017, 11:01:28 am
"Yeah, apparently they had party last night too, so they too seem to be mostly passed out. Igor isn't part of the pantheon, but he threw wicked parties at the mines. There was other Igor too, but he wasn't such life of the party. Nice guys. By the way, did Lee deliver her report? I mean I got some traveling still to do and she was nice company to have."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TheBiggerFish on February 21, 2017, 02:32:33 pm
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 20, 2017, 01:55:54 pm
((I must remember to sing praises for your writing skills every now and then, quality of your prose is mindblowing! Playing and reading this game has been constant pleasure from the beginning and it doesn't show any signs of fading. Keep up excellent work!))
((Yeah, it has been!  And I'm not even playing!))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: penguinofhonor on February 22, 2017, 07:00:17 pm
"I think I can unblock it faster. You might want to take a couple steps back."

I imagine the cave floor swallowing up the stones, take a firm step forward, and unleash the earth's HUNGER.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on February 24, 2017, 12:51:42 pm
"Rituals? You use some sort of magic to summon the bugs? Where do they come from?
Wait, did you say whales?"

((I'll join in singing the praises of your writing; this and Life Begins At Death are hands down the most enjoyable RTDs I've had the pleasure of taking part in. Oh, and sorry for the delay in replying. Series of mock exams this past week.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 24, 2017, 02:43:26 pm
Quote from: Toaster on February 20, 2017, 04:55:23 pm
Thomas was a bit wary of any idea involving getting involved with the clan around here, but these people didn't seem too dangerous.  Might as well play along for now.  "Well, I do have a fair actuarial knowledge..."

Go into boring detail of insurance management and sales expertise.

[Talking Shop: 2+1]

They speak of danger, and deal in safety - you can tell. You start to explain to them the system, the great network of bets and investments that keeps the insurance business afloat. You bring up mortality, and they're immediately interested. Mortality happens to be a great passion of theirs and, as it happens, a lifelong consideration as well. The bearded fellow gapes as you bring up the tables of mortality - data from millions upon millions of men and women gathered year by year and accumulated to produce probabilities. Not certainties by any means, but safe enough assumptions to make.

You bet on human lives, the girl says as she taps the stick against the ground, this is your livelihood?

Not at all, you say, human lives are but where it begins. You bet on every kind of harm there is, from illness to tornadoes, and several that there really are not, armed with the sort of inevitable foreknowledge that marks any safe bet. Has she considered getting terrorism insurance, on an entirely unrelated note?

So what you're saying, the mud-caked woman says thoughtfully, is that you give bad omens and people pay you for it?

No, you say, quite the opposite! Sureness Assurance gives a guarantee of safety, and protection from the ravages of a vast and uncaring world. In fact, you bet that bad things will not happen to a person, and should they ever do exactly that, Sureness Assurance is prepared to provide a generous payout to cover the costs incurred and, depending on your plan, then some. It is a win-win of sorts - you are either well or well taken care of!

The bearded man draws a little closer. Can you avail him of your mystical knowledge, stranger? Is his life in terrible danger, or do you expect him to live through the year?

You look him over - unhygienic, it's true, but in reasonably good physical shape and not at all old. Why yes, you'd say, barring any preexisting conditions you dare say you would wager that he should live a long time yet!

He seems genuinely relieved for a moment. He has your sureness then, and your assurance?

Quote from: Xantalos on February 20, 2017, 06:36:50 pm
Daniels nods sagely.

"The soul in my secret garden is unfortunately too valuable at present to be damaged so. I am, however, pleased at my disciple's willingness to unravel it so, and I shall endeavour to capture another soon. Perhaps the minder herself. And of course, I shall assist you with the matter. I don't doubt your prowess, but it perturbs me that a minder is able to infiltrate our sanctum so easily. Give me but a moment to center myself and you will have your silence, First Brother."

Make my way to my inner sanctum/meditation room and prepare myself for the casting of the silence.

It is nice, traveling through your monastery again. You watch the students spar with splintered limbs and sharpened thoughts, and all too many teeth to go around. A spirited day of training has commenced at your presence, the strength of your image reinvigorating the fighters. Cracks disappear in the walls as you pass and passages straighten out minutely in your presence as you make your way through training spaces strategically placed on the way to your inner sanctum with ascending circles of mastery placed in them. Electric lights buzz to life as generators are cranked, filament bulbs swinging as the archaic power grid kicks into gear. The First Brother shadows you all the way to the room before taking the spot right outside the door, where he sits down terribly still and closes his eyes, the sound of his will swatting motes of dust accompanying to the door as a stillness comes over the antechamber.

[Anticipating the Silence: 3]

You sit down on your bed. It reminds you of an increasingly unreal sort of home, an echo of a now unreachable, once very common sensation. The comforts are here, notionally, but already what you may have once been has faded, not in appearance but rather in spirit.

As you contemplate the monastery in its entirety, you feel that something fundamental is missing from it already, a bit of human experience your mind reaches for but fails to find any purchase. It lingers at the edge of perception, tantalizing.

You sense the mountain. You can encompass its entirety, or at least an abstraction of its entirety. You wonder what the Word would even do here, bouncing against the walls of your inner self.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 21, 2017, 11:01:28 am
"Yeah, apparently they had party last night too, so they too seem to be mostly passed out. Igor isn't part of the pantheon, but he threw wicked parties at the mines. There was other Igor too, but he wasn't such life of the party. Nice guys. By the way, did Lee deliver her report? I mean I got some traveling still to do and she was nice company to have."

Oh yeah, the lamplighter says, did that a good long while ago actually. She was feeling really bad about having left you back there in the canyon too, so you can imagine she was damn glad to see you made it back... mostly safely would be the way to put it.

Hell of a story, by the way. You blew up the southern notch to hear her tell it. Must have killed like a million people with that.

She doesn't seem very bothered by that, you say after a moment.

Well, she takes a moment to consider her words, don't get her wrong. Loss of innocent life and all that. But you probably mostly got Storks, Dragons and maybe some of the Monkeys with that, and with all due respect, fuck all of those guys. Less of them shitting up the clansmeet the better.

You were going to Elizabeth as well, she says as she pops another cracker in her mouth, a good amount of crumbs landing on her robe as she talks with her mouth full. At least that's what Lee said - something about some weirdo alchemist who gave you a box and a quest?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on February 22, 2017, 07:00:17 pm
"I think I can unblock it faster. You might want to take a couple steps back."

I imagine the cave floor swallowing up the stones, take a firm step forward, and unleash the earth's HUNGER.

The doctor clutches your waist in anticipatory dread. She gets the feeling this is about to get interesting, but doesn't seem to have enough faith in her knees to get to any safer position. Oggie pauses at first, her still-shining eyes catching yours in the dark. Something about your look strikes her suddenly, and you think her hairs bristle as an unfathomable instinct takes hold and she disappears down the tunnel at breakneck pace, not so much running as pulling herself well out of reasonable range. You get a sense of the orientation of the boulders and speak the Word, the buildup of tension resolving into a ravenous

HUNGER

[Word: 2]

The boulders ring suddenly, as do the walls, filled with a deep and resonant voracity as rock begins to eat rock, layers nibbling at each other as the nearby geology becomes animate and fiercely cannibalistic. Teeth of quartz form spontaneously and gnash heavily, spilling streams of gypsum-saturated water. The walls and blockage turn into something as much a food chain as a Mohs scale, hunting for itself at all levels of organization, devouring and being devoured in turn. Even the geochemistry takes on a savage, rapacious nature as the hardest and sharpest deposits fall prey to quickened decrepitude.

Within moments it's all become a wall-to-wall ouroboros of ravenous minerals, groaning terribly as it eats at itself furiously and utterly fruitlessly. You nearly touch it before a mere whiff of a chrysoberyl fang almost slices open your hand.

Quote from: TopHat on February 24, 2017, 12:51:42 pm
"Rituals? You use some sort of magic to summon the bugs? Where do they come from?
Wait, did you say whales?"

Oh no, not magic at all. Rituals, the alderman says! Anyone can do a good old ritual! All it takes is supplies and conviction, and also a fine appreciation for the magic of magical thinking. If it works, excellent! And if it doesn't, clearly you've done something wrong. An excellent activity for obsessives in particular, the feticheur a prime example. She's not quite lucid enough to be a public servant, you see, but certainly has the drive to be a wonderful volunteer! This will be a great step forward for her, he's sure of that much.

And yes, whales! They jump over the sandbars sometimes, coming in from the endless ocean when their time arrives. If they make it in their old age, that's how you know they'll be trouble. If they've got more than two harpoons in them on top of that, that's a priority whale right off the bat. Sometimes they pair up if they're particularly clever, and then there's the Great One - he and his four wives guard the palace. Didn't used to be a palace before the Great One showed up... some thousand years ago, was it now? Before his time, in any case!

That does remind him, since you are rather new here: if you're going to see the King, you will need a gift for the Great One to let you pass, and one for each of the Four Winds at that. He gets right cross if you don't bring gifts (part of the compact, you see), and it probably need not be said what happens then.

Spoiler: Loosened by the heartwarming compliments, a Hot Tip appears! (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on February 24, 2017, 03:05:46 pm
It occurred to Thomas that he did not know if Sureness Assurance was licensed to work in Australia.  Canada, yes, but that's not the same.  "Well, I can assure you to the best of my abilities that we want to provide our guarantees to all.  That said, if you call my office at 248-434-5508 and ask for my... mate Daniel, he'll be sure to tell you if we are authorized to work in this area.  Tell him Thomas Minstep worked with you and gave his blessing.  But as for me, personally, I do believe we can do business."


Assure while leaving himself a small out.  Got to make sure the proper licensing is in place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 24, 2017, 03:48:09 pm
"I wouldn't say a million. Stork clan that was nearby took brunt of the blast, but who knows what the flying raiders did.

Yeah, Elizabeth. That's was my original goal until Lee suggested we should drop by here on the way. I have to bury a box in some grave in Elizabeth as a payment for the alchemist guy I inevitabled into existance. Got a guy to heal for Lee, and he wouldn't do it free. I'm pretty sure Lee should still have the box.

So, the clansmeet. I keep hearing about it every now and then. What's it about?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on February 24, 2017, 06:21:37 pm
Daniels chuckles internally at the question he posed to himself.

Best find out.

SILENCE
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on February 25, 2017, 01:33:17 pm
"Now that is interesting. Do you know what sort of gifts would be considered preferable? I personally haven't the foggiest idea what a whale would want. Is it appropriate to bring one for his majesty, as well?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Harry Baldman on February 27, 2017, 11:32:06 am
Quote from: Toaster on February 24, 2017, 03:05:46 pm
It occurred to Thomas that he did not know if Sureness Assurance was licensed to work in Australia.  Canada, yes, but that's not the same.  "Well, I can assure you to the best of my abilities that we want to provide our guarantees to all.  That said, if you call my office at 248-434-5508 and ask for my... mate Daniel, he'll be sure to tell you if we are authorized to work in this area.  Tell him Thomas Minstep worked with you and gave his blessing.  But as for me, personally, I do believe we can do business."


Assure while leaving himself a small out.  Got to make sure the proper licensing is in place.

[Sureness Assurance: 6+1]

A blessing! Thank you, the bearded man says! Thank you very much! He will call immediately! Hold right there, Thomas Minstep of Sureness Assurance! He proceeds to run off behind a nearby tree, and you hear him kneel down on a squelching bed of bracken. Fierce muttering is heard, and a string of numbers.

The woman places her hands on your shoulders, do you think she could, er, get that same kind of deal? Perhaps, you say demurely, she does look young and highly insurable. As does the lovely girl with the cane (pre-existing conditions don't benefit from most coverage, you mutter discreetly). There isn't any particularly compelling reason, potential licensing issues aside, that you couldn't insure the lot of them. Individually, presumably.

Of course it'll have to be individually, the child retorts. That's how this sort of thing ought to work. Now give her your assurance first, then to Helen over there, she nods toward the camouflaged woman. Ah, you say, but she does look a little young. Does she have some kind of legal guardian you could arrange this with? Like a parent, for instance?

She blinks. She doesn't have parents, she taps her cane a little bitterly. Doesn't need them. Deal with her. Emancipated, you ask with a raised eyebrow? Yeah, she responds, something like that. Now does she have your blessing as well?

You don't think your job has ever been this easy. You see two more faces pop out from behind the trees, a very similar-looking young man and woman, the woman having something of a blotchy, reddened complexion while the man has a rather sizable purple birthmark on the side of his head. And next to them is a remarkably short, incredibly muscular dark-skinned young man holding an axe in a way that suggests he's not entirely sure on how to use it. Silver looks very interested in this whole assurance business himself, but also very content in letting the others have their turn first. He is a junior clansman, after all.

He has it, you hear a sudden triumphant shout from behind the tree, the bearded man rolling out from behind it. He has permission! Let sureness rain, and assurance, he screams to the heavens! The other clansmen look to each other, then to you. Silver raises his arms. Sureness, he yells! Assurance!

The others follow suit, converging on you for sound advice on how to proceed with the process of being properly insured. You inquire as to whether they have any stationery on hand (they do have leather, reasonably parched). There will be some papers that need to be written up, you explain patiently. Oh, they say, can they use blood to pen them? Don't have any ink, Silver says, and they say blood's just as good. The bearded man assents - the Daniel has spoken to him and revealed that any contracts that are to be made should be written in blood! And they shall be written by this Thomas Minstep, for sureness and assurance!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 24, 2017, 03:48:09 pm
"I wouldn't say a million. Stork clan that was nearby took brunt of the blast, but who knows what the flying raiders did.

Yeah, Elizabeth. That's was my original goal until Lee suggested we should drop by here on the way. I have to bury a box in some grave in Elizabeth as a payment for the alchemist guy I inevitabled into existance. Got a guy to heal for Lee, and he wouldn't do it free. I'm pretty sure Lee should still have the box.

So, the clansmeet. I keep hearing about it every now and then. What's it about?"

The lamplighter's never seen an alchemist, but she's heard they're cryptic bastards to a man and occasional woman. Wouldn't be surprised if the damn thing just exploded or something after you planted. Surprising it hasn't done that yet, she'll be honest. That's what alchemists do mostly, she gestures pointedly with her fifth cracker of the day, just blow shit up.

As for the clansmeet, she thinks a second in order to put it into words, it's exactly what it says. The clans meet, you know. Over in Elizabeth. Something about the fake kingdom getting screwed over to the south. You know- well, actually you don't, she laughs, it's probably going to be something along the lines of Dragons'll want to convince the others to go with them on a super deep raid to pad out their numbers (woe betide the dumb bastards who take them up on it), you know, take advantage of the whole chaos thing. Storks'll go for it, they'll need extra folk after this, probably Monkeys as well. Maybe the Shrikes or even the Dogs, if they've got nothing better to do and they probably don't.

Of course, that's just the boring political shit. Mere pretext, she assures you. The fun part is what most of the clans go there for, which is the seven days of deliberation after the motions are made. All the boring old assholes are off talking in their big tent, so everybody else just gets to have fun. Pro tip: get in good with the Snarks. They have the good shit (way better than the Moths) and are always up for a party. And they take none of it seriously.

This is actually looking to be a pretty awesome clansmeet, since it'll happen in Elizabeth. She's a fun old girl, Elizabeth.

Anyway, the lamplighter says, you going to be okay on your own? Looks like the worst of the hangover's going, and she does have a couple lamps that still need lighting. Catch you later, eh?

Quote from: Xantalos on February 24, 2017, 06:21:37 pm
Daniels chuckles internally at the question he posed to himself.

Best find out.

SILENCE

You sit up in bed first, then rise to your feet when this does not appear to be enough. You spread your arms wide and feel the edges of your mindscape, and then you speak.

SILENCE

[Word: 6, 3]

You encompass the sound within the span of your arms as the Word permeates the inside of your mind, snaking through every notion planted in this elaborate mindscape as you let it swell and fill out the entirety of your thoughts. Everything stops, the whole of your mind becoming still and static as not even the dust on the floor dares move at all. You catch the sound of developing thoughts and collect them in a generous, concentrated handful.

And then you crush them into nothingness, leaving but an all-encompassing, alarmingly predatory stillness where it once was. For a moment you feel spectacularly tense. You should not be here much longer.

You let the mindscape fade, Peaks Ever-Crumbling and her drape-filled labyrinth of an alchemist's workshop swimming back into your view. It takes you a few moments to ascertain a certain numbness in your mind, not unlike the sensation of having your thoughts progressively eaten. Colder somehow, you think. As if memories are not so much eaten as they are sti-

... hm. What was it you were thinking about? The minder, you'd suppose. The alchemist seems to be paying no more attention to you than an occasional cursory glance to make sure you haven't collapsed on any nearby equipment. The latest glance in this series detects a kind of change, but something about your eyes makes her hesitate in going so far as to ascribe any lucidity to it.

Quote from: TopHat on February 25, 2017, 01:33:17 pm
"Now that is interesting. Do you know what sort of gifts would be considered preferable? I personally haven't the foggiest idea what a whale would want. Is it appropriate to bring one for his majesty, as well?"


[What Whales Want: 1]

He hasn't the foggiest either, the alderman regrets to tell you. Presumably something large. And most people who manage to reach the King don't tend to go around talking about what they saw or gave away to get there. The protocol, of course, would imply that it's quite enough to give gifts to the whales. That's what gifts are for, showing that you come with good and, more importantly, serious intentions. Wouldn't want to let in someone who'd waste the King's time, after all, only so much of that to go around.

On the other hand, it does seem like it'd be terribly remiss of you to give something to all these great whales and then come before the King empty-handed. Would his complexity enjoy gifts as such? He could give you his latest edict if that would help, though it will take a little time to copy it down properly. Perhaps it would shed light on his mood?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Toaster on February 27, 2017, 12:36:42 pm
Thomas totally failed to realize here that he was in over his head.  But he said he spoke with Daniel, didn't he?  Must be okay.

"Well, typically the forms come preprinted from the company, but it is not uncommon for temporary forms to be handed out before the official ones are processed.  They're usually typed as well, but if handwritten is what must be done, then so be it.  But blood?  That's a bit... unhygenic.  Is there... like... berries or something to write with?"


Look for berry juice or something to write with.  Failing that, blood will do if there's no other option.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: Xantalos on February 27, 2017, 04:26:39 pm
Hmm. Perhaps this was not a wholly good idea, but then again what is?

Make sure I didn't accidentally lobotomize myself or erase my own memories or anything, then bid the nice alchemist farewell and go ... ah yes. Go find Rainbow, on the guise of having forgotten where the captain's quarters were.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: AoshimaMichio on February 28, 2017, 12:39:50 pm
"Point me in direction of emptied drink reserves. You said reserves got broken into, so I'll see if I can fix the situation."

Locate empty barrels of tasty tasty alcohol.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Leaps of Faith
Post by: TopHat on February 28, 2017, 05:15:58 pm
"That's a kind offer, thank you, but I'm sure you're busy enough running the town. Speaking of which, what can you tell me about it? I'm afraid I don't even know this place's name."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 03, 2017, 12:46:57 pm
Quote from: Toaster on February 27, 2017, 12:36:42 pm
Thomas totally failed to realize here that he was in over his head.  But he said he spoke with Daniel, didn't he?  Must be okay.

"Well, typically the forms come preprinted from the company, but it is not uncommon for temporary forms to be handed out before the official ones are processed.  They're usually typed as well, but if handwritten is what must be done, then so be it.  But blood?  That's a bit... unhygenic.  Is there... like... berries or something to write with?"


Look for berry juice or something to write with.  Failing that, blood will do if there's no other option.

[Contract Work: 6+1]

The small group gathers around you as leather is gathered - or, rather, what seem to be for the most part leaves dried and somehow worked to assume a state not unlike leather, along with long pieces of cured tree bark. A family secret, the muscled fellow relates, passed down many generations.

Generations of what? Ah, he says, generations of Trees Be Bound. Is that his last name, you ask as you start to figure out what to put in his contract. No no, he says, that's just his dynastic identifier. It's an El thing. His name is Nobody Cares, actually. Is that his birth name, you raise your eyes from the first draft springing slowly on a patch of leathery leaf. No, he says, they gave him that one after he was disowned, it's something of a tale...

... they probably don't need fire insurance, you tell the Eke siblings. The sister, Undine, nevertheless insists. She's always been terribly afraid of fire. Could you assure her that she's safe in case anything happens regardless? And do you have lightning assurance, her brother Prosper asks. In a moment, Mr. Eke, you've got a plan exactly for a man like him, you just need a moment to collect your thoughts, and also more ink, a lot more ink...

... you've written up all of Gamble's - that's the bearded fellow's name - insurance papers written in the juice of what they call fuzzy berries. You're assured it will hold - Helen still has some stains on her fingers from several years ago. They don't come out for nothing she's been able to try, she says, shaking her head a bit sadly. Gamble has wasted no time in garbing himself in the contracts like a suit of armor. Thankfully you've kept copied for yourself, you think as he proclaims his invincibility to the forest. There were rather a lot you had to do...

... and being involved in a scientific experiment against your will, y'reckon that there contract will cover it, Helen squints at the fine print. You're not entirely sure she can read, so you dictate the terms to her again - unethical scientific experimentation should fall under life insurance under most mad science methodologies, you repeat in a tone that sounds almost entirely normal. She listens intently and nods feverishly. Make that out to Helen Clampitt, she says at the end, and signs with an X that she takes the time to embellish slightly...

... that just about covers everything, Lily taps her cane as she reads through the contracts again. Excluding something called a force majeure, apparently, and also thermonuclear war. Acts of god, you translate, and if that last thing happens the fulfillment is impossible because New York is a prime target for nuclear strikes and thus they probably won't be able to take your calls at the Albany office for the near future. So like the twilight of the gods, she says. Yes, you say after thinking a moment, a lot like that now that you think about it...

... Silver's a dab hand at this, you noticed somewhere along the third contract when he offered to help with all the writing and such. He used to be a clerk, he explains, filling out paperwork is his only survival skill. And what a survival skill it is, you tap him on the shoulder. Paperwork filled out properly is what makes everything run smoothly. Very right, he laughs! He should think even gods need their forms filled out every now and then. Celestial bureaucracy and all that, you know...

Night has fallen and then abruptly lifted by the time you've made the veritable mountain of paperwork in triplicate required to insure seven whole individuals. There's something of an untapped market here insuring Australian mountain clansmen, you discover. The secret seems to be to phrase things in understandable terms. For instance, they've never heard of a monthly premium, but they do appear to be very ready to sacrifice generously on the 8th day of every month to ensure their safety from every curse known to gods and men in all perpetuity.

Right, you say after all this. The clansmen have been napping in shifts, skipping sleep to watch you work. You were going somewhere. Elizabeth, you turn to Silver, who nods, where all the metal dragons take off and land.

You need not even ask, Gamble proclaims under his protective mountain of leafy parchment, of course they will accompany you! Their holy duties demand it, in fact!

Quote from: Xantalos on February 27, 2017, 04:26:39 pm
Hmm. Perhaps this was not a wholly good idea, but then again what is?

Make sure I didn't accidentally lobotomize myself or erase my own memories or anything, then bid the nice alchemist farewell and go ... ah yes. Go find Rainbow, on the guise of having forgotten where the captain's quarters were.

You're sure you'll be fine. Your thoughts aren't being eaten, after all, just being kept safe.

Anyway, you look into the window. You've gone up the street and down, and it occurs to you now that you forgot to look around. Did you ask someone for directions? There's a frightened-looking fellow behind the glass. He shuts the drapes in front of you, looking quite terrified. Seems that you did.

You sit on the roof thoughtfully. You were looking for someone. It was... the minder, yes. You're starting to forget. Best get back to it.

[Somewhere Over The Rainbow: 6]

You bump into somebody who looks like they might know. Gray, emaciated, with a long branching bramble of bristly white hair, stalking around the streets and casting hungry glances at onlookers. You tap it on the shoulder. It turns and regards you with a trio of faceted eyes. Its teeth chatter, an overly long spiked tongue dragging along the inside of its mouth.

There is a terrible, sudden noise as a tone tries to steal its way into your mind. MR. DANIELS, it screams suddenly without true awareness of its intrusion, SHE DIDN'T SEE YOU TH-

The thought is not finished before a swarm descends on it, yanking it inward, the immaculate thoughtform unraveling as it is pulled screaming and kicking into your mindscape. The creature looks momentarily frozen in utter confusion. Your murder-thought, thus far occupied with keeping time on any convenient solid object, suddenly springs to your side. You had to do something, you think. A decapitation, was it?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on February 28, 2017, 12:39:50 pm
"Point me in direction of emptied drink reserves. You said reserves got broken into, so I'll see if I can fix the situation."

Locate empty barrels of tasty tasty alcohol.

Not broken into, the lamplighter corrects. Technically, that is. She does remember somebody broke a barrel open in frustration at one point. But mostly the reserves were tapped the old-fashioned way. Should be a cask lying around somewhere, she shrugs. She thinks she saw Kava cradling one of the smaller ones back up the passage a little ways? Anyway, take a look around. Should be a simple enough thing to locate with all the debauchery going around. When she's done with her rounds, she'll probably head over to the upper passages. Somewhere with a view today, she thinks.

[A Cask For My Troubles: 4]

You head off and, true enough, a little ways up the nearby passage next to a faintly glowing blue brazier lies a surprisingly slight woman, presumably Kava, her arms and legs very tightly wrapped around an empty cask of what you're fairly sure was some strong liquor, a faintly glistening trail of drool coming down its side as she snores contently and open-mouthedly from atop it, doing an admirably good job of balancing despite being completely unconscious. A few others, you notice, have not been so lucky, men and women of disparate ages all sprawled around the cask as if vanquished by a superior force of drunkenness.

Quote from: TopHat on February 28, 2017, 05:15:58 pm
"That's a kind offer, thank you, but I'm sure you're busy enough running the town. Speaking of which, what can you tell me about it? I'm afraid I don't even know this place's name."


Oh, the alderman growls in surprise. How terribly remiss of him to not mention that. He rather thought you knew already, with that impressive entrance and all. He clears his throat and stands to his full height.

This, he sweeps his arms around himself, this is the Tell of the Setting Sun! Westernmost tell of the kingdom at the moment, he's fairly certain unless one of the other ones has made a beeline for the border for whatever reason. It'd be rude of them to do so without giving advance warning, mind you, but it'd also hardly be the first time.

But yes, this may look to be a quaint little crawling citadel on the surface of the bog, but he'll tell you what, he's tuned it to work like a finely tortured machine if he's done anything at all in his long career. It's a hub of commerce! A seat of local industry! A nest of stories so old they predate certain notions of time itself, sometimes. If a thing could ever be said to have happened, taken or enjoyed, you will find it in this tell, he assures you, or at least someone who once had it.

He'd advise taking an unguided tour, personally. They always do put on something of a show when he comes around. Take a walk around town! Take in the sights! Perhaps visit the merchant quarter, the fair should last a few decades yet!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Toaster on March 03, 2017, 01:37:15 pm
The thrill of paperwork still flowing through him, Thomas nodded.  "Yes!  Let's be off right away."

Onward toward Elizabeth!  No time to waste.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Xantalos on March 03, 2017, 04:19:45 pm
((Oh, that is interesting. Not only the fact of how the SILENCE is affecting my mind by locking my thoughts away a few seconds after I have them, and the minder's thought getting dragged screaming into my mind was most satisfying, but the apparent cessation of the illusion she was casting is ... intriguing. Also what manner of creature she is, but this opens up new vistas of possibility for what I might be able to do with other Words.))

Yep, seems like the time to do it. Make sure to save the pithy one-liner for after her head hits the ground.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Toaster on March 03, 2017, 06:17:58 pm
((Also very relevant)) (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyqxc_the-crimson-permanent-assurance_fun)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 03, 2017, 06:36:01 pm
Quote from: Toaster on March 03, 2017, 06:17:58 pm
((Also very relevant)) (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xyqxc_the-crimson-permanent-assurance_fun)

Essentially the inverse of this, yes.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 05, 2017, 06:46:02 am
Make sure tap is closed, lid closed, imagine it full of wonderful tasty liquor and ensure the DRINK is real.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: TopHat on March 05, 2017, 03:50:07 pm
"Thank you, I think I will - it's always interesting to explore old towns. I'll come back and see you again before I go, though. Any last bits of advice?"
This should be fun. Just like those holidays to the seaside.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 05, 2017, 08:44:47 pm
"Okay, so... we're halfway to a solution."

I focus on the rocks again and direct their HUNGER outward, away from the cave.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 06, 2017, 10:49:24 am
Quote from: Toaster on March 03, 2017, 01:37:15 pm
The thrill of paperwork still flowing through him, Thomas nodded.  "Yes!  Let's be off right away."

Onward toward Elizabeth!  No time to waste.

[To The Big City: 4]

They follow you like little ducklings, these newly insured. Occasionally they try to exactly match your steps. Some of them dare challenge the occasional bush or intimidate a passing badger-thing, the latter of which vomits lightning in your general direction, splitting a tree wide open. You quicken your pace.

Occasionally you veer through little valleys, or cross small mountain brooks. There are old roads in some places, but these prove only middlingly useful, overgrown as they are. You go past an ancient aqueduct, a shockingly classical construction that seems to have collapsed into leading straight down, forming the spring from which a brand new river forms, slowly carving a gouge in the earth.

Your progress is not unnoticed either - by the end of the first day you've run into another group that Nobody appears to be familiar with - the treefishers, who try to tempt passing wildlife with shining lures from atop their isolated thickets. You spend the night with them in a remarkably tasteful, if questionably constructed series of tree forts, and as your followers get to chatting with them, it doesn't take long before you and Silver have drafted up another six contracts.

[In The Morning I'll Be Gone: 4]

They seem a spirited lot, these fishers. Also quite interested in finding different thickets, the badgers around here have been giving them trouble. There's a fairly large one, apparently, that's started to grow odd scales and horns. Oh dear, you say, some kind of skin disease? The elder of the treefishers, a man 30 years old at best, would say so - happens sometimes in the north, don't you know. You get old enough and strange things start to happen to you. Usually they don't get this shiny though, thing looked absolutely covered in strange gemstones. Gets sharper every day, Tabernacle adds. He's apparently their scout by virtue of drawing the shortest straw.

You get to asking them if there's any roads nearby. Such as to Elizabeth.

They say yes - there's the old highway from the dead lands, just a few miles to the north. Spiders live there, however. Lots of Spiders. You'd be better off trying to climb the western ridge, Tabernacle chuckles. A lot of people fell off that, another treefisher clarifies. Tall bloody thing, their largest member spits, bottom's strewn with bones. She's heard a thing lives up there, kicks people right the hell off.

Would there be a way around, Silver asks after wincing at this. Southward, perhaps?

There's the highway to the north again, one mentions. That's got a handy ramp and everything. Or was it a tunnel? Lots of Spiders notwithstanding. Southward though, you don't want to go south. Or southwest, for that matter. That's where the wood full of goddamned bears is. Not friendly bears, you feel it relevant to ask. Not very friendly bears at all, Tabernacle nods.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 03, 2017, 04:19:45 pm
Yep, seems like the time to do it. Make sure to save the pithy one-liner for after her head hits the ground.

[Where's Your Head At: 1+2 vs. 4]

Your murder-thought zips toward her head, ripping into her neck in the distraction and coming out the other end suddenly and, you notice, completely bloodlessly. This gives you a moment's pause as a blood-curdling gurgle issues from Rainbow's punctured throat and you feel her suddenly violently thrash in your mind against the legion of hands and teeth encircling her thoughts.

[Don't Let The Walls Cave In On You: 3 vs. 3]

She does not regain her faculties as you manage to keep hold of her, her clawed hands blindly swiping all around you as her perceptions still struggle with your inner temple. You figure this will need a more personal touch.

[We Can Live On, Live On Without You: 4+2 vs. 4]

You spit in your hands and rub them together as you step aside, the horrendous creature surging forward dumbly and instinctively, higher thought processes still eluding her as you step up from behind and place one hand on her head, the other on her shoulders. That done, you begin the process of wrenching it off her shoulders. She resists and tries to fight you off, joints bending at unnatural angles as talons whiff past your face. You adjust your grip - wouldn't want to ruin the skull with a careless tug, would you? It's such a strange skull, too.

[Don't Let The Walls Cave In On You: 6 vs. 3]

Her resistance starts to subside as her mind is drawn further into your temple. A deep and powerful anguish, satisfyingly not your own, streams from the edges of your perception like a half-remembered dream piercing the silence.

[You Get What You Give, That Much Is True: 1+2 vs. 2]

She goes limp in your hands and you conclude the operation by pulling the head straight off, the murder-thought skipping through to sever the spine, sinew and calcified blood vessels all tangled together in her bizarre anatomy. You hold it up in one hand, her mind trapped and suddenly traumatized, and send her body tumbling into a nearby wall with a well-placed kick.

You meet the gaze of her severed head and try to think of something cool to say. You notice that something of a crowd has gathered. Better make it good.

[Where's Your Head At: 2]

Should have, uh, had a hand on your wits there, whatever your name was. Lady. Shit, you should have had something prepared for this.

Rainbow's eyes meet yours in the last moments of her fleeting consciousness as it is torn apart by yours. She devotes the rest of her life to giving you a trio of anatomically unlikely eye rolls, her mouth forming a disgusted scowl before mouthing a word of inestimable contempt.

EXECRABLE

You lower the head by your side and look around. The twenty-odd pirates in the area look on with raised eyebrows. Was that really the best you could do, they seem to ask as they shake their heads. I mean, good job on beheading that ghoul or whatever it was, but really?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 05, 2017, 06:46:02 am
Make sure tap is closed, lid closed, imagine it full of wonderful tasty liquor and ensure the DRINK is real.

You step over to the tap and screw it shut, and give the lid an experimental tap. Seems secure enough, woman on top notwithstanding. You don't have the heart to move her, soundly sleeping as she is. You point and speak the Word.

DRINK

[Word: 5]

The scent of apples and concentrated alcohol fills the room as the barrel hums, sloshes and rather appropriately levitates, a forbidden universal harmony turning liquid inside it as the Platonic ideal of inebriation forms inside it, not so much a beverage as the idea of one, ineffable and possessed of a supreme power that the barrel seems to have trouble containing as it floats upright, the passed-out woman sliding off it gently and falling to the ground, her eyes suddenly opening as she sniffs the air.

A boozy gleam permeates the room as you concentrate the possibilities within. What is inside that barrel, you may possibly ask. And you don't know, not exactly. But it's something you've never drunk before, something you didn't know you needed in your life. But if you do drink it, you feel that very little in the world stands a chance of topping it.

Oh, Kava says, sitting up and rubbing her head from where she fell. Oh, her head. Her poor head. She looks around at the others, who similarly appear to be waking up. She turns to you. Oh god, what happened? How did she get here? What's that, she points at the barrel, and squints a moment. It looks oddly familiar.

Her eyes dart to you as a rising panic cuts through the hangover. Oh dear, she didn't do anything... embarrassing, did she? You have to tell her.

Quote from: TopHat on March 05, 2017, 03:50:07 pm
"Thank you, I think I will - it's always interesting to explore old towns. I'll come back and see you again before I go, though. Any last bits of advice?"
This should be fun. Just like those holidays to the seaside.

He'll certainly catch up with you later, worry not! As for advice, don't let the more enthusiastic functionaries bother you! If they do, you're alive and they're not, and tell them they should know better than to hassle you beyond what you find permissible.

You leave the alderman to his paperwork and head down the stairs out of the tower back into Administration Square, where the eyes of a dozen inhuman statues piled atop the ruins of the rest of the administrative headquarters regard you silently in a way that makes you shiver. Streets wind every which way from here, including up and down, around the steeples, trenches and temples of the massive tell, all piled together like geological strata, broken in places with veins of fresher construction. Few lights abound in the streets, and the sweepers occasionally walk through the alleys, giving you bestial looks as they take a moment to establish that you are merely a feckless gawker as opposed to a filthy vagrant, the two meaningful categories of people in a street sweeper's unlife.

At the top lie the terraces of the town, where winged yet flightless beasts gather and watch the streets below, occasionally crawling up or down along the walls to gather something of interest, you're not quite sure what. Some of them cast their icy blue eyes at the bell towers rising from several places, waiting intently for a particular time. A few non-functionaries have gathered on a nearby rooftop, sitting around a table for a purpose you cannot quite gauge.

Down one of the many winding streets as you walk to take a look around you see what looks to be the merchant quarter, with dilapidated merchants standing in well-kept stalls, closely attended by creatures with needle-like claws that they ceaselessly sharpen. Occasionally one of the merchants gives a dusty, incoherent call into the overall silence of the market, and the light coming from some of the indoor shops looks bright enough to easily outshine most of the rest of the city.

Deeper down than that you hear the huddling and crawling masses flowing like groaning rivers as they are driven by fork-wielding officers of the law and deposited in their appointed residences for their rounds of daily engagement. Further in, you hear the distorted sounds of a band disastrously attempting to play for some kind of social event, and occasional brief flashes of white light.

There are also the temples, of course, whether to gods or machines or something else entirely. Most of them seem empty of anything but their remnant clergy, and down a particularly darkened street you see a primitive-looking adobe edifice illuminated like a lighthouse, a creature with a face like a lunar eclipse welcoming a cartload of barely-conscious worshipers from a surly gang of street sweepers while creatures of a wide variety of disturbing shapes look on jealously from their own empty houses of worship.

And then, not at all far from here in fact, there is also what looks and indeed seems to be denoted as some kind of ancient theater. You hear voices come from within - as crumbled and buried in miscellaneous buildings as it is, the theater nevertheless lets itself be very much heard over quite a distance.

You pause as you wander back to Administration Square. A street sweeper circles, considerably closer now as your presence continues to visibly irritate it, before disengaging. You feel it best not to linger in the streets for long.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 05, 2017, 08:44:47 pm
"Okay, so... we're halfway to a solution."

I focus on the rocks again and direct their HUNGER outward, away from the cave.

You say so, the doctor replies, apparently transfixed by the noises of predatory geology until now, but is it the kind of solution that anybody would want? You reassure her, it'll be fine. You've never heard of a problem that you couldn't solve without provoking an unusual appetite where you would least expect it. You snap your fingers and turn to the darkness as you redouble your assault on the laws of reality.

HUNGER

[Word: 6]

You take the ravenous hunger that suffuses the rock and unify it - rather than hunger for each other, they should hunger for one thing and one thing only. You think a second on what that would be. Human flesh? Best not. The sun, the clouds? Too far off. Trees, you decide - the smell of resin and the feel of leaves, this will the rocks hunger for. You force this into them, an insatiable appetite for all things arboreal, and let it settle for a second as the rocks stop momentarily.

It does not take them long to pick up the scent. A forest is very close indeed. Wood, even closer. It contracts like a mineralized jellyfish, a thousand mouths of stone in an amorphous body, and rushes out in a mass of razor sharp fangs as it rips free of the cave mouth and seeks wilderness. Sunlight suddenly bathes the cave and all things within it, nearly blinding you after all this darkness. You catch a glimpse of the rocky monstrosity as it leaves you far behind, moving far quicker than you'd expect of a thing probably weighing several dozen tons. You blink and look again - nothing of it seen as it has disappeared over a hill, presumably having caught sight of its quarry.

Hopefully you won't run into it again. You'd hate it to mistake you for a tree.

The doctor admits to being initially pessimistic, but you have managed it. With minimal damage, even. Now all you need to do is to get the poor creature to follow you out the passage, what do you say?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Xantalos on March 06, 2017, 01:06:26 pm
"Don't judge me on my lack of wit, I'm not a pirate. I'm a ... shit, what even am I? I wanna say martial master but that just sounds fucking silly. Well, whatever profession you'd classify me as a member as, it's not one that focuses overly much on wordplay. Or at all, actually. More on murdering people and taking their shit as per my discretion. Well, whatever."

He walks off in a direction before momentarily pausing. "Oh right, that was ... what was her name? Rainbow! Yeah, Rainbow Scarf Head Minder bitch was secretly a ghoul thing. You should probably do more poking of the minders y'all got," he calls out before proceeding off.

Let's go find this first mate and present her with the head of this ghoulish lady, shall we? That alchemist mentioned a reward.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 06, 2017, 01:12:45 pm
Leif gives Kava reassuring tap on shoulder.

"Good morning, sister. A drinking party happened, of that I am sure. What else has taken place, I haven't the foggiest idea. But the lesson here is that if nobody remembers it, then it didn't happen. And that..." Leif grows silent for a moment, blazing eyes glued at the floating barrel. "...that is something nobody should drink unless they are on their death bed, because you will never taste better drink in the world ever again. I desperately want to drink it, but if I do then there's nothing left for me to chase, nothing else to satisfy my thirst."

I swear this by highest gods and by all creation: wherever my journey may me, this is where it will end! Be it tomorrow or after hundred years, tasting this is the last thing I will do!
...in more serious thought, better secure the barrel so it won't float away on its own or burst apart under ideal pressure. I'm not sure I can replicate this production.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Toaster on March 06, 2017, 01:22:17 pm
Thomas had heard stories about Australian spiders,what with them being bigger than they had any rights to be.  He wasn't too keen on finding that out for himself.  "We could go at least look at this ridge?  Spiders... no."

Probably best to avoid the bear forest too.  Probably those drop bears he had heard about.

Head off to inspect ridge?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 07, 2017, 07:39:32 am
"What, Oggie? She seems pretty happy down here. She can come with us if she wants, but there's no reason to make her."

As I listen to the doctor's response, I walk to the mouth of the cave and observe the nearby landscape.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: TopHat on March 07, 2017, 02:28:32 pm
Let's go back round the merchant quarter and have a look at what's for sale. Maybe chat with a merchant and see how business is these days?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 11, 2017, 10:58:15 am
Quote from: Xantalos on March 06, 2017, 01:06:26 pm
"Don't judge me on my lack of wit, I'm not a pirate. I'm a ... shit, what even am I? I wanna say martial master but that just sounds fucking silly. Well, whatever profession you'd classify me as a member as, it's not one that focuses overly much on wordplay. Or at all, actually. More on murdering people and taking their shit as per my discretion. Well, whatever."

He walks off in a direction before momentarily pausing. "Oh right, that was ... what was her name? Rainbow! Yeah, Rainbow Scarf Head Minder bitch was secretly a ghoul thing. You should probably do more poking of the minders y'all got," he calls out before proceeding off.

Let's go find this first mate and present her with the head of this ghoulish lady, shall we? That alchemist mentioned a reward.

They wouldn't dream of talking shit about the repartee of a man who straight murked a weird minder ghoul just like that, no sir. In fact, they were just about to scatter right after briefly checking if the rest of her corpse has any pockets (it does, much to their chagrin).

Some of the crowd follows you as you march with the head over to the great brass ship and make your way to its impressive figurehead. At least you'd assume it's a figurehead - it reminds you of a mermaid constructed of interlocking copper pipes when viewed from the front, and perhaps a little more like a dragon from the sides. From behind it looks a lot like an overly complicated boiler or maybe an insufficiently complicated church organ. And in front of it stands Two Shores, looking up the river, her dress of ribbons billowing in the breeze.

She may have been breathtakingly beautiful once, before a wealth of deep scars, gently curving gouges and a few missing chunks made her merely strikingly gorgeous. She lifts her greatsword to eye level as she looks you over, and from the lack of difficulty she has lifting it you get the sense that using it two-handed is a stylistic choice on her part.

You lift the head to eye level as a retort, the creature's expression frozen and grotesque even when aimed at someone else. You found this wandering around, you mention, called itself Rainbow. The alchemist said to kill it and bring the head over here. Something about a reward.

[Getting Ahead In Life: 4]

She looks to some intrepid merchants that seem to have shadowed you on the way here. They nod to confirm. She looks at you again, a little more skeptically this time, and gives a half-squint at the head. Something seems to click.

Oh, she says in a gentle voice. Icky business. But right you are, good sir. The captain will be well pleased with your thoughtful gift. So how can the Vault of Heavens please you in return, she bows in a faint motion somewhat disproportionate in comparison with the carefree sweep of her sword (quite immaculate, you notice as it nearly takes off the tip of your nose) as she maneuvers it behind herself.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 06, 2017, 01:12:45 pm
Leif gives Kava reassuring tap on shoulder.

"Good morning, sister. A drinking party happened, of that I am sure. What else has taken place, I haven't the foggiest idea. But the lesson here is that if nobody remembers it, then it didn't happen. And that..." Leif grows silent for a moment, blazing eyes glued at the floating barrel. "...that is something nobody should drink unless they are on their death bed, because you will never taste better drink in the world ever again. I desperately want to drink it, but if I do then there's nothing left for me to chase, nothing else to satisfy my thirst."

I swear this by highest gods and by all creation: wherever my journey may me, this is where it will end! Be it tomorrow or after hundred years, tasting this is the last thing I will do!
...in more serious thought, better secure the barrel so it won't float away on its own or burst apart under ideal pressure. I'm not sure I can replicate this production.

Memory loss, a splitting headache and feeling like you're about to blow six kinds of chunks. Is this what being Morag is like? Ugh.

She stands up, still looking at the barrel. She doesn't normally do this, you understand. Or at least she hasn't ever before. She looks down. Her feet appear to have inadvertently taken a step toward the heavy scent of hard liquor. She looks up to see her hand reaching out a little. Okay, no. No! Not again. You're a nice girl, Kava. You used to be such a nice girl.

[The Famous Ol' Spiced: 4]

She notices you shoving a moaning, hungover Moth away for daring to reach for the Holy Cask and follows discontently as you air-roll it out through the passage. Where do you plan on taking that, she asks as you contemplate the passage. You reply that you don't really know. Does she have any suggestions? You guess you could just carry it around until you forget you had it. Works for most other things.

It would be irresponsible to leave it lying around, Kava says, tapping her fingers slowly on the side of the barrel, absently putting her ear to the side to hear the heavenly liqueur sloshing around within. Is, she begins to ask a little dreamily, is hair of the dog something that actually works? She could really use a little something to, she almost continues but shakes her head violently to rid herself of the notion. Okay, there's something really, really off about that thing! It's making her think things she wouldn't think!

Something occurs to her. Wait. You said something, didn't you, when you came in? She wasn't... awake yet, she doesn't think. But she heard something. And it felt kinda weirdly familiar.

Quote from: Toaster on March 06, 2017, 01:22:17 pm
Thomas had heard stories about Australian spiders,what with them being bigger than they had any rights to be.  He wasn't too keen on finding that out for himself.  "We could go at least look at this ridge?  Spiders... no."

Probably best to avoid the bear forest too.  Probably those drop bears he had heard about.

Head off to inspect ridge?

The fishers, less confident in the power of your contracts than the first lot, nevertheless offer to accompany you over to the ridge. It's not that long a walk, and you can tell you're close when the trees peter out entirely and all you are left with is a slope that curls upward to a forbidding ridge about a thousand feet tall from where you are standing, its slope gentle at first, but rapidly becoming increasingly inhospitable as rock starts to break through the earth and jut upward like a row of terrible teeth and, most curiously of all, what look almost like fossilized remains of habitation, ruins flooded to fullness with rock that's dripped into them along the ages.

You see an exceedingly colorful vulture floating up above. It appears to be carrying something quite sizable that it drops, splitting it with unusual precision on an unattended sharp rock. It swoops and wastes no time in gobbling up the two resulting halves of what is undoubtedly a human femur. It gives you a look best described as slightly anticipatory and then promptly flies off.

That looks to be something of a climb, you decide to point out at this moment. Tabernacle responds that it certainly is. Not a sheer cliff face by any means. You dare say it wouldn't be all that much work to make your way up it. Of course, the largest fisher says, that's what they all say before the thing on top kicks them off. It is rather a long way down, Silver ventures to add.

[The Ridge of Inescapable Doom: 1]

As evidenced by a man presently rolling down it. Well, you think it was a man once. Right now it's a little too broken to tell, not so much a person as a sack of broken, shattered bones and wildly flopping limbs. Still screaming, however.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 07, 2017, 07:39:32 am
"What, Oggie? She seems pretty happy down here. She can come with us if she wants, but there's no reason to make her."

As I listen to the doctor's response, I walk to the mouth of the cave and observe the nearby landscape.

No, the doctor says, she is probably content to remain here. There's a difference. And remaining in a place like this is a very bad idea. She's already gone very strange and it's only going to become worse with time. She'll go absolutely mad, you know. Lose any possibility of lucidity. Probably turn into something that stalks the tunnels and eats passersby for imagined offenses, that sort of thing. You surely can't leave her here if there's anything at all you can do to make her come out, it'd be inhumane and cruel.

You consider this as you step out of the cave mouth. You appear to have gone a little ways from the manor house, and are really very close to what you'd consider the proper wilderness. The surroundings are fairly quiet now, the looting concluded and the peasantry effectively scattered by the multitude of calamities. Anglefork is just about done for, it seems, until someone comes to look for what happened or, even more likely, something moves into the vacuum. Maybe nature will reclaim it. Maybe something worse will.

Does she even know what's happened out here, the doctor continues to say. You could tell her it's, er, safer than before? That she can go out and not hang around in such proximity to the dark forces slumbering beneath the earth and so forth. It'd be unconscionable to leave somebody at the mercy of, she gestures at the cave mouth, the underground. It's an insidious thing, she speaks from experience. It presses on your mind, makes you strange and everything else fuzzy. And over time more and more of it seeps into you. Takes control.

Quote from: TopHat on March 07, 2017, 02:28:32 pm
Let's go back round the merchant quarter and have a look at what's for sale. Maybe chat with a merchant and see how business is these days?

You head on up to see the merchants, and as you get closer you feel like you're the first one to take an earnest walk down these streets for a very long time. There are stalls full of moldering silks and waterlogged spices, crates of fruit subsumed by fungus until they've become as puffballs stinking of congealed waste and a little of fermentation. The attendants to the merchants visibly take offense when many of the sellers do not rush out to hawk something to you, lashing out into them with sharpened claws to get them going. One makes it far enough to stand in front of you, but appears to have forgotten how to speak. It burbles helplessly for a few moments before its embarrassed guardian picks it up and promises to get it fixed by tomorrow, you just come back then and it'll all be sorted.

The shops look a bit more promising. There looks to be some kind of pawnbroker, a three-story affair with signs of three golden balls looking down at you like judging eyes, the tall windows shining very brightly in the perpetual twilight of the streets. A kind of whispered song emanates from the door, which is invitingly ajar and only opens a little further under your gaze as if nudged by the pressure of your eyes. And on the opposite side from that you see a house with what looks to be a tower not so much built as bloomed out of its center, busting its roof in the process, something like A Wizards Shoppe vertically stretching along its side in glowing, strange letters. And further down the main street you catch the smell of fine perfume, probably coming from one of the less abandoned shops that way.

A slightly larger shape comes into view from a side street, a rather tall and only mildly decomposed bastardization of rickshaw and teamster, dragging a cart loaded with what seem to be stone blocks up a rather steep street from the lower levels. He stands at the top and looks back at the cart, making sure it's steadily in place before letting go and rolling its shoulders after what seems to have been a bit of hard work. The cart takes this precious opportunity to roll downhill, and you hear it crash quite a ways off. The fellow looks down the hill, sighs and prepares to go down to get it.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Toaster on March 11, 2017, 11:25:01 am
Impressive effects, really.  Must have had to put a lot of work into this natural cliff face to make it show-worthy.  "Well, I'm sure whatever lives up top can be reasoned with.  Or avoided.  Just got to use some common sense.  Shall we be off?"

Onward and upward!  Maybe swing through that old habitation on the way up if feasible?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 11, 2017, 11:56:25 am
"Like I said, it's perfect drink. The ideal liquor. It would be weird if it didn't make people do unusual things by mere close proximity. Spirits normally do that only when they are in your systems, so it's only natural perfection works from little further away."

"I probably said something along the line 'Oh, here's Kava just as she predicted, hugging the dangerous drink barrel like her own baby'. Not entirely unlikely sight after heavy drinking party like that one. And honestly far from embarrasing end of possible hangover poses."

Mind probe these caverns to locate most secure place cask not too far from inhabited areas to put the cask of Platonic ideals in. Perhaps something with lock. I wouldn't put it past myself to carry this around and not take a sample sooner or later. Probably sooner.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: TopHat on March 11, 2017, 12:59:06 pm
"Jesus Christ! Is everyone ok over there?"
Run over to the traffic accident, for want of a better word, and offer assistance.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Xantalos on March 11, 2017, 05:44:26 pm
Daniels thinks on the matter.

"Hmm. Ya know, I'm not really sure what I want, if anything. I've got a huge order of that bacon maggot stuff already, and before I ran into you guys I was heading to El, but now that I think about it I don't really have to do anything in particular, do I? I'm not on any quests or whatever, and my ultimate purpose in existence is just to accumulate data. So ... I dunno really, I'll let you know. Any chance I could talk to the captain first? I've heard a bunch about him and I kinda wanna see if he lives up to the hype. Maybe I'll sign on with you guys."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 14, 2017, 05:51:13 am
Quote from: Toaster on March 11, 2017, 11:25:01 am
Impressive effects, really.  Must have had to put a lot of work into this natural cliff face to make it show-worthy.  "Well, I'm sure whatever lives up top can be reasoned with.  Or avoided.  Just got to use some common sense.  Shall we be off?"

Onward and upward!  Maybe swing through that old habitation on the way up if feasible?

You head up the slope, passing the ruined, tumbling, screaming man on his way down. You offer him your compliments on a job well done, you've never seen such a convincing portrayal of a wretched ball of grievous injury. The others glance at each other briefly as the man tumbles down past them. Must have been a new guy, you hear it whispered.

Further up the slope a little before the incline becomes properly challenging is where the ruins begin, the stone of the inhabited structures neatly breaking off the rising ridge. They're not complicated structures by any means, largely looking like ancient rectangular terraces with a few archways on top broken by geology and then worn to nubs by erosion. Invariably the structures are inclined, upset from their original foundation by shifting strata beneath the earth, and further up more than a few structures appear to have broken in half by virtue of the ground suddenly rising or perhaps suddenly falling, leaving an almost neat cross-section of the building it once was, the empty space having filled with groundwater and then entirely mineralized in the space of assuredly very many years.

[Seeking Passage: 6]

As you go for a short tour of the ruins thus exposed, you do find that not all of them appear to have fossilized in their entirety. In particular there look to be a few closer to the top that were exposed before such a thing could occur, leaving tunnels half-filled with sediment, leading into the deep darkness of the hill's interior. Helen suggests that it may not be strictly the best idea to go into such a thing, on account of there probably being beasties in there. Dark places often do, one of the fishers adds. Oh, Lily sneers, would they say it compares negatively to being kicked the feck off the top of the ridge?

You look up from the ruins. There's a ways to go yet, and from here the climb may get a little treacherous regardless of if the presence of anything that wants to kick you right the feck off and send you tumbling downhill.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 11, 2017, 11:56:25 am
"Like I said, it's perfect drink. The ideal liquor. It would be weird if it didn't make people do unusual things by mere close proximity. Spirits normally do that only when they are in your systems, so it's only natural perfection works from little further away."

"I probably said something along the line 'Oh, here's Kava just as she predicted, hugging the dangerous drink barrel like her own baby'. Not entirely unlikely sight after heavy drinking party like that one. And honestly far from embarrasing end of possible hangover poses."

Mind probe these caverns to locate most secure place cask not too far from inhabited areas to put the cask of Platonic ideals in. Perhaps something with lock. I wouldn't put it past myself to carry this around and not take a sample sooner or later. Probably sooner.

Evil spirits, Kava says. That's probably what it was last night, evil spirits. She seems once again relieved. Not her fault at all. What's a girl to do when evil spirits get into her head and make her do all kinds of silly things? Certainly she's got more restraint than the rest of them. She nods and resolutely grins to herself before the headache kicks in again and she rubs her temples. Oof.

You go take care of that, she waves her hand flippantly. She'll go and rest up somewhere that isn't soaked in liquor. Good god, let her just survive the morning and she'll do better in the future. And with that, Kava heads off.

[Ingenious Hiding Spots: 2]

Now left alone, you let your mind scan the nearby tunnels for anything approaching a mostly secluded area. Fortunately, there's a whole cavern complex around here that stretches out as far as you could possibly comprehend - all it takes is for you to go ahead and pick a particular spot. So you go for a bit of a walk in the wilder side of the caverns, where you wedge the cask in a particularly unlikely crevice of a side passage of a chimney of another side passage of a much larger unlit cavern.

That done, you walk halfway back, close your mindsight, turn around six times and carefully erase any memory of the hiding spot from your own thoughts just to be safe. It takes you a second or two to remember what you were doing. Going back, you suppose. Sounds reasonable, right?

Quote from: TopHat on March 11, 2017, 12:59:06 pm
"Jesus Christ! Is everyone ok over there?"
Run over to the traffic accident, for want of a better word, and offer assistance.

You run down the steep street past the sighing teamster. The cart seems to have rolled for almost half a mile down before crashing into the ruins of some kind of ancient workshop. A few shambling citizens have been scattered by the cart's sudden descent, and more than a couple appear to have been run over by it. You rather kindly offer first aid, but they just hiss through collapsed lungs and crushed ribcages and crawl away quietly as a street sweeper also arrives on the scene.

[A Cartload of Stones: 5]

The workshop, you realize, has been run into many times before. In fact, it looks to have been a mason's workshop before it became mere loose masonry instead, a large ancient townhouse atop it slowly crushing it under its weight wherever the structural weakness caused by being hit with a cartful of finely cut stone has permitted it.

Moreover, the cart itself looks to be heavily braced and repaired across the length of many years to the point where it could easily function as a battering ram even if it did not have at least a ton of stone and a hell of a lot of velocity to it. You are about to see if it can be dislodged from the workshop before a slight collapse of the structure you could almost mistake for accidental sends one of its more robust protrusions jabbing into your sternum with a force that takes your breath away.

As you begin to recover, you see the fellow who was drawing the cart unhurriedly approaching. He examines the wreckage of the shop and starts to gather any stone blocks that he can see laying around on the ground, in particular grabbing a wretched citizen trying to make off with one and liberating him of it, then tossing him onto a nearby rooftop for good measure.

He walks over to you. Ah, hello there. Need any help? Don't mind the cart, it does that a lot.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 11, 2017, 05:44:26 pm
Daniels thinks on the matter.

"Hmm. Ya know, I'm not really sure what I want, if anything. I've got a huge order of that bacon maggot stuff already, and before I ran into you guys I was heading to El, but now that I think about it I don't really have to do anything in particular, do I? I'm not on any quests or whatever, and my ultimate purpose in existence is just to accumulate data. So ... I dunno really, I'll let you know. Any chance I could talk to the captain first? I've heard a bunch about him and I kinda wanna see if he lives up to the hype. Maybe I'll sign on with you guys."

[A Just Reward: 2]

The captain will not see you, the first mate regrets to tell you. Not yet. She can, however, deliver a message from you to him if you should so desire.

Employment, however, that could certainly be arranged, as could transport to El. She would suppose the transport would be fairly uncomplicated - they will ask you no questions and you will not interfere with their mission. Work, on the other hand, that would likely involve leveraging your skills of speedy decapitation to ensure the safety of the trip home, perhaps other tasks as circumstances continue to arise. In return, payment upon arrival for days worked in a manner of your choosing in addition to hazard pay. An agreeable arrangement could no doubt be worked out in goods, alchemicals or, in your particular case, data?

Of course, in order to employ you a proper interview would have to be conducted first with regards to your personal history and overall nature. A certain laxness in these processes was responsible for previous hires that proved, she glances at the ghoulish head again, somewhat regrettable.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Xantalos on March 14, 2017, 06:22:07 am
"Eh, I'll just wait for when he's available to talk to then. I don't really need to go to El, though - I was heading there at one point on account of I needed something from there, but I picked it up along the way as a matter of happenstance. All I'd need in compensation for working for you folks would be, as you said, data, maybe a few helpings of that bacon maggot cheese stuff you guys make every now and then, and the opportunity to take a look at any magical or ... odd phenomena or objects we might come across while travelling. Might benefit me, y'see. And thus you guys. Is that reasonable?"

Daniels pauses for but a second before speaking again, a thought seemingly popping into his head just as he shuts his mouth.

"Oh, this interview you mentioned - does it involve mind probing at all? If so, it's probably best to do some other version of it that doesn't involve that, my mind's not the most welcoming place to outside probes."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 14, 2017, 07:35:15 am
Perfectly reasonable!

Now, let's locate Lee and check if the mystery box is safe. Gotta talk about what we do next.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Toaster on March 14, 2017, 09:05:01 am
"Well, I'd say we just head up the side first; if the man up top doesn't wish to allow us passage, we can fall back to the tunnels as another option.  Onward and upward?"

Start the climb.   Keep an eye out for angry rugby players.

Rugby; did that involve kicking?  Thomas had heard that rugby players were an unruly lot.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 15, 2017, 07:20:12 am
"I guess you're right. If she doesn't want to leave, though, I doubt I can force her."

I walk back into the cave until I get to the main chamber. "Hey, Oggie! Do you want to come with us on an adventure? I know you said you missed talking to people - if you come with us you wouldn't have to be so lonely. The outside doesn't seem any more dangerous than your house, for now at least, and I'm sure the three of us could handle anything out there."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: TopHat on March 15, 2017, 12:32:01 pm
"I'm fine, thank you. Just came over here to see if anyone needed help. Quite a crash, there.
Wait, is there anything wrong with the cart, then? I may be able to help with that."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 15, 2017, 07:14:58 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 14, 2017, 06:22:07 am
"Eh, I'll just wait for when he's available to talk to then. I don't really need to go to El, though - I was heading there at one point on account of I needed something from there, but I picked it up along the way as a matter of happenstance. All I'd need in compensation for working for you folks would be, as you said, data, maybe a few helpings of that bacon maggot cheese stuff you guys make every now and then, and the opportunity to take a look at any magical or ... odd phenomena or objects we might come across while travelling. Might benefit me, y'see. And thus you guys. Is that reasonable?"

Daniels pauses for but a second before speaking again, a thought seemingly popping into his head just as he shuts his mouth.

"Oh, this interview you mentioned - does it involve mind probing at all? If so, it's probably best to do some other version of it that doesn't involve that, my mind's not the most welcoming place to outside probes."

She puts her hand to her chest as if wounded by the notion of probing your mind. Please, good sir, such invasive and barbaric techniques are at best ineffective and at worst insulting to valued associates. What fashionable things they used to be, minders. Fortunately evolution can be a quick thing when those in power are threatened by it, wouldn't you agree?

No, she was more thinking some questions over coffee if you do not mind, sir. She flags down a nearby sailor and quickly instructs him to bring Peaks along sharpish, and also a table if he'd be so kind. Oh, and three chairs. Nice ones. There's a good man.

All of those, you notice, are brought with stupendous quickness, including the alchemist who appears to be in good spirits as she approaches, smiling first at the head in your possession and then at you as she bows graciously and they take seats somewhat close to one another. Two Shores sheathes her sword in a movement too precarious to be called elegant and steeples her fingers as she also takes a seat. Coffee is brought by familiar faces from the tavern with played-up sweetness and grace.

Your two interviewers look up at you meaningfully, and Two Shores indicates the seat prepared for you. The interview will take a little while, she would like to say in advance, and the questions may be a little thorough at times. Shouldn't worry of course, Peaks adds, you've done all right by the Vault. Indeed, Shores continues, a bad outcome is highly unlikely and anything you choose to reveal will be kept in strict confidence.

A warm cup of what is, judging by the smell, considerably better coffee than what you got in the tavern before stands prepared just for you, along with a snack of the bacon maggot cheese stuff ('juggler's foot' is apparently the proper name, as Peaks Ever-Crumbling sees fit to comment). You have a moment to consider exactly how much you want to lie about.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 14, 2017, 07:35:15 am
Perfectly reasonable!

Now, let's locate Lee and check if the mystery box is safe. Gotta talk about what we do next.

[Leeward Course: 6]

Lee has got up remarkably early for all of the drinking she has clearly engaged in, and seems to be keeping very well as you find her sipping a subterranean variety of tea and having slight nibbles of fermented crab. She's a little red-eyed as she looks at you, but in very good shape regardless.

You sit down opposite her as she merely nods in greeting. So, you say. A moment or two passes. Rough night, you add in a nondescript tone.

Yes, she says and has another go at the crab. The conversation doesn't really begin to flow from there.

Right, you make another brave effort. So how about that box of hers. She raises an eyebrow. The mystery box, you clarify. The one from the alchemist.

Oh, she says with audible relief. That one. She nods. Yes. She has placed it somewhere.

Okay, you say as a little more time passes. And that place would be...

Lee shrugs. It has not come back to her yet. It could not have gone very far. Should turn up at some point, she says with a mysterious smile.

Quote from: Toaster on March 14, 2017, 09:05:01 am
"Well, I'd say we just head up the side first; if the man up top doesn't wish to allow us passage, we can fall back to the tunnels as another option.  Onward and upward?"

Start the climb.   Keep an eye out for angry rugby players.

Rugby; did that involve kicking?  Thomas had heard that rugby players were an unruly lot.

[Onward And Upward: 1]

The climb goes remarkably well, as such climbs all too often do, until it rather suddenly doesn't some 50 feet from your starting point. The hill, or rather what has at that point become nearly a cliff, very suddenly begins to crumble as a handhold gives way, followed by your foothold and then much of the hillside near it as you and a considerable number of rocky chunks and fellow climbers sail downward in a shower of bodies and rubble, you at the very top.

[Survival of the Fittest: 2]

It works out rather well, all things considered - you've at worst crushed perhaps one of the treefishers underneath the mass of climbers, and much of the rubble falling down is deflected by your face and your flailing limbs, though not to their aesthetic or structural benefit. There's what could be charitably described as a darned kerfuffle as the pile disintegrates into variously injured folk stumbling away from the crumbled hillside from atop the people with actually broken or fractured bones.

It seems that they've developed a sudden and very healthy curiosity about their new insurance policies. The ones conscious enough to make noise, that is.

[King of the Hill: 1]

Another rock hits you on the head as the hillside ceases collapsing onto you, adding to your serendipitous new wealth of lacerations and borderline dislocations. You turn around and see the inklings of an old structure poking out of where deceptively stable cliffside used to be.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 15, 2017, 07:20:12 am
"I guess you're right. If she doesn't want to leave, though, I doubt I can force her."

I walk back into the cave until I get to the main chamber. "Hey, Oggie! Do you want to come with us on an adventure? I know you said you missed talking to people - if you come with us you wouldn't have to be so lonely. The outside doesn't seem any more dangerous than your house, for now at least, and I'm sure the three of us could handle anything out there."

[Mysteries of the Subterranean: 4]

The doctor beams at you as you agree to her request. She does not, however, feel like going back in there (not that it would even help, she rationalizes quietly). So you wander into the dark and look around for Oggie. She does not prove difficult to find initially, although she does seem leery of coming very close at first. Eventually, however, you manage to get some face time (literally in the case of her running her very large hands over your face and making sure, near as you can tell, that you've not undergone some terribly feared change).

That done, you decide to make your case to her again on behalf of the doctor.

[Heavenly Light: 6]

The light, she says. Irritating.

Well, you reply, there's nighttime. No light then. Not a lot, anyway. There's something to be said for variety as well, isn't there? You can't appreciate the dark if there's not a bit of light to give it contrast. She gives this thought.

What about pets, she asks. Many pets down here. Voiceless mostly. Some talk every now and then. Not alive, no. But still talking sometimes, yes.

There's a lot more topside, you reply! All kinds of furry, muscular, scaly and slimy things travel along the earth, things she assuredly hasn't seen or felt yet. Many of them could likely even be coerced into some kind of pet-like arrangement. You hear Oggie rub her chin thoughtfully with a steely scratching noise.

Something occurs to her. What about bad people? Many of those. Too many.

Most of them were eaten, you reassure her, and there was an earthquake and a plague of other people that drove the rest off near as you can tell. And if you run into more, you're fairly sure that with your command of sorcery and her extreme potential in wringing necks you can take care of most anything else.

You hear a sound like a deceptively small creature very precisely miming how exactly she'd pull a man's head off. It sounds quite imaginative and disturbingly anatomically correct. A noise like sandpaper having far too good a time issues from her throat. Revenge. Yes. It tickles the mind.

She would like this, to wring the neck of someone responsible. Or someone related. She is stronger than she was, she thinks. Or knows better, at least. Take her there.

Supposing this good enough, you take her out toward the exit. Oggie starts nearly pulling you back several times along the way, and needs a little reminding every now and then where you are going, and a little less convincing as you don't so much argue as repeat what you have already spoken of.

Eventually you are at the threshold. Oggie looks out into the sun and all the hairs on her body violently bristle. She pulls you with a force that nearly dislocates your shoulder and you fall to the ground. The doctor, having stood up from what must have been a good half hour of nervous waiting, leaps forward to try and help.

She freezes in place as Oggie's head snaps toward her, her watering warthog eyes squinting to make her out in the blinding light. That, she says after a moment. That is her dress, she points at the doctor. The doctor looks at you helplessly. Why is that woman wearing her dress, Oggie asks you very sharply, raising you from the ground with one hand and a very suspicious stare.

Quote from: TopHat on March 15, 2017, 12:32:01 pm
"I'm fine, thank you. Just came over here to see if anyone needed help. Quite a crash, there.
Wait, is there anything wrong with the cart, then? I may be able to help with that."

Very good, the man says. And not that much of a crash. He's seen it hit more important things.

It's not really a cart, he confides in you after you press a little more. The cart responds by almost pulling itself out of the ruins in a threatening fashion. Don't ask too much about it, it makes it nervous. And that just leads to more crashes.

He sighs as the thing slides back into its former position. Best not to think about it too deeply. Wonderful day, isn't it. You look up at the eternal dark grayness of the dead kingdom's sky, and back at him quizzically. You're right, he says, it never is. Sorry, he then adds and starts to dig out the cart from the ruins, which seems to settle it down some.

Good work, he mumbles as he works, running cargo in the market district. Builds character, or so he's heard. You wouldn't happen to be new, would you? You seem not particularly dead in any case, would he be correct in saying so?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Xantalos on March 15, 2017, 11:24:38 pm
Well, that depends on what exactly they ask me - I imagine if asked to give a brief rundown of my history, I probably wouldn't outright lie about anything but certainly gloss over some of the more pointlessly cruel human rights violations I committed in the past, or paint them in a better light or somesuch. I probably wouldn't go into that much detail anyhow, otherwise we'd be sitting here for days. I'd just probably give a quick rundown of my time in the castle, focusing moreso on my efforts to defend the population of Anglefork Castle (and later on village) from the besieging stoatmen army rather than the human sacrifice and all that.
...
Actually, maybe just omit the human sacrifice and various other acts of torture and such I committed. Frame it more as necessary combat if I get questioned about it at all.

If it's alright with you though Harry, I'd like to RP through the interview, even if that does end up taking a while.

Daniels sits down, his murder-thought flowing up behind his shoulders in a vaguely feline fashion.

"By all means then, let's get started," he grins.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 16, 2017, 12:54:17 am
Quote from: Xantalos on March 15, 2017, 11:24:38 pm
If it's alright with you though Harry, I'd like to RP through the interview, even if that does end up taking a while.

That would very likely take forever, so probably best to abstract it. It's one of those cases where you wouldn't be missing all that much compared to question-by-question.

However, I'll keep this in mind and make the interview go for several turns, pausing on the more creative questions.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Xantalos on March 16, 2017, 12:57:33 am
Quote from: Harry Baldman on March 16, 2017, 12:54:17 am
Quote from: Xantalos on March 15, 2017, 11:24:38 pm
If it's alright with you though Harry, I'd like to RP through the interview, even if that does end up taking a while.

That would very likely take forever, so probably best to abstract it. It's one of those cases where you wouldn't be missing all that much compared to question-by-question.

However, I'll keep this in mind and make the interview go for several turns, pausing on the more creative questions.
Alrighty, I'll add a quick summary of what tone I'll take and such.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 16, 2017, 02:03:34 am
"Okay. If you say so." Leif says after moment of silence. "Sounds... inevitable enough."

"Is there some... other box I should be aware of? Not that I'm jealous or anything, a girl can have as many boxes as she wants. Just curious."

What she's so relieved about?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: Toaster on March 16, 2017, 12:25:56 pm
Thomas shook his head after the blow.  Well, nothing seems dislocated, at least.  "Oh look, we've found something!  And after a fall like that, only the sturdy bits remain!  Probably.  Come on, up you folks, nothing looks too broken.  Ah, yes, just show any insurance forms to the doctors and they'll handle the billing."

Help up the others.  Head back up to check out the new revelation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Sureness Permanent Assurance
Post by: TopHat on March 17, 2017, 02:44:38 pm
"I am new indeed, though just passing through. Probably alive as well, though come to think of it I'm not totally sure a about that. How about you; have you lived - er, or not - here long? What's it like?"


Making conversation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 18, 2017, 06:25:44 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 15, 2017, 11:24:38 pm
Well, that depends on what exactly they ask me - I imagine if asked to give a brief rundown of my history, I probably wouldn't outright lie about anything but certainly gloss over some of the more pointlessly cruel human rights violations I committed in the past, or paint them in a better light or somesuch. I probably wouldn't go into that much detail anyhow, otherwise we'd be sitting here for days. I'd just probably give a quick rundown of my time in the castle, focusing moreso on my efforts to defend the population of Anglefork Castle (and later on village) from the besieging stoatmen army rather than the human sacrifice and all that.
...
Actually, maybe just omit the human sacrifice and various other acts of torture and such I committed. Frame it more as necessary combat if I get questioned about it at all.

If it's alright with you though Harry, I'd like to RP through the interview, even if that does end up taking a while.

Daniels sits down, his murder-thought flowing up behind his shoulders in a vaguely feline fashion.

"By all means then, let's get started," he grins.

It all begins with proper introductions, naturally. You are Jack Daniels, a stranger in a strange land, seeking knowledge and understanding. The first mate introduces herself as Two Shores Will Become One At The Threshold Of Hell with delighted reverence, and the alchemist offers her full name as The Asymptotic Peaks Ever-Crumbling Between The Sharp Teeth Of The Forever Change. As the good book would have them be, Two Shores adds to cap off the recital.

[Keep The Story Straight: 1]

There are quite a lot of snacks, there is coffee and there is a surprising amount of conversation as the interview turns into a somewhat jovial brunch as you start explaining to them the overall circumstances of your presence here, related in reverse order from the moment you came here. Most of it rather strikingly seems to remind them of something from the unlikeliest of places, whether a disarming anecdote from Peaks' days in grammar school when you mention a minder or an episode of El's military past, as much a history of clashing forces as it is a chronicle of massive explosions, as related by Shores with affectionate detail. Or, as it is in one case when you speak of the Worm-knight, a lengthy digression about the House of Sighs, one of El's top-class nunneries (nevertheless very lovely folk, says Peaks, and very polite, Shores adds, if altogether too serious about what they do).

The questions grow increasingly well-placed through the lunch as you move into the second hour, and the guesses underlying them highly educated to the point where the two of them (taking notes the entire time, you notice) seem to get most of the details right by inference as opposed to questioning. Including, curiously enough, the human sacrifice, though that seems not particularly bothersome to either of them (sacrifice is a noble tradition in El, Two Shores would point out, and very respected - sacrifice of other people much more so, Peaks would sensibly chuckle).

Though one thing is still terribly elusive, Shores goes on to say. Yes, you've got a weird disconnect in your history, Peaks continues the thought. You're simultaneously not from anywhere in particular and yet absolutely not from here. There exists, or at least used to exist a Jack Daniels quite apart from what you seem to be right now, which is to say an empowered, ambulatory tool for the enactment of the will of an ultradimensional being with an endearingly loose grasp on the core notions of human conduct.

What do you think your relationship is to this earlier iteration of yourself? And more than that, to this strange Earth realm you claim to have left behind?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 16, 2017, 02:03:34 am
"Okay. If you say so." Leif says after moment of silence. "Sounds... inevitable enough."

"Is there some... other box I should be aware of? Not that I'm jealous or anything, a girl can have as many boxes as she wants. Just curious."

What she's so relieved about?

There is not, Lee snaps back. You need not be jealous of- she pauses. This is a topic that she refuses to explore further, she says after a moment.

In any case, she planned to look for the alchemist's delivery rather than wait for it to fall into her hands, obviously. She simply figured that such a task could safely wait until after breakfast. Nobody will have stolen it, at least not on purpose. So she can ask around and find it easily in all likelihood.

And from there she can return it to you. The clan will likely start moving to Elizabeth tomorrow, so you would likely want to go with her and the rest. They know the way through the underground. The city will welcome them as always.

Quote from: Toaster on March 16, 2017, 12:25:56 pm
Thomas shook his head after the blow.  Well, nothing seems dislocated, at least.  "Oh look, we've found something!  And after a fall like that, only the sturdy bits remain!  Probably.  Come on, up you folks, nothing looks too broken.  Ah, yes, just show any insurance forms to the doctors and they'll handle the billing."

Help up the others.  Head back up to check out the new revelation.

[The Dance of Insurance: 6+1]

Gamble, having had the fortune to be sufficiently close to the top to not sustain a large amount of injuries, translates this to mean that the sacred contracts can compel powerful healing forces to aid them in the event of trouble - he's got a process in mind for this, it turns out. He has Helen carry one of the more unconscious treefishers a little distance away as you move to resume the climb, the rest of the folk going off to either watch or participate as he undertakes what looks and sounds to be an invigorating round of putting his hand on their varied troubling maladies and shouting away any signs of injury while brandishing all of the fancy leatherwork proving their connection to the healing powers and entitlement to reimbursement for any harms suffered.

[The Magic of Magical Thinking: 2]

There's quite a lot of shouting as you shrug and start to climb. Gamble's own attempts appear to grow more urgent as he experiments with several varieties of sanctified invocations of medical service. You leave them to sort it out as you prepare to brave the hill once again.

[Driven Up The Wall: 6]

The structures that the sudden collapse bared prove rather helpful, for despite their nature as the sheer walls of a rather large subterranean building complex they at least tend to be very much segmented ones that are about 20 feet tall at most before giving way to another level. That and a lot of the structure is unstable enough to allow you to occasionally pull out small blocks to get better handholds and footholds. It doesn't take long before you've gone up a good hundred and fifty feet in what seems in retrospect to be something you should find more exhilarating than it really was. Good heavens, you think as you look back from where you've landed, which is what must have once been a very impressive terrace of some kind of brick temple. 150 feet vertical really is a lot longer than you would think.

You hear a rumbling and look at the hillside that stretches up ahead. Aha, more structural instability. Luckily you've learned by now. This time you seek shelter in a timely fashion as the still-hidden hillside above threatens to collapse on you very suddenly, and then very quickly follows through on the threat.

[Long Way Down: 2]

You'd think the building would hold up. You'd be somewhat wrong, as you soon discover, as it looks like whatever this building was calibrated to hold atop it, it doesn't seem like a sudden descent of several tons of rock was it. Most of it starts to shatter and collapse under the avalanche, bits of the thing crumbling and falling to the ground below as you take shelter in a more stable alcove, the terrace breaking in half and then falling in as suddenly the wall of the hill completely changes shape again, leaving a massive pile of rubble where your followers used to stand before they were led away on an ill-conceived faith healing attempt. Lucky for them, you suppose.

150 feet really is a long way down, you conclude as you look out from your slight alcove in the hill. Looks perhaps a little longer now that it's all in one place as opposed to staggered along levels, just one sheer vertical drop of assured doom one way and an even more vertical wall of assured doom leading upward, terminating at a bit of an overhang some fifty more feet up that you think ought to be the end of the properly perilous climb as the top of the ridge shouldn't be at all far away then and it seems like the slope evens out at that point.

Quote from: TopHat on March 17, 2017, 02:44:38 pm
"I am new indeed, though just passing through. Probably alive as well, though come to think of it I'm not totally sure a about that. How about you; have you lived - er, or not - here long? What's it like?"


Making conversation.

It's actually quite good, the teamster explains, and he hasn't been here very long. Perhaps a century or three at most, but it's quite easy to lose count with how dodgy the days are around here. Where he comes from he was always told that when he died he'd have to eat clay and drink dust and what have you all the time until somebody saw fit to call him out to do divinations or something. This is a lot better, he feels. He gets to walk around and pull a cart, good solid work to put the mind at ease after a long life of work and effort.

He pulls the cart from the ruins after a little effort and starts pulling it up the slope. You walk along with him as he slowly makes progress, occasionally sweeping another inhabitant out of the way with a well-placed kick.

Yes, quite a life this is. Of course, he's a bit more fortunate than most. They properly embalmed him before sending him over here, he's watertight and well-prepared. They also sent some food and a couple of servants, but those turned out a lot less useful. Always hard to tell what part of things is true when it comes to death. No reliable reports on the subject, you know what he means? Why, the stories he could tell to the folks back home. Not that he'd know how to find them again. Or if they're alive at all anymore. Some of them ought to be, he had a fairly rich extended family and all. Great believers in procreation. Sometimes they could hardly stop, even!

You navigate most of the slope without trouble. The street sweepers, you notice, give the teamster a very wide berth as he moves along.

Funny creatures, comments the teamster, all these functionaries. Used to be people, did you know? There's a strange sort of resonance here apparently. You look like what you do. Or you become what you do. Or something like that. A temple man once told him that. He always thought death was something of an ending, you know? The capstone to your reputation, deeds and character. Turns out it's not that simple at all, far from it.

You stand at the top of the slope once again, much the same way you first saw the man and his cart. All in all he has to say he's pretty satisfied with his lot in death, even after all this time. You do occasionally have to wonder, of course, as to whether there's maybe more to all this than doing a menial task for all eternity, but he has to say that while the temptation to question it is very real at certain times, he also can't say he can think of anything better to do either.

As he speaks, you see the cart slowly unwind its handles from his grasp. As he goes for a gesture it jostles itself a little ways away, and within moments has gone racing down a side street. There is a sharp crash as it impacts a distant downhill warehouse. The man looks out. A different building this time? Must be confused from all the conversation. He nods to you - keep busy and have a good time, he'd better get back to proper work now.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on March 19, 2017, 01:00:44 pm
Daniels contemplates the inquiry - it's quite a unique one, and something he'd rather avoided asking himself for fear that the answer wouldn't be to his liking. What if he really was the original Daniels, and he'd just vanished from earth one day? Seems like it'd be somewhat of a shock to his family ... well, that which he'd had, and friends, of which there were all of two.

It didn't really matter, did it? If he did want to get back to Earth there was no doubt a way to do it, but did he really want to? This world was so much cooler than the earth he remembered, and he didn't really have all that much to miss from his home. Or anything at all.

"Well, it's difficult to say whether I'm the original Jack Daniels, or if I'm just a stencil of his mind stapled onto this form in order to be able to effectively interact with humans. I don't think I could answer that question without hard data. However, regardless of whether I'm the original Jack or not, I think my relationship to him as I may or may not be is basically the same as that of any person to themselves. I still have Jack Daniels' personality, memories, appearance... for all intents and purposes, I'm him. I don't see any particular reason to muddy things up by speculating whether my existence has merit or whatever - I'm here now, and I'll make my way through life much as I did before, if with significantly less physical restrictions. Earth ... to be honest I never found the part I lived in very interesting. There were some neat aspects, like the karate and such, the things people could push themselves to do, but on the whole the stories people generated there presented a better reality than what really existed. I always had a hard time connecting with people there when the stories we told about our world outweighed it to such a great degree. I'll miss the people I knew there, sure, in a vague sense, but not really. I'm happy to stick around in this world - the experience of adjusting to a truly foreign place is interesting to me, and the Vault is a good way to see this world in a less haphazard way than I have been up until now."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 19, 2017, 02:51:09 pm
"Yeah, I'll stick with Moths since I'm apparently honorary member now. Don't remember when that happened, but apparently it did happen. Great god damn party!"

Praise Moth's party skills some more and pop a vodka fruit.

"I assume you got your business with Great Moth done before I found you guys, or was it other way around? I wasn't exactly in clearest state of mind after eating half of these... what were these called again, happy-hags?, and getting my limbs lopped off by that damn bird. I hope it died painfully."

Chat more with Lee, try to get her open up now that she got home ground advantage. What there's to do? How Moths make their living? Any eligible bachelorettes around? Gotta think about future, you know, after getting that box into its intented grave. Is Lee herself a bachelorette?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 20, 2017, 06:53:49 am
"Oh, don't you remember? We talked about it earlier. You were giving her some fashion advice, telling her how to fill it out better. If you've decided you want it back then we can return it to you right away."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on March 20, 2017, 08:31:22 am
Pause and assess the situation.  How climbable does up look here?  Is there a better path farther along the cliff face?  Is that tunnel still visible?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 20, 2017, 05:59:39 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 19, 2017, 01:00:44 pm
Daniels contemplates the inquiry - it's quite a unique one, and something he'd rather avoided asking himself for fear that the answer wouldn't be to his liking. What if he really was the original Daniels, and he'd just vanished from earth one day? Seems like it'd be somewhat of a shock to his family ... well, that which he'd had, and friends, of which there were all of two.

It didn't really matter, did it? If he did want to get back to Earth there was no doubt a way to do it, but did he really want to? This world was so much cooler than the earth he remembered, and he didn't really have all that much to miss from his home. Or anything at all.

"Well, it's difficult to say whether I'm the original Jack Daniels, or if I'm just a stencil of his mind stapled onto this form in order to be able to effectively interact with humans. I don't think I could answer that question without hard data. However, regardless of whether I'm the original Jack or not, I think my relationship to him as I may or may not be is basically the same as that of any person to themselves. I still have Jack Daniels' personality, memories, appearance... for all intents and purposes, I'm him. I don't see any particular reason to muddy things up by speculating whether my existence has merit or whatever - I'm here now, and I'll make my way through life much as I did before, if with significantly less physical restrictions. Earth ... to be honest I never found the part I lived in very interesting. There were some neat aspects, like the karate and such, the things people could push themselves to do, but on the whole the stories people generated there presented a better reality than what really existed. I always had a hard time connecting with people there when the stories we told about our world outweighed it to such a great degree. I'll miss the people I knew there, sure, in a vague sense, but not really. I'm happy to stick around in this world - the experience of adjusting to a truly foreign place is interesting to me, and the Vault is a good way to see this world in a less haphazard way than I have been up until now."

It wouldn't be a problem to look into a solution for getting you to wherever you came from if you would like, Peaks says, or maybe even visiting for curiosity's sake. If people like you come from there, no doubt there is something peculiar about the place.

Though you are only halfway from there, Two Shores adds, or at least so it would seem. Beneath your merely foreign intellect hides something truly alien - what your friend from the well would call the substrate, the thing your own mind seems to limit and channel toward productive ends, sometimes with less success than others would prefer.

Why would it be you though, Peaks asks a little rhetorically as her gaze is locked on you as if trying to pierce the mystery by sheer stubbornness. Is there some sort of criterion that made you suitable, perhaps even preferable? The interest in stories, a certain detachment or disinterest toward reality? A lot of room for conjecture, you'll surely agree.

Perhaps the tendency toward martial arts, Shores says a little admiringly. It could be that discipline and mastery of one's own body is what makes a personality like yours so eminently helpful to your patron.

Or that you never quite seem to ask the right questions about what you are or where you belong, Peaks chuckles. Usually a valued quality in a minion, but less so aboard the Vault. Being true to one's own ambition is what will make you rise along with your crew, should you join.

What of the others, Shores asks, her expression drawn as Peaks gives her a cheeky grin. She recites the names you told her, though you're unsure how you knew them yourself for the most part: Mr. Erikson the so-called viking? Ms. Minett the improvisational sorceress? Mr. Minstep the insurance agent? And what of Mr. Wilde, your short-lived rival in the affections of a North-addled blacksmith? Do you feel that they are of some significance to you, perhaps, if only as potential rivals in achieving whatever the purpose of your existence here may be?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 19, 2017, 02:51:09 pm
"Yeah, I'll stick with Moths since I'm apparently honorary member now. Don't remember when that happened, but apparently it did happen. Great god damn party!"

Praise Moth's party skills some more and pop a vodka fruit.

"I assume you got your business with Great Moth done before I found you guys, or was it other way around? I wasn't exactly in clearest state of mind after eating half of these... what were these called again, happy-hags?, and getting my limbs lopped off by that damn bird. I hope it died painfully."

Chat more with Lee, try to get her open up now that she got home ground advantage. What there's to do? How Moths make their living? Any eligible bachelorettes around? Gotta think about future, you know, after getting that box into its intented grave. Is Lee herself a bachelorette?

She did manage to make a full report about the south, yes. The elder was most interested, and congratulated her on a job well done. She has proven herself as a scout and is permitted to speak on matters of the stoatmen and their state before the council when her expertise is required. It is a high honor for someone her age.

[Moth's Flight: 5]

You notice she doesn't seem particularly proud as she speaks of this. Vaguely embarrassed, perhaps, or even ashamed. You're tempted to push on it, but get the strange feeling she might not be in the mood to discuss it at any particular length. Instead you redirect the conversation as you pop a vodkafruit into your mind. It takes what little remained of your hangover away in a heady swoop of mental burn.

Lee herself is glad enough to change the subject that she is moved to explain in quite a bit of detail as she continues her lunch - the Moths dwell exclusively underground when they can, and emerge only for particular business with the other clans or for specific events such as the realignment of the northern stars (to record their new positions) or the sky's approach (to let the old, sick or incredibly tired touch it and be carried away). Sometimes due to unfavorable cavern conditions as well (the underground's waking, she rather cryptically calls it, and also the blue blooms).

What the Moths do while underground is apparently cataloguing tunnels, gathering particularly flammable fungi (the blue flames seem to rise from an oil they make from a specific breed that flourishes along the edges of true abysses) both for their own use and for trade with the other clans, hunting for bizarre creatures that crawl in the sunless lakes and rivers of the deep, seeking treasure unearthed in the thrashing-pains of the earth, seeking passages to hidden and forgotten places (most of them not useful, Lee says, but sometimes...). They travel almost always, lest the earth swallow them before their time.

Lee goes on at what could be considered some length in its own laconic kind of way about this before you lead into the next natural question: what's the dating scene like in the dark underground?

[Eligible Bachelorettes: 4]

She nearly chokes on one of the last meager scoops of crab as realization hits her all at once. She looks rather displeased as some of its fermented aroma backs up into her sinuses.

Mm, she says after taking a long moment to get her bearings. You're a self-centered, impulsive, babbling, drunken lunatic minder who is debatably human. You possess frightening powers you do not fully comprehend or in fact even know how to use with particular discretion. You blew up the dividing line between north and south by accident, killing hundreds. Your average level of foresight encompasses approximately nine seconds in your immediate future.

So, you say a little defensively. So you are not what she would call a "hot commodity", she says with appropriate finger quotes. Even in this miserable climate.

Hey now, you say. It might be true that you possess an assortment of both well-attested and thus far undocumented character flaws vast and varied enough to accommodate a whole Norse pantheon in its own right. But you're not about to let that get in the way of yourself being reasonably good-looking, charmingly foreign, in very good shape and overall a hoopy kind of frood who's never short on booze or entertaining anecdotes about amusingly named deities.

Lee pauses, having a sip of something that looks but absolutely does not smell like goat's milk, her eyes briefly taking you in. When you put it that way, she sighs, it is almost a shame she knows better.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 20, 2017, 06:53:49 am
"Oh, don't you remember? We talked about it earlier. You were giving her some fashion advice, telling her how to fill it out better. If you've decided you want it back then we can return it to you right away."

[Never To See The Light Of Day: 6]

Oggie pauses, eying the doctor carefully. Mm, she says. She has recollection, thinking further. It would not fit, it is true. And she gave it away. Just like the rest of it. She examines the doctor again, stalking slowly in her direction. Does look better on her, she grumbles, then looks back up from the cave.

She has taken some things, and so have you. This is permissible, Oggie says. But the rest she will not leave for scavengers and vultures, she says as her sensory hairs bristle with renewed vigor. You must go up the hill and make the rest safe from theft.

You pause a moment. You look back on the hill as you step away from the cave entrance, the manor looming atop it. Does she have some kind of security solution in mind?

Yes, Oggie makes a simian grin of rounded, pebble-like teeth that gently grind on one another. Burn it all.

Quote from: Toaster on March 20, 2017, 08:31:22 am
Pause and assess the situation.  How climbable does up look here?  Is there a better path farther along the cliff face?  Is that tunnel still visible?

[Where Witches Went Mad More Than Once: 6]

Based on your understanding of the usual risks of mountaineering, you dare say you're very glad your own insurance policy is relatively airtight and would probably cover you falling about a hundred feet and breaking approximately half of the bones in your body (probably including your spine). So there's a bright side to all this at least.

That said, you don't think going up about fifty feet would be that difficult as long as you don't look down and, most importantly, don't get kicked the feck off and fall a hundred and fifty feet and break approximately 75% of your bones upon impact, not accounting for the following tumble down the hill you'd doubtlessly experience, oh my.

You suppose you could go sideways - the cliff does grow a bit less sharp some fifty feet to the side where the collapse wasn't quite as pronounced. Almost hospitable in comparison to the unfriendly angles of the half-destroyed ruins of some ancient civilization, worn down by time and earth into barely recognizable stumps of buildings and rooms.

Additionally there are indeed some tunnels that the latest landslide appears to have uncovered, a few of the non-collapsed tunnels dotting the cliffside. A couple look deep enough to climb into, certainly, though where they would possibly lead, you cannot say.

In fact, you discover as you start nudging along the alcove you're presently occupying, you're fairly sure there might be a tunnel in this here alcove as well - behind the bit you're hiding in, actually. It'd require a right kicking to get through, you'd imagine, but despite being quite stony you also get the sense that it might be rather thin. And a bit smooth, you notice as you run your fingers along it.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on March 20, 2017, 06:17:25 pm
Well, it's right here.  Could just take a peek?

Sure, kick it in.  Give the resulting tunnel a good visual inspection.  Don't go out of sight of the entrance for the first peek.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on March 20, 2017, 07:32:55 pm
"Eh, where I come form's nothing special - reality's much more stable there than it is here, so there's basically just ordinary physics-bound beings doing things there, no magic or odd beasts or whatever, and the only warped geometry is in funny styles of illustration. Maybe in the far future I'll want to visit again, see where exactly the well intrudes upon the place."

Jack muses for a bit.

"The substrate is ... it's an odd thing, to say the least, as you surmised. I've been told its fundamentally indestructible, and it's only this form that's vulnerable to harmful forces. I only look like this and interact with physics like I do because I make a better research probe that way, evidently. I'm not sure why I in particular was chosen, or any of the others really. We didn't seem to have anything in common, even the ones that died. Personalities were as different as you could get, there didn't seem to be any real gender bias, not that the well knows what that is... seems like it was random."

Daniels briefly produces the rats he's been carrying around before setting his hand down and forgetting about them again. "Those used to be part of another guy, never met him. And I know there was at least one more, some guy who fulfilled some astronomical prophecy early on. I dunno if he's dead now or not. But I'm guessing that the substrate is more of an ... aspect of reality, or configuration of spacetime that only the well can call into being, given how it can apparently be constructed out of rats. I know it has some odd effects on my subconscious mind too, I've taken some inward trips and it gets weird if you look too close. Probably something to do with how I knew the names of the others, and they mine. Like recognizes like, I assume."

Daniels briefly pauses speaking to slowly click his neck over to one side, then the other.

"Whatever my connection to the others is, I don't really think it has any bearing on much beyond letting me recognize them easier. Funny you should mention my purpose, Two Shores - I don't really think I have one. From all my conversations with the well, it really only seems to want data about what entities independent of it do to each other and themselves. Can't say why it does, but unless I'm completely off the mark that's it's only motivation. I'm not even really beholden to it from what I can tell, it just incentivizes 'collection' with cool gifts. So I'm free to do pretty much whatever I want, which begs the question: what do I wanna do? I'm not dependent on pretty much any biological need save maybe breathing, I haven't tested that yet, I have no ties in this world, I know pretty much nobody, and I have no obligations. It's funny, I was chasing this sort of freedom back home for a long time but now that I have it I'm not revelling in my freedom or whatever, just sorta drifting along. It's why Rainbow's attempt to get me to pull a coup on you guys didn't go anywhere. What need have I to care about politics? I'm effectively immortal if not killed and material rewards don't really make a difference to me. Hell, I have 14,033 gold coins on me right now, they don't hold a conversation."

He sighs slightly.

"To tell you the truth, I think I'm starting to understand the whole 'bored vampire' trope they had going on back in earth's media. I have the capacity to do pretty much anything I want, but no compelling reason to pursue any particular course. That's actually what I wanted to sign on for - I figure getting invested in some part of the world, getting to know people, actually socializing without engaging in mindless violence or having some ulterior motive, that sort of deal, it'd give me a bit of a purpose. You realize they're alright to have when you don't have one."

Ramble like only an emotionally detached being from beyond the fourth dimension can.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 21, 2017, 07:42:25 am
"I like the way you think," I say and flash a grin. I do feel like letting off some steam. Or smoke, whatever.

I look over at the doctor. "We're burning down the house."

I walk up the hill toward the house and begin preparing myself to invoke synthesis. I make sure I'm on a side of the house that's not near the alchemy lab. "Oggie, brace yourself for magic."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 21, 2017, 12:44:55 pm
"Heh, I can always aim to improve. Although given my nine seconds of foresight it will be a challenge, so I do need someone to assist me. And isn't that what partners do? As common marriage vows back in home state; "from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part". It's a life long project. Anyway, guess I have to keep eye out for anyone who likes challenges, because after I have that box buried I'm free of any obligations."

"Talking about boxes, shall we go and hunt it down?"


Now to think about, Lee didn't exactly elaborate why she was in that box I found her in first place. Perhaps her reluctance to talk about boxes is related. I feel like I shouldn't ask about details, but she might not appreciate it. I feel there may be some relation.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on March 22, 2017, 05:19:02 pm
"How vexing. Just like.... Sisyphus, I think he was called, and his boulder. A very old story where I come from. Have you tried anything to stop it? We could try tying it to a post, or I might be able to rig up some sort of handbrake system if you'd like."

Parallels to Greek mythology, that's a definite plus to the insanity theory.
Magic cart or no, this should be nothing a little ingenuity can't solve.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 23, 2017, 12:12:19 pm
Quote from: Toaster on March 20, 2017, 06:17:25 pm
Well, it's right here.  Could just take a peek?

Sure, kick it in.  Give the resulting tunnel a good visual inspection.  Don't go out of sight of the entrance for the first peek.

[Tear Down This Wall: 4]

It takes a little bit to figure out how exactly you could kick in the wall of an alcove that barely fits you, but you manage to work out a convenient solution - you'll hold on to the edges, start kicking and not stop until the stone wall gives before the might of your foot. You give a kick! And then another one! And yet another one! In fact, you kind of need to keep kicking for a good long time before there is a sudden breakthrough!

That breakthrough is, of course, the realization that you might get more purchase out of this wall with your sword. You draw it quickly - one can't help being a little disappointed at being pointed at a mere wall, you understand, but one supposes that there should be a certain amount of give to a relationship as hopefully fruitful as yours.

The gray blade goes slightly into the wall with a bit of effort - you dare say your previous kicks appear to have solidly cracked it in places. You shove it in as deep as it will go, a few inches or so, and this is apparently enough as you hear a considerable crack and notice a slight outpouring of what seems to be explosively growing dental enamel, rooting itself into the stone and sending a crack spreading every which way.

Try now, one ventures to suggest. You do, and the wall suddenly gives underneath one last solid kick, bits of stone breaking off as the enamel framework beneath them suddenly breaks, opening what looks to be a very narrow little crevice in the stone, just about your size if you went into it sideways, spiraling upward and to the left as well as downward and to the right.

[Whistling In The Dark: 3]

As the dust and noise clears, you think you hear something very briefly. A shuffling, perhaps, or even a skittering. You're not quite sure if this is a good sign or a bad one.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 20, 2017, 07:32:55 pm
"Eh, where I come form's nothing special - reality's much more stable there than it is here, so there's basically just ordinary physics-bound beings doing things there, no magic or odd beasts or whatever, and the only warped geometry is in funny styles of illustration. Maybe in the far future I'll want to visit again, see where exactly the well intrudes upon the place."

Jack muses for a bit.

"The substrate is ... it's an odd thing, to say the least, as you surmised. I've been told its fundamentally indestructible, and it's only this form that's vulnerable to harmful forces. I only look like this and interact with physics like I do because I make a better research probe that way, evidently. I'm not sure why I in particular was chosen, or any of the others really. We didn't seem to have anything in common, even the ones that died. Personalities were as different as you could get, there didn't seem to be any real gender bias, not that the well knows what that is... seems like it was random."

Daniels briefly produces the rats he's been carrying around before setting his hand down and forgetting about them again. "Those used to be part of another guy, never met him. And I know there was at least one more, some guy who fulfilled some astronomical prophecy early on. I dunno if he's dead now or not. But I'm guessing that the substrate is more of an ... aspect of reality, or configuration of spacetime that only the well can call into being, given how it can apparently be constructed out of rats. I know it has some odd effects on my subconscious mind too, I've taken some inward trips and it gets weird if you look too close. Probably something to do with how I knew the names of the others, and they mine. Like recognizes like, I assume."

Daniels briefly pauses speaking to slowly click his neck over to one side, then the other.

"Whatever my connection to the others is, I don't really think it has any bearing on much beyond letting me recognize them easier. Funny you should mention my purpose, Two Shores - I don't really think I have one. From all my conversations with the well, it really only seems to want data about what entities independent of it do to each other and themselves. Can't say why it does, but unless I'm completely off the mark that's it's only motivation. I'm not even really beholden to it from what I can tell, it just incentivizes 'collection' with cool gifts. So I'm free to do pretty much whatever I want, which begs the question: what do I wanna do? I'm not dependent on pretty much any biological need save maybe breathing, I haven't tested that yet, I have no ties in this world, I know pretty much nobody, and I have no obligations. It's funny, I was chasing this sort of freedom back home for a long time but now that I have it I'm not revelling in my freedom or whatever, just sorta drifting along. It's why Rainbow's attempt to get me to pull a coup on you guys didn't go anywhere. What need have I to care about politics? I'm effectively immortal if not killed and material rewards don't really make a difference to me. Hell, I have 14,033 gold coins on me right now, they don't hold a conversation."

He sighs slightly.

"To tell you the truth, I think I'm starting to understand the whole 'bored vampire' trope they had going on back in earth's media. I have the capacity to do pretty much anything I want, but no compelling reason to pursue any particular course. That's actually what I wanted to sign on for - I figure getting invested in some part of the world, getting to know people, actually socializing without engaging in mindless violence or having some ulterior motive, that sort of deal, it'd give me a bit of a purpose. You realize they're alright to have when you don't have one."

Ramble like only an emotionally detached being from beyond the fourth dimension can.

You do have a purpose, Shores moves to correct, as does everyone. You are simply not aware of it yet.

More specifically, Peaks grins, you were clearly created rather than born like any other unfortunate - this would imply that you have a function that you are intended to fulfill. Whether that's your ultimate purpose is of course an entirely different matter. Gets a bit philosophical there, you see.

Many would sympathize with your aimlessness nevertheless, the first mate goes on. It is common in those who have not yet established their capabilities and potential, and it is for these that service is ultimately meant. To become a true master, service is first required.

They could pay you a lot like your good friend in the dark does, Peaks offers. Answers and favors. Slightly more generously than it would, she smiles, if perhaps not to a godlike standard of excellence. She could toy with your substrate if you like. It seems like an interesting substance indeed if even a complete numpty like the blacksmith can make it do strange things.

There is also much to learn about other matters, Shores hastens to say. Fighting, for instance, and how to apply your talents to it. You have a very adaptable array of weapons, good sir. It would be an honor to see that they are put to optimal use.

And if it's friends you want, you will no doubt find some - if not in the Vault, then surely on the way. El is maybe not all things to all people, but it is the closest thing in the world that can be said to fit the bill.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 21, 2017, 07:42:25 am
"I like the way you think," I say and flash a grin. I do feel like letting off some steam. Or smoke, whatever.

I look over at the doctor. "We're burning down the house."

I walk up the hill toward the house and begin preparing myself to invoke synthesis. I make sure I'm on a side of the house that's not near the alchemy lab. "Oggie, brace yourself for magic."

The doctor's eyes widen, then she looks at Oggie, who appears dreadfully enthusiastic as much as she is enthusiastically dreadful, rubbing her oversized hands together as her mouth hangs open, eyes almost on fire from sheer sense of agency alone. The doctor then looks at you. She'd say that this maybe isn't the best idea, but she supposes she did put you up to this. You're burning down the house then, she guesses.

The three of you walk up the hill, Oggie surging ahead and the doctor following a little meekly behind. You hang around the middle and begin to intone the Word, readying it to be deployed at a moment's notice.

[Fire In The Blood: 6]

Thoughts of matter shaking violently and tumbling back and forth storm through your mind as you focus on each syllable separately, the inside of your mind shaking as the potential barely allows itself to be contained as nuclei superimpose on each other and in a moment of cosmic incaution blend together, defective mass attaining the shape of energy, so much raw energy. You start to shiver as the Word's anticipation blazes in you, dearly wishing to be let loose on the fragile laws of existence.

[Lean Times In Anglefork Town: 4]

You bump into Oggie and nearly say it as you've come up to the side of the house from a relatively inconspicuous angle, the manor looking considerably worse for wear since last you saw it, mostly on account of a good chunk of its roof collapsing inward and the structure itself making its unsteadiness much more apparent than previously (though you admit this might just be your own experience within the house speaking).

Such a fine house, the doctor says. Would be a terrible shame to destroy it when there's so much stuff still in there. Oggie, meanwhile, seems to be loping around the nearby area and looking for ways to start a fire, sitting down for a moment to experiment with a dry stick and some random detritus.

As you try to retain your focus you also hear the alleged owners of the house - the beaten farmer and his guardswoman wife, and their collective children, still apparently camping a little ways from the front entrance. The wife appears to have come back with a bit of firewood to feed some sort of cooking fire.

You look at the house. You feel like something disastrous should happen to it, and soon. Your flesh and mind demand it, lest they burn as well.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 21, 2017, 12:44:55 pm
"Heh, I can always aim to improve. Although given my nine seconds of foresight it will be a challenge, so I do need someone to assist me. And isn't that what partners do? As common marriage vows back in home state; "from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part". It's a life long project. Anyway, guess I have to keep eye out for anyone who likes challenges, because after I have that box buried I'm free of any obligations."

"Talking about boxes, shall we go and hunt it down?"


Now to think about, Lee didn't exactly elaborate why she was in that box I found her in first place. Perhaps her reluctance to talk about boxes is related. I feel like I shouldn't ask about details, but she might not appreciate it. I feel there may be some relation.

You can improve, this is true. But the task falls to you, not whoever decides to inflict you upon themselves. Trying to make people change is the surest path to misery. But enough of this, Lee says as she notices you looking thoughtfully at her. Breakfast is finished, she declares as she downs the last of her strange drink. It is time to hunt down your delivery.

[Caverns of the Great Moth: 3]

You clear out of the room in short order and begin your search. The first logical thing to do would be to retrace your steps, which Lee insists would lead you over to the great chamber where you were examined, which now looks a lot like the site of the first clash of an enormous battle, two score of the sorriest lightweights of the Moth Clan has laid out along the walkways and the seating areas. A few have managed to get as far as the exit, giving you and Lee embarrassed stares in between bouts of nausea as they stagger away. Lee gives them a practiced glare that makes them move that much faster.

A few more, naturally, are dislodged as Lee goes on to check if maybe the box fell down around here someplace. No such luck, obviously. There is a fellow on the ground a little more coherent than the rest, perhaps fifteen years old at most, smaller than you'd expect a boy his age to be, nursing a thin stubble in the hopes of one day obtaining a beard. He mostly appears to just be resting here, not quite up to going anywhere else in the state he's in.

He looks up at you as Lee starts to ask him increasingly pointed questions about what he's seen and if he knows where Lee put a box. Ah, he says as he fails to pay any mind or particularly respond to Lee. Big man in camp. He knows you, he nods after a second as Lee gives him a gaze both very familiar and almost murderous.

Yeah, he says and slowly sits up, very much sore from passing out on the stone floor, you tell his sister that he's not speaking to her.

He tries to get to his feet as Lee narrows her eyes, but slides back on the ground with a groan. Ugh. Could you maybe give him a hand as well? Can't drink like he used to. You know, back in the day.

Quote from: TopHat on March 22, 2017, 05:19:02 pm
"How vexing. Just like.... Sisyphus, I think he was called, and his boulder. A very old story where I come from. Have you tried anything to stop it? We could try tying it to a post, or I might be able to rig up some sort of handbrake system if you'd like."

Parallels to Greek mythology, that's a definite plus to the insanity theory.
Magic cart or no, this should be nothing a little ingenuity can't solve.


[Ingenuity of the Ancients: 6]

He wouldn't want to stop it entirely, mind you, rolling down inclines and smashing into places gives it about the closest thing to happiness it seems able to achieve.

Of course, the teamster pauses to think, you could tie it up somewhere for a while. Surely it couldn't expect a permanent monopoly on a man's attentions? He hasn't had a break in... well, quite a while. Time does rather fly when you're working hard, have you noticed?

If you do have an idea, do feel free to put it to use! A reprieve does sound very refreshing. But for now, he has to be off. Have a nice day!

And with that, the teamster runs along down the slope at a breakneck pace, sprinting easily out of view and into the depths of the side alleys.

Spoiler: Rules Revision (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on March 23, 2017, 12:54:43 pm
Well, gotten this far with it.  No sense turning around.  "Friends!" called Thomas down to any listening companions.  "There is a tunnel here; I'm going to try it!  Heading in the upward!"

Head in, slowly going the upward way.  Don't go too far; not so far that the light is gone.  Just enough to check it out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 23, 2017, 02:40:23 pm
Leif faithfully delivers the message. "He refuses to talk to you."

"Sure thing, boy!" Leif lifts the boy up his feet carefully and supports him until he can stand up on his own. "Sister, you say? Nice to meet you. We probably met and greeted yesterday, but I'll be damned if I remember anything right, if at all. Say, Lee misplaced something of mine, a brass lockbox. Do you happen to have any idea where it might be, or who may know more?"

Questioning, poking his mind if some fresh memories are present and available for recalling.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on March 24, 2017, 11:29:19 am
Daniels cracks a smile. "That all sounds perfectly agreeable to me. Are there any other questions you have, or is that about the sum of it?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on March 25, 2017, 04:16:02 pm
Well, I'll think about that a little whilst he goes and gets the cart. In the meantime, let's check out that wizard's shop. I suppose technically I could be classed as one, now.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 26, 2017, 05:46:32 am
I imagine the house covered in unstable, spontaneously flammable phosphorous powder. The heat of the sun would be enough to set it ablaze. With that image firmly in my mind, I begin SYNTHESIS.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 26, 2017, 06:34:44 pm
Quote from: Toaster on March 23, 2017, 12:54:43 pm
Well, gotten this far with it.  No sense turning around.  "Friends!" called Thomas down to any listening companions.  "There is a tunnel here; I'm going to try it!  Heading in the upward!"

Head in, slowly going the upward way.  Don't go too far; not so far that the light is gone.  Just enough to check it out.

[A Fine Example: 1]

They're a hundred feet down from you and you don't get the feeling they're awfully keen to go up a cliff empirically proven to be unstable. Gamble makes a start of it before it becomes very clear nobody's about to go after him, at which point he rather embarrassingly climbs back down and shuffles over to the others. They all still watch, of course, even if they walk back down the slope a bit to get out of the way of any more potential landslides.

[A Light Shining In Darkness: 1]

So you go and explore the passage anyway, and no sooner have you moved a reasonable distance inward than there is a round of more seismic instability as you feel a good portion of the cliff begin to collapse with you still within it!

[What Words Rhyme With Buried Alive: 1]

Which, quite unfortunately, does lead to the passage you're in rather abruptly closing right on you like a set of enormous stony jaws as you are encased head to foot in what feels like rubble. This feels much like you would expect being buried alive to feel - you can't move, your bones are slowly being crushed and you've just realized that it's not just liquid substances that human beings can potentially drown in as you inadvertently start to breathe in fine dust and altogether coarser bits of broken stone.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 23, 2017, 02:40:23 pm
Leif faithfully delivers the message. "He refuses to talk to you."

"Sure thing, boy!" Leif lifts the boy up his feet carefully and supports him until he can stand up on his own. "Sister, you say? Nice to meet you. We probably met and greeted yesterday, but I'll be damned if I remember anything right, if at all. Say, Lee misplaced something of mine, a brass lockbox. Do you happen to have any idea where it might be, or who may know more?"

Questioning, poking his mind if some fresh memories are present and available for recalling.

Yes, Lee glowers at you, she heard.

You help a brother out and pull him up to his feet. He takes a moment to settle into a stable configuration as you start to tell him all about your quest for a very particular lockbox last seen in Lee's possession. He stares at you with one eyebrow raised.

[The Chain: 4]

His thoughts are split by the expected sort of headache, but despite this you sense a great deal of activity as he keeps looking around and his eyes glisten with mental fireworks as he deeply relishes the mere notion of being needed. Particularly by Lee. This wasn't looking like a good morning at the start, but damn if it suddenly didn't get really gratifying.

A lockbox you say, he scratches his chin. He's pretty sure he's seen one of those, he says after a second (or he's sure that you don't know better than him where to look). Lee brought it back from that whole expedition dealie, yeah (it's probably that one, she must have got drunk and lost it). You nod. Well, he continues, you're lucky you came to him. He knows everyone (what he knows he tells everyone, what he does not he lets them guess).

Tell you what, he says, he'll leverage his own considerable skill at detection to help you out, o mighty hero (this is his greatest idea yet). He'll get your lockbox back by the end of the day or his name ain't Eagle-Eye Bruce (maybe he needs to come up with something catchier though).

Nobody calls him that, Lee murmurs half to you, half to herself. This was a waste of time.

Don't listen to Negative Nancy over there, Bruce boxes you on the shoulder (negative Lee? thinking negative-Lee? nah, too lame). He's worked cases like yours before (he loses things a lot actually, so that's not even a lie), it's all a matter of questioning the perps and cornering them before they give you the slip (luckily he got a good look at all of them before they got out of sight of Losertown).

Quote from: Xantalos on March 24, 2017, 11:29:19 am
Daniels cracks a smile. "That all sounds perfectly agreeable to me. Are there any other questions you have, or is that about the sum of it?"

You can consider their professional curiosity satisfied, says Two Shores, and your employment assured should you still wish to take advantage of it.

And don't worry about your friend Alphonse, Peaks Ever-Crumbling says jovially, they'll make sure he's well taken care of and made as good as new. Bit of a sorry state you brought him here in, but she guesses that's the way it is when you pick them off the street.

She will check with the captain to see if their plans of departure are altered by your appearance, Two Shores nods, and tell you if there are changes. If not, they set off tomorrow for El.

For now they'd suggest you enjoy yourself, Peaks says and gets up. Go find Big Dipper, maybe. Give him the good news about his promotion! He'll be sure to treat you for that. You can have Rainbow's students as well, as a side note, she assumes they're corrupted in some way, though maybe not unproductively so. Or just relax and get yourself that supply of juggler's foot you were promised. Today's the last day of shore leave, might as well enjoy it!

Before she forgets, Shores says, she would require the head of the unfortunate ghoul. The captain will want to see it. By which she means do fun things with it, Peaks adds.

Quote from: TopHat on March 25, 2017, 04:16:02 pm
Well, I'll think about that a little whilst he goes and gets the cart. In the meantime, let's check out that wizard's shop. I suppose technically I could be classed as one, now.

[Let's Visit The Shoppes: 3]

You find it to be quite A Wizards Shoppe indeed - the spelling doesn't particularly improve inside as you examine the back-to-back shelves of painstakingly collected farm animal and, in the more expensive cases, sometimes even woodland creature parts that the labels rather irresponsibly identify as draggon hearts, bassilissk eyelashes and, in the case of one bewilderingly misplaced donkey testicle, a cocktrish's eyeball.

The most correctly labeled thing in the shop is doubtlessly the stuffed alligator hanging over the entrance, and that's probably because instead of a label it's been given a formidable coat of varnish. It smells very nicely of pine and, you would say, really ties the rather cramped ground floor foyer together in its own idiosyncratic way.

Next to where this architecturally unimpressive place of residence has been fatally pierced by a much more ambitious and sinister wizard's tower is a counter, bare except for a small service bell, a little tabletop stand filled with samples of endearingly duplicitous exotic pipe tobacco and 'tribal' charms. There's also a cheap-looking snowglobe off to one side holding only a screaming, but otherwise indistinct figure in a poorly stitched white robe, and finally what seems to be some kind of guestbook with a bright red quill pen used as a bookmark in case it should inadvertently close. Its impressive page count belies the three names found among its sea of epithets that detail frankly unlikely adventures.

Behind the counter is a tall and forbidding oaken portal, the gargoyle above it long lost to time and tide and its stump covered up with a stupefyingly ugly handcrafted wooden mask. Rather unlike the front door of the shoppe and indeed most of the display cases it seems like it's locked, or at least by all rights ought to be.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 26, 2017, 05:46:32 am
I imagine the house covered in unstable, spontaneously flammable phosphorous powder. The heat of the sun would be enough to set it ablaze. With that image firmly in my mind, I begin SYNTHESIS.

You feel you're at the brink of something really special here. You let the Word come out and do its terrible work as your two companions suspect all too little of what you are truly capable of.

SYNTHESIS

[Word: 6, 3]

Your eyes take on a silent, powerful radiance as you encompass the house with the Word, bringing about an irresistible, unnatural attraction between all things you behold and some things you do not - oxygen meets wood precipitously and it catches fire all at once, air rippling with heat as flames spread first to the clay shingles that abruptly burst into a bright white conflagration that threatens to sear your eyes, and it does not stop there.

Stone is the next to burn, then the metal scattered through the house, and finally seemingly the air itself becomes an ionized, incandescent miasma of energy violently spilling outward as you find you can no longer breathe safely.

[I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire: 1, 1]

The doctor begins to run as she is bowled over by a rush of rapidly expanding, searing air that sends her tumbling downhill, and you faintly see Oggie briefly consider the notion of coming to grab you before she instead leaps away from the death explosion you appear to have created. You, having something of a first row seat to the happenings, do not have the privilege of even so much as attempting to escape before you are suddenly licked by a tongue of flame that feels like liquid lightning streaking across your flesh, burning a great black vein diagonally across your body from which black hairline cracks of charred flesh seep every which way, flanked by boils and still-crisping skin as you fall back and look up at your handiwork going up in horrifyingly pure fire.

It rises up into the sky nearly forever, though in actual time perhaps it takes a minute or two at best before the earth under it gives way and the castle of light you built sinks into the ground beneath the evaporating bedrock, leaving behind an abyss of gently weeping glass as the smoke clears and you, having attained a newfound respect for the plight of jacket potatoes, unsteadily rise to your feet and look down.

Odd, you do think you see a light at the bottom - and not the kind your fire made.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on March 26, 2017, 07:40:05 pm
This is like with the worm?  "Mr sword, a little help?"

Can the sword help here?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on March 27, 2017, 06:19:40 pm
Jack nods, and hands over the head. "All that sounds pretty good, Two Shores, but I did have one other thing in mind, maybe after you go tell the captain about what happened," he ventures.  "Fancy a spar? No weapons so we don't hurt each other and the surroundings, perhaps? I haven't had a good one in ages. Maybe I'll meet you back here after I go get my juggler's foot and tell Big Dipper about his promotion?"

He looks extra earnest, just in case that'll help him.

Ask for a sparring match? Regardless of whether I'm denied or not, go head back to the kitchen/mess hall place afterwards to go check on my juggler's foot order.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 27, 2017, 10:56:34 pm
I think a moment and talk to Lee: "How about we split up then? You know exactly what we are looking for, Bruce might not be exactly clear about it but will be helpful. We can cover more ground separatedly and therefore find it faster. After one of us finds it we will meet up here again. And since my fate is tied to the box, I would say finding the box is..."

The Word INEVITABLE hangs on tip of my tongue. Lee is smart girl, she should figure out what is the missing Word that's about to come.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on March 28, 2017, 07:20:51 am
Ouch. Glad to see this Word is as dangerous as the other ones. Satisfying, though.

I search for the doctor and Oggie. If they seem to be okay, I begin ushering them away from this place. We probably don't want to be here long enough to find out what that glowy underground thing is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on March 28, 2017, 01:46:09 pm
Ring the service bell, greet anything that arrives.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on March 28, 2017, 05:11:56 pm
Quote from: Toaster on March 26, 2017, 07:40:05 pm
This is like with the worm?  "Mr sword, a little help?"

Can the sword help here?

It's a lot like the worm except this time the slime is less the internal fluids of a giant invertebrate and more your own blood squeezed out of your limbs as you've been crushed half to death by an unforgiving landslide of stone. You figure it's similar enough in principle for the sword to be helpful.

I say, you say! Mister Sword! Is there something that could be done about this sticky wicket?

[The Bones of the Earth: 6]

One can't help but say that there is! A very palatable solution to all parties involved save perhaps a fellow or six whose opinions will shortly become irrelevant, one would then elaborate. Hold a moment.

There is a sudden extension from your hand as bands of sudden muted gray streak along your vision, then shoot off into the distance, more felt than seen as they head out every which way, making the earth softly seize in revulsion as a grossly unnatural power winds its tendrils through its bowels until finally it strikes home.

A sudden sense of relief overtakes you before it in turn is overpowered by an enormous sensation of pressure as you feel squeezed down to a third of your usual number of dimensions. It feels reductive, yet oddly satisfying to be a creature of pure length and little else, though you can't say you get to enjoy the status for long before suddenly expanding once more.

What you seem to have expanded into, however, appears to be some sort of small chamber, a sort of meeting-place between quite a few subterranean tunnels, gently lit by an oil lamp that you appear to have overturned along with a solid wooden table with your sudden appearance. Chairs are strewn around the room, as are a few errant pieces of mismatched jewelry and fallen tools, and even several pairs of ragged clothing that lay in strangely elongated piles and upon the chairs.

In one of the chairs that's fallen there looks to be a well-built man with his eyes shut, shaking wildly as he appears to have wet himself due to some manner of exciting event. The chamber appears to be completely silent apart from his muttered prayers that, from the sound of it, appear to be falling on deaf ears.

Quote from: Xantalos on March 27, 2017, 06:19:40 pm
Jack nods, and hands over the head. "All that sounds pretty good, Two Shores, but I did have one other thing in mind, maybe after you go tell the captain about what happened," he ventures.  "Fancy a spar? No weapons so we don't hurt each other and the surroundings, perhaps? I haven't had a good one in ages. Maybe I'll meet you back here after I go get my juggler's foot and tell Big Dipper about his promotion?"

He looks extra earnest, just in case that'll help him.

Ask for a sparring match? Regardless of whether I'm denied or not, go head back to the kitchen/mess hall place afterwards to go check on my juggler's foot order.

Two Shores laughs. There is always time for a sparring match, good sir, and she does know the feeling. Best not to keep that tension in you for long in her experience - right now will be just fine. She was in the middle of morning practice when you came along with the news, after all.

As Peaks excuses herself and a couple of burly sailors come along and take away the table as well as the empty mugs and snack platters, Shores sets up a small sparring circle, drawing a set of stones from within her deep pockets that glow when she sets them down with immaculate precision. She makes good time, too - in less than ten minutes you're about ready.

She sets her sword somewhat improbably on its edge a ways away on the circle, and you detect a noticeable change in her stance as she enters the circle wearing a genial expression even while looking very much primed for a good round of practice.

Will you be using that murder-thought though, if you don't mind her asking? She supposes it is technically a part of your being, and it may be instructive for her to fight something not quite substantial. Perhaps it would be best to not give everything away on your first meeting, however?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 27, 2017, 10:56:34 pm
I think a moment and talk to Lee: "How about we split up then? You know exactly what we are looking for, Bruce might not be exactly clear about it but will be helpful. We can cover more ground separatedly and therefore find it faster. After one of us finds it we will meet up here again. And since my fate is tied to the box, I would say finding the box is..."

The Word INEVITABLE hangs on tip of my tongue. Lee is smart girl, she should figure out what is the missing Word that's about to come.

A relative certainty, Lee says, then looks at Bruce with a disapproving sneer. Don't let him talk you into any trouble, she simply tells you before turning away and heading off.

Hoo boy, says Bruce after she's a good distance away. Don't mind Big Sis much, she can be a real bitch-tornado sometimes. Now, you were talking about going around and questioning some-

[Sorting Out The Strands: 5]

Your eyes have developed a faint silver glaze as you think of the alchemist and his demand, internalize it. You are right - your fate is catching on something here, a thing you must do before you leave, a thing that your personal twisted time demands from reality itself. The box is here somewhere, and it is there that you will be taken, one way or another. A small pop of probability leaves a metallic taste in your mouth, and a questing itch travels up and down your spine as you prepare to conduct the power of things that must be.

You become aware of Bruce waving his hand in front of your face. You've got the worlds-within-worlds look there, buddy. Cut it out, there's more important things to be doing right now. Like going to hit up all the people who were with Lee that night! One of them has to know what happened to her things, right? So c'mon, he's pretty sure he saw Earnest shambling along one of them side passages a little while ago.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on March 28, 2017, 07:20:51 am
Ouch. Glad to see this Word is as dangerous as the other ones. Satisfying, though.

I search for the doctor and Oggie. If they seem to be okay, I begin ushering them away from this place. We probably don't want to be here long enough to find out what that glowy underground thing is.

You get up and shamble away from the brand new hole in the ground you went and melted. The hill appears to be gently smoking in response to your brush with exothermia. You feel like it might not be a good idea to stick around for long.

As for Oggie, she appears to be mostly fine, albeit a little singed. She's presently lifting the doctor, a little more injured from the looks of it, from the ditch she seems to have fallen into, and is busying herself with the process of cleaning her dress from the dirt and ash it's quite suddenly collected (with not inconsiderable success, even!).

One of her bulging eyes focuses on you as you approach. Deliciously done, she compliments. Sorcery has its uses. No one will abuse her home again. Thank you.

The doctor groans as Oggie sets her down on her feet, and after a few pointed corrections of posture manages to stand up straight and even seems capable of movement. Urk, she forces out as she takes notice of your presence as well. Was that... supposed to happen? There was so much light and heat and... and...

Oggie puts a finger to her mouth, shh. She turns to you properly, her lips drawn in an unflattering semblance of a smile. Freeing, to have that sorted. Where now? She would say south - many things there she would find. Many things indeed, yes? The river first, maybe. Need to wash your pet, was scuffed in explosion.

Quote from: TopHat on March 28, 2017, 01:46:09 pm
Ring the service bell, greet anything that arrives.

It takes a minute for the tower portal to creak ominously open, a distended stomach leading the way as a creature wearing a hiked-up corpse bag with crude eyeholes carved into it stepping out, its arms and legs completely bare. It looks surprisingly non-decayed, the limbs very well-toned and covered in black, elaborate tattoos that, while affecting a certain arcane quality with their line work, nevertheless remind you of nothing more than something you'd see on a decorated Russian convict, cryptic images alluding to acts both grossly criminal and criminally gross in a more or less direct fashion.

The ambulatory bag leans toward you, yellow eyes gleaming from the ill-fitting bag, the top of which appears to have been sewn together to become very pointed, at least when you look at it from the front. Stars and moons have been haphazardly stitched into the top, presumably by its own hand while looking in a mirror.

You look like one of them gentlemen of quality and, how you say, distinction, a crackling voice emanates from the wizard. Note yourself in that there guestbook if it's not a bother, that's where the patrons he don't need to chase out go into. Didn't even try to steal anything, that's what he calls damn well behaved, right so!

That said though, if you could tell him what the hell you're looking for quickly he'd be bloody chuffed about that, he's got something of a sensitive matter going on in the back at the moment. Magic wand? Ingredients? Magical helmet wax? Your helmet's bloody shiny as it is, don't get him wrong, but he'd be a monkey's arse if he couldn't imagine it a lot shinier than that.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on March 28, 2017, 07:50:32 pm
"Why not first round without it, second round with?" Daniels queries as he settles into a ready stance. "I don't wanna screw around with it too much until I've taken your measure."

Assuming she agrees, begin the fight whenever agreed upon. I can't really say anything specific to do; just kinda feel the flow and try to create and/or exploit openings in her defence.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on March 29, 2017, 02:06:57 pm
I will be taken? As in sense of taken to wedding altar? Am I really ready for that?

Leif smiles and plants his both hands firmly on Bruce's shoulders. "Yes. Let's go talk people. Somebody knows, and we will find that somebody. If we are all working together then we can find the box easily. After all, fate dictates so, its discovery is INEVITABLE."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on March 29, 2017, 02:46:55 pm
Most unusual, the way that went.  Thomas isn't quite sure how that happened; some sort of advanced illusion, he supposed.  "Pardon me, good sir!  What would be the best way to the top of the ridge from here?"

Ask!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on March 30, 2017, 01:34:03 pm
"Oh, I'm only browsing at the moment. As a... foreigner, I still don't know anything much about how magic works here or what would be required. If you have important business to attend to I'd be happy to come back later."

Confess own lack of knowledge of where to even start. Bimble over to the pawnbroker's if the wizard takes me up on that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 01, 2017, 12:14:42 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on March 28, 2017, 07:50:32 pm
"Why not first round without it, second round with?" Daniels queries as he settles into a ready stance. "I don't wanna screw around with it too much until I've taken your measure."

Assuming she agrees, begin the fight whenever agreed upon. I can't really say anything specific to do; just kinda feel the flow and try to create and/or exploit openings in her defence.

Shores merely shrugs - she supposes that is an equitable sort of arrangement. She would of course appreciate if you kept things strictly clean, but if she understands correctly then that might pose slight difficulty, considering the method of deployment... but no matter, she smiles. It should not become a problem.

[The Measure of a Man: 4+1]

You have not had much opportunity to spar in all of your time here - the fights you've been in have been invariably lopsided, and often quite lethal. Thus you find the feeling of engaging somebody on even footing and certainly equal skill to be a strangely exotic pleasure.

Somewhat unlike what her practice with the sword seemed to indicate, her unarmed style is largely formless and highly defensive as she intercepts and interrupts your own overtures with unpredictable and explosive strikes of her own, her dress a whirlwind of ribbons that makes her a little difficult to properly make out once she gets properly moving. You are in the best shape of your life today - certainly better than you were in your old life. What this amounts to, ultimately, is that you manage to almost but not quite lay a hand on her in the first round. The converse, however, certainly does not apply. You get to appreciate the unique artistry of many a maneuver as you are repeatedly kicked, elbowed, kneed and finally quite decisively punched to the ground with an already great deal of strength applied extraordinarily well.

Shores comes to a stop and smooths out her dress with her hands, her shape momentarily returning to normal. She's flushed and breathing quickly, her smile having a lot more teeth than previously as she gently pulls you back to your feet. You have a lot of promise, sir. She apologizes if she hurt you - from what you said she assumed you had a very durable constitution, yes?

You take a moment to check on your bones. Everything's in place, and you must commend Shores for being able to pack a sting without genuinely harming you. You've seen some of the things she did before, and they're the sort of maneuvers that normally lead to skull fractures.

Round two, you say.

Most likely this will be more even, Shores replies in a tone of anticipation. You are, after all, fully warmed up now.

Yes, you respond as your murder-thought spins up from atop the nearby brass mast. That too.

This time she moves far more cautiously, her attention very successfully divided as you launch a two-pronged assault with fists, feet and sheer weaponized malice. She focuses on dodging as she tests you, first weaving out of the way of the sharp swipes of your thought, but allowing it to come closer each time until it travels into the indeterminate sweep of her own battledress. You finally land a solid punch and let out a shout of triumph as Shores recoils, almost flowing like water away from it - straight into the path of your murder-thought.

What happens next looks quite unusual as, put into an unenviable position, the first mate seems to try and catch the thought as opposed to, say, jumping out of the way - it's a strange enough thing to behold that you momentarily hold back on the assault, more curious to see what she's doing than you are intent on proving a point. You see her move backward as the thought starts to bite into her, and with a twist of her body she seems to let it slide along her, the minute friction and slight laceration slowing it down enough as it travels down her hand that with a slight motion of her arm she manages to suddenly deflect it, shedding enough energy from its flight that she finds it not too difficult to catch it with her other hand, guiding it subtly into a very particular track.

Still on the lookout from any attack from your end (you don't really make any serious ones, but elect to keep a certain pressure on as you move to potentially take advantage of, say, an exposed flank), Shores continues to weave around and her motions become like that of a juggler as she seems to very nearly tame your murder-thought in an amusing-looking dance that culminates in her very suddenly whipping her entire body in your direction, the thought suddenly building up momentum as it surges toward your face.

There is a millisecond of bated breath as her eyes are filled with a shining tension, watching as the undefinably sharp blade flies toward you, striking home as it comes to the tip of your nose, for a moment looking like it's about to split your head wide open from sheer momentum.

Instead you just stop it and let it scratch your nose for a moment. Had a bit of an itch building there. You and Shores exchange a meaningful look with raised eyebrows before she nearly collapses in a fit of delighted laughter. She will concede this one to you, sir! A worthwhile defeat if she has ever had one.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on March 29, 2017, 02:06:57 pm
I will be taken? As in sense of taken to wedding altar? Am I really ready for that?

Leif smiles and plants his both hands firmly on Bruce's shoulders. "Yes. Let's go talk people. Somebody knows, and we will find that somebody. If we are all working together then we can find the box easily. After all, fate dictates so, its discovery is INEVITABLE."

He's about to say more - you, luckily, have all the answers already.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 5, 3]

Or, rather, you know that you will have them, and the time you will spend getting to them is better used elsewhere. You pull on the thread of time sharply and bring this investigation suddenly together as the room you were in stutters for a second as it empties suddenly of all habitation save yourself and Bruce, who looks confused and takes a single step before the room suddenly melts away, suddenly replaced with the chamber you woke up in, also empty for a second before people start to inversely fill in. You recognize Lee first of all, who sits next to you with her head in one hand, looking very unamused. Next is the lamplighter who is sat on the other side, the antennae on her hat wiggling gently as her memory trails a little behind actual fact. She looks at you, then at Lee quizzically.

The elder springs into existence suddenly off to another side, his expression intensely condescending at young Bruce, who is nearly overcome by disorientation once again as memory and context smacks into his mind like a ton of bricks. A woman you don't recognize with waist-length red hair is right by the entrance, evidently reserving the right to leave at the first opportunity as she smokes a chitinous pipe with squinted eyes. And also a very muscular, blond man not unlike yourself in build, twirling a leather ball in his lap as he casts a very bored eye around the room.

It has become clear, Bruce says as he starts to decide what all has become clear with this fresh rush of knowledge into his pubescent brain, that whatever happened to the object of interest, clearly someone in this room must know! They were all with the owner throughout the night, and no doubt one of them has to have seen something amid the orgy of alcohol and delinquency that followed. Someone has to be responsible!

Baseless allegations, the red-haired woman says, gesturing with her pipe. And he also has no proof, there's that. Yeah, the man with the ball says, this is all kind of lame. He's honestly not sure why he came here. Come to think of it, the red-haired woman continues, neither is she.

Don't distract from the issue, Bruce shouts! There is only one possible way that this can be done, he says, and that's by retracing your steps like a proper detective. If one of the people gathered has the box in their possession, it'll surely come out in this investigation!

Retracing your steps, Lee skeptically draws out.

Indeed, Bruce says in a triumphant tone. And here comes the piece la resistance, he points at the entranceway, where Earnest has turned up with a questioning look and a box of clinking bottles of what seems to be very strong tonic. Lee groans as she audibly facepalms.

As the rest of the room is silent, the lamplighter raises her hand. Can she just say, she begins in, by saying that this is the best plan and she sees absolutely no flaw in it? Bruce snaps her fingers at her - that's the spirit of investigation right there! Now, to make this at all possible to follow everyone's got to participate. Including the investigator!

Quote from: Toaster on March 29, 2017, 02:46:55 pm
Most unusual, the way that went.  Thomas isn't quite sure how that happened; some sort of advanced illusion, he supposed.  "Pardon me, good sir!  What would be the best way to the top of the ridge from here?"

Ask!

He doesn't answer your question, and instead seems to go into some kind of bit. It starts with him opening his eyes and looking your way wildly, then casting an eye around the room in dawning horror before settling to look at your curious sword. His eyes meet yours again.

[A Fruitful Interrogation: 1]

Youuuuu, he points as if his arm had developed a sudden case of tetanus, youuu! Youuuu!

You what, you decide to ask as he completely fails to make sense. Do you know each other?

Nooooo, he responds a little more coherently. No, no, no, no, no!

Okay, you continue. Is there some sort of problem? Is he having a seizure? You don't have a phone on you, you're sad to say, is there a landline handy somewhere that you could call 911 on? Is 911 the right number in Australia? You forget if that's the case.

Youuu, he says again! It's here! It's here! Doom! Doom!

That's all right, you speak with futility. You didn't honestly expect a good answer to that. Is there something more you should know? Anybody nearby that you could talk to, possibly?

Doom, he shouts weakly! Darkness, death! Alas! Alack! There is a little more of this as he makes a brief apoplectic scramble for no discernible purpose, wets himself one more time for good measure and then loses consciousness for good. That, you have to admit, was probably the single most fruitless conversation you've had in this strange place, and not for lack of competition.

Quote from: TopHat on March 30, 2017, 01:34:03 pm
"Oh, I'm only browsing at the moment. As a... foreigner, I still don't know anything much about how magic works here or what would be required. If you have important business to attend to I'd be happy to come back later."

Confess own lack of knowledge of where to even start. Bimble over to the pawnbroker's if the wizard takes me up on that.

The wizard seems rather offended at this. So you're one of them people what come into a wizards shoppe and then can't muster the basic bloody decency to say what they'd want? He'd've thought better than that from the look of you, just saying. And now you're adding insult to injury, saying you'll bloody well come back later to do the exact same thing when he's got well and proper underway with his business! The gall! The chutzpah!

You're about to say something, but the wizard notices this and speaks louder and more indignantly. Gonna talk back, are you? Gonna ask what magic is again, are ya? It's magic, ya smart-arsed dingleberry of a man! There's not a thing it can't do! Question is what you're willing to pay for it, get it?

So out with it, man! What do you want? Don't worry your shiny little head about the price, he takes care of that for people like you. Anything you want, he can do or his name ain't Wilt The Wizard, Master of the Seven Bloody Towers!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 01, 2017, 01:23:52 pm
"YES!" Leif shouts beaming smile on his face and slaps young Bruce on back. "Let's do this!"

Let's retrace our steps! First for Odin or whoever, I don't even care!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 01, 2017, 08:11:16 pm
Thomas considered the man for a moment.  He was either an excellent actor or having a seizure; either way, there was nothing to be done for him.  Oh well.

Let's talk exits; ideally one headed up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 01, 2017, 10:23:39 pm
((Well dang, I got full-on kung fu panda 2 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GeKgIB-MLQ) vibes from that.))

Daniels bows deeply to Two Shores. "And you have my respect, that was better fought than anyone I've engaged with in my lifetime that I can remember, save perhaps for one particularly manic crackhead I ran into once in Jersey. Your pattern of motion and skill in redirecting momentum is phenomenal, and I admit I would be uncertain of victory if I engaged you in a straight fight while you had your blade. I'd love to do this again sometime - I believe we have a lot we could learn from each other," he says. "I do believe that we each have things to attend to, however, unless you wish to continue?"

Does the lady wish to fight again? If so, I'm certainly up for it, but if not, bid Shores adieu for now and go ask around to find this Big Dipper fellow.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on April 02, 2017, 02:26:58 pm
"Well, first of all, now I want to know about the price; A wizard 'taking care of' something can mean a great many things, can it not?"
A bit impolitely put, but an excellent question nonetheless. What *do* I want?
Knowledge of magic? A gift fit for a whale? Eh, go with the former for now.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 03, 2017, 07:19:48 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 01, 2017, 01:23:52 pm
"YES!" Leif shouts beaming smile on his face and slaps young Bruce on back. "Let's do this!"

Let's retrace our steps! First for Odin or whoever, I don't even care!

[Let's Drink, Drink: 5]

You grab a jug of clan moonshine, probably some of the last still available, and down it with utter lack of hesitation, the kick of it making you very suddenly sit down. Good stuff, you shout, good stuff!

Earnest, crateful of booze still in hand, stands there for a moment before you motion for him to go around the room - Bruce takes two jugs and tries to imitate your own feat of drinking at first before realizing that maybe alcohol poisoning isn't quite what he wants to have just yet. So he decides to quaff it instead.

The elder seems quite impressed. Very good quaffing there, young Bruce! Reminds him of himself in his misspent youth! Ah, he booms, standing up to get a drink of his own, what years those were! What years indeed! He quaffs with a lot more practice, as would befit one of advanced years and extensive practice in drinking.

As Earnest goes along the rest of the room, the red-haired woman takes a drink and sips it gently to offset her headache, and soon after the man with the ball does as well, though a little more confidently. Lee refuses to have any, seemingly having had quite enough already from last night, the lamplighter has one that she drinks with practiced tolerance and pacing, sniffing her sleeve as some of it gets into her sinuses, and finally Earnest himself nervously takes one and sits down next to you, nursing it very delicately.

You lean back a little as you take another - really strong stuff, actually. The elder compliments the distillation, and you notice the red-haired woman and the blond fellow sort of murmur a bit to each other. Bruce, meanwhile, throws himself headlong into getting drunk again, trying to at least pretend to be keeping up with you.

So, the lamplighter says as she glances at Lee, who sits with arms crossed off to one side. You were... looking for something, were you? Some kind of box apparently, the elder says. Yes, Lee clarifies, a box without hinges or a lid. Mysterious in nature, unopenable. Made of brass.

So Lee got drunk and lost it, the lamplighter turns to you. Sounds about right, Bruce says! She does get pretty scattuh... scaffer... scatterbrained when she's had a few, you know what he's saying? He looks around with a smoky look in his eyes. Should get some music going! It's not a proper retracing unless there's music! And dancing! And girls, too, he looks in particular at the red-haired woman, who raises an eyebrow before scoffing at him, though makes no motion to leave just yet as she appears to have struck up a bit of a conversation with the elder about the clansmeet, the context of which you managed to sadly miss due to being a little busy with your drink and which has thus become a bit too cryptic for you to make anything of. The man with the ball seems to be content with just spinning it on top of his index finger as he drinks alone, pondering if maybe he should get some friends in here to help drink all of this wealth in moonshine.

Quote from: Toaster on April 01, 2017, 08:11:16 pm
Thomas considered the man for a moment.  He was either an excellent actor or having a seizure; either way, there was nothing to be done for him.  Oh well.

Let's talk exits; ideally one headed up.

You leave the passed-out man to his torment and look around for something resembling a proper exit.

[On The Way Up: 5]

You grab the oil lamp to light your way and look down each tunnel - most appear to lead down. One, however, hosts a spiral staircase hewn out of the bedrock itself, worn-out carvings on the steps marking it as some kind of ancient construction predating the much more crude warrens made by whoever these seizure people are. You head up it - quite a long way up as it turns out, the interior shaped a little like a funnel as the coil of the staircase grows wider and wider until you've come to the top of the pit it was spiraling down, a cracked stone vault above letting in a few rays of sunlight as you come to a dilapidated archway leading out.

What it leads out into appears to be a camp of some sort - seven circular tents made of assorted cured hides stand around the encampment, hidden in a little depression along the length of the ridge dotted with small trees and enormous bushes forming little lakes of growth that fill out what look to be a wealth of ancient ruins. Even this little clearing appears to have been made by ongoing weeks of hard work, little woody stumps marking where men and women with machetes have cleared away enough to permit easy access to the dome.

A woman pale, rotund and compact enough to be plausibly cast as Humpty Dumpty sits in front of one of the tents, busily dyeing a cloak in what seems to be a camouflage pattern, the basin swirling with oily greens and browns, a little boy with blond pigtails kneeling by her side, a story of some kind he was telling having degenerated into a great deal of expressive mouth noises, the woman smiling politely as the boy loses himself in the description. Out of the corner of her eye she spots you and gets to "have you seen my" before she realizes that she does not recognize you.

Who are you, she asks very urgently. How did you get here? The boy looks at you and waves - the woman whispers something in his ear and motions for him to go quickly before turning to you again.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 01, 2017, 10:23:39 pm
Daniels bows deeply to Two Shores. "And you have my respect, that was better fought than anyone I've engaged with in my lifetime that I can remember, save perhaps for one particularly manic crackhead I ran into once in Jersey. Your pattern of motion and skill in redirecting momentum is phenomenal, and I admit I would be uncertain of victory if I engaged you in a straight fight while you had your blade. I'd love to do this again sometime - I believe we have a lot we could learn from each other," he says. "I do believe that we each have things to attend to, however, unless you wish to continue?"

Does the lady wish to fight again? If so, I'm certainly up for it, but if not, bid Shores adieu for now and go ask around to find this Big Dipper fellow.

Thank you, she says as the excitement starts to pass and a healthy flush comes over her, it was a delight to spar with you as well. Catching the thought is a lot like catching a blade, were a blade to solely consist of sharp edges. She will have to figure something out the next time you get together like this!

Oh, but do not let her keep you. She could spend all day working this out if you let her. Better to save that for a slow day in her experience, would you not agree? She should report to the captain post-haste as well. But you must promise that you will repeat this soon. She has not had this much fun in weeks.

Rainbow's head in hand, Two Shores then parts with you and goes to the door leading deeper into the captain's quarters. She looks back as an arcane mechanism begins to unfold on it, and gives you one last smile before her expression clears completely and she steps inside, disappearing from sight.

[Scanning The Night Sky: 3]

You step back off the Vault of Heavens and take a look around. There's a sailor standing off to one side, seemingly on break from whatever it is the crew of the Vault do in this town. You indicate him - you there, where is Big Dipper? You need to tell him something.

The sailor thinks. Good news or bad news?

Good, you respond.

Are you sure, he asks. The murder-thought begins to impatiently tap toward him. All right, he takes your meaning. Probably at the storehouse. Over yonder, he points at the centerpiece of the town, a trading post and its adjacent humble warehouse.

True enough, Big Dipper appears to be nesting in the office atop the trading post, currently going through some manifests over an invigorating cup of coffee, adding occasional corrections with a gleam in his eye. He shuts the manifest as you enter, his feet coming off the desk as he spins in his chair to face you and steeple his hands.

Greetings, he says with a knowing flash of white teeth. Enjoying yourself in lovely Hornsweir, yes? Been staying out of trouble?

Quote from: TopHat on April 02, 2017, 02:26:58 pm
"Well, first of all, now I want to know about the price; A wizard 'taking care of' something can mean a great many things, can it not?"
A bit impolitely put, but an excellent question nonetheless. What *do* I want?
Knowledge of magic? A gift fit for a whale? Eh, go with the former for now.

You notice the wizard's yellow eyes roll in the darkness of the sack. What he means is that he'll give you a price and you'll either take it or leave it, nothing more and nothing less. It's a bloody quests-for-things arrangement, is that clear enough for you to understand?

You wave off this line of conversation and consider what you want. Knowledge of magic seems a pretty good start.

[Wizzards Bargins: 6]

You hear a sharp intake of air as the wizard hears your request. So you're one of them types. Honestly he'd say yer a little too daft to be thinking about that sort of thing - but who is he to say no to the demands of careless youth, eh?

Tell you what! He'll be enlightening you on matters magical, mystical and downright bloody mysterious. But in return you'll hafta bring him these objects three!

Which objects three, you ask.

Hang on, he says, he wrote one of them lists. Been meaning ta get it one o' these days. He roots around beneath the counter for a few moments and comes up with something - a short scrap of parchment on which four things have been written, the fourth very messily scratched out with a quill. You read through it with a skeptical eye - the symbols take a moment to resolve before your eyes.

So he needs, you say after a moment, a hunk of graphite, a roll of sticky tape and a spool of copper wire? You catch on quicker than he'd think, the wizard nods! Maybe you'll actually manage it, eh? He'd certainly be surprised if you did!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 03, 2017, 09:53:27 am
"Hello!  My name is Thomas.  I'm trying to make my way up the ridge; where's the best way up from here?  Oh, I came up the stairs.  There's a fellow down there that seems to be a in a bad way; someone might want to check on him.  Looks like he had a fit of some kind."

Converse!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 03, 2017, 11:29:10 am
"I think I can handle the music part. Let's see..."

But first some minder juice for everyone. Then let's see if I can play of some music out of my head... Ah, it has been a while since this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Xl9tBWt54)!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 03, 2017, 03:08:45 pm
"Well, to an extent. I almost caused a great deal of trouble, but then I turned it into good news instead. You're promoted, by the way, I killed Rainbow on account of her trying to entice me into mutiny and she was also a ghoul thing, so you got her job now or something. I assume there's someone you can talk to about that."

Daniels scratches his chin and waits for the man's response to this bit of news.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 04, 2017, 06:51:41 am
"That was mostly intentional," I say to the doctor. "It might be a good idea to get out of here in case there are any after-effects."

With that, I begin leading the group towards the river so we can wash off a bit. On the way, I talk to Oggie about where we're going next. "The doctor and I were talking about El earlier, and it sounded like an interesting place to visit, but we don't have any solid plans. What is it you expect to find to the south?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on April 04, 2017, 11:25:46 am
Well, they've invented sticky tape apparently. I wonder what else?
Go off on a mystical quest to find common household items. Maybe look in the pawn shop first, should be something interesting in there at least.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 04, 2017, 02:54:15 pm
Quote from: Toaster on April 03, 2017, 09:53:27 am
"Hello!  My name is Thomas.  I'm trying to make my way up the ridge; where's the best way up from here?  Oh, I came up the stairs.  There's a fellow down there that seems to be a in a bad way; someone might want to check on him.  Looks like he had a fit of some kind."

Converse!

Oh dear, she says with eyes wide. You're an intruder, aren't you? That's not good. That's not good at all.

[The Cavalry Has Arrived: 3]

The boy returns, three rather lean and small men trailing after him with crude spears in hand, clad head to toe in what look to be primitive ghillie suits, complete with authentic dried fragments of undergrowth. They stop a few steps away from you as the boy identifies you affably.

It takes them a moment to make you out through all of their unwieldy camouflage, but when they do they waste no time in brandishing their spears in your direction, demanding that you explain yourself. More specifically, who you are and how you got here. They also mention that you should make things easier for yourself and come quietly, lest they should need to use force in subduing you.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 03, 2017, 11:29:10 am
"I think I can handle the music part. Let's see..."

But first some minder juice for everyone. Then let's see if I can play of some music out of my head... Ah, it has been a while since this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Xl9tBWt54)!

[The Most Wonderful Sound: 1]

For some reason the Moths do not seem to appreciate being given your weird grapefruit mind magic. Well, Bruce does and so does the lamplighter, the former racing headlong into unconsciousness with each passing second, but the others seem altogether less enthused. Then you kick in the music - they unfortunately are even lesser fans of that, or the somewhat vivid images of odd bony creatures you begin to involuntarily conjure along with the noises.

God, what an awful racket, the man with the ball says. The elder looks on unimpressedly (he's probably more of a Korpiklaani man), and the red-haired woman places her hands over her ears and, when that completely fails to help, walks right out of the premises, with a rather displeased Lee following as she shoots a dirty look your way. The man with the ball looks very torn between the availability of liquor within the chamber and the horrible noise pervading it. Earnest looks mildly bewildered by the sound and keeps looking around for some kind of source he could maybe push away or kick over.

The lamplighter taps on your head - could you stop with the damn noise? People are trying to drink here, don't need you kicking their inner ears harder than the booze, you hear? Though, she looks over at Bruce who appears to be trying to dance and failing horrifically, she guesses this is a little funny too if you could maybe mute it in regards to her and, well, everyone except the boy from the looks of it. Can you do that with your weird mind powers?

Quote from: Xantalos on April 03, 2017, 03:08:45 pm
"Well, to an extent. I almost caused a great deal of trouble, but then I turned it into good news instead. You're promoted, by the way, I killed Rainbow on account of her trying to entice me into mutiny and she was also a ghoul thing, so you got her job now or something. I assume there's someone you can talk to about that."

Daniels scratches his chin and waits for the man's response to this bit of news.

The way he grins and nods while you tell him leads you to guess he probably already knew. But the news still gratifies him to considerable degree. Well done, stranger! Who'd have thought that the strangely fortuitous minder they picked up in the town after unseating the local government would have turned out to be some kind of odd Corner-monster wearing the face of a kindly old woman?

He would, Dipper adds in a quieter voice. And they didn't listen! Demoted him for voicing perfectly reasonable suspicions and 'sowing distrust' among the crew, can you believe that? He's got a nose for these things! Always has. Shows the captain for not trusting him.

But really, thanks for being such a good sport and ripping her damn head off back there, mate. He had something cooking for that kind of thing himself, a little bit of well-timed accidental action if you know what he means. Great that things just fall into place sometimes, isn't it?

Let him treat you for a drink, the new third mate rises from his desk, procuring a bottle of exquisite spiced rum (or maybe having had it in his hand the entire time, as you don't actually notice him moving anywhere to get it) with one hand as he presents a pair of shot glasses with the other. Get yourself in good shape for the evening feast, eh?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 04, 2017, 06:51:41 am
"That was mostly intentional," I say to the doctor. "It might be a good idea to get out of here in case there are any after-effects."

With that, I begin leading the group towards the river so we can wash off a bit. On the way, I talk to Oggie about where we're going next. "The doctor and I were talking about El earlier, and it sounded like an interesting place to visit, but we don't have any solid plans. What is it you expect to find to the south?"

You head off to the river, passing briefly by the forest where your mineralized horror seems to be munching on trees very audibly, a distant treetop falling every few seconds as it tears through the interior in its raging hunger. You try to ignore it much like the gaping hole in the ground you left behind, and instead strike up a conversation with Oggie as she's got the doctor in a fireman's carry, her whiskers bristling as she still seems unused to the light.

[A Trail of Broken Spines: 1]

She scoffs at the idea of going to El. Terrible place. Unfriendly natives. Will cheat you. Or kill you. Likely both. Nobility writ large, decadent like no other. In the end, totally useless.

Huh, you say. And the south?

Also a terrible place, she shrugs. With unfriendly natives who will kill you. But these natives have many things coming to them, and to break them would at least bring joy. Not like worthless people of El. Do you see?

You stop by the shoreline. The doctor seems to have recuperated somewhat as she is being carried, and by the time you're by the riverside she's regained enough stability to wash off the grime and filth of the siege of many months. You, although much less grubby than she is, also appreciate the opportunity of removing what grime you have accumulated - you get a lot of use out of the snake soap, which lends you and the doctor an oddly reptilian scent after your round of bathing.

Oggie, for her part, is far more uneasy around the water at first. River always was strange, she says. Too dark, too deep. Too quick, too dangerous. Dragged peasants off all the time. She taps at its surface briefly and draws back, seemingly unnerved by the very concept of surface tension.

You watch the strange creature as she experiments and meanwhile chat with the doctor, relating Oggie's peculiar view on El and the south. The doctor looks concerned at this. She does admit she can think of many reasons to go south again. Check back with the College, or what's left of it at least. See what remains of the kingdom, commit it to memory. But she was also kind of hoping to avoid the stoatmen as much as possible, whereas Oggie appears to have, well, different ideas. Hopefully there's some way she can be convinced to, say, not break the neck of every random person you come across. Or at least steered into a direction where she'd have less opportunity for it.

When you look next, Oggie appears to have dived into the river fully. She's a very good swimmer as she appears to have discovered, having surprisingly little trouble with the current. By the time you and the doctor are both out, dry and dressed she's still in there, and takes a few reminders to crawl back on out, whereupon she shakes the water off her many long hairs much like a dog would.

Quote from: TopHat on April 04, 2017, 11:25:46 am
Well, they've invented sticky tape apparently. I wonder what else?
Go off on a mystical quest to find common household items. Maybe look in the pawn shop first, should be something interesting in there at least.

The wizard gives you a two-fingered salute as you head on out of his curious store and walk across the street to the pawnbroker's establishment, its windows still bright and gleaming as you step in through the glazed door that opens as you approach.

[A Place To Lose Yourself: 1]

Within is not quite what you would have expected - the interior is a mishmash of heightening arcades and staircases in marble, all lit in a seemingly sourceless, all-encompassing hard light, and in the distance bits of the shop do not darken, but instead seem to disappear in a distant white haze. The place is as much a shop as it is a showroom, a collection of assembled junk from throughout the ages held in suspended silence, a museum of things greatly valued, but not quite valuable enough, all the things lost for a fraction of their true worth. There are harpsichords and books, collections of curious insects and geodes of scintillating colors, amulets and necklaces and even a jeweled skull or two. Rows upon rows of displays stretch every which way, even along staircases and sometimes on the ceilings.

The geometry of the place grows increasingly unlikely as you proceed deeper in and the arcades show no sign of abating - at one point you are walking along what you thought was a small underpass beneath a wall, but when you look up you see a display holding a bone-handled sacrificial knife you swear you passed by a couple minutes ago, back when it wasn't stuck on the ceiling. Spatial uncertainty washes over you as you glance around with no end in sight, and you feel as if you were in an Escher print - viewed on a screen in some bizarre future by something outside your perception, at the same time the subject of judgment and an earnest attempt to understand.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 04, 2017, 05:39:28 pm
((Looks like we all rolled for crap this turn))

"Er.  Well.  My name is Thomas Minstep, an insurance agent.  I was climbing the ridge on my way to Elizabeth, and there was a dreadful rockslide or two.  Found myself stuck on a ledge, where there a cavern leading inward.  I tried it out, there may have been another rockslide, and I found myself in a room in your caverns.  I took the stairs out and here I am.  I don't mean to intrude; if you point me in the right direction I'll be on my way."

Stand and explain; make no moves, aggressive or otherwise.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 04, 2017, 11:00:56 pm
((3, 1, 1, 1. Pretty crappy indeed.))

"I suck at music." Stop the music. "But I love music, so why would I suck at it?" Ponder about this mismatch of love and ability. Drink my sorrows away. And try to remember why we are drinking in first place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 05, 2017, 01:58:58 am
Daniels chuckles. "I've never been one to refuse a gift when it's offered."

Yeah, why not, have a few drinks with the guy. Emphasis on 'a few', don't let myself get anything past moderately buzzed as far as drunkness goes. Offer the excuse of 'I have to corral Rainbow's apprentices soon' if he objects to my moderation. Being drunk around minders seems like a bad idea, no matter how alien my subconscious is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on April 05, 2017, 03:46:45 pm
Stop, close eyes, deep breath, open eyes. When this inevitably fails to resolve confusion, shrug it off and have a closer look at any available books.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 06, 2017, 08:17:49 am
I approach Oggie and attempt to introduce some strategy into her plan "Hey, so I've been thinking about the best way to take revenge on the stoatmen. I wandered that way... two days ago, I think? Maybe three. Anyway, all I saw were unimportant commoners and footsoldiers. It'll probably be tempting to take your vengeance out on them, but I think we'd only draw attention to ourselves. If we wait to find someone important before we start any violence, I think we could do a lot more damage and stop the stoats from doing the same thing to anyone else."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 07, 2017, 03:01:31 pm
Quote from: Toaster on April 04, 2017, 05:39:28 pm
"Er.  Well.  My name is Thomas Minstep, an insurance agent.  I was climbing the ridge on my way to Elizabeth, and there was a dreadful rockslide or two.  Found myself stuck on a ledge, where there a cavern leading inward.  I tried it out, there may have been another rockslide, and I found myself in a room in your caverns.  I took the stairs out and here I am.  I don't mean to intrude; if you point me in the right direction I'll be on my way."

Stand and explain; make no moves, aggressive or otherwise.

[How Did I Get Here: 4]

You took the stairs, the sharpest one of the three camouflaged fellows says. The ones over yonder, he points at the tunnel.

You nod amiably - is there some kind of problem? The fellow motions with his head for one of his assistants to head down and check. There is a muttering as they take a bit to agree on the exact chain of command here, and eventually the sharper one just goes down himself, leaving you up here under the guard of his two ghillie-suited associates.

You attempt to make conversation over the next couple minutes, but the remaining two only point their spears at you when you do. The woman ambles off urgently, and the boy follows, looking back at you and waving as he walks off without a care in the world.

The third man comes back. He stares at you with an expression of horror on his face. What did you do, he asks. What did you do?

It's like you said, you begin, you were climbing the ridge on your way to Elizabeth and there was a dreadful rockslide or two, and then you-

What happened to them, he yells at you and you begin to realize he's probably meaning this rhetorically. The other two look at him very worriedly. What did you do, he continues to shout, clutching his spear to his chest in a white-knuckled grip, seemingly more for his own protection than as a threat to you.

Maybe he needs to lie down, one of his associates says. Er, better take him to his tent, the other one suggests and starts leading the panicked man away.

The sole remaining guard turns to you. Right, he says. This hasn't happened before, strictly speaking, at least not on his own shift, but he's pretty sure you're going back down the cliff that you came up by. By any means necessary, he says and brandishes his spear menacingly.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 04, 2017, 11:00:56 pm
"I suck at music." Stop the music. "But I love music, so why would I suck at it?" Ponder about this mismatch of love and ability. Drink my sorrows away. And try to remember why we are drinking in first place.

You kill the music and a breath of relief washes over most of the room. An atmosphere of merriment, however, does not return as the man with the ball quietly contemplates as to whether this cave moonshine wouldn't serve his friends better than it would you.

[The Party's Tired Now: 5]

As the stillborn festivities drag on and Bruce continues to dance even without any kind of music to accompany him, you sit there and drink. He's got a certain drunken mesmerism to his movements, you gotta hand it to the boy. Sloppy, but he's got a good deal of spirits in him so it doesn't matter. The lamplighter urges him on periodically, chuckling to herself as she watches him make a complete mess of himself. The elder messes around with his robe for a moment and pulls out a little chunk of what looks like solid pitch, popping it into his mouth and starting to chew it resolutely as he watches young Bruce with faint amusement.

You get the weird feeling that there was something you were supposed to be doing, you say as you down another round of hard liquor. The lamplighter looks your way. You were looking for something, she's pretty sure. Yeah, Earnest says on your other side, the little guy said something about, uh... a box, right?

Right, you shout and suddenly get up. There was that! It's all coming back to you!

There was some kind of party planned to find it, Earnest continues to relate from memory, and getting drunk was apparently a, er, vital part of the investigation according to the dancing guy. Wait, he says with a sudden look of disappointed realization, does that make this a search party?

Bruce bursts into sudden laughter, but is otherwise of absolutely no help.

The lamplighter furrows her brow. So you were... retracing your steps... to check where you might have lost this box thing. Sounds like it, Earnest says, though maybe you should have got a little less drunk before, you know, starting to investigate. Nonsense, the lamplighter retorts, if anything there's not been enough alcohol to make sense of this.

You didn't lose it, you correct. Lee did. After you entrusted it to her, too!

Is that why she looks different, Earnest asks. She did look, er, out of sorts. Plus she was wearing... somebody else's robe, he notes with a bit of sadness. The lamplighter hoots with laughter. Hah! She always thought there was a beast in that girl, let her tell you. Something in the eyes, you know! The kind of girl you get a few drinks into and then anything can happen.

Heheheh, she continues. Shame she can't really remember much of last night. She'd pay to see our Lee getting down with her bad self. The few bits and pieces left in her mind are downright tantalizing.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 05, 2017, 01:58:58 am
Daniels chuckles. "I've never been one to refuse a gift when it's offered."

Yeah, why not, have a few drinks with the guy. Emphasis on 'a few', don't let myself get anything past moderately buzzed as far as drunkness goes. Offer the excuse of 'I have to corral Rainbow's apprentices soon' if he objects to my moderation. Being drunk around minders seems like a bad idea, no matter how alien my subconscious is.

He's not exactly offering you to get completely shitfaced with him, more just a few toasts - to excellent decisions, to good judgment, to the Vault and her delightful captain! A more beautiful bastard to spend the century with he surely could not name.

The rum, as you've come to expect from most of the things in the sailors' possession, is really quite great. Probably ranks among the best you've ever had, and after you've had a few you feel a nice warmth build up in you.

Dipper, pleased as he is, takes a moment to inquire about how you've been finding the Vault - you answer in a friendly, but not overly informative fashion as the two of you while away the time in the office. He's missed home, you know. El really is quite something else. Every time you think you've seen what it has to offer, it goes and changes up on you again. To the land of the eternal spring, resting on the shore of a missing sea. El, where flowers bud forever, and all fruits ripen as you pluck them! Dipper raises his glass one last time, and you have one for the road before he excuses himself (you're a little glad after the fact, the rum he's got is the kind that you can't help but want to come back to).

In any case, you both head out of the office lightly buzzed and quite cheery, and Dipper locks the door leading in before bidding you adieu - got the final preparations to make for the farewell feast, and they'll leave on the morrow! He laughs to the skies and heads down the main street whistling before disappearing down a side passage a little unsteadily.

You scratch your head. Suppose you should find the minder apprentices.

[Last Orders: 3]

You go over to check where you last saw them, which is to say on that roof that they were standing on apparently until further notice. You are pleased when two of them are still there, trying their hardest to balance there and not pay attention to their surroundings. Seems like they're not informed. Probably somebody thought it would be funnier that way.

Quote from: TopHat on April 05, 2017, 03:46:45 pm
Stop, close eyes, deep breath, open eyes. When this inevitably fails to resolve confusion, shrug it off and have a closer look at any available books.

[Fair Brokerage: 3]

You close your eyes and take a deep breath. A gentle, moist breeze rises up around you, leaving a faint chill as you open your eyes and find that things have remained nominally the same.

Which is to say that you happen to still be in the same pawn shop, albeit now there are two rows of display cases, one on either side of you, running either way as far as the eye can see. Each display case, though clearly large enough to hold something up to and including the size of a halberd, appears to contain exactly one book.

[Literature For The Masses: 3]

The titles, you figure from walking along the rows for a bit, appear to be quite eclectic. "Old, Unhappy, Terrible Things: A Rank Amateur's Primer On Advanced Necromancy" (pressed in gold leaf upon a human leather binding), "The Collected Works Of The Regrettably Short-Lived Publishing House Of Their Shining Scales Gleaming In The Midday Sun" (filling the entire cover of something no thicker than a comic book in a large font), "The Miraculous Musical Masterpieces Of Master Grumble And Where Exactly He Found Them" (bits of sheet music tucked between mismatched pages of a three-ring binder) and "My Diary" (author sadly unnamed) are but a few of them, and they only seem to get increasingly obscure, but also strangely more elaborate as you walk along the aisle.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 06, 2017, 08:17:49 am
I approach Oggie and attempt to introduce some strategy into her plan "Hey, so I've been thinking about the best way to take revenge on the stoatmen. I wandered that way... two days ago, I think? Maybe three. Anyway, all I saw were unimportant commoners and footsoldiers. It'll probably be tempting to take your vengeance out on them, but I think we'd only draw attention to ourselves. If we wait to find someone important before we start any violence, I think we could do a lot more damage and stop the stoats from doing the same thing to anyone else."

[Delay For Maximum Effect: 3]

Unimportant, you say? Good, Oggie responds. Unimportant ones no one will miss. Good practice, too.

But she sees what you mean. She will leave a few alive. There is no time to get them all. Must get to important places. Have more important people to break.

You look at the doctor as you come to this sort of agreement. She gives you a tentative thumbs up, hoping you'll maybe return the gesture.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 07, 2017, 03:30:59 pm
Daniels grins. Time to have a bit of (nonlethal) fun.

Jump up onto the roof and cheerily inform them that they now effectively belong to me. If/when one or more of them clues into the fact that they shouldn't pry into my mind uninvited, inform them of the rather silly way their former master got herself decapitated, and how thusly by Two Shores' decree they're now mine to follow me around and such.

Make sure I'm not too close to the edge of the roof before I start talking.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 07, 2017, 03:32:08 pm
"Someone else's robe?! Oh my!" Leif feigns his suprise. "By the way, what's the thing about wearing someone else's robe? And I agree on not enough alcohol part. Especially Lee should have drank more if we are going to do this retracking steps thing properly. Perhaps..." Leif stops to ponder whether he should use DRINK on Lee or not. "Hmm, no. That would be Bad Idea, I think. Entertaining yes, but bad."

Does Earnest have a thing for Lee? Competition, damn it! Ah, but back to the tracks; somebody took the box and is not willing to return it. Why? Because they want it. Why? Because I'm not leaving without it. Someone doesn't want me leaving. Why? Does someone have a thing for me? Goodness, the culprit must be either Lee or the lamplighter (whose name I still don't know)! Secret admirer! Dramatic revelation!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on April 08, 2017, 11:11:04 am
... I have got to try that again.
How about some maps and globes? Come to think of it, I really should look at a map of some sort. I don't even know if the continents are the same here.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 08, 2017, 11:52:13 am
"Look, good sir.  I have no idea who you are talking about; there was only one man down there when I came through.  But I cannot get up; I have to fly... ride the metal dragons out of here.  To do that, I need to go to Elizabeth.  To do that, I need to go UP.  Now if you just tell me which way to go, I will be gone and you'll never see me again."


Insist.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 10, 2017, 05:25:38 am
Quote from: Xantalos on April 07, 2017, 03:30:59 pm
Daniels grins. Time to have a bit of (nonlethal) fun.

Jump up onto the roof and cheerily inform them that they now effectively belong to me. If/when one or more of them clues into the fact that they shouldn't pry into my mind uninvited, inform them of the rather silly way their former master got herself decapitated, and how thusly by Two Shores' decree they're now mine to follow me around and such.

Make sure I'm not too close to the edge of the roof before I start talking.

[A Public Service Announcement: 6]

The two remaining women nearly fall off the roof as you leap upward in a single leap, landing heavily on the gable as you slightly underestimate the height of your jump. They both barely hang on to the roof as they lose their balance and one of them lets off a stream of choice words you're fairly sure a well-behaved young woman shouldn't know under most circumstances. Some of them directed at you, even!

Things do not improve when you inform them of their new state of belonging - well, at least the curses don't abate, though a certain edge to them suddenly disappears as you make clear that you are the new boss. This quiets down further as you relate the unlikely adventure ending in their former mistress' decapitation. At last they're both just staring at you uncomfortably as you stand above them, very clearly lording your position over them.

Oh come on, the less verbose one pipes up, sitting up on the gable as she sorts out her rather long shawl. She only stole like one thing! It wasn't even a very important thing! Have some sympathy, man, she's already had to do a week of this crap, standing on roofs and having the old bat root around her head! She didn't set fire to the storehouse like certain people she could name!

Fuck you, the other one points at her fellow apprentice, that was an accident and you know it! Nobody important died! It was full of stoatmen! She didn't know! It was the most effective thing she could think of at the time! She was only gonna smoke them out, is it really her fault she didn't feel like going into a goddamn raging fire to save all the goods on hand? Wasn't even that big of a storehouse!

Wait, the one with the shawl looks at you, does that mean Pines gets off for all this? She kind of, uh, fell off while Rainbow was away. And then didn't feel like climbing back up.

Don't blame them, the other one says. They told her it was a fucking terrible idea! Rainbow said there'd be, like, consequences if anyone shirked their "training", the crazy old bitch.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 07, 2017, 03:32:08 pm
"Someone else's robe?! Oh my!" Leif feigns his suprise. "By the way, what's the thing about wearing someone else's robe? And I agree on not enough alcohol part. Especially Lee should have drank more if we are going to do this retracking steps thing properly. Perhaps..." Leif stops to ponder whether he should use DRINK on Lee or not. "Hmm, no. That would be Bad Idea, I think. Entertaining yes, but bad."

Does Earnest have a thing for Lee? Competition, damn it! Ah, but back to the tracks; somebody took the box and is not willing to return it. Why? Because they want it. Why? Because I'm not leaving without it. Someone doesn't want me leaving. Why? Does someone have a thing for me? Goodness, the culprit must be either Lee or the lamplighter (whose name I still don't know)! Secret admirer! Dramatic revelation!

The lamplighter grins at you. Well, when you're wearing somebody else's robe, that's a pretty good sign you were with somebody else and, heh, in a good position to exchange them, know what she's saying? She proceeds to make a drinking motion and several fairly crude gestures.

Earnest sighs and buries his face in his hands. It's probably not like that! It didn't even look like another man's robe, so probably she just borrowed one from a friend while hers was... in the wash, maybe?

Eh, she's fairly sure Lee's into girls anyway, the lamplighter shrugs. Which, if anything, makes this even better. You see how she walked off with May over there? Might be something's going on there. She'd bet on it!

Is this gossiping really helping matters, Earnest brings up and looks around the room. The man with the ball appears to have left with a few bottles. The elder appears to be pretending not to listen to you three chattering to one another.

Elder, says the lamplighter, what're the odds Lee and May went out just then for a round two? Could see it in their eyes, couldn't you?

The elder scratches his chin thoughtfully. Interesting question! Lee's always been a bit peculiar, true enough, and he does recall her going off with someone last night for a bit before coming back and- well, he catches himself, he's sure this is an unproductive line of discussion. Not to mention quite unbecoming of the clan's elder! So he'll head off now! Yes! Lots of business to attend to, you understand. Good to have chatted, truly, and keep an eye on young Bruce over there, he's not got a very good handle on his liquor if you'll pardon him saying so. See you all later!

And with that, the elder also makes a timely exit, leaving just you three and the still-dancing Bruce in the small cave.

You turn to the lamplighter as the conversation seems to have quite solidly died. This is going to sound a bit strange, you say, but what is her name? You don't think you've actually established that and it's awkward calling her a lamplighter in your head.

Oh, she says, hah! Does happen sometimes, don't it? She extends a hand for a shake - her name's Morag! Pleased to, uh, re-meet you or whatever.

Anyway, what were you talking about? Lee going off to snog May again, was it?

Quote from: TopHat on April 08, 2017, 11:11:04 am
... I have got to try that again.
How about some maps and globes? Come to think of it, I really should look at a map of some sort. I don't even know if the continents are the same here.

[Be Our Guest: 4]

Right as rain, when you open your eyes again the rows have been replaced with organized displays of maps of all kinds. Maps of the Tell of the Setting Sun, showing a curious accumulation of buildings and structures over the interminable years. Maps of the Kingdom of the Dead, represented creatively as a giant black hole into which nearby kingdoms slowly sink, a pinprick of white in the center marking the Palace of the Wicked King, the borders marked with the names of states you do not recognize, bordered on the far west by the forever churning sea of deathly light and on the far east by the icy wastes of Queen Makala's Land.

You must say that there's a definite paucity of globes on display. There is, however, a rotating gray cube in one of the display cases, minute mechanical details on it indicating a function not unlike that of a puzzle box - there is also a compass, though the directions on it are unfamiliar, and many maps of landmasses you do not even begin to recognize.

Quote from: Toaster on April 08, 2017, 11:52:13 am
"Look, good sir.  I have no idea who you are talking about; there was only one man down there when I came through.  But I cannot get up; I have to fly... ride the metal dragons out of here.  To do that, I need to go to Elizabeth.  To do that, I need to go UP.  Now if you just tell me which way to go, I will be gone and you'll never see me again."


Insist.

[What Goes Up: 1]

Oh, he says, you want to go to Elizabeth? If it's that important to you then, he'll just kick you off the other end of the ridge then. Elizabeth's right down from there, he's heard.

Well, you say, you're not quite sure you need to be kicked as such, but-

But nothing, he cuts you off. You'll appreciate that this was, whatchamacallit, one of those rhetorical questions. You'll be going down the hill one way or another, matey. Now shut it, he says and pokes you with his spear rather sharply. There's a ways to go and he's got things to do after he's gone and kicked you the feck off the hill.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 10, 2017, 12:44:33 pm
Thomas was out of patience at this point.  Was this one of those themed encounters or whatever it was?  "Now look here, sir.  I have been nothing but cordial with you, and you are being rude and threatening.  I'll not have this.  Now stand aside, and I will be going UP, thank you.  As he said this, his hand went toward his sword.

No backing down.  Put hand on sword; draw if things get nasty.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 10, 2017, 12:56:48 pm
"Aha, I have solved this mystery! During exchange of robes Lee must have been too drunk to remember to pick up the box again! The great detective Bruce, investigate May's belongings immediately!" After giving the command Leif turns back to Morag, leaning heavily forwards and whispers in conspiracy tone. "Speaking of drunks, I got something you absolutely want to hear. I found one of those empty caskets you pointed me to, the one Kava was cuddling with. And I refilled it, not with imaginary minder booze, as delicious as that is, but very real, perfect, ideal liquor. Too bad I hid it too well into these tunnels, I completely forgot where I left it..."

Elaborate idea of ideal further. After that, coax Bruce into proper investigative track and keep up with him. Or keep him up if he's too drunk.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 10, 2017, 01:57:01 pm
"Hey, hey, look don't worry, I'm not a minder like her, and in all honesty I don't really care all that much about making you guys stand around on roofs and shit like that. Minder training seems to be really counterproductive for the most part anyway - in all honesty I was expecting you guys to be partway corrupted into ghouls and stuff already. You can go do whatever, just go tell whatever other apprentices Rainbow had about the position change and don't get into trouble unnecessarily. If I need you, I'll come find you."

Daniels fishes out a gold coin from his improbably heavy sack.

"And I'll pay you guys when/if you do things for me. Or do gold coins still not have any  value? That might've just been the castle. I have other stuff in any case."

Obtain underlings' goodwill by offering them an actual better deal?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 11, 2017, 07:43:59 am
"Let's just try to talk it over with the party before we start anything."

I give the doctor a shaky thumbs up and start walking South.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 11, 2017, 02:19:44 pm
Quote from: Toaster on April 10, 2017, 12:44:33 pm
Thomas was out of patience at this point.  Was this one of those themed encounters or whatever it was?  "Now look here, sir.  I have been nothing but cordial with you, and you are being rude and threatening.  I'll not have this.  Now stand aside, and I will be going UP, thank you.  As he said this, his hand went toward his sword.

No backing down.  Put hand on sword; draw if things get nasty.

[Things Fall Apart: 2]

He's not about to back down. You draw the sword. In a split second you see the weight of ruinous realization wash over the man like a tidal wave of bricks. The spear trembles in his hands, but it is too late to back down. Not when he's come this far. He stabs!

[In The Interests of Self-Defense: 5 vs. 2]

You step nimbly to one side. The sword arches in your hands as the spear sails past you and the man charges on. You bring it around and it bends purposefully to touch the man in an overreadiness to defend you by any means required. It taps him on the nape of the neck as your feet find the perfect position, guided by instinct. The blade gently sinks into it, and a desperate scream is cut off by a sudden sucking noise.

[Think Fast: 1]

You notice you're staring at a patch of empty air where once there was a man. Not another trace remains. You put the sword away as you wonder what that might have been about. Seemed rather odd.

One will note, however, that these creatures sadly present little of real interest. Shall you continue on? One has heard much of the material to be found not far from here, in delightful Elizabeth.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 10, 2017, 12:56:48 pm
"Aha, I have solved this mystery! During exchange of robes Lee must have been too drunk to remember to pick up the box again! The great detective Bruce, investigate May's belongings immediately!" After giving the command Leif turns back to Morag, leaning heavily forwards and whispers in conspiracy tone. "Speaking of drunks, I got something you absolutely want to hear. I found one of those empty caskets you pointed me to, the one Kava was cuddling with. And I refilled it, not with imaginary minder booze, as delicious as that is, but very real, perfect, ideal liquor. Too bad I hid it too well into these tunnels, I completely forgot where I left it..."

Elaborate idea of ideal further. After that, coax Bruce into proper investigative track and keep up with him. Or keep him up if he's too drunk.

[The Hunt Is On: 3]

Righty-ho, says Bruce, he'll be all up in May's unmentionables in no time! Detective Bruce is on the job, he adds as he rolls out of the nearby area and off to parts unknown. Morag cheers him on as he disappears from sight.

You think he'll be all right, Earnest asks as the sound of a boy-shaped mass coming to a stop against an unexpected wall emanates from slightly down the hall, followed closely by the unmistakable tones of projectile vomiting.

He's riding a high, says Morag, let the boy have his day! Not that much trouble he could get to around here. Besides, who the hell's in a mood to go watch him? Not her, surely!

Speaking of, you say, and wait a moment to compose what exactly you have to say, then lean in toward Morag. She seems very much interested in this booze you're talking about. You said you can make that? Like, out of nothing? Can't you just make more in that case?

It's complicated, you respond! The Words don't come out right sometimes, you then add. Oh, she says, like that time you blew up the canyon, something like that? Yeah, you say, a lot like that. Maybe? You're a little drunk, she'll have to forgive you.

Okay, says Earnest, can you stop whispering over there? It's a little awkward when he's, like, the only other person in the room. It's not like he can't even hear you when you talk like that, man.

He's right, you say, you've got a boy detective to catch up with! You get up with the other three, and notice that when you've got Earnest to keep you on your feet and Morag to compensate your stumbling you manage to be about one fully mobile human conglomerate. You'll sober up on the way, you confidently lie to yourself before setting off.

[An Inconspicuous Approach: 5]

Some walking, a lot of doing and quite a few mind-shots later you think you've followed the trail of sick to its origin point, a rather messed-up Bruce who, miraculously enough, appears to have found May, the red-headed woman who was at your gathering! Lee too, as it happens. You see both of them in the great chamber, where May is currently keeping Bruce's hair back as he vomits profusely into the bottomless gorge separating both sides of the spacious cavern, Lee watching with complete embarrassment from the sidelines as you approach.

You, Lee says as she sees you. This was all your idea. Why in the world did you- ah. You are completely pissed again. She should have guessed.

Hey now, says Morag! She and you might be drunk, and Lee's kind of hot in a weird sort of way, but the difference is, tomorrow both of you are gonna be sober, and she still won't know where she was going with this sentence.

Don't, uh, mind them, says Earnest in a quiet voice. Lee looks at him, and he visibly freezes for a moment before she looks at you again. You would not be wasting her time again, would you? Have you figured something out about the box? Consulted your... god-things you keep in your head?

Quote from: Xantalos on April 10, 2017, 01:57:01 pm
"Hey, hey, look don't worry, I'm not a minder like her, and in all honesty I don't really care all that much about making you guys stand around on roofs and shit like that. Minder training seems to be really counterproductive for the most part anyway - in all honesty I was expecting you guys to be partway corrupted into ghouls and stuff already. You can go do whatever, just go tell whatever other apprentices Rainbow had about the position change and don't get into trouble unnecessarily. If I need you, I'll come find you."

Daniels fishes out a gold coin from his improbably heavy sack.

"And I'll pay you guys when/if you do things for me. Or do gold coins still not have any  value? That might've just been the castle. I have other stuff in any case."

Obtain underlings' goodwill by offering them an actual better deal?

The one with the shawl, who you discover is named Day, gasps as you offer a gold coin. You're actually paying them for this? She thought this was just a more humiliating version of the brig and- she is cut off by a sudden jab to the ribs from the other one, apparently named Fires. Fuck this up harder, why don't you, Fires mutters in a threatening voice.

Yeah, they both come to an agreement and nod asynchronously but with great enthusiasm, that'll do just fine for the fortni- week, Day corrects! That'll do them for the week for sure! Each, Fires adds hopefully as you give each of them a gold coin quite nonchalantly and they high-five over their negotiating prowess. And Pines doesn't get shit for not being here, Fires insists. Though they could probably give her a good kicking if you offer, like, a bonus, Day offers enthusiastically. They'll do it for free this first time, Fires says smoothly, just to show you what good minions they are. Sound agreeable?

You shrug. Yeah. You, like, have a shitton of these gold coins. You could probably employ them for life if they wanted that kind of arrangement. Oh shit, Fires says, would you? That'd be kind of awesome, given that there wasn't, strictly speaking, like... you know...

There wasn't a strict expiration date on that whole "let's train you to be minders but not really" thing, Day says a little nervously. Thank fuck that's over though, Fires nods. No no no, Day says and stands up fully on the roof, shaking your hand - thank the boss!

Yeah, Fires nods, shaking your other hand without getting up, thanks for that, new boss man! They'll, like, go and find Pines now and give her that kicking she needs, send her your regards. You're gonna need them, like, soon or what? 'Cause Pines has been fucking asking for it for like-

Let's not trouble the boss, Day raises her hand and throws the shawl once more around her shoulders, he's probably got shi- stuff! Yeah, he's got stuff to do! They'll try to remain visible in case you need them, she says and pats Fires on the head as both of them start climbing down the roof after slipping a coin each into their pockets. They make it down and halfway down the alleyway as you loom on the rooftop dramatically, chattering to each other excitedly and occasionally shoving each other as they get into microscopic arguments.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 11, 2017, 07:43:59 am
"Let's just try to talk it over with the party before we start anything."

I give the doctor a shaky thumbs up and start walking South.

Having bathed and composed yourselves, you find that the way south is quite clear. Very clear, in fact. Leaving the crater of the manor house and the busy forest behind, you walk through Anglefork Town. You see Oggie remain watchful of your surroundings. Something in the air, she grumbles. Familiar, dusty, awful. Dangerously sweet.

[The Way Home: 3]

You're not sure how long the queen's men were here, but two things are clear - they definitely took everything of value that was present here and probably burned much of the rest, judging from the sheer number of charred ruins present, and they also look to have been downright fastidious in disposing of any bodies in the area. As you head through the streets and along the outer roads, there is no sign of life - just rubble, ruin and collapsed buildings all the way, wind whistling through them as the place doesn't so much stand as hang completely deserted and empty, seemingly on the brink of collapse all on its own.

You continue on along the road, and it's a fairly friendly road at that as you walk the 10 or so miles it takes to reach the inn you visited previously. The doctor falls behind every now and then, not in the best of shapes following that explosion, but you make good time regardless, and it feels a lot like the afternoon when you've come once more to the inn. Its windows are unlit, but it does look like the fire in there is still going strong, judging from the smoke.

Oh god, an inn, the doctor says. It's been a really long day, if you don't mind her saying so. She thinks a really long rest would be just the thing. Oggie looks at you, sniffing the air and gently grinning with her unnervingly round teeth. That smell, she says. Ominous. Like murder and theft. Familiar things once. Synesthetic, but refreshingly clear. Obvious, even.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 11, 2017, 05:51:50 pm
Huh.  Weird.  Odd bit of stagecraft, but it must have been one of those propped fights.  Not bad work on the vanish.

Well, no matter.  There's a ridge to climb.  "Shall we, sword?"  Oh right, the others.

"Helloooooo!  The kicker's gone now!  The way is clear!  Come on, everyone!"

Try to signal the others that it's safe to come up now.  Maybe gesture dramatically with the sword before putting it away.

Wait for them if they're on their way, but don't if they don't come right away; we need to be going.



Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 12, 2017, 12:32:01 am
"If ya wanna tussle with this Pines that's fine, but don't necessarily beat her with sanctions from me or whatever. If you do find her, could you send her to me though? I wanna talk to her, haven't seen her yet I don't think. I'll be in the mess hall kitchen thing."

With this add-in hopefully having been delivered before they go out of earshot, Daniels decides to go check on his juggler's foot order.

Go check on my food.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 12, 2017, 12:50:01 am
"Yes! I mean no, I haven't consulted gods because they too were totally wasted at time of crime, but yes, we have figured out that May may possibly be in possession of the box, but thanks to being as shitfaced as everybody else she doesn't actually remember that being the case. So we were on our way to... to... to investigate! Yes! Investigate! Detective Bruce, get your shit together!"

"I could be wrong about this, but then again I ain't sober. And I'm not seeing the box in your hands either so you can't judge me. Bruce. Us."

Investigate! Judge!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on April 12, 2017, 10:46:42 am
That is truly brilliant. Only problem is that I have no way of knowing how outdated any of these are.
Let's have a closer look at some of those regional maps. Any features which immediately stick out?
Hey, wait a minute, is that sea of light right where Anglefork should be?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 12, 2017, 04:21:24 pm
Quote from: Toaster on April 11, 2017, 05:51:50 pm
Huh.  Weird.  Odd bit of stagecraft, but it must have been one of those propped fights.  Not bad work on the vanish.

Well, no matter.  There's a ridge to climb.  "Shall we, sword?"  Oh right, the others.

"Helloooooo!  The kicker's gone now!  The way is clear!  Come on, everyone!"

Try to signal the others that it's safe to come up now.  Maybe gesture dramatically with the sword before putting it away.

Wait for them if they're on their way, but don't if they don't come right away; we need to be going.

There's a bit of brush in the way between you and the actual top of the ridge, but nobody sees fit to stop you as you eventually make it to where you can see your delightful friends roughly 150 feet down from where you began climbing.

[Oh Won't You Come With Me: 4]

You are quite pleased to note when it appears that most of them are still down there, if a little far from you. You decide to shout very loudly down to them and flash your sword in the air to signify that the top is quite clear and they have nothing to worry about being kicked the feck off anymore, as you believe you've definitely solved that problem!

Rather pleasingly they even appear to have understood you, and begin climbing in short order. Seems like they'll be up in a bit, of course. 150 feet is something on the order of... well, you do believe it's something like 15 stories of climbing, slight alcove on the way notwithstanding. Maybe you should go along and look into-

[Safe Passage: 6]

You turn around and observe something of an interesting scene - seven men, you think, perhaps more in the thick undergrowth that you can see, all slowly creeping up on you from behind. They freeze up suddenly as you look in their direction and get low to the ground, hoping against hope that perhaps you didn't see them as they clutch their spears to their chests.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 12, 2017, 12:32:01 am
"If ya wanna tussle with this Pines that's fine, but don't necessarily beat her with sanctions from me or whatever. If you do find her, could you send her to me though? I wanna talk to her, haven't seen her yet I don't think. I'll be in the mess hall kitchen thing."

With this add-in hopefully having been delivered before they go out of earshot, Daniels decides to go check on his juggler's foot order.

Go check on my food.

[Minions At Law: 6]

That totally works! Good thinking boss, they'll let her know the score, Day says! And then send her your way at some point!

Probably after they've beaten the shit out of her for leaving them in the lurch like that, Fires adds! Can't brook insubordination like that, new boss! Pines gets real fuckin' antsy if she doesn't get her regular beating for being such a bitch! True fact!

But they'll let her know it was your idea to not beat her down too badly, boss, Day hastens to add in a loud voice! Have a good, uh, lunch and stuff! They'll not break any bones or anything, all right? And try not to leave bruises either! They had a system worked out for that, she'll show you later! Their voices grow more distant and then fade from earshot as they disappear from sight.

[A Consignment of Suspicious Bacon: 3]

You jump down and head over to the tavern. Or is it an inn? Possibly more of a cafeteria, or even a delicatessen now that you think about it. You jump over there (Hornsweir is a blissfully small place at times) and land heavily in front, then stride confidently in and bother one of the white-smocked cooks about the juggler's foot you had them prepare.

Rather regrettably it seems making all of that will take a while - juggler's foot is a tad involved to create out of the materials involved. And the feast, oh my, that's taking quite a lot of their attention as well. You look around at some of the fruits of their labor - colored dessert spheres of unknown composition (planet-cakes, apparently), a variety of unfamiliar roasts smelling up a storm of mouth-watering aromas (locally sourced, you hear, which makes you wonder about the wildlife they get around here), and what look to be the makings of an absolutely legendary vat of coffee brewing in a particularly far corner.

They'll have your snacks ready by the morning, one of the cooks says as he renders a roast six-winged creature into a fine paste as he stirs it into a vat that stinks of lye. Fret not! As an employee of relative distinction you may take advantage of the culinary arts available with no additional cost!

Though they would certainly appreciate a donation, the other cook smiles as you notice that one of the roasts, while very much nicely done and already mostly garnished, nevertheless appears to have two arms, two legs and a very familiar-looking set of claws.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 12, 2017, 12:50:01 am
"Yes! I mean no, I haven't consulted gods because they too were totally wasted at time of crime, but yes, we have figured out that May may possibly be in possession of the box, but thanks to being as shitfaced as everybody else she doesn't actually remember that being the case. So we were on our way to... to... to investigate! Yes! Investigate! Detective Bruce, get your shit together!"

"I could be wrong about this, but then again I ain't sober. And I'm not seeing the box in your hands either so you can't judge me. Bruce. Us."

Investigate! Judge!

[The Process of Elimination: 2]

You get the feeling Lee does in fact intend to fully judge you for this as she listens in bemusement to your explanation. Morag occasionally jeering at her doesn't seem to be helping her mood any. She looks at Bruce still vomiting wildly into the gorge, then goes up to the still-busy May.

Ahem, she says between the purging noises, May, do you have a brass box in your possession that you have not noticed before now? Possibly on account of being too hungover to notice that she's wearing the wrong robe, Morag shouts from your position.

[A Terrible Misunderstanding: 6]

May looks down at herself as the question is posed. What? Don't be silly, she-

Her eyes flash with sudden recognition as she notices her robe appears to be a little small. She looks at Lee, then at Morag, and finally at you (Earnest she appears perfectly content to ignore). Then back at Lee, and squints slightly.

She has no idea what you might possibly be talking about, she says. She is a married woman who wouldn't do anything your crude and unsubstantiated comments would so freely imply, and frankly resents the accusations you have unfoundedly leveled against her now and in the past. In fact, she would very much prefer it if none of you ever speak of any of this ever again.

Having said all that, she pushes Bruce's face into a depression in the nearby terrain with one hand and waits for the vomit to pool up to his ears before turning toward Lee again, apologetically fumbling around her robe. Where did she-

Secret pocket, says Lee. You have to unfold it- on second thought, she will do it herself. She walks up to May and helps her a few moments in fumbling around the robe until, finally, the small brass alchemist's box clatters to the ground.

Okay, says May. She motions for Lee to take a walk with her slightly out of sight. Lee tosses you the box nonchalantly and comes with readily. Oooh, Morag coos at the two of them. May responds by casually mentioning that Morag is the second most-likely individual in the clan (by vote as well as common knowledge) to die of an unfortunate and likely entirely preventable accident should she do something... inadvisable. Morag quiets down in response, her laughter having dropped to a low yet uncontrollable chuckle.

Quote from: TopHat on April 12, 2017, 10:46:42 am
That is truly brilliant. Only problem is that I have no way of knowing how outdated any of these are.
Let's have a closer look at some of those regional maps. Any features which immediately stick out?
Hey, wait a minute, is that sea of light right where Anglefork should be?

That sea of light is right where you'd expect, well, the kingdom of Benzerwald, Anglefork within it and in fact quite a lot of other geographical features to be. Instead it appears to be filled with what looks to be one of those magic eye pictures. You try to cross your eyes to get a closer look and oh dear, oh my, aw geez, you don't think you want to do that again if you can at all help it. In fact you think you'll take a look at something else and never speak of this again.

[Sticking Out: 1]

As for features sticking out, it'd be a little difficult to name any that do not. Most of these maps note a wall with no end to one side of them, called the Corner of the World, and when you get out of the vicinity of the Kingdom of the Dead it looks like all geographical bets are off in terms of what is and is not even physically possible for a landmass, giant immobile sea creature or colossal assemblage of waterborne debris to look like. You see one that looks like a giant clam before you note the scale and realize it's probably just a regular clam, albeit a remarkably urbanized one for its size.

The obvious conclusion is that either most of these maps are lying to you, or they're not and you don't believe them anyway. You certainly feel a lot dumber after having looked at them than you did before.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 12, 2017, 09:17:56 pm
I lean toward Oggie. "Hey, so the innkeeper here is a good person, definitely not worth killing. She fed me well, and resents the soldiers who attacked Anglefork. So... let's not be rash." Then I enter the inn to see about getting some rooms.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 12, 2017, 11:40:51 pm
"By donation, do you mean of money or just helping you guys out? I can do either, I've got time."

Do the chefs want help? I've got pretty much the ultimate knife, after all.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 13, 2017, 09:22:26 am
Thomas sighed.  This was getting annoying.  "Gentlemen, I have no quarrel with you.  That said, my friends and I are going up this ridge.  Leave us be and you'll never see us again.  Fighting is pointless; there are twice your number coming behind me.  Just leave us alone."  He kept the sword at the ready.

Roll for intimidate.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 13, 2017, 10:45:34 am
Dispense some wisdom now that I'm suitably drunk and on good mood.

"Resounding success! Now, Lee, words of wisdom: I know you don't seem to have very high opinion of your bro, but his plan worked despite of his doubts. Give him some credit. I must admit I helped along a little bit, but the outcome was inevitable from the moment we found him. And when I say inevitable, I truly mean it." Leif says, trying his best to sound wise. "Denying one's self and potential of others is not a good thing in long run. You grow as a person if you accept yourself with all your faults and strengths, and you support growth of others by accepting that they can be more that they appear. Because appearances are like clothes we wear, hiding our insecurities and fears. Forcing change results only fractures, so do not try to force it either. With these seeds of wisdom planted in your mind I must now depart to... somewhere important, I'm sure. Say Morag, wanna find that perfect beer I made and lost and taste wisdom of the ultimate wine?"

Embark on another quest of discovery if I can get company.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 14, 2017, 06:57:55 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 12, 2017, 09:17:56 pm
I lean toward Oggie. "Hey, so the innkeeper here is a good person, definitely not worth killing. She fed me well, and resents the soldiers who attacked Anglefork. So... let's not be rash." Then I enter the inn to see about getting some rooms.

Oggie continues to grin as you enter single file through the door. The doctor follows along at the back, hoping perhaps to intercept any kind of undesirable behavior on your odd companion's part.

The place seems much the way you left it. The hearth hasn't been lit though, and nobody seems to be in presently. The proprietor snaps suddenly to attention as the three of you enter, looking equal parts surprised and delighted at this sudden visitation. She rises from the stool by the counter and starts walking in your direction. When she notices it's you again, she tilts her head. Then she sees the much more immediately distressing sight that is your twisted friend. Taking all of this together, her reaction is an entirely sensible mixture of puzzlement and sense of impending doom as Oggie gives her a penetrating stare.

[A Trail of Broken Necks: 3]

She knows this one, Oggie rumbles in your direction. Worked here once under the innkeeper. Weary, but unbroken. The rebellion has worked out for her. She has the face of an eager collaborator, and the hands of one who held the knife. She would not call it murder - revenge, possibly. Oggie would hope to repay her in the same fashion - such betrayal should be punished most severely.

What is that thing, the proprietor asks you sharply. Why did you come back here? You were going south, she narrows her eyes, did something happen on the way? And who is that woman you have brought with you, is she-

[A Place To Stay The Night: 3]

Oh, you fake a laugh, don't mind them. This is doctor, uh, the good doctor, yeah. She's cool. And that over there is Oggie, she's perfectly all right in her own unusual kind of way, don't mind the weird troglodytic adaptations, she's a very well-behaved woman in her own right, yes ma'am. You've been traveling! Up and down and in some other directions, you nod. It'd take a while to get the exact details across, suffice to say that things haven't gone as planned and you'd really like to get a place to stay for the evening. The roads aren't a place to be out on at night, you've discovered.

The stoatwoman scans the three of you suspiciously. There is room. But on one, no, two conditions - first of all, you pay in advance. Secondly, that thing, she indicates Oggie, that thing has to stay outside. She doesn't like the way it's looking at her.

The murderer does not like her, Oggie growls. Good. She smells her own death.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 12, 2017, 11:40:51 pm
"By donation, do you mean of money or just helping you guys out? I can do either, I've got time."

Do the chefs want help? I've got pretty much the ultimate knife, after all.

Helping out? You are very kind to offer such a thing. They have just the series of delicate yet physically demanding jobs for you. First of all, there is the matter of the horse, just out back over there.

[Stay Out Of The Kitchen: 6]

You never thought taking care of a horse could be this easy, you say as you walk back in a minute later with several hundred pounds of meat on your back. To your credit, the cook says, that absolutely is an excellent thought-knife you have. It's great to have a skilled pair of hands around! Nothing goes to waste!

You spend the next half hour or so with a curious device in one of the corners of the kitchen. It smells intensely of ether, the fumes going to your head readily as you work. You're apparently quite good at this as well, swapping cultures of maggots and what seem to be bacteria around quite easily, picking out certain lovely strains by minute discolorations as a cook stands by and eagerly explains the fundamentals of his art, relishing in the attention.

That done, you deposit four select cultures into the horseflesh you harvested as one of the cooks sets up some incense for the right sort of ambiance and the other lights a few candles. One culture deposits salt, another desiccates. A third seems to be a kind of pyrogenic breed of creature, its gestation time finely tuned by long-standing culinary entomology practices. The fourth, naturally, is just for flavor. And once that's done, into the oven it goes for a bit - worry not, good sir, these things are very nicely optimized to produce results quickly. Alchemy has nothing on this, the cook taps his nose in good humor.

The next hour or so is spent preparing canapes. Apparently everyone loves those. The murder-thought seems awfully delighted with the notion of dicing various assemblages of flesh and bread into the tiny edible bits. You prepare the snack plates in such record speed that the cooks give you a standing ovation. They could almost hear the food scream as you did it, always a good sign that you're doing things the proper way! Speaking of, there's a bit of a whine in the air. Go and check the oven, will you?

You check the several hundred pounds of horseflesh incubating in there under several hundred degrees, opening the oven door an inch or two. Something slams against the inside of it and nearly pours out before you push it shut again. Yes, one of the cooks laughs, that does happen sometimes! You think this is a good way to haze an apprentice, perhaps? They've been experimenting with a few methods in case the captain gives them one or two to play around with. Anyway, the cheese plates!

Cheese seems worth bringing your A-game out for, so you go buck wild here. Cheese roses, one of the cooks says, how charming! And is that a cheese carnation? And... grapes? Sculpted from milky soft cheese? Genius! At some point the two of them just stop speaking and watch you work at it, fashioning a variety of edibles from cheese until you've made a cheese bouquet, a cheese fruit plate, a cheese bowl of cheese cereal and a cheese diorama of a ship (the last one might be a bit much, they admit, but they nevertheless admire the potential for precise work a thought-guided knife affords).

There is another slam at the oven and a muffled shriek. Haha, says the cook, it's still going! How long has it been? The other cook purses his lips - an hour, wait no, two hours! A little too long for it to still be going like that, the first cook notes. Do check that out, good fellow!

You look inside the oven, and a human-sized roll of horse bacon smashes into the door again. Aha, one of the cooks says, looks like you got the whole juggler out of the deal! The other one has a paroxysm of laughter. Better wrangle it good, they say! That kind of attitude from your food is not to be engendered by any means!

[I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream: 2+1+1 vs. 6]

You grab onto the juggler in the oven. You did not count on several things as you did so. Firstly, the larval cultures inside it appear to have coated its outer bits with a thick layer of some kind of oily substance, presumably for climate control as it appears to be currently locked into a boiling temperature. This leads into the second thing, which is that you've just thrust your hands into a boiling mass of horseflesh (and not the water kind of boiling, this is at least a hundred degrees higher). And thirdly, whatever this has turned into, it's got a hell of a full-body bite as it snaps around your hand and breaks it very suddenly in half before launching itself straight out of the oven and onto the floor, where it leaves a large oily splat before surging in a random direction.

[Can't Take The Heat: 5]

Probability is rather fortunately against it as it slams into a stone wall and for a moment becomes terribly indecisive, wiggling every which way formlessly. The cooks continue to be endlessly amused at all of this. Though they have stepped well away and even jumped up on tables just in case.

Quote from: Toaster on April 13, 2017, 09:22:26 am
Thomas sighed.  This was getting annoying.  "Gentlemen, I have no quarrel with you.  That said, my friends and I are going up this ridge.  Leave us be and you'll never see us again.  Fighting is pointless; there are twice your number coming behind me.  Just leave us alone."  He kept the sword at the ready.

Roll for intimidate.

[There's A Million Things You'd Rather Do: 1]

They spring from the underbrush as you take notice of them, and look between each other as you try to make a sensible case for solving this peacefully. It's true, you command vast and probably infernal power they could not hope and do not even want to comprehend. You are about to be backed up by many more of your associates. This probably won't end well for any of them.

Nevertheless, there's seven of them and one of you right now. In lieu of any other advantages and in the face of horrible doom, well, at least you won't be able to say they did not try. They lift up their spears and charge!

[Battle At The Big Ridge: 5 vs. 3]

They're not trained fighters by any means. Neither are you, truth be told, but there's something to be said about having your back to a 150-foot drop and a sword of unclear length and power in your hand. As they charge forward desperately, you draw and swing with a flash of uniform gray that parts their numbers in half as they turn aside at the last moment and go past you as you try to follow through with a timely set of steps.

Distasteful and familiar, one can't help but whisper in complaint. Fodder, the lot of them.

[Mastery of the Field: 3]

You turn around confidently after the skirmish, sword ready by your side as you prepare to ward off another assault. There's only five now left. They look at each other again in increasing panic, having traded places with you in the exchange as you seem to have cut a path straight through them as if they weren't there to begin with. Your breathing feels controlled, and you feel oddly on top of things despite just being the would-be victim of a 7-man desperate charge.

You do hear others coming, however, the bushes shaking as others quicken their pace, the clatter of spears being passed around and readied.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 13, 2017, 10:45:34 am
Dispense some wisdom now that I'm suitably drunk and on good mood.

"Resounding success! Now, Lee, words of wisdom: I know you don't seem to have very high opinion of your bro, but his plan worked despite of his doubts. Give him some credit. I must admit I helped along a little bit, but the outcome was inevitable from the moment we found him. And when I say inevitable, I truly mean it." Leif says, trying his best to sound wise. "Denying one's self and potential of others is not a good thing in long run. You grow as a person if you accept yourself with all your faults and strengths, and you support growth of others by accepting that they can be more that they appear. Because appearances are like clothes we wear, hiding our insecurities and fears. Forcing change results only fractures, so do not try to force it either. With these seeds of wisdom planted in your mind I must now depart to... somewhere important, I'm sure. Say Morag, wanna find that perfect beer I made and lost and taste wisdom of the ultimate wine?"

Embark on another quest of discovery if I can get company.

Well, Lee just left to get changed with May, which does leave you, Earnest, Morag and Bruce just hanging out around here. Bruce seems to get rather talkative as he stumbles to his feet. The extreme round of vomiting back there, he says in a weak voice, that was... a cunning distraction, yeah.

He didn't need a cunning distraction, Earnest chides him, Lee just went and asked May about her robe and that solved the problem!

So what he's saying, Bruce furrows his brow, is that he went and got alcohol poisoning to make sure this worked and it wasn't actually- he is about to say more, but is cut off by another round of extreme purging. You pat him on the back reassuringly as Lee comes back, still stone-faced and distinctly unimpressed. You figure it's time for a speech to celebrate your success!

[Speaking Words Of Wisdom: 3]

Lee merely stares at you impassively as you relate your wisdom to her, Earnest oscillating between side-eying you awkwardly and glancing at her, Morag producing exactly one tear from her eye as she listens more to the sound of your voice than what you're actually saying. Well said, Morag compliments a little too soon after you're done, now you were saying something about booze!

Words of wisdom, Lee responds to you, do not presume you know something about her brother that she does not. You have known him for two hours, she has known him all his life. And now that this debacle is done, she will be leaving now. Only so much of you that she can take.

Yeah, uh, Earnest says, he'll be going as well. He was thinking about getting lunch and, hey, he tries to bravely segue, does Lee have any lunch plans? Lee looks at him uncomprehendingly for a moment. No, she legitimately does not. Maybe they could have lunch together then, Earnest ventures to say, and leave these two to, like, whatever nonsense they were doing. Out of sight, out of mind. She meant she was not planning on having lunch, Lee corrects. There is something else she has to do. Earnest sinks a little in response to this - oh. Oh well. He'll just go have lunch on his own then.

Bruce shuffles up, wiping the last flecks of sick from himself, he'll take that lunch invitation! He kind of went and lost his in advance. Earnest gives him a withering glare - oh piss off already, Bruce. He's had just about enough of all this weird crap. He shakes his head, and you notice Lee smile just a little bit before she walks off, Earnest vacating the area in a different direction. Bruce, not to be denied, crawls after Earnest.

That leaves you and Morag, sitting next to the gorge. Ideal booze, she says thoughtfully. Sounds like a dream. Maybe a memory. You sure you didn't just imagine something like that again? She gets the feeling you might be the kinda guy who occasionally doesn't differentiate very well.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on April 14, 2017, 07:33:35 am
So much for that.
Forget about it and check out the puzzlebox thing instead.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 14, 2017, 10:12:01 am
"... It could be my imagination, yes. The fact I forgot where I left it doesn't speak well for it. But it's not like I got anything better to do."

Flip that one gold coin I got. Heads, I go looking for it, tails, invite Morag into my Asgardian resort to meet with gods.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 14, 2017, 12:38:58 pm
Daniels pulls out his speaking trumpet, having gotten thoroughly into the spirit of things. "Oi! You juggler thing! That was very rude, get back in the oven to be cooked for us."

Make sure I'm not allowed to just slice this thing up with my murder-thought. If I am, try cutting it in half or something. Assuming I'm not, though, just use my murder-thought to prevent it from going in any particular direction I don't want it to go, and use the door I have to push it back into the oven without burning myself.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 15, 2017, 05:53:00 pm
"Oh, no, Oggie just comes off like that at first," I try to convince the innkeeper. "She's really a very fun person once you get to know her. Wouldn't hurt a fly."

After she responds to that, I change the subject to our payment. I doubt Oggie would appreciate me giving her valuables to a stoat, so I need to get the innkeeper away from her before I can do that. "I understand needing us to pay in advance, but can you take me to see the room first, at least? I like to know what I'm buying." I turn to Oggie and the doctor. "You guys just stay here and rest your legs for a minute. Maybe we can have a drink or something when I get back."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 15, 2017, 09:15:39 pm
This had all started to go to Thomas's head.

"Three!  Three of you have fallen?  Do you see a wound on me?  Do you think that the remainder stand a chance!  Come at me if you dare; run now if you want to see tomorrow!"

Continue to intimidate.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 16, 2017, 08:40:07 am
Quote from: TopHat on April 14, 2017, 07:33:35 am
So much for that.
Forget about it and check out the puzzlebox thing instead.

You shuffle over to the display case with the suspended cube and pop it open. The cube stands within it, suspended without any visible connection between the ornate steel claws of its stand.

[The Mystery Cube: 4]

You tap at the cube's surface at first, to no apparent effect as you scan the outer grooves of the cube's surface. Your fingers travel along it all the way to the edge, and suddenly it feels like electricity running through you, an unnatural vibration in your nerves that makes you instinctively recoil.

Being a sensible individual at heart, you check whether you are grounded for a second - fortunately it appears that you are not. You touch the edge again, and this time choose to endure the vibration - running your finger along the edge, you feel it travel to your head in an extraordinarily unpleasant fashion.

And then you see cities, forests, rivers, civilizations running past your eyes at lightning speed. You recognize the ruins of Anglefork briefly, and the borderlands of the Kingdom of the Dead, and the gaping maw in the vast bog where the Palace is said to rest, all scattered among millions of images blasting into your brain.

You draw back again. The images linger for a little bit, playing back to front once again before fading entirely. The cube lies in the display case, now gently rotating in its stand from your touch, almost beckoning you to try again.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 14, 2017, 10:12:01 am
"... It could be my imagination, yes. The fact I forgot where I left it doesn't speak well for it. But it's not like I got anything better to do."

Flip that one gold coin I got. Heads, I go looking for it, tails, invite Morag into my Asgardian resort to meet with gods.

You guess you could go ahead and look for a barrel of booze that may or may not actually exist and that you definitely have no idea as to the current location of. Or you could outsource your decision making to this shiny gold coin. It definitely seems like it could outthink you in your present state, so there's that.

[A Fateful Flip: 1]

Of course, when you did this you didn't quite count on completely fumbling the catch and the coin falling straight into the bottomless chasm you're sitting next to. Just as well, you figure, you didn't see a head on either side. One had a giant castle. The other had some kind of unusual bird with nine pairs of wings curled up in a spiral. You figure both of those are some variety of tails, and thus opt for the solution that doesn't involve you getting up and stumbling down yet another foreboding cave complex.

Morag, you say, wanna go on a trip to the home of the gods? She's not really sure what you mean by that, so you decide to do the responsible thing and go along with it anyway.

[Rebuilding Bifrost: 2]

You take her shoulder and whisk her fancifully along to the Field of Deeds, where the gods meet to play their god games and do their god things, a wonderful realm of ideals beyond the reach of mortal man!

Chief among these ideals presently appears to be the liberty of getting drunk in the early afternoon. And also playing hearty, if uncoordinated bowls from the looks of it. Feels like an afterparty.

Can you turn down the sun, Morag asks as she shields her eyes. You snap your fingers and the lights dim. Thanks, she says.

A few moments pass. Gods continue to hang around the area. Occasionally one of them comes over and shares a bit of gossip while quaffing a bit of mead. You see somebody rebuilding longhouses in the distance, presumably another overly optimistic giant who doesn't know better than to take the Æsir at their word.

Not really her scene at all, Morag shrugs. She was kind of expecting some, I dunno, giant battlefield where dead heroes mosh into each other consequence-free. Seems like that'd be good dinner entertainment for a prospective god.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 14, 2017, 12:38:58 pm
Daniels pulls out his speaking trumpet, having gotten thoroughly into the spirit of things. "Oi! You juggler thing! That was very rude, get back in the oven to be cooked for us."

Make sure I'm not allowed to just slice this thing up with my murder-thought. If I am, try cutting it in half or something. Assuming I'm not, though, just use my murder-thought to prevent it from going in any particular direction I don't want it to go, and use the door I have to push it back into the oven without burning myself.

[Why Father Why: 6]

The juggler turns toward you as you shout at it through the trumpet, and quivers in your direction as if to ask 'who are you?' 'what is happening to me?' 'why does it hurt so much?' 'why why why' and more of your favorite existential hits of the past decade. You figure a sensible conversation isn't in the cards considering its state agitation, so you turn to the cooks for advice.

Hey, one of them says, it's your juggler, so you do you! Thanks, you say as your murder-thought prepares to leap from the walls. This simplifies things considerably!

[This Miracle Of Living: 4+1+1 vs. 3]

The murder-thought is efficient as always, cutting the juggler in half like a stick of warm butter, a spurt of grease and pupating insects flying every which way as you tear it open. It twitches furiously as the two sides roll apart, the holes in it starting to shriek like improvised mouths. Shrieking your name, in fact.

Now you've done it, one of the cooks says as he shields his ears. That's seven years of bad luck in the culinary business, the other comments, a juggler screaming your name like that. Nothing worse than your food thinking it's got something on you because it knows what you're called. Unless you're a rich gourmet, the other one points out, then it's just another outlet for your delightfully sadistic and self-aggrandizing tendencies.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 15, 2017, 05:53:00 pm
"Oh, no, Oggie just comes off like that at first," I try to convince the innkeeper. "She's really a very fun person once you get to know her. Wouldn't hurt a fly."

After she responds to that, I change the subject to our payment. I doubt Oggie would appreciate me giving her valuables to a stoat, so I need to get the innkeeper away from her before I can do that. "I understand needing us to pay in advance, but can you take me to see the room first, at least? I like to know what I'm buying." I turn to Oggie and the doctor. "You guys just stay here and rest your legs for a minute. Maybe we can have a drink or something when I get back."

[It's The Best Idea: 1]

She gets where you're coming from, the innkeeper says, but that thing stays outside and if you and your friend don't want to be staying outside with it, you'd better come up with a good shiny reason for that, y'hear?

Oggie continues to grin and starts cracking her knuckles. She's got a lot of crack in those knuckles, you can't help but notice.

The innkeeper gulps audibly. She- she won't be intimidated in her own inn, she says a little shakily as she fiddles with her dress, so if that's the sort of game you want to play then she would like to ask you to leave!

[An Even Better Idea: 1]

Hold, hold, the doctor says in a broken-sounding, but understandable enough dialect. Hold a moment, good stoat woman! They will send Oggie off for one moment, very sorry for this, she not very well behaved right now! She turns to Oggie and gives a pleading expression, trying to gesture for her to leave.

Oggie's eyes slide to the doctor for a second. She nods.

[Seize The Moment: 1+1 vs. 3]

You hear her leap forward toward the innkeeper, who to her credit seems to have been mentally preparing herself for exactly this sort of thing as she appears to have pulled out a knife from somewhere in her dress. Oggie roars as it manages to find her side, drawing strange and viscous blood as the innkeeper scrambles to the side and grabs a chair in her other hand to hold out as a kind of shield, her eyes darting toward the door as she wonders if maybe she can make a break past you before the weird ape-thing manages to wring her neck.

This is all bad mistake, the doctor says with her arms raised, everyone calm selves!

Quote from: Toaster on April 15, 2017, 09:15:39 pm
This had all started to go to Thomas's head.

"Three!  Three of you have fallen?  Do you see a wound on me?  Do you think that the remainder stand a chance!  Come at me if you dare; run now if you want to see tomorrow!"

Continue to intimidate.

[Better Step Aside: 6]

You swing the sword in a broad arc to better make your point and it briefly touches one of the folk trying to circle round you to make a run for it - after that, four remain. Two drop their spears in stupefied terror. Two more decide to rather more creatively try and escape by the cliff, which is to say they jump from it and hope for the best, leaving you with two helpless individuals standing right in front of you, laying down on the ground and hoping you do not decide to smite them.

It is right about at this point that a dozen more show up behind you. He's taken hostages, one of them shouts! Where is everyone else, another of them asks aloud. Get the tribe together, you hear a woman shout from way back in the underground, everyone pick up their weapons and be ready to fight!

Quite a clamor starts to develop as the dozen or so last fighting men of the tribe look at you reluctantly, clearly unnerved by the cataplectic terror of their two comrades and mystified about the fate of their remaining fellows. They tell you, quite clearly, that you shall not get by them, but seem somewhat unprepared to outright try and push you off the cliff.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 16, 2017, 02:30:28 pm
"I make my own luck anyway," says Daniels. He briefly considers the juggler's situation - it's entire world is pain and it has no means to survive, rendering its entire existence nothing but abject misery and agony. He licks his lips at how that's going to taste and decides that this poor bastard needs some reassurance.

"Hey! OI! Juggler! Quiet down! You don't know what's going on and everything in you is excruciating, true. But you're forgetting something - everything in this world has a purpose! I'm on the path to finding my own, and it'll take a while to do that. But you're luckier than I - your purpose is to be sustenance for others, to give of your own flesh so that others may live! You are food of the highest caliber! So fear not oblivion, for it brings both salvation for others and also a great amount of karmic weight for you - when you are next reborn, it will surely be in a sublime body for your self-sacrifice here today. Let me help you achieve your purpose. I can promise that it will be over quickly."

Philosophy battle the food! Always tastes better after putting some work into it. If my words get through to it, herd it back into the oven. If not, or it keeps screaming or something, SILENCE it so that my words may reach its core.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 17, 2017, 01:57:31 am
"That was few days ago, big armageddon and all. I mean, what do you think caused the big explosion few days ago? Jörmungandr, lots of gods and jötnar died, and their bones were gathered to ward of ocean of vodkafruits. That, I believe, is a bit more of your scene."

Show her around; sea of vodka, the burning church if it still exists, skull of Jörmungandr, the movie theater from my eyes, and ... I probably need few more sightseeing things in here. Like Yggdrasil. No, that's a bit too big to fit in my mind, maybe a leaf or two hanging above sun?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on April 17, 2017, 12:21:31 pm
Some map. Unless... Can I recall/picture any of it? You wouldn't think so, but who knows in this place? Failing that, can the box play it at a more reasonable pace?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 18, 2017, 09:10:32 am
This was getting annoying, really.  Too much going on.  "I will be going up this ridge!  If you do not move, I will move you!"

No backing down.  Start edging way toward an upward ascent.  Don't just start swording, but self defense is okay.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 18, 2017, 01:18:44 pm
Oh crap. Uh.

I lunge at the innkeeper with the intention of missing and giving her an opening to escape. After she's gone we can rest, and if she gets eaten by a monster in the night, that's none of our business.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 18, 2017, 02:35:04 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on April 16, 2017, 02:30:28 pm
"I make my own luck anyway," says Daniels. He briefly considers the juggler's situation - it's entire world is pain and it has no means to survive, rendering its entire existence nothing but abject misery and agony. He licks his lips at how that's going to taste and decides that this poor bastard needs some reassurance.

"Hey! OI! Juggler! Quiet down! You don't know what's going on and everything in you is excruciating, true. But you're forgetting something - everything in this world has a purpose! I'm on the path to finding my own, and it'll take a while to do that. But you're luckier than I - your purpose is to be sustenance for others, to give of your own flesh so that others may live! You are food of the highest caliber! So fear not oblivion, for it brings both salvation for others and also a great amount of karmic weight for you - when you are next reborn, it will surely be in a sublime body for your self-sacrifice here today. Let me help you achieve your purpose. I can promise that it will be over quickly."

Philosophy battle the food! Always tastes better after putting some work into it. If my words get through to it, herd it back into the oven. If not, or it keeps screaming or something, SILENCE it so that my words may reach its core.

[Your Flesh Is Forfeit: 6]

You're not sure this thing understands language as such. Doesn't really have the equipment. Despite this, however, you manage to deliver your piece with conviction, triumph, exultation! And despite its miserable state, you sense something begin to click between the two of you as it continues to shriek, but in what to you sounds like an altogether friendlier way. Less ear-piercing in any case, the cooks also joining in as they chant your name and pump their fists in the air.

You pick up one juggler in each hand and hold them at arm's length as you raise them up, symbolizing their coming ascension and for a moment the two creatures squeal in delight! Then you shove them into the oven and shut the door tightly - the chant continues from within unabated, and from the corner of your eye you see the cooks high-fiving as the crackle of fat beginning to boil and muffled skittering fills the room.

The cooks whoop at this success. It's a damn rare thing for a juggler to respond to reasoned argument! You should be proud, back in El they pay top favors for this kind of thing - now if you could get it to hold a calm, clinical conversation as it's being scarfed down, that'd be a real achievement!

[Molded By Strange Fires: 3]

You press your ear to the hot oven door as the chanting subsides over the following minutes and turns into a perfect F sharp whine that gently but decisively starts to grind in your ears.

Doesn't seem like it's taking, one of the cooks mentions. That's the sound of a regressing pair of jugglers right there, nothing quite like it in the culinary world, the other one says as he strokes his chin beard. Try singing to it, the first rather brightly suggests. No no no, the other one opines, you want to carve some more bits into it, like maybe a head around the mouth or some hands for it to do things with! He's heard a little stimulation goes a long way, don't you think?

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 17, 2017, 01:57:31 am
"That was few days ago, big armageddon and all. I mean, what do you think caused the big explosion few days ago? Jörmungandr, lots of gods and jötnar died, and their bones were gathered to ward of ocean of vodkafruits. That, I believe, is a bit more of your scene."

Show her around; sea of vodka, the burning church if it still exists, skull of Jörmungandr, the movie theater from my eyes, and ... I probably need few more sightseeing things in here. Like Yggdrasil. No, that's a bit too big to fit in my mind, maybe a leaf or two hanging above sun?

[The Grand Tour: 1]

She gets into the spirit of it after a little bit. You think it's right about when you show her the church - while less than impressed with your musical tastes, she has to admit it looks really cool. There's just something about a burning building that you can just keep watching, like a bonfire except with the added benefit of the fact that it used to be something else. Bit disappointing that it's not burning down, but she guesses that's not an exhibit with any kind of longevity, is it?

You show off Jörmungandr's corpse next as you tiptoe over the sea of vodkafruit, and she peers over the edge of the skeleton into the eternal falls at the edge of your mindscape, uncontained now that the serpent is well and truly dead. That's a pretty big snake, she shrugs, encircling the world like that. It helps that distance here doesn't mean all that much, you explain to her, this thing's dimensions are stated purely in terms of the unimaginable, which is somehow easier to conceive of than, say, an actual snake that's at least fifty thousand miles long.

You continue on for quite a bit as you check out the rest of your realm, presently a little lacking in features of interest on account of the end of the world and all (not that much of it was well-defined to begin with). Morag does get properly enthusiastic at one point though as she nods with obvious interest as you show off to her the wide-open entrance to Hel, and the bit where you look out into the mortal realm, and also a couple of other things here and there that spring immediately to mind!

In the end, having looked at most everything around here, you turn to your companion once more. So, you say, impressive place! She continues to nod enthusiastically, but says nothing. Really a very good place for anybody interested in, like, alcohol and revelry and what have you. She keeps nodding. You think it could use a bit more refurbishing though, and she seems to agree judging by the nodding and enthused, unchanging expression.

[A Bit Of Foliage Here And There: 6]

You point to the sky and let the trunk of the World Tree surge out of the distant horizon, this world resting on its branch as you form a fortuitous bit of fog to conceal its true, mind-shattering enormity from any incautious eyes. As you do this, a brief wonder goes through your head as you consider whether this is supposed to be Midgard or Asgard. You suppose there's a good case to be made for either.

You decide to consult Morag - does she think this looks more like a godly kind of place or is there more of a mortal world kind of vibe? She nods at you. That's right, you say, you guess there isn't really anybody to dispute the authenticity of your vague approximation of a Norse otherworld so you might as well go crazy. Why not go nuts and name it something else entirely?

Quote from: TopHat on April 17, 2017, 12:21:31 pm
Some map. Unless... Can I recall/picture any of it? You wouldn't think so, but who knows in this place? Failing that, can the box play it at a more reasonable pace?

[Reality's Chord: 1]

It grows jumbled in your head as you try to recall bits of it, and further attempts at touching the cube's edges only make it worse, your senses already sore from previous overload. Your hand suddenly cramps and you make an incautious motion, touching the far corner as you draw back, the knowledge rushing into your mind like a burst dam as you momentarily comprehend an infinity of space every which way. The spatial enormity threatens to shatter your mind right before a much-appreciated reflex knocks you very suddenly unconscious.

[Today's Offering: 6]

When you awaken an unspecified time later with a pounding headache and a metallic taste in the back of your throat, you are resting on a dusty, but serviceable chaise longue in what looks like a rather small white chamber probably adjunct to the showroom, a single slightly ajar door off to the side in an otherwise windowless room.

Beyond you and your resting place you see a small bowl full of complementary hard candies in many a color and shape deformed by cruel time, and what looks to be an antique pharmacist's cabinet with drawers annotated with the names of dozens of analgesics ranging from aspirin to heroin (and quite a lot of names you do not recognize at all, but which have a definitely alchemical sound to them), each apparently in its own compartment.

Quote from: Toaster on April 18, 2017, 09:10:32 am
This was getting annoying, really.  Too much going on.  "I will be going up this ridge!  If you do not move, I will move you!"

No backing down.  Start edging way toward an upward ascent.  Don't just start swording, but self defense is okay.

[Parting This Sea Of Idiots: 4]

They are clearly not about to screw around with you as you advance, retreating into their little valley full of bushes as you make your way to the top of the ridge, overlooking the other side of the hill (not quite as steep as the one you climbed up on, but not by a considerable margin). You hear the sounds of an alarm being raised in the little valley.

If you had to guess from the clatter, it sounds like they're mobilizing for one last attempt to push you back. And this time they intend to do this with all the force they can muster.

[Following In One's Footsteps: 6]

Rather fortunately, though, your slow advance seems to have bought enough time for Gamble and quite a few others to have made it up the cliff, and most of them manage to rejoin you at this point in your position overlooking the valley. The climb went brilliantly well this time, Gamble says, no doubt the strength of your assurance has cowed the spirits infesting the ridge!

Treefishers decided not to follow mostly, says Tabernacle as you look over who all has arrived. Said they'd wait for more word from above. Can't rightly blame them, Silver adds, it's a little bit of a treacherous climb and he's fairly sure one of them broke a leg or two in the first attempt. Perhaps you ought to stay here a bit to let them catch up once they figure out a way to get everyone up. Maybe even some kind of-

Silver's words are cut off as a multitude of asynchronous war cries issues from the valley, a tribe massing for a charge as they begin to rain improvised javelins and what looks to be assorted garbage down on your position!

[Desperate Skirmish: 5 vs. 2]

Fortunately most of them are in a rather disadvantageous position to hit you, and most of the javelins seem to end up on the hillside as unskilled hands throw them wildly off the mark, pots full of various liquids shattering on the hillside and javelins clattering to the ground at unfortunate angles. The few that do fly far enough you manage to swat aside with another sweep of your sword that seems to outright dispel the projectiles rather than swat them aside.

Your eight companions pull out their various implements of murder as they take positions. Most of them look questioningly at you, some of them wondering what might have happened, a few (most notably Gamble, who looks eager to stand at your side) very obviously eager to get down to business and return the favor to these would-be kings of the hill.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 18, 2017, 01:18:44 pm
Oh crap. Uh.

I lunge at the innkeeper with the intention of missing and giving her an opening to escape. After she's gone we can rest, and if she gets eaten by a monster in the night, that's none of our business.

[Running Interference: 4]

It's a very timely maneuver on your part as you draw the never-made scimitar and rush in, making it look reasonably probable that you cut off Oggie's own impending assault by accident as you menace the innkeeper while indicating with your eyes that now would be a really good time for her to make a break for the door. She looks bewildered by this, but seemingly takes the hint and makes a run for it.

[Taming The Beast: 4 vs. 4]

She rushes toward the exit and hurls the chair at Oggie desperately, your companion immediately arrested in her tracks by the thrown object as she grabs it and tosses it aside, only for the innkeeper to follow it up by pushing the doctor in her direction for good measure before bolting out of the door, running off rapidly to the south as quickly as her stubby legs can carry her.

Oggie seems to have half a mind to rush after her, but a shooting pain from her knife wound gives her enough pause to make her reconsider this as she sits down.

She looks at you, seemingly satisfied at this outcome. Much simpler, no? Would have been better to strangle life out of murderous stoat, but scaring away is just as good. No need to negotiate when in superior numbers. The doctor looks out the door at the fleeing innkeeper, then looks back at you lot horrified. There wasn't any need for that, she says a little quietly, the woman wasn't even very hostile by stoatfolk standards. What'll you all do when you get to Kingsbridge? There'll be a full garrison there!

[Out In The Wilderness: 4]

She sighs. Nothing to be done about it now though, right?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 18, 2017, 03:12:18 pm
At this point, Thomas's long-neglected adrenaline had fully kicked in.  "Lads!  Are we going to let them stop us from climbing up this hill?  Never!  Charge!

Charge!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 18, 2017, 07:23:04 pm
"Yeah, that could have gone a lot better. But we can worry about it tomorrow morning. Right now we need to rest, so tomorrow we can tackle whatever life throws at us next with renewed spirits."

I look for a bed to pass out in.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 19, 2017, 11:02:05 am
Yeah, it's not really either. It is a realm of my own. Might as well name it.

"I name thee Jehwlheimr!"

Is Morag really here? I see certain... hmm, lack of variance in her behaviour. Does she have any suggestions for decor? I'm considering some sort of memory theater with full service. And a dark well.  One with stairs so getting in and out would be easier. I'm not certain if I want to add that door though.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on April 20, 2017, 02:40:13 pm
"Thank you, whoever that was. If the evidence of an apparently sophisticated pharmaceutical industry is a little surprising."

An aspirin sounds good right now. Then pocket a sweet and see what's on the other side of the door.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 23, 2017, 11:15:25 am
Quote from: Toaster on April 18, 2017, 03:12:18 pm
At this point, Thomas's long-neglected adrenaline had fully kicked in.  "Lads!  Are we going to let them stop us from climbing up this hill?  Never!  Charge!

Charge!

[Sureness Permanent Assurance: 5]

They're well-insured for injuries sustained in the field of battle, you've got a mighty mystical sword that you're not afraid to use, you're about to engage in a downhill charge and your enemies are obviously demoralized and poorly trained. You're damn right they're ready to teach these mountaineer-kicking bastards a thing or two about hospitality. Canes, axes, knives and more are raised as your retinue charges down with you, ready to kick ass and take names!

[Crush These Fools: 3+1+1 vs. 2]

Skulls crack, axes are planted into shoulders and you yourself cut a swath through the front ranks of actual fighters with astounding ease as they disappear before your very eyes as if they were but smoke and tricks of the light. The ones that, say, Lily handily concusses with repeated blows to the head, or Nobody cleaves with his woodsman's axe, or that Gamble starts to strangle with nothing more than his bare hands, they're a bit more messy after a fashion. The ridge-dwellers are sent into a full retreat within moments, men and women diving into the brush and tripping over greenery to get back to their little village, where they seem intent on retreating into their caves.

Gamble strides up to your side after you've soundly dispelled these villagers, wiping his hands after a job well done. Lily seems to still be beating on a downed man as a few others watch thoughtfully, having soundly finished their respective opponents in their own time. Tabernacle sits atop a woman he appears to have stabbed in the throat, awaiting further instructions. Silver looks well-pleased with himself as he examines the fellow he appears to have clocked round the head most fatally indeed. Spears litter the ground from the four or so you hit and the even seven taken down by your followers, a perfect picture of carnage well-done.

Where to now, Gamble asks with a smile on his face. He bets those tents have supplies, a spot of looting might be in order, don't you think?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 18, 2017, 07:23:04 pm
"Yeah, that could have gone a lot better. But we can worry about it tomorrow morning. Right now we need to rest, so tomorrow we can tackle whatever life throws at us next with renewed spirits."

I look for a bed to pass out in.

This being an inn, a bed does readily present itself for your resting enjoyment up on the second floor - you and the doctor head right up. Oggie meanwhile stays downstairs, seemingly not quite ready to rest yet.

Luckily there's a very decent room at the end of the hall with a rather sizable bed at that - the doctor asks if you wouldn't mind if she shared your room. Bit uneasy about staying alone in a strange place, you know. You're tired enough to raise no objection as the two of you get comfortable in the room and you drift quickly into sleep. You hear a few things go bump downstairs, probably Oggie pacing around. Other than that, the late afternoon is quite free of noise and disturbance, and your sleep is remarkably restful in these more than adequate quarters.

You wake up quite early, right on time to see the sun rise at what you estimate is about five in the morning. The doctor is sleeping soundly next to you, drooling gently into her pillow. You try not to wake her as you get up and get dressed. You know, you don't think you've had a civilized night's rest since you got here (minus possibly the drunken escapade the last time you were here). If you're not careful you might get used to it.

[Nightly Adventures: 1]

Oggie is still downstairs. She appears to have made breakfast out of something she found out in the woods, a brief adventure in its own right that she appears very keen to tell you more about. The result is, well, it's certainly something. Cold, wet and very grayish, it smells like burnt hair and bristles with unusual bones (kept in for flavor, Oggie assures you). You try some under pressure, and almost instantly deeply regret it.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 19, 2017, 11:02:05 am
Yeah, it's not really either. It is a realm of my own. Might as well name it.

"I name thee Jehwlheimr!"

Is Morag really here? I see certain... hmm, lack of variance in her behaviour. Does she have any suggestions for decor? I'm considering some sort of memory theater with full service. And a dark well.  One with stairs so getting in and out would be easier. I'm not certain if I want to add that door though.

[Where Am I: 2]

You tap at Morag with your thoughts. She keeps nodding resolutely. Might've passed out at some point during your little mental field trip. She's put in an admirable effort at continuing to listen despite this, however! You bounce a couple of great ideas off her and she appears to agree that you're on the right track here! A memory theater, wow! And a dark well, how could she not nod to that?

[Building Better Worlds: 3]

You take a few shots at replaying some of your memories in a way reminiscent of your eye-theater. It's a little bit disappointing, you gotta say, since by its very nature you know exactly what you're going to see there, and it sadly happens to be exactly how you remember it as well.

The well similarly is very faithfully recreated as what it is - a strange and incongruous hole in the ground that you could ostensibly use for some kind of bizarre minding experiment if one happened to come to mind. For lack of any mysterious doors leading to the threshold of a great devouring void, however, that seems to be all it is.

Quote from: TopHat on April 20, 2017, 02:40:13 pm
"Thank you, whoever that was. If the evidence of an apparently sophisticated pharmaceutical industry is a little surprising."

An aspirin sounds good right now. Then pocket a sweet and see what's on the other side of the door.

The hard candies are complimentary (in fact it's hard to just take one on account of how they've melded together). The aspirin, however, decidedly is not.

[The Med-O-Mat: 5]

It takes a bit to figure out the system as you try to tug at the bottle of aspirin in various ways after opening its corresponding drawer, but it fails to budge in any way, your attempts met with seemingly insurmountable resistance with no obvious source.

You ponder this a moment, and something occurs to you. You take out your set of misshapen dice from their moldering exile in your pockets and rattle them in your hand for a few seconds. There is a sharp intake of ventilation around you as you experimentally place them in the drawer, then grab at the bottle of aspirin once again - this time it comes free quite easily, and you help yourself to a couple before noticing a glass of water at the top of the shelf of drawers. You go ahead and have some, well pleased at how this trade seems to have worked out. The aspirin, naturally, helps as well.

As the edge of your headache fades you open up the door - this appears to lead back into the main room of the spatially unlikely shop, rows upon rows of display cases as far as the eye can see stretching before you in the well-lit premises populated with whatever artifacts the ever-helpful pawnbroker can muster.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 23, 2017, 03:41:36 pm
Daniels abruptly snaps out of his fugue, eyes refocusing on something that isn't empty space. "I only just convinced it to go back in there, I doubt it'd enjoy me cutting into it again. Singing it is!"

Sing a lullaby or something or other to the juggler to soothe it while it burns.

((My apologies, I genuinely thought I posted an action.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on April 23, 2017, 03:59:42 pm
A trickle about realism in effect was starting to tug at the back of Thomas's mind, but the practical was coming up first.  Had he eaten yet today?  It was hard to remember for some reason.  "Let's grab what we need and go.  Sticking around here is a bad idea; load up and we go to the top."

Grab the easy usefuls and let's go up the ridge.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 24, 2017, 05:40:35 am
Now that memory theater is up and running lets review few interesting cases; for example those mysterious and important star patterns I saw in Lee's dress at some point and somewhere else too. Actually, let's also arrange personel to ensure that from now on, everything I perceive is recorded, double checked against corruption, and doubly archived. Some security too, check if Heimdallr would do honors. Can't go along forgetting things so often and easily.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on April 24, 2017, 11:16:25 am
"Well, this has certainly improved my opinion of pawnbrokers! I'll be back when I want something."
Find the way out and see about tying that cart to anything sturdy-looking enough. Maybe knot some burlap together to make an impromptu tether if the rope's not long enough?
Or have a look at that third shop if it isn't at the top of the hill at the moment.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on April 26, 2017, 05:49:16 pm
"So, uh, what have you rounded up for us this morning? Seems like it was a very impressive specimen of... whatever it was."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on April 29, 2017, 08:51:45 am
Quote from: Xantalos on April 23, 2017, 03:41:36 pm
Daniels abruptly snaps out of his fugue, eyes refocusing on something that isn't empty space. "I only just convinced it to go back in there, I doubt it'd enjoy me cutting into it again. Singing it is!"

Sing a lullaby or something or other to the juggler to soothe it while it burns.

((My apologies, I genuinely thought I posted an action.))

[Killing Me Softly With His Song: 3]

The juggler taps a two-bodied rhythm on the oven door. This seems to be mostly to help you keep your own pace, as it seems to notice you flagging a bit after ten minutes or so as you completely exhaust your working knowledge of lullaby-sounding things. You're halfway through a particularly breathy down-tempo "Sweet Child O' Mine" when you wonder if this is particularly working at all.

You turn to the cooks. Their advice? Don't run away to join the opera. Yeah, the other one says, they already lose a lot of employees that way - there was this one scullion, see, now that kid had a set of pipes. Shame he only knew one song though... oh, you wanted to know about the juggler? Uh, one of them says. Well, the other one adds. Hm, they both continue.

They do guess it's a bit worrying that being exposed to extreme heat over long periods of time doesn't seem to be killing it. If they had to guess, it'd be that the thing is pretty committed to this sentience malarkey. Probably unsalvageable as a snack food, one of the cooks shrugs. Unless you've got very specialized tastes.

There's a pounding at the oven door as the juggler appears to wonder where you've gone off to. Fortunately it looks like it likes you, a cook points, or is at least subtle enough about its murderous impulses that it's difficult to detect. Go by intuition, the other one advises, it's always best to follow your heart when it comes to family. Oh, the first one says, you can take it along to the feast! The cap'n will love it, they're sure, at least if you can teach it some table manners.

Quote from: Toaster on April 23, 2017, 03:59:42 pm
A trickle about realism in effect was starting to tug at the back of Thomas's mind, but the practical was coming up first.  Had he eaten yet today?  It was hard to remember for some reason.  "Let's grab what we need and go.  Sticking around here is a bad idea; load up and we go to the top."

Grab the easy usefuls and let's go up the ridge.

[The Loot of the Day: 4]

When you give the go-ahead, your fellows waste no time in trailing after the vanquished tribe and tearing into their tents, coming away with a good deal of clothing, tools, something that Lily is reasonably sure is medicinal and Helen can vouch for giving a pretty good kick, miscellaneous odds and ends. Seems like the others that fled did not try to take their supplies with them. Loaded with a fair bit of goods, you make your way to the top of the ridge.

[I Can See For Miles And Miles: 6]

From the top you see a great deal, as the day has become rather clear and beautiful. Tabernacle and Silver flank you on either side as you peer at the forests and plains of the vast and unfriendly north stretching out below, the cliffs on the other side of the hill looking gentler than the ones you climbed up on, if not necessarily by much. At least the more vertical parts are much shorter on that end than this one, with a few fortified-looking positions now laying empty in what must be very hard-to-see locations from lower down.

Out in the unspeakable distance you see towers - that you can see them from this far off speaks to their immense size. Elizabeth, Tabernacle points out. Not far now, maybe two days if you get down without problems. You turn to him - does he know much about the area on the way? You must say that the people here weren't very accommodating. Anybody friendly on the way?

Simply put, no. But there are some landmarks he's heard about from the occasional wanderer that the bears and the Spiders didn't manage to get. Right over there, he points to the faintest trace of a clearing some three miles off, that'd be the old monastery. Full of ghosts if you believe the stories. Clansmen stay away though, which is good, 'cause right around here is where the woods get right unfriendly.

Even the road, Silver points toward the highway, still visible off to the north. Especially the highway, Tabernacle nods. On good days it'll be infested with Spiders, and on bad days you'd be running into the Dragons or Storks.

He mentioned something about unfriendly woods, you steer the conversation. Yep, he says. Not many people come through those, but they talk about clansmen, animals and things. Business as usual around Elizabeth, he's heard. Something about the city drives the forests wild, apparently.

Aha, you say, and what'd that be, you point over to a streak where the forest appears to clear some distance off to the southwest. Tabernacle shrugs - hasn't heard anything about that. Looks like a dell, maybe a gorge? Hard to tell from this distance. Take a bit to figure out where you'll be steering this train, he shrugs, he'll go and get the others from the cliffs so you can make it somewhere before nightfall. Don't want to be exposed out in the woods at night, no sir.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 24, 2017, 05:40:35 am
Now that memory theater is up and running lets review few interesting cases; for example those mysterious and important star patterns I saw in Lee's dress at some point and somewhere else too. Actually, let's also arrange personel to ensure that from now on, everything I perceive is recorded, double checked against corruption, and doubly archived. Some security too, check if Heimdallr would do honors. Can't go along forgetting things so often and easily.

[Cache In The Memory Bank: 1]

They say people don't actually remember things, they just remember remembering them. You never held any truck with that kind of sophistry. No, you remember remembering things by remembering the thing you use to remember them with, in this case Heimdallr and his rather fanciful horn, who appears to be unemployed now that Bifrost went and collapsed. Now he can blow his horn several times every day (much to the chagrin of the gods, who are rather used to horns being blown in times of emergency as opposed to habitually) to assist you with something you were hoping to recover. First off, you guess you should take a look at those star charts.

BWOOOOT, responds Heimdallr with his horn, clearly excited to have a job again, and goes to man (god?) the projector, which shows you what for all you know is probably an accurate picture of the night sky. Look, there's the polestar. And also the Big Dipper somewhere off to the left. You're not very good with constellations, you quickly realize. Better commit them to memory.

Heimdallr, you call! BWOOOOOOOT, he responds enthusiastically. You order him to go ahead and record all of these memories you have on hand. He nods with a very professional kind of bwoot, and proceeds to very accurately commit your memories to your memory, double-checking them against your memory for any signs that your memory might not correspond with your memory.

You decide to leave him to it. Sounds like a very formidable undertaking and probably a very boring one, exactly the kind of thing you can forget about until you need it again.

This place is pretty weird, Morag says from behind you. Things don't move when you're not looking at them, but you can see this kind of tension about them, like they're ready to burst into action as soon as you turn their way.

Quote from: TopHat on April 24, 2017, 11:16:25 am
"Well, this has certainly improved my opinion of pawnbrokers! I'll be back when I want something."
Find the way out and see about tying that cart to anything sturdy-looking enough. Maybe knot some burlap together to make an impromptu tether if the rope's not long enough?
Or have a look at that third shop if it isn't at the top of the hill at the moment.

Your praise is met with a warm breeze. As you turn around, the rows of display cases have parted as the bizarre architecture of the pawnbroker's shop gives way to a straight shot toward the exit, which takes you out of the faux-daylit corridors of the shop back into the miserable dark streets of the Tell of the Setting Sun, where you turn your mind toward matters of engineering.

[To Catch A Handcart: 1]

The teamster is unfortunately not present, and neither is his cart. Not to mention that you have doubts that something as generally spirited as that cart would be restrained by something so elementary as a mere tether. What you need is something a bit more clever, certainly. Perhaps there's a shop here that has what you need, you think as you wander down the main street of the merchant quarter to look for whichever shop it is that smells rather good in the distance.

[A Dash Of Cologne For That Smell: 5]

Perfume appears to be only the most intense part of the bouquet you are exposed to as you come over to the metastasizing sprawl of the perfumer's shop that has spilled back, forth and sideways into several nearby establishments that proved to be more sensitive to the passage of time, a mini-mall reeking of acetone, strong alcohol, formaldehyde and hydrocarbons of varying ripeness beneath a heady mix of floral and fruity scents. The air becomes thick as you step into the center of this street, littered with the bodies of the tell's citizens (and a couple of functionaries and street sweepers) that appear to have been completely overcome by the smell. The chug of machines and the boil of strange chemicals comes from open windows and unlocked doors in the compound.

Hullo, comes a shouted call from one of the top windows, followed by the caller slamming right down with it some seven feet to your right. You jump at the sudden smacking of her bulk and cracking of bones against the cobblestones and rush to her to check if she's all right before she waves you off and sits up, taking a moment to rearrange her bones in roughly the way they were supposed to be.

She looks definitely well-preserved on a chemical level, and her features have the look of careful sculpture over many years. Her dress looks obviously very well-laundered (as does her skin, in a disturbingly literal sense) until it hit the cobblestones. It's no trouble at all, she says as she stumbles to her feet. Scratches and scuffs on her appear to have been painted many times over, and some bits have well-disguised patches on closer examination. Her elbows, however, visible due to her rolled-up sleeves, seem to have worn away their skin completely and now only constitute a layer of bone painted roughly the same color.

Sorry about that, she says as she gets up and locks her knees in place through an unseen mechanism, wobbling into a stable posture. You surprised her! Shouldn't, hic, do that, you know, she was fixing up an experiment when you came along. Care for some, hic, tea? Rare that such a, hurk, charming young man comes along to her emporium!

Quote from: penguinofhonor on April 26, 2017, 05:49:16 pm
"So, uh, what have you rounded up for us this morning? Seems like it was a very impressive specimen of... whatever it was."

Oggie is more than happy to tell you all about it. She's had an eventful night.

[A Hunt At Sundown: 3]

When you went to bed, she hoped to find the innkeeper. It would not do to let her inform the other stoatfolk of the encounter she had. She had left a trail, a minor one, and Oggie hoped to track her so that she would not be a problem in the future. She located her up the road, and threw a large rock at her - this unfortunately seems to have missed from what you understand, and the ensuing encounter resulted in the innkeeper fleeing into the woods for cover. Oggie gave good chase, and though she was unable to catch the stoat in the end, she is confident that the innkeeper is now deep enough in the woods and sufficiently rattled, not to mention unable to make any kind of shelter before nightfall. All of these together, she is unlikely to make it out of the woods any time soon.

There was still time before morning at that point (you ask if Oggie sleeps, and she seems confused at the question), so what she then chose to do was look for some kind of local animal that would serve as adequate food. Several alternatives presented themselves, but most were too nimble. The one she brought back tried to hunt her, which proved to be a terrible mistake on his part - it appears to have been an exotic cross of a tiger and a centipede in all the worst ways. Many legs, but surprisingly easy to outmaneuver. Arboreal and very poisonous.

You pause in your half-hearted eating. Poisonous, she says. Oggie raises her hands - no problem, do not misunderstand. She has means and ways for fixing that, even if ingredients are second-rate above-ground. Fungi are sub-par in particular, but close enough to help. Had to pulp the good bits (not many of those), filter, mix with some other things, boil three times. Oggie's explanation about this is by far the longest part of her tale, and indeed appears to have constituted the greater part of her nightly activities.

Try the bones, Oggie gently nudges you. They are best part. You have one, and note that she is quite correct after you nearly break your teeth on cracking them open and suck out the slight amount of marrow, which tastes only mostly objectionable rather than wholly repulsive. It takes you quite a bit of concentration to keep getting through this, and the conversation experiences a distinct lull.

She would like to say something, Oggie mentions a little more uncertainly. She is, she hesitates, looking for a word, sorry for some of the things she did, the handling of the innkeeper. She thought intimidation would fix the situation. Or merely snapping the woman in half, this would fix more things and be eminently more pleasurable. But it did not work, and she is sorry for not respecting your judgment. So she made breakfast.

Yes, you say, your verbal skills mildly deteriorating at the sensory assault that is this stew.

Oggie looks like she's about to say something more, but her attention suddenly turns to the doctor, who seems to have got through most of her morning routine as she comes downstairs, stretching her arms as she bids good morning to you and then, considerably more hesitantly, to Oggie as well. She does not take well to the breakfast either, and to her credit does somewhat expertly deflect attention by asking where you all intend to go today (and, in an unspoken sense, how you intend to go about it). Kingsbridge is not far off and you could make it before the late afternoon, certainly, so you could go there and maybe try to blend in, she says in a tone that suggests she's kind of hoping you have a better plan than that.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on April 29, 2017, 10:47:56 am
"What?"

That's just wrong. Pluck my third eye from my forehead and toss it high into the sky so it can watch everything here at once. To keep things in motion.

Lazy bastards.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on April 30, 2017, 09:45:39 pm
"Hmm. Well, I've always liked the idea of a giant blob of flesh following me around to devour my foes. My teachers were always worried about it, but look at me now!
Trouble is I already convinced it to go in there to be eaten. Hmm. I suppose I'll have to try this intuition thing out."

Look deep within myself! Not necessarily that far, but y'know. Intuition level. What does my gut tell me I should do with this massive hunk of apparently sentient horse flesh?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on May 01, 2017, 03:41:30 pm
"I'd love some, thank you.
What was the experiment, if you don't mind me asking?"


Time for a hopefully-pleasant cuppa and a chat about labwork. Not like the day can get any stranger.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on May 01, 2017, 03:47:36 pm
Well, this is starting to look obvious.  "Okay.  We'll head for the monastery; sounds like a great place to camp.  Everyone knows there's no such thing as ghosts.  We'll just have to avoid the highway as we move north; I can't stand the thought of spiders.  Let's move out.  Wish I had my camera; quite a lovely view."


Aim for the clearing.  Let's try to get there without being noticed by anything else.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 02, 2017, 04:49:45 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on April 29, 2017, 10:47:56 am
"What?"

That's just wrong. Pluck my third eye from my forehead and toss it high into the sky so it can watch everything here at once. To keep things in motion.

Lazy bastards.

[The Eye In The Sky: 5]

Your eye settles far above the realm of Jehwlheimr, shining fierce and yellow where the sun once was, and suddenly the world comes alive as you take in its entirety and your mind floods with gods bursting into divine antics. A sudden pain in your temple flares as multithreaded thought begins to take its toll, not as a background process but as a very much active one. Information floods into you about mythologies repeating themselves. Grand histories begin to form.

Jehwlheimr hums to life as trees take shape in the distance and each god finds a name, and all things find their natural places and driving urges, animated by your impulses and brought to something resembling genuine life. Not a place of myth anymore, you don't think, but to some degree legitimately alive.

[Absolutely Divine: 3]

You hear the sound of someone building a longhouse in the distance, gods negotiating contracts and drinking of their own volition as opposed to mimicking your own attempts. There is more of you in them now, for better or worse, though you do hope you have enough left for yourself.

She was gonna say there's a difference between seeing something and noticing something, Morag starts to say, but then she did forget you're a minder. Still, she's had about enough of this. Can she get out already? She's getting dangerously close to sobriety.

Quote from: Xantalos on April 30, 2017, 09:45:39 pm
"Hmm. Well, I've always liked the idea of a giant blob of flesh following me around to devour my foes. My teachers were always worried about it, but look at me now!
Trouble is I already convinced it to go in there to be eaten. Hmm. I suppose I'll have to try this intuition thing out."

Look deep within myself! Not necessarily that far, but y'know. Intuition level. What does my gut tell me I should do with this massive hunk of apparently sentient horse flesh?

[A Father's Intuition: 3]

... single combat, your intuition tells you. It's the old half-and-half solution - you've got two hunks of flesh that you split in half, and you still gotta eat. So the simplest solution, clearly, is to have them duel each other to the death to see which one survives and can be pronounced worthy of continued existence. The other one gets to be food.

There's an idea, one of the cooks says. But you have to have an audience for optimum effect, and probably some kind of table arrangement for optimum spectator action. And a betting pool of some kind, the other cook adds enthusiastically, and his associate nods sagely.

You know something, the other cook adds, he bets the cap'n would love to see a thing like that, food fighting itself. You could save the prizefight for the feast - an hour or two from now is when the festivities are scheduled to begin. Yeah, the first cook starts to nod enthusiastically, plenty of time to make a dinnerplate of honor for them to wrestle on. Would need to work out some rules for them to follow, of course. You want a good, clean fight when you have as much grease as those things continually secrete. Maybe set up some twine to make ring aprons, or a delicate arrangement of meats if you want to get fancy with it.

The cooks begin to chatter between themselves about the theoretical basis for such an undertaking, leaving you standing by the oven, listening to the slowly fading tapping on the door as the jugglers begin to lose interest.

Quote from: TopHat on May 01, 2017, 03:41:30 pm
"I'd love some, thank you.
What was the experiment, if you don't mind me asking?"


Time for a hopefully-pleasant cuppa and a chat about labwork. Not like the day can get any stranger.

You are invited into a parlor where the natural humidity seems to have been supplanted by sheer dint of turpentine, and sit down on a couch that squeaks like a balloon. Dimly lit pictures hang all around you on the walls, portraits of severe-looking individuals from many an age and style. You manage to read the writing under one - the name means nothing to you, but apparently his work as a professor of analytical chemistry in the Makalan universities was of some note if you believe your host.

[Her Unlife's Work: 2+1]

Meanwhile, the woman, who introduces herself as Lady Craik, busies herself with preparing you a spot of tea as you chat about experiments. She appears to be less an academic and more a practical sort. Her latest experiment, in fact, appears to relate to the extraction of a particular scent from something that a fisher brought to her - it seemed to be really, hack, really quite unique, she maintains. Probably the most singularly bloody, hurk, bloody unpleasant thing she's ever had in here! Simply brilliant!

The tea appears to be 96% machine-grade ethanol with a touch of Earl Grey, you discover from a casual sip. Easier to extract the, hic, good bits that way, Lady Craik says. The crumpets, meanwhile, are coated in half an inch of varnish for flavor, and when you look upon them you feel the gravity of interminable ages staring right back at you. The lady just knocks back the tea and takes ready bites of crumpet with disturbing lack of visible effort.

Lady Craik herself seems pleasant enough though, if extremely disposed to giggling and not very steady on her feet. She's run the place for many, many, many years now. Found the whole, hurk, the whole neighborhood empty, can you believe that, fully stocked pharmacy and all. She used to have, hic, girls working here who'd bring her things from all over town, don't you know, amassed quite a collection! The old alderman used to call at Lady Craik's Emporium not all that long ago! New one's not quite as, hurm, on the ball about things, if you ask her. The old alderman, now there was a tremendous fellow - barely fit into his own tower some days, she recalls!

But you're looking pretty, hic, pretty lively there, Mr. Wilde, she takes your hand. New in town, if she's guessed correctly? Looking for a gift, perhaps, for a, hurk, lovely sweetheart of yours?

Quote from: Toaster on May 01, 2017, 03:47:36 pm
Well, this is starting to look obvious.  "Okay.  We'll head for the monastery; sounds like a great place to camp.  Everyone knows there's no such thing as ghosts.  We'll just have to avoid the highway as we move north; I can't stand the thought of spiders.  Let's move out.  Wish I had my camera; quite a lovely view."


Aim for the clearing.  Let's try to get there without being noticed by anything else.

Funny, says Tabernacle, the lad who came screaming from that direction didn't believe in ghosts either.

You gather the treefishers and make your way down the far slope, laden with supplies meticulously looted from the hilltop camp. Progress is quite slow in the coming hours, but you manage to eventually build up a good pace as an acceptable way to carry the injured is figured out and you hit the woods below.

For what it's worth, you wouldn't say they're terribly foreboding woods, and seem to be quite replete with well-trod paths. Which ain't a good sign, Helen is quick to mention. Prolly clansmen about, Lily adds. Let them come, says Gamble, they taught a good lesson to the last bunch who saw fit to screw around with the well-insured!

Nobody stops occasionally to regard the trees - they're curious, in a sense. Never seen pines that twist like that, personally, and they grow out at odd angles in places. You nearly trip over a root at one point before you realize it's actually an old crossbeam that some tree roots have merely wrapped around for support in the sandy and inhospitable soil. The elevation here is considerable, and you very often see the land wave upward in a fashion that suggests frequent rising and falling, and little networks of exposed and withered tree roots show up where the latest upheaval has precipitously raised the land no more than perhaps a century ago.

As the sun begins to set, every so often you see little fires at the top of the pines, bright discharges of bubbling white light reaching toward the heavens. Occasionally you look up and see that the sky looks a little closer than usual in the north, and the slowly emerging stars larger than you remember them, seen not from behind clouds but seemingly from atop them...

[Making Good Progress: 5]

You make it to the monastery just before dusk has proceeded in earnest, though the dark can't be too far off now. The stone ruins may have been quite tall and imposing once, but time and tide has worn them down to largely featureless nubs of masonry you'd almost mistake for natural rocks. The old compound is filled with tall grass sprinkled with late spring flowers getting the most out of their bloom, losing petals left and right as they show obvious signs of decrepitude. But the clearing is free of brambles and, with some doing, would likely make a good spot to camp under the stars (that is, Tabernacle says, if you keep good watch and have weapons ready in case of any trouble) if you didn't mind the way it seems completely silent - no trace of birdsong on the air, and even the wind appears to be completely quiet here. Not even the sound of flies buzzing in the air.

There's also, you discover on closer examination of the site, what looks to be a staircase leading down into the basement, which is appropriately pitch black and doesn't smell very good, Undine reports. Seems deep though, Prosper adds, and echoes real nice. Could be a good place for shelter, out of sight of any beast of the wilderness, the treefisher elder mentions. Especially for the injured folk, the largest treefisher adds, if there's really nothing in there. Might wanna check, just to be sure.

One can't help but have an interesting feeling about this place. A delightfully lifeless sense to it.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 02, 2017, 10:02:43 am
"Oh, sure. Sobriety is easy enough to fix, but here's the door. I'll hang here a little bit more."

There's a door out, right behind her.
After she's gone, lay down and figure ways to separate what's in them and what's left for me. As a way to reduce headache, greater degree of separation. Contemplate possibility of sharing the burden of sustaining this realm, perhaps if I were to convert people to worship my true gods then maybe I could link their minds here.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on May 02, 2017, 01:28:32 pm
The sense of adventure and adrenaline had leveled off after the ridge fight, but it did seem much more reasonable to head inside.  "Well, as long as it's not too deep, it's worth looking inside."


Check out the cellar.  Consider its feasibility for shelter.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on May 03, 2017, 04:22:44 am
Well then. Best start explaining this to the jugglers themselves.

Engage my piles of squealing semi-alive horseflesh in an exciting speech about the glory of martial combat and the inherent worth of trials to prove oneself through adversity. Hype them up for what's to come, basically.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 04, 2017, 08:17:37 am
"I think we should scout around more before heading south. There have been some big changes in this region, and we need to know about them if we're going to blend in. There's a fork in the road nearby that leads to a village - we should head there and ask some questions, maybe try to barter for supplies."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 04, 2017, 11:17:14 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 02, 2017, 10:02:43 am
"Oh, sure. Sobriety is easy enough to fix, but here's the door. I'll hang here a little bit more."

There's a door out, right behind her.
After she's gone, lay down and figure ways to separate what's in them and what's left for me. As a way to reduce headache, greater degree of separation. Contemplate possibility of sharing the burden of sustaining this realm, perhaps if I were to convert people to worship my true gods then maybe I could link their minds here.

Thanks, she says as she turns on her heel and heads for the rather convenient door - you have fun in fantasyland, she's got other shit to do. And through the door she goes, back into wakefulness.

[Managing Mindscapes: 5]

Now alone, you settle against the persistent background of ceaseless activity and stare soulfully into your own eye in the sky.

Yeah, you guess there's something you could do here. Wouldn't even be too difficult, mind you - a subtle reconfiguration, a realignment of the world tree if you will. Currently it's rooted in your own notions of what it should be, but it wouldn't be that terribly difficult to pull somebody else's ideas into it, have the tree feed off their imaginations and mental processes so that it can grow stronger. Perhaps even with their own consent. It'd require a relinquishing of your sole mastery of the place, of course, but the gains, the gains!

Imagine not a mindscape, but a mythscape - a brand new, tangible folklore that you pass on to whoever you meet, and that anyone contributes to over the basic framework you have laid down of names, places and people. A realm that doesn't merely reflect dreams, but feeds on them and regurgitates hope into a shared dreamworld.

You figure it wouldn't be very difficult to bring someone in. Easier if they agree, of course, and do not resist, but that's certainly not obligatory. Somebody wholly untrained could no more resist you stealing their dreams than they could resist dreaming in the first place. Indeed, perhaps they wouldn't even notice if you did it right. It all sounds remarkably doable, now that you stop and think about it, and though you can only begin to suspect the practical applications of this, it'd definitely be something useful to you if you decide to exploit it.

Quote from: Toaster on May 02, 2017, 01:28:32 pm
The sense of adventure and adrenaline had leveled off after the ridge fight, but it did seem much more reasonable to head inside.  "Well, as long as it's not too deep, it's worth looking inside."


Check out the cellar.  Consider its feasibility for shelter.

[The Gloom Below: 3]

You arrange for Silver to carry a torch behind you as you venture into the cellar, sword held toward any potential ornery beasts that might hope for an easy meal. It sheds precious little light on the cellar itself. The darkness here feels persistent, and the narrow hallway you walk down into is filled with several layers of ancient cobwebs that feel oily on your hands as you brush them aside.

The cellar is composed of storerooms throughout - about eight in total of varying sizes, ranging from one the size of a broom closet to an outlier at the end that looks to have been a wine cellar. The only signs of life you find are a pile of spider husks, all gathered into a single corner of the wine storeroom, and what looks to be an ancient mummified wolf, most of its body seemingly wedged into a crevice where the floor and part of the wall appear to have split open. Its withered paws are spread outward, suggesting somebody must have pushed it in there, although there are no tracks in the dust of the cellar beyond your own.

Your footfalls echo in the completely silent space of the cellar and crunch resoundingly on occasional desiccated debris, giving it an impression of great enormity, and the looming, thick shadows press upon the back of your mind when you look away from a corner or a chamber. Even the timeworn brickwork seems notionally unfriendly to human life, leaving your fingertips very cold when you inadvertently brush up against it once or twice in the meager light of the torch.

You do find a vent, however, leading up to a distant point of sky that for a second seems physically improbable for how relatively short the flight of stairs that led you here was. Quite an optical illusion, you suppose. You then turn to Silver - seems like a good place to maybe build a fire, he says, wouldn't even need much firewood with all these cobwebs and old trash. His chuckle is a tad nervous, you think.

But that wolf, one feels the need to remark as the sword quivers in your hand, that wolf looks quite interesting. One can't help but be tempted by such a beautiful mummification. Would you permit a sampling?

Quote from: Xantalos on May 03, 2017, 04:22:44 am
Well then. Best start explaining this to the jugglers themselves.

Engage my piles of squealing semi-alive horseflesh in an exciting speech about the glory of martial combat and the inherent worth of trials to prove oneself through adversity. Hype them up for what's to come, basically.

[Rise To The Challenge Of Our Rival: 6+1]

Violence is something you can speak of with authority, and in detail. Fighting is what you are, in a sense, and what you hoped to teach in your life before you came here. This, you feel, is something of a magnum opus among all of your teachings, and you get the sense that the jugglers hear and understand more of it than you could have ever hoped, and possibly some things you do not yet understand yourself.

When they come out of the oven, there is a hum of deliberation within both of them, and the cooks are delighted when they come quietly underneath elaborate metal lids that they put on the large plates. The last glance exchanged between the two jugglers is one of fatal consideration. At tonight's feast, two will enter the ring of honor. Hopefully one will leave.

You hear bubbling underneath the plates, followed by hissing, chittering and an assortment of sounds you can't easily identify by name. You offer words of encouragement in passing, but they do not appear to need them. You have impressed upon them all the purpose in the world.

...

Not too long afterward you have prepared a feast, your jugglers forming a mystery centerpiece that you hear Shores and Peaks speculate about and that the cooks only dare to smile about when asked. The whole crew of the Vault of Heavens has gathered by the time of the feast's beginning, and the foods on display are something you'd expect of a king's reception. The head of the table is reserved for the captain, who judging by the space left appears to have enough breadth and reach to accommodate three men, and his food is of a separate class entirely.

The crew joke to each other at the gathering, a lot of the faces looking at least mildly familiar after your day in Hornsweir. All of them at least recognize you, and bid you very respectful greetings at that as you pass. It seems you're the guest of honor. You notice nobody's touched the food yet as you glance to the two covered plates in the center ringed by a rather fancy cheese arrangement.

Fires, Day and a small, furtive-looking woman you assume is Pines sit almost as far along the enormous feast table (seemingly folded out of the deck, as you can't imagine anybody carried it over here) as it is possible for a crew member. Fires and Day wave to you cheerfully, while Pines nods with what you assume is polite deference in the face of potential great violence. They seem to have told her a lot about you, some of it perhaps even true.

You almost stop at their spot before you notice the other end, where the officers are gathered - Two Shores is nowhere to be seen just yet, but Peaks has occupied a lotus position on a cushion on the left side of the table, eying a bottle of El-made wine with anticipation, while Big Dipper sits on the right, self-satisfied and evidently having helped himself to a bit more rum since you saw him last. Peaks notices you first, her eyes locking on to you in a way that nearly fixes you to the spot before she ever-so-slightly gestures for you to come sit with her. Big Dipper, though slower to notice you, is no less enthusiastic about calling you over to sit with him in a much more overt and overtly inebriated way.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 04, 2017, 08:17:37 am
"I think we should scout around more before heading south. There have been some big changes in this region, and we need to know about them if we're going to blend in. There's a fork in the road nearby that leads to a village - we should head there and ask some questions, maybe try to barter for supplies."

This is deemed a good enough plan for the moment - the doctor in particular seems relieved, and you head out to scout to take advantage of all the daylight you can get.

[A Pruned Fork: 4]

The less-used path on the fork, its cobblestones removed through meticulous deconstruction, leads to a no less meticulously deconstructed village a few miles off, its fields all burnt and the land very obviously shuffled to hide any trace of farms, the buildings torn down and the materials probably carted off elsewhere, right down to the foundations. A landscape of mounds remains where once was a village, an obsessive and misguided coverup of the clearing of a whole community off the face of the earth.

The site, it should be said, is not entirely abandoned - what remains is a single watchtower, and in it is what seems like a stoatman all too eager to see you. He nearly falls out of the watchtower in his attempt to get to you quickly, and you see Oggie tense up as it becomes obvious that he is some kind of levy, though not obviously armed as he runs on stubby legs to meet you, his back waving with exertion as he waves his arms and pants through many rows of teeth.

Halt, you hear him proclaim as he gets close enough, who's that coming there? Two ladies and, you notice him adjust a pair of spectacles, some kind of strange creature? Oggie growls at him a little and he shrinks back, then turns to you - is that your dog? Is it vaccin- ahem, he clears his throat as Oggie leans toward him and pauses to catch his breath.

Right, he says, he's supposed to say, well, he's supposed to say there's nothing to see here and you should move along, right? There's an inn back up the road, the proprietor's a good woman. This is just an, er... watch station. Yes, a watch station. Watching out for wild beasts, or something. There's a lot of those about, did you know, nasty bloody things. Mostly they come out at night though, so as long as you're careful then you ought to be perfectly fine! Perfectly fine, yes indeed.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on May 04, 2017, 01:25:12 pm
Daniels nods in passing to his minions. This was going to be a spectacle, he was sure.

Go sit next to Peaks. I'm gonna be talking to both of them there in any case, I imagine.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 04, 2017, 02:02:36 pm
Next goal confirmed. Convert these pagans, let Yggdrasil root deep in their minds. Let new age of vikings begin! Or never mind about vikings, as long as there's a change Æsir and Vanir will walk on this earth once more. Having minds connected without consent sounds little bad, so better limit mindjacking for proper converts. And true, these are my gods, but they do not belong to me. Sharing is caring as they say. Perhaps I even could make some trustworthy people skálds, people capable of connecting more minds in.

Yeah, sound like a plan.

Now, let's consider first converts. Morag and Lee are probably out, or very late converts if I were to start with Moths. Bruce seems to more receptive person and perhaps... who was it, E... Ernest? No, Earnest. Outside of Moths, next big opportunity will be in Elizabeth during clansmeet. Dragons sound very much like warrior types that would like to have Valhalla and Fólkvangr as backup home in case of sudden violent death. And people talk of Elizabeth like it's alive, so maybe convert the city itself? That would be great, but possibly difficult.

But let's start with things that are closer. Locate some people who seem potential converts and... talk to them I guess.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on May 05, 2017, 04:39:59 pm
Well, that did seem like an odd request, but he was in a strange land here; Thomas decided not to question local customs.  "Ah.  Sure, do as you please.  I'm going to help set up camp."

Yes, let's camp inside for the night.  Help set things up, clear out the more flammable cobwebs, etc.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on May 06, 2017, 02:31:49 pm
"Not a sweetheart as such, no. More a whale. I don't suppose you'd know anything about that? I don't even know if they'd appreciate perfume, never met one before to be honest."

Gift advice time. Then maybe a look round the labs?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 07, 2017, 05:05:44 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on May 04, 2017, 01:25:12 pm
Daniels nods in passing to his minions. This was going to be a spectacle, he was sure.

Go sit next to Peaks. I'm gonna be talking to both of them there in any case, I imagine.

You go the entire length of the table, not inconsiderable considering the size of the ship, and sit down next to Peaks. You seem to have a thing for the kitchen, she remarks. Hidden depths, perhaps?

Yeah, you say, shooting a glance at the uneasy balance the metal covers hold over the twin jugglers. Something like that.

They fixed up your friend, by the by, Peaks mentions and points about halfway down the table, where you think you see a mildly rejuvenated Alphonse listening with wide eyes to a dark individual with an ornate pipe in his mouth and fingers that just seem to keep going and never stop. Elementary repairs, apparently, though she has to say you've picked a pretty aged one to take along. She wouldn't peg someone like that as adventure material.

People hold a lot of surprises, Big Dipper interjects, mostly hidden from view by a mound of pungent desserts. The old goat might have at least one good knife fight in him, with adequate prep! Peaks seems to ignore him. Bit shit of Dipper to get sauced like that before the feast, she says after a moment, but otherwise seems like the festivities ought to proceed well. Suppose she can't blame the poor bastard when he gets good news like that. Oh, Shores said that the captain loved the gift, so he ought to be in reasonably good spirits tonight, and that's always a good sign if you value your life and limb. Oh, and there's to be a show as well, right? Something about jugglers?

Yeah, you respond mysteriously enough, you could certainly say that. Ah, you're getting the hang of being a crewman, Peaks chuckles - always be careful to spoil a little too much, no?

Before the conversation can become much more involved than such small talk, the captain makes his entrance, the byzantine door to his quarters unfolding with a series of whirrs and clicks, not so much opening as parting before a procession led by Two Shores, gliding out half-bowed with her sword held in one hand, sweeping it to the side as she takes position at the side of the door.

From The High Promontories Of The Unreachable North It Came With Unknown Tones And Made From Solid Sound The Sharpened Shapes By Which We Were To Live Now And Forever Beneath The Eyes Upon The Wall Which Had No End Or Top, she pronounces evenly in a sonorous voice as the table falls completely silent. Ninth son of the House of Lives As Leaves, chair of the Council of Eventual Emergence, master of the Microscopic Temple of Oceans Spring To Life Anew On The Second Day, captain of the Vault of Heavens and by whose beneficence all those gathered live today, 277th in line for the Sun, rival to its brilliance, charitable to his lessers and merciless to his enemies. Honored peer of the Order of Life Everlasting, now and forever. Now and forever, echoes the table solemnly.

The captain follows soon afterward, gliding much like Shores did, but instead of a clever movement it's a whole operation supported by what looks to be an entire legion of small clay men, hefting the possibly hundred-stone bulk of the man in a surprisingly smooth ride over to the head of the table, where he looms over virtually everything else within sight save the masts, his eyes afire as he bathes in the played-up cheers of the crew - Peaks nudges you to cheer as well, which you decide to do politely before she feels the need to glare.

As the lord and master of this vessel regards the feast ahead of him, you notice that he conserves even the slightest movement as Two Shores kneels at his right hand, sword across her lap. The captain says nothing, merely gives her a meaningful look, and Shores responds by standing up and lifting the sword - by order of the captain, let the feast begin!

Music starts to play as musicians with unusual instruments of leather and sinew file out of the below decks, circling around the table as sailors pass scraps to them, which they accept gracefully. Behind them trail scantily clad dancers, the rhythms of El bouncing thickly through the entire desk as everyone digs in.

The captain's food is kept separate and covered, and you catch the other sailors sneak peeks at it as clay men jump onto the table and drag bits of it around before they grab a terrine and slide it over to the captain - the terrine holds a familiar-looking ghoulish head, and the captain seems to draw a spoon from his sleeve as six minions raise it to a reachable distance, whereupon he pops off the top of its skull and digs in, savoring every sloppy spoonful of misshapen ghoul brain.

His voice shakes the deck, his very soul so bloated that it can't help but wash over you as he speaks, the voice of a thousand years condensed into seconds. The void in your mind pulls toward him, seemingly amazed by the sheer weight of his existence beyond any physical sensation. The other crew turn instantly to him with a look of helpless awe. Only Two Shores remains still and quiet.

A toast, you realized he called as he raised a glass of blood. To the traveler who has joined us. May he find purpose.

May he find purpose, the crew screams.

Speak, traveler, the captain calls to you, and explain what you bring to this table on this night of nights.

Speak, the crew calls to you in utter fascination and raise their glasses.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 04, 2017, 02:02:36 pm
Next goal confirmed. Convert these pagans, let Yggdrasil root deep in their minds. Let new age of vikings begin! Or never mind about vikings, as long as there's a change Æsir and Vanir will walk on this earth once more. Having minds connected without consent sounds little bad, so better limit mindjacking for proper converts. And true, these are my gods, but they do not belong to me. Sharing is caring as they say. Perhaps I even could make some trustworthy people skálds, people capable of connecting more minds in.

Yeah, sound like a plan.

Now, let's consider first converts. Morag and Lee are probably out, or very late converts if I were to start with Moths. Bruce seems to more receptive person and perhaps... who was it, E... Ernest? No, Earnest. Outside of Moths, next big opportunity will be in Elizabeth during clansmeet. Dragons sound very much like warrior types that would like to have Valhalla and Fólkvangr as backup home in case of sudden violent death. And people talk of Elizabeth like it's alive, so maybe convert the city itself? That would be great, but possibly difficult.

But let's start with things that are closer. Locate some people who seem potential converts and... talk to them I guess.

You snap back to relative reality. Morag appears to have left the nearby area, presumably to look for more supplies. You've been left by the gorge quite alone for the time being - time to look for somebody to start trouble with once again!

[Impressionable Minds: 6]

And who else should you run into than the elder of the Moths himself, walking lazily along the topmost galleries of the cavern complex on what looks to be a regular afternoon ritual for him, collecting fascinating fungi from the walls and shoving them into various places in his robe. As good a place as any to start practicing your pitch - he's about the most amiable fellow around here you know of, or at least in the running for the title.

Has he heard the good news, you decide to lead with a question. Ah, he half-shouts in a way that you suspect someone five caves over could plausibly have heard, you again! Up to your typical antics, are you? Such a scamp!

That's not how this bit goes, you respond rather shortly! He's supposed to ask 'what'.

Hoho, he says, all right - he'll bite, but just this once. What do you mean by that?

Why sir, you respond smoothly, there's a beautiful opportunity you managed to get your hands on not ten minutes ago - it's equal parts time-share and mental mythscape, the residence of the gods themselves!

Hah, this again? The elder seems distinctly amused by the notion. You want to take him into the realm that you occasionally pop off to inhabit?

No, you say, not at all! The realm has been made open to specific interested parties by means of particular techniques you'd rather not get into at the moment, but it's all very modern and clean and, most of all, affordable to people of any means and mental capacity. The only limit is your imagination!

But does he get benefits for getting in on the ground floor, the elder counter-pitches. An early adopter bonus of some kind? You get the sense he's getting into the notion on a certain abstract level, or is at least enjoying this free exchange of nonsense.

You can definitely consider such a thing, but probably only after you've locked in somebody's involvement.

That's wise, he responds, you wouldn't want uncommitted yobs fouling up a fine piece of mental real estate, would you? But let's say you've sold him - can you demonstrate to him how this would work and what he could do in it?

Quote from: Toaster on May 05, 2017, 04:39:59 pm
Well, that did seem like an odd request, but he was in a strange land here; Thomas decided not to question local customs.  "Ah.  Sure, do as you please.  I'm going to help set up camp."

Yes, let's camp inside for the night.  Help set things up, clear out the more flammable cobwebs, etc.

One does have to ask that you bring the sword over to touch the wolf so that it may be sampled, yes? Yes, yes, you respond a little absently and extend the sword toward the strange remains - the gray tip of it touches the mummified flesh, and in an instant there is a disconcerting crinkle as it is snapped up and disappears.

What it reveals is far from reassuring, though you can only see little - the crack that the wolf was wedged in goes on. Or, to be exact, it goes downward and then seems to open up, near as you can tell, to some kind of much wider chamber. A few of your compatriots gather around it as you look into it briefly, and Lily throws a pebble down after torchlight fails to penetrate its inky darkness. You wait for several minutes as several other stones are thrown down, but no sound is heard, and nothing can be seen. Helen, quite curious, throws a flame down to check, but this too is immediately swallowed by the dark, seemingly quenched by the air itself.

You wisely decide not to camp next to it.

The rest gather into the various storerooms and you help make camp as you sort the foreboding chambers into something approaching a camp, and at Tabernacle's suggestion post guards at the staircase entrance - for the first watch the largest treefisher they call Babs, famed for how loud she can yell when properly pushed. There's little doubt that if anything turns up she'll do her best.

[Signs of the Deep: 1]

You settle in afterwards - the bedding is far from comfortable, the chambers feel eerily silent even in the middle of a conversation and you regrettably have to camp in the room with the gaping hole into subterranean impenetrable darkness after everyone else seems to have called dibs on the smaller rooms, leaving you, Silver and Tabernacle in the wine storeroom as you hear fading conversation coming from the other chambers, struggling to reach you despite being less than fifty feet away at most.

Silver is having trouble remaining chipper as his eyes wander to the hole in the ground. Tabernacle silently curses his persistently terrible luck. It slowly begins to occur to you that you're not entirely comfortable falling asleep - at least falling asleep before the others, you think. The shadows gather as your pitiful little firelight begins to turn to mere embers.

Quote from: TopHat on May 06, 2017, 02:31:49 pm
"Not a sweetheart as such, no. More a whale. I don't suppose you'd know anything about that? I don't even know if they'd appreciate perfume, never met one before to be honest."

Gift advice time. Then maybe a look round the labs?

[A Whale of a Gift: 4]

A whale, she hums to herself - not quite the answer she expected, you can tell, but she turns it into a grin nevertheless. You've, hic, picked a fun one to court! She can appreciate a, hurk, specialized taste in this sort of thing - and she'd be absolutely delighted to help you. She's a, gurk, a true romantic at heart, did you know?

Yes, she stumbles to her feet and bids you to rise with entrepreneurial enthusiasm, why, hic, why, she does believe there is advice she can give you! And a gift, of course! It's a very particular aroma, hic, a very particular aroma indeed! She's got just the thing, just the thing for that eastern wind, a thing plucked from the very, hurk, the very, very depths of the ancient Makalan states? She's always dreamed of having a, hic, having a, hiccup, having an actual whale for a client!

Though there is the, hic, the question of what you could offer in return, if anything at all. Your company is unexpected and delightful, that's quite terribly true. But while her business is notional on most days, it is nevertheless a, hurk, business!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 07, 2017, 07:03:51 pm
Well. Not quite what I expected. Maybe we can get some information from this guy, at least.

"My friends and I are sightseers, looking to experience everything your great nation has to offer. Could you tell us a little about the surrounding area? We tried to ask at the inn but the innkeeper seems to be out on an errand."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 08, 2017, 02:02:50 am
Alright, he's willing. Bring him in.

As for early adopter's bonus... well, I suppose there's possibility of having slightly increased authority amongst his peers, being a bit more equal than others, you know? Perhaps transmit messages to fellow clanmates through mythspace without actually being earshot of them. Not sure if that's possible, but we could test it. Maybe allow him to have his own dream building, leave his permanent mark in the world... I suppose there are options. Having large number of followers would allow gods to have very solid knowledge about affairs of mortals, that ought to be helpful when asking assistance from them.

Oh, and make the memory theater private property, as well as the outdoor theater which displays what my eyes see. No need to let every visitor see those. But gods of course have permissions, how could I deny them.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on May 10, 2017, 12:17:07 am
Ah, no wonder Rainbow wanted to get her claws on him so badly, Daniels muses as he stands.

"Friends, I've wandered this world and the one before for quite some time without a clear purpose, it's true. But as empty in my soul as those days were, they did teach me a vital lesson, one I still hold dear today: Strife is the root of enlightenment. If the world were a perfect place where all was provided for us and there was no need to desire something better, would any of us be worthy as individuals as we are today? Would we truly know life? I think not. The struggle to improve your situation and self is what makes us who we are! It's what makes me what I am. And tonight I wish to demonstrate the value of that lesson to you."

He dramatically gestures to the juggler plates.

"Tonight you will witness two unformed beings, half-realized potential only actual used to this point at all, battle for the right to exist as a fully-fledged individual! Not only will it be a spectacle of violence, but a tangible instance of a being clawing its way into fruition! Two halves will enter the conflict. The one that leaves will be a whole. Crew of the Vault of Heavens, I give to you..."

I've always wanted to say something like this.

"JUGGLERMANIA SHOWDOWN TURBO SLAM!"

Make sure to use a dramatic, passionate voice while saying all that.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on May 10, 2017, 09:46:50 am
Surely there's something to put in front of the hole?  Block it up a bit?  If not, deal with it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: TopHat on May 10, 2017, 03:33:57 pm
"What can I offer? Little tangible, I'm afraid. Advice, knowledge, an education, perhaps, is the payment I can give."
Surely there's something I can teach her. Some experimental technique or synthesis, maybe?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 11, 2017, 04:34:43 pm
Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 07, 2017, 07:03:51 pm
Well. Not quite what I expected. Maybe we can get some information from this guy, at least.

"My friends and I are sightseers, looking to experience everything your great nation has to offer. Could you tell us a little about the surrounding area? We tried to ask at the inn but the innkeeper seems to be out on an errand."

[I See Nothing, I Know Nothing: 2]

Sightseers, he says with a mystified expression, where from? And why? Good god, why come here of all places? Not that there's anything here, oh no, nothing at all.

Surely he couldn't have missed these lush woods, or the roadside inn, you say. And he didn't, thank you very much. Can hardly beat away all the things that live in the woods around here, the watchstoat relates. And the poor woman at the roadside inn, she tries her hardest too, you know. Brings him food and drink, sometimes! Poor old lonely girl, sitting on a dead inn on land like this. He's been places, you know, places like this - used to be in the army and what have you, marched on the big crusade, hunted the damn old king all the way to the north, like the good speakers said they should! And can't say no to the speakers, you understand, not if you like your bits in place and your soul intact.

He pauses, his black eyes darting around in a sudden flash of terror. He takes a step back, then sighs with relief. Always feels like they're listening. Anyway, would you like to visit the tower? It's got a fine view of all this great lot of nothing about if you'd like to come up and make sure. A shame a place as barren as this can't have the decency to also be boring.

[A Peculiar Scene: 6]

The doctor looks at the watchtower, a rickety wooden thing constructed out of a great number of planks, its backbone clearly formed by the central bronze ladder, probably once capable of folding up, but not since somebody nailed it to the ground.

Odd, she says, the more horrible things you hear about in the woods around here aren't the sort to be befuddled by ladders. Or doors. Or sometimes walls, if you believe the stories.

The watchstoat shivers at the memory - the things here don't climb. Don't get him wrong, he says, he's sure they could if they really wanted to - bastard things are like cats, see, but toothier, bigger, with white shining eyes. Seven of them come along every night, then they sit in a circle and, well... well, they just mewl. But it's a mewl like you wouldn't believe - cuts to the bone. Maybe to the soul.

Oggie, observing with interest, leans in and sniffs the air. Peculiar stoat - marked with something. Noxious, but saddening.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 08, 2017, 02:02:50 am
Alright, he's willing. Bring him in.

As for early adopter's bonus... well, I suppose there's possibility of having slightly increased authority amongst his peers, being a bit more equal than others, you know? Perhaps transmit messages to fellow clanmates through mythspace without actually being earshot of them. Not sure if that's possible, but we could test it. Maybe allow him to have his own dream building, leave his permanent mark in the world... I suppose there are options. Having large number of followers would allow gods to have very solid knowledge about affairs of mortals, that ought to be helpful when asking assistance from them.

Oh, and make the memory theater private property, as well as the outdoor theater which displays what my eyes see. No need to let every visitor see those. But gods of course have permissions, how could I deny them.

You let the elder into your burgeoning mythscape, and immediately you feel a sudden sense of relief as he looks around the area, scratching his head. Aha, he says, it's exactly like he remembers these things! Good show, very quick work!

He steps forward into the Field of Deeds, where a few Æsir not very keen on learning from history amuse themselves by throwing spears at a shiny fellow and laughing as they miss completely. The elder goes over immediately to have a chat with them, slapping one of them on the back hard enough to knock them over.

Supposing he'd best be left to his own devices for a moment, you take a moment to shunt your memory theater and viewing area into a different mindscape, which they do quite readily with a cheery BWOOOoooooooooo as they disappear from immediate observation and presumably land on a different branch. You leave an eight-legged horse for any divine to ride into there if they'd like to see what you're up to. None take the offer up just yet, it seems.

Before you're quite done, you are slapped suddenly on the back by the elder in a very familiar fashion and fall face first to the ground. Haha, he says, sorry about that! Anyway, he starts saying before you get up, quite a nice place you have here! He could envision a great deal of applications for it! So the first question, he says, is how would he go about getting someone else in? You wouldn't happen to have some kind of minder trick to let him do it to someone, he imagines you could fix something in a jiffy if you put your mind to it, isn't that right? Hoho!

Quote from: Xantalos on May 10, 2017, 12:17:07 am
Ah, no wonder Rainbow wanted to get her claws on him so badly, Daniels muses as he stands.

"Friends, I've wandered this world and the one before for quite some time without a clear purpose, it's true. But as empty in my soul as those days were, they did teach me a vital lesson, one I still hold dear today: Strife is the root of enlightenment. If the world were a perfect place where all was provided for us and there was no need to desire something better, would any of us be worthy as individuals as we are today? Would we truly know life? I think not. The struggle to improve your situation and self is what makes us who we are! It's what makes me what I am. And tonight I wish to demonstrate the value of that lesson to you."

He dramatically gestures to the juggler plates.

"Tonight you will witness two unformed beings, half-realized potential only actual used to this point at all, battle for the right to exist as a fully-fledged individual! Not only will it be a spectacle of violence, but a tangible instance of a being clawing its way into fruition! Two halves will enter the conflict. The one that leaves will be a whole. Crew of the Vault of Heavens, I give to you..."

I've always wanted to say something like this.

"JUGGLERMANIA SHOWDOWN TURBO SLAM!"

Make sure to use a dramatic, passionate voice while saying all that.

The table listens in rapt attention, most with a sort of unthinking exultation. You see Alphonse with his mouth wide open, Peaks is staring at you with her strange eyes sparkling and utterly mesmerized, Dipper has slumped forward on the table and is reaching slowly toward the captain as you would toward a distant sun. Only Two Shores listens with a politely raised eyebrow. This sort of reply isn't really protocol, you get from her look, which rapidly turns to abject surprise as you announce the main event.

[Whatcha Gonna Do, Brother: 2]

The covers fly up into the air as the jugglers spring into action, two inhuman colossi of leathery, desiccated bacon. One bristles with dripping claws, droplets of which leave cigarette burns on faces and slowly eat through the bronze table as a careless swing sends them flying all around, contorting on its six equivalent limbs with far, far too many joints as it bounces toward its adversary. The other one is, if anything, even more horrible, buzzing like a plague of locusts as a dozen trap jaws on it open and stingers blossom on every inch of its streamlined form.

[JUGGLERMANIA: 2 vs. 5]

They crash into each other with a horrendous shriek echoed by a few members of the audience as alien acids get into regrettable places - a crewman freed of the spellbinding thrall of the captain decides to leap overboard immediately as he screams from the developing chemical burns. Bits of sizzling rubbery meat fly into faces and on plates, insects violently spilling out of them every which way. You catch a glimpse of the second juggler, flying in an arc as its jaws snap asynchronously, its adversary momentarily de-limbed and sent tumbling along the length of the table, disintegrating a beautiful roast boar with its thrashing as it prepares to leap upward.

[SHOWDOWN: 5 vs. 6]

The acidic juggler breaks into a dead sprint, not pausing for a second as it turns right upward and sprints up the mast and dives into the flying one from above - claws fly and serrated jaws snap as a rain of flesh and acid comes down upon the feast in anticipation of the meteoric drop of the two jugglers - the table nearly snaps in half and the feast flies into the air in a ballet of extraordinary ruination, the flying one driving its opponent into the unforgiving metal with all the downward force its dozen wings could muster. Bugs of shapes and sizes you haven't seen spill like a newborn sea over the food on display, boiling blood scalding the nearest unfortunate sailors as they hit the deck.

[TURBO SLAM: 3]

The formerly spellbound crew watch in horror as the flying juggler rises from the table, the acidic one stuck in its torso. A shriek of pure, unadulterated death fills the feast as the victorious juggler reaches an efficient completion amid a rain of sweetmeats, driving slightly under half of those remaining to run for their lives in terrible error as one final, reflexive spray of corrosive spit covers the remains of the table and anyone who hadn't been wise enough to hit the deck promptly.

The whole juggler looks at the destruction around itself with a sense of closure as the more broadly profiled foods arrive last on the table and the surroundings with a deafening patter in the stunned silence. It folds inward somewhat, mildly disappointed that it didn't even get to use the really cool weapons yet, its jagged form deflating to a more manageable and smooth eight feet in length, then it drops on all sixes and swivels its terrible scolex to look around. More to indicate that it's done here than out of necessity, considering how many eyes it has.

You can't exactly call the ensuing period a stunned silence, not with so many folk wailing like that. But it does certainly appear to have given the key figures some pause. Peaks leans out briefly from cover, then ducks down again. Dipper splashes overboard in a panic before he remembers that he could swim before he could walk. Two Shores stares out in a mix of extraordinary alarm and mild awe at the display, then inspects her sword briefly for any acid damage. Your three minions seem to have had the sense to dive overboard before anything happened to them. Alphonse is screaming to high heaven and clutching his face while a physician calmly describes his selection of soothing balms and half-masks. A cook wipes a proud tear from his eye.

The captain appears to have taken a full face blast of errant flesh-eating mucus quite well, which is to say that it has slid off him like quicksilver. When he speaks, you can hardly hear him.

How quaint, you think he said before his legion of homunculi slowly raise him up again and glide him toward the quarters rapidly - the door unfolds like its job is on the line, and whirrs shut loud enough to make one's feelings clear. Two Shores rushes to follow after a second's distraction, but bumps into the door as a time-honored manipulation fails to take hold. She looks at the mechanism in utter puzzlement.

You look at the juggler, who starts grazing on the solid turf of mangled food. A bit lacking in protein, it clicks to you conversationally. Quite good otherwise.

Something at your peripheral vision. You turn to look - a homunculus has stepped into a pool of misplaced corrosive mucus. It turns to the sky in a pantomime plea, waving its arms as its legs slowly disappear into the mass, mutely cursing cruel fate.

Quote from: Toaster on May 10, 2017, 09:46:50 am
Surely there's something to put in front of the hole?  Block it up a bit?  If not, deal with it.

[Out of Sight: 4]

You try debris, but none of the available kind is large enough to cover it. You borrow some leaf-leather from Nobody down the hall, but that wafts into the hole suddenly when you're not looking. Not to be deterred, you borrow some more and also forage for some bricks topside, and shortly you've managed a nice enough covering for the hole, at least to the point where you don't think bats could get up through it. Silver and Gamble seem to find it acceptable enough, and so you lay down to rest.

[From The Depths: 5]

You're sleeping well enough, you think. Until you're not. Always the tricky thing with sleep, that. You open your eyes to the pitch blackness of the chamber, the lantern that lit your way having been extinguished come bedtime.

You can't move, you don't think. And you can't feel yourself breathe, or even feel much of anything aside from the persistent, blanket-penetrating chill and stillness of this cellar. But you do see something. A figure, darker still than the shapeless oneness of the rest of the wine storeroom. It looks down at you without eyes.

Employ more caution, it says. It is unwise to sleep near open holes.

You awaken in pitch blackness. Gamble is snoring, sounding like he's half a mile away in the consuming gloom.

Quote from: TopHat on May 10, 2017, 03:33:57 pm
"What can I offer? Little tangible, I'm afraid. Advice, knowledge, an education, perhaps, is the payment I can give."
Surely there's something I can teach her. Some experimental technique or synthesis, maybe?

You haven't quite seen her lab, but there's a good chance she doesn't know how to do a Diels-Alder reaction. You've got that going for you, at least.

[Can We Work Something Out: 4+1]

Lady Craik, naturally, only becomes more delighted when you start to explain. You've got, you figure out reasonably quickly, about a century of the history of organic chemistry to get through, and that's before things get esoteric. And she's more than willing to listen, if quite pickled.

You do get your tour of the labs once you get deep into talking shop - she's got an experiment going in every room, to one degree of abandonment to another. Most of them, obviously, are in the sphere of either fragrance or preservation, or a mixture of the two when something happens to be both foul and valuable - you're not much good on the specifics of preserving an item, obviously, but your understanding of the underlying chemistry and advice on lab equipment seems to be invaluable to the point where Lady Craik occasionally blinks and her persistent hiccup lapses as she takes a note or two in a notepad that looks frilly before you realize it's simply dilapidated, her responses turning from politely interested to genuinely intrigued.

It's been several hours, you think, when you've managed to walk a full circuit of the premises, the entire compound the size of a city block packed with pots of strong-smelling chemicals of all kinds and purities - your fire safety tips for these are nodded at, but the notion of an actual fire starting in the Tell of the Setting Sun seems laughable all on its own. A torch, hic, a torch has trouble staying lit around here for ten seconds, let alone a, hurk, something you can't be bothered to spare twenty matches on!

In any case, you find yourself eventually in the latest experimental area - used to be occupied by a lodger, Lady Craik says, but he turned to, hurk, dust some years ago. Happens if you don't keep yourself in, ghurkhuhuhuh, good spirits. Her knees knock against one another with a hollow thud as she delivers that one.

Anyway, you do check out the latest experiment. It smells as remarkable as you were led to believe - in fact you do believe you were undersold on the notion, you think from the ground as stars swim around your head. And that's when you just wafted it toward your nose with your hand. Quite incredible, hic, innit!

Eventually you manage to get on your feet, and you are led back to Improvised Laboratory No. 19, which has lain unused for quite a long time indeed, and looks to be more of a study these days than a legitimate laboratory. All of the shelves are full of manuscripts from scientists (yes, certainly scientists, Lady Craik would specify) - to be specific, the great chemical minds of the old state of Makala, back when it was still a place of enlightenment!

Will you be checking through these for some kind of formula, you ask. No, Lady Craik says! No. Hahahah! Hurk! No! No, you'll be extracting their scent!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 12, 2017, 10:08:17 am
"I haven't actually thought about that part yet..."

Think about that a bit. The procedure of sharing the mythscape step by step, shape of entire action, crystallized skill, but limited to just this one action. And since Yggdrasil has already rooted into his head it should be easy to share. Or alternatively a drink from Mímisbrunnr? Ooh, or better yet, the crystallized skill mixed with mead of poetry? That ought to do the trick!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Toaster on May 12, 2017, 07:54:27 pm
Thomas blinks.  Well, he got plenty of sleep anyway.

No more sleeping thanks.  Make sure the cover is still up.  Probably time to take a turn at watch anyway.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on May 13, 2017, 12:50:08 am
((So the acidic juggler won, I take it? It's a little hard to tell.))

"Well, that went well," Daniels remarks as he pulls the haemonculus out of the acid pool. "Or possibly horribly depending on if I pissed the captain off with that, kinda hard to tell. Either way, fantastically done, my juggler friend! Do you wish to choose a name? You've certainly earned the right as an individual."

Save the haemonculus since I'm feeling generous, and have a congratulatory talk with the winner.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 13, 2017, 08:08:13 am
Quote from: Xantalos on May 13, 2017, 12:50:08 am
((So the acidic juggler won, I take it? It's a little hard to tell.))

The flying juggler did, but in winning it also became acidic by subsuming its opponent.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Maybe Just Omit The Human Sacrifice
Post by: Xantalos on May 13, 2017, 05:37:26 pm
((I like it already.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 15, 2017, 05:58:29 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 12, 2017, 10:08:17 am
"I haven't actually thought about that part yet..."

Think about that a bit. The procedure of sharing the mythscape step by step, shape of entire action, crystallized skill, but limited to just this one action. And since Yggdrasil has already rooted into his head it should be easy to share. Or alternatively a drink from Mímisbrunnr? Ooh, or better yet, the crystallized skill mixed with mead of poetry? That ought to do the trick!

[Alchemy of the Mind: 1]

You decide to pack up some minding knowledge into the mead of poetry, just sort of crystallize it, then cut it up and mix the resulting bits together and hold the mixture up over a volcanic vent until the mixture turns nicely golden brown. Enough for two whole revelations, you suspect!

The elder looks fascinated! So you're supposed to be eating this to learn something, are you? Nah, you respond, that's way too slow! The way to absorb this variety of potent knowledge, you would say, is to snort it. Goes straight to the brain that way.

You set up a small table and make a single line each. On three you agree to get into it.

One! The elder grins - this ought to be good.

Two! You have to warn him that this is untested. There may be side effects!

Three! You lean down and do the full line, as does the elder! And that's when things get dicey.

...

You and the elder are wandering down the cavernous hall like pantomime drunks, feeling like there's a severe language barrier between your mind and your limbs. The elder is lapping desperately at a bottle of moonshine, his eyes bulging and red. You look down at your body, which looks like it ought to belong to a space alien, gray and gaunt and strange beyond measure with an unusual amount of fingers in all the wrong places poking at the inside of your robe.

GOTTA MOVE, the elder shouts without moving his lips, GOTTA GO QUICK! HAVE TO BE OUT OF THIS PLACE!

A rising panic fills the caverns. You hear distant bats flapping meaty wings, terrible beasts stirring in the deep, horrors untold nipping at your heels. You pass through a hall where Moths are making preparations in a panic.

GOTTA GET TO ELIZABETH, he continues to scream into your mind as his lips quiver and you hear his voice bounce off the Moths, who start moving quicker, wild-eyed as impulses crash against rising hangovers as the Fear properly sets in. You see a few gods around, running as scared as the rest of them, carrying their worldly possessions with them with worried faces.

YOU, the elder tells you, FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GO FAST! GOTTA OUTRUN THEM!

Quote from: Toaster on May 12, 2017, 07:54:27 pm
Thomas blinks.  Well, he got plenty of sleep anyway.

No more sleeping thanks.  Make sure the cover is still up.  Probably time to take a turn at watch anyway.

You crawl out of your bedding and get yourself in order as you start to slink around the pitch-black wine cellar. Both Silver and Gamble are still where you left them. You're not sure why you thought they wouldn't be. The floor is freezing cold and ineffably slick. You don't know where the exit is.

But you do find the hole. The cover is gone, as are the bits you secured it with. It feels wide, man-sized now. Perhaps just another trick of the dark, perhaps not. Feeling the edges, an unnatural charge pricks at your fingers.

Then there is a sudden call from below, a mere whisper but enough to pierce the terrible silence - hallo, it calls! Someone! Anyone! She's fallen in here! Help!

You don't recognize the voice, you don't think.

Quote from: Xantalos on May 13, 2017, 12:50:08 am
((So the acidic juggler won, I take it? It's a little hard to tell.))

"Well, that went well," Daniels remarks as he pulls the haemonculus out of the acid pool. "Or possibly horribly depending on if I pissed the captain off with that, kinda hard to tell. Either way, fantastically done, my juggler friend! Do you wish to choose a name? You've certainly earned the right as an individual."

Save the haemonculus since I'm feeling generous, and have a congratulatory talk with the winner.

The homunculus, or rather the manikin, appears deeply grateful when you pull it out, its calves worn down to corroded nubs. As you hold it up in your hands, it bows several times and mimes kissing your wrist, and you need a moment to shake it off and put it on the table. It continues to prostrate itself, its legs not particularly conducive to much else.

The juggler meanwhile is making good headway on clearing the table of the food left uneaten. You confer with it briefly about whether it would like a name, and you sense it consider the notion from several aspects. It's somewhat strange for an ambulatory colony of culinary culture insects to name itself when its main spheres of knowledge are exclusively based around mortal combat and striking a careful balance between mass acquisition and expenditure.

That being said, it clicks thoughtfully, it does have a good feeling about Dan. Will that do?

You notice Two Shores ambling along the side of the table, her steps lacking a certain precision as she appears to still be confused about what just happened. She pauses to check on Peaks, who luckily appears to be quite all right. Then she looks to you, silently wondering what you might possibly have to say for yourself.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Toaster on May 15, 2017, 10:30:44 am
Thomas frowns, then kicks Silver and Gamble awake.  "Wake up; she fell in.  We need to find some rope to get her out.  Do we have any light?"

Wake up the other two.  Acquire rope and light.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: AoshimaMichio on May 15, 2017, 11:01:11 am
Whoops.

Fastest way is to fall but only direction we can fall here is sideways and that will not work for most of the people and down isn't the way to go.

Who's them?

What the hell happened to my body?

Outrun? By becoming faster than them? By making them slower than us? By preventing them reaching us?

What happened?

I think... being faster is good. Inevitable seems dangerous. Apocalypse is very dangerous underground. Drink... there isn't anything to drink. Minding seems like the only answer, but... hmm. Maybe using mind sight to scout far ahead and subtly sending information about optimal route? Or perhaps I can DRINK stone to generate straight path? Hopefully my odd physiology makes it possible to drink few million times my own volume. If not, then the plan is to scout and direct.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: TopHat on May 17, 2017, 06:12:20 am
"Oh?"

My turn to be intrigued.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Xantalos on May 17, 2017, 02:45:16 pm
((I keep on thinking I've posted when I've not. My apologies.))

"I'm rather flattered by the similarity to my own name, Dan. It's a good name, that it is."

Daniels turns to look at Shores.

"Oh hey! So what did you think of the fight?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 18, 2017, 06:45:05 pm
I thank the stoat for his hospitality and climb the tower to check out the surroundings. Might as well appreciate the view. And try to sell this sightseer shtick.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 19, 2017, 10:35:30 am
Quote from: Toaster on May 15, 2017, 10:30:44 am
Thomas frowns, then kicks Silver and Gamble awake.  "Wake up; she fell in.  We need to find some rope to get her out.  Do we have any light?"

Wake up the other two.  Acquire rope and light.

It takes you a fair amount of time to locate Silver in the dark, and even longer to shake him awake - the atmosphere here is like swimming in tar. There is a small commotion as everyone gets their bearings - oh my, she fell in! Who fell in? Where's the rope, where's the light? And why is it so dark in here?

[A Flame To Guide The Way: 4]

A small flame comes up from a torch Silver manages to light, not quite enough to light up this room to a significant degree, but shedding enough warmth and light to grant you a measure of resolve when you behold the hole in the ground again. You get the sense it's the sort of dark that's never seen a flame in its existence, but is very intrigued about what it might taste like.

[Insured For Haunting: 3+1]

Gamble meanwhile has procured a rope, and offers to go down with you while Silver rather gladly stays back to hold the rope. They'll have her out in no time, Gamble says as he begins to climb down. Blimey, he says, even with the torch you can't see a damn thing down here!

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on May 15, 2017, 11:01:11 am
Whoops.

Fastest way is to fall but only direction we can fall here is sideways and that will not work for most of the people and down isn't the way to go.

Who's them?

What the hell happened to my body?

Outrun? By becoming faster than them? By making them slower than us? By preventing them reaching us?

What happened?

I think... being faster is good. Inevitable seems dangerous. Apocalypse is very dangerous underground. Drink... there isn't anything to drink. Minding seems like the only answer, but... hmm. Maybe using mind sight to scout far ahead and subtly sending information about optimal route? Or perhaps I can DRINK stone to generate straight path? Hopefully my odd physiology makes it possible to drink few million times my own volume. If not, then the plan is to scout and direct.

You point at a patch of wall and shout

DRINK

[Word: 1]

A sampling of ancient granite flies into your hand - you sink your teeth into it and suck at its minerals for a moment. They say nothing can match the things a stone has seen! And they're right, you discover as its dreams flood into you, recalling a world before there was life and light as you know it, a world of lightning and quakes and terrible upheaval, ruled by forms of life so violently incompatible with the world of today that their forms burst into screams in your mind.

Aaaaargh, you begin to scream.

AAAAARGH, the elder shrieks, flapping his arms as you inadvertently engage his flight response. The Moths all abruptly jump at the sudden provocation and begin to run like frightened animals, all in the same direction. You feel an inexorable pull as a long-buried herd instinct takes hold and you dive into the wave of fleeing clanfolk, swimming through the mob for dear life.

You're not sure how long you run. Could be minutes, could be hours, could be decades - the screaming takes a little too much of your attention. But the elder seems to have fallen over abruptly and now lies on his back, breathing heavily at the ceiling as he fishes hallucinogenic apples out of his robe and shoves them into his mouth hand over fist.

A sudden roar comes from the tunnel up ahead. THERE THEY ARE, the elder screams into the heads of all those gathered. You think you see a confused Lee briefly among the heads of the assembled Moth Clan, but at this point it's honestly hard to say anything for sure.

DON'T TAKE ANY GUFF FROM THESE SWINE, the elder continues to scream at the tunnel up ahead, SHOW THEM THE BUSINESS. He grabs a knife and throws it to you - you swerve and twitch as your entire body's fingers twitch to catch it and narrowly manage to keep it in your hands, NOW GO!

It's a very good pigsticker, you find. Nice enough that you can't help but pause to admire it. Would be a bit of a shame to stain it with somebody's blood, you have to say.

Quote from: TopHat on May 17, 2017, 06:12:20 am
"Oh?"

My turn to be intrigued.

She hasn't needed these books in a good long time, Lady Craik says as she extends a delicate, creaking hand toward you. May she invite you for a splendid round of extraction?

[Breath of the East: 2+1, 1+1]

First you gather the books, and then you get the glassware, set a small flame at first! Then you start rendering down the books, and this is, hic, very important, you make sure to get the drier bits out first... and then you stir gently! These treatises are, hurk, well, they're pretty sensitive, so you want to be- no, no! Stop! Put that, hic, put that thing down this instant, let her take over, yes, there's the ticket!

...

Yes, now pick up the thing from that shelf and- no, not that one, hurk, honestly it's like you've never been in this lab before! Let her get that, hic, yes. Oh, and hand her the- actually, never mind, she'll grab that on her own.

...

-aaand, hurk, and there you go. She supposes.

Lady Craik wafts a little bit of the scent from the final barrel in her direction. It's a fairly subtle, woody aroma of charred paper, with a gentle hint of unidentifiable medicine. It's all right, she supposes. Probably good enough. And she had, hic, such a good feeling too, she says as she cracks each one of her knuckles and phalanges in sequence.

Anyway, hic, take it. She doesn't want to see it around anymore, it doesn't do to remind oneself of failure. That's how you get, hic, done in - that and germs, oh yes. Germs'll get you like nobody's business.

Quote from: Xantalos on May 17, 2017, 02:45:16 pm
((I keep on thinking I've posted when I've not. My apologies.))

"I'm rather flattered by the similarity to my own name, Dan. It's a good name, that it is."

Daniels turns to look at Shores.

"Oh hey! So what did you think of the fight?"

She shrugs - a technically competent fight, but all too short and to the point, as real meetings between destructive forces tend to be. Perhaps consider limiting the collateral damage in the future, good sir. And tell the insects to take it less seriously - actual fights seldom make for compelling viewing in her experience, there is a reason we ritualize these things as much as possible.

Shores looks back at the door she left behind - she would advise you be careful with upstaging the captain in such a fashion in the future. It does not do to interfere in the spectacle of nobility. At least not for a crew of derelicts and rejects such as this one, if you'll pardon her saying so.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 18, 2017, 06:45:05 pm
I thank the stoat for his hospitality and climb the tower to check out the surroundings. Might as well appreciate the view. And try to sell this sightseer shtick.

The tower is fairly tall and lets you take in the area in their entirety - from the tower you see the surrounding clearing, which from above looks like a bumpy, veiny scar on the woodlands, the razing of the environs stopping just short of salting the earth. The woods are quiet, and landmarks are precious and few, mostly in the form of unusual-looking trees and small breaks in the canopy that indicate distant creeks.

[Check Out This Amazing View: 5]

The doctor clambers up right after you, followed by Oggie. A few minutes pass, and she asks what it is you're looking at exactly.

Over there, you point at a dead tree perhaps half a mile off. The doctor squints - yes, she sees that. What's interesting about it? Wait for it, you tell her and go still.

She does as told, and blinks for a second - is that tree breathing? How fascinating!

Sighing, you correct, that is definitely a tree sighing discontently every now and then.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Xantalos on May 19, 2017, 05:02:09 pm
"Very true, but circumstances arose in such a way that I couldn't make it anything less. Making a juggler is quite an involved process, as I've found out. But I do understand the lack of conduct that may have implied - please convey my apologies to the captain if you have the chance. I don't intend to upstage him again in the future."

Daniels awkwardly scratches the back of his neck during this apology.

"Nevertheless, it's over and done with, and now I have a new friend! Would you like to meet Dan?"

Introduce my new insectoid flying acidic horsemeat juggernaut friend to my ludicrously elegant sword-wielding good at fighting friend.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: TopHat on May 20, 2017, 03:25:35 pm
"Well, thank you; it's been a pleasure, though I'd best be off now. Could you tell me a bit more about Makala before I go, though? It certainly sounds like it would have been an... intriguing place."

Well, that was... anticlimactic. Finish it off with a best of luck etcetera and then it's back out into the market.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 20, 2017, 10:10:22 pm
I bid the watchstoat farewell, wish him luck with his cat situation, and quickly head in the direction of the sighing tree. I definitely don't want to be near this tower after sundown.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Toaster on May 21, 2017, 07:04:13 am
"You know... her.   Her?  I heard a voice, said she fell in.  You know.  Uh."
I guess if everything is secure and everyone is ready, go in?  Should probably ensure sword is on my person.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 27, 2017, 10:34:54 am
Quote from: Xantalos on May 19, 2017, 05:02:09 pm
"Very true, but circumstances arose in such a way that I couldn't make it anything less. Making a juggler is quite an involved process, as I've found out. But I do understand the lack of conduct that may have implied - please convey my apologies to the captain if you have the chance. I don't intend to upstage him again in the future."

Daniels awkwardly scratches the back of his neck during this apology.

"Nevertheless, it's over and done with, and now I have a new friend! Would you like to meet Dan?"

Introduce my new insectoid flying acidic horsemeat juggernaut friend to my ludicrously elegant sword-wielding good at fighting friend.

Two Shores shakes her head gently. It is not a matter of the captain's forgiveness, she regrets to tell you. The relationship between the alchemical nobility and the rest of El is based in simple and straightforward notions of ownership through debt, whether incurred personally or inherited. Your status as one without an owner, a foreigner and a curiosity, is relevant to the captain's interests as an individual seeking higher status among his peers. He would seek to own you as well, but you resist, consciously or not.

Indeed, she says as you introduce Dan to her, you seem to own other people instead, whether they be jugglers or unfortunate wanderers or even the captain's own crew in the case of the three girls you've retained for a pittance. And your powers, though perhaps nothing impressive in the grand scheme of things, are nevertheless significant in the face of the captain's own. You have posed a challenge to one among the nobility. And as is often the case with one conscious of their own relative unimportance, the captain forgets these things rarely, if at all.

Surely he couldn't be that offended at an expression of pure skill that he is retroactively willing to say occurred in his honor, Dan clicks at Two Shores, who responds rather frankly that, while she's sure Dan provides scintillating conversation if your own relationship with him is any indication, she is utterly incapable of understanding a single thing he may or may not be saying.

Quote from: TopHat on May 20, 2017, 03:25:35 pm
"Well, thank you; it's been a pleasure, though I'd best be off now. Could you tell me a bit more about Makala before I go, though? It certainly sounds like it would have been an... intriguing place."

Well, that was... anticlimactic. Finish it off with a best of luck etcetera and then it's back out into the market.

[Tales From The Far East: 2]

Oh, Lady Craik says, just a bit? It's hard to say just a, hurk, just a little bit about a place like Queen Makala's Land. Shining domes, hic, and caves of ice! Miracles of rare device! The land where science comes to die and be preserved. She remembers, hic, she remembers the days in the glacier colleges...

Lady Craik's eyes fog with milky recollection. Queen Makala's Land, she could tell you how it all began, hic, and how it all went the way it did. But she'd have to have tea first, hic, a lot more tea. And maybe some music to set the mood. So if you're not in, hurk, in any sort of rush, well, she'd be delighted to tell you the whole sordid thing.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 20, 2017, 10:10:22 pm
I bid the watchstoat farewell, wish him luck with his cat situation, and quickly head in the direction of the sighing tree. I definitely don't want to be near this tower after sundown.

The watchstoat isn't terribly heartened as you bid farewell, even with you wishing him good luck. Luck is what got him into this, he murmurs. It'd be downright unreasonable to expect it to get him out.

Figuring his problems aren't likely to be solved by your presence, you decide to take Oggie and the doctor along to explore the woods for that tree. What could possibly make a tree sigh, the doctor muses as you walk, mineral deficiency? Regret about centuries ill-spent rooted to one spot? Heartwoodbreak? Her minimal botanical expertise offers little in the way of solutions.

[The Grove of Sighs: 2]

And after a little bit of a walk you find the tree in question, standing tall and alone in the middle of the woods. Its branches have leaned down and it looks scarred all over as if worked slowly over with an axe along the entire surface of its bark, some of the fresher sections still slowly weeping resin. Despite this it does not look wild and overgrown - in fact, it looks obsessively pruned, and its growth carefully constrained to form unnatural shapes. There are seven main branches, and each one lays heavy with what looks to be a nest arranged from twigs torn from the tree itself and woven into an underlying whorl of wood.

Within each nest you see a creature perhaps half your size, sharp-eared with shining, disturbingly humanlike eyes and a black coat with a wet sheen to it. Their whiskers prick up at your approach, heads poking out of nests as they all turn their malevolent attention to you, a low rumbling filling the air as the tree groans and buckles under the catlike beasts' persistent vibration. In a large hollow in the very middle of the tree, carved out by a multitude of claws altogether more recently than you would expect, a single luminous eye opens and looks upon you and your associates heavily, posing a wordless question that even you cannot seem to interpret.

Eaters of sorrow, Oggie says and crosses her arms. What terribly unusual creatures they look to be, the doctor says independently, and intriguingly non-hostile as well if not particularly welcoming.

Quote from: Toaster on May 21, 2017, 07:04:13 am
"You know... her.   Her?  I heard a voice, said she fell in.  You know.  Uh."
I guess if everything is secure and everyone is ready, go in?  Should probably ensure sword is on my person.

Gamble doesn't appear to know what you're talking about, but is prepared to go with you anyway. So you point the sword forward and descend down the length of rope.

[The Stygian Abyss: 5]

It can't be more than fifteen feet that you descend into the hole, but you are struck by the staggering apparent enormity of the chamber you manage to land into, the very clear and alarming sensation that where you now stand is the horizontal equivalent of a bottomless pit, an endless black subterranean wasteland as far as your eyes can fail to see. You point your sword around, but even though its grayness is clearly visible no matter how far into the darkness you try and shove it, it casts no apparent light of its own.

Gamble lifts the lantern up as he stands next to you, and says something that you can barely hear in the deafening silence. Something about it being dark. You try to listen for the woman's voice, and call out as loud as you can. Surprisingly, the response is crystal clear.

Over here, the voice of the woman shouts from the deep darkness, she's over here! Stop standing there like an idjit and help! She thinks she's sinking! Give her a hand or summin'! Quickly now!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Xantalos on May 27, 2017, 05:52:37 pm
"Ah, that's unfortunate then," Daniels says, leaving it ambiguous as to what part of her answer he's referring to. "I'll find a way to address it in the future, I think."

He then motions to his juggler friend and says, "Dan says that surely the captain wouldn't be offended by a display of great skill which he could easily say was held in his honor."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Toaster on May 27, 2017, 10:32:43 pm
"Right, coming!"  The alarm bells continued to fail to ring in Thomas's ears.

Go looking.  Perhaps keep a hand on the rope, or an eye on the exit, or some such.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 29, 2017, 06:28:25 am
"Well, I guess we're dealing with this situation whether we want to or not. Stay on your toes."

I step toward the tree to observe this eye more closely, trying to discern its purpose. I also keep an eye on the cat creatures, watching for any signs of aggresssion.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: TopHat on May 29, 2017, 02:58:20 pm
"That sounds just fine, actually; I'm not in a rush."

Story time it is, then.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Harry Baldman on May 30, 2017, 06:09:22 am
Quote from: Xantalos on May 27, 2017, 05:52:37 pm
"Ah, that's unfortunate then," Daniels says, leaving it ambiguous as to what part of her answer he's referring to. "I'll find a way to address it in the future, I think."

He then motions to his juggler friend and says, "Dan says that surely the captain wouldn't be offended by a display of great skill which he could easily say was held in his honor."

He could indeed say that, Two Shores agrees, but this is a fairly transparent attempt at concealing his true motive - Dan acts according to precepts that you have set down, good sir, and when he displays skill, he displays it to impress you specifically and to earn your approval. The captain's opinion is wholly incidental, as you could no doubt order Dan to slay the captain and devour his flesh, and Dan would doubtlessly give it his best effort. You are Dan's owner in a way none other could be.

Dan clicks back a little halfheartedly that this does sound like a fairly intriguing concept - the devouring part, mind you. The captain seems to have a surplus of unusual flesh. There is a great deal about self-sustainability he could learn from someone with meat like that on him.

In any case, Shores shakes her head, it does no one any good to be grim about things. The captain will settle down at some point, even if you can expect him to challenge you at a later point - but she would advise you to cave at this point, for she has never seen someone successfully live through genuinely trying his patience twice.

In the meantime, would you like to meet with her in the morning? She feels she could teach you a fair deal about putting your unusual skills to more efficient use, if you can stand to bring them to bear against her sword. The journey westward should take a few days, which ought to leave plenty of time for practice, particularly if the good captain continues to sulk for the next few days.

Quote from: Toaster on May 27, 2017, 10:32:43 pm
"Right, coming!"  The alarm bells continued to fail to ring in Thomas's ears.

Go looking.  Perhaps keep a hand on the rope, or an eye on the exit, or some such.

[Reaching In The Dark: 3]

You do keep a hand on the rope - keeping an eye on the exit is sadly an ineffectual practice, as you've lost sight of it almost immediately. Gamble's light grows dimmer and dimmer, and eventually all you can do is follow the voice in the dark, this woman's voice that you came in here for. You need to remind yourself this every now and then as things become fuzzier as you go on.

When you reach something resembling a hole, but honestly quite ineffable in shape, even the rope in your hand feels ephemeral, halfway a product of the imagination in this strange senseless void you're walking into. Nevertheless, the voice is still urging you on - you're here! Come on now, stop being an idjit and give her your hand! Get her out of here!

You start to reach your hand forward, and it immediately goes to sleep as you plunge it into an abstraction of liquid helium, a physical oddity that your mind does not entirely comprehend and that, indeed, seems almost actively hazardous to your attempts to understand it. You try to think, but it gets altogether too difficult to think of anything other than putting your hand forth and grabbing at the woman's hand - so this is what you do, for lack of an obvious alternative.

Except when you pull, the weight of whatever it is you actually grabbed and even its shape feel profoundly wrong. Your thoughts tell you to stop, but are cut off, strangled by an unknown force. You continue to pull at it, and you realize that what you were pulling was not a hand at all - rather, it was a thread. And appropriately enough this is when things begin to unravel.

The darkness parts, revealing that it was but a thin film formed over something deeper and more frightening still, a black hole that hungers not for mere light or matter, but things far more insidious and complex. You stand on the threshold of a monstrous, alien presence, and it reaches out to you like an old friend that you've never met, overflowing with freshly harvested warmth in the freezing chill.

Welcome. It has been some time. Your contribution of a source entitles you to three questions answered, and one wish fulfilled (see: reward schemes, first-time bonuses, relative value of sources).

Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 29, 2017, 06:28:25 am
"Well, I guess we're dealing with this situation whether we want to or not. Stay on your toes."

I step toward the tree to observe this eye more closely, trying to discern its purpose. I also keep an eye on the cat creatures, watching for any signs of aggresssion.

[The Depths of Despair: 3]

You stare the eye down and get closer to the tree. This appears to be enough to get its interest in a more direct way, and at a certain distance the eaters in their nests start to stand up and curve their backs in catlike postures, raising their hackles and making diseased growls reminiscent of dogs with severe bronchitis. They quiet down slightly when the central eye looks straight at you and leans forward, out of the hollow.

Whereas the other creatures are broadly catlike, the thing that leans out of the tree seems like a gruesome parody of all of them, one that appears to have grown beyond all reason and lost its bones, its many limbs resembling furry, hooked tentacles that wind along the side of the hollow as what used to be its head leans forward, its eyes seemingly merged into a single, polycoric whole that's grown large enough to retreat down through a dissolved palate, giving its face the appearance of a single, dominant eye with jaws for eyelids and teeth for eyelashes.

Closer up, its question seems clearer - what do you want, trespasser? Why do you interfere? And what is required to force you to leave? While they do not appear to exactly know what you are, their instincts clearly and accurately mark you and your associates as a danger of some kind, and an unanticipated one at that.

Quote from: TopHat on May 29, 2017, 02:58:20 pm
"That sounds just fine, actually; I'm not in a rush."

Story time it is, then.

After a perhaps underwhelming session of work Lady Craik is more than happy to settle down for another round of tea, this time in a slightly different parlor than before. Queen Makala's Land is a favorite topic of hers - she studied there a while, hic, did you know?

In any case, the story of Queen Makala's Land is one of perseverance in the face of entropy! Once a beautiful, hurk, an absolutely beautiful garden nation, a rival to the wondrous land of El itself! A place of freedom and expression and poetry and, Lady Craik starts to gesture wildly, fingers creaking and locking into strange positions, yep, all of that good stuff and, hic, all of it built through a solid command of the arts of science! They could do from mere principles what the alchemists do through, hic, cheating of the very worst kind. Truth and beauty, that was the nature of Queen Makala's Land.

But then, Lady Craik hangs her head theatrically, her vertebrae poking into the thin worn skin of her neck, then their time was, hic, it was really quite cruelly ended. The stars of the Corner turned against them, untethered something vital, changed the most important underpinnings of something - that's what, hurk, that's what time-enders do, you know. They change things up, break them, ruin all things they touch. They made the shining sea the same as they ruined old deathless Queen Makala. And that's when the ice came and covered all. Glaciers slid down from above and grew overnight, and the sun shone no longer upon the land. Their luscious farms died and men froze in their farms. The earth became hungry and ate the great universities, sealing them into the depths of the miles upon miles of glaciation...!

Such a tragic, hic, (pardon her language) bloody tragic loss to the art of science was Queen Makala's Land. Not that all was lost, mind you. There's marvelous things you can do with all the things that got trapped in the ice. The universities in particular, they were not so much buried as they were... encysted, so to speak! Which, when combined with the creativity of its inhabitants, let them put their, hic, not inconsiderable talents (if you'll permit her to toot her own horn) to the topic of survival and preservation! Pressure and ice applied so quickly gave rise to fascinating minerals, and the friction of the disaster that caused it, well, that gave rise to its own, hurk, its own milieu of peculiar materials. It took scarcely a century or three, in fact, before the universities, the three or so that persevered in their own way, to excavate a way upward among the shifting glaciers.

Of course, that last part is, hic, secondhand knowledge. Lady Craik herself did not live to see this happen, but from what she hears among the fresher dead, before they invariably go, the Makalan spirit still lives on today, in a place too cold for even the Wicked King to dare pull into his influence, lit by gas flame and powered by ingenuity. Oh, Lady Craik says as she weeps a single thick tear from her left eye, would that she could see it now! Those shining domes, hic, those caves of ice!

You see her looking out into the distance, what you believe to be far eastward - she is wondering, and still lightly weeping at the thought of her homeland.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)

Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Xantalos on May 30, 2017, 02:54:26 pm
Daniels nods. "Fair enough. I'll ask that you also coach me a bit in how social protocol does work around the captain at some point then, since I'm sure if I act on instinct I'll end up offending him again. Thank you for taking the time in any case. Same place as before?"

He chuckles when he hears Dan's suggestion. "I do understand the draw of it, but I'll ask you to hold off on that if you can. I doubt he'd acquiesce voluntarily and I haven't the faintest idea of his capabilities beyond the faintest impression."

Though I believe I can change that soon enough, he thinks as he considers the disabled manikin in his possession.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: penguinofhonor on May 30, 2017, 09:22:08 pm
Hm, it's more intelligent than I thought. And creepier.

"If you satisfy our curiosity, my companions and I will leave peacefully. I want to know your purpose here, and with the stoatman nearby."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: TopHat on May 31, 2017, 02:14:44 pm
"Remarkable! I'll have to visit, at some point. A pity about the time-enders, though. Speaking of, what do you know about them and the Corner? I've heard a little, but not much. "

This list of things to see before I die just isn't going stop growing, is it?

((Where are my manners? How were the final exams?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 01, 2017, 02:59:02 pm
Alright. Let's show those swines business! With the spear. That's the thing for this business.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 02, 2017, 09:35:19 am
Quote from: Xantalos on May 30, 2017, 02:54:26 pm
Daniels nods. "Fair enough. I'll ask that you also coach me a bit in how social protocol does work around the captain at some point then, since I'm sure if I act on instinct I'll end up offending him again. Thank you for taking the time in any case. Same place as before?"

He chuckles when he hears Dan's suggestion. "I do understand the draw of it, but I'll ask you to hold off on that if you can. I doubt he'd acquiesce voluntarily and I haven't the faintest idea of his capabilities beyond the faintest impression."

Though I believe I can change that soon enough, he thinks as he considers the disabled manikin in his possession.

Same place as before, Two Shores says and allows the slightest smile. She looks forward to some proper practice.

[Scent of a Captain: 6]

As for the captain, Dan seems to have got a fairly good idea of him from their relatively brief acquaintance. It helps, he clicks, to have a fairly good sense of smell. The captain smells like death. Insecticide. The friction on him does not entirely make sense. He is lighter than he appears, apart from when he wishes to be otherwise. He is a balance of intriguing smells that nature has yet to master, but he does not seem like a fighter. He is like a queen, sedentary and useful for his own purpose. Not enough mandibles to be formidable. Dan would be interested in finding someone with proper mandibles among their number. If they are not good enough, it would be interesting to eat a piece of them, make use of their insights.

You discuss this and more, but eventually most everyone seems to have packed it in on the ship with their various injuries sustained in Dan's exciting dinner theater debut. A few watchmen hang about, and some laborers still go about their business in town, making final preparations to set off in the morning, carting a few last loads of valuables on board. Two Shores was kind enough to prepare a rather nice cabin below decks for your enjoyment even if you do not technically need it, and that's where you seem to eventually end up, considering the manikin you thoughtfully rescued from Dan's acidic mucus.

[The Manikin's Secrets: 1]

Your manikin appears to have gone to sleep in the meantime, or possibly died. Hard to tell with manikins, you suppose. You poke at it, but it doesn't particularly stir, and seems to have gone quite stiff. Would have expected a longer battery life on something that clearly sophisticated, truth be told. Maybe the captain really is a bottom feeder.

Dan curls up in the corner of your cabin after clicking you goodnight, forming a shape one might very fatally confuse for a chitinous bean bag chair as his many extremely sharp limbs sort themselves out into an inner ring of absolute death.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on May 30, 2017, 09:22:08 pm
Hm, it's more intelligent than I thought. And creepier.

"If you satisfy our curiosity, my companions and I will leave peacefully. I want to know your purpose here, and with the stoatman nearby."

[Humoring A Gawker: 4]

The elder thinks, its jaws narrowing. Then it begins to explain in earnest, uncompromising detail.

Their purpose is to digest him, slowly. He possesses a resilient psyche, accustomed to dullness and routine. Imaginative and sometimes hopeful. He will make a fine nest for many eggs that will raise another generation, perhaps even an elder as capable as itself. But to perform this feat, he must be broken, terrorized, made unsure of what he is and the things he believes are real, afflicted with a madness both pervasive and overpowering beyond his capacity for reason. So they howl and hound him, as it has forever been and must forever be.

In the end, he must seek them himself. And it is then that, the elder gestures with its boneless paw, that it will raise it like so, it makes a rather sharp upward motion, and place eggs where his mind once was. From them a new brood will eventually rise. Until then he will be happy, his sorrow eaten by the new generation until nothing but joy remains. He will wander far and free, and eventually he will die - when he does, it will be near a tree, and in this tree the new generation will make a new nest. And then the cycle will continue, with another of his kind.

That is all. Leave now, and go in peace.

Quote from: TopHat on May 31, 2017, 02:14:44 pm
"Remarkable! I'll have to visit, at some point. A pity about the time-enders, though. Speaking of, what do you know about them and the Corner? I've heard a little, but not much. "

This list of things to see before I die just isn't going stop growing, is it?

[The Northern Lights: 6]

The time-enders, hic, about as odd a kind of people as you'd ever find. They live up on the Corner of the World, along the side of the mountain. You can see them, hurk, see them up in the night and watch the lights come up, and go out every now and then. Not here, mind. The miasma's a little too thick in the Kingdom proper, and only, hic, gets deeper as you go on.

Goodness, Lady Craik says as she drains a cup of tea and immediately pours herself another, they're terrible folks, these time-enders. Sorcerers and worse - they call them time-enders because, hic, because that's what they do! They bring the end times. And they come whenever they feel like, like deaths of whole civilizations. Your time comes, the time-enders destroy all that your people were, almost all that they ever represented - it's, hic, it's a bloody crying shame is what it is. A crying shame.

She's not kidding either, her oily tears have started to flow rather freely. They come around, she says, they, hic, come around and go 'hey, what's all this then' and, hic, they go and, hiccup, and they destroy. But not like a, hic, plague or a war, hiccup, hic, they break something, hic, very fundamental! The very stuff, hic, the very stuff of all things! They end time itself! They think, hic, that it's bloody funny, she's sure. Come in and, hic, just pull at at thread and bring it all crashing down, hic. Just take away the sun, 'cause they felt like it!

She hiccups a few more times bitterly, drinking her tea and gently creaking as she shakes with subdued rage. The Corner used to be a mountain, they say, before the, hic, time-enders came. Now it's infinite, and no telescope or mind can comprehend its end.

Lady Craik looks at you grimly, messy trails of not-quite-tears on her otherwise immaculately stretched face. She'd like to, hic, she'd like to be left alone now.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 01, 2017, 02:59:02 pm
Alright. Let's show those swines business! With the spear. That's the thing for this business.

You brandish the spear and make a brave charge at the darkness! TO BATTLE, screams the elder, MAKE THE BASTARDS REGRET THEIR SPAWNING!

[Take The Bastards Down: 6]

You're not sure how much of the screaming is you and how much is the elder, at some point the distinction becomes academic as you and a plethora of Moths off their goddamn gourd charge at the anonymous darkness and have at whatever is in the way like a rampaging berserker tribe. And that's really a force no mere darkness could ever hope to stop, so it does not even try as you all trample over the dread and horror and stab the very notion of retreat in the heart, which skips in your chest several times as you continue to swing and thrust the spear wildly, occasionally hitting something soft enough to classify as a hit. The screaming doesn't stop as you continue a triumphant charge!

THE BELLY OF THE BEAST, the elder continues from very far back, probably still on his back, HAVE TO GO FASTER, BREAK THROUGH, DESTROY IT!

[Rend the Heart: 2]

And you do! Sort of. There is a gnashing of terrible teeth and the sound of your spear hitting something harder than itself. Something chips. The spear shaft cracks ever so slightly. You punch it, but that only hurts and you feel kind of at a loss for a second. But only for a second.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: TopHat on June 05, 2017, 11:01:11 am
[teal]"... Of course."[/color]
Lovely; I'll have to be more careful with that measure of theirs when I get it fixed.
Leave, then look for a ye olde DIY shop or equivalent; you never know.
I could have probably picked up some copper from the labs, come to think of it. Possibly the graphite, too. Ah, well.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 05, 2017, 12:27:28 pm
Let's channel some very destructive power. The Word, through the spear, into the belly of the beast. Devastation. Destruction. Disaster. Let the End come.

"Spear of APOCALYPSE! This is the End!"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Xantalos on June 05, 2017, 05:16:31 pm
Hmm. Attempt to take the manikin into my inner temple with me so that the brothers there may inspect it.

((Sorry for the delay, got caught up in binge reading.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: We Can't Stop Here
Post by: Toaster on June 05, 2017, 05:23:17 pm
((Was away last week and forgot to mention here.  Shame on me.  Also, so much for not touching wells.))


Hmm.  Strange, but this person seemed to be straightforward; maybe some up to date information could be gotten here.  "Ah, hello!  Can't see you here in this dark; really quite dark in here, really.  Maybe you should pay your power bill, hah hah.  Anyway, yes, you sound knowledgeable; really now, how do I get to Albany from here?  These people seem to be leading me to an airport but their play-acting is getting in the way.  Mr. Munderly will be terribly sore with me, I am sure."

Ask
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 06, 2017, 06:32:30 am
Quote from: TopHat on June 05, 2017, 11:01:11 am
"... Of course."
Lovely; I'll have to be more careful with that measure of theirs when I get it fixed.
Leave, then look for a ye olde DIY shop or equivalent; you never know.
I could have probably picked up some copper from the labs, come to think of it. Possibly the graphite, too. Ah, well.

[The Merchant Quarter: 6]

You bid Lady Craik adieu and wander back out into the desolate alleys of the merchant quarter, occasionally passing a malignant street sweeper but encountering few other signs of life. The shops of the area are darkened and in many places collapsed or outright squashed by newer structures from the higher areas. You keep walking until you're in what feels a lot like the bad (well, worse) side of the quarter - whereas the main street showed signs of halting activity, this part of the merchant quarter hasn't seen light in quite a while, and the shops look filled with cobwebs.

You wander for quite a while along the trackless walkways of the forgotten area until you see a faint light in one particular shop, an ancient stone building that appears to have made a solid foundation for no less than three other buildings above it without bending or even slightly breaking. It looks like a vault for nuclear waste, its very construction giving rise to primal connotations of unfriendliness like some Lovecraftian ruin.

Next to the open stone door is a corpse, crudely nailed to the wall and failing to be welcoming with its desiccated hand nailed up in a friendly wave. It looks about as dead as a creature can be. However, you fail to resist the temptation to look inside.

The inside of the shop is bare, the furnishings not made of stone worn away by time, and the ones actually made of stone merely smoothed to a rounded and shapeless form. On a platform behind a stone counter you see the source of light - a leathery figure with fingers like tree roots wrapped around the top of the counter's surface and seemingly grown out to encompass a large part of the room, walls and floor and ceiling and all. The figure stares forward from behind an ornate copper mask suggesting the stylized face of a nobleman coated in verdigris, the light coming from out of its eyes. It makes no motion or even sign of recognition as you look into the store, and naturally doesn't look to be breathing either.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 05, 2017, 12:27:28 pm
Let's channel some very destructive power. The Word, through the spear, into the belly of the beast. Devastation. Destruction. Disaster. Let the End come.

"Spear of APOCALYPSE! This is the End!"

YES, shouts the elder, YES!

APOCALYPSE

[Word: 6]

Your spear glows brightly and you hear the rest of the Moth Clan echo your cry as you stab straight into the heart of this terrible beast and rip a great glowing hole straight through it, perhaps miles long as the earth shakes and groans around you and its spirit bleeds into your ears, crying for mercy!

YOU'VE GOT THEM ON THE ROPES, the elder screams, CHARGE! CHARGE ONWARD!

You do, and so does the clan in your wake, as the cavern complex behind you begins to collapse...

... you have been running for hours or perhaps days, stabbing at walls and screaming just like the rest, and reached the end of the tunnel you ripped open, reaching daylight and the mountainous terrain of the north, the distant wall of the Corner of the World now faintly visible through the distortion of the air with faint stars embedded in it, not quite drowned out by sunlight.

And there in the distance you see Elizabeth, where the mountains turn into a fertile plateau, separated from you by perhaps a day's worth of woods to traverse. You start laughing, and the clan laughs with you manically until the elder, bewildered by the sun he has not seen for many, many years now and the clansmeet within reach, passes out in the arms of the three clansmen carrying him onward.

[A Shining Success: 2]

And with him, the rest of the clan passes out as well, driven to complete exhaustion as they tumble like an impressive set of dominoes, leaving you barely standing in the middle of a legion of unconscious Moths as you narrowly resist passing out yourself.

You do feel a bit left out. You can only imagine what kind of dreams they must be having.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 05, 2017, 05:16:31 pm
Hmm. Attempt to take the manikin into my inner temple with me so that the brothers there may inspect it.

((Sorry for the delay, got caught up in binge reading.))

[This Is Not A Manikin: 1]

You attempt to take the manikin into your temple, and it does appear to work at first, but it becomes regrettably apparent that the creature isn't what you would describe as a thinking being (at least not right now), so the result is much like if you tried to take, say, a VCR into it, with about as much knowledge or, if anything, even less knowledge of how it actually works. Of course, the brothers are still interested in the shape of it, and the properties you provide it, but within the confines of your own mind you seem to only be able to investigate what you already know, which is precious little. It moves, of course, but does it think? It seems able to provide a reasonable approximation of sentience, but so can a Roomba, with adequate reading and a good deal of imagination.

You spend a less-than-enlightening hour on this, to very little avail, and eventually go to sleep dreaming of philosophical zombies. When you wake, the ship has set off with a skeleton crew on hand, many of the others still recovering from their injuries. Stepping out on the deck, you see Two Shores already waiting. She looks like she has not slept much, very much unlike Peaks, who stands next to her and watches the happenings on deck - she sees you and waves, prodding Shores as well, who smiles and waves a little slower to you as well.

Quote from: Toaster on June 05, 2017, 05:23:17 pm
((Was away last week and forgot to mention here.  Shame on me.  Also, so much for not touching wells.))


Hmm.  Strange, but this person seemed to be straightforward; maybe some up to date information could be gotten here.  "Ah, hello!  Can't see you here in this dark; really quite dark in here, really.  Maybe you should pay your power bill, hah hah.  Anyway, yes, you sound knowledgeable; really now, how do I get to Albany from here?  These people seem to be leading me to an airport but their play-acting is getting in the way.  Mr. Munderly will be terribly sore with me, I am sure."

Ask

[Assiduity: 6]

Your answer: the city of Albany located in the state of New York in the United States of America (see Earth, exploration initiatives, concluded projects) no longer exists in the implied location or time frame. Therefore travel there is possible (see interuniversal tunneling, corner gates, interuniversal medium) but unlikely to satisfy the request. An incomplete recording of the city of Albany, New York exists in the information collected before it was irreparably damaged - however, corruption is possible and the information is impossible to verify (see data collection policies, deconstructive studies, data storage risks). The entirety of the information can be provided at the cost of a fulfillment.

You have two questions and one fulfillment remaining.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 06, 2017, 11:55:19 am
"Praise the sun."

Well, if everyone else is sleeping, then at least one much keep watch over them. Even if it's on half eye only. Take a quick look what's happening in Jehwlheimr, see if anyone remembers what happened after sniffing stuff with the elder, because it seems I have missed something. What's the state of the land?

I should stick to drinks and leave sniffing drugs for actual junkies...
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Toaster on June 06, 2017, 05:10:46 pm
"..."

This was not helpful at all.

"You're worse than the cosplayers, really.  At least they have the decency to pretend they're clueless, instead of spouting compete crap.  Obviously there is an Albany; I came from there just before I got to this strange place."

Thomas stopped and thought for a second.

"Oh, there was no girl.  You tricked me down here.  I should be going unless you can give me real useful information."

Converse.




Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 07, 2017, 02:26:40 pm
Okay, that's terrifying. But it's probably not worth getting all wrapped up in to save a stoat that Oggie would probably strangle as soon as he was rescued.

"A deal's a deal, I guess." I gather up Oggie and the Doctor and head toward the road to Speaker's Bridge.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Xantalos on June 07, 2017, 02:44:45 pm
"Didn't get much sleep, Shores, I take it?" Daniels says as he walks up to the duo. "How's things?"

Conversational start point!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 08, 2017, 07:08:57 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 06, 2017, 11:55:19 am
"Praise the sun."

Well, if everyone else is sleeping, then at least one much keep watch over them. Even if it's on half eye only. Take a quick look what's happening in Jehwlheimr, see if anyone remembers what happened after sniffing stuff with the elder, because it seems I have missed something. What's the state of the land?

I should stick to drinks and leave sniffing drugs for actual junkies...

[Two Hundred Drunken Moths: 4]

You take a quick look inside Jehwlheimr with the right hemisphere of your brain and notice rather quickly that the party is clearly still going inside there, the entirety of the Moth Clan seemingly inducted into the ranks of your faithful, the elder himself leaping from house to house as he rings in the arrival of a new day. The Moths cheer and dance and drink like their very lives depended on it, the proceedings looking somewhere halfway between a wild party and a pitched battle. Even the gods appear to be having trouble keeping up. An electric charge has built up in the ground from their unfettered thoughts, crackling as you step along.

It's not at all long before you see familiar faces. Morag is in the very middle of the festivities, having the time of her life. Bruce, currently the size of a house, playing bowls with frost giants while Lee, still much the same as you remember, watches him like a hawk. Earnest, meanwhile, seems to be watching her while being shoved around toward increasingly exorbitant pleasures. And May, the standoffish woman from earlier, seems to be walking toward you while downing a pint of mead, unmindful of the fact she has no clothes on. Occasional shouts from the elder ring out like thunder. Driven to exhaustion, the Moth Clan dreams on.

Quote from: Toaster on June 06, 2017, 05:10:46 pm
"..."

This was not helpful at all.

"You're worse than the cosplayers, really.  At least they have the decency to pretend they're clueless, instead of spouting compete crap.  Obviously there is an Albany; I came from there just before I got to this strange place."

Thomas stopped and thought for a second.

"Oh, there was no girl.  You tricked me down here.  I should be going unless you can give me real useful information."

Converse.

Albany, New York exists in incomplete form as part of your template (see substrate, template, interpreter), but experienced fatal damage in the process of recording. In your template's frame of reference Albany, New York appears to have existed, but the concept of Albany, New York is irrelevant in the current universe you occupy. In the simplest available terms, Albany, New York existed when you were taken from it, but does not exist anymore, having been destroyed in an entirely preventable incident (see notable incidents, intervention limits, tool diversification). What remains of Albany, New York can be given to you as a fulfillment.

[Test Run: 5]

The girl you mention is a reconstruction of a source made available previously. It was being tested during your brief encounter and experienced mild spillover into non-designated spaces (see border friction, testing compartmentalization, reconstruction). If you are interested, the girl can be made available for a limited testing run under field conditions - if a full report is made after this, a suitable reward will be provided.

These clarifications made available free of charge. You have two questions and one fulfillment remaining.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 07, 2017, 02:26:40 pm
Okay, that's terrifying. But it's probably not worth getting all wrapped up in to save a stoat that Oggie would probably strangle as soon as he was rescued.

"A deal's a deal, I guess." I gather up Oggie and the Doctor and head toward the road to Speaker's Bridge.

Some gruesome fates you just can't avert, you suppose. You motion for Oggie and the Doctor to follow - you are done here, better leave the good parasites to their business. The doctor appears to have many questions, but the very much palpable sensation that you are being watched as you go dissuades her from asking most of them while Oggie is content to just keep her eyes peeled at the surrounding area. On the way back, you wave to the stoat watchman and wish him good luck. You feel like the poor bastard will need it.

[The Long And Winding Road: 3]

The forest feels restless as you proceed beyond the inn, the few animals present invariably jittery and so skittish you see a bird fly away at the sight of you from half a mile off. This makes for relatively peaceful traveling overall. You and the doctor breathe a sigh of relief as a few miles out you manage to leave it behind for the fallow farmlands of the ruined north of Benzerwald, for every seemingly occupied farm along the way finding three completely deserted ones. And the ones that are occupied, even by what look to be regular people at first glance, appear almost violently unfriendly at your passing, going inside and closing all the shutters well before you've made it up to shouting distance.

At some point the doctor gets to chatting with you again as Oggie mostly devotes her attention to staring down any distant figures. What do you think you'll say, she asks, when you show up at the town?

You shrug - a humble traveler, you would guess, coming here to see the sights. Worked on the stoatman, didn't it?

The doctor shakes her head - pretty unlikely, she has to say - you clearly aren't from the heartlands, or the free ports. And you're certainly not from El, not with the way you or she looks, though perhaps Oggie might make that an easier sell. You can't be from the north as you're not a clanswoman. Maybe you could pretend to be undead creature come from the east? She suspects that would make things more difficult, however. You can't just be a wanderer, however, that much is clear, drifters were not commonly let into towns for long in her day and she does not imagine that's terribly changed under the new regime, at least not for humans or, well, human-looking individuals.

She thinks for a moment, maybe a monster hunter of some kind? You certainly have the credentials for that, she should think. Maybe a-

Oggie grunts and points forward. You squint at the horizon - a group of stoatmen, reasonably well-armed. A guard patrol, you think, about six or seven miles outside of Speaker's Bridge.

Quote from: Xantalos on June 07, 2017, 02:44:45 pm
"Didn't get much sleep, Shores, I take it?" Daniels says as he walks up to the duo. "How's things?"

Conversational start point!

Oh, Shores responds, she actually did get a reasonable amount of sleep. Right here on deck, in fact, which her back has been quick to let her know about this morning. Nevertheless, it appears to have got the job done.

She offered to let her come sleep in her cabin, Peaks chimes in, but she's too proud! Too proud for her old friend Peaks!

It simply would not be proper, Shores explains patiently, for her as first mate to sleep in the second mate's quarters when she has been seemingly deliberately denied her usual place. It would be shirking disciplinary measures at the very least, which she cannot abide. Besides, she smiles, it does build character to spend a night under the open sky every now and then.

Eh, have it your way, the alchemist responds. And, since her duel-date is here now, that means she's off to do her own stuff! Peaks looks over at you - speaking of, you want to come along later? She'd like to see if there's something she can figure out about that weird meat you're made out of. The tools on board are nothing special, mind, but there's probably something she can work out.

He will probably be able to make it, Two Shores responds in your stead, unless circumstances align to make it sadly impossible. She will try not to hold you up for too long, of course.

Right, right, Peaks says before going on her daily business, well, if you have time, pop by her lab at some point, she's got a couple things in mind.

As she leaves, Shores turns to you. Would you like to start now, or have breakfast first? She does realize you do not particularly need to eat, but the ritual can be useful sometimes. If not, no worries. She can just get right down to it if you like, she says as you notice the two-handed sword trailing very lightly behind her.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Xantalos on June 08, 2017, 08:40:57 am
"Depends," Daniels replies. "You hungry? I'm game to eat if you are."

Disciplinary measures? What even for? What does making her sleep on the deck accomplish? The captain continues to cement himself as a bit of a whiny shit. But I suppose if she isn't too hung up on it.

You hungry, Shores? If not, let's get down to business.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 08, 2017, 11:23:57 am
An electric charge? Better make sure it won't cause problems in future. A safe way to discharge it, or store into a battery for later use perhaps.

Otherwise the result is excellent. Gotta convert authority figures first for rapid inbound of new Asatruer.

"What's up, May?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: TopHat on June 09, 2017, 10:18:01 am
"Hello! What wares do you stock here?"

Greetings. Probably followed by looking around a bit when there's no response.

((Sorry for my continued unpunctuality recently; I'll be doing my best to curb it in future.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Toaster on June 09, 2017, 10:28:52 pm
Thomas stared agape.  This guy was even more of a lunatic than he first thought.  Why would anyone destroy Albany?  How?  Surely any terrorist attack would go after the City first; Albany really wasn't that interesting, just how he liked it.  Then what the person said snapped him to attention.

"What?  Yes, sure, that's why I came down, because she needed help. Sure."

Agree.  Miss any subtext of "testing run," especially any gutter-minded one.


Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 10, 2017, 07:14:35 am
"Monster hunter is a pretty good idea. Let's go with that if anyone asks."

I continue along the road as nonchalantly as possible, hoping that the stoat patrol doesn't stop us. If they do I identify myself as a monster hunter looking for quarry in this region, and introduce my doctor companion and my trusty sidekick Oggie.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 11, 2017, 04:24:40 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on June 08, 2017, 08:40:57 am
"Depends," Daniels replies. "You hungry? I'm game to eat if you are."

Disciplinary measures? What even for? What does making her sleep on the deck accomplish? The captain continues to cement himself as a bit of a whiny shit. But I suppose if she isn't too hung up on it.

You hungry, Shores? If not, let's get down to business.

Hungry? Never. She subsists on practice. Bread and water as well, when the mood happens to strike her. She lets her sword down by her side, and begins a quick warmup - wouldn't want to get yourself hurt now, would you?

[Scars of Time: 4]

You go through a routine of your own, though you somewhat doubt its efficacy in the face of a body only nominally bound by physical and biological laws of this world.

You do, however, have the opportunity to observe Two Shores, wearing a look of serenity above a solid background of nervousness. It is at this point that you notice something - her many and varied battle scars do not quite mar her beauty, for it seems to have never been natural to begin with, and the more you look, the more it seems that they were not obtained in battle at all. Instead it is as if someone molded her with scores of quick incisions, clearly done by a sword across a period of years. Random at first, but in the end clearly purposeful to make her look like she does. Ruined, but closer to perfection for it.

Shores turns to you - are you quite ready? You nod and stand within the sparring circle she sets up, your murder-thought scrabbling at the deck in preparation. She holds her sword forward in one hand and smiles politely.

[Move Like This: 1+1]

With a sword in hand Shores moves with such impressive confidence and ease it feels almost as if it were just another limb for her, somehow integral to her full range of movement. You go on much the same way as yesterday, and one thing you discover immediately is that this is plainly insufficient. Her advantage in reach disallows you from menacing her with your fists, and the minimal distraction you provide lets her keep a good eye on your murder-thought.

She appears content to run rings around you at first, testing your abilities. And you, of course, are determined to prove that her confidence is wholly unwarranted, and move for a desperate maneuver to shift her blade aside with your superior strength and pin her down with your murder-thought.

What happens instead, however, is that you manage to lose all four of the fingers of your right hand as you attempt to catch the sword, which turns out to be not just incredibly sharp but also quite difficult to reliably grasp. Having gambled and failed, you give Shores a moment to maneuver. At this point she turns about and with an overhead swing manages to somehow catch it on the very edge - and immediately sunder it. A sudden pressure explodes in your skull, and everything becomes pain.

And that's all you remember before you wake up in an unfamiliar cabin that smells strongly of pineapple, Peaks Ever-Crumbling standing over you and taking very careful notes. She does not fail to notice you stirring.

You bubble a lot when you're unconscious, she notes. There's an inherent instability to it all. Suppose that fits with what you already know, of course, but at least it made gluing your fingers back on a lot easier.

You look at your hand, and find it in surprisingly good health, if a few seams richer. Simple solutions are always the best in her experience, Peaks tells you. Lucky your weird thought-construct has enough presence of mind, if you'll forgive the turn of phrase, to put itself together.

Oh, she adds as an afterthought, and Shores did say to tell you she's terribly, terribly sorry about that. You hear a scratching at the door, and Peaks opens it up slightly to let a very concerned Dan inside - awfully well-behaved creature, that juggler of yours.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 08, 2017, 11:23:57 am
An electric charge? Better make sure it won't cause problems in future. A safe way to discharge it, or store into a battery for later use perhaps.

Otherwise the result is excellent. Gotta convert authority figures first for rapid inbound of new Asatruer.

"What's up, May?"

[Wall of Thought: 2]

The charge building up, you quickly realize, is just the pressure of roughly two hundred minds currently operating your mythscape, seemingly all collectively inducted into the ranks of its shapers by whatever psionic narcotic binge it was that empowered the elder. It's awfully light on your own head, you note with slight relief, but then you also notice that the place in general looks different. Hillier, darker, wilder, with dark places and crevices and considerably deeper shadows and tall exotic forests shrouded in absolute silence - Jehwlheimr has come alive, but also now seems beyond your grasp on a certain fundamental level. The box is no longer closed, the floodgates open. There will only be more changes from here on in.

But that's a matter for later. Right now you're conversing with a very drunk and naked woman. She fortunately is entirely pleased with this state of affairs, almost giddy - the elder told her about what you did, Leif, and she's absolutely delighted. They were stuck in a rut down there and it is wonderful that you came along with, well, all this - she points to the realm around her. It's nice to share a dream sometimes, don't you think? A little freedom does the mind good!

You look at the other Moths, who look much more clothed, but do not seem to pay her much mind despite this.

Quote from: TopHat on June 09, 2017, 10:18:01 am
"Hello! What wares do you stock here?"

Greetings. Probably followed by looking around a bit when there's no response.

As expected, the person behind the counter makes no motion or sound. So you go in.

[Tread Lightly: 5]

You step carefully over the dozens of roots laying around on the ground and walls, reasoning that since they're extending from the proprietor it'd be rather rude to just tread on them. You step over to the counter, and find there to still be no reaction - although from behind the mask there is the very faintest of hums, like a distant industrial ventilator cycling busily while the rest of the place remains still, and concurrent with this you see a faint pulsing in the eyeholes, barely perceptible from as little as three feet away.

Behind the proprietor you see a dark passage leading into a back room, which you successfully illuminate with the very mild spillover from your helmet. It seems to be where all the goods are stored, or what little remains of them at this point. You suppose you could climb over the counter and take a look inside, if you were inclined toward petty theft.

Quote from: Toaster on June 09, 2017, 10:28:52 pm
Thomas stared agape.  This guy was even more of a lunatic than he first thought.  Why would anyone destroy Albany?  How?  Surely any terrorist attack would go after the City first; Albany really wasn't that interesting, just how he liked it.  Then what the person said snapped him to attention.

"What?  Yes, sure, that's why I came down, because she needed help. Sure."

Agree.  Miss any subtext of "testing run," especially any gutter-minded one.

Your affirmation is noted.

A figure places its hand on your shoulder, as if it materialized the moment you agreed. She stands beside you, and you immediately know her name to be Evey, and in a brief moment of confusion you arrive at the unquestionable certainty that you are a man of means and knowledge, after a fashion, and she is confused but at the same time eager to help.

Thanks for the help there, Evey says, she thought she'd be stuck in this bloody hole forever. Whichever idjit it was what threw her down here will come to regret this, that much she swears. You stand there a second before the dark compels your attention again.

You are asked to take Evey with you. Expose her to the environment and take careful note of irregularities. For the report you will be granted three more answers. For returning her whole and broadly undamaged you will be given a fulfillment.

You have two questions and one fulfillment remaining. If you would prefer to save them for later, you are free to leave at any time.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 10, 2017, 07:14:35 am
"Monster hunter is a pretty good idea. Let's go with that if anyone asks."

I continue along the road as nonchalantly as possible, hoping that the stoat patrol doesn't stop us. If they do I identify myself as a monster hunter looking for quarry in this region, and introduce my doctor companion and my trusty sidekick Oggie.

[No Police Gonna Shut Us Down: 3]

Of course the patrol stops you. You're two humans and some manner of night creature strolling nonchalantly along the road to town. If they didn't stop you, you'd have to seriously doubt their commitment and general fitness as guards. They don't quite see the need to go as far as surround and menace you, of course, but you feel like they don't have quite as much to prove as the people in Anglefork would have. These stoatmen, as mildly comical as they look in their armored getup, have clearly received a good deal of training, and their weapons look fairly well-kept.

Your introduction, too, seems to raise a fair amount of questions. For one, it's very rare to find a human with a flawless command of the stoats' own dialect - secondly, a monster hunter? And that thing you're traveling with! This Oggie! Is she fit to even go inside a town? Good heavens.

No, they say, they must insist that you go to the Speaker immediately. Under the watchful eye of several of their men. Anything less would be unconscionable.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Xantalos on June 11, 2017, 07:12:30 pm
"Oh, no bother, truthfully," Daniels says as he sits up. "Defeat helps just as much as winning a fight for learning things, I've found. Hopefully she isn't too torn up about that, I'd quite like to go again whenever she has the time. Oh hello Dan. Thank you for the concern, but I'm alright - that doesn't even rank on the top 5 most painful things I've had happen to me."

He stands up, assuming Peaks lets him, and stretches. "Oh Peaks, I have a question for you. Do you know anything about how those manikins of the Captain's work? I recovered one of them last night and it seems to have gone kinda still. Ran out of charge or something?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Toaster on June 11, 2017, 11:05:01 pm
"Ah!  Did not see you there, quite sorry.  I'm Thomas.  We should be able to get out of here; Gamble has the rope held for us.  We'll just say goodbye to...
 sorry, I didn't catch your name.  Also, I'm sure I will regret asking, but what do you mean by fulfillment?"

What is that anyway?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: AoshimaMichio on June 12, 2017, 01:13:14 am
Ultimately all that matters is that gods have living world to play with.

"To be entirely honest, I only made this place. It was the elder who invited you all there probably, not that I oppose this in anyway. Say, while we are talking about freedom of mind, who do you want to wake up next to? I think I can arrange that, since I'm not fully asleep yet."

Arrange sleeping conditions in other reality according May's wishes. Also consider possibilities of this for minding; shouldn't levitation and spontaneous matter generation be easier now since these people are more connected with me? Less minds to object and more inclined to agree with me?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 13, 2017, 10:03:41 am
Uh oh, I haven't heard good things about the speakers. Just one of them couldn't be that scary, though. Hopefully.

"Okay, we'll go, but we don't need a whole armed entourage. Just one guy to show us the way. Trust me, you'll want as many guards stationed out here as you can get. I've been tracking a dangerous beast through the area that could endanger civilians."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: TopHat on June 13, 2017, 10:26:31 am
Well, certainly not theft. Might be good to take a look, though...
Drop a coin on the counter and then hop over to take a look.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: penguinofhonor on June 26, 2017, 07:29:12 pm
((Hey, hope you're doing well! Starting tomorrow I'll be out of the country for a week and a half and won't have consistent internet access, so I might not be able to post here.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Assiduity
Post by: Harry Baldman on June 27, 2017, 11:03:56 am
Truth be told, I've been having trouble working up the enthusiasm to update this and have also been busy with other stuff, so I'll just go ahead and put it on hold until August.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 01, 2017, 06:18:06 am
Quote from: Xantalos on June 11, 2017, 07:12:30 pm
"Oh, no bother, truthfully," Daniels says as he sits up. "Defeat helps just as much as winning a fight for learning things, I've found. Hopefully she isn't too torn up about that, I'd quite like to go again whenever she has the time. Oh hello Dan. Thank you for the concern, but I'm alright - that doesn't even rank on the top 5 most painful things I've had happen to me."

He stands up, assuming Peaks lets him, and stretches. "Oh Peaks, I have a question for you. Do you know anything about how those manikins of the Captain's work? I recovered one of them last night and it seems to have gone kinda still. Ran out of charge or something?"

Shores was mostly worried she'd accidentally caused permanent damage, especially to that fascinating thought-construct. She would emphatically state that this was a purely professional and not at all personal concern for a useful sparring partner, Peaks relays amusedly, lest someone get the wrong idea.

Personally though, she thinks Shores likes you, which is even worse.

[Completely Knackered: 5, 2]

When you produce the manikin, Peaks is surprised. Nabbed that during the feast? Yes, yes. It's not out of charge or anything, they last for a good bit of time. It's instead a failsafe of sorts, she explains - you'd be surprised at the kind of trouble a tiny clay man can get into when lost in the world without its master. In fact that's how the inventor of the manikin died, a very interesting-

-anyway, it's turned itself off for safety reasons. Suppose she could circumvent those. Give it here and she'll get back to you a bit later, it'll take a bit of work. You're going to be stuck here for a few days anyway as you proceed toward the Sky Rig, and from there into the heartlands.

It occurs to you that you'll probably have a lot of free time on this ship in the coming days. You may want to plan accordingly. Dan may need amusement as well, and your mildly paid minions presumably would be prepared to help you with things as well.

Quote from: Toaster on June 11, 2017, 11:05:01 pm
"Ah!  Did not see you there, quite sorry.  I'm Thomas.  We should be able to get out of here; Gamble has the rope held for us.  We'll just say goodbye to...
 sorry, I didn't catch your name.  Also, I'm sure I will regret asking, but what do you mean by fulfillment?"

What is that anyway?

Your answer: a fulfillment is made in response to a request in a manner different from merely the provision of trivial amounts of information, which is covered by the separate category of answers. As answers require far fewer resources than practical assistance, they are more freely given and tracked separately. Possible fulfillments include template customization (see: selective untethering, identity reassignment, integrated weaponry), Word provision (see: Words, research initiatives, deconstruction) and others. If you have a fulfillment that interests you, asking for it costs nothing. All available information on Albany, due to quantity and retrieval expenditures, would be a fulfillment whereas a question about Albany's location merely necessitates an answer, to illustrate.

Due to improvements in interface design in response to feedback from dissatisfied templates, the above answer has been made free due to relating to the reward mechanism, thus being deemed equally beneficial to both parties to share as needed.

Your answer: what you currently refer to has many designations: "well" (non-descriptive, efficient), "voracious dark" (descriptive, incomplete), "mother of ghosts" (incomplete, uninformed), "death-which-lurks" (misleading), "eater of souls" (imprecise), "unmaker" (close match, incomplete). The alternative preferred suggestion would be "student-of-templates", companion to "student-of-substrates" (active), "student-of-kingdoms" (discontinued) and "student-of-worlds" (idle) (see respective entries for more information).

You have one answer and one fulfillment remaining.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on June 12, 2017, 01:13:14 am
Ultimately all that matters is that gods have living world to play with.

"To be entirely honest, I only made this place. It was the elder who invited you all there probably, not that I oppose this in anyway. Say, while we are talking about freedom of mind, who do you want to wake up next to? I think I can arrange that, since I'm not fully asleep yet."

Arrange sleeping conditions in other reality according May's wishes. Also consider possibilities of this for minding; shouldn't levitation and spontaneous matter generation be easier now since these people are more connected with me? Less minds to object and more inclined to agree with me?

May would prefer to wake up next to her actual husband - as fun as these fantasies are, their appeal is greatly enhanced by their impermanence. When the dream is done, all things should return to their assigned place, wouldn't you agree?

You're not really in a mood to argue, so you just pick her up in the actual world and lay her down next to a small and hairy fellow who looks to be in a bit of a state, kicking and rustling in his sweet dreams of Jehwlheimr. You then turn your attention to broader concerns - the concerns of minding.

[Mining of Minds: 5]

... hm. The Moth Clan may indeed be useful, you reason - the powers of the elder in particular seem rather useful in directing the rest of the clan, and the unmistakable power that your catastrophic combination of the mead of poetry and the crystallized insights of minding possessed is also nothing to scoff at.

Thus far you've been toying around with the possibilities of the power of minding and mindscapes, experimenting playfully with the combinations thereof like the supernaturally enabled dilettante you are. Maybe it's time to get serious about it, you think as you look at the 200 or so Moths you've gathered in Jehwlheimr, some of which aren't even present here. You've enabled some measure of minding for them as well, in a sense. You could use this...

... yes, you think you could indeed use this. Instead of waiting for them to wake up you could do the opposite, softly deepen their dream, let Jehwlheimr envelop them softly and draw them into thoughtless, deep sleep. It wouldn't harm them in any way, you don't think, only put their talents to use. When you're done, they could wake up.

Wouldn't take more than a day or two of them sleeping here, if you forfeited sleep yourself. And with their minds at your back as completely as they surely would be during the deepest parts of their trance you dare say you could guard them from a great deal more than a few hungry dragons. You could become a true mastermind.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on June 13, 2017, 10:03:41 am
Uh oh, I haven't heard good things about the speakers. Just one of them couldn't be that scary, though. Hopefully.

"Okay, we'll go, but we don't need a whole armed entourage. Just one guy to show us the way. Trust me, you'll want as many guards stationed out here as you can get. I've been tracking a dangerous beast through the area that could endanger civilians."

It's no trouble at all for them all to go with you, the sergeant leading the patrol insists, they've gone about far enough as it is and found no trouble yet. Besides, if there really is a dangerous beast running about, surely they'd benefit from a briefing about it back in town rather than, say, running straight into it by accident and getting partially, if not entirely eaten.

[Our Old Bridge Is Falling Down: 4]

The other guards seem to find this wise, and all of them choose to escort you back to the city. For stoatmen you find them not at all unfriendly once the initial routine of accosting you on the way is done, and seem outright intrigued by your self-description as a monster hunter. What kind of monsters have you hunted, one of them asks, and you volunteer a semi-accurate description of that king-creature from down beneath Anglefork Castle (you don't specify the location, obviously) and a not entirely untrue description of how you managed to defeat it, which goes a long way toward breaking the ice. You also mention the dread fungoids of the northern plains, which lurk at night and seek corpses to make their own - their weakness, you see, is that they only move when you're not looking at them...

The conversation becomes quite lively before long as the stoatmen ask you about various monsters they've heard of or, more likely, personally invented, and the doctor gets involved too with her own passing knowledge of various bestiaries. The sergeant seems like they'd disapprove of the fraternization if it weren't so fun to listen to. Patrolling Speaker's Bridge doesn't appear to make for a stimulating day's work, apparently. One of them asks if they can touch your pet monster, and you carefully advise them not to.

Meanwhile, city itself looms in the distance and bustles with activity, the first proper city you've seen in this entire world - it's nothing compared to the cities back home, but in comparison with the ruins and desolation of Anglefork Town the place looks to be teeming with life, the memory of the civil war that ripped the old Kingdom of Benzerwald to shreds carefully quashed at every turn. This is most emblematic in the centerpiece of the town, the Kingsbridge, permitted to keep its name because it seems to be in the process of being torn down by several hundred stoatmen and humans alike, the stones of it going directly to the construction right next to it: a new bridge, grander, longer, designed to be so robust it'd put most fortresses to shame and so ugly it'd petrify any well-trained architect.

Just as contrary to Anglefork Town is the liveliness of the city itself and its immediately surrounding lands, free of war and allowed to nurse itself back to health. Lumber mills operate at full capacity along the riverside, their water wheels spinning contently in the calmed-down waters of the Southbound, mostly human farmers till their fields under stoatman overseers, who seem more bureaucrats than slavemasters. Boats travel up and down the river, the docks filled to capacity in lieu of a functional bridge to carry goods over. And life inside the walls seems to have grown even wilder. Every public house you pass seems to host either a party, a massive bar fight (usually with the involvement of the guards) or a mixture of both, and stoatmen and humans in revealing outfits stand on many a corner, keenly showing you their teeth and wondering if you see anything you like, the guardsmen making promises to come back when their shift is done and asking occasionally if you'd like an introduction as well.

After no small amount of detouring around the Bridge's many diversions you come to the Speaker's hall, which isn't quite what you'd expect from apparently the most important building of the local government. For one, it looks nearly deserted, and the guards seem unwilling to accompany you inside. The door is open and doesn't appear to even have a lock. Several windows look freshly mended. If you had to guess, this might have once been a workhouse, or perhaps an orphanage. Now it looks more like a temple, so solemn and strange in the middle of the city that the rest of the city's traffic seems to take great pains to go around it.

You are ushered into the lobby, which is unlit and quiet. A minute or two passes as you look at Oggie and the doctor, who appear to have little idea what's going on either.

Eventually somebody comes down the stairs - a small (a full head shorter than you, in fact), sad-eyed stoatman wearing a sumptuous gray-gold cloak that only mostly conceals the fairly plain clothes they're wearing underneath. They stop in front of you and each of your companions for a moment, examining you dimly for a second or two before stepping back.

Welcome to Speaker's Bridge, they say to you at last in a grandmotherly voice, seemingly having established that you're the leader by virtue of standing in the middle. Where do you come from and what is the nature of your visit?

Quote from: TopHat on June 13, 2017, 10:26:31 am
Well, certainly not theft. Might be good to take a look, though...
Drop a coin on the counter and then hop over to take a look.

[Show Me The Goods: 5+1]

After you've put up a single coin for the trouble of examining the actual merchandise and slide over the counter, you find that the actual back room is full of a great deal of tat accumulated by unknown means. But even in the Kingdom of the Dead, a veritable land of refuse, this particular back room stands out for how replete it is with junk from an untold prehistory that you can even barely conceive of, let alone readily believe as it stretches before you. The stone floor has collapsed inward a little from the sheer weight of crap in here, so epic in scale must have been the ill-fated wholesale purchase of it all.

You find tiny rotten wooden masks, ancient clay faceless bobbleparts of fertility goddesses, styli themed after famous scribes whose names are ironically unwritten, tablets with painstaking and mostly worn-out depictions of forever-lost wonders of an ancient world, the ruins of some of which you realize you've seen in the general shapes underlying the Tell of the Setting Sun. So much stuff in here that nobody appears to have treasured enough to even bother stealing, the massive weight of buyer's remorse clinging heavily in the stale air...

... until you realize, of course, that the styli, crude as they are, are fashioned out of cheaply mined graphite, and the bobbleparts are wound with robust springs of native copper...

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 01, 2017, 08:43:01 am
((It's wonderful to have you back again.))

Well, if I give them this much I suppose it's fair if I also take something back. Better mention about it to the elder first, he knows how useful this can be, he even said that much himself, though he doesn't exactly need to know everything. Oh, and maybe he has ideas what other clans we could safely introduce to Jehwlheimr?

Begin the plan mastermind! Odin knows they sure could use some extra rest.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 01, 2017, 10:55:39 am
"Bingo!"

Harvest the graphite and copper, drop another coin on the counter on the way out, and commence the search for the last item on the shopping list.
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 01, 2017, 08:43:01 am
((It's wonderful to have you back again.))
((I couldn't agree more. Also, the format of the character sheets is excellent for coming back to, so thank you for that even if it wasn't a planned feature.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 02, 2017, 06:45:48 am
((I am also excited you're back!))

Hm, speakers are less scary than I have been lead to believe. "Your speakerness, I am a traveling monster hunter and these are my companions. We are merely looking to rest and resupply as we pass through your beautiful city. Then we will continue on our journey to find glory and make the realm a safer place."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 03, 2017, 12:26:42 am
Quote
Shores was mostly worried she'd accidentally caused permanent damage, especially to that fascinating thought-construct. She would emphatically state that this was a purely professional and not at all personal concern for a useful sparring partner, Peaks relays amusedly, lest someone get the wrong idea.

"Yes, professional concern, of course," Daniels repeats, nodding assuredly. He's grinning just slightly, though.

Quote
When you produce the manikin, Peaks is surprised. Nabbed that during the feast? Yes, yes. It's not out of charge or anything, they last for a good bit of time. It's instead a failsafe of sorts, she explains - you'd be surprised at the kind of trouble a tiny clay man can get into when lost in the world without its master. In fact that's how the inventor of the manikin died, a very interesting-

-anyway, it's turned itself off for safety reasons. Suppose she could circumvent those. Give it here and she'll get back to you a bit later, it'll take a bit of work. You're going to be stuck here for a few days anyway as you proceed toward the Sky Rig, and from there into the heartlands.
"I shall leave it in your care, then," he says, handing the thing over to her. "I recall you were saying before the mishap you were considering experimenting on my substrate to find out some of its properties. I'm game to go forward with that so long as it doesn't involve mashing me into a pulp with a hammer like last time I tried it; did you want to try some of those now, or should I come back sometime in the next few days?"

Ascertain when a good timeframe for some experiments with Peaks would be - if now, let's go ahead, if not, we can slot time in in what appears to be an approaching timeskip. With that in mind, I'll list a few activities I'll try to accomplish during those few days:

- Go talk to Two Shores, assure her I'm alright, try to arrange another duel with her - perhaps we meet every morning for one if other duties don't interject? Try to ask about those scars she has and what her background with martial training is - she's understandably very impressive with the sword or without. Maybe have breakfast with her before these matches once or twice, it's a nice ritual, as she said.

- Interact with Dan some - get to know him - his personality, capabilities (without damaging the ship), that sort of thing. Maybe do some training with him or somesuch? Maybe Shores would like a friendly go.

- Experiments and such with Twin Peaks, as well as the manikin thing (see above).

- Fires, Pines, and Day are mostly free to do as they want provided they stay in easy contact with me so if I need them for something like entertaining Dan or figuring out what the manikin can do or carrying messages or whatever I can call them. See what my impressions of them are and such.

- Other than that, see if I have any duties as a member of the Vault of Heavens - get those done as well as I can if so. Try not to accidentally upstage the captain again, I'd be alright with trying my luck against him but he might be petty towards Shores again and I can't have that.

- Preemptively apologize to Harry Baldman for sending a small hill of text and contingencies his way.

((I'll echo everyone else in saying that I'm very glad this is back on - it's pretty much my favorite game on this whole forum.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 03, 2017, 08:29:16 am
Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 01, 2017, 08:43:01 am
Well, if I give them this much I suppose it's fair if I also take something back. Better mention about it to the elder first, he knows how useful this can be, he even said that much himself, though he doesn't exactly need to know everything. Oh, and maybe he has ideas what other clans we could safely introduce to Jehwlheimr?

Begin the plan mastermind! Odin knows they sure could use some extra rest.

[Useful Input: 3]

You find the elder engaged in a thundering contest against Thor himself off in the sidelines while several Moths watch. Apparently there was a challenge thrown about after somebody mentioned that the thunder god doesn't seem nearly as loud and angry as you'd expect - surely not as loud and angry as the elder! Rather shockingly they might be quite right.

You catch the elder while he has a drink in between rounds and ask him if he'd particularly mind if you, say, took a day or so to get this whole minding thing on lock before you get over to Elizabeth for the clansmeet, and you find that he DOESN'T MIND AT ALL. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T LET THEM KNOW ANYWAY. Who's they, you consider asking, the other clans? THEM TOO, HE GUESSES! DON'T TAKE ANY GUFF FROM THOSE SWINE OR THEY'LL WALK ALL OVER YOU!

You pat him on the shoulder, good talk! Good talk indeed. You then let him get back to his thundering as you step back into the field and take a minute or two to arrange the Moths into a many-tiered circle around you, and sit down in the center as you count down.

10. Jehwlheimr quiets, the thundering contest ending inconclusively. 9. Lee senses something is off, but can't quite slip free of the mindscape's seductive grasp. 8. Earnest slumps quietly on a log beside Iðunn, who sighs and places him sideways on the log and places a bit of cloth under his head before walking off on her own business. 7. Two dozen Moths lose consciousness as, one by one, they fall face-first into their dinners. 6. Jehwlheimr groans as two hundred minds root into it. 5. You alone remain awake.

Without delay you begin to weave together the fragmented dream into a solid net, the minds of all the Moths readily permitting your manipulations as you examine the crude methods used and begin to refine them - starting with the elder, as is proper, and working outwards. It is slow at first, but you find the tools at your disposal grow more powerful with every mind included, whose unharnessed and unquestioned belief in whatever you impress upon them gathers behind you. As the work of hours proceeds and the day goes on, you begin to realize how humble your initial ambitions were, and the sheer potential available here.

By the next morning the hill you are on has grown taller and upon it stands a shadowy feast hall that you have gathered the Moths into - those who were not present you have materialized, those who were broken or injured you have reformed, those who were hungover you have cured like some manner of alcoholic prophet. The hall stands long enough to accommodate them all, the sort of hall you'd see in Hel itself, windowless and lit by blue flames, millions of troglodytic lifeforms infesting the ceiling like an entomological garden, the roof covered in chimneys like bizarre ribs stretching out to the sky. Barrels line the walls, filled with hard liquor, mead and any number of other delights you could think of, quite literally. The sheer power of a deep dream is something to behold. It's almost a shame to let go of it as the Moths wake, unharmed but full of wonder at this place you have materialized from nothing in accordance with their wishes, transposed from Jehwlheimr into this reality stone by stone.

This place is your masterpiece, in that you are now a true mastermind. The belief and attention of the two hundred Moths feeds and empowers you - while they observe you can work miracles that most minders will never achieve.

Haha, says the elder, now that's the kind of minding he can get behind! Led by him, the Moths raise their drinks in your honor - you may have been raised under the sun, but they'll be damned if you don't know how to party.

Quote from: TopHat on August 01, 2017, 10:55:39 am
"Bingo!"

Harvest the graphite and copper, drop another coin on the counter on the way out, and commence the search for the last item on the shopping list.

You grab the nicer-looking styli and crack open a few of the bobbleparts to get at the springs, getting generous helpings of both as you pick through the supply of tat available. On the way back you drop another coin on the counter.

[Your Patronage Is Appreciated: 5]

You hadn't noticed this before, but when you dropped the first coin the glow in the proprietor's eyes intensified briefly - on your way out the shopkeeper's mask actually twitches, and the roots of the store begin to grow ever so mildly in the direction of your payment. The body of the proprietor leans forward with a long and tortured creak as its eyes burn.

[Would You Like To Know About Our Customer Card: 4]

The creak resounds powerfully in your mind as its fumble for meaning finally resolves into language.

THANKS

It seems like it would like to say more, but the single Word seems to have required such an effort that something cracks within it and its eyes darken again, the head leaning down as its body withers - not dead, for nothing can truly die here, but drained. It does however look satisfied in a deep and long-forgotten sense as the two pinprick glows of eyes focus solidly on the two coins.

You leave the fellow to contemplate where it'll invest this newfound fortune and begin walking around in search of some sticky tape.

[When In Doubt, Duck: 3]

As you might expect in the darkened, ancestral desolation of the merchant quarter, a consumer-ready variation of sticky tape is vanishingly rare. Probably nonexistent, in fact, as you strongly suspect the wizzard isn't from here.

If you had to guess, you'd need to order sticky tape specially from a skilled artisan, or repurpose something else to work as sticky tape. The pawnbroker might have something, or possibly Lady Craik if you feel you didn't wear out your welcome last time, or you suppose you could keep looking elsewhere for raw materials and do the legwork on actually making it yourself. Surely this can't be all the tell has to offer you.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 02, 2017, 06:45:48 am
Hm, speakers are less scary than I have been lead to believe. "Your speakerness, I am a traveling monster hunter and these are my companions. We are merely looking to rest and resupply as we pass through your beautiful city. Then we will continue on our journey to find glory and make the realm a safer place."

[Cutting to the Chase: 2]

Got a pet monster, the speaker says, like you'd expect of clanfolk (Oggie softly grumbles), but you're dressed like traveling nobles and don't have clan insignia. Came from the north from up Anglefork way and you don't have the look or sound of El natives - in fact, your companion there looks she's from the heartlands, real college girl look to her, correct them if they're wrong (the doctor shuffles nervously). So if they had to guess, you're probably refugees from what happened up in Anglefork - got a runner from over that-a-way, said the Option had been deployed and the castle ought to be clear (you raise an eyebrow). And you speak the language real clearly, so you're probably well-acquainted with the capital. All in all, probably some kind of spy.

Before you say much more though, the speaker raises their hand, can you actually hunt monsters though? 'Cause they do have a bit of a ghoul problem at hand and they've heard things about you northfolk - plus you've got one of them minder sword things from the looks of it, and the pet monster does look capable too.

So maybe you help with that and don't cause any trouble, and the honored speaker here will see about letting you off on your way without many more questions?

Oggie looks at you with her trademark "neck snap, Y/N" look, the feats of deduction straining her already low patience.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 03, 2017, 12:26:42 am
Quote
Shores was mostly worried she'd accidentally caused permanent damage, especially to that fascinating thought-construct. She would emphatically state that this was a purely professional and not at all personal concern for a useful sparring partner, Peaks relays amusedly, lest someone get the wrong idea.

"Yes, professional concern, of course," Daniels repeats, nodding assuredly. He's grinning just slightly, though.

Quote
When you produce the manikin, Peaks is surprised. Nabbed that during the feast? Yes, yes. It's not out of charge or anything, they last for a good bit of time. It's instead a failsafe of sorts, she explains - you'd be surprised at the kind of trouble a tiny clay man can get into when lost in the world without its master. In fact that's how the inventor of the manikin died, a very interesting-

-anyway, it's turned itself off for safety reasons. Suppose she could circumvent those. Give it here and she'll get back to you a bit later, it'll take a bit of work. You're going to be stuck here for a few days anyway as you proceed toward the Sky Rig, and from there into the heartlands.
"I shall leave it in your care, then," he says, handing the thing over to her. "I recall you were saying before the mishap you were considering experimenting on my substrate to find out some of its properties. I'm game to go forward with that so long as it doesn't involve mashing me into a pulp with a hammer like last time I tried it; did you want to try some of those now, or should I come back sometime in the next few days?"

Ascertain when a good timeframe for some experiments with Peaks would be - if now, let's go ahead, if not, we can slot time in in what appears to be an approaching timeskip. With that in mind, I'll list a few activities I'll try to accomplish during those few days:

- Go talk to Two Shores, assure her I'm alright, try to arrange another duel with her - perhaps we meet every morning for one if other duties don't interject? Try to ask about those scars she has and what her background with martial training is - she's understandably very impressive with the sword or without. Maybe have breakfast with her before these matches once or twice, it's a nice ritual, as she said.

- Interact with Dan some - get to know him - his personality, capabilities (without damaging the ship), that sort of thing. Maybe do some training with him or somesuch? Maybe Shores would like a friendly go.

- Experiments and such with Twin Peaks, as well as the manikin thing (see above).

- Fires, Pines, and Day are mostly free to do as they want provided they stay in easy contact with me so if I need them for something like entertaining Dan or figuring out what the manikin can do or carrying messages or whatever I can call them. See what my impressions of them are and such.

- Other than that, see if I have any duties as a member of the Vault of Heavens - get those done as well as I can if so. Try not to accidentally upstage the captain again, I'd be alright with trying my luck against him but he might be petty towards Shores again and I can't have that.

Oh, Peaks figures she'll have plenty of work to start with just from the samples she collected - well, maybe just one more for the road, something from the back, she says as she gets the forceps. She's got some very sharp scissors too, you notice, barely hurts at all by your standards. Now on your way, she'll get back to you when she's done with the manikin - probably sometime tomorrow.

Anyway, you decide to catch up with Two Shores first and foremost - she seems to have settled down to a dinner of bread and water, sipping the water microliters at a time, alternating with nibbling on the bread softly. Both of these she sets down as you find her - oh, Mr. Daniels, she sighs in relief. Good to see you in fine health.

You sit down opposite her with Dan at your side - she has a more nutritious dinner and a small log (for the murder-thought to scratch at instead of scuffing the deck like it usually does) brought to you by an acid-scarred crewman that doesn't meet your gaze, and takes the time to offer apologies about the way the last sparring round went - she got overexcited and, well, she is a little quick on the blade, her instructors always said. It was unprofessional to sunder your sword to that degree without testing it a little more extensively first and she is deeply, truly sorry for this lapse in sparring etiquette.

You do accept the apology while trying to minimize the injuries suffered - it really only scrambled your mind a bit, you wave off the concern, really only took a bit of sleep to put things back in their right places.

Shores, however, does not relent - had that been an actual sword she had broken while she was in the Academy, she would be honor-bound to make restitution for damaging a valuable instrument due to clumsiness. A master should only hurt those that she means to, and to minimize the injury suffered is to pathologically excuse her incompetence. In a word, unacceptable.

No, she continues, there is only one plausible way forward from this. She will have to train you, free of the usual charge, as a way to make amends for damages suffered. Against normal policy she will have to share her knowledge of how to use a sword or, in your case, deadly sharp thought construct in line with the best practices of the School of Move Like This. This would constitute a fairly strict training regimen beyond your normal sparring that would require you to spend almost entire days practicing your forms and strikes until your unrefined techniques and assorted supernatural techniques are whittled into perfect, optimized tools of personal combat.

So yes, despite her terrible misgivings at teaching her exclusive and very expensive arts to someone not even from El, she absolutely must clench her teeth on this matter and do her utmost to teach you everything she knows. There is simply no other way, Two Shores concludes, as her honor and that of her school is on the line. You can't help but notice that her expression has turned a little mischievous.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 03, 2017, 03:04:43 pm
"You're welcome."

I'd rather not impose further on Lady Craik, and it still seems a bit like cheating to just get the stuff from the pawnbroker, so DIY it is.

The backing should be easy, just use some burlap ribbons. That leaves the adhesive. Let's see: Half a candle, probably tallow; one rat, complete with bones and maybe internal organs, aspirin. Yeah, it's not coming to me. Go for a wander and a think. This place is decrepit enough that there may well be something useful growing out of a wall or floor.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 03, 2017, 04:32:26 pm
"Haha, party is my middle name and I'm not stranger to underground either, being a professional miner churning away tons of stone just to find those precious metals in hiding. Can't compare to you, though, I merely visit where you live."

If two hundred faithful can do this, then what about two thousand? If Moths are the spirit of party, then wouldn't Dragons be excellent spear? They say hunger grows when you eat, and it seems to be true. Though there seems to be a lot of distrust between clans, so better leave that thought until after clansmeet. For now DRINK AND EAT, WE HAVE A LONG TRIP AHEAD.

PS. Not DRINK drink, but normal drink drink.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 04, 2017, 12:40:56 am
"Ah," Daniels replies, trying very hard to keep a straight face and partially succeeding. "Well I see I have no choice but to accept in that case. It's your honor and that of your school at stake, I wouldn't want any part in besmirching it."

He turns to Dan. "Dan, I'm afraid I won't be able to spend an awful lot of time with you over the next little while. If you get bored or anything, go find Pines, Fires, or Day - my assistants, I think you've seen them? - and tell them I said to entertain you in a non-destructive manner."

He regards Shores again. "Or would you be against Dan staying nearby and observing if he wishes, Shores? I doubt his unique body would be entirely suited to Move Like This, so it wouldn't spread the art past what you'd wish."

Fuck yeah I wanna learn to Move Like This, baby (figuratively speaking, I don't think anyone on board besides Dan would possibly count as a baby, and no doubt the more acid-scarred folks would be inclined to disagree on that account).
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 04, 2017, 07:21:14 am
Crap. I did not make a good first impression. We better just deal with these ghouls and pass through town before we raise any more suspicions.

I give Oggie my best "don't do that, we could all die if you do that" look, then turn back to the speaker. "We will help you with your problem, then be on our way. Where are these ghouls?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Toaster on August 04, 2017, 12:29:47 pm
Thomas scratched his head.  This was becoming confusing.  "Um.  Thanks... Student?  Uh... what's the best way to Elizabeth?  That's where the airport...
 dragons... where we are headed."

Ask a silly question.


((EDIT:  Also, sorry for my lateness.  Glad to see this back up and running.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 05, 2017, 06:59:10 am
Quote from: TopHat on August 03, 2017, 03:04:43 pm
"You're welcome."

I'd rather not impose further on Lady Craik, and it still seems a bit like cheating to just get the stuff from the pawnbroker, so DIY it is.

The backing should be easy, just use some burlap ribbons. That leaves the adhesive. Let's see: Half a candle, probably tallow; one rat, complete with bones and maybe internal organs, aspirin. Yeah, it's not coming to me. Go for a wander and a think. This place is decrepit enough that there may well be something useful growing out of a wall or floor.

[The World Is Your Garden: 6]

You suppose it shouldn't be that difficult to find a sticky enough mold somewhere down here, but to get the real good stuff you suspect you need to go deeper down - you find a downward walkway and descend into the darkness, following the architectural sequence of progressively more ancient ruins. The cobwebs grow thicker, their hollow and long-dead occupants more numerous, clammy rainbows of fungus sprouting from every corner and the stone of ancient ruins running like old glass and melding together under the influence of the local varieties of decomposing life. You see the cobblestones of an ancient street glisten at the very bottom with the cold moisture of the bog, which appears to have soaked through the stone itself, and the stale air saps at your warmth similarly to the bog itself.

You continue to make progress, occasionally palming a patch of promising-looking fungus and leaving disappointed, settling into a comfortable routine of getting personally acquainted with fungi, moss and bacterial explosions mutated by the curse of undeath with nary a worry for how amazingly toxic most of them are, and their respective shapes grow more bizarre slowly enough that running into a brownish, leathery, elongated one with five curiously shaped protrusions doesn't even give you much pause.

When it shakes back, however, you look up and notice its owner - a creature with eight emaciated (very much human in origin, if not execution) legs covered in fine hair with five joints to a leg and two... manipalps, you suppose the word would be, one of which you've just shaken, eight wet human eyes (no two from the same owner) looking at you from a central cubist reimagining of a combined human torso and head. Behind it a massive, silvery netted bag of feebly struggling not-quite-corpses completes the spidery look of the thing, all of which you get to appreciate as both of you stare at each other dumbfounded, the eight eyes squinting in displeasure at your light.

Your second impulse is to beat feet immediately, but this proves complicated as you notice you've stepped on what looks to be the creature's web, which seems to have stuck to your feet with all the durability of superglue. Your vision trails back to the creature's face, where thick strands of rapidly congealing saliva appear to be trailing from its several mouths in an unbroken line to one of your feet.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 03, 2017, 04:32:26 pm
"Haha, party is my middle name and I'm not stranger to underground either, being a professional miner churning away tons of stone just to find those precious metals in hiding. Can't compare to you, though, I merely visit where you live."

If two hundred faithful can do this, then what about two thousand? If Moths are the spirit of party, then wouldn't Dragons be excellent spear? They say hunger grows when you eat, and it seems to be true. Though there seems to be a lot of distrust between clans, so better leave that thought until after clansmeet. For now DRINK AND EAT, WE HAVE A LONG TRIP AHEAD.

PS. Not DRINK drink, but normal drink drink.

Not that much of a long trip, the elder tells you after going out to take a look outside, Elizabeth is practically right there - should be there within a day! The Moths all give a cheer at this, making good time, good show, excellent work! And of course they also drink to that. Not too much, though. Still have to get somewhere today after all, and considering the raw creative power your drinking binges now possess you may want to employ some discretion about starting wild parties at the drop of a hat.

Breakfast is had and any minor hangovers or regrets are chased away with generous helpings of mead, and the Moths seem in very high spirits after the day of celebration, enough to entirely offset their misgivings about traveling in sunlight. They don't even seem terribly bothered about running into any Dragons.

You do notice Lee giving you a bit of the old stinkeye as everyone's getting ready to go, however. Can't imagine why.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 04, 2017, 12:40:56 am
"Ah," Daniels replies, trying very hard to keep a straight face and partially succeeding. "Well I see I have no choice but to accept in that case. It's your honor and that of your school at stake, I wouldn't want any part in besmirching it."

He turns to Dan. "Dan, I'm afraid I won't be able to spend an awful lot of time with you over the next little while. If you get bored or anything, go find Pines, Fires, or Day - my assistants, I think you've seen them? - and tell them I said to entertain you in a non-destructive manner."

He regards Shores again. "Or would you be against Dan staying nearby and observing if he wishes, Shores? I doubt his unique body would be entirely suited to Move Like This, so it wouldn't spread the art past what you'd wish."

Fuck yeah I wanna learn to Move Like This, baby (figuratively speaking, I don't think anyone on board besides Dan would possibly count as a baby, and no doubt the more acid-scarred folks would be inclined to disagree on that account).

It would not particularly do to involve your juggler in the training, Shores says, as time is somewhat short and there is a considerable amount for you to learn. Better that he keep your associates on their toes in the meantime - it solves two issues in one fell swoop, does it not? You may want to give it a note to relay, however, as you are the only one that seems to speak its language at the present time.

Following her advice, you send Dan to be cared for by Fires, Pines and Day with a note from you pinned on his claw specifying that he be kept amused with a minimum of property damage (damage to persons is more negotiable, but definitely to be kept reversible).

That done, you turn back toward Two Shores and ask when she'd like to begin. She thinks a second - would right now work well for you? She has had enough food and sleep at the moment to tide her over for a week or so, so she is quite prepared to burn the midnight oil, as they say. Time is short, so you may as well make the best of it.

You shrug - you mostly sleep to fix up your wounds, not as a physiological necessity, so you guess if she doesn't have a problem with it either, you could go all night and day as well.

Well then, Shores says, then you may begin right now. She rises from her dinner spot and starts leading you over to the part of the deck where you sparred before. The good news, she says, are that the typical process of alchemical refinement that is involved with training a swordsman to Move Like This is superfluous with your particular physical nature, which is good - it will make training you far more efficient than normally possible with somebody entirely uninitiated. There will be far less meditation involved, for one, which has always been her least favorite element of the curriculum.

This leads you to expect somewhat more action than you really get in the next hours, however, as Shores insists that the first thing you do is a more in-depth analysis of your abilities. She offers you bronze bars to twist into knots as she studies your untethered strength, points out trees in the distance to give a trimming to with your murder-thought to analyze its velocity, dimensions and slicing action, orders you around on a variety of bizarre physical exercises combined with sword forms to understand the exact timing of your movements, all of which she studies down to the millisecond after getting a representative enough sample.

Finally she asks to study your Words, and after a few solid landings of both consuming silence and great sweeps of your murder-thought that gouge deep furrows in the shore decides that the latter is likely to be of more interest in her studies. You go through many variations of rending in motions, stances and other variables (including how close she's standing to you and how loudly she tells you to do it), which works quite well in waking up most of the crew in the morning as well.

All in all, Two Shores says at the end of your twelve-hour physical diagnostic as she makes a final few observational notes, she would call this a very productive first session - your basic capabilities and tools vastly exceed those of the average trainee, herself included. A half-hour break to reflect on what she has learned and perhaps get some water, and then she will get back to you with some preliminary exercises, she says before briskly walking off, scribbling thoughtfully all the way.

At this point you notice Peaks Ever-Crumbling leaning on the mast as she's sat down for a breakfast of exotic fruit, your manikin at her right side performing a jig on two bronze peg legs. She waves to you as she peels an unusually spiky variety of orange. The manikin notices you as well in the process, and rushes over awkwardly and hugs your right shin in proxy gratitude.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 04, 2017, 07:21:14 am
Crap. I did not make a good first impression. We better just deal with these ghouls and pass through town before we raise any more suspicions.

I give Oggie my best "don't do that, we could all die if you do that" look, then turn back to the speaker. "We will help you with your problem, then be on our way. Where are these ghouls?"

Oggie skeptically studies the speaker as you give your disappointing answer, but makes no moves.

[Let Me Explain Your Job To You: 3]

As for the ghouls, the problem is that nobody really knows, according to the speaker. That's what they're hiring you on for - city's getting restless about disappearances, shapes in the night, sudden cases of mass amnesia. Folk are getting afraid to walk the streets at night, and if this is a ghoul that'll only get worse, exponential-like, 'cause that's how ghouls work, they feed on fear, you see? Just a day or two ago at the Nuts & Humphrey, where that runner was staying, a girl he was having a good time started screaming until her heart gave out - very bad vibes have been going around in that quarter today, ghoul's been walking there today according to the locals. Get out there and take care of it - do it sharpish and with a minimum of fuss, and maybe there'll even be a more material token of their gratitude in it for you, eh?

Quote from: Toaster on August 04, 2017, 12:29:47 pm
Thomas scratched his head.  This was becoming confusing.  "Um.  Thanks... Student?  Uh... what's the best way to Elizabeth?  That's where the airport...
 dragons... where we are headed."

Ask a silly question.

Your answer: Elizabeth is a city and also a person (see: minding, collective thought, transcendent experimentation) and welcomes travelers of all kinds if their intentions are suitably harmless. Therefore the best way to enter Elizabeth is to make your intentions plain and request safe entry from the city itself once within reasonably audible distance, the most powerful method for which would be the use of a Word used creatively or unmistakably, as Words do not particularly obey the laws of acoustics and thus stand to reach much further than shouting would even in optimal conditions (see: Words, supralinguistics, best shouting practices). If you feel your current ensemble of Words is insufficient to carry such a request to the city from a given distance, a suitable Word can be provided to you at the cost of a fulfillment.

You have one fulfillment remaining.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Toaster on August 05, 2017, 07:47:41 am
"Uh.  Ask nicely, got it.  I think I'll just be on my way now thanks, Mr. Student."

Exit.  Head back out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 06, 2017, 08:45:58 am
"Aah!" Spider! Big spider!
Flip the helmet on, or open, or whatever it is you do to let the gatherd light out at it.

((I've just noticed that I'm still on 5gp, I think you forgot to deduct the second one.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 06, 2017, 09:02:44 am
Maybe I should have asked for the terrifying details before I agreed to this. Too late now, I guess.

If I'm still being escorted by guards, I ask them to lead me to the Nuts & Humphrey. If I can walk around on my own, I ask for directions to the... tavern, I guess? Then begin heading there.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 06, 2017, 11:03:31 am
She gives me a stinkeye? Me? THIS MIGHTY ME?! Eye for eye, stinkeye for stinkeye.

I wonder if I can take that longhouse along. It would be handy to have a party place within arms reach. See if I can shunt it into Jehwlheimr or somewhere and back. Regardless of the result, it's time move! Here I come Elizabeth, prepare yourself!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 07, 2017, 03:03:40 am
Quote
All in all, Two Shores says at the end of your twelve-hour physical diagnostic as she makes a final few observational notes, she would call this a very productive first session - your basic capabilities and tools vastly exceed those of the average trainee, herself included. A half-hour break to reflect on what she has learned and perhaps get some water, and then she will get back to you with some preliminary exercises, she says before briskly walking off, scribbling thoughtfully all the way.

"Excellent! I'll be here or very nearby."

Quote
At this point you notice Peaks Ever-Crumbling leaning on the mast as she's sat down for a breakfast of exotic fruit, your manikin at her right side performing a jig on two bronze peg legs. She waves to you as she peels an unusually spiky variety of orange. The manikin notices you as well in the process, and rushes over awkwardly and hugs your right shin in proxy gratitude.

"Ah hello, my friend," Daniels exclaims, picking the manikin up gently. "You're all fixed up now, I see. A much better state for you to be in than when I first saw you, I think. Thank you, Peaks," he says, nodding to the second mate. "Have you given it a name? Or perhaps I should ask you that, my friend. Do you have a name you'd prefer me to call you? I could give you one if you like; they're important where I come from."

Meet the new friend! Thank the nice alchemist for fixing it up for me. Make conversation all around.

Possible name suggestions include: Stan, Stiltskin, Haemon, Manny for male-ish names, and Jill, Eve, Ava, Linda for female-ish names. Maybe float them by the manikin and see if any of them fit the thing's preference? Maybe Peaks would want to contribute some examples? Naming's an important thing, and should be undertaken carefully, except when it's not (see Dan, who can only be rationalized as an appropriate name in retrospect).

((Actually I just realized it's kinda funnily appropriate that I named the juggler Dan, since it and I have basically gone along the same life path since coming into being - that being A: existing in immense pain, B: messily murdering things and causing collateral damage, and C: eating things and obliviously making friends along the way.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 07, 2017, 11:35:10 am
Quote from: Toaster on August 05, 2017, 07:47:41 am
"Uh.  Ask nicely, got it.  I think I'll just be on my way now thanks, Mr. Student."

Exit.  Head back out.

You leave the darkness behind and Evey follows. Your fulfillment will be kept on record should you wish to utilize it in the future.

Thank you. Come again.

You find a rope in the dark and begin climbing it - at the other end awaits Silver, who is quite pleased that you've returned. He has to say, waiting in a terrible dark cold room is awful enough, doing it alone is absolutely horrifying in ways he had not actually anticipated. What did you find, if you don't mind him asking?

There's a hole down there, Evey says, made for idjits who ask too many questions. You fall into it and foom, get swallowed right up. She could show him if he likes.

Well, Silver replies, that certainly doesn't sound like something he'd enjoy going down to explore. No option for closing it, is there? It's a little unnerving, truth be told, perhaps you could just go off and impose on some of the other folk, surely it'd be both warmer and cozier to sleep in a pile of other equally or less frightened individuals.

Quote from: TopHat on August 06, 2017, 08:45:58 am
"Aah!" Spider! Big spider!
Flip the helmet on, or open, or whatever it is you do to let the gatherd light out at it.

[Here's That Little Light of Mine: 2]

Your helmet hums, then thrums with impending release before everything in about a 100-foot radius becomes blinding white for a fraction of a second, the spider-thing hissing, fungi blasting spores all over the place, anywhere from a hundred to a thousand beasts of many shapes and sizes shrieking wildly as they run quickly away, the street suddenly coming uncharacteristically alive as a real ruckus begins to unfold.

The spider, for what it's worth, doesn't appear to be at all able to see you at all. This sadly does not stop it from slapping at you reflexively, which due to its bulk and considerable strength is more than enough to put you off-balance and land you on your bottom - right onto more of the spider's webbing.

The net usefulness of this maneuver appears to begin and end at you having a more impressive view of the whole spider, which seems to be flailing in its web, retreating a little and very noticeably cursing in an ancient and guttural tongue you struggle to interpret.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 06, 2017, 09:02:44 am
Maybe I should have asked for the terrifying details before I agreed to this. Too late now, I guess.

If I'm still being escorted by guards, I ask them to lead me to the Nuts & Humphrey. If I can walk around on my own, I ask for directions to the... tavern, I guess? Then begin heading there.

The guards have long cleared out (standing in front of a speaker's house is asking for trouble), which you assume is a strong indication nobody would mind you wandering about at your leisure, and possibly that you're being also watched by other means. You go out and look for the Nuts & Humphrey with your two companions, wondering what manner of horrors await you in town.

[Ghouls Under The Bridge: 2]

The doctor looks terribly puzzled as you go on - she's never heard of such a thing as a ghoul, and she's studied quite a lot about this. Well, that's not strictly true - she's heard of the word before and knows that it's usually what they call a slightly mutated traveler from the Kingdom of the Dead, a sort of person who might not necessarily eat corpses or kill people, but who you'd safely assume such a thing about due to being, you know, from the Kingdom of the Dead. Nothing good ever comes from there.

She does get the feeling that the speaker meant something quite different when they were talking about the ghoul. Say what you will about undead raiders, but set them on fire while beating them with a stick, preferably with a large group of associates, and they're not really much trouble at all. Might be some manner of stoatfolk myth - they do have a certain folklore that, aside from a few not very well-liked scholars back in the college, has mostly escaped scholarly attention.

[See the Sights: 4, 4]

Speaker's Bridge is a lot larger than you'd expect, and where the Nuts & Humphrey might be, or even what it might be, somewhat escapes you, so you do the sensible thing and flag down a stoat for information. You learn several things - first of all, what would a couple of nice ladies like you and yours want with the Nuts & Humphrey? 'Tis a terrible place - didn't you hear about the terrible incident, a girl died! Even with a monkey as impressive as yours, they're not at all sure you'd be safe!

Second of all, when you ask more insistently and the monkey comment provokes a helpful stare from Oggie, you are told that it's to be found around the docks, not far from the bridge site - the new one, not the old one, it's right near the harbor by the fabrics warehouse, can't miss the sign - they paint them real colorful by the harbor.

Thirdly, they say at last in a whisper, if you must insist in going there, think happy thoughts and consider every step - the ghoul walks the streets today, and you never know who it'll try to eat next.

All together this advice is good enough to guide you to the harbor, where a sign painted either very abstractly or highly ineptly over an older one informs you of the Nuts & Humphrey's presence, which is also helped that, much like the speaker's house, it seems to have attained the unenviable quality of a zone of exclusion, laying curiously silent and deserted for what surely couldn't be that unpopular of an alehouse.

It's not much nicer inside, either. Nobody's quite cleaned up the blood around the center table, a morose stoatman innkeeper sits by the fireplace with his head in his hands, doing his best to curl up into a sphere. A few other patrons also remain - a stoatman and a young woman sit in one corner, and a cheaply adorned stoatman musician has set her drum on the bar as she helps herself to the drinks.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 06, 2017, 11:03:31 am
She gives me a stinkeye? Me? THIS MIGHTY ME?! Eye for eye, stinkeye for stinkeye.

I wonder if I can take that longhouse along. It would be handy to have a party place within arms reach. See if I can shunt it into Jehwlheimr or somewhere and back. Regardless of the result, it's time move! Here I come Elizabeth, prepare yourself!

Lee's as good as taking stares as she is at giving them, and unfortunately seems entirely able and willing to outlast you in both intensity and patience. You could cheat, you guess, with minding and such, but that just seems unsporting.

Meanwhile, what's the point in taking the longhouse? You can have as many as you like exactly like it in Jehwlheimr, and all you need to make one just as good or better is to get blasted with your Moth friends and go on a creative binge. Folding it up and putting it into your mindscape would be way more bother than just creating one when needed.

[The Final Approach: 3]

In any case, the clan stands ready and you soon set out for Elizabeth, skulking through the surrounding countryside and watching out for any kind of danger on the way - fortunately no Dragons are about on this side of the city, but you do run afoul of something arguably just as bad - the Monkey delegation, rich in winsome girls and delightfully well-groomed fellows garbed in their traditional furs and excellent jewelry. They start to do their best in mixing with the Moths (who suddenly become quiet and begin to close ranks), rattling off pleasantries like "didn't I see you in the last clansmeet, what was your name" or "you look to be in good health, been a good season for the Moths, has it".

One of the more beautiful of their number approaches you on the fringes, a woman with exceedingly long brown hair and a voluminous fur coat and cap, a golden ring on each of her fingers - aren't you new, she says, she would think she would remember a handsome and well-endowed individual such as yourself on the road, is it your first clansmeet? Her name is Dell, it's her first clansmeet as well! She's so excited!

Quote from: Xantalos on August 07, 2017, 03:03:40 am
Quote
All in all, Two Shores says at the end of your twelve-hour physical diagnostic as she makes a final few observational notes, she would call this a very productive first session - your basic capabilities and tools vastly exceed those of the average trainee, herself included. A half-hour break to reflect on what she has learned and perhaps get some water, and then she will get back to you with some preliminary exercises, she says before briskly walking off, scribbling thoughtfully all the way.

"Excellent! I'll be here or very nearby."

Quote
At this point you notice Peaks Ever-Crumbling leaning on the mast as she's sat down for a breakfast of exotic fruit, your manikin at her right side performing a jig on two bronze peg legs. She waves to you as she peels an unusually spiky variety of orange. The manikin notices you as well in the process, and rushes over awkwardly and hugs your right shin in proxy gratitude.

"Ah hello, my friend," Daniels exclaims, picking the manikin up gently. "You're all fixed up now, I see. A much better state for you to be in than when I first saw you, I think. Thank you, Peaks," he says, nodding to the second mate. "Have you given it a name? Or perhaps I should ask you that, my friend. Do you have a name you'd prefer me to call you? I could give you one if you like; they're important where I come from."

Meet the new friend! Thank the nice alchemist for fixing it up for me. Make conversation all around.

Possible name suggestions include: Stan, Stiltskin, Haemon, Manny for male-ish names, and Jill, Eve, Ava, Linda for female-ish names. Maybe float them by the manikin and see if any of them fit the thing's preference? Maybe Peaks would want to contribute some examples? Naming's an important thing, and should be undertaken carefully, except when it's not (see Dan, who can only be rationalized as an appropriate name in retrospect).

There's something about the name Linda that makes the manikin excited. Suppose you shouldn't question its choice.

And you're very welcome, says Peaks, it was pretty fun to get little Linda there running around again. Might have put a little too much pep in her step in the activation, but it's honestly pretty hard to tell what an optimal temperament for a manikin is - she suspects you like them a bit feistier than average, so it all works out in a way.

When you pick Linda up, she starts looking around very actively, and holds on to your hand with both of her arms so that you don't inadvertently drop her.

Anyway, all fine and good on that front, Peaks continues, but there's also a thing she wanted to ask you and- well, no good way to say this, but would you mind lending her a few pounds of your flesh, she says with an enthusiastic smile and produces an extremely sharp carving implement. It's for a good cause, she swears - she's quite possibly on the verge of a breakthrough!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 07, 2017, 12:08:27 pm
Daniels carefully puts Linda down and considers Peaks' request. "Describe to me what breakthrough you're close to making," he decides. "Don't mince words at first, I'll tell you if you need to present it simpler. I'm not opposed, but I would like to know more about myself if at all possible." Plus the last time someone asked me for some flesh I ended up practically made out of paper maché, and I'd rather avoid that ever happening again.

Hold on now, what wonderful science are you discovering with my flesh?

((As an aside, I'm fairly sure I'll have internet where I'm going for the next few days, but if I do miss a few turns I think it can be safely assumed that I'll keep training with Shores and interacting with whoever's nearby in whatever breaks happen to be there.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 08, 2017, 11:03:57 am
Great. I've bought myself, what, a few seconds?
Is there anything in reach that I might be able to cut the web with? A sharp cobble or something? I knew I'd need a knife at some point.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 08, 2017, 01:44:08 pm
"Yeah, my first time as well."

Adopt Moth mentality and make no commitment. Keeping chatting simple and short. Not really my type of behaviour, but Moths are my people now.
Probe minds of these Monkeys very, very carefully. Their intentions, feelings, attitudes, opinions, and compare them to Moths. Is there potential converts?

Oh, and return Elder's pigstick. I got Spear of Apocalypse after all.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Toaster on August 08, 2017, 06:29:18 pm
Thomas nodded.  "Some odd fellow lives down there.  Clearly nuts, but seemed harmless enough.  Evey's a friend of his; she's hanging out with us for a bit.
  But sure, yes, let's grab Gamble and get with the others.

Grab Gamble and get with the others.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 09, 2017, 06:50:55 am
I ask around for more details about the incident with the girl who died. If my questions seem to be upsetting people, I head over to the bar and pour a round of drinks to liven everyone's spirits.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 09, 2017, 11:13:04 am
Quote from: Xantalos on August 07, 2017, 12:08:27 pm
Daniels carefully puts Linda down and considers Peaks' request. "Describe to me what breakthrough you're close to making," he decides. "Don't mince words at first, I'll tell you if you need to present it simpler. I'm not opposed, but I would like to know more about myself if at all possible." Plus the last time someone asked me for some flesh I ended up practically made out of paper maché, and I'd rather avoid that ever happening again.

Hold on now, what wonderful science are you discovering with my flesh?

((As an aside, I'm fairly sure I'll have internet where I'm going for the next few days, but if I do miss a few turns I think it can be safely assumed that I'll keep training with Shores and interacting with whoever's nearby in whatever breaks happen to be there.))

The breakthrough? Put simply, you know how you essentially have unlimited strength (well, limited by you being lighter than whatever you're exerting it against, theoretically)? It might be possible to extend that to other parameters to help correct for that, she'll need to experiment a little bit with more of your bits before she can say for sure. Or a lot more, if you're ready to give that much up. Would be handy to, say, work with the complete arm or leg, but she understands that you might have other plans for your limbs so she figured she'd compromise and just ask for non-essential parts first. Experiment a little bit, you know, see if she can't reprogram some relevant bits with liberal application of select chemicals.

Anyway, time's a-wastin', Peaks says, waving the carving knife impatiently. You got any flesh to spare at the moment or should she come back later?

Quote from: TopHat on August 08, 2017, 11:03:57 am
Great. I've bought myself, what, a few seconds?
Is there anything in reach that I might be able to cut the web with? A sharp cobble or something? I knew I'd need a knife at some point.

[Fun With Sharp Objects: 6]

As luck would have it, a hollowed stag beetle happens to be passing at that exact moment and pauses before the web you've landed in, knowing better than to walk right into it - you grab it and begin sawing madly at the web strands, and find that you're doing rather well at getting yourself free, shearing a good chunk of the thick web strands off as start getting yourself back to your feet.

The stag beetle, however, seems to have taken a great deal of offense at your handling of it, and wastes no time in starting to saw into your hand in retaliation and begins to crawl up your arm.

[Blinded By The Light: 6]

The spider, for its part, appears to not be regaining its eyesight any time soon, and has begun crawling up the nearby wall, kicking every which way as it blinks very rapidly and shakes its cephalothorax. The hissed profanities pouring out of its mouth aren't getting any milder.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 08, 2017, 01:44:08 pm
"Yeah, my first time as well."

Adopt Moth mentality and make no commitment. Keeping chatting simple and short. Not really my type of behaviour, but Moths are my people now.
Probe minds of these Monkeys very, very carefully. Their intentions, feelings, attitudes, opinions, and compare them to Moths. Is there potential converts?

Oh, and return Elder's pigstick. I got Spear of Apocalypse after all.

[Do the Monkey: 5+1]

You scan the Monkeys as a group and find, unsurprisingly, that their chief impulse seems to be that of consuming greed - specifically a burning desire to own everything they see or find, particularly things that someone else finds valuable. Whereas Moths are skulkers by nature, the Monkeys are born and bred thieves and respect shrewdness and opulence. The latter may possibly prove a good vector for inoculating them with a fondness for lavish parties, and they are indeed familiar with the concept of inviting a lot of people over to drink heavily with, share stories of adventures had and famous legends.

Of course, what you feel you can expect from a Monkey at a party is that they'll drink markedly less than most, act drunker than a sizable portion of the others, and then most of the other guests will find themselves short a few possessions when the sun rises.

While considering this you chat with Dell noncommittally and exchange a few pleasantries, but nothing meaningful is exchanged between you (though you spot her eying your pigsticker as you pass it back to the elder in the middle of the crowd). As you close ranks with the rest of the Moths and keep a close watch for the other clan trying anything, they start to quickly lose interest and break off from you in favor of bothering an enormous contingent of gray-faced Goats instead, who are a much more trusting tribe on balance, which they compensate with not having anything of actual value.

At your current pace, however, it is not long before you reach the gates of Elizabeth - it's not a very big city, all things considered, perhaps large enough to host twenty thousand at most, but it is certainly ancient and alien to no small degree. Its walls are stupendously tall and covered in elaborate reliefs of faceless people in a wide variety of positions and activities, immaculately carved along the entire length of the walls. A few gray figures with no humanoid features mill about, waving at your group as you approach - a few others have signs like "GOAT CLAN" or "MONKEYS THIS WAY" designating particular entrances and guides.

The gates are many in number and placed as if the maker was not terribly concerned about security - which makes sense, you suppose, considering how you can sense the mind of the maker behind every guide and stone, subtly guiding every element with seeming unity.

As Elizabeth notices your group, the gray human-sized manikins swarm in your direction, but mostly on account of curiosity - it is rare that Moths approach in daylight. Unprecedented, even. She had quarters prepared for you in the catacombs - has there been a change of tastes? This wasn't planned for at all!

Quote from: Toaster on August 08, 2017, 06:29:18 pm
Thomas nodded.  "Some odd fellow lives down there.  Clearly nuts, but seemed harmless enough.  Evey's a friend of his; she's hanging out with us for a bit.
  But sure, yes, let's grab Gamble and get with the others.

Grab Gamble and get with the others.

Your mind reaches for something vaguely Gamble-shaped in your perception, but finds nothing there. You look down the hole, but there's nobody there - or at least nobody who would care to answer.

Silver looks at you in confusion - who's Gamble? The fellow you met down in the hole?

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 09, 2017, 06:50:55 am
I ask around for more details about the incident with the girl who died. If my questions seem to be upsetting people, I head over to the bar and pour a round of drinks to liven everyone's spirits.

[Efficient Questioning: 1, 1]

The musician is already helping herself to the drinks. The innkeeper is drunk and quietly suffering at the hearth, cursing their terrible luck. The two remaining patrons seem merely inhospitable at first, but turn out to be instead veritably petrified with some unnamed fear. The woman looks right through you (and Oggie, who less than helpfully looms over everybody as you go to ask them questions) and seems to be slowly shaking the stoatman next to her, who makes no response and stares down at his feet.

None of them pay you any attention or acknowledge your presence, and it doesn't take you very long to figure that this isn't just because they're terribly rude. Something is wrong with them - the room itself seems tainted with lingering dread, rooting these poor folk to their spots as they're stuck in fearful reveries.

[Side Investigation: 4]

The doctor, of course, finds all of this very curious as she pokes around in her own sort of way - literally, actually, as she tests the assembled folk for any response to prodding and finds very little - indeed, she says, these people seem spellbound in some manner of routine. And they probably haven't been like this for very long, which would imply that the fear that grips them is the sort that mutates and changes over time. Most interesting!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 09, 2017, 12:25:18 pm
Grab the beetle with my other hand, preferably in a manner in which it can't hit me with anything dangerous, and keep sawing myself free.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: AoshimaMichio on August 09, 2017, 12:56:50 pm
Better let Elder handle communications since I'm a newcomer here. If he's not up for it, then explanation goes in way of "scary shit went down in tunnels, and good party afterwards made sun more tolerable".

Yeah, Monkeys are banned from Jehwlheimr, don't want thieves in there. What about other clans in vicinity?

Also, feel up Elizabeth's mind extremely carefully, courteously, and definitely non-sexually. Measure our difference, what kind of gal is she? If she notices my moves, greet silently and ask directions to The Grave of Red Clouds Parting. Actually ask directions in any case.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 09, 2017, 01:01:54 pm
Daniels' eyebrows rise in recognition. That was quite a gift the alchemist was hoping to accomplish.

"How much do you need?"

Figuring out how to jailbreak my flesh? Hell yeah I'll give you some samples, just don't take too much from any one place.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Toaster on August 09, 2017, 08:52:50 pm
((Oh dear.  Poor Gamble.))

Thomas blinked.  "No, silly.  Gamble, bearded fellow, was the first in your group I ran in to, was wearing the insurance contracts for a bit?  Don't be silly,
 let's go on out."

Go out to the others, with or without Gamble.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 10, 2017, 01:15:37 pm
Well these guys are hardly helpful. "Let's see if we can get any of them to snap out of this."

I try various means of waking the patrons up: shaking them, throwing a drink in one's face, tickling them, etc. I encourage Oggie and the doctor to try out any ideas they have, as long as they don't seem likely to injure the patrons or further terrify them.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 11, 2017, 01:52:12 pm
Quote from: TopHat on August 09, 2017, 12:25:18 pm
Grab the beetle with my other hand, preferably in a manner in which it can't hit me with anything dangerous, and keep sawing myself free.

[Still Got My Other Hand: 1]

The beetle is ready for you this time and with a mighty sweep of its sharp carapace takes one of your fingers clean off, grabbing the severed bit in its mandibles and skittering off into the dark with it before you've recovered, leaving you there bleeding and still stuck to the web by your feet.

In addition, the commotion you've stirred up down here is attracting several curious eyes - an ornery street sweeper glares down at you from a catwalk above, as does a fairly sharp-looking guardsperson, though neither of them seem very keen on offering you any bloody help from the looks of it.

Quote from: AoshimaMichio on August 09, 2017, 12:56:50 pm
Better let Elder handle communications since I'm a newcomer here. If he's not up for it, then explanation goes in way of "scary shit went down in tunnels, and good party afterwards made sun more tolerable".

Yeah, Monkeys are banned from Jehwlheimr, don't want thieves in there. What about other clans in vicinity?

Also, feel up Elizabeth's mind extremely carefully, courteously, and definitely non-sexually. Measure our difference, what kind of gal is she? If she notices my moves, greet silently and ask directions to The Grave of Red Clouds Parting. Actually ask directions in any case.

The gray manikins prove sufficiently inquisitive and distracting to amuse you all well enough for the coming minutes as Elizabeth reconfigures herself to permit you proper entrance worthy of a clansmeet, and the elder is most eager to explain the unlikely set of adventures that led you all the way here!

[Preparations for the Meet: 2]

As for other clans, the Goats appear entirely occupied by the Monkeys robbing them blind for sport (not that they particularly mind, being easygoing sorts about that kind of thing) and no others appear to have approached this particular way into the city. You leave them to it and instead turn to the city herself.

[Pleased to Make Your Acquaintance: 3+1]

You can speak to Elizabeth a little more directly than most - her mind is vast and compartmentalized to the point where you doubt you could attract her full attention and reasoning ability, and in any case she seems to be quite busy presently and, while curious about the fact that a minder has somehow found his way into the Moth clan, appears to have greater concerns at the moment.

Such as opening the way, for instance - the gates finally open for the Moths and let all of you into Elizabeth's splendid passages. She is a fine city indeed, built in the finest traditions of ancient El, beautiful when she was born and having only aged gracefully since, free of human life or adherence to a set layout, shifting her districts and buildings around along the years as she sees fit. The city is alive, but currently silent save for some distant voices - other clans, also here for the meet. Most of them seem to have arrived well ahead of you.

The Moths are guided by an entourage of manikins along Elizabeth's shining peaks and bountiful curves, finding your way into her darker places, in your particular case a fittingly complex labyrinth of bizarrely masterwork slums, constructed by a hand familiar with the idea of squalor but too overcome by aesthetic concerns to fully commit to its principles. It is a building that could easily fit a thousand people, rich in alcoves and corridors and cubbyholes and more, and lit very artistically with deep shadows for any enterprising Moth to hide in as they please. The elder, as you might imagine, is quite thankful for such a well-made abode for the clansmeet.

You on the other hand have other concerns - the grave of Red Clouds Parting, to be exact. So you decide to ask the city herself for assistance.

[Gravespotting: 4]

It's near one of the towers, apparently, but Elizabeth sadly can't inform you where exactly as it does tend to be unfortunately difficult to see around that area. Just walk around until you find a sufficiently tall building and look for an appropriate grave marker. Sounds like a person from El, yes? Probably near one of the towers in that case.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 09, 2017, 01:01:54 pm
Daniels' eyebrows rise in recognition. That was quite a gift the alchemist was hoping to accomplish.

"How much do you need?"

Figuring out how to jailbreak my flesh? Hell yeah I'll give you some samples, just don't take too much from any one place.

Oh, just a few pounds like she said. Hold on a second, it'll only hurt for a little bit and, well, just think of the potential dividends!

True to her word, Peaks quite deftly begins to slice at you like so much roast beef, carving out around five pounds of mostly muscle out of your arms and legs and also a little bit out of your abdomen. You stand there and try to power through the pain as she then grabs some disinfectant-enriched glue from her toolkit and pours it down your gaping open wounds, then presses them shut to let it set. Tossing the meaty chunks she extracted into a few jars of yellowish solution she's grabbed for the occasion, she is quick to thank you and then run off quite excitedly to engage in whatever terrible experiments she has planned for this veritable wealth of material.

Not long after you step out of the rapidly coagulating puddle of your own blood Shores returns, and looks a little surprised as she looks up from her notes. Oh dear, she says, are you quite all right? Nothing seems likely to burst, is it, that would throw off her estimates quite a bit if that were the case.

Quote from: Toaster on August 09, 2017, 08:52:50 pm
Thomas blinked.  "No, silly.  Gamble, bearded fellow, was the first in your group I ran in to, was wearing the insurance contracts for a bit?  Don't be silly,
 let's go on out."

Go out to the others, with or without Gamble.

First of all, Silver is reasonably sure that the first one of his group that you ran into was himself - why, he was absolutely petrified at the time, it's embarrassing to recall. Second of all, why would you wear insurance contracts, that wouldn't even work and it sounds quite disrespectful to the hard work of the functionaries who spent veritable hours drafting all of it up into a usable form.

Eh, says Evey, couldn't have been that important of a person, could he? Otherwise someone'd surely remember.

You then check on the others - still sound asleep near as you can tell, although in the omnipresent dark and terrible chill it is easy to lose track of any one person, to the point where you're tempted to check and re-check again.

[A Good Night's Rest: 4]

This isn't a good place for people to be, all things considered. The terrible conditions should have been indication enough, but here your followers seem to have put up for now. To get them moving you will need to wake them and then convince them to come after you in the middle of the night while having precious little idea of where you're going.

Not that this isn't something that's impossible, Silver is quick to add, just that he'd personally much rather finish getting some rest so that you can go places in the morning. Unless that's, well, something you'd absolutely not like to do under any circumstances, which he hopes they would understand just as well as he does.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 10, 2017, 01:15:37 pm
Well these guys are hardly helpful. "Let's see if we can get any of them to snap out of this."

I try various means of waking the patrons up: shaking them, throwing a drink in one's face, tickling them, etc. I encourage Oggie and the doctor to try out any ideas they have, as long as they don't seem likely to injure the patrons or further terrify them.

[Warped By Fear: 3, 2]

Oggie cracks her knuckles - she'd love to help you interrogate these stoats. So you spend a few minutes putting their resolve to the test by various means - pouring liquor up their noses, holding them over the fire, shaking them with the sort of monstrous vigor you've come to expect from Oggie, even tickling. Eventually you do manage to get the musician gibbering well enough to discern at least some form of meaning - she speaks of screaming and blood, and of a fear that takes a sudden and terrible shape, seizes your heart and makes it beat so hard that you begin to bleed from your eyes and ears and pain overtakes everything - it's infectious, she feverishly mutters, transmits itself through the screams, you see...

[A Skilled Deduction: 3]

Well, the doctor says, that does certainly sound like some manner of sorcery at play. Far less straightforward than you'd expect of something called a ghoul - usually you would expect a thing like that to, for instance, squat at a graveyard and munch on spare corpses, perhaps, rather than explode hearts and, from the looks of it, claim people's wits in the process.

It's still here, the musician continues to softly proclaim, it's still here, the ghoul walks the street, the ghoul hides in the eaves... can't you feel it too?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Toaster on August 11, 2017, 02:11:43 pm
No, resting here is fine.  Let's do so.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 11, 2017, 02:27:32 pm
Great. Should have just smashed the thing against the pavement.

Plan B - can I work my way out of these foot wrappings to get myself free?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 11, 2017, 03:06:41 pm
"I think I should be okay," he says, wriggling experimentally. "Worst comes to worst I pull out my mattress and rest for like ten minutes to heal the wounds. You had some exercises, you were saying?"

Im ready to learn, extracted flesh nonwithstanding! Take a short rest on my water mattress if the extraction turns out to have thrown off Shores' calculations.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 13, 2017, 01:45:10 pm
Hm, something that lady said gave me an idea. If the fear is infectious, then it might be curable. That might get rid of the ghoul, or weaken it, or something. The fact that it draws strength from fear is one of the very few things I'm sure about with this situation.

I find an empty liquor bottle, focus on it, and try to fill it with a cure via SYNTHESIS. If it seems like I'm successful, I give a shot of it to one of the afflicted tavern patrons.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 14, 2017, 12:58:30 pm
Quote from: Toaster on August 11, 2017, 02:11:43 pm
No, resting here is fine.  Let's do so.

[Voices in the Night: 5]

Silence and cold reigns as your entire party of travelers snuggles up into a single pile for warmth and safety as against all odds Rabbit traditions come back to the fore - eventually you are informed by Nobody that the sun has risen outside, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief as you can finally get out of this cursed monastery, the morning light doing well at washing the lingering freezing humidity out of your very bones. Most of the party resolves to not sleep in there ever again.

[The Outskirts of Town: 3]

From here it seems that Elizabeth is not far off - Tabernacle has done a little exploring in the area out of sheer lack of anything better to do, and brings mixed news. The good news are that none of the really troubling people appear to have come through this neck of the woods - the cursed monastery and the forbidden ridge have helped you in this.

The far less good news are that Tabernacle is pretty sure he saw a few Treefrogs (helps that Treefrogs don't hide as a rule) off to the northwest, they might come looking around here soonish. Oh boy, Lily can't help but comment, and he left them a convenient trail to follow as well, did he? Tabernacle seems insulted at the notion, but comments no further.

Southwest, Silver wonders? Anything there? More bad news, according to Tabernacle - weird effigies on the ground, wild animals and stuff that've just been gutted and strewn about, very fresh. Shrikes, you hear mutters from the treefishers, very bad people to run into unprepared.

Should just go straight ahead, Helen suggests, dodge the whole bloody lot and make a break for sanctuary. They're all insured, aren't they? Unless that's how you get both Treefrogs and Shrikes, one of the meeker treefishers suggests, which'd be, well... well, it's not something that's fun to think about is all they'll say. Or worse, Dragons see them from the walls and land right on top of them!

A sea of unappealing alternatives of approach stretch before you, but none of them very obviously fatal - there seems to be decreasingly ample cover the closer you get to Elizabeth, as the city herself sits on top of a tall hill that you can make out from here.

Quote from: TopHat on August 11, 2017, 02:27:32 pm
Great. Should have just smashed the thing against the pavement.

Plan B - can I work my way out of these foot wrappings to get myself free?

[I Wanna Get Free: 6]

You unravel your foot wrappings and step out of them, leaving them on the web as you start tiptoeing out of the vicinity. Then you unfortunately snag your flowing skirt on another errant strand, and have to get rid of that as well, which would make things perhaps a little too breezy were wind not seemingly outlawed in the Kingdom of the Dead. Then your hands catch on another bit and off come the hand wraps, and finally your tunic sticks to a wall-bound mesh of webbing as you've nearly made it back onto an upward ramp - at last you come away from the web, bare-assed and wearing little except a waistcoat, your helmet and the moth-eaten hat you've put on top of it.

Looking back at the trail of perfectly serviceable clothing you've left behind, you can't help but feel a touch of regret at having gotten into such a sticky situation to begin with.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 11, 2017, 03:06:41 pm
"I think I should be okay," he says, wriggling experimentally. "Worst comes to worst I pull out my mattress and rest for like ten minutes to heal the wounds. You had some exercises, you were saying?"

Im ready to learn, extracted flesh nonwithstanding! Take a short rest on my water mattress if the extraction turns out to have thrown off Shores' calculations.

You do appear to have lost a lot of blood, Two Shores comments, she would advise you spend ten minutes to recover it. You are in a hurry, but admittedly not in that much of a hurry.

And so you do - the rubber mattress is arranged and navigated into position quite readily (interesting choice for bedding, Shores comments) and you settle down for a nap. And a good thing that you did, as Shores' training regimen does not really waste time and get right down to brass tacks, which is to say she spends the next 24 hours or so guiding you along exercises aimed specifically to shave off precious moments from basically anything related to fighting or movement, especially with regards to your murder-thought, upon which she lavishes special attention.

The key, good sir, is to learn how to apply yourself fully through the weapons at your disposal, Two Shores tells you critically. And the thing that displeases her most about your murder-thought as you call it is that you're moving it through vague orders and eye movements - are you aware that your eyes wander all the time and minutely twitch practically every instant? And thought-operated as well, extremely inefficient given your overall construction. This will need to be fixed, what you require is to seize your murder-thought and use it to-

-hm, she says and raises her chin just a little bit. Her expression twists a little, then she sighs. Excellent training session, she bows respectfully, she could not ask for a better student - seldom do people without extensive modification manage an uninterrupted 24 hour training session. Not that you are not modified, of course, but, well. She sighs again. In El you need to put yourself in immense to obtain a chance at ability like this. Consider yourself lucky for having such good friends.

You must excuse her for a while, however. The captain is calling for her assistance and she may be slightly strapped for time during the day to come. Forgive her for this interruption, she bows with her dress of ribbons flowing around her, sheathing her sword gracefully before gliding away on the deck, and disappearing within the captain's quarters.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 13, 2017, 01:45:10 pm
Hm, something that lady said gave me an idea. If the fear is infectious, then it might be curable. That might get rid of the ghoul, or weaken it, or something. The fact that it draws strength from fear is one of the very few things I'm sure about with this situation.

I find an empty liquor bottle, focus on it, and try to fill it with a cure via SYNTHESIS. If it seems like I'm successful, I give a shot of it to one of the afflicted tavern patrons.

You lean over the bar and snatch one of the many empty bottles (perhaps there is no small element of alcohol poisoning at play here, you wonder to yourself) and then lift it up demonstratively as you flick your fingers at it and speak the Word of changing.

SYNTHESIS

[Word: 5]

The bar leans back toward you and the drinks arrange themselves before you as you pour in one, then another, muttering all the way as all the room slowly turns to look in your direction - the resulting devilish mix begins to glow and vibrate in your hand, and nearly boil as you sing it into shape and the hall thrums with you. Interrupted from their reveries, the patrons and the innkeeper begin to inch toward you, the burning hum of creation giving rise to equally burning curiosity.

You lift up the bubbling, roiling mix in the bottle triumphantly, and Oggie holds up the musician and forces her mouth open with her brutish fingers as you pour it down her throat, causing her to begin to glow as well. The doctor claps her hands rhythmically and you notice she's been muttering along perfectly, letting out a relieved sigh as the musician falls to the ground and twitches like a fish out of water, her spine contorting as she gasps for air and rolls on the floor, short limbs flailing every which way for a moment before she starts to scream and scream and scream for perhaps a solid minute, her back bending in that perfect 180 turn only possible through the gelatinous flexibility of the stoatfolk form as she finally runs out of air and fear, and goes slack on the floor.

While she doesn't glow anymore, she does look to be smiling, and the room is still bathed in the same sort of golden light your brew was giving off, as if it's somehow soaked into the walls of the place from your bizarre ritual.

The curse, shouts the innkeeper, you've broken the curse! You've driven off the ghoul! The stoatman in the corner seems unable to believe their good fortune, and gets up with the girl they came in with to dance in abject joy - the ghoul has been vanquished, the ghoul has been vanquished! The musician starts to laugh on the ground, and a distinct air of merriment suffuses the premises in place of the oppressive silence from beforehand, that most wonderful sound of happiness briefly returning...

... well, the innkeeper says after a little bit, suppose that's a cracking job you did there, hope the ghoul doesn't come in again, huh? The couple stops dancing shortly after, and the musician begins to struggle to her feet with limited success - Oggie in a fit of uncharacteristic generosity parks her on a barstool and she slurs some words of thanks.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 14, 2017, 01:18:31 pm
"It's quite all right, Shores, I'm happy for the opportunity to learn from you in and of itself. Let me know when you'd be ready to resume."

After she leaves, Daniels turns to regard Linda. "Would you like to go meet some of my other friends? Maybe we'll go find Dan and my assistants, see how they're doing."

Go find Dan.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 14, 2017, 04:29:55 pm
... And I still need to collect a sample for the tape. Good job, Wilde.

Take advantage of my regained mobility to look around for another sharp thing, preferably one which won't violently disagree with being used as such. Hey, maybe I can just cut the clothes free again.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Toaster on August 14, 2017, 05:14:55 pm
"It's just a pleasant walk in the woods, really; why not just go straight for it?  Least chance of trouble, really, since it's the fastest way, right?"

Right?  Encourage to go straight for it.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 17, 2017, 07:39:29 am
Hm, so is it dead, or just gone? I suppose I should take a look around. I wish the innkeeper well, then leave the Nuts and Humphrey to search the neighborhood for more signs of ghoul... affliction? Haunting? Whatever it is that ghoul was doing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 19, 2017, 08:21:06 am
Quote from: Xantalos on August 14, 2017, 01:18:31 pm
"It's quite all right, Shores, I'm happy for the opportunity to learn from you in and of itself. Let me know when you'd be ready to resume."

After she leaves, Daniels turns to regard Linda. "Would you like to go meet some of my other friends? Maybe we'll go find Dan and my assistants, see how they're doing."

Go find Dan.

On the background of Linda's all-encompassing delight for existence itself the additional joy of finding more friends is but a slight blip.

[Distractions in the Hold: 4]

Dan seems to be having a bit of fun, apparently at the behest of your assistants. You find them all in the hold below, surrounded by crates upon crates of goods both looted and smuggled from the collapsing kingdom you're on the cusp of leaving entirely behind. In the past two days they seem to have discovered the joys of having a creature around that can produce a stupendous variety of mucus for a vast variety of purposes, including most pertinently a sort that looks a lot like rubber cement, which your assistants have wasted no time in abusing for the purposes of terrorizing their fellow crewmates. The latest of these is a sleeping woman that, you discover, they had Dan soundlessly retrieve from her hammock after a night of heavy drinking and stick to the ceiling. All three of your assistants appear to be hiding behind some crates while Dan sits below, watching and clicking softly, having been instructed to drool corrosively on the ground.

When the woman wakes up and quite reasonably begins to suspect that she is about to have some highly suspicious eggs laid in her chest cavity by your xenomorphic friend, her muffled screams underneath the excessive amount of mucus are impressive. Fires snickers along with Day from their hiding spot while Pines just has a calm smile plastered across her face as she keeps nodding slowly.

Oh hey, Fires says as she notices your arrival and the snickering immediately quiets down, uh, hey boss! They were keeping the juggler amused, as you said. He's a cool guy once you work out a rapport, it turns out!

Yeah, like, Day also starts to nod, he can make all kinds of fun party favors with those salivary glands of his! They've been having an enchanting time, like.

Pines begins to chuckle as well. Shoulda seen Dipper when they had your boy drool into his rum, dude's been locked in his room screaming about all the fun colors since yesterday, haha. The other two begin to make gestures at her about keeping quiet, but she doesn't appear to notice.

So, like, Day begins to steer the topic of conversation as she adjusts her shawl reflexively, anything they can help you with? Training's going well, right? No problems here if you were just checking in, they've been handling things quite well as you can see, like.

Dan finally notices you as well and gingerly trots over to your position on his multitude of legs. Hello, he clicks at you. While you were away he was practicing humor. It is a lot like intimidation and he thinks he is getting good at it. The captive crewmember on the ceiling looks at you pleadingly as she notices you and your assistants off to the side.

Quote from: TopHat on August 14, 2017, 04:29:55 pm
... And I still need to collect a sample for the tape. Good job, Wilde.

Take advantage of my regained mobility to look around for another sharp thing, preferably one which won't violently disagree with being used as such. Hey, maybe I can just cut the clothes free again.

[Dangerous Angles: 6]

You wander around a little while along the catwalks on the lower levels, looking for something that'd be suitable for carving these spider nets at the bottom of the alleyways. There ought to be something sharp around (and preferably non-hostile at that) that you could use, you think as you wander along the beshadowed streets.

Eventually, you're not sure in how long, you manage to locate a particularly derelict-looking ex-alleyway between a leaning temple and a petrified nunnery, slightly outside the merchant quarter proper (not that it's easy to make a distinction here in the properly abandoned levels). The floor appears to have collapsed downward in a landslide of cobblestones and accumulated garbage, all starting from a crack in the wall at the dead end of the alleyway. Lodged in his crack, and presumably originating it, seems to be an ancient battleaxe. Next to it, in the nunnery's corner, sits a long-immobile, somewhat short figure mummified with age that appears to have put on a set of plate armor slightly less than halfway, a few of the missing pieces still unstolen at the bottom of the landslide. A row of fossilized girls peers petrified at the figure from the nunnery's ancient windows with what might be worry or amusement, or a mixture of both.

Quote from: Toaster on August 14, 2017, 05:14:55 pm
"It's just a pleasant walk in the woods, really; why not just go straight for it?  Least chance of trouble, really, since it's the fastest way, right?"

Right?  Encourage to go straight for it.

Your followers seem terrified at the prospect, but then you are the man with the sword and the can-do madness to see them through - turning around now might very well be as certain a death as going straight on, and so you head on.

[A Walk In The Woods: 3]

Tabernacle keeps an eye out, and so do all others, not daring to speak or make a sound as you go on the final approach and the trees thin out - about a mile off to the side a group of clansmen in extremely colorful garb or perhaps body paint wander, indubitably keeping an eye on you and proceeding roughly at an even pace with you. Treefrogs, Lily whispers, no mistake - never seen them this close before. They're not attacking... yet. Wonder if that's a good thing, Helen mutters. Probably not, responds Tabernacle, clanfolk letting you know where they are is seldom a good thing - probably expect you to turn back at the sight.

You pass along one of the minor bluffs toward the looming metropolis of Elizabeth, her five tall towers regarding you with strange curiosity, a few winged shapes circling around her outskirts that seem to be making your people more nervous the closer you get. This is nothing compared to how they react when you notice half a dozen tall figures emerge from their well-chosen cover to greet you. Whereas you may have had doubt about certain others, these resemble clansmen in a broader, non-Australian sense that you're quite familiar - to a man and woman they are garbed in white robes, with a few off-turquoise and light green numbers in the back, each one streaked with reddish-brown swirls, points and more accidental-looking flecks. Each has at least one spear hoisted along their backs with a head that seems not so much fashioned to facilitate stabbing as it is to make the stabbing as painful and brutal as inhumanly possible. In every fold of their filthy white smocks a sharp knife or two appears to hide, as you discover when you hear a good dozen or two more being drawn in the brush around you.

[A Curious Case: 5]

A tall fellow in a turquoise smock with particularly rich ornamentation slinks forward from among the Shrikes, the look in his eyes being the sort usually reserved for a five-alarm clown fire. The clansmen all keep low and mostly out of sight (oh my, there must be really quite a lot of them, Silver whispers), just enough to make their fifty-odd numbers and murderous intent only barely kept in check by sheer bewilderment clear.

Wayward Rabbits, he points to you with a very well-used gutting knife, you approach the site where the clans are set to meet - your trespass is unprecedented in the history of the unspoken agreement. Explain yourselves, or they will conduct a divination on the spot.

The Treefrogs watch from a distant bluff as your followers shrink into a small crowd, slowly encircled by Shrikes. The towers of Elizabeth look down from several miles off. The Shrikes are already sharpening knives.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 17, 2017, 07:39:29 am
Hm, so is it dead, or just gone? I suppose I should take a look around. I wish the innkeeper well, then leave the Nuts and Humphrey to search the neighborhood for more signs of ghoul... affliction? Haunting? Whatever it is that ghoul was doing.

[The Investigation Continues: 4]

It becomes clear soon enough that you've addressed the symptom rather than the cause - while the innkeeper's well-wishes and the general merriment inside the Nuts & Humphrey do much to assuage your concern, the docks area still looks to be under a shroud of a broader sort of fear, thrown into sharp relief by the power of your strange cure creating a golden, shining oasis of joy in the middle.

What's interesting is the border region between the inn and the rest of the area - the fear and the synthesis pushing against each other as a cautious few people ebb and flow around the area, almost as if the fear itself were alive in a sense, and suddenly wounded as it twitches throughout the district.

More than that, you can't shake the feeling outside that you are being closely watched, much more closely than before - as if a pair of eyes were fixed on the back of your head at all times, staring unblinkingly. As Oggie looks around instinctively as well and the doctor seems momentarily unnerved, you know that you've all been marked to one degree or another.

[The Doctor's Insights: 5]

Aha, the doctor says, that just about settles it in that case! Don't you see? You seem to be dealing with some variety of minder on the loose - happens now and then, she'd suppose, what with the uprising and such. Stoatfolk really are a bit superstitious about them, it seems. Can't really blame them, of course, what with the feedback loops they must be exploiting here - she's heard anxiety is a considerably untapped resource in common minding practice, especially when dealing with crowds. Can't say she's familiarized herself directly with the theory in question, but minding warfare, particularly the mythical variety, was certainly a subject of study in the towers, this much she is aware of.

You can't help but perceive a tinge of momentary panic in the air as the doctor explains all this, followed by a hasty retreat of the sensation of surveillance.

Oh my, says the doctor, seems like they're quite close as well! How fortuitous!

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 19, 2017, 04:30:43 pm
Daniels regards his gaggle of assistants with amusement. Seems that old saying about idle hands was true, but they hadn't really hurt anyone save maybe Dipper's dreams and they'd discovered new things about Dan. "Heya, guys. Don't worry, I'm not pissed, you didn't hurt anybody as far as I can tell. I'm currently in a break in my training for a bit and thought I'd introduce you to Linda here."

He motions to the joyful manikin. "She's with me, so if you see her around make sure to help her out, alright? Anyhow, while I'm here just a few questions. You on anything right now, Pines? Like drugs or whatever? You seem a little ... disconnected. Though this is the first time I've met you, so maybe you're always like this. Just curious. Secondly, for the interest of cataloging this stuff, what sort of stuff have you had Dan make? And also how'd you figure out how to talk with him, if you have? No one else seems to be able to."

Finally, he turns to his juggler friend. "It kind of is, if you view it a certain way," he agrees. "It's basically an excersise in testing another's mental flexibility, whether through convoluted wordplay or putting them in unexpected situations like you have with that woman there. Humans derive amusement from the practice because it's customary not to inflict serious mental or physical damage on them with jokes, allowing them to freely engage in competition without having to devote energy towards not becoming wounded. That's why jokes typically end in laughter, as a social cue to the subject of the joke that the subject matter was in jest. I'm glad to hear you've been getting good at it."

Speaking of which...

"Don't worry," he shouts to the lady stuck to the roof. "We'll get you down in a minute."

Introduce Linda to everyone, meet Pines for the first time (upon reading back, I never actually talked to her since she was away when I recruited them), do a bunch of talking.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 21, 2017, 02:49:11 pm
"How fortunate... if most curious." Especially the lack of looting or burial.

Retrieve the axe and examine it closely. Have a look at the armoured corpse as well, on the off-chance an obvious cause of death is still evident or the thing is still alive.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 23, 2017, 05:43:15 pm
Okay, I'm getting pretty confident that this job is not monster hunter territory. More like a mage slayer or something. Somehow I doubt the speaker will let me off the hook that easily, though.

Anyways... I do need to find a minder to fix up this sword. Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone here. I search the nearby area for the minder, focusing on anything like a vantage point that they could be using to watch the effects of their magic. If I find them, I try to make it clear that I do not want to hurt them, but I will not hesitate to defend myself.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Toaster on August 23, 2017, 08:54:23 pm
Thomas quickly realized he was going to have to handle this one.

"Ah, hello!  I am Thomas Minstep, actually not of this clan, but I travel with them.  You see, I have come to Elizabeth to the air... ride the metal dragons, and I met these delightful folk on the way.  We have a common destination, here at Elizabeth.  Are they not a... clan like you, and therefore should be entitled to meet with the clans?"

At this point, Thomas adjusted his position to ensure that the hilt of his sword was visible.  Not drawn, just present.

"Both alone and with these fine folk, I have overcome many trials.  At this point, I feel our entry to Elizabeth is a done deal."

Thomas swallowed a bit.  Was he coming across too strong?

Introduce self.  Don't be intimidated.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 24, 2017, 02:41:20 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on August 19, 2017, 04:30:43 pm
Daniels regards his gaggle of assistants with amusement. Seems that old saying about idle hands was true, but they hadn't really hurt anyone save maybe Dipper's dreams and they'd discovered new things about Dan. "Heya, guys. Don't worry, I'm not pissed, you didn't hurt anybody as far as I can tell. I'm currently in a break in my training for a bit and thought I'd introduce you to Linda here."

He motions to the joyful manikin. "She's with me, so if you see her around make sure to help her out, alright? Anyhow, while I'm here just a few questions. You on anything right now, Pines? Like drugs or whatever? You seem a little ... disconnected. Though this is the first time I've met you, so maybe you're always like this. Just curious. Secondly, for the interest of cataloging this stuff, what sort of stuff have you had Dan make? And also how'd you figure out how to talk with him, if you have? No one else seems to be able to."

Finally, he turns to his juggler friend. "It kind of is, if you view it a certain way," he agrees. "It's basically an excersise in testing another's mental flexibility, whether through convoluted wordplay or putting them in unexpected situations like you have with that woman there. Humans derive amusement from the practice because it's customary not to inflict serious mental or physical damage on them with jokes, allowing them to freely engage in competition without having to devote energy towards not becoming wounded. That's why jokes typically end in laughter, as a social cue to the subject of the joke that the subject matter was in jest. I'm glad to hear you've been getting good at it."

Speaking of which...

"Don't worry," he shouts to the lady stuck to the roof. "We'll get you down in a minute."

Introduce Linda to everyone, meet Pines for the first time (upon reading back, I never actually talked to her since she was away when I recruited them), do a bunch of talking.

Pines just shakes her head when you ask her if she's on anything at the moment. She's high on life, says Day, got a real philosophical bent when it comes to busywork of all sorts, like. Her philosophy being that if someone fuckin' wants something done, Fires adds, they can damn well come out and do it themselves 'cause she's not gonna help. Pines looks at both of them a little sharply before turning back to you and shrugging with a slight grin. She's just, heh, thinking a lot about things is all, sir.

As for what they've been making, er, that's a strong word for what they've been doing, Day says. It's more that they've just been looking into, like, what sort of things you can do with Dan's fluids and secretions. The stuff that isn't way too poisonous to give to people, anyway. There's a lot of that in him. Including the blood. Should ask the man himself, Pines suggests, they've just been fooling around. Trying to work out a language, feeding him stuff they've got lying around, gesturing a whole lot, trying to get a read on what he's saying. It's not too complicated, she shrugs, if you've spent time watching bugs.

Dan tries to follow the conversation as best he can. He is pleased to corroborate the testimonies of your three minions, and is glad that you approve of his outreach to the rest of the crew. He will continue to investigate these... jokes, and report to you later.

Quote from: TopHat on August 21, 2017, 02:49:11 pm
"How fortunate... if most curious." Especially the lack of looting or burial.

Retrieve the axe and examine it closely. Have a look at the armoured corpse as well, on the off-chance an obvious cause of death is still evident or the thing is still alive.

[Wall-Breaker: 2]

You tiptoe over to the axe and grab its handle, a soft vibration going through your arm as you do. You give it a tug, but it doesn't budge, so you put your other hand on as well and pull more properly, putting your foot up against the wall to brace yourself, and suddenly the vibration intensifies a hundredfold as you manage to budge it a quarter of an inch, the crack in the wall spreading upward in three different directions. The wall groans, and several hundred tons of stone temple as well as nine more stories of buildings above it lean toward you. Not particularly wanting them to lean further in, you draw your hands back.

There is dry, strangled laughter as a mailed gauntlet rests on your shoulder, the dwarfish knight having soundlessly gotten up and approached you. You look at him and he shakes his head - no good, tried that already. Too dangerous.

Your presence seems to have reminded him of something, however. He nods toward the building with the petrified girls - come inside with him? Axe not going anywhere soon.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 23, 2017, 05:43:15 pm
Okay, I'm getting pretty confident that this job is not monster hunter territory. More like a mage slayer or something. Somehow I doubt the speaker will let me off the hook that easily, though.

Anyways... I do need to find a minder to fix up this sword. Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone here. I search the nearby area for the minder, focusing on anything like a vantage point that they could be using to watch the effects of their magic. If I find them, I try to make it clear that I do not want to hurt them, but I will not hesitate to defend myself.

[The Pursuit: 5]

All things considered there aren't really that many places to run away to around here, not without exposing yourself further. And by now you're quite used to following the vague sense of dread and panic all the way to its destination, which seems to be a warehouse right by the waterfront slightly less than a block away - not the fabrics warehouse, this one (as you find out when Oggie kicks in the door with shockingly little effort) is filled with timber, stacked up in a veritable labyrinth.

[No Harm: 5]

As you enter, the sense of dread weakens considerably in a last ditch effort by the minder to keep themselves hidden, until it quiets down entirely and you're just left in a building smelling of sawdust with a slightly confusing stack layout, the darkness of the shadows and the mystery of the unknown inadvertently muted along with the more unwelcome artifacts of your entry.

You decide to take the direct approach and declare that you don't mean the minder any harm but that this may change if you are subjected to any manner of assault or, indeed, anything less than them just coming out and explaining themselves.

Yes, the doctor nods and says, do come out - it's quite clear they're not very good at this or you'd all be ruined as soon as you came in.

There is a moment of silence, and from one of the stacks you see a head pop out - it does look human, although its hair has thinned in a manner suggesting something other than male pattern baldness, its eyes shining yellow as it looks at you cautiously.

You're here to hunt him. Don't lie. But you want something else too. What is it?

Quote from: Toaster on August 23, 2017, 08:54:23 pm
Thomas quickly realized he was going to have to handle this one.

"Ah, hello!  I am Thomas Minstep, actually not of this clan, but I travel with them.  You see, I have come to Elizabeth to the air... ride the metal dragons, and I met these delightful folk on the way.  We have a common destination, here at Elizabeth.  Are they not a... clan like you, and therefore should be entitled to meet with the clans?"

At this point, Thomas adjusted his position to ensure that the hilt of his sword was visible.  Not drawn, just present.

"Both alone and with these fine folk, I have overcome many trials.  At this point, I feel our entry to Elizabeth is a done deal."

Thomas swallowed a bit.  Was he coming across too strong?

Introduce self.  Don't be intimidated.

[Compelled to Explain: 6]

The Shrikes are bewildered at first. Of course you are a Rabbit - if you are not of the other clans, you are a Rabbit by default and thus fair game for any horrific abuse a member of an actual clan may care to visit upon you. Such is the law of the clanlands, it's preposterous that you would maintain-

-did you say you want to ride a dragon? You did, didn't you? You have no idea where you've found yourself, do you? Just some absolutely mad bugger who wandered in from the crumbling empire, not a care in the world, and now you're going to go in there and tell the Dragons you'd like a ride, is that it? With handful of other absolute madfolk to suffer with you, no less!

Frankly, the lead Shrike says, it'd be a damned shame to not at least watch you try from a safe distance with some fresh cartilage to snack on.

They don't seem to have noticed your sword, which you suspect is probably because you haven't drawn it - it occurs to you suddenly that it doesn't have a sheath of any particular sort. It just seems to be there when you need it, which you figure it best not to question much.

Chattering between themselves, the Shrikes part slowly before you. They appear to have decided to let you make an appeal to the Dragons for a lark, which seems to only make your followers substantially more uneasy. Save for Tabernacle, of course, who just motions for everyone to keep going. The Shrikes watch you head on, and after you've put some distance between yourselves and them, begin to follow - some Treefrogs wander up to ask them some questions from the looks of it, and leave bewildered.

The final approach proves simple enough despite two arriving clan contingents of several hundred each accreting behind you, over a thousand eyes watching you as you head up the path to one of Elizabeth's many gates. The particular gate you approach is at the top of a flight of massive steps that are flanked by a legion of stone statues in poses suggesting light guard duty mixed with a quite a lot of drinking. The gate itself is at least three stories tall and the width of your average house, made of black iron weighing in at too many total tons to easily contemplate. Torches burn with blue light on both sides of the gate, but you see no signs of people about.

From the distance the Shrikes and Treefrogs continue to watch, poised at a considerable distance from one another.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 25, 2017, 06:55:06 am
"Sure. Oscar Wilde, pleased to meet you." How nice it is to say that without it being seen as a joke.

Follow them inside and introduce myself.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 25, 2017, 12:01:36 pm
Quote
She's just, heh, thinking a lot about things is all, sir.
A button labeled Wizard Minder Detected starts blinking in Daniels' head. He doesn't give an indication of this realization, instead nodding, saying something along the lines of 'fair enough'.

"Well, good effort," he says as he addresses his minions, both humanoid and juggler. "I'll let you get back to it, I'm just showing Linda around the ship. I'll be around if you need help or something."

Minion check-in complete, results good! Let's go find Big Dipper, see if he's still trapped in hallucinations.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Toaster on August 25, 2017, 12:32:13 pm
Thomas idly wondered if this gate was insured.

"This is all interesting, isn't it, Evey?"

Ask.  Then let's knock, I guess?  Pass through if it's open.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 25, 2017, 04:37:48 pm
"Hey now, if I was here to hunt you then I would have at least tried to sneak up on you. Probably wouldn't have worked, but you have to give these things an honest effort. What I am here to do is stop you from terrorizing the city. If I can do that nonviolently, I would really prefer to. So I'll make you an offer: I'll help you escape the city alive as long as you help me repair this sword. Never-made, I think it's called."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 26, 2017, 07:26:49 am
Quote from: TopHat on August 25, 2017, 06:55:06 am
"Sure. Oscar Wilde, pleased to meet you." How nice it is to say that without it being seen as a joke.

Follow them inside and introduce myself.

Hrmhrmr, says the dwarfish knight, and it takes a moment even for you to parse this as his name. Probably more foreign than most. You follow him as he stumbles into the building by the temple, kicking up a massive helping of dust as he steps through the back door which disintegrates as he starts to open it.

[The Petrified Nunnery: 1]

You make it three steps through the door before you come face to face with a fossilized madame staring forward almost motionlessly - her limbs creak a little as the light from your helmet is shed on them, and her face twitches slightly as well. Her mouth slowly opens as she draws out a single long syllable.

Taaaaaab.

Hrmhrmr stops and looks at you. Yes, he says, tab. Big tab. Forgot. Been some time. He searches his various possessions, undoing a few of the remaining plates on his armor before coming to the conclusion that he is completely penniless. He looks to you - help a hospitaller out?

Quote from: Xantalos on August 25, 2017, 12:01:36 pm
A button labeled Wizard Minder Detected starts blinking in Daniels' head. He doesn't give an indication of this realization, instead nodding, saying something along the lines of 'fair enough'.

"Well, good effort," he says as he addresses his minions, both humanoid and juggler. "I'll let you get back to it, I'm just showing Linda around the ship. I'll be around if you need help or something."

Minion check-in complete, results good! Let's go find Big Dipper, see if he's still trapped in hallucinations.

You leave your minions to their shenanigans and after a few wrong turns find Big Dipper's place of residence to be right next to Peaks' cabin.

[Adventures Across The Ninth Dimension: 1]

A minor noise war appears to have broken out between Peaks' occasional cackling coming out of her locked cabin versus Big Dipper's much more consistent screaming coming out of his own locked cabin. You wonder if either of them need help, professional or otherwise, but then you notice the concerned ship's doctor standing by his door, apparently having roped Alphonse into being his assistant for the time being - Alphonse seems none too pleased to see you, but at least makes a token effort at hiding it.

Quote from: Toaster on August 25, 2017, 12:32:13 pm
Thomas idly wondered if this gate was insured.

"This is all interesting, isn't it, Evey?"

Ask.  Then let's knock, I guess?  Pass through if it's open.

Interesting's a word for it, says Evey. Personally, she'd go for something more like bizarre, or weird, or maybe puzzling, puzzling's a good word. Freaky northern yokels and their sentient cities. Good thing they know not to mess with you, else you'd need to teach the idjits a lesson they'd not soon forget.

There's a 'hear-hear' from the others, although they seem slightly less than convinced about that last part.

[You Keep A-Knockin': 2]

You go up to the massive gate and give it a polite knock, your knuckle making little to no noise against the bulk of iron before you. You push and pull at the gate, but it doesn't even begin to budge. You then shout for it to open up, no luck with that either.

Turning around, you consider what to do next. Your followers stare back, and you notice the clansmen off in the distance appearing to draw closer, perhaps not in the friendliest of ways now that you think about it.

[Sterling Observation: 4]

... hm, is it just you or is one of those statues looking this way now? You don't recall it doing that before, as strange as it may seem.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 25, 2017, 04:37:48 pm
"Hey now, if I was here to hunt you then I would have at least tried to sneak up on you. Probably wouldn't have worked, but you have to give these things an honest effort. What I am here to do is stop you from terrorizing the city. If I can do that nonviolently, I would really prefer to. So I'll make you an offer: I'll help you escape the city alive as long as you help me repair this sword. Never-made, I think it's called."

It'd be easy for him to leave on his own. Your offer is- a never-made sword? Produce it. Show it, proffer it!

You draw your scimitar and show it to the distant minder-head, and its eyes gleam. A filthy blade, one that has forgotten its purpose. It could be a great instrument of fear.

But still, there is no reason for him to help. The stoats must be made to fear. They must know terror. They must die. Die screaming.

This is the offer, made in terms that make the shadows deepen suddenly - kill the speaker and take her corpse. Bring it here. Then he will remake this sword for you. There can be no other bargain made here, for there is no other outcome he will accept. The terms are clear and indisputable. Stoats must fear, stoats must die.

[Ghouls Under Bridges: 5]

The doctor leans in to whisper - she may have jumped the gun ever so slightly with that assessment. That's... not quite a minder, she should think, although the relevant power appears to have curiously been either retained or obtained elsewhere. There's a distinct strangeness about the way it keeps prodding about, can you tell?

And now that she mentions it, you do sense it ever so slightly - you've been in contact with minders, and this does feel a bit different. There's a certain greed to the way it pulls at you, as if it can't resist poking at your thoughts with its greedy tendrils.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: TopHat on August 26, 2017, 03:38:34 pm
"Oh, of course. How much is it?"
Might as well pay. Doubt it'll be more than 4gp.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: Xantalos on August 27, 2017, 02:50:18 am
Daniels waves. "Hiya Alphonse, and ... I'm afraid we haven't met, mister doctor. This is Linda, I'm showing her around. Is Dipper okay?"

He pauses as another shriek echoes from the poor man's cabin.

"Relatively speaking, that is."

Assess situation, introduce happy manikin.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: The Precipice of Revelation
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 28, 2017, 08:27:50 am
I love the idea of an evil fear sword, but I'm not helping this guy in his sadistic stoat genocide. I already talked Oggie down from massacring innocent people. Guess it's monster hunting time.

"Get ready," I mutter to my companions as I create an explosive cyst, then lob it at the not-minder. "I'm afraid I can't take your offer!" I shout.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 29, 2017, 11:35:43 am
Quote from: TopHat on August 26, 2017, 03:38:34 pm
"Oh, of course. How much is it?"
Might as well pay. Doubt it'll be more than 4gp.

[Lifestyles of the Poor and Errant: 6]

You cough up all four of the gold coins in your possession on Hrmhrmr's behalf and deposit them into the madame's slowly outstretching hand, but while her expression is still unreadable on account of being mostly petrified, her eyes seem vaguely disappointed. A grumbling, creaking noise slowly begins to emanate.

Nooot enooough.

Yup, says Hrmhrmr. He's been a regular for a long time. Full amount is much more. Fifty times more. Maybe you have something valuable?

The madame emits a long hurm of disapproval before turning to you with a painful noise.

Yoou may ennnter. But heeee staaaays out.

[Between the Dark and the Light: 6]

You notice she is becoming more animated by the moment as you look in her direction. It seems she likes the attention.

Quote from: Xantalos on August 27, 2017, 02:50:18 am
Daniels waves. "Hiya Alphonse, and ... I'm afraid we haven't met, mister doctor. This is Linda, I'm showing her around. Is Dipper okay?"

He pauses as another shriek echoes from the poor man's cabin.

"Relatively speaking, that is."

Assess situation, introduce happy manikin.

A manikin, says the doctor... one of the captain's manikins, no less. Following your commands from the looks of it. Interesting.

As for Big Dipper, the doctor sent one of the hands out for the key. An hour ago. No doubt he will be back any minute now, he starts to say before another shriek from within cuts him off. Any minute.

You notice Linda scratching at the door, and the doctor looks as she taps for a moment before returning to you, motioning at herself, then at the door and making vague upward insinuations with her arms.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 28, 2017, 08:27:50 am
I love the idea of an evil fear sword, but I'm not helping this guy in his sadistic stoat genocide. I already talked Oggie down from massacring innocent people. Guess it's monster hunting time.

"Get ready," I mutter to my companions as I create an explosive cyst, then lob it at the not-minder. "I'm afraid I can't take your offer!" I shout.

You give notice to your companions as your arm slowly goes to sleep, a cyst forming on your palm. Sadly conducting a surprise attack on something that appears entirely able to read your thoughts is a difficult prospect, and when you look back you do not see the head, only something moving behind the lumber piles...

[Everything's Better With Explosions: 1 vs. 1]

This turns out to have been a diversion, a trick of the mind - the shadows explode into screams and wild shapes as a lumber pile detonates, filling the air with dust and splinters taking the shapes of faces.

And then the ghoul dives out of the dust, cornered and with little to lose - it looks far less human than expected, its mouth ripped open on its seemingly irradiated head, a large spiked tongue lolling out of its mouth as it leaps toward you screaming. This is the most normal part of its appearance, as instead of a body it seems to possess merely the nervous and circulatory system of one, an ambulatory knotting of nerves and veins and arteries aggregated into a purplish sensory mass. Its scream goes right past your ears and digs right into your brain, a chill nearly threatening to still your very being as it dives through the air, light as a feather.

[Let's Practice Medicine: 4]

The doctor does run out of the way, but there is a purpose in her eyes as she does, running behind another pile to break line of sight, evidently planning something.

[Let's Wring Some Necks: 5]

Oggie, meanwhile, does not bother to plan at all as the supernatural terror of targeted minding just bounces off her alien mind. She has already grabbed a two-by-four.

[Right In The Mind: 2 vs. 2]

Though swung with a great deal of strength and certainly striking, the board stops just short of the ghoul as it seems to slide around it through a combination of liberally applied levitation techniques and having nothing of substance to break or even terribly bruise - it lands nearby, seemingly entirely unharmed, but also evidently very displeased about the complete failure of its reckless charge.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Xantalos on August 29, 2017, 12:50:39 pm
"Ah, Linda isn't bound to my will or anything like that, she's her own person. She's just very excited about everything, so I'm exploring the ship with her."

He notices Linda's gestures and smiles. "I'm still going to find a way to give you a voice, but you're doing a pretty good job without it."

Lift Linda up near the keyhole of the door, I assume that's what she's trying to get across. If she says something else, try to follow her directions as best as I can.

((Shame to see Leif go, he was a good character. And probably just about to run into Thomas too. Ah well.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: TopHat on August 29, 2017, 01:18:03 pm
To Hrmhrmr: "Nothing valuable enough I can afford to lose, I'm afraid. Is there anything in particular you wanted to come in here for? I'm tempted to have a look around, anyway." General: "So what is this place, anyway?

((A shame about that.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Toaster on August 30, 2017, 01:19:13 pm
Must be one of those observation posts.  Thomas waved at the statue.

"Ah, yes, hello.  I come... representing the Rabbit Clan here as they seek entry.  I also seek entry for my own purposes.  Can we come in now please?"

Ask nicely.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: penguinofhonor on August 31, 2017, 07:38:24 am
Just when you think things can't get creepier. And it didn't even flinch at my zinger. I'll have to think of a better one by the time I kill this thing.

I swing my scimitar at the ghoul, aiming for the head.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on August 31, 2017, 11:40:20 am
Quote from: Xantalos on August 29, 2017, 12:50:39 pm
"Ah, Linda isn't bound to my will or anything like that, she's her own person. She's just very excited about everything, so I'm exploring the ship with her."

He notices Linda's gestures and smiles. "I'm still going to find a way to give you a voice, but you're doing a pretty good job without it."

Lift Linda up near the keyhole of the door, I assume that's what she's trying to get across. If she says something else, try to follow her directions as best as I can.

((Shame to see Leif go, he was a good character. And probably just about to run into Thomas too. Ah well.))

You lift Linda up to the keyhole, and she happily wiggles for a moment before leaning in toward the lock.

She raps at the lock a few times and brings her nearly featureless face up to it. The lock vibrates gently at her for a few moments. She draws closer. The door creaks invitingly as its frame bends slightly. Linda puts her head tight up to the cabin's door handle.

[The Silver Key: 1]

The handle then proceeds to smack her across the top of her head, which seems to not so much cause damage as it does completely crush the poor manikin's morale. Linda looks heartbroken at the cruel trick the door seems to have chosen to play on her before resuming its normal station as, near as you can tell, a perfectly normal and inanimate door.

You notice the doctor having raised his eyebrow. Alphonse appears to have skittered off while you weren't looking, which you figure is just typical of the old man.

Quote from: TopHat on August 29, 2017, 01:18:03 pm
To Hrmhrmr: "Nothing valuable enough I can afford to lose, I'm afraid. Is there anything in particular you wanted to come in here for? I'm tempted to have a look around, anyway." General: "So what is this place, anyway?

((A shame about that.))

You get the sense, partly from the man himself and partly from the obscenely large tab, that Hrmhrmr has been hanging out here a long time and that not doing so is in some vague sense intolerable to him. The woman is being cruel, he says. Tab isn't that large. He'll pay up. Later. When he gets a quest. And an advance to go with it as well. Always need to ask for an advance when getting great quests.

The madame, for her part, doesn't seem very able to articulate the answer to your question in full, but does eventually manage to creak out some manner of explanation.

Gooo riiight iiin. Yoour monnney haaas paaaid foooor... onnne rouuund.

Quote from: Toaster on August 30, 2017, 01:19:13 pm
Must be one of those observation posts.  Thomas waved at the statue.

"Ah, yes, hello.  I come... representing the Rabbit Clan here as they seek entry.  I also seek entry for my own purposes.  Can we come in now please?"

Ask nicely.

[Caught Watching: 6]

The statue pretends not to have heard you for a moment, but when it notices that the jig is up, suddenly relaxes (not something you commonly see on statues, to be sure). As do all the other ones on the stairs as they start milling about and checking each other over for dust and bird shit. This you recognize as a further delaying tactic, so you decide to ask again.

The statues do respond this time, although none of them say a word of any kind. In fact, they respond by pantomiming some kind of deep thought as they collectively sit down or adopt other exaggerated thinking poses, start scratching their heads and stare out into the distance. Occasionally one of them raises a finger, but then lowers it.

[Elizabeth's Welcome: 4]

This goes on for a good two minutes as they mime contemplation. The Shrikes and Treefrogs stop a slight distance away, mildly deterred by the sight of this sudden outbreak of mimes in the area as far as you can tell.

Then the statues all shrug and gather around you, pointing at each of your retinue and seemingly conferring with one another in no language you can readily understand. Nobody is especially harassed by the statues, patted up and down, shoved back and forth a little bit and even gets a tweak on the nose from a stone finger, nearly breaking it. However, at last they shrug and motion together at the gates, which slowly open just the slightest bit - enough to permit you entry.

You are ushered in by the statues, leading in the front and following at the back in a broad encirclement to make sure you and your buddies don't go anywhere, along the streets of Elizabeth, shining spotless in the sun, beautiful buildings of stone and marble of all sorts formed up in regular, well-proportioned streets with nary a sign of dilapidation.

Everything here, near as you can tell, is made of stone of one kind or another, the style of the buildings putting in your mind a Greek acropolis. Or maybe a necropolis - architecturally impressive though the buildings are, they are almost completely still and silent apart from the occasional shuffling of a statue as it attends to some pressing business in a methodical manner.

The deeper you go in, however, the clearer it becomes that there are other clansmen here - Tabernacle notes the gleaming scales of a fully armed Dragon clansman skulking on a rooftop, looking down on you as some manner of shiny, winged Australian dinosaur skulks up right next to him. The glare of the dinosaur is unmistakably one of complete and utter scorn - you don't think you've ever seen its like. A gaggle of richly dressed individuals are dubbed Monkeys by Lily, and you catch a glimpse of a man covered in bizarre boils before he disappears down an alleyway in the company of another statue - that there's a Gallfly, the treefisher elder nods.

You appear to come close to the center of the local population of tourists, which looks to be a cul-de-sac at the end of one of the main streets where a large number of clansmen gather even now, but you are led off to the side before you get there, and into an out-of-the-way residence right beneath the local aqueduct. As the heavy stone door slides out of the way at your approach you find that it's quite dark inside, but completely dust-free, and with ample room for as many as several dozen residents. Everything is still made of stone, mind you, including the beds, albeit those appear to be sculpted exceptionally well for what they are. Suppose they assumed you'd bring your own sleeping bags or something.

The statues who were guiding you here seemed to peel away along the way, but at the doorstep of your appointed residence the very last of them decide to part ways with you. Of course, there are also many statues inside, shaped vaguely like servants and blending in perfectly with the rest of the place to the point where you'd be forgiven for having a heart attack when one of them steps out of seemingly nowhere and looks to you to see if you'd perhaps like anything.

Weird feckin' place, Evey shakes her head as she stands by you, the rest of your followers having chosen to get a feel for the accommodations for now with a more than reasonable amount of suspicion, possibly verging on paranoia as some of them walk around poking at walls and testing the floors, afraid of them perhaps coming alive suddenly.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on August 31, 2017, 07:38:24 am
Just when you think things can't get creepier. And it didn't even flinch at my zinger. I'll have to think of a better one by the time I kill this thing.

I swing my scimitar at the ghoul, aiming for the head.

[Have At Thee: 1, 5 vs. 1]

You and Oggie both charge at the ghoul - you swing from the front while she winds up a great swing with her board and slams at the minder from behind - the resulting effect is rather like a pair of scissors, the ghoul's strange protective abilities lapsing for a moment as you manage to shear its head right off, the boneless balloon of a cranium flying loose in a sudden conflagration of levitating powers carrying it upward.

The bundle of nerves and veins making up its body falls to the ground limply and wetly in a small pile - the head continues to fly, and obviously make a hell of a noise as it circles above, shrieking down with all of its might.

[Mistress of Her Own Soul: 1]

Oggie begins to swing her board wildly as the sudden impulse seems to simultaneously blind and enrage her - the first swing narrowly misses your head as she seems to try and get at anything within reach just to make the screaming stop.

Rindle Fischgartner:

The smell of pineapple hits your nostrils strongly as you draw in breath, waking up after what feels like a very long time. You don't recall when you fell asleep, or where, but you are fairly certain it wasn't under the circumstances you are presently in.

You find yourself naked in the cot of an attractive young dark-skinned woman in a strange dress who stands over you in breathless wonder. The cabin seems poorly ventilated at first, but then you notice several vents installed around the various parts of the room, they just appear to have been overwhelmed by the chemistry equipment arranged all around.

[This Is Not My Beautiful House: 2]

Blinking slowly, you notice the woman's expression slide into a grin as she leans to be right above you.

Her first questions are simple enough: how are you feeling? Any aches or pains, or a strange tingling or tension? Do you remember anything at all?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Xantalos on August 31, 2017, 12:21:03 pm
Daniels' expression darkens.

"Oi! Nobody does that to Linda, she's adorable!"

He directs his considerable attention at the lock.

"Open up or I make you."

Attempt to intimidate an inanimate object! If it doesn't work, just punch the lock into smithereens.

((Dammit Shores.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Toaster on August 31, 2017, 01:39:33 pm
Thomas wasn't sure if they were elaborate costumes or if Australia was a lot farther ahead in robotics than he knew about.  At this point he knew he'd get nowhere asking.  "I think the place is quite charming, really."  A bit odd, but so was everywhere here.

Look around the building.  Anyone else here besides the statuesque people?  Would say unpack but there's not that much to unpack really.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on September 02, 2017, 12:27:20 am
"....Sorry, who are you? And what is this place? Some kind of lab?" Rindle crosses his arms across his chest and, surprised to feel skin, awkwardly lowers them to a more strategic position.

 "Why the hell am I naked?"

Shrink away from the leering woman, sputtering questions in response to hers while trying to cover my shame. Rack my brain for any memories that might explain my present predicament.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: TopHat on September 02, 2017, 02:47:29 pm
Mental note: Ask Hrmhrmr what sort of quests. I might want to think about hiring him.
"Eh, I'll have a look round. Hrmhrmr, hold that thought. I may have a proposal for you later."


Go in then. Let's see what sort of place this is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 02, 2017, 03:45:50 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on August 31, 2017, 12:21:03 pm
Daniels' expression darkens.

"Oi! Nobody does that to Linda, she's adorable!"

He directs his considerable attention at the lock.

"Open up or I make you."

Attempt to intimidate an inanimate object! If it doesn't work, just punch the lock into smithereens.

((Dammit Shores.))

It isn't in any serious doubt that you could crack this lock open like an egg. You're sure the lock would agree had it not settled into an inanimate state again, whatever strange power Linda exerted over it having faded as it used its precious few seconds of consciousness to be a complete dick to her.

As such you feel absolutely no remorse as you take a moment to brace yourself and then effortlessly punch the door right open with your obscene untethered strength, the door smacking against the metal wall as it is halfway taken off its hinges.

[The Condition My Condition Is In: 2]

Big Dipper is standing upright with his clothes torn off and his Ursa Minor in plain view. He is pointing at you and shrieking wildly. The doctor looks at him disapprovingly and then takes a moment to survey his supply of duelist-grade tranquilizers. Big Dipper pays him no mind and continues to scream at the top of his lungs.

Quote from: Toaster on August 31, 2017, 01:39:33 pm
Thomas wasn't sure if they were elaborate costumes or if Australia was a lot farther ahead in robotics than he knew about.  At this point he knew he'd get nowhere asking.  "I think the place is quite charming, really."  A bit odd, but so was everywhere here.

Look around the building.  Anyone else here besides the statuesque people?  Would say unpack but there's not that much to unpack really.

A gray blush goes over the walls at your compliment as you go around and survey the house's layout.

[Luxurious Appointment: 1]

There is an atrium that you find quite readily, with well-sculpted stone trees surrounding a zen garden of white sand raked carefully around a vinegar fountain in a tragic interior design suicide.

Next you come upon a library which you discover by running right into a solid granite bookcase because no windows were provided so as to not distract visiting scholars with excellent views. A rushing statue lights a blue torch, which lets you appreciate the decorative stone volumes populating the vast number of shelves for a few moments before the flame consumes enough oxygen to send you into a retreat.

There is also a bathhouse in the expansive basement, and the waters are likely about as rich in nourishing salts as the Dead Sea because if the sauna-like air is any indication, the water in the bathing pool has likely exceeded its normal boiling point by a generous margin. It roils and whirls ceaselessly underneath a thick film of opportunistic archaea shielding any casual passerby from getting a third-degree burn from the spray. The air feels as if a cadre of homely volcanic smith-gods had slept off a mighty dinner of beans in here.

You would explore more, but you're not sure doing so would be in your continued best interest. 

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on September 02, 2017, 12:27:20 am
"....Sorry, who are you? And what is this place? Some kind of lab?" Rindle crosses his arms across his chest and, surprised to feel skin, awkwardly lowers them to a more strategic position.

"Why the hell am I naked?"

Shrink away from the leering woman, sputtering questions in response to hers while trying to cover my shame. Rack my brain for any memories that might explain my present predicament.

Oh, she is The Asymptotic Peaks Ever-Crumbling Between The Sharp Teeth of the Forever Change, but you may call her Peaks. She continues to grin. All of this must seem very strange to you, obviously, so she shall continue to go through things in order.

You are on a ship, she says playfully after a second's thought, specifically the Vault of Heavens, traveling west on a river you have not heard of in a land you likely have no knowledge of, and yes, you are in a lab which incidentally also has her quarters in it. You started to manifest over there, she points at a workbench from which materials appear to have been cleared in a hurry, but she put you in the bed once you stopped leaking and got big enough to become a... structural concern.

[This Is Not My Beautiful Wife: 6]

As she points it out, you can't help but notice flecks of blood all over the worktable. And her gloves. And, although most of it has been cleaned off, on the very nasty-looking carving knife tucked in the belt of her dress (her dress, however, is quite spotless and a little shiny) along with a large number of other questionably stained instruments. And there sure are a lot of specimen jars around the place, a lot of them murky and filled with pickled things you can't make out.

As for why you're naked, she scratches your chin, dunno to be perfectly honest. Suppose it's likely that your clothes aren't an integral part of your self-image if she's getting this right, or it might be some kind of incentive to get moving on the part of your creator. Bit of column A, bit of column B?

[A Better Time: 5]

You think a moment on what you last remember doing before you woke up here, and are surprised to remember very clearly that you were having lunch with a colleague of yours. Specifically, you were sipping at a glass of watered-down syrup after availing yourself of the mashed potatoes and she was in the middle of describing her progress on the NGS data that you'd been chipping away at pretty much nonstop for weeks, and it sounded suspiciously like good news before she was interrupted by... well, you must admit you don't quite understand what happened then. But whatever it was, it seems to have abruptly transitioned into you being naked on a mad scientist lady's bed.

Your contemplation is interrupted when there is a loud crash from no more than a room away, and a horrific shriek. Just ignore that, Peaks says as she adjusts her tool belt circumspectly, that's just the third mate. Whatever he's drunk this time, he's sure had a lot of it. Anyway, she'll look for a spare robe, she says and immediately turns away to check her wardrobe for something that'd fit you.

Quote from: TopHat on September 02, 2017, 02:47:29 pm
Mental note: Ask Hrmhrmr what sort of quests. I might want to think about hiring him.
"Eh, I'll have a look round. Hrmhrmr, hold that thought. I may have a proposal for you later."


Go in then. Let's see what sort of place this is.

You leave a dejected Hrmhrmr behind as you take the madame's offer and pass by a compacted cloakroom into the darkened main chamber of her establishment. The madame does not follow, and you're not sure she could even if she wanted to.

After a moment's inspection of what awaits you within you come to the conclusion that this is some kind of museum of negotiable affection. Well-preserved, petrified remains of many a working girl grin at you happily along the walls in dresses that must have been fairly revealing even before they were mostly eaten away by the ravages of time. Hardworking moths stake out dynastic claims on the drapes and mysterious games from a bygone age provoke your archaeological interest, or possibly some evolutionary reflex preserved from whatever primordial human they were supposed to originally tempt. A staircase to the upstairs wordlessly promises to bring to life the world's oldest profession like you've never seen it before.

You wonder if you can get some kind of guided tour as your light catches a girl with a very nice blond wig and she twitch-winks at you with glacially returning strength.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Toaster on September 03, 2017, 11:31:54 am
((Someone offering the newcomer clothes?  These young whippersnappers just get everything handed to them  :P))

Thomas beat a hasty retreat to the others before getting scalded or asphyxiated or worse.  "You know, suddenly I feel like exploring the city.  Who's with me?"

Head out and explore the city.  Anyone who wishes to come with is welcome to tag along.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Xantalos on September 03, 2017, 04:31:00 pm
Daniels cracks his knuckles. "Oi Dipper! Quiet down, you hallucinating nut! You're just reacting to some psychoactive bullshit that got put in your booze!"

Restrain the poor man and try to calm him down. If that doesn't work, SILENCE his screaming.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on September 04, 2017, 10:10:49 pm
"Peaks. What an interesting name. Now, where does someone get a name like that?"

Make small talk with the mad woman. Hope she doesn't stab me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 06, 2017, 08:08:46 am
"Hey, Oggie, snap out of it! I'm on your side!" I dodge away from her and throw an explosive cyst upward at the ghoul head, timing it to explode in midair and vaporize the head, or at least knock it to the ground.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 06, 2017, 09:51:30 am
Quote from: Toaster on September 03, 2017, 11:31:54 am
((Someone offering the newcomer clothes?  These young whippersnappers just get everything handed to them  :P))

Thomas beat a hasty retreat to the others before getting scalded or asphyxiated or worse.  "You know, suddenly I feel like exploring the city.  Who's with me?"

Head out and explore the city.  Anyone who wishes to come with is welcome to tag along.

Everyone decides to come along with you, as while they can't say for sure that something is going to kill them horribly if they choose to stay behind, their better Rabbity instincts can't rule out the strong possibility that this is so. As such the Rabbit delegation heads back out into Elizabeth's streets - one of the house staff follows you with an unreadable expression, soundlessly gliding behind you and attracting suspicious glares from virtually everyone besides Tabernacle, who knows enough to understand that most of the danger you'd run into here is unlikely to have been following you the entire time.

[Her Magnificent Attractions: 2]

There's rather a lot of Elizabeth to take in, considering she has been here since anyone can remember, shedding outer walls every century or so when her boroughs started getting too large. You spot the occasional statue watching you carefully from a window, and every now and then a distant clansman is walking in the distance before disappearing, invariably in the company of another statue. Elizabeth herself is quite charming still, and very nicely put together if you can say so herself - her streets give the impression of a city that knows how to take care of herself and what she likes - her tastes might be old-fashioned, but you have to say she wears the look of an acropolis very nicely.

That said, it does become increasingly apparent across the next half hour or so that she doesn't seem to very much like the idea of you running into anyone else around here. For one, whenever you almost come close to a clansman or five the servant following you invariably finds some way to interrupt - whether by bumping into you as softly as a five hundred pound statue possibly can, or by suddenly bringing your attention to something in the distance, or even by tapping you on the shoulder and pointing to a plaque that you could swear wasn't there a moment ago, detailing some kind of famous event you lack the context to even recall a few minutes later. Invariably the person you spot had disappeared by then - led away, you can't help but notice, by an analogous chaperone or inexplicable happenstance.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 03, 2017, 04:31:00 pm
Daniels cracks his knuckles. "Oi Dipper! Quiet down, you hallucinating nut! You're just reacting to some psychoactive bullshit that got put in your booze!"

Restrain the poor man and try to calm him down. If that doesn't work, SILENCE his screaming.

[Resistance Is Useless: 5+1 vs. 2]

You pick Dipper up as he continues to scream and lay him down in bed face down, pinning his arms behind his back as you try to get him to come down off whatever horrific trip he's on.

[The Buddy System: 4]

It's not real, you tell him! You have no idea what he's seeing or why he's screaming, but it's definitely not real and absolutely can't hurt him much worse than you can. He resists at first, but a few rounds of nakedly and fruitlessly struggling against you holding him down begin to exhaust him, and understanding words plus a few flirtations with oxygen deprivation as you push his face into the pillow take him the rest of the way into a state where he, while still bombed out of his skull, at least has become a lot less noisy.

The ship's doctor looks up from his supplies and, noticing Dipper appears to be compliant, walks up and looks him over - well, suppose that addresses the noise complaints he'd been getting. In his qualified medical opinion, however, the dude still looks pretty fucked up.

[Give Me The News: 2]

The doctor leans in and checks his pulse, shines a light over his eyes, tests his reflexes, checks his lymph nodes and looks down his throat - yep, the diagnosis does check out. He really is fucked up in all kinds of ways. Poisoned, drunk, allergic, hypertonic and maybe a bit off his gourd as well. He pulls out a couple of pills from his supplies and hands them to Dipper, communicating in a couple of gestures that he'd better swallow them if he knows what's good for him - Dipper luckily sees reason on the matter. The doctor then takes out a metal syringe and fills it up with something labeled "wow juice" in sloppy penmanship. Dipper doesn't even wince when he gets a full dose right into his arm, but a few moments later is out like a light.

He'll be good in a bit, the doctor explains to you as he rolls him on his side and pats him on the head, then puts a blanket over him all the way. Like a week at most, they have a bit of variability on how soon they come out of the healing coma. Note to self, the doctor says aloud, don't forget to check on him.

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on September 04, 2017, 10:10:49 pm
"Peaks. What an interesting name. Now, where does someone get a name like that?"

Make small talk with the mad woman. Hope she doesn't stab me.

It's a scripture name, says Peaks as she continues to dig around her closet. They're all taken from the books of genius, which are a thing they have over- well, where you're going right now, actually, where the ship is going, she means. They're written by what used to be people, back when they were people. Kind of like a holy text and a manual. Ideally, anyway. Sometimes they're just complete nonsense, but you never know what'll give you a clue when you- aha!

[And What Do We Find: 5]

Peaks turns around and holds up with one hand a hanger on which you see a black-and-gold paisley bathrobe, waving her other hand over it in a revelatory gesture. There's a faint sheen on it that makes you wonder if that's actual gold leaf put into it. It seems quite fluffy, warm and, you suspect, very comfortable.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 06, 2017, 08:08:46 am
"Hey, Oggie, snap out of it! I'm on your side!" I dodge away from her and throw an explosive cyst upward at the ghoul head, timing it to explode in midair and vaporize the head, or at least knock it to the ground.

[Putting In Distance: 5]

You shout at Oggie for a moment and something does appear to get through - enough for her to stop in place and attempt to listen to the screaming outside of her head rather than the screaming within it, at least, and she stops swinging wildly for now, which gives you some much-needed room for concentration as you mature another explosive cyst in your palm.

[Cooking Your Bioweapons: 6 vs. 4]

And it does actually come out as a very nice feat of timing as you throw the cyst upward from behind your back at almost the right time to hit the thing head on, and it's only at the last moment that the rampaging floating head tries to veer to the side, which is why the explosion blasts it into the nearby wall rather than completely vaporizes it. There is a sickening crack as the skull cracks and blood spurts out of the head's mouth and ears and from several other bits as well, and it falls to the ground meatily as the impact briefly stuns it. Oggie shakes her head as her sight returns to her, the shadows around you receding in a lapse of the ghoul's concentration.

Then the head begins to unfold - the cracks widen as the skull bursts, its brain unrolling into a fine mist of neurons, exploding into easily a hundred times its original size, puzzle-piece fragments of the head held aloft by an airy silver sail of neural tissue. It seems unable to scream now - instead it seems intent on striking you straight in the heart, its bleeding eyes fixing on you as its desperate, twisted mind moves not to prod and suggest this time, but to outright strangle.

[A Simple Plan: 3+1 vs. 6]

It is distracted, if only for a moment, by the doctor coming out of the shadows with a bucket of water in her hands - she looks intent to use it somehow right up until an eye fixes on her and you see her stop completely in her tracks as she becomes utterly paralyzed on the spot.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: TopHat on September 06, 2017, 12:35:12 pm
"Oh, hello there. I must say, I thought you were one of the exhibits at first; I don't think I'll ever get used to this land of the dead. Oscar Wilde, pleased to meet you."

Greetings etcetera.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Xantalos on September 07, 2017, 01:18:07 am
"Yeah please don't forget, I'd hate for him to come to further harm."

An idea comes to Daniels. "Actually, now that I think about it, I can take care of that, doc. I'll have my people alert you if his condition changes.

Go find my assistants again. Inform them kindly but firmly that one of them, rotating each time, will check on Dipper's condition every 8 hours or so and make sure he's properly hydrated, not getting worse, if he is alert the doc, etc. They went a bit too far with that prank and while I won't slap them around or whatever, they do need to be accountable for what they did.

Dan's excluded from this, to be clear, he arguably didn't know the significance of what he was doing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Toaster on September 07, 2017, 08:52:01 pm
Well, no sense putting it off if there isn't much out here?  Thomas stopped and faced their guide.

"Lovely city, yes indeed.  But where is the airport?"  Thomas was prepared to explain about metal dragons if he had to.

Ask where the airport is.  Explain as needed.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on September 09, 2017, 10:31:47 pm
Not just a nut- a religious nut. This is fine.

Accept and don the robe, and hope this ship gets us to wherever she said we were going quickly.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 10, 2017, 06:53:56 am
Goddamn, hurting this thing just makes it scarier.

I turn the ghoul's HUNGER for fear back on itself, so it devours its own body and/or mind like a much creepier ouroboros.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 10, 2017, 12:24:51 pm
Quote from: TopHat on September 06, 2017, 12:35:12 pm
"Oh, hello there. I must say, I thought you were one of the exhibits at first; I don't think I'll ever get used to this land of the dead. Oscar Wilde, pleased to meet you."

Greetings etcetera.

She lets the "exhibits" line slide out of professional courtesy as she creaks forward off the wall she had been slouching against. Her hand travels to her wig slowly and pats it, shaking out a considerable amount of dust. A testament to the wig's craftsmanship to have survived this well under the conditions.

Ciiinnndyyy, the young lady draws out as she basks in your light, momentarily reinvigorated. Cindy's teeth are gray, but otherwise immaculate as she presents a charming smile toward you, wondering silently if you'd care to spend a little time with her.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 07, 2017, 01:18:07 am
"Yeah please don't forget, I'd hate for him to come to further harm."

An idea comes to Daniels. "Actually, now that I think about it, I can take care of that, doc. I'll have my people alert you if his condition changes.

Go find my assistants again. Inform them kindly but firmly that one of them, rotating each time, will check on Dipper's condition every 8 hours or so and make sure he's properly hydrated, not getting worse, if he is alert the doc, etc. They went a bit too far with that prank and while I won't slap them around or whatever, they do need to be accountable for what they did.

Dan's excluded from this, to be clear, he arguably didn't know the significance of what he was doing.

You find Pines engaged in a spirited, clearly very strategic game of checkers with Dan, played with the house rule that Dan gets to eat any pieces he captures. Fires seems to be coaching Dan on moves, with rather poor results. Day acts as an observer to make sure that neither party decides to cheat for whatever reason.

You walk up to them and mention that Dipper's totally fucked up in the doctor's qualified opinion and has been put into a medical coma. None of them seem very worried about this - suppose a thing like that'll happen, sure. Dipper could use a vacation, too. Third-mateship's been hard on him, it's true.

[Nurses At Law: 4]

They seem less enthused when you specify that they are to check on him every 8 hours to make sure the bastard won't die or something. Aw, says Fires, fuckin' nurse duty again? Day punches her on the shoulder at this - no trouble to check on him while he's, er, indisposed, no sir. Yeah, Pines adds, they don't move much then. Just gotta check on the IV now and then and bam, you're pretty much golden.

As they speak to you, Dan sees an opening and eats the rest of the pieces. Your minions look back and curse to themselves. They'll have to start collecting bottle caps next.

Quote from: Toaster on September 07, 2017, 08:52:01 pm
Well, no sense putting it off if there isn't much out here?  Thomas stopped and faced their guide.

"Lovely city, yes indeed.  But where is the airport?"  Thomas was prepared to explain about metal dragons if he had to.

Ask where the airport is.  Explain as needed.

[Do You Know The Way To Albany: 2]

You ask the statue where the airport is, and this appears to confuse Elizabeth to an impressive degree as the statue stares out blankly. You go for a strategic rephrasing - does she know where the metal dragons come in and land, because you would really like to ride one out of here to Albany at the earliest convenience.

The streets rumble awkwardly as the statue tilts its head. There is a minute of awkward silence in the cityscape as you elaborate in several layers of euphemisms. This fails to help, and the statue merely shakes its head slowly. Perhaps Australian slang isn't very universal. Or maybe she just thinks you're barking mad?

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on September 09, 2017, 10:31:47 pm
Not just a nut- a religious nut. This is fine.

Accept and don the robe, and hope this ship gets us to wherever she said we were going quickly.

The robe fits well enough and, though it's a hand-me-down from the wardrobe of a madwoman, strikes you as probably the highest-quality garment you've ever worn. You tie its belt neatly and look yourself over in a mirror Peaks uncovers in a corner - it's clearly not been tailored for you, but a bathrobe tends to be forgiving of such things. Your host also goes on another brief dive to give you a pair of matching slippers.

Looks nice enough, Peaks says after looking you over critically. Not exactly a fashionable outfit to wander around the ship in, mind you, but a hell of a lot better than anything the other ship rats have. Distressingly it looks a little better on you than it did on her, but what can you do.

Anyway, she claps her hands together, still feeling all right? Not hungry or sleepy or nauseous? That's an honest question, actually. There's a lot about your physiology that isn't really clear at this point. Care for a bit of lunch, maybe? Maybe you'll run into Mr. Daniels on the way.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 10, 2017, 06:53:56 am
Goddamn, hurting this thing just makes it scarier.

I turn the ghoul's HUNGER for fear back on itself, so it devours its own body and/or mind like a much creepier ouroboros.

The ghoul is powerful, it's true, but you have within you abilities it can scarcely comprehend. The warehouse shakes as it anticipates the Word.

HUNGER

[Word: 5]

The ghoul begins to billow and spin as its ravenous hunger for revenge grows geometrically and vastly within its twisted frame, the net of neural fibers vibrating with wild activity as it expands precipitously, its mind pushing at the edges of the warehouse as it attempts to reach out and consume all within its vicinity, unhinging itself like a snake's jaw... until something breaks.

It takes but a second, the weight of the ghoul's mind collapsing in on itself as spacetime suddenly gives way, folding the ghoul's presence into a bizarre telepathic singularity of overpowering despair and hatred, hanging naked in the air as the now-empty frame that used to house the mind flits to the ground, collapsing into a dusty, thin sheet of fragile tissue mingled with skull fragments and facial features.

[Heart of Darkness: 2]

You look cautiously out toward the singularity. It continues to hang there mysteriously, felt rather than seen as it radiates impotent hatred and menace.

The doctor, meanwhile, collapses on the spot as the terror leaves her, looking up at the ceiling and breathing heavily as her heart continues to race. Oggie helpfully knuckle-walks over and pokes her with a two-by-four, causing her to roll over on her side and groan.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 11, 2017, 03:58:22 pm
"Don't fear the reaper," I say to the singularity. Nailed it.

Though I guess I should probably get rid of this thing too. Don't want anyone complaining that I didn't clean up thoroughly - a monster hunter's got to care about her reputation, you know.

So, I feel like this is a long shot, but I have to see if it'll will work. I stick my sword right into the singularity in hopes that it will absorb the ghoul's residual power and turn into something like the fear sword the thing offered me.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Xantalos on September 11, 2017, 06:02:13 pm
Daniels chuckles. "Nice move taking advantage of their distraction, Dan. Do keep in mind that games like that are primarily a test of mental flexibility and acuity, though, not by necessity physical ability."

He goes and finds a nearby crate or corner or something where he can sit down in. "I'll be remaining still for the next little while, Linda," he says to the little manikin. "If you find yourself bored, feel free to go play with Fires, Pines and Day. Or if you wish to go elsewhere, make sure to tell them beforehand so I can find you later, all right? I won't be out for long in any case."

After making sure Linda's properly accounted for, Daniels assumes a lotus position and closes his eyes.

Go to my inner temple mindspace and go to the central courtyard. Or if there isn't one, it's my mind, now there is.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on September 11, 2017, 07:40:13 pm
Answer the woman's questions more or less honestly (I'm curious about these things myself), but only jump at the offer of food if I'm especially hungry.

"Mm. And who is this Mr. Daniels?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 12, 2017, 11:42:19 am
Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 11, 2017, 03:58:22 pm
"Don't fear the reaper," I say to the singularity. Nailed it.

Though I guess I should probably get rid of this thing too. Don't want anyone complaining that I didn't clean up thoroughly - a monster hunter's got to care about her reputation, you know.

So, I feel like this is a long shot, but I have to see if it'll will work. I stick my sword right into the singularity in hopes that it will absorb the ghoul's residual power and turn into something like the fear sword the thing offered me.

You walk up to the singularity of terror and pull out your scimitar before raising it right above the infinitesimal point and bringing it down in an arc. The blade lands perfectly on it, seemingly seeking it out, and a now-familiar heart-stopping chill rises within you!

[Nightmare Blade: 3]

A terrible keening comes from the sword as the singularity destabilizes right into it, sublimating into its vacant core, lending it imagination where once was none. An organic, horrific sense of foreboding fills you as the blackened layer surrounding the sword begins to crack, the wailing steel beneath it yearning to get free and inspire terror in all who behold it.

You hold the scimitar out at arm's length at first, quite unsure, but the doctor staggers over to you, the bucket of water still in her hands. She motions hesitantly for you to get some of the soaps, a bit of the oils, some of the alcohol and a lot of the hydrochloric acid in your possession, and together you begin to clear the sword's chrysalis. What's underneath is not a scimitar at all, or even a blade in the classic sense - it looks more like a fanged whip, malevolent and sentient, glistening unfathomably bright yellow in your hands, rolling and unrolling and occasionally snapping toward the doctor, very deliberately causing no harm but making it very clear that it most certainly could if it - if you wanted it to.

The sword seems linked to you somehow - you experiment with putting it away, and notice that it stops shining and merely looks like a somehow rolled-up rapier, hanging unassumingly by your side when you aren't intent on using it. And when you do think of drawing it, it rolls out with disturbing, slithering noise. You try this a couple of times to get a feel for it. It can be trusted, you think - for now.

You and the doctor stop admiring the sword when Oggie, altogether less impressed, taps you on the shoulder as she assumes a defensive posture. You turn to look at what she's pointing at and spot a stoatman guard, clutching a spear to his chest with his short arms as his eyes dart around and he sweats profusely as he looks around, his eye particularly caught by your strange weapon.

Er, he says after a moment and gulps, what's the meaning of all this? There's been report of... explosions? He looks unsure. You wouldn't happen to know anything about some explosions, er, ma'am?

Quote from: Xantalos on September 11, 2017, 06:02:13 pm
Daniels chuckles. "Nice move taking advantage of their distraction, Dan. Do keep in mind that games like that are primarily a test of mental flexibility and acuity, though, not by necessity physical ability."

He goes and finds a nearby crate or corner or something where he can sit down in. "I'll be remaining still for the next little while, Linda," he says to the little manikin. "If you find yourself bored, feel free to go play with Fires, Pines and Day. Or if you wish to go elsewhere, make sure to tell them beforehand so I can find you later, all right? I won't be out for long in any case."

After making sure Linda's properly accounted for, Daniels assumes a lotus position and closes his eyes.

Go to my inner temple mindspace and go to the central courtyard. Or if there isn't one, it's my mind, now there is.

Linda seems very much against the idea of leaving your side for any reason, shaking her head vigorously as you climb on top of a crate and assume the lotus position, diving into your magical realm of wonderment as the sounds of your minions working out a new solution for their checkers game fades away.

You find yourself in the courtyard of your mind's temple, students watching from the windows with odd numbers of eyes and mouths, clamoring to look at you and perhaps be looked at in turn. The courtyard is otherwise silent, any practicing students having retreated out of the way as soon as your presence became felt. The zen garden is half-raked into a bizarre and violent pattern, and a book on molecular gastronomy rests on a particular bench off in the corner amid dry stacks of reports related to training. A hero sandwich half-wrapped in newspaper seems to have been left near on the rim of the square dragon-themed fountain.

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on September 11, 2017, 07:40:13 pm
Answer the woman's questions more or less honestly (I'm curious about these things myself), but only jump at the offer of food if I'm especially hungry.

"Mm. And who is this Mr. Daniels?"

[There's Nothing I Want To Do: 2]

You guess you feel a bit peckish, and you do get occasional pains in various bits such as your neck or your side, but those aren't particularly abnormal. You also figure a little extra sleep wouldn't go amiss. Mostly you're slightly irritable at being in a strange place away from anything you'd consider particularly familiar.

Ah, Peaks says. She clearly considers taking some notes to this effect, but decides against it. Suppose there's nothing notable there, hm.

As for Mr. Daniels, he's a lot like you, but a little more advanced. He's been around a while, y'see. Don't really know how he'll react to seeing you, truth be told, you showing up was kind of a sudden thing, but she figures it probably won't result in some kind of struggle for dominance. About a 1 in 4 chance of that if history is any indication.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Toaster on September 12, 2017, 01:15:06 pm
Damn it.  Well, this never fails!

Explain my request via the time-honored art of pantomime.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Xantalos on September 12, 2017, 02:07:45 pm
Daniels cracks his knuckles.

Right, first things first. All this is my mind, so therefore I can manipulate the environment however I want. Therefore, that fountain isn't a fountain anymore, but a big (say 5 meters tall) statue of myself that happens to be multifaceted, like that Hindu god Brahma who has four faces only I have four bodies, if that makes sense? One facing each direction, so they can see everywhere in the courtyard. This will make sense, I promise.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: TopHat on September 14, 2017, 06:21:11 am
"Well, good to meet you, Cindy. Could you tell me a bit more about this place?"

While we're talking, look at her and observe the effects. Strange how these people react so differently to the light.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 14, 2017, 02:15:10 pm
Quote from: Toaster on September 12, 2017, 01:15:06 pm
Damn it.  Well, this never fails!

Explain my request via the time-honored art of pantomime.

You lift your arms up to shoulder level and begin running around in circles, making whirring noises with your mouth. The statue continues to stare. You hop in place and point yourself northward, and attempt to insinuate luggage with a particularly diabolical series of gestures. You approximate the purchase of tickets through means best left unexplained. You borrow techniques from interpretive dance to explain security checks, and offhandedly gesture that you might need something from the duty-free shop to prove your inexplicable absence to Mr. Munderly and assuage his terrible, godlike rage. While also making sure that you prefer to fly economy class, can't let there be a mistake about that.

The statue nods slowly after making triple sure your routine is done, and leads you on through the mostly silent streets, coming to a building that it eagerly ushers your group inside of with the help of a few other statues. It looks like some kind of public building from the inside, not quite a place you'd like to live in, but certainly acceptable enough to conduct business in, you would say. All the marble is a bit gauche, you guess, but you've seen worse in New York City.

[Bring Before Me What Is Mine: 1]

For your own safety, the door is shut and locked very securely behind you.

Bugger, says Evey, this city thing sure is bloody dense, innit? It's probably just concerned for your collective health, Silver suggests. Yeah, Tabernacle nods, being out there with the rest of the clans sounds like a pretty unhealthy thing to do on the whole, so maybe you all ought to count your blessings.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 12, 2017, 02:07:45 pm
Daniels cracks his knuckles.

Right, first things first. All this is my mind, so therefore I can manipulate the environment however I want. Therefore, that fountain isn't a fountain anymore, but a big (say 5 meters tall) statue of myself that happens to be multifaceted, like that Hindu god Brahma who has four faces only I have four bodies, if that makes sense? One facing each direction, so they can see everywhere in the courtyard. This will make sense, I promise.

It may have never been a fountain at all. Perhaps it was a 15-foot cherubic effigy of you this entire time and you just hadn't noticed. It certainly sounds like a thing you'd have inside your mind - it absolutely smacks of pure ego.

[The Mind, It Goes A-Wandering: 3]

Come to think of it, maybe you have been a 15-foot cherubic monstrosity this entire time as well and the statue has simply captured your likeness? Thinking about it makes you tingle slightly, so perhaps there is something to it.

Quote from: TopHat on September 14, 2017, 06:21:11 am
"Well, good to meet you, Cindy. Could you tell me a bit more about this place?"

While we're talking, look at her and observe the effects. Strange how these people react so differently to the light.

Shhheee cooould... iiifff yoou haave thhe tiiime...

Long story (made much longer by virtue of Cindy having clear difficulty speaking) short, this is the Famous Rubber Heel. Or at least Cindy thinks that was the name, it might have been something else when she thinks about it, but it was certainly a Famous Something. Maybe even the Famous Something. Because let her tell you, this place certainly was the greatest bit of something (but especially prostitution) for miles around in the days of the Murkwood!

You rather understandably mention that you've never heard of any sort of Murkwood, but Cindy takes no offense - it sank, y'see. Kingdom took it, whales ate it, parts came over here. Parts wound up elsewhere. Them's the breaks in the Kingdom of the Dead, y'know?

[Life And Love And Light: 3]

You notice Cindy grow increasingly animate as you peer at her, the petrification slowly receding under your high beams. Very slowly. She's just about up to regular speaking speed by the time she's done relating to you the story of the Famous Something's sinking, back in those halcyon days of the Whateverwood - used to be such a nice town by the seaside afore the lagoons rose up and the whole place got et. Murked from top to bottom, it was! She didn't see it, mind, she only heard about it later. Was sleeping at the time, y'see. First and last thing she experienced was a hundred tons of swamp water rushing into her lungs and the building collapsing onto her. Too mad, she says, a thing like that happening to good working girls who didn't even steal that much. Not as much as they should have, anyway, given what happened.

And after that, well, business has been slow. Geological, actually. About the only person she remembers seeing in here more than a distant memory is Hrmhrmr, and that old fellow hasn't been in here for over thirty years. See, she told the Madame there weren't no foot traffic in the region and they ought to relocate, but no, low rent was prolly too important. She could have arranged something for sure, those monsters from the city administration even came in for an inspection when they first appeared... well, who even knows how long ago at this point. They didn't want any, mind, but the girls weren't trying too hard either.

Seamstressing ain't the erstwhile business it used to be, Cindy says as she creakily shakes her head, delighted at this range of motion she's developed now. Although, speaking of, didja wanna go a round or something? She'd love to get that helmet off ya at the very least.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Toaster on September 14, 2017, 09:21:14 pm
"Is it that hard for directions to the airport?  I had one of those translator books once with phrases in it; wish I had it now.  And that they spoke French."

So where are we now anyway?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Xantalos on September 15, 2017, 12:22:36 am
Daniels shakes his head. Technically in a metaphorical sense since he was inside his own head, though if he shook his head here that could theoretically be classified as a head-

No, Jack. Stop contemplating shit, you came here for a reason. Get minder training later.

Call a collection of disciples over to me. Show each one of them a technique or maneuver Shores instructed me to do in my training session with her, and instruct them to practice that one specific technique in view of the statue. Since this is within my own mind, this will hopefully translate to greater mastery of Move Like This for me without having to spend endless amounts of time practicing on my part.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: TopHat on September 15, 2017, 05:53:12 pm
"... I'm fine, thank you. Not really in the mood. Though I might try something with the helmet, come to think of it."

Open the helmet a bit and release a little of the light into her. Again, observe results.

((I'll be going on holiday for a week so may not have Internet access. I can't really think of an action plan at the moment, though.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 17, 2017, 01:43:31 pm
Quote from: Toaster on September 14, 2017, 09:21:14 pm
"Is it that hard for directions to the airport?  I had one of those translator books once with phrases in it; wish I had it now.  And that they spoke French."

So where are we now anyway?

It's hard to say what exactly this building might be for, but it definitely appears to have a large number of offices, mostly on the second floor, and also features a notable open air auditorium in the courtyard, carved out of yet more marble and forming a sizable depression. At the bottom of it is a pedestal from which, upon further testing, you realize it would be easy to make yourself heard to an audience of possibly hundreds. Furthermore, the far end of the circular building looks to feature a sizable array of dormitories, decent enough to sleep in but not particularly comfortable.

All in all you'd say this is probably some manner of school. Strangely there seems to be a near-complete lack of statues in here save for a couple that seem to be intently watching you next to the single exit, but are not at all keen to react to any provocation from the looks of it.

[Academic Pursuits: 3]

As you look around, however, you can't help but shake the feeling there's something else in here other than the statues, though beyond the occasional shadow at the edge of your vision you have no idea what it might possibly be.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 15, 2017, 12:22:36 am
Daniels shakes his head. Technically in a metaphorical sense since he was inside his own head, though if he shook his head here that could theoretically be classified as a head-

No, Jack. Stop contemplating shit, you came here for a reason. Get minder training later.

Call a collection of disciples over to me. Show each one of them a technique or maneuver Shores instructed me to do in my training session with her, and instruct them to practice that one specific technique in view of the statue. Since this is within my own mind, this will hopefully translate to greater mastery of Move Like This for me without having to spend endless amounts of time practicing on my part.

Ah, outsourcing your martial training to your unpaid horde of demonic students. All of the benefits, none of the grueling exercise!

[It's Really Quite Cryptical: 6]

Your students gather as you inform them about where to stand and what exactly they are to practice. Fortunately the exact minutes of your training have been very carefully preserved by your memory, and as soon as the manual is brought out your students begin practicing the appropriate exercises, dividing up in schools of North, West, East and South. They promise to have this figured out Real Soon, and get right to it.

Wow, look at them go. One of them kick another's head right open, spilling a bucket's worth of wriggling brainworms in the process. The victim then starts crawling around and scooping them back in with generous handfuls as he tries to hold his skull together while the kicker moves to do the same to another. This next one is a little more cautious and with a swift chop removes the offender's leg, running off with it to a dark corner - a few minutes later he is back one limb richer, and moving as if he's always had it on him, much to his rival's chagrin. Spin kicks work really well if you've got three legs, you subsequently observe.

Quote from: TopHat on September 15, 2017, 05:53:12 pm
"... I'm fine, thank you. Not really in the mood. Though I might try something with the helmet, come to think of it."

Open the helmet a bit and release a little of the light into her. Again, observe results.

((I'll be going on holiday for a week so may not have Internet access. I can't really think of an action plan at the moment, though.))

Eh, Cindy says, sorry to bother you about it, she's contractually obligated to ask. That's how it is with outdated business models - used to be the whole tell was lousy with whorehouses from top to bottom, but they've been closing down or languishing in obscurity for... well, for a dang long time, that's for sure.. Don't tell the madame that, of course, the place is her life and unlife's work, she gets real mad then. She has been looking into taking some classes to maybe branch out, but it's so hard finding a tutor around, you kn-

[The Light of Revelation: 6]

You take off your helmet as Cindy goes on with no sign of stopping and suddenly bathe her in a great deal more light from your face-gash. Cindy suddenly howls as the light burns into her and falls back against the wall, her spine cracking and joints dislocating as her body suddenly comes alive after decades or perhaps even centuries of dormancy. Life returns to her all at once and she collapses on the ground, the excitement having caused her to nearly fall apart. Her wig tumbles off, revealing a humbler head of stringy black hair, preserved a little better than you would expect of someone who's been dead for centuries.

She lays there, obviously discomfited but simultaneously delighted as you put the helmet back on. That appears to have worked out a lot of the kinks, she comments in a pained voice, though it does look as though she's had a bit of an accident in the process, she says as she tries to bonelessly wiggle on the ground. Don't suppose you'd like to be a gentleman and pop her limbs back into place, would you? Oh, and something something another round, just to cover herself legal-wise.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Xantalos on September 17, 2017, 05:13:27 pm
"Excellent, my pupils. I will be back to absorb what you have learned in the future. Good luck."

Quote
They Call Me Doctor: Opportunistic Orderly

Time to go back to the real world.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 18, 2017, 07:30:59 am
"Oh, my apologies if I frightened anyone," I say to the guard. "The speaker asked me to hunt the ghoul that was lurking in this building. So I did. I was just about to report back to her - do you know the way?" If the guard gives me directions to the speaker, I head over to tell her that the ghoul has been killed.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Toaster on September 18, 2017, 09:01:44 am
Keep poking around.  Literally as needed.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on September 19, 2017, 03:24:57 pm
"So, what, did you create me? Am I dead? I have some questions that remain unanswered here."

Probe madwoman for answers while I wait.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 20, 2017, 09:47:58 am
Quote from: Xantalos on September 17, 2017, 05:13:27 pm
"Excellent, my pupils. I will be back to absorb what you have learned in the future. Good luck."

Quote
They Call Me Doctor: Opportunistic Orderly

Time to go back to the real world.

An interesting proposition - can any world be said to be properly real? What exactly makes the world in which you are on a ship more real than the one in which you run a mountain temple filled with subservient monsters? Perhaps they are not different worlds at all, and you are merely occupying a different part of it while you operate your mindscape? Truly, if you examined the proofs you suspect the results may surprise you - maybe all things are simulated, mere illusions generated by some kind of terrible intellect possessing an unknown purpose?

One thing is for sure - you don't actually care and instead return to the real world, where you see that you are still in the hold and, in what was clearly a wise move by any potential passersby, utterly undisturbed. Now you only need to remember what else you wanted to do today.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 18, 2017, 07:30:59 am
"Oh, my apologies if I frightened anyone," I say to the guard. "The speaker asked me to hunt the ghoul that was lurking in this building. So I did. I was just about to report back to her - do you know the way?" If the guard gives me directions to the speaker, I head over to tell her that the ghoul has been killed.

Oh man, says the stoat-guard. Oh boy! You got the ghoul! His terror appears to instantly evaporate and he grins toothily, clapping his hands together. The ghoul's been got!

He leans out the door - hey, boys, that monster hunter lady got the ghoul! The ghoul is dead! You hear a murmuring, followed by a cheer. Turning around, the stoat bows deeply - can't thank you enough, miss. To tell you the truth he had been scared to go out in the streets the entire past week - you could sense something was off, was the thing.

[Turning In Your Quests: 6]

You shrug modestly and ask him again if he knows how to get to the speaker real quick-like - great idea, he says! He'll tell everyone you've gone and got the ghoul, he begins to gesture, and you go let the speaker know and make sure nobody else has to. Perfect allocation of duties right there!

He spends a moment relaying a vague set of directions to you - head toward the center of town, right past the new library and the new courthouse (not the old library or the old courthouse, he takes special care to tell you) and it'll be there, real serious looking house. You just go right in there and tell her what you told him, maybe put a few more dramatic touches on to- well, anyway, he's got to be off now. Thanks again for getting the ghoul though! Hoo boy, he was not looking forward to running into it on a dark night, let him tell you.

Having said all that the stoat-guard vacates the premises jauntily, and on your way out you pass by his unit as they discuss where exactly they'll be celebrating for tonight. They seem to head in the direction of the Nuts & Humphrey, and soon you find yourself followed by a wave of good news - shouts about the ghoul being got spread as readily in this city as they would in a small village, the stoatman population apparently ecstatic with relief at the news. Impromptu parties ensue just behind you as bakers and brewers alike are suddenly struck by fits of generosity.

At last you come into the speaker's house - they do not appear to have been expecting you, and indeed look quite surprised as you explain that you've gone out and successfully solved the ghoul trouble. The speaker's brow furrows a little before resolving itself when you clarify that you mean you've killed the damn thing. You think you perceive the faintest hint of a smile.

Pretty good work, the speaker nods as you conclude a brief account of the perils you've faced. And prompt as well, which is the important bit. Suppose you've earned a reward then. They think a second. Don't have much of a budget at the moment, mind. They lean forward, rubbing their smooth chin.

Aha, they figure, you need any papers written or stamped? Could write up a proper monster hunting license in the names of you and your friend, maybe. Put their stamp on that and nobody with at least half the sense goodness gave a cabbage is likely to give you any trouble from here to the southern coast.

Quote from: Toaster on September 18, 2017, 09:01:44 am
Keep poking around.  Literally as needed.

You start to comb through the school in search of strange secrets and also whoever the heck is also in here.

[The Chamber of Secrets: 1]

And sure enough, you do pick up a trail as you have everyone fan out - you see a shadow run along a hallway in the dormitories and begin to give chase. They seem a little faster than you, but you manage to not lose them as you turn corners and burst through a set of dormitories, politely asking them to stop and maybe tell you what exactly they're doing around here, but they don't seem eager to respond. You carry on a shouted one-sided conversation with the figure as you explain, perhaps as much for your own peace of mind as their information, and eventually make your way down the stairs to the basement, where you know for a fact they'd be almost certainly cornered.

Sadly they appear to have planned for this, as the only response as you slip down the stairs is a slam of the heavy door behind you, followed by it being bolted. Maybe you shouldn't have told the shadow about that part, on reflection.

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on September 19, 2017, 03:24:57 pm
"So, what, did you create me? Am I dead? I have some questions that remain unanswered here."

Probe madwoman for answers while I wait.

She definitely didn't create you, Peaks says, it just seems to have happened as a result of some of her manipulations - maybe an accident, maybe something else? Basically you grew out of a chunk of muscle she extracted from that Daniels guy she mentioned pretty much spontaneously, and while she might have some vague idea of why that might be, she can't really say for sure why you seem to have manifested at that exact moment or circumstance. It was, however, pretty cool to watch and try to puzzle out what was going on.

As for whether you're dead, that's kind of a muddy question to get into. Guess you're kind of dead - just like Mr. Daniels you seem to be made after a template of an actual person, complete with identity and mostly uninterrupted memories. On the other hand you're still walking around and talking and for all intents and purposes don't remember ever dying unless you haven't been telling her everything, so you could just look on the bright side and say that you're living a different kind of life rather than being a mock-up of a human being covering up a terrifying construct of nether-flesh that only barely obeys physical laws. Peaks notices the way you're looking at her as she says this and laughs - believe it or not, she says, but even if you were human once, you're definitely something else now. Mostly in a cool way though, not in a terrible and dangerous way. You don't come with any Words, do you? Didn't think so.

Anyway, she's going out to check on her friend, Two Shores. You wanna come with or are you gonna be all right in here?

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Toaster on September 20, 2017, 10:30:10 am
Oh dear.  Well, it's not like Thomas had actually done anything wrong.

"Ah.  Hello there!  Didn't mean to startle you.  I'm just looking for directions, really; no one here knows where the airport is.  Or at least won't tell me.  Maybe not asking the right way?"

Defuse and ask for directions.  Expand more on question if there's no response.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 20, 2017, 11:02:26 am
Quote from: Toaster on September 20, 2017, 10:30:10 am
-snip-

I should clarify that the shadow is not down there with you. It must have been hiding behind the door and stepped around it as you went down the stairs, locking you in the basement completely alone.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Toaster on September 20, 2017, 12:08:47 pm
((Got it; thank you.))

Oops.  Well, this can't be all that bad, can it?

Look around.  Is there another way out?  Or anything of interest?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: Xantalos on September 20, 2017, 03:35:23 pm
"Well, that was productive. Let's go to Peaks again, Linda - perhaps we can figure out what that lock coming to life was all about."

Go find Peaks with the intent of asking her Linda questions. I say intent because that might get derailed by the sight of Mr. Fischgartner.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 21, 2017, 08:01:34 am
"Yeah, that sounds like something that would come in handy," I tell the speaker. "I don't want to impose, but is there anywhere that we could stay for the night? We should probably wait to leave town until the morning. Any little room would be fine - the doctor prefers a mattress, I believe, but I'm fine sleeping on the floor. And Oggie can just hang out nearby."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: Eyes of Terror
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on September 22, 2017, 04:22:25 pm
Rindle blinks a few times. "Sure, why not."

Best to play along for now. Follow crazy, and meet the other probable crazy. Assuming this Two-Shores is in fact real, and not a figment of the woman's evidently large imagination. You never know with these types. Ponder my own existence, and my relationship to Peaks and that Daniels' guy- though not in earnest, as I have no real reason to take Peaks' ramblings as anything other than entertaining (if mildly concerning) lunacy.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 23, 2017, 08:42:31 am
Quote from: Toaster on September 20, 2017, 12:08:47 pm
((Got it; thank you.))

Oops.  Well, this can't be all that bad, can it?

Look around.  Is there another way out?  Or anything of interest?

[Is There Anybody Out There: 4]

It's dark down here, but not completely so. As your eyes begin to adapt, you realize that something must be shedding light into the area, and set out to look for it.

The basement itself is immaculately tidy, not a speck of dust to be found wherever you walk. Pseudo-furniture including desks and chairs lines the walls, all made of stone and largely impossible to move, stone boxes filled with stone books populate some corners, wholly useless even if they weren't written in lorem ipsum.

Strangely, you come across a trio of rats in one of the corners of the basement, where the light seems ever so slightly brighter. They don't appear to pay you any mind at first, and instead seem to be working on some kind of topological solution to what looks like a very severe knotting in their tails. As you begin to slip closer, however, all three look at you with gleaming rodent eyes and study you astutely, but say nothing in a way that for just a moment makes you wonder if this is just because they don't want to. One keeps an eye on you as the two others sniff around their joined tails and try to pull them apart somehow.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 20, 2017, 03:35:23 pm
"Well, that was productive. Let's go to Peaks again, Linda - perhaps we can figure out what that lock coming to life was all about."

Go find Peaks with the intent of asking her Linda questions. I say intent because that might get derailed by the sight of Mr. Fischgartner.

You look for her in her cabin, but she seems to have gone out by the time you get there - next you check on the deck, and find a lot more than just the alchemist herself. Two Shores appears to have emerged from whatever business the captain had her on, though she looks to be in rather low spirits at the present time. But the strangest thing of all is the man in the black-and-gold paisley bathrobe and slippers, looking equal parts confused and thoughtful at the happenings all around him.

Mr. Fischgartner, you say with utmost certainty, causing him to turn around in surprise and the other two to register your presence - Two Shores takes an uncharacteristically awkward bow while Peaks very jovially pantomimes tipping her hat, the sudden appearance of this new friend seemingly having elevated her mood to unprecedented levels.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 21, 2017, 08:01:34 am
"Yeah, that sounds like something that would come in handy," I tell the speaker. "I don't want to impose, but is there anywhere that we could stay for the night? We should probably wait to leave town until the morning. Any little room would be fine - the doctor prefers a mattress, I believe, but I'm fine sleeping on the floor. And Oggie can just hang out nearby."

The speaker tells you to hold on a moment and heads upstairs, coming back about twenty minutes later with some writing supplies. They set up at a dining table as they set about dipping their quill in some ink and starting to write up the requisite documents, which you workshop along the course of the next hour or so. The speaker themselves is clearly somewhat new at writing documents of any kind, but with the doctor's help, your useful suggestions and Oggie's vaguely unsettling presence keeping things moving along at a brisk pace, you've soon drafted up a monster hunting license. Two monster hunting licenses, actually, one made out to your name and the other made out to Dr. Beryl Butler, which is what your companion's actual name turns out to be (from the Butlers of the old capital, seemingly a long and distinguished line of manservants and toadies). Noticing that the doctor gets one, Oggie wastes no time in demanding one for herself as well, settling just for Oggie of Anglefork as the best approximation of what she remembers her name to be - it will be useful, she says, to have a document to shove under noses of those who question her snapping necks.

After the papers are stamped with a High Speaker's prized seal (they technically have a city to themselves, the speaker says, so they count a little extra in the Assembly), The speaker also gives you a badge - only one to share between the three of you, they say, since there weren't any more in the box they found in the town hall. The words "Sheriff of the Crown" have been very decisively scratched out of the silver badge, and instead "Monster Hunter" appears to have been freshly pressed into it with a knife blade in messy letters.

When the speaker presents papers to each of you and pins the badge on your long, though scorched stoat-shirt, you feel a little bit odd. Your name on a scroll of parchment and actual legal status. It gives you a brief queasy feeling before clearing, replaced by a new confidence as you see the doctor tuck her license in a pocket of her traveling dress and, after a moment, receive Oggie's license after she disappointedly realizes she does not have anywhere to put it (need a bag of some kind, she mumbles).

After the papers are done, you inquire about a place to stay the night. The speaker shrugs - you're technically a hero of the city, so you can go wherever you like, flash the badge and papers and tell them to put it on the city's tab if they're bloody well bothered by the expenses, eh? Though if you want a recommendation, they used to work at the Count's Arms - couldn't say what they renamed it to since the purge, but probably something colorful - was a colorful kinda place, the Count's Arms was.

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on September 22, 2017, 04:22:25 pm
Rindle blinks a few times. "Sure, why not."

Best to play along for now. Follow crazy, and meet the other probable crazy. Assuming this Two-Shores is in fact real, and not a figment of the woman's evidently large imagination. You never know with these types. Ponder my own existence, and my relationship to Peaks and that Daniels' guy- though not in earnest, as I have no real reason to take Peaks' ramblings as anything other than entertaining (if mildly concerning) lunacy.

Peaks opens the door to her cabin and bids you to follow. If you think she's crazy, she says, you're sure gonna love getting to know the others.

The halls of the Vault of Heavens are all well-done in machined bronze and dark parquet, lit to perfection by white alchemical lights. It reminds you most of something like a luxury yacht - though there are clearly quite a lot of crewmen, perhaps as many as fifty, the decks seem spacious and made more with aesthetic concerns in mind than brute practicality. Well, the officers' quarters do at the very least - you don't really need to head down to the lower decks as Peaks is confident you'll find first mate Two Shores up on the deck.

[Officer On Call: 4]

And as it happens the crazy woman is quite right. Up on the deck among the shuffling masses of lower-ranking sailors, all of which give you questioning looks before Peaks wards them off, is Two Shores Will Become One At The Threshold Of Hell - Shores for short, Peaks nods and smiles. The first mate is simultaneously bizarre and impressive to look upon - dark-skinned and curly-haired just like her friend, her age seems quite indeterminate as she stares off the edge of the deck. She certainly is among the most immediately beautiful individuals you have ever seen despite being absolutely the most scarred, her facial features nearly half made up of a web of deeper and shallower gashes that weirdly suggest a perfection and symmetry all its own, an impossible masterpiece of scarification.

As Peaks hails her brightly, the woman turns a little sluggishly in her flowing dress of ten thousand ribbons, a claymore hanging loosely by her side in a long scabbard. Though keeping a very neutral face, you perceive the vaguest hint of sadness in her eyes before a more obvious look of surprise at your appearance comes over her.

Peaks, she says in a low voice, who is this? She gives you a piercing look before addressing you more directly. Why are you wearing Peaks' robe?

For her part, Peaks seems delighted to make the introduction - this is a fellow that materialized out of some flesh that she borrowed, he is likely to be of a similar stock as their mutual friend, though perhaps not as immediately obviously capable as- well, anyway, he seems to be one of those. And it does also occur to her that she didn't actually ask your name yet, which is an unforgivable rudeness against someone who turns up naked in your bed suddenly and-

Mr. Fischgartner, you hear a voice from behind you and immediately turn, spotting someone you unquestionably are able to identify as Mr. Daniels - a man wearing a red-and-gold vest and breeches, arms crossed over his chest as he examines you from a distance. At his feet you see a small clay manikin wearing what look to be two peg legs, pattering about on the ground, and slightly to the left of him you spy a terrifyingly murderous, formless presence gnawing at the guardrail, the crewmen seemingly knowing enough about it to give it a wide berth.

Mr. Daniels, Two Shores bows while Peaks merely gives him a polite nod and a hat-tipping motion in lieu of an actual hat.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on September 23, 2017, 04:40:11 pm
Daniels' eyes flicker over the gathered trio. Peaks was happy, evidently she'd had a breakthrough, accidental or no, and Fischgartner was the result. Poor bugger, he'd have to give him a bit of orientation probably.

His brow wrinkles in concern as his gaze pans over to Shores - low spirits was one thing, everyone has bad moods, but awkward? He'd known the first mate probably less than a week all in all, but awkward was not a word used to describe her. He'd have to have a chat with her later on, see what was awry.

But first things first, dealing with the probably disoriented interdimensional traveller. He claps his hands and rubs them together a few times. "You're probably confused as to how you got here," he addresses the new arrival. "You're from Earth, right? Woke up somewhere strange, naked, not really sure how the hell you got here? Sounds about accurate?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on September 23, 2017, 04:58:07 pm
Rindle shrugs, and nods. "More or less, yeah. Your friend here tells me I grew from a chunk of your muscle, or something."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on September 23, 2017, 05:39:36 pm
Daniels raises an eyebrow. "That ... hmm. I suppose that does make some sense, yeah. Gotta wonder what causes it, but that's a question for later. Anyhow, what have you been told about your situation? I'll do my best to orientate you to the world we're in, so if you've any questions, ask away."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Toaster on September 24, 2017, 12:40:59 pm
((Oh good, a rat king.))


Odd.  "Do you need some help?"  The absurdity of addressing rats was far outweighed by the rest of the past few days.

Do they want help?  Try to help?  Back off if they don't.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: penguinofhonor on September 25, 2017, 08:21:28 am
I ask for directions, then thank the speaker and start making my way to the Count's Arms.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: TopHat on September 27, 2017, 05:23:21 pm
"Of course, sorry - I hadn't expected such a violent effect. Are you okay?"

I didn't exactly cover in first aid training, but give it my best shot anyway.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on September 28, 2017, 05:05:09 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on September 23, 2017, 04:40:11 pm
Daniels' eyes flicker over the gathered trio. Peaks was happy, evidently she'd had a breakthrough, accidental or no, and Fischgartner was the result. Poor bugger, he'd have to give him a bit of orientation probably.

His brow wrinkles in concern as his gaze pans over to Shores - low spirits was one thing, everyone has bad moods, but awkward? He'd known the first mate probably less than a week all in all, but awkward was not a word used to describe her. He'd have to have a chat with her later on, see what was awry.

But first things first, dealing with the probably disoriented interdimensional traveller. He claps his hands and rubs them together a few times. "You're probably confused as to how you got here," he addresses the new arrival. "You're from Earth, right? Woke up somewhere strange, naked, not really sure how the hell you got here? Sounds about accurate?"

[Friendly Conversation: 1]

Two Shores and Peaks converse between themselves as you take up Mr. Fischgartner's attention, inquiring about each other's day and making small talk about the happenings experienced by one crewman or another, and offering comments about the splendidly flawed nature rolling past the deck as you sail downriver toward the Sky Rig. They even chat about the weather, and Peaks shares with Shores a joke that she heard about the writer and the scissor salesman, which neither you nor Shores appear to find terribly funny. They seem to be killing time, occasionally glancing in your direction as they continue to talk about what books they've been reading lately.

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on September 23, 2017, 04:58:07 pm
Rindle shrugs, and nods. "More or less, yeah. Your friend here tells me I grew from a chunk of your muscle, or something."

[Friendly Conversation: 2]

The two women carry on their own conversation as Mr. Daniels takes his first steps on educating you on the matters surrounding being tossed unwittingly into a strange and alien world and gifted with obviously supernatural abilities by some terrible eldritch beast. Their conversation seems altogether less potentially interesting than yours, involving mostly the weather, lunch plans and awful jokes. You almost have to wonder how someone can talk so much while saying so little.

Quote from: Toaster on September 24, 2017, 12:40:59 pm
Odd.  "Do you need some help?"  The absurdity of addressing rats was far outweighed by the rest of the past few days.

Do they want help?  Try to help?  Back off if they don't.

The lookout rat sniffs at you, and deems you an acceptable meddler in their affairs. You're not sure what its criteria are or whether you should be honored to be included. You look at the knot of tails and, true enough, seems to be a bit of a sticky wicket.

You start by unraveling the actual knot, which is easy enough when you have eight fingers and two thumbs to work with. Then you turn your attention to the much more daunting problem at hand - the fact that these three rats appear to have fused together at the tail somehow, forming a weird bulbous node that pulses rhythmically at the center.

[A Puzzle of Rats: 5]

The trick, you discover with some experimentation and a strangely good intuition, is the pulsing. When it starts to deflate, that's when you pull and voila - you've got a few more inches of rat tail for each of them. Then pull again and the same thing happens, and then try again about several dozen times. It's a little hypnotic, you find after you notice that you've managed to produce about six feet of tail in every direction, the rats looking back in slight wonder as the odd little tail-node seems to be having an odd little heart attack in the middle. You don't think it'll hold up to much more than what you've already done - perhaps another tap at most. The rats look equal parts fascinated and terrified as they look on, but offer no further input.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on September 25, 2017, 08:21:28 am
I ask for directions, then thank the speaker and start making my way to the Count's Arms.

The speaker is happy to direct you, though the directions themselves are slightly byzantine and the location is a little south of what used to be the bad side of town. You continue to hear celebration in the streets, the good news front having passed during your business in the speaker's house. Amid an awakening local population you make your way to the Count's Arms.

[All Hands: 2]

Eventually you get there, or at least to the right place. The doctor was kind enough to write down the precise directions, so you can and do double check because where you wind up certainly doesn't look like an inn. The Count's Arms might have inhabited an inn once, mind you, but it appears to have grown beyond its old shell, which is left in this former location still burst open and deflated, an enterprising clan of stoatfolk having moved in and somehow had two dozen or so children that swarm the ruin like maggots. Innumerable washing lines hang along buildings in the area as a cool breeze blows.

You go up and ask a likely-looking stoatman about whether the Count's Arms happen to be anywhere, and they just laugh and say that they're probably about somewhere, but that four horses can get pretty far apart when you spook them right and proper so they couldn't begin to tell you where to look.

Quote from: TopHat on September 27, 2017, 05:23:21 pm
"Of course, sorry - I hadn't expected such a violent effect. Are you okay?"

I didn't exactly cover in first aid training, but give it my best shot anyway.

She's quite all right on balance. A spontaneous dislocation of most of her joints is a small price to pay for a complete reversal of petrification, as the old saying goes. A heck of a lot of things you'd accept if you could only move again. Case in point!

About half an hour later you've managed to puzzle through the process of putting Cindy back together. She's pretty happy that you're so patient with her in this trying time, and even happier when she finds out by the end that she seems to have become double-jointed in the process. She puts one of her legs behind her head in celebration while balancing on the other as she spreads her arms - don't have to force it or anything, neat!

[Delightful Gifts: 3]

As Cindy does a celebratory cartwheel in the main chamber (her skirt going interesting places in the process) you avert your eyes in a gentlemanly manner and notice that the rest of the girls - perhaps a dozen or so - are staring at you specifically. Their petrified expressions are mixed - some look curious, a few look terrified, another one is vaguely disgusted at the breaches of decorum and several others seem almost pleading. All of them, however, have edged a little closer from where you recall them being.

Noticing the attention you're getting, Cindy stands up straight and shakes her fist at the other girls. She also offers some comments on the watchers' overall hygiene, parentage and the hopeless distance of their latest bill of clean health, first to the room at large and then going into some upsetting specifics through a whisper.

[Lovely Cindy: 5]

Anyway, Cindy says at last, still side-eying the other girls, it's about time she and you got out of this godforsaken whore museum. Come on, she knows where the madame keeps her savings - grab those and pop out through the back entrance and you'll be gone before you can say "embezzlement".

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Toaster on September 29, 2017, 12:54:16 pm
"Okay... once more and you should be good."

Talking to rats barely registered on Thomas's absurdity index at this point.

Finish the job.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on September 29, 2017, 06:09:51 pm
Proposal to retroactively slot in conversation with Mr. Fischgartner if it happens here, so that interaction with others won't be overly sidelined.


After concluding his conversation of uncertain length with his fellow wellspawn, Daniels turns to Peaks and Shores. "So, first things first. Two Shores, are you okay? You seem ... out of sorts, if you don't mind me saying so."

Show concern for the wellbeing of another person - a novel thing for Daniels so far.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on September 30, 2017, 06:52:00 pm
Rindle snaps back into reality. "What was that? My condition? Peaks hasn't said too much- only that I manifested here, that I may or may not be dead, something about... nether-flesh?" He frowns. "Yes, I think she said I was nether flesh... Actually, this whole situation here is giving me sort of a Hellish-vibe.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on September 30, 2017, 08:08:18 pm
Daniels shakes his head.

"No, this isn't hell - or if it is, pretty much every religion is wrong to a hilarious degree. You're in a different world, basically. Ever read Narnia? Sorta like that, only we've basically been plucked from Earth and manifested here by the will of an interdimensional entity to be used as research probes. ...not really like Narnia now that I think about it."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 02, 2017, 12:32:55 am
Rindle slowly nods. "Narnia meets Saw. Got it. So... this entity. Some kind of ethereal, abstract thing? Like a god? Or will my captor have the courtesy of showing itself? And what kind of research, exactly?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 02, 2017, 02:31:19 am
"Sorta ethereal, or at least it doesn't have a body in the physical sense. It won't reveal itself as such, but you can go meet it if you choose; it resides in very certain types of darkness, which I assume functions as a transition to the extrauniversal void it inhabits or something like that. I wouldn't really recommend it though; it seems to think like a giant computer or something, and if you ask it anything the answer will cost you a connection - basically the sum total of your relationship with a person, if you give it up that person loses all ability to even recognize your existence. Deal with the devil-type stuff, you give it connections or sources, which is basically people, and it can give you ... basically anything, but if you phrase it incorrectly you won't get what you want and there's no refunds. As for research, it seems to be interested in how sapient beings interact for academic purposes. At least that's what it's told me. My advice, don't bother with it unless you need something you can't get any other way."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: TopHat on October 02, 2017, 05:23:22 pm
"... A kind offer. I'm not sure it's right to leave everyone else like this though, when I could literally fix them with a glance."

Express moral issues with the recommended course of action.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 02, 2017, 11:15:11 pm
"What kinds of, er, wishes , for lack of a better word, has the entity fulfilled in the past? If you don't mind me asking."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 02, 2017, 11:25:22 pm
"Gave me superhuman strength, it can tell you the location of pretty much anything or the ideal way to get something, gifting various abilities of varying types to people - you'll encounter at some point people with magical words, which are basically words that when said exert their meaning on the surroundings - fire as a Word would manifest fire in the world depending on the context you use it in. That seems to be the most common sort of magical phenomena around, but there are plenty others, and plenty of ways to gain them - especially for us, since our forms are specially tuned to pick up reality-altering abilities."

Daniels dances around his murder-thought a little to demonstrate. "This didn't come from the well, though. Got it another way."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 03, 2017, 06:11:08 am
Well this won't work at all.

I follow the sounds of partying to find somewhere else to stay. Preferably somewhere we can have a few drinks and with the celebrating stoats before going to bed. Gotta drink to my accomplishments, I guess, and it has been a little while since I've cut loose.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: AoshimaMichio on October 03, 2017, 09:53:20 am
((Did Toaster find remains of my body or what?))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 03, 2017, 02:38:58 pm
((I did a quick search on the forums, just to get enough info on Xan's murder-thought to realistically react to it, and from what I've gathered his is some kind of indescribable thing that would freak the hell out of someone still operating under Earth logic, right?))

Attempting to maintain his composure (not to mention his lunch), Rindle weakly replies, "Well... that, uh, that certainly is, uh, neat. Isn't that nifty. Good to meet you, Mr. Daniels."

Edit: Having concluded his distressing, but enlightening conversation with Daniels, Rindle finds himself a nice corner that break down in for a bit.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 03, 2017, 04:15:39 pm
Daniels sighs. "It's freaky, I know. It's not going to hurt you ah dammit I should've kept that oblique until later on."

((It seems so, yeah. It's like having a knife, only there's no handle and every edge of it is crystallized pain and malevolence.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 04, 2017, 12:40:19 am
"No, its fine really, it's just... eurrgh. That's a lie. None of this is is fine." Rindle snaps. "I've been kidnapped, probably drugged, or manifested, or whatever you want to call it, by either a mad alchemist and company- one of whom she claims I grew from like a fly from Aristotle's leftovers- or some kind of shadowy genie thing, depending primarily on which is more broken, my mind or my worldview. I'm on a boat. I've never been on a boat before. I don't know where we're sailing, he'll I don't know where or what he left from. I don't know what I am. And now you start waving around that... thing, to top it all off."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 04, 2017, 12:55:06 am
"Look, I'm not gonna rob you of your time to have an existential crisis. The others had one, I've had three or so by now, it's a necessary step for your mind to process the shock of suddenly being in ... here. You can ignore my murder-thought, it won't touch you. Just take a bit of time to process all this, and come see me when you're ready to talk about it some more. Sound good?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 04, 2017, 01:11:24 am
"Sounds... like the best I'm gonna get. Thank you:"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 04, 2017, 01:28:52 am
"No worries. It's an odd boat we're stuck in - I'm talking metaphorically here - so I can't really blame you for being weirded out by the whole scenario."
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 04, 2017, 11:02:38 am
Quote from: Toaster on September 29, 2017, 12:54:16 pm
"Okay... once more and you should be good."

Talking to rats barely registered on Thomas's absurdity index at this point.

Finish the job.

[The Node: 5]

With the slightest of tugs you give the tail node the final bit of force required to completely destabilize it. Your reward is, unsurprisingly, more rat tails - a multitude of them exploding over you like twitching, hairy spaghetti before sliding to the floor, some seemingly serving as ends to the three rats' tails, but most of them apparently wholly autonomous as they drag themselves every which way like slightly fuzzy earthworms.

The rats appear satisfied at this conclusion after a fashion, and seemingly let the sudden wealth of spare tails be as they make their hurried escapes. They're altogether much more interested in a hushed discussion that you are sadly not privy to as they huddle up and squeak at each other in conspiratorial tones, looking your way every now and then. A minute passes as you continue to stare bewildered at the escaping tails.

They seem to come to a conclusion of sorts, and crawl up your body to sit on your shoulders, their seven foot tails winding around your torso several times as they look at their surroundings. They appear to be watching out for something quite specific, but choose to remain silent on what that might be.

Quote from: Xantalos on September 29, 2017, 06:09:51 pm
After concluding his conversation of uncertain length with his fellow wellspawn, Daniels turns to Peaks and Shores. "So, first things first. Two Shores, are you okay? You seem ... out of sorts, if you don't mind me saying so."

Show concern for the wellbeing of another person - a novel thing for Daniels so far.

[The Final Approach: 4]

She is fine and very much enjoying the change in climate that the westward travel brings, Shores explains. This evening the Vault of Heavens will reach the Sky Rig, and hopefully within the week the return home will be concluded, which should all prove to be a simple enough process after business with the customs authority is concluded.

Customs do tend to be simultaneously troubling and soul-numbingly boring affairs, Peaks says in a mildly serious way, tapping her nose knowingly.

But also unfortunately time-consuming, Shores adds mechanically. The captain has mentioned to her that some discrepancies will need to be addressed and the books brought back to order in the next 24 hours, which will unfortunately mean she is unable to train you today.

Funny how key parts of some documentation turn out to be missing in the eleventh hour and then need to be painstakingly rewritten, Peaks says and rolls her eyes.

Shores does raise an eyebrow, but hesitates to say more than that the captain seems to have misplaced a particular report, yes. Things have a way of happening at the worst possible times, she is sure you will agree. Perhaps you will be able to finish up at the Sky Rig, she says in the kind of hopeful tone that makes it clear enough that there is likely no chance of this ever happening.

Quote from: TopHat on October 02, 2017, 05:23:22 pm
"... A kind offer. I'm not sure it's right to leave everyone else like this though, when I could literally fix them with a glance."

Express moral issues with the recommended course of action.

[Here In The Museum: 4]

Cindy looks at the other girls irritably. Have to say, that wasn't the part of the plan she thought you'd object against - fair cop, she says, suppose it is a bit inhumane to just leave them like that. Most of them, anyway. Don't revive that one over there, Cindy points out a smaller, younger-looking girl in especially revealing dress off in the corner whose brow slowly furrows in shocked incredulity over the following minute or so, she's an incorrigible snitch and you can tell the dang madame that she said so, too. The rest are mostly all right, although she stands by her previous criticism of their particular hygiene and distressing habits.

She takes one more look around the whole room. Go ahead and revive the rest, she says, and she'll go and rob the place blind in the meantime, and then you'll all be collectively out before the owner can say "workers' rights", not that the stingy bitch ever would.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 03, 2017, 06:11:08 am
Well this won't work at all.

I follow the sounds of partying to find somewhere else to stay. Preferably somewhere we can have a few drinks and with the celebrating stoats before going to bed. Gotta drink to my accomplishments, I guess, and it has been a little while since I've cut loose.

[Find The Rhythm: 3]

There are colors on the streets of Speaker's Bridge as the stoatfolk have headed out to celebrate with heavy amounts of drink, dance and stoat music. A lot of stoat music, which appears to involve a lot of washboards, jugs, pots, empty boxes and actually quite impeccable singing. You look for another inn to stay at in the rising bustle after finding several that appear so packed that you can't even elbow your way in for all the stoats that have gone inside, crawling over one another in places as required. Eventually as you veer toward the edges of town you find a very nice-looking townhouse - unlike most of its neighbors it looks to have remained quite well-kept, and outside it there is a sign indicating that it may well be some kind of bed & breakfast.

The sign proves to be helpful indeed, as you would never have been able to tell from the proprietor, a deeply surly-looking woman in her mid-nineties at the very least, ancient by any sensible measure and, from the looks of it, living completely alone in this dusty house apart from her full rainbow of two dozen cats, each of them harboring its own particular brand of suspicion for you, the doctor or Oggie.

Three rules, the lady tells you. First off, pay up in advance, two gold pieces for a room. Secondly, don't make any bloody noise in the night or you'll be out on your ear within the hour. And thirdly, don't go poking around the basement.

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on October 03, 2017, 02:38:58 pm
((I did a quick search on the forums, just to get enough info on Xan's murder-thought to realistically react to it, and from what I've gathered his is some kind of indescribable thing that would freak the hell out of someone still operating under Earth logic, right?))

Attempting to maintain his composure (not to mention his lunch), Rindle weakly replies, "Well... that, uh, that certainly is, uh, neat. Isn't that nifty. Good to meet you, Mr. Daniels."

Edit: Having concluded his distressing, but enlightening conversation with Daniels, Rindle finds himself a nice corner that break down in for a bit.

You definitely get a very good look at the murder-thought as you go. There's not a lot to see apart from how it scratches along the deck, leaving shining marks in the bronze plating. Much of it is instead very keenly felt, a dimensionless and unimaginably dangerous sharpness in the air that makes you feel as if you were gently hugging a razor-sharp sword, and really makes you appreciate the charm of being literally anywhere else.

Leaving the three others behind you look around the deck and find a severe paucity of likely corners, and thus are left with no choice but to push past the throng of sailing folk into the lower decks, which seem altogether less occupied. You sit down between a barrel of apples (wax, you discover) and a thing covered very securely with a tarp, and have a moment to yourself to panic. It's good to leave some space in your day for a mental breakdown, you think as the terrible despair of everything you have ever known in your life - friends, family, accomplishments, all the little things you'd collected over the years and the little bits of human kindness and warmth you've ever experienced - all of this gone, possibly forever.

[Needing Space: 6]

You become aware of a shadow looming over you. When you look up you notice, among other things, slavering fangs, jointed wings, horrid empty compound eyes that stare out emotionlessly, the gentle smoking of the bronze floor as its segmented chitinous frame exudes protective toxins and caustics. It'd be massive if fully unfolded, you suppose, but appears to be able to squeeze down to as little as seven feet tall as it taps your shoulder with a claw that stops just short of drawing blood under your robe. Broadly speaking, it looks like it's come into town to shop for live human hosts to lay its eggs into.

There there, it clicks as its antennae wiggle rhythmically, the claw tapping sharply on your collarbone. There there.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 04, 2017, 04:11:43 pm
Quote
she says in the kind of hopeful tone that makes it clear enough that there is likely no chance of this ever happening.
Spoiler: Oof (click to show/hide)
((I'll make an actual post later on today, I just wanted to note that this particular bit really got me because I've heard that exact tone far too many times in my own life, and I didn't forsee it popping up in a forum game of all things. Well done, HB, stuff like this is why I enjoy your writing so much.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Toaster on October 04, 2017, 04:30:32 pm
((A Terry Pratchett reference?  In my Our Salvation?  It's more likely than you think.))

Well.  That's a thing.

Ask the sword his opinion on the matter.   Also ask if he knows a way out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 04, 2017, 04:42:11 pm
"Oh, uh, hey there. I'm assuming- I'm not asking, just to be clear. Just letting you know, that I know, that you know, I mean, that you must be the question guy." Rindle slightly stammers, trying his best to maintain an even, unquestioning tone. "It's, uh, nice to meet you... whatever your name is, not that I'm asking, and I'm sure we have a lot to catch up on what with me being kidnapped and you, uh, doing the kidnapping. Thing is, I'm a little busy right now. So if you could give me a few moments, I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions for you soon."

In the nicest, least inquisitive tone I can muster, ask tell the demon thing to kindly fuck off.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 07, 2017, 10:38:11 am
Quote from: Toaster on October 04, 2017, 04:30:32 pm
((A Terry Pratchett reference?  In my Our Salvation?  It's more likely than you think.))

Well.  That's a thing.

Ask the sword his opinion on the matter.   Also ask if he knows a way out.

[By My Blade: 4]

One must sadly admit that the rats are familiar material and thus of little interest. The point of failure on the tails was mildly concerning, but appears to have been solved well enough by your manipulations. Other than that the rats are only a minor concern.

As for a way out, one has to say that the sentient stone of this place seems somewhat unusual. If you were to permit one to take a generous sampling, one could very easily provide a way out for you in the process, although one would surmise that the city would take some umbrage with the idea of being sampled in the quantities likely required. All that one needs is for you to stab a wall, floor or ceiling and one will be able to do the rest.

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on October 04, 2017, 04:42:11 pm
"Oh, uh, hey there. I'm assuming- I'm not asking, just to be clear. Just letting you know, that I know, that you know, I mean, that you must be the question guy." Rindle slightly stammers, trying his best to maintain an even, unquestioning tone. "It's, uh, nice to meet you... whatever your name is, not that I'm asking, and I'm sure we have a lot to catch up on what with me being kidnapped and you, uh, doing the kidnapping. Thing is, I'm a little busy right now. So if you could give me a few moments, I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions for you soon."

In the nicest, least inquisitive tone I can muster, ask tell the demon thing to kindly fuck off.

The towering insect beast straightens out and withdraws its sharp claws thoughtfully at your rebuke. It considers what you were saying for the few moments it has decided to give you.

Did you want to know his name or not, he clicks at you again. He is informed that you are distraught and that moral support through physical contact is what he is supposed to do in these cases. He is also able to provide you with 'pick-me-up-juice' and 'scream-juice' if needed. He is well-trained in conducting himself around humans. He enjoys being helpful. If you have any questions, he understands that he should do his best to answer them.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 07, 2017, 11:04:23 pm
Daniels has been lost in thought for the last minute or so, a dense cloud of mixed emotions and tangled thoughts swirling around his mind.

I promised them I wouldn't seek confrontation with him. I told myself I wasn't that sort of person anymore
                                                                                  murder him
           whythefuckareyousoconcernedaboutthisanywayyourattachmenttothemisfleeting
                Killing him would not solve my problems in fact it'd only make more
Really want to kill that interfering bastard
What the hell am I even gonna do once we reach our destination I can't remember if I'm signed just for this one voyage or not                                 your minions could assist in writing that fucking documentation that's not the point you nitwit no shut up it has to be


                                                                                noonelikesyou
could i challenge him for the captainship maybe

                                                                                                   why is he so damn petty anyway

You Could Use The Well NO

At last he shakes his head and looks back at Peaks and Shores, blinking sheepishly. "Sorry," he says, scratching his head. "Just ... got reminded of something from my Earth life. Yeah. We'll go with that."

After about three seconds of awkward silence he pipes up again. "That's, er, that's alright, Shores. We'll fit it in when it's possible. Uh, Peaks, not to change the subject dramatically, but I had a question regarding Linda."

Struggle to deal with unexpected internal turmoil, ask about whatever the heck happened with Linda and the lock.

((Apologies, I did the thing where I thought I posted and forgot I hadn't again. It plays into Daniels' current frame of mind as it happens anyhow though.))
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: TopHat on October 08, 2017, 04:30:25 pm
"That works."
Cure the rest of them, then.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 09, 2017, 10:15:04 pm
Rindle blinks. Just a demon then. He was more than a little bothered that this was a relief to him.

"Alright, sure. Tell me your name. And you know what, I think I could use some Pick-Me-Up juice."

Say above.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 11, 2017, 06:30:22 pm
Quote from: Xantalos on October 07, 2017, 11:04:23 pm
Daniels has been lost in thought for the last minute or so, a dense cloud of mixed emotions and tangled thoughts swirling around his mind.

I promised them I wouldn't seek confrontation with him. I told myself I wasn't that sort of person anymore
                                                                                  murder him
           whythefuckareyousoconcernedaboutthisanywayyourattachmenttothemisfleeting
                Killing him would not solve my problems in fact it'd only make more
Really want to kill that interfering bastard
What the hell am I even gonna do once we reach our destination I can't remember if I'm signed just for this one voyage or not                                 your minions could assist in writing that fucking documentation that's not the point you nitwit no shut up it has to be


                                                                                noonelikesyou
could i challenge him for the captainship maybe

                                                                                                   why is he so damn petty anyway

You Could Use The Well NO

At last he shakes his head and looks back at Peaks and Shores, blinking sheepishly. "Sorry," he says, scratching his head. "Just ... got reminded of something from my Earth life. Yeah. We'll go with that."

After about three seconds of awkward silence he pipes up again. "That's, er, that's alright, Shores. We'll fit it in when it's possible. Uh, Peaks, not to change the subject dramatically, but I had a question regarding Linda."

Struggle to deal with unexpected internal turmoil, ask about whatever the heck happened with Linda and the lock.

((Apologies, I did the thing where I thought I posted and forgot I hadn't again. It plays into Daniels' current frame of mind as it happens anyhow though.))

Two Shores, not so much sensing the awkward atmosphere as completely absorbed by it, says something you do not quite process - perhaps something about lunch or learning or leadership - and makes a quick exit, leaving you behind as she retreats behind the massive door to the captain's quarters.

You are left with Peaks, who seems to have also been mostly drained of any real joy by the exchange with her friend. Really is a brand new height for bullshit, you hear her mutter.

[Clay Of My Clay: 2]

There's another short silence before you decide it best to get back to business, and ask Peaks about Linda - she seems more than happy to change the subject toward something more work-oriented. You present Linda to her and she briefly examines her while you tell her about the ill-fated attempt to persuade/animate the door, and her current state of relative despondency that seems to have arisen as a direct result of this. She seems slightly surprised at the first - not really something she knows much about, honestly, but manikins were never her area of expertise. Could be something analogous to how she is animated, perhaps, but once again it's not something she's had any experience with.

As for the despondency, well... Peaks sighs again and runs her fingers along Linda's head in a petting motion. There there, she says, it'll all be fine. Linda seems to brighten up for a second at this, but then looks at Peaks again and returns to her regular state.

Oh well, Peaks says. Suppose she did try. Positive reinforcement ought to do the trick most of the time, she explains. Speaking of, she probably ought to go find her guy. Best of luck with that, well...

...

... she doesn't finish that thought before leaving.

Quote from: TopHat on October 08, 2017, 04:30:25 pm
"That works."
Cure the rest of them, then.

[The Truth Will Set You Free: 6]

While Cindy heads off to plunder everything within the upper floors you set to work on the rest of the employees, shedding light on them until their petrification melts under your gaze, one at a time until the entire floor of the establishment is littered with scantily dressed, questionably jointed and very much delighted women from all walks of life. A couple seem to have broken several bones, of course, and many more seem to have sprained from twenty to ninety percent of their body, which results in something of a hubbub as they try to get themselves into a vaguely ambulatory shape, which is followed by an argument as you are called over to help one or the other out, which devolves into quite a shouting match.

What all of this amounts to, effectively, is that the madame of this establishment eventually manages to creak her way into the main room and observe the disorder you've created all around, at which point her mouth slowly hangs open and a very loud and disapproving creak can be heard all over the room, which does not entirely stop the rest of the girls from fighting between themselves, but at least definitely gives them pause for a moment as the madame stares at you, silently demanding an explanation for this.

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on October 09, 2017, 10:15:04 pm
Rindle blinks. Just a demon then. He was more than a little bothered that this was a relief to him.

"Alright, sure. Tell me your name. And you know what, I think I could use some Pick-Me-Up juice."

Say above.

His name is Dan, and Pick-Me-Up juice is something he can readily provide, he says as he skips halfway down the ship in no more than a couple of bounds, and returns in the same amount of time with a fairly large and filthy wooden mug, which he proceeds to fill with a bubbling and smoking fluid that he appears to directly slobber into it, and which he lets settle for a few moments before pouring it into a nearby barrel of apples (beginning what sounds like a very colorful process of dissolution).

[Lift Me To The Sky: 5]

Then, seemingly having cleaned the mug to an appropriate degree of satisfaction, he rinses it with a much less caustic variety of drool before, near as you can tell, shooting a bluish liquid from the corners of his faceted eyes into the mug.

Contrary to expectation, it smells quite wonderful as he puts it into your hands.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Toaster on October 11, 2017, 09:15:14 pm
((Coulda sworn I posted.  My bad))

"Well, I see no harm in a quick poke."

Poke sword at the wall in the general direction of where I came in.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 12, 2017, 01:47:52 am
Daniels stands there a moment, staring off into the horizon.

"I appear to have severely fucked up whatever budding friendships I had with those two, as well as being no closer to solving the issue of why that lock was such a dick to you, Linda. My overall goals, for the moment, have been rather negated by the captain's petty dickery and I find myself contemplating what to do next that remotely fits some sort of reasonable moral framework.

Par for the course so far, really."

He turns to regard the manikin. "I don't suppose you have any ideas that you could convey through charades?"

Ask Linda for help figuring out my problems, because I'm Good At Social NetworkingTM.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: TopHat on October 14, 2017, 05:59:43 am
"Ah, Madame, excellent news! Your condition appears to be quite curable."
Give her some light too.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 14, 2017, 07:28:12 pm
Rindle accepts the mug, sniffing it apprehensively. "...Thanks. So, are you employed on this ship? What can you tell me about it?"

Cautiously drink the pick-me up juice, and ask the insecty-guy about itself and the ship.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 16, 2017, 01:54:35 pm
Quote from: Toaster on October 11, 2017, 09:15:14 pm
((Coulda sworn I posted.  My bad))

"Well, I see no harm in a quick poke."

Poke sword at the wall in the general direction of where I came in.

[Delicious Walls: 6]

The gray blade touches the wall and the entire cellar gently heaves like an arm twitching out of the way of a cold, sharp needle - everything around moves at once save you and the rats, so there is no noise, just a sudden sense of motion as you nearly lose your footing in the cellar, followed by a fearful twisting of Elizabeth's corridors. You get the vague sense that both you and she know that you've just done a bad thing of some kind, a very innocent sort of guilt hanging in the air.

One must admit that was educational, however. Stone harboring a soul - even a small sampling already looks as though it will assist one's endeavors greatly. One would urge you to find another creature like this city, even if superficially similar - there are too many variations from basic material here to derive the entirety of the story. Perhaps one could persuade you to take a sampling elsewhere as well?

One of the rats on your shoulder sighs.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 1]

Time becomes liquid and your breath is stolen as the rat's squeak echoes throughout, your sword disappearing from sight as you find yourself standing in place for a good moment or perhaps several hours as stone figures spontaneously gather all around you, the faceless manikins giving you a collective accusatory look as you stare back at them helplessly. Then your breath comes back suddenly and you find yourself on your knees and gasping, the strange distortion feeling like a knot suddenly unraveling in your chest.

A manikin moves forward, indecisive about whether it should offer help or not, a natural inclination toward hospitality supplemented by an awful, gnawing suspicion.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 12, 2017, 01:47:52 am
Daniels stands there a moment, staring off into the horizon.

"I appear to have severely fucked up whatever budding friendships I had with those two, as well as being no closer to solving the issue of why that lock was such a dick to you, Linda. My overall goals, for the moment, have been rather negated by the captain's petty dickery and I find myself contemplating what to do next that remotely fits some sort of reasonable moral framework.

Par for the course so far, really."

He turns to regard the manikin. "I don't suppose you have any ideas that you could convey through charades?"

Ask Linda for help figuring out my problems, because I'm Good At Social NetworkingTM.

[Think Positive: 5]

Linda indicates helpfully that your budding friendships couldn't possibly be as damaged as you think they are, as Ms. Shores and Ms. Peaks were clearly very distraught as well! This seems to Linda to be the sort of problem you could fix by having a chat with them in private - most likely with Ms. Peaks, as Ms. Shores seems to currently be entirely engaged in a pointless errand meant to keep her busy! There's probably a perfectly reasonable solution to all of this if you remain patient and understanding of their troubles! That's what friends do!

That she manages to communicate this much to you with only expressive arm movements is something you find quite impressive.

Quote from: TopHat on October 14, 2017, 05:59:43 am
"Ah, Madame, excellent news! Your condition appears to be quite curable."
Give her some light too.

[Lit Up: 3]

As you illuminate her with your full radiance, the madame takes a long breath demonstratively, puffing out her chest and slowly working her arms into functionality, experimenting with carefully measured steps as you shine upon her like a spotlight. First she lumbers on as the rest of the girls watch a little fearfully, then her gait becomes lighter and lighter until she has assumed a full-on twirl, letting herself. Centuries-old stiffness is worked out of her limbs until she becomes as nimble as a professional dancer, finishing her withered exercise routine with a graceful curtsy. She opens her mouth and her voice creaks no more but instead comes through dusty and hollow like gentle wind into a freshly-opened tomb.

Wonderful, she says, savoring the word as it comes out softly, but incredibly clearly over the suddenly absent chattering of the girls.

[The Lady's Return: 5]

She seems to be so very appreciative of the favor that she does not mention or indeed acknowledge it in the moments to come - instead she raises her finger and performs a quick head count, calling twice for Cindy when she turns up missing and mentally noting it down when the rest of the girls decline to mention that she's currently robbing the upstairs blind. She flits over to some of the heavy drapes and spends a few seconds minutely adjusting them with the tiniest of smiles.

She then politely inquires as to whether you've got to know the girls yet, unobtrusively indicating a few she would personally recommend for a man of your distinction (coincidentally the ones that have got their limbs in order in a timely manner and show no signs of them popping out again). One such girl, a squat yet skinny one with a very floofy red wig and a bony nose that's introduced to you as Ember, gives you a very wide smile as she says that she'd be glad to take you upstairs right now - one round that you've paid up for and one extra on the house for being such a helpful fellow, yes?

Though her expression doesn't change at all, the Madame's tone definitely implies the gravest possible insult at the idea of giving anything up for free. Yes, she says, one round on the house. Sensible, yes.

Ember takes your arm. She'd like to take you upstairs right now so that you can get to know each other better and really get any leftover tensions out. If you know what she means, she says almost says through her teeth.

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on October 14, 2017, 07:28:12 pm
Rindle accepts the mug, sniffing it apprehensively. "...Thanks. So, are you employed on this ship? What can you tell me about it?"

Cautiously drink the pick-me up juice, and ask the insecty-guy about itself and the ship.

[Rindle In The Sky With Diamonds: 1]

You sip carefully at the pick-me-up juice as you question Dan about what his duties on ship are, to which he responds that his duty is to look at things and find out more about himself and everything else around here, in which he is helped by three other women that have been tasked with keeping an eye on him and making sure he doesn't get up to much trouble, chiiiefly byyy viirtue of making sure that his status as an apex predator in virtually any ecosystem you'd care to name is used mostly foor huumoor and meeeerrimeent (speeciifiically that of his three handlers) aaaat theeee eeeexpeeeeense ooooooof peeeeeaaaace ooooooof miiiiiiiiiiiind. (speeeeeeeeeeeecifically thaaaaaaat of eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeveryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyoooooooooooooooooooooooone else). It's reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen aaaan eeeeduuuucaaaaaaaaaa-

While waiting for Dan to finish that particularly long syllable, you notice that your heart is currently beating at a normal rate. However, time appears to have slowed down about a thousandfold all around you. So as a pure ballpark estimate, you'd say your current heart rate has reached about sixty thousand beats per second. As you realize this is physiologically improbable, it quickens to about seventy.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Toaster on October 16, 2017, 07:53:41 pm
((Interesting Word there, rat.))

Uh.

"Maybe that wasn't a good idea?  I don't think we'll be doing that again here... it seems... rude?  Sorry, city folk?  If I could find the airport I'd be gone faster, really."

Stow sword in a manner obvious that it's gone.  Head out the hopefully now existing exit.

Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Eschar on October 16, 2017, 08:53:28 pm
About rats... is this what you were referring to? (http://traxus.bungie.org/index.php/Gheritt_White_terminal)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: TopHat on October 17, 2017, 03:55:08 pm
"Oh, er, yes. Excellent idea. Let's go right up."
Up we go, and probably out.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 17, 2017, 04:39:43 pm
Daniels looks thoughtfully down at his manikin friend. "You're a good person, Linda," he says, doing the closest equivalent to ruffling someone's hair that he can.

Time for effort! Go find Peaks again.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: penguinofhonor on October 19, 2017, 07:54:10 am
Hm, this place might work, but I need to be at least a little rowdy tonight. Also I need to find some coins. That lady seems like the type to accept random bits of jewelry as payment, but I can't be sure.

"I'm just going to check the inn a couple blocks away, compare prices and whatnot. We'll probably be back."

I leave the bed and breakfast and head back to the stoat party. If the bars and taverns are still crowded, I find some people having a good time on the street. If there's drinking going on, I make sure to introduce myself as the monster hunter who killed the ghoul. That's sure to get me a few free drinks.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 21, 2017, 05:52:14 am
Quote from: Toaster on October 16, 2017, 07:53:41 pm
((Interesting Word there, rat.))

Uh.

"Maybe that wasn't a good idea?  I don't think we'll be doing that again here... it seems... rude?  Sorry, city folk?  If I could find the airport I'd be gone faster, really."

Stow sword in a manner obvious that it's gone.  Head out the hopefully now existing exit.

[Liquid Swords: 2]

You've put the sword away, but the statues look rather livid about the whole matter as they continue to surround you, inasmuch as a statue without a face can look livid at all. Looks like they've had just about enough of the airport talk as well. No, there's absolutely no way you can be permitted to remain here. A few of them move to apprehend you. This is when you notice another of the rats standing atop your head, and hear it squeak louder than anything you've heard before.

APOCALYPSE

[Word: 1]

The statues look up simultaneously as there is a rumble, and then a shift, and then a sudden cascading tremor that the very cellar itself moves to try and avert, but which only accelerates the destruction to follow - the ceiling cracks and opens as the ceilings suddenly tumble and fall, and the floor gives way beneath, opening up the depths of Elizabeth below you.

You fall and fall, the deafening roar of hundreds of tons of rubble trailing right behind you.

[To The Center Of The Earth: 5]

Eventually you impact the ground - softly, warmly. You bounce off the floor after having fallen no less than nine stories at the very least, and are launched to the side as the not-quite flesh tosses you aside, rolling to a stop where a wall nearly folds over you, but which you escape just in time before you are seized by it.

You find yourself in circumstances you wish weren't so familiar - here the walls and ceilings are still grayish, but with a glistening sheen and constant undulation that tells you unmistakably that they are to some extent still alive somehow, covered in small, nigh-invisible strands that pulse with warm yellow light that illuminates the leguminous chamber you've landed in. It smells strange in here, a mixture of hot stone and sweat, something metallic in the air as well as smoke and salt, and a lot more beyond that.

Eight bubbling golden spheres float along the far semicircular wall of the chamber, each fully the size of three men, letting off small bubbles now and again as it proceeds on some mysterious task. The bubbles populate the top of the chamber, mingling and floating about and occasionally fusing to form larger ones, rolling along the undulating ceiling at a relaxed pace. Every now and then they are joined by a... well, what you'd describe as a hairy bubble, one that's about your size, coming in from a bipartite passage at the center of the back wall - it touches a few bubbles each time before collapsing into a pile of liquid and seeping through a slightly larger passage next to the one it came in through - this one a little more porous and slightly larger. All of it chugs away at its own pace, paying you absolutely no mind, though you think one of the hairy bubbles pauses a moment and regards you suspiciously before proceeding on its business (mind you, you're not sure how you know that it did, but it was definitely a feeling you got from the way it waved its hairs at you).

At least your rats look awfully excited about this development, you guess. They appear to have their noses squarely pointed in the air, waving their heads to and fro and sniffing around and arguing between themselves on your shoulder about the significance of each part of the bouquet of scents they're picking up.

Quote from: TopHat on October 17, 2017, 03:55:08 pm
"Oh, er, yes. Excellent idea. Let's go right up."
Up we go, and probably out.

Ember takes you by the hand and pulls you upstairs, making just about the most manic forced giggle you've ever heard in her rush. The Madame looks on as you run upstairs - young love, you hear her mutter. Ought to charge a little extra if anything.

[The Nunnery Caper: 5]

You get low behind the railing along the upstairs balcony as Ember slams the door of a bedroom you pass by, stopping her forced giggle as you proceed further on into what must be the Madame's office, escaping notice as the two of you slip through the door where Cindy awaits.

[A Millennium's Savings: 3]

For her part she appears to have been very busy cracking an ancient-looking dusty safe with great aplomb, the door hanging open as she empties the stash of money inside into a pillowcase she looks to have appropriated on the way. She looks up - hey, she says, pretty good timing there. And you've brought Ember too, nice.

Ember gets right to the point: the Madame's been unpetrified. Cindy looks at you with her brow furrowed - why'd you do a thing like that, then? That kind of complicates the process of you getting out of here in a plausibly deniable fashion, she hopes you realize - y'see, you tend to do a lot better on making an escape against people who move at geological speeds, if that wasn't clear to you already.

She's likely going to check here in a couple of minutes at most, Ember says worriedly.

Right, Cindy says, that calls for an amendment to the plan. You're all going out the window then, she points to a small window on the far side of the dingy office. Walking up to it, she finds the window to be locked with a latch that takes a little effort to undue with all the rust on it, but it comes open after a second or two and Cindy leans out - yep, all clear down there.

You take a look as well - the office side of the nunnery appears to peer down into a sheer three-story drop all the way to the street, the catwalk that went along its side seemingly lost to architectural misadventure.

You turn to Cindy and mention that maybe this isn't the best plan. Nonsense, says Cindy as she slaps a similarly unconvinced Ember on the back, there's a web down there to catch anyone who falls so they don't break anything in the fall or wander off or what have you. It's all perfectly safe, y'see, if a bit sticky.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 17, 2017, 04:39:43 pm
Daniels looks thoughtfully down at his manikin friend. "You're a good person, Linda," he says, doing the closest equivalent to ruffling someone's hair that he can.

Time for effort! Go find Peaks again.

Linda beams, and you notice that she does have a sort of curled hairstyle fashioned out of clay on her head - you ruffle that approvingly, which seems to make her so genuinely happy you almost don't manage to resist smiling yourself. Letting her sit on your shoulder for the time being waving her peg legs back and forth as you walk, you eventually find Peaks in suspicious proximity to your delightful minions, who are standing slightly down the hall from Mr. Fischgartner who in turn appears to have met Dan and drunk a mug of some kind of thick fluid that he's offered.

It looks like Mr. Fischgartner is about to explode now, or something similar - he looks like a metal cable about to snap and take someone's head off, looking like he's violently vibrating for a moment before you realize that's just what his breathing seems to be right now. Dan is politely explaining his adventures thus far to the guy, not particularly minding his obviously chemically altered state.

He asked for some Pick-Me-Up Juice, Pines explains to Peaks who has stopped right by them, realizing that walking closer would likely be unwise. To the minions' credit, the alchemist does look substantially amused as well as bewildered by this turn of events, and proceeds to ask about what exactly Pick-Me-Up Juice is. Pines posits that it's probably some kind of mating thing for jugglers, pheromones and shit. Day adds that nobody's drunk as much as Fischgartner over there, but from their testing a thimbleful or so it's a lot like amphetamines but, like, hella strong. Truthfully though, Fires candidly adds, fuck if they know what's really in it - anyway, they're not the alchemists here, though if there's something in it for them they'd definitely be willing to get a generous sampling for analysis and-

Peaks turns to you instead, looking mildly inconvenienced. Looks like your charming minions have tied up her test subject in the process of their reign of terror, she says, at least for the moment. She was kinda hoping to grab some more flesh off him for experiments, considering yours just went and inconsiderately turned into him all of a sudden. Don't suppose you'd care to make another donation? 

Quote from: penguinofhonor on October 19, 2017, 07:54:10 am
Hm, this place might work, but I need to be at least a little rowdy tonight. Also I need to find some coins. That lady seems like the type to accept random bits of jewelry as payment, but I can't be sure.

"I'm just going to check the inn a couple blocks away, compare prices and whatnot. We'll probably be back."

I leave the bed and breakfast and head back to the stoat party. If the bars and taverns are still crowded, I find some people having a good time on the street. If there's drinking going on, I make sure to introduce myself as the monster hunter who killed the ghoul. That's sure to get me a few free drinks.

The woman seems to have no opinion one way or the other about your return, being about equally satisfied about the prospects of either getting some money or being permanently rid of you. Her cats, however, seem ineffably pleased for the moment.

[A Night Out On The Town: 5+1]

You find a party easily enough in a place called the Firs Aplenty - it's a bit difficult to get in at first, mind you, considering the place is quite packed, but flashing your badge and informing them you're the one responsible for the heroics during the day proves to be a remarkably effective social lubricant as the masses of jubilant stoats and humans alike part to give way and get you, the doctor and even Oggie a place to sit at the bar.

Naturally, everybody buys you drinks. It's actually a little hard to get them to stop as everyone crowds around you and clamors for a story, some kind of demonstration of your monster hunter powers (Oggie gives one of her Y/N looks) or even just general recognition - the one thing that strikes you about the public is how readily everyone introduces themselves. There's Tedward the butcher, Jimothy the carpenter, Timson from the docks, Youbin the lawyer-in-training, Cay the scholar-in-training who'd love to tell you all about her thesis on stoat linguistics before Yarbool the classically trained bard elbows her out of the way to give you a song they wrote immediately when they heard the news, so strong was the inspiration!

The Firs Aplenty nucleates all around you as attention falls on you, the stoats ready for just about any kind of fun you have in mind as the drinks keep coming, the tavern keeper looking ecstatic at the absolute blowout of basically all of his alcohol stores that this night appears to promise in the near future.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Toaster on October 21, 2017, 05:24:39 pm
Cracks were beginning to appear in the edges of Thomas's psyche.  The prospect of what it would take to generate this sort of show and/or illusion were simply lost on him.  He didn't feel able to process this all just yet.

Sit and watch for a minute just to see what happens.  Then ask the rats their views, because why not?

"So, rats... do you have a name?  Sorry, anyway, you seem to be rather... lively.  Do you know what all this is?"
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 22, 2017, 04:21:07 pm
Daniels shrugs. "Sure, why not. An arm or something, I guess?"

Aquiesce to further science. While she's taking samples, ask what, if anything, she thinks I can do to amend the current situation with the captain, Shores, etc. My knowledge of proper ettiquite in this situation is rather lacking, as is probably evident.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: TopHat on October 23, 2017, 04:30:27 pm
I could probably survive that.

"... Sorry about that, I fatally misjudged her character. Please allow me to make amends."

Time to finally get some use out of that rope. Tie rope to something solid by the window, obtain an easier way down. As the one most likely to shrug off a fall, go first.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 24, 2017, 07:11:26 am
Quote from: Toaster on October 21, 2017, 05:24:39 pm
Cracks were beginning to appear in the edges of Thomas's psyche.  The prospect of what it would take to generate this sort of show and/or illusion were simply lost on him.  He didn't feel able to process this all just yet.

Sit and watch for a minute just to see what happens.  Then ask the rats their views, because why not?

"So, rats... do you have a name?  Sorry, anyway, you seem to be rather... lively.  Do you know what all this is?"

[The Labyrinth: 6]

It's mesmerizing to behold, the rhythmic arrival, departure and formation of the little bubbles around the golden spheres, dancing around the room in delightful swirling patterns before the hairy bubble intercepts a few - most brush on ahead, but a few stick to it for a moment and develop a soft golden glow and, it seems, a peculiar purpose as they are suddenly launched out of the room, but not before the bubble seems to pop into two, then four, then geometrically increase in number as you see it shoot down the left-hand side of the bipartite passage, which looks to be an outflow of some kind.

On the ground another story develops - little rootlike protrusions emerge from the ground where rubble has fallen, you notice after a second, wrapping around the bits of masonry several times in slow motion before enveloping it entirely - a few moments pass as you see a slight bulge travel up one of the roots, placing itself atop the minute stone and then pressing down, sinking to the ground, growing quiescent and then disappearing from sight as it sinks into the floor. The sheer amount of the rubble present seems to require a great many of these roots, and you watch as they repeatedly and fractally wind themselves around every bit of the rubble and break it down, the tons of rock shrinking slowly before your eyes.

[Educated Guesses: 6]

You look at the rats, who also watch with obvious intrigue - they do not seem to have names, merely Words. A Word each, a Word they are ready to use as needed. You have heard two of their Words already, and you see the third rat is excited to use its own - but not here, not yet, you need to go deeper in still, deep enough to try it out where it will do the most good. Until this moment you couldn't say you'd ever seen a manic-looking rat. It can barely contain itself. Go deeper, it seems to indicate, into the outflow - quickly now, rush onward, dive headfirst into where the bubbles go, find your way into the vents - yes, the vents, the vents are where you want to be.

As you consider this, you notice the roots have also reached out for your feet and wound around them several times, and even traveled a good distance up your shin before, unlike with the rubble, seemingly congealing and becoming elastic, sticking you to the floor like rubber cement.

[Words Fail: 5]

The bizarre tranquility of the chamber has so permeated you, however, that this doesn't bother you as much as it perhaps should. The roots, you realize, have died - sacrificing themselves to keep you in place for now, perhaps for something else to better get the measure of you. The hairy bubbles, you suspect. They will expect something from you, and from your observations a guess forms in your mind unbidden, nucleating in your brain serendipitously.

SELF

It begs to be said aloud, squirming within your head.

Quote from: Xantalos on October 22, 2017, 04:21:07 pm
Daniels shrugs. "Sure, why not. An arm or something, I guess?"

Aquiesce to further science. While she's taking samples, ask what, if anything, she thinks I can do to amend the current situation with the captain, Shores, etc. My knowledge of proper ettiquite in this situation is rather lacking, as is probably evident.

A whole arm? Peaks immediately perks up - could you? It'd be perfect for a thing she'd like to try out. Can you regrow arms? You did something similar before, once, if she recalls correctly, the incident with the rubber mattress and all that nonsense. Do you think she could amputate your arm and then watch you while you sleep? She'll be a perfect young lady while you're out cold, she can guarantee you.

Completely having lost interest in whatever Mr. Fischgartner's grisly fate promises to be, Peaks leads you hurriedly to her cabin, which looks to be in mild disarray and slightly spattered with blood as well as full of sweet-smelling ester-rich fumes that the ventilation system appears to have given up on clearing entirely. She roots around her kit, currently laying on an alchemist's workbench, and retrieves a bonesaw (borrowed from the doctor, you suspect or at least hope, certainly seems clean enough to be a doctor's instrument).

Right, she says, do you want any anesthesia or not? She's got a small chunk left of a pretty good batch of morphine she made a while back to sell on the side, ought to take the edge right off that saw.

Wait, you say, you also wanted to ask her something. About Shores and the captain and, well... it's a bit of a situation, you explain, and you wonder if there's maybe something you can do about it so that, uh, you can fix this. You're not very good at this whole etiquette thing normally, and it looks like there's additional factors at play here too, so...

[A Lesson In Etiquette: 5]

Peaks holds the bonesaw thoughtfully, looking down for a moment before coming up closer. Well, she says, maybe this isn't the greatest idea, but suppose there is one way she could help. A kind of object lesson, she slyly nods. She can teach you how to talk about the weather properly. Cornerstone of proper etiquette, the ol' weather.

You look at her a little suspiciously, but Peaks remembers herself and adopts a surprisingly foolproof poker face. A bit of conversation while she gets her work done, she says as she puts the saw on your shoulder teeth-down, feeling out the shoulder blade to get the full arm off in hopefully a single go.

You see, she begins to say with the saw drawing blood on your shoulder, you start with- hold on, did you want the morphine or not? It'll definitely make the polite conversation more bearable, she can guarantee you. Linda stands by you worriedly, holding her head.

Quote from: TopHat on October 23, 2017, 04:30:27 pm
I could probably survive that.

"... Sorry about that, I fatally misjudged her character. Please allow me to make amends."

Time to finally get some use out of that rope. Tie rope to something solid by the window, obtain an easier way down. As the one most likely to shrug off a fall, go first.

'Fatally misjudged her character', Cindy repeats and looks at you skeptically. Thought she was selling other folks' flesh for a living because she was a generous-hearted, patient and charitable pillar of the community, y'mean? She'd sure like to see the nunneries around the parts you're from, because from what you're telling her it sounds like she's been looking for work in all the wrong places.

It doesn't matter, Ember hisses, you all need to get out right the heck now or you're dead! Like, really dead!

As you were saying, you repeat, you're quite sorry and you think you'll start making amends right away, such as by tying these thirty-odd feet of rope to the Madame's desk and putting the other end out the window - being a gentleman, you also volunteer to go first as you climb down the rope.

[Into The Deep: 6]

Unfortunately the rope isn't quite long enough to reach down to the bottom, or even illuminate the bottom terribly well. However, you do certainly feel like you're at least partly obligated to hit the ground first, considering what you know about your personal ability to survive hideous trauma all over your body. Thus you leap and plummet down about two more stories from the end of the rope, landing softly as something catches you on the bottom, stretching downward softly and slowing you down to a manageable velocity before you finally touch the ground. This feels like a nice bit of good luck right before you notice the little glimmering droplets of glue upon the silvery strands that caught you, the sight of which fills you with an uncomfortable sense of familiarity.

A similar, but distinct and far more intense uncomfortable sensation follows as you notice the corpse-spider standing on the wall slightly above where you fell, casting what is very much a "you again?" look in its many human eyes in your direction. Its manipalps spiral over its eyes instinctively, anticipating another blast of light as it backs up the wall a little bit.

You haven't started to scream before the gracelessly falling shape of Ember lands in the net next to you, rolling a little before she tangles herself in the web sufficiently to halfway dangle over you. She tries to raise her head but her wig nearly comes off as it too appears stuck to the strands, and she struggles feebly for a second before the third shape, which is Cindy trailed by a heavy bag of coinage and nearly thirty feet of rope as she appears to have untied it and just dropped the full five stories, lands a little ways off from you with a whoop of delight, taking care to struggle as little as possible to avoid tangling herself up too badly.

You have to love municipal safety measures, Cindy says in an elated tone, since they installed these there's a lot less limb breakage from the deadheads. Used to be they'd walk into the establishment all broken because they'd got it in their heads they'd take a shortcut. Look at her now, though! If this isn't the future of public transit, there's no future for it at all in her book!

[Social Safety Net: 1]

You remain silent, still staring in terror at the spider-thing on the wall as Ember, too, looks visibly disturbed in its direction.

What's the matter, says Cindy before looking at it as well. You there, she says without seemingly minding the look of it at all, come on and cut everyone free already, time's a-wastin' here, she's got places to be other than the bottom of this here trench. Such as in the merchant quarter, or maybe on the first road out of this damn tell.

The spider-thing responds by chattering in a way you can't help but perceive as deeply annoyed, wagging its manipalps and raising its front two legs up in the air, toes twiddling furiously on their feet.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: LordPorkins on October 24, 2017, 11:33:52 am
Holy Shit-Nuggets. This thang is still going? Man, I remember when I rudely butted in to the game. Hey, If you ever need another player hook me up.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 24, 2017, 09:36:00 pm
”You forget I have a mind sword. Just don’t do anything with the arm while I rest it out in case I need to reattach it, alright?”

Self-amputate with my handy dandy murder-thought, stop the bleeding with Peaks’ help, and then rest on the bed. Think regenerative thoughts.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 25, 2017, 03:33:29 pm
Rindle leans over, and attempts to very slowly get Dan's attention. "Hooooooooooooolllllyyyy fuuuuuuuuuuck. Dooooooo youuuuuuuu miiiiiind ifffffff aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhyyy ekkkkkscuuuuuse myyyyyysellllllfff?  AAaaaaaahhhhhyyyy neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedddd tooooooooooo trrrrryyyyyyy soooooooome thiiiiingkssssss."

Tap my new friend on the shoulder, and, assuming the poked part doesn't explode into gore, veeery slooowly (but politely) excuse myself. Perform various "tests" to assess my condition. Try spitting at a barrel, and see how my saliva travels once it leaves my mouth. Does it do any physical damage to the barrel? If I drop my slipper, does it fall in time with me, or with my surroundings? Can I walk across the room without damaging myself or the floor? Do I even move as fast as I perceive time, or am I stuck moving in "slow-mo" as well?

If the effect hasn't worn off by the time I've done those things, get Dan's attention again, and ask him (again, as slowly as I can) how long this is going to last.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Toaster on October 25, 2017, 09:54:51 pm
Thomas had no interest in being tied up down here.

Break away and head for that outflow!  Cut roots with the sword if simple breaking out won't work.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: TopHat on October 27, 2017, 04:34:46 pm
"Ah. I, er, may have acted rashly when we first met. Sorry about that. Where I come from spiders eat things in their webs so it was only natural that I... assumed the worst."
And I've never been a fan of spiders anyway.

Sorry, mr. spider.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on October 28, 2017, 07:23:18 am
Quote from: Xantalos on October 24, 2017, 09:36:00 pm
”You forget I have a mind sword. Just don’t do anything with the arm while I rest it out in case I need to reattach it, alright?”

Self-amputate with my handy dandy murder-thought, stop the bleeding with Peaks’ help, and then rest on the bed. Think regenerative thoughts.

You sure you want to try and use that, Peaks begins to say before she sees your murder-thought begin to bore into your shoulder, at which point she withdraws the saw and steps well back to observe.

[Clean Cut: 5]

At first it threatens to explode wildly within your arm as the pain begins to come in and disorient it, but you breathe slowly and focus, and then begin to purposefully guide the thought through and around your flesh as a kind of surgical omniscience comes over you - the creeping realization that you don't need nerves to feel or know about yourself, a philosophical detachment from your substrate coupled with an attachment to your murder-thought that seems to make it more than it previously was, a more focused tool for a more precise job. Linda looks on in terrible anticipation, but no screaming or blood appears to erupt, so her look just becomes confused instead.

You feel sharp all over as the arm comes off when you finally sever the bone. The stump fails to bleed. You take the arm and hand it to Peaks, who looks it over for a moment before going over to pour out a suitable jar of preserving solution, then giving up and dunking it in the whole barrel after a moment's thought. By that point you've lain on her bed, making surprisingly little mess for a fresh amputee as you continue calmly breathing and thinking regenerative thoughts.

Peaks leans over you after a moment, looking terribly pleased. Can't thank you enough for your contribution to the science of alchemy, she says. Did a really clean job of it too! At this rate she ought to retain you as an assistant!

But anyway, she was wondering if you'd like to talk about the weather or if she should just leave you to rest. She was going to start chatting with you during the amputation, as it were, but then you went and showed her up on that one. Although... she could also put you under - it'd probably make the regeneration more of a sure thing, considering how your substrate seems to become more pliable when you're unconscious, and she was thinking of testing a hypothesis about that whole untethering thing in the process. She looks quite conflicted for a moment. So many options, so little time!

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on October 25, 2017, 03:33:29 pm
Rindle leans over, and attempts to very slowly get Dan's attention. "Hooooooooooooolllllyyyy fuuuuuuuuuuck. Dooooooo youuuuuuuu miiiiiind ifffffff aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhyyy ekkkkkscuuuuuse myyyyyysellllllfff?  AAaaaaaahhhhhyyyy neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedddd tooooooooooo trrrrryyyyyyy soooooooome thiiiiingkssssss."

Tap my new friend on the shoulder, and, assuming the poked part doesn't explode into gore, veeery slooowly (but politely) excuse myself. Perform various "tests" to assess my condition. Try spitting at a barrel, and see how my saliva travels once it leaves my mouth. Does it do any physical damage to the barrel? If I drop my slipper, does it fall in time with me, or with my surroundings? Can I walk across the room without damaging myself or the floor? Do I even move as fast as I perceive time, or am I stuck moving in "slow-mo" as well?

If the effect hasn't worn off by the time I've done those things, get Dan's attention again, and ask him (again, as slowly as I can) how long this is going to last.

You tap Dan on the topmost shoulder (having six arms or possibly legs at the moment, he has far too many shoulders as well), and he looks quite excited as he speed up precipitously in response. How very fun, he comments in a much more normal-sounding voice, you appear to be much more receptive to pick-me-up juice than most people. This is pleasing, he clicks, it is inconvenient to have to move so incredibly slowly all the time. That said, you are excused. He is not aware as to why that figure of speech is necessary, but apparently that is the right thing to say when it is deployed from what he gathers.

You look at Dan incredulously for a moment, then at a nearby barrel. You think for a moment and then spit at it.

[Speed Like You've Never Seen: 6]

Whatever bizarre quirk of physiology permits you to do this, it seems to extend to your saliva as well, as your spit flies like normal and impacts the bronze barrel, leaving a massive dent and nearly toppling it on the spot. You step closer and find that you're moving perfectly normally, as is Dan, who follows you with the sharp buzz of millions of wings beneath his thick carapace.

All told, you seem to have become amazingly quick (and, if your physics knowledge doesn't fail you now, presumably incredibly strong and likely very difficult to hurt as a result) as a result of Dan's weird juice. And what's even more surprising is that the robe and slippers appear to be holding up just fine in response, seemingly made of some extremely durable materials, although there is a not inconsiderable amount of friction heating that you suspect may become inconvenient if you intend to, say, go for a brisk jog under the conditions.

Taking off a slipper, you let it go in the air - it begins to fall, sure enough, but extremely slowly. Waiting for perhaps a minute, you would say that everything else around you is effectively at a standstill.

Dan taps you on the shoulder now. His many mandible clicks resolve into a question - want to go on an adventure? Not a long one. Just for a minute or so.

Quote from: Toaster on October 25, 2017, 09:54:51 pm
Thomas had no interest in being tied up down here.

Break away and head for that outflow!  Cut roots with the sword if simple breaking out won't work.

[Deathly Nets: 5]

The roots are elastic, sure enough, but seem to not be meant at all for something as mobile as you - as such, you manage to break free with just a little bit of doing, and before you can be ensnared again you and the rats on your shoulder proceed out toward the bipartite passage, where you dive headfirst into the rapid flow and find yourself immediately carried away on what feels not quite like an air flow - is it air you're breathing? Are you breathing at all? A dim and pulsing light continues all around, organizing into long lines.

[The Deeper Passages: 3]

The passage twists and turns as the flow pulls you onward, smaller passages joining it as the outflow grows increasingly large and slows down, your feet making contact with the firm surface of the tunnel and your pace returning to that of a regular walk as you observe the texture of the tunnel change, with great gates opening and closing up ahead, the lights pulsing onward, pointing toward something. You head on and jump through the first gate, which smoothly closes behind you, then opens again, keeping rhythm as you go through the next one, and then the next with progressive kangaroo hops, until finally the tunnel reaches... someplace else.

You find yourself in a giant chamber of towers and semi-transparent tunnels running along them - the towers glow and pulse incredibly brightly, and you see things sprout off them. Not just bubbles this time - small pieces of stone are born from the walls, typically spherical but also in other shapes. Long pieces, smaller pieces, all of them fresh and glistening in the atmosphere of the place, an entire industry going on with seemingly no end in sight, perfectly symmetrical and infinitely complex as far as the eye can see, forming virtually any shape you could think of in there somewhere in its labyrinthine complexities.

The most excited rat sniffs around - this isn't the right place. You need to keep looking. There should be another way in here somewhere.

Quote from: TopHat on October 27, 2017, 04:34:46 pm
"Ah. I, er, may have acted rashly when we first met. Sorry about that. Where I come from spiders eat things in their webs so it was only natural that I... assumed the worst."
And I've never been a fan of spiders anyway.

Sorry, mr. spider.

[A Formal Apology: 2, 6]

The spider stares at you with all of its eyes, or tries to before your radiance begins to hurt it again and it withdraws once again. It doesn't seem like your apology is taking.

Listen, says Cindy, how about twenty crowns? Well, these look like crowns to her anyway - some have skulls on them and there's these ones that are squares with holes in the middle, anyway, they all look like legit currency and that's really the point of all of this, isn't it? She's got twenty shiny ones of these if the spidery thing just gets down from there and cuts everyone down post-haste so they can be on their way, how's that sound?

The spider considers this as you let the light glint off a handful of coins. A slight glint of greed in its many eyes tells you all you need to know - Cindy tosses the coins and the spider catches each one in sequence, secreting them away in places you decide to think no more about. It crawls down quickly and its chelicerae perk up and begin to sever you, Ember and Cindy from the web, something that only takes a few seconds for somebody of the spider's experience - it ushers you over to a catwalk and returns within a few moments to repair the web, seemingly content to never see you again for all it cares.

Ember, the entirety of her back covered in a tangle of web strands, looks toward Cindy with a questioning look. Did she have a place to run or hide or something...?

Cindy, for her part, seems to be counting out yet more coins - she gets 242, she reasons, considering she knew where to look, knew how to get it and also was instrumental in every part of the escape, Ember gets 121 because she's a great friend and also got your ass into gear in the nick of time when you went and nearly messed things up in there, and you get 101, same as Ember's share for providing that whole animation thing minus the twenty it took to get the spider to cooperate. Sound fair? Just kidding, she knows that's perfectly fair as she hands Ember a generous handful of gold that she proceeds to hide away in her dress, and gives you an ever so slightly smaller amount while keeping the bag and fully half of the total take for herself.

So... is there a hideout you all can go to, Ember says slowly, still trying to get the web off herself with minimal success. Don't think standing around here is a great idea. To this Cindy shrugs and looks at you - yeah, you got some kind of place to lay low? Madame's going to be on all of your asses before long, she figures.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on October 29, 2017, 06:59:57 pm
((Would’ve posted yesterday but was unexpectedly dragged to an event.))

Dan shrugs. ”Frankly, I’m shit as discussing non-cataclysmic weather. Lemme try a quick nap, see if that does the trick.”

Power nap!
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Toaster on October 29, 2017, 07:28:04 pm
Thomas had by this point lost the ability to perceive talking to rats as strange.  "Right then, uh, yes.  Let's keep looking."

Help the rat find his thing.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: DoctorMcTaalik on October 29, 2017, 09:37:56 pm
"Sure."

Sure.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: TopHat on November 02, 2017, 01:25:48 pm
"A hideout? Not really, I'm afraid; I'm just visiting. We could skip town, I guess, if you two don't have any suggestions, but I have a few things to take care of first."

Help Ember get those webs off. Somehow. Time to finally pick up the adhesive for my tape project.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: penguinofhonor on November 02, 2017, 08:59:28 pm
I drink more, and entertain the stoats with the tale of how I slew the great night gaunt, elaborating just a little so it sounds like I intentionally set out to hunt it instead of blindly stumbling into danger.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Harry Baldman on November 18, 2017, 05:17:08 am
Quote from: Xantalos on October 29, 2017, 06:59:57 pm
((Would’ve posted yesterday but was unexpectedly dragged to an event.))

Dan shrugs. ”Frankly, I’m shit as discussing non-cataclysmic weather. Lemme try a quick nap, see if that does the trick.”

Power nap!

Don't blame a girl for trying to help, Peaks shrugs with slight exasperation at having relatively little to do but watch you do your things without any kind of amusing surgical or chemical intervention.

[Pull Yourself Together: 1]

You don't really notice yourself falling asleep, as is quite normal. You definitely notice when you wake up, however, because your eye is immediately drawn to where your arm used to be where you cut it off. Something has definitely grown back, you immediately discover - it most reminds you of a lotus flower, radially symmetrical, interleaved layers of flesh indecisively having opened up around a core of marrow-engorged bone, immaculately grotesque on the fibrous, ovoid stalk of upright scar tissue that seems to have grown from your stump seamlessly.

Peaks, sat down a little ways off, seems to be having the time of her life watching this. Noticing you waking up, she immediately speaks - you've missed a hell of a lot in the past hour, that's for sure. She's never seen something resent being observed as much as your regrowing arm. You think the flowery growth might be some kind of well-intentioned camouflage? It's frankly amazing to watch it go, truth be told. It looks to have just finished forming the pseudoanthers, in fact!

Honestly, Peaks says, you simply have to let her put you under. Seriously under. She'd like to really dig into what you've got in that weird substrate of yours. Thus far it's been full of surprises! Holy shit, what wouldn't she do for a proper alchemy lab to study you in...

Quote from: Toaster on October 29, 2017, 07:28:04 pm
Thomas had by this point lost the ability to perceive talking to rats as strange.  "Right then, uh, yes.  Let's keep looking."

Help the rat find his thing.

[Show You How To Turn It Up A Notch: 5]

The rats argue between each other a considerable amount on your shoulder, their tails snapping against your back impatiently as they try and decide what to do - the most excitable of the rats quiets down first, beginning to nod quickly as the pensive rat rears up on your shoulder, looking into the distance as it speaks aloud.

INEVITABLE

[Word: 3]

You feel as though you split into many selves, fanning out every which way simultaneously, the rats multiplying beyond reason and scampering all around as you spread out to fill the unfathomable space of this iterative tower complex. You slide along walkways and flit on powerful currents along the central columns between the towers. Even so you feel you are seeing but a small subsection of this massive place - it dwarfs the city above by whole orders of magnitude, aided more than a little by it harnessing all three dimensions of space and possibly some other ones on top to work its wonders.

In your manifold wanderings the thousands upon thousands of rats sniff around each fresh-birthed stone and consult with each other on arcane details. Every now and then one of them bids you to grab a stone floating by and test its weight and texture, and each time a version of you is surprised by just how hot they are to the touch.

The rats seem to come to an agreement - you're too deep in to go back and the place is too damn large to find a way out of here, at least not without damaging it unreasonably. It wouldn't do to damage any of this infrastructure, no. You need to find a key - no! You need to fashion a key, make one out of stone, something to carry you out of here!

The argument continues as your alternate selves all begin to merge somewhere very far into the overgrown tower complex. Eventually you are but one, and the rats but three - still no agreement between them, however. The apocalypse rat seems to feel like a sail and a hook is in order, the inevitable one insists you need some kind of canoe and paddle, while the alcoholic rat privately voices the suspicion that the two others are clearly stupid - if you're gonna ride out of here in style, why not just make a surfboard?

Quote from: DoctorMcTaalik on October 29, 2017, 09:37:56 pm
"Sure."

Sure.

In the blink of an eye you and Dan are on the top deck, a sharp wind rising from your passing as Dan leads the way and leaps easily to the shore of the river. Adventuring in his experience is best done in a vaguely lateral fashion. Sweeping an unfolding claw straight through a tree trunk, your new friend straightens to his full 12 foot height, looking like a solid glistening shadow in the midday sun. The cut tree begins to fall, and presumably will continue to do so for about the next subjective hour at least.

[Blood and Glory: 1]

You jog after Dan, sending waves of unimaginable terror to every sense of every animal within at least a mile of your position. Underbrush is left smoking and strewn everywhere in your wake despite you taking reasonable care not to touch it in any way (wouldn't want to mess up your robe, would you?). You manage to disrupt a creek by hopping over it, upend a bear while stepping around it and finally come to something Dan finds interesting enough to bother with.

It looks like a tree at first, but someone with your expert eye and familiarity with kooky adaptations can easily tell that this is the result of some serious evolution or incredibly silly magic. In fact it looks to be something a lot more like a very knobbly house-sized spider, standing up on a few legs held together while the others, covered in what look to be to stinging hairs what a claymore is to a thumb tack, menace from above while pretending quite nicely to be leaves.

It's such a bizarre sight to witness that you don't notice you've been moving faster as you approach, exceeding a subjective 30 mph as it begins to dawn on you to try and stop. It also begins to dawn that perhaps the pick-me-up juice might be wearing off, and also that one Sir Isaac Newton may be feeling a mite frisky at the present time judging from your acceleration.

It doesn't dawn on you for long, mind you, maturing into a more retrospective and possibly fatalistic realization as you tumble in a last ditch attempt to dodge and impact the treespider's trunk.

[Careless Speeding: 1]

The collision is not as relativistic as it perhaps could have been, and though you're not in a position to bend your knees presently the treespider seems to have enough experience with quickly moving objects to pick up the slack, the trunk very readily folding under the ballistic collision to avoid losing several legs. But even with this amazing display of reflexes from something that clearly shouldn't be able to move so quickly it still feels like you've hit a row of sandbags bodily at 90 miles per hour.

[Land On Your Feet: 4]

Of course, that's when the spider, having folded its trunk, begins to fall on top of you. Dan, seemingly not having gotten the memo about the juice wearing off, smashes into it with perhaps a second's delay - the spider flies back and off where you currently lay, the world still happening to you about half as quickly as it by all rights ought to.

You blink and notice Dan next to you, starting to buzz like a hundred hornets trapped in a megaphone before noticing that you appear to be at least halfway back to slow-time. Switching gears, he speaks in a recognizably measured manner instead - aha. The juice appears to have worn off. Do you need assistance? You appear to be made of stern material. He can do the spider on his own if you have had enough.

The spider, you notice, is still quite startled, having begun a retreat to get a sense of what the hell just hit it and took one of its upper limbs off - the bladed leg lays not far from where Dan hit the creature, neatly severed and seemingly placed on the ground as opposed to having been permitted to fall.

Quote from: TopHat on November 02, 2017, 01:25:48 pm
"A hideout? Not really, I'm afraid; I'm just visiting. We could skip town, I guess, if you two don't have any suggestions, but I have a few things to take care of first."

Help Ember get those webs off. Somehow. Time to finally pick up the adhesive for my tape project.

[Let Me Help You With That: 4]

You manicure Ember's wig as the three of you walk and begin to extricate the webs from her clothing - luckily her clothing is both extremely old and rather dry, letting you go for the simple solution of just pulling web-covered ribbons from it, which gets the job done and also seems to get you what to any reasonable observer would indeed resemble some kind of adhesive proto-tape. You examine it and wonder if this is good enough for that wizzard person. Ember meanwhile wonders if you intend to compensate her for ruining her dress while holding onto the disintegrating ensemble with no small measure of grace.

But that's nothing compared to Cindy, who is peering all around extremely warily, watching out for every shambling shadow in the alleyways as she makes ready to dart off at a moment's notice. Too quiet out here, that's what she says, too quiet and too suspicious - 'tis no place for a well-moneyed girl to walk around in, even with friends and such.

Quote from: penguinofhonor on November 02, 2017, 08:59:28 pm
I drink more, and entertain the stoats with the tale of how I slew the great night gaunt, elaborating just a little so it sounds like I intentionally set out to hunt it instead of blindly stumbling into danger.

[Drink Hail: 5+1, 5]

As you get increasingly drunk (as does the doctor) you begin to tell a story of one of your previous adventures - the night of the gaunts! And what a night it was, silver bones and terrible teeth, a black mass of the creatures of the night that you dove right into the middle of, armed with little but magic words of terrible power. The doctor, though not present for that particular event, nevertheless corroborates what you've said on the magic words front, mentioning that even speaking them aloud can bring about cataclysmic results if improperly applied! Like a Speaker, one of the at this point incredibly drunk stoatmen mentions before everyone - literally everyone else but you, the doctor and Oggie - gives him a sharp look to quiet him down before urging you to go on.

You fail to mention that you tend to do most of your incredibly impressive work by complete accident until recently, mind you, because that's hardly what heroic stories are made of. The doctor seems to recognize this as well, and the two of you make for a splendid night's entertainment as the Firs Aplenty only continues to gather more patrons until the entire place is just a packed, quivering mass of rapt ears and open mouths, marveling at the things you've seen and done. After you're done with the gaunt story, you turn to the curious case of the world beyond the reflection on the pond, and how you learned to breathe water because there is no air in the other world, and how you once dispatched the animated remains of one of the ancient kings of the Imaginary period, a story that the doctor in particular enriches with a great deal of historical context that you have a bit too many pints in you by that point to properly appreciate. She's a little hard to stop once she gets going, in fact.

Oggie is perhaps a little less enthusiastic about the celebration, but even she begins to cave after a well-meaning gang of evil-eyed stoatfolk pass her an interesting-smelling dreamstick, which she neglects to give back as it becomes her valued companion on a much-needed night of relaxation and mellowing. She works on remembering how to laugh in particular, testing out various combinations of unsettling noises until she manages to get it more or less down.

The proprietor catches you at one point, whispering that if you're welcome to stay for however long you like - he'll clear out a regular for you without any trouble, and naturally you can drink for free. You can almost see the dollar signs spinning in his eyes as he dreams of the exclusive patronage of an honest-to-goodness Hero of the Republic in his humble establishment.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: GM Note (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Xantalos on November 19, 2017, 08:30:36 pm
Daniels looks at whatever his arm has become and shakes his head in bewilderment. "Know what? With this happening as a thing and considering my current bitch of a semi-unsatisfactory situation, I may just take you up on that offer. I'm sure there's a way to consciously regrow my arm, but right now my curiosity's piqued. What do you want to try?"

Yeah, more experiments - why not?
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: Toaster on November 20, 2017, 02:18:31 pm
Thomas figured he must have bumped his head when he fell.  Better not do that.

"So... a key?  Help me out with that?"

Grab a couple well-shaped rocks and bang one into the other to make a key?  Hopefully get pointers from rats.
Title: Re: Our Salvation: It Is Written
Post by: TopHat on November 27, 2017, 05:46:43 pm
"Let's keep moving, then."
Hopefully one of the girls has a destination in mind.
Keep an eye out for any potential trouble.