Turn 13 - Pre-Speech TwinkleSejena, not really the type of person who takes rejection lying down, decides to be more assertive in her quest for the elusive Naphezim of Vipuka.
[Search roll: 6-->4]
She grabs a slightly less busy-looking person by the shoulder and pulls him aside.
"What? What are you doing, woman! You should know better than to-""Where can I find Naphezim of Vipuka?"He slightly shrinks at her tone of voice.
"Uh, south side of the city, in Cutthroat Alley, I believe.""Thank you. Goodbye.""Um, glad to help?""I know you are."If only everyone was this cooperative.
* * * * *
Though skepticism is beginning to take root in her brain,
Shashari supposes she could go and take a look at the supposed rockwitches of the area.
"Well... if what you say is true, then these rocks sound like the place to start, don't you think? Let's go see if we can find some."[Siren helpfulness roll: 6-->4]
"Very well. You must be quite brave to be willing to go and meet a witch, even a stone one. It took me several attempts to obtain the courage to do the same thing.""Uh, thank you, I suppose."The Siren kindly leads Shashari to the last known location of one of the rock witches. And, right as rain, the rock is still there. It's definitely an oddly-shaped thing. It seems to have a branched structure, with three column-like branches protruding from the ground and joining together at about eye level. The top of the rock seems oddly... spherical.
"See? Something like this could not have formed naturally! It can only be a witch!"[Examination roll: ?]
It's definitely a very odd-looking thing, and Shashari can spot one bit that looks kind of like an eye on the spherical bit. The Siren is right, this is most definitely not natural. It couldn't be. Something's afoot, and it's probably not good.
* * * * *
Phiali, while trying to think of a plan, realizes that, distasteful to him though it may be, getting stabbed may be an unavoidable possibility. Indeed, it may actually be beneficial to him, paradoxical though it may be. He goes back to the temple. Once again, there are six guards, though only three seem to have metal swords. The rest have blunt wooden practice swords with the word "SHAME" written on them in large, suitably shameful letters.
Phiali approaches and waves to the guards.
[Guard reaction roll: 1-->1]
He gets a brief moment of deja vu as the guards shout out their catchphrase and charge.
[Charisma roll: 1+1-->3]
"Oh, go right ahead. Not like you can do anything."The guards close the distance to him in short order and commence the stabbing. And clonking, as the case may be.
[Guard 1 vs. Phiali: 2 vs. 1+1]
[Guard 2 vs. Phiali: 5-
1 vs. 5+1]
[Guard 3 vs. Phiali: 3 vs. 4+1]
[Guard 4 vs. Phiali: 1-
1 vs. 3+1]
[Guard 5 vs. Phiali: 4-
1 vs. 3+1]
[Guard 6 vs. Phiali: 5 vs. 3+1]
As the first guard charges right past him, Phiali ducks resignedly after a second guard's wooden sword as it sweeps close to his head. He rolls past a hardly competent stab by one of the other guards. The fourth guard seems to be attempting to hit him as well. Phiali responds by taking the shame-sword away from him and tossing it into some nearby bushes. The guard sighs and jogs over to look for it. The fifth guard then narrowly misses him with a shame-sword of his own. Phiali yawns. However, this allows the sixth guard to slip past his defenses and give him... a scratch on the shoulder. Brilliant maneuvering, chosen of Kezilam.
"Really, guys? Is that the best you've got?"[Guard morale roll: 5]
They merely say their usual phrase as one and keep trying to stab him.
* * * * *
Verifying the claims of the priests gives
Gronok an interesting perspective on the situation. He strides out of the mass of worshippers and goes straight to the semicircle of head priests of Kezilam and tries to interrupt the ceremony in a move that he believes is very wise. Admirable, even.
[Charisma roll: 4+1]
"Now that we have heard the words of our spiritual leaders, we shall delibe-""A-HEM! I believe that many things have been left unsaid! Important things!""Who dares interrupt the Trial of-"Gronok pays the coordinator no mind and starts pointing fingers and tattling on the less-than-honest priests.
"Now, I can forgive exaggerations, second priest, and maybe even what you did, third priest, but you last three just violated something, you can be sure of that. And I'll not stand for it!"The three last priests all seem surprised. This must be quite unusual for them. Gronok points to the eighth priest!
"I accuse you, sir, of willingly using the profits gathered to you by your temples to take control of that city, thereby gaining further profit from it, something I'm pretty sure your god forbids!"[Priest 8 excuse roll: 5]
"Not quite. You see, I obtained all the money and property to keep it out of the hands of the impure who may misuse it. And Kezilam has nothing against property in general. It is merely the more radical of us that feel property of any kind to be a corrupting influence. It is not backed up by any holy texts or the decrees of the Councils. And believe me, I would know."The coordinator nods affirmatively.
"He speaks the truth."Yes, what he said.Gronok stares blankly at the eighth priest for a few seconds, then moves on to the ninth.
"Okay then, you I accuse of knowingly having ties to another god, Zashal Tinn, the god of Trade, Agriculture, and Civilized Merriment, which I'm sure none of you Kelamazites are allowed to do! Now both gods hate you for worshiping another!"[Priest 9 excuse roll: 4]
The priest looks wide-eyed at Gronok for a moment, but seems to rebound immediately.
"Don't be silly. There are no gods except for Kezilam, obviously. I don't have to tell anyone this, do I? I was merely humoring the ignorance of the foolish masses in order to not drive them away. It was all done in the name of the greater good, you see.""Though compromises are a slippery slope, I trust in your motives. However, be more truthful next time.""I will, Judge. I merely thought you would question my loyalty if I revealed this information."Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Well, nothing to lose by going all out, is there? He points at the smug-looking tenth priest, unquestionably the worst of the lot!
"And you have sinned worst of all! You I accuse of setting yourself as a false idol, and deposing your god in favor of having the populace worship YOU!"[Priest 10 excuse roll: 4+
1]
"You dare accuse me of anything, especially something that ridiculous? It is already clear that you come bearing nothing but lies. This is a house of Kezilam, and I will not bow before some fool that seeks to corrupt it with loud words of no substance, a bringer of impurity and muddler of minds. I will not even dignify your accusations with a response, for you clearly deserve no better. Leave in shame, corruptor, and mind your mouth before you speak again.""Well said, head priest. Suffering fools gladly is not what this house of Kezilam is about, truly."Tough crowd. Maybe the last one'll stick?
"Uh, the third priest only gave all his wealth to his brother's uncle's niece's cousin's aunt's son's twin grandsons."[Priest 3 excuse roll: 1-->3]
"Triplets, you idiot! They were triplets! That changes everything!""What was that, head priest?""What? I didn't say anything!""I hear everything, dear priest, absolutely everything that is said in this room. It is my duty, after all. Now, did you or did you not split your entire fortune gathered before your appointment between three members of your family and then lie about it?""Uh... maybe?""It is settled, then. You lied in the Trial of Amaliz Teze, therefore you are impure and are judged as such. As Amaliz Teze judged the impure, so too are you judged by your peers. Do you accept it or refuse?""I refuse the judgment! My family members were quite poor, I'll have you know! Those three especially! They were criminals already!""Very well, then. Run for your life, impure one."[Priest 3 escape roll: 3]
The priest looks distraught and confused for a moment, then switches over to full-on-horror and begins to run away. The judge stares at him as he makes his way down the aisle and to the exit. When he is halfway there, the judge speaks once more.
"From this moment on, he shall be known as the Impure One. Your duty as the faithful is to capture him and exorcise his impurity through fire. Should he return alive in ten years, he will be considered vindicated. So it shall be."The crowd begins to trail after the third priest as the latter makes his escape.
"I have revealed the truth to others, just as you commanded me to, Mo'kar. Are you pleased with me?"Difficult to say, really. He revealed the truth, but found mostly unwilling ears. Maybe this proselytizing thing is more difficult than he may have imagined.
[Priest perception roll: ?]
The tenth priest glances at Gronok. As Gronok meets his gaze, he notices a grin forming on the priest's face. Not only that, there seems to be something else forming in his eyes. Gronok could recognize it anywhere. It's the pre-speech twinkle.
Sejena: 2 MP
Shashari: 5 MP
Phiali: 1 MP
Gronok: 2 MP
Elizas: 5 MP
Author
Topic: Prophets of the New God: most unfortunately dropped. (Read 69958 times)