Dice Exalted 3E - Tale of a Falling Empire OOC

[Random Word]

"My, Timmy, what sharp teeth you have!"

 

[jaydude]

Spoiler alert, the child's not actually a mortal.

[Kid has Perception + Awareness 5, with two extra dice from an excellency.]

 

[D. Rex]

Spoiler alert, the child's not actually a mortal.

[Kid has Perception + Awareness 5, with two extra dice from an excellency.]

Woo! Fel totes called it! Suspect everyone of being anathema and you will eventually find one!

 

[jaydude]

Wrong there as well, buddy.

 

[Random Word]

I'm pretty sure Anathema is like Creature of Darkness. Fel can just point at something, yell, "ANATHEMA!", and it is. Anathema is a state of mind. Fel's mind, that is. Namely the state where he's going to stab you and no one's going to do anything about it.

 

[D. Rex]

Wrong there as well, buddy.

Tomato tomato. I'm still likely going to stab the little turd if he gives me sufficient reason to believe he is with the solars or lunars or a betrayer of the realm.





Note: tomato tomato doesn't work all that well through text.

 

[D. Rex]

But then he probably is Satori's little brother or something and all I can give him is a mean side eye for spying on us.

 

[Rykon]

I am hoping these guys give us a compelling reason to risk life and limb. Looking back on the character's experience in this city, this has been a rather trifling vacation so far.

Assuming that even the mortals vs mortals battle is one where we're outnumbered (incredibly likely given the meta of Solar War), perhaps I should try and declare a fact that can give us a fallback... what to ask for is the real question...

For now, I could declare a location along a trade route or an Exalt present at the party. One more Dragon-Blooded could certainly help but it'd be terribly difficult to make that one count enough to turn the tide. It'd have to be a badass sorcerer/summoner known to walk with an invisible army at his beck and call to level this out. Either that or a battle-hardened monk or warrior.

If it's a place then... what? An island or mountain fortress manse? Any place that's declared is likely to be occupied by someone we have to convince or a hell and a half's worth of unpleasant critters... Hm... Any suggestions?

 

[D. Rex]

I am hoping these guys give us a compelling reason to risk life and limb. Looking back on the character's experience in this city, this has been a rather trifling vacation so far.

Assuming that even the mortals vs mortals battle is one where we're outnumbered (incredibly likely given the meta of Solar War), perhaps I should try and declare a fact that can give us a fallback... what to ask for is the real question...

For now, I could declare a location along a trade route or an Exalt present at the party. One more Dragon-Blooded could certainly help but it'd be terribly difficult to make that one count enough to turn the tide. It'd have to be a badass sorcerer/summoner known to walk with an invisible army at his beck and call to level this out. Either that or a battle-hardened monk or warrior.

If it's a place then... what? An island or mountain fortress manse? Any place that's declared is likely to be occupied by someone we have to convince or a hell and a half's worth of unpleasant critters... Hm... Any suggestions?

Well we could first hear out the what the situation and defenses of Kandara is like.

But being able to have a fortress would be invaluable here.

Keep in mind how we managed to infiltrate a castle in the Scavenger Lands? Having secrets pathways in and out could ruin us.


Maybe a fact that could help fortify the city itself, like the rivers are high and powerful this time of year, making it difficult for an army to Ford. Or with a recent harvest and hunt, the enemy army might have troubles staying fed without supply lines.

Explaining a fact about the surrounding areas could be useful too. Terrain that favors our position and assets over theirs.

As for a fallback position itself, well, if the city falls and we need to retreat, then we would be in dire straits. We would need somewhere safe to lick our wounds. If it comes to that point, then my warstrider may also be much worse for wear. So having a place to be able to fix it other than the city could be very useful.

 

[D. Rex]

A mountain fortress manse sounds pretty wicked though.

 

[Rykon]

jaydude
If I am remembering correctly, I think the Solar's band is approaching from the northeast?

Would it be allowed for Manato to declare that their ultimate goal is a mountain just off a major trade route to the west? Notably, an Orichalcum mine. One that is fortified with a Realm garrison that cannot be willfully recalled by a single great house. This raises the stakes, gives an entrenched position, and some heavily armed, more loyal allies to fight beside.

Granted, that change impacts the story to a very large degree. I'd understand if you'd prefer we didn't. I figure, given this scenario, it could settle in among what's established nicely for a motive as well as blend with the geography naturally.

 

[Sherwood]

We should retreat to Helm's Deep.

 

[Rykon]

Exactly

 

[D. Rex]

But... will we have a Gandalf to save us on the first light of the fifth day? Coming from the east perhaps?

 

[Rykon]

... There are plenty of party-goers that could fill the role to spend the five days rallying backup...

 

[Sherwood]

Well, I do happen to know Death of Obsidian Butterflies, and that does some nice damage against battle groups. But even with that under my belt, I can't see Larissa being able to count on casting it multiple times without having one of the Anathema being able to use countermagic on it. We have to assume that at least one of them have sorcery.

 

[D. Rex]

... There are plenty of party-goers that could fill the role to spend the five days rallying backup...

Ya know... we could really use that hero that was spoken of earlier in the game right now. Sending someone out and they bring back a Hero like Cathak Amaya with a full wyld hunt to tear into the flanks of the orcs. Or anathema, I should say. (But whats the difference. Amiright?)

 

[D. Rex]

Well, I do happen to know Death of Obsidian Butterflies, and that does some nice damage against battle groups. But even with that under my belt, I can't see Larissa being able to count on casting it multiple times without having one of the Anathema being able to use countermagic on it. We have to assume that at least one of them have sorcery.

Fel has Unslakeable Thirst of the Devil Maw. Maybe there will come a point we can combine the two battlegroup annihilation spells for unblockable/undogeable epic damage?

 

[Rykon]

Whatever keeps us from catching a Magma Kraken or worse would be nice. Even if it's because they're kept busy with constant countermagic.

 

[Sherwood]

One thing that I can do that might help is that Larissa has Wings of the Raptor, so I can fly out and do some recon from the air, and then hit the bad guys with my spell. Combining that with the Devil Maw one would make for a nice stunt to do some good damage.

And if they have a Essence 3 Solar or Lunar spellcaster, we are totally boned.

 

[D. Rex]

Quote from spell
"Conversely, enemies primarily made of liquid, such as water elementals, don’t subtract anything from the damage."

Do you thing lava counts as liquid for the for the sake of sucking up a giant lava squid? Cause I'd rather not burn my arm off if I can help it.

One thing that I can do that might help is that Larissa has Wings of the Raptor, so I can fly out and do some recon from the air, and then hit the bad guys with my spell. Combining that with the Devil Maw one would make for a nice stunt to do some good damage.

And if they have a Essence 3 Solar or Lunar spellcaster, we are totally boned.

What would be a way we could combine Maw and Raptor? I could probably do some pretty cool stuff if I was allowed to use it as more than just sucking up moisture.

But with fire, if I could suck up moisture, that could make the burn of a falcon fireball all the brighter.

 

[jaydude]

jaydude
If I am remembering correctly, I think the Solar's band is approaching from the northeast?

Would it be allowed for Manato to declare that their ultimate goal is a mountain just off a major trade route to the west? Notably, an Orichalcum mine. One that is fortified with a Realm garrison that cannot be willfully recalled by a single great house. This raises the stakes, gives an entrenched position, and some heavily armed, more loyal allies to fight beside.

Granted, that change impacts the story to a very large degree. I'd understand if you'd prefer we didn't. I figure, given this scenario, it could settle in among what's established nicely for a motive as well as blend with the geography naturally.

You can have the Orichalcum mine, and the independent Realm garrison there, but you can't have the Solars and their army be more interested in taking it than they are in deposing Satori.

 

[D. Rex]

You can have the Orichalcum mine, and the independent Realm garrison there, but you can't have the Solars and their army be more interested in taking it than they are in deposing Satori.

We could get them more interested if we evacuate the city and Satori to the mountain. Using her like very sexy bait.

 

[Rykon]

To D's point, it'd be a post curb stomp objective. Taking her with us would certainly force their hand to bring the deposition to finality.

I will say, Manato held back a line to the effect of "You know Ragara's only avoided being the most hated house of the Dynasty because they have better blood than Nellens, right?" So there is a good chance Manato will argue for all of us to walk away, let the people have what they want and to make their stand in a more deserving territory.

As I said in the Trial by Fire thread. The option of having to turn away from the Realm to watch it burn is on the table. Our characters have benefitted from it in their upbringing but its downfall is very clear to see in front of them.

 

[jaydude]

We could get them more interested if we evacuate the city and Satori to the mountain. Using her like very sexy bait.

If you want to try and convince a very anti-Realm, anti-Dynast and pro-Solar populace to evacuate in the face of potential liberation, be my guest.