Trial by Fire - IC Thread

[Random Word]

Maja smiles and blushes at Kuaidao's attentions, and isn't subtle when conveying she'll follow him anywhere he wants to lead her. She laughs at the novelty of the suggestion that she's higher born than a Realm patrician. "I only met the Realm's ambassador to the League twice at parties in Tusk, but she made it seem like our wealth paled before even the lowest of Realm nobility. We're not that rich, honestly. Certainly not the wealthiest in the League, but we've got old magic, and we have the skies, and that's precious. No one has skyships better than ours."

---

Maja is at once taken aback and enthralled by how brazenly Valden admits to a life of crime. She's left uncertain how to feel about him. On the one hand, he sounds like a terrible person, but on the other, he has such exciting stories! The fact that he can watch her without her noticing for days is creepy, but undeniably useful if used against their enemies. She was just going to have to trust the judgement of Melissa and the Sun, and hope he was one of those heroic thieves and scavenger lords in stories.

---

Maja goes quiet when Rory confirms her fears, but when the discussion comes up afterwards she looks dismayed at the ambivalence and acceptance expressed, and finally can't keep her feelings bottled up, "They're soul eating monsters!" she hisses, trying not to be overheard, "They eat innocent people! It's a mercy if they kill those they take. How do we know this meeting isn't just a trap to offer us up? I know some of the outer tribes kidnap people as offerings to keep the fae away. If these people are willing to work with fae, how can we trust them to fight with us against the dead?" They need allies, she can't just ask them not to go unless she can come up with an alternative. "What if... what if we get my people instead?" she asks, desperation creeping into her voice, "Kuaidao is already a hero there, they would listen to him. And we have skyships, and boltcasters, and skilled warriors."

 

[Rykon]

Valden gave Bard a chuckle at his offer. "A generous and tempting offer friend." He paused to give it some thought as if for the first time legitimately considering the issue. "Well, I can't say I'm in a rush for that pursuit and a worthy match is worth the wait... I reckon we'll have to see what time we have when this mission of yours reaches its end." He nodded with a grin before returning to his drink.

Seeing Maja recoil made him inwardly wince. And they wonder why I was slow to approach... "What else can I say? I'm not the first of my line in the enforcer trade, but I hope to be the last. It's all I'd known growing up. Some of us get to make our start in a garden of splendor while others are reared in the shadow it casts."

***

The morning finds the Night caste slow to rise, merely taking to the task of scanning the horizon from the comforts of their shelter when he finally wakes. Heading down from his perch to convene with the others he merely adds the comment, "Eh, much as snuggling up to monsters makes for great campfire chatter, I too would rather this little tale of ours take a different turn. For whatever that's worth."

 

[Psychie]

Spider looks over at Maja as she is having her own personal crisis with a understanding expression. "I get it. The Fae are horrible monsters that exist to suck the very life and soul out of their victims. I don't like the idea of dealing with them, either. But just like Rory said, we don't even know if there will even be any Fae at this meeting place. He is just warning us that there might be. I am quite content with the idea of telling these monsters to go screw themselves, but have you considered the possibility that this Ice Court just could be allies in this fight? Its clear that Rory's clan, along with the others out here, have made some kind of bargain with the Fae here. I think it would be better for us to have them on our side in this fight, or at least a neutral party, instead of joining the forces of the undead against us."

She then listens to the thought that there are others in the north that they can go to, and these people have airships! "Are you serious? There are really people with flying things that are not a part of some child's fairy tale? If this is true and not just some story, we need to have them on our side! I can't understate the importance of being able to fly over your enemies' heads and rain death down on them."

 

[Random Word]

Maja shakes her head defensively, "I'm not scared to fight fae at the meeting grounds." She pauses, chagrinned, before continuing quietly, "Well, okay, I'm a little scared to fight fae at the meeting grounds, but it's the bargain that scares me. When the wolf comes calling, what does the goat offer to avoid being eaten? The wolf doesn't want milk or fur. All the goat can offer is other goats. What did they pay for this truce? No one makes a deal with the fae without selling someone else. Even the Guild pays in slaves. I've seen their caravans passing through, North and South. And what common cause have we with the fae against the dead? Their only quarrel is they both want to eat us, and both hate to share!"

The change of subject is welcome, and Maja immediately brightens as fond memories return, "You've never seen a skyship? They're beautiful, and so much fun to ride. They can sail much higher than our magic ship, but aren't as fast unless the wind is strong and favourable. And yes, our enemies fear them, for we have something much better than bows in boltcasters. They punch through even metal armour."

 

[jaydude]

"That does sound like a good idea. Working with the Haslanti league, I mean." Kuaidao said, before glancing warily at Rory and Donna, wondering how they might take this sudden suggestion of working with a power that wasn't always on the best of terms with the Icewalker tribes.

"Still, while I might be in the good graces of one city, I don't know how much goodwill that'll get me in the other Haslanti states. I'd say it would be down to Bard to win them over, and I don't know how long it would take him to gather enough of them to make a difference in this upcoming war..."

Spoiler: Kuaidao Stats

Essence: 2
Personal Essence: 6/16
Peripheral Essence: 30/40
Anima: Dim

Committed Essence: 10

Willpower: 5
Join Battle: 7 dice
-0: [X]
-1: [X], [X], [X], [X], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
-3: [_]
Resolve 3, Guile 2

Attacks
Guardian Host (Orichalcum & White Jade Daiklave): 14 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 15 Damage, Overwhelming 4 (+3 ACC, +12 DMG, +1 DEF, OVW 4) (Lethal, Melee, Chopping)
Straight Sword: 13 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 12 Damage, Overwhelming 2 (+2 Accuracy +9 Damage, +1 Defense, +2 Overwhelming) (Lethal, Melee, Balanced)

Actions
Rush: 10
Disengage: 8

Evasion 4, Parry 7
Soak/Hardness: 11/7 (Dauntless, Soak +8, Mobility Penalty -1, Hardness +7, Attune 5)

 

[Rykon]

Valden gives a token salute with a grin. "I can help with PR too there chief. I specialize in gathering intelligence, but I can throw back a pint with the lads just like anyone else. I assume Bard will still want to take the lead though." On that note, he turned to face the Zenith, still in good cheer by the tone of his voice. "You wouldn't happen to know any of the brews out here, would ya?"

 

[Psychie]

Spider is quiet for a while as she thinks. Then, she says, "I think . . . that these people may have been stuck with their heads under the axe and had to come to some kind of arrangement to keep the Fae from wiping them out all at once. If we find out just what they agreed to with the Fae to keep them off of them, we might have the ability to get all the tribes to join us under our banner in this war. What if we just ask Rory how the Fae were able to be put into an agreement with them? We might just find out something of interest."

 

[Sherwood]

Everyone that wants to, go ahead and give me either an Intelligence + Lore or a Perception + Awareness roll.

 

[Psychie]

Perception + Awareness roll.

5 successes

 

[jaydude]

Rolling Perception + Awareness (5 dice due to wound penalty).

Ugh, botched.

Spoiler: Kuaidao Stats

Essence: 2
Personal Essence: 6/16
Peripheral Essence: 30/40
Anima: Dim

Committed Essence: 10

Willpower: 5
Join Battle: 7 dice
-0: [X]
-1: [X], [X], [X], [X], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
-3: [_]
Resolve 3, Guile 2

Attacks
Guardian Host (Orichalcum & White Jade Daiklave): 14 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 15 Damage, Overwhelming 4 (+3 ACC, +12 DMG, +1 DEF, OVW 4) (Lethal, Melee, Chopping)
Straight Sword: 13 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 12 Damage, Overwhelming 2 (+2 Accuracy +9 Damage, +1 Defense, +2 Overwhelming) (Lethal, Melee, Balanced)

Actions
Rush: 10
Disengage: 8

Evasion 4, Parry 7
Soak/Hardness: 11/7 (Dauntless, Soak +8, Mobility Penalty -1, Hardness +7, Attune 5)

 

[Sherwood]

Anyone else wish to try their luck before I post results? Rykon Random Word D. Rex

 

[Rykon]

I'll give an Awarness roll a shot. I saw Intelligence, and thought I'd save myself the botch on 2 dice for another day.

Let's see...

Nope. No botch at least.

Edit: Completely forgot that I did take a handful of lore dots on this character.

 

[Random Word]

Maja is already alert, ears twitching, listening for the approach of their hosts, fearful of being overheard.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Perception 5 + Awareness 3 + Keen Hearing 2 + Stunt 2 + 4m Awareness Excellency = 16; 7 hits

 

[D. Rex]

Rolling int+lore!


3 sux

 

[Sherwood]

While many of you are busy enjoying the good will of the tribesmen and their selection of good food and drink, both Spider and Maja do start to notice something that seems . . . to be missing. Then it dawns on you. There are no one over the age of 50 in the great hall. Out of the dozens of people here, it only makes sense that someone would have crossed that milestone, even with the hard life of a icewalker tribe. Perhaps it has something to do with the Fae, or perhaps it is something completely unrelated. But to Maja's eye, it can only mean that they use the aged to buy off the Fae and keep the younger people of the tribe safe.

 

[Random Word]

"Does anyone else think it's weird that there aren't any elders here?" Maja hisses under her breath, "Even the shamans are all young. I think it's weird. Sure, Icewalkers kill each other a lot, even the elders and children, but I've never heard of a tribe without any elders."

 

[Psychie]

When Maja says that, it strikes Spider like a lightning bolt. "That's what's been bothering me! I knew that there was something just not right, but I couldn't put my finger on it." She thinks for a moment, then her stomach turns and she asks in a quiet voice, "Do you think that . . . they buy this arrangement with the Fae by giving them their elders? Can we let this continue to happen?"

 

[Random Word]

"Of cou-" she realizes the volume of her indignant cry and strangles it before continuing quietly, "Of course not!"

"No one deserves to die like that," she mutters bitterly, "Especially not grandmama. She's practically a Spirit."

 

[Rykon]

Valden set down his now empty cup. Looking at every hazy silhouette of a party-goer with a shrug. "Can't say I noticed, but now that you mention it... it certainly feels unsettling doesn't it?" The enforcer stared wistfully at the grave of his beverage, reminded of the old crime lords he once served and elder killers, thugs, and brutes he once called friend or mentor. His father, uncles, aunts, wrought in splendid yet threatening attire somehow clothed with the very soul and wisdom of conflicts past. He looked up at one of the busy servers handing out libations and held his depleted one aloft. "Top me off would ya? I get depressed when I see the bottom like that." He lied.

 

[Sherwood]

As the celebration goes on, more and more of the populace passes out from the combination of the late night and the potent drink. Rory had been making his rounds, visiting with some of the tribesmen. He then comes back and sets himself back onto a seat near you, and through his bleary eyes, he is somehow able to notice the tensions building up in some of you. "Ey, my friends. Is there a problem? Something is wrong, isn't there?"

 

[jaydude]

[OOC: I'm assuming that the botch I wrote up here is canon.]

"That depends." said Kuaidao. "Some of my companions noticed a distinct lack of grey-hairs among your people while I was absent from the festivities just now, and it put them somewhat on edge. I mean, I get that life can be hard in this part of Creation, but I wouldn't have thought it possible for there to be no people with more than five decades to their name here."

He'd returned to the others and been updated on their thoughts prior to Rory's approach. He'd done his best to avoid sounding suspicious when he spoke to the Zenith, and he had deliberately kept quiet about Spider's suggestion that the tribe were selling their elders to the Fair Folk as part of a deal with them, not believing Rory would take kindly to unsubstantiated accusations about his people.

Spoiler: Kuaidao Stats

Essence: 2
Personal Essence: 6/16
Peripheral Essence: 30/40
Anima: Dim

Committed Essence: 10

Willpower: 5
Join Battle: 7 dice
-0: [X]
-1: [X], [X], [X], [X], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
-3: [_]
Resolve 3, Guile 2

Attacks
Guardian Host (Orichalcum & White Jade Daiklave): 14 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 15 Damage, Overwhelming 4 (+3 ACC, +12 DMG, +1 DEF, OVW 4) (Lethal, Melee, Chopping)
Straight Sword: 13 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 12 Damage, Overwhelming 2 (+2 Accuracy +9 Damage, +1 Defense, +2 Overwhelming) (Lethal, Melee, Balanced)

Actions
Rush: 10
Disengage: 8

Evasion 4, Parry 7
Soak/Hardness: 11/7 (Dauntless, Soak +8, Mobility Penalty -1, Hardness +7, Attune 5)

 

[Sherwood]

Rory's face drops when Kuaidao asks his question, looking a combination of upset, embarrassed and sad. He takes a hard slug from his drink, then finally says, "Yeah, we have no elderly in our tribe, nor in any of the tribes out here. It is not a thing that I am . . . . happy about. Long ago, long before my time, there was a real risk of being wiped out by the Fair Folk out here. The people fought as hard as they could, but it was a losing battle. Finally, there was an arrangement made, that all agreed to. The Fae would leave the tribes alone, if . . . . those that were over fifty five would be sent out to the Fae for whatever horrible purpose that they had in mind."

His face looks like he just took a sword to the gut as he talks, saying, "It is a thing that I've grown up with, all my life. I've even seen my own my and da go out into the night, never to return. It wasn't a big deal to me until then. It was just what was done. But when it hit my family, it was like having my own heart torn out of my chest. I would do something about it, but there are just so many of the Fae, and even with my trusty daiklave and shield, there is no way that I could stand before their endless hordes and stop them from wiping us all out if we don't continue to abide by the agreement made by our ancestors."

 

[Random Word]

"Now you have us, so that's done. Not one more," says Maja with a finality that brooks no argument. "They tore your heart out, now tell us where to go that we might tear out theirs."

 

[Psychie]

Spider looks over at Rory, a mix of horror and rage boiling inside of her. "Maja is right. Now that we're here, this 'culling of the elderly' stops now. If we go to this Alcar Dal, I am guessing that we will have the chance to talk to representatives of the Fae there? We can try to come up with some way to end this without having to make the our enemy along with these Deathlords and their ilk."

 

[jaydude]

Kuaidao was appalled at the story. At how these people had felt the need to make such a bargain. Still, while he certainly agreed with the sentiments of Maja and Spider, he was mindful of making an additional enemy out of these Fae, at least without knowing the balance of power here.

"Just in case things do come to blows..." he began. "Do we have a supply of iron here?"

He hadn't been in the legions for long before he learned that pure iron was death to Fair Folk.

Spoiler: Kuaidao Stats

Essence: 2
Personal Essence: 6/16
Peripheral Essence: 30/40
Anima: Dim

Committed Essence: 10

Willpower: 5
Join Battle: 7 dice
-0: [X]
-1: [X], [X], [X], [X], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
-3: [_]
Resolve 3, Guile 2

Attacks
Guardian Host (Orichalcum & White Jade Daiklave): 14 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 15 Damage, Overwhelming 4 (+3 ACC, +12 DMG, +1 DEF, OVW 4) (Lethal, Melee, Chopping)
Straight Sword: 13 W. Accuracy, 11 D. Accuracy, 12 Damage, Overwhelming 2 (+2 Accuracy +9 Damage, +1 Defense, +2 Overwhelming) (Lethal, Melee, Balanced)

Actions
Rush: 10
Disengage: 8

Evasion 4, Parry 7
Soak/Hardness: 11/7 (Dauntless, Soak +8, Mobility Penalty -1, Hardness +7, Attune 5)