Exalted III: Poorly-Named Game

Ukkoya

Ukkoya's got Guile 3, so success for Pa-El.
At the change in Pa-El's tone, Ukkoya relaxes her stance, mirrored by her men. Ukkoya's expression is unguarded, mixed. Like others who seek this island, her original agenda was improving the fortunes of herself and her men. Her crew's safety trumped that.


They may have been saved from one violent episode, but Kyros' words suggest the another threat still hangs over everyone.
 
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Kyros frowned. "You come at me with steel in hand, making claims that are highly improbable, and ask me to dismiss my best means of defense against an attack." He said. "I think you can understand how I would be disinclined to do such a thing." He said evenly.


Raising his hands he clapped them once, and instantly a trio of demons appeared. A Blood ape snarled, a Neomah winked seductively at one of the men, and an Agata shimmered beautifully, letting out a trilling sound as it's wings beat the air.


Kyros let this continue for a moment, then snapped his fingers once. Instantly the demons quieted and knelt down behind their him, a picture of meek subservience to their master. He snapped once more, and the demons faded in to immaterial form.


"As you can see, control is not the issue here, as they are subordinate to my will." He said in the shocked silence of the harbor folk that followed. "No. It is far more likely that there is some other factor involved. If you truly have these people's best interest at heart, then you will listen to me when I tell you that an unknown third party far more likely and more dangerous to the people here than the rabble I have called up. I have made a study of this, Pa-El, and I know what I am talking about."

Going to try and Instill doubt that this is the best course for Pa-El to take. Base die pool of 6 + 3 for Harmonious Presence + 5 dice from the Presence Excellency (reduced to 4m to avoid anima flair) is 14 dice for 8 successes. If possible, I'd like to take advantage of what seems to be an intimacy of protection for the harbor folk.


EDIT: Oh, and stunt die, because I always forget those: Bah, 0 successes. Shouldn't have even bothered.
 
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"What improbable claims?


Your demons attacked my ship. We agree on this, do we not?


You claim not to know why your demons attacked me. I'm not sure I buy that. But let's say it's true. Say some third party stole command of them.


Then you should dismiss them, lest they be stolen again."

A few posts back, in post 94, Pa-El tried to intimidate you into backing down. Did she succeed?


Anyway she'll spend a point of willpower to resist the doubt.
 
"I am ultimately a man of worldly and occult desires. I see no profit to attacking you. Even if I did, I would send an army of conjured spirits to ensure that this exact situation did not happen, not two paltry demons to fall before you like wheat before a scythe." Kyros said.


"Pa-El." He continued, choosing his words carefully. "To bamboozle a demon requires trickery and guile of the highest caliber. Even more, it requires an imposter to look exactly like me." Kyros paused to let that sink in. "Exactly. Like. Me." He said. "Do you understand me?" He asked, hoping she would see the implication. "And do you understand why it would be very foolish at the moment to dismiss the demons?"


To Kyros, it was the only logical conclusion. Demons could not be easily subverted through sorcery, as it would take weeks of preparation to even allow the possibility. More likely his demons had ben deceived, much like any other hireling or guardsmen would be decided. The only way that could happen was if the deceiver wore his face.


And only the Lunar Anathema could take the face of another.

It did with the base Resolve, but Kyros has an Intimacy of 'Underestimate me at your own peril" representing his ruthlessness and unwillingness to back down, so when modified by the intimacy it failed. Assuming I understand social influence rules correctly.


Going to try and instill the belief that there is a Lunar running around trying to pit Pa-El and Kyros against each other.


Cha 3 + Pre 3 + 3 from Harmonious Presence Methodology + 5 from Excellency (reduced to 4m) is 13 dice for 6 successes


It's kinda a weird situation because obviously there isn't a Lunar, but as far as Kyros is aware it's the most plausible explanation. He's not lying, but he also doesn't know he's not telling the truth. Not sure how we want to handle it.
 
"I don't buy it. This shapeshifter theory of yours sounds like a cheap attempt to keep your demons to me.


It's a pretty easy claim to make, isn't it? Whenever someone sees you or one of your creatures doing something wrong...it wasn't me! It was an evil creature wearing my face!


And even if it is true, demons that can be tricked pose a terrible risk to all these people. I can handle blood apes, but can they?"

Resolve 4, +2 for a minor negative Intimacy towards you, +1 for a stunt. So your attempt fails.


Those Intimacy bonuses really count, eh? I guess that's probably the system working as intended.


Some people in the crowd take your theory seriously, though, even if it wasn't aimed at them.


Pa-El, for her part, is trying to earn the good opinion of the crowd by appearing to defend them. 6 dice base, +2 for a stunt, -3 for group influence, +1 for Appearance +2 for a 2m excellency. 6 successes, which is more than enough. Many people's Intimacies change to be one step more pro-Pa-El.


Anyway, I'm not sure there's much action left in this scene. Pa-El has sent her message to you and to the crowd, but she's not gonna initiate violence. So there's not much left for her here.


If there's nothing else you want to do, I'll have her storm off saying the demons had better be gone soon or else.
 
"Yes, cheap attempt to keep my best means of defense." Drawled Kyros. "Never mind the fact that now this shifter is a known quantity, I can take steps to prevent this from happening again, or the fact that you seem to be dismissing a possible serious threat." He said.


"I've listed many reasons why this is a bad idea, and how I have little reason to attack you. I don't know why you keep insisting on ignoring the facts, but I don't believe reasonable discussion is on the table at the moment."

I'm willing to let things go for for now, although I'd like to make one attempt to instill doubt in the crowd about Pa-El's motives.


Same roll as before, -3 for group influence, leaves me with 10 dice for 4 successes. Spending a Point of willpower to bring that up to 5.
 
"You don't have any facts to ignore.


Anyway, I've made my position clear. Dismiss the demons or get killed. You really should compensate my crew for the attack as well, but I'm not prepared to kill you over that.


Of course, I will be investigating further. If you did order the attack, you might as well keep the demons. Because dismissing them won't save you then.


You've got two days."


With that she stalks off. Gorvarach opens his mouth to protest, but she cuts him off before he says a word.


"You can fight alone if you want."


He doesn't want to. The crowd follows Pa-El; in fact, many of them run ahead of her. They want to keep her between them and Kyros.


Pretty soon, it's just you two and your followers.

That's a success. So the crowd, or at least a portion of it, has its doubts.


OoC, let me tell you; dismissing your demons is by far the easiest way out of this. It's probably also the best way out, honestly. But in the end it's up to you.
 
Kyros frowned at the retreating back of Pa-El. "Well, I suppose that went about as well as could be expected." He said simply, before turning to Ukkoya. "I do apologize for that. Some people simply don't understand the finer points of Sorcery." He said. "Nevertheless, regardless of my newfound rivalry with Pa-El, I intend to honor our previous bargain."
 
Ukkoya


"No expertise in sorcery, m'self. Just had some dealings with spirits. Can't say if any were shapeshifters." She paused. "That a problem on this island?"

After seeing Kyros and Pa-El go at it, Ukkoya's trying to figure out what kind of person she made a bargain with.
 
Kyros frowned at the question. "I can't say for sure, but it's highly possible. I have no reason to, or memory of, sending demons to attack her ship, and demons wont act unless ordered by their master. Something wearing my face is the only explanation that fits with these facts." He said.


"Ideally, we'll be dealing with some kind of trickster spirit rather than an Anathema. But for now I think I'll be implementing a few plans to make sure that my demons cannot be subverted again."
 
The next morning, Red Wire comes down the path to Kyros' manse.


"Greetings, master of demons.


I've heard it said that you nearly came to blows with Pa-El yesterday. And now she's left the island, promising to be back in a day. What she's up to, I have no idea.


I hope I am not overstepping my bounds when I ask for your side of the story."


...


Around the same time, an unfamiliar man with bony spikes poking through his skin comes by Ukkoya's ship. He introduces himself as Third Cloud and asks to speak to the captain. If allowed, he goes on to say,


"I know this sounds like a lie. But there's a golden opportunity in the Wyld not far from here. If you're here for expeditions, well, I have one for ya.


So, are you?"
 
Kyros shrugged at the question. "Truthfully, I don't know what happened. All I know for certain is that a pair of my demons attacked her ship for reasons I have yet to discover. I never sent any demons to do so, an have no reason to attack her. It's something I'm going to be looking in to the first chance I get." He said. "I have my own theories as to what happened, but Pa-El refuses to listen to reason and insists that I dismiss my summons."
 
Ukkoya


She welcomes Third Cloud aboard with her usual grin, escorting him towards her office. "We might be. I'm afraid we're still re-provisioning though. How eh, time-sensitive might this golden opportunity be?"
 
"No. Pa-El seems to have taken this too personally, and I have no reason to believe that she'll remain benign should I dismiss them. Frankly, it's safer for me to keep them than not." Kyros said. "When you have an angry Dragon-Blooded at your door, it does not behoove you to give up your defenses." He said.

Instill action to sway Red Wire over to my side. Not sure if she has a negative intimacy for Pa-El from getting burned recently when dealing with her, but if so I'd like to tag it.


7m (personal pool) on Harmonious Presence Meditation, to bring my dice total to 9, for 5 successes
 
JayTee:


"No, it doesn't. Especially not when it's her."


There's a lot of emotion in that last word. Mostly negative.


"Anyway, I'm here to call in one of the demons you offered me. I want some kind of medical demon, or some kind of flesh-weaver; something that can fix missing limbs and Wyld mutations over a day or two."

That beats her Resolve. What Intimacy do you want to give her?


Anyway, her request is unfortunately impossible. No demon of the first circle can do that kind of work that quickly.
Cirno:


"Sooner the better. Never know what might happen. And four shipmates of mine are stuck with it.


...


Last month I was part of an expedition to the Islands of Glass. We found riches there, crystals and magical plants. We even found the body of a Dragon-blood, still wearing jade plate. We were all going to be rich. Well, except the two who died.


But a terrible storm struck on our way back. Our ship was run aground upon the first Island of Glass, not far from here. And for weeks we were stranded, slowly being warped and being hunted by something."


He gestures to the spikes all over his body.


"Eventually, there were only five of us left. We managed to make a tiny raft from the wreck of our ship, only big enough for one. I took it back so that I could return with help. Almost died doing it. But now nobody seems willing to go, even when I tell them of the treasures to be found."


His tone grows sadder as he speaks. There are tears in his eyes by the end.
 
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Kyros sighed at the request, unhappy that her request was beyond his abilities at this time. "Unfortunately, there is no demon I know of with the ability to mend flesh so quickly. A Stomach Bottle Bug will be able to accelerate the healing process, but not within days. It's the closest I can get you, I'm afraid."

An intimacy of Kinship with Kyros, as they're both people who have suffered, or are suffering, the demands of the same Dragon-Blooded.
 
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"Huh.


Well, I'm hoping to get some of the wounded and mutated to join my next expedition. There's some good manpower lying around uselessly on the island. Do you have anything that can get someone like Vethamal or Dancing Lion back in action for a week or so?"


Vethamal is a sailor who had his hands cut off when he offended a Raksha a few months ago. Dancing Lion is a warrior who was partially petrified when an expedition stayed out too long.

She won't spend willpower to resist. You bond over your shared suffering.


Difficulty 2 to know of a demon that can help amputees, difficulty 4 to know of one that can help mutants too. Beat the difficulty by 2 and, in the spirit of declaring facts, I'll let you define the demon yourself. Subject to my approval, of course.
 
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Ukkoya


So moved by his story, Ukkoya forgets herself midway in tea preparations. "A terrible situation," she says gravely. "Can you tell me more? Not of the treasure, but how we might locate your men, what might maladies they have." She paused, studying him. "Have you sought treatment for yourself?"


It's not an easy life on the sea. Can't afford to get sentimental about dead bodies. Bodies take space, and space is money on a ship. For five living bodies though, three if you count 'em half-alive, Lorikeet's got just enough space. It'd leave little room for treasure though. Would Third Cloud here be looking for his men or his money?

Using Motive-Discerning Technique for double 9's. Personal: 10/13 (assuming replenished for new day).


[dice]22770[/dice]
 
Kyros leaned back in his chair, eyes going slightly unfocused as he searched his mental library for a demon that could fit Red Wire's needs.

Int 5 + Occult 5 + Excellency 5 + 1 Specialty (sorcery) = 16 dice for 12 successes. Overkill, lol.


Not the best at thinking up demons, but my initial thought is something that can sculpt and pattern flesh like a weaver does cloth, but requires micromanaging to prevent it from getting distracted and weaving in more esoteric elements in to the subject in question (typically in the form of obvious but benign mutations).


Seems to fit the general gist of 1st circle demons, from what I can tell. Useful, but requires a bit of effort to keep in line.
 
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JayTee:

Alright, we'll call that a Vlirvakh. Looks like a giant glass spider with a fleshy human hand at the end of each leg, dissolves meat into threads with a touch and weaves it into patterns. Could get Vethamal and Dancing Lion walking and fighting again, though not forever and not as well as before they were injured. A Vlirvakh-woven limb is a fragile thing.


They hate simplicity and dull patterns, and love fractals. They're surprisingly good at math, but can't explain themselves for crap. They prefer obscure words and complicated sentence structures.


They have Resolve 3. The binding will last longer than their service to Red Wire, so we'll want some stats. You can write them if you want. If you don't want to, I will.
Cirno:

He's sincere. Wants the treasure, of course, but his top priority is getting everyone back.
"I have. My wounds are mostly better but they say the spikes are forever.


Last I checked...


Borhar Waveborn had a broken back. The rest were hungry, bruised, and a bit burned by the light of the Islands. Nev had an extra eye, and most of 'em had spikes like me.


Probably worse now."
 
"I think I might have a demon for you." Kyros said, leaning forward. "It's an esoteric little thing that should have your men back on their feet, albeit not without some... side effects." He said.


"Nothing that's crippling." He reassured Red Wire. "But the cure will be temporary, and not as effective as the original. At least without additional treatments." He said.
 
"I'll take what I can get, I guess. Can I come back to pick it up tonight, before the deadline Pa-El gave you hits?


When I come back I might call in my other demon as well. But I know sorcerers can only summon a single demon each night, so...what do you have on hand at the moment?"
 
"Muscle, agility and charm." Kyros said, summing up the main strengths of his other demons in a single world. "While I could be convinced otherwise, I confess reluctance to give out my source of muscle, given current circumstances with Pa-El." He said. "I hope you understand."
 
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