The Redux of the Tale of a Falling Empire

[jaydude]

It takes about a day's ride for the first of the hunt's outriders to reach the ranch. Along the journey, Kitava and her staff learn that the landowner's family - his wife and two sons - are staying at a nearby homestead, not wanting to risk returning to their own home after what happened. Their fears turn out to be justified; upon arriving at the ranch, Kitava and Manato are informed by the trackers among their outriders that Steelscale returned and took a few more sheep at some point, at least according to the fresh tracks and bloodstains there.

By now, most of the pasture fences are destroyed, with the majority of the ranch's survivinganimals scattered across the surrounding countryside. A barn close to the landowner's residence has had one of its walls broken down, revealing an interior covered in blood and a collection of partial sheep carcasses, many of which are starting to rot. As for Steelscale, the beast is currently nowhere to be seen.

 

[Chowlett]

The sight of the putrefying carcasses nearly turns Ferala's stomach, and she momentarily has a wild thought - would earth-aspected sheep be harder to bite through? These weren't aspected at all, not unless "viscera" has suddenly become an element. With an effort, she forces down the urge to laugh and the rising bile, and forces herself to make the scene more familiar.

It's a crime scene, she reasons. And the crime is an all-too familiar one; indiscriminate slaughter. She slips off her horse and starts to look about for what lies beneath the crude destruction and signs of an enormous perpetrator; the little tell-tale signs of where it might have gone next.

(Banking the stunt dice for now)

 

[jaydude]

The signs one needs to look for here are somewhat different from those in a city, or for a crime committed by humans. And the end of the day though, a good part of it is just having the right instincts, and a sharp eye for every little detail.

Soon enough, Ferala finds her eyes drawn towards a set of more recent tracks that, from their size and shape, could only have come from a gigantic lizard. The tracks leave the ranch, and head towards a large forest nearby.

 

[Random Word]

The back roads of the countryside were not amenable to carriages or palanquins, and so Kitava reluctantly mounted up and rode slowly along with the supply train until they reached their destination. She takes a servants proffered hand as she dismounts onto a hastily laid out platform to avoid staining her most practical boots with mud. She looks over the farm and the carnage without revealing her internal disgust. "Excellent work, Ferala. Taeran, you wished to lead the hunt, so lead. Let us be done with this."

She steels herself and steps off into the sucking wet mud to follow Ferala as she picks up the trail. The things she does for the Realm.

 

[WlfSamurai]

Taeran reins her horse up to her sister's and gives Kitava a long hard stare.

"Let's go!" Taeran calls to the column. She pulls her animal to the into a trot in the direction of the tracks. And the woods they lead to. Her heart is racing and she can feel the excitement beginning to build as flutters in her gut. There are no walls here. No stuffy dinners or pleasantries. No gowns or court charlatans. Just muck, land, air. Taeran raises her head and breaths deep. THIS is living. This is the hunt.

She kicks her horse and breaks for the tree-line.

 

[jaydude]

Chowlett D. Rex Random Word Rykon WlfSamurai

Everyone heading into the forest, roll Attribute + Awareness. Steelscale has a pool of 8 dice here, and as a result of its Wyld-touched nature, it can double 8's on Stealth rolls while motionless.

Steelscale gets 3 successes.

 

[Random Word]

Kitava quickly realizes she can use her anima to freeze the mud before she steps on it, preventing her from sinking. This cheers her up considerably, and as she follows along in Taeran's wake she alternates between meditating on the beauty of the elements around her - vibrant wood, noble earth, and boundless air - and optimizing her plans for the city in anticipation of their return.

 

[Chowlett]

With Taeran taking the lead, Ferala reins her horse in close behind. Keeping her sharp eyes out, she watches the forest as the light filters through the foliage, alert to every shift and pattern, looking out for something other than the usual fauna, some patch of mottled light which ought not to be where it is.

(8 successes on Fin+Awa)

 

[Rykon]

Manato rides at the center of the pack in an effort to be free to respond to an ambush on their hunting party. Taking advantage of his surrounding position he enters a meditation he inherited from his father, one of air and fire. After a time he began to push his senses to focus on the passing of breath within the air. As still and cunning as the camouflaged predator may be, even it must surely draw breath as well. Though there are horses and riders present on all sides, a beast like a Tyrant Lizard could not be easily mistaken for a smaller quarry. Even if only from its elevation.

Rolling Force and Awareness. 3 successes

 

[WlfSamurai]

Taeran leans forward, pressing her face to the side of her animal's neck. She can feel the horse's power rolling through his muscles as her races forward. She opens herself to the Essence running through her, her mount, and the ground. She doesn't draw from it or disturb it, instead simply allowing it continue as it would. But, it brings a focus to her mind and body.

Taeran shifts her gaze to the ground and oncoming forest, looking for patterns, tracks, or any sign of her quarry.

[Rolling Finesse + Awareness. 4 successes. Edit: adding stunt dice.]

 

[jaydude]

As they ride into a clearing within the forest, something within the trees at the clearing's edge catches the eyes of Taeran and Ferala. At first it seems like nothing noteworthy, but then they notice faint movement there. And then - as if their other senses have been subconsciously put on alert by the sight - they both hear very low breathing coming from the direction of this movement. Breathing that sounds like it could only come from some great monster.

As they watch, the movement suddenly becomes more pronounced, and some instinct tells Taeran and Ferala that whatever they've noticed has realized it's been seen. Coinciding with this movement, the breathing becomes louder, and the green and brown of the watched area gradually shifts to the colour of light grey metal. The greyness spreads swiftly across the landscape like a stain, forming the shape of a truly gigantic bipedal reptile with a thick tail, a pair of upper limbs with lethal looking claws, and a head with jaws large enough to swallow a whole horse. The head slowly turns to its right, and a red eye the size of a human's skull glares in the direction of Taeran, Ferala and Kitava.

Then a loud crash sounds within the area as the beast raises a massive leg and brings it down, turning towards the three Dragon-blooded. A few more such noises follow, accompanied by the sounds of cracking branches and a low growl, and then all of a sudden, everyone near the front of the pack sees the monstrous, massive form of a grey-scaled tyrant lizard barrelling straight towards them.

This is Steelscale, and he's raring for a fight.

[Everyone roll Join Battle. Steelscale gets 8 dice, and rolls 5 successes.]

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7; Soak: 7

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[WlfSamurai]

"Finally," Taeran mutters through gritted teeth. She kicks her horse faster. The only useful thing she can do for this Dragons-foresaken backwater satrapy has just appeared. She will have this thing's head. And right now, she will push the question that is distracting her out of her mind. She will worry about what happens after she kills it tomorrow.

Now, she fights.

[Join battle: 3]

 

[Chowlett]

The sight of Steelscale emerging from the forest was like nothing Ferala had ever seen before. Majestic, and quite, quite terrifying. How could nature suffer anything that large to exist? Panic threatened to overtake her, and she focused on her breath and her pulse; choosing to flow through the situation like water. Grasping Magistrate's Law, she wheeled her horse away from where Taeran was even now rushing, and sought to flank the enormous lizard.

[Join Battle: 1. On 11 dice. Seriously.]

 

[Random Word]

The beast is impressive, fit to make a mortal's blood run cold, but Kitava's blood is ice. Slowly, methodically, she studies the lay of battlefield and the motions of the enemy to devise the optimal stratagem for engagement. Her talents are focused elsewhere, but with ingenuity can be applied to battle.

[Fortitude 3 + Awareness 3 + Stunt 2 = 8; 2 hits]

 

[Rykon]

Manato dismounts at the sound of conflict and draws Volcano Cutter into his grip. The blade began to thrum and shimmer in the light. Ripples of heat began to rise both from the Daiklave and around the commander himself. Vents of steam began to whistle at his feet and the ground buckled when the Fire Aspect braced himself for a charge against the beast.

Rolling Force + Awareness for JB Stunted, 5 Successes

 

[jaydude]

Out of all the gathered humanoids and mounted quadrupeds, Steelscale singles out Taeran and Ferala, perhaps because they're the two who first saw him. With jaws open he rushes towards the two women, only for a volley of arrows from the archers among the mortal riders to riddle his side. It's not enough to do anything beyond superficial damage, but it does cause the Tyrant Lizard enough pain to make him break off his attack on the Dragon-blooded and turn towards the archers.

From beyond the edge of the clearing, Hudia and Nansho come out riding towards Steelscale from the side, the young woman ahead of the old Earth Aspect. With an impassioned yell, the Fire Aspect hurls her infinite chakram at Steelscale's eye, clearly guessing it to be one of the lizard's softer and weaker parts. It misses the intended target by about a meter however, striking the side of Steelscale's big head and then bouncing off, leaving behind nothing but a thin mark on the monster's skin.

The next instant, Steelscale's great maw opens, and he bites at Hudia as she moves to ride past him. In a display of deft horsemanship, the Fire Aspect leans away and veers her steed to the right at perhaps the last possible moment, Steelscale missing both of them by inches. Moments later, as the beast is distracted by Hudia, Nansho comes riding by while holding his grand goremaul in both hands, and with it he strikes Steelscale on the jaw. His strength and the momentum granted to him by his mount produces enough kinetic energy to send the beast's head reeling to the side, but Steelscale remains standing, and it's soon clear to all that the grand goremaul failed to inflict any significant damage.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 0
Kitava: 0
Manato: 0
Ramuron: 0
Taeran: 0

Steelscale: 0

Spoiler: Mechanics

I went ahead and did Join Battle rolls for every other NPC (Nansho, Hudia and the Cavalry), getting 2, 4 and 10 successes, respectively. The irony of a mortal battlegroup outrolling a load of Dragon-blooded is not lost on me.

Anyway, I'm going to claim the right to have my Storyteller NPC's move first, but mechanically speaking, I'm not going to get too in-depth with the NPC's allied to you guys, just to make this battle run a bit smoother and put the emphasis on your characters. The mortal cavalry aren't going to be much more than a nuisance to Steelscale, and while Nansho and Hudia could arguably do some damage to the Tyrant Lizard, I want this fight to be about you guys. Essentially, the NPC's will just occasionally draw aggro from Steelscale, and may influence the battle in your favour, depending on how things go. I don't really want our first group battle to end in a total party kill, and the manuscript does warn that an antagonist with Hardness 7 is the upper limit for an Essence 2 group.

*ahem* Anyway, your move now. Initiative isn't really a thing here, so you guys can pretty much go in any order you want.

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7; Soak: 7

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[Random Word]

To demand Berengiere materialize to fight some rabid beast, no matter how impressive, would be undignified, but channeling some small measure of her power should serve to bring this hunt to a swift and satisfying conclusion. A brilliant viridian mandala appears in her outstretched hand as she speaks in the tongue of the Realm Before, "Brass Emperor's Merciful Forbearance." Dozens of needles trailing threads of woven brass leap from the ground to bind and entangle the beast from every direction. They won't be strong enough to restrain this creature's prodigious might for long, but they will serve to slow it just as her little sister moves to strike, and a momentary opening will spell the beginning of the end.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Refluffing the Rally action as a sorcerous invocation of Berengiere's power. She's pretty strong, so actually summoning her would be overkill.
Embassy 5 + Force 4 + 1m Embassy Excellency 5 + Stunt 2 = 16 dice; 12 hits against difficulty 3 = 9 Power.
Kitava donates her 9 Power to Taeran.

 

[jaydude]

Steelscale roars in outrage as the needles burst from the ground and bind him in place with their threads of brass. The Kandarans meanwhile all cheer as they see the beast so restrained by Kitava's sorcery.

The mood doesn't last however, as with a deafening roar, Steelscale lunges violently to the right, snapping a number of the threads binding him in place. It soon becomes apparent that, while Taeran might be in a position to seriously hurt the Tyrant Lizard at the moment, the monster will soon break free.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 0
Kitava: 0
Manato: 0
Ramuron: 0
Taeran: 9

Steelscale: 0

Spoiler: Mechanics

Sure, this works for me as a creative interpretation of the Rally action. Of course, since it's just that, you won't get any actual benefits from restraining Steelscale, outside of those that manifest in the form of Taeran getting a Power boost.

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7; Soak: 7

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[WlfSamurai]

Taeran kicks her mount to go faster and pulls the mount’s head in the direction of Steelscale. Suddenly, Kitava’s spells takes shape and the beast is entangled. Taeran can’t help but smile at her sister’s help.

“Thanks, sis,” she says. “Time to make the best of it. Yah!” Even as she draws closer to the restrained beast, it fights to get free. It’s now or never, Taeran decides.

She draws her black jade chakram in her hand and gets ready. She judges the distance and at the same time she draws her Essence into her throwing arm.

Now! She draws her arm back and, with all her might, lashes out, throwing the charkram at the base of the beast’s neck.


[Declaring Decisive attack. Going to spend 1m on Ranged Combat Excellency. Waiting for Defensive Action on Step 2.]

 

[jaydude]

Steelscale catches sight of Taeran approaching while trying to break free from the brass threads, and lifts his head up as high as possible, as if hoping to give the Water Aspect a harder target to reach.

[Steelscale can't really do much to raise his defense here, so I'm going to let you skip over Step 2. Go ahead and make your attack roll.]

 

[WlfSamurai]

[Power 9 decisive attack. Finesse + Ranged Combat 8 dice + 4 dice from Excellency + 2 stunt dice = 7 successes + 2 successes from weapon = 9 successes - 5 defense = 4 successes]
[Damage: 4 successes + 9 power = 5 damage + 1 damage from weapon - 7 soak = 0 damage]

 

[Chowlett]

While Kitava distracted Steelscale, and Taeran went for its eyes, Ferala rapidly kicks her horse around the lizard's legs, looking to cause trouble around the massive trunk-like legs. While she is still some distance away, she leaps from her mount, landing sinuously and immediately starting to weave and sway in the characteristic form of the Snake. Extending Magistrate's Law to its full length, and then using her Essence to reach yet further still, she attempts to wrap the sections of the staff around Steelscale's legs, making him stumble.

[Move to Short Range of Steelscale. Activate Snake Form on Step 1. Make Withering attack (at range, due to Uncoiling Serpent). Fin+CC+Acc+Stunt = 12 dice]
5 successes, matching Steelscale's defence - hit! Gain 1 Power for the hit, plus an extra 3 as the minimum from Overwhelming, I think?

 

[jaydude]

With the use of her Essence, Ferela is able to pull on Steelscale's leg just enough to put the Tyrant Lizard off-balance, though it's probably more due to surprise than anything else.

Ferala gets 4 Power. D. Rex and Rykon , you two are the only ones left to move this round.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 4 (Moved)
Kitava: 0 (Moved)
Manato: 0
Ramuron: 0
Taeran: 0 (Moved)

Steelscale: 0 (Moved)

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7; Soak: 7

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.

 

[Rykon]

The ground beneath the commander gives way to a thundering cacophony of molten rock and fire. The detonation launched Manato into the air, whirling the Grand Daiklave overhead into a fiery arc to bring down on Steelscale's skull.

Withering Attack. Step 1. Close Combat Excellency, Step 3. Excellent Strike (2m total)

 

[jaydude]

The heavy blade of Volcano Cutter lands true upon Steelscale's head, making the beast roar in pain, while also leaving a long burn mark on the top of his skull.

Before Steelscale can retaliate against Manato, Nansho moves toward the tyrant lizard's legs, a thin white anima visible around his body. Swiftly hefting his Grand Goremaul into position, he digs his feet into the ground and strikes the heel of Steelscale side on, the impact somehow making the huge biped actually stumble a little. Above the deafening sounds of white jade striking flesh and another pained bestial roar, the more perceptive of you hear a faint but audible crack, as if the bone in Steelscale's foot is starting to give way.

The blow makes Steelscale forget about Manato for the moment, the great lizard quickly turning and snapping at Nansho with his massive jaws. The near tri-centenarian Earth Aspect manages to deflect the blow to the side with what can only be Dragon-granted strength, his white anima glowing more prominently as he does so, but is forced several steps back as a result of the impact. Hudia's Infinite Chakram strikes Steelscale in the neck seconds later, but seems to have about as much effect as a flea bite would have on a mortal.

With the start of the next round, everyone regains one mote. Players, feel free to move.

Power ratings:
Ferala: 4
Kitava: 0
Manato: 7
Taeran: 0

Steelscale: 5 (Moved)

Spoiler: Mechanics

Manato gets 5 successes. Steelscale's Defense reduces this down to 3 (Volcano Cutter's Overwhelm rating), but Excellent Strike doubles this number to 6, giving Manato 7 Power in total.

Nansho used Guard Breaking Technique in a Decisive Attack against Steelscale, doing one level of damage (Essence doesn't appear to differentiate between Withering, Decisive and Aggravated) and dropping the Tyrant Lizard's Hardness down to 3 (Half of seven, rounded down).

Steelscale landed a Withering Attack against Nansho, gaining 5 power. Also, Hudia landed a Withering Attack against Steelscale, reducing the Tyrant Lizard's Hardness by 1 point down to 2.

Spoiler: Steelscale Stats

Primary Pool (10): Combat, Feats of Strength
Secondary Pool (8): Hiding and ambushing in forests or swamps, Tracking through scent
Tertiary Pool (4): Anything else
Health Levels: [D], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_], [_],
Motes: 9/9
Defense: 5
Hardness: 7 2; Soak: 7

Special Abilities:
Legendary Size: Cannot be grappled by smaller opponents, except through magical means.

Strange Beast: Steelscale has been warped by extensive exposure to Wyld Pockets. This gives it an Essence Rating of 5 and a pool of 9 motes, and allows it to use the Charm Heaven Thunder Hammer. The Tyrant Lizard has also been given the ability to silence and camouflage itself, allowing it to double 8's on Stealth rolls as long as it avoids extensive movement.

Thick Scales: No wound penalties to defence.