To Kill a Primordial - IC

[Psychie]

Random Word Sherwood Gravitational Force MasterDAF

While the other two of your circle are gone, the soldiers under your command continue to dig in around the shadowland. As they work, an alarm shout goes up and as everyone looks, you can see three shining metal airships flying from off in the distance towards the plume of dark smoke where both Cuckoo and Knight went off to. The flying machines are small and probably can only hold a person or two, and are not going to pass overhead. But even so, the earthworks that are being dug are hard to conceal, and it soon becomes clear that your presence has been spotted. The three ships slow and one of the three drops down and circles the camp at a distance out of ballista range. After making a couple of orbits, the one ship once more gains altitude and rejoins its two companions as they slowly circle your encampment. They make no effort to fly away or close in; instead they seem content to just watch at a distance.

What do you do?

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Cuckoo is a bit shaken, and in awe. An entire city kept free of animals and debris, and it seems to be running well. He will attempt to make some sense of the layout, and figure out where the main buildings are. Let's see what the movers and shakers of this place are planning.

He makes his way towards where that portal is. He needed to see how it was maintained, and how many more are coming through. They really had no idea of how many people the Great Maker has taken with him, and the better information they have, the better prepared they can be.

 

[Sherwood]

When the alarm cry goes off, Voice is sitting in quiet meditation, trying to wait patiently for the information needed to be able to carry out the wishes of the Deliverer. She calmly rises up to her feet and straightens out her dress and looks up at the three airships. In a bland voice, she says, "It looks like we will be getting visitors shortly."

 

[MasterDAF]

Deathbringer nodded to the Scion of the House of Bone and Ash, a silent acknowledgment of her brief assessment. He turned to leave without another word, his curiosity no better sated than before she spoke.

She is right about one thing. Once I get a chance to interrogate a few of the Great Maker's children, I shall know a great deal more. The masked Abyssal folded his arms behind him as he walked, his leather-swaddled knuckles impatiently cracking. The sooner Cuckoo and the Knight returned with his new charges, the less frustrated he would feel.

Anu-Fahim awkwardly expressed a quick thanks to the other Abyssal, then hurriedly floated after his master. "So," the skull dryly started as he closed the distance to his cloaked liege. "What shall we do with our abundance of time as we await the return of your comrades from their reconnaissance?"

Deathbringer continued on as he had been, refusing to engage with his glowing familiar. The undead exalt found Lahk'na and pressed him for updates. The loyal ghost-blooded warrior provided a summary of their defensive constructive efforts, and the small information gleaned from short sojourns outside the graveyard proper. Deathbringer nodded solemnly, pleased with the work of his servants, and praised the Black Sashes of Entropy for their work so far. Then the Abyssal and his unsettling familiar left, following a lazy beeline back to his 'command tent.'

The persistent skull began to try again, it's jaw hinging open to ask what their next action would be, when suddenly the alarm went out concerning the incoming airships. Deathbringer observed them for a moment, trying to understand what they were doing. Noticing they appeared to be doing the same to the encampment, he sped up and diverted his course to take him in the direction of Voice.

We need to combine our magics in a deathly working and obscure the camp from view, or they may quickly learn much more than we wish about us, too.

 

[Sherwood]

As she watches the trio of airships circle the camp, Voice makes a decision. She gathers up a handful of soldiers and gives them am the task of setting up a pavilion outside the earthworks of the camp and busies herself in having chairs and a table set up inside under the cover of the pavilion to protect it from the rays of the sun.

Her hope is that the tent will be seen as an offer to talk and that these invaders will be curious enough to come and investigate.

 

[Gravitational Force]

Hunger Clad in Eight Broken Chains grins as he spots the airships.

"Puny insects, buzzing above our heads. They think they're out of our reach so they're safe!"

He guffaws and his war ghosts quickly join in.

Rising from where he'd been sitting the Deathknight stalks over to a nearby boulder and lifts it. Lining up his sight with the rock he judges the distance and then drops the rock.

"I can clip their wings and send them screaming all the way to the ground. Just say when."

Satisfied, he begins pacing excitedly. Either the visitors will come or he'll get permission to smash their ships. Either way his boredom will be at an end.

 

[Psychie]

EbonChevalier

When it becomes clear that you don’t understand him, the tall man looks down at one of the men next to him ands says something to him in Old Realm. The worker nods and turns to run off, and the jade-plated fellow turns back to face you. As you watch, a green glow can be seen from a metal circle around his throat and a similar glow of light is visible from his left ear. With his hand, he pantomimes an open and close motion of his fingers, presumably trying to get you to talk some more. He looks on expectantly for your next words.


Red Shadow Claws

Moving silently through the city, you make a few wrong turns as you make your way to the giant head but overall it doesn’t take you long to get a good view of the thing from close up. It is a huge thing, at least four hundred feet tall, made entirely of metal with bands of starmetal running all over it. As you watch, the mouth opens wide and a metal ramp that looks like some sort of tongue pops out with metal rails that connect to a matching set in front of the chin. Riding on the rails is a train that that rushes out nearly silently, pulling a long series of carts filled with people. The train looks to be able to easily carry several hundred individuals along with cargo. What strikes you as odd is that the train is longer than the space inside the head, giving you another clue that this is the portal between worlds.

The train comes to a stop and immediately and with military precision the carts begin to empty of their passengers while cranes begin to offload the large boxes from the flatbed cars. As the passengers are exiting the train cars they are met by a woman that seems to be made mostly of orichalcum that is watching as they form up into columns. In an inhumanly loud voice, she says, “Welcome to Creation, birthplace of our ancestors!” A cheer comes from the assembled men and women at that, then the woman continues to speak. “Sons and daughters of Estasia, on this day as you stand here, your part of our holy mission to bring order to this land and restore the Great Maker begins!”

As the woman continues to speak, you can feel that she is using Charms to motivate the soldiers and instill or strengthen an intimacy in them, and even being on the outskirts of her speech, you can feel the effect of her Essence wash over you. It is not enough to affect you, but she is definitely an excellent orator.

The effect on the soldiers is readily apparent. They all have wide grins and are clearly hyped to join in this fight, and they seem almost disappointed that they are being told to get some rest and that they will be on the march tomorrow.

With the electrifying talk going on, you almost missed that the small train is being loaded up with cases of captured supplies and scores of prisoners being escorted in chains into the now empty seats. Clearly they are about to be taken back into Autochthon.


Sherwood Gravitational Force Random Word MasterDAF

The three small ships continue to monitor your activities in and around the camp with no outward signs of aggression. This holds for about twenty minutes before another airship, this one much larger, comes flying into view. It is a design that you have never seen before.



It looks to be big enough to be able to hold perhaps 20-30 people in it. The ship slows down and lands perhaps a hundred feet away from the pavilion that Voice has set up outside the earthworks that the soldiers are continuing to build. Whomever is inside is waiting to see your response.

 

[EbonChevalier]

The Knight coughs into his fist not truly understanding it but going along with. He gestured to himself then the jade made man.

“I come. To you.”

He made the symbol of peace from his long betrayed kingdom with his right hand. (Spock’s live long and prosper hand sign.)

“I come in peace to you all.”

 

[MasterDAF]

During the twenty minutes the airships spend floating lazily above observing their camp, Deathbringer makes his way to The Voice That Whispers From the Heart of Darkness and addresses his fellow Abyssal. "I see you have sent some of your servants to errect some kind of covering out beyond our defensive perimeter. What is that to achieve?"

The undead exalt shook his head and continued speaking, giving Voice no time to respond if she had felt inclined to do so at all. "Regardless of your doubtless ill-fated plan, I believe it is in our best interest to pool efforts towards a necromantic working to raise deathly mists and obscure this site from the enemy's prying eyes."

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Moving silently through the city, you make a few wrong turns as you make your way to the giant head but overall it doesn’t take you long to get a good view of the thing from close up. It is a huge thing, at least four hundred feet tall, made entirely of metal with bands of starmetal running all over it. As you watch, the mouth opens wide and a metal ramp that looks like some sort of tongue pops out with metal rails that connect to a matching set in front of the chin. Riding on the rails is a train that that rushes out nearly silently, pulling a long series of carts filled with people. The train looks to be able to easily carry several hundred individuals along with cargo. What strikes you as odd is that the train is longer than the space inside the head, giving you another clue that this is the portal between worlds.

The train comes to a stop and immediately and with military precision the carts begin to empty of their passengers while cranes begin to offload the large boxes from the flatbed cars. As the passengers are exiting the train cars they are met by a woman that seems to be made mostly of orichalcum that is watching as they form up into columns. In an inhumanly loud voice, she says, “Welcome to Creation, birthplace of our ancestors!” A cheer comes from the assembled men and women at that, then the woman continues to speak. “Sons and daughters of Estasia, on this day as you stand here, your part of our holy mission to bring order to this land and restore the Great Maker begins!”

As the woman continues to speak, you can feel that she is using Charms to motivate the soldiers and instill or strengthen an intimacy in them, and even being on the outskirts of her speech, you can feel the effect of her Essence wash over you. It is not enough to affect you, but she is definitely an excellent orator.

The effect on the soldiers is readily apparent. They all have wide grins and are clearly hyped to join in this fight, and they seem almost disappointed that they are being told to get some rest and that they will be on the march tomorrow.

With the electrifying talk going on, you almost missed that the small train is being loaded up with cases of captured supplies and scores of prisoners being escorted in chains into the now empty seats. Clearly they are about to be taken back into Autochthon.

Cuckoo's somewhat confused. These invaders seem way more organized than many places he's been to in Creation. And they seem to be using Magical Materials so easily and so frequently, and have created technology more advanced than that of Creation. They will need to act with extreme caution until they learn more about the capabilities of their enemy, and how to overcome them.

That woman in Orichalcum, she must be one of those Exalts they have. Hearing her speak, he could feel her voice attempt to tug at him, and silently laughed it off. He should follow her, and see what he can learn about her capabilities, besides being an excellent orator, and who her fellow Exalts are.

He makes a note of the supplies and prisoners. It seems they have a desire to learn about Creation, and perhaps they're in need of supplies? That would be important detail to learn.

Unsure of the exact distance to the camp, he attempts to send a short message to Voice. "Am in their city, it's big, and they are bringing more people in all the time. They also take supplies and prisoners back to the Great Maker, the Head is where the portal is."

OOC

The range is 10 miles. Not sure if that's enough.

 

[Psychie]

OOC for Red Shadow Claws and Sherwood . You are within range for your message to reach Voice.

 

[Sherwood]

During the twenty minutes the airships spend floating lazily above observing their camp, Deathbringer makes his way to The Voice That Whispers From the Heart of Darkness and addresses his fellow Abyssal. "I see you have sent some of your servants to errect some kind of covering out beyond our defensive perimeter. What is that to achieve?"

The undead exalt shook his head and continued speaking, giving Voice no time to respond if she had felt inclined to do so at all. "Regardless of your doubtless ill-fated plan, I believe it is in our best interest to pool efforts towards a necromantic working to raise deathly mists and obscure this site from the enemy's prying eyes."

Voice ignores the taunting as she watches the airship land in the distance. She is about to reply when she gets the whispered message in from Cuckoo. Using her Charm, she replies, “Excellent. We are about to make our initial contact to attempt our ‘friendly’ discourse with some of the invaders that have flown out in an airship. I will keep you informed as to our progress.”

She looks back at the others and says, “They are at least willing to entertain a dialogue. Shall we?” She then begins walking over to the pavilion to wait.

 

[MasterDAF]

Deathbrings's eyes narrowed behind his mask, not at all happy with Voice's decision. A singular deep and raspy exhalation provided the only response to his peer's question. Shaking his head in a sign of annoyance, he silently followed her out to the pavilion. Anu-Fahim floated along a few feet behind them, the glowing skull recognizing the sign of his master's ire and electing to avoid his typical sardonic commentary.

 

[Random Word]

"You might have considered concealment before you began construction of earthworks, Deathbringer," observes Scion dryly as she passes atop the thone on her bone behemoth's back. "They have quite obviously spotted you now, and have landed to parley. Pleasantly and unexpectedly civilized for an invading army, but it suggests they believe themselves in a position of strength. Time is on their side, and there will always be time for violence after soju and pleasantries."

She looks down at Hunger, boulder resting on his shoulder, "To wit. Put that down and accompany us, Hunger. A frisson of fear will keep the proceedings productive. They must ever remain uncertain who is stronger. Too much fear and they will recoil or lash out, too little and we will cease to be an object of interest."

With a thought the tall bone constructs form up into serried ranks and march behind the behemoth as it advances towards the airship on the far side of the field, weapons sheathed. They are wrapped in loose white linens and warding talismans, greatbows at their backs and paired swords at their hips. As the party approaches the pavilion the bone constructs halt a respectful distance back, standing in perfect silent stillness, a parade rest to make even the drilldominas of the House of Bells proud.

Scion halts the behemoth outside the pavilion and with all the gravitas of the Scarlet Empress holding court addresses the newcomers, her fiery red hair and blood red lips stark against the bleached white bone of her throne, a black silk canopy overhead to block the worst of the unforgiving sun of Creation. "Hail, children of the Great Maker. I am the Scion of the House of Bone and Ash, Chosen of the Land of Soul and Shadow, emissary of the nation of Shadar Logoth. I bid you welcome, and hope your long journey beyond the far shores of Creation was productive. Who amongst your number will treat with me?"

Blood drips from her Caste mark, soft purple flames forming a halo around her, their reflected light accentuating her emerald eyes.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Instilling a tie of Respect towards herself. Elegant Tyrant Majesty for 5m, Excellency 3 (3-1m = 2m). 7m Peripheral spent, so she's at glowing.

Appearance 6 + Presence 3 + Stunt 2 + ETM 3 + Seat of Deadly Splendour 1 + Excellency 3 = 18 - 3 (group influence penalty) = 15 dice
I'll roll 4 appearance dice. If the average Resolve of the audience is 2, all will apply. If it's higher, just ignore the last Average Resolve - 2 dice.

10 hits if they have average Resolve 5 or 6, 11 for Resolve 4, 12 for Resolve 3 or less.

 

[Gravitational Force]

Hunger Clad in Eight Broken Chains nonchalantly tosses the boulder over his shoulder, where it narrowly misses Seventh to Serve. The ghost once again regrets every choice she made in life that led to this being her afterlife.

Hunger Clad in Eight Broken Chains claps his hands.

"Fall in."

His war ghosts form ranks behind him as Seventh to Serve stands at his side.

The Deathknight looms over the proceedings, his massive grin visible beneath his helm.

 

[Psychie]

The Knight coughs into his fist not truly understanding it but going along with. He gestured to himself then the jade made man.

“I come. To you.”

He made the symbol of peace from his long betrayed kingdom with his right hand. (Spock’s live long and prosper hand sign.)

“I come in peace to you all.”

Nodding as you speak, the jade man listens carefully, then replies in Old Realm, but you can hear broken Firetongue coming from the glowing box in his throat, "Good. No harm from you, no harm to you. You speak more, I learn more better words. I am People's Force of Industry."


Red Shadow Claws

As Cuckoo watches the motivational speech, the woman in the golden armor turns the soldiers over to a set of mortals that have the bearing of mid-level NCOs and they promptly begin splitting off squads of men and assigning them billets to stay in to prepare to move out in the morning. With a satisfied nod, the woman Exalt turns on her heel and begins to walk over to a smaller doorway set in the side of the cheek of the massive head and places her hand on a panel at the side to open the door. If you wish to continue to follow her, you'll need to make another Dex + Stealth roll.


Sherwood Random Word Gravitational Force MasterDAF

On the side of the airship, a wide door opens and four figures comes walking out down the ramp. They are clearly not human. The first person appears to be male, and he is wearing a combination of orichalcum and a gleamkng gold breastplate comes striding out of the ship, quickly followed by a woman in all black cloth and what appears to be soulsteel armor. Person three appears to be some kind of automation. It has no legs, and instead has a large sphere that it is rolling across the ground on. It appears to be wearing jade plate armor. Person four is another woman, lithe and athletic, and from here she appears to be made of starmetal. The four pause at the bottom of the ramp to the airship, looking out at the group of Exalts and their retune of the dead waiting for them. Then as one, they set out across the grassy field towards you.

The four come to a stop a short distance from you, and the one man in the orichalcum raises his head up and says in a voice loud enough to carry to you, speaking Old Realm. "Of all those that we have come across, you are the first to approach us with knowledge of our origins. I am First Amongst Many, and I have been authorized to speak with you."

 

[Random Word]

Scion marvels at these wonders of intellect and artifice. Manufacted Exalted! The power of the titans who built the world could be hers. Such is her visible excitement as they descend the ramp she almost fails entirely to listen as the first of them speaks. She has a little bit of trouble with their dialect of Old Realm, drifted as it has from the unchanging enunciation and idioms of the dead scholars she summoned to teach her.

"Ah," exclaims Scion in feigned surprise, "You, too choose titles over more traditional names. Fascinating. It is a singular personal pleasure to make your acquaintance, First Amongst Many, as well as a great honour to treat with you, one great nation to another."

It would be impolitic to declare, I'd love to take you apart piece by piece to find out what makes you tick.

"Yes, the memories of the world of the living are fleeting, but in the land of the dead we still remember the departure of the Great Maker. The knowledge our great scholars build eternally endures."

She continues airily, but with an edge to her smile sharper than her bared fangs, "It would be a tragedy, given the great potential I foresee in mutually beneficial intellectual exchange and trade, should our peoples become enemies. To this end we have sought you out, that we might avoid potentially catastrophic misunderstandings."

One of the behemoths' many bone tentacles casually prods Hunger in the back of the thigh. That's your cue to be menacing. I would suggest subtly menacing, but I'm certain you don't know the meaning of the word.

"For example, we might ask that you avoid harming our allies amongst the living, while offering support in any actions you take against our mutual enemies."

Spoiler: Mechanics

Attempting to instill a principle of, "It is better to have Shadar Logoth a friend than an enemy." Leveraging the minor tie of respect. Hopefully Hunger wants to assist.

3m discounted to 2 again on the Excellency.

Appearance 6 + Presence 3 + Stunt 2 + ETM 3 + Seat of Deadly Splendour 1 + Excellency 3 = 18 - 3 (group influence penalty) = 15 dice + any dice granted by someone who wants to aid.

-1 Resolve for anyone who she succeeded in instilling respect in previously.

7 hits so far, or 9 for anyone with Resolve 2.