Trial by Fire - IC Thread

[Sherwood]

Sherwood may I read intentions to see if they mean harm and if destroying the keystone will do something unwanted?)

Absolutely. Go ahead.

 

[D. Rex]

Read intentions. 3mt Excellency.
4 successes.

 

[Sherwood]

With only four successes, you have the feeling that there is more to the story than what they are telling you, but you can't get a good feel for it.

 

[Syvvaris]

(Can I try to recall any information about Kal Bax and/or what type of demons these things are? also what would you like me to roll if i am able too)

Sherwood 6 success

 

[Sherwood]

(Can I try to recall any information about Kal Bax and/or what type of demons these things are? also what would you like me to roll if i am able too)

You can give me a Int + Lore roll.

 

[Sherwood]

Results of your roll will be posted after dinner. Please stand by.

 

[Random Word]

Maja sits beside Kuaidao and nuzzles his leg affectionately as she listens. Maybe she had been spending too much time in animal forms these last few days - it turns out sometimes words get you a lot farther than suggestive glances. She was pleased that Spider was also in favour of setting the demons free. She hadn't been looking forward to fighting about it.

 

[Sherwood]

Syvvaris
You recognize the name Kal Bax as a formidable architect from the later parts of the First Age and Twilight Caste Solar Exalt. He designed many of the beautiful manses that dot the landscape, and was also a skilled artificer, building many powerful artifacts over the years. He also dabbled in sorcery a bit, but was not ever considered a 'powerful' sorcerer, having never even tapped into the Adamant level of spell crafting.

But perhaps more importantly to you is the iron-clad certainty that you are now the bearer of his Exalted Shard.

 

[Random Word]

Maja's ears perk up as Bard puts her thoughts to words, her glare reminding them that to deceive her is to court death without release. She searches for any subtle sign of deception in the beat of their twin hearts racing and the smell of their perspiration. Should she find it, she will fill the chamber with a low menacing growl that makes it clear to everyone present how unamused she is with their pretense.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Read Intentions
4m Exquisite Heart's Taste

Read Intentions:
Perception 5 + Socialize 3 + Specialty (Exploiting their Desire to be Free) 1 + Keen Hearing and Scent 3 + Minor Fear 2 + Stunt 2 = 16 dice
-1 Guile from Exquisite Heart's Taste
6 hits

Personal: 5/16
Peripheral: 19/38

 

[Syvvaris]

One soft hand clasped the knife every Nexan kept on themselves. All the way down the tunnels into a large cavern with dozens of foreign huts. Their very presence brought outrage to the other denizens, but their escort valiantly defied their violence towards their group; but not well enough to quell their frustration. Something had stirred their emotions before himself and the rest arrived. Thallus was not the person to stand before an angry crowd but everyone else in the group would and Spider was the one to flare her nostrils and force the creatures into docility.

Her aggression brought respect and the attention of their Queen and much like this entire trip, the others took care of the negotiations. These imps are the demons charged with the protection of the Manse, these demons have been here since the end of the First Age. Thallus wondered how fate had brought this group to the right places and the right times without much friction than any proper adventure he read. Yet, it seemed luck wanted to turn against them. A keystone they needed to find inside their former home, but the name of architect brought a sense of recognition and dread at the same time.

Kal Bax was a Twilight Caste Solar and the architect of the Manse, which meant that the only Twilight Solar in this group was Kal Bax. HE was Kal Bax and the reason these serfs were tricked and bound to this place. If these imps were to figure out that himself was the reincarnation of the Solar that trapped them here would put his safety in grave danger. Thallus would not speak about the revelation he had in the presence of the imps.

Thallus shifted to behind Bard and leaned in. "We should leave soon." Thallus strained to keep his voice in a whisper and in his native tongue, Riverspeak.

(Apologies, I started watching Hamilton. The onions were strong at the end.)

 

[Sherwood]

Maja's ears perk up as Bard puts her thoughts to words, her glare reminding them that to deceive her is to court death without release. She searches for any subtle sign of deception in the beat of their twin hearts racing and the smell of their perspiration. Should she find it, she will fill the chamber with a low menacing growl that makes it clear to everyone present how unamused she is with their pretense.

It is the wording of the statement that strikes you. If this Keystone is destroyed, they are free. Free to go back to Malfias, or simply free to run rampant across Creation? What kind of damage would five hundred of these imps do if they were able to leave the area around the manor?

 

[Random Word]

After Maja's growl makes it clear to everyone her displeasure at their attempt at misdirection she fixes U'awa with a withering glare that unambiguously demands she explicitly commit to what she intends to do if the Keystone is destroyed, with the clear implication that any further attempts at misdirection will seriously jeopardize her chances of seeing the stone destroyed this millenium.

Hearing Thallus' nervous plea for a swift departure puts her further on edge, and she redoubles her search for any nascent threat.

 

[Sherwood]

U'awa takes a step back from Maja's growl, looking nervous. He manages to sputter out, "We have been trapped in this frozen hell for several thousand years! Why would we stay here, given the chance to return to even the semblance of freedom we would have running around in Malfias? Destroy the Keystone, and we will leave here forever. Or until we are summoned by a different sorcerer, that is."

 

[D. Rex]

Bard nodded at Thallus and stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "My friends, why don't you all go to the Manor. Let me have a discussion with these dutiful imps and their beautiful queen. I am sure I can work something out. After all, they have been here so very long. So very long."

Bard turned to the queen and made a regal bow, "That is, if you would have me for a guest while my companions do what they must."

 

[Psychie]

Spider shakes her head. "Trust is something earned over time, and while I sympathize with the plight of these imps, I don't trust them yet. I will not leave you here by yourself." She plants her hands on her hips and stares down Bard, daring him to argue with her.

 

[D. Rex]

Bard chuckled. "My dear, I would no more expect you to leave than I would cut off my own leg." He replied.

 

[Psychie]

Spider gives Bard a firm nod. "Smart man."

 

[jaydude]

"If you two want to stay here, I'm sure me and Maja can handle things in the manor." said Kuaidao, having listened to the conversation between Bard and Spider.

 

[Sherwood]

Splitting up, Maja, Kuaidao, Melinda and Thallus head out, leaving Spider and Bard behind to talk with Corr'Dal and U'awa. Most of the imps stay in the underground cavern, but about ten of them lead our four intrepid heroes out of the cavern and into a different small cave than the one that you used to get here.

Psychie D. Rex
Now the two of you are in the hut with the queen and the imp that she is using to talk for her. Along with the four of you are six other imps that have stayed behind, most likely to guard the queen from you just in case things get hostile. U'awa offers up a bow and says, "Noble Exalts, you now have the queen's full attention. How may we serve you?"


Syvvaris jaydude Random Word
The four of you finally exit the cramped confines of the tunnel and are now back up on the snowy plain. The imps with you immediately set off on a well worn path that leads towards a line of rocky hills just ahead at the end of a small valley. As one, the imps stop short and one waves its hand towards the rocky wall and says, "The Invisible Fortress. As promised, we have shown you the way."

Looking where the imp has pointed, you see a whole lot of nothing except rocks and snow.

For those interested in trying to see more, please give me a Perception + Occult roll.

 

[Syvvaris]

Thallus knew there was no convincing Bard or Spider to stick with the group, even if he was confident whatever ill effect of destroying the keystone wouldn't be figured out before. The tunnel was just as cramped as before and once they were out went down a trail to look at rocks and snow. One of the summoned imps called the Manse the Invisible Fortress, now it was only to find a way in.

4 Successes

 

[jaydude]

The "Invisible Fortress", huh? That would explain the lack of...anything, thought Kuaidao, as he narrowed his eyes and scrutinized the environment for anything out of the ordinary.

[Two successes.]

 

[Sherwood]

Syvvaris jaydude Random Word

Looking where the imps are pointing, Kuaidao sees nothing other than the rocky slope. But Thallus can see the hints of an outline so artfully concealed that it is truly almost invisible! Once the traces of the manor are pointed out, Kuaidao and Maja can then make out the manor well enough to see the entrance.

You have arrived at the Invisible Fortress.

In front of the Fortress, a field of broken, jagged rocks ranging in size from cobblestones to boulders covers the approach, making it very difficult for anyone to approach on foot unless they take the narrow flagstone path that is just two feet wide that leads to the front door.

The Fortress itself rises in rectangular blocks with steeply peaked roofs. The two forward wings frame a stepped patio. Pillars, a pediment and two wide stained-glass windows frame the front door. Behind it, a broad, cupola-toppoed tome emerges from the cliff like an immense stone boil.

Deeply set, narrow windows pierce the walls. Steel bars, free of rust after more than a millennium, shield the ground-floor windows. The gables of the Fortress possess broader windows. At the base of the roof, circular niches hold domed golden mirror a foot in diameter - the only eternal ornament for the Fortress.


D. Rex and Psychie

You are still in the hut with Corr'Dal, the queen of the imp-demons, and a handful of the imps with her. What do you wish to say to her?

 

[jaydude]

Kuaidao regarded the flagstone path running through the field of broken rocks with a wary eye, the tactician part of him seeing it as a natural chokepoint of sorts. Then again, he thought, that field will provide plenty of hiding spots against arrow fire, if there are people lying in wait to attack us.

Exhaling, he stepped forward and began moving along the path, keeping an eye out for any traps on it, or any signs of movement from the fortress.

 

[Random Word]

Maja nods to Thallus appreciatively and pads along behind Kuaidao, her tail swishing back and forth happily. It wasn't every day you discovered an invisible fortress. If this didn't impress her family, nothing would.

 

[Syvvaris]

Thallus smiled for a moment after he pointed out the fortress to the other and fell in line behind the others with his bow in hand. "When you run into the door tell me and I'll see if I can figure out some way to open it."