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Myth: A New Age CYOA
- Thread starter Fangshi
- Start date
Fangshi
Arcane
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,997
I am going to close the vote in twenty four hours or so, ideally the update will come within twenty hours of the vote closing.
Current Tally:
Current Tally:
Absinthe:
1.D,
2.E,F,
3.B
Baltika9:
1.F,
2.E,F, - Janine
3.x
Nevill:
1.F>D,
2.B,F - Janine,
3.B
Azira:
1.D,
2.B,E,
3.x
Jester:
1.F
2.B,D,F - Janine,
3.B
archaen:
1.F
2.B,D - Janine,
3.B
Grimgravy:
1.F>E>D,
2.B,E - Janine
3.B
zerozero:
1.D
2.F
3.B
Kz3r0:
1.D
2.F
3.A
1.
A)
B)
C)
D) 4 votes
E)
F) 5 votes
2.
A)
B) 5/9 votes
C)
D) 2/9 votes
E) 4/9 votes
F) 6/9 votes
3. 3 abstain
A) 1 vote
B) 5 vote
1.D,
2.E,F,
3.B
Baltika9:
1.F,
2.E,F, - Janine
3.x
Nevill:
1.F>D,
2.B,F - Janine,
3.B
Azira:
1.D,
2.B,E,
3.x
Jester:
1.F
2.B,D,F - Janine,
3.B
archaen:
1.F
2.B,D - Janine,
3.B
Grimgravy:
1.F>E>D,
2.B,E - Janine
3.B
zerozero:
1.D
2.F
3.B
Kz3r0:
1.D
2.F
3.A
1.
A)
B)
C)
D) 4 votes
E)
F) 5 votes
2.
A)
B) 5/9 votes
C)
D) 2/9 votes
E) 4/9 votes
F) 6/9 votes
3. 3 abstain
A) 1 vote
B) 5 vote
Last edited:
Fangshi
Arcane
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,997
Alright then, the vote is closed, the winning options are:
1.F you will try to win him over by appealing to your 'shared profession' with a modified tale of your experiences with the Spider Goddess
2.B&F - Cloaks, cloaks and more cloaks. You will give them the spinner and set them to work weaving armoured cloaks and gliding cloaks for your group. Jenine will serve as head of the project and hopefully that will increase the chances of you actually getting your spinner back.
3.B You will not feed on of the eggs to your spinner... a shame really... would have been fun.
The update will be out within a day hopefully.
Edit:
Another delay I am afraid. I am having a few technical difficulties on my end, as soon as they are resolved the update will go live. Just not too certain when that will be (hopefully not more than another day).
1.F you will try to win him over by appealing to your 'shared profession' with a modified tale of your experiences with the Spider Goddess
2.B&F - Cloaks, cloaks and more cloaks. You will give them the spinner and set them to work weaving armoured cloaks and gliding cloaks for your group. Jenine will serve as head of the project and hopefully that will increase the chances of you actually getting your spinner back.
3.B You will not feed on of the eggs to your spinner... a shame really... would have been fun.
The update will be out within a day hopefully.
Edit:
Another delay I am afraid. I am having a few technical difficulties on my end, as soon as they are resolved the update will go live. Just not too certain when that will be (hopefully not more than another day).
Last edited:
Jester
Arbiter
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2013
- Messages
- 1,493
Not sure i wish to know. On other hand... would there be exploding artefacts and pet
Nevill
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2009
- Messages
- 11,211
I almost completely forgot. We've given our book to Biliku for a short while during the Blackrock siege, and this is what was returned to us a few hours later:
We've never talked to the girls about it as we were trying to make them forget about their connection to the Goddess, but maybe there is something relevant to our current situation?
Fangshi
Arcane
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,997
Nevill said:
Yes there are a few points that you might find interesting in there, I can probably type them out when I have a moment in a few days, but the update comes first. It should hopefully be out sometime tonight or tomorrow after I have finished setting everything up.
Hopefully these delays will become less frequent as my schedule clears out a little.
Edit:
Last edited:
Fangshi
Arcane
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2014
- Messages
- 1,997
Chapter 54: The Fish and the Net
The tap of a foot.
A cough.
A glance.
The silence drags.
He knows more than he is saying, which need not be damning, but if he is a follower of a Dark God it would be best to know now. You need to get him to speak freely with you, the easiest way to do this, of course, would be to overpower his mind and take the information by force. If he is a cultist you would even feel fairly justified in doing so, but, he might be innocent, or he might be more powerful than you think he is.
Sometime magic is not the answer.
So how best to do this?
Flattery?
Deception?
Honesty?
Maybe a little of each. Now that you think on it, you do share a connection with this dwarf. He is a researcher and so are you, after a fashion, you suppose. Admittedly you have never retrieved an artefact out of the kindness of your heart, or for the greater well being of the Empire or the world or the Light. Henry was fond of saying, 'If you are good at something, kid, never do it for free,' and it was a lesson you took to heart. Still, a little matter like that, a mere difference in motivation, should not prove an insurmountable obstacle for you, right?
"Jan," you begin with a bracing breath, "I fully understand that you might not want to share the full findings of your experiments with just anyone. After all, there are many out there that would seek to use such information to their own benefit."
The dwarf nods slowly and speaks, his tone one of barely restrained suspicion, "Too true, Miss Derryth, too true."
"However we are not merely 'anyone'," you grin at the dwarf and do your best to inspire confidence.
He frowns.
You inhale.
Thaïs intervenes before you can speak again, "What she means is that we are already well acquainted with the workings of the Spider Goddess. We have had the opportunity to examine a number of artefacts already with the aid of a team of researchers in the Empire. We merely wish to compare finding, that is all," she smiles so sweetly and the damn dwarf melts.
Why is that everyone immediately loves her and you struggle so damn much?
You sigh, it is just good to have her around, "Precisely," you add with a slight dip of your head, "We undertook an investigation into ruins of Muirthemne several months ago alongside Doctors Miosguinn and Casgair," the girls yelp at the name of their father, poor kids, "Sadly our colleagues fell below the city."
"A tragedy," the researcher nods, "An absolute tragedy."
Your friend sets to work, "Yes, it was truly heartbreaking how they fell. Casgair, our dear friend, entrusted his only family, his two daughters, to our care as a result."
"Really?" the dwarf looks to each of you, then to the girls, "How... horrible. If the loss in not too painful would you care to tell me about it?"
You fight back the urge to smile, it is working. He is interested now, a little more and he might well tell you everything.
The two of you spin quite a tale, you establish the substance of the narrative while Thaïs ensures that it reaches the dwarf with the proper emphasis.
You embarked on an expedition into the city on the secret orders of the Emperor himself. Your team of researchers led by the more experienced Miosguinn and Casgair undertook to examine the rumours surrounding the Spider Goddess Cult said to have been popular amongst the dwarves of the old city centuries ago. In those dark depths you found all you could have hoped for and horrors you had never imagined. Miosguinn proved incapable of resisting the lure of the Goddess and fell into her grasp. Casgair succeeded in stopping the mad mage but only at the cost of his own life. The girls, now orphans, became your charges and like children to the two of you. It is a compelling tale, you think, not particularly true but not really false either. In the broad strokes it is largely correct, you did enter the city, you did go in search of the Offices of the Smiths, Miosguinn did fall to the Goddess and Casgair did die in opposition to the mad illusionist, the details though, almost all lies and you hope he will not be able to see through them.
Thankfully it seems to work.
As you conclude the tale the dwarf nods slowly, leaning toward you or your friend as you shift the burden of this lie back and forth. You even mention offhand that Casgair managed to teach his daughters some of his own considerable knowledge, that each can read, write and speak the language of the Goddess. He eyes the girls carefully at that and they stand up to his scrutiny admirably all things considered. The memory of their father hangs over them but they seem determined to fulfill their 'offices' and act as proper and silent protectors.
Excitement animates his frame at this and he rushes to one of the back tables, waving at the four of you to follow, "If what you say is true then our meeting is most fortuitous, most fortuitous dear ladies! I have recovered a number of texts in the tongue of the Goddess but I can not read any of them, if your charges can then they could unravel so very many mysteries!"
Tomes and tablets he pushes before the girls as they do their best to translate. Naturally many of these tomes are not in the exact dialect they are familiar with, given the large distance in both time and space between those that wrote the texts before you and their own experiences. However they manage and you all receive a rather lengthy lesson in the funeral practices, marriage rites and dietary restrictions of the cult.
Nothing terribly useful however until Jan produces a rather slim and simple looking tablet.
Biliku translates the title, "The Fish and the Net?"
"What is it?" Jan asks as Biliku runs her eyes along the ancient clay.
"A story," she answers without looking up, "Did you want me to recite it?"
"If you could dear," Thaïs replies softly.
So, the girl begins to read,
"The Fish and the Net
Long had the swimmer dwelt in darkness.
Long had it mastered the waves.
Long had it fed, long had it fought.
Long did it reign.
Then it fell.
Strong was the spinner of the silver web.
Strong was the spinner of lies and deceit.
Strong was her envy, strong was her pride.
Strong was her trap-"
Jan grunts, interrupting your charge, "This is a fairly common story among those cultists I have managed to interview."
You shoot him a questioning glance, "Interview?"
He shrugs, slightly embarrassed, "Father has given me special dispensation to interview any cultists captured by the Pathfinders at their prison. I had occasion to make use of the privilege every now and then, to interview the odd cultist before they were hung. It was, in a word, enlightening. This seems to be a version of their creation myth but you have likely already encountered that myth, right?"
"Yes," you are quick to reply together. It is the truth after all, Nephila was quite open with what she thought of her mother's origins, "The Spider Goddess bound her predecessor in a cunning and mighty web then proceeded to devour it and absorb its strength."
"Devour?" Jan, Biliku and Uttu all ask together.
Jan glances at the girls then back to you, "No, the common version of the tale has the Spider Goddess haul the serpent or fish that preceded her out of its watery tunnels. She then hung it high in the air and let it drown, from its corpse she made all of existence. From its body she made the world, from its scales she made the stars, from one of its eyes she made the sun and from the other eye she spun out time and set the world to working. Where did you hear this version about her devouring her predecessor?"
"Muirthemne," Thaïs is quick to answer, "On a mosaic under the offices of the Smiths," the lie rolls off her tongue and through her lips without a moment's hesitation or doubt. It is almost as if for that instant she actually believes what she is telling Jan, perhaps that is the key to what she does. At any rate, you are once more thankful she is around.
Jan makes a quick note of the mosaic on a scrap of paper he snatches up, "I shall have to talk to father about arranging for a proper expedition to Muirthemne then."
"That might not be possible," you are quick to trouble him, "The Empire and the Kingdom are not on the best of terms at the moment."
"Really?" he frowns, "Yes, I suppose Timo did mention something about that, well, damn," he brightens quickly enough though, "I am sure father and your Emperor will work something out though. No one wants another war and Ancestors' know that the last thing either of our people need is more enemies."
Well that is certainly a sentiment you can agree with.
You turn your attention back to the girls and notice that Uttu is practically dancing in an effort to draw your attention, "What is it kid?"
"There is more," she insists.
"More?" Jan leans back in.
"Yes," Biliku asserts, "The story does not end with the construction of the web."
"Well then, by all means continue, young lady," he readies his stylus and the girl begins once more.
"-Strong was her trap.
Yet it failed.
Great was the swimmer.
Great was it maw.
Great was its wrath.
Great was it hunger.
So it pursued.
Far did the spinner run.
Far did she search for aid, for allies.
Far did the spinner fly, beyond the dark waters of the swimmer's home.
Far did the swimmer pursue her.
To its death.
Brave were the twelve that stood against it.
Brave was the spinner and her six sisters, bound by blood.
Brave was the prince and his two brothers, bound by blood.
Brave was the wyrm of flame and shadow, bound by blood.
Brave was the wanderer, brave the mortal, unbound by blood.
And they stood.
Horrid were its screams when the sisters entangled it.
Horrid were its pleas when the princes enchanted it.
Horrid were its wounds when the wyrm bit into it.
Horrid was its death when mortal's spear pierced it.
And it fell.
And they fed."
"That is," the dwarf scratches his head, "I don't know."
He falls into deep thought but Biliku is not done yet, "There is still a bit more. Just a few lines scribbled at the bottom."
Even a cursory examination of the tablet reveals that the last bit of script is not in the same hand as the rest of the inscription. Jan does not respond so you motion for Biliku to continue and she does;
"Contented, the seven sisters, bellies full, seized a home.
Contented, the three princes, hatred quenched, secured their throne.
Contented, the great wyrm roared through the sky.
Contented, the wanderer went home to die."
"What is that supposed to mean?" you ask to no one in particular.
"Is there anything else you can tell us Jan?" Thaïs enquires in her sweetest tone.
"No," he has taken several steps back from your group.
"Something the matter?" you take a step toward him and he takes another back.
"No," he strokes his thin beard and glances at a curious little machine on one of the desks, "Oh my! I completely lost track of time! I am afraid we will have to cut this very intriguing session short ladies," he moves swiftly toward the door and motions for your group to follow. He speaks quickly, littering his words with apologies, "I am terribly sorry about this ladies but I have to chair a meeting on Academy acquisitions this afternoon and I am already running late. Terribly boring of course, but completely unavoidable I am afraid. I am sure you understand though, being fellow researchers as you are."
You attempt to get a word in, to ask a question or perhaps arrange for another appointment but he simply does not give you the opportunity. His words pour forth in one impressive, if slightly panicked, torrent as he leads you into the hallway and seals the research chamber, "Once more I can not even begin to express how sorry I am to leave you here-"
"Well perhaps we could escort you to this meeting and talk on the way?" you suggest.
"Oh, no, no it is just a short walk deeper into the building for me and it would be a gross waste of your time," he rapidly shakes your hands, "I look forward to our next meeting. If you should wish to see me again do not hesitate to make an appointment with the front desk and we will arrange something that works for all of us," he gives you a slight smile, turns on his heel and races off into the building.
"What a strange dwarf," Thaïs mutters, "Think he is up to something?"
"He is a mage, naturally he is up to something," you assert, "The question is will it harm us or help us?"
"Well we could follow him?" she replies.
"You don't think he is going to a meeting?" you respond with a questioning glance.
She merely shrugs. Paranoia perhaps, or maybe something more, intuition, it is rarely easy to tell.
You mumble to yourselves, "What to do, what to do?"
1. What to do:
A) Pursue Jan - You think he knows something more than he told you. It is entirely possible that he is not even headed to a meeting. Of course it might be difficult to track the dwarf through the Academy and it might be dangerous as well given Jenine's casual mention of the experiments that go on here. Then of course there is the possibility that it is all a paranoid delusion...
B) Break into Jan's lab - Now that he is gone you might be able to find out more about the dwarf or the Goddess by breaking into his lab. The wards he is using are quite good (as one would expect from an entire Circle of enchanters) but there does not seem to be much traffic on this floor and it might be possible to break in, of course if you get caught...
C) You leave - You still have half a day ahead of you and plenty of other things you can do with your time (All C votes will be counted together, the most popular option will win)
i. Check in with your recruitment team to see how they are doing.
ii. Return to the Palace and see if you can help the mice spy somehow, this might be difficult give your lack of Animal spells but you might still be able to come up with something.
iii. One of Albrecht's bastards, by the name of Letta, runs a very selective mercenary company. You want to investigate her and perhaps hire her. You will do so now.
iv. You will visit some of the bars throughout the city in an attempt to gather information and contacts or maybe hire the odd mercenary that is not inclined to wait in line or apply to Lyssa's group. Who knows who or what you may find.
v. You will go to visit the Seekers. If you are going to lead these mages and trust them with your life then you want to get to know them before you leave the city.
vi. freeform - do something else
D) 'Have Thais find Janine ASAP to act as a guide (she told us to meet her after we are done) while Derryth and the rest of the team attempt to track the Professor down. We will remove the items with active enchantments from our clothing so that Jan would not be able to detect us easily. Thais and Janine can get back to us by following our necklaces - Thais should be able to 'feel' them like we felt Nanshe's. If Janine has questions we can not answer satisfactorily by ourselves, make use of Albrecht's letters.
You may want to have Thais hide near Jan's laboratory to warn you to come back in case the Professor is simply trying to get you out so that he could hide evidence or otherwise attempt something suspicious. Should Jan leave the premises of the Academy, she should be recalled and leave with us as well.
i) Thais should be the guard and communicate with you through the necklaces with the simple code system you have developed for Nanshe.
ii) There is no need for the guard. The Academy is probably too big for you to get back there on time anyway. Best to not split up.'
E) Find Janine and present the letter from Albrecht to get her and any one else present to help us break into the lab under authority of the crown. Say we tried asking Jan but he ran away during an interview.
F) freeform
The tap of a foot.
A cough.
A glance.
The silence drags.
He knows more than he is saying, which need not be damning, but if he is a follower of a Dark God it would be best to know now. You need to get him to speak freely with you, the easiest way to do this, of course, would be to overpower his mind and take the information by force. If he is a cultist you would even feel fairly justified in doing so, but, he might be innocent, or he might be more powerful than you think he is.
Sometime magic is not the answer.
So how best to do this?
Flattery?
Deception?
Honesty?
Maybe a little of each. Now that you think on it, you do share a connection with this dwarf. He is a researcher and so are you, after a fashion, you suppose. Admittedly you have never retrieved an artefact out of the kindness of your heart, or for the greater well being of the Empire or the world or the Light. Henry was fond of saying, 'If you are good at something, kid, never do it for free,' and it was a lesson you took to heart. Still, a little matter like that, a mere difference in motivation, should not prove an insurmountable obstacle for you, right?
"Jan," you begin with a bracing breath, "I fully understand that you might not want to share the full findings of your experiments with just anyone. After all, there are many out there that would seek to use such information to their own benefit."
The dwarf nods slowly and speaks, his tone one of barely restrained suspicion, "Too true, Miss Derryth, too true."
"However we are not merely 'anyone'," you grin at the dwarf and do your best to inspire confidence.
He frowns.
You inhale.
Thaïs intervenes before you can speak again, "What she means is that we are already well acquainted with the workings of the Spider Goddess. We have had the opportunity to examine a number of artefacts already with the aid of a team of researchers in the Empire. We merely wish to compare finding, that is all," she smiles so sweetly and the damn dwarf melts.
Why is that everyone immediately loves her and you struggle so damn much?
You sigh, it is just good to have her around, "Precisely," you add with a slight dip of your head, "We undertook an investigation into ruins of Muirthemne several months ago alongside Doctors Miosguinn and Casgair," the girls yelp at the name of their father, poor kids, "Sadly our colleagues fell below the city."
"A tragedy," the researcher nods, "An absolute tragedy."
Your friend sets to work, "Yes, it was truly heartbreaking how they fell. Casgair, our dear friend, entrusted his only family, his two daughters, to our care as a result."
"Really?" the dwarf looks to each of you, then to the girls, "How... horrible. If the loss in not too painful would you care to tell me about it?"
You fight back the urge to smile, it is working. He is interested now, a little more and he might well tell you everything.
The two of you spin quite a tale, you establish the substance of the narrative while Thaïs ensures that it reaches the dwarf with the proper emphasis.
You embarked on an expedition into the city on the secret orders of the Emperor himself. Your team of researchers led by the more experienced Miosguinn and Casgair undertook to examine the rumours surrounding the Spider Goddess Cult said to have been popular amongst the dwarves of the old city centuries ago. In those dark depths you found all you could have hoped for and horrors you had never imagined. Miosguinn proved incapable of resisting the lure of the Goddess and fell into her grasp. Casgair succeeded in stopping the mad mage but only at the cost of his own life. The girls, now orphans, became your charges and like children to the two of you. It is a compelling tale, you think, not particularly true but not really false either. In the broad strokes it is largely correct, you did enter the city, you did go in search of the Offices of the Smiths, Miosguinn did fall to the Goddess and Casgair did die in opposition to the mad illusionist, the details though, almost all lies and you hope he will not be able to see through them.
Thankfully it seems to work.
As you conclude the tale the dwarf nods slowly, leaning toward you or your friend as you shift the burden of this lie back and forth. You even mention offhand that Casgair managed to teach his daughters some of his own considerable knowledge, that each can read, write and speak the language of the Goddess. He eyes the girls carefully at that and they stand up to his scrutiny admirably all things considered. The memory of their father hangs over them but they seem determined to fulfill their 'offices' and act as proper and silent protectors.
Excitement animates his frame at this and he rushes to one of the back tables, waving at the four of you to follow, "If what you say is true then our meeting is most fortuitous, most fortuitous dear ladies! I have recovered a number of texts in the tongue of the Goddess but I can not read any of them, if your charges can then they could unravel so very many mysteries!"
Tomes and tablets he pushes before the girls as they do their best to translate. Naturally many of these tomes are not in the exact dialect they are familiar with, given the large distance in both time and space between those that wrote the texts before you and their own experiences. However they manage and you all receive a rather lengthy lesson in the funeral practices, marriage rites and dietary restrictions of the cult.
Nothing terribly useful however until Jan produces a rather slim and simple looking tablet.
Biliku translates the title, "The Fish and the Net?"
"What is it?" Jan asks as Biliku runs her eyes along the ancient clay.
"A story," she answers without looking up, "Did you want me to recite it?"
"If you could dear," Thaïs replies softly.
So, the girl begins to read,
"The Fish and the Net
Long had the swimmer dwelt in darkness.
Long had it mastered the waves.
Long had it fed, long had it fought.
Long did it reign.
Then it fell.
Strong was the spinner of the silver web.
Strong was the spinner of lies and deceit.
Strong was her envy, strong was her pride.
Strong was her trap-"
Jan grunts, interrupting your charge, "This is a fairly common story among those cultists I have managed to interview."
You shoot him a questioning glance, "Interview?"
He shrugs, slightly embarrassed, "Father has given me special dispensation to interview any cultists captured by the Pathfinders at their prison. I had occasion to make use of the privilege every now and then, to interview the odd cultist before they were hung. It was, in a word, enlightening. This seems to be a version of their creation myth but you have likely already encountered that myth, right?"
"Yes," you are quick to reply together. It is the truth after all, Nephila was quite open with what she thought of her mother's origins, "The Spider Goddess bound her predecessor in a cunning and mighty web then proceeded to devour it and absorb its strength."
"Devour?" Jan, Biliku and Uttu all ask together.
Jan glances at the girls then back to you, "No, the common version of the tale has the Spider Goddess haul the serpent or fish that preceded her out of its watery tunnels. She then hung it high in the air and let it drown, from its corpse she made all of existence. From its body she made the world, from its scales she made the stars, from one of its eyes she made the sun and from the other eye she spun out time and set the world to working. Where did you hear this version about her devouring her predecessor?"
"Muirthemne," Thaïs is quick to answer, "On a mosaic under the offices of the Smiths," the lie rolls off her tongue and through her lips without a moment's hesitation or doubt. It is almost as if for that instant she actually believes what she is telling Jan, perhaps that is the key to what she does. At any rate, you are once more thankful she is around.
Jan makes a quick note of the mosaic on a scrap of paper he snatches up, "I shall have to talk to father about arranging for a proper expedition to Muirthemne then."
"That might not be possible," you are quick to trouble him, "The Empire and the Kingdom are not on the best of terms at the moment."
"Really?" he frowns, "Yes, I suppose Timo did mention something about that, well, damn," he brightens quickly enough though, "I am sure father and your Emperor will work something out though. No one wants another war and Ancestors' know that the last thing either of our people need is more enemies."
Well that is certainly a sentiment you can agree with.
You turn your attention back to the girls and notice that Uttu is practically dancing in an effort to draw your attention, "What is it kid?"
"There is more," she insists.
"More?" Jan leans back in.
"Yes," Biliku asserts, "The story does not end with the construction of the web."
"Well then, by all means continue, young lady," he readies his stylus and the girl begins once more.
"-Strong was her trap.
Yet it failed.
Great was the swimmer.
Great was it maw.
Great was its wrath.
Great was it hunger.
So it pursued.
Far did the spinner run.
Far did she search for aid, for allies.
Far did the spinner fly, beyond the dark waters of the swimmer's home.
Far did the swimmer pursue her.
To its death.
Brave were the twelve that stood against it.
Brave was the spinner and her six sisters, bound by blood.
Brave was the prince and his two brothers, bound by blood.
Brave was the wyrm of flame and shadow, bound by blood.
Brave was the wanderer, brave the mortal, unbound by blood.
And they stood.
Horrid were its screams when the sisters entangled it.
Horrid were its pleas when the princes enchanted it.
Horrid were its wounds when the wyrm bit into it.
Horrid was its death when mortal's spear pierced it.
And it fell.
And they fed."
"That is," the dwarf scratches his head, "I don't know."
He falls into deep thought but Biliku is not done yet, "There is still a bit more. Just a few lines scribbled at the bottom."
Even a cursory examination of the tablet reveals that the last bit of script is not in the same hand as the rest of the inscription. Jan does not respond so you motion for Biliku to continue and she does;
"Contented, the seven sisters, bellies full, seized a home.
Contented, the three princes, hatred quenched, secured their throne.
Contented, the great wyrm roared through the sky.
Contented, the wanderer went home to die."
"What is that supposed to mean?" you ask to no one in particular.
"Is there anything else you can tell us Jan?" Thaïs enquires in her sweetest tone.
"No," he has taken several steps back from your group.
"Something the matter?" you take a step toward him and he takes another back.
"No," he strokes his thin beard and glances at a curious little machine on one of the desks, "Oh my! I completely lost track of time! I am afraid we will have to cut this very intriguing session short ladies," he moves swiftly toward the door and motions for your group to follow. He speaks quickly, littering his words with apologies, "I am terribly sorry about this ladies but I have to chair a meeting on Academy acquisitions this afternoon and I am already running late. Terribly boring of course, but completely unavoidable I am afraid. I am sure you understand though, being fellow researchers as you are."
You attempt to get a word in, to ask a question or perhaps arrange for another appointment but he simply does not give you the opportunity. His words pour forth in one impressive, if slightly panicked, torrent as he leads you into the hallway and seals the research chamber, "Once more I can not even begin to express how sorry I am to leave you here-"
"Well perhaps we could escort you to this meeting and talk on the way?" you suggest.
"Oh, no, no it is just a short walk deeper into the building for me and it would be a gross waste of your time," he rapidly shakes your hands, "I look forward to our next meeting. If you should wish to see me again do not hesitate to make an appointment with the front desk and we will arrange something that works for all of us," he gives you a slight smile, turns on his heel and races off into the building.
"What a strange dwarf," Thaïs mutters, "Think he is up to something?"
"He is a mage, naturally he is up to something," you assert, "The question is will it harm us or help us?"
"Well we could follow him?" she replies.
"You don't think he is going to a meeting?" you respond with a questioning glance.
She merely shrugs. Paranoia perhaps, or maybe something more, intuition, it is rarely easy to tell.
You mumble to yourselves, "What to do, what to do?"
1. What to do:
A) Pursue Jan - You think he knows something more than he told you. It is entirely possible that he is not even headed to a meeting. Of course it might be difficult to track the dwarf through the Academy and it might be dangerous as well given Jenine's casual mention of the experiments that go on here. Then of course there is the possibility that it is all a paranoid delusion...
B) Break into Jan's lab - Now that he is gone you might be able to find out more about the dwarf or the Goddess by breaking into his lab. The wards he is using are quite good (as one would expect from an entire Circle of enchanters) but there does not seem to be much traffic on this floor and it might be possible to break in, of course if you get caught...
C) You leave - You still have half a day ahead of you and plenty of other things you can do with your time (All C votes will be counted together, the most popular option will win)
i. Check in with your recruitment team to see how they are doing.
ii. Return to the Palace and see if you can help the mice spy somehow, this might be difficult give your lack of Animal spells but you might still be able to come up with something.
iii. One of Albrecht's bastards, by the name of Letta, runs a very selective mercenary company. You want to investigate her and perhaps hire her. You will do so now.
iv. You will visit some of the bars throughout the city in an attempt to gather information and contacts or maybe hire the odd mercenary that is not inclined to wait in line or apply to Lyssa's group. Who knows who or what you may find.
v. You will go to visit the Seekers. If you are going to lead these mages and trust them with your life then you want to get to know them before you leave the city.
vi. freeform - do something else
D) 'Have Thais find Janine ASAP to act as a guide (she told us to meet her after we are done) while Derryth and the rest of the team attempt to track the Professor down. We will remove the items with active enchantments from our clothing so that Jan would not be able to detect us easily. Thais and Janine can get back to us by following our necklaces - Thais should be able to 'feel' them like we felt Nanshe's. If Janine has questions we can not answer satisfactorily by ourselves, make use of Albrecht's letters.
You may want to have Thais hide near Jan's laboratory to warn you to come back in case the Professor is simply trying to get you out so that he could hide evidence or otherwise attempt something suspicious. Should Jan leave the premises of the Academy, she should be recalled and leave with us as well.
i) Thais should be the guard and communicate with you through the necklaces with the simple code system you have developed for Nanshe.
ii) There is no need for the guard. The Academy is probably too big for you to get back there on time anyway. Best to not split up.'
E) Find Janine and present the letter from Albrecht to get her and any one else present to help us break into the lab under authority of the crown. Say we tried asking Jan but he ran away during an interview.
F) freeform
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Fangshi
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Party/Organizational Changes:
Party Changes:
Organizational Changes:
Rolls:
Party Changes:
Not much. You have not technically lost the Spinner yet though if C wins you will give it to Janine on your way out. If any option wins where you do not return to the main floor immediately then you will give the spinner to her when you do. Naturally if you somehow manage to get yourself banned from the Academy you will not be able to pursue the cape program.
Organizational Changes:
None you are aware of yet.
Rolls:
A lot of rolls around the Kingdom. Some are obvious (the Army heading south and the enemies down there or Nanshe, TWM and your ambush attempt). Others are not immediately obvious but include rolls for Mazzarin, Gareth, Christine and Kára among others.
Lyssa's team and Martin's team also had a few rolls which I can't get into.
As for your group there were a number of social rolls. Derryth did poorly as she normally does and Thaïs did well as she normally does. Beyond that though I don't want to get into specific details for obvious reasons.
Lyssa's team and Martin's team also had a few rolls which I can't get into.
As for your group there were a number of social rolls. Derryth did poorly as she normally does and Thaïs did well as she normally does. Beyond that though I don't want to get into specific details for obvious reasons.
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Nevill
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I think we should follow Jan.
D. Have Thais find Janine ASAP to act as a guide (she told us to meet her after we are done) while Derryth and the girls attempt to track the Professor. Thais and Janine can get back to us by following our necklaces - Thais should be able to 'feel' them like we felt Nanshe's. Should some questions arise that we would not be able to answer, just show her Albrecht's letter.
Hopefully, it will allow us to traverse the Academy with less risk to ourselves and still find Jan before he slips away.
D. Have Thais find Janine ASAP to act as a guide (she told us to meet her after we are done) while Derryth and the girls attempt to track the Professor. Thais and Janine can get back to us by following our necklaces - Thais should be able to 'feel' them like we felt Nanshe's. Should some questions arise that we would not be able to answer, just show her Albrecht's letter.
Hopefully, it will allow us to traverse the Academy with less risk to ourselves and still find Jan before he slips away.
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Nevill
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Before we start voting, though, I'd like to speculate a little.
I think that we struck bull's eye with our story. You can almost smell blood. We need to take this chance and follow it through.
But I also think the first thing we need is to try and guess what kind of game is our opponent playing.
He will try to lose you in the corridors of the Academy before he runs off to whatever business he has. What is this business, though?
It may be one of several things - it can be a meeting with someone, which, I guess, might happen outside of the Academy; it can also be a certain place he is heading to, especially if he is related to the cultists.
Or he is just trying to get you out of his lab. Think about it - he does not get out of his study much lately, and if he isn't lying, most news he receives he gets from his brother, Timo. If there is some secret that he needs to hide, it is much more likely to be in his own little fortress, which is, unfortunately, currently occupied by us.
So what I think will happen is that he lures us after him, throws us off the scent somehow, races back to his lab and does whatever he thinks needs to be done. We can probably search his study right now, but I believe it would be best if he himself leads us to what he thinks is so important. To catch him red-handed, so to speak.
To that end, I want a guard posted near the door. It should probably be one of our girls.
Of course, we should still follow him, either to make him think his ploy succeeded, or on the off-chance he really wants to leave the premises.
Fangshi, do we know if the dwarves have some sort of a device that can give off a signal to make us return in time? I know we can produce one ourselves through the necklaces (like we did with Nanshe), but as always, I want our ladies together.
Also, which of our enchantments make us unable to hide from a mage by giving off a signal that can be traced by them? We know that the necklaces, the rings and the bracers do not, while the enchanted jewelry does. Whoever is doing this would need to leave the enchanted items behind. Actually, all of us need to do that if we don't want to get noticed.
I want someone to hide near the door to Jan's study and give us a signal to return which would go unnoticed by the mage. What are our best means to achieve that?
And I want to be able to signal to the guard if we leave the building. What are our options?
I think that we struck bull's eye with our story. You can almost smell blood. We need to take this chance and follow it through.
But I also think the first thing we need is to try and guess what kind of game is our opponent playing.
He will try to lose you in the corridors of the Academy before he runs off to whatever business he has. What is this business, though?
It may be one of several things - it can be a meeting with someone, which, I guess, might happen outside of the Academy; it can also be a certain place he is heading to, especially if he is related to the cultists.
Or he is just trying to get you out of his lab. Think about it - he does not get out of his study much lately, and if he isn't lying, most news he receives he gets from his brother, Timo. If there is some secret that he needs to hide, it is much more likely to be in his own little fortress, which is, unfortunately, currently occupied by us.
So what I think will happen is that he lures us after him, throws us off the scent somehow, races back to his lab and does whatever he thinks needs to be done. We can probably search his study right now, but I believe it would be best if he himself leads us to what he thinks is so important. To catch him red-handed, so to speak.
To that end, I want a guard posted near the door. It should probably be one of our girls.
Of course, we should still follow him, either to make him think his ploy succeeded, or on the off-chance he really wants to leave the premises.
Fangshi, do we know if the dwarves have some sort of a device that can give off a signal to make us return in time? I know we can produce one ourselves through the necklaces (like we did with Nanshe), but as always, I want our ladies together.
Also, which of our enchantments make us unable to hide from a mage by giving off a signal that can be traced by them? We know that the necklaces, the rings and the bracers do not, while the enchanted jewelry does. Whoever is doing this would need to leave the enchanted items behind. Actually, all of us need to do that if we don't want to get noticed.
I want someone to hide near the door to Jan's study and give us a signal to return which would go unnoticed by the mage. What are our best means to achieve that?
And I want to be able to signal to the guard if we leave the building. What are our options?
Last edited:
Fangshi
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Nevill said:
Well, they could blow up an artefact. That would send off a strong signal but they don't really have a device designed to give off a signal.
Nevill said:
Active enchantments will give off a signal. The rings don't, the bracers don't seem to, and the necklaces also do not seem to as well (though theoretically they should). The jewelry will because is constantly active.
Nevill said:
Give them something they could overload though you would need a mage/skilled enchanter to guarantee success with that.
Nevill said:
Well if the guard is not a mage then you can not do much. If the guard is a mage then they might be able to sense you leaving if you are carry a lot of active enchantments.
Of course as a mage Jan will notice any magic based signal if he is close enough.
Nevill
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What about our weapons?
What is the difference between active and passive enchantments?
Ask how would Caoilainn take it if we change the owners of the bracelets? Is she still afraid of switching them off for a few seconds?
If the bracelets are given to a non-mage, will she still be able to communicate with them?
How far away can be the bracelets get for Caoilainn to be able to talk with both wearers? I believe there were times when we briefly have been away from Thais during the course of our adventure for us to know that.
How big is the Academy? Is it bigger than our fort?
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Nevill
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There are two ideas for a short/mid-range communication that should go unnoticed by a third party.
First relies on the properties of the necklaces and lead, and we have already tested it on Nanshe. Take some lead bars or gloves or what-have-you and cover your necklace with it. You can transmit simple messages that way. This method is limited to our ladies, so Thais should be the guard.
The second relies on Caoilainn and her ability to talk to the bracelets' owners while being able to see and experience everything around them. The wearers can communicate between themselves by asking Caoilainn to pass messages. This method would work best - if it works at all - with our girls, so one of them should be the guard. Probably the more disciplined one, Biliku.
I guess I'll also add E depending on what options are available to us.
E) 'Have Thais find Janine ASAP to act as a guide (she told us to meet her after we are done) while Derryth and the rest of the team attempt to track the Professor down. We will leave all of our enchanted stuff with Janine to stash them somewhere for safekeeping so that Jan would not be able to detect us easily. Have one of your team members hide near Jan's laboratory to warn you to come back in case the Professor is simply trying to get you out so that he could hide evidence or otherwise attempt something suspicious. Should Jan leave the premises of the Academy, the 'guard' should be recalled and leave with us. If Janine has questions we can not answer satisfactorily by ourselves, make use of Albrecht's letters.
i) Thais should be the guard and communicate with you through the necklaces with the simple code system you have developed for Nanshe.
ii) Biliku should be the guard and communicate with Uttu through the bracelets with Caoilainn's help.'
Or just roll it under D and add 'iii) You do not post a guard. Best not to split up.' or something,
First relies on the properties of the necklaces and lead, and we have already tested it on Nanshe. Take some lead bars or gloves or what-have-you and cover your necklace with it. You can transmit simple messages that way. This method is limited to our ladies, so Thais should be the guard.
The second relies on Caoilainn and her ability to talk to the bracelets' owners while being able to see and experience everything around them. The wearers can communicate between themselves by asking Caoilainn to pass messages. This method would work best - if it works at all - with our girls, so one of them should be the guard. Probably the more disciplined one, Biliku.
I guess I'll also add E depending on what options are available to us.
E) 'Have Thais find Janine ASAP to act as a guide (she told us to meet her after we are done) while Derryth and the rest of the team attempt to track the Professor down. We will leave all of our enchanted stuff with Janine to stash them somewhere for safekeeping so that Jan would not be able to detect us easily. Have one of your team members hide near Jan's laboratory to warn you to come back in case the Professor is simply trying to get you out so that he could hide evidence or otherwise attempt something suspicious. Should Jan leave the premises of the Academy, the 'guard' should be recalled and leave with us. If Janine has questions we can not answer satisfactorily by ourselves, make use of Albrecht's letters.
i) Thais should be the guard and communicate with you through the necklaces with the simple code system you have developed for Nanshe.
Or just roll it under D and add 'iii) You do not post a guard. Best not to split up.' or something,
Last edited:
Fangshi
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Nevill said:
Persistent spells but I don't think you have any persistent effects on the weapons. Uttu's bowstring and quiver only work when activated while Biliku's shield only reacts when it is hit (and the ladies do not have enchanted weapons) so as long as they do not use them there should not be a signal.
Nevill said:
The difference is simply that the 'active' spells are ones that are always 'on' (for example a spell that boosts a stat constantly while it is active), they would more accurately be called constant effects or something like that. The spells that are not always 'on' (a fireball for example) will only give off a signal if active.
Nevill said:
Well she would not like it but it is not like she can do anything about it.
Nevill said:
Probably, the bracelets seem to functionally be enchanted items.
Nevill said:
Eleven, maybe twelve meters.
Nevill said:
Yes, it is about twelve city blocks all told.
Jan is running off to find the remains of the mortal dwarf that helped the incipent spider goddess. They have his spear somewhere, and that spear is Important.
Whether Jan plans to use this spear to aid or hinder the goddess though, that I do not know.
It would certainly explain why the dwarves and the spider goddess have had so many dealings, if one of the ancient dwarves helped her ascent to power, eh?
We can't let Jan go. As to how we should pursue, I'm not so sure.
Whether Jan plans to use this spear to aid or hinder the goddess though, that I do not know.
It would certainly explain why the dwarves and the spider goddess have had so many dealings, if one of the ancient dwarves helped her ascent to power, eh?
We can't let Jan go. As to how we should pursue, I'm not so sure.
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