Putting the 'role' back in role-playing games since 2002.
Donate to Codex
Good Old Games
  • Welcome to rpgcodex.net, a site dedicated to discussing computer based role-playing games in a free and open fashion. We're less strict than other forums, but please refer to the rules.

    "This message is awaiting moderator approval": All new users must pass through our moderation queue before they will be able to post normally. Until your account has "passed" your posts will only be visible to yourself (and moderators) until they are approved. Give us a week to get around to approving / deleting / ignoring your mundane opinion on crap before hassling us about it. Once you have passed the moderation period (think of it as a test), you will be able to post normally, just like all the other retards.

[LP CYOA] Epic

Baltika9

Arcane
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
9,611
B- bros, we're traveling with a Gieloth, that immortals do hate with a passion. We're SoL as far as powers go, and Sekhenun is trying to communicate with us for a reason, and that reason is: don't fucking do it! That immortal is most likely blocking her telepathy, and probably knows she's here. Stay on the ship, bros, and be ready for a tactical retreat.
A- balls to the wall, let's roll. ScubaV has a point. Fight well, or die well.
3- because Ian is too much serious business-like.
 

Esquilax

Arcane
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
4,833
B- bros, we're traveling with a Gieloth, that immortals do hate with a passion. We're SoL as far as powers go, and Sekhenun is trying to communicate with us for a reason, and that reason is: don't fucking do it! That immortal is most likely blocking her telepathy, and probably knows she's here. Stay on the ship, bros, and be ready for a tactical retreat.

3- because Ian is too much serious business-like.

Either that or maybe she doesn't want to reveal her telepathic presence on the island and alert the other immortal.

So, does Sekhenun want us to go see this other immortal or not? It's hard to tell without our telepathy. I suppose Ean's reliance on his powers has made him oblivious to social cues. I'd love to meet a new immortal we haven't encountered yet, but without our powers, I'm not sure if I'd like to risk it. Our mission is to retrieve the artifact and restore our powers, not to go running off into potentially fatal distractions.

Flopped to A1. Sekhenun is very likely part of this delegation and she brought us on this mission to watch her back. They're going on a meeting with what is likely an immortal. Ean is still an incredibly fast and powerful warrior who knows how to deal with both Gieloth and immortals, so we should be OK as long as she's around to aid us if things get hairy. Risky, but if it pans out, it might develop some trust between us and make her intervention in Crete more likely should we be in trouble.

Also, I am guessing that she has at least some Restoration ability if we get hurt.
 
Joined
Feb 11, 2007
Messages
2,951
I think what Sekhenun wants us to do depends on whether she is a part of the delegation or not. If she is, then we should probably escort her and if not, we should stay. But I'm leaning towards that she is going - she is standing right behind the chief handmaiden after all.

Also, why would the priestess be another immortal? Maybe she is just another Gieloth - we have seen much more of them then immortals.
 

CappenVarra

phase-based phantasmist
Patron
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
2,912
Location
Ardamai
B2. We can return and visit the charming priestess Shulgi after (if) we get our powers back...
 

ScubaV

Prophet
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
1,022
A1

Ean is a man of action, always has been. And if Sekhenun is going (seems likely), she'll probably want us along. After all, it's why she recruited us for this in the first place.
 

oscar

Arcane
Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
8,034
Location
NZ
B. Getting our powers back is the number one priority here, not risking destruction at the hand of another immortal whose personality and goals we have no idea of.
 

treave

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Messages
11,370
Codex 2012
A - 12
B - 9

Anbar-Shi - 10
Enki's Lament - 6
Sekhenun - 3

Well, so the Honourblade has an official name, Anbar-Shi, but Ean would look pretty silly naming his sword and all when both he and it are powerless right now, so I'll work it in sometime later in a more suitable and deserving manner.

Regarding immortal power levels - Ean is one of the oldest. There were probably not more than a handful of other immortals who could have beaten him in a straight fight with Anbar-Shi in hand. Things may and will change further down the road as the world expands.

***

Chapter 4.2: Aphrodite

You raise your hand and volunteer for the mission - immediately the chief handmaiden points you to stand to one side. Another warrior follows you soon after. At the same time, you see Sekhenun close her eyes and take a deep breath. Next, she walks over to the chief handmaiden and whispers in her ear. There is a brief exchange of harried words, and then the chief handmaiden appears to give a sigh of resignation and nods. She turns to another of the handmaidens and more words are exchanged. Finally, four handmaidens, including Sekhenun and the chief herself, come over. Sekhenun comes to your side as the chief handmaiden leads the way off into the island.

"Your nobility is endearing. I'm glad that you feel that regaining your powers with my help are secondary to running around looking for eternal priestesses."

You glance at her. "Didn't you want me to volunteer?"

Giving a small snort of disgust, she mutters under her breath, "So you get me to babysit you because of a misunderstanding. Have you no grasp of social cues, ape?"

"Oh, so it's 'ape' now? Why couldn't you just send your thoughts into my head anyway?"

"Sometimes I wonder why I don't just break our deal and eat you right now. That'd solve most of my problems in a flash." A glint of sudden, dangerous hunger comes into her eyes, and you decide to drop the matter for now.

***

The priestess's shrine was located a few hours away from the port. The walk (you couldn't march, because of the handmaidens) along the coast was breezy and comfortable under the warm sun. Along the way, you met many pilgrims, both locals and outsiders, who were here to visit the shrine. You learnt from them that the priestess was named Aphrodite, and had apparently mysteriously come ashore at the site of the shrine fifty years ago. She had not aged a day since, and exhibited great skill in the art of making love charms and potions.

It does not take long before you reach the shrine, walking along the rocky beach. As you part the veils and enter, the fragrant scent of incense assails your nose.

"Ah, travellers." A sweet, melodious voice fills your ears. In the center of the shrine, surrounded by numerous well-built men and nicely-shaped women, kneels a young woman draped in gossamer-thin white cloth, her long dark hair flowing down a flawless back. Her skin was of a pale shade that you had never seen before in all your travels. You feel a slight, familiar tingle in your mind, akin to the murmur of your long silent voices, which subsides almost immediately.

"I am Aphrodite. Welcome to my shrine. What do you seek here?" She stands up and approaches you. Standing so close, you realize that she is the singularly most attractive woman you have ever met. You cannot understand why, you simply know that she is attractive, and your body reacts thusly. Besides you, the other hired sword was already swaying. Even the handmaidens seem entranced by the priestess.

The chief handmaiden, sweating - you're not sure whether it is due to Aphrodite, or the walk - speaks up. "Divine priestess, my lady Mehrune of Egypt seeks your blessing in matters of love. We have heard that there is no greater than yourself in these matters."

Aphrodite makes a slow, small nod. "Of course, that is what everyone asks of me. I will require a price to be paid."

"Name it and it shall be paid."

Aphrodite grabs your arm suddenly, and you feel faint. "I require only this man." She leans in and whispers to you, "You are like me, are you not? I have not met another of my kind before, so stay with me for a while. I think we will have much to share." She pauses for a while. "My voices tell me that you have lost something, and they can provide me with the means to return it to you."

The chief handmaiden claps her hands once. "You shall have this man, great priestess, in return for your charms."

You turn to look at Sekhenun. She remains silent, waiting to see what you'd do. There is a slight smile curled around her lips, as if she was saying "I told you so."

***

A. You agree to the request. Another immortal could aid you better than a Gieloth could. You already felt the voices stirring in the brief instant you met her - spending more time with Aphrodite could awaken the voices again without having to go on a dangerous trip to Crete.

B. You reject the request diplomatically. It is not wise to anger another immortal in your powerlessness. She does not seem hostile; placating her with words and reasoning your way out would be the best option you have.

C. You reject the request roughly. Aphrodite may be attempting to influence you with her powers - speaking nicely would never work. You shake her hand off you before she has the chance to do anything else and be on your guard for any further tricks.

D. HELP ME, SEKHENUN! She's here to babysit you, in her own words - so she better do her job now.
 

Esquilax

Arcane
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
4,833
Fuck. Well, that was foolish. I certainly regret flopping now.

We can't reject the request now, because Lady Mehrune doesn't really give a fuck about us. We are in no position to reject anything because we have no authority here.

Sekhenun isn't going to help us because we decided to go on this excursion of our own free will. Calling on her to help us would piss her off greatly because it would blow her cover. I don't think Ean has enough of a way with words to placate the goddess, and pissing her off is foolish, so we'll have to go with the flow for now. Maybe Sekhenun can help us out later on. Remember that we're going to remain in Cyprus for two days, so perhaps we'll have an opportunity for escape back to our ship will present itself within that time.

Right now, all we can do is go with the flow.

A
Flopped to B
 

Collage

Educated
Joined
Jul 13, 2012
Messages
59
Agreeing to go was a stupid idea, but we might as well roll with it.

A it is.
 
Joined
Feb 11, 2007
Messages
2,951
B

Tell her we are on a mission, but we can meet up with her afterwards (and why not? another immortal would make a fine ally). Duty before all and all that stuff. If she is reasonable at all she will accept. If she is not, at least we will know where we stand - and we can then try a different approach.

Edit: Still voting B if it includes removing her hand from us (diplomatically if possible). If not, then C - fuck that manipulative bitch.

Edit 2: Also voting for C if it comes to down to A or C. I think A is the worst choice here.

Edit 3: Voting B or C - whatever it takes to beat option A. B and C options are quite similar, and an ideal would be somewhere in between - reject her diplomatically, but remove her hand from us and stay on guard with her.
 

Urist McLurker

Learned
Joined
May 1, 2012
Messages
238
Location
Virgintraded
Well, at least there's a silver lining; in Sekhenun's eyes we're no longer a dog!

I'm not quite sure what to choose. I would say it depends on how we answer with B, but as our history has very clearly shown us, Ean is terrible at doing that. When picking B, it's not Aphrodite that I'm worried about so much as it is Lady Mehrune.

A I guess if we get get along with Aphrodite we could end up with another immortal ally, but I'd much rather stick with Sekhenun. I suppose if we accept, we'll have much more time to convince Aphrodite to let us go on with our mission, and then we'll return for her?

Flipping to B, we were a royal guard for some years back in the day, I'm sure we must have at least learnt how to appease royalty and important people while getting out of what they want.
 

As an Amazon Associate, rpgcodex.net earns from qualifying purchases.
Back
Top Bottom