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Civar Kit'An (Eosia, Eosis )Eisner/Ilvis posted:"What kind of man regenerates from a sword through the heart?" "Apparently all of them, my friend. In all the time I've known you, you haven't hurt a single person with your sword. Even the Eosian Emperor got better. I don't think that sword is what you think it is. You might want to spend some time thinking about just what it is that you're carrying at your hip." Eisner/Ilvis posted:"You're with me that Blackwater is clearly a demon or some kind of monster right Civar? Well, thinking on it he's probably a Necromancer." I frowned in thought and then answered slowly, as if each word was being drawn from my mouth against my will. "Yes. Most likely. What I heard of him indicated that he was a good man, once. But more and more he seems to be dancing to this Beltheus's tune. Willingly or unwillingly he is serving to drag Eosia into Chaos. Chaos that likely precipitated the invasion we need to stop now." "Where are we headed? I want to test out my new ability to manipulate the weather. I think it would be best to meet this army on a pleasant day with a nice strong breeze. Getting shot by an arrow really sucks." D: creating favorable conditions at destination +2 D: Weather +2 making it be a nice sunny day to encourage harmony and good feelings with a nice strong breeze to discourage archers couldn't think of an original way to aid puppies action directly
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Jun 10, 2013 23:50
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Edo (Eosia, Palace of Eisos) No that is me doubling up on things, so we'll say the first emperor is Akqhirin then. I was a little tired and searched everywhere except the most obvious place, so my bad. I have corrected this in the previous post. The Emperor Johrset looked most troubled by this news. "Many things are not as simple as they seem, this is a sad truth of the world. Regardless of what you may have thought of me, I have always acted only in the best interests of our nation. But it is difficult to see this sometimes. Now is not the place to defend the past or to discuss such things. I would like to ensure the safety and dignity of our people Edo, we will need the help of one such as you in the coming. It will take time to assemble the legions, I would have the Magisters send word to the colleagues in the south to organise evacuations while the generals mobilise the troops. Would you have anything to suggest or contribute Master Edo?" It seemed like the Emperor was won over by Edo's earnest conviction. He seemed to share a desire to save Eosia and there did not seem to be any obvious signs that he was simply humouring Edo or just placating him while he needed him. Success, the Emperor seems to be disposed towards working with you at least for the time being. Adam, Kovar and Rathin (The Sun Plains) Adam finds that he actually has quite a bit in common with the Orcs, as they called themselves. They did not have a lust for battle, but they were warriors by virtue of their environment. Between those skilled in battle there was a certain kinship for when you might find yourself trying to gut the man in front of you while he did the same tomorrow, you often felt like making the most of the most of the time you had not spent stabbing and being stabbed by people. They had a code of honour (which Adam appreciated but also at the same time found impractical as it was a terrible handicap if your opponent had no such qualms) which served as their laws and as a way of thinking. Eventually Adam found himself wrestling with one of the Orcs to test their strength. Naturally Adam won in the end but it seemed likely that even though they were different sizes, there would not be such a difference in strength between and Orc and a Dwarf. Rathin called out to Unnaya at the Oasis, summoning as he had been told by the Gazelle Tribe. At first nothing happened, but after a minute the water stirred. Rising from the water almost like one might rise from sleep a figure formed out of the water. Once it had pulled itself out of the water a very naked and very attractive human woman walked along the surface towards Rathin and Kovar. "Unnaya has heard your call. What is your need of us?" She asks with a gentle smile. Adam manages not to make a scene, well...a bad one anyway. Mazir (Taeless, Outskirts of Harlakake) Making a desert storm flow into Harlakake was not easy. Sheltered by the Val Titanus range the town rarely experienced them and so it caught the people by surprise. Most people fled inside and packed up outside to escape the stinging sand, which gave Mazir's troops the opening they needed. By the time the townsfolk realised what was going on there wasn't a great deal that they could do. There had been some fighting, which had even resulted in the loss of one of the iron men. The man responsible had been beaten and brought before Mazir for judgement. His name was Jekeil and he was a recently retired mercenary, still fit and with most of his equipment in good condition. How Mazir dealt with him would set an example for the entire town. You rolled really well, awesome. Harlakake is under your control for now. Octagon (Arrahn, Delena) Octagon had very curious and somewhat unpleasant experience, at least it would have been before he touched Mu. The void-touched godling had the rather unnatural experience of his being collapsing into the tiny fragment of Mu within in, then expanding out again. There was also a single moment where distance did not exist and the only thing around him in a zero-point space was Mu. There was a certain comfort in that isolation, but also a terror of absolute loneliness as well. Regardless of the exact details of the mechanism, Octagon found himself within Delena in the town square and much to the surprise of the Arrani around him. Success, although it's a bit..weird. Bryn (Northern Arandia, Falkrest Peaks) The fight between Bryn and the dragon was a fairly titanic struggle. Gold and jewellery was trampled and tossed around as Bryn and the great lizard squared off. At first it might seem that Bryn would be hopelessly doomed by the dragon's superior size and strength, but that was not the case. Bryn did start off the fight on the back foot, but as the fight went on and his excitement grew strength kept on surging from within him. Twice he smashed the beast's head into the wall after it had fixed him against another for a few moments and eventually he beat it into a dazed stupor. Bryn was left there, standing panting and dripping head to toe with sweat. He felt great about what he had done, his blood raced and his head swam with adrenaline. The dragon for its part gave a kind of whimper as it lay there broken. Bryn could easily end its life, it was already broken after all and it would make a truly magnificent trophy. Its attacks had been fairly well spotted after all, the local town would be in awe that he had managed to kill it with his bare hands alone. Okay, so you rolled sickeningly well for this. Which is good because if you'd failed your next post would have been from inside its stomach. What are you going to do with your dragon? Civar and Ilvis (Eosia, Southern Border Region) Ilvis sent the three of them (and the Horse) down to the southern regions of Eosia and quickly found the army. After a moment of arriving a very brisk breeze stirred, until the sea of tents began to flap in the breeze. They approached the entrance to the camp's northern face and Ser Faust informed the guards that they would be meeting with Ser Daveron. At first he'd planned to argue, but you noticed that the captain in charge of them seemed to belong to Daveron's order and recognised Eisner. He organises a runner to go to Ser Daveron and offers you an escort. Ilvis declines, saying she can get herself there and waits a few minutes to give the runner time to arrive. Then she 'blinks' to the centre of the camp where Daveron should be.  The man didn't really like Daveron at all but...there was that swagger he had and the same general smell of beer. He also seemed to be ordering around the other people of Daveron's order. He looks up and blinks as Eisner, Civar and Aideen appear on the horse. Then he says loudly; "Faust you old dog! Heard you went in ahead of us to Eisos!" the man, thing, giant, walks over to Ilvis and gives her a crushing man-hug. He gestures for all of you to come into his tent, which was notably taller than the rest. When inside he sits on his oversized chair and reclines his considerable form. "So cousin Ilvis, tell me what you saw in enemy territory." Beltheus (Mirn) The imp was a small creature with a few gifts to disguise and hide itself. Even the Weaponmasters paid little attention to children servants it seemed. A week later the creature returned and made its first report, making a great effort to abase itself before Beltheus in the hopes he would not make it suffer further, and if he felt it had done well, promote it to a better station (and hopefully form). "Master, oh Master Beltheus, I have watched the ones called 'Weapon Masters' for one week. In this time I have heard them mention that they would organise to have one of the crew of a ship killed. Too curious, too free-spirited is he! He wishes to see the world and the Weapon Masters tell the other people on the island the world is a bad bad place. They like control and power Master." Farro Kapersi (Terminus, Plaza of Arches) Lydia seemed to have a grim determination to her study. She did not complain or bite back when you had a harsh lesson for her. Instead she seemed to have put aside emotion for the time being. Her grim focus was not really healthy, but perhaps it was a way of trying to cope with her trauma in such a strange place. Various arrows reported back with the following information: Haralakake was being invaded, as you had suspected, and the agent had managed to escape the sandstorm that had engulfed it. He had surreptitiously sent warnings to nearby villages so that Taeless would be warned. While Mazir had Harlakake as a staging ground, it was all he would gain quickly it seemed. Konwey was relatively stable for the time being. No one like Mazir or Farro seemed to have appeared there as of yet, or at least not openly. Val Aman had been split in two. The northern part around the Spinewoods seemed to be under the control of a young girl called 'Red'. She seemed to have power over wolves and the agent had mentioned he'd somehow ended up with a wolf inside of him, whatever this meant. He cautioned that Red was very dangerous and very insane, despite how nice and sweet she seemed. There was a particular haunted tone to his voice and in his look when he had mentioned this. Val Lichett and Val Setin were under Arrani, as they were called, control. They were also beginning to raise humans as cattle, feeding them a plant that made them docile and stupid. No food was safe in those lands any more. Your agents that had travelled to Taravesh hadn't had much chance to report in yet though, it would take time for that.
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Jun 12, 2013 02:17
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Kovar and Rathin - Sun Plainsquote:***Rathin bows, "I am Rathin Stonewill and these are my friends Kovar and Adam. I am lord of the Orcs and I want to thank you for creating such a nice place for travelers in the desert and for your kindness. I am curious why you did this though?"
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Jun 12, 2013 06:51
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IMPORTANT NOTICE: From this point on, everyone (with the exception of Bryn until he resolves his current scene) will have turns of one month. You can do smaller actions within that month, so for example, you can make a fountain, but your next action will be in the next month. If you have some kind of teleportation or gate ability, then you can do one of two options regarding its use. Firstly, you can roll it up into the action for an upshift in difficulty. The alternative is to dedicate your entire action to the gate or teleport action which will be easier. "It was at this point that the gods noticed their feet began to lightly touch the world. Time began to flow faster, they would go to sleep one night only to seemingly wake up days later. They'd begin walking from one side of the country and when they turned back, found themselves on the other side. It was the beginning of the gods true apotheosis and the world began to truly change." HiKaizer fucked around with this message at 00:30 on Jun 13, 2013 |
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Jun 13, 2013 00:19
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Civar Kit'An (Eosia, Daveron's Tent ) Nenji suggested using a google doc so we could all chat at the same timish since your so busy Puppies. I went ahead and started it: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xjkayyi0wrmzIqHpRZP8apOlhGAMRlUOYhn5LdhFt8g/edit I just realized that Civar hasn't seen anyone's appearance changed by their divine powers. Even Ilvis he's always known as Eisner.
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Jun 13, 2013 00:31
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Daveron (Eosia, Daveron's Tent) I'm back in, and I'll totally join in on this google doc thingy 
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Jun 13, 2013 06:19
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Bryn - The Dragon's Cave, Northern Arandia His chest heaving, Bryn stood over the dazed dragon, his body dripping with sweat. The fight had left him both exhausted and exhilarated, and, still buzzing with energy, he squatted down. Taking one massive, curved horn in each hand, Bryn heaved with exertion, lifting the beast's great scaled head up, their eyes locking. As he had before, he drew the power into his lungs, and though he could not say *how* he had done it, it came more easily this time. "You have been beaten and broken. You are *mine*." Attempting to use monster-powers to bind the dragon to my will. D: Monsters +2 - The dragon is a monster. D: Endurance +2 - Superhuman endurance is useful in a battle-of-will with a dragon.
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Jun 14, 2013 00:37
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Edo (Eosia, Palace of Eisos) Edo nods slowly at the Emperor's words. Despite his expectations, at the heart of the empire, beyond the posers and aristocrats jockeying for position, there was a good man. And somehow he was the emperor! How did this man fall to demons? Had Edo's words in the markets really been so bad? Thoughts for another time. Edo spoke haltingly. The day's events had shaken him a little, and a tiny voice at the back of his mind was telling him that no man should survive being stabbed in the heart. "I hope I can contribute, Emperor. But not in battle. I have no sense for it. When the assassins came, I could not even prevent them from stabbing me. My mind was focused on protection, not destruction, and I do not think I want to change from that. But my power let me heal from my wounds, and perhaps that is something I can teach others. "Valamnis gave me gifts - powers of healing and magic - beyond causing me to radiate his light. I will work with Magister Ajikan to figure out some way to teach the field doctors and war magisters how to heal faster and more effectively." Action for this month is to work with Magister Ajikan to form a new group of doctors called the Valamnite Order. They would be able to heal injured people rapidly and easily using a combination of weak magic, their existing surgical skills, and Edosian healing sight. Members of the Order would be required to provide one day in eight to the healing of the poor, for the greater glory of Valamnis. Using Divine Magic +2 and Divine Healing (Lifecrafting) and any assistance Magister Ajikan can provide to imbue the first few hundred volunteer doctors with minor gifts for both healing magic and lifecrafting sight. If it's a spectacular success, maybe the gifts can be taught to others?
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Jun 14, 2013 08:05
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Kovar - Sun Plains After the meeting with the water goddess, Kovar seeks out Adam, and after relating what has occurred he has a proposal for his friend, "It took us awhile to make it all the way from Sellos, but now that we're here, I think we should split up for a time and meet back here in four months. That will give you the time to explore the new side of yourself safely away from the dwarves before you make any decisions about your future. I still want to teach you to better control that part of yourself, but that will only work if you truly understand what that part it, and want to learn to control it as well." Kovar smiles at Adam, he wanted his companion to get a chance to really test this new part of himself so that any decision he would make would be truly informed. "It will also give me a chance to figure out what being a god really means, so that when we meet again, and get ready to return we'll be ready to help push forward our goals. If you need to get into touch with me before the time is up send a message to Burd back in Sellos. Thanks to the bond I mentioned he'll be able to contact me no matter where I am." He draws the dwarf into a quick hug, "I look forward to seeing you in four months, my friend." Then he is off seeking out Rathin. Once he finds the orc, he tells him of his plan, "So Adam and I will meet here in four months time. Since you are establishing your stronghold, I assume you'll be here or otherwise nearby. Let us meet again than, so that we may discuss our futures, and cement our friendships." Gathering up his supplies, and equipment Kovar is soon on his way, with Lehoi at his heels. Already his mind was turning, considering the limited time-span he wanted to find the tribe that would be most receptive to him appearing as a god. This naturally suggested some criteria to him, but it would be worth investigating. For the first of his four months he would be picking out just the right tribe to reveal himself too. In all likelihood the tribe most accepting of a god would be the tribe most in desperate for one's aid. That meant that his targets would likely be tribes that were in dire-straights, willing to trade worship and changes to their way of life in exchange for the chance to ascend and survive. With that in mind, Kovar expanded his consciousness, mixing his mastery of strength and his ability to evaluate the information necessary to read a war in order to locate the tribe most in need of and most desperate for a god's strength. Locating a tribe that will be especially easy to convince to follow and worship Kovar. D: Strength[+2] - To feel for concentrations of strength and weakness assocaited with the various tribes of the Sun Plains. D: Divine Strategy[+2] - To use the information thus gained to pick the perfect target for Kovar's attempt.
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Jun 15, 2013 04:20
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Rathin Stonewill The Sun Plains. Rathin gives Kovar a strong handshake and nods, "Four months it is then. If things are as developed as you say, then I must build up more resources. I shall see you then." Rathin sighed, it would be difficult to begin his stronghold without more people but he would have to make do with what he had. He had his tribe setup to make mud-bricks and began making a great hall for Orcs to spar and meditate in. Okay, small post this time but basically going to start the first Orc Stronghold. D: Orc [+2]: Strongholds are impeccably Orcish. D: Heart of the Tiger [+2]: To strengthen the community bonds and bring focus to the project and coordinate the group.
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Jun 15, 2013 05:33
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Mazir-Elysian Sands (Harlakake) Mazir was pleased beyond measure with the success of their invasion of Harlakake. Taken with few casualties and with the defenders shattared. The sands had delivered their providence and now the Sands had expanded into the unsuspecting world. It would take some time to subjugate the area properly though. Mazir needed to brand the populace as soon as possible before he could even consider a greater expansion outward. They would need more materials, more people, and more golems, for they had been key. Which brought him to the village center. A hastily constructed platform had been and Mazir was preparing to speak before his soldiers and his new subjects. There was also the matter of Jekeil. A sell sword who had managed a feat no other had, he had slain an iron man. Mazir was still unsure as to how he had accomplished that, but all the same, he had a great respect for the man for slaying what he had though unkillabe. It had been a stark reminded to Mazir to not become over confident. After several more minutes the people and his soldiers filed into the town square, many had concerned faces, unsure as to their fates with their new master. As the space filled and the flow of people slowed to a trickle. Mazir saw Jekeil being lead up to the platform, his arms bound, as he was escorted by four iron men. reaching the top, they roughly shoved him to his knees. Magically amplifying his voice, Mazir walked over to him, his voice booming across the square. Jekeil...You fought against me and my force, tried to stop the natural order from being asserted, the strong ruling over the weak, and even slayed one of my valuable iron men, my greatest champions! FOR THIS! be boomed as he raised a hand and engulfed it in a small flame, he slashed downward, cutting Jekeil's bonds YOU HAVE EARNED YOUR FREEDOM! You have demonstrated the strength of your will and of your prowess! He finished as the iron men stood him up, surprise in his eyes. You are free to leave, the rest of everyone here though will stay for the time being, they are to serve their betters! However, I would like to offer you something, the chance to work with me, soldier with me, and fight for a cause that will reward you with money, power, and whatever else you may wish, so long as you are strong enough to claim it. You can return to Taeless, stay a sell sword, fight the pathetic battles of the nobles who seek only mock warfare...or you can join us, and reach your true potential, increase your strength and be rewarded for own abilities! Looking to the crowed, Mazir continued And that goes for all of you as well, while you might be put into chains, if you can prove your strength, be it of the mind, the body, the spirit, the spell, the quill or wherever your ability may lie, you too can rise above your station and become apart of a force greater than anything else before it. You too can be rewarded and gain beyond what you might have thought possible, you must only exert the will to have it! he finished with a flourish of his hands outwards. Making a grandiose speech +2 Charisma: Using my natural speaking talents +4 Magic: Magically enhancing my voice to be heard, and also making magical flourishes to give my speech more punch (such as using my flame hand to cut through the bonds.
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Jun 15, 2013 05:41
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Adam - the sun Plains Between learning of the orc's people (left leg possibly weakest, likely to trip on incident, use attack there to begin assault), the random arm wrestling contests, and, quite frankly having a jolly good time. And by jolly, he meant fun. There was something about them that he related to - not necessarily the way he was bonded to Kovar, but by the solemm style that their hearts seemed to form a community, sort of the way he was with Thadroin and the dwarves back home. Kovar had taught him quite a bit about meditation, but that strength had been shared between just the two of him. Oh, and burd, but that did not really count. There was more to these orcs than what met the eye... and since the final part of his own plan required Kovar, it was probably best not to go do it on his own. When the general came with his proposal of leaving for four months, he did his best not to argue. Throwing in a fake smile and grin, he asked to speak to their leader, the one they called stonewill - Stonewill. Now there's a good name. "Ey-a. I can gather by the way Kovar has been talking that ye are saying we should have a wee bit of a mutual friendship thing going on, and he's gone and split to the four winds for a bit. Well, I never really got a chance ta talk to ye while I was here, nay get a chance ta truely know ya people. If it's alright with you, I can help ya with your construction - it's a bit of a talent of mine - and by doing so, I can learn the way of your people, so I can teach mine something similar. We're a wee bit wild at the moment, and it worries me." Action: Building a stronghold eye Stonewill? Let's give you a bit of a hand with that. While doing it, I want to observe the people, see their customs, their ways, and things I can take back with me to make me a better dwarven leader. Dwarf [+2] - You're doing a good job, but you need just a LITTLE BIT MORE stone in there. And maybe some axe motifs. No? Fine no axe motifs. Leader [+2] - I can help, but only if you give me a bit of responsibility. I will not treat your men badly, and I will do my best to respect their beliefs. Don't want no trouble [-2] - There is a distinct lack of Dwarves here :'( Note to Razage: I know we're like 2 million timezones away, but if you see this before the post, feel free to quickly respond, just that my character and yours haven't had much interaction. If you like I can make a google docs and everything.
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Jun 16, 2013 10:01
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Druggeddwarf posted:Adam - the sun Plains Rathin Stonewill Rathin smiled as the Dwarf strode up to him, "Adam is it? Yes I have spoken with Kovar who seems to believe we should make good friends. I'm not one to turn down friendship, but while his insight is valuable, he seems to lack something of a warrior spirit. Something my fellows have been saying that you know of. It's such an indefinable thing, Kovar has a mind of numbers and tactics. I don't think he would ever truly enjoy himself in the midst of a fight and that saddens me." Rathin paused, "I will gladly accept what assistance you can provide and my men respect you so I do not think they would have any issue if I were to make you the Project Foremen. Show them your techniques and we should be able to make this an impressive monument to both of our people's. If we are to be allies, then I insist you take at least one room and make it your own. Show me what a dwarf would appreciate." Rathin smiled, it was nice to have some help in his time of need and he hoped he could repay the Dwarf in kind. Accepting help from Adam. If you want to do a google doc let me or Valhawk know and we can set something up.
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Jun 17, 2013 05:03
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removed and replaced, see below
LLSix fucked around with this message at 23:40 on Jun 20, 2013 |
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Jun 20, 2013 01:33
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Octagon - Arrahn, Delena (Fine, fine! Madness, I tell you) Octagon appears quite suddenly in the middle of Delena, startling the Arrani going about there business there. Also startling is his unsettling red glow and constantly shadowed form. It didn’t take him long at all to locate Elkud and inquire as to the progress he was making within the city. Ignoring the Operative’s veiled shock at his master’s sudden change appearance and arrival, Octagon informs Elkud that he will be in Konway for a little bit. He’ll be... checking in from time to time, however, to ensure there is nothing that requires his attention. While he’s away, the Queen is in charge. Once Elkud was informed of the... changes, Octagon once more reached inside to manipulate that bit of Nothing within... My action for the month is as follows: Blip (Void [+2]) on over to Hai-Kan and use Spider-Lord [+2], Transformation [+2], and Toxins [+2] to subvert the Senate by converting them, one by one, into Arrani Operatives (my Mimic Spiders). They shall take political control of Konwey and begin the preparations for its eventual integration into Arrahn. This begins with things like officially recognizing Arrahn as a sovereign nation, open borders, and trade. Trade goods would be Chumas, Silks, and Herd (for docile manual labor) in exchange for fresh slaves for food and breeding stock as well as whatever else the Arrani might want from Konwey. Steering the major religion of the empire my way would also be a bonus! Basically, over time, I want to turn Konwey into a puppet or vassal state to Arrahn. I am sure you get the idea.
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Jun 20, 2013 03:17
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Farro Kapersi - Plaza of Arches, Terminus Update 15 Several weeks passed. Lydia was a good student, but the rigors of training, the burden of emotional distress, and (Farro suspected) the overall stress of living in a place that was not strictly part of the world she was from were beginning to erode her physical and mental well being. It was time to take her back to Daesin. Given the reports of Arrani activity in the north, as well as Mazir's conquest of Harlakake had placed most of the continent into the "dangerous" category. That left eastern Konwey and Taravesh, and who knew what madness was conspiring overseas. The best choice, it was decided, was the city of Ohman-Rey in far east Konwey. The Konnish rarely suffered from lack of necessities, and their sizable and well trained military would be a notable obstacle for Mazir or the Arrani to overcome. Still, Farro never went anywhere without an alternate exit, and he wasn't about to ignore that rule with Lydia. So it came that they both stood in the Plaza, with Farro once again attempting to open a door to a faraway land. The movement of the Arrani had him worried enough that he would only be able to devote enough time to secure a safe place for Lydia to live- she would have to do the rest herself. But she was smart enough to have survived alone in Elysia; he was certain she'd do well enough. And if worst came to worst, she could flee back to Terminus through the new Arch. Contracts [+2] to summon a gate to Ohman-Rey, where Lydia can (hopefully) finally exist with a little peace in a semblance of a normal life. Then I'll take a few weeks to find her a safe place in the city to live, make sure her basic needs are met, etc.
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Jun 20, 2013 04:13
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Ilvis - (Eosia, Daveron's Army) "Look this is all discussion that we can have later, but the first thing we need to do is send out riders to warn the rest of Eosia about the demon Beltheus and its plans to destroy humanity, and how the necromancer Blackwater is a willing accomplice to the same. You've heard my plan and we can debate the finer points of it later, but the longer we wait the more time and opportunities are lost to prepare humanity for what is to come. We're talking about an actual literal demonic invasion, by a monster out to destroy our world and steal our very souls." Lifting the flap with Daveron at my side I continue our conversation as I follow the gentle urging of the Sword at my side and spot members of the army that feel right. "You, you, and you. You want to do something better with your lives don't you? How fast can you ride a horse? I need you to do something for me, it's going to hard riding and probably dangerous to boot but the people of Eosia must be warned, and for that matter so does everybody back home." Speaking quickly as we stride through the camp I point out others and motion them along with me as I make my explanation. "There is a demonic being, its name is Beltheus. It desire nothing less than the enslavement and destruction of humanity and risks the death of the world with its actions. It achieves this purpose by creating chaos and unrest and deceiving men into accepting foul bargains in its favour. It is the force behind much of the disarray and turmoil in Eosis city of late, with the other major antagonist being a necromancer by the name of Edo Blackwater. They have resurrected the Emperor of Eosia with dark magic, having been tempted into selling himself and his empire to one in exchange for safety from the other. The nobility and the Magisters are unaware of the link between the two or have chosen to turn a blind eye." I draw the Sword, feeling its hard thrum in my hands as the gathered soldiers kneel reflexively in its presence and the din of the camp falls silent in anticipation of my words. "Swear to me, swear to me that you will bear this message and where you go you will make the people believe. They must be warned ere the demon has time to steal a march or take advantage of our ignorance or disarray. The chief of its weapons are deception and false hope, and in response we must meet it with bright truth and honest hearts." They kneel and those who think themselves brave or good enough swear, bowing low as I lay the Sword against each in turn. "Then go, and for whatever it's worth my blessing with you." Inspire action snag some non-rear end in a top hat dudes in this army, guys who are honest, trustworthy, know the language and customs of the land, and fast riders and imbue them with an aura of y'know, justness and goodness. Basically spawn a set of messenger guys with a justice aura of truthiness on top of them. I need believable dudes to herald the hard truth that a demon(Beltheus) is attempting to wreak havoc on the land, throw humanity into turmoil, and ultimately destroy the world. He's working a double con with a necromancer (Edo Blackwater) and between them they've managed to poo poo things up in the area right well. For their own safety people will probably want to stay out of the way and avoid contact with anyone billing himself as being associated with one or both of them, and be aware of the general state of affairs. It'd be nice if Daveron could help me out here and lend his Truth/Bad Luck/Whatever else domain to help this out but if he can't make it that's just how things roll out. D: +2 Justice- Picking out the most trustworthy and clearly honest/just dudes here, or inspiring ordinary dudes to become the same, half of one a dozen of the other your pick. +2 Sacred Sword- Get some dudes to kneel and swear an oath of honour, for purposes of doing the right and good thing. +2 Travel- Ride hard, ride fast. Eosia is wide and far, and Arandia even farther yet. Take my blessings and the blessings of my Sword that you have safe journey. Puppies are dicks fucked around with this message at 07:07 on Jun 20, 2013 |
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Jun 20, 2013 07:05
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Daveron - Eosia, Daveron's Camp Daveron grumbled as the others went through the army; he wasn't one to halt an invasion but facing against an entire corrupted populous would be...annoying. He stumbled into the mud, cursing, grabbing a barrel of ale and chugging it, wiping his face off with his hairy arm. With a belch and a grunt he stood up, leaning on the barrel. A grin slowly took his face, and slowly turned into a scowl with gritted teeth, a low growl emanating from his throat that seemed to vibrate with the air around him, and echo out into Eosia north of the camp. It was a call to be answered. He would draw the corruptible out of Eosia, like poision from a wound. Sending out a godly attracting beam to the people of Eosia that would be easy prey for demon-tampering. Daveron's hatred has found a new target; replace bandits with demons, and it searches for those that bury the hate deep within them (those who would be presumably easy for the demons to turn to their advantage); their horses would carry the carriage the wrong direction, their direction-sensing abilities fail, they would know that their time had been chosen for a grim new adventure. Mostly, the call would be sent to those who had buried deep in their minds that were cowards, the easiest pickings for demonic corruption. Using +2 Truth, +2 Hatred, +2 Bad Luck. The idea is to pull corruptibles out of Eosia and march them to the camp. The less resources the demons have to them, the better, presumably.
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Jun 20, 2013 08:38
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Beltheus Beltheus sits, pondering the Imp's information, drumming his fingers on the table as he thinks. Finally, he says, "The crewman that will be killed; go, and protect him from harm. Do not allow the Weapon Masters to injure him. But do so secretly. Do not allow him or others to be aware of your presence. Here, I will give you the powers you need. Do not fail, or you will suffer such suffering as one such as you can not imagine." At that, he transforms the Imp, letting his power and energy flow into it, shifting it into something else, and sends it on its way. Demonic Duke +2, ....transforming the Imp into a kind of protective, guardian spirit. Making it invisible and normally undetectable, swift able to deflect attacks against the person or thing its protecting, with a limited kind of foresight to let it detect plots and foretell the actions of one who wants to do its charge harm. Good Luck +2 might also work, as the protection the guardian spirit gives just appears to be good luck on the attempt of the person guarded.
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Jun 20, 2013 12:11
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Civar "Nobody Wants my Help" Kit'An (Eosia, Daveron's Army ) Finally. A fragile agreement of sorts had been reached. Eisner would warn the surrounding areas of the demons. Again. Daveron would... well at least the army wouldn't advance any further for now. Part of me would have preferred to try and talk them into going back to the border, but if Daveron succeeded in drawing those susceptible to the Demon's taint to us, we'd need an army just to maintain order. In the meantime, I would prepare for us to craft items capable of unveiling the demons. Walking amongst the blacksmiths, fariers, wainwrights and other crafters, I sought to gain their trusts and a better understanding of their natures. All who had not been too twisted by Daveron's influence yet, and were otherwise suitable, I offered a chance to join the Hammerites. They would, presumably, be returning to Arandia at some point and could spread the understanding of Order there. More immediately, an impeccably orderly forge would make the next step much easier. ---- After the discussion ended and the others dispersed, I turned to my oldest and most trusted companion. "Aideen, if Daveron's plan works we're going to have a lot of largely useless people pouring in, some of whom may have already been affected by the demons. Or be Demons themselves. I'd like you to try and organize them as they come in and arrange for the soldiers to help them build shelters and gather food. In your copious spare time, see if you can spot any demons or other infiltrators. If anyone gives you trouble, especially the soldiers. Let me know." I grinned at a sudden delightful thought: "I'll sic Eisner and Devaron on them. They'd both enjoy it and it'll help keep them from killing anyone who doesn't deserve it." M: Making more Hammerites total +8MD M: Tinker +4: knows how to talk to craftsmen M: Tinker's Treasure (magic hammer) +2: Making stuff D: Order +2: provide the amulets, order-crafted tools that characterize my hammerites. Also additional wards against the influence of Daveron's hate I'm also suggesting Aideen organize and scan for demonic influence anyone who reaches the army. LLSix fucked around with this message at 00:21 on Jun 21, 2013 |
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Jun 21, 2013 00:13
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276 4E Fourth Moon Bryn (Arandia, Falkrest Peaks) Each day he woke and he fought with the dragon. He was greeted by a kind of shimmering light, caught in small fragments that seemed to grow brighter as the days passed. Each day it became a little easier, although Bryn did not know whether he was getting stronger or if the dragon was getting weaker. By the end of the first week he'd forced the dragon to accept him on its back. Taming it to fly and not try to twist and turn so he would fall of took another week. By the end of the third week the dragon seemed to be mostly broken, its resistance was feeble and it more meekly accepted his yoke. At the end of the moon, Bryn awoke from a dream. He had stood before the dragon and it lay broken at his feet. A single word echoed in his mind as he awoke. Eleksmet. It was warm and Bryn was slow to wake in the morning. Lazily he stretched one of his arms and flexed his claws as he yawned and a small gout of flame came out of his mouth. The gold under his scales scratched them and for a moment he felt blissfully content in his half-waking doze. Wait. Suddenly startled and panicking Bryn leapt to the skies, searching for a pool of water. His powerful wings beat against the air, naturally not enough to support his bulk but some magic or power imbuing them with the lift to keep him airborne. In the distance he saw a lake, and dove for the ground. The water splashed and broke reflections from the wind brake of his landing but in time it stilled and showed him what he knew and feared to be true. He'd somehow become one of them. Oh he was bigger, better, stronger and more power. Yes this was true, but there was another question to be answered. Where had the other dragon gone?  Success, and decently so. Bryn gains the divine trait Dragon [+2] and the quirks Inhuman and Huge. Also, Dragon covers shapeshifting ala DnD and a lot of fantasy. Your default natural form now is a pretty drat big dragon. Eosia Eisos and surrounding areas Edo learned quickly why there had never been widespread healing offered cheaply or freely. For people who were not him, it was a difficult and draining thing to do. Working with the human body was dangerous because there many things that seemed to depend on another. The spells as well were difficult to do, small and complicated actions that did not have a base to work off of. Shapeshifting used archetypes, when a wizard turned into a wolf they turned into the same wolf. Healing had no default state to refer to, everything was relative and needed precision. The problem was something that stumped Edo for a while, and he turned to some of the books of theory in the library of the university for inspiration. The spells contained were nothing he did not know, but theory could be turned to other areas, such as alchemy or other arts. The solution was surprisingly simple and obvious. Edo found healing intuitive and natural, he just needed to help people with this. Giving his power away in portions would be dangerous and foolish, but he could let people tap into the intuitive understandings of it easily enough. So he created a spell specifically to do this. The upside of the spell was that it would also work for non-magical healing knowledge as well. For those with the skill and strength to actually knit bone and purge diseases it would help them use more efficient magic. Healing was still a long way off being freely available to all but this would help a lot. By the third tenday of the moon everyone that Edo could meet with in the capital who could make use of the spell and agreed to Edo's terms had been taught it. Part of learning the spell involved forming a connection to Edo, this was why the teaching had to be done in person and helped ensure that people would have to follow through on their agreement to make use of its benefit. Except that by this stage word had reached the capital of something terrible. In the south, a strange compulsion was gripping people and forcing the people to march against their will towards the Arandian army, which had stopped about a two tenday march from Eisos itself. It turned Edo's attention away from the burgeoning Valamnite Order. Success, Edo learns a bit as to why the situation was as it was; i.e magic was primitive and arcane healing is tough to do. You've created some foundations for creating a divine healing magic if you want to pursue that. You've got the beginnings of the order, but you will need to put some work into establishing it over time. Southern Eosia The introduction of the Knight Errant Eisner Faust and his companions Civar and Aideen stirred up life in the army camp quite substantially. Firstly, Eisner managed to convince a few people that the commoners of Eosia need not pay for ancient sins, that they had a threat and if they could be convinced to see that there was a just cause to the army's actions then they would stand aside and innocent blood need not be shed. Unfortunately this is not nearly as successful as Eisner would have wished. Firstly most people had only just heard of Edo, and most of the people out in the country approved of his side of the situation even though they'd never heard of a 'Beltheus' and it didn't really sound like someone from Eosia. And demons, really? Furthermore the fact that the riders were Arandian did not really help either. Whatever effects Eisner's truth aura had didn't seem enough to counteract the fact that they were invading and the people did not like that. The best they got was being called crazy mad men and chased out of the village. One rider did not make it back at all. The good news was that Daveron's action seemed to be working. There were people turning up on their doorstep for the last tenday of the moon once every hour or so. By the end they had at least fifty of the people just sitting around in chains in the prisoners carts being miserable and beginning to build up squalor. Civar for his part had been pretty busy trying to work to alleviate some of Daveron's influence and he'd been getting somewhere for his efforts for the first two tenday in the camp. Then Daveron's lieutenants noticed what he was doing and pointedly made sure to keep a watch on him and blocked his efforts with bureaucracy and regulations. As a civilian his options were limited, although they did take care to point out if he was to join the army and follow Daveron and his lieutenants orders then he would be more free to move around as long as he did what he was told. Ilvis: You rolled badly sorry and there are a lot circumstances stacking against you. On the other hand your story will circulate on the grounds of it being ridiculed. So it may come into play later depending on what happens. Civar: Some of the smiths and other attendants around the camp were receptive to your arguments and you've managed to gather a small handful. However despite your efforts being interrupted you will be able to have access to a good forge when the time comes. However your current resources would make it difficult for them to sabotage things, for example. Daveron: Your plan seems to have worked? At least people were drawn to you and they seem a cowardly and craven sort. As for how corruptible you're unsure, you haven't seen any demons or signs of them anyway. Also Civar seems to have been stirring up trouble, as your lieutenants have mentioned he's been trying to create a secret order loyal to him within the army. Sun Plains The Fortress of Bones  Although it had an intimidating name, the Fortress of Bones was named because it was a home to the Orcs, a place to stay and to make their own. Home was in their bones now, and they'd defend it until the death. It was frankly and incredible piece of construction, Adam was sure that even Kovar would find it almost impregnable as it was...well once all the stone had arrived anyway. He'd made sure of it by testing to see if he himself would be able to find ways in over the last tenday. The fort itself was comprised of a main building and barracks and facilities built into the outer wall. The main building was a central administration area, although the concept was a bit alien to the nomadic Orcs who were trying to acclimatise to a less nomadic lifestyle. It had a lot of rooms, but many of them were simply not being used at the moment. Well, Adam had planned for the future anyway so there was room to grow. He'd even been showing them how to begin working underground. It was hard in the dry plains and more supports were needed, but it could be done and the ground below was cool during the day and warm during the night. Adam's own quarters were naturally below the earth, scaled to his size which meant Orcs needed to bend slightly when they were inside. Still, Rathin had to admit that Adam was a skilled stonecarver. Adam had been trying to avoid working the Orcs too hard, but eventually after four days broke when there was simply not enough stone at hand. The next three tenday had involved fierce trading and quarrying of stone to begin building the outer wall. It'd take another three moons to gather the stone required to properly finish it, but the clay bricks were a decent beginning and considering the current forces nearby, acceptable for the time being. Rathin for his part had spent a lot of the time convincing the Orcs that the Dwarf had the right ideas and that even though it was tough now, it would be worth it later. Besides, they were Orcs were they not? What kind of Orc would shy away from difficulty? Not any Orc he knew, that was for sure. It was also during this time that Keri and the other newcomers from the Gazelle tribe changed over night. Like all the others, they had simply woken up as Orcs and not seen the issue in this. Rathin had believed that they had really been born as Orcs, but it was not until the night the sky had burned that they had been able to assume their true natures. But now he needed to come to grips with running a community, which was very different to running a nomadic tribe. You could not leave things behind, because they were there in the morning. There was careful management that needed to be done. Adam was showing him the ropes but, it was still hard and it trapped him in a way. Perhaps he should do what Adam had done, make someone that could lead in his place if he needed to leave or do stuff. Time had been passing more quickly it seemed as well and sometimes Rathin lost track of the time and it was hours, even a day or two later that he realised what time it actually was. Kovar found that it was a tribe near the mountains, the tail end of the Val Titanus range that would be a good place to begin. He and Lehoi had ranged across much of the Plains and spoken to many tribes, but Unnaya had seemingly alleviated the one true danger that most faced which was a lack of water. The Grey Peak Tribe however had a different issue, which was that the mountain lions made hunting difficult when they began to over-hunt the lower lands. Kovar had come here with Orcs who'd wanted stone and saw an opportunity. On a purely subsistence hunting diet the Grey Peak Tribe was going to struggle, but if they could settle down and begin to trade with other richer tribes then they'd be able to use that to gain more food. Additionally the Orcs would need to begin farming if they wanted to expand and feed themselves, which the tribe's territory here was not well suited to agriculture. He just needed to eliminate the danger of travelling into the mountains, bring the tribe together into a single place and establish a community there that could begin to make use of the bounty of the mountains, for there was gold around and that would bring a lot of wealth once word got around. That was another reason the tribe would need to be strengthened, to defend themselves from those avaricious men in Taeless. At the end of the month, Burd had something to report to Kovar in his weekly reports. Harlakake had been taken by men from the desert. They had giant armoured suits that walked like men, and giant men made out of sand. There were reports of other unearthly magics, but their mastery over sand and apparently animating things was all Burd knew of. However he had not heard of them having a large army, and also they had used the element of surprise. He'd begun doubling patrols and scouts in the area and gotten nearby villages on board to watch out for any sign of the army. Sellos would be safe, and if the forces began moving towards them they'd move out and use their superior tactics to skirmish until they figured out their strength and if they could commit. The fort is started, and while it functions as a community it'll take the Orcs three more months to finish. This will happen automatically unless Rathin needs to do something else with them, in which case the completion time will be delayed. The fortress promises to be really good, however you're going to need to consider food if you want to expand the population which means farming, or creating an alternative food solution however you decide to do so. Mazir (Taeless, Harlakake) One could not call it natural selection, but perhaps divine selection might be appropriate. Mazir had created a crucible in which to reforge the people of Harlakake, just as those in Elysium had been reborn. But he had given them a simple situation, change, grow, adapt, or become a slave with no destiny beyond serving Mazir's advancing engine. Jekeil was the first, having been proven he went deep into the mountains to train. For a full tenday he trained in solitude until he returned, and when he did so, he was changed. He had grown stronger, more aggressive, dominant and his form had become hardier as well. He was no longer human, those parts which were no longer useful to him had atrophied while those that he wished to cultivate had grown stronger.  He was the first, but in time others would follow. As well as Mazir, whose own power began to turn on him, changing his appearance and marking the beginning of his true ascension. By the end of the month several others in Harlakake had changed, and many others were trying hard to find something they were good at so they could prove their worth. There was some discontent about people losing their 'humanity', but such petty concerns would pass. It was the fear of the weak for the strong. Anyone who could not conquer such concerns would ultimately limit themselves and their potential. Mazir gains the Divine Trait Evolution [+2]. I'll let you describe your 'evolved' form, I considered going full Zerg but finding something human-like that's not Kerrigan is difficult. Also as a reminder actions are now a month long, so if you're going to do a speech consider what you want the speech itself to achieve in the long run. Konwey Hai-Kan In the capital of Hai-Kan things were stirring, there had been an illness in the council which had passed soon enough but a few servants were missing. The councilmen themselves seemed a little, well, different. People commented they felt like they were being sized up when the councilmen watched and once someone had said one of them had licked their lips. Well, the rich and powerful usually were eccentric, and apparently this time, ahead of the game. They had just finished brokering a deal with the nation of Arrahn, which had split off from Val Aman and was looking for new trade partners. It was a great opportunity to get the best deals while their position was still weak the councilmen said, such logic was hard to disagree with. Octagon for his part finished watching over the silk cocoon of the final councilman. One had tragically died in the process, but one by one they had been converted. The first few had been the hardest to catch alone, but once a few had been converted it had become easy to organise private dinners and to entrap people. A few servants and other less important staff had become dinner, but that had been covered up easily enough and the process of manipulating Konwey into become a vassal state had begun. Ohman-Rey Farro had just finished finding a place to smuggle Lydia into obscurity and getting her a job at the market when news came that the ruling council had just made a formal trade agreement with a new nation, Arrahn. The news did not bode well, Arrahn was the newly named kingdom of the spider people. They ate people which meant either they were now good at disguising themselves, or that they had infiltrated into Konwey as well. He waited a few days for more news, but there was no reports of the capital being eaten by spiders. Laowey, Farro's Arrow in Hai-Kan reported that he had not seen anything strange as of yet, but there was an increase in missing people among servants and on the streets. Regardless Lydia was placed close to the Gate and told how to open it, should she need to seek refuge in Terminus again. This left Farro time to plan what to do next and if he would act against Octagon and Arrahn. Beltheus (Ulyessus Islands, Mirn) Beltheus clicked and stuck his hand into the imp's chest. Blue balefire crackled outwards from the wound at the same time as it coursed through the creature until its flesh buckled and swelled. Much of the imp was engulfed in flames, while the rest changed under heat like an alloy being forged. The new creature, the Guardian Demon, was a being of flame and insubstantialness that could manifest physically to strike those seeking to harm its charge. But for all its brute strength, its greatest strength was remaining unseen and manipulating events. It could use its prodigious influence over luck to keep its charge safe, until it was forced to intervene as a last resort.  The Guardian did its job well, until eventually the Weapon Masters decided to sink the ship while at sea. In the raging storm it manifested and slew the two masters sent to end the curious shipman's life. The man saw it for a moment, but later would dismiss it as a hallucination. In the storm he crept onto the Weapon Master's boat and rode out the storm in it. He landed, shipwrecked a tenday later on another island close to Arandia, a place called the Verdant isle. It would take him time to learn its language but he was on his way to exploring the world and when the time was right, he would return to tell those in Mirn what he had discovered. In Mirn itself the man and his ship was declared dead in a tragic accident. The Weapon Masters found the wreck, but were unsure what had happened to their number. The Guardian of course let Beltheus know what was truly happening, although he would need to decide if he was going to interfere or not in the man's life beyond this. Success, you create a Guardian Demon and I think Good Luck would apply.
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Jun 21, 2013 07:17
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Civar Kit'An (Eosia, Daveron's Army ) Gathering the smiths, saying it was on Daveron's orders, I had them watch the final preparations of the smithy for the great crafting we four were planning. And the crafting itself. I explained what I could in the hopes they would learn something from the experience, but ultimately that was a sideline. Tonight was about creating devices that could locate and unmask the demons at last. I would forge the rings themselves; as many as time allowed. I would hammer their inner structures, invisible to even me but sensed by new powers, into matrices to guide, contain, and sustain the power that would be bound into them by Aideen and my other companions. To the eye they would be simple bands of iron, but I hoped that they would direct the wearer towards the demons, and perhaps even disrupt the fiends disguises when nearby. Making Demon Finder Rings: +2D +Aideen (expecting help from puppies and zombie) D: Order +2 Tinker's Treasure + 0 - using it to make the rings Aideen +? - she has some means of detecting demons when they're out of sight
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Jun 21, 2013 23:46
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Edo, College of the Valamnite Order, Eisos Slowly but surely, Edo succeeds in teaching some of his instinctive knowledge to those magisters with an interest in healing, and those doctors with gifts for magic large enough to learn the diagnostic spell. That is where the messengers find him with news of the mysterious compulsion - listening to a lecture by Magister Ajikan on some interesting new applications of third-phase Kratian shaping spells to smallpox. Although he found the lecture fascinating, he was quick to follow the messenger back to the palace. This was too big to wait. What reason would anyone have to summon a large number of Eosians to one place if not to sacrifice or slaughter them? When he reached the palace, it was clear war preparations were underway. The generals had arrived to take things under wing; the heart of the empire was built on a history of order and tradition, and the legions were unmatched for their precision. A people born to obedience had not yet been so shaken by Edo as to cast off their memories. This was of course aided by the public announcement of fraternity between Edo and the Emperor. But despite the foreign invasion, there were still mysterious disturbances and brutal murders. It seemed the demons had not left just because the Arandians had come. Edo suspected that the two forces were working in unison, each preventing him from dealing effectively from the other. But how to turn them on one another? He discussed this for hours with the Emperor and the generals, but the general had not been in Eosia; they had suspicions about even the very suggestion of demons, and they were supported by the priesthood. In the end, Edo decided that he would pursue the demons privately when there was time. Time! If only he had months instead of days. Still, with the legions mustered, it was time for the Valamnite Order to be put to work. They were spread evenly among the legions, joining each army's healing tent to bolster its ability to operate independently in the field, and its ability to recover from victory and loss. Then he turned his attention to the mysterious malady affecting his fellow Eosians. It rankled with him that magic could seize his own people. But after discussing it with the Emperor, he agreed reluctantly that nothing could be done. Those called seemed to be the most replaceable - the weakest of mind, the cowards, those who would have been likely to go to the enemy out of fear anyway. Instead Edo put his mind to those remaining. The loss of the southern mines to the Arandians was a terrible blow; the reports of those battles were vague and useless for military purposes. The Arandians were led by a monster. The Arandians were giants. The Arandians moved like lightning, and thunder crashed in their wake. Worse than useless. But one thing everyone knew about Arandians was that they lived in a cold and horrible land. In the past, battles in Eosia itself had been won by General Summer tiring out any invaders. The fortress in Kiris was built on that principle. With the enemies just two tendays away, Edo was confident he could reach out the sun's touch to blast them with sweltering heat. When discussing this plan, one of the generals suggested sending his agents out to poison water sources near the enemy army. Obviously nothing could be done about the river, but given it was much closer to Eisos than the dry lands to the south, it wouldn't matter. And if that weather-creating assassin tried anything, like rain, all it would do is turn hot and dry to fetid swamp, and allow the eastern Eosians to take to the field with confidence. When the heatwave struck, anyone unused to such hostile weather in the enemy camp would die either from exhaustion or poison. Those that lived would have to face legions born and raised in Valamnis' burning light. Some small part of Edo despaired at the likely loss of life, but he dismissed it. How dare the gods of Arandia turn on him? Using Sun +2 and Magic +2 to make the sun burn incredibly brightly on the Arandian army, increasing the temperature to roughly 45 degrees C during the day, 30 at night. Hopefully this will be easy because Eosia is naturally hot and dry, so it's just making it even less hospitable to southerners. I'm not sure if Edo needs a conduit or if we're officially at the intracontinental influence throwing stage; if he can't do it from Eisos, Edo will hide his natural light and try to get close enough. I'm assuming he can do this from a few days ride away at the worst, though.
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Jun 23, 2013 23:31
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Kovar - Encampment of the Grey Peaks Tribe, Sun Plains Kovar had been quietly stalking the Grey Peak tribe for weeks before he finally decided to make his presence known. It hadn’t been easy, keeping out of sight, especially in his armor. However, he’d learned more than a few tricks from his years as a general and a soldier. He’d lead his fair share of ambushes over the years, been the victim of a couple of really vicious ones as well, you almost learned more when you were the one in the crosshairs. Despite all that, it probably wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Lehoi. The great lion had served both as a second pair of eyes and ears, and an occasional distraction. From what Kovar had seen of the tribe, they were similar in many ways to the others of the Sun Plains, however, their slightly different stomping grounds led to a few differences. First and foremost, the threat posed by the local mountain lions had caused them to take up quite a significant place in the Grey Peak’s shamanistic tradition. Kovar couldn’t make out what they were saying, but he’d seen some symbols and war-paint from afar and the motifs were obvious. If he were to guess, the lions were seen as totems of strength and leadership, and offerings were left to appease them. The sightings of Lehoi when the lion had to act as a distraction for his master had caused quite a stir. It wasn’t all that surprising, Lehoi was to a normal lion what an Exalted was to a normal man: bigger, stronger, faster. The glowing eyes characteristic to the exalted were also no doubt a factor. After Kovar felt he had a good grasp on the tribe, or at least as good as one might have from a distance, he planned his approach. The night before, he made sure he’d be in walking distance of the tribe, then set up by a nearby stream. He woke with the sunrise, and took some time to clean himself in the stream and then to polish his armor to a mirror shine. He’d had to cake it in mud and dust when he’d been hiding to disguise the tell-tale shine of metal, but for what came next he wanted to appear as impressive as possible. Then, with all the confidence of one who wielded power such as he and whatever false confidence he had learned to project from his years leading troops, he strode purposefully towards the place where the tribe had settled for the day. As he had suspected, it was the glint of his armor that first gave him away. The shining full plate was of the new material called steel that Adam and his dwarves had been working. It really was one of the finest pieces of craftsmanship Kovar had ever encountered, he could appreciate it as a soldier, but thanks to his lessons from Adam he could begin to make out an entire other level of quality only a smith could truly understand and appreciate. When clean, the armor shone almost like a mirror, across the breastplate worked into the metal itself was Kovar’s personal device. A variation of the device he’d been given when he had been promoted to high general. A golden lion stood on it’s hind legs with two small red fires on either side of its feet all against a field of white. It was truly a sight to behold, and likely to have quite the impact on the tribe where the lion features so prominently in their spiritual hierarchy. Of course, whatever impact his armor might have had was far far outweighed by the sight of Lehoi following along dutifully with him. His arrival had created quite the ruckus, Kovar was met with a small armed party on the outskirts of the encampment. The giant of a man encased in shining armor emblazoned with a golden lion, and flanked by the largest lion they had ever seen, the general could see it in their eyes and their posture that they were intimidated. However, despite whatever they may have felt, they held their ground and Kovar nodded in silent approval. The first few minutes were tense, when it became clear that there was no shared language between them, but as the general made no threatening moments, and it was clear that none of the tribesmen wanted to get too close to either him or especially Lehoi. After several minutes of trying, through a mix of gestures and simple drawings in the dirt in front of him, Kovar managed to communicate that he wished to speak with the leader of the tribe. Not wishing to upset the strange man with his strange weapon and armor and fearsome companion the guards agreed. Kovar could hear the murmurs of the people as he was lead to the center of the village, there he came face to face with an older man, a shaman Kovar guessed based on his tattoos and his clothing. Stoically waiting several minutes while the situation was explained to the shaman, once they were done it was clear that the older man was quite impressed with Kovar. He tried to approach Lehoi to get a closer look, but the lion snarled, hackles raised. Things became tense for a moment, until Kovar called Lehoi back to him, and then after rubbing the cats head to calm it, gestures to Lehoi, then himself, and then he nods. Next he points towards Lohoi, then the shaman and shakes his head. His meaning seemingly received the shaman takes a respectful distance, impressed that the still mostly wild Lehoi acquiesces to the large stranger. After another pause, the shaman points to Kovar and then shrugs. Suspecting that he wants to know why Kovar had come, the general begins to draw a picture in the dirt. A group of stick figures surrounded by a circle. Kovar points to the figures and then in a circular motion gestures at the tribe. Then he points at himself, points at his two eyes and then points back at the stick figures. He then draws a number of suns and moons on one half of the circle to show the passage of time. The shaman takes the revelation that this stranger had been watching the tribe for some time in stride. Kovar adds something else to the drawing, outside the circle he draws many stick figure lions. He draws a line from the circle out towards the south, but ends it abruptly in an X and draws several more lions nearby. Having indicated he was aware of the tribes problems, he erases what has drawn so far. He draws a new circle. Outside of it, he draws a bigger stick figure and a lion, he points to the figures then towards himself and Lehoi. Then draws a line from the figures into the circle. Erasing the two figures outside, he re-draws them in the circle and adds a number of smaller stick figures. Then off to the side of draws the several stick figures, the one at the top has little additions that make it looks something like the shaman. Above them he draws a lion, and then tries to capture the dances and offerings he’s seen them leave. He opens his arms wide than points directly below him, to try and indicate that this is a representation of the present. Erasing the main drawing, Kovar points forward, then to the sun, then drawing his finger from the sun’s current position to the horizon. He draws several suns and moons as though to indicate the future, and then erases them. He draws a long line below the side picture then reproduces it below the line. Then he replaces lion in the side-picture above the line with the representation of himself. A murmur goes up through the gathered Grey Peak’s as the man’s meaning is clear. However, Kovar holds up a hand palm out to silence them. In the place where the main picture was, he draws a big figure and next to it a smaller figure. He points to the side picture where the tribesmen are worshipping him, then he draws a design around himself in the main picture. He draws a lion head above the pair, the symbol of strength to the tribe. He draws a line from the lion’s head to the smaller figure, then replaces the small figure with a bigger one. Kovar next draws a line from the now bigger figure out. He draws the figure again, but this time he draws several lions around the figure. He draws a line connecting the bigger figure and one of the lions, then he erases that and the line, and draws a lion next to the Exalted figure, much like the way he had drawn Lehoi next to himself. Then in the picture of the tribe worshipping him, he erases the smaller figures and replaces them with larger figures each with a lion at their sides. In the main space, he erases the scene of himself Exalting one of the tribe, and replaces it with a map of the Sun Plains drawn from memory. He draws a little dot, approximately where the tribe is now. Then he draws a somewhat larger circle around the dot, and then another. He draws suns and moons above the picture to indicate the passage of time. Finally the area around the dot encompasses the entire Sun Plains, and in the center he draws the lion symbol on his breast plate. He points to the picture of worship, himself, and then he nods, then points to the picture of the conquered Sun Plains. Next, he points to the copy of the worship picture below the line. He leaves the lion intact, and in the space next to it, below the map of the Sun Plains he draws himself and Lehoi leaving. Then he draws a similar map, again with a dot at the tribe’s position. However this time as he draws the suns and moons that represent time the dot remains as it was, not expanding as in the picture above. Lastly, he points at the picture of the tribe worshipping as it has, then gestures from himself to the horizon and then to the picture of the tribe languishing as it had been. Kovar stands up, and points at the shaman, then at two pictures of worship. Clear in his meaning that the shaman must choose. That shaman, seeming to have grasped what Kovar was offering, at least as far as the general could tell. Stood silent for a moment, then stepped back to confer with the other leaders of the tribe. Kovar could hear voices raised, and heated speech, which went back and forth for some time. Finally it seemed like there was agreement, even if it was tentative. The shaman returned, and pointed at the top picture, where his tribe worshipped the large stranger, and nodded. Kovar nodded in return, closed the gap between them in two huge strides and placed his large hands on the shaman’s shoulders. Kovar called out to that power deep within himself, and poured it freely into the shaman before him and into all of the gathered Grey Peak tribe, intending to Exalt the whole tribe in one fell swoop. It was more than he had ever done before, but he felt stronger as well, something that had started when he started to feel time slip by quicker in the wake of his meeting with the spirit of the oasis. Exalt the whole Grey Peak Tribe and in the process grant them each the power to bond with and enhance a single of the local lions, in a manner similar to how Kovar bonded with and enhanced Lehoi. They’ll only be able to bond to a single lion, and the bond will be for life, with each side linked to the other and having an intuitive understanding of each other. D: Strength[+2] - To grant the Grey Peak Tribe the strength of the Exalted, and the strength to bond with one of the local lions much as how Kovar bonded with Lehoi. D: Divine Strategy[+2] - To teach them the things Exalted must know just as he had the others, and to pass onto them a common tongue and the knowledge of how to bond with one of the lions.
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Jun 24, 2013 01:01
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Daveron - Daveron's Camp Daveron walks among the rabble that have been arriving, grabbing them by the face to peer into their eyes before shoving them into the mud, with a smirk and a grunt. "Demon-infested scum, most of these men." He points to one of his lieutenants and orders, "Arm some of these men with the worst equipment you can find. If Eosia ends up meeting us on the field they'll have to go through this worthless lot first." Daveron opens up a cask of ale carried by one of the Eosians, nearly stumbling onto some men cowering out of his way. A jingle catches his ears among the rabble, a piercing annoying sound. Walking among the newcomers is some sort of religious man, carrying chimes and burning incense. The man has a grimace on his face, one that looks like he's been wearing for years; just the sort of mettle Daveron was interested in. He shoves through the Eosians and looms over the man, grabbing his shoulder, the chimes jingling. "You," Daveron chuckles, "are due for a grand transformation." The man meets Daveron's eyes coldly, unswayed by his intimidating presence. "You don't belong with the rest of this lot," Daveron gestures to the frightened and confused Eosians, now receiving broken swords and tattered armor. "You were bound for something greater." Daveron places his hand on the chest of the man, and a rumbling shakes the air. The man convulses, and energies erupt from the spot Daveron had touched.  Making the Spirit of the Chimes, an anti-demon of sorts. The Spirit is a powerful (but not too powerful) individual that can sniff out demons. The Chimes create an aura of unease for those that are demon-affected, and bad luck permeates such individuals. It can sniff out demons hiding amongst humans, and it now has a burning hatred for them, seeking only to fulfill its task. It's basically free to wander around Eosia and Arandia, though will inform Daveron, Ilvis, and Civar as well as the members of the Order as to what/where/when demon activity arises, if it succeeds in finding any. Ideally, he could hold his own in a fight against a demon, what with the bad luck affecting them. Using +2 Truth, +2 Hatred, +2 Bad Luck.
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Jun 24, 2013 05:19
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Ilvis - Daveron's Camp Looking at the forge with some hesitation I edged closer to it and felt the stirrings of the heat within my belly. "So uh, magic rings huh? Not exactly my area of expertise, it being y'know, a bit sword-related but I'm happy enough to help. I'm a bit more comfortable with swords is all. What if we made a sword that could be used to strike someone from very far away?" Magic rings works for me, but I wonder if we can't be a bit more proactive and make something along the lines of Farslayer. Basically a divinely empowered projectile that seeks out and stabs through the heart a single target. We could make it a one shot to give it more oomph? Also I did mention it during the googledoc, but I asked Daveron to order the troops into a withdrawal or to in the least pull back to a defensible position and simply consolidate their holdings in a non-invasive, non-rear end in a top hat sort of way. Was that not really successful/something that didn't happen then?
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Jun 25, 2013 00:33
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I didn't see Daveron mentioned it so I had the army consolidate its position for now.
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Jun 25, 2013 00:44
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Daveron - Daveron's Camp Daveron grabs one of his lieutenants and barks, "Invasion's off for now. We're still holding position here till we sort some things out. If you see any brigands or horse thiefs about, bring me their hands." About to turn away, Daveron looks back and adds, "Position the army so it looks like we aren't going to invade, as well. No sense in stirring up too much reaction." Woops sorry, now it's official.
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Jun 25, 2013 06:17
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Adam - The Orc Stronghold (name sorely needed) It was good work. Different work, but good work never the less. It was tough, unforgiving, and bloody hard to keep up with the speed the orcs seemed to learning his craft, but he managed. To be honest, he was grateful for the distraction. This Stonewill fellow, and Kovar, they all seemed to have some kind of underlying plan. Something profound, thoughtful, smart, resourceful. Him? He was just going where the earth and stone took him. A few moments listening to the orcs arguing the price of building blocks came to his attention. Perhaps there was something he could do for these people, as well as benifit himself. But for that he would need his trading troupe. So, with a grin and a smile, and a short farewell to the orcs, he heads back to Taeless to put his plan in motion. Action: Going to head to the capital, and start up a series of trading outposts, just so I can have a fairly strong route from Sellos to the capital, so when I extend it to the sun plains it's not going to be too difficult. I suspect there will be other trading unions trying to get in my way, but unfortunately for them, I excel in battle, even over the corporate table Leader +2 Come on guys, I know I haven't been around for a few months but that's no reason to be lazy! up to it! Dwarf +2 Back with my people, doing good for our community. And making some new recruits/friends to help! War +2 Alright opposing trade foundations, you may not know this, but there's stirrings of battle happening around the world, and it's put me in a rather nice mood. You don't want to upset the dwarves in their nice move do you? Ever heard of hostile negotiations? Don't want no troulbe -2 WHY DO I KEEP DOING THIS TO MYSELF!
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Jun 25, 2013 22:50
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Rathin Stonewill Orc Fortress "Construction continues apace, this is good. A home for the orcs." Rathin reflected. Kiri was beside him and she nodded, "A grand construction to be sure. You have big plans, Rathin, I only hope our hearts can keep us apace with them." She paused, "Some of the tribesmen have taken to calling it Rathin's Stead." Rathin let out a light grunt, "Have they now, that's a nice tribute but this is not for me. This is for the Orcs. I think it's name should reflect that. Orcshome sounds more appropriate." Kiri grinned and then left to see to other business. Food was definitely going to be a bottle neck, especially without trade. Adam might bring food but it likely wouldn't be enough. The orcs must stay building but perhaps there was another way. He looked to the oasis nearby and the animals that congregated around it. He wondered if he could make such wonders himself, if it would be possible to will the land itself to do his bidding. It's worth a shot. Rathin sat a few hundred meters away from the fortress in a cross legged position and began focusing deeply. Focusing on what he knew of the land and the animals. Focusing on the beasts that hunt and scavenge. The land and beasts would feed them. Going to try and make the land and animals provide for us. D: Heart of the Tiger [+2]: Calling out to the beasts of the wilds to make their homes here and be domesticated so they can hunt and gather for us, and using my connection with the land to try and will fertile soil and plants from it.
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Jun 27, 2013 00:24
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Bryn - Northern Arandia Bryn stared into the surface of the still pool, into his reflection, rage bubbling up in his chest. The beast--Eleksmet?--had tricked him somehow. He had spared its life, and had been rewarded with treachery, transformed into a monster. Turning his head to the sky, Bryn opened his great razored maw, releasing a furious, ear-piercing screech that would surely be heard for miles around. And then, beating his wings, he lifted off, nostrils flaring as he began his hunt; he would find the treacherous Eleksmet, and when he did, she would rue the loving day. I'm going to hunt this Eleksmet fucker down, and when I find her, I am going to eat her. M: Hunter +4 - Self-explanatory, really. D: Monsters +2 - I'm hunting a monster. A RICH WHITE MAN fucked around with this message at 04:40 on Jun 27, 2013 |
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Jun 27, 2013 04:37
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Mazir-Harlakake He was pleased, the people were changing, evolving, and becoming better for his advance. Each week a few more were finding their niche and ascending to their next level of advancement. Some had resisted, but they had to learn and change, for the ability to grow powerful, and utilize what you were skilled at were paramount. Mazir had not rested on his laurels either. Once he witnessed the first hand power of divine evolution he knew that it would be key for him to grow as well. He had carefully left his holding in the charge of his compatriots as he went into the Sands, to meditate and learn. Days passed, until he lay in the sands, his body slowly being covered by the cutting wind. As he saw the sands ebb and flow, he'd realized that they were perfect. While he had been using he sands as a metaphor and a practical power, only now did he see them for their true spirit. They were in ebb and flow, always changing, never quite resting. They adapted and forced all to adapt with them, yet they could be all consuming, much like him when he craved a soul, the desert and it's fierce storms could swallow whole caravans and villages whole. He was the sands and the sands were him. With that epiphany, he sank even deeper into the sands, and let them wafe over him. They pressed harder and harder against his body, yet he did not resist. Instead he focused, concentrating his magics to strengthen himself. When he felt weakened, he consumed a soul he stored in a jewel in his dagger and with his final replenishment, he felt the pressure as a dune rolled over him. Eventually he emerged from his sandy cocoon, having become truly apart of the sands. While similar to Nomad, Mazir was still himself, only now with the new profound knowledge he earned.  As he emerged, he knew he needed to test the limit of his abilities before returning. Scooping some sand into his body, he began to try and manipulate it in ways he'd never done before. Practicing my new magics to get the hang of it, and spending a month in the desert to master it to a degree before returning (I assume everyone is still training and evolving in Harlakake). +2 Sands Since I evolved into the sands (based on your last post I hope I read that right), I'm training my self with my new found abilities based on my merger. [+4 Magic] Using my deep knowledge of magic and any ideas I might have cooked up while buried in sand. Lets do the Evolution!
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Jun 27, 2013 05:59
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Ilvis - Daveron's Camp "I do have one suggestion though, finding demons is well and good but what if they're humans who have not yet taken the final step into depravity? When I saw into Josephtus' memories there was a time where he was merely an ordinary human being influenced by Beltheus, and at that stage he would have been completely human still. We can't exactly know when someone's about to turn but hasn't taken the plunge yet can we?" "I think... I think it might be easier overall if we simply search for things that have the same feel, that have been touched by that same wrongness. The feeling that led us here to Eosia in the first place? Does that make any sense to you?" Is that a no on doing the laser death sword thing then, LLSix? If so I'll throw in on helping you do that thing with the rings. Mind if we modify the magic finder ring things to scan for energy related to the rear end in a top hat gods that keep poking holes in the world? We know for (probably) certain that the demon is responsible for at least one of the holes in reality we all felt, so how about just having a thing that detects this-rear end in a top hat-keeps-poking-reality-in-the-eye-energy as a way to be somehow both more and less specific? If you are open to the idea of laser death swording a dude either right here and now or slightly later I think I can reasonably D: Sword/Travel to long distance warp a sword into a dude's head. Otherwise what I'll contribute to magic ringening. +2 Justice: This thing right? It's for the express purpose of finding those d-bags and putting them to justice for their crimes against nature? +2 Travel: Well it's a piece of ornamentation which guides a would-be demon hunter on a journey of justice. Travel fits if we talk about distances and destinations I think.
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Jun 27, 2013 07:05
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As a warning the more generalised the rings are, the less useful they will be as they will react to too many things to be clear. I suggest imbuing different rings as part of the action with what you want to do puppies.
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Jun 27, 2013 07:24
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IMPORTANT NOTE: From this update onwards, all of the characters have advanced sufficiently that you all have enough Divine power to eclipse your mortal power. As such, mortal traits are now deprecated. Only use Divine Traits for the rest of your actions! 276 4E 5th Moon Arandian War Camp It'd been a pretty weird tendays. First it had been really sunny, until it had gotten swelteringly hot. Well, Civar and Ilvis had known it got hotter up north but they hadn't experienced it being quite this hot yet. Then two days before a great winged creature had flown over the camp in the morning, casting enormous shadows. It had flown back in the afternoon towards the mountains. No one had any idea what it was, or why it had been there, but it had been seen flying towards a large hill, or small mountain, to the north east. The path was almost direct if it had come from the mountains in the north west of Arandia. All in all the army had been pretty spooked and they were all getting quite tired and worn out by the heat. Even the Eosian prisoners seemed to be uncomfortable in the sweltering heat. Something would need to be done soon or they'd be tired and worn out when an attack came, or they began their own attack. I'm ruling that right now Civar doesn't realise that it's actually a Divine effect, otherwise he'd get a defensive check against it with his weather power. Daveron Energies erupted from the man who shrieks loudly and falls to the ground as the Spirit of Chimes rises from his corpse. A guard rushes over to check, but it was quite clear the man was completely and utterly dead. It seemed that Daveron had ripped out his spirit and twisted it for his purpose, leaving the body of the man lifeless. Daveron felt an energy ripple through his body as the spirit formed, as his nature adapted to a new power. The power over death. Daveron gains the Divine Trait: Death [+2] The Spirit of Chimes tinkled in the air and began to move, as its awareness began to adapt to its new state and purpose. It moved over to the area where Civar and Ilvis had gathered, but Daveron couldn't spare any guards to come with him. The remaining prisoners had begun to panic and if they weren't kept under control they might hurt themselves, or less likely the guards. Civar and Ilvis Daveron was gathering the men and women they'd captured which he'd said were vulnerable to demonic influence. It was their best chance to work on making something without the large man watching over their shoulders. Civar had gathered his few precious followers together and he began work on the rings. They were simple and unobtrusive, although iron took longer to work with than gold. That was one reason gold rings were popular, they were much easier to make out of the softer metal. Each time Civar worked though, it got a bit easier and a bit quicker. He could see his mistakes, shortcuts to overcome it and ways to improve on his last attempt. The last ring he made, was for himself and when he put it on he felt a sense of pride and satisfaction in his work. He noticed his hands were a bit singed and his arms were thicker and sturdier than before, and he realised that he gained a new power. Civar gains the Divine Trait: Smithing [+2] He also looks a bit more like a smith now. Then chaos erupted. There was a bloodcurdling scream from where Daveron was and cries of 'He's dead! Sun God save us he killed him!' Guards started yelling and moving about. A creature, spectral in nature and tinkling of chimes flew into the area where Civar and Ilvis were and then...well then Civar and Ilvis felt their rings go off. Then Civar heard a voice whisper to him: "I need your help in getting the prisoners out of here. Look, I know you don't trust us but right now you've got two crazy men in your camp and another one coming from the capital with his own army. When it gets here there's going to be chaos and those men and women are probably going to die. I can't really take you one on one, so I am asking for your help here. I am sure we can figure out some kind of deal. Get away from that thing. If you thought we were bad you don't want to meet it, trust me." The voice did not sound like the demon you'd talked to before, but you got the impression that it was one of its numbers and it sounded nervous. The Spirit of Chimes did not look very nice and after the voice left your mind your ring still responded. Edo Blackwater (Eosia, Eosian army encampment) In the end Edo found his powers reached further, he could affect quite a distance beyond what he could see, but he could not reach as far as the Arandian army from the capital. He had moved into the Eosian army's forces, being afforded a position with the commanders in it and it was from here that he used his powers. Edo knew how harsh the sun could be, Eosia could get very hot in summer and the Arandian climate was cooler so he felt confident they would suffer for it. On the third tenday however, a message that Edo had never imagined he would receive was brought to him by a solemn faced message runner. "Edo, um, sir, we have received news from your home in Blackwater. They say...they say that your entire family is dead. They lay dead on the beds and there was a message spelled out in blood. It, it read, 'you took my family from me Edo and now I have taken yours. Consider our debt paid.'" It had to be Davos. He'd been turned into a demon and tried to attack you. First he'd 'killed' (Edo was unsure if it technically applied) Valamnis, but he had not expected this. Although privacy was given, most people quickly learned that something had happened to Edo's family and gave him time to grieve. The worst thing was that even if he went and resurrected them, it was hard but he'd done it twice now, he knew they would resent it and what he had become. But it was still something he could not help think about and consider... On the final tenday of the month the army was mostly gathered and was only a days march from the Arandian army. They hadn't noticed their arrival yet which left Edo with two choice. One, he could try to parley and convince the Taelesian forces to retreat. Or his other option was simply to attack while they had the advantage in military forces. The only problem was that they probably had those two Arandians with them and, by all accounts, they had a third similarly natured one as well. Ser Daveron seemed no more honourable or peaceful than the other two had been. Kovar (Sun Plains, tail end of the Val Titanus range) It seemed like most of the tribe did not truly believe what Kovar had said, but there was a certain open mindedness to the situation. Even though it was unlikely that he would succeed, if there was a chance that he would follow through on what he said then maybe it would be worth it? So Kovar gathered his power, as much of it as he could and strained as he released it into the entire group. It was a difficult and exhausting deed, but once his eyes stopped swimming he could see the result. The conversion was mostly successful, there were children and the elderly who did not seem to benefit from the change but every other healthy adult seemed to be transformed. However those that had not become exalted had still changed in a manner he had not anticipated. Kovar blinked and took off his helmet, wondering if the same process that had happened to Adam had happened to him but in the reverse direction.  It seemed that the tribe's belief that Kovar was some kind of lion god had made the change a bit more literal for both sides. From behind him Lehoi sat down on his hind legs and said rather unsurprisedly; "Well, it is about time." Once Kovar had gotten over this rather startling change he began the process of trying to teach the newly changed tribe a language. The first thing he needed to decide on was a name for their new people. His nightly communication with Burd had a slightly different tone of voice and Burd noted that the change had been a bit of a surprise for both them and the Dwarves. Those that had not Exalted yet had not changed in that manner as well, and Algard was still human is much bigger than he was. Burd commented that they had a new visitor, who was teaching Algard about combat. They'd begun to spend a lot of time together, but Burd was glad Algard had some new company he did not feel inferior to and that he was sharing some of his lessons in combat with all of them. Their scouts reported that the forces occupying Harlakake had not moved yet, but seemed to be consolidating their position. Rumours were spreading about the townsfolk and the army beginning to change and transform in weird and unrecognisable ways. Kovar gains the divine trait Lions [+2] and also a racial quirk depending on what you name your new race. Adam (Taeless, Taelos) The Dwarf returned back to Taeless and begun moving towards Taelos. The journey took nearly two tenday and the rest of the second was working to get past everyone kind of stopping in amazement that he was a Dwarf. Apparently word of this hadn't really spread around much. What Adam did learn while he was working on trade caravans and agreements was the following: Firstly a hostile force had invaded Harlakake to the West. They had magic involving sand and making giant suits of armour and sand men move like they were alive. Everyone had panicked for a while and all the various city states had begun to call in mercenaries and work on conscripting 'excess population' into militia in case they needed to defend each other. Later they had received a message that people in Harlakake had begun to change in strange ways, as though they were becoming less human and better at certain things. Everyone was on edge because of this and the next thing. Secondly, apparently Val Aman had been mostly destroyed and Val Setin and Val Lichett filled with strange mockeries of people that were part human and spider. Worse was the rumours that they were raising people like cattle and keeping them in pens like animals. There were further rumours that the council of Konwey had ruled to begin trading with these people as well. When Adam first arrived he met a small child called Yohin Kohesh. He was a likeable child who explained he was new to the city and that he and his family had left Harlakake just before it got invaded which was very lucky. They were doing okay in this city, but they had to rebuild from scratch and after Adam mentioned what he was doing there, Yohin made him a deal. If he put in a good word for Yohins parents with the merchant barons, he'd make sure that he'd let everyone know how amazing and nice Dwarves were. Not really seeing any harm in the deal, Adam agreed and kept his word. He wasn't sure if it really made a difference or not, but Yohin was pretty likeable and Adam couldn't help but hope the young child did well. The deals themselves seemed to go fairly well, Adam began to see that making trade was kind of like fighting a war. Both sides had assets they did not want to give up and you had to fight for the best deal. Instead of using axes though, you used words. Adam couldn't help but thinking that trading might be improved in general with more axes. Adam gains the Divine Trait: Trade [+2], also I think that you could definitely consider changing your trouble at this point. It's a good one, but you've also changed a lot since the start so you'd certainly be justified in changing it up. Rathin (Sun Plains, Orcshome) Rathin focussed and willed the ground to provide food. It did so, but it did so in the manner of growing a great cornucopia of fruit and vegetables. Orcs did not eat vegetables, they hunted for their meat and it sustained them. Disgusted by the result Rathin left it a day before he returned to contemplate it. The Orcs quickly learned a few things. Although they already knew they preferred meat, the problem was that animals in general tended to eat vegetables and grass. So the Orcs had to begin to cultivate those to feed their animals. Unnaya's blessing seemed to hold true for the Orcs, and their watering hold was a seemingly unquenchable source of water in the arid sands. Rathin could not help but think that this was not unintentional, perhaps Unnaya would continue to provide for them as long as they kept their word. At the very least Rathin could coax the ground to be more productive and cause plants to grow, instead of soaking it in power and his will which was a far more exhausting task. Unfortunately growing animals takes longer than growing vegetables. So grudgingly, the Orcs tried vegetables. Many of them were not so great on their own, but then Kiri remembered something that Adam had mentioned. Where he had come from, people grew vegetables and cooked them in fire. Not only this, but there were some vegetables on their own which were small and could not feed you but tasted great. Their tastes could help mask those less palatable but texturally pleasing foods. So the Orcs began to experiment cautiously with cooking. Had Rathin not caused plants that had no natural business in growing around Orcshome to grow, it would have been a boring and ultimately doomed endeavour, yet in the end it turned out to work. The Orcs discovered the wide and wonderful world of cooking and preparing food, and took to it with a certain gusto that befitted their larger stature and manner than humans. Rathin gains the Divine trait Farming [+2] Bryn Bryn's rage consumed him and he flew. He searched for a full three tenday until he finally found the treacherous beast. It shrieked at him with bestial fury and the two fought in the air. It was a short and brutal fight though and in the end Bryn pinned her down. Then he gorged himself. As he did he learned a few things. The monster had come from a child, a human child's dream. It had been taken from it and been made manifest and real. Afterwards he had found it and what had happened had happened but now Bryn had taken the dream back into him. Except it was no longer the same, it had been twisted by him into something monstrous and terrifying, a nightmare. Now Bryn shivered as a change came over him yet again as the power coursed through him.  Now he could affect the dreams of others, bring them to life, twist and change them into visions of terror and pain. He was no longer human, but now he could make the humans suffer, and suffer, and suffer. None of them could escape his reach either, for everyone needed to dream did they not? Bryn gains the Divine trait Nightmares [+2] and your form changes again. Mazir (Somewhere) Mazir began to test his powers, seeing how far he could spread himself and his sand. Eventually something sort of clicked over. Mazir went too far and everything stretched, continued stretching and his entire world was pain for a brief second before he snapped back together into cohesion. He paused for a moment as he realised that he was not where he was. He was somewhere...different. There was an absence of sky and only an eternity of sand. Well, that was not entirely accurate, it did have a boundary but currently if you were to travel beyond the edge you would simply emerge on the other side. But it was bound to him, shaped by his will. What exactly it was, or its purpose, however confused him. But there was one other thing in it. The souls he had been collecting and had bound, but had yet to use, shimmered in the air. In their reflections were images of the people they had used to be. They were waiting, waiting for something that Mazir wasn't entirely sure of. As he watched, another soul seemed to shimmer into existence. It was an elderly sick man he'd seen back in Elysia. Had he died, and come to this realm? To be further ruled by Mazir even in death? I wasn't entirely sure what to do with your action, but you rolled well so I am giving you a demesne as well. Right now it is simply an endless desert. Also I didn't mean specifically for you to go full on Cave of Wonders, although that's a viable direction. Basically, my intention was more if people under your control and influence have begun evolving then you should represent some kind of general super-evolution. What form you wanted that to be was up to you. I was just avoiding the Zerg cliche. Beltheus (Beltheus' Demesne) Beltheus returned to his domain and considered his power. It had grown considerably since he had begun, partly due to all of the souls he was accumulating. Oh he did not have so many souls in his domain as he had influenced, but the lesser taints of sin were spreading in Barant thanks to the efforts of Arhuon and Davos. Davos had returned to Taravesh and Ochsbright was firmly nested in his position for now. No one would recognise his kindly persona for the true evil that lay inside. But more power coursed through him and Beltheus knew that if he continued to gather power like this, if he could face Belsataroth here in his domain where he was strongest then maybe he could cast aside his claim to him. But that had its own risks, casting aside his benefactor (self-interested as all powerful demons were) he would be alone in this world. Maybe Belsataroth would send lieutenants through after him, to gather their own power in time. Such were the games demons played. Summoning the imps was easier than he expected. He did not exactly summon them however, for it was easier to take the souls of those wretched and petty dead that had come into his care and to take them into his hands. There with the force of his power he tore and twisted, taking what was good and confident and remaking the soul into that of an imp. It was filled with sin and other more obscure and disgusting spiritual matter. Once this was done, spinning a body for the new imp was much easier. Humans didn't seem to realise how fragile and weak a body was, it was more like a tunic one wore and could be taken off and swapped for another. But at the end of the day, as such as time had meaning in his domain, he had his imps ready for their tasks. Success, you get imps! Farro Kapersi (Konwey, Hai-Kan) As it had been with the first arrows, it was loss that united the new. Everyone had lost something to the spiderfolk, the Arrani as they apparently wished to be called if they were indeed the same. Smiths and leatherworkers would lose trade, for what did the spiders need with either? Ore exports from Val Aman had not come in for a few months and many were having to find new business or pay Taelesian merchants exorbitant rates for their ores. Some merchants had been passed over in trade negotiations, too small to be considered for the new trading opportunities and being resentful that the old ways of determining who got trade agreements had been thrown away. Then there were commoners who had lost people to them, or those simply wishing to not lose their country and who looked for a cause. The spiderfolk seemed to grow bolder as their grip on the Konwey government grew tighter and more assured. It was these that Farro had gathered in the warehouse, a back room far away from prying eyes and where a Gate had been established. Nothing of real importance to the Arrows would be held within this place, but it could be shipped to Terminus easily enough. Members could always come in and hide if they needed to, which would make it hard to trace or prove their involvement. From where he stood, to Farro it was a decent foundation, a strong bow but pliable enough to lose an arrow straight into the hearts of his enemies. So Farro gathered the initiates and lead them to the place, where they would make the sacred oaths and join in brotherhood. All that remained was to finish off the ceremony. You rolled well, so you've founded a strong base in Hai-Kan. Right now unless you can figure out a way to unmask the infiltration your best bet is to wage a guerrilla war against the Arrani influence. I'll let you describe the initiation scene though, as you have a better idea in mind what you wish to do with it. Octagon (Arrahn, Sicaria) All things took time, a web began with a single strand and you continued to spin it until it was strong enough to ensnare your prey. Not that Octagon had any particular prey to catch in Konwey though, but he smiled at the metaphor. His mimics had a firm hold on the government now, anyone who had a say enough to affect their plans had been converted or replaced. Content that his work was done Octagon stepped through the Void to return home. As he did so a shiver went up his spine. Spin, spin, spin your web. Spin it so tight they cannot breathe. Then he came out into the depths of the Sicarian catacombs. He had not actually intended to come here originally, but his mind had wandered for a moment to his queen and as to how she was doing. He found her in the same place he had before, meditating it seemed as she perched in her web. She had an excellent view of the building being carved from the rock, the front of which reminded Octagon very much of an ostentatious tomb, or temple. She did not close her eyes as he approached. "I have dreamed." She offered when Octagon was close enough to converse comfortably. "There is a task I must do, but the instrument has not revealed itself to me." She opened her eyes and they were all holes leading to an empty abyss, a Void. "Your touch with the Nothing touched me as well. It was a troubling experience, I had to consume some of the workers to calm my nerves. I would be most gratified if you could make some replacements in time, but their loss will not delay the work too much." She said and gestured to the building with one hand. There was a great statue of Octagon carved out of the rock that made the top of the front face of it. It looked like a hole had been bored into its center. Symbolic. The queen was apparently building the structure, which was a place of religious importance, for when it would be needed. Soon she believed. Additionally she had begun to carve drainage tunnels into a great underwater lake, further deep beneath the city. It was to ensure that they were not flooded out in the more rainy seasons, and to allow for a more open and elevated city plan. After all, they could climb around such that the lesser races should not. Should any of them need to come to Sicaria, they would be walking beneath the proud Arrani. After he had learned these things, Octagon took his leave of his queen and went to the silken cocoon where the Weaver slept. He neutralised the agent that kept them in a form of suspended animation and cut them out. Then he created beacons, taking a small part of each of the Weavers and placing it in the places where he wished them to tunnel and create the Webway too. For three tenday as well he watched them, ensuring that each was not too impeded by any harder stone or by caverns with water or close to surface lava. It would take another moon for this first ones to Delena to finish their paths, but once they did the Arrani would begin to move without worry of the surface world. Success, your pathways begin. HiKaizer fucked around with this message at 12:09 on Jun 30, 2013 |
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Jun 27, 2013 08:10
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Daveron - Daveron's Camp Daveron's arms surge with a power he hadn't known before, and the world spins around him as he slams into the muddy ground; the people around are screaming and running frantically. He steps up and looks around, still in a daze. Grunting, he lumbers over to one of his lieutenants, grabbing his shoulder and leaning on him heavily, and mutters, "You are to follow Civar and Ilvis's orders now..." Holding his head, he wanders over to Civar and Ilvis, his head pounding with a splitting migraine that threatened to knock him unconscious, "This army's yours now...Something...something changed.." He gritted his teeth, and stomped off to the South, shoving a soldier out of the way as he lumbered away from the camp, stumbling a few times before regaining a slow stride. Heading to the Southwestern Sea, not using my action yet. I'm not sure if it takes me the whole time to get there, but I was going to use my action there. Let me know if it's cool to do that or not.
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Jun 27, 2013 08:29
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Beltheus-Mirn Beltheus sits in his camp in Mirn, impatiently. He's done what he can here for now, and he has too much else to do to remain still. So, he leaves the city and travels out to the wilderness outside it, where he creates a gate to take him back to his own realm. When there, he draws from the energy of the place, trying to summon imps to him out from the very fabric of reality, as the force of the plane mingles with his own will, the forces both creative and destructive. "Come. Come, I need you!", he calls out as he draws the plane up as a cloak around himself, there to mix with his will and desire. Gating back him and creating more imps. Enough so that I have a store of them to labor and complete minor tasks., Demon summoning +2
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Jun 27, 2013 11:57
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Farro Kapersi - Konwey, Ohman-rey Update 16 The news from Laowey was troubling. Even without any reports of direct sighting of these "Arrani," it wasn't hard to put two and two together. A sudden trade agreement with a revolutionary state full of man eating spider monsters, and a corresponding increase in missing persons reported? Investigations into Arrahn proper were going to have to wait. It took over a week of planning, but using maps and dossiers collected from Ohman-rey, as well as Laowey's personal experience, Farro and Laowey planned out a systematic infiltration of Hai-Kan. The Arrows needed more members, and Hai-Kan was an ideal recruiting ground for several reasons. For one, although the current wetwork specialists comprising the Arrows were certainly an important backbone, more varied membership was needed: craftsmen to create necessary equipment; scholars for information gathering; minor nobles and merchants for bankrolling operations; and even the unassuming common man who knew all sorts of things, just because nobody realized he could be a threat. The Konnish devotion to their nation and their families would be a boon to recruitment, because man-eating government assimilating spiders were somewhat of a direct threat to both of those ideas. It seemed so long ago that Farro had the luxury of laying low and traveling by mundane methods, even if it had only been a few months. But things were happening so fast now, and time itself seemed to be slipping away from his grasp... He shook his head and shrugged off the unease, as be attempted to open a gate into Hai-Kan. Upshifitng the difficulty of my action by adding a Gate to it. Recruiting as many Arrows as possible in Hai-Kan; primarily for the purposes of reconnaissance in Hai-Kan for now. [+2] Stealth, Love, Contracts to conduct the operation quietly, to impassion the naturally loyal Konnish further in order to increase the number willing to make the necessary sacrifices to join the Arrows, and the actual handling of the pledge to the Procession, respectively. GruntyThrst fucked around with this message at 14:08 on Jun 27, 2013 |
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Jun 27, 2013 14:01
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Puppies - you get final call on what the rings do. As long as the ring clearly indicates what is activating it, Civar would be fine with it tracking demons and therefor allowing us to hand them out to humans so they can at least defend themselves a little. Or with it specifically tracking the world-tearing energies and probably letting us track on the gods directly. Maybe. Open question there as to who it would point to I think. Zombie #246 - wtf man?! Human sacrifice and then wandering off right before you get a chance to fight?
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Jun 28, 2013 02:52
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Octagon - Konwey, Hai-Kan Octagon is quite pleased with his progress in Hai-Kan. Having laired in an abandoned cell of the city's dungeon, he directed the progress of his Operatives as they slowly took control of the city's ruling council. Save that one mistake, everything went quite smoothely. Confident that his council of Operatives had things well in hand, Octagon decided it was time to head back home. Leaving instructions with the Operatives to keep him appraised of goings-on, Octagon gathered the power of the Void about him in preparation for his journey home. He had a woman to see about some spiders... My action for the month is as follows: Blip (Void [+2]) back to Sicaria and releasing the Silk Road spiders to do their thing. I will assist them in their task in order to 'jump start' it. Spider-Lord [+2] and maybe Toxin [+2]? applies but not much else! I liked your idea so let's go with that. Tunnels and trap-doors shall criss-cross the land! Also I am looking for an update on the Queen's project and the goings-on of Sicaria, in whatever depth you like. Rhjamiz fucked around with this message at 06:37 on Jun 28, 2013 |
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Jun 28, 2013 05:14
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