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So... Darkness and Venom are spreading thick across the land. In your own lifetime you have seen things grow steadily darker, seen the corruption and perversions of nature change the landscape. Darkness and Venom causes horror and violence, and horror and violence draw Darkness and Venom like a moth to a flame. In these times only you and your fellow Saffron Knights can halt the tide, if only for a little while. Now. It is time.  The Crypt of the White Rose is an ancient and crumbling tomb. Rumor has it that it once served as a crypt for the illustrious knights of the first era, the history of which was all but completely destroyed in the third era. The remnants of great sculptures and magnificent architecture remain, but only as shattered shadows of their past selves. However, the crypt is more than just a delapedated ruin - it is a Sanctum, a meeting place of ley lines and Holy Light, a focal point of divine will. Now four figures gather, four great knights summoned together to undertake their sacred duty. They have been gathered from all walks of life, from all over the world, to perform their rites. A bright saffron light glows hot atop the stone alter at the end of the room, scorching away the shadows and illuminating the room. Rats and spiders scuttle into alcoves and burrows as a figure appears. He is wispy and skeletal, a ghostly form of a tall man dressed in silver armor. His long white hair sways in a breeze none of you can feel as he stands and brings his sword across his chest.  "Knights," his ghostly voice echoes through the sanctum. "I have summoned you. My name is Azaal Horus, the first Paragon of the White Roses. The first of the silver knights to abandon the pathetic squabbles of king and country and take up arms for The Saffron Church. I fought so that the world would survive today. You must fight so that it survives tomorrow." His face crumbles to that of a skull for a moment and a bright fire glows from inside the darkened pits. "Now, you must tell me who you are...but be quick, Darkness and Venom remain close at hand and we must work fast to ebb the flow." Time to introduce yourselves... Rules -More posts mean more screen time for your dude, but let everyone have a fair shot at stuff. -Please enclose your character sheet in the first post. -Typical PBP formatting, put your character name in bold at the start of each post. Then the post, first person and present tense. Then any mechanical things in italics at the end. -We'll be using a dice rolling program. I use Invisible Castle, but anything is fine. -If you have any questions about the rules, just shoot. Captain_Indigo fucked around with this message at Mar 2, 2013 around 16:46 |
| # ? Mar 1, 2013 23:44 |
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| # ? May 24, 2013 21:10 |
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Cirrus Divine Order: Guardian Stats: Body: 2d8 Mind: 1d6+1d8 Soul: 2d6 Traits: Outdoorsman: 1d8 Skilled Archer: 1d6 Unwavering focus: 1d6 Undead Hunter: 1d6 Distrusting: -1d6 Haunted: -1d6 Belongings Yew Bow: 1d8 Cirrus crafted this bow himself after much trial and error - it doesn't have a special name or anything, but it does the job. Swords: 1d6 (together) Cirrus fights with two weapons, mainly because that's what he had left after the attack, and they've served him well so far. Armor: 1d6 Cirrus's armor is leather with a series of steel links throughout and larger coverings on joints and other weak areas. It's not as strong as plate, but has saved his life more times than he's bothered to count. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Sir Horus, I am Cirrus of Haven, and I am here to fight. I will not be humble or circumspect about who I am or why I am here; I am here to destroy the rot of our world, and I will not hesitate to cut it out when I find it. Such hesitation has its costs, and I have already paid those tenfold." Cirrus looks at his three fellows "And that rot can start in the most unlikely of places... But why have you brought us here, Sir Horus? What must we do?" Er, do we have armor or HP, or xp? Direwolf fucked around with this message at Mar 17, 2013 around 15:19 |
| # ? Mar 2, 2013 04:58 |
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No you do not. That's what I get for copying the rules from another game so late at night. Ignore that bit...
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| # ? Mar 2, 2013 08:36 |
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Marcus of Atengard "Your name is known to me, Azaal Horus of the White Roses. I am Marcus of Atengard." The tall man wears no burnished armor, carries no gleaming sword, and yet he carries himself as a warrior does - but when he speaks, one might be forgiven for believing his true calling to be a preacher. "If time is short, do away with the pleasantries; I trust that everyone here will do their duty. Anything to fight back the dark." DivineCoffeeBinge posted:Marcus of Atengard
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| # ? Mar 2, 2013 08:42 |
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Eudora "You honor us, Ghost of the White Roses. The Verdant Isles heard your call, and I have come as Eudora to execute your will." She greets the assembled Knights, dusty from the road, inclining her head in familiar greeting. "I stand ready with my brethren Knights, in body and soul." quote:
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| # ? Mar 2, 2013 16:10 |
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Benjamin "Yes, Horus, I have heard of you as well. The common people sing praises in your honor! It will be good to work with you. I am Benjamin Stafford, a protector of the little folk of these lands." So saying this, he bowed towards the knight. "How may we serve you and the people against the corruption of Venom and Darkness?" quote:Name: Benjamin Stafford
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| # ? Mar 3, 2013 13:59 |
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Horus bows gently as each of you introduce yourself, various portions of his body becoming translucent. His ghostly image glows as Holy Light dances around the inside of his skull. Saffron fire burns in the pits of his eyes as he plunges his sword into the ground. It clanks and sings as it vibrates, then vanishes. "Knights, listen well. There is Darkness and Venom in Falligan's Walk. It is a small hamlet, secluded deep within the thick forests and woodlands of the Eastern continent. Due to its remote location, Falligan's Walk receives little help from the rest of the kingdom, thus, as Darkness and Venom began to settle it was ignored." He shakes his head sadly. "As creatures amassed in the foothills and valleys beneath the town, nobody acted. Nobody quashed the Darkness and Venom when it began, and now it has been allowed to grow. That is where you come in. Use your Verpe blessing to teleport to the Sanctum at Falligan's Walk. Once there, head into the nearby forests. There is a colony of beasts, creatures half man and half lizard. They are summoning more Darkness and Venom by their mere existence. Penetrate the heart of their grotesque hovel and rid them from the world. Then, once this is done, return to me and I shall grant you further instructions. The rot in Falligan's Walk is deep set indeed.
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| # ? Mar 3, 2013 18:02 |
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Benjamin Benjamin kneeled before his superior. "It shall be done, lord! We shall not fail you." He turned to the others. "Brothers, we should leave immediately!" He frowned at the presence of Eudora, but ignored her for the moment. "I have been to this village before, preaching to the masses. It seems I have failed to keep the little folk within the Holy Light, I would have this redressed! We must save those we can from corruption immediately!" He all but screamed his last sentence, beating his pitchfork against the floor to emphasis his burning rage.
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| # ? Mar 3, 2013 20:02 |
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Marcus of Atengard "Brothers and Sister," Marcus adds once Benjamin takes a breath, his voice calm and deep and rich with resonant power, the kind of voice that seems as suited to calling down thunder as to murmuring gentle encouragement. "Brother Benjamin speaks true that we must not hesitate - but let us not let righteous anger lead us astray. "I cannot speak for the rest of us, obviously, but as for myself I know I am far more accustomed to working alone or with others trained as I have been; the four of us each bring different talents to this matter, and it would perhaps be of aid to us all if we came up with some sort of plan that will make use of those talents, rather than leaping forward without a care in the world. Faith and righteousness make for fine armor - I wear no other kind! - but the finest armor can still fail the unwary, no?"
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| # ? Mar 3, 2013 20:38 |
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Horus nods solemnly. "The finest armor indeed. And that is part of the peril you shall face on this quest. These monstrous creatures are strange and unknowable, or so the people of Falligan's Walk claim. They tell me that the beastmen have appeared different of late, that the once simple weapons they carried now appear reinforced and well designed, that their naked bodies are now wrapped in furs and hides, that strange fetishes and icons hang from their weapons. They believe that some demonic form, some hideous spirit of Darkness and Venom has enslaved the simple beasts. Your Quest is a simple one, one that allows me to gauge the powers of such a team. You are all exemplary Knights, I have no doubt in your abilities. If you prove capable in destroying the lizard man nest then I shall have further Quests for you at Falligan's Walk, before perhaps sending elsewhere." The glowing blade appears again, shimmering in light half submerged within the floor. The ghost of Horus reaches out with one skeletal hand and draws it noisily as if pulling it from a metal sheath. He brandishes the sword towards you, pointing the dull edge to you in turn. You feel Holy Light flowing through you, burning at your soul as it fills you. "The Lizard men are creatures of pure Darkness and Venom, ugly twisted things who feed on death and are driven by malice. The hatred within them is so bitter that their very blood is corrosive. I bless ye, none of you shall be harmed by this acid, so long as you follow the Oath of this Quest. That is, that you will not allow your holy forms physical contact with the pools of corruption found around and within their lair. These pools of swirling blood, darkness, and pus, are of an evil that must not besmirch your skin, or else you shall become Fallen and your protection from acid shall be over until such time as you redeem yourselves by completing the Quest." He sheaths the sword back into the ground and takes a deep breath. "Make your plans, but be brief. Every second the evil grows stronger. If you have any questions ask them quickly before you Verpe."
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| # ? Mar 3, 2013 21:06 |
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Cirrus "Aye, we should make haste to this village and the foul nests that plague it - but we need to be wary. Who are these people of Falligan's Walk? Have they themselves been tainted by the Darkness?" Cirrus frowns. "I need no more preparation than this blessing; every moment here is a moment wasted. But we should be clear as to our mission - the destruction of these beasts comes before all else. Let us not get sidetracked by villagers and their concerns, and be on our way!"
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| # ? Mar 4, 2013 06:33 |
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Benjamin "Let us not be sidetracked by villagers?' you say? Protecting the villagers it the whole reason we exist as an order! We must stop by the village once we leave the Sanctum to see what they know first-hand." He turned to Horus again. "Do we know of any other knights in the area, or if the Fallen are present?"
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| # ? Mar 4, 2013 06:55 |
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Eudora "The nature of this corruption is mysterious indeed, as is the current disposition of the village. I can attempt to read the signs in the water, to know if our Verpe will be safe. Or to glimpse these icons the beastmen wear, if I have come across them in the Temple archives I may recognize the sigils." Eudora says, retrieving an object wrapped in a clean white cloth from her pack, she unwraps a small golden bowl. Eudora turns to speak to Benjamin, "A village leader would be able to tell us more once we arrive - do you know whom that may be, Brother?"
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| # ? Mar 4, 2013 17:13 |
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Benjamin "No, I do not know. It has been many years since I have been there. But I do remember that there was a sort of village council and a headman elected by the landed villagers. It may be the same; we shall look once we arrive."
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| # ? Mar 4, 2013 17:28 |
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"The majority of the people of The Walk remain untainted, I can feel it in my shadows," Horus declares. "However, Darkness and Venom spreads when left unchecked, and the simple misdeeds that men and women do are often amplified in areas of high corruption. There will be more murders than would be expected in a town of Falligan's Walks' size, more crimes of passion, more oddities and strange fellows, but the majority of the people will still be normal men and women. As for other Knights in the area, you will be met at the Sanctum by a young recruit named Joseff. He will lead you to the hive so that you might eradicate the beasts without need of a guide. He is a dedicated and sharp-minded young man, but not yet a Knight. He lacks the Prime Blessings and Oaths which you live by. I am not telling you NOT to venture into the village proper, but there will be plenty of time to become acquainted with the people on later missions, for now it is perhaps more important to strike a decisive blow against the evil." Eudora stares into the depths of her golden bowl. Those who look alongside her see nothing, but her eyes are soon opened to a vast and unknowable force. Saffron light burns brightly from inside, visible only to the oracle. A single black snake rises slowly, its long body twisting and writhing as it forms a peculiar pattern and then freezes to black metal. The symbol is not one your recognize specifically, but Darkness and Venom form so many offshoots and hybrids of demons that only the most powerful are ever recorded. Most likely this being is the spawn or creation of any one of the greater snake devils. If this is the sigil that the lizard men carry then it is indeed a sign of demonic corruption. Captain_Indigo fucked around with this message at Mar 4, 2013 around 22:39 |
| # ? Mar 4, 2013 18:18 |
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Cirrus "Forgive my impatience, Benjamin, but the more we wait the more harm is done. You have heard it from Horus himself, we must be on our way - every second we wait is another chance for corruption to spread into Falligan's Walk!" Cirrus readies himself for the Verpe, and waits for his fellow knights to join him. For things like the powers like the Verpe blessing or oath, do they require a ritual or time or can we do them instantaneously? If we can do them instantaneously then Cirrus is not going to wait and is going to go ahead to the Sanctum.
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| # ? Mar 4, 2013 22:18 |
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Eudora Eudora stares intently at the bowl, seemingly lost to trance before she suddenly straightens, disturbing the waters and ending her vision. "We face a demonic influence in the form of a serpent, that much is certain - but it is not one I have faced or heard of." She re-packs her focus and squares her shoulders. "I too believe we should be on our way - I do not know that further preparation would do us more good."
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| # ? Mar 4, 2013 23:18 |
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As the Saffron Knights cast their Verpe symbols in the air, the Sanctum fades away before them. Horus gives a final nod as they are torn from space and deposited somewhere far, far away. The first thing to hit you is the heat. The air is warm and think in the new Sanctum. You find yourselves standing in a stone room, the walls of which are covered in symbols and simple paintings of ash and blood. Vines and crawlers cover the walls and crickets and birds sing in the evening light outside. A man waits for you. His skin, hair and eyes are dark and there are gold piercings in his face. He watches you from within flowing white robes as the light around you clears, slowly standing to his feet and dusting his hands against his thighs. "Welcome to Falligan's Walk," he says in a thick accent. "I trust that the Paragon explained the situation to you? I am Joseff Del Gurad, I'll be the one showing you the way through the woods. Be wary, the lizard men see better in darkness than by light and their slithering bodies move silently. They can leap vast distances, reach the highest point of a tree faster than a bird can fly there, and thick burning acid drips from their mouths and veins." He pulls back one sleeve to reveal a long stretch of warped skin. "The acid is most unpleasant, I assure you. Now, unless you require anything from Falligan's Walk proper, I suggest we set out for the nest. It is deep within the undergrowth, so remain on the look out, not just for lizard men, but also for the pools of corruption. You can usually smell them before you can see them, they stink like dead bodies and infected wounds, but they lie in the earth itself rather than anything biological." Glancing out of the gap in the stone, it becomes apparent that this Sanctum is also a ruin of some kind. The room you are standing within is small and square, but through the doorway a set of stone steps lead down the side of a short tower. It is disconcerting to have Verped from ground level to ten feet in the air, even if it took you several moments to notice. Outside there are thick trees and forest growing in every direction. Joseff pulls a white mask across his face, then draws a curved scimitar from a golden sheath at his belt.
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| # ? Mar 5, 2013 01:26 |
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Marcus of Atengard For one who cautioned the wisdom of planning, Marcus has been silent - watching his fellow Knights, gleaning what he may from their words, their demeanors. The mystic, the firebrand, the cynic. In Atengard there is a theory, held by certain older Knights, that the material world is comprised of four elements. They would look at Eudora - latest of her line - the seer and would associate her with Air, for the air is the domicile of the spirit. They would look at Benjamin and associate him with Fire, for he is surely all energy and fury, bound to burn at the fullest of intensity until he can no longer sustain himself. They would look at Cirrus - both solid and stolid, keeping his attention on a single goal and unwilling to waver - and associate him with Earth, for he is not a man easily moved, one readily suspects. And Marcus? Why, Marcus knows these theories of elemental resonance as well as any man, and he knows that if the others fit into their own elements then he is left with Water - the element he most seeks to emulate. For water flows and dances aside, and that is how Marcus makes war. Water is steady and unyielding, wearing even a mountain down to pebbles if given enough time, and that is how Marcus sees his faith. Water is a good thing, to Marcus' mind, to emulate. And just like that, Marcus has a sense of things - a sense of the group, of his newfound companions, of their Quest. He has no image of serpentine wickedness, no, but his sudden clarity would be familiar to Eudora, for all that it comes from a deduction rather than a vision. Marcus has made sense of the Quest, and so he is prepared. He needs not knowledge of Falligan's Walk when he has knowledge of himself. "Let us be off, then," he adds, lest the others forget what his voice sounds like. "There is much to do, it would appear." EDIT: Bah! Shoulda previewed before posting.  Adding the following as a postscript and response to the latest turn:"Well met, Joseff." Once the guide has finished his speech, Marcus nods in evident admiration; this is a man who knows his business, clearly, and so is deserving of respect, no matter that he is but a lay brother. As the guide prepares, drawing his scimitar, Marcus checks that Mercy is still secure around his wrist, ready to uncoil if needed, and that his clothing remains loose enough to leave his movement unfettered. DivineCoffeeBinge fucked around with this message at Mar 5, 2013 around 01:34 |
| # ? Mar 5, 2013 01:30 |
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Benjamin Stafford Benjamin did not wait for more than the squires name before heading off into the swamp behind him. "I care not. We must be off to slay these foul creatures! I shall light the way!" He frowned once more at the woman's presence. "You, girl, should stay in the middle of the pack so that we can protect you." So if I want to use my torch to help us move through the swamps more easily, due to its light, it is automatic?
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| # ? Mar 5, 2013 07:10 |
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Benjamin raises his hand and draws a symbol in the air. A few seconds later the evening light is aided by the appearance of a floating saffron orb. The light it provides is deep and relatively faint, doing little as you step out into the clearing outside the tower holding the Sanctum, but as you slip into the undergrowth it becomes exponentially more useful. Strange creatures slither and scuttle out of your way, taking shelter beneath the thick carpet of fallen leaves, and vanishing into holes in ancient rotting tree trunks. Joseff walks quickly and silently through the undergrowth. His robes never seem to disturb the foliage and when he leaps gently over the skeleton of some long-dead jungle cat, his feet don't so much as whisper as they touch the ground. You find yourselves glad for Joseff's presence - the way through the forest is almost completely unreadable, but he seems to know it as if it was the back of his hand. Then he stops, suddenly, holding up one hand as a message to halt. He crouches to his knees and uses his sword to brush away some twigs and leaves. They come away with ease to begin with, then seem stuck to the ground. He digs his scimitar into the ground and shovels away a chunk of what looks like scab. You are hit by the horrific scent of decay at the same time as your sense of Darkness and Venom flares, as he reveals a pool of corruption. It is just as he described - a sceptic wound in the ground. Plunging his sword into it, Joseff tests the depth. It keeps going right up the handguard. "Eurgh," he grunts. "Tangible evil. These pools appear at random, but never evaporate. They are hard to cleanse. Monsters you can kill, murderers and rapists can be put to death, magic can be thwarted, but these pits never leave. Our only hope is to clear enough of the Darkness and Venom around the area to cause them to shrivel up and die...but of course the entire time that they are here there is a chance that they will summon more in what we kills place." He sighs, then grabs a nearby stick and plunges it deep into the pool, presumably as a warning. "Such is the fight of a Saffron Knight. The nest is not far from here, we should continue." I'm keeping things moving because I figure you want to get into the meat of the quest, but if I speed over something you want to interact with always feel free to post in flashback as it were. Especially for asking questions and things like that.
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| # ? Mar 5, 2013 11:52 |
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Eudora Eudora's eyes roll nearly involuntarily behind Benjamin's back before she slings the golden shield forged into the shape of a circle of laurels onto her arm. In her free hand she grips her blade, hacking through the dense underbrush that impedes the Knight's progress. She takes a position on Benjamin's side that holds the torch. "I would have more concern for yourself, preacher. You will need a bulwark between the darkness and such bright light, for all the devils in these trees for miles around will know exactly where to send their arrows." Throughout her rebuke, she kept one eye on the path ahead of her and the other on Joseff. Something felt off about the young man. The White Rose had told them he was not yet a Knight, but he had weathered what seemed to be direct contact with the beasts weapons and still moved like a spirit across the ground. That he claimed the dangers of the wood were simply part and parcel of the life of a Knight struck her as odd. Would he say such things if a Knight he was yet to be? Eudora had no proof of this, and so she kept her counsel to herself. Perhaps too much time in the Temple had made her paranoid. All the same, she wasn't quite sure Joseff was all that he appeared to be. Eudora is keeping an eye on Joseff for strange behavior or anything on his person that would be out of the ordinary for someone aspiring to be a Saffron Knight
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| # ? Mar 6, 2013 03:50 |
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Benjamin Stafford "Hmph, the light is all I need to protect me. You should ask our good friend the monk what true reliance on the Light is! I do not have armor by my poverty, he does not by choice. I would follow him to the ends of the earth." Benjamin continued to slash and burn the jungle around them with his torch leading the way to the nest.
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| # ? Mar 6, 2013 06:20 |
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Joseff leads the knights a little further, appreciative of any help in clearing undergrowth. His robes sway in the gentle breeze as the hot air shifts and flows. Eventually he holds one hand up and slows his pace. Crouching in a cluster of bushes and foliage, he points through to an approaching clearing. Stinking pools of corruption spread across the area. Though the very largest are only a couple of feet wide, there are a large number of them. Around the gouges the ground seeps like a raw wound. Flies buzz around them, occasionally diving into the filth never to return. Across the clearing lies the entrance to the nest - a dark hole within the ground barred slightly by a curtain of leather and dirty fabric strips. Three-toed footprints cluster around the entrance, no doubt the prints of the lizard men mentioned by Horus. There are other signs of monstrous creatures, bones discarded in the grass, broken arrows and the occasional rusty sword lying discarded on some nearby rocks, this is no doubt the lair of creatures of some intelligence, not just a hovel populated by mindless animals. As the knights watch, two figures climb from the tunnel into the earth. The lizard men are as tall as humans, but their bodies are broader and more muscular. One has skin the colour of under-ripe lemons, the other's is a deeper forest green. Both wear simple leather cloaks and crudely crafted boots, and whilst one wields a rusted spear, the other has twin axes tied to his belt with leathers straps. As they step out into the light you note that one has a series of small spines running down its back, and the other has what looks like a collar of some kind made from leathery skin. They position themselves at the mouth to the lair. One takes a lump of meat from a bag around his shoulder, takes a bite, and casually throws it to his companion who mutters a thanks.  "I've been stalking this nest for some time," Joseff whispers. He points to the guards. "There are always a pair of guards, they move back and forth down that entrance tunnel. They stop there for some time, then move back down and stop at whatever is at the far end. Sometimes others come and go, but there is SOMETHING going on inside. I only dared venture into the shallowest part of the tunnel, but the nest feels relatively large and the deeper I ventured the more Darkness and Venom I could feel. Look there!" He points to the arm of the spear-wielding lizard man. There is a patch of burnt scales and scarred flesh where someone has crudely tattood a symbol into his skin. Eudora, you recognize it as the symbol from your vision...
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| # ? Mar 6, 2013 11:48 |
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Eudora Eudora's eyes narrow at the stark symbol of corruption. "That is the symbol of the devil we face, no doubt these are its servants", she whispers. "There is no telling how many of them there are in that tunnel, there could be thousands. If we can dispatch these two quietly, our chances of skewering the heart of this corruption improve." Eudora is trying to keep quiet and out of sight of the lizardmen.
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| # ? Mar 7, 2013 14:19 |
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Benjamin Benjamin nods at Eudora's confirmation of the lizardmen's corruption. "Though, of course their corruption was already obvious in their malformed flesh. Flesh that must be burned. We should charge in there like the Knights we are and kill them all." The cleric smiled evilly. "For are we not the guardians of light? We should ACT like it!" He hesitated for just a moment to gauge his colleague's reactions. Would they follow his charge or not?
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| # ? Mar 11, 2013 17:32 |
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As Benjamin bursts from the undergrowth, the lizard both turn and raise their weapons. The one with the leathery collar hisses viciously as the fins of spin leap to attention and stretch like a sail. He opens his mouth to reveal rows of sharp, fanged teeth. Globs of wet green slime fire from the corners of his burnt lips and splatter Benjamin's face. If not for the blessing he would be hideously disfigured, but as it is the acidic slime simply slides from his skin like olive oil. The lizardmen react with surprise, but their weapons are already drawn and they seem eager to engage in combat. What do you do?
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| # ? Mar 11, 2013 21:59 |
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Benjamin Benjamin thrusts his torch into the lizardmen's faces, hoping to blind them while they were still unprepared. He then ducked behind them into the entranceway and used his pitchfork to keep the demons outside where the others could slay them. So what are we supposed to roll for combat like this?
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| # ? Mar 12, 2013 06:41 |
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Marcus of Atengard Marcus has been quiet, clearly bothered by Benjamin's earlier assertion of to-the-end-of-the-earth-following and whatnot; maybe it's that that has him distracted. At any rate, he's a little too slow to stop the other Saffron Knight's headlong rush into danger; all he can do now is follow the play that's clearly been established. Let's review. Benjamin burst out of hiding to attack lizardmen; lizardmen have turned to fight Benjamin. With Benjamin being a big old distraction and waving his glowing pitchfork around, the lizardmen are very likely not going to stop and think 'perhaps we should pay careful attention to the undergrowth in case there are any more Saffron Knights down there that didn't rush out at the same time as the first one.' That's Marcus' assessment, at any rate. The armorless Knight flicks his wrist, and the cord wrapped around his forearm drops free, one end slipping smoothly into his hand. Mercy, it is called, the sacred strangling cord of Atengard, and Marcus is well-versed in its use. As Benjamin moves to the cave entrance and causes the lizardmen to turn, Marcus erupts from the underbrush, snapping his arm around and looping Mercy around the neck of the lizardman without the leathery collar, catching hold of the strangling cord's other weighted end with his other hand and pulling the beastman off balance. Depending on their physiology, Marcus may not be able to strangle the lizardman effectively - they have gills or something, for all he knows - but even in the worst of cases, he can still hold the beast steady and defenseless for anothers' attack. Just plain 'fighting' rather than 'fighting to kill,' I believe (hey, you can strangle people into unconsciousness). So if I'm reading the rules right that's Mind + Body (for Fighting), plus the relevant Traits of Peerless Warrior and Acrobatic, plus an additional Belonging bonus for Mercy, the Sacred Strangling Cord. So all of that together would be 2d6+3d10+1d10+1d8+1d6; I would roll all of those and select the two highest dice, and if the two highest dice total 12 or more I am successful. However, before I roll the GM has to tell me which dice I lose due to difficulty, and then I decide whether to Fold, Escalate, or Resolve, correct? So I'll leave the dice alone and see how tricky it's gonna get first.
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| # ? Mar 12, 2013 08:11 |
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Eudora Cautious or brash, a Knight is a brother. Eudora tightened her jaw at the preacher's recklessness, but there was no time for debate or reproach - battle had been joined, and she would have her brother's back. She felt the slow, bilious rise of doubt from her stomach, as though a threshold had been crossed and the Knights were being watched closely. She quickly fought it down, setting her legs to flight. Too slow to calm Benjamin, Eudora makes the best of it, circling to the lizardmen's flank through the treeline. Lowering her shield, she barrels toward the two beasts engaged with Benjamin and Marcus. Her sword arm drawn back and taut, ready to follow up her charge's impact with a quick blade thrust. I'll also be Fighting, with a general goal of knocking one of the lizardmen down and pinning it.
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| # ? Mar 12, 2013 14:40 |
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Cirrus (sorry, tried to post earlier and it didn't go through, didn't realize) Cirrus rolled his eyes at the blather of the priest and the oracle, and quietly unslung his bow and readied an arrow. Surprised by Benjamin's charge, he nevertheless recovered and aimed carefully at the two lizardmen; as soon as Marcus successfully (or just tries to) pins a lizardman with his whip, Cirrus lets loose with his arrow, draws another, and continues to fire. I'll be Fighting to Kill Marcus's target; not sure if he gets the d10 or he gives me the d10, or how that works.
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| # ? Mar 13, 2013 03:14 |
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Okay, we'll take this nice and slow just so everyone can get used to the rules a bit. Cirrus since you're trying to achieve something different from Marcus, we'll seperate your turns with Marcus going first. Okay so Benjamin in this instant is just fighting. So Mind+Body. He used both belongings so he gains both of those dice, and since he is leading the charge I'll even let you throw in a d8 for Natural Leader. You also get a d6 for your Blessing because it's relevant. All together that comes to 1d10 2d8 5d6! However, you lose 2d6 because you're having to engage both lizardmen at once. So 1d10, 2d8, 3d6 to roll! Or you can escalate, or fold instead. Marcus, 2d6+3d10+1d10+1d8+1d6 is correct so far as I can tell, but you also get the blessing, and since you're only attacking one, you lose 1d6. So a total of 4d10, 1d8, 3d6. Eudora, 1d10, 1d8, 3d6 for Mind + Body + Laurel Shield. Escalate, fold or resolve? Cirrus, 4d8 4d6 for your Stats, Skilled Archer, Unwavering Focus, Bow and blessing. With the 1 taken away you're left with 4d8, 3d6, but wait to see what Marcus does first. It's my bad, I thought it'd be easier to run if we did everyone at the same time, but it makes much more sense for me to respond to each attack ASAP so you;re not waiting to see what other people do. I'll remember that for next time. I suggest we work out all the mechanics, then run the fiction when we resolve.
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| # ? Mar 13, 2013 11:44 |
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OK, and to clarify - you had said we were using Invisible Castle for this, I registered for the site but do we have a game up on there? Also wow did not realize would get so many dice, haha.
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| # ? Mar 13, 2013 17:41 |
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Marcus of Atengard I choose to Resolve, and so roll: 4d10+1d8+3d6=42 Because I can't seem to get Invisible Castle to apply its "take highest" variable to the entire set of dice (possibly because I'm misunderstanding the syntax) you will have to click on the link or just trust me when I say the two highest dice were two nines, giving me a total of 18. Lizard-dude be stranglin' and an easy shot for Cirrus, I would think.
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| # ? Mar 13, 2013 18:08 |
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Eudora I also choose to resolve, and roll 1d10=4, 1d8=5, 3d6=11 for a total of 11 on my two highest dice. So close! Monochrome fucked around with this message at Mar 13, 2013 around 19:16 |
| # ? Mar 13, 2013 19:12 |
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Cirrus Cirrus is having an off day, it seems, and possibly just shot Marcus in the eyeball. http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3971597/ for a grand total of 7
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| # ? Mar 14, 2013 01:27 |
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Benjamin Fighting Two highest dice were both eights. So a total of 16
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| # ? Mar 14, 2013 15:40 |
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Benjamin, charges the lizardmen with his pitchfork raised, thrusting his flaming torch into the face of both creatures. They hiss and scream, retreating from the flames and momentarily blinded as he quickly sidesteps around them and levels the trident-end of his pitchfork at their backs. They swipe at him helplessly with their weapons, but neither of them land a hit as his fancy footwork leaves him blocking their path of retreat. Marcus is second to act. He bursts through from the bushes and slips the length of Mercy between his hands. Blinded and screaming from the embers in its eyes, the collared lizardman is easy prey for the strangler. He leaps, loops the noose around its neck and brings the creature to the grounds - its choked screams cut off as the wire tightens. Though not immediately obvious as to whether or not the attack is enough to render the beast slain, the leg spasms and bulging eyes suggest that the monstrous lizard is unhappy. Eudora however, is less lucky. Charging in with her shield held high, she attempts to tackle the standing lizard. It is luck that potentially saves the beast's life, as the moment her shield connects he ducks to draw his axes. Eudora goes tumbling over his leathery back and sprawls across the ground. His eyes glowing with hatred, the lizard man turns and throws one of the hand axes like a tomahawk for her back. 1d8=5 Forunately the axe misses by inches, pinning her sleeve to the ground but leaving her unharmed. Cirrus, narrows one eye and takes aim with his powerful bow for the slowly suffocating lizard within Marcus's grip. It struggles and writhes in an attempt to wrestle the giant of a man from behind it, but its companion is not so distracted. A second before he is able to unleash the fury of his marksmanship, the standing lizard launches a tomahawk for his face. 1d10=7. Though not fatal, the axe embeds itself in Cirrus's arm, cutting a nasty gouge into his flesh and sending his shot wide. Okay, so to make it clear. Eudora fails her roll and so rolls a d8 for harm as she is Fighting. She gets <6 which means no harm. Cirrus rolls a d10 for Fighting to Kill, and scores a 7-9 which leaves him harmed. Cirrus - edit your character sheet to reflect this. Basically you either remove a d6, turn one d8 to a d6, or turn one d10 to a d8. The lizard in Marcus's grasp chokes, splutters, drools acid then slumps unconcious. The other is marching towards where Eudora lays pinned to the ground by her sleeve. Difficulty is still the same, minus 1 for one lizard, minus 2 if you attack both. You can skip my turn in choosing to roll. What do you do?
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| # ? Mar 14, 2013 16:01 |
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Benjamin Stafford grinned at the pain he caused the fouls creatures with his torch's purifying flames. They would be freed from their torment, and the best way to do so was with the pain of the light. But now to take advantage of the remaining lizard's distraction. He would impale the foul creature with his pitchfork. He did not want to kill it- not yet- but it needed to be stopped before Eudora was harmed. "Eudora, stay down and let us men handle this." So my dice haven't changed i think. Only one opponent this time, but only using the pitchfork and not the torch. Which equalizes the gains and minuses? Fighting 13
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| # ? Mar 14, 2013 16:29 |
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| # ? May 24, 2013 21:10 |
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Benjamin thrusts his pitchfork into the spine of the lizardman slithering up behind Eudora. There is a splash of foul smelling acid which burns the earth, smoking into the air and bleaching the grass it touches. The lizardman hisses, turning to face Benjamin and lunging with its mouth opened wide. Sharp fangs snap at the air as it barks at Benjamin in a strange language. The lizardman is trying to Fight to Kill. You can either roll to Fight to Kill or fold, inc which case you risk no harm or death, but will face complications.
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| # ? Mar 14, 2013 21:14 |
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