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GM Perhaps sparked by Myga's attempts to flee, the Living Armor surges into action with a rattling rasp of mist billowing from its face plate. It draws a red blade and lunges for the crimson swordsman, but its enthusiasm proves detrimental as it widely misses the veteran mercenary. Undeterred by its failure, the Living Armor stares at Keiji with unseeing sockets through its face plate. Vera's strike proves true, as befitting the training underwent by a Princess of Haransei. With expert aim and focus, her blade seems to bypass the Armored Knight's plate entirely for a single moment, blue mists of mana trailing in the arc of her attack. With a low, rumbling howl like a waterfall's crash, the Armored Knight's blue mana surges, filling the air with a heady intensity, then turns a deep red. As the chaos of conflict continues, Prince Gareth prepares to summon a lesser spirit of Mana and Franc Reale's gleaming eyes take in the obvious glimmer of wealth belonging to the Chalice of Summoning, and Keiji, the Crimson Swordsman...
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May 3, 2016 02:21
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Keiji HP: 8/10 Strikes: 2 Miss Tokens: 0 Keiji springs quickly into action, but his inner demon seems especially temperamental. His efforts to draw out its power to magically terrify the animated suits of armor don't accomplish much more than winding him Standard: Terrifying Visage on Living Armor. (Fumble) Use Multitarget Boost to move 1 square southeast (taking 2 damage from an Opportunity) and attack the Armored Knight. (Fumble, but I'll use spend my Miss Token to bump that up to a 3, applying the power's effect and my Mark of Death.) Role: Assess (Result: 4) How many Hit Points does the armored knight have? How would you summarize the armored knight's powers? What are the armored knight's special traits? Are there hidden enemies? What a great first turn! 
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May 6, 2016 00:50
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Mechanical
GM
As Keiji's demonic aura fills the air, a sort of flicker is clearly seen to go through the Living Armor and the Armored Knight. Neither falters nor falls, but the overwhelming presence of the sheer potency of Keiji's less-than-mortal aura seems to have sent a temporary disruption between the Armors and whatever has summoned them. For a brief moment, their armor dulls and rusts, before returning to its magical luster as the moment passes. Afterwards, though the spirit contained within Keiji's soul seems to have no interest in the bodiless, bloodless creatures its host faces, it does bear a response to Keiji's intent to discover more enemies. The spirit enhances Keiji's hearing as it senses a flicker of magic, allowing the crimson swordsman to hear a duo of voices coming from behind the hedge wall to the west. "...Mother's bird is flying away...?" "We won't let it...! Before a response can be mounted, however, the Armored Knight howls in red furor and attempts to return the damage it has been dealt in kind. It refuses to try to break free from the flanking trap it is caught in, accepting and suffering the damage from Keiji's spirit. Instead, it lifts its glaive into the air and howls, summoning a torrent of mana from the courtyard to itself. The mana doesn't seem to be willing to work right, though, or perhaps Keiji's spirit left some sort of trap within the Armored Knight's essence, as the red-tinged mana immediately flares up and consumes the Armored Knight, setting it alight with magical flames that refuse to die. The Armored Knight howls as it readies its weapon again and spins in a circle, sending a flash of red flames out from its weapon. The flames latch onto everybody surrounding it, remaining to burn them even after the Armored Knight lowers its weapon to regard his surroundings. Behind it, and before Franc's eyes, the Chalice of Summoning comes back to life with a mana-infused roar after three of the Sparks of Conflict throw themselves into it, spitting five more bursts of flames into the courtyard. Much like the flames before, they come to life as Sparks of Conflict, and turn their eyes towards the party surrounding the Armored Knight. From behind the western hedge, the voices Keiji heard sound again. "They can take more...?" "...Yes. More...! At their words, two more fonts of mana appear on the courtyard grounds, giving form to another Living Armor in the north and... ...a second Armored Knight just steps away from the fleeing Myga's location. Velyoukai fucked around with this message at 11:18 on May 9, 2016 |
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May 7, 2016 11:03
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Myga watched the spark as it ignored her and moves towards where the others were. Not paying attention ahead, she flew right into the unexpected addition of another magic armored man. (Flight ends.) She quickly scrambles to her feet, now giving the armor full attention. (Role action, mark changed.) Wings retraced, Myga was free to use her mist to instead spread around the area surrounding the armor, aiming to restrict its options. (Move action: Trap, if the armor stays within 5 tiles after its turn ends she will have an advantage in attacking on her next turn.) "Y-you don't hurt Myga or take things!" She reached into her pouch and pulled out one of her beloved, and heavy, items and balled it in her hand, trying to bash it into the armor's metallic head. (Basic attack, rolled 3, 2 damage.)
Psiwri fucked around with this message at 14:37 on May 10, 2016 |
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May 10, 2016 14:34
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Mechanical
Vera's Turn
GM Seemingly unfettered by the mist surrounding it, the barely dented Armored Knight growls towards Myga. Despite this, both of its arms remain by its sides, its glaive left sheathed across its back as it stares ominously across the fountain towards the Chalice of Summoning. It stares with a rasping growl continuing to emit from its helmet as the still-functioning Living Armor continues to stalk Keiji, drawing its weapon again and delivering a blow down the crimson swordsman's back. Velyoukai fucked around with this message at 08:43 on May 11, 2016 |
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May 10, 2016 23:04
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Vera Vera notices Keiji's being flanked, so after a parting shot on the armour she moves to assist. Attack: Melee Basic Attack in Roll20 Move: Flank (Armoured Knight (Elite), Keiji). Vera shifts to NW of Armoured Knight, Keiji can move to any square adjacent to armoured knight.
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May 11, 2016 19:50
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Keiji HP: 7/10 Strikes: 3 Miss Tokens: 1 Keiji shifts and brings his blade to bear against the living armor once again, but he stumbles over a loose rock and nearly falls on his rear end. "There!" he shouts, pointing toward the western hedge. "Someone's summoning these things!" Free: I'll decline Vera's free move. Move: Shift NW. Standard: Attack Living Armor with Terrifying Visage. (Jesus loving Christ another 1.) Free: Point & shout.
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May 12, 2016 02:15
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Gareth HP: 10/10 | Strikes: 1 | Miss Tokens: 1 Elemental HP: 5/5 With the contract between summoner and elemental providing a link, the spirit of stone follows Gareth's mental command and charges forward to smash at the Living Armor that had attacked Kenji. "Oh dear," the prince mutters in the meantime as he sees more enemy summons take to the field, his body moving absently to dodge the nearby spark's attack. Ignoring Kenji's words for the moment, Gareth instead focuses on the Chalice and its surroundings. An item like that, so prominently displayed, there had to be something about it, shouldn't it? Earth Elemental has Resist 1, so I assume that negates Ongoing Damage (1)? Move: Earth Elemental moves 1 SW next to Living Armor. Attack: Elemental uses Melee Basic Attack on Living Armor, rolled 6 for crit so 4 damage. Role: Assess, rolled 6. How many Hit Points does the Living Armor have? How many Hit Points does the Spark of Conflict have? How would you summarize the Chalice of Summoning's powers? What are the Chalice of Summoning's special traits? What can they use against me? Are there hidden doors or traps? Daraken fucked around with this message at 07:30 on May 12, 2016 |
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May 12, 2016 03:11
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Mechanical
Assess
Franc's Turn
GM The Armored Knight gasps as Vera's blade sinks deep through its armor, the Mana maintaining its defenses finally collapsing and allowing the blade to sink in with ease. With another rattling rasp, the Armored Knight begins to collapse, its red-tinged Mana flaring once, then disappearing as a snuffed candle flame would. Its armor sinks to the ground as well before the pile of magical metal begins to sparkle and fade into the air as it returns to the natural Mana in the air as crystals of light. With their champion fallen, fortune seems poor for the Living Armors, though they attempt to hold their ground as well as possible. Keiji's Terrifying Visage once again fails to inspire fear in the first Living Armor, however, the flickering of the connection between its Mana and its summoner occurs once more. Perhaps even from such a distance, whoever summoned the golems is intimidated by the Crimson Swordsman? It seems to be the case, as Keiji's shout results in a pair of startled yelps emerging from behind the western hedges. A moment passes before two figures emerge from behind the bend, holding each other by the shoulders and peering from behind the second Living Armor at Keiji and the others. Both are blondes, each wearing a drooping, pointed, black hat and a matching cloak, with near identical faces and expressions of subdued nervousness. For Vera and Gareth, they are more than just familiar; Minah and Manah, son and daughter of Annankos respectively, are their cousins. "Mean..." Minah mutters, glaring at Keiji's feet and pointedly not his face. "Attack...something else...!" Manah agrees, also refusing to look Keiji in the eye, instead directing his hand towards Gareth's Earth Elemental. As Manah's Living Armor moves to attack the stony sentinel, Annankos lets out a bell-like laugh at the cowed expressions on her children's faces. "I think you've frightened them, Crimson Swordsman, even if you didn't intend to." Her smile turns to a wry smirk. "Somehow, I don't think they'll be showing you any more of their toys today, you scary man~" Velyoukai fucked around with this message at 03:53 on May 15, 2016 |
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May 13, 2016 11:38
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Franc Reale, HP 9-2/10, 1+1 Focus on Armored Knight "Tch!" Franc's hiss sounds more like someone recoiling from touching a too hot teapot, but he's still gritting his teeth as he bats at the flames on his robe. "When I said I was cold, I didn't mean this! This was bespoke!" He turns towards the fleeing armor that set him on fire. "Unliving cur, our transaction is not over!" And, of course, now that there's no reason to hold back... Storming south (and cursing at the creature to his right by taking an attack of opportunity from the living armor, if I'm not mistaken), he shouts "Do you not know the rules of the Eight Ways Trade League?! I cannot let you leave without a gift of hospitality! Please, share a breath of smoke!" He chucks his pipe dramatically at the blue-flamed armor ahead him, before suddenly pulling another from his sleeves and stuffing it back into his mouth to assess the effects. Sure enough... Move: 2 SE, 2 S, 1 SW Role: Sap Strength on Armored Knight Free: Armored Knight Cannot use Interrupts or Reactions (from 1 Focus) Attack: Demand Attention. Davin Valkri: rolling 1d6 (6) = 6 Critical hit! Armored Knight gains +1 focus (now 2) and takes 2 * 2 = 4 damage Control Boost! Slide target 3 N, opening it to an Opportunity from Myga! Davin Valkri fucked around with this message at 06:30 on May 14, 2016 |
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May 14, 2016 06:25
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Gareth HP: 10/10 | Strikes: 1 | Miss Tokens: 1 Elemental HP: 4/5 "I see..." Gareth mutters as he finishes his inspection. Throwing an absentminded wave of greeting at his cousins, the young prince then turns to address the rest of the party. "Don't let the sparks enter the chalice! It'll summon something nasty if enough of them get in! And if we destroy enough sparks, they'll stop coming out!"
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May 15, 2016 03:32
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Mechanical
Myga's Turn
GM Releasing an echoing howl of rage, the remaining Armored Knight stomps back in place between Franc and Myga and finally draws its glaive. It slices through the air between them with a sound-producing whirl, sending blue flames to crash into the royal champions. As it returns its weapon to its side, the Armored Knight visibly flinches as Myga's mist, which had remaining wrapped around its form despite its provoked charge and miss towards Franc, suddenly turns violent. The mist wraps around the Armored Knight's left gauntlet and seems to compress itself, crushing the Armored Knight's hand and absorbing the Mana inherent in its make. Throughout the rest of the Courtyard, the Sparks of Conflict appear to respond to Prince Gareth's newfound sense of urgency. Whereas four of them adjust themselves to fire bullets of flames at Keiji and Princess Vera, two of the Sparks manage to maneuver their way around the party and throw themselves into the Chalice of Summoning! The Chalice's response is painfully clear, as a ring of flames is spewed from the rim of the Chalice's edge and expands throughout the courtyard air. The party, sans Myga, is struck by the impact of the fiery ring, just as the Chalice of Summoning belches forth 6 more Sparks of Conflict! Velyoukai fucked around with this message at 12:26 on May 15, 2016 |
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May 15, 2016 12:17
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Myga was not prepared for the armored thing to set her on fire, very distressing! She reels her mist in further in self-preservation, failing to do anything to the armor along the way. (Rolled 1 and 2 on advantage, for a miss ;_;) Panicked from being on fire, she instinctively heads for the fountain nearby to put herself out! (Move action: Disengage, no opportunity granted.)
Psiwri fucked around with this message at 15:26 on May 15, 2016 |
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May 15, 2016 15:21
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Mechanical:
Vera's Turn
GM The woman-of-the-mist's response to being lit aflame by the second Armored Knight proves fortunate, as not even the magical flames can resist being quenched by the water of the courtyard fountain. As soon as she submerges herself, Myga is relieved from the health-sapping fire. Though now she is all wet, so was it worth it? Though the twins have refrained from summoning any new enemies for the party, they still command their existing dolls as per their mother's orders. The first of the Living Armors doesn't bother moving; instead it raises its sword above its head and brings it down to chip away at Gareth's elemental summon. It pointedly makes no effort to look at or near Keiji, strangely... Velyoukai fucked around with this message at 11:59 on May 17, 2016 |
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May 15, 2016 21:48
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Gareth HP: 9/10 | Strikes: 1 | Miss Tokens: 1 Elemental HP: 4/5 The spark next to Gareth pays for its lapse in attention, the young prince striking it down with a burst of magic before it can attack his sister. A startled yelp escapes the summoner's mouth when the unexpected ring of fire suddenly sweeps over him though, leaving his clothing singed to his annoyance. Shaking his head, Gareth launches a bolt of magic at a nearby spark before charging towards Kenji and his elemental to help form a defensive line. They couldn't let any more sparks get back into the chalice! Using Opportunity against SoC D to deal 2 damage. Attack: Gareth uses Ranged Basic Attack on SoC K, rolled 6 for crit so 4 damage and Defense Boost activates, regaining 1 HP for Gareth (back to 10). Role: Mark, target Living Armor 2 Move: 3W
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May 19, 2016 05:08
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Mechanical
Franc's Turn
GM It appears that the tide is turning in favor of the party, as a barrage of focused attacks from the two Royals and their swordsman bodyguard make quick work of much of the summoned monsters! Vera's guard is maintained by her brother and Keiji, whose quick reflexes cut down the Sparks of Conflict before they can barrage her with flames, allowing her to move north and cut down the ranks of the Sparks of Conflict without obstruction. Her sword strikes true, and due to the Mana from the Armored Knight soaking her blade, the flames from the Spark of Conflict actually imbue her weapon with Salamando's Blessing, effectively giving her a magically flaming sword! Meanwhile, Keiji's demon seems to have had enough of his previous failures, as with a surge of Mana and malicious intent that leaves Minah and Manah scurrying to their mother's skirt, the Crimson Swordsman unleashes a powerful draining attack on the Living Armors around him. The weight of his killing intent is too much for the first Living Armor, as it collapses to rapidly deteriorating magic armor at his feet, while the second Living Armor's very Mana that composes its make is drained and converted to stamina for Keiji. At their sides, Prince Gareth and his Earth Elemental continue to provide a steady, reliable source of assistance, as another Spark of Conflict is downed by the Prince and his elemental serves as a wall of defense. Not even the Living Armor's slippery nature can help it, as even its sneak attack around the elemental's side on the prince is deflected by the Earth Elemental's presence and well-placed shoulder tackle, proving it won't let that sneaky Living Armor get a single blow on its Summoner!
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May 19, 2016 21:38
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Franc Reale, HP 6-2/10, 2 Focus on Armored Knight, Batting at the flames only makes it worse! The fire licks away at Franc's robe--it hasn't burnt his flesh yet, but it has completely torched the shoulder, leaving arm, shoulder, and slender chest bare. And somehow boiling hot and freezing cold at the same time. Ugh! "Aaaah! I have no time for this, away with you!" Franc dismisses the Knight before him with a wave of the hand. With another (useless) toss of smokeweed, he jumps into the water, then wades towards the golden Chalice with a gleam in his eye. "Since you're so much trouble, I'll just take this off your collective hands as compensation..." he mutters. Move: 2 SE, 2 S, 1 SW Role/Free?: Armored Knight Cannot take advantage of Opportunities." and "Cannot use Interrupts or Reactions." (2 focus) Attack: Pull the chalice into the water with him! (Basic Melee Attack) rolling 1d6 (2) = 2 ...and promptly loses his grip on the slippery thing. "Godsdammed--!" Davin Valkri fucked around with this message at 02:22 on May 20, 2016 |
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May 20, 2016 02:16
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Mechanical
Myga's Turn
GM The Armored Knight, perhaps influenced by its summoner's personality, howls in frustration as both Myga and Franc make their way away from it, unable to respond at first due to the bizarre smoke sent its way by the merchant prince. Its slices through the air with its remaining arm, then stomps towards the edge of the fountain, where it stops and howls again at the two wet, fleeing targets. With a low, hissing growl, the Armored Knight takes hold of its glaive in one hand and slashes towards Myga. Its weapon, though bestowed with reach fitting a polearm, still does not reach her, but the wave of compressed air sent screaming her way by the force of the blow does! The Sparks of Conflict, as though in tune with the Armored Knight and seeing that their path towards the Chalice of Summoning is blocked off, go wild and begin spitting fire en masse at the party. Each of the six Sparks of Conflict send a barrage of fireworks at Keiji, Franc, Myga and Gareth, and though one of them misses, most hit their mark and quite well in some cases! As though aware of its precarious positioning, the Chalice of Summoning spews forth another 5 Sparks of Conflict before its burning embers simmer down to hissing black smoke. Could it have reached an end point...?
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May 20, 2016 03:45
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Gareth HP: 9/10 | Strikes: 1 | Miss Tokens: 1 Elemental HP: 4/5 Letting out another yelp as more fire is launched at him, Gareth looks mournfully at the small hole burned through his robes. Oh dear, this was getting quite annoying. Looking up from his little inspection, the young prince catches his stolid elemental following up its shoulder tackle with a massive doubled-fisted smash, leaving the outcome with the Living Armor in no question. A delicate hand reaches up to pat the earth spirit approvingly, Gareth giving a beatific smile before pointing towards the cluster of sparks. "Now, let's finish those off!" Living Armor is Marked, so it takes 2 Opportunity damage from the Earth Elemental as it slides adjacent to it to reach Gareth. Attack: Earth Elemental uses Quake on Living Armor, rolling 6 for crit so 4 damage, Slowing the Living Armor (not that it matters) and Defense Boost activates, regaining 1 HP for Earth Elemental (back to 5). Move: Earth Elemental moves 1S, 2SW Role: Mark, target Armored Knight
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May 20, 2016 04:45
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Keiji HP: 6/10 Strikes: 4 Miss Tokens: 0 Keiji grits his teeth and turns to the sparks of conflict. He's not convinced that the chalice is completely finished, but there's a more immediate threat to face. The swordsman raises his blade and channels his inner demon, then brings the weapon down, firing a blast of inky black energy into the midst of the sparks, where is explodes in a shower of energy, bringing down three of them. Seeing Franc and Myga exposed, he then turns and swings again, the sheer power of the swing reducing the top of the fountain to dust. The stone is reduced to a fine power, which drifts down over the water and obscures both the merchant and the monster-girl from view. Standard: Corrupted Wound centered on Spark of Conflict G, hitting Sparks E, F, G, and H. (Fumbles vs. Spark E. Hits all the other sparks for damage, taking them out.) Role: Use terrain to obscure the water squares in the fountain until the end of my next turn.
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May 23, 2016 22:00
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Franc Reale, HP 4-1/10, 2 Focus on Armored Knight, Bloodied Well, if Franc's clothing wasn't reduced to rags before...Now it's burnt, soaked through, and covered in stone dust! It's enough to make a man sigh. With one final groan of defiance--or maybe just annoyance--he reaches up once more and tries to drag the Chalice of Summoning into the water. I tried it last time, let's try it this time! Davin Valkri: rolling 1d6: (3 )= 3 That's a hit, right? I'll take a twist, like it falling cup-side-first and dumping the contents onto Franc's head.
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May 26, 2016 03:52
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GM In the end, the party's tenacity proves enough to complete Annankos' test. Prince Gareth and Keiji's indirect teamwork makes short work of nearly half the threatening Sparks of Conflict, with the summoned Earth Elemental opening Keiji's back to be free from attacks so the crimson swordsman can unleash two waves of Mana-intense energy. The first scatters a group of Sparks of Conflict, snuffing out all but one, while the second provides a layer of obscuring fountain-dust to shield Franc's efforts from sight. While the misty-woman, Myga, snuffs out another Spark of Conflict with her strange mist, Princess Vera lends her assistance to Franc's efforts to topple the Chalice of Summoning. They successfully manage to finagle the summoning device into the water, though at great expense to Franc's stamina and Vera's choice of dry clothes. "Enough!" Annankos' voice rings throughout the courtyard, clear as a bell's toll, as the Sparks of Conflict vanish in time with the Chalice's unfortunate water tumble. From behind their mother's skirts, the twins, Minah and Manah, wiggle their fingers and the Armored Knight glowering at the dusty fountain dissipates into manadust. "It would seem that most of you truly are ready for this journey..." "Indeed, Sister." A regal voice calls out from the courtyard entrance. "Most of them."  "Ah, Your Majesty." Annankos bows, an action mimicked by her two children behind her. "Have you reached your evaluation of their efforts?" "Yes," Queen Remelia, High Queen of Haransei, and mother to Princess Vera and Prince Gareth, regards the party with an imperious, fiery look. "I have."
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May 29, 2016 07:10
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Gareth "My thanks for your service, honorable spirit," Gareth whispers quietly before releasing the earth elemental from his control, the mass of earth and stone melding back into the ground with a contented sigh. His pale slim hand then reaches up to wipe the sweat from his forehead, the young prince smiling in the meanwhile as the group seems to have successfully completed his dear aunt's test, leaving them ready to move on with their quest. The smile grows a bit strained though at his mother's appearance, Gareth dipping his body slightly in greeting at her appearance. "Mother," the summoner murmurs with a wry grin on his face. His mother loved him, loved all her children, Gareth knew that. But still, he couldn't help but feel she felt a little disappointed with how he had grown up.
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May 29, 2016 08:28
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Keiji Keiji rest his sword on his shoulders and regards the queen with a fairly uninterested expression. His performance in the fight was less than satisfactory to his own perception, but it should have been more than sufficient to impress a queen who likely hasn't seen a minute of battle in her life. So he says nothing, and instead glances around the courtyard, taking in the results of the battle and trying to figure out how well his new allies will pull their weight - and which one did poorly enough to earn Remelia's ire.
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May 31, 2016 02:56
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Franc Reale One pale white hand grabs the lip of the fountain, followed by the other, followed by Franc pulling himself over the railing and onto the stone path. At the moment he looks a bit more like an unlucky shipwreck victim or would-be sacrifice to the sea than a merchant prince, especially with soaked through hair and torn clothing. Maybe a siren if one were feeling generous. He's still coughing up water when Queen Remelia announces her appearance, and scrambles to his feet rapidly enough to bow and reverently mutter "Your Majesty"...and send even more water flying off his hair.
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May 31, 2016 03:03
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Myga was on the verge of tears. Attacked by weird things, drenched in water that somehow didn't make fireballs hurt any less! Whole ordeal very confusing. She threw her arms down and glared at Annankos. "Thought Seer good person, then attacks and inflict pain! Why!?"
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Jun 1, 2016 12:34
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Mechanical
GM There is silence for a moment as Queen Remelia considers the party, before she approaches Vera and reaches out to cup her daughter's cheek in palm. She turns and inspects Vera's face, doing the same for the rest of the assembled sans Myga, then steps back and withdraws a weathered, but well-tended spear from across her back. "Light, tend to them." The queen murmurs, as a bright, silver light flares into existence and cascades down on the humans in the courtyard. Within seconds, it is as thought a warm tickle spreads through your bodies, knitting injuries and restoring energy where there was once stress and fatigue. As the light continues to fall ever-presently, Queen Remelia approaches each of you and rests the spearhead of her weapon on your shoulders, each touch feather-light, but seeming to bestow newfound energy. There is a blatant glimmer of pride in her eyes as she restores Gareth's energy, but that glimmer darkens to disapproval once the queen's attention is turned once more to Princess Vera. "I truly expected better of you, Princess of Haransei." Vera's response is cut off by her mother's raised hand and glower, the princess falling back to a subdued state. "Whereas your younger brother proved capable of defending and cooperating with his allies, your overconfidence drew danger towards you and yours multiple times. If not for your brother and bodyguard's quick thinking, you could have even been incapacitated, and what good could you serve then?" Queen Remelia sighs. "I had hoped that your temperament would prove more boon than draw for this quest, Vera. However, I can see now that to allow you on this journey would not bear the results Haransei requires. Instead, you will be investigating the village of Ni, which has failed to send word of their status, nor has their shipment of fish reached our walls. This investigation is most important, Vera; the last time we were met with silence a fortnight long was the village of Go, and..." The queen's gaze turns from Vera to Keiji, holding the swordsman's eyes with a look of mixed indifference and pity. "...the fate of that village was made most clear." With frustration evident, Princess Vera bows and leaves the courtyard in a hurry, unwilling to meet the eyes of the rest of the party. Once Vera is gone, Queen Remelia sighs once more, but turns to face the assembled humans. "...I apologize for that. My daughter has much to learn, it seems." Queen Remelia smiles softly towards Gareth, the glimmer back in her eyes. "It is good to know that my son's potential was more than his mother's and aunt's hopes, however." "If any of you have any questions before you depart, I would hear you." --- As Queen Remelia addresses the human members of the party, Annankos approaches the distraught Myga and places gentle hands on her shoulders. A breeze sweet like the scent of berries and flowers and tree sap flows around Myga, dancing around her as her fatigue and stress seem to magically disappear. Before her eyes, the sweet wind gathers fragments of dark spots and foul wind, much like the purple-not-wind from the memory-pictures of Kilam's wind almost a week ago. The sweet wind balls the not-wind together, then shoots into Annankos' hands, which have formed an arc between herself and Myga. "My apologies, young one of the mountains." Annankos' intones wearily, her focus clearly on the wind in her hands. A flame bursts to life between them, and Annankos brings her palms together, crushing the wind and not-wind between flames even as her hands begin to burn. "However, it was vital that the last of the sickness was cleansed from your mind." Annankos opens her hands after a moment, revealing blackened skin, but no trace of the wind or not-wind from before. As her children surge to her sides and begin applying manawater to her injuries, Annankos attempts a wan smile towards Myga. "I understand you may still be confused. Please, ask your questions. I will answer what I can."
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Jun 2, 2016 00:37
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Gareth The relief that fills Gareth as the Queen's magic washes away his aches and pains quickly gives way to sympathy as he listens to his mother lecture his older sister. Nervously biting his lower lip, the young prince reaches out with his hand as to call out for Vera when she moves to leave, but drops it and remains silent when the princess refuses to even look in his direction and instead stomps off. Vera always did have a bit of a temper, with a sense of pride to match it. Gareth just hoped she won't hold what happened here today against him. Worried thoughts of his sister are replaced with a warm sense of pride and accomplishment as Gareth hears Remelia's words, the young prince returning his mother's smile with a beaming one of his own. Suddenly as a thought strikes him, Gareth begins rapidly looking back and forth between each member of the party before finally pointing a finger at himself and speaking out loud in an incredulous tone. "Wait, does this mean I'm in charge?"
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Jun 2, 2016 07:56
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GM "Yes, you showed solid enough promise in regards to yourself and your allies with this skirmish of Annankos'." Remelia nods. "Consider this a rite of passage, Gareth. The Spirits know that Cordon and I have been considering what to serve as yours for some time now." The queen sighs, then fixes Gareth with a wry warning. "Consider your luck, my son. Your father has been trying to convince me to let him take you on a fortnight's hunting trip for years now to prove yourself. This matter of investigating that strange meteor's landing should prove much simpler."
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Jun 2, 2016 15:11
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Franc Reale "Er, thank you, Your Majesty," Franc acknowledges the queen. Although the light does make his insides feel a lot better, outside he's still wet and half naked. Definitely going to need a refresher on board the hoverune. "Hmm, about this meteorite..." Really, the question he wants to ask is whether anybody else has arrived to strip it first, but now's really not the time. "Something like this...well, people talk in whispers about events from the heavens. (Of course I'm aware of that--it's a big shift in business, after all.) So what are the people outside these walls saying about our shooting star?"
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Jun 5, 2016 08:41
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Gareth Visibly blanching, Gareth hurriedly shakes his head in response with his hands held out. "No, no. Leading the investigation is perfectly fine with me, Mother." While he did look up to and admire his father, the young prince was definitely the more scholarly sort compared to the old warrior. Spending two weeks with him in the wilds well, it sounded like to Gareth that he had dodged an arrow there. Focusing back on the task on hand, the summoner's mind races as he considers the quest in new light. The spirits had told him he'd be taking part in something important, but he thought he'd simply be following along to satisfy his curiosity, with Vera in charge. With the mantle of responsibility laid upon him now, that changed everything. He definitely needed to get more information if he was expected to lead! "The meteor, it was going north. Do we know how far north it landed? In kobold territory?"
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Jun 5, 2016 17:40
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Franc "There is little for them to speak of." Queen Remelia shrugs, an uncommonly mundane gesture from the otherwise austere woman. "Few outside the courtyard celebration were even awake at the time, let alone out in the dark of night. Those who witnessed its passing would have been those either on guard or within the castle walls themselves." "...Those aligned with Haransei, that is." She admits after a moment, then smiles tightly at Franc. "I am hoping that with the Eight-Ways Trade League's presence accompanying this journey, those not aligned with us will think twice before getting involved. The meteorite, if it matches Annankos' visions..." Queen Remelia trails off, lost in thought for a moment, but comes back. "Well, it is most vital to Haransei's future, young Reale. I am entrusting my son and my nation to you and the League." Gareth Queen Remelia nods, an unpleasant look in her eyes at the mention of the kobolds. "That's quite the eye for trajectories, Gareth. As far as our philosophers can tell, it indeed fell into the Gorondoa Forest." She briefly glances towards Myga and holds her gaze on the back of the woman's head. Almost unwillingly, she returns to looking to Gareth instead. "I cannot begin to describe the trouble that could arise from the tentative peace we enjoy being disrupted by the subhuman response to that meteor. They could even begin to consider it an attack from Haransei."
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Jun 8, 2016 05:57
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Keiji "What aren't you telling us?" Keiji asks bluntly. "You obviously know more about this that you aren't saying, and I hate going into a fight unprepared. I've taken too many jobs where that ended badly." So what, exactly, is so important about the meteorite, and why..." He uses his free hand to gesure at those assembled in the courtyard. "...us?"
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Jun 10, 2016 20:07
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Gareth So they'd be going into kobold territory huh? Gareth couldn't fault his mother for her displeasure given their history, but the young prince was sure he could negotiate with the kobolds. After all, it was in everyone's best interest if all of them worked together after all! Following his mother's gaze, Gareth looks on questioningly when he notes the subject of her attention. "Another question, mother. Sir Keiji and Sir Reale, I can understand why they're here. But Miss Myga, she's well. A bit of an odd choice? Not to say that her powers weren't useful," the summoner remarks, thinking back on the previous fight. "But Auntie wasn't exactly clear why she was coming along."
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Jun 12, 2016 07:41
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Anger was quicky replaced by curiosity and wonder as Myga saw, felt, Seer do things with her mist against her will. Then she felt droopy, though at the same time many fuzzy memories became clear. Seer was doing something other humans were not with the mist, and as Kalim took to her thoughts again, things began to piece together. "Mist felt strange, not like with others. Is Seer human, or?"
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Jun 12, 2016 14:06
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Keiji For a moment, Queen Remelia's response is only the turning of a frigid glare towards Keiji. The glower fades, however, as she concedes with a tired sigh. "It is only in light of the fate that befell Go Village that I tolerate your cavalier impudence, mercenary. Remember that." Queen Remelia composes herself again and continues. "There are many things that you are not being told, largely because they are either unknown to us as well, or they are non-essential to your mission, which is to protect my son, if I must remind you." "This sudden event is not alone, Keiji of Go. We only have portents from Annankos' visions from the spirits to assist us, and they remain unclear. This ominous silence from the village of Ni, the appearance of clouds of miasma over the Tzenker Peaks and the timing of that subhuman in Haransei—" the Queen gestures to Myga with another cross look. "—and the appearance of a meteor that seems to have been summoned from the heavens..." Queen Remelia sighs again, looking much more tired than the festive Queen from the night before. She approaches Keiji and lowers her voice, for him to hear only. "I don't know what this meteorite foretells, Keiji of Go. Only that Annankos' vision shares that it holds Haransei's fate, and that one of my children would be responsible for it. If you bear dislike for venturing without precautions or warning, then know that I, too, immensely dislike sending my youngest son into such." Gareth "Hmph." The Queen's warmth is again replaced with disdain, a familiar expression and glint in her eyes once the discussion returns to the kobold-kind. "Would that I had more choice and option, my son, you would not travel with such a creature anywhere near you." Queen Remelia sighs. "However, your Aunt was most adamant about that thing's place in her vision. I'm afraid that if you wish to know what I, too, would prefer to know as well, then you must speak to Annankos directly." "Perhaps if it's you, she won't simply deflect the issue..." She mutters. Myga "I am fully human, my dear." Annankos laughs, but there is a shadow in her eyes that doesn't laugh with her. "However, much as you are a creature of the world, touched briefly by outside influence, I am a human touched by the influence of the world." She lifts a healed hand from her daughter's grasp and waves it in the air. The wind dances loosely around her fingers, but doesn't dance with her as though the two worked together. It is more that Annankos gestures and the wind follows. "The wind whispered to me Jinn's warnings of your people, and the darkness that is building in the east.. It is only by circumstance, however, that you happen to be here and nowhere else in all the world, young one. A circumstance I am most happy with, though."
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Jun 15, 2016 22:14
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Franc Reale The way she says "vital to Haransei's future" makes Franc shiver a bit, and he's pretty sure that's not residual wetness. He tries to cover it up by bowing. "On behalf of the Eight Ways Trade League, I am honored that Your Majesty would impute upon us such responsibility. I can only hope we prove ourselves worthy of the honor." He takes the Queen turning to address another of their number to quietly excuse himself. He's got a Hoverune to ready and a robe to replace, after all.
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Jun 19, 2016 07:51
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Gareth "Well, Auntie does like her riddles," Gareth responds wryly with a shake of his head. The young prince decides to refrain from sighing at the rest of his mother's comment. Myga seemed like a nice enough girl-creature-thing, but Gareth knew from experience that trying to convince his mother of that would lead nowhere. Instead the summoner racks his brain, trying to find something else to ask. Gareth's brow furrows as a thought strikes him. "You mentioned Vera was to go investigate Ni. Do we know anything else about what's going on there, or if there's a link to the meteor yesterday night? The spirits have seemed most uneasy as of late..."
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Jun 20, 2016 02:09
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Myga tilted her head, much of what Seer said did not register, but when she mentioned the darkness in the east she could only thing of Kalim once again. "Darkness affecting mist, made Kalim, friend, sick in head, hard to reach."
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Jun 20, 2016 03:11
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Keiji "Hrmph." Keiji grunts irritably, clearly not happy with the answer he's been given, but he doesn't belabor the point. "Fair enough. I've got enough incentive of my own for this, so I'll keep your br- your son safe. Gods know you're paying well enough." He flicks the blood from his sword and glances oward the northern horizon. Just hope the seer's all she's cracked up to be. If she's playing me there's going to be hell to pay for everyone.
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Jun 21, 2016 02:49
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