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Post by DM Bob on Oct 6, 2020 2:38:16 GMT -12
The crimson sun rises over the silt this morning, welcoming the odd, quick winds from the west. It doesn't feel like a direct wind, but one that licks to the left and right of the shore where you have parked the Gambit. The eddies of air then seem to dance and reform over the dust, creating a playful haze in the morning light. A few small peaks of broken dark rock jut to your left (south)... a few small flying creatures are seen dancing about the stony tips.
Now that it's light out, you can see some scrub and dry grasses to the north (right).
And straight ahead, the oddest detail of them all. A spire of bright white rock wavers in the distance, perhaps in the morning heat. The fact the very wind seems to split here makes you feel uneasy. Shallow star-shaped dunes of deep yellow sand lie before the shore and the finger of bleached rock.
After everyone is awake and going about preparations for the day, Laahk once again gets the feeling of being watched. [-5 PSPs]
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Post by AthasianLaborer on Oct 6, 2020 2:59:45 GMT -12
Haadan peers at the alabaster spire and wonders aloud "What is it made of? How much of it is there? How much can I sell it for?"
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Post by Attilius on Oct 6, 2020 5:08:23 GMT -12
[Bob, growing up in Balic, what would I or we know of the white spire? Also do we see any fliers above or around the spire or is it completely empty of flying creatures?]
Seeing Laahk's discomfort, HurK motions for a quick meeting out of sight in the hold. Once everyone is collected
"All right, whose making the trip? Also we need to make a plan. Here's my suggestion:
1) We start in the afternoon so we have light to guide me. By nighttime we should be very close. We land a kilometer away and wait until 2am while putting on our disguises.
2) We fly in as an owl, the elves guide me to their building and we silently land under the cover of darkness.
3) We begin to search for the weapons while others are lookouts
4) If we have trouble with locals we'll deal with them quickly and QUIETLY. I have a nonlethal power and would hope we can all use the blunt side of our blades to knock out instead of kill. If an alarm is raised we will most likely only have a minute or 2 at most until templars are swarming the area.
5) If we have or don't have the cashe by then we port back here, regardless.
6) If we get the cashe with NO trouble, we then find an safe inn that the elves maybe can recommend and we look over the stuff and rest up for the next day.
7) The traders will search out contacts to speak and feel out a large kank purchase.
8) Return to the inn and port back here.
Comments, questions, additions?"
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Post by DM Bob on Oct 6, 2020 5:48:40 GMT -12
[Bob, growing up in Balic, what would I or we know of the white spire?] Not much except the general rumors of haunted things to avoid in the desert. Seeing Laahk's discomfort, HurK motions for a quick meeting out of sight in the hold. Once everyone is collected "All right, whose making the trip? Also we need to make a plan. Here's my suggestion: 1) we start in the afternoon so we have light to guide me. By nighttime we should be very close. We land a kilometer away and wait until 2am while putting on our disguises. What disguises exactly? While you may have the disguise proficiency, what are you doing to obscure your general look?2) We fly in as an owl, the elves guide me to their building and we silently land under the cover of darkness. A ctivation rolls at your leisure. Let's get a running PSP expenditure going as well. As far as the WE involved. You need Bankhuv for any wormholin' as well as at least one of the elves. Yiska would definitely want in. Haske wants in but will stay with the boat with Abez, Druuso and[FILL IN THE BLANKS OF WHO STAYS] if asked.3) we begin to search for the weapons while others are lookouts 4) if we have trouble with locals we'll deal with them quickly and QUIETLY. if an alarm is raised we will most likely only have a few minutes until templars are swarming the area 5) if we have or don't have the cache by then we port back here, regardless. 6) if we get the cache with NO trouble, we then find an inn that the elves maybe can recommend and we look over the stuff and rest up for the next day. 7) the traders will search out contacts to speak and feel out a large kank purchase. 8) return to the inn and port back here. Comments, questions?" |
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Post by AthasianLaborer on Oct 6, 2020 7:12:59 GMT -12
[Bob, growing up in Balic, what would I or we know of the white spire? Also do we see any fliers above or around the spire or is it completely empty of flying creatures?] Seeing Laahk's discomfort, HurK motions for a quick meeting out of sight in the hold. Once everyone is collected "All right, whose making the trip? Also we need to make a plan. Here's my suggestion: 1) We start in the afternoon so we have light to guide me. By nighttime we should be very close. We land a kilometer away and wait until 2am while putting on our disguises. 2) We fly in as an owl, the elves guide me to their building and we silently land under the cover of darkness. 3) We begin to search for the weapons while others are lookouts 4) If we have trouble with locals we'll deal with them quickly and QUIETLY. I have a nonlethal power and would hope we can all use the blunt side of our blades to knock out instead of kill. If an alarm is raised we will most likely only have a minute or 2 at most until templars are swarming the area. 5) If we have or don't have the cashe by then we port back here, regardless. 6) If we get the cashe with NO trouble, we then find an safe inn that the elves maybe can recommend and we look over the stuff and rest up for the next day. 7) The traders will search out contacts to speak and feel out a large kank purchase. 8) Return to the inn and port back here. Comments, questions, additions?"Sounds like a plan to me, though I believe that we might want to arouse less suspicion by just arriving through the gates in disguise. Might also be a good idea to have two teams, one goes with the elves to the cache, the other scopes out the market situation for Agafari/Copper purchases and interest in a regular supply of Trained Kank. Might I suggest Etzli, Haadan and Laakh for the market team and Coden, HurK and Khuv go with Yiska? We meet at a preordained spot and wormhole back to Lilim. I think we should be quick about this, as quick as can be. Any further refinement? |
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Post by Attilius on Oct 6, 2020 7:39:30 GMT -12
Sounds like a plan to me, though I believe that we might want to arouse less suspicion by just arriving through the gates in disguise. Might also be a good idea to have two teams, one goes with the elves to the cache, the other scopes out the market situation for Agafari/Copper purchases and interest in a regular supply of Trained Kank. Might I suggest Etzli, Haadan and Laakh for the market team and Coden, HurK and Khuv go with Yiska? We meet at a preordained spot and wormhole back to Lilim. I think we should be quick about this, as quick as can be. Any further refinement? HurK looks to Yiska "What are your thoughts? Is it safer to fly in at 2am or walk in the main gate?" |
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Post by DM Bob on Oct 6, 2020 8:08:42 GMT -12
"Me?" Yiska looks satisfied that you asked her opinion.
"If you think you can pass the walls undetected, to the bloody pits with dealing with the templars at the gates." She spits.
"It's also more of a walk from the gates to the market."
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Post by Attilius on Oct 6, 2020 8:40:46 GMT -12
"Me?" Yiska looks satisfied that you asked her opinion. "If you think you can pass the walls undetected, to the bloody pits with dealing with the templars at the gates." She spits. HurK chuckles “Yes my friend, YOU and your brother have the most experience and knowledge of where we need to go and “drop in”. Not much except the general rumors of haunted things to avoid in the desert. Do we see any fliers above or around the spire or is it completely empty of visible movement? What disguises exactly? While you may have the disguise proficiency, what are you doing to obscure your general look? I’ll let the others going, answer for themselves but, HurK will use his power to turn into a non-descript female half giant while in the public eye/open streets. Activation rolls at your leisure. Let's get a running PSP expenditure going as well. As far as the WE involved. You need Bankhuv for any wormholin' as well as at least one of the elves. Yiska would definitely want in. Haske wants in but will stay with the boat with Abez, Druuso and[FILL IN THE BLANKS OF WHO STAYS] if asked. Once Laahk ISN’T feeling they’re being watched, HurK will disrobe, pack his gear securely into and on his large pack then place it at his feet to grab as he transforms Metamorphosis 16, rolled 8, success Power manipulation 17, rolled 11, success HurK turns into a large light colored (to match the sky's color) feathered massive Eagle (36’ tall and 3,600 lbs) -26 PsP’s; -1/turn He’ll grab his pack while letting the team climb aboard on his back. |
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Post by AthasianLaborer on Oct 6, 2020 8:59:41 GMT -12
Laakh is the disguise expert, whatever he deems most appropriate, Haadan will do his best to adopt the character. Attachments:
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Post by Coden Rokos (Jesse H.) on Oct 6, 2020 9:55:27 GMT -12
"You want me to scope out that weird stone plinth?" Coden asks Haadan. "See if I can get a closer look remotely?"
"As far as flying into the city... I'm sure people try to do it regularly. Whether the templars care or not probably depends on whether they think they can shake you down for money."
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Post by DM Bob on Oct 6, 2020 11:23:10 GMT -12
The fliers are not near the spire - those are in and about the worn dark mounts to your left (south). The shallow dunes only make it hard to see what's on the ground near the white monolith. It does not appear to have an aerial threat unless they're grounded.
If Coden far-sees, where would you like to position your vision? Freebie - you're 7 miles away. So let's go with a -3 power score mod.
Alex/Laahk. Who exactly are you dolling up so I know how many proficiency rolls you need to make? You can also make those rolls if you wish.
HurK birds it up. Who else is staying behind? For simplicity's sake, I'll be fine with anyone who wishes to go with. Bankhuv and Yiska are a definite.
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Post by Coden Rokos (Jesse H.) on Oct 6, 2020 11:30:58 GMT -12
Coden positions his farsight about 50' from the spire. Not sure how tall it is. Since it's seven miles away I presume pretty tall. Position viewpoint about 10' above the base, 50' out, looking at an angle upward (so I can see if there are openings along its face).
Power check: 4, so success.
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Post by DM Bob on Oct 6, 2020 11:54:22 GMT -12
Your field of vision is dominated by the white stone tower. The shimmering you noticed before, that you took as a trick of the light...
Well, the whole thing throbs with energy. While you can't hear, you can almost imagine the hum, or is that in your brain?
There is no entrance or window to see. The ground nearby is less sand and more packed earth; plants grow in strange patterns. Small multicolored ivies trail away from the base. A fire cracker burst of warped life, they seem to slightly move. Perhaps the wind, perhaps not. Small insects dart about and the sizes seem wrong. Everything has a pulse to it, as if concentrated life is being pumped into the very air and earth about the monstrous artifact.
Coden sees a burst of movement to his fixed left. Two large creatures savage each other with tooth and nail, a mix of what seems to be more than one creature in each combatant. Human face, tembo body and feathers define one. The other a mass of scales, tentacles, arms and wings the other. It's golden eyes are compound like a kreen's. All the colors are just wrong.
Blood is spilled by the two, soaking the ground after slow falling from the air. Where the cuts should be, things grow. On the feathered tembo, a lung seems to sprout from one such gash. On the kreen, a bite pulses and grows another cancerous mass of small purple tentacles.
The plants soak up the spilled blood and begin to change before your eyes. They grow, twist and toughen. Thorns grow. They fruit. The fruit bursts in brown rot.
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Post by Coden Rokos (Jesse H.) on Oct 6, 2020 12:01:14 GMT -12
With his eyes closed and his fingers on his temples Coden describes the bizarre scene at the stone plinth.
"Some kind of tower, maybe magically carved? Glowing with power. There are... creatures... fighting near it... and when one is wounded it changes, gets growths, like wild cancers and mutations."
He releases his power and says, "Probably best to stay away from that thing."
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Post by Attilius on Oct 6, 2020 12:01:56 GMT -12
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