[Metaquest Post]

Regarding your ability to detect lies, I’ll see if I can’t inject a little doubt into the responses you’re given.

[End Metaquest Post]

This looks like a large room, Shahulzer would be able to transform into his dragon shape here.

You could bust in there and demand answers, but that’s almost certainly going to lead to a fight.
You could scry in there to eavesdrop on the officers conversation, but there’s wizards present.
You could lurk in the corridor until Halls leaves, but you might be spotted by other guards coming to this room, or leaving it.

>Bust in there and fight
>Go in and try to talk
>Scry
>Hide and lurk in corridor
>Leave prison
>Other

>>34386862
>Leave prison

Yeah, no. Let's not waste any more time in this shit for something we already know (kinda).

Let's go to that vilalge ASAP.

>>34386862
>Leave prison
We already have a pretty good idea why we were arrested, I just wanted to confirm and get some other information.

It's not worth risking a fight.

>>34386862
>Leave prison

You decide it’s not worth getting into a fight and you all sneak out of the prison. Though you’re breaking out of what appears to be a high-security prison, the gates and doors between you and the exit are not nearly as sturdy as your cells were, and with your abilities you encounter no difficulty getting away.

The few guards you encounter are easily subdued without hurting anyone. Only an hour after being put in your cells, you are free again.

You need to find Jianxi and you are pretty sure she’s held in that village up in the mountains. It was warded against scrying so teleporting directly there might be difficult, but teleporting into the area and flying or walking there would probably work.

Or you might want to do something else in the trading enclave first.

>Teleport directly to village
>Teleport to village area
>Stay in enclave (to do what?)
>Other

>>34386979
>Teleport to the village area

Watch out for traps, these kinds of people always put traps around their secret mountain village bases. Alarm traps in particular.

>>34386979
>Teleport to village area

>>34386979

>Teleport to the village area
We foreign demons now.

Gathering your companions and focusing your powers, you ready yourself to teleport.

“What are we doing once we get there?” asks Shahulzer “I mean, is burning the place down going to break my oath to you or what?”

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen when we get there” you say “But first we find Jianxi, afterwards...we’ll see, but don’t attack anyone who isn’t about to attack you.”

“Are we going?” asks Mattthias “C’mon, let’s go.” Seems he’s itching for a fight.

You teleport a few miles away from the village, appearing in a small copse of trees, concealed from view. You approach the village cautiously, on the lookout for traps or ambushes.

As you get nearer you get a good look at the place.

A settlement the size of a good-sized town, housing perhaps a few thousand people. The houses here are in a curious architectural style you’ve not seen before, stone walls at the bottom, wooden walls on the upper floors and peaked roofs that overhang the building on all sides.

It’s clear this village has a military purpose, there are training grounds for novices to practise fighting, wooden dummies on poles, what look like elaborate assault courses and is some places, earth blackened by fire or magical assaults.

Though high up in the mountains, there is only a simple wooden wall encompassing the village, proof against animals perhaps but not a determined attacker.

In the centre of the village is a more elaborate building complex. Ornate carvings and the size of the building clearly mark it as the rulers residence.

A party of a dozen people on horseback come out of the village and are riding towards you. They are armed, but have no weapons drawn. They are wearing light armour and have short swords.

They surround you and one barks at you in an unfamiliar language, casting your tongues spell you ask him to repeat himself.

“I said, identify yourself, intruder” he says.

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>34386979
>>Teleport to village area

Be ready.

>>34387130
“I’m Sireyi Valyenya, Paladin of Velya” you say “I’m looking for a friend of mine, Jianxi.”

“Oh” he says “you, well, follow.” And with that he wheels his horse around and heads back to the village, his companions following him.

You decide to follow as well.

He isn’t very communicative, brushing off any questions about Jianxi, and giving short answers to anything else you ask. Finally you reach the village and are escorted inside, no one asks you to give up your weapons, but all of the locals watch you with unfriendly looks.

Inside the village the horseman surround you whilst the leader (or at least, the one who did the talking) dismounts and says “Keep them here” to his men, and walks towards the large building.

>Wait
>Follow him
>Talk to your guards (say what?)
>Do something else (what?)

>>34387139

Well, there goes my hype for stealth and subterfuge. Just as well though.

>Talk to the guards.
"Why did you abduct my friend? Why didn't you approach us in peace?"

>>34387139
>Wait
While I like that you give Shahulzer and Matthias stuff to say without prompt, Isla is still mute, and Ebonsong, while not vocal, can have reactions too, she should be fairly intelligent by now. But definitly an improvement, thanks for that.

>>34387139
>Talk to the guards
Ask >>34387152's questions.

You decide to wait, whilst you talk to the guards.

"Why did you abduct my friend? Why didn't you approach us in peace?" you ask the guards. Most don’t respond, one says “Be silent!”

Also Shahulzer and Matthias are obviously spoiling for a fight, you convince them to wait. Isla doesn’t look ready for a fight, she just looks nervous.

“Sireyi” she whispers to you “This entire place is laced with magic, it’s like everyone here is a sorcerer or something, I don’t like it here, and I don’t trust them.”

“It’s alright” you say “When we’ve found Jianxi, we won’t have any more reason to stay here.”

Ebonsong looks agitated too. She is running around hissing at the guards, before retreating behind you, before repeating the sequence with a different guard. “Bad magics” she insists.

Eventually the guard returns from the main building and says “Follow”. You all follow in a group.

“Are you taking me to your leader?” you ask.

“Yes” he replies.

“Why did you kidnap Jianxi?” you ask, he does not respond.

You are taken into the main building, through a confusing maze of corridors, to a small sitting room.

There you see Jianxi, She’s in the room, sat on the floor in front of a low table. With her are an older man and woman, both Kugani, in their mid-fifties. They are sat on the floor around the low table, talking to Jianxi.

They are wearing fine clothes, and the man has an elaborate outfit with a lot of ornate decoration, he looks like he’s wearing some sort of costume in a play than something that would be practical to move or fight in.

The three of them are chatting animatedly as you are shown in. As you enter Jianxi looks up to see you.

“Sireyi” she says, a smile on her face “These are my aunt and uncle: Jongu Lhou and Jongu Kiri, we were just talking about you.”

“Are you ok Jianxi?” you ask, wondering if they have her under some sort of spell.

>>34387278
She gives a wry smile “Well I was a bit unsure at first, being captured by the same people who beat me up, but they explained that it was all a misunderstanding, and that they thought I was an imposter – the people sent to retrieve me where supposed to capture me without hurting me, but they got overzealous.”

“Indeed” says the man, nodding and stroking his thin grey and black beard with one hand “I was most distressed to hear that my niece had been hurt, and I thank you for protecting her, and bringing her back to us, her family.” He speaks common slowly and precisely, you wonder if he has a spell or magic item translating for him.

He stands and bows to you, his hands together “I am Jongu Lhou, Head of the Clan of the Imperial Guardians, and I am forever in your debt.”

“Sireyi Valyenya” you say, imitating his bow “Paladin of Velya”. You realise you forgot to give your title, but it’s too new for you to remember every time.

“A pleasure” he responds, Jongu Kiri then rises and bows, introducing herself and you repeat yourself.

“We welcome you to our village” she says, her speech has the same precise quality as his does. “You are free to stay as long as you like, we have much to discuss with Jianxi.”

“But please” says Jongu Lhou “Some of what we have to discuss concerns...private family matters, I ask that you respect our privacy for a few hours whilst we talk to Jongu Jianxi.”

>No, I’m not letting her out of my sight again
>I’ll stay, the others can go
>Alright, Jianxi, yell if you need me
>I think Jianxi gets to decide that
>Other

>>34387286
>Other
>While we understand their wish for privacy, they will have to understand that we are reasonably concerned for Jianxi, and would prefer to stay, if she doesn't mind. The others can go.

>>34387286
Are they being at all disingenuous?
I'd like to roll for detecting falsehood.

Other than that, how is the family resemblance?
IIRC, it's possible to tell what house a Ries belong to by their facial features, do they look similar to Jianxi?

>>34387314
They bear a much closer resemblance to Jianxi than anyone else you've seen in these lands.

The guards who bought you in bore some resemblance to Jianxi too, if this is her aunt and uncle, the guards outside could be cousins or other relatives of hers.

Please roll Fellowship 1d20+9 to detect falsehoods.

Rolled 15 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>34387330

Rolled 20 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>34387330

Rolled 13 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>34387330

Rolled 6 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>34387330

Rolled 15 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>34387330

>>34387286
>I think Jianxi gets to decide that

They don't seem to be as happy to see you as they claim, nor do they seem particularly welcoming, despite their words.

Their distress over Jianxi being hurt seems genuine.

“I understand your need for privacy” you say to Jongu Lhou “but I am concerned for my friend, and I would like to stay, if that’s ok with you?” you say to Jianxi. Jianxi nods her assent.

“If you wouldn’t mind waiting outside?” you say to the rest of your companions, adding quietly “and staying together.”

Matthias, Isla and Shahulzer assent. When you try to give Ebonsong to Isla the little dragon digs her claws into you and refuses to let go, you keep her with you. Something has spooked her and as you sit down she curls up in your lap and hides her head underneath her wings.

“As I was saying” says Jongu Lhou “my brother and his wife were on a mission for the Empire when their ship ran into a storm. We had thought all aboard had been lost, but instead imagine our joy and finding our niece alive!”

Jongu Kiri lays a hand on Jianxi’s arm, Jianxi looks happy, but at the same time uncomfortable at being the centre of attention.

>Ask why they attacked her
>Ask why they had you arrested
>Ask who are the Snakefists/what do they do?
>Ask about the Ries
>Ask about Kugan
>Ask what mission her parents were on
>Ask what happens to Jianxi now
>Ask something else (what?)
>Stay quiet

>>34387409
>Ask why they had you arrested

>Ask what happens to Jianxi now

Better not be too nosy

>>34387409
>Ask why they attacked her
>In particular, what caused them to think she was an imposter?
>Ask why they had you arrested
>Ask what happens to Jianxi now

>>34387409

>Ask why they attacked the "imposter"
>Ask what was supposed to happen to us for the allegged 'murder'
>Ask what happens to Jianxi now

“Why did you attack Jianxi?” you ask “And why did you have us arrested?”

Jongu Lhou responds “From time to time someone attempts to impersonate an Imperial Guardian, or one of the Anointed, due to the authority we hold. We must guard against such attempts to protect ourselves, and the Empire. I regret that our agents mistook Jianxi for an imposter and overreacted.”

“What makes you think she was an imposter?” you ask

Lhou’s face takes on a pained expression “It is difficult to describe to a...foreigner” he says, you feel like he wanted to use a different word there “The Anointed are instantly recognisable to the common people of Kugan, and many can tell our clan simply by looking at us, such is the blessing of Heavens authority. Jongu Jianxi’s appearance is clearly that of one of our clan, yet she did not present herself as such, which means either that she was travelling undercover, or was an imposter. Since we had no record of one of our own on such a mission, those in charge of watching the enclave decided she was hiding behind an illusion or a shape-changing spell, and pursued her with prepared detection-magics.”

“Your arrest was also an overreaction, the guard were told that we had questions for you, and took it upon themselves to fabricate false charges to arrest and detain you. I apologise for their actions and assure you that they shall know my displeasure.”

“And what would have happened to us as a result of the arrest?” you ask

“With no real evidence” he says, “I expect the guards would have dropped the charges, or simply put you back on a ship out of port.”

“What happens to Jianxi now?” you ask.

“She is back where she belongs” answers Kiri, hugging Jianxi “Oh my little one, how I’ve missed you” Jianxi seems embarrassed at the mothering, but then, growing up a guild orphan, it’s probably new to her.

>>34387564
“Jongu Jianxi is back with her family” says Lhou “Here is where she belongs”

“Isn’t that up to Jianxi?” you say

“Why, yes, I suppose it is” says Lhou, as if surprised at the thought that Jianxi would choose anything else.

You all look at Jianxi, still being hugged by Kiri “I don’t know about staying forever” she says “But I do want to find out about my family, Sireyi, do you mind staying with me for a few days?”

>Sure Jianxi, I can stay
>You stay if you want to, I’m not
>We need to leave, I don’t trust this place
>I have other questions (what?)
>Other

Also, please roll 1d20+9 for lie-detection, you can vote as you roll, or wait for results before voting, your choice.

Rolled 14 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>34387571
>Sure Jianxi, I can stay

Rolled 8 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>34387571
>Sure Jianxi, I can stay
>We apologize for forcing ourself on them likes this, but after all the trouble we went through to get here, we want to be sure of Jianxis well being.

>>34387571
>Sure Jianxi, I can stay
>Ask them after the strange presence of magic that seems to be omnipresent in this place

Rolled 6 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>34387571

>>34387596

This sounds good.

[paranoia intensifies]

You don't detect any falsehood in what they're saying, they seem to be honest, apart from a bit of a dislike of foreigners.

>>34387571
Very well. They seem to be a very different and more strict society than Jianxi is used to. In the best case, she will become accustomed enough to live there, while retaining her old mores, perhaps even using her position to slowly change customs. I assume, however, she will be too headstrong and will have a lot of trouble fitting in. I wonder how they re-educate nobles who don't fit in this land. Probably hidden from commoners.

I think the best way to go about it is to
1) Check for any spells on Jianxi. Just because they are her family doesn't mean we immediately trust them. Don't do that in front of those people though, it would be impolite.
2) Stay for a few days, help her get used to local customs (while learning them herself) and provide a point of stability.
3) Visit every few weeks. Reassess the situation, Perhaps include some official reasons, like trade arrangements or diplomatic relations.

>>34387764
>Visit every few weeks.
We can visit her in dreams easily once per week.

>>34387793

Dreamwalk is a neat thing, but I don't think we should be using it too frivolously. It's still quite an intrusion, even if our friends can count on us not abusing what we learn from them.

Now, I wonder if Matthias would like to stay with Jianxi for a while... You know, in case this family turned out to be something else...

>>34387764
What if she decides that she wants to return to Dornmer and just visit here every once in a while?

Her noble house are the guardians of the emperor, I don't think they really bother to take place in politics that often.

Besides, I have a certain suspicion as to what her family are planning, and it's nothing good.

>>34387825
>I wonder if Matthias would like to stay with Jianxi for a while
I assume we will suggest that in any case, I think it would be good for both of them.

What I find strange about this whole thing is, Jianxis memories are of people worshipping her and her family, which doesn't really work together with the "secret police" thing. So our picture here is clearly still incomplete.

“Sure Jianxi” you say “I can stay.”

To Jongu Lhou and Jhongu Kiri you say “I apologize for forcing myself on you likes this, but after all the trouble we went through to get here, I want to be sure of Jianxi’s well being.”

“Perfectly understandable” says Jhongu KIri “You are welcome to stay as long as you like.”

When you get Jianxi alone you ask her a few questions and cast a spell, but she doesn’t seem to have any spells on her besides a tracking spell – which she tells you she knows about – and she doesn’t seem to be under any form of mind control.

Over the next few days, Jianxi spends learning about her heritage, as do you. With her identity established, it’s clear that she is welcomed by those in the village.

Even though you and your companions are clearly outsiders, everyone here is at least polite to you, if not exactly welcoming.

The Empire of Kugan is a vast empire that comprises of dozens of provinces, many of which used to be kingdoms, hundreds of years ago, and some of which still try to go to war with each other over past grudges.

Also, not everyone is happy under the rule of the Empire, anarchists, demon-worshippers and madmen incite rebellion for their own selfish or infernal causes.

The Emperor, Blessed Son of Heaven, has a large standing army, and it spends much of its time stopping these wars.

The Snakefist Ries (or Anointed Imperial Guardians, as they prefer) are descended from the First Emperors bodyguards and act to discover these small regional conflicts, as well as finding demon-worshippers, anarchists and other enemies of the Empire, and stopping them.

The Snakefists are all nobility, as far as you can tell, but rank is determined by descent from the 20 bodyguards of the First Emperor, whether one is a direct descendent, how many of them one is descended from and so on. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to you.

>>34387884
What is clear though, is that Jianxi and her family are those of the purest blood, the rulers of the Snakefists. You are also introduced to her cousins, some closely related, some distantly.

One in particular, a young man named Fazu Gede, seems particularly taken with Jianxi, leading her around, showing her the village and its people, explaining everything to her.

She seems to enjoy the attention, asking everything about her family, her past...and her magical abilities.

The First Emperors bodyguards were all sorcerers, picked in part for this reason. And they all had tattoos on their bodies of mythical beasts, dragons, phoenixes etc. Such tattoos were a common practise a long time ago you are told, in the belief that they would grant mystical powers to the wearer.

In the case of the Emperors bodyguards, they did. The Snakefist Ries tend to have a high proportion of sorcerers amongst their number, with over half having significant magical powers.

Their specialty is magical tattoos that grant a person powers: such as supernatural strength, speed or endurance, or allows them to summon objects from their tattoos (i.e. a tattoo of a sword becomes a sword), or allows even non-mages to cast a sort of prepared spell, such as a sleep or detection spell.

With so many of them being mages, it’s not surprising that the village is covered in magic. The village itself is their home, and training base – their agents are all across the Empire, but this is a place impossible to find without magic, indeed Jianxi’s aunt and uncle express surprise that your powers were strong enough to find the place.

The bodyguards were also expected to be ready to fight at any moment, and also learned a great deal about fighting unarmed, another talent the Snakefist Ries hone.

>>34387891
Jianxi starts to learn their method of fighting without weapons, far more skilled and complex than the pugilism or wrestling of Dornmer, and begins to learn the basics of tattoo magic – it seems only the ruling family is capable of (or perhaps, permitted to) put the most powerful tattoos on the Snakefists.

The food and accommodation is excellent, and there are no attempts on your life, or things that cause you worry, except...

Ebonsong refuses to eat any of the food she is presented with, when you try to feed her from your own plate she freaks out and runs off, you don’t see why, the food is perfectly palatable, if a bit spicy.

Instead Ebby ranges from the village, hunting rodents in the surrounding woods, you make sure someone is with her at all times.

It seems Jianxi has a lot to learn and soon settles into a routine, the days turn into a week and you wonder if maybe it would be best to leave Jianxi here for a while, whilst checking in her regularly, either in person or contacting her dreams.

One day, after taking Ebonsong out into the forest to find her lunch, you return to the Jhongu family home.

Matthias and Shahulzer are trying to learn the Snakefists unarmed fighting skills out on the training grounds, whilst Isla watches. Jianxi and Fazu Gede are walking around the village, just talking, they’ve been doing that a lot.

The house seems mostly empty, as you take a sleepy Ebonsong back to your room for her to nap, you hear raised voices, it’s Lhou and his wife, Kiri, they’re clearly arguing about something, but in their own tongue, you don’t know what they’re saying.

>Ignore them, this is not your concern
>Get closer to eavesdrop (cast Tongues)
>Interrupt, ask what the problem is
>Other

>>34387909
>Get closer to eavesdrop (cast Tongues)

>>34387909
>>Interrupt, ask what the problem is

>>34387909
>Get closer to eavesdrop (cast Tongues)

>>34387909
>you don’t see why, the food is perfectly palatable, if a bit spicy.
They've been trying to poison us.
Poison tastes slightly spicy to Sireyi, IIRC.

>>34387949
I figured that as well, but I do wonder what kind of poison.

After settling Ebonsong down you quietly sneak closer to the raised voices, casting your spell on yourself so you can understand what they’re saying.

“-that barbarian learn about the Clans secrets?” says Lhou

“To calm their suspicions!” responds Kiri angrily “The winged freak suspects something, so the more open we appear the easier it is to lull her.”

“I still say we should just kill them, foreign filth.” Says Lhou

“You’ve seen the same futures I have” says Kiri “killing the Heavenborn, a werewolf and a Demon-Dragon will take too many of our Clans lives – even with the potion we slipped in their food.”

Well, that explains the spicy flavour....and maybe Ebonsongs picky habits. You also know that neither Matthias nor Shahulzer have changed shape this last week, nor do you recall them telling anyone what they are – though Jianxi might have let something slip.

“Besides” continues Kiri “She’s thinking of leaving soon, and checking back in on Jianxi regularly, as soon as she goes, we’ll simply change the wards to intercept her next time, and move Jianxi elsewhere.”

Seems you’ll need to guard your thoughts in future, if they can read you so easily.

“I don’t like the uncouth child” complains Lhou “If her blood wasn’t so pure, I’d simply order her killed - Fazu Gede seems eager to strangle her.”

“Fazu Gede will do what he’s told!” snaps Kiri “It’ll be his duty to ensure that she has at least two children – enough to continue the bloodline – if he so much as says a cross word to her, discipline him.”

Your heart sinks, Jianxi seemed to be warming up to Fazu Gede, she’s going to be so disappointed.

>>34388072
The conversation drifts to other matters, reports of rebellions across the Empire, assassinations carried out. It seems their role as the emperors enforcers is far more violent and pro-active than you’ve been led to believe.

Not all of the rebels are anarchists either, some riot over heavy-handed actions taken by the other Ries, or because they’re over-taxed, or starving.

Either way, the Snakefists find the leaders and kill them.

>Confront them
>Act like nothing has changed, covertly gather your allies later
>Get everyone together now, and leave
>Other (what?)

>>34388076
>Act like nothing has changed, covertly gather your allies later

>>34388076
>Act like nothing has changed, covertly gather your allies later
Tell you allies that your worried about Ebonsong and decided to have a meeting to resolve that issue.

>>34388076
>Act like nothing has changed, covertly gather your allies later

>>34388076

>Act like nothing's changed

Ruthless intrigue and politics. Jianxi should be made aware of this, and whether she wants a part in this. She's not accustomed, although she no doubt has potential to make a good account of herself even in this society.

>>34388125
The problem is, they want to knock her up, wether she wants it or not. And possibly murder her right afterwards.
I don't think leaving her here is a option. Unless there is a less murderous section of the family.

>>34388125
There are quite a few parts of her family's plan that Jianxi would likely take issue with that aren't even intrigue or politics.

I am highly amused that we once again have bad guys wanting kids from one of our companions.
Maybe we should knock up Jianxi too ?

>>34388177
That was a joke, in case that wasn't obvious, That would be a terrible idea.

You decide to gather your allies together, you can tell them that Ebonsong isn’t feeling well: she ate something that disagreed with her or something, and get them together.

Of course, you’re probably being watched, both physically and magically. Where will you gather your allies to talk to them, and how will you counter any eavesdropping?

Location
>We’ll go out of the village and teleport away – we can always come back after talking
>We’ll go out of the village to talk
>We’ll talk in a private room
>Other

Countermeasures
>Remove Jianxi’s tracking spell (dispel/break enchantment)
>False Impression
>Sanctuary
>None
>Other

>>34388202
>Tell them we need to take care of some business for a short time and we will return with Jianxi shortly
>Plane Shift

>>34388202
>>34388227
Hahaha. I like that. Though I would rather
>Tell one of the guards we need to take care of something shortly, and leave a note for the two leader.

>>34388202
>We’ll go out of the village and teleport away – we can always come back after talking

>Remove Jianxi’s tracking spell (dispel/break enchantment)
>False Impression
>Sanctuary

Sanctuary doesn't do anything to non-evil magic, but their magic is probably evil enough given Ebonsong's reaction to it.

Either remove the tracking spell immediately before teleporting, or teleport a fair bit away, remove the spell, and then teleport again.

>>34388227
Not sure if Drache is to the point where we can feel safe Plane Shifting in.

>>34388202

>Could we go for a hike in the woods? Ask for a guide. Mr. Gede is invited.
>Incapacitate the guide(s)
>Talk

>ALL the countermeasures.

>>34388261
>Not sure if Drache is to the point where we can feel safe Plane Shifting in.
We can just plane shift to the mountain were the giants used to live.

>>34388264
>Incapacitate the guide(s)
How would we do that ? And even if we cn, antagonizing them like that before we have even decided on anything is just counterproductive.

>>34388270
Plane shifting in will likely draw the attention of just about everybody, and they can probably cast teleport.

Also, weren't the giants always moving around since Drache soldiers kept following them? What if they're trying to track the Giants still and are in their cave?

I don't see any real benefit to that plan over other options already presented.

>>34388293
We'd incapacitate them through the same method we incapacitated the guards when escaping prison.

Antagonizing them at this point is of little consequence, since we're basically abducting their niece.

>>34388316
>I don't see any real benefit to that plan
The benefit is being absolutely foolproof against spying, in difference to the others, where the scrying could still pierce our false impression if powerful enough.
Also, we just need to chat for a one or two hours at most. When we switched over the first time, we weren't swamped with demons either, and that was while there were still two Demon Lords and a intact Drache empire.

I'm seeing
2 for plane shift
1 for teleport
1 for woods

5 minutes more for responses, or Plane Shift it is

>>34388358
I change >>34388242
to Teleport.

While it is probably the best solution, I nfear Plane Shift will end us up getting swamped by demon refugees or some nonsense like that. Better stay on our plane.

>>34388342
Where was it indicated we couldn't scry across planes?
I don't recall us ever trying to do that, actually, we don't know if it's possible.

Since Dream, a somewhat related spell, can be overcast to travel across planes, it wouldn't be completely out of the question to do something similar with scrying.

We also don't know how advanced that tracking spell is.


When we switched over the first time, nobody had their planar traveler radars on, since the barrier was up.
By the time the intrusion was realized, our sister was already having her allies shield us from most of our enemy's detection methods.

I really doubt we won't attract any attention, is what I'm saying.

>>34388399
Forgot to add, we also came through due to a magical accident involving an ancient teleporter the first time, so that might have had something to do with them not detecting us.

Teleport it is, writing

>>34388399
>Where was it indicated we couldn't scry across planes?
Its definitly a lot harder than just scrying on this plane, which does make it safer.
And clearly people did have planar traveler senses on, otherwise our sister wouldn't have known about us in the first place, and since the Demon Lords were the only ones who could feel it breaking, no one really knows either way now.

And even if by happenstance someone is still looking for Planar travalers, then we just teleport away again.

Don't we still have the storm node? Which has a configuration that let's us directly see and manipulate scrying?

We should spend some time loading it with storms at some point. That thing is useful.

>>34388448
>Detect Scrying: Alerts you of magical eavesdropping, lasts hours.

Is there any reason not to have that on all the time?

>>34388436
If it's not too late, please add Detect Scrying to the list of countermeasures for teleportation.
Hopefully that will alert us if they get past the False Impression.

>>34388462
It doesn't do that. It will alert us of scrying even if they don't get past False Impression, since that doesn't block the scrying. And we can bet they will scry, so we might as well not bother.

>>34388438
Our sister didn't know that we arrived in that plane from the word go.

It took her learning from someone else through a divination of some kind that we existed and could heal her before she scryed on us and began trying to protect us and get us to her.

>>34388476
It might vary depending on how you layer the spells.

If Detect Scrying is on a lower layer of magical protection, it makes sense that it wouldn't be tripped unless they pierced the upper layers.

Maybe, I don't know, it's fucking magic, either way it's only one AE.

Ok, roll 1d20+13 to see how effective your protections are

Rolled 7 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34388524

Rolled 1 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>34388524

Rolled 16 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34388524

Rolled 6 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34388524

File: The one throne.png (353 KB, 640x640)

353 KB PNG

>>34388531

You gather your companions casually, so as not to attract attention, you slip away from the village and teleport some distance away. You put up every precaution you can think of against eavesdropping and then you explain the conversation you overheard.

Reactions vary: Matthias looks angry and ready to hit something, Shahulzer seems amused, Isla looks crestfallen, and then looks at Jianxi.

Jianxi simply freezes, and then lashes out at you.

“Screw you, Miss bloody perfect Paladin!” she snarls “I finally found my family and you have to go and mess everything up, what, you can’t stand the thought of anyone else being happy?!”

“Jianxi” says Matthias “You know it’s not her fault-”

“Oh yeah, sure take her side” yells Jianxi, her face turning red “Just like always, everyone has to bow down and worship Lady I’m-So-Perfect, nothing is ever her fault.”

“I’m sorry to hurt you Jianxi” you say “And I truly wish your family wasn’t...the way they are.”

“Damn you!” responds Jianxi “I was happy, I found my family, I knew who I was, why’d you have to take that away from me, why?”

“It was based on a lie” says Isla “They’d have just treated you like...like a broodmare or something, not like you, not like the stubborn, beautiful, frustrating, smart person you are.”

“And I wouldn’t have known any of this!” screams Jianxi “I would have been happy!”

“I would have been happy” she says again in a quieter tone, tears streaming down her face “Why can’t I ever have anything nice?” she asks the world at large, and then she slumps down onto her knees, her head in her hands, sobbing.

Matthias looks uncomfortable, and Shahulzer looks confused, but you, Isla and Ebonsong know what to do.

You all hug Jianxi and whisper comforting words to her, telling her that she’s your friend, that she’ll always have a home in your domain, that one day she can start her own family if she wants one.

>>34388581
Some time later...

Jianxi is over her grief and shock, and is now angry. She doesn’t want to leave, she wants to go back, in the worst way, you’re trying to talk her out of it.

“Fine, fine!” she says “If we’re not going to burn down the whole village, how about Shahulzer does a quick flyby and sets only some of it on fire?”

“Killing them just because you’re angry at them isn’t the right thing to do” you argue “No matter their crimes, murdering them out of hand is wrong.”

“I want to get them!” she insists “I want them to hurt.”

“Vengeance won’t help you feel better” you say “And could start a war, given their position in the Kugani Empire.”

“You never let me do anything” she says, arms crossed and a scowl on her face, she turns her back on you.

“What are we going to do?” asks Isla

“We can’t go back” says Matthias

“Sure we can” says Shahulzer “I’ll just do a quick flyby, like she said, and then we all go home.”

“No” you say “The whole village belongs to Jianxi’s family, even setting fire to the fence would be an attack.”

Jianxi straightens up, and then spins around “That’s it!” She says

Uh oh....you have a bad feeling about this

“I’m one of the ruling family there?” she asks you

“Apparently so” you respond

“And so some of it belongs to me?” she asks

“You can’t burn it down with that justification-” you say

“I don’t want to burn it” she says “I want to steal it.”

“Uh...what?” you respond

>>34388598
“When they taught me about the magical tattoos they showed me a locked room that supposedly held the only written copy of their greatest spell-tattoos” she says “I want to steal it.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea” you say

“It’s rightfully mine” insists Jianxi “Please? I’ve followed you across the world, I’ve backed you up, I’ve fought in a war for you, Sireyi, please, if my friendship means anything to you, let me twist the knife in them before we leave?”

>Talk her out of it
>Alright, let’s do this
>Other

>>34388598
>“And so some of it belongs to me?”
No it doesn't ?
Just because its her family doesn't make their posessions hers. We have no idea how inheritance works here. And even if she has any, we don't know what it is.

>>34388608
>Talk her out of it
Its not actually rightfully hers, at all.
>Offer to take it and copy it, technically their teachings are part of her heritage, so copying wouldn't be wrong. As long as Jianxi doesn't give it out of the hands of her line.

>>34388608
>Other
Ask about the defenses of the room. Wards, guards, traps.

>>34388608
>Talk her out of it
Thats a terrible idea.

>>34388608

Well, with adequately creative interpretation of the rules, she has a point.

>Alright, let's do this.
>But the moment we got it, we're blasting out of here. Our joint trip here will no doubt have roused suspicions. And please give me your word that we're not setting anything on fire unless absolutely necessary.

>>34388641
>she has a point.
No she doesn't under no interpretation of any rules can she just take away the posessions of her uncle and aunt.

>>34388608
>Offer to take it and copy it, technically their teachings are part of her heritage, so copying wouldn't be wrong. As long as Jianxi doesn't give it out of the hands of her line.
This is a decent enough compromise.

>>34388629
“What defences does the place have?” you ask as you consider what to say

“It’s build into a stone room, with a heavy metal door” she says “Apparently two keys are required to open it – one is held by Lhou, the other by Kiri. I sensed strong magic on it. I don’t know exactly what mystical defences it has but I’m guessing scrying and teleporting are out, that as soon as you try and open it, someone would be alerted, stuff like that. There were no guards I could see around it.”

>>34388598
I guess, in deference to our shitty Jianxi loyalty rolls >>34388620
is a decent compromise, changing >>34388638

>>34388652

They were seriously contemplating murdering her and her friends, they even drugged us all.
Any rules that might have protected them are merely guidelines.
This place is almost as bad as Drache. In fact it may be even worse.

>>34388724
>Any rules that might have protected them are merely guidelines.
No they aren't. Stealing is bad no matter if the people are evil or not. Morality isn't target dependent. Them being assholes doesn't justifiy us being assholes against them beyond what is necessary for defense.
Absolutely nothing suggests this place being anywhere near as bad as Drache. You think they didn't squash rebellions in Drache ?

Them being possibly evil, or very contextualy Lawful Neutral, does not make stealing ok for Seiryi, because it isn't necessary to fight their evil.

“If we’re going to do this” you say “We’re going to do it properly – Jianxi – I guess you do have a right to that knowledge, but taking it away from the Clan is wrong, we’re going to get a hold of it, make a copy, and then give it back.”

“I can live with that” says Jianxi, after a moment of thought.

“Do we know any scribes that can write that fast?” asks Matthias

“We’ll figure something out” you respond.

“But how are we getting into a locked, magically warded room in the middle of a village of sorcerer-assassins?” asks Isla

“Oh that old puzzle...” says Shahulzer

You could go back as if nothing is wrong, and try to break in stealthily.
You could simply use brute force to break in, fighting all the way.
You could have some of you create a distraction, whilst others go for the vault.

>Stealth
>Smash and Grab
>Misdirection
>Other (outline plan please)

>>34388755
Well technically they did drug our food, plan to kill us, plan to deceive us and other possible things.

>>34388755

>attempted
>imprisoning innocents under false charges
>implied plans for more rape and murder
There's absolutely nothing lawful about these people. They are just a mafia clan that happens to be on good terms with the a despotic emperor.

>>34388781
All of which is wrong and makes it perfectly justified to tell them to go fuck themself.
And they explicitly did not want to kill us, even if their reasons for it were not morality based.

>>34388790
>implied plans for more rape and murder
Thats absolute bullshit. They made it absolutely clear that the boy is supposed to make nice with her to get those kids, and if he harms her he gets wrecked. So, deception yes, but rape was definitly out.
The murder is possible, but not a definite thing.
We have no actual prove what they said about the guard wasn't true.

I agree they aren't lawful though.

>>34388790
>despotic emperor
Eh, I don't see any reason why he would be any more despotic than the King or Dornmer. He sounds like a completly normal feudal ruler.

>>34388770
>Misdirection
>Have Seiryi have a nice chat with the two, to tell them how shit they are. Wait until the grab was actually sucessfull for that part though.

>>34388770
At least this would explain the prophetic dream about Jianxi filling her skin with tattoos. Still, I don't think those people are as terrible as you all seem to think they are. They just have another perspective and their priorities put the continuation of the blood-line far above the lives of a few people. Especially filthy outsiders.

I think the morally correct would be to leave them, if we wouldn't have to expect assassins and kidnappers for the rest of Jianxi's live. As it is, we need to ensure that they won't come after Jianxi. Either we negotiate or we show enough power that they don't want to deal with us and cut their losses.

>>34388801
What..... They specifically said that the only reason they weren't gonna kill us was because they had a vision which predicated that they would lose a lot of manpower to take us down. If they only lost a few clan members they would of killed us on the spot.

>>34388855

Sounds good. Isla and Matthias should be with Jianxi, Isla to deal with magical security and Matthias in case things got hairy.

The dragon can listen in on the chat, and to back us up in case things went downhill.

>>34388770
Another thing: What's up with the drugged food? All of our allies should test their abilities first. Wouldn't want to suddenly find out their powers are sealed or something.

>>34388770
>Misdirection
>Confornt them while the others go for the price.

>>34388865
Thats exactly what I said yes. They did not want to kill us, even though there reasons for it were not morality based.

>>34388879
this is a good damn point. It seems we are fine, as we are super sparkle princess, but not everyone sparkles quite a bright as we.

>>34388859
These guys in particular are pretty damn awful, the Ries in general are allowed to ignore their own laws because muh genetic superiority.

>>34388908
True, at least Matthias can test his transformation and Isla her magic. Everything else seems fine, since they could spar.

>>34388879
Whilst you refine your plan, you have everyone test their own powers. No one seems to be suffering from any side-effects of any poison.

Please roll willpower 1d20+2 (Isla)

Rolled 6 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>34388931

>>34388896
You said they 'did not want to kill us' but they did want to kill us. It is not that they did not want to kill us but they just did not go through with that plan.

Rolled 1 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>34388919
>the Ries in general are allowed to ignore their own laws
We don't actually know their laws. Maybe those laws allow them to do that.
As far as we know, the guard really was overzealous. And everything else might actually be within their laws. Even if it are shitty laws.

>>34388931

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>34388931

>>34388822
>I agree they aren't lawful though.
The problem is that they're too far into the lawful side. Kugan is basically magical Tokugawa Japan. Everything is restricted and controlled, and this particular clan's job is to be the enforcers of the rules. And Jianxi is an outsider who happens to have their genetics but not their culture.

>>34388940
No they do not want to kill us, they would want to kill us if they could pull it of. Under the strictest sense yes, they had the desire to kill us, but without actual plans to do so, you can't really accuse them of intent.

>>34388958
Hopefully 16 is enough

File: shades of grey.jpg (71 KB, 750x600)

71 KB JPG

>>34388859

They treat Jianxi not as a person, but as a thing. Or as a breeding sow.

That's enough for me to despise them utterly.

I understand now why someone freaked out when meeting Ellahi, because I'm probably having a similar case of culture shock.

>>34388945
If that law is an actual law, then it is neither just nor good and we can ignore it's existence entirely.

Lawful Good is not Law + Good.

>>34388965
They slipped us a weakening poison and only cancelled the plan when it didn't work as well as they'd hoped.
It was intent to kill, completely and utterly.

>>34388963
I dunno, we don't really know their societys rules and law. Depending, they may or may not be really Lawul Neutral. But its impossible to tell knowing nothing about their society.

>>34388972
>They treat Jianxi not as a person, but as a thing. Or as a breeding sow.
Thats probably exegarrating it. They do treat her as a person, otherwise they would have locked her into a room had them rape her until she popped kids, remember, they didn't expect us to find her. So at least to some degree, they do consider her a person, just a lesser one because of lacking their culture.

>>34388965
Without plans? They have been continually drugging us and keeping surveillance on us both physically and magically. That could easily separate and attack us at any time. No real need for a plan just action. Yes we can accuse them of intent when they already have drugged us for the entire period of our stay.

>Success

Although no one seems to be suffering any side-effects Isla is picking up faint traces of magic in each of you.

The magic is of the type that the Snakefist use. It does not appear to be doing anything to you at the moment, it seems....dormant for now.

>Ignore it, proceed with plan
>Dispel it

And so far the plan appears to be that Sireyi distracts the Clan leaders whilst everyone else cracks the saferoom.

Unless I hear anything else, that's what you're going to do.

>>34388972
The thing is that them not granting outsiders full personhood is not reason enough for us to start a war. It's just like in the other countries some non-humans are not considered people, despite us thinking they have it.

We can work with people who have different beliefs and act differently. Violence seems to be an unnatural answer, especially before attempting diplomacy.

>>34389002
>Dispel it

>>34388980
>If that law is an actual law, then it is neither just nor good and we can ignore it's existence entirely.
>Lawful Good is not Law + Good.
No one ever said they are Lawful Good ?
The question was, are they Lawful Neutral, and they might, depending on what their laws are like.
>>34388980
They don't actually know it doesn't work, they think it does and its just not enough.

>>34388997
We can accuse them for drugging us, but they said they do not wish to try and kill us, even if they would really like to.

>>34389002
>Dispel it
can we make it seems like it's still there in order for them to keep thinking we're not suspecting anything?

>>34389002
>Dispel it

>>34389002
>>Dispel it
Probably intended to cow us if we make a scene.

>>34389016
Unfortunately not, it's a completely alien type of magic to you, replicating the appearance or sense of it is beyond your skill at this time.

Dispel, ok, roll 1d20+13 (Sireyi goes first)

>>34389008
We aren't starting a war.
The whole point of this thing is to not start a war.
Also stop using a tripcode, there's no point.

>>34389010
I know that nobody ever said they were lawful good, I was referring to the alignment itself.

They're Neutral Evil, probably aren't lawful since they work outside the law and their existence is one of those 'you aren't supposed to talk about this' kind of things.

Rolled 8 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34389052
Damn. I fear we might tip them if they discover that the magic is gone.

Rolled 7 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34389052

Rolled 10 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34389052
H-here I go

Seems like Ebby can smell when something is afoul in the food, maybe we can have her check for poison and stuff from now on and warn us when she find some.

>>34389060
>They're Neutral Evil, probably aren't lawful since they work outside the law and their existence is one of those 'you aren't supposed to talk about this' kind of things.
There is no proof of their being Evil. Doing some stuff that is Evil =/= being Evil.
Thats why Neutral exists.

>>34389112
Why are we trying to force linear morality, which has never managed to properly define a character or group in it's entire existence, into this again?

Not to mention, cultural values difference alters opinions drastically.

You dispel the magic of...whatever it is, and intense pain rips through you, like something in your gut is trying to claw its way out.

You fall to your knees and retch, spewing blood everywhere, until you feel like you've bled out through your mouth (HP 28/58), your blood is everywhere.

Eventually it stops, and with your powers of endurance and regeneration, you recover quickly, but that hurt like hell.

It seems the poison, or spell, or whatever it was, has a lethal response to being dispelled, unless you squash its powers utterly.

Matthias and Shahulzer might survive that, Jianxi and Isla almost certainly wouldn't.

You could Dispel the others, putting enough power into it to make sure, or you could leave it.

>Dispel
>Leave it

>>34389163
Did our companions just not react at all to us screaming in pain and vomiting blood all over the place?

>>34389163
>Dispel
Something powerful enough to take out half our hp is dangerous if it happens unexpectedly.

>>34389163
>Dispel

Ok, roll 1d20+13, and vote on extra arcane power, average of 3 votes used.

You can target everyone with a single dispel.

Rolled 11 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34389255
15?

Rolled 12 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34389255
10

FUCK YEAH PALADIN OF JOY QUEST!

Rolled 20 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34389255
25

Rolled 8 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34389255
All of it. No risks.

>>34389274
good stuff man

“By the Gods Sireyi! Are you ok” says Isla, rushing over to you as you pick yourself up off the floor “What was that?”

The rest of your companions are a second behind her, having been taken by surprise at your reaction. They’re similarly horrified, and scared, as they all have whatever it is inside them too.

“That” you say, standing upright painfully “Was the poison they’ve been feeding us, that was the magic you detected, I guess it doesn’t like being dispelled.”

“Uh, so what do we do?” asks Matthias “I mean, I’m tough, but I don’t think I’d survive...that.”

“Last time I was just trying to dispel it normally” you say “This time I’m going to crush the spell before it can react, or activate its secondary effect.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” asks Jianxi

“Nope” you say “But it beats having that in you where they can activate it at any time.”

>Success

You manage to wipe clean the poison-magic in your companions without any adverse reactions.

“Right” you say, “Here’s the plan, I’m going to distract Lhou and Kiri, and you four are going to break into the vault.”

“How?” asks Isla

“You’ve got two strong guys, and two smart girls with magic powers” you say “I’m sure you’ll figure something out”

Point of view time, choose who you want to be for the next scene

>Sireyi
>Someone else (who?)

Ebonsong is not an option, sorry

>>34389275
We still have to teleport out of the area. I mean riding on a dragon is kinda a big target.

>>34389352
>Sireyi
>>34389355
Why exactly would we not teleport out with Ride the Lightning ?

>>34389352
>Ebonsong
Fuck the police!

>>34389352
>Ebonsong
Fuck railroading.

But seriously, Sireyi.

>>34389366
It takes 5 DE for each additional passenger, so it's not efficient.
Still, it's an option, I'd just prefer to teleport (2 AE/extra person).

>>34389383
>It takes 5 DE for each additional passenger, so it's not efficient.
But it takes us basically all the way home if we want, while Teleport just drops us off at best at the Enclave.

File: 1407263034036.gif (931 KB, 301x240)

931 KB GIF

>>34389352
>Ebonsong
Fuk da polic

I bet Pally secretly wants us to take Ebonsong

>>34389400
It could, but there are some things only spells can do.
Locking down all our DE into a massively long distance RTL and consuming all our AE would mean we can't put that monstrous willpower into play if this becomes a fight, either.

>>34389511
>Locking down all our DE
Not even close. Its 30 DE at most.
And if we actually use up all our DE, our teleport will be just as useless, since they can easily follow that one.

You are Ebonsong, baby dragon you asked for this.

Big Sister Sireyi was sick, but now she’s better. You back to the Village of Strange Horrible Magics and lie on her shoulders as she goes to talk to the leaders, they talk, meaningless noises.

The two of them smell like this whole place, Bad Magic. At least Big Sister finally realised that they’re bad now, you can’t imagine what she was thinking, swallowing that spell. Still, she’s big sister, and she’s always right.

Suddenly the man jumps up and starts shouting, the smell of magic on both on them gets stronger, they’re going to hurt your sister with some sort of spell. You can’t allow that, you snarl, preparing to unleash your breath weapon and melt their faces.

And now for another point of view...

You teleport back to the village and go straight to the Jhongu residence, you enter through the front and tell one of the servants you want to speak to Lhou and Kiri, whilst your companions enter through a side door.

The two Clan rulers are eager to see you and make polite enquiries about how you’re doing, they don’t mention your brief disappearance but you can see that something is bothering them.

You distract them with talk about how Jianxi has built a life for herself back in Dornmer, and that whilst she intends to stay with her family, she would want to keep in contact. They assure you that she can come back to visit any time she likes and you discuss visiting arrangements, try to figure out timezone differences and generally arrange Jianxi’s life without her present.

Suddenly Lhou jump up, angry “What have you done?” he yells

Kiri gasps “The Clans secrets!”

Apparently your allies have met with some success. Ebonsong is standing up on your shoulders and looks ready to attack, seems like she picked up on the mood.

>Time to leave
>You were going to hurt Jianxi (talk to them)
>Fight!

>>34388972
what is that quote from?

>>34389564
Okay, locking down all but 5 of our DE. Enough for one lightning bolt or storm.
That's also making an assumption about world size, we don't know how fast the ships travel.

I'm not saying we should use our DE anyway, I'm saying we shouldn't use all our AE immediately so we have some to work with as the situation changes and don't need to dip into DE if it becomes a fight.

So we can RTL back to home with all of us immediately after we get the thing.

I'm agreeing with you, I'm just trying to be more prudent and prepared for a wider variety of circumstances.

>>34389656

>Do you treat all your children like livestock, or only the ones that return from death? Was your childhood too full of people ready to stab you?
we know the answer to those questions already

>>34389656
>You were going to hurt Jianxi (talk to them)
>Full on Halo and everything.

>>34389656
>You were going to hurt Jianxi (talk to them)
Ebonsong is 2cute.
Anyone feel like using that bonus part of Angel's Voice 2 that lets us induce specific emotions in other people?

Questions for OP:
Would that actually register as a magical effect?
How subtle would it be if we did use it?

>>34389656
>You were going to hurt Jianxi (talk to them)
>Halo and Detect Evil, if we detect it Sanctuary

>>34389656
>You were going to hurt Jianxi (talk to them)

>>34389656
>You'll get them back soon enough.

>>34389757
>Would that actually register as a magical effect?
Yes

>How subtle would it be if we did use it?
It can be used as part of normal speech (subtle) or it can be used to go full-on booming voice of Heaven (not subtle)

>>34389757
I really want to take more dragon powers so she gets more intelligent. Just one more for young. I hope she doesn't have a bratty phase.

>>34389815
I plan to put at least one dragon power into the XP spending list every level up for the time being, don't worry.
She'll start growing to the Young phase as soon as we get the next burst of XP. Probably.

We already went through most of the bratty stages pretty well. Maybe we should invest in the Parenting skill a bit?

>>34389855
What did you have planned ?
Acid Breath seems pretty tempting, considering the utility.

“You were going to hurt Jianxi” you say “my friend – your niece. Do you treat all your children like livestock, or only the ones that return from death? Was your childhood too full of people ready to stab you?”

“As for the clan secrets” you say “You’ll get them back, someday”

“You stupid barbarian girl!” fumes Lhou “You understand nothing, individual lives don’t matter, the Clan and the Empire are all-important! Besides, she’s been poisoned by your foolish outlander ways, the only value she has left is her bloodline – the powers she can pass on to her children, she could never learn to work our powers.”

“She might surprise you there” you respond “She’s one smart gir-”

He kicks you in the stomach, mid-sentence. You didn’t even have a chance to react, you’ve never seen any human move that fast.

You fly backwards through a wooden wall, and end up partially embedded in the one after that. He’s strong too, maybe as strong as you. Guess those tattoos really do work as advertised, that would have broken an ordinary person in two.

(HP 53/58)

Ebonsong alights next to you, having taken flight as soon as you were hit.
The two of them advance through the hole in the wall you just made. You’re in a small room, maybe 10ft across, with two experienced sorcerer-assassins with tattoos that grant them strength and speed, they’re not holding any obvious weapons.

“Best to take her alive” says Kiri as she advances “We might need her to bargain with.”

“Agreed” says Lhou “But we don’t need her intact, or conscious.”

Actions?

>Attack with Halberd
>Fly out of there
>Use Power (which?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

>>34389870
It depends entirely on how much XP we get.
Breath Weapon is what I was planning on, but if OP tempts me with enough GXP/AXP to buy AotD 3 and then Seraphic Dragon in the same level-up, I might bite.

I'd also put all four Breath Weapon Mod spells on the list at the same time as we get Breath Weapon, since we can get all 4 for 1 GXP.

>>34389951
>Use spell (Forcecage)
Can we get both of them in it?

>>34389951
>Fly up and use Storm Winds

Afterwards we contact our group and find out where they are.

>>34389991
Yes

>>34389991
There are others around to dispell it and attack us at the same time.

>>34390009
Forcecage sounds good.

>>34390045
Its a waste of movement against a clan of sorcerer who can dispell it.

>>34390021
I can't see any mention of people who aren't them in the room, and it'll probably interrupt their chosen actions for this turn and take them at least one round to dispel it.

>>34390077
We got kicked through a wall!
Even if no one was in the other room, they will be there soon.

>>34390064
Dispel is a variable strength ability and Sireyi is pretty powerful as a wizard.
I doubt they'll be able to break the spell in one round.

>>34390085
Pretty soon means enough time to run.
I'm trying to slow them down and prevent them from attacking us when we take off or doing something else that's bad, like grabbing Ebonsong.

>>34389951
>Use Spell (forcecage)
Makes sense to at least attempt a non murder way about it first. We are a Paladin of Konig.

>>34390098
Storm Wind knocks them down, protects us and gives us flight bonus all in one go.

>>34390009
Can we get some more info on how forcecage works?
Is it easy to dispel, or specifically made to resist attempts to dispel it?

>>34390110
Those are two different functions of the ability, flight is a permanent passive and gust of wind is an action unto itself.

Forcecage it is.

Current DE 34/35, Current AE 37/48

Vote if you want to use extra AE to make Forcecage resistant to dispel attempts.

>>34390118
>Can we get some more info on how forcecage works?

It's a solid cube of magical energy, breaking it requires magic or extreme physical force (natural disaster-level of power), it is not automatically resistant to dispel attempts. Extra Arcane Energy can be used to make it harder to dispel.

>>34390186
7AE

>>34390186
Yes, use 22.
That'll keep them out of our hair for a while.

>>34390186
22 as well.

>>34390186
10 should suffice.

>>34390186
>It's a solid cube of magical energy
Does it prevent teleportation, like dimension door here ?

>>34390186
22 extra.

>>34390247
I'd hope so.
I mean, it's a cube of pure magic, it can't be nice to teleport through and all the extra magic we're pumping into it won't help that.

>>34390275
Its a cube of Force energy, normally. It might be different here, but normally you can Dimension Door out of it.

>>34390247
That would be highly unusual and overpowered, the 3.5 spell does not prevent teleportation.
It might be different here, but we have no reason to assume so, hence why I wanted o invest only a minimum.

>>34390300
>>34390186
>It's a solid cube of magical energy
I don't think force is even an element in this setting, given that magic missile also does magical damage.

>>34390344
Maybe a little overpowered.
It should at least be difficult to teleport through, with difficulty increasing proportional to AE added.

As the two of them approach, you pick yourself out of the wall and chant a quick spell, encasing them in a magical cube of force. (AE 19/48)

“You’ll have to do better than that” says Kiri, she chants a spell as Lhou tenses, ready to act.

Your forcecage resists Kiri’s attempt to dispel it and she curses.

Lhou disappears, only to reappear outside the Forcecage, ready to attack you.

Kiri prepares another spell.

>Attack with Halberd
>Fly out of there
>Use Power (which?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

Ebonsong is perched on broken pieces of wood, watching intently.

>>34390373
>Lhou disappears, only to reappear outside the Forcecage
That answers the question then.
What a waste of AE.

>Activate Aspect of Dragon and use Shining Scales. No we have to fight it out, thanks to our enormous down in AE.

>>34390373
Pally, does dispel magic destroy magic items? Or simply suppress them? Also do we know if magical tattoos count as a magical item or as an enchantment?

>>34390373
just lightning them

>>34390373
Okay, they can just teleport right through it.
Goddammit.

>Activate Aspect of the Dragon II
Is that a full action?
If not, cast Stoneskin as well.

>>34390419
We would have to dispell each individually. Even if it works.

>>34390419
>Pally, does dispel magic destroy magic items? Or simply suppress them? Also do we know if magical tattoos count as a magical item or as an enchantment?

Suppresses, not destroys.

You don't know the answer re: tattoos

>>34390429
We're saving that DE for our escape route.

>>34390373
>Just fly up out of reach. Then cast Telepathic Link.

>>34390486
I think everyone that goes under it's effects needs to be near each other when the spell is first cast.
We didn't cast it before entering the village because these guys have Probe Thoughts.

>>34390434

Seconding defensive form.

We're stalling for our friends after all.

>>34390447
Thanks.

>>34390435
Is that so? Damn, I'm used to it simply targeting a person.

>>34390373
this sounds good >>34390417
>Activate Aspect of Dragon and use Shining Scales

Aspect of the Dragon 2, writing

Shining Scales is a separate spell and would require a separate action.

You can spend XP to make spells rapid (no action).

You draw upon your arcane powers and transform into a more draconic form. You look like a mixture of half-dragon/half-angel; your hands have long claws; your skin is covered in black scales; two horns curl around your head; your mouth is full of sharp teeth; a 4ft-long dextrous tail sprouts from your rear.

Lhou attacks you, hit fists hit like boulders, only your supreme toughness and dragon scales helping to protect you from a savage beating. Your military training kicks in and in one smooth motion you have your halberd in your hands, trying to fend off his blows.

(HP 49/58)

Kiri disappears from the forcecage, appearing on the other side of the room, she hangs back, letting Lhou hit you whilst she watches, probably waiting to dispel any magic you try.

Actions?

>Attack with Halberd
>Fly out of there
>Use Power (which?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

Optional
>Have Ebonsong distract Kiri
>Ebonsong stays out of it

>>34390681
>Halberd
>Use power (Lightning Enhancement)
It's not magic, 4 DE. (+20 Lightning Damage)
No point in casting if she's going to just try and dispel any buffs.

>Ebonsong stays out of it

>>34390681
>Good Touch him. Redeeming touch.
>Call for him to repent loudly in booming Angel Voice, to get the attention of your allies, so they know where you are.

>>34390681
>>34390710
+
>Ebonsong stays out of it.

>>34390681
sounds good to me. >>34390710


Good luck fucker

>>34390710
I really don't think that'll work.
Lhou just went 'muh empire, muh clan', when we tried to talk to him and then kicked us through a wall; I really doubt he would care about all the bad things he's done.
Too loyal to be persuaded that easily.

>>34390710

Redeeming touch... hmm... tempting, but since we're taking Jianxi away it's just death sentence for him if it works and waste of effort if it's not.

>>34390710
But we don't know of he's evil. Just because he thinks killing people is preferable under the current circumstances doesn't mean he needs to be redeemed.

>>34390773
It will at worst put him into pain spasms for some time.
And at best, he might actually see a better way.
It does make him feel empathy for the people he harmed, and if he killed people for protesting against starvation and opression, this will affect him.

File: yes_and.jpg (22 KB, 201x201)

22 KB JPG

>>34390788
>it's just death sentence for him if it works
>pic related

>>34390814
>But we don't know of he's evil.
If he truly has never harmed a person that didn't objectively deserve it by the standarts of our paladin powers, then we should just get the hell out of here, because he must be more siantly than us.

Redeeming Touch it is, please roll 1d20+13 and vote on extra Divine Energy used (if any)

Rolled 12 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34390849
DE4

Rolled 9 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34390849
DE5

Rolled 14 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34390849
None, we need all that DE to get home.

>>34390865
>>34390871
>>34390872

Well at least he is incapacitated for this round, and we can run.

>>34390834

I'm a bit loathe of using this power as a weapon.

Then again, he's probably skilled and clever enough, if he did turn good as result, he might end up a bit kinder.

I think any significant reevaluation is out of question. Their culture is callous towards an individual, but they believe they are doing the right thing.

>>34390891
>Assuming redeeming touch works like that if it fails
>Forgetting about the other sorcerer-assassin in the room

>>34390907
>I'm a bit loathe of using this power as a weapon.
Its not as a weapon.
He is a actual official of this realm. And he his important for Jianxi, it would be best if he saw the error of his ways and mended them. Its definitly using the power as intended.

>>34390912
We can only target one of them anyway.

>>34390907
I'm very loathe to use it as a weapon.
I wish other people that dislike it would've actually voted.

>>34390927
Except for the part where Mathrian wants to get him killed and the other guy wants to take advantage of the redemption-seizure aspect.
Totally used as intended.

>>34390891
At the very least, it didn't waste as much as the Forcecage.

>>34390947
The OOC strategies that might be behind it in our mind, have no ndirect bearing on why Seyiri does it, unless we make it so, per actual vote.

>>34390947
>and the other guy
Who strangely enough, apparently didn't even vote for it.

I did take this choice because I think he can be made to see what he is doing to Jianxi and others is thw wrong way to serve the prosperity of his people and empire. Its definitly worth a shot before giving up on Jianxis family.

The next time Lhou hits you, you flood him with positive energies, forcing him to experience what his done to others, making him see his actions through their eyes. (DE 27/35)

>Failure

Lhou drops to the ground, screaming “I did, what I did, I did it for the Empire, father, no, pleaseeeeee!”

Even though you haven’t redeemed him, seems like he’s done some very bad things in his time. He's distracted and won't be acting for a while.

Kiri doesn’t hesitate and launches a ball of flame at you with a flick of her wrist. It incinerates the walls around you, leaving you an easy path to escape, she seems surprised that you’re not burnt to a crisp too. You’re only slightly charred.

(HP 43/58)

Actions?

>Attack with Halberd
>Fly out of there
>Use Power (which?)
>Use Spell (what?)
>Other

If attacking, specify target.

Ebonsong option open as before.

Most of the surrounding walls are gone, there’s several corridors you can see if you wanted to try and get away.

>>34391006
Huh, that actually sorta worked.

>Fly out of there

>>34391006
>Even though you haven’t redeemed him
A bit of a shame, but I guess we would have needed a lot more for that. Maybe the experience is useful in the long run.

>Fly out of there

>>34390947
>Mathrian wants to get him killed

Okay, hold up a second. OOC, I really don't care about this guy if he lives or dies. And I also think the idea of him dying from possibly gaining a conscience is silly. Hes not going to go full retard and try and shut everything down if it works. I certainly expect he would try and slowly change things as best as possible without getting himself killed.


>>34391006
>Use Spell (Sanctify- enhances redeeming touch powers)
>Redeeming Touch Kiri.

>>34391006
>Fly out of there

>>34391037
Are you really surprised it didn't redeem him?
He was probably DC 50, at the least.

>>34391052
No.
We need all that DE to get home, assuming that this ocean isn't too gigantic.
Seriously, there's wanting to redeem people and then there's being Fluff.

>>34391006

Do we have any measure of learning how our comrades are doing? I§m not sure if telepathic link is the best thing to activate right now though....

>Stoneskin

>>34391089
>Stoneskin
>Against the offensive caster
If you're going to vote against the tide, at least vote for Spell Turning or Shining Scales.

>>34391006

Maybe we can offer him a chance at redemption later on. Since it did strike something with him, I think we would win the most by actually making better people out of Jianxis family.
Sadly there is no guarantee they won't still reject her, xenophobia is probably not cured by redeeming touch.

>>34391082
>Are you really surprised it didn't redeem him?
No not really, I had hoped it might work, but I didn't want to bank too much of our DE on it.
Prgmatism won out over the truly good choice here, I have to admit.

>>34391111

Ah, you've got a point. I'd rather go with Shining scales though, it's not like I actually want them dead.

>>34391122

I wonder if there was a way to try and diplomance them into reevaluating their treatment of Jianxi (if not other barbarians), but that would be probably much harder than even killing them.

>>34391156
>but that would be probably much harder than even killing them.
That would make it the Paladin option even more actually. If we were alone here, I would have voted for trying that, but sadly it would have taken too long and risked the others too much if we would have failed.

Fly out, ok, writing

>>34391122
Yeah, well, I definitely didn't help.
I was too busy being mad to suggest Sanctify, which might've made a difference, both in how much DE people were willing to spend and the end result.

I feel bad about it.

>>34391188
I sadly didn't think of that effect of Sanctify. Even if it might have made no difference.

PoJQM.

This quest is good and you should feel good. You're in my top 5, nigga.

With the way out clear, you scoop up Ebonsong and fly away, banking you follow a corridor to one of the exits. You hear a scream of rage behind you, Kiri is running after you, but she has barely a tenth of your speed.

Outside a scene of carnage greets your eyes.

Shahulzer is in his full dragon form, standing on his hind legs, looming over Matthias, Isla and Jianxi. One of his wings is tangled up by some sticky webbing, the other hangs limp, he’s bleeding heavily.

He’s keeping a hundred or so attackers back with claws and tail, and blasts of hellfire.

Around his feet are your companions.

Isla is prone and unmoving, a collection of scrolls on the floor next to her.

Jianxi is duelling three attackers, they’re moving with the same unnatural speed Lhou did, and she isn’t faring well.

Matthias is in his wolf-man form and tears into a half-dozen attackers, his fur is matted with his blood and his muzzle and claws drip with theirs.

20 or so of the local...enforcers, sorcerer-assassins, whatever they are, lie dead on the floor and from the burn marks around the place, Shahulzer might’ve taken a few more out.

That must've been one interesting robbery.

Their attackers are using short swords and throwing knives, as well as a variety of spells.

As you fly over to them, only Shahulzer notices you “Fine day for a fight!” he calls out “Throw some lightning at them!”

>Lightning? I’ll show them lightning
>Time to go (Teleport/Ride the Lightning)
>Grab Isla
>Help Matthias
>Help Jianxi
>Other (what?)

>>34391294
Thank you, always nice to be appreciated

>>34391351
>Time to go (Teleport/Ride the Lightning)
>Take everyone, and the scrolls.

>>34391351

>Stormwind the attackers away
>Time to go

>>34391351
>Time to go (Teleport/Ride the Lightning)
>Make sure to grab Isla and the scrolls.

>>34391351
>Time to go (Teleport/Ride the Lightning)
>Make sure to grab Isla and the scrolls.

>>34391351
>Make sure to grab Isla, Jianxi, Matthias, Shahulzer, Ebonsong and the scrolls.
>RTL back to Dornmer, burn some HP if we have to.

>>34391351
Looks like this was a less than valuable expedition to show Shahulzer the power of Friendship and Cooperation.

Destination?

>Dornmer, screw the DE/HP cost
>Just far enough away to heal and tend to allies

Either way, roll 1d20+13 to beat the wards against teleporting

Rolled 3 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34391432
It was kinda successful.
He has some friends now, and they're cooperating in the murder.

>>34391458
>Dornmer

Rolled 15 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34391458
>Just far enough away to heal and tend to allies

Rolled 2 + 13 (1d20 + 13)

>>34391458
>Just far enough
If we fail the check, we could get stuck with barely any HP

>>34391473
>>34391477
Most of the cost of RTL comes from bringing others along, it's 500 miles/DE or HP.
Oceans are not that big.
20 to bring them any distance at all.
It'd really be better to jump to Dornmer, since we'll just have these assholes TP after us otherwise.

>>34391494
It seems to risky to me. Once we have arrived, we heal, then Shahulzer takes Jianxi and Matthias on his back, and we carry the weakened Isla and fly away until our DE has regenerated.

>>34391458
>Dornmer, screw the DE/HP cost

>>34391520
DE takes an extended 8 hour rest to regenerate and is also where all of our healing comes from.

>>34391520
>>34391531
Also Shahulzer's wings are busted, he can't fly right now.

>>34391531
Yes and ?

If we use Ride the Lightning for just 2 DE, we still get further away than they are likely to be able to follow. With 1000 Miles to put between us.

>>34391545
Hence the heal

>>34391554
We don't use it for 'just 2' we use it for 'just 22', unless you want to leave our allies behind.

>>34391494
>Oceans are not that big.
The Atlantic between europe and NA is 3 milion miles.

>>34391564
But we only use two of those for distance, which was the point.

>>34391573
3k miles, actually.

Dornmer it is, writing

>>34391591
So we have a grand total of 5 DE left, no way to regenerate it since we're being chased, trapped on a hostile continent against a bunch of teleporting sorcerer-assassin assholes.
Great fucking plan, what about the wing covered in sticky gunk probably designed to be as difficult as possible to remove?
Or the fact that neither Sireyi nor Shahulzer have infinite stamina?

>>34391613
>So we have a grand total of 5 DE left
And if we fail, we are trapped in between all these guys with a significant HP drop.

>>34391625
You didn't address any of the other points, anon.
Namely that your plan is either die or die tired.

>>34391648
Because the other points were irellevant to the argument. We don't know what the gunk does, and thei8r stamina is definitly enough for that flight.

The entire poinjt was that using our HP risks us being trapped here wdown on our resources, not that the other plan is objectively better, yes, if we do pull off the teleport, of course reaching Dornmer is better, but we have no guarantee for that, and if we don't then the attempt leaves us worse of then the other attempt.

>>34391686
If we don't we're fucked anyway, since we can't try again.
You're unwilling to burn any HP, so either plan's failure means we can't try again.
This isn't a fight we can win, so not escaping isn't an option.

The gunk is used by assassins who probably developed to ground flying opponents, large ones in particular, for an extended period of time.
The same assassins that fight demon worshipers all the time and have probably fought hellwyrms before.
There's about a zero percent chance it isn't specifically designed to be difficult to remove or burn.

How long do you think the flight would be?
Oh, and keep in mind, Shahulzer is slower than us and we'd both be carrying people.
We can't get across the ocean exhausted as we are even if Shahulzer can fly.
If we don't cross the ocean, then we have teleporters after us and would be wanted criminals, there would be no opportunity for rest and we would eventually collapse from exhaustion.

We're just as fucked with either plan if we fail, but we're *still* fucked with your plan.

Declaration of first trans-oceanic war soon. I think Sireyi should work with Dornmer's magicians to outfit a few units of air infantry to counter Kugani's airships.

>>34391753
>but we're *still* fucked with your plan.
No we aren't because We can invest 5 DE to get away, thats 2500 miles distance, they can not possibly follow that with teleport. And still have 2 for healing

Grabbing Isla and the scrolls, you call down the lightning and it strikes you and your companions, carrying you away.

>Success

You arrive in Dornmer, near the Town of Silas, you can spot the village of Dallersgill in the distance. You don’t feel so good...

(DE 0/35, HP 19/58)

Still, your companions except Isla are at least walking wounded, and Shahulzer is big enough to carry you all on his back. You examine Isla as you approach the village, seems she just took a hard blow to the head, only a little healing energy is needed to knit her skull and she wakes up, good as new.

As you approach the village, dozens of villages come out wielding pitchforks and other improvised weapons, ready to defend against the approaching Dragon.

You fly ahead and calm them down, explaining to Mayor Bilthwaite that he’s a friend.

Its morning here, and you and your companions spend the rest of the day healing and recovering. The village remembers you fondly and they manage to get enough food together for a small feast that evening as you regale them with the stories of your exploits.

The next morning you travel towards your estates, only to spot the refugees and the giants on the road, seems they still haven’t arrived. With your companions on Shahulzers back you all swoop down towards them.

The march pauses briefly as you enjoy an excited reunion with your friends, and your children.

Isla in particular seems taken with Viviken.

Jianxi stands apart, holding the leather bag that contains the scrolls you took.

Matthias and Shahulzer spend much of their time talking to Wegenthal and the frost giants.

Sofia is in her element, organising everyone, with Jal at her side, running errands and making sure Sofia takes time to rest and eat. Ducas is with her too, helping get everyone where they need to be.

At Sofia’s request you travel with the kings soldiers.

>>34391807
The next day the whole convoy passes by a massive battlefield, where a cliff overhangs a river.

For miles there are suits of armour, broken weapons, and skeletal remains poking oit of the earth. In places the ground is blackened and fouled, nothing growing there.

“Reyvas Ridge” says the captain leading the troops, “50 years ago, that’s where the orc clans where broken, and the Kingdom saved.”

“Reyvas Ridge?” grumbles one of the soldiers, an older man “Yeah that’s what the ‘istory books call it, but them as fought it called it Red River.”

The River doesn’t look red, it looks a normal colour of a clear river.

>Try to recall information about the battle (Roll Int 1d20+3)
>Ask captain about the battle
>Ask Soldier about the battle
>Don’t ask anything
>Other

Rolled 12 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>34391817
>Try to recall information about the battle (Roll Int 1d20+3)

Rolled 6 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>34391791
So, all but *two* DE blown now.
Two DE isn't enough to fix his wing, probably.
That only heals 9 HP and he has 60, I doubt it'd help very much.
There's still the gunk and the fact that no secret police that aren't complete morons wouldn't have outposts all over the country.

>>34391817
>Try to recall information about the battle (Roll Int 1d20+3)

Rolled 4 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>34391817
>Try to recall information about the battle (Roll Int 1d20+3)

>>34391841
>Two DE isn't enough to fix his wing, probably.
No it isn't, but then we could have used our HP in a number we actually knew how much it would be.

File: harrow.jpg (31 KB, 223x310)

31 KB JPG

Rolled 5 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>34391817

That must have been something special if the place hasn't regenerated after 50 years.

>Try to recall information about the battle
Also reminder we should invest into intellect a bit.

You don't recall much about the battle, other than it was a vast horde of orcs and beastmen, led by 8 powerful warchiefs, an unusual event.

Also the current Kings grandfather died in the battle, as did a lot of other soldiers - thousands in all.

The orcs and beastmen died in massive numbers too, in fact they lost so many that the border has been quiet for the last 50 years, with only the occasional raid.

>Ask about battle (who?)
>Stay quiet

>>34391952
>Ask captain about the battle

>>34391858
Fine, your plan had merit to it in being more controllable.

Next time, don't forget to make a counter-argument, rather than just trying to defeat your opponent's points.

>>34391952

Ask both the captain and the soldier

XP

General 15
- Complete Jianxi backstory 10
- Gained Tattoo Magic Secrets 5

Angel 5
- Avoid killing 3
- Avoid combat 2

Paladin 2
- Attempt redeeming touch 2

>>34391978
>>34391477
>If we fail the check, we could get stuck with barely any HP
That was the entire point I made from the start.

But to be honest, I wasn't all that married to the plan myself.

>>34391998
>Breath Weapon -10 GXP
>Parenting +2 -2 GXP
>Investigator +1 -2 GXP
>Spells -1 GXP
All four of the Breath Weapon Modification spells.

>Paladin set aside (we can't get anything)

>Angel set aside (We can't get anything *good*)