Speak, Muse, daughter of Zeus, of golden-haired Deianira Hippomedion, who wields her will more artfully than any spear, who guides the οἶκος of Hippomedon to wealth and prestige, and of her brother, Nikandros Hippomedion, who journeys far from home alongside famed companions to entreat Ilion’s sacred citadel. Sing of the savagery of the Ixionidae, and of the strong-greaved Hellenes! Sing of the wrath of Menelaus, of the folly of Paris, of Zeus’s plan which even now comes to fulfillment…----Deianira’s Sidestory is an adjunct to Homer’s recent Trojan War Quest – while Nikandros Hippomedion sails to Troy, we take control of his witchy sister, Deianira, as she guides the oikos of Hippomedon to wealth and power, in the foothills of Mount Olympus. In contrast, to the “main” TWQ plot, this sidestory will have an emphasis on development of the estates of Hippomedon and local politics within Thessaly. I am not the original QM of Trojan War Quest, but I hope that he will return to continue Nikandros’ story in the future.Recommended Reading:Trojan War Quest #1: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5579585/Trojan War Quest #2: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5610431/Trojan War Quest: Deianira’s Sidestory #2: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5644134/Homer, if you’re reading this - please consider dropping me a confidential line at deianiraquest@tutanota.com if you don’t feel comfortable posting openly – I’d love for a chance to pick your brain and honor your wishes, even if I can’t persuade you to continue TWQ!
King Priam entered without their seeing him, and going right up to Achilles he clasped his knees and kissed the dread murderous hands that had slain so many of his sons.As when some cruel spite has befallen a man that he should have killed someone in his own country, and must flee to a great man's protection in a land of strangers, and all marvel who see him, even so did Achilles marvel as he beheld Priam. The others looked one to another and marveled also, but Priam besought Achilles saying, "Think of your father, O Achilles like unto the gods, who is such even as I am, on the sad threshold of old age. It may be that those who dwell near him harass him, and there is none to keep war and ruin from him. Yet when he hears of you being still alive, he is glad, and his days are full of hope that he shall see his dear son come home to him from Troy; but I, wretched man that I am, had the bravest in all Troy for my sons, and there is not one of them left. I had fifty sons when the Achaeans came here; nineteen of them were from a single womb, and the others were borne to me by the women of my household. The greater part of them has fierce Ares laid low, and Hektor, him who was alone left, him who was the guardian of the city and ourselves, him have you lately slain; therefore I am now come to the ships of the Achaeans to ransom his body from you with a great ransom. [r]Fear, O Achilles, the wrath of heaven; think on your own father and have compassion upon me, who am the more pitiable, for I have steeled myself as no man yet has ever steeled himself before me, and have raised to my lips the hand of him who slew my son."[/r]Thus spoke Priam, and the heart of Achilles yearned as he bethought him of his father. He took the old man's hand and moved him gently away. The two wept bitterly - Priam, as he lay at Achilles' feet, weeping for Hektor, and Achilles now for his father and now for Patroklos, till the house was filled with their lamentation.
Deianira HippomedionLevel 1Height: 6’3”Age: 22Kleos: You’re an unknown! -5 to Kleos checks. Deeds below:None (as of yet).Timae: That of a typical impoverished country noblewoman. -5 to Timae checks.STATS:STR - 8/20 (-1)AGI - 11/20 (+0)CON - 11/20 (+0)WILL - 14/23 (+2)INT - 15/23 (+3)CHA - 17/23 (+5)Regional Alignment: Thessalian Noblewoman (+1 STR, +1 AGI, + 1 CON, +3 CHA). Your training in the house of Hippomedon emphasized social skills, womanly arts (song, dance, etc) and the modest conduct expected of a noblewoman and future wife. That said, your constant (and sometimes secret) treks through the harsher Thessalian terrain for herbs, plants and various other supplies has granted you a measure of strength, agility and hardiness.[b[Epithets:• Pharmakis: Providers of medicines, drugs, and various other tinctures (from Witch/Physician).Traits: • Dutiful – Your father, Hippomedon, insisted that you were as diligent in your own education as your brother. You get an extra stat point per level in the +2/+3 alternating pattern that Homer established.Tier 1:• Fresh Olympian Blood: +1 to all stats and regenerate 2 health per turn of combat. +3 when interacting with daemons. You can see and talk to supernatural entities without assistance. Life experiences may unlock hidden bonuses or traits over time.• Physician: Cures, tonics and various medical therapies are your domain (+1 to INT; +3 to diagnosis/treatment attempts, stacks with Witch bonuses). Any potion, tonic, or healing agent created through the ritual process has a significant bonus to success (+3); +3 bonus to rolls to treat wounds, injuries, maladies. People, animals, or entities under your personal medical care and receiving one of your treatments make rapid recoveries (twice as fast) and weather life-threatening illnesses; you can fan the flame of life in a person on the verge of death.Tier 2: • Witch: The esoteric art of magic herbalism is known to few mortals. These few are almost exclusively witches. While your brother spent endless hours in the training yard, you labored through days and nights learning the ways of the Witch. Your mother had arranged for your tutelage with a mysterious woman, Spathion – how exactly she arranged for this is unclear to you (+3 INT/INT cap, +3 to CHA/CHA cap, +3 to WILL/WILL cap; -1 to all physical stats). You are knowledgeable regarding an extremely broad array of medicines, poisons, and illnesses; these same skills provide you access to all manners of creams, lotions and perfumes to enhance your physical presentation. With appropriate preparation, you may engage in occult ritualism to produce a magic spell or potion; reagents for such rituals are typically difficult and expensive to obtain.MALUS: Women’s Frailty: Strength Reduction (-3)STATUSHP- (8/8)
Skills• Witch’s Knowledge: +2 when attempting to identify herbs, plants, poisons, potions, or magic spells, also +2 to create these. Commonplace animals, plants and reagents will not require rolls to identify.• Witch’s Aspect: +2 to all social/will rolls (under select circumstances, the social bonus may be doubled when interacting with “vulnerable” males, but this may have consequences)• Physician: +3 to all rolls to diagnose or treat illness. • Divine Aura: +3 when interacting with daemons. (FOB)• Divine Regeneration: Heal 2 health per combat turn (FOB)• More skills to be uncovered as circumstances and traits necessitate.Personal Inventory:• Knife of Hippomedon: 1d4 + STR + Knifeplay damage• Hunting Bow: 1d4 + AGI + Archery damage• Abercion’s Black Silk• Abercion’s Globe of Vapors• Witch’s Tools: various mortars, pestles, bowls, and other needed equipment to produce all manners of tonics and tinctures.• Physician’s Supplies: all manner of mundane bandages, knives, and such implements necessary to trait human illness.Current Potion Inventory: One philter of Hippomedon’s Essence, two charges of Dionysian Frankencense.Current Reagent Inventory: - Deianira’s blood (always available)- One bundle of Aconite flowers- One bundle of Nightshade.- One Oak acorn- Two black lambs in the fields of Hippomedon.
Rolled 4 (1d20)>we now return to the battle against the Κενταυροι...>4 vs 4 - Enemy Hero's spear is cast; Deianira narrowly blocks!The beast’s bronze-tipped spear leaps out of its grip, piercing sharply through the morning air. You watch, stunned, as the black-haired creature staggers awkwardly on its hooves, overbalanced from its spearcast and stumbling towards the gleaming figure of Aristonax in his bronze panoplia. Your eyes flick back towards the pitiless point of the spear, as it wobbles wildly in the air. You barely have time to recognize it as a poor cast, badly delivered, before you realize that it will still strike you! You’re paralyzed – your arms are buried in cool mud and are moving too slow… The speartip careens wildly towards your left shoulder, and praise be to Zeus of the aegis, you are flailing awkwardly with your bow, lashing out with your eyes closed. Against all odds, you connect with the thrown spear, batting it aside; the jolting contact causing your arms and shoulders to clench painfully. Picking yourself off the stony earth, you are bruised, disoriented and dirty – you had tumbled off your archer’s perch, but you can’t quite recall how you came to be sprawled across the stony ground. You stagger to your feet and disbelievingly find that you are otherwise undamaged – your bow is lying some strides away, having been thrown aside in your descent to the earth. Staggering forwards in an undignified crouch, you collect your weapon, and rising, turn back to the battle – to your surprise, you see Pantaleon roaring triumphantly, penetrating the broken heap of the centaur chieftain with his spear. Aristonax has already turned and is advancing against the next savage, only several long strides away. >Enemy Hero has been slain!Turning your attentions to the broader line of battle – it is barely managed chaos. The Thessalians have been savaged by the Κενταυροι, and you groan as you see how many men lie unmoving on the hillside, their teeth gripping the earth. The wounded, soaked in blood, are busy dragging each other out of the line of combat. >5 Thessalians have been slain, for a total of 11/100 men killed.>Thessalian forces now have 95/500 wounds, and are fighting at a -1 wound malus.Nonetheless, many more men are still present and in fighting spirit - you mentally cheer as you see that the ends of your unoccupied battlelines have followed Argyros' orders, and have sprinted into position behind the beasts. You now have them surrounded! Your fingers shaking and heart still pounding from your near-death, you nock an arrow to your bow and pray to Phoebus Apollo - but your arrow goes wide, deflected off the thick hide of the Κένταυρος you had been aiming at.Even as you watch your shot go wide, you hear the awful cry of the Κενταυροι as they realize that their chieftain has been slain...>rolling for centaur WILL (roll under 6, with -3 malus for dead hero)
Rolled 1, 5 + 2 = 8 (2d20 + 2)>>5687278>4 vs 3 - the centaur's morale shatters! We never saw this in TWQ, but intuitively, the centaurs sacrifice their initiative roll in order to flee the field of battle.I'm rolling a 2d20 for the Centaur's fleeing - they currently have a +2 AGI bonus for their dodge roll, and a +2 bonus to their blocking roll. From the players, I need FOUR rolls of dice+2d20-1 for to-hit and for wounding as they disengage from melee. After this, we'll do the hero rounds, and then everybody will throw their spears. Ignore my previous comment about the -1 wound malus, I forgot about the numerical combat advantage.
Rolled 17, 9 - 1 = 25 (2d20 - 1)>>5687293
Rolled 5, 4 + 1 = 10 (2d20 + 1)>>5687293
Rolled 6, 15 - 1 = 20 (2d20 - 1)>>5687293whoops, rerolling in case you want the correct mod to accept it, discard otherwise
>>5687242I bring grave news. Yesterday Homer reappeared, but as he did not find a continuation of his quest, he left thinking TWQ has been forgotten*.*This was revealed to me in a dream
Rolled 13, 7 - 1 = 19 (2d20 - 1)>>5687293Those centaurs came very close to not breaking.Good to have you back.
Rolled 4, 4 - 1 = 7 (2d20 - 1)>>5687293Welcome back
Rolled 3 + 1 (1d4 + 1)>>5687293>16 vs 3 - Soldiers connect!>14 vs 7 - Soldiers wound! Well, looks like the Thessalians are ready to bring the pain. I'm skipping the last roll since you guys have already beaten the DCs.There are currently 13 Centaurs escaping from the front lines, assuming I didn't fuck up my count from last thread.So I need THREE rolls of dice+4d4-1 to determine how much damage each Centaur receives. To make things easier, I'm flat-out doubling damage delivered to the Centaurs given that they are currently encircled (not just flanked) and fleeing from combat. I'll be rolling for damage against Labostas as well - did you think I forgot about him?
Rolled 4, 3, 1, 3 - 1 = 10 (4d4 - 1)>>5687335I would've just assumed Labostas was one of the poor sops who got crushed by a boulder
Rolled 3, 3, 3, 2 - 1 = 10 (4d4 - 1)>>5687335
Rolled 4, 2, 1, 1 - 1 = 7 (4d4 - 1)>>5687335
>>5687336Nay, not Labostas, son of. Uh. That guy. Needless to say though, these ponyboys just got pieced the fuck up goddamn.
I’ll call for hero rolls tomorrow but this anon is correct>>5687367Your troops have finally inflicted a serious blow on the enemy; the flanking damage bonus on unarmored combatants is huge. Also note how your troops were mostly just holding the line before you guys brought down the enemy hero…
>>5687374Hahaha victory, let's finish this monsters. There are wounds to heal, spoils of battle to collect and the bones of the dead men to bring away from this foul place. If there are wounded centaurs they could be interrogated, then executed in front of our people.Wonder if we should just burn the centaurs corpses here or make it more of a ceremony for the gods. We could collect their heads and bring them to a temple/sanctuary, or to our witch hut were we have a small space dedicated to Hekate.>>5687335Deianira has still her hood on so it's fine and kept her distance. It would be difficult even to smell her with so many Thessalians, plus the blood and odors of the slayed centaurs.
>>5687336>>5687338>>5687366Okay, here's what I'm calculating:>42 totals wounds delivered>two centaurs killed outright by your troops as they flee>another centaur wounded so severely that it collapses to the ground, unable to move>Labostas collapses to the ground, unable to move.>Centaurs now have 55/120 wounds for a huge -5 wound malusNine centaurs are fleeing, in various states of wounding. Let's see if our heroes can thin the herd! I need THREE rolls of dice+2d20 for the attack rounds of Deianira, Aristonax and Pantaleon. Please see manual bonuses that I'll be applying below:>Centaurs rolled a 3 for dodging, 7 for blocking.Pantaleon:to-hit: +2wound: +2Aristonax:to-hit/dodge: +0 (typically +1 but he still has 8/9 wounds, so -1 malus)wound: +4 (typically +5 [+3 STR and mediocre spearfighter trait], -1 wound malus)Deianira:to-hit: auto-success given ranged attackwound: +1 total bonus
Rolled 16, 4 = 20 (2d20)>>5687648Go Aristonax! Kill one!
Rolled 17, 12 = 29 (2d20)>>5687648
Rolled 3, 12 = 15 (2d20)>>5687648
>>5687648Centaurs rolled a 3, 7>>5687651>Deianira is still shaken by her near-death experience and blows her shot.>>5687652>Aristonax connects!I need one roll of dice+1d5+4 for Aristonax!>>5687684>Pantaleon connects! I need one roll of dice+1d4+2 for Pantaleon!—-So now I need two rolls of dice
Rolled 2 + 4 (1d5 + 4)>>5687758
Rolled 4 + 2 (1d4 + 2)>>5687758
>>5687762>>5687767>Aristonax continues to job, in keeping with his legend of mediocrity and his flawed combat training>Pantaleon outperforms his commoner blood per usual Amazing how the dice are consistent like this…
>>5687777Is this a sign? Are we to ever trust in their consistency?
>>5687944Ivory deceives horn fulfills. It just depends on what the dice are made of.
Rolled 19, 12 = 31 (2d20)“Biageiros is dead!” “He has fallen, fallen!”The guttural shouts of the Ixionidae are grating on your ears, but you’re delighted to watch them realize that their commander lies in a bloody heap upon the top of the hill. The attempted retreat is an undignified one – flailing and kicking wildly, they smash against your troops in an effort to break loose of the line. Even you can see that they’ve waited too long to disengage – long Thessalian spears now encircle each Κένταυρος, now that your troops have looped around behind them. You feel a bloodthirsty grin tugging at the corners of your mouth as you see no less than four of the savages brought down by the First Platoon and the Hillguard working together, even as the rest struggle to break loose. Aristonax and Pantaleon, sensing the tide of battle shifting, are sprinting down the line, and you’re treated to the remarkable sight of each of them scoring kills nearly simultaneously. Aristonax, leaping over the rocky ground in heavy bronze, careens through a cluster of spearmen, bowling them aside and plunging his spear into a already-bloodied Κένταυρος with his spear-point forward – it plunges deep into the side of the creature. You’re disgusted to watch the creature begin coughing out copious amounts of blood blood, even as it collapses to the earth. Pantaleon has launched himself onto the back of one of the fleeing beasts, and you watch admiringly as he grabs hold of the beast’s shoulder and mercilessly proceeds to stab out the beast’s heart from behind. It’s a fast and efficient action, and he neatly leaps off the beast as it crashes to the ground.With the clattering of hooves, the herd of Biageiros shows their tails and flees down the hilltop, half-galloping and half-trotting due to the poor footing. Once again, you're amazed to see that the morning has scarcely begun, and yellow-robed Eos has scarcely left sight; it seems that years have passed since your ascent of the hillside under the cover of night.>six Κενταυροι remain and are in condition to flee! >two Κενταυροι lie collapsed on the hillside, and one is in the valley below.>ten of the beasts have been slain, and it’s not even noon!You hear the bass tones of a man belting out “CAST SPEARS! CAST SPEARS!” and you see that Argyros has removed his helm, revealing his white locks of hair, all astray - he is furiously gesticulating with his arms, even as he repeats his orders. You have the presence of mind to scramble atop a nearby boulder, bow at the ready, even as your troops sprint forwards, their spears upraised. Pantaleon is roaring in triumph, sprinting down the hillside faster than you would ever dare yourself - from behind, you see his bulky shoulders twisting this way and that as he tracks for the best cast possible. Aristonax has contented himself in an easy jog - he seems to trust that his throwing arm will deliver a spear faster than his legs might.
>>5688178okay, I rolled a 2d20 for the centaurs dodge and block before I calculated their wound malus, see math below: >12 (+3 CON, but -6 wound malus) = 9I need TWO rolls of dice+1d20-1 to see if the troops can connect on their massed spearcasts. Practically speaking, only about half your dudes can get ready to toss their spears against the fleeing beasts and have the arm strength to connect with them.
Rolled 14 - 1 (1d20 - 1)>>5688192DIE
Rolled 14 - 1 (1d20 - 1)>>5688192That's like, two hundred spears. By Zeus' nuts. That's a lot of spears for a few running horses.
>>5688197>>5688199>both 14Huh.
>>5688197>>5688199they deserve it, besides we can't let them escape ! Thankfully humans are better in endurance for pursuit of preys, also Deianira has her bow.
>>5688192About Labostas i would hope you don't plan on having him expose the fact that he stole sheep for us without us being able to do anything about it.Deianira should be smart enough to recognize the danger he could represent and appropriately instructed pantaleon to kill him even if he surrenders.
Wait a second, where is the trait we got from the god?
>>5688375Ah, shit. It’s definitely on Deianira’s charsheet as Tier 0 trait, I‘ll mark it down properly for future reference later tonight.I don’t have a background of tabletop gaming and so honestly one of the biggest lessons through this QMing experience has been to keep a clear set of notes and excel spreadsheets AND keep phone posting to a minimum.—-Anyways, now let’s roll for damage with the spearmen casting successfully against the centaurs.Practically speaking, only about 40 spears are being thrown (since 10% of your troops are dead, another 10% or so are too wounded to cast, and then about half of the unwounded troops are in the position to cast).Each group of spearmen, First Platoon and Hillguard have cast, but they have each had only marginalish successes - 13 vs 9. So only two or so spears wound each centaur.I’m calling for two rolls of dice+6d4+-1 to determine damage to each beast. I’m going to be doing some QM handwaving here (-1 damage per die, flat doubling of damage dealt).I should be able to call for hero rolls sometime today and then wrap up this conflict tonight with an update.
Rolled 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1 - 1 = 18 (6d4 - 1)>>5688461
Rolled 1, 4, 3, 3, 1, 2 - 1 = 13 (6d4 - 1)>>5688461
>>5688462>>5688466>46 total wounds delivered to the fleeing centaurs Congratulations, anons. You have achieved a 100% kill rate, and our friendly heroes weren't even scratched! I was honestly expecting at least one centaur to make it out alive, after the boulder rolls went sort of mediocre. >No need for hero rolls now that the centaurs have been turned into pincushions.Everyone, thanks for your patience as we move through an extended battle sequence - I've learned a LOT from this process. Deianira's Sidestory is likely to become more socially-oriented for the remainder of the thread.Update tonight!
>>5688685Tesco burgers for dinner tonight, lads
>>5688685We have finally reached total centaur death.
>>5688685RIP centaurs, your livestock raping ways will not be missed. Hopefully they won't come back for a good long while.
>>5688685A good success all around!Best to donate a nice vase to the gods upon our return since deianira is unhurt.
>>5688685Hooray, the combat is over. It's time to lick our wounds. I wonder if giving sips of the Hippomedon’s Essence will help some of the wounded.
The beasts are not moving fast enough. They’re forced to wind their way laterally down the hillside, leaping over crevices and boulders, and across small depressions in the earth. The hill is too steep for them to retreat directly, and wounded as they are, their endurance is failing them. Despite all their frantic howling, their flight is slow and stumbling. Your breath catches as you realize how poorly the savages have conducted themselves in battle this morning – the failed charge, a foolish advance up the hillside itself under threat of boulders, and now an unplanned retreat after the death of their chieftain – all while their enemy holds the high ground. You grasp that that they never should have attacked at all – instead, they should have laid siege to the hilltop and waited for you and your men to grow hungry. Their rage, driving them headlong into the pitiless spears of your men, has been their undoing.Perhaps forty men are hale enough and in the correct position on the hilltop to launch their spears against the fleeing beasts below. You watch them from above as they lope downhill, their steps quickened by the prospect of victory. Common men as they are, they do not enjoy the enhanced strength that you and your brother possess, but they are practiced spear casters nonetheless. Here you see how long hours in the training yard under Argyros’ supervision has paid dividends. With the change in elevation, the spears crest only a few feet above your sight line before racing back to the earth. The Ixionidae wail hopelessly as they hear the grunts and exhortations from your Thessalians; with the chariot of Helios behind your right shoulder, the shadows of the spears flicker out into the plain below before returning course, meeting with the shades of the escaping beasts.None survive.To your surprise, you are leading the shout of victory, your white arms raised high on the hilltop, the warm light of Helios dancing on your golden hair – and the men roar back, deeper base notes welling up below your own voice’s alto resonance. Glancing across the hillside, you see even old Argyros standing with his feet firmly braced, head turned back, adding his voice to outcry. There is a long moment of silence as you breathe deeply, and many of your men take the moment to sit down, breathing heavily and cheering each other. For now, the mood is ecstatic - later, the time of weeping and sadness will come when it is remembered that strong-greaved Thessalians are dead.>+1 Kleos gained! It has been well-noted that bright-tressed Deianira Hippomedion was present at the Hilltop Raid, and with her bow, sent one of the spawn of Ixionidae to Tartarus.
If the battle itself was pure excitement and terror, the stuff of story and song, this next part of war you do not find glamorous in the least – the collection of your maimed, wounded, and dead; the pawing over of dying enemies. The beasts disgusted you in life - but even so, a small measure of pity grows in your heart as you step by their carcasses, matted with blood and filth, mouths open wide in silent prayer to the uncaring gods...“Lady, if you please – one of the beasts demands that he speak with you!” The young spearmen who delivers the message is dirty, but still hale; a mop of brown hair sits upon his young face. He was fortunate enough to escape death and maiming, and his broad grin is radiant. You don’t recognize him - one of the Hillguard, you suspect. Following him quickly, you are led to a dying Labostas, sprawled across the rocky ground. You recognize it immediately, even though his blonde hair is matted with blood and dirt, and his face is ashen gray. After all, it has been less than a month since your previous rendezvous. You resist the temptation to kneel at his side – surrounded by your spearmen, such behavior might be misconstrued. Better to keep aloof, you think, and so you calmly state – “I am here, creature.”“God-dess…” Labostas whispers, his eyes tracking you against the sky. They are too bright – a sign of his near-mortal wounding, but your training as a physician takes over – a quick evaluation of his wounds, his breathing, his coloration, and you suspect that he is not quite ready to meet with Hades in Tartarus. He may yet live, if his wounds are tended quickly and with wisdom. “I beg you…” the beast continues. You see its mouth working – clearly, it means to speak further with you. You haven’t the slightest idea what message it will convey.You are aware of your spearmen’s eyes around you – their foreheads creased in consideration. It occurs to you that further conversation with Labostas may be damaging to your standing, or reveal your prior negotiations with him. But at the same time, the shred of pity in your heart seems to grow. Why not let it speak these words in kindness? The battle is over, his people are slain. Whatever danger he has posed in the past is now gone. >well, /qst/, how does Deianira wish to handle Labostas? This vote will close at 9pm tomorrow night.>kill him before he can speak further? >allow him to speak his words without interruption?>allow him to speak his words, and then treat his wounds?>other?
>>5688888>>allow him to speak his words, and then treat his wounds?Pet centaur
>>5688888that's a lot of 8s>Kneel by his side and allow him to whisper his words without interruption.In front of these soldiers who have lost comrades to his ilk, if this centaur reveals that he stole sheep for us from one of the other nobles, that will lead to a headache, but at the same time, there is power in last words. Let's kneel close enough for a whisper, but be wary, for he still might have some strength.
>>5688888>Kneel by his side and allow him to whisper his words without interruption.Nice quints
>>5688901And treat his wounds too, fuck it.
>>5688888>>Kneel by his side and allow him to whisper his words without interruption then treat his wounds.
Guess for this time period captured enemies can be made a slave, sort of like with Iudas.
>>5688888>kill him before he can speak further?i ain't kneeling near a superfast raping monster no matter the wounds. And like Shepherd would say, that's one less loose end.
>>5688888>5 8's! nice>kill him before he can speak further?>>5688983I agree completelyThis is the guy who can't help himself to kill livestock with his dick, he's not coming home with us.A pet? A slave?There's a reason even kings don't have these kind of exotic in their palaces.It's like if peleus got a siren as a pet, rumours would ruin him.
What would the general opinion in ancient Greece be if we treated his wounds?
Oh wait, this is the centaur who thinks we're a goddess right?
>>5688888>Kneel by his side and allow him to whisper his words without interruption then treat his wounds.Quints check
>>5689004I know, i wouldn't want a thing like this near us ever. He barely could control himself the other time and was trying to get near Deianira, until he left. His very nature will make him do foul acts. This ain't a weapon, it's a tool that will turn against us.I don't even know what to say to our neighbour and our men, if it starts talking about what we asked him to do. Especially because the only justification for anyone here to keep this being alive is interrogation, and i very much believe Aristonax will include in his questions to ask him under torture if him robbing others noble and giving the sheeps to us is real.
>>5688888>Kneel by his side and allow him to whisper his words without interruption.Right, let's hear it>>5689189Wrong daemon, you're thinking of the Satyr. This fella treated us reverently the whole time because he thought we were a goddess
>>5689069>>5689071Basically, centaurs are feared and reviled due to their heritage (product of a shameful union between Ixion and Nephele) and their conduct of raping, pillaging and raiding over the last 100 years or so. In the world of the Homer, I would imagine that they are basically “kill on sight” status for most Thessalian noblemen. Analyzing their story through a “modern” lense, you could interpret their story as a form of generational racism, where they were excluded from Hellenic society and turn to criminal actions as a result. I think actual classicists view the Centaur myths as a “domestication” tale, where Greek society expelled barbarians and criminals to set some minimum standards of social conduct, but would welcome the opinions of other anons here.Anyways, simply allowing the beast speak at all would be considered a quirk of woman’s kindness on Deianira’s part - perhaps a naive one, prompting consternation, but no serious damage to her reputation.However, if Labostas chooses the wrong thing to say aloud, it could imply that witchy Deianira is consorting with the beasts, and THAT would be a nasty rumor indeed.We have already a smart write-in to kneel by the beast (and keep his words quiet), so I’m glad to see that this was suggested.Treating its wounds as if it is one of your men would be practically unthinkable - this would prompt all kinds of wild speculation about your true motivations. Also, remember that Labostas and his herd just murdered a whole bunch of dudes under your command. Deianira’s kindness might be admirable from a modern Christian sensibility but would likely be considered outrageous and offensive to any witnesses.
Also, check this out:https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/style/article/bronze-age-sword-germany-scli-intl-scn/index.htmlHow’d a bronze blade find its way to the woods of Bavaria in 1300 BCE? That’s a whole quest in its own right…
>>5688888>Kneel by his side and allow him to whisper his words without interruption.We're gonna end up killing him after but damn. You can't just let someone's last words go unheard. Even if they're a savage goatfucker. >>5689208>tfw your wife wanted to go on vacation in a bad part of the world againThat's super rad though. Who were they? Who buried them? If it was locals who did it and not fellows from the same culture, what did those people do to get respected enough to not have their burial shit pilfered by the locals? History is cool.
>>5689202Huh, interesting. Thanks for explaining Lesches!>>5689208Neat.
>>5689208That's a very cool sword right there
>>5689208Is it really so strange that other humans used bronze?I recall tin mined in cornwall being traded all along the mediterranean in the bronze age, Celts and whoever preceded them were just as good with metals as any other civilisation.
Well, if we kill him but kneel by his side to listen to his last words, we can draw our dagger and identify where to cut to induce the quickest and mute death.
>>5689208Bronze trading networks are looooooongggg. Tin had to be mined in Cornwall and transported through rivers to the centres of innovation in the Ancient Middles East. This is why civilizations hit by the Bronze Age collapse are unable to recover. When these trading networks are cut, they were unable to find the metals they need to forge bronze.
Rolled 17 (1d20)>no new votes in a while, so let's count up here. allow him to speak openly and treat wounds>>5688889kneel by his side and let him whisper>>5688892>>5688901 (and treat wounds too)>>5688912 (and treat wounds too)>>5689176 (and treat wounds too)>>5689194>>5689224shoot him! shoot him!>>5688983>>5689004---Okay, clear consensus to at least kneel by his side for discreet conversation, and sort of a mixed bag on wound treatment (I might trigger a run-off vote for this later).>I'm rolling a d20 for Labostas' willpower here, he has to roll under a 6. Let's see what he has to say.
>>5689425oh no, is he going to full on scream out his word?
>>5689426The way it was phrased i believe it would mostly be to say something at all before death.Possibly calling us bitch.That said he's mistaken us for a goddess and anybody knows catching their attention can only end badly.
Letting the beast speak freely is a risk - you’re all too aware that the wrong word from Labostas may cause you trouble. Pantaleon has kept his silence on the matters of the oikos for years, and can be trusted to keep your prior interactions with Labostas secret. The men surrounding you and dotting the hillside, though, haven’t demonstrated the same discretion. A rumor here of consorting with savages, in the glow of successful battle, might speed through the foothills of Mt. Olympus faster than winged Iris, messenger of the gods herself. You’ve led the household for only a short few weeks, and you still remember the grim, uncertain atmosphere of the first morning council after Nikon’s departure. You haven’t yet earned the trust of these spearmen, although this morning’s success would lay the foundations of this.Labostas weakly clears his throat, bright eyes tracking yours, and you take the initiative to clearly pronounce - “I know not why you have called for me, beast - but I will hear what words you have and judge them.”You stride forward quickly, brushing your chiton away from your knees, kneeling alongside the the laboring chest of Labostas. With your right arm icy and prickling, you draw your father’s knife partway from its sheathe. You can’t be sure of his intentions, and you’re not so foolish as to think that he is harmless, even gravely wounded as he is. You bring your face close to his – the dried blood flaking off his too-pale face, his breath foul and hot.>Labostas fails his WILL check by like four degreesLabostas seems to summon some hidden reserve of strength, and his face contorts grotesquely, shouting at an impossible volume:”GOD-DESS…TRAITOROUS WHORE…I CURSE YOU AND ALL THE BASTARD GODS ON OLYMPUS. I CURSE THE WHORESON NEOCHYS. I CURSE THE WHORESON ZEUS –“.Your jaw drops as the open blasphemy continues, the insane rant of a creature that has gone beyond rationality or hope of self-preservation. The guttural screed seems to echo across the hills, deafening. Above you, thunder sounds deeply across the clear morning sky. Panic crushes your heart in a vise and you cast a terrified glance at the peak of Olympus, rising above you – looming over all of you. Rolling white clouds crown the peak itself, the cloak of the gods… You have the vague sense that your men are trampling over one another in a mad dash, flinging aside their shields and spears, sprinting down the hill at top speed.You are paralyzed, bronze knife wandering closer to the beast's neck, but your feet tugging you down the hillside...>kill Labostas now!>run!>first vote wins this flash vote
>>5689479>run!
Zeus’ judgement is fucking coming
>>5689480I need a dice+1d20+1 from a brave anon
Rolled 15 + 1 (1d20 + 1)>>5689485Apollo bless this roll
>>5689487Nicely done, anon. What an exciting morning for Deianira…Update tomorrow yall
>>5689487>local greek woman sets new land speed record to avoid DIVINE PUNISHMENT by adjacency I hope our men have their wits about them to run as well. Cursing Zeus at the foot of his mountain isn't time to slap someone for blaspheming, it's time to gtfo before he cocks his arm back for the throw.Almost as dumb as pissing in the sea and telling Poseidon you're improving his shoddy work.
Your feet win the dilemma - you spring upright, and without delay, speed down the hillside, your golden hair breaking loose of its restraints, whipped about your face, and into your mouth. Deimos’ talons slash at your legs, and her teeth graze upon your neck - you run faster than you can believe, long legs propelling you haphazardly downhill. In the moments after the battle, the majority of the spearman had collected the wounded, and had begun a slow and orderly trek down the hillside under Arthur’s supervision - now, they flee like terrified children, all pretense of discipline forgotten. Zeus, father of Olympus, loud-thunderer, is now speaking in the oldest and most important tongue known to men. Behind you, the insane shouting of Labostas continues, and daring a glance at it, you see that it has risen to its hooves, facing Mt. Olympus, making crude gestures. A stray thought passes through your empty mind, It is already dead.Your sandaled feet dance across stones, earth and grass - but your strides are true. The commoner troops before you sprint wildly, some tumbling and tripping, others leaping over their fallen brothers - the wounded diving for cover behind boulders and into the folds of Gaia’s embrace, covering their eyes and ears. Your own hands are clamped tightly upon your ears, your blood pounding, and you are only just able to keep your balance as you stagger forwards.In mid-stride, your world turns white.>Deianira rolled a 15, ~4 degrees of success>Deianira takes some tissue damage -2 from the concussive wave, and another -1 from tumbling over the rocky ground, but otherwise no permanent harm. ‘Nira avoids the concussion I planned to give her :)>She is now at 5/8 wounds (although will be fully healed in short order given FOB)>no additional troops are killed, although about 30 dudes take some minor/cosmetic damage, and some dead bodies are destroyed.You are being hauled to your feet - coughing, you expel pebbles and dirt from your mouth. Your body aches - dull pain radiating up your arms and legs, your joints swollen and tender. Your shoulders and thighs are battered - even your chest feels bruised beneath your leather tunic. The two spearmen pulling you to your feet are dusty and dirty themselves, covered in small abrasions and scratches. You are disoriented, still reeling - even with your hands having tightly covered your ears, your sense of hearing is a bit muffled from Zeus’ retribution. The spearmen are saying something to you indistinctly, but you can’t quite make it out.>more coming and vote post later tonight, thought I'd post what I have>I got distracted by making a spreadsheet and then simulating multiple combat encounters between various people (pro-tip: do NOT ever fight Achilles).
>>5689929>Nira avoids the concussion I planned to give her :)Neat, wonder how the pool is looking.>pro-tip: do NOT ever fight AchillesThat’s downright common sense. The only way I could see someone beating him is either using augur loaded dice with very strong modifiers/luck or having the prophet father and constantly rolling crits in a row for a combat encounter. That or gassed up by several gods.
Also who is Arthur?
>>5689939Kek, that’s autocorrect - please read as Argyros.>>5689938Honestly I’ve spent an hour or two building charsheets for most of the TWQ cast, but Achilles’ sheet is giving me the most trouble. Would kill for Homer’s notes.
>>5689948Darn, no time traveling role-model king with a cool sword to marry. Though Nira being a witch would’ve brought some weird vibes considering his myth.>Would kill for Homer’s notes.Ya, lotta of the mechanics like spear breaking, supernatural, and even timae would’ve been nice to know.
>>5689948>laughs in achilles being notably superior in every stat to diomedes except intHe cheats.
>>5689953I’ve developed some plausible and straightforward systems for weapon durability, deity relations, etc I’m drifting inexorably towards running TWQ myself despite my better judgment. I have to know how Nikon’s story ends!
>>5689992It ends in glory of course. But glory is not a path everyone walks whilst they still draw breath.
“WHAT?” You ask them. After a few more repetitions, you realize that they are asking you if you are well. You wave them away once you test your weight on your ankles - they are functional, although definitely sensitive. Your arms and legs are already covered in ugly purple bruising. Once your self-evaluation is complete, you spin and gaze in wonder at the smoking ruin above you - it seems that half the hilltop has been erased, a smoldering crater where you had been standing only moments ago. Flames dance among the blackened earth, and you see odd glimmers of light amongst the rubble itself - polished stones? You don't dare approach to take a closer look.Of Labostas, there is no sign at all.You take the moment to abase yourself to Mount Olympus, fervently promising Zeus offerings of rich cuts of heifers and libations of wine at the next possible opportunity. You pray with every fiber of your being that his baleful eye has wandered away to other matters; your right arm freezing despite the warmth of Helios on your back. Rising, you see that many of the spearmen about you are kneeling in supplication, shouting out their fidelity to the son of crooked-counseling Kronos. Their voices are shrill with fear and desperation and in this moment, you feel just as small and weak as they. —-The rest of the day is a weary enterprise - the gathering of the dead, the washing of the bodies, and the digging of a mass grave. The dead beasts are left where they lie - Aristonax and Argyros both warn you against the ordering of a funeral pyre for the beasts; such a command might cause an open revolt after this morning’s casualties and the blasphemy of Labostas.“Let their corpses feed the birds and beasts, as punishment for their crimes. Surely Zeus would wish it so.” Aristonax advises, and you don’t argue against it. A camp is made at the foot of the hill itself, and the men go about their camp duties silently and without mirth – for the night of a victory, it seems grim and solemn to you, but you suspect that the demonstration of Zeus the cloud-gatherer’s retribution and the lack of wine each contribute to the lack of revelry. A full accounting of the dead is made – the First Platoon has lost six fine spearmen, each of them veterans of various raids and skirmishes led by Νίκων; the Hillguard lost five of their own. As for the wounded, you insist on inspecting each wounded soldier, and ensuring that each of them is cared for properly – with true bandages, boiled and purified in the fashion that your tutor Spathion shared with you. You crack several jokes and attempt to bring humor to the men as you do so – and they laugh too loudly, even when your delivery is awkward and stiff. They are desperate for levity, and all too glad to forget the day’s tribulations, if even for a moment.
The digging of the burial pit is difficult work, even with makeshift wooden spades and shovels fashioned by your resourceful men, and the bodies (carefully washed with water ferried by the nearest stream) are interred by yourself and Aristonax, leading prayers to both Zeus Hypatos and Hermes Diaktoros – to guide their shades to the Elysian Fields. As evening falls, you lead the funeral procession along with Aristonax. He surprises you by weeping openly along with his men; you suppose that he truly loves his people, despite his brusque exterior and exacting demands. For you – the tears do not come. You’re dismayed to find that you are numb, at first your mother’s voice echoes within your mind – Is this what you desired, Deianira, when you persuaded Aristonax to come this way? Are these men just stones on a petteia board? You push aside these intrusive thoughts; your mind’s poor imitation of your mother’s cutting tongue, but you reflect on your actions. In truth, you feel:>This is another "personality vote" for Deianira, now that she's had her first taste of war. In peacetime, she is lighthearted, a comedian (although I'm probably not doing it justice); how does she react to this morning's grim truths?>Satisfaction. Yes, your words and deeds led to the death of good men – but your realm is safer for their bloodshed. Through guile and cunning, you found the savages, gained an ally, planned a battle, and carried it through. You will not weep for the dead – not when their lives have purchased safety for their families and for your οἶκος.>Anger. You could have planned better, performed better, fought better. Your brother would have been more effective, you’re sure – better able to plan the defeat of the savages. Your inadequacy led to the deaths of good men, the needless expenditure of your house’s resources. You are furious at the hubris of Labostas – but a spark of that rage is reserved for yourself. Thessaly will hear of this raid and view it a victory, but you know what it really was – a failure that revealed your own frailty as a leader.>Fear. Less than twenty of these savages was enough to test the resolve of one hundred good men, led by nobility. How would your house fare against Damachides, if he should forget his place? You realize with dread that the First Platoon makes up your entire military force – and they will soon be called away to support Νίκων’s war. How will you survive, defenseless? How can you be expected to retain your lands, your dignity, your freedom when any passing band of spearmen might choose to take you and your home by force?>Something else?
>>5690218>Anger. You could have planned better, performed better, fought better. Your brother would have been more effective, you’re sure – better able to plan the defeat of the savages. Your inadequacy led to the deaths of good men, the needless expenditure of your house’s resources. You are furious at the hubris of Labostas – but a spark of that rage is reserved for yourself. Thessaly will hear of this raid and view it a victory, but you know what it really was – a failure that revealed your own frailty as a leader.Sing O Muse, of the rage of Deianira Hippomedion…Something I’ve sort of noticed is that Nira hears internal family voices sort of common, which is interesting and mentions of her voice type.
>>5690218>>Fear. Less than twenty of these savages was enough to test the resolve of one hundred good men, led by nobility. How would your house fare against Damachides, if he should forget his place? You realize with dread that the First Platoon makes up your entire military force – and they will soon be called away to support Νίκων’s war. How will you survive, defenseless? How can you be expected to retain your lands, your dignity, your freedom when any passing band of spearmen might choose to take you and your home by force?
>>5690218>Satisfaction. Yes, your words and deeds led to the death of good men – but your realm is safer for their bloodshed. Through guile and cunning, you found the savages, gained an ally, planned a battle, and carried it through. You will not weep for the dead – not when their lives have purchased safety for their families and for your οἶκος.I mean, the casualties suck but we got more than we could have normally out of this whole centaur situation. People are gonna die in their duties, but that's just how it be homegirls
>>5690218>Fear. Less than twenty of these savages was enough to test the resolve of one hundred good men, led by nobility. How would your house fare against Damachides, if he should forget his place? You realize with dread that the First Platoon makes up your entire military force – and they will soon be called away to support Νίκων’s war. How will you survive, defenseless? How can you be expected to retain your lands, your dignity, your freedom when any passing band of spearmen might choose to take you and your home by force?Is burial a thing that they did in ancient greece to non-nobles too?As i read in the iliad it's always only mentioned cremation for the warriors, but some nobles have been found interred with their riches.No problem on aristonax showing emotion, that's a common thing for soldiers who fought together, stoicism at funerals is a modern thing.It also shows how witchy deianira is for being standoffish, but there isn't really anybody she personally knew who died and leaving the mourning to their friends is sensible.We should probably talk with argyros about establishing a replacement for the first platoon since both the men and more importantly argyros himself who trained them may be gone soon.
>>5690218>Fear. Less than twenty of these savages was enough to test the resolve of one hundred good men, led by nobility. How would your house fare against Damachides, if he should forget his place? You realize with dread that the First Platoon makes up your entire military force – and they will soon be called away to support Νίκων’s war. How will you survive, defenseless? How can you be expected to retain your lands, your dignity, your freedom when any passing band of spearmen might choose to take you and your home by force?
>>5690218>Anger. You could have planned better, performed better, fought better. Your brother would have been more effective, you’re sure – better able to plan the defeat of the savages. Your inadequacy led to the deaths of good men, the needless expenditure of your house’s resources. You are furious at the hubris of Labostas – but a spark of that rage is reserved for yourself. Thessaly will hear of this raid and view it a victory, but you know what it really was – a failure that revealed your own frailty as a leader.
>>5690218>Satisfaction. Yes, your words and deeds led to the death of good men – but your realm is safer for their bloodshed. Through guile and cunning, you found the savages, gained an ally, planned a battle, and carried it through. You will not weep for the dead – not when their lives have purchased safety for their families and for your οἶκος.
>>5690365>is burial a thing in the LBA of Greece?I hit some literature about this and couldn’t seem to come to a clear conclusion. There’s lot of archeological evidence for family tombs and such in Attica and the Peloponnese, but funeral pyres themselves (as seen in the Iliad) would destroy the evidence. Also, it seems unknown how the poor would have buried their dead.So I’m settling for a fictional syncretism of classic/Mycenaean Greek practices where either form of burial might be appropriately depending on the circumstances. A noble dying in peacetime might be interred in the family tomb; but warriors and nobles dying far from home could also be burned on a pyre.In this case, Deianira and Aristonax had the time to bury their dead in single graves, given that there is no expectation of further conflict. In the Iliad, it seems that both Patroklos and Achilles are burned because the Achaeans are in active war in hostile territory, and I would imagine that burning the body would be preferable to letting the Trojans desecrate the corpse later.>side note, happy Father’s Day! Don’t be like Zeus, honor your father!
>>5690218>>Fear. Less than twenty of these savages was enough to test the resolve of one hundred good men, led by nobility. How would your house fare against Damachides, if he should forget his place? You realize with dread that the First Platoon makes up your entire military force – and they will soon be called away to support Νίκων’s war. How will you survive, defenseless? How can you be expected to retain your lands, your dignity, your freedom when any passing band of spearmen might choose to take you and your home by force?They are all fitting in a way, but this is very real. Beside the first platoon, there is only a levy and they are hardly good for war on their own. Measures must be taken for resolve this. Probably raising a second platoon, and have the first platoon and Argyros train them. And find another warrior to lead them, since Argyros is going with Nikandros. Selling our witch/healer services will be crucial for finance the oikos economy.There is anything the centaurs have left in their camp ? Do centaurs have any body parts that can be converted in ingredients ?
>>5690218>>Anger. You could have planned better, performed better, fought better. Your brother would have been more effective, you’re sure – better able to plan the defeat of the savages. Your inadequacy led to the deaths of good men, the needless expenditure of your house’s resources. You are furious at the hubris of Labostas – but a spark of that rage is reserved for yourself. Thessaly will hear of this raid and view it a victory, but you know what it really was – a failure that revealed your own frailty as a leader.
Anger>>5690222>>5690383>>5690922Fear>>5690243>>5690365>>5690377>>5690589>>5690800Satisfaction>>5690276>>5690490>wew, 10 votes! A good day for me, lads.>Fear is the clear winner, update tomorrow at 9-10pm EST>I've been a bit lax about counting one-post ID votes, but starting now, votes will only be counted if the post ID has posted 2 or more times. this will be in force for the rest of the thread!
Hi all, update tonight is delayed - I’ll have a double update out for tomorrow afternoon/evening. My sincere apologies - I’m in a weird headspace right now and finding it hard to put together the last 30% of the post.
>>5691805Don't worry about it, I'm just glad this quest is still going.
The funeral procession concludes just before twilight, as you each pray silently to Hermes, Αθανατος Δαικτορος. the immortal guide, to speed the shades of the slain men to the Elysian Fields. As the men are assembled before you, Aristonax, yourself and Argyros announce that new orders are to be delivered in the morning. The men quickly disassemble and return to their modest campfires. Above you, the smoking hilltop glows and flickers with the residual heat of Zeus’ fury.You are afraid. Less than twenty of these savages was enough to test the resolve of one hundred good men, led by nobility. How would your house fare against Damachides, if he should forget his place? You realize with dread that the First Platoon makes up your entire military force – and they will soon be called away to support Νίκων’s war. How will you survive, defenseless? How can you be expected to retain your lands, your dignity, your freedom when any passing band of spearmen might choose to take you and your home by force? Much is needed to strengthen your οἶκος. How can you have been so naïve – so blind? Weariness suffuses your being – it is a struggle to keep your back straight. So much needs to be done. When Aristonax invites you to his campfire for dinner, you cannot find the energy to decline. As you walk to his tent, you continue to mull over the day's events. The instantaneous destruction of Labostas rests heavily upon you as well, pressing upon your breast like a heavy stone. The capriciousness and wisdom of the gods has ever been discussed, debated upon and argued about - but now, you have incontrovertible proof of their unimaginable power, and their will to use it. The lives of men but toys to them – your life is only a moment of pleasure or anger in the hands of the divine. You must seek a patron from amongst them - it is the only form of protection that matters. You accept the κύλιξ of wine from Aristonax without a second thought – if ever you needed the soothing blessing of Dionysus in your life, it is now.You realize that Aristonax is speaking to you, leaning over the campfire, and you startle - “- are like no Thessalian noblewoman I have ever met - perhaps more like a noblewoman of Lacedaemon? I have heard the women there are halfway to the Amazons. You contrive a raid against savages in the lands of your neighbor, in the general style of your brother, and yet for this service to Lyciboeus, you have asked for no payment.” He pauses for a long while, and the gleam in his eyes unsettles you. Your mother's voice whispers to you - Perhaps he is hoping for a superior heir?You make a mental note to post Pantaleon outside your tent tonight - what you really need is a guard hound, but the bearded Epirot hunter will have to suffice.
Rolled 7, 11 = 18 (2d20)You realize that Aristonax is speaking to you, leaning over the campfire, and you startle - “- are like no Thessalian noblewoman I have ever met - perhaps more like a noblewoman of Lacedaemon? I have heard the women there are halfway to the Amazons. You contrive a raid against savages in the lands of your neighbor, in the general style of your brother, and yet for this service to Lyciboeus, you have asked for no payment.” He pauses for a long while, and the gleam in his eyes unsettles you. You make a mental note to post Pantaleon outside your tent tonight - what you really need is a guard hound, but the bearded Epirot hunter will have to suffice.Aristonax continues, the grim lines in his craggy face softening – “There is much that could be gained by coordination between our houses, Lady Deianira. I am a general, a shepherd of men – but I have been shut out of the court of Peleus, and Phthia is closed to me. I need men and soldiers. Worse yet, these taxes to Peleus and Agamemnon strangle the life of out of the nobility of Thessaly.” You immediately sense that Aristonax’s poor standing in Phthia is related to his objection to taxation, but out of ladylike reflex, you nod blithely to encourage him further, and buy you time to think.“Fair-tressed Lady Deianira, we must consider bold action if we are strengthen our οἶκοι together – and Damachides, to the west…His motivations are unclear.” Aristonax shakes his head in mock dismay, but this expression is not mirrored in his eyes. The momentum in his tempo is building - you sense the diplomatic>Aristonax is about to hit Deianira with his best sales pitch about a more formal "alliance" between the houses of Aristonax and Hippemedon. CHA is Aristonax's dump stat, btw :). Let's see if she has the WILL to stand-up for herself - this is just the opening leg of the discussion. This is more of a flat contest given that Deianira is still a bit shellshocked and Aristonax isn't as suave as he thinks he is.>Players, I need TWO rolls of dice+1d20+2 to see how Deianira stands up under his pitch.
Rolled 5 + 2 (1d20 + 2)>>5692578Bad Aristonax!
Rolled 10 + 2 (1d20 + 2)>>5692578
>>5692584Close one. Nice, anon.Aristonax does have a point, however I feel like his problem with the tax is less to do with it being unfair but rather with him being a lackluster statesman. He probably doesn't know much about the land and how to ensure it is properly cultivated enough to do more than feed a garrison or army. Of course, being a manly man he doesn't realize he could potentially be a loose strand in the rope.
If Aristonax is so worried about the tax, why doesn't he get his son plastered, hand him a table leg, and point him at Agamemnon? He could be father to the High King of all of Greece, but he instead chooses to be a minor noble in Thessaly. What a disappointing man!I forgot his son's name but with the way that boy was rolling, he'd brain even fat-headed Achilles
>>5692584>12 vs 11 - marginal success on Deianira’s part. It’s a heavy-handed pitch and Deianira is not swayed.I’ll have an update out for tomorrow at 9pm!Apologies again for the delay, I wasn’t sure how to wrap Deianira’s day until I realized that Aristonax wants something here too…
>>5692617Is this just the beginning of negotiations?
>>5692621This will be a somewhat brief discussion, Deianira will have the option to reframe terms and/or counter-pitch with tomorrow’s update.Then we”ll move immediately into her Deianira and Witch actions for Phase 3 (aka regular questing fare for TWQ:DS).Thanks for everyone’s patience - I’m sure you are all noticing that I am still learning about pacing and tempo.
>>5692598What I find most funny is that this man bare-faced said, "I am a general, a shepherd of men," when Argyos is literally greater in those fields than him. Now I am not saying we could directly point out that he's a jobber with both battle and his fight with his son, but it might be something that could help with coming negotiations as an argument point. It was our info, our strategy, and our own Pantyboy who killed the chieftain of the centaurs. Though, we'd have to balance it against the fine line of not insulting his pride.>>5692626>aka regular questing fare for TWQ:DSI wonder if we'll meet another hooved friend when going out at night. But I am most excited to see if we can figure out what the black silk and globe of vapors do. Maybe we can pull an Aganice of Thessaly and a blot of the moon but with magic instead of astronomy.Side note, I find it interesting that Nikandros is somewhat similar to the name of the protagonist of Apotheon.
>>5692626That's good. We need to start concocting something for make some fat stacks of cash.For oikos actions and personal ones we need to wait for next season ? It's a priority to get that 2nd platoon up and running before the 1nd and Argyos leave.It's a shame centaurs didn't provide anything from their demise, but their death is good enough. I can't imagine the damage they would cause in a raid and it would be a far different battle, less advantageous for us.
>>5692833I won't say they provided nothing.We've yet to see what they had in their camp and also with their demise the lands may be a little safer as a result.Also we probably will get a boost of reputation as a beautiful badass who can stand in a battlefield and lead soldiers to victory.I'm kind of worried for the low morale of the soldiers but that will fix itself when we come home as heroes
>12 vs 11 - marginal success on Deianira’s part. It’s a heavy-handed pitch and Deianira is not swayed.Aristonax squares his bulky shoulders, as deepening gloom settled about the pair of you, and he launches into a speech without much further preamble - a memorized one, you suspect. His words tumble out of his mouth too quickly and a bit awkwardly, and his delivery is overly loud for the more intimate campfire setting, speaking to an audience that only he can see. Meanwhile, his pale eyes are unnervingly locked onto your own, his gaze intense. You struggle to hide a smile, thinking:Damachides may not be the only nobleman in the foothills of Olympus who imagines himself a king.“Fair-tressed Lady, I have heard your winged words in your palace and have seen your beauty. My tongue, such as it is, has not been blessed by the gods of Olympus - my strengths lie in other pursuits, as you are no doubt aware. Still, I believe that you and your οἶκος are the key to a stronger Thessaly. With my eldest away on Agamemnon’s call to arms, my middle son being….unsuited…for leadership at the moment, and my youngest son barely more than a boy…” He trails off unexpectedly, seemingly lost in thought. You sigh inwardly, impatiently, your face a mask of polite interest, and wait for him to collect his thoughts. To a woman of your social graces, his overall affect is a bit boyish, despite his graying hair and craggy features - he’s delivering a speech that your brother might have given to you in practice at the age of twelve, at Iudas’ prompting.Your legs and rear are still quite sore from your tumble down the hillside earlier this morning – difficult to hold still on the rocky earth while listening to such discourse, but you manage.“King Peleus Aiakides cares nothing for our troubles, only that our wealth flows down the Peneus to Phthia; I doubt our names are even known to High King Agamemnon, and yet our meager supply of talents find their way into the house of Atreides all the same. We cannot scrounge out a living, with the barbaroi circling in the hills, if Damachides imposes a third tax on us, as he surely plans to…” You stifle a cackle - even Nikon could be subtler than this - and the man is almost seven feet tall! Nonetheless, you already see the glimmers of his (probably?) delusional plan - that the local nobility could band together as a block, and this way stymie the local aspirations of Damachides' minor kingship, and perhaps press for lighter taxes with King Peleus.Here, you interject with a deft touch - “Lord Aristonax, please - has Damachides taken action to impose his own tax as of yet?” You easily strike the correct tone of “naive interest” here, and Aristonax puffs up eagerly to inform you ->more coming
“No, no - but he has refused all communications with the local nobility for years, a decade or more, and has collected a rabble of slaves and spearmen. I have not seen the man personally since your mother returned to your palace, bearing your brother and with you in tow. Whatever ξενία was once shared between our houses is now withered and dead.” This matter-of-fact statement is mildly shocking to you - a casual rejection of Zeus’ mandate, and a bold one, with the glowing and charred hilltop above you both.“My wife tells me that he is seeking heirs with his newest wife, with the rest having failed him previously over the years. But he is getting older, and time is running short for him. And this is the spearpoint, Lady Deianira - the pitiless edge of bronze of the matter - Damachides must die before he can produce an heir, or we will soon be ground to dust between two great Kings, and a small one. I ask you for your help in slaying Damachides, through whatever means you find best. Your nimble tongue may be more useful here than all my Hillguard together; even with the half-trained commoners that Lyciboeus calls his forces may not be enough to challenge him strength for strength.”“For this service – the death of Damachides - I offer you the wealth of one hundred fifty gold talents, the protection of the house of Aristonax, and true partnership.” Aristonax, satisfied with his attempt, and seemingly unable to read your neutral expression, awaits your response.Your breath catches at first, hearing the sum – for rural nobility such as yourself, it is wealth enough to plant your οἶκος firmly into the strata of Thessaly. With such a gift of wealth basically, about 5 Timae or the wealth that your oikos would generate over 5-8 years of farming delivered in a lump sum, all at once there is MUCH that could be done to improve your lands, build required infrastructure, and surprise your brother Νίκων with a bustling estate when he returns from his wider travels (hopefully bringing your husband as well). And yet – one hundred fifty gold talents is perhaps only a smaller fraction of Damachides’ total wealth; and here is Aristonax, asking you to do the lion’s share of the work – plan and execute the murder of a powerful noble, while getting a pittance of the overall reward. As to the rest – protection of the house of Aristonax is not without value, but four hundred spears is more of an annoyance to Damachides, not a true threat – to Prince Achilles’, perhaps a few weeks of entertainment for himself and his Myrmidons. You aren’t precisely certain what Aristonax means when he says “true partnership”…and you suspect he doesn’t either.
It seems to you that some further negotiation must be made. >please note that these conversational options do not lock Deianira into any particular choice later, but WILL be remembered by Aristonax himself. Your mutual discretion here is assumed. As a general rule, deception and betrayal are common in the world of Homeric Greece – even without the gods meddling. >agree to kill Damachides as Aristonax suggests, for one hundred fifty gold talents, the protection of his οἶκος, and “true partnership”.>agree to kill Damachides as Aristonax suggests,but renegotiate with Aristonax regarding your payment (this will be a CHA check on even footing). If you vote for this option, please select your plan accordingly and I’ll do my best to combine. If necessary, I’ll trigger a run-off:• Ask for additional wealth in Damachides' gold (each 30 talents proposed will increase DC by 1 point)• Ask for additional wealth in Damachides' slaves (each 30 slaves proposed will increase DC by 1 point)• Ask for additional wealth in Damachides' livestock (each 50 heads of livestock will increase DC by 1 point)• Ask that Aristonax “sells” you 50 of his Hillguard (this increases DC by 3 points, can only be taken once, and they will be loyal to you)• Deianira may also ask for an advance of gold from Aristonax directly (each 5 talents requested increases DC by 1 point)• Something else? Write-ins welcome.>decline to kill Damachides and politely recuse yourself from such matters, learning about Damachides’ hunt for an heir is reward enough for this raid.>Some other strategy that I haven't thought of yet?
Well, Aristonax is ambitious. That god's words at the feast seem to be downright prophetic now. Guess everyone is stuck to the wheel of overthrowing each other. Yet, Damachides is the one whose lands are suffering the brunt of barbarian raids, and if he is gone with his skills and well-trained men, everyone in this section would have to deal with those barbarians.What does even footing mean in this context?
Though learning that not only Damachides seeks to make an heir and we got the special juice is also a huge opportunity. Maybe we can get him to swear an oath to Zeus or the river Styx for some special deals. There's also still Seisames who has no kids as well.
>>5693323>agree to kill Damachides as Aristonax suggests,but renegotiate with Aristonax regarding your payment (this will be a CHA check on even footing). If you vote for this option, please select your plan accordingly and I’ll do my best to combine. If necessary, I’ll trigger a run-off:>• Ask for additional wealth in Damachides' slaves (each 30 slaves proposed will increase DC by 1 point) (90)Fuck it.
>>5693323>agree to kill Damachides as Aristonax suggests,but renegotiate with Aristonax regarding your payment (this will be a CHA check on even footing). If you vote for this option, please select your plan accordingly and I’ll do my best to combine. If necessary, I’ll trigger a run-off:• Ask that Aristonax “sells” you 50 of his Hillguard (this increases DC by 3 points, can only be taken once, and they will be loyal to you)
>>5693323Honestly, getting word to Damachides we can help him with an heir, then telling him Aristonax wants to kill him before he does so is such a fucking ballbusting move. But forcing Damachides to swear a proper oath before the gods - specifically in a place of worship or power to them - to ensure it is heard and upheld is mad good. We'd still have to contend with him or his child later, but until then we could probably wring him for all sorts of assistance. Naturally I'd rather Damachides dead, but Aristonax is bound to get us into trouble at some point later because he is kind of a goober. Picking which one to try and cozy up with is a doozy. None of Aristonax' children would appreciate us getting their dad killed, though. Even though Gerasimos beat the shit out of his pops, he wasn't doing it because he hates his father, he wants to prove himself to his father. They're just both morons. We need to get more of the fuck-juice pinecones though, that's for sure.
>>5693394The only issue I can think of about getting Damachides to swear upon the gods is that he does not care much for them, but considering the display we witnessed, the gods are certainly watching insults upon their honor.The blind ambition in me wants us to agree with Aristonax here and try to get as much advanced gold out of him as possible, then turn around and tell Damachides alongside selling him the juice. Then perhaps either forming a permanent alliance or killing him and taking over as regent somehow for the kid. Though, that's assuming the kid is a boy. If we do kill Damachides, we lack a successor who would be skilled enough to manage his estate against the barbarians and loyal enough not to attack us. Unless we somehow take over everything personally, but that's kind of insanely ambitious.
What seems strange to me is how aristonax imagines we're going to kill damachides, say a speech so awkward and with obscure citations he dies trying to understand it?He shouldn't know of our witchyness yet as deianira only used her talents as healer.I'm all for renegotiating the deal but maybe delaying the conspiration until we have time to gather more info would be best.We can say we are spent from the battle and need time to recover emotionally before launching into such an endeavour.>>5693323>say you are receptive to such an idea but you need time to consider the deal to see if you can actually do anything about helping damachides meet his ancestors earlier than he ought to.
>>5693323>>decline to kill Damachides and politely recuse yourself from such matters, learning about Damachides’ hunt for an heir is reward enough for this raid.
>>5693492>What seems strange to me is how aristonax imagines we're going to kill damachidesAristonax is kind of an idiot. He probably thinks Nira can just walk into Damachides' home, ask if he wants to fuck and then stab him in his bed or something. I sincerely doubt Aristo has put any REAL thought into this.
>>5693323i am going full gamble, it's probably crazy. But we are in dire needs of many things and i suspect we cannot allow ourselves to be a small fish in this pond for much longer.>agree to kill Damachides as Aristonax suggests,but renegotiate with Aristonax regarding your payment (this will be a CHA check on even footing). • Ask for additional wealth in Damachides' slaves (each 30 slaves proposed will increase DC by 1 point) (90)• Ask that Aristonax “sells” you 50 of his Hillguard (this increases DC by 3 points, can only be taken once, and they will be loyal to you)• Deianira may also ask for an advance of gold from Aristonax directly (each 5 talents requested increases DC by 1 point) (30)For a total increase of 12 DC. And hopefully gaining a much needed larger work force, military strength and some fresh cash>Write inOffer to sell him an old potion of strength of our household, that would provide him quite the boon in battle (Embellish this for gain as much cash has possible, he is not an expert in potions and wouldn't connect this is something we can made). This should lower the DC a bit probably. We are going for a range from 30 to 60 talents, it depends how much he likes the story.- One philter of Hippomedon’s EssenceandNote that Gerasimos seems to like us a lot and after briefly explaining this innocent observation we did at the feast, suggest perhaps that we could gently aid Aristonax to reconcile with his son. Gerasimos could patrol our lands for protect them from other small raids of barbarians and monsters, it would be relatively safe with the centaurs gone and he can gain some experience while completing a minor task. Aristonax can decide how long his son will patrol our lands (we will totally not use this for influence Gerasimos at our discretion). Essentially here we instead are offering Aristonax an help for fix family relations and a minor safe task for his son, were he can prove himself. It should decrease the DC if he thinks it's a generous and genuine offer.
>>5693092In that light i suppose is still something. I dont expect to find much in the centaur camp beside the bones and corpses of their victims, that will need tombs. The centaurs weapons might be solid enough if they can be used by them.In regard to being a badass showing off at home with some solid proof would be quite cool. War trophies. We can place them around the house for decorate it too.For restore morale a small triumph/feast for the soldiers could be done, with a few gifts and honors being given has well a speech for thank them and underline that what they did saved many from possible future predations. And we can drink to the honorable and courageous fallen men of course. They should appreciate it.
>>5693344>”even footing”Basically that it’s a Nira CHA versus Aristonax WILL context, Bo2 for each. All relevant modifiers will apply.Great discussion all around, anons. I must be doing a better job than I thought since you all seem to be grasping the dilemma appropriately. I’ll track the discussion through today and I’ll hope that a mostly clear consensus emerges by 9pm EST. I’ve come up with a cool mechanical solution for aristeias for melee combatants. Now I just need to complete character sheets for the Atreides and Ajax the Lesser…
>>5693323>agree to kill Damachides as Aristonax suggests,but renegotiate with Aristonax regarding your payment (this will be a CHA check on even footing). If you vote for this option, please select your plan accordingly and I’ll do my best to combine. If necessary, I’ll trigger a run-off:• Ask for additional wealth in Damachides' slaves (each 30 slaves proposed will increase DC by 1 point) (90)• Ask that Aristonax “sells” you 50 of his Hillguard (this increases DC by 3 points, can only be taken once, and they will be loyal to you)
>>5693621My favorite dichotomy in the Iliad is between the two Ajax'. They're literally the "I am sure to win because my speed is superior" meme. Granted, Locrian Ajax actually was really fast and still decently strong besides.
>>5693591+1, Nira the snake oil salesman
No update tonight lads, no internet on my block due to infrastructure work. Apologies for the inconvenience, we will resume tomorrow!
Rolled 17, 10 = 27 (2d20)Kill Damachides and renegotiate>>5693360>>5693384>>5693591>>5693746>>5693869Let me think on it>>5693492Decline to kill Damachides>>5693522—-Okay, clear consensus on killing Damachides and renegotiating aggressively. I’m assembling a consensus terms list:90 Damachides slaves (+3 DC)50 hillguard (+3 DC)Advance of 30 talents (+6 DC)Sell him your magic potion (-3 DC)“I’ll keep Gerasimos out of your hair” (-2 DC)Total negotiation DC: -7 DCNira full CHA bonus: +9 DC (in the campfire 1v1 setting, she is free to apply her full witchy charms.)Final Nira roll bonus: +2 Aristonax WILL to resist: +0So I need TWO rolls of dice+1d20+2 to beat Aristonax’s rolls
Rolled 14 + 2 (1d20 + 2)>>5694392Ok, so we need a 16
>>5694407>the gods want Deianira to succeed, but not without sufferingHow appropriate for Homeric Greece…I’ll wait for another roll to see if Deianira marginally succeeds or truly convinces Aristonax that she’s offering a good deal.
>>5694445Perhaps we can cut back on the talent advance
Rolled 11 + 2 (1d20 + 2)>>5694392Rolling.
Rolled 13 + 2 (1d20 + 2)>>5694392
>>5694445So closeNeed to think of a trick for get this win at home
Rolled 1 (1d20)>>5694392>>5694445>16 vs 17 - marginal failure>i misread Aristonax’s rolls earlier (I thought he rolled a 15), so Nira fails marginally in her aggressive negotiations.>Aristonax haggles Nira down from her counter-offer, and she loses the talent advances, and 30 Damachidean slaves, keeps the rest of her offer.>he is now irritated that Nira has the gumption to haggle in the first place.I’m rolling a 1d20 for INT to see if Aristonax has a moment of inspiration here, 1-10, he doesn’t and 11-20, he does.
>>5694597No crits for mortals but Aristonax is definitely not using his brain here.
>>5694597Monkey brain think no good
>>5694597>is she trying to fleece me?>no she's just a dumb woman, she could never
Well we didn't get the advance or the slaves, but we did get the 50 men, which I think is the most important.
Internet has been fixed at my place, lads, expect a chunky update tonight!
>>5694751We will get the soldiers, but we first need to kill damachidesLet's not sell the bear pelt before we kill it.If we really feel bold we can always try to renegotiate the thing later, or insist we may need an advance after all.As for killing damachides..First we sell the fertility potion to the other geezer, he will probably brag about it to damachides who will come to us himself, we give him the potion to get close and get somebody else in his court riled up enough to kill him.Bonus if we find somebody else to pay us for it, certainly he doesn't lack enemies.
Aristonax, still leaning forwards expectantly and with a confident smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, is clearly expecting an affirmative answer immediately. You inwardly groan, your face a mask of contemplation - the more you speak with the man, the more you find deficits in his reasoning. His battle plan against the savages was rashly formed; his plan to murder a powerful nobleman of Thessaly, said to be a friend of King Peleus, seems to be just as poorly considered. It occurs to you that your speech at the Summons last week did not draw any local nobleman famed for their intellect to your side…You cannot help but think of the contrast with your brother – a deep thinker, often terse and sparing with his words, a cunning tactician hiding behind the intimidating face of a musclebound giant. In Aristonax, you seem to have the opposite - a graying, stonefaced disciplinarian who presents with the veneer of battle-tempered wisdom, won in the awful grind of Βροτολοιγος Ares…but who ineptly flounders his way forwards, scarcely thinking beyond what he can see before him.And yet, you think, your services here could be worth far more than the talents offered. Damachides represents the sturdy post of military strength that links Cyphus, away to the northwest, with Phthia and King Peleus, off the southeast. In the chaos of his death, your house could profit greatly by collecting a portion of the wreckage – if you and the other οἶκοι move quickly, the barbaroi may not even learn of the disruption. The potential rewards here stiffen your resolve and give you serious thought to Aristonax’s offer – and so, you decide to accept.As for the murder itself… perhaps your first taste of battle has already hardened your heart, but you find the thought of killing an old man does not make you squeamish. You love your οἶκος staff, your mother and brother - and you will not hesitate to kill for them if it stands to profit you all. Of course, you are not so foolish as to imagine that you will actually be plunging a dagger into his heart yourself – you can imagine several means by which you could organize his death…
The moment has passed on too long as you have weighed and measured the possibilities - Aristonax’s eagerness has faded somewhat into confusion at your delay in reply.“I accept, Lord Aristonax. But we must more clearly negotiate the terms. I have some -“Aristonax makes a cutting motion with his hand, incredulous look upon his face, tongue lashing out -“Do you mean to haggle with me on payment, Lady Deianira? I took you for a noblewoman, not one of those scheming rats from Mycenae!” His face darkens as he speaks, but you interject before his temper can build further.“Please, Lord Aristonax - you must let me speak! I am no common merchant or peddler…” You gently chastise him, as you pull out your philter of Hippomedon’s Essence from your leather pack. The small, stoppered ἀλάβαστρον glows faintly, reddish through the waxen seal, the radiance fluttering in time with your heartbeat - Aristonax peers at the small philter suspiciously, eyes flickering between you and it rapidly. “So it is true then - you deal with daimons and the spirits of the dead?” A scowl settles over his rough features, and he shifts restlessly on his heels. You laugh gently, notes of bitter amusement hanging in the twilight air, and you say nothing at all to him. Instead, you calmly meet his gaze and wait for him.When the haggling begins (for you each recognize it as such), you find that Aristonax is stubborn to the point of irrationality, and you must sacrifice elements of your proposal, dropping your request for an advance of gold and some of your requested slaves – in the end, you find common ground, and mostly only due to your offer of hosting Gerasimos for several weeks. He stares at you flatly before asking you to keep him out of the wine stores, which you agree to. Both of you are weary of the other’s presence, at the end – a frustrating conclusion. He surprises you not with an appeal to Zeus of the counsels or to Hermes Πονεομενος, but instead by spitting into the palm of his right hand, and offering it to you. You stare at it in confusion before you realize that he expects you to do the same…>Deianira has come to an arrangement with Aristonax! For the murder of Damachides, Deianira and her οἶκος will gain:Sixty Damachides slaves (+3 DC)Fifty Aristonaxian Hillguard (+3 DC)One hundred fifty gold talents from the Damachidean vaults (I’m going to say that this is about 3 Timae, FYI)>Deianira gives her potion of Hippomedon’s Essence to Aristonax!>Deianira will host Gerasimos for the next month at the Palace of Hippomedon.
As you leave your tent the next morning, you find Argyros and Pantaleon chatting amiably amongst themselves – and by that, you mean that they are staring at each other wordlessly, apparently comfortable with the silence. Sometimes, men astound you. You’re surprised to learn that Aristonax has already left his home estates, turning over command of his Hillguard to Argyros directly.“They are not bad troops, Lady – hardy and strong like all Thessalian men, but basic elements of discipline have been neglected, you see…” You let Argyros chatter away as yellow-robed Eos heralds her brother’s imminent rise from his golden palace in the east, as you eat a modest breakfast of grains and dried goat. Argyros is nearly as terse as your brother, except when it comes to training and preparations of spearmen...Your anxiety is somewhat lifted with the addition of the Aristonaxian Hillguard to your forces – Argyros explains that finding additional men from about your lands to replace the dead will be relatively straightforward, the losses sustained by both platoons not being sufficient to truly change their character. He assures you that within the month, the platoons will be at full strength. Neither of you know for certain when Νίκων may send for Argyros and the First Platoon, but best to be well-prepared when the time comes.You breath deeply in the morning air, and consider your next action:>At long last, it’s time for a Deianira action! Deianira will have a Witch Action once this is complete. This vote will probably close at 9pm tomorrow night EST.>Return home to the Hippomedon Estates to confer with Iudas as soon as possible – perhaps he knows of a clever means by which to approach Damachides?>Stay here amongst the troops to treat the wounded? Your continued presence here may do much to improve morale and demonstrate your concern for the men under your command.>Spend the day searching the rubble of the centaur’s camp with Pantaleon? Much of the camp now lies under a field of small rocks and boulders, but with Pantaleon’s help, you may uncover something of worth.>With the help of your unwounded troops, construct a modest shine to almighty Zeus Αστραπαιος upon the hilltop, andhonor him as best as you can with the meagre resources at your disposal?>Something else?
>>5694969>Stay here amongst the troops to treat the wounded? Your continued presence here may do much to improve morale and demonstrate your concern for the men under your command.Hm, tough choice.
>>5694969>Stay here amongst the troops to treat the wounded? Your continued presence here may do much to improve morale and demonstrate your concern for the men under your command.
>>5694969>Spend the day searching the rubble of the centaur’s camp with Pantaleon? Much of the camp now lies under a field of small rocks and boulders, but with Pantaleon’s help, you may uncover something of worth.Surely the sons' of Ixion have a treasure to their name.Also hot damn we just doubled our troop count.
>>5694969>>Return home to the Hippomedon Estates to confer with Iudas as soon as possible – perhaps he knows of a clever means by which to approach Damachides?I would love to make a shrine to Zeus. Putting a little fence and some pots around a spot that got absolutely fucking SMOTE is very in vogue. But I also don't want him to notice us any more than he has just by being near that fucking horsefucker. So brainstorming with Iudas is a good idea to me.Though I won't begrude the anons wanting to stick around and play nurse. Good rep is good rep. After all, who doesn't want to fight for the hottie who'll heal you after a scrap?
>>5694969>Stay here amongst the troops to treat the wounded? Your continued presence here may do much to improve morale and demonstrate your concern for the men under your command.This may do well to ingratiate ourselves to the new hillguards we got.Which by the way it was presented didn't seem to be an advance, do we also get the slaves immediately?I would also like to send pantaleon and give some men rights to loot the camp.I don't hold much hope of finding things we need but the soldiers will like it.
>>5695233>do we get the slaves immediately?No, and that’s probably my fault for not being clear. Aristonax signed over 50 spearmen to you immediately, and then the rest of the rewards (slaves, gold) are pending Damachides’ death - the implication being that Aristonax will raid the household of Damachides in the confusion and then turn over these rewards to you after he’s taken as much of the wealth as he can.For additional context, Damachides has about 2,000 spearmen at his command, huge tracts of farmland (you do as well, but you have only the small fraction of people needed to actually farm what you have), and reportedly thousands of both Greek and barbaroi slaves as well. Also, he’s a first cousin to Guneus of Cyphus, and Guneus commands the most troops on the northern Thessalian border (I’m imagining Cyphus to be one of the last outposts of the Peleus and Atreides-aligned Greeks before the endless realms of the barbaroi begin). If you look at my map here, I’m imagining that Cyphus is on the western slopes of Mt. Olympus, perhaps just north of Pythium and therefore located just outside one of the only valley passes between Macedon and Thessaly. Interestingly, Cyphus doesn’t seem to appear on many ancient maps, although Strabo reported that it was located in the foothills of Mount Olympus.
>>5695240Oops, forgot my picture
>>5694969>>Spend the day searching the rubble of the centaur’s camp with Pantaleon? Much of the camp now lies under a field of small rocks and boulders, but with Pantaleon’s help, you may uncover something of worth.
>>5694969>Stay here amongst the troops to treat the wounded? Your continued presence here may do much to improve morale and demonstrate your concern for the men under your command.Let s make sure none get a disease. After that we can see about checking for loot and maybe a small shrine too.
>>5694969>>Stay here amongst the troops to treat the wounded? Your continued presence here may do much to improve morale and demonstrate your concern for the men under your command.
treat the wounded>>5694990>>5695000>>5695233>>5695273>>5695399search through rubble>>5695083>>5695251go home>>5695122---there's been no votes for a while, so let's lock in "treat the wounded". I'll need a TWO rolls of dice+1d20+6 to see how adeptly Deianira treats the collective wounds of the men:I'm setting DCs at 13, 17, 20 to determine how well she does here (since I'm too lazy to calculate individual malii for each wounded spearmen).
Rolled 3 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5695573
Rolled 14 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5695573
>>5695575>>5695581>20 vs 20 - three degrees of success!>all wounded troops make a full recovery, no infections, no amputations.>Morale is high for the journey back home>please note that Deianira can always return to the hilltop and valley if she would like to build the shrine to Zeus or excavate the centaur camp>hanging around the site of the battle for too much longer is inadvisable, Deianira needs a WITCH turn to prepare for the Damachides assassination.
>>5695591Do we need to prepare to kill the guy immediately?I think it best if this witch turn is dedicated to investigate the godly gifts since they may come handy.
>>5695676>does Nira need to kill him immediately?No, no - while there was no formal timeline set, the agreement carries an implicit “ASAP”, which means that Deianira will be moving towards this goal steadily. Within a month’s time would be an acceptable timeframe, otherwise Aristonax (not a terribly patient guy) will likely become angry and renege on the deal, retracting his Hillguard and causing all kinds of bad things to happen.Anyways, update will be out around 10ish EST
Building a shrine to Zeus tempts you – it would have a clear line of sight to Mount Olympus, and those mortals who might use the shrine would be easily seen by the most supreme of the Olympians. As you gaze over the hilltop for potential sites to build, you notice that, unbelievably, the cratered hilltop is still smoldering with the residual heat of Zeus’ thunderbolt - you suspect that this might be the permanent state of the hillside, a unchanging reminder of Zeus’ wrath for the people of Thessaly. You make a mental note to name the hill Labostas’ Folly. You don’t know the men well enough to judge their faith, but over the course of your breakfast, you see more than one of the spearmen casting an anxious glance up to the clouded peak of Mt. Olympus, shoulders hunching subconsciously.You cast a glance over the scattered tents of your men about the mouth of the Κενταυροι’s valley, dotted with morning campfires, and you note that a good number of the troops are walking about with yesterday’s wounds, some of these being loosely bandaged, while others leave their wounds exposed to the open air. Fools!, you think, shaking your head - leaving these wounds untended risks the local imbalances of the humors. Hardy and rugged as these men are, you doubt that the spears that delivered the wounds were cleanly maintained or well-cared for, such filth entering the body has a tendency to plug up the natural channels and courses of the flesh. Unfortunately, you have every reason to believe that the wounds of your men may fester, if left as they are.This will not do, of course. You stride gracefully among them, and most of the men nod respectfully in your direction… although you catch a sullen glare here and there, most of these coming from the Hillguard - always quickly hidden when noticed, but there, nonetheless. You’ll have to make do without the benefit of medicinal hounds and your full complement of witch’s herbs and salves, but even so, you are confident that your healing touch will spare these wounded of untimely deaths or amputations.You assemble what you need from the men - boiling water in a large urn, strips of white linens from several chitons that you dissect with your father’s bronze knife. From your pack, you produce your bronze needle and thread. Finally, you carefully wash your hands with hot water, and then with heated olive oil from your personal supplies.>more coming
Without any announcement, you wend your way through the tents, locating the wounded without drawing attention to yourself. At first, the men continue with their respectful nods - keeping you at a distance, but as you treat the first man, and then the second, you sense a change in atmosphere - the slight tension in the air dissolving. Along with your healing touch, skillful bandaging and sewing of flesh, you offer bits of humor to a man of grim disposition, a confident word to an anxious man with a side wound, and reassurance to a youthful man, hardly more than a boy, with a split scalp. In each case, you are rewarded with an honest grin or genuine word of thanks, and you learn their names – thin Dexicos, who surprises you with a snatch of poetry, and Moschion, a great, black-bearded bear of a man who acts more like a bashful child, stand out in your memory. You sternly admonish them to eat well for their next several meals, and in the next breath, congratulate them as scions of Ares, brave fathers who have cleansed this patch of Thessaly of monsters. It is the work of the entire day, to treat your patients, learn a little of them and their stories, but it is joyful work, and you feel that you have made a connection with the men as a whole. They know you now, not just as a willowy figure of divine blood, but as the Lady of the House – not bad with a battle plan, a better shot with a bow than some, and with a deft sewing hand as well…and you hear it remarked upon that witch or not, you stood on the hilltop like the rest of them, and put down one of the savages yourself.>Deianira’s natural CHA bonuses cause her to autosucceed on the social component of this action!>overall Troop Morale: GRUMBLING -> CONTENTED>overall οἶκος Morale: unchanged---The long march back to the Hippomedon palace is a slow one, but you’re pleased to see that your wounded troops do well. Between your physician’s treatment, your advice, and your insistence on a leisurely pace, none of the wounded are pushed too hard. On the contrary, the exertion of hiking through the wilds of your estates seems to bring color back to their cheeks and vitality to their limbs. Here and there, the men break out spontaneously in a chant or song, and already, you catch a few of them composing poetry and song to commemorate the Hilltop Raid and the sheer madness of Labostas, the blasphemer. You suspect that these compositions will be make their way through Thessaly, but you doubt that these might travel across the Peneus or to Phthia itself – not with High King Agamemnon’s summons of men from all corners of Hellas stirring up all kinds of wild rumors. >more coming
You make arrangements for a warm bath, a healthy dose of your house’s best wine (which is sadly mediocre, but nothing to be done about it for now), and before long, you are napping through the afternoon, into the evening.When night falls, you rise. It is time for you to begin your preparations for the month’s activities, and in this month, you plan to kill a man, upset the balance of power in Thessaly, and vault your οἶκος into the realms of wealth and prestige…>Time for a Witch Action, /qst/! I’ll list available reagents and therefore the rituals/spells that Deianira can actually utilize for reference.Current Potion Inventory:Two charges of Dionysian Frankencense.Current Reagent Inventory:- Deianira’s blood (always available).- One bundle of Aconite flowers.- One bundle of Nightshade.- One Oak acorn.- Two black lambs in the fields of Hippomedon.Available Spells:- Criminal’s Fate: Through this ritual, Deianira summons the attention of one of the Erinyes of Erebus – awful harpies of the underworld and sets them upon a criminal. Requires a black lamb.> more coming
Available Potions:Hippomedon EssenceThrough this ritual, Deianira collects, purifies, and concentrates her own blood, mixing with it with oils of oregano and thyme, producing a potent philter of divinity. A person who imbibes this potion will temporarily gain the stat boost and healing effects of Deianira’s Fresh Olympian Blood trait for approximately 24 hours; an injured or diseased person can recover at fairly rapid speed with the divine essence of Deianira washing through their veins, although chronic diseases will return in time. Deianira herself will temporarily lose the benefits of her FOB trait for approximately 72 hours as her divine essence rebuilds, after successful philter creation. Commoners (or even noblemen) with low WILL who imbibe this potion may become delusional with their newfound strength and vitality; a nobleman with significant divine heritage may have their strength and power even further boosted, although the duration of this boost may be significantly shorter.Reagents required: Deianira’s blood, typical herbs of healing. DC failures may lead to undesirable outcomes. Divinities may not look kindly upon those who utilize such sorcery to interfere with their plans.Lethes’ DraftThrough this ritual, Deianira uses a preparation of nightshade, to create a magical potion which temporarily dissolves the memories of the imbiber. Despite the name of this solution, no waters from the underworld are required for its creation. The effect may last for years on a commoner, months on a nobleman, and perhaps only days or hours for those with very strong divine heritage. A daemon or lesser divinity may roll to directly resist the effects of this potion, if failed, they may suffer the effects for only some minutes or hours. Greater divinities are highly unlikely to be affected by such a concoction.Reagents required: Nightshade, which grows rarely in the foothills of Thessaly.Kerberos’ SlaveringsThrough this ritual, Deianira creates an incredibly deadly toxin, purified from the dark purple flowers of aconite. When consumed by a mortal, it brings a swift and painful death, and possibly even to those of significant divine heritage. While very dangerous, those with resistance to poison or divine constitution may possibly weather a full dose unaided. Prior or timely application of an antidote could reverse the effects – although Deianira does not currently know of such a preparation. Lesser daemons may be afflicted with incredible torment; unknown impact on a higher divinity.Reagents: Aconite, which rarely grows in the foothills of Thessaly.
You'll notice that while Deainira actually has unlocked Pan's Philter, the fertility potion, during her encounter with Tropanus, she does NOT currently possess any Corsican pinecone with which to brew some. She'll have to risk another journey to Tropanus' part of the estates to collect more if she wishes to make Pan's Philter in a future turn.>So /qst/, what will 'Nira do with her Witch Action this turn?>Cast Criminal's Fate on someone? If so, who?>Brew Hippomedon's Essence>Brew Lethes' Draft>Brew Kerberos' Slaverings?>Collect reagents (you can specify Corsican pinecone, now that 'Nira knows where it is)>Investigate Abercion's Globe of Vapours>Investigate Abercion's Black SilkI'll likely leave this vote open for longer than normal, if there's not a clear consensus emerging right away.
>>5695755>Investigate Abercion's Globe of Vapours
>>5695755>>Investigate Abercion's Globe of VapoursThe silk is unlikely to be immediately useful, as it is a material in form. The ball o dank though could be just about anything. I am however tempted to make either the kill-drool or the alzheimer's soup. Both would be very useful in different ways for a murder mystery.
>>5695755>Investigate Abercion's Black SilkTough choice between the orb and the silk. I can't resist the hunch of a possible shadowy cloak. Especially as Nira's outings to gather materials occur at night.Is colored silk a really luxurious item at this time? Because if so, we might want to wear this to further enhance our image.Aristonax and Nira don't waste time, killing a very important man in the area in a month. I would've thought an endeavor like this would have been given at least a couple months to execute. The silver lining is it could be considered a vote of confidence in Nira's abilities.
>>5695755>>Investigate Abercion's Black Silk
>>5695755>Investigate Abercion's Black Silk>>5695791Unlikely to be immediately useful?All the more important to have it inspected now so it can be put to use.>>5695809If the shadowy silk lends itself to the idea of an invisibility cloak then is the globe a palantir?I hope so, a spy crystal ball is going to be amazingly useful to learn secrets
>>5695755>>Investigate Abercion's Globe of Vapours
>>5695809Greece is probably as far as silk can possibly get out of the east at this point in time, though probably won't even make it to or out of Anatolia. The silk road won't really exist for a long time. A provincial lady of little means such as Nira having it would probably be genuinely baffling to people.>>5695846There's probably only a couple things it -could- do that might be useful in the near future. And those rely on it being able to do so as it is. Try wearing a blanket as a cloak or shawl. It doesn't fit right and is prone to falling off. Same problem with the silk.
>>5695878So I looked it up, turns out there was a thing called Coan Silk which was made on Kos by Pachypasa otus a Mediterranean moth. Wasn’t as good as the silk from China apparently but what we have is gold clothing so it’s probably comparable if not better. Wonder how hard it would be to tear.
I curious about how much talons it would cost to outfit the first platoon with proper gear.
>>5695895Unfortunately I don’t have any great frames of reference for this, but from what I’ve read about availability of bronze in the LBA, it would be prohibitively expensive to armor the whole First Platoon with bronze panoplia like Nikon’s armor. Even Kings don’t have an honor guard of dudes running around in full bronze.But you can imagine that maybe highest quality mortal troop arms and armor would include elements of bronze - a layer within a leather shield for strength, or just the helm and frontal armor in otherwise a hide armor. I could imagine a “halfway” measure here being possible but still pretty expensive and time consuming to produce and then custom fit to each man - maybe like 3 talents per soldier? I haven’t looked too far into it.Basically, it was my intent to provide Deianira with adequate Timae to better outfit the First Platoon or to improve the home estates, but probably not both. Also, the first platoon would have to be physically present in Phthia or another major city for the customization piece, but that would be a fraction of the overall construction timeline.
>>5695892Neato. Man, the Greeks really did have everything.
Six hour warning, y’all.Seems like a close vote between the Silk and the Globe, so lurkers, feel free to jump in!
>>5695895Some follow up on this - Homeric talents of gold were pretty small and probably about 8.5 grams in weight, basically the size of a small coin.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talent_(measurement)There’s a good quote from Book 23 of the Iliad where Achilles is setting prizes for Patroklos’ funerary games:“For the second again he set an ox great and rich with fat; and a half-talent in gold he appointed for the last.”So the implication is that a high-quality ox is worth one gold talent. So all this to say - Aristonax’s offer of 150 gold talents is probably within range of reasonableness given that Damachides has very large herds and is probably sitting on a significant vault of liquid cash after decades of accumulating money and power.
Globe of Vapors>>5695756>>5695791>>5695871>>5696216Black Silk>>5695809>>5695831>>5695846>>5695887>>5696143>Black Silk wins! Now I need TWO rolls of dice+1d20+5. In this case, the modifiers are INT+WITCH bonus (so +3 and +2), given that Deianira is not attempting to work her WILL, so much as apply her witchy INTELLECT towards understanding the properties of the Black Silk.
Rolled 14 + 5 (1d20 + 5)>>5696310Frogs
Rolled 9 + 5 (1d20 + 5)>>5696310May I suggest this image as an OP?
>>5696319>>5696323>19 vs ???>??? degrees of success!Well done, anons. will have an update out before 10pm EST I hope.>>5696323Accepted, anon. although it may be a long time before the next TWQ:DS thread, if I take over/hijack TWQ like I am increasingly feeling that I will. Still no word from Homer - perhaps his silence gives his assent?
>>5696328Fraid he's dead dead
Striding into your witch’s hut – you feel that it is your true homecoming from the raid. The musty scents of herbs, plants, spices from abroad, and the coppery scent of old blood put you at ease. As is your custom, you commit a small offering to Hekate Τριμορφις; the night-wanderer, the tender of children, the goddess of crossroads – six eyes seem to watch you under the flickering candlelight, but where another might be unsettled, you imagine you feel the distant approval of the goddess. Only after long minutes of silence in the night, with your heartbeat slowed to a leisurely pace and your blood cooled, do you begin your witchy work. Damachides must die – this is the goal of the crude oath you have sworn with Aristonax, palm to palm. But before you can bring this to pass, you must better understand what tools you have. You leave aside your philters and tinctures for another night, and instead, you lay Abercion’s gifts before you upon Hecate’s altar. It is time to confront them. You stare at them with deep suspicion; you have every reason to believe that they are of divine origin, and therefore must be handled with extreme care. The small bundle of black silk you place on the left hand-side, and the globe of vapors, you place on the right – the soft ring of glass sounds as you place it gently upon your workbench’s surface. Between the two, the small bundle of black silk catches your eye – although perhaps, this is the wrong turn of phrase. As you carefully inspect the fabric, the depth of its darkness seems limitless, bottomless. Its’ true nature eludes you – as you touch it with a fingertip, the sensation is unlike any textile or cloth you have ever felt. Given your place as rural nobility, you own no silk garments of your own – the cloth is said to be worth more than gold by weight, and therefore far outside of your ability to obtain. You suppose that the nobility of Mycenae or Knossos might have access to such materials, and clearly, the divines of Mount Olympus must have access as well if this is the case. All this to say – you simply don’t know what it is. For lack of a better option, you resolve to call it silk. As you caress the silk packet, you barely feel anything at all – so soft and refined the texture, you cannot feel the threads. Even under close inspection by candlelight, the silk is so dark and finely composed, you cannot make out any distinguishing characteristics at all. It’s like a patch of darkness, sitting on your workbench. Your right arm freezes, and you absentminded rub at Abercion’s fingerprints upon your white skin.>more coming
But when the moment comes, no monster or dragon or angry daimon flies forth from the silk garment as it unspools. You spend nearly an hour gently exploring the length of fabric with your fingertips, and slowly conclude that it is the general dimensions of a sash or a belt. You take nearly as much time working up the courage to bind the sash around yourself, but when you do so – no curse is heaped upon your shoulders, and no Erinyes or shade storms through your hut door. Your hands travel about your person and can find no obvious changes to your body.You realize that your eyes have been tightly shut in anticipation of your demise, and you find the courage to open them, dark and flecked with gold. As you gaze at yourself, at first you have difficulty processing what you see – or what you don’t. It’s as if your body has been plunged into shadow, into darkness; under the flicking candlelight, the edges of your frame has been dimmed almost to nothing. You curse the fact that a mirror will not help you – you’re desperate to know how you look to another. So instead, you leave your witch’s hut, and glide silently over the rocky ground to the palace – you steal inside the halls of your father, and find that in the corners of the courtyard, the shadows seem to hew closely to your strides, pulling away from the dimly-lit corners to wreathe you in darkness. Several times you stand breathlessly in one such corner as one member of your οἶκος staff or another steals down the halls – frowning, you follow one such young man to find that he is indulging a midnight meal of bread and barley. You make an effort to remember his face for punishment later.You spend another hour or two experimenting with this ability, learning to ignore the icy sensation along your right arm – in broad torchlight, the effect seems to fade significantly – in half-light, you suspect that you are much harder to see, and in darkness, under the light of bright-tressed Selene, you believe that you would be nearly invisible. Did Abercion know that I would form a compact with Aristonax? Is the death of Damachides foretold by the gods? You don’t know the answer – but you now have a powerful tool, and suddenly the death of Damachides seems immediate, palpable. You may achieve through subterfuge and a single knife’s point what two thousand spears cannot. Satisfied with the night’s work, you return to your dormitory, carefully placing the sash among your other cloaks and garments. Sleep comes easily to you…>Deianira’s investigation of Abercion’s Black Silk has succeeded…or has it?>Abercion’s Black Silk has been determined to be Abercion’s Shadow Sash! >While wearing the Shadow Sash under low-light conditions, Deianira receives a significant bonus to opposed stealth rolls (+5). When in darkness, this bonus is even larger (+8). In full illumination or broad sunlight, the Shadow Sash has no discernable effect.
>>5696365Definitely usefulMaybe it has other hidden proprieties but this is plenty for now to know it doesn't need to be reworked to function.Is damachides land reasonably close enough to reach in a single night?I dislike the idea of bestowing the sash to an assassin lest they just escape with it but it would look weird if deianira goes missing a few days and an important dude dies in the meantime.A different idea is if the globe really is a palantir and we learn a horrible secret justifying us sending the Erinyes after him thus making it almost divine punishment.
>>5696365>+5 or +8 to stealthSo this is godly equipment. Very nice. Slap that on Pantaleon and send him to do a hit job on Damachides.Curious to figure out what the orb does. I know that supernatural stuff can't be seen without the aid of the gods or FOB so is the orb invisible?
>>5696491I think it's more that the divine may choose to hide themselves from mortal eyes. But those with sufficient divine blood can see even when they do not wish to be. Unless they are hidden by other means than by way of simple divine providence (so Artemis just plain hiding in a bush or Hades with his helm of invisibility for instance). The gods can and do manifest in front of mortals as they wish. Though often they do so transmogrified in some way. So it must be some quirk of godly or spiritual magic that is intuitive to them which lets them do so.
>>5696365Man I really do want to know who is our divine ancestor. Things continue to get more complex
With how useful this artifact seems for sneaking around, I can't help but wonder what we might want to send off to Nikon when we see off the first platoon. Maybe even one of the godly gifts if we deem Nira's situation safe enough that they aren't desperately needed. We might not have to equip the troops ourselves as that payment is still coming in from Menelaus alongside the deal with Electra.>>5696500Wasn't the naiad met at the beginning of Nikon's journey unable to be seen by his chariot driver?
>>5696328i still hope he returns.If you take over the quest, you could go and try taking Nikandros ? In that case we would have two protagonists to switch inbetween, which could be quite cool and definetly more of a challenge. Or nikandros remains in background and it remains unknown what he does. If it s both the quest image should be Deianira and Nikandros, an hoplite on one side and a woman in the other.
>>5696491It is very useful, it will certainly help avoid dangerous individuals in our little trips for collect herbs>>5696517Plus the petteia games we planned for make money from overeager nobles, Nikandros financial situation will be secure quite soon
>>5696517Yeah. The spirit world, divine world, whatever you want to call it, normies can't see it unless the thing in question specifically wants to be seen. But to people who have divine blood it has to actively hide.Think of it like a stealth plane, right? It won't show up on radar but if you're flying next to it you can very clearly see it. Or if it's doing a vanity pass low and slow.
>>5696568>Or if it's doing a vanity pass low and slow.I could totally see gods and daimons doing this. The real fear of being unable to hide from FOB is that they can catch the gods while they're not looking their best and are picking their nose or something.
>PHASE 4 BEGIN…But your sleep is not restful. You seem to pass the night tossing and turning, sweating through your nightdress; in your dreams, you are a shade, unable to be seen or produce sound, no matter how hard you try. You fruitlessly approach your household staff, begging them for help, but in the dream, you are as invisible as your reflection, and your hands are insubstantial. They cannot grasp the shoulders or hands of your passing staff; they cannot hear your silent cries. In your dream, you despair, and cast aside the house of the living - the οἶκος of Hippomedon.In the way of dreams, you are suddenly wandering aimlessly across a sandy wasteland, shrouded in mist and fog. You hear the cries of gulls and crashing of waves, and your ethereal feet leave no marks under the sand. From the nearby shore, occluded by deep-swirling Oceanus’ cool breath, you hear the distorted clash of bronze on bronze, the muted shouts of men and screams of horses. In the dream, you have the piercing anxiety that your brother is in danger, that he is in the grind of the war god, that he risks his death in the service of Zeus Hypatus and you are staggering to the water, and it is icy cold, your ghostly form suddenly soaked with water as your legs and hips disappear under the waves, and distantly, you hear your brother thundering,SHIELDS HIGH! SHIELDS HIGH!. His voice echoes further down the beachside, mingling with the sound of the crashing waves. Above you, Helios is not visible at all. With the water crashing about your face and neck, you desperately call out to him, I am coming! It is not too -Iudas is kneeling beside you, shaking Επιαλης, daimon of nightmares, off of your chest, and he says gently to you, “You will never see Nikandros again, Lady.”Your mouth flops upon in surprise and horror, but Iudas calmly repeats himself, “You were shouting in your sleep, Lady - calling for Nikandros.” You collect yourself, gulping for air, and you realize that he is right - you had misheard him in your daze. Your radiant hair…is currently matted with sweat, plastered across your face and mouth. Your heart is still galloping in your chest, the scent of salt still in your nose.“The first nights after a battle can be…difficult.” In the dark, you cannot see Iudas’ expression, but his words are said kindly. Again, you wonder at Iudas’ past and of his time in the East. He continues, "But the best medicine for such things is light and laughter. Come, let us awake the kitchen staff. I will tell you what I heard of Cnotheos the bumbler this past week. Before long, you are cracking jokes yourself - grateful for Iudas' gentle words and consideration. The nightmare is quickly forgotten. >more coming
---As you finish your breakfast, Iudas mentions that Molpagorus, the thin and bearded man who often represents the commoners under your care, has been requesting a meeting with you - apparently, he has tried several times over the past month, but in each case, you had been occupied with other matters; tracking down Labostas, organizing the Summons, the Hilltop Raid itself. You haven't seen him since that first awkward morning a month ago, where you assumed command of the household. Iudas has surmised that he wishes to propose an estate infrastructure project of one kind or another friendly reminder that Deianira is sitting on TWO οἶκος points, which can be spent to improve the palace, grounds, and facilities of the Hippomedon οἶκος. Perhaps you would do well to meet with him? Iudas, though, has mentioned several other matters that relate to the οἶκος, and each of these need to be addressed at one point or another. In particular, he reports that the stream at the foot of your palace has uncharacteristically become muddy and foul-smelling - the women of your οἶκος are displeased that they have to walk much further for their laundry and to draw fresh water for the household. This concern you take seriously - easy access to clean water from the stream was one of the primary advantages of this hilltop. You consider carefully, as you pray to Demeter Πολυφορβος, the all-nourishing, for your breakfast of vegetables and grains.>Time for a Deianira Action, /qst/! As a friendly reminder, this action represents the personal deeds of Deianira during this part of the month; she'll have a Witch Action and an Oikos Action before Phase 4 is complete. It is currently in the early Summer - Nikon is probably getting ready to sail to Salamis at about this time, if you assume that he's been at sea for about a month when he is accosted by pirates. Each phase is approximately 10 days, and Damachides must die before the end of Phase 6, or else you risk the wrath of Aristonax (bumbler that he is).Here are some likely options for Deianira:>Meet with the men of the First Platoon and the Aristonaxian Hillguard. Perhaps best to solidify your relations with the men after the successful Hilltop Raid and your deft treatment of their wounds?>Meet with Iudas and learn of his Shasu origins; his motivations to staying within the οἶκος?>Meet with Argyros to learn of his actions in the Theban War, and of the wartime exploits of your father?>Meet with Pantaleon to inquire his own background or motivations? Alternately, perhaps he might assist you in scouting the estates and palace of Damachides, expert tracker and man of the wilds that he is?>Meet with Molpagorus as Iudas suggested? You suspect that he has many projects to improve your palace and estates to suggest to you? >Investigate the stream at the base of the hill, determine the cause of its changed appearance?>Something else?
>>5697078>Meet with Pantaleon to inquire his own background or motivations? Alternately, perhaps he might assist you in scouting the estates and palace of Damachides, expert tracker and man of the wilds that he is?Best to get a move on in offing Damachides.
>>5697078>Meet with Pantaleon to inquire his own background or motivations? Alternately, perhaps he might assist you in scouting the estates and palace of Damachides, expert tracker and man of the wilds that he is?It’s simply too important
>>5697078>Meet with Pantaleon to inquire his own background or motivations? Alternately, perhaps he might assist you in scouting the estates and palace of Damachides, expert tracker and man of the wilds that he is?Panthaleon the Chad
>>5697078>Investigate the stream at the base of the hill, determine the cause of its changed appearance?Fixing the stream seems so urgent even if being sidetracked every turn while making molpargus wait seems rude.Either would also help direct the oikos action this turn i feel but being locked into a project while maintenance is needed on the stream would be bad.I wonder if being a witch and staying up late for spells is denying us a second turn of management since it seems the backlog would never get done.
>>5697078>>Meet with the men of the First Platoon and the Aristonaxian Hillguard. Perhaps best to solidify your relations with the men after the successful Hilltop Raid and your deft treatment of their wounds?
>>5697078>>Meet with Molpagorus as Iudas suggested? You suspect that he has many projects to improve your palace and estates to suggest to you?
>>5697078>>Investigate the stream at the base of the hill, determine the cause of its changed appearance?should talk with old argyros before he goes away remember, also molpargus
>>5697112I change my mind, switching to this>Investigate the stream at the base of the hill, determine the cause of its changed appearance?Wear the silk. When is G-boy coming?
>>5697078I swear if the dirtied stream is because tropanus decided to take a bath were going to strangle him, useful secret rituals or not.I can already imagine the scene with his satyr body leaving a trail of brown muck downriver and the traumatized water nimph of the stream trying to dry scrub herself clean on the shore lamenting how she will never feel clean again.
>>5697375You’re not too far off the mark, anon… update tonight.
>>5697078>Meet with Molpagorus as Iudas suggested? You suspect that he has many projects to improve your palace and estates to suggest to you?
>>5697378Time to arm ourselves with soap then to chase away stinky satyrs
>>5697078>Meet with Molpagorus as Iudas suggested? You suspect that he has many projects to improve your palace and estates to suggest to you?It's too early to deal with satyrs again
>>5697378 Panty and some men can come with us
Rolled 1 (1d2)Scout things out with Pantyboy>>5697109>>5697130Investigate the stream>>5697151>>5697232>>5697274See what the spearmen are up to>>5697155Endure Molpagorus' whining about civil engineering>>5697230>>5697407>>5697543---Surprisingly, we have a tie between investigating the stream and checking out Molpagorus' Home Improvements slidedeck. I'm rolling a 1d2 to determine 'Nira's course of action. 1 = Check out the stream, and 2 = Find Molpagorus. >>5697274'Nira will bring the silk for whatever activity she engages in, but will realize IC what we already know as players - the Black Sash doesn't seem to do anything in broad daylight.>>5697151You raise an important point - Deianira has had lots of things to do in her Witch Action over the last several phases but in future turns, I'll allow players to convert 'Nira's Witch Action into a Deianira Action and vice versa.
>>5697746Stream, it is. Unfortunately, tonight's update with be delayed - my sincere apologies all. Lost control of my day at around 8am and I never really recovered.Also, I would like to announce that I'll be traveling from 06/30 through 07/04, so it TWQ:DS will be on a brief hiatus starting this Friday - I'm hoping to get at least two more updates out before I leave. Some general questions for /qst/ to discuss if there's interest:>What would you like to see more of in Deianira's Quest? Any critiques or complaints? Suggestions for a better quest?
As you think further, the stream’s condition is an urgent matter – easy access to cleanly water is critical to the ongoing functioning of the οἶκος, not to mention that asking your staff to hike across the hilly countryside in all weather conditions is a recipe for discontent. One of Νίκων’s better qualities was that he worked to solve minor issues with the same speed and earnestness as the larger ones; his solutions were always effective, even if he did not always handle social disputes with grace. You decide to emulate his work ethic and set about collecting Pantaleon expeditiously – to your good fortune, he had already assembled his three best trackers for hunting; you nod in recognition as you meet with them – these were the same three men who had helped locate Labostas’ camp for the Hilltop Raid. They mutter various polite pleasantries in their rural accents, and you acknowledge them gracefully as is your custom.Pantaleon, as usual, is silent as you request him and his men follow you down to the stream at the base of the estate’s hill. Normally, he might offer you a glare, or perhaps a half-hidden scowl of irritation – but this morning, he seems tense, his shoulders set awkwardly. His conduct reminds you of the first morning of your leadership of the οἶκος, when he had refused to meet your eyes. A mystery to be solved later, you think.As you approach the stream itself, you at once notice the problem – the stream itself is not very broad, perhaps only two strides across, and less than a stride deep. The water has been typically clear and cold, a small trickle of run-off from Mount Olympus that meanders through the hills, stopping here and there in small ponds, and eventually joins with the mighty Peneus as it travels south. You spent your childhood roaming the estate grounds and had splashed through this very spot uncountable times in play. Occasionally, you had seen a local daimon lounging about on the banks, or submerged in the water itself; bathing in the waters. In your youth, you and your brother had not realized at first that you were the only two who could see the “water woman” – once this was reported to your mother, still possessing her wits at that time, she sharply demanded that you keep your distance upon pain of beating. >more coming
Pantaleon clears his throat expectantly, startling you - you had been lost in your recollections. You quickly scan the stream and banks but see no nymph or naiad present. Without much else to go on, you simply elect to continue up the banks of the stream, to see if you might discover the source of the water’s filth.In ten minutes time, you come across a small wooden shrine, perhaps only as high as your thighs – festooned with leafy vegetations and fronds of the river, as well as various lilies and flowers. You haven’t seen it before, but clearly, some of your staff have placed offerings here – the faint scent of roasted barley and fish seems to linger about the place. You know your brother well enough to know that such a shrine was not his doing – he was quick to whittle away his boyhood, but could not part with his childish oath against all the sons of Tethys and their kin.Again, you crane your neck, but see no signs of daimons in any direction – the muddy stream continues out of sight, and around a bend. Pantaleon and his men try their best to look disinterested in your wanderings, patiently shadowing your steps, but you suspect that they know that you are hunting a daimon - they are eager to see one of the divines, you are sure. You sigh deeply. What do you know so far? You have reason to believe that your staff have made offerings to the daimon of the stream in the past, and you can reasonably surmise that some aspect of these relations has gone astray, but not much else to go on.>How will Deianira solve this dilemma?>Inspect the shrine more carefully?>Have Pantaleon and the hunters scour the area for informative tracks, and other such clues?>Return to the oikos and inquire among the commoners who built the shrine and who uses it frequently?>Deianira continues to march alongside the riverside in the hopes of finding the daimon who resides with the stream?>Something else?
>>5698504>Deianira continues to march alongside the riverside in the hopes of finding the daimon who resides with the stream?Try to look upstream.>inb4 Nikon tried to damn the river before leaving
>>5698504>Inspect the shrine more carefully?
>>5698504>>Inspect the shrine more carefully?
>>5698504>>Have Pantaleon and the hunters scour the area for informative tracks, and other such clues?
>>5698504>>Deianira continues to march alongside the riverside in the hopes of finding the daimon who resides with the stream?
>>5698504>Inspect the shrine more carefully?Looking upstream is likely to show us the problem directly, but by inspecting the shrine we might get some info about the river's guardian or even catch their attention to get the problem explained before bumbling into a possibly dangerous situation.Likewise without knowing if the shrine has been messed with there seems no need to look for tracks downstream of the problem unless the daemon was so upset they forgot to keep their anti-normies wards up.
>>5698504>Deianira continues to march alongside the riverside in the hopes of finding the daimon who resides with the stream?
Rolled 2 (1d2)keep marching>>5698514>>5698726>>5698902shrinevestigation>>5698538>>5698547>>5698848Pantaleon and his boys get at it>>5698701---Hmm, another tie. Rolling a 1d2 to break. 1 = Deianira keeps marching, 2 = she investigates the shrine.
Kneeling, you investigate the wooden shrine more thoroughly. Crudely hewn and assembled, it is clearly the work of commoners, and likewise, the offerings upon the small altar of the shrine have clearly been gathered from the countryside. Some of the offerings of flowers are old and wilted, and others clearly quite recent additions - the bundling of these flowers was expertly done with a thread of fabric - the knots on these still quite firm, as you tug on them gently. Your intuition suggests that it was a woman who left these offerings to the river daimon - it is mostly women who approach the banks of the stream for their washing, and you find it hard to imagine that one of the clumsy-fingered commoner men might be responsible for the offerings of wild-flowers.Brushing aside some of the leafy fronds upon the altar surface, you see faint markings in a roughly round pattern - rubbing them, they are a bit sticky. You bring your fingers to your nose and are rewarded with the very faint scent of honey – together, you surmise that the woman had left an extravagant offering of honeyed bread. The honey was no doubt stolen from your very limited reserves. Frowning, you put aside the fact of the thievery to continue your investigation.As you search the base of the altar - you see a smaller sandalprint - the mark of a large child or young adult's step, perhaps. A story is coming together now - the offerings, made routinely, left to the river daimon, and this last one of honeyed bread – pilfered by a hungry child? This might explain the muddy river - a daimon could certainly be angered by the theft of their due.You quickly summon Pantaleon and his trackers, and they take only a few seconds to investigate the sandalprint.“Children are sometimes easier to track, sometimes harder. Light feet, but less caution in the stride. But this one is older – probably thirteen or fourteen, by the depth of the depressions in the soil.” Pantaleon offers, still refusing to meet your gaze. Within a few moments, they have scoured the area, and before long, you are striding back down to the stream banks. The trail is invisible to you, and even Pantaleon seems to lose the tracks once or twice, doubling back over the leafy brush and reeds along the banks.Only a few minutes more minutes pass before Pantaleon is hailed by one of his proteges yelling loudly for assistance – marching swiftly, you meet the men by the water and gasp in surprise.
The girl, a dark-haired young woman of thirteen or fourteen summers, lies half-covered amongst a thatch of reeds and brush. She lies upon the earth, her face hidden by the vegetation, motionless, her small chiton filthy with mud and dirt. You see dried blood upon her scalp, beneath her wet hair, and more of it flaking on the back of her neck – an ugly wound parts her hair above the left temple. Your instincts as a healer take over, and with extreme delicacy, your fingertips trace the neck and back of the girl. The skull is unbroken, which is both a blessing and a curse, but the wound was almost certainly a mortal wound. In desperation, you lay your head upon the child’s back, pressing your ear against the wet clothing. She lives.You hear the unmistakable sound of a heartbeat – weak, fluttering irregularly at a rapid pace, but beating all the same. Rising, you belt out a series of commands to Pantaleon and his team. She is too weak to be moved, you think. Instead, you move expeditiously to make a soft bed of reeds and brush, and with extreme caution, roll the child onto your makeshift cot with Pantaleon’s help. You’re careful to keep the child’s head stable – any sudden movement may dislodge the blocked humors of the head to disastrous effect. A quick investigation of the child’s face and eyes reveals tremendous swelling on the left side of her head and face - she is unconscious and unresponsive. You are late to find her – she must have been lying here for a day or more, but there is still a chance.You hear Spathion’s acid voice in your mind – “You must relieve the pressure, idiot girl. Quickly!”. With dread, you send Pantaleon and his men to gather your tools, and within an anxious few minutes, you are armed with a pot of boiling water, bandages – and Pantaleon’s flint. You gulp nervously, but with the girl’s life in the balance, you are forced to act. You must open the skull, and relieve the pressure upon the brains of the girl. The increased pressure has blocked her humors - only by opening her skullcase can you relieve said pressure and allow her humors to drain naturally into the body. Even if this is done, it is a desperate procedure and a dangerous one. She may very well perish in your attempt - but you must try.The cutting of the scalp fold is easy enough, with a hot knife - and with the flint in hand, you begin scraping against the bone of the skull directly above the wound...>Players, I need TWO rolls of dice+1d20+6 to determine if the girl survives 'Nira's trepanation attempt.>DCs are high - 18, 22, 24. Best of luck.
Rolled 11 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5699309This ain't going to be pretty.
Rolled 9 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5699309
>>5699311>>5699314Rip
>>5699311>>5699314>17 vs 18 - marginal failure.A sad moment for Deianira; this one is not saved. Asclepius’s shade in the Elysian Fields sheds a tear on your behalf, anons…The next update likely won’t be until 07/05 or so, but I’ll be around for discussion or questions.One question I’ve been wrestling with: Fresh Olympian Blood’s 2 wound regen happens every round of combat, but what constitutes a round? Presumably a round is just one set of to-hit vs dodge, wound vs block rolls, but the regen seems quite fast if that’s the case. Also, Nik’s jobbing to Diomedes makes me think that the regen kicks in the round AFTER damage is dealt. Not sure if anons have other thoughts
Rolled 12 (1d20)>>5699311>>5699314Y'all should have rolled like this. Pour one out for the dead lil homie.
>>5699416rip
>>5699317>I’m phone-posting in shoddy connectivity so no thematic picture with tonight’s update.The sound of your scraping against the girl’s skull is harsh on your ears, and the sensation jolts your wrists and hands unpleasantly. It is surprisingly bloodless, once you begin working on the bone proper - as you work, you hear Pantaleon and his men muttering to one another. Pantaleon is assuring them that such trepanation is the girl’s only chance of survival, but even as you work, you know the chance is a slim one.You have never trepanned a person before - Spathion once allowed you to do so on a heifer slated for butchery in the oikos kitchen, and scoffed at the idea that you might ever need to do so on a man.“Let us pray to the divines that you are never lowered to such barbarities.” Her acidic remarks hadn’t dimmed your enthusiasm though, and to your surprise, she had assisted you in the attempt. The heifer had survived your amateur procedure - although only for several hours before it was brought to the kitchen for slaughter anyways.And this is how you made your mistake - thinking of the heifer, with its thicker skull plate and tougher tissue. After several minutes of careful scraping, you inadvertently break through the girl’s weakened skull, as you push the flint, and with dread, see that you have torn the dull gray lining beneath. To rend the lining is fatal; always this is the case. Even if she survived the head blow itself, her death by fever and vomiting is now assured - a drawn-out affair that could last up to a week, but more likely to be four or five days of spine-breaking writhing and delirium. Such a death is a cruelty and an affront to gentle Ελεος, goddess of mercy. As the certainty of her death comes to rest upon your shoulders, you lose your composure, the color draining from your sight. You weep as you slash the girl’s throat with your father’s bronze blade, sending her to the realm of Hades Νεκροδεγμων, the receiver of the dead, and sparing her torment of a fevered death.Under your tears and prayers for the girl’s shade, your blood begins to roar.This girl was [red][i]MURDERED[/i][/red]. She was under your protection at the οἶκος, a servant of the house, and her death is an insult to your authority. You may have drawn the knife against her flesh, but you are only her second killer - the first wielded a rock or stone against her skull, beating her down upon the grounds of your estate. Your heart thunders in your breast, your muscles tense painfully; your right arm freezes in the memory of Abercion’s grasp. You only barely manage to keep an earsplitting shriek of rage from erupting from your throat; instead, you merely hyperventilate.Rising to your feet, you see that Pantaleon and his men have taken many steps back from you - giving you the same wide berth as they might a hissing lion. The issue of the muddy river cast aside for now - you give your orders quickly.
>>5700215The girl is laid carefully upon a hastily-arranged cot in the courtyard of the palace - the warmth of the late afternoon has brought a semblance of life to her cheeks. There is a pleasant breeze, as you summon for water and oils to wash the girl; incongruous given the dreadfulness of the task. These orders are heeded swiftly and you set about the task of washing the body without delay. You inspect her more carefully as the οἶκος assembles - and as you wash her hands, you notice that there is dried blood beneath her fingernails. At once, you intuit that this blood must be from the attacker - the head wound was so significant that she no doubt lost her senses immediately; she must have slashed at him prior to the blow being struck. Carefully, you extract these flakes of reddish material and place them within a small ampoule from your purse, along with warm water. You learn that the name of the girl is Meurestes, and that she was the second eldest daughter of your kitchen’s cook. As the household staff are wailing in their dismay, and the parents of the girl are being summoned, you enact your witch’s will.>Deianira uses Witch’s Sense!>this is a free action that can be taken to gain the rough location of a person, provided that ‘Nira has a sample of their bodily fluids.Not a true ritual, Spathion explained that this trick of [i]finding[/i] was more of a curiosity; a side effect of witching blood rather than any true φύσις born of herbs or wand. With your face held high, warm light of Helios Ὑπεριονιδες, son of Hyperion, upon your skin, you dab the bloody solution in your left eye, on your tongue, and upon the rising flesh of your bosom, directly above your heart. The pulling sensation that develops is slow to build over several minutes, vague, but it tells you what you need to know.The attacker is close. Within the palace. But how to draw them out?>Assemble the staff of the household for the digging of a burial pit, and funeral procession. This might give you a chance to investigate each person of the staff in turn for scratches and wounds? However, this approach might spook the guilty party.>Post Pantaleon and his hunters on the doors of the courtyard for someone fleeing the grounds, and adopt a more subtle approach? Lead a small ceremony for Meurestes’ funeral and then investigate the οἶκος staff tonight?>Complete the funerary rites for Meurestes and then return to the stream shrine with a goat for an offering? Perhaps you will draw the attention of the river daimon this way? It occurs to you that they may have observed the murder. However, you may have to hunt down the culprit a second time using your Witch’s Sense, and they may have time to flee.>Something else that I haven’t thought of?
>>5700230>Post Pantaleon and his hunters on the doors of the courtyard for someone fleeing the grounds, and adopt a more subtle approach? Lead a small ceremony for Meurestes’ funeral and then investigate the οἶκος staff tonight?
Nira is really mad, so much so that the idea of her finding the murderer and descending into some sort of rage doesn't seem out of the picture.Could we potentially use our troops to lock down the area? I suspect that one of the potential training that Nikon would've drilled his troops on is the prevention of a spy escaping a camp until caught.
>>5700230>>Post Pantaleon and his hunters on the doors of the courtyard for someone fleeing the grounds, and adopt a more subtle approach? Lead a small ceremony for Meurestes’ funeral and then investigate the οἶκος staff tonight?
>>5700230>Complete the funerary rites for Meurestes and then return to the stream shrine with a goat for an offering? Perhaps you will draw the attention of the river daimon this way? It occurs to you that they may have observed the murder. However, you may have to hunt down the culprit a second time using your Witch’s Sense, and they may have time to flee.
>>5700312>Could we potentially use our troops to lock down the area? I suspect that one of the potential training that Nikon would've drilled his troops on is the prevention of a spy escaping a camp until caught.Sure, this makes sense and this write-in will provide a good mechanical bonus. It’s only been a few days since you’ll all returned from the raid so about fifty spearmen are still on-site (Argyros has already restarted the patrols of your territory with paired Hillguard and First Platoon squads to teach them the local geography and maybe instill some discipline).
>>5700518It is reasonable so it has my vote, also maybe post one hillguard and first platoon paired as we can't be certain the culprit wasn't a soldier.
>>5700230>Use platoon troops to lock down the areaMechanical bonus!
>>5700312I support the idea, it s good
Pantaleon, hunters and troops on the perimeter, while Nira conducts a subtler investigation the staff while on lockdown.>>5700289>>5700346>>5700442>>5700506>>5700573>>5700616>>5700532Return to the river shrine>>5700463—->you guys have selected the murder mystery pathway, how fun!>I’m still traveling so the next update might not happen until tomorrow or possibly 07/04
>>5701439>>you guys have selected the murder mystery pathway, how fun!We're practicing for the one we will be making soon.
>>5701439It's always the butler sooo...It probably was molpagorus gone mad because deianira never has time to listen to him.
>>5701439What would Nikon do? You haven’t his sheer brilliance when it comes to matters of troop movements or strategy, but your time with Argyros and the spearmen has put you in a military frame-of-mind. It occurs to you that you have the skilled personnel and manpower to prevent the murderer from leaving the palace itself - between Pantaleon’s trackers, the First Platoon and the Aristonaxian Hillguard, you’ll be able to lock down your palace quite soundly until you have identified and apprehended Meurestes’ killer. You’re not aware of any past event where a spy or criminal had invaded the οἶκος, but you bet on your brother’s habit of extensive preparation… With Meurestes’ cleansed body on a raised bed in the courtyard, you summon Pantaleon and Argyros both, and learn that Nikon had diligently trained the men in camp defenses and perimeter maintenance. Pantaleon simply lopes off into palace grounds, his stride fluid and efficient for a man of his size, once you announce your orders to set a perimeter and prevent any from entering or leaving the palace grounds.Argyros nods in acceptance, his shaggy white locks framing his weathered face - but hesitates, speaking aloud:“Lady Deianira, we can place the men in position, and even have them run drills, rather than simply stand as sentries - this will work to obfuscate your purpose. But why all this for a commoner girl?” His question is an innocent one - your working theory of an angry river daimon upset by the death of her devotee is perhaps best left unsaid for now; it’s mostly speculation at this point, but it feels correct. Argyros may be a loyal servant to the οἶκος, but you feel it best to leave unsaid any implication that you might be dealing personally with one of the divines, even if it is a lesser nymph or naiad. As you reply, an unpleasant part of your mind compels you to visually scan Argyros’ face, arms, and hands for signs of wounds or scratches, but there are none.“Someone within this palace has stolen the life of one of my staff, Argyros.” you respond placatingly, hand raised. “Would you not be angered if one of your spearmen was killed off the battlefield in an argument or through deception?” Argyros responds only with a long, flat stare, keeping his thoughts unspoken, and then nods once more before he sets off to arrange the spearmen in a perimeter around the palace.The funeral for Meurestes itself is a modest affair - you did not know the girl in life, and the death of a commoner does not prompt the same elaborate speeches or invocations that the death of a nobleman might. Nonetheless, the prescriptions will be followed - display of the body, funeral procession, interment of the remains. Her parents are obviously devastated by her death, alternating between shocked silence and heart-rending wails of grief.>posting what I have so far, vote post coming tomorrow, in all likelihood
They appear grateful for your personal interest, in their brief moments of rationality, but you must admit - it is somewhat irritating to be close to those who are so gripped by painful Οιζυς, daimona of misery. Iudas, who is present (and unwounded as well, you note), offers them platitudes that you find to be hollow and unconvincing, but soothes the commoners.As fiery Helios descends to Oceanus in the west, you honor the girl by personally overseeing the sacrifice of a small goat to Hades Νεκροδεγμων, receiver of th dead, and having the animal cast into the small sacrificial pit on the outskirts of the palace grounds, by your witch’s hut. It is said that Hades is famously impartial, even resisting the entreaties of the other gods, and thus unlikely to be influenced by your minor offering, but this act of propitiation seems to soothe Meurestes’ mother and father. The funeral procession is a smaller affair, populated by her immediate family and a few sobbing girls who were her friends. Flanked by spearmen; you are careful to inspect any and all people you come across, including the girl’s father, but none of these people are visibly marked or wounded, nor make any suspicious action. All the while, the magnetism from your prior magical trick tells you that the killer is still present within the palace - the sensation is a mixture of the directional warmth of a bonfire and a tugging sensation from within your center of gravity.The digging of the grave and construction of the burial mound itself is a rapid process, with so many hands to help. Meurestes, tightly wrapped within a linen sheet, is interred and the burial stones carefully placed. You take the opportunity to corner Meurestes’ friends, commoner girls of thirteen and fourteen, as Nyx steals over Thessaly. Most adults are unable to withstand your combined intellect and charm, and these children are only too eager to share what they know with the mistress of the household.>Deianira auto-succeeds on her interrogation...You tease apart what useful information you can glean from them, and assemble a clearer picture of Meurestes’ actions over the last few days. You learn that she had long had access to the οἶκος kitchen, both through her father’s role, and her kind conduct - she was quick to care for her friends and profess her ἀγάπη for the household staff, and she was generally well-liked in turn. Despite this reputation, there was an antagonistic relationship between herself and a young woman, Basiane, who tends to the household's laundry along with several others. Basiane, a young woman in her twenties, had apparently selected Meurestes for bullying over the years - Meurestes' friends explain that Basiane is a sallow woman, not fair to look upon, and someone who had no legitimate cause for her verbal attacks against Meurestes. They claim that Meurestes’ kind disposition and natural beauty had triggered Basiane’s envy and animosity.>cont
Rolled 69, 17, 72 = 158 (3d100)Rolling for some helpful input from the dice gods...
>>5703257You also learn that Meurestes' made a habit of placing sweet cakes and flower upon the stream shrine, but the girls unanimously report that Meurestes did not create the shrine itself, and they don’t know who did. She never spoke of any other person who might accompany her during these trips to the stream, and the girls themselves vacillate between disbelief at Meurestes' passing and wild conjecture about who may have killed her. Between the wild accusations, you piece together additional details - you’re surprised to hear that after your mother escaped the household early last month, and your subsequent order for her to be carefully watched, Meurestes’ volunteered herself to supervise your mother’s excursions into the palace grounds. She had spent quite a bit of time with your mother over the past several weeks, although the girls are quick to report that Meurestes enjoyed these supervisory episodes.Finally, you hear the girls speak of Meurestes’ recent happiness - apparently, she had been informing her friends that she had been recently involved in a secret romance but refused to specify any additional details. It was unlike her to keep secrets in this fashion, and the girls' suspect that a newcomer to the palace must be her admirer and must have sworn her to secrecy as well. You find yourself agreeing with them - and you inwardly groan when you conclude that the most likely candidate for Meurestes’ admirer would be Gerasimos, hot-tempered son of Aristonax, currently "convalescing" in your palace dormitory. You remember the way his eyes had tracked you hungrily at the Summons – perhaps he had moved on to a more accessible target for his affections?Given your interest in subtlety tonight, you thank the girls for their discretion, make them swear oaths of silence (although truly, they must only keep their silence for a matter of hours, you hope), and you release them. Your march back to the palace is a swift one, and you're pleased to see that your spearmen are scattered along the slopes of the hill nonchalantly. They run drills of endurance and spar with one another somewhat half-heartedly by torchlight - their lack of enthusiasm contributes to the impression that this is a mean-spirited training exercise overseen by Argyros, rather than a perimeter set by yourself. In the shadows beyond the torches, you catch glimpses of figures stalking in the darkness - Pantaleon and his hunters.Once returned to the courtyard, you consider your next move. You hardly have the time to collect yourself before Pantaleon charges into the courtyard, somewhat out of breath. “One of the Hillguard attempted to flee – he’s being detained," he succinctly grates, and lopes off into the darkness, waving you along. You can't help but cast aside your dignity and run after him yourself.
Rolled 13, 11 - 3 = 21 (2d20 - 3)You find the Hillguard sitting in a rocky depression in the earth, surrounded by First Platoon and Hillguard alike - the bronze points of their spears pressing against the flesh of his neck. Truly, he is only some strides away from the palace itself - It seems that he was caught hiding beneath a brown tarp or blanket, being detected almost immediately by one of Pantaleon’s trackers. Your quick implementation of a perimeter has been a success - looking about the hillside, you're pleased to see that discipline has been maintained. The other spearmen continue about their faux drills, even while some number of them have captured this runaway. As you look down at him, you find that you recognize him – a young man with fair hair, and pale green eyes, whom you treated for a leg wound the day after the Hilltop Raid; the bandage still wrapping around his lower thigh. He had been one of the quiet ones, nervously accepting your medical treatment without offering much in the way of conversation. A droplet of blood runs down the flesh of his neck, where a pitiless bronze speartip had pressed too deeply. Even in the flickering torchlight, you see that his arms and chest are covered in scratches. You’re already quite confident that this man is Meurestes’ killer, between his scratches, and his eyes have the hollow quality of a man considering his own mortality – but you have to be sure. You scowl - it would have been better if he had died under the hooves of one of the savages. You address him coldly, “What is your name, spearmen?”. As you do so, you draw yourself up into your full height, looming over him.He looks at up at you defeatedly, and replies, “Stentias, fair Lady.” He wisely averts his gaze, and very cautiously, moves from a sitting position to a prostrate one – face on the dirt. He is silent as he does so, his face a cautious mask. One eye is still visible as he lies against the earth, and it flickers rapidly between your sandaled feet and the speartips hanging only inches away from his body.“Tell me, Stentias, of how you came to know Meurestes, and how it came to pass that she was left broken and bleeding upon the banks of the stream nearby?” He flinches slightly at each new word you enunciate – and then licking his lips, begins to speak. >players, I need TWO rolls of dice+2d20+5 for Deianira’s detective skills.
Rolled 7, 19 + 5 = 31 (2d20 + 5)>>5703521
Rolled 7, 14 + 5 = 26 (2d20 + 5)>>5703521
Considering we are standing in the dark with the black cloth, we must cut quite the figure.
>>5703526>>5703529>24 vs 10 - Stentias is a mediocre liar and Deianira has done her homework here. >>5703541Abercion's Black Sash is currently packaged up in Deianira's hide bag, she never actually needed to put it on today. Things could certainly have gone differently if you guys had chosen a different path, so it was definitely a good idea to bring it along.You almost admire his courage - a commoner man who is so delusional, so ignorant or so optimistic as to think that he could mislead his true superior. You haven't forgotten your blind rage at Meurestes' passing, nor have you forgotten the words of Meurestes' childhood friends. Stentias, perhaps assuming that you are a disinterested noblewoman like Aristonax's wife Ianthousa, makes several critical errors.Firstly, he does not seem to know that you inspected Meurestes' body personally or that you attempted to save her life through trepanation.Secondly, he assumes that you have no particular interest in her death, and that his capture by your spearmen is the result of a misunderstanding.Thirdly, he assumes that you have not undertaken even the most basic of inquiries into Meurestes' doings prior to her death. Finally, he appears to believe that your considered silence, as he speaks, is an encouraging sign - his confidence building as he goes along. He spins you an absurd tale of falling in love with Meurestes upon return from the Hilltop Raid, and then coming across the corpse of Meurestes in a set of thorny bushes earlier this morning, with the deep tracks of a man surrounding the body. He proceeds to explain that his first intent was notify you or other οἶκος leadership, but was so upset by the discovery of his beloved, he fainted himself, only wandering back to the palace at nightfall, once you returned with the body. He has the unwarranted confidence to offer you his services to locate Meurestes' killer, if you would only provide him with the supplies needed for this? You interject when your bile begins to rise in your gut - you cannot resist the urge to embellish what you have heard for dramatic effect."Stentias... When you struck the girl with a river stone from behind last night, you did not kill her - she still drew breath when I came upon her this morning." Stentias' visible eye opens widely in shock. "And then - you left her in the reeds, while you rested comfortably here in the palace last evening. When my men and I scoured the banks this morning, we came across no fainting spearman. We have spoken with the companions of Meurestes, and they have told us much about her secret romance." You kneel closer to him, continuing in a whisper - "Let me further clarify that I am a witch, Stentias. I command such powers that you would not believe. Tell me the truth, and I may grant you a merciful death - lie, and I will have your shade punished in Tartarus for eternity."
He begins to sob in despair, and he essentially confirms your version of events - they had lain in the reeds together, first, but when she swore an oath to tell her father about their romance, he struck her in anger with a nearby riverstone. It seems that marriage was not the goal of Stentias' dalliance. Your disgust with him grows by the minute, and when your bubbling rage subsides after a few moments, you consider your next decision. >You have located Meurestes' killer, although you were not able to save the girl herself. How will you determine Stentias' fate? >Return to the river shrine with Stentias, and a guard of spearmen. It may take time for you to gain the river daimon's attention, but Stentias' fate might be better determined by the local divinity.>Execute Stentias immediately - his continued existence offends you. Later, you'll be able to bring proof of his death to the river shrine if needed, or find some other method of appeasing the river daimon.>Offer Stentias leniency - for a price. It occurs to you that you may able to use him in the Damachides affair. By swearing strong oaths, you will be able to compel Stentias to attempt the murder of Damachides himself or to otherwise use him to effect his death by spear, dagger, or poison. In return, you will "spare" Stentias an afterlife of torment. >Offer Stentias leniency - for a price. He likely has intimate knowledge of the Aristonax household, its practices and its defenses. This information might be helpful in the circumstance where you betray Aristonax...if it comes to it. By swearing strong oaths, you will be able to compel him to assist you in this betrayal.>Something else?
>>5703571>Return to the river shrine with Stentias, and a guard of spearmen. It may take time for you to gain the river daimon's attention, but Stentias' fate might be better determined by the local divinity.Muddy water.
>>5703571>Return to the river shrine with Stentias, and a guard of spearmen. It may take time for you to gain the river daimon's attention, but Stentias' fate might be better determined by the local divinity.
>>5703571>>Offer Stentias leniency - for a price. It occurs to you that you may able to use him in the Damachides affair. By swearing strong oaths, you will be able to compel Stentias to attempt the murder of Damachides himself or to otherwise use him to effect his death by spear, dagger, or poison. In return, you will "spare" Stentias an afterlife of torment.
>>5703571>>Return to the river shrine with Stentias, and a guard of spearmen. It may take time for you to gain the river daimon's attention, but Stentias' fate might be better determined by the local divinity.
>>5703571>Return to the river shrine with Stentias, and a guard of spearmen. It may take time for you to gain the river daimon's attention, but Stentias' fate might be better determined by the local divinity.I was right, it was an hillguard(The river daemon is actually upset they didn't invite him to frolic and wants stentias as his lover)
>>5703571>Offer Stentias leniency - for a price. It occurs to you that you may able to use him in the Damachides affair. By swearing strong oaths, you will be able to compel Stentias to attempt the murder of Damachides himself or to otherwise use him to effect his death by spear, dagger, or poison. In return, you will "spare" Stentias an afterlife of torment.
Seven hour warning until vote period is over.We appear to be deadlocked 4-4 between returning Stentius to the river daimon or using him against Damachides in some fashion.I would encourage players to debate one another and for lurkers to jump in to break the logjam!
Rolled 1 (1d2)>>5704074No new notes in a while so I’m calling it.Tyche, guide this roll!1: Nira brings Stentius down by the river2: Nira gaslights Stentius into being her go-fer
Rolled 5, 20 + 3 = 28 (2d20 + 3)In the end, you decide to finish what you started – and bring Stentias back to the banks of the stream where he callously murdered Meurestes. Iudas’ report of the muddied stream aligns almost perfectly with your theory of Stentias’ attack of Meurestes - you suppose it’s possible that some other issue has angered the daimon of the stream, but you find it unlikely.Your decision made, and ready to gamble that your understanding of events is correct, you have Stentias bound, gagged, and frog-marched back to the river shrine, his sandaled feet bouncing off the earth. You take an ugly pleasure in the way his head roughly bouncing from side to side, as he is muscled across the ground. You’re wise enough to bring Pantaleon and a small squad of spearmen for protection – Stentias’ eyes have gained the wild, frenzied quality of an animal in a trap, even as his head flops aimlessly. You’re certain that he would attempt to flee if he were not tied up so thoroughly. Additionally, you bring along the supplies you’ll need for a goodly sacrifice for the daimon – honeyed cakes and barley and one of the spearmen carries a yearling goat, softly bleating in the night. To your surprise, Iudas catches you outside the courtyard and insists on joining you - his voice full of determination and his face displaying…nostalgia? Sorrow? You aren’t sure, but you find no issue with his request and allow him to accompany you as well.Finding the shrine in the dark is easier than you expect, between the pale light of Αιγλη Selene’s crown above, and Pantaleon’s unerring sense of direction. You spread the cakes upon the shrine’s small altar and take a moment’s effort to start a large fire – your group could hardly be more visible – the light and smoke must be visible for stadia in each direction. Between the racket you're planning to make, your powerful heritage and the offerings, you're sure to garner the attention of whatever daimon is present. Iudas joins you in prayer and invocation – as a Shasu noble, you might expect trepidation in summoning a daimon of Hellas, and yet – he is confident, imitating your prayers without error or hesitation. Once your spearmen are assembled in a ring, about 10 strides away from you, you sacrifice of the yearling goat - wrapping the thighs in a double-fold of fat and roasting them over the roaring campfire. You cast in handfuls of barley as you circle the campfire, rich aromas rising, singing:Beautiful eddies of Oceanus, flowing ones...Servants of Artemis Προστατηρια; Guardians of daughters!I humbly beg your blessingof attention. Come to us in kindness! Put aside your angerbut for a moment...Iudas joins your song in easy harmony, bracing the golden notes of your song with lacquered struts...>players, give me TWO rolls of dice+1d20+8>full CHA (+5) and FOB (+3) bonii applies to Deianira given that she has brought Stentias bound and tied.
Rolled 1 + 8 (1d20 + 8)>>5704323I wonder what that crit will do.
>>5704330Well shit, that's even worse.
Rolled 19 + 8 (1d20 + 8)>>5704323
>>5704330>>5704335>crit on daimon’s part - 23>critfail on Nira’s part - 28Something wicked this way comes…
>>5704338Freaking rivers
Rolled 3, 3 = 6 (2d3)Rolling for further guidance from Αυτοματια Tyche...
>>5704323>>5704330I FUCKING HATE RIVERS
>>5704363I really hope that's our spearmen
Rolled 2 (1d23)rolling once more
>>5704368DAM ALL RIVERS
be sturdy of heart, strong-greaved anons - this may be hard to readYou aren’t sure what you’re hearing at first - a vibration in the air just beyond the highest range of your hearing, the bizarre sense that something is coming and you cannot detect its piercing cry.By the water, gleaming ruddily in the firelight, you hear only the gentle lapping of melted snow - runoff from the snowy peak of Mount Olympus. You continue your prayers and song - but you hesitate, when you hear a strange sound. The sound of one hundred amphoras pouring water onto the earth - the sound of the blasting ocean gale in miniature.The vibration’s pitch lowers into the audible range, and you freeze in crushing dread - the words almost too fast to understand:YOUDAREDESPOILHERSHRINE?!YOUDARE?!YOUDARE?!YOUDARE?!YOUDARE?!YOUDARE?!YOUDARE?!YOUDARE?!YOUDARE?!Just as you notice that the gentle sound of the stream's ripples have disappeared, your legs are swept out from under you and you crack your skull against something very hard. You lose time, tumbling in the muddy water, scraping up against rock and earth, Gaia’s stony countenance, scraped endlessly against the riverbed, with the water pressing down upon you from above... >Deianira takes 3 damage and is momentarily knocked unconscious. She loses initiative and auto-loses the first round of combat!>She is at 6/8 health - -2 malus to rollsYou are shaken out of unconsciousness - literally. A bronze vise is clasped upon your throat, and you are dangling limply in the air, face heating with trapped blood, legs kicking frantically by reflex. One of your eyes is swollen shut, but with the other, you peer downwards, while you gasp emptily for breath like a fish ashore, and find insane rage - μᾶνις - written across the face of the nymph holding you aloft, its beautiful features contorted unnaturally into a too-wide snarl, a fanged maw where a pretty smile should be. Its slimy hands - too cold for mortal life - are clamped relentlessly upon your airway, as the pain of asphyxiation builds in your gut. It is shrieking something, but you are so stunned you can’t make sense of her words. Noticing that you are awake, it smashes you back under the water, into the river bed, submerging you, holding you in place with thin and shapely arms of unbelievable strength. Through the dirtied water, you hear muffled and distorted fragments of her shrieking.SISTER TO THE - SPENT CHAFF OF THE APATH- OBLIVION WILL->Deianira takes a further 3 damage from the nymph's continued strangulation.>Deianira is now at 3/8 health! She currently takes a -6 malus to rolls.
Rolled 2, 2 + 2 = 6 (2d20 + 2)>>5704389>Deianira rolls a 2 on her 1d24 - close but no cigar.The sounds of the rushing water start to fade, your awareness dimming...but your hands have found their way up to your throat, and the nymph’s strangling hands. Your fingers clasp tightly upon the wrists of the nymph, and in your arms and hands, there is a coiling power that you can’t quite summon – a sensation of transforming, revelatory force that cannot quite emerge. You scrabble over the hard surface of that reservoir of unlimited strength – but the power recedes, the moment passing. Instead, you push with every ounce of your enhanced strength, praying that it will be enough.>Players - I need TWO rolls of dice+1d20-7 to see if 'Nira can break this hold. >Deianira will regen two wounds (due to FOB) at the end of this combat turn.
Rolled 7 + 7 (1d20 + 7)>>5704393FUCK NO
>>5704393New objetive: find a bronze age engineer and delete that stream from existence.I'm never trusting a river to be reasonable again. Sorry for doubting your wisdom Nikon.No way I'm rolling after my critfail.
Rolled 1 - 7 (1d20 - 7)>>5704394Wrong modifiers
>>5704398oh no
>>5704398That's not good.I guess this is game over?
>>5704400Guess so.
>>5704399>>5704400>>5704402Still need another roll, anons…
>>5704406Crit fails don't apply to combat with divinity?
Rolled 20 - 7 (1d20 - 7)>>5704393FFUCK RIVERS
>>5704411HEROIC ROLL
>>5704411HOLY SHIT
>>5704411No fucking wayI literally cannot believe this
>>5704411And they say dumb as a rock, rivers are the real menace!Keeping me awake at night to reroll against their idiotic stupidity, Nikon was right and this river should be dammed up and diverted the fuck away from our land.Next oikos upgrade is going to be a fuckload of wells and a water reservoir.These river whores can keep their fucking stinky waters i bet fish fuck in it too.
>>5704393>>Deianira rolls a 2 on her 1d24 - close but no cigar>>5704379You think, but that was a d23. Thus, invalid. Ha ha ha, divine loopholes
>>5704422oops, that was a typo on my part, good catch - 1d23 was actually the correct roll, I just typed 1d24 in my post by mistake>>5704393>>5704398>>5704411obviously we're in novel territory here, Nikon never entered combat with a daimon, let alone rolled a nat 1 and a nat 20 in the same combat round...Not sure how Homer might have interpreted this.I doubt this will ever happen again, but I'm determining that when interacting/fighting daimons in TWQ:DS, a nat 20 overrides a nat 1 when part of the same HERO roll - the nat 20 is the "best of" in this scenario. In my mind, this fits the overall "tie goes to runner" theme that Homer established. Overall, a brutal combat system, but with some limited advantages to the hero player. It's just more fun that way.>River daimon rolls a 4>'Nira rolls a nat 20 (but would be a 13 with malus if a normal roll)>'Nira turns the tables on the daimon and something unexpected will take place as well>'Nira regens two wounds - she is now at 5/8 health and has a -3 malus to rolls. FOB is incredibly helpful, even for those with low CONs like 'Nira.I'm sure you all realize this, but 'Nira's death was all but guaranteed after a double critfail. 'Nira has now done two very interesting things - successfully defied the will of a greater divinity, and now has also defied a minor divinity in open combat. One is pure luck - but twice? These stories may even make their way to the high court of Mount Olympus...Update tomorrow at 9pm
>>5704430Total River Death.Dam rivers. Drain rivers. Redirect rivers into deserts. Throw rocks into rivers. Destroy river shrines. Don't sacrifice to rivers. Ban river worship. Defecate into rivers. Urinate into rivers. Boil river water. Build stone bridges over rivers. Throw salt into rivers. Introduce beavers to all rivers. Toss rotting corpses into rivers. Toss acid into rivers. Pray to Helios to dry rivers. Toss trash into rivers. Invite greek fire and set rivers aflame. Block all sources of rivers.
>>5704430The highest of highs, the lowest of lows. 'Nira just keeps on ending up in dangerous situations.
This is why I always vote against interacting with rivers.
>>5704430Typos are the will of the gods confirmed.Also hot damn. Nira the anti-immortal over here. Go for the eyes, big woman!
>>5704430this bitch face is going to look like a porcupine when we are done with it, pass that bow Pantaleon ! It's officially nymph extermination season !
>>5704411kek, amazing
>13 vs 4 - Deianira wins contested grapple, two degrees of successYou push against the daimon’s inhuman wrists while still submerged, your head sinking into the mud of the riverbank - and imperceptibly, gradually, agonizingly, the pressure on your throat lessens. You find one last portion of hidden strength within your arms – and it is enough. Blood rushes out of your swollen face into your neck, even as your chest is agony, your lungs collapsing on themselves. The murky water is full of sand and grit – passing over you, washing into your mouth, nose, ears and eyes. Then, all at once, the daimon’s grip on your airway is broken - and you find the strength to sit up against the pressure, breaking the surface of the water and gasping for precious air, and blinking the muddy water out of your eyes.Under the light of Selene, the daimon’s face is painted with comedic surprise - disbelief at your continued resistance and sudden surge of strength. A shadow of uncertainty flickers across its features, its insane snarl fading. You both simultaneously hear splashing off to the side of the stream, and the daimon’s eyes dance off to the right, distracted. With the daimon still pushing down on you and fully illuminated in the moonlight, you realize that the daimon is both shorter and lighter than you are - shockingly strong, much stronger than a typical noblewoman, but compacted into a slight frame. It can be lifted, ‘Nira - use your height against it! Take its leverage! your brother roars in your mind.What follows is no practiced pankraton maneuver, but a crude and desperate trick. While the daimon’s eyes are elsewhere, you shift violently to the side and pull downwards, causing it to tumble forwards. You simultaneously scrabble to your feet, standing knee high in the stream, even as you loop your left arm around its neck in a merciless headlock, and brace the lock with your right hand. Standing erect, thigh-high in the water, and holding the daimon aloft, its feet cannot find purchase against the riverbed. Panicking, it bucks and flails against your hold - but your technique is effective, if crude, and it cannot well use its superior strength against you. Its arms windmill unceasingly in a futile effort to catch your hair, your robes, but the angle is awkward, and you are sopping wet, preventing a good grip. With air entering your lungs in huge gulps, you feel the swelling across your face subsiding, and the prickling sensation of many small cuts and abrasions sealing themselves.>Deianira heals two wounds and is now at 5/8 wounds. -4 malus to combat rolls>more coming
At this exact moment, the corpse of Stentias drifts gently alongside you in the water, clearly visible under Selene’s radiance. Impossibly, your leather bag’s strap, containing Abercion’s Black Sash and other such valuables, is looped around his neck. His face is slack, mouth open widely, and his neck clearly broken. There is a trick of the light – a fading glimmer of silver around the foot of Stentias, dissolving into nothing. You blink repeatedly to clear your vision, even as you keep an brazen grip on the daimon’s neck. The daimon, seeing Stentias, hisses fiercely, ceasing its violent gyrations momentarily, staring in shock as the corpse washes downstream. The daimon apparently does not to breathe despite your vicious hold, spitting out the word:HIMIn the daimon’s shocked moment of silence, you have several paths open to you:>I encourage players to think VERY carefully about this vote. Deianira, against all odds, has averted her death so far, despite increasingly dangerous and risky behavior through this quest. Her luck can and will eventually run out. This was supposed to be a quest about sleepy social intrigues in Thessaly, you know...>keep a vicious headlock upon the daimon and make it swear oaths to Zeus Hypatos of one year of peace and service to you and your household. This will be a contested WILL check (Bo2 vs Bo2), and you'd be rolling with a +4 bonus (WILL + WITCH trait). Success here means that you will have a daimon at your (relative) beck and call. This action will NOT be looked upon favorably by other flowing ones and river-gods, and will contribute to Deianira possibly earning “Disfavored of the Rivers” herself. Failure opens Deianira up to further physical combat with the daimon (and possible death).>Release the river daimon unexpectedly and attempt diplomacy to soothe the spirit. With Stentias dead, you may be able to convince the spirit that you had come to the river bank in good will. This would be a difficult CHA check (Bo2 vs Bo3), but establishing normal relations with the river spirit may become possible this way, and you'd be rolling with a +8 bonus (CHA + FOB). Failure here would almost certainly result in a second round of physical combat, and Deianira’s death.>Shove the river daimon into the water, grab your leather bag from Stentias’ neck, put on Abercion’s Black Sash, and flee into the night. This would be a contested AGI vs INT, AGI check under very favorable circumstances. This option represents the least dangerous to Deianira but obviously, this does not rectify the river daimon situation in the short term. Fleeing the scene and returning later under better circumstances is a completely valid (and probably tactically-wise) strategy.>Something else that I haven't thought of?
>>5705181>Shove the river daimon into the water, grab your leather bag from Stentias’ neck, put on Abercion’s Black Sash, and flee into the night. This would be a contested AGI vs INT, AGI check under very favorable circumstances. This option represents the least dangerous to Deianira but obviously, this does not rectify the river daimon situation in the short term. Fleeing the scene and returning later under better circumstances is a completely valid (and probably tactically-wise) strategy.Come back later with rocks and wood.Fuck rivers, they are not even worthy of being servants.
>>5705181>keep a vicious headlock upon the daimon and make it swear oaths to Zeus Hypatos of one year of peace and service to you and your household. This will be a contested WILL check (Bo2 vs Bo2), and you'd be rolling with a +4 bonus (WILL + WITCH trait). Success here means that you will have a daimon at your (relative) beck and call. This action will NOT be looked upon favorably by other flowing ones and river-gods, and will contribute to Deianira possibly earning “Disfavored of the Rivers” herself. Failure opens Deianira up to further physical combat with the daimon (and possible death).Headlock advantage
Don't suppose we could quickly fish out the black sash and try looping it around the daimon's neck or using it to bluff that Nira has the favor of a god and should be listened to.
>>5705181>chastise the daimon for their hastyness while it must listen. "We caught the killer and we were bringing him to you to dispense justice!"Hopefully we can get them to see reason or at least begin to argue which will move us to diplomacy.But like fuck that i'm letting this slimy fucker go until he/she? apologizes.
>>5705194While you could give the Black Sash to the daimon, Nira would think this is a bad idea. You don’t want to give the daimon a semi-invisibility upgrade after it was just trying to murder you, and before you reach an agreement.However, you could obtain the Sash, put it on yourself, and then attempt to intimidate the daimon from a position of semi-invisibility. You’d be sacrificing the “why can’t we be friends” angle in return for a pretty good chance to escape if you fail the “I threaten you with witch curses” diplomacy attempt. So basically, if you wear the Sash, your intimidate attempt would be significantly safer but less likely to succeed.
>>5705181>>Release the river daimon unexpectedly and attempt diplomacy to soothe the spirit. With Stentias dead, you may be able to convince the spirit that you had come to the river bank in good will. This would be a difficult CHA check (Bo2 vs Bo3), but establishing normal relations with the river spirit may become possible this way, and you'd be rolling with a +8 bonus (CHA + FOB). Failure here would almost certainly result in a second round of physical combat, and Deianira’s death.
>>5705181>Shove the river daimon into the water, grab your leather bag from Stentias’ neck, put on Abercion’s Black Sash, and flee into the night. This would be a contested AGI vs INT, AGI check under very favorable circumstances. This option represents the least dangerous to Deianira but obviously, this does not rectify the river daimon situation in the short term. Fleeing the scene and returning later under better circumstances is a completely valid (and probably tactically-wise) strategy.We've been ballsy so far, probably best to dial it back a bit.
>>5705181>Shove the river daimon into the water, grab your leather bag from Stentias’ neck, put on Abercion’s Black Sash, and flee into the night. This would be a contested AGI vs INT, AGI check under very favorable circumstances. This option represents the least dangerous to Deianira but obviously, this does not rectify the river daimon situation in the short term. Fleeing the scene and returning later under better circumstances is a completely valid (and probably tactically-wise) strategy.Know when to fold em
>5705181>>Release the river daimon unexpectedly and attempt diplomacy to soothe the spirit. With Stentias dead, you may be able to convince the spirit that you had come to the river bank in good will. This would be a difficult CHA check (Bo2 vs Bo3), but establishing normal relations with the river spirit may become possible this way, and you'd be rolling with a +8 bonus (CHA + FOB). Failure here would almost certainly result in a second round of physical combat, and Deianira’s death.
>>5705181>Release the river daimon unexpectedly and attempt diplomacy to soothe the spirit. With Stentias dead, you may be able to convince the spirit that you had come to the river bank in good will. This would be a difficult CHA check (Bo2 vs Bo3), but establishing normal relations with the river spirit may become possible this way, and you'd be rolling with a +8 bonus (CHA + FOB). Failure here would almost certainly result in a second round of physical combat, and Deianira’s death.wtf I'm >>5705350
>>5705181>Shove the river daimon into the water, grab your leather bag from Stentias’ neck, put on Abercion’s Black Sash, and flee into the night. This would be a contested AGI vs INT, AGI check under very favorable circumstances. This option represents the least dangerous to Deianira but obviously, this does not rectify the river daimon situation in the short term. Fleeing the scene and returning later under better circumstances is a completely valid (and probably tactically-wise) strategy.
>>5705181>>Something else that I haven't thought of?are we alone ? can we have the help of our men ?they can see the creature or just us for now ? i am tempted to tell them to throw a net (next time we return here if no net) or thrust with their spears in the water, Should scare the creature>Shove the river daimon into the water, grab your leather bag from Stentias’ neck, put on Abercion’s Black Sash, and flee into the night. This would be a contested AGI vs INT, AGI check under very favorable circumstances. This option represents the least dangerous to Deianira but obviously, this does not rectify the river daimon situation in the short term. Fleeing the scene and returning later under better circumstances is a completely valid (and probably tactically-wise) strategy.I am considering to kill it at night with our bow.>This was supposed to be a quest about sleepy social intrigues in Thessaly, you know...wild rolls tend to send many plans flying away
>>5705429>are we alone? can we have the help of our men ?Deianira isn’t alone but your squad has been scattered by the daimon’s wave attack, and Deianira has been too busy fighting for her life so far to look around. However, you could call out for Iudas and Pantaleon, who are physically strong enough to help you grapple with the daimon. >they can see the creature or just us for now ? i am tempted to tell them to throw a net (next time we return here if no net)Only Deianira can see the daimon at baseline, but throwing a net or something would be valid. Of course, a typical rope net might not be strong enough to contain it.>I am considering to kill it at night with our bow.You could try, but IIRC Homer established that normal weaponry is not terribly effective against daimons and spirits. Crushing blows and physical restraints are most likely to be effective, rather than bladed or pointed weapons. Ancient Greek myth is full of stories of nymphs and naiads being captured, and beaten in contests of physical strength, but I haven’t come across any stories where a nymph or naiad was actually killed by a mortal. That being said, Deianira has access to magical poisons that may be highly unpleasant to a daimon, if not lethal. Also, daimons and gods feel pain and can be wounded, but have very fast regen.
>>5705478Wouldn't Iudas be able to see it too, since Homer said he was a noble? Or does ot only work with divinities of the same pantheon?
>>5705181>Shove the river daimon into the water, grab your leather bag from Stentias’ neck, put on Abercion’s Black Sash, and flee into the night. This would be a contested AGI vs INT, AGI check under very favorable circumstances. This option represents the least dangerous to Deianira but obviously, this does not rectify the river daimon situation in the short term. Fleeing the scene and returning later under better circumstances is a completely valid (and probably tactically-wise) strategy.Fuck rivers, dam rivers, block rivers
>>5705498Ah, my take was that daimons and gods are visible to those with FOB or stronger ancestry. In Hellas, Diomedes is sort of a special exception - I read somewhere on the internet that Athena granted him divine sight during the course of the Trojan War despite the fact that he does not have FOB himself. I have to go back and find the reference though.Iudas is Shasu nobility, but as he does not have FOB himself, he’s not capable of seeing daimons/gods unless they choose to be visible.
>>5705181>Release the river daimon unexpectedly and attempt diplomacy to soothe the spirit. With Stentias dead, you may be able to convince the spirit that you had come to the river bank in good will. This would be a difficult CHA check (Bo2 vs Bo3), but establishing normal relations with the river spirit may become possible this way, and you'd be rolling with a +8 bonus (CHA + FOB). Failure here would almost certainly result in a second round of physical combat, and Deianira’s death.
>6 hours remainingI would encourage lurkers to jump in and vote, seems like a close race between diplomance and GTFO.I do find it incredibly amusing that Nikandros has had a relatively safe journey of social encounters to the Cyclades and Deianira is in her 5th dangerous supernatural encounter (if you count Abercion and Zeus’ thunderbolt) and was in battle besides.Neither of the Hipposcuri (coining it here, folks) has had it easy, they keep getting thrown into challenges meant for the other sibling.
>>5705746>tfw if nira went to war she'd have already gotten agamemnon to swear oaths of friendship to house hippomedon and if nikon was at home he'd have taken all of damachides' land and then half of the nearby barbarian kingdomThe world is a cruel and unjust place.
Rolled 13, 17, 18, 13 = 61 (4d20)Shove daimon and GTFO>>5705185>>5705267>>5705273>>5705410>>5705429>>5705561Make the daimon swear strong oaths>>5705189diplomance the daimon >>5705196>>5705266>>5705351>>5705610>>5705648---Looks like me like "Shove Daimon and GTFO" wins narrowly 7-6...Now for some rolling!I'm rolling 4d20 - first two are daimon's INT at a +0 bonus, second two rolls are AGI at +4 bonus. The daimon must first pass its INT check to locate Deianira as she unexpectedly vanishes before actually giving chase.From the players - I need THREE rolls of 1d20+8 to determine Deianira's stealthiness as she vanishes with the help of the Black Sash. Then I need TWO rolls of 1d20 only to determine Deianira's agility as she flees the stream.
Rolled 9 + 8 (1d20 + 8)>>5706041Fuck off ye slimy river bitch
Rolled 19 + 8 (1d20 + 8)>>5706041Fuck you
Rolled 5 + 8 (1d20 + 8)>>5706041Screw rivers
Rolled 3 (1d20)>>5706041
Rolled 2 (1d20)>>5706041Since it seems like the daemon didn't pass its contested INT check, does the second set matter?
>>5706078We shat our pants but the Daemon did not notice.
Rolled 2, 5, 13, 5, 2, 20, 16, 16 = 79 (8d20)>>5706078>>5706085Right, I’m interpreting this similarly>Deianira turns semi-invisible and vanishes.>does a very mediocre job of sneaking away>daimon is so busy freaking out that it misses Deianira, zooms up and down the streamHowever…We haven’t rolled for Iudas and Pantaleon. Let’s see how they fared again the daimon’s wave…
Rolled 2, 3, 3, 3, 3 = 14 (5d3)>>5706135Iudas:5 strides away from Deianira13 - three degrees of failure against the wavePantaleon:20 - Pantaleon is washed far downstream, 20+ strides away. He is out of immediate danger.16 - two degrees of failure against the wave.Friendly reminder that Iudas has 8 wounds and no regen. Pantaleon has 10 wounds and no regen.
>>5706141Alright, no update tonight.Will write a chunky one for tomorrow lads. The suffering isn’t over yet…
>>5706151I want to get off Mr. River's crazy rideseriously how was the life expectancy in ancient greece not like 10
>>5706152The Gods decided to be funny and gave our heroine equal portions of good and bad luck while also giving her ridiculous events to test her.If this keeps up, she'll have a legend worth to stand on its own for being a woman thrown into absurd tests of adversity.
>>5706570And we live right in their backyard, so they can fuck with us without having to go on a trip.
>>5706570>>5706576>Deianira becomes the Late Bronze Age equivalent of the biblical Job. Someone shop the Deianira helmet onto this, lolPretty amusing on multiple levels, actually. Writing today's update now - should be out within 90 minutes.
You seize the moment without a second thought – hooking your own leg against the daimon’s hanging shins, you fiercely shove the spirit with all of your power. The daimon flies further than you expect, tumbling head over heels into the water of the stream, and you scoop your leather bag off of the broken neck of Stentias in one smooth motion. You take an extra beat to kick Stentias' corpse towards the flowing one - perhaps a moment's distraction, enough time for you to make your escape. Fumbling with your leather bag, you produce Abercion’s Black Sash and loop it over left arm and shoulder, even as you stumble through the water, tripping over embedded stones in the streambed. Your body aches everywhere – your eye still mostly swollen shut, and there is blinding pain and a deeply unpleasant grinding sensation emanating from your right ribs – you immediately understand that at least some of your ribs are broken. You put such irrelevant details out of your mind as you flee in terror.There’s no sensation of the Sash taking effect, and so you look down at yourself in uncertainty - and your pumping legs have become sheathed in shadow, your arms flickering patches of mist. It’s disorienting – you cannot gauge the distance between your falling feet and the bed of the stream, or when your strides will hit the water. You fall repeatedly, scrabbling, inhaling gritty water in your panic to return home and leave this bastard child of the Potamides behind you. In the distance, you hear the piercing shriek of the daimon, and loud splashing as it flies to one fallen body or another. Turning your head as you topple from one stride to the next, you see the spirit flip over no less than three bodies, your drowned spearmen, as it searches for you, and scalp another unfortunate corpse with its bare hands in frustration. You’re nearly to the solid earth, blessed embrace of the Μητηρ Παντων, when you turn your head back to the water, and see the unmistakable body of lanky Iudas, floating face-down in the water. He is motionless – in the process of drowning. In the distance, perhaps ten strides from his unconscious form, the daimon stalks with its back turned to you. Your heart stops, tearing in two – if you leave him, he will almost certainly drown or will be dismembered by the enraged daimon if he awakes. If you return to the water, you may both be sent for judgment by King Minos in Hades' realm. Strong as you are, holding the weight of a nobleman will impair you substantially...but maybe the Sash will be enough?The indecision is crushing. This time, no voices advise you - Νίκων is silent. This decision will be yours alone.>Well, /qst/ - this vote may trigger the first true character death of Total War Quest. Make your choice, choose Deianira's destiny. The decision here will have major consequences for Deianira in the future (assuming she survives).>Return to save Iudas.>Leave him and save yourself.
>>5706635>Return to save Iudas.Not our accountant!
>>5706635>Return to save Iudas.Leave our nerd alone, river bitch!
>>5706576Linking to my previous ID, I'm on mobile right now
>>5706635>Return to save Iudas.
As a sort of distraction can we try throwing something to make the daimon think we’re elsewhere?
>>5706711Sure, this is a good, plausible write-in. Small bonus to your stealth roll.
>first true character death of Total War Quest>Total War QuestThis seems a bit off
>>5706757I played a lot of Total War over the years and my brain still autocorrects Trojan sometimes, lol
>>5695924As a very late follow-up to this question about cost of bronze armor…Diomedes trades his royal-quality bronze armor (worth 9 oxen) for the golden armor of Glaucus (worth 100 oxen) in Iliad Book 2. We previously worked out that one high-quality ox = one gold talent.So this is the last part of the conversion - full royal-quality bronze panoplia costs 9 gold talents (if you happen to be Diomedes of Argos). Outfitting the entire First Platoon in bronze would cost 450 talents or 450 high-quality oxen. Intuitively, this checks out for me - this is an impossible financial expense for Deianira, and to Agamemnon, who has the money, it’s a horrible investment - why bother armoring commoners this way when a roaming demigod in rags can crush them all the same? Better to armor yourself as best as possible and use the poorly armored troops as a big expendable sponge. Sacrificing a hecatomb of cattle to Zeus would likewise be equivalent to throwing 100 talents down the drain; an unthinkable expense to anyone but the highest kings of the Late Bronze Age.
>>5706635>>Leave him and save yourself.
>>5706635>>Return to save IudasYo hands off !
>>5706599I can't believe we got strangled by a water daimon before Nikon has.
Rolled 14, 19, 19, 1 = 53 (4d20)Return to save Iudas>>5706651>>5706661>>5706671>>5707368>>5707490Leave that nerd and save yourself>>5707187---I'm a bit surprised that the vote was so lopsided, but perhaps you all have been offering Tyche incense and libations of fine wine? Deianira is heading BACK into extreme danger on this one, so you guys are either brazen-eyed hardasses or simply want Nikon to suffer more than he has already.For the flowing one, I'm rolling 4d20 - first two are for the daimon's INT at a +0 bonus, second two rolls are AGI at manual +4 bonus. The daimon must first pass its INT check to locate Deianira as she marches back into the stream to gather Iudas and then escapes a second time. A breakdown of relevant stats and Deianira's bonuses:typical AGI bonus= +0current wounds (7/8), malus of -1 (I had to sacrifice some of the roll and wound tracking text to make everything fit in my last update post as Deianira stumbled out of the water, but she had a -3 wound malus for that action and then regenerated an additional 2 wounds at the end.)Stealth Roll BoniiEquipment bonus = +8 stealth from Abercion's Black Sash Deianira tossing a rock to distract as she approaches Iudas = +2 to her stealth attemptDeianira carrying Iudas on the return journey = -4 AGI maluswound malus = -1Total Roll Bonus = +5 to stealthFleeing River BoniiEquipment bonus = 0Deianira carrying Iudas = -4 AGI maluswound malus = -1Total Roll Bonus = -5From the players - I need TWO rolls of dice+1d20+5 to determine Deianira's stealthiness as she attempts to evade detection. Then I need additional TWO rolls of dice+1d20+-5 to determine how well she carries Iudas out of the stream and into safety.I hope Deianira doesn't die today, saying a prayer myself
Rolled 18 + 5 (1d20 + 5)>>5707541
Rolled 8 + 5 (1d20 + 5)>>5707542Wait, did the daimon just a roll a 1 for it's agility?So that means, it hears Deinira but completely misses trying to kill our girl?
>>5707561Well, we rolled a 23 against it's 19, so it might not even have heard us.
>>5707561>daimon rolls a 1 on its AGI rollUh, I’ll think of something thematic for this.It seems like Deianira will almost certainly escape detection (23 vs 19), so it might not be as obvious as “daimon trips and knocks itself out”. Good news for Deianira, this daimon is a crit magnet for both good and bad.Let’s see how the additional rolls play out.
>>5707586Golden-haired Deianira returns once more,to the deadly gorey river's shore, stained red with the blood of men,to test fickle Tyche again,for there in the river deep,defenseless Iudas is asleep,insensate and unaware of danger near,the raging nymph's fearful claws shear,the corpses of fallen men.
>>5707600I applaud you, anon. It was a secret hope of mine that we might see some original poetry come out of the TWQ/DS quests.
>>5707600Based
Rolled 7 + 5 (1d20 + 5)>>5707541
>>5707600Cool>>5707541I have no desire to see Iudas die especially to a murderous tarded water monster. Agyros is already going away with Nik, family needs to stick together.
We still need two rolls of dice+1d20+-5 to finish this
Rolled 1 - 5 (1d20 - 5)>>5707541I'll go ahead and roll again, it's taking longer than I thought
>>5707866Man this is a comedy
>>5707866>a 1 vs a 1
>>5707866DamnWe should tell her a fish based insult when we are safe on the ground
>>5707541>>5707871>nat 1 vs nat 1Wow, I’m going to have to think pretty hard on this. How many crits has there been relating to this daimon, 6????We’re sort of swerving into black comedy here…
>>5707866Mortals act as the Gods do mock,a fraught flight while the daimon does stalk,baneful and beneficent Tyche rolls her dice,to the laughter of the Gods watching in paradise,unlucky brave Deianira, endure and trust,that you shall not become a part of Hades dust.
>>5707885This daimon might be related to Tyche, with all this extreme luck. Good and bad.
>>5707885Well, suppose someone has to roll that last dice roll and see if we get a 20...
Rolled 17 - 5 (1d20 - 5)>>5707896I'll do it>>5707541Damn rivers
>>5707901A nice roll, but it doesn't save us from a 1
Rolled 1, 2 = 3 (2d2)I’ll have an update out for later tonight, maybe 10pm?I’m rolling for some additional insights here.First die - 1 is Deianira, 2 is daimon.Second die -1 is good, 2 is bad.Stay tuned, Danaans
>>5707914Ah shit
>>5707914Gods dammit. We had it, we fucking HAD it. And then this shit. What, now we have to pick between saving Iudas or ourselves? Man. Fuckin. I hate rivers. Nikon can fuck all the river sluts he wants since he does so well with them, the time for Nira the wave-breaking-witch to put all this flowing into the fucking ground.My rage is incandescent.
>>5707938>What, now we have to pick between saving Iudas or ourselves?Don't you see, anon? That was what last vote was about.
>>5707953Yeah but this isn't just a "Do you wanna try?" this is a "do you wanna die?". And what I want is to kill.
>>5707953I hope if we die, it's the height of black comedy. As much as I hate the quest to end like this, the rolls are just absolutely hilarious.
>>5707970Nira slips on a banana peel, a cartoon scream plays and then dies.
Rolled 1 (1d3)I need this roll for reasons
You are stumbling into the water, feet pulling you towards Iudas’ form – your mind still swimming with doubts, you can hardly believe that you’re marching back into danger, even for a trusted servant of the οἶκος – and yet, you are. As you walk, the lightning flashes of intolerable pain in your ribs subside, and the swelling of your eye finally relents, your field of vision returning mostly to normal – a dull ache settling over your side as your sandaled feet skip over the vegetation under the shallow water of the stream.A flash of inspiration strikes you and you bend down to scoop up a river stone of about an apple’s size – and while the daimon is stalking downstream, you hurl the stone as far as you are able. In the murky distance, you hear the stone strike water – a louder splash you could not have hoped for. The daimon does not hesitate, streaking off towards the sound, its inhuman feet dancing off the ripples of the water. With the daimon distracted, you’ll never have a better chance of rescuing Iudas, and so you quickly stride through the knee-high water, deeper into the currents, and with a desperate lunge, latch onto Iudas’ right foot, as his body gently drifts by. In a matter of moments, you have flipped him, verified that he lives still, his pulse weak, and toss him over your shoulder. That is when Abercion’s Black Sash betrays you, and slithers off your body into the water – a drop of shadowed water joining a muddy stream, it is instantly lost to you. Your mind fragments – one part reeling, producing endless profanities, one part realizing that the Sash, so exceedingly fine in its construction, is prone to undoing its own bindings and ties – the textile so light that it can eventually slip a careless knot, or one that is tested repeatedly. The rapid action of throwing Iudas over your shoulder must have been the final tug necessary to undo your own knotting of the silk-like material. Without any other recourse, you take a step, turning to flee, and shouldering Iudas, and you hear the keening cry of the daimon. Your head whips about, your sopping hair spraying water in a broad wheel, expecting to find death at the tips of its claws, when instead…You are toppling, Iudas’ weight pulling you awkwardly - your right ankle caught between two stones in the water, it CRACKS with a sharp retort. You cannot help it – a shriek of torment erupts from your throat, frustration, rage and shock all intertwined, even as Iudas’ body floats loose in the current. Your vision blanks out - in your moment of outrage, you see only flashing lights in the darkness.>Deianira regens, is at 7/8 wounds. >Deianira shatters her right ankle, suffering one damage (now at 6/8, for a -2 overall wound malus), and a possibly permanent -6 STAT malus to AGI, for an effective AGI of 5 (-4 AGI bonus). This AGI malus will be present until Deianira has time to investigate further. >more coming
>>5708052>possibly permanentWait, is Nira not dying? I guess double crit fail hurts less then crit success vs crit fail
>>5708054If I'm being honest I was hoping that per the rules with matching going to the players we'd both have gotten fucked up real bad but walked away from it. Instead we lose a super fancy relic and possibly get Hephaestus-pilled. I will never forgive rivers. That is, if we don't die her anyway still.
Crawling and flopping through the water towards the shore on three limbs, a desperate animal, your vision clears to find a bizarre sight under the light of Selene Πασιφαε, the all-shining. The flowing one, who has wrought so much destruction and death upon you and your house, is being trampled in the shallows by an enormous… something. Your eyes goggle at it, even as you frantically half-crawl, half-stumble - you cannot take your eyes off the beast. A bull, much larger than one you have ever seen before, but with an oversized head of a bearded man. Water endlessly sprays from the hide and beard of the bull, splashing in all directions as the beast thunders. It is bellowing as its hooves crash unmercifully against the smaller spirit, even as the daimon wails frantically.I CASTIGATE THEE AND PUNISH THEE LOATHSOME DAUGHTER – NO MORE SHALL YOU MAKE AFOUL MY WATERS AND TROUBLE ME BEFORE MY BROAD-SHOULDERED BROTHERS!You can't move fast enough, dragging your useless leg behind you, but fortunately for you - the river god is so busy disciplining his daughter, and the daimon so busy catching a vicious beating, they pay no attention to you at all. You can't help it - you weep openly, huge ugly sobs, as you mourn the loss of Iudas, your men, your hubris. Did you really think that you could negotiate with one of the gods? You find yourself swearing bitter oaths of vengeance against the river daimons, against the river gods, hot words of violence that are unbecoming of your status of a noblewomen. You don't care. Νίκων was right - these foul bastard-spawn of Oceanus are a blight against creation; a curse upon all mortal kinds.>Deianira has made 50% progress towards "Disfavored of the Rivers".Your harried crawling through the underbrush tears at your clothes, shredding your wet garments, but you can't bring yourself to care. This night has been disastrous - the worst night of your life so far. Over hours, you crawl, hobble, hop and roll your way, stadia per stadia, uphill to the courtyard of your palace. You simply collapse upon the cobblestones, knowing that you will be found in the morning, and the darkness of sleep rushes up to meet you. >Phase 4 Deianira action... complete! >Iudas dead>Stentias dead>Ten spearmen dead>Pantaleon missing>Abercion's Black Sash lost>Possibly permanent -6 AGI malus to Deianira>Deianira has made significant progress towards swearing an insane oath of vengeance against the Potamoi, just like Νίκων.>just another day in the Late Bronze Age of Hellas
>>5708054Exactly my thought - the river daimon was too busy getting fucked up by dear old dad to consider killing you. >>5708066Again, exactly my thought. It might not feel like this, but this was actually narrow victory for Deianira - she escapes with her life, but loses everything else.
>>5708072That's Achelous, the god of the largest river on greece right?>>5708068FUCKS RIVERS>Achelous was able to change his shape, and in the form of a bull, he wrestled Heracles for the right to marry Deianeira, but lost.NO, NOT THAT WAY NIRA
>>5708068>bitch killed iudas after all>pantyboy might be dead or out of commission or just plain stolen away to some far off banks as wellWhen Nikon returns from this war he will find even the gods of olympus weeping openly at the size and scope of the great aqueducts and dams Nira will build. There will be no water that flows from a river be it a tributary or solitary, no runoff from mountains, no streams, creeks, even a trickle beneath the roots of a waterlogged tree. No longer will I accept the whims of some half-drowned freaks deciding the quality or flow of the waters we rely upon. I wish to drag the nymphs from their watery abodes and bake them in the sun until their skin cracks and their eyes deflate. Completely deprived of their assumed charge of potable liquid. Let the only water belong to the clouds and the seas. >>5708072Yeah, it hurts like a raw wound that someone just pissed on. The gods and their ilk are truly brutal. But their will meet their just dues. Of that I am sure.
>>5708068If this doesn't awaken/evolve the Olympian Blood, then I don't know what will
I signed up for a quest about slower-paced shenanigans on a backwater greek country estate, but it seems like that's been hucked straight into the woodchipper along with just about everything else over the course of just a few updates and now all we have is Punished Nira sitting on Square -10 with nothing. I have to say, it has largely crushed my desire to follow the story from here, at least until the shellshock wears off.
>>5708068Zeus fucking cursed luck. I know it's not the most important thing right now but being found naked on the steps of our own palace is gonna sting for our reputation.
>>5708173Take your time, brother. I'll do my best to pick up the slack with my sheer unrelenting contempt. We'll get back our calm, steady-going pastoral living times. I won't let some dank cunt ruin this for us forever.
This warms me up to the idea that Nira needs a husband, or at least a protector, who can deal with divine bullshit sooner than later.
>>5708068i am going to fry this fish bitchi have no idea were we are going to find someone like Iudas. Probably nowhere, he is gone it will not be the same. That familiarity, loyalty, duty, wisdom all washed away by the pettyness of the divine.Now we will be truly alone in our oikos with just an even more silent Pantaleon and a mad mother.....Ah yeah, its not just Iudas role that needs replacement but also Agyros too, since he is going. Two new guys to find and recruit, probably Agyros can help with finding his substitute. Or i guess three if the bitch kills even PantaleonTime for another funeral, this time let s hope it rains.
>>5708214I prefer to wait for Nik promise, beside current candidates for that position are pathetic.Protectors, guardians, champions instead yeah.Let s get working in to that starting with dogs since they are cheaper to pay for than a grown man trained for war with bronze weapons/armor>>5708173Wild rolls, from incredibly small minutiae events (like this one that didn't seem anything mind boogling when it was picked, but probably should have POSSIBLE INTERACTION WITH DIVINE CODE BLACK, THIS IS NOT AN EXERCISE written near it next time, since whenever they show up, they have all been very high lethality and very high risk of immediate character death) or routine stuff (like collecting herbs) incredible wild stuff happened.
Honestly this was exactly what I was expecting. We've already pushed our luck enough, it was only a matter of time.
>>5708413What's funny is we didn't even necessarily come down to the river with the murdering fuckboy to try to bargain with the daimon. People may have been voting that way just to get the spirit here to tell it "Hey yeah we got the guy who fucked with your stuff, here take him please be happy and stop shitting the water, bye". And then she flew off the handle. Fucking river whores, man.
>>5708546Rivers are bitches, they punish you even when you do what they want.That's why they all deserve to be dammed and drained
>>5708551At first I was just gonna go with building bridges for Nikon so he could cross rivers without looking both ways every time, but now? I'm down with the dam program. It's only unfortunate that Achilles gets to kill the Scamander before we do.
And I say that being one of the anons that had hopes that giving the daimon the murderer would have appeased it.But now Nira knows that Nikon's hatred of rivers is completely justified.
>>5708553I really hope that when Achilles goes down to kill Scamander, Nikon will be in the background cheering him on. Or throwing rocks
>>5708085Once Deianira has some time to process, she’ll come to the conclusion that the river god was likely Peneios. I gather from the primary literature that the “bull with human head” is one of the typical forms of the River Gods, but there are others too.>>5708173>I didn’t sign up for thisTotal valid complaint, anon. Deianira’s story has had a life of its own - I swear it hasn’t been my intention to keep throwing her into the woodchipper like this. Unfortunately, I felt compelled to make these crits really impactful - after all, what’s the point of rolling if I throw out the results that I don’t like?With respect to this most encounter, the double-crit at the beginning basically locked Deianira into the bottom tier of potential outcomes (basically 1/100 probability of the worst possible start, which is what we rolled).>if daimon had not critDaimon would have been amenable to conversation, Nira’s charm wins the day (in all likelihood)>If Nira had not critfailedShe would have had time to warn her people and back away from the river banks. Higher rolls would have let her capture and restrain the daimon, and then talk sense into it later.>an additional thought Please note that the daimon’s conduct could be considered objectionable in its own right - Deianira may rightly claim that she was unjustly attacked and she may able to get revenge in the future with another deity’s assistance.>in short, thanks for bearing with me while the bastard gods upend my plans for sleepy quest in the Thessalian country.
>>5708614I'm pretty surprised that Deianira lived to be honest. When everyone voted to go back to the river to try to get Iudas, I was fairly sure she was going to die.And then the crit fail.... She might be the late Bronza age equivalent of Job....
>>5708614Sleepy ? Kek on the horizon i have only seen deaths, infighting, battles and war. With our neighbours desires, the barbarian and monstrous frontier and us being a woman there will be no shortage of conflicts small or large.Thessalia green plains will turn red, when we are done with it.It will be glorious, just like the fruit of vengeance this encounter has created.
Update tomorrow - It's about 90% written but I can't keep my eyes open.Sleep well, all.
>>5708923I was thinking about if Nira actually did die here. And word got out. How long it'd take to reach Nikon. And the God of War Kratos tier anger he'd have upon hearing it. The nymphs would be fucked. And not in the fun way. Their superior divinity be damned. And may the gods be merciful to anyone who got in his way.I don't think he could handle it if the rivers took any more of his family from him. He's probably already going to go into a near blind rage over hearing that one -nearly- killed his sister, did kill one of his most trusted advisors and semi-paternal figure. I sure hope Achilles or Ajax is nearby to restrain him and stop him from brutalizing something. I would say Odysseus but I don't think he'd want to risk his health in that situation. He's a fantastic warrior as well, but let's be real he wouldn't put even a hair on his head on the line for no personal gain.
>>5709033It would be the darkest timeline immediately. There would be no home to return. Without a leader, the surrounding nobles would most likely claim all there was left. The mother of the Nikon and Nira would no longer be taken care of, or perhaps Argyros might have to bring her along to the mustering points with the troops to ensure her safety, but bringing a mentally unwell person to war and a woman in this time is not good. The focus of Nikon going to Troy would, in my opinion, heavily sway towards glory/conquest as there is no home to return to. It would force Nikon to consider either going down the path of the humble trait or going downright insane and conquering everything to fill the void and dam every river he can find.
>>5709043>nikon batters down the gates of troy>razes the city>his home in the west is gone>so he turns to the east>wages a horrific one man war against the hittites>gathering other men with nothing to live for but violence>becomes a boogeyman that lasts throughout history in the middle east and especially persia for destroying their water suppliesPunished Nikon timeline, big sad.
>>5709055Really curious how Nikon would dam the Nile considering how large it is. That timeline Nikon would be loved by Ares.The silver lining I could see from this is that the good nature of Nira was shown in risking her life to save one of her own, even if it was a failure. We really need a major God on our side if we want to consider demanding reparations.
>>5709033>>5709043>what would happen to Nikon if Nira died?/qst/ would observe a truly legendary freak out in keeping with Greek myth. Assuming that he doesn’t flame out in a blaze of glory, he would likely create a darker world. I can imagine a path where his wartime behavior becomes so atrocious that the gods directly intervene…
>>5709071We must find an anti-river divine ally.
Awareness comes to you slowly. At first, the sensation of clean linens upon your skin, the smell of a darkened room on a summer day. You are exhausted - tired beyond your experience. Shifting slightly in the bed – you vaguely sense a peculiar rigidity to your right ankle; it pulls strangely when you test it, half-asleep.You stir restlessly, in and out of a drowsy slumber, before you remember. The memories creep over you slowly, and you weep desperately as they come.Foul Stentias - dead.Clever Iudas - dead.Your spearmen, scattered by the hammerblow of a raging river.Pantaleon - missing.You become agitated, sobbing - writhing in your cot. All your fault.A white-robed attendant you hadn't noticed previously rises softly and scurries out of the room. You cannot bring yourself to rise, laying in your despair. Some minutes later, Argyros enters your darkened room. He is tentative in his steps - hearing your weeping, he sits at your side. He surprises you by gently grasping your hand, bowing his head in the dark. He says nothing for a long time, sitting in kindly silence. You find that you love him, in that moment - kindly old Argyros. In some ways, you know him better than you ever knew your father, Hippomedon. You desperately regret that you had become distant to him over the past few years - busy with your instruction with Spathion, you had become strangers. How you wish you could tell him your fears, your despair. But there is a distance between you now. The gulf between nobility and the commoner is wide and deep - in this moment, you cannot find a way to shout across the distance.
The debrief is a short one. White-bearded Argyros listens as you spin your tale efficiently, only asking clarifying questions here and there. When you speak of Iudas’ death, his face blanches in the gloom – clearly, he had hoped that you had only been separated from the others. He offers you no false or honeyed words – you both recognize the venture as a crushing debacle, a catastrophe to the οἶκος. He promises to return to the river in force - to scour the banks for Iudas and the fallen, and provide them with proper funerary rites. You explain that the daimon, cast out by its deathless father, is not likely to return to the stream in the near future. You give him leave but instead – he remains, sitting silently in the dark. He speaks:“When Adrastus made his call to arms, to place Polynices upon the throne of Thebe and overthrow Eteocles,” he begins with whispered words, “many doubted. No force of strong-greaved men had taken Cadmea, greatest citadel of Boeotia, by strength of arm alone. Men spoke of the hubris of the sons of Oedipus, of the cruelty of the gods who send men to Hades’ realm for sport. Men spoke fearfully in quiet corners, saying - why not let Eteocles’ break his oath to Polynices? What business of it is ours?” “Your father did not ask such questions. Instead, he rode to Adrastus, without quivering in fear or a doubting heart, and demanded to be made a captain. Later, his peerless conduct in battle, the casting of boulders against a wild serpent of the earth, protecting fallen Tydeus of Calydon from his abusers, was such that Tisiphone, deceitful Erinyes, organized his separation from I and his troops. His courage could not be broken - his shield could not be broken. Only trickery could unstring him.” Argyros’ eyes gleam in the dark.His hand gently squeezes your own. “It will take more than this to break you," he offers gently. But then he speaks more harshly, bronze laid under his words - how he might firmly instruct a solder under his command."Do not forget - your father's shade lingers in the Elysian Fields, hoping for tidings of his beloved children. Do not join him until you have found your vengeance.”He strides purposefully from the room, and in the broken wasteland of your heart, a tiny ember begins to burn.
Phase 4 Witch Action is upon us - the Phase is nearly complete!However, anons in the past have suggested that Deianira should be able to convert Deianira to Witch Actions and vice-versa. Given the limited number of actions remaining to Deianira this month, it makes sense to offer this. Please note that the flavor text of each option are simple suggestions and don’t lock Deianira into any particular course of action.>Deianira spends her Witch Action on spells/potion creation/magic. Deianira is acutely aware of the fact that she has the reagents necessary to brew deadly Kerberes’ Slaverings, among other philters – which may be quite useful for the assassination of Damachides. Additionally, she has yet to investigate Abercion’s Globe of Vapours. Beyond this, she does possess two charges of the Dionysian Frankencense.>Deianira converts her Witch Action to a Deianira Action. There’s a long list of potential to-do items here, including investigating her right ankle, assisting Argyros with the recovery of Iudas, visiting one of the other noblemen (Aristonax, Podageus, Lycomedes or Seisames?). A full range of options will be provided if this option wins. >This vote will be a short one - it will close in 12 hours. I don't want to sacrifice pacing since we're falling behind! I'm hoping to wrap up this month before the thread ends, but I'll have to pick up the pace to do it.
>>5709827>investigating her right ankleI think the sooner we take a look at it, the higher the chances we can heal it.>casting of boulders against a wild serpent of the earthLike father, like son
>>5709830Amazingly, it seems like Nikon’s chargen and player behavior lines up almost perfectly with Hippomedon’s actions in the Thebaid - although admittedly I’m just skimming it just for the Hippomedon references until I can do a deeper dive later.
>>5709827>investigating her right ankle
>>5709827>including investigating her right ankleIf this is a permanent thing we'll need to figure out a plan for killing Shitass without directly being involved with the deed. Last thing we need is to try and hobble away.
>>5709827>Deianira converts her Witch Action to a Deianira Action. There’s a long list of potential to-do items here, including investigating her right ankle, assisting Argyros with the recovery of Iudas, visiting one of the other noblemen (Aristonax, Podageus, Lycomedes or Seisames?). A full range of options will be provided if this option wins.
>>5709827>Deianira converts her Witch Action to a Deianira Action. There’s a long list of potential to-do items here, including investigating her right ankle, assisting Argyros with the recovery of Iudas, visiting one of the other noblemen (Aristonax, Podageus, Lycomedes or Seisames?). A full range of options will be provided if this option wins.Get that bad ankle fixed. Being permanently crippled would be horrific.
>>5709143I can't see him becoming anything threatening in the short term (even with rage), at best something relatively minor the gods or spirits alike can kick whenever they want to. Neither for other humans, at best he would be at head of a small army of bandits, cutthroats and the like with the original thessalian platoons being the core.Perhaps a small pawn instead for someone with darker intentions.....I do wonder if he would just remain in the troy war, without any home while his neighbors take his land.>>5709827>Deianira converts her Witch Action to a Deianira Action. There’s a long list of potential to-do items here, including investigating her right ankle, assisting Argyros with the recovery of Iudas, visiting one of the other noblemen (Aristonax, Podageus, Lycomedes or Seisames?). A full range of options will be provided if this option wins.fix ankle, is too important. Anything else is secondary.If we can also send some searching parties for find Pantaleon though send them. And my bad by searching parties i mean fully armed and ready to kill, not divided in small groups of 2 men or 10 men that can be easily slaughtered.I don t trust our land is treacherous, same for our fellow lords and the frontier.
>>5710176>at best he would be at head of a small army of banditsEh, I disagree considering that there are a lot of other heroes going to war who will die but leave behind troops that Nikon might be able to recruit. A commander who can win battles consistently without much casualties is an attractive offer. Moreover, he has that sympathy trait that can be used in developing psychological warfare and the tactical genius to be a truly terrifying force alongside the dutiful trait to try to end the war in an atrociously cold-blooded manner. It matters not from where the blood flows but that he sends many screaming to Hades to accompany his sister.
>>5710183Tactical genius alone makes him a horrifying enemy for the vast majority of nations out there. Whose armies are run by people not too dissimilar to Aristonax. Argyros is basically the best of what you can expect of normal tacticians, and even he pales in comparison. If you don't immediately run Nikon down and let him get to work in the minutiae he'll pull you apart piece by piece. Waging a strategic war against him is folly. Likewise for Odysseus. They're just built different in that regard. As for being physically capable, Nikon is already probably able to contend with the lesser of spirits. The main holdup being his mortal weaponry not able to do much damage. Give him a magical spear and he could probably gut a couple nymphs before their daddy came by and stomped him to death. And with his ability to actually grow stronger through experience. Honestly, Nikon could probably get up to some bullshit. I also imagine the single-mindedness of all-consuming revenge would serve only to fuel his growth, at the expense of any possible personal relationships he may have or had.
>>5710198>expense of any possible personal relationshipsWhat a dark timeline where we stop relying on Nikon's charisma and instead just bash people with sheer strength, kleos, and unrelenting rage.
>>5709827>>Deianira converts her Witch Action to a Deianira Action. There’s a long list of potential to-do items here, including investigating her right ankle, assisting Argyros with the recovery of Iudas, visiting one of the other noblemen (Aristonax, Podageus, Lycomedes or Seisames?). A full range of options will be provided if this option wins.How do you tell everyone that we are looking for people to serve our house.
>>5710183I have my doubts in them wanting to join him, news of his desire of vengeance would be known. Even if he might grow in a stronger warrior and commander, and manages to get some victories there would be some hesitation. He would want to return home for reclaiming his property and getting his vengeance, which means fighting divine creatures and human lords. In the frontier land of thessaly, which while good is a undeveloped frontier with barbarians and monsters roaming in from the north.His vengeance would be also a problem for gaining allies and friends, and maintaining the ones he has so far.I want Nikon and Deianira to have their victories, but i don't see it be that easy or sure even with their abilities.>>5710215send messengers announcing it in cities or other settlements.Top priorities- Buy someone/something for protect us 24h. 2 guard dogs, cheap, fast and loyal. More difficult to sneak against us or attack us directly.- Finally talk to Molpargus, spend some money in improving something extremely cheap (we have too little cash to just spend it all. wood or earth, small, basic. Stuff like a wooden fence or an additional defensive earthwork around our hill. Cheap and not too time consuming)- Talk with Argyros, for recruit someone that can fit in his role since he will go to war and same for Pantaleon role if he is dead too. He has military experience and knows our men, we need someone loyal. Recruiting someone unknown to our house would be risky.- Start finding someone for fit Iudas role, after the funeral. Need to send a messenger in an actual city for find someone learned/educated for the steward role- Buy anything we might need for the preparations we will have to do in killing Damadiches (rip sash)
Convert Witch to Deianira Action>>5709830>>5709844>>5709918>>5709948>>5710051>>5710137>>5710149>>5710176>>5710215Looks to me like a unanimous decision, although I’m phoneposting and might have missed someone.>What will Deianira do instead of her Witch Action - this is basically about 3-4 days of her time. Please note that this vote will close promptly at 9 EST.>Investigate her right ankle to see if she can mend it properly. This would be two separate physician rolls (once to diagnose, once to treat).>Join the search for Iudas’ body down by the river with Argyros>Visit with Aristonax>Visit with Seisames>Visit with Podageus>Visit with Lyciboeus>Meet with the men of the First Platoon and the Aristonaxian Hillguard. Perhaps best to solidify your relations with the men after the successful Hilltop Raid and your deft treatment of their wounds?>Organize a search party for Pantaleon?>Meet with Molpagorus to see what improvements can be made around the estates?>Organize travel to Phthia? This would be a 2-turn trip to the Thessalian capital. Deianira’s best chances to secure a new oikos steward and commander rest here. Sending messengers out into the broader Hellas would be chancy at best.>Something else that I haven’t thought of?
>>5710387>Investigate her right ankle to see if she can mend it properly. This would be two separate physician rolls (once to diagnose, once to treat).
>>5710387>>Investigate her right ankle to see if she can mend it properly. This would be two separate physician rolls (once to diagnose, once to treat).
>>5710392>>5710403>>5710405>>5710417>>5710423>>5710520>you guys are in lockstep! teehee>Looks like Deianira's going to try her hand at orthopedic surgery, she's 2300 years ahead of her time.---Argyros' words settle - and your despair evaporates slowly; as it recedes, a tiny, golden core of rage is left glowing with your heart. What right did the daimon of the stream have in the murder of your men and of clever Iudas? What crime had you committed, other than bring a criminal to be judged? You prepared your offerings, you made every attempt at comity. Is this what passes for hospitality and friendship amongst the flowing Potamides? You briefly consider letting this evil pass by you – forgetting this outrage and moving on. But you can’t do so. Even laying in this cot, you cannot even stomach the concept - such passivity – such weakness.No - the way is clear. The daimon must suffer for its misdeeds - any other outcome would shame you and the shade of Iudas both. You make yourself a promise that you will bring justice to the daimon - it is no fiery oath of vengeance, no overbroad declaration of hostilities against all the spawn of earth-encircling Oceanusu. It is a dagger lifted over the heart of one spirit and one spirit alone. To find the spirit and capture it – you need resources. To obtain the resources – the wealth, the favor of the gods are needed. For this, you need to strengthen your οἶκος – and to kill Damachides. And to kill Damachides, you’ll need to be able to walk without hobbling. You can hardly stun men and gods alike with your womanly grace if you can’t walk into the room. You snicker at the thought, the memory of your girlish humor visiting you – but there’s no mirth in the thought – only the same gnawing fear you had as you left the battle of the Hilltop Raid. Your charms are your strongest shield, your strongest spear.Your ankle must be repaired – all else will fall in line once this is done. You breathe deeply and swing yourself out of your cot. You fling upon the curtains of the room, and the bright afternoon streams in - taking some tentative strides along the room, you take first stock of your right ankle. So stiff as to be immobile, and an uncomfortable clicking sensation as you flex what limited range you have – you wonder whether your divine heritage braced together bones that should not have been? You can hardly remember clawing your way up the hillside last night, but your exhausted, frantic flight, you barely noticed your ankle’s dysfunction.In a matter of minutes, you have assembled a pair of female οἶκος staff, older women who will not blanch or faint at the sight of sinew or blood. They have oils, boiling water, clean linens, honey and wax; they have your bronze needles, a small butcher’s saw, and whetstones borrowed from the craftsmen’s table.
>>5710750You curse your missing reflection – this would be easier if you could use your mother’s bronzed mirror under bright sunlight. You’ll have to awkwardly contort yourself, if you are to dig into your own flesh. Thinking for a moment further - you command one of the women to bring you unmixed wine. It will help the pain - although you are counting on your wounds knitting themselves together quickly, as well.Before you begin, you make every effort to inspect your ankle's range of motion, its shape and appearance, its function. You have a vague sense of the positioning of the bones within the ankle, but truthfully, you have not dissected a woman's ankle in the past - what need have you had for such a thing? You pray that the nature of the problem is readily observable and easily rectified, as you twist and bend your right foot. Again, the clicking - a subtle grinding sensation. A clue? You briefly consider traveling to Tricca for expert care from Asclepius' disciples, but discard this - the travel by dirt road, congested with spearmen on the way to Aulis, would take weeks, far too much time. No, you will be resolving this alone. You ponder your next step, as your servant returns with a large oenochoe of your house's mediocre wine. >Okay, friendly reminder that Deianira's busted right ankle is currently reducing her base AGI of 11 (+0 bonus) to 5 (-4 bonus); if she was a soldier of common blood, this would be a career-ending wound. For a woman of Deianira's skillset and divine biology, it is a potentially solvable problem.>Deianira's Physician rolls are made with a +6 bonus (+3 INT, +3 Physician).>I'm setting "Diagnosis" DCs at 16, 19, 22. Successes here will improve Deianira's surgical plan and provide bonuses to her treatment roll (+1/+3/+5) that will stack with her Physician roll.>I'm setting "Treatment" DCs at 19, 23, 27. Each degree of success will mitigate 2 points of AGI damage. At 7 AGI, her AGI bonus would be -2, at 9 AGI, her AGI bonus would be -1, and at 11 AGI, she successfully fixes her ankle without causing additional harm, returning to +0 AGI bonus. >Players, I need TWO rolls of dice+1d20+6 for Deianira's diagnostic process.
Rolled 7 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5710761
Rolled 2 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5710761Come on dice.
>>5710772>>5710787k leg's fucked. gg. The writing's on the wall.
>>5710772>>5710787>Deianira is essentially going in blind, no bonus to her treatment roll. >A shame that Lynceus of Messina is elsewhere.Okay, anons, give me another two rolls of dice+1d20+6. It’s still possible for Deianira to mostly mitigate her AGI damage!
Rolled 10 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5710791Treatment ain't a treat
Rolled 8 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5710791
Rolled 6 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5710791
Apollo on a donkey, this is ridiculous
Fucking called it.
>>5710772>>5710787>>5710794>>5710838Well, a disappointing outcome here. At least, your treatment roll is a marginal failure, or Deianira would have done even more damage. Deianira will probably have to travel out to Tricca if she wants to have her ankle fixed for here (or perhaps at great cost, she could lure one of their best healers to the palace another month).Presumably Nikon will absolutely tear into the pirates, a lion amongst lambs, when the time comes…Update for later tonight!
>>5711066With each failure my disgust for the rivers grows.
>>5711072Seems clear that a higher divinity is set on placing the children of Hippomedon in opposition to watery divinities of all types.I should mention that Deianira’s ankle could also be fixed directly by a divinity, but she’d need to become at least Favored before this could occur, and she’s quite a ways off from this.It seems that Nikon’s horrible luck has come home, at least temporarily.
Taking a deep draft of wine, you set about your task. Probing along the side of your ankle, you still detect no outward changes. For lack of a better option, you settle on a long incision down the joint itself, hoping that visual inspection will identify the issue. With the assistance of your staff, you contort yourself so that your right ankle is laid flat against the cot, and your leg is lashed into position upon the cot. One woman does nothing but brace you steadily, and the other prepares the tools needed. The warmth of the wine spreads through your interior, and with your father’s blade, you begin to part your skin.To your deep frustration, your careful incision along the side of your right angle does not immediately reveal the nature of your ankle’s defect. Your household servant, continually dabbing at the welling blood with boiled water and clean linens, say nothing as you prize apart the tough membranes of your ankle. You briefly feel faint as you inspect the surface of the bones themselves, but you brace yourself mentally, and continue. After a minute’s investigation though, you concede defeat. Whatever issue is present must be internal to the ankle itself, and therefore most likely out of reach to you. You will need to journey to Tricca and seek out the wisdom of the Asclepian disciples to resolve this, you suspect. If you are very lucky, perhaps one of the sons of Asclepius, Machaon or Podalirius, will take on your case.Sighing, you recognize that a prolonged exploration of your joint would be ill-advised - every second of air exposure risks the blocking of humors and a potentially dangerous illness. You swiftly stitch the incision shut with your bronze needle, apply healing salves of honey and ground herbs, and with the assistance of your staff, bind your angle tightly and brace it well with small wooden rods. You already feel the faint itchings of your divine biology mending the flesh together - you suspect that the scar itself will be quite minimal, perhaps not even noticeable to others.You send your staff to fetch you a training spear, a δόρυ, with the spear point removed - a staff upon which you can lean and hop with over the next few days. You suspect you’ll find it useful even afterwards - it may help mitigate your hobble, at least in social settings.In the late afternoon, you stand in the courtyard of your palace, bright azure sky above, the vaulted domain of Ουρανος. The mood of the oikos is black - household staff beating their breasts and wailing at the loss of Iudas. You cannot blame them their grief and share in their distress, but you must be stalwart until the funeral procession - it would be unbecoming to lose control in front of the staff.Iudas was well-loved in the house of Hippomedon - sometimes sardonic, but always kind to the commoner folk. Some hidden sympathy must have motivated him to treat them well - but of course, now you will never have a chance to learn his thoughts.
Leaning against your staff, you are barely able to keep abreast of the changing fortunes of the οἶκος - it seems with every new day you find success or tragedy. Paranoia crawls along your limbs - is it possible that you have been singled out by the gods for their entertainment? Such mortals become toys, playthings to be batted about by the uncaring deities of Olympus - the attention of the gods leads to unhappy endings. are you listening, /qst/? You shake your head at the thought - you’ve had a number of chance encounters with the divine, more than you could have dreamed only a few months ago, but you sense no greater conspiracy at work.As the oikos staff continue their laments, you reminisce, thinking of simpler times - mother with her wits, Nikandros at home or in the field - Hellas at peace, and the gods safely within their tales, not dining at your table or attempting to strangle you under the light of bright-tressed Selene.Your mind wanders, as you consider that the countryside as a whole must be choking with the movement of men and horses, chariots and wagons. You suspect that the seas are likewise flooded with νῆες μακραί - the black-hulled longships, as they speed their way to Aulis for Agamemnon's war. Your contemplation is interrupted by the wild laughter of a child in the distance - of a boy running up the dusty path to the palace.Barreling through the courtyard, it is none other than Theopotides, the young boy who you had saved weeks prior from illness. You cannot help but smile as you see his ruddy cheeks and energetic sprinting - the boy has recovered well! He wears a broad grin in turn - the dour mood of the palace seems to make no impression on him. Behind him, sweaty Gerasimos Aristonaxides follows, still wearing bandages across his torso - you had nearly forgotten that he was still recovering within the palace.Gerasimos, out of breath, shoos Theopotides forward - and young Theopotides all but screams: “Lord Nikandros is famous, Lady! He found hidden Achilles through a tournament of petteia on Skyros, and is guest-friend of High King Agamemnon himself!” Shocked, you realize your jaw is hanging open. Oἶκος staff spin about in mid-wail, and already a crowd of white-cloaked servants are congregating from the side-halls, eager for such delightful news.>more coming
Uh, hit a snag on my end. Final post of the update will be out later tonight, stay tuned.
>>5711343>still wearing bandagesThankfully, and thanks to our stick he can remain out of Deianira personal space :) ! Double good news.Gotta remember to make some additional potions for our brother when Argyros goes to war. If we have the cash, time and ingredients to spare by then.About Iudas i wonder if he left some journal or notes about himself. He was a learned and educated man.With Nikandros we did cautious baby steps for see how to approach the divine, and even then we didn't push too much.Deianira, we have been a mix cautious and bold. Probably going to be far more cautious now, or bolder if the situation demands.
>>5711362>About Iudas i wonder if he left some journal or notes about himself. He was a learned and educated man.We don't know how to read.
>>5711371>we can't readSure, but that's not a permanent state of affairs. Literate was a Tier 1 chargen trait that provided +4 to INT bonus but "Greek Literacy" is a Tier 0 trait that confers +2 to INT and ability to read and write in Linear B (as well as some ability to puzzle out Linear A, if you guys ever make it Knossos or Crete generally). Deianira will be able to take this Tier 0 trait when she levels up to Level 3, presuming that she has access to a trainer.It's certainly possible that Deianira hires a tutor (there's at least two in Thessaly who could become available to her, and I'm sure there's more tutors that I haven't thought of yet) or otherwise retains a steward who partially overlaps with Iudas' skillset. Iudas knew plenty of useful things beyond Literacy, but alas, he has been stolen from us.Of course, you could also hire someone to just read any writing that Iudas left behind...
>>5711421Why would Iudas write his journal in greek instead of shasu?Kind of regret not having asked him before when we had the chance. I imagined the reason for him to stay was because he was a slave like Homer had said last quest, but maybe he just didn't like Yhw or something.Thanks Wikipedia
>>5711424I sort of imagined that he might have a personal diary written in his primary tongue, and then perhaps additional writings in Greek for Deianira and Nikandros’ benefit. He’s probably had a lot of time on his hands since he was sold in Argos 20+ years ago.
You beckon the pair towards you, demanding more information. Gerasimos is quick to explain that he and the boy have taken to games in the fields of your estate, taunting the pregnant goats, and by chance heard a catchy tune sung by a traveling merchant in the road. The lyrics were about none other than “μερμηρίζω Nikandros, the crafty giant of Thessaly”. Stopping the merchant, Gerasimos and young Theopotides heard the sketchings of the tale heard by the merchant in Phthia - that your brother has passed through the capital, learned that Achilles had fled his father’s place, and had promptly traveled to Skyros. There, through clever tactics and the organization of a petteia tournament, he revealed Achilles amongst the guests of Lycomedes. Bizarrely, Achilles had been concealed as a woman - a detail too strange to be invented. At once, you take the story as being true at its core. Achilles and Nikandros, eager to join the war, are said to have then sped off to Mycenae. There, Nikandros’ deeds so impressed King Agamemnon that he was invited to stay within the Mycenean Royal Palace as guest-friend. Your head swims at the implications, and you sway upon your staff - your brother has vaulted to the very ceilings of Hellenic nobility in only weeks! You guffaw out loud in joy, hardly able to contain your delight. Your prospects of a husband seem to be increasing by the day! At the insistence of the oikos staff, Theopotides sings out a snatch of the overheard song of Nikandros, in a surprisingly tuneful soprano -”Giant and King are set opposed,Stones and wits balanced fiercely!The giant’s hands move nimbly here,And there; and royal worry builds,No cliff nearby to cast the giant over,Lycomedes rages haplessly, ruddy face ablaze!i’m going to claim that this rhymes in Ancient GreekThe song of Theopotides is a balm to your ragged spirit, and clearly, other members of the household staff feel the same. The grief of Iudas is not dissolved, but word of Nikandros’ success remind the staff (and yourself) that hope remains. That evening, Theopotides repeats his tale to any who will listen, and the staff commit themselves to learning the tune – the song of Nikandros’ Gambit.You, by contrast, retire to bed early, despite the off-key singing in the halls of your palace – you know that soon, Iudas’ body will be recovered by Argyros, and you wish to be well-rested for your remarks.
And yet, your eyes slide open in the dark. Your Witch's Hut calls to you, despite your best efforts to ignore it. Your blood sings with its own power, demanding to be shepherded and used. You cannot deny it. You curse in your bedroom, even as you drag yourself off your cot. You had hoped to sleep well tonight.>PHASE FOUR COMPLETE--->PHASE FIVE BEGIN>20 days remain before Damachides must dieIn the musty darkness of your hut, kneeling before the tripartite altar, you whisper invocation upon invocation to far-acting Hecate. The tiny seed of rage still burns within you, and your will has a sharper edge - keen to whittle this world into a shape pleasing to you. The death of Damachides is still before you, as is vengeance upon the river daimon. Abercion's Globe of Vapours is yet unexamined, and you can even consider hobbling out into the wildness to collect a Corsican pinecone - Pan's Philter may be quite useful as a bargaining chip.>Please note that players may also convert the Phase Five Deianira Action to another Witch Action if this is desired.>I've listed only the spells/potions currently available to 'Nira below, which will she pursue?>Cast Criminal's Fate on someone? If so, who? Please note you could attempt to set an Erinyes upon a divinity of equal or lesser power, although this may carry consequences.>Brew Hippomedon's Essence>Brew Lethes' Draft>Brew Kerberos' Slaverings?>Collect reagents (you can specify Corsican pinecone, now that 'Nira knows where it is)>Investigate Abercion's Globe of Vapours
>>5711477>Investigate Abercion's Globe of Vapours
>>5711477>Convert to personal action
>>5711477>>Investigate Abercion's Globe of VapoursGods damn it. Now we need to see if this one will be useful for this assinine scheme to kill Shitass. Maybe we really should just up and tell the guy Aristonax wants him dead. Maybe then we can get some good girl points with the ambitious old fuck. Promise him some sex milk to leave us alone when he fucks around with the great kings.
>>5711477>Investigate Abercion's Globe of Vapoursmight as well check this. we really need that ankle fixed
>>5711477>>Investigate Abercion's Globe of Vapours
>>5711619Betraying Aristonax is a totally valid option, of course. But then you’d have to deal with the fallout of this.One note: in the Late Bronze Age, even a perfectly-concealed murder can be exposed by the bastard gods, if it amuses them.The current vote will close at 9pm - thanks again all for playing TWQ:DS. I feel that running these threads over the past three months has duly prepared me to take on Nikon’s story (presuming that Homer doesn’t stop in to tell me to give it up) - I couldn’t have done it without your help!
>>5711783Give up you deluded fool.
>>5711788Thank for bumping my thread, nonHomer anon
>>5711477>Investigate Abercion's Globe of Vapours>>5711800Threads don't bump after 5 days.
GoV>>5711480>>5711619>>5711644>>5711678>>5711695>>5711952Convert Witch to Personal>>5711553----The globe calls to you soundlessly. It rests upon the altar, where you had placed it in days past. Despite your earlier temptation to marshal your will and make φύσις, your intuition tells you that you may need more than philters and poisons to accomplish the Aristonaxian bargain. You closely examine the translucent orb – it truly is a stunning creation, perfectly spherical. You know of no mortal means by which such a flawless thing could be made. It has only the vaguest resemblance to the glass products originating from the East, out of the great port of Alexandrios. You suspect that the making of such a thing is far beyond your ken, and perhaps even some of the deathless gods as well. The black sash was a wondrous and invaluable gift - you imagine that the globe must be of equal value, and pray that you can unlock its secrets. There's no similarity between the two, really - but your experience with the sash tells you that the artisans of Olympus are extremely subtle - you will be very cautious and diligent in your examinations, here.Picking it the orb once more, you are struck by its seeming fragility to the touch - the glassy surface possessing a subtle ridging – the tips of your fingerpads can detect these even where your eyes cannot. In the candlelight, the vapors within the globe are murky, limitless, billowing. They have the look of a captured thunder cloud, a stormfront contained in an orb the size of your fist. It’s a dizzying combination – with extreme caution, you tap gently at the orb with the edge of a fingernail, and are rewarded with soft ringing. >okay, all – I need TWO rolls of dice+1d20+6. Normally, the bonus is +5, but Deianira gets a small bonus for having successfully unlocked one of the Black Sash’s abilities previously. I’m setting DCs at 12, 20, 26.
Rolled 13 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5712254
Rolled 10 + 6 (1d20 + 6)>>5712254Man why these DCs gotta be so high? Fuck the divine. And fuck their doodads. They keep ruining everything forever. Always gotta be such a chore dealing with them and theirs.
Off by 1. Shucks.
>>5712254>This globe, this globe is so perfectly spherical and weighty. Is it the perfect rock?Deianira is now convinced to have found the rock grail and passes the whole night pondering the orb
>>5712342Don’t fret, anon - assuming that Deianira doesn’t lose the globe, she’ll have a substantial bonus to her next round of investigations. She can spend another Witch action before the end of the month to further investigate.As to why the DCs are so high, it’s because Abercion unironically wants to see how Deianira handles the struggle.
>>5712517>Abercion unironically wants to see how Deianira handles the struggle.I am filled with an inexplicable desire to strangle our benefactor. Magical silk that just so happens to slip off at a critical juncture.
>>5712524AGAB - all gods are bastards.As to why they do it - haven’t you ever trolled a pet, anon?Anyways, on a quick personal note - players should check out On the Path to Godhood Quest and Swordsman Quest if they haven’t done so - both effortquests with good engagement from /qst/
>19 vs 12 – Deianira unlocks one ability from Abercion’s Globe of Vapours>two degrees of success beyond 1st DC = +2 bonus to any future investigation of the globe, which stacks with Deianira’s typical +5 bonus, and also her +1 bonus from investigating Abercion’s Black Sash. Any future investigation of the GoV will have a +8 roll bonus.Over the course of the next several nights, you puzzle over the globe – gently caressing it, attempting a variety of spoken commands, extremely cautious applications of oil, water, candleflame, and applications of the magical reagents you possess. You spend an entire night invoking all the major and minor deities of Olympus, beginning with Zeus Ὑπατος. After each trial, you systematically investigate the globe’s surface and the vapors within for any discernable change, and your frustration builds as each trial results in no discernable change to the globe. While you investigate, you are also careful to note any changes of sensation along your right arm – but Abercion’s grip does not release waves of frozen chills either, despite your repeated interrogations of the orb. By the third night, your back aches for having hunched over the altar for so much time. You begin to doubt your rigorous approach – while thorough, it is laborious in the extreme, and after all, the Black Sash was not so complicated to activate – perhaps you’re over-complicating matters?Rethinking your approach, you consider that this is a tool or a weapon meant to be used by the gods – and it occurs to you that there is a source of divinity within reach – yourself! Although admittedly, the divine ichor within your blood runs thinly in comparison to one of the deathless immortals. You produce a drop of your own blood with the tip of your father’s bronze knife, and with a gentle application of this to the orb, you’re extremely satisfied to note a golden tracery emerge between the subtle ridges of the glass, intricately gilded. They are faint, yes, but clearly visible – glimmering in the candlelight. You resist the urge to cheer out in celebration, and instead carefully place the orb back onto the altar to Hekate. After some patient minutes of observation, you note that the gleaming filigree of gold fades once more. Interestingly, the smear of your blood seems to have vanished as well – swallowed by the orb itself? You’re torn between curiosity and alarm – does the globe consume your blood? Is there some trapped creature within? An unsettling thought, but now that you have taken the first step, you feel that you must continue.A second application of your blood reawakens the golden filigree, and this time, closely observing the tracery, you find two places upon the globe which have no gold markings – two undecorated positions at roughly opposite locations upon the sphere. Opening your hand, you are able to place a thumb on one and your index finger on –>more coming
There is a furious hissing sound, and you nearly drop the globe as a jet of vapors is emitted at high velocity, catching you in the mouth and face, and blinding you – you topple to the ground in alarm, swatting at your hair and eyes; your fear rises when you realize that the vapors are not dissipating. You are blind, your head obscured in impenetrable fog! Your panic begins to subside after several seconds when no harm seems to befall you…Three hours later, rose-fingered Ηως heralds the approach of her mighty brother, and you stagger outside, deeply frustrated, but otherwise unharmed. You plan to march home to the palace by feel alone, but are pleasantly surprised when your vision quickly clears – the vapors diminishing under direct sunlight. You quickly apply the Globe to your own head once more, and the vapors quickly dissolve. You grin – a valuable tool indeed. Closely inspecting the globe, you see a tiny marking upon the globe surface - the aperture through which the vapors are ejected. A quick glance at the swirling vapors within reveals that they have not meaningfully diminished in any way that you can detect. >Deianira has revealed one of the Globe’s abilities!>With the application of her blood, Deianira may spray the Vapors onto the head of a person or animal and blind them, until they are exposed to direct sunlight. Blinded persons suffer a VERY significant malus to personal combat, but application requires that Deianira is close – perhaps 1-1/2 meters away, and can aim the globe.Satisfied with your work, and having avoided the duties of the household through this period of obsession, you resolve to work through the day rather than sleep through the daytime, as you have over the past few days. >It's time for the Phase 5 Deianira Action! What will Deianira do during this 3-4 day period? Please note that Iudas’ funerary proceedings will also take place during this Action. Warning – only TWO MORE Deianira/Witch Actions remain before the end of the month (counting this one).>Convert this Deianira Action to a Witch Action? Deianira could spend this time brewing poisons, potions, collecting reagents, etc.>Meet with the men of the First Platoon and the Aristonaxian Hillguard. Determine how the men are mingling, and how their morale is faring with the unexpected loss of men during the Stream Catastrophe?>Search for Pantaleon and return him to the Hippomedon estate? It surprises you that he has not yet returned to lick his wounds – you cannot seriously believe that he was killed during the Stream Catastrophe, and his service to the οἶκος is desperately needed.>Meet with Molpagorus as Iudas once suggested to you? You suspect that he has many projects to improve your palace and estates to suggest to you.>Confer with Argyros (once the funeral proceedings for Iudas have concluded) about the Aristonaxian Bargain and how you might effect the death of Damachides? He may very well have ideas >Write-in?
>>5712796>Search for Pantaleon and return him to the Hippomedon estate? It surprises you that he has not yet returned to lick his wounds – you cannot seriously believe that he was killed during the Stream Catastrophe, and his service to the οἶκος is desperately needed.
>>5712796>>Meet with Molpagorus as Iudas once suggested to you? You suspect that he has many projects to improve your palace and estates to suggest to you.That doesn't sound too useful right now
>>5712898I would definitely encourage players to consider the utility of blinding another person in non-combat situations.
>>5712796>Confer with Argyros (once the funeral proceedings for Iudas have concluded) about the Aristonaxian Bargain and how you might effect the death of Damachides? He may very well have ideasSquid orb
>>5712796>Meet with Molpagorus as Iudas once suggested to you? You suspect that he has many projects to improve your palace and estates to suggest to you.
>>5712796>Search for Pantaleon and return him to the Hippomedon estate? It surprises you that he has not yet returned to lick his wounds – you cannot seriously believe that he was killed during the Stream Catastrophe, and his service to the οἶκος is desperately needed.Panty boy, panty boy where are you hiding?
>>5712796>Search for Pantaleon and return him to the Hippomedon estate? It surprises you that he has not yet returned to lick his wounds – you cannot seriously believe that he was killed during the Stream Catastrophe, and his service to the οἶκος is desperately needed.With Nikon away we need muscle and he was obedient, besides it's best not to leave people behind.Did he lose his memory or is he captive of another nymph?
>>5712796>>Meet with Molpagorus as Iudas once suggested to you? You suspect that he has many projects to improve your palace and estates to suggest to you.
Seems like a tie between seeking out the Chad Pantaleon or the nerd Molpagorus >>5713014Anon, you could be the tiebreak if you so choose? Or if another anon would like to step in?
Rolled 2 (1d2)Find the Chad Pantaleon>>5712812>>5713742>>5713813Locate the Beta Molpagorus>>5712898>>5713547>>5713835Confer with Argyros>>5713014---Rolling to break the tie! 1 = Find the Chad Pantaleon, 2 = locate the Beta Molpagorus
>>5712993If it looks like a normal object/piece of furniture in our household perhaps it could be used, against someone that doesn't suspect it. Attract the one you want to blind near it through conversation, click and its done.Otherwise it does sound kind of strange to bring around and justify, very easy to notice. Unless we really want to fully use our status has a witch (we have yet to reveal it), bringing it around openly might not be a good idea. Without some excuses, or wrap it around clothing and place it in a travel chest so it will not be seen. I imagine it would have work perfectly together with the sash (since nobody would see us at night with it), sort of, is still an orb to bring around in an arm. Not great to wield.Divine/magical creatures would likely notice it s not just a normal sphere. Unless they are dumb.Hostile animals (dogs, jackals, bears, wolves, lions ecc...) would easily be scared and blinded by it once hit in the face.
>>5714154For what’s it’s worth, the orb does easily fit within Deianira’s hide bag for reagents and other such items.
>>5714185I think anon just forgot it was small enough for Nira to press on either end of it with her thumb and forefinger.
Next update will be delayed until tomorrow night, my sincere apologies
Update post will be out before 10:30pm.I was basically planning on spamming the Hippomedon Estates sheet with some additional text, but I’ve decided to instead present a concise “possible improvements” list, which should be easier to read and vote on.
Your intuition tells you that you must eventually grant Molpagorus the audience he has politely requested, and while you wait for the return of Argyros and the body of Iudas, you resolve to spend the morning discussing what can be done to improve the palace and estates. Finding Molpagorus isn’t terribly difficult – his reputation as a hard worker, despite his lean frame, often places him in the fields. He views himself as the unofficial representative of the common folk associated with your οἶκος, although truthfully, you’ve avoided him for a number of weeks – clearly, he must possess some degree of discretion, always inviting you to meet, but never demanding it. You have to admit to your self that men like Molpagorus make you somewhat uneasy, as you hobble down to the fields – with no divine heritage, he is an unknown outside of your household, but you are wise enough to recognize that commoner men with aspirations like his may sometimes curdle, leading to bloody riots and such dangers. Your mortal end may not be so exotic as strangulation by naiad – being torn apart by your field hands would be just as deadly.Hobbling slowly on your staff into the rows of barley, you find Molpagorus, stalking amongst the green shoots and leaves, checking for signs of disease amongst the stalks. It’s still early in the summer, but hard experience has taught your people to constantly be on the lookout for such unpleasant surprises. You estimate him to be a man of forty-five summers – if he had been a nobleman, this would be the prime of his manhood, but as a commoner, he is showing signs of premature aging – strands of silver dot his beard and thinning brown hair. He is dressed plainly, in the uncolored linens of the common folk, and is clearly nearsighted – he must hold the leaves of barley comically close to his nose. All that aside, Argyros, Iudas and Nikandros have always spoken highly of him – circumspect in his discussions, never one to forget his place or lose his temper. Or you should say that Argryos and Iudas spoke well of him - your brother rarely mentioned him, but that was hardly telling – Νίκων tended towards stereotypical male silence.Molpagorus is pleasantly surprised to learn that you have sought him out – within the half hour, you are each sitting within the andron of the palace, sipping upon your house’s somewhat bitter wine. Molpagorus has unfurled a crude, but accurate map of the Hippomedon estates inked upon a scroll-like length of leather, perhaps two by four cubits in length. “Lady, I am pleased to offer you several projects – any of these would be worthy undertakings, but I might suggest that you consider improving the lot of our people...”>Please note that Deianira can spend her budget of two Oikos points (OP) in any manner she chooses. An OP represents the combination of good-will, motivation, and effort that Deianira can call upon for infrastructure projects on her estate.
HIPPOMEDON ESTATECURRENT Oἶκος POINTS = 2Oἶκος MORALE: Rebellious -> GRUMBLING -> Contented -> Loyal -> Unshakable FaithPalace = Rubble – MODEST – Functional – Inviting – ExtravagantThe palace of Hippomedon is a two-story humble structure, a hollow square made of stone, barely sufficient for the needs of a frontier nobleman. There is a central courtyard, and the rooms of the palace are open to the courtyard on the interior – a sail-like tent can be raised over the roof in the event of rain. On the first floor, there is the kitchen, the andron, several storerooms, and a small studio for the construction of tools and other small items. On the second floor, there is sufficient space for three small bedrooms (yours, your brother’s and your mother’s), the dormitory for house staff, and the gynaikon. To a commoner, this is a lavish arrangement – but a King would scoff at these cramped accommodations.Possible Upgrades: Staff Wing (COST = 2 OP): This two-story extension to the palace’s structure would create additional accommodations for household staff, as well as commoner dining hall. This expansion would both double capacity and also increase living conditions for household staff (morale boost!). Rooftop Fortifications (COST = 1 OP): An opening to the roof of the palace could be constructed, along with wooden railings and a waist-high stone wall on both the interior and exterior rooftop. This would provide oikos troops with a significant height advantage in ranged combat and serve as a last redoubt in the situation of the oikos being overrun. Courtyard Garden (COST = 1 OP). The courtyard is a fairly large space, functional but lacking in beauty. Application of vegetation, fruit trees and vine trellises could do much to create a living, breathing core to the Hippomedon Palace. Deianira and other oikos staff would enjoy a bonus to their social rolls when within the Courtyard, such as when hosting nobility.Front Gates (COST = 1 OP). Your courtyard currently is widely accessible through a broad arch-way, but a powerful and solid gate could be constructed out of heavy lumber. This would do much to seal the palace from attackers and force them to scale the palace walls, or attempt to breach the palace through a window. The benefits of such fortification cannot be overstated – your palace is essentially defended by your spearmen alone at the current time, a regrettable state of affairs.
Palace Grounds = Wild – UNKEMPT – Tamed – Curated – WondrousThe palace itself is nestled atop a large hill of gentle ascent – from the second floor, a sharp-eyed person has excellent visibility in all directions. With no shortage of land in rural Thessaly, the grounds of Hippomedon are many plethrons (let's say 5,000?) and extends loosely to the north, east and south – to the west, a small brook babbles at the foot of the hill, about 2 stadia away (400 metres or so) and just beyond this, the Hippomedon farms. The vast majority of the Hippomedon grounds are simply not being utilized - small copses of trees, small grassy fields, studded with rocky outcroppings and boulders. The main path to the palace is a dusty affair, just wide enough for a chariot or three men abreast. In the distance to the north, Mount Olympus looms – the peak of the mountain typically hidden by rolling cloudbanks. As a child and on extremely clear days, you would sometimes catch the gleam of metal impossibly tracing a path through the sky, flitting towards the peak...Groundskeeping (UNKEMPT->TAMED, COST = 1 OP). Your palace grounds betray your impoverished state of affairs and represents the first impression that traveling nobility have of your household. While there is a certain bucolic splendor to the palace grounds, curating the immediate surroundings would create the impression that your oikos is in order and is thriving. Taking this option will provide a social roll bonus of +2 to Deianira and other household members when on the Palace Grounds or within the Palace itself.Witch’s Hut->Shrine (COST = 1 OP). Your hut is small, functional, but ultimately, you are outgrowing it - the hut is overflowing with your tools, reagents, and physician's supplies. The structure could be modified to include an open-air shrine to Hecate on the Hut roof, providing your rituals with the silver light of Selene. This upgrade would come with mechanical benefits to Deianira’s witch rolls. (Bo2->Bo3 for Witch rolls on top of current bonii).[b[Estate Defenses (Structural): None.Estate Fencing (COST = 1 OP): More of a hindrance than a true barrier, a study and tall stake fence could be placed on the foot of the hill upon which the Palace sits. Nonetheless, this fencing would dissuade thieves, spies and other such actors from attempting to slither onto your estate. This fencing would provide a bonus to patrolling spearmen, and could slow attackers in the event of a true raid. Hedge Terraces (COST = 1 OP, will take 2-3 years to become a formidable barrier): A series of concentric hedges could be planted upon the hill itself – while these might take several years to grow fully, they would eventually become a significant barrier for hostile advance to the palace itself. Attackers would be forced to slash their way through hedges over hours, or instead advance up the central pathway, a natural chokepoint.
>>5715040>Staff Wing (COST = 2 OP): This two-story extension to the palace’s structure would create additional accommodations for household staff, as well as commoner dining hall. This expansion would both double capacity and also increase living conditions for household staff (morale boost!). Morale sounds important.
>>5715047I'm not done spamming yet! Sorry all, I changed my mind again, better to see everything at once, even if it is repetitiveFarms and FieldsBarley Fields = Defunct – Struggling – FUNCTIONAL– Productive – MarvelousClear Barley Boulders (OP = 1 ): The first step in proper agricultural maintenance, clearing boulders from the fields will improve efficiency of your household’s agricultural efforts and simultaneously supply you with cartloads of stone to be used for additional construction efforts. Every stone converted to brick and cobblestone by your staff is gold saved! Clearing the fields will provide a Bo2->Bo3 mechanical bonus to Harvest rolls.Wheat Farms = Defunct – STRUGGLING– Functional – Productive – MarvelousClear Wheat Boulders (OP = 1 ): The first step in proper agricultural maintenance, clearing boulders from the fields will improve efficiency of your household’s agricultural efforts and simultaneously supply you with cartloads of stone to be used for additional construction efforts. Every stone converted to brick and cobblestone by your staff is gold saved! Clearing the fields will provide a Bo2->Bo3 mechanical bonus to Harvest rolls.Olive Grove = Defunct – STRUGGLING– Functional – Productive – MarvelousBasic Irrigation (STRUGGLING->FUNCTIONAL, COST = 2): The digging of channels, controllable by your oikos staff, has been a goal of your household for years. Leaving the olive orchard to the whims of Zeus Ombrios has led to poor yields of oil and olives, unpredictable at best. Development of a crude sluice and gate system will provide direction control of the watering off your orchard, and greatly increase the reliability of your yield. Mechanical Bonus Bo2->Bo3, and additionally, an adequate supply of olive and oil will improve household morale.
Vegetable Garden = Defunct – Struggling – FUNCTIONAL – Productive – MarvelousVegetable Garden Fencing (Cost = 0.5 OP): Like all herb gardens, your staff must defend it constantly from the threat of attack…from rabbits and pests. There is little to be done about the insects, but digging a deeply-placed stake fence should deter rabbits and other similarly-sized creatures from pillaging. This option provides an additional roll (Bo2->Bo3) to vegetable production on Harvest rolls.Herb Garden = Defunct – STRUGGLING – Functional – Productive – MarvelousHerb Garden Fencing (Cost = 0.5 OP): Like all herb gardens, your staff must defend it constantly from the threat of attack…from rabbits and pests. There is little to be done about the insects, but digging a deeply-placed stake fence should deter rabbits and other similarly-sized creatures from pillaging. This option provides an additional roll (Bo2->Bo3) to herb production on Harvest rolls.Vineyard = Defunct – STRUGGLING – Functional – Productive – MarvelousBasic Irrigation (STRUGGLING->FUNCTIONAL, COST = 2): The digging of channels, controllable by your oikos staff, has been a goal of your household for years. Leaving the vineyard to the whims of Zeus Ombrios has led to poor yields of wine and grapes, unpredictable at best. Development of a crude sluice and gate system will provide directional control of the watering off your orchard, and greatly increase the reliability of your yield. Mechanical Bonus Bo2->Bo3, and additionally, an adequate supply of grapes and wine will improve household morale.
Beasts and Livestock:Cattle Herds = None – DWINDLING – Self-Sustaining – Hardy and Growing – Impressive – Royal- +2 white Lyciboen bulls (+3 to Harvest rolls, and small increased likelihood of herd size increase when the time comes.)Basic Cattle Pens (Cost = 0.5 OP): Wooden fencing will slightly decrease the probability of a successful livestock raid, but more importantly, saves time and effort from your household's shepherds and staff (small bonus to morale!). These pens are not terrible sturdy or meant to withhold a stampede, but instead keep the beasts reasonably contained.Goat Herds = None – Dwindling – SELF-SUSTAINING – Hardy and Growing – Impressive – Royal- Tropanus had unlimited access to the goat herds for about a week’s time with.. predictable results. Significant chance of spontaneous herd growth.Basic Goat Pens (Cost = 0.5 OP): Wooden fencing will slightly decrease the probability of a successful livestock raid, but more importantly, saves time and effort from your household's shepherds and staff (small bonus to morale!). These pens are not terrible sturdy or meant to withhold a stampede, but instead keep the beasts reasonably contained.Sheep Herds = None – DWINDLING– Self-Sustaining – Hardy and Growing – Impressive – Royal- Plus 19 sheep from Labostas’ raid, moderate bonus to Harvest rolls, moderate chance of spontaneous herd size increase.Basic Sheep Pens (Cost = 0.5 OP): Wooden fencing will slightly decrease the probability of a successful livestock raid, but more importantly, saves time and effort from your household's shepherds and staff (small bonus to morale!). These pens are not terrible sturdy or meant to withhold a stampede, but instead keep the beasts reasonably contained.Swine Herds = None – Dwindling – SELF-SUSTAINING – Hardy and Growing – Impressive – RoyalBasic Swine Pens (Cost = 0.5 OP): Wooden fencing will slightly decrease the probability of a successful livestock raid, but more importantly, saves time and effort from your household's shepherds and staff (small bonus to morale!). These pens are not terrible sturdy or meant to withhold a stampede, but instead keep the beasts reasonably contained.
Some notes:I left out the Bee Hives and Horses from the spam, since Deianira has neither at the current time. Further infrastructure improvements will be possible in each of these areas, but given that Deianira and Molpagorus both lack formal training in agricultural/civil engineering, these are just the most obvious tasks that they can think of. Write-in projects are absolutely allowed and thematic and appropriate suggestions are encouraged. Mechanically, the actual Harvest rolls take place in late summer (around late September/early October time) and these determine the amount of economic wealth produced by the oikos. Deianira's household is currently self-sufficient, but only just barely. She is NOT turning a profit, and is more or less only barely able to keep everyone fed. If Deianira obtains significant Timae, it would be become possible for her to start bee hives, horse herds, buy raw materials or hire outside experts to provide infrastructure project advice. If she becomes fabulously wealthy, she could even purchase slaves and livestock directly from Phtia or from neighboring nobilityalthough in the late Bronze Age, flashing a lot of gold around without the military force to back it up is a bad idea\---Whew, okay. Players, feel free to assemble your Oikos budgets and then vote for the best plan! I'll chime in to clarify or otherwise provide guidance if necessary.
>>5715062Personally I will vote to put fences around all of our livestock. Thessaly is a much more pastoral region than agrarian due to its hilly locale. So making sure the animals are secure first and foremost is to my eyes the safest idea. My next would have been to make sure we could properly irrigate our land for olives and wine. Partly because they have extensive multipurpose, partly because they are general staple items, and partly because FUCK NATURE'S RIVERS. But for now>use the 2 oikos points to build pens for the four beast herds
>>5715047My bad lmao.Still I think I'll keep my vote on the staff wing.
>>5715062>Basic Irrigation
>>5715062>Basic Irrigation**** Rivers!
>>5715062some questions :how much would it cost a ditch and palisade for the hill, above two points ? what about watchtowers ?and would the hut becoming a shrine, be just a mechanical change or something more ? There is little to no religious structure nearby beside some family shrines worshipping i imagine. A shrine to Hekate would be important even in a religious sense or would it be only personal ?The situation is pretty grim, but we will be able to actually seriously improve it once we gain that money from Aristonax. For gain additional money we need to count on our witch arts for sell magical products, use our medical knowledge and battle loot. The oikos can't be counted on for now.Build the following :- Basic Cattle Pens- Basic Sheep PensWrite-in- Field of Games: a dedicated cleared ground for the organization of festivities and games of the commoners, while also providing a space for some light martial training of the villagers and spearmen of the oikos. (0,5 cost, provide small bonus to morale and increases the readiness of our men)- Sacred Ground of Hekate: the field near our witch hut, will be turned in an organized and embellished small garden with a simple and modest statue of Hekate at the center (0,5 cost, built on purpose near our hut for future building options of creating a full fledged temple to the deity with very nice surroundings for honor her. No small bonus to witch actions, more toward for provide a deity a proper placed to be worshipped even by the commoners and members of our oikos. Gaining a proper place of worship can help with morale too in a small way) The first two is because we recently gained more sheeps and we have the bulls bonus, both are also DWINDLING. Which is something we don't want.i was considering a fence because we have no defenses, then i considered that both our commoners and troops don't have anything for provide a basic martial growth. Beside being thessalians.On their own, if there was no Agyros and Nik they would wither and become weaker. We need to maintain a standard, and in this case for commoners to actually have a standard. Should help in gaining better recruits too.For the sacred ground, there is little religious presence and nothing truly organized in our oikos and Hekate seems a safe choice for us.
>>5715062>Staff Wing
>>5715221Whew some great ideas here, marking these down.>How much would it cost a ditch and palisade for the hill, above two points?To dig a deep ditch: 2 pointsTo build a palisade (aka an actual defensive structure and not a big fence). 4 points.These costs might seem excessive but remember that Deianira has a team of about 50-100 lazy commoners who haven’t built anything before. They’d have to find big trees, cut them down, haul them back to the palace hill, and then erect the wall. >what about watchtowers?Construction of 2 small wood watchtowers on hilltops visible to the palace would run about 2 points, they would obvious expand the reach of Deianira’s military awareness.>can we convert the hut into a more public shrine?Sure, that’s a dimension I hadn’t considered, although many commoners don’t even know who Hecate is, at this point. They know the “big 12” Olympians, mostly. That being said, you could eventually turn the Sacred Ground into a outdoor shrine situation with statues and altars for the major gods and a big central one for Hecate.> Field of Games: a dedicated cleared ground for the organization of festivities and games of the commoners, while also providing a space for some light martial training of the villagers and spearmen of the oikos. (0,5 cost, provide small bonus to morale and increases the readiness of our men).>Sacred Ground of Hekate: the field near our witch hut, will be turned in an organized and embellished small garden with a simple and modest statue of Hekate at the center (0,5 cost, built on purpose near our hut for future building options of creating a full fledged temple to the deity with very nice surroundings for honor her. No small bonus to witch actions, more toward for provide a deity a proper placed to be worshipped even by the commoners and members of our oikos. Gaining a proper place of worship can help with morale too in a small way.These are both good suggestions and to reward the write-ins, I’ll keep the oikos point costs at 0.5 for the Field and Sacred Ground. In each case, relatively little manual labor investment is needed.
Posting some nice images that I have been using for reference - the Hippomedon is more square and has much bigger courtyard, but overall pretty similar.
And here’s another good one I’ve been using for reference.
And here’s a relatively clear map of the palace at Tiryns, which is obviously quite a bit bigger than Deianira’s crib
>>5715262Thanks for the answersI understand better the costs now, and it makes a lot of sense now why its higher. Losing Iudas has a trustworthy steward probably didn't help either for better organize the oikos work projects.Very nice for keeping those two options low cost.Also i have very much in mind to create and strengthen religion in our oikos, with Hekate becoming the main deity figure with the others as minor deities. The commoners not knowing much about her works in our favor because we can slowly integrate her worship in the local culture until it becomes preferred and loved.
>>5715313I would also add that the rate of Oikos point generation is pretty slow right now - one point a year, but this would dramatically increased if Deianira has a bigger population of household staff. The Hippomedon palace economy is pretty small but if Deianira actually kills Damachides and navigate the turmoil afterwards, she could very well quadruple (or more!) the population of her estate.
>>5715062>Staff WingIt seems that having more servants is a prerequisite for growth.
>>5715322Very interesting.By having a steward and slaves we would gain additional points ?I imagine with money we can also buy points (which would be hire workers, buy materials ecc.. IC wise) right ?At the moment we don't have much wealth so we can't do that. Last thing, the current upgrade to the palace staff still fits in the food sustainability of our oikos alongside the new troops ?
>>5715392By having a steward and slaves we would gain additional points?Literate steward benefits: basically, better ability to manage distant trade relationships, your taxes to King Peleus and High King Agamemnon, and a chance to “recoup” spent OP points. Also, you could offload these sorts of estate development tasks to the steward, so Deianira doesn’t have to spend valuable Deianira actions herself.>I imagine with money we can also buy points (which would be hire workers, buy materials ecc.. IC wise) right?Absolutely, but hired help comes at a significant premium and given lack of literate steward, means that Deianira must travel personally to a bigger city (Phthia in all likelihood) to hire the skilled labor. Building a new structure equivalent in size to the palace would require expert advice, for example, although building an addition to the palace is okay. If the staff addition wins, I’ll roll later in the year to see if your staff fuck up the build later :)>Last thing, the current upgrade to the palace staff still fits in the food sustainability of our oikos alongside the new troops?Yes, by obtaining additional house staff, you’re also obtaining more field hands, hunters, trackers, and shepherds. I don’t actually want to get into granular food resource management, so for now, assume that if the additional staff addition wins, the overall impact on food production will be exactly sufficient to feed everyone (with the same sort-of mediocre diet that the existing staff have). I should have made this more clear, but the staff addition would also result in a 1->1.5 OP generation increase.
Build>Staff WingFinding a replacement steward should be our next priority, after the Damachides business is resolved. Cattle pens and irrigation would be the next thing on my build list. Get the economy to sustain itself and then finally build some defenses and culture buildings.Two suggested buildings from me : public bathing pools and sewers system. Very important for public heath in ancient times.
Rolled 4 - 3 (1d20 - 3)Build beast pens>>5715065Build beast pens (plus good write-ins)>>5715221Build Staff Wing>>5715047>>5715239>>5715343>>5715519Basic Irrigation>>5715103>>5715201---Looks like Staff Wing wins! Update will be out before 11pm EST tonight. Please note that the actual construction of the Staff Wing will take some time - Molpagorus and the lads have to haul several tons of stone up a hill in chunks on carts, with ropes and rolling logs, and so forth. The Staff Wing should be complete in approximately four months (around Harvest time), given the limited number of workers that she has. Thanks for everyone's patience through a (clunky) vote.Also, I'm rolling for something:first d20: higher is better. Very bad = 1-5, Bad = 5-10, Mediocre = 11-15, Good = 16-20
>>5715758>a literal fucking 1 >at least this isn't a divinity roll Deianira can't catch a break, lads
>>5715761If this is a roll for loyalty or Pantaleon surviving with waterlogged lungs or something, someone is getting hurt. And if it's Aristonax showing up and saying he did a stupid and blabbed about us preparing to kill Shitass, well.
>>5715767All I'm saying - the Greek tragedians would have a pretty good play about Deianira Hippomedion with her story so far. >I'm a happy-go-lucky witchy gril, good luck in the war, dear brother Nikon, find me a hubby.>jeez what could be so hard about running an oikos in the LBA of Greece? The fucking hubris...>Deianira averages one life-threatening attack or rape attempt weekly. Deianira is going to be hard as fuck when Nikon comes home. The Euripidian tragedy would be about Deianira killing her inner child and then actively perpetuating the cycle of violence on society...
>>5715761Oh goddamn, if it’s Gerasimos its the stick and the knife for him. If it s a nymph or water monster coming out of a river prepare the nets and the oil, we are going to i
