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15:48, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission.

Posted by GatekeeperFor group archive 1
Midou Harue
player, 21 posts
Wed 22 Jul 2009
at 18:30
  • msg #139

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

(OOC: I apologize for not answering sooner, I was trying not to be the first one to answer since Harue can only back the guys up on searching. She simply doesn't have investigation as a skill.)

  "We either need to hide and put our ears to the earth so to speak or get a move on quickly," Harue offers as she tries to figure out the convoluted maze of doors and corridors they have managed to find. "If nothing else, we know we are getting closer to where we need to be?"

You rolled 3 successes using 4d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((7,6,1,10))
Veldygar Arhandor
player, 66 posts
Eclipse Caste
Diplomat
Wed 22 Jul 2009
at 20:57
  • msg #140

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Veldygar was slightly upset by the local warp in the fabric of reality. It was obviously the defense that the Gatekeeper of Water had suggested, either a trick of the mastery of space, or a way to fool the mind of intruders.

He searched for signs of the aisle's occupation - if people could work here without being bothered by the strange twists of corridors, then perhaps the secret was in not wanting to find a secret passage. It would indeed be a brilliant way of hiding the entrance to the Temple of Immaculate Earth.

But how to search for something, without wanting to?

He mentionned this to Harue and Garnet Cog.

[Private to GM: [OOC:22:55, Today: Veldygar Arhandor rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,7,10,2,2. Int+Lore.
01:03, Today: Veldygar Arhandor rolled 3 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,6,4,9,7,4. Int+Occult.
]
]
Gatekeeper
GM, 1191 posts
Exalted Storyteller
Five Coils Artificer
Thu 23 Jul 2009
at 14:56
  • msg #141

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Garnet Cog, Veldygar's spirit mentor, speaks a few words of wisdom into his mind. "I would suggest to approach it as a form of meditation. You want to remove all expectations from your mind, and allow your senses to perceive and understand what is around you, completely without bias. Surely you have practiced such in your studies as a sorcerer. Open your mind to all that is, and the path will come to you." [Private to Veldygar Arhandor: OOC: I really liked your approach, and gave you a +2 stunt! but it only gave you 1 more success. If you spend a WP, you could still succeed.

As for the occult roll, you are pretty certain the strange passages are some form of a Manse's defenses, namely a Puzzle Manse.
]

Harue meanwhile can't make heads or tails of where the entrance might be, though she and Veldygar at least discover enough of a pattern in the doors and passages to help her hide in them effectively, should the Dragon-blooded come this way. [Private to Midou Harue: Mechanically, your successes still give you a circumstantial +1 to Stealth should you need to hide in the area.]

Eternal is, presumably, guarding the others while they search, his presence still visually unseen. After several minutes of waiting, the Abyssal announces in his stark, disembodied voice that people had better start making themselves scarce very soon. The group can start to make out more distinct voices, as well as the sound of wheels on tile -- stretchers, or wheelchairs, likely, for patients that cannot walk.



OOC: they will definitely arrive by my next post, so either start moving (I'll roll for you whether you can still find the right way at random, given what little you know) or roll wits+stealth to hide (unless you've got a charm active that allows you to bypass the necessity.)
Veldygar Arhandor
player, 67 posts
Eclipse Caste
Diplomat
Thu 23 Jul 2009
at 21:59
  • msg #142

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Veldygar, still sheathed by a Charm that made his presence scarcely noticeable, focused his mind as per his mentor's instructions, like the preternaturally calm mindstate that permitted the initiation of sorcery - an ordered void at the back of te mind that the disciplined psyche used to reshape reality. He decided to see, devoid of preconceptions, and pierce the spatial maze surrounding the secret exit.

[Private to GM: [OOC: Spending a WP to succeed. I still have the Essence for Easily Overlooked Presence Method committed.]]
Gatekeeper
GM, 1193 posts
Exalted Storyteller
Five Coils Artificer
Fri 24 Jul 2009
at 01:13
  • msg #143

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Veldygar opens and clears his mind, denying the illusion while seeking the true path. That slight shift in approach changes his perspective of the hallways entirely. Rather suddenly -- the right way just comes to him. It is suddenly so crystal clear and obvious that he feels almost sheepish he hadn't noticed it earlier. Casting aside all the 'extra' doors and passages as mere distractions, he walks unerringly through the the corridors as if entranced by something beyond natural sense.

The others have no choice but to follow him as he navigates the passageways, taking sudden seemingly random turns, opening doors that look no different than the others only to reveal another passage leading in the right direction. The voices start to fade behind them again, their progress putting leaps and bounds of space and time between them, until they are just another figment of the maze.

Then, abruptly, the corridors end. The group reaches a dead end, and a single stone door, carved with Immaculate symbolism particular to Pasiap and the Elemental Dragon of Earth. The door is strange, in that it has no obvious handle, no simple way to open it. On the other hand, there are no guards in the area, either...



OOC: almost there...! ok, a couple options here. Roll Int+Lore or Occult to think your way through this, or roll Perc+Awareness or Larceny to try to find clues or traps.

You could always just try to break down the door, too :P
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:48, Sat 25 July 2009.
Midou Harue
player, 22 posts
Fri 24 Jul 2009
at 14:07
  • msg #144

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

   Harue puts her entire energy into examining the door quickly. Just because the voices have faded doesn't mean much in her mind. They were still behind them and now the group was in a corridor with no obvious hiding spots. "Dammit, tricky little bastards," she thinks as she looks at the Immaculate writing. She figures immediately that it is trapped since the Immaculates constructed the door. When she doesn't see anything she doesn't immediately think she failed, rather she just can't decipher the false philosophy mumbo-jumbo of her kind. Her mind wanders so completely away from the task at hand, she doesn't truly notice a thing, although the way the mind works, she convinces herself in her meanderings that she does.
   "As far as I can tell the door is not trapped, but I cannot figure out how to open it. If we had more time perhaps..."

OOC: You rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((3,2,6,5,1,7)).
Veldygar Arhandor
player, 68 posts
Eclipse Caste
Diplomat
Fri 24 Jul 2009
at 22:48
  • msg #145

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

As he rummaged through his memories of the Immaculate Philosophy's tenets - and what clues he would gather from his recollection of Pasiap's teachings - Veldygar examined the door and its surrounding.

[Private to GM: [OOC: 00:47, Today: Veldygar Arhandor botched using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,1,5,1,3,5. Per+Awareness.
00:47, Today: Veldygar Arhandor rolled 5 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,4,10,9,3. Int+Lore.
The Unconquered Sun hath given, and He hath taken... Dratz!
]
]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:50, Fri 24 July 2009.
Gatekeeper
GM, 1199 posts
Exalted Storyteller
Five Coils Artificer
Sat 25 Jul 2009
at 05:12
  • msg #146

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Harue gives it her best shot, but nothing of note comes out of it. The one thing she does notice, besides whatever confusing speculation she comes up with, is that the eyes of the dragon carved into the door follow her back and forth as she examines it. The only writing on the door reads (for those who can read Old Realm) "He Who Illuminates Both Worlds With Majesty And Power".

Veldygar remembers a great deal of his lessons about the Immaculate Philosophy, and in particular about Pasiap, the Immaculate Dragon of Earth. He also knows that the religion is aniconic. So the only true Immaculate symbolism found on the door is at its very center: the Omphalos Triumphant, Pasiap's mon, shaped like what Veldygar would know to be a mountain, though he's never seen a true mountain except in paintings from the distant past.

Around it is coils the shape of a serpentine dragon carved in great detail, right down to the individual scales. Its head rests at the upper center of the door, right above the mon, so that it seems to look down upon the mountain. This must be the depiction of the Elemental Dragon, Veldygar realizes, which is distinct from the Immaculate Pasiap -- the Elemental Dragon represents pure, primal elemental otherness, while the Immaculate Dragon is considered the form the Elemental Dragon takes when walking Creation, so as to be in a form his congregation can better identify with and emulate.

From there Veldy is reasonably sure he and his comrades should focus on searching or manipulating either the Omphalos, or the Dragon. If the group starts to feel they're taking too long and don't want to get caught, they can always withdraw and hide in a previous corridor.
Midou Harue
player, 23 posts
Sun 26 Jul 2009
at 03:43
  • msg #147

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

   (OOC: Not sure if we know each others names since we have been running and all?)

   "Alright, leader type," she says to Veldy in a moderate tone, "What do you want me to do now? You see reading and religion just aren't my thing."
Veldygar Arhandor
player, 69 posts
Eclipse Caste
Diplomat
Sun 26 Jul 2009
at 22:01
  • msg #148

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Veldygar carefully pressed each scale. If a single touch sufficed, it would hopefully be over soon - but it would soon become ugly if a combination was needed...
Gatekeeper
GM, 1209 posts
Exalted Storyteller
Five Coils Artificer
Mon 27 Jul 2009
at 23:45
  • msg #149

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Veldygar starts pressing the scales. Nothing happens, at least not initially. Then there is a sudden click -- and an ominous hissing noise. Garnet Cog says immediately into his mind, Move back!

The dragon-head has animated, and a strange gas pours from its maw. Alerted early enough, the group can still withdraw, though this means they'll have to hide and wait in the passages until the group of monks, hospital workers and patients comes through. Or they can try to endure the smoke (Stamina+Resistance roll) and try something else. [Private to Veldygar Arhandor: Should you stay, I can allow you one more Perc+Aware, specifically focused on the Pasiap symbol or the dragon. The symbol may be less... dangerous to look into. You'll be at a -1 penalty though, due to having tried and botched before.]



OOC: I'll assume you move away and hide if you don't post in the next day or two. And will try to pass on better hints. Just want to stop stalling here.
Veldygar Arhandor
player, 71 posts
Eclipse Caste
Diplomat
Tue 28 Jul 2009
at 23:54
  • msg #150

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Veldygar chose to retreat some distance from the Dragon, waiting for the gas to dissipate. He was cursing inwardly - the entry was protected against tampering!

What a chore!

He decided to spend some time observing the Dragon again, still cloaked in his stealth Charm. He would try to see if some of the scales seemed more worn down than others - indicated that they had correctly been pressed more often.

While he was doing that, he wondered where Eternal had gone.

[Private to GM: [OOC:01:53, Today: Veldygar Arhandor rolled 5 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,8,1,10,10,2. Per+Awareness. ]]
Broken Eternal
player, 69 posts
Abyssal Assassin--
Stalker of the Shadows
Wed 29 Jul 2009
at 01:45
  • msg #151

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Where was Eternal indeed?  With his presence so keenly hidden by the whims of the Abyss, it was a question that many people within Coils had wondered, many of them afraid for their lives at the thought.  The hallway was void of any trace of him, and had been for several minutes now, since they had presumably gone down together.  Perhaps he had left them altogether, abandoned them to the Monks that would no doubt eventually find them--or, more probably, he left to slaughter those very monks...not for a sense of self-less honor, to allow his new friends time to figure out the puzzle that halted them, but only for the hunger of bloodshed.

In truth, it was none of these things, though the two of them would not know it until they heard his dissonant voice slip from somewhere in the hallway--somewhere very close, though it was incredibly difficult, with the acoustics involved to be able to tell just where.  The words might have seen cryptic at first (more do to lack of pure social skills than love for puzzles) but it was evident that the Abyssal Exalted had been studying the strange door in front of them as well, and had noticed something that perhaps the others had not.

"There are the faint impressions of a hand on the mountain--and at the center of that coil, near the lower end of the Dragon's tail, I can see a small hole--possibly for a key." 

Midou Harue
player, 24 posts
Wed 29 Jul 2009
at 15:46
  • msg #152

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

   Harue retreats down the corridor to find a suitable place to conceal herself from the oncoming monks.
Veldygar Arhandor
player, 72 posts
Eclipse Caste
Diplomat
Wed 29 Jul 2009
at 17:01
  • msg #153

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Disturbed in his evaluation by the coming monks, Veldygar elected to go searching the other corridors - perhaps the statue was a trap left to get rid of intruders, after all. He could always try to return, if the monks fell victim to the poison gas.

[Private to GM: [OOC: Still maintaining Easily Overlooked Presence Method, complemented by an attempt at making myself even more scarcely noticeable as I scuttle along the corridors.
18:58, Today: Veldygar Arhandor rolled 3 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,8,2,7,3,5. Dex+Stealth.
How long has elapsed since the last fight? So that I know if we can benefit from the 'moderate activity' Essence respiration.
]
]
Gatekeeper
GM, 1219 posts
Exalted Storyteller
Five Coils Artificer
Thu 30 Jul 2009
at 04:10
  • msg #154

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

The group takes another several minutes to find a safe place to hide away from the gas-flooded passage near the ornately carved door. Fortunately this puts them way off from any groups that might find them. Both Eternal and Harue find excellent and rather creative hiding places. Crawl spaces, air vents, dark and rarely used closets, they have their choice in the matter and the only concern is that they can be just close enough to hear the monks and hospital workers pass. (Eternal got 8 sux, Harue got 7)

Veldygar, on the other hand, barely manages to duck around the corner out of sight of the group now making their way to the temple door. He must rely primarily on his charm to make him inconspicuous.

Fortunately, it seems the monks leading the group are more attentive to the poison gas lingering in the corridors. "Halt. Wait here a moment." The Celestials hear a male voice. "I will deactivate the trap. It seems that someone has attempted to enter here recently. We will make a search for them but the first priority is to bring the patients to safety."

Another few minutes pass. The hospital employees can be heard trying to assuage the patients with them, that the Anathema would not attack them while the monks are about. It doesn't seem the nurses are terribly convinced of their own words, if the tremble in their voices is any indication. They also seem concerned the Inner Temple is not much safer; apparently the reports of other Celestial attacks have reached even them.

Finally, the others are signaled by the monk that the gas has been dispersed. "Proceed toward the entrance, it will be opened shortly."



OOC: You can either wait all the way until this group passes (safest, but least progress), or you can try to sneak back out with another good Dex+Stealth roll in order to 1) spy on how the monk opens the door, 2) try to sneak inside the door with the hospital staff and patients.

Also, you can regain 4 motes of essence, as about an hour has passed.
Veldygar Arhandor
player, 74 posts
Eclipse Caste
Diplomat
Thu 30 Jul 2009
at 09:34
  • msg #155

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Veldygar decided to stay in his corner, but he had one of his demons on hand to creep up near the monks in a dematerialized state and study their opening method, unless one of his comrades decided to try this first.
Gatekeeper
GM, 1220 posts
Exalted Storyteller
Five Coils Artificer
Thu 30 Jul 2009
at 18:34
  • msg #156

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

[Private to Veldygar Arhandor: good idea!]

Dezephiel remains brooding close to Veldygar underneath the ground. Still deeply injured, the many-armed demon finds it incredibly unbearable to be forced to hide while its owners enemies are about.[Private to Veldygar Arhandor: Dezephiel has 2 Limit by now (I think one can't get limit for the same reason more than once a scene). And yes, it gains some ess back too, but still not enough to materialize again so he can be healed. A shame.]

Gugoona, on the other hand, is relatively uninjured, just low on motes. The metody gleefully gives into its desire to serve and be of use, and slithers in dematerialized state through floor and walls to get a clear look at the monks and hospital staff gathering in front of the carved door.
Midou Harue
player, 25 posts
Fri 31 Jul 2009
at 00:24
  • msg #157

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

   Harue remains hidden until after the danger has passed. She has no desire to tangle with a large group of Immaculates - 3 or 4 sure, any larger than that, not so much.


   (OOC: Going out of town until Monday. Might not post, if you need Harue to pick a lock or do something to speed things along feel free to make her do it. If there is combat feel free to use her as you see fit. I'll be happy no matter what.)
Gatekeeper
GM, 1226 posts
Exalted Storyteller
Five Coils Artificer
Fri 31 Jul 2009
at 05:29
  • msg #158

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

What Gugoona sees (and reports to Veldygar at the next opportunity):

The lead monk places his left hand on the symbol of Pasiap, the Omphalos Triumphant. Motes of Terrestrial Essence (Earth, in this case) rise up from his hand, sinking into the symbol. The monk keeps his hand on the symbol, the glow of his hand building as the dragon carving seems to come to life. Ratchety sounds emit from the door, complex gears turning from within, as the serpentine dragon circles the mon a half-turn clockwise, until the head is below the mountain symbol rather than above. Only then does the dragon's eyes glow, and the door opens, lifting upward by some unknown mechanism.

In the time Gugoona takes to return and report this, at least half of the nurses and patients have already been evacuated inside. Assuming no one in the group will act before the monks step through last and allow the door to close again, there is some time for Veldygar to ponder what he has discovered.
Veldygar Arhandor
player, 75 posts
Eclipse Caste
Diplomat
Sun 2 Aug 2009
at 09:12
  • msg #159

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Veldygar decided that he would be pushing the limits of his Charm if he just strolled in the middle of the column - he decided he would first try to about the door's mechanism. It seemed obvious that the mechanism required some Essence input, but could it be possible that it was tailored to reject an Essence not from a Terrestial Exalt? That there was a precise quantity of Essence to be used, else the door would not open or worse? He hoped that Gugoona had used its native Essence-sensing Charm to ascertain this.

[Private to GM: (OOC:11:10, Today: Veldygar Arhandor rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,5,5,2,7. Int+Occult.)]
Gatekeeper
GM, 1237 posts
Exalted Storyteller
Five Coils Artificer
Sun 2 Aug 2009
at 19:19
  • msg #160

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

[Private to Veldygar Arhandor: Oh! Measure the Wind, excellent. Hmm. It's a bit of a stretch but I think I can allow you this info. Besides, will get you out of here faster. ]Veldygar continues to consult with the supernatural beings in his entourage, while the group of monks, nurses and patients continues moving into the Temple.

Gugoona helpfully informs Veldygar that the 'lock' of the door seems specifically keyed toward Terrestrial Essence - not a specific amount, so the demon claims, just the presence of it at all. So using other types of Essence would be unadvisable. It also points out, unerringly, that Midou Harue is a Terrestrial Exalt, and opines that the door is much too dense and heavily enchanted for it to bypass - even dematerialized. [Private to Veldygar Arhandor: You will have to post to tell Harue what you know and what to do (i.e. touch the Pasiap symbol and channel a mote of essence into it), I will be controlling her should she not post by tomorrow so something will definitely get done. I'm sorry you got stuck with unresponsive people. :( By this week you will unite with another group.]

Garnet Cog, observing from where she rides invisibly upon Veldygar's shock pike, also states, If you require it I may be able to aid with the lock near the tail, as complex mechanisms fall beneath my purview. However, it may not be necessary. It may be there to mislead, should this door prove to be Essence-locked.

Dezephiel continues to brood, its unpleasant emotions radiating to Veldygar from beneath the ground.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:46, Tue 04 Aug 2009.
Veldygar Arhandor
player, 76 posts
Eclipse Caste
Diplomat
Mon 3 Aug 2009
at 19:43
  • msg #161

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Veldygar waited for the last person to go through the door, and, once the mechanism was locked once again, he ascertained that there was noone else before speaking of his discoveries to his companions, before asking Harue to try activating the door.
Midou Harue
player, 26 posts
Mon 3 Aug 2009
at 23:58
  • msg #162

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

   Harue ascents to lending her Essence to the cause of escaping this hospital - she suspects grugs or no drugs she won't be visiting it every again and eagerly awaiting getting the door open and the heck out of there.

   She carefully listens to any instructions Veldy has to deliver before feeding the door essence - she is cautious of traps that could be triggered giving it the wrong amount of essence. (Please rolls whatever is necessary and spending a point of willpower.)
Gatekeeper
GM, 1239 posts
Exalted Storyteller
Five Coils Artificer
Tue 4 Aug 2009
at 14:46
  • msg #163

Re: Eternal, Veldygar - The Water Republic Mission

Harue cannot tell any certain specifics about the Essence required, though she is reasonably certain there are no further traps associated with the symbol of the Omphalos. After examining it carefully for several minutes, she decides the best way she can test it is one mote at a time.

As she expends her Essence, a green glow forms beneath her hand and channels into the mountain shaped symbol, lighting up the grooves that make up the crags and peaks detailing the mountain's shape, and finally filling in the outer surrounding circle. She finds she has spent about ten motes, when the door starts to shudder.

Again the dragon carving shifts, as gears churn loudly within the door. Harue hears a voice in her mind, Welcome, Chosen of Sextes Jylis, to the District of Earth, Immaculate Inner Temple.

The door rises, allowing the three Exalts into the chambers within.



OOC: Well there you go. You will get some XP and then a new thread (Floor B25 - District of Earth, Inner Temple Level 1) ...hopefully soon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:47, Tue 04 Aug 2009.
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