Kalima has one hand on her spear, and three hands on Alban, who still
seems smug, u til one of her hands brushes against his neck, raising a small welt.

Oly slips out with the group and moves behind Alban and watches all around, above and below.

"Kalima, you beautiful war goddess, please stop touching this clearly corrupted young fool.  Ardenas, if you'd please step in close and make sure Alban doesn't do anything that deserves more of Kalima's tender attentions."

Benny waits a moment, and looks to see if Mancini wants to take over the questioning.


OOC:  I think Mancini came back?  Or is the Player still MIA?

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 3):

Aoife is still a little annoyed, and ready to turn him into a fish at a moment's notice...

On cue, Ardenas steps up and initiates a grapple on one of Alban's arms.  If successful, he'll convert it to an arm lock to immobilize and control Alban.

[Private to GM: 05:07, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 13 using 3d6.  Judo (16 - 2 for arm grapple).]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 5):

occ Mancini is still MIA.

Kalima looks at the mark on the man's neck, as she releases him into Ardenas' arm lock.

"My hands are holy, and they burned him like my spear did that infernal priest."

"Interesting.  Aloysius reacts that way because of his nature, not changed by the choices he's made in his life.  This one seems human, so either his trade with Faust has changed his nature, or this is due to the choices he's made.

"Alban, you'd best answer Benny's questions -- what favor did you trade to Johan Faust, and did you receive something tangible in return, or were you changed?"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 7):

"I gave him nothing I was using "

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 8):

"I don't think you will get any less information out of him if I turn him into a fish...or maybe he just needs a big hug from Kalima..."

Benny sighs, "Young man do not mistake my initial desire to have a conversation like civilized people as an indication that I won't end our talk and withdraw my protection thus letting these ladies have their way.  She will turn you into a fish and leave in this alley to drown," he indicates Aoife and then Kalima, "and the holy touch of this angel you're already experienced.  However, if you answer straight and true, I will do what I can to help you out of your predicament, Lord Hermes is the shepherd of lost souls after all.  Now, what did you give and what did you receive?"


OOC:  01:41, Today: Benny Morales rolled 16 using 3d6.  Intimidation 15, attempting to scare Alban into talking. – [roll=1643265718.81922.341336]
Blah, MoS -1, hopefully Kalima looming and Aoife's threats lend at least a +1 to make that a Good Reaction instead of a Bad Reaction...
01:42, Today: Benny Morales rolled 8 using 3d6.  Detect Lies 17. – [roll=1643265775.84203.341336]

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 10):

"I lead a charmed life, and even that cannot be taken lightly."

"Apparently, though, your luck can't be counted on for some things -- to find opponents in games of chance, for instance, or to protect you from the holy touch.  Luck may be better than skill once, but skill doesn't run out.  Say I kick you in the head.  You might be lucky enough to dodge the blow once or twice, but I'm sure I can keep kicking longer than you can keep dodging, luck or no.

"Now, you traded something you weren't using, for a charmed life.  See, we're making some progress.    What weren't you using -- your sense of honesty, of right and wrong, or simply your soul?  We've dealt with those who gave away their souls before.  Most of them are dead now, too."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 12):

"Why does it even matter to you?"

"As I understand it, this group has been tasked with finding and culling infernal corruption within the city.  I agreed to help to try save as many lost souls along the way as I can.  But you sound like you don't want to be led away from your fate, which is a pity."

"It matters to me because I was born here.  Northport is my city and if it is harmed or diminished, whether by demons or beings from Beyond or ordinary misguided men, I am harmed as well."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 15):

"You are harmed by a guy being lucky?"

"I'm harmed by whatever the demons behind Faust's shop gained by whatever you weren't using and traded to them for your luck.  I don't know exactly what demons do with a soul -- not sure I want to know -- but I'm pretty confident they gain some kind of power from it, and demons gaining power is always bad."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 17):

"Our concern is not what you bought, but what you paid for it."

"Let's not be hasty Aoife.  If what he purchased could linger and damn others, then it to must be dealt with."

Benny turns to the gambler, "So young man, will you come clean, or are you and I done having a discussion?"

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 19):

"After years of being shit upon by the gods, I got lucky. I cannot lose. Sure it cost, but you can't get something for nothing."

"Ladies, he's all yours to question as you wish, my conversation is concluded."

Benny turns and begins to walk away.

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 21):

"Finally. Enough justifying yourself and avoiding the question! Time for some fish time to think about answering us."

She wastes no time turning him into a tuna...

[Private to GM: Rolled 6 under spell, shapeshift other, tuna.]

In reply to Aoife (msg # 22):

Not surprisingly,  he resists the spell, and looks at you oddly.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:36, Wed 16 Feb 2022.

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 23):

Aoife smiles, also being very lucky due to her nature, and recasts the spell...

[Private to GM: Shapeshift other, tuna. rolled 8 under. Do I pay fatigue cost for a resisted spell?]

Ardenas watches this exchange while slipping his solid silver knuckledusters into place.

He just moves up a bit closer with a hand on his Long Knife.

In reply to Aoife (msg # 24):

Again Without making use of his luck, he again resists... and a resisted spell costs FP.

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 27):

Now angry, Aoife takes a different approach...

[Private to GM: Create Animal, Rat Swarm, rolled 8 under skill.]

In reply to Aoife (msg # 28):

the rats swarm toward Alban

In reply to rat bastid (msg # 29):

"Get them off ! get them off me!"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:14, Fri 18 Feb 2022.

Benny moves off a bit to guard the alley entrance and tries to ignore the young man's cries for help.


OOC:  13:29, Today: Benny Morales rolled 10 using 3d6.  Charitable 12. – [roll=1645208973.48529.341336]

Oly steps away and draws his long knife, Rats are no friends of his.

"Oh, now you want our help?  I suppose my redhead friend could call off the rats if you'll tell us what we want to know.  I certainly wouldn't want them all over me, either."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 33):

"Oh, surely you will be lucky enough that they will not bite you!" she add sarcastically.

"Now, for the last time, what did you give or offer to do in exchange for the gift of luck? I suggest my temper is short enough you stop trying to avoid the question!

Rat, get up close to him..."

In reply to Aoife (msg # 34):

"I said it was something unimportant,  that I was not using. That is what the contract said, anyway."

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 35):

"But you never actually said what it was. You are still avoiding the question. Rats, he needs more encouragement...nip him!"

Leazed he dalks bedder wid ratz dan az a duna Fizh

"I can think of a few important things that you don't appear to use.  The contract wasn't more specific?  Because if you can't tell us, we'll probably have to take you to the Hadereum and let them apply techniques that are outside our abilities to find out."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 38):

"The deal was... stop with the rats... for my soul, alright? But my gifts continue after I die, there was no clause ending them."

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 39):

"The gift of your soul, or their gifts to you?"

"Wait, you'll still be lucky after you die?  How does that work?  Never mind, it's a rhetorical question, though I'm sure the Hadereum would be interested in analyzing that.

"So you gave up your soul, thinking you weren't using it, and thought you'd put one over on Faust and his demon backers with a contract that didn't carry an end clause.  Did you never listen to the stories when you were a child?  Or do they only tell the ones where Jack beats the Devil in your part of town?  Or maybe there are some advantages to growing up Vejovist."

Ardenas shakes his head, then looks at Aoife and Benny.

"So what do we do with him?  Hand him over to the Hadereum?  They'll probably just lose his paperwork or 'accidentally' drop his cell key into his dinner bowl right before a scheduling cross up sends all the guards off shift at once."

"Hmm. Could we negate the contract somehow? Like give this sad sop his soul back? in exchange for his luck?"

Benny calls back just loud enough for the group to hear him, "We'd have to see the contract to discern if there is an escape clause.  There likely isn't.  Ask the young fool if he has the contract, and if his 'luck' innate or bound to an object?"

He turns back to watching the alley entrance for passerbys coming to investigate the shouts for help.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Wed 23 Feb 2022.

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 43):

Aoife just waits for her previous question to be answered first, before jumping to conclusions. If he is reluctant, she will encourage his with the rats...

Then she will ask about if he has a copy of the contract.

Ardenas will wait for answers to Aoife's questions.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 45):

"I don't have the contract, they do. And there is no token or charm, just me."

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 46):

"And was your soul the only thing you gave them? Nothing else?"

In reply to Aoife (msg # 47):

"I am missing nothing else."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:34, Tue 01 Mar 2022.

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 48):

"Are you sure? You sound like you are not sure about the contract details..."

In reply to Aoife (msg # 49):

that last bit came outvsmall for reasons I don't understand, not because he is mumbling.

He seems confident,  but may not have read all of the details.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 50):

"So you do not know exactly what it has cost you? Does giving up ones soul give someone or something else control over you here and now, does anyone know?"

Ardenas shrugs.

"Never even considered trading mine away.  And not a theological question that arose when I was studying at the Academy -- not exactly couched as a koan, either."

"Damn it, Alban," Mancini says slamming the table. "You of all people should know the house eventually wins. If I could see that contract, I might have seen what tied you to that contract and freed you. As long as that contract is over your head, that demon that owns it controls you."

In reply to Mancini (msg # 53):

"Feed him to rats then?"

"No, not necessarily, Aoife."

 Mancini turns to Alban. "What was the exact wording of the wish?"

Seeing the Aoife was being reigned in and answers were now forthcoming, Benny moves back closer to listen in, but still keeps an eye on the alley entrance.

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 56):
"That no one, not even death can beat me at cards, and that I have the very luck of the devil."

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 57):

"In exchange for what, exactly? How was it worded?"

In reply to Aoife (msg # 58):

"I don't remember! get these rats off of me!"

Ardenas glances between Benny and Kalima.

"Well?  What do we do with him now?  I'm sure there's some advantage for Faust's bosses here, but i don't see what it is.  Maybe they've already gotten what they want -- I've always heard they're after the souls of mortals, though I don't know I've ever heard what they do with them."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 60):

"Consider the rats a memory aid..."

Aoife answers curtly.

In reply to Aoife (msg # 61):

the beleaguered gambler flings a rat at the diminutive druid, and it gets caught in her hair.

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 62):

"Eat the bastard!" she directs the others in anger, getting the one thrown at her out of her hair to join the feast, before indignantly walking away.

Benny moves to stop Aoife from walking away, "Call the rats off."

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 64):

She glares at him, deliberately taking her time and choosing her words carefully.

"Why should I? The unrepentant demon lover attacked me. He deserves what he gets..."

[Private to GM: She will take about a full minute to finish this response.]

Ardenas shakes his head.  "If we can't get anything more from him, we should probably turn him over to the Hadereum -- intact."

"This is an evil you are committing, petty and vile."

Benny steps past her clearly done with her, unlimbers his mace and moves to begin stomping rats in order to save the young man from being mauled.

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 67):

She scowls at his definition of evil.

"Ok for him to make deals with evil, and for you to walk out when we start to discuss it, but you come back in on your holy high horse when you think you have your answers. Doesn't you God have something to say about double standards?"

She scowls and leaves them to race the rats...inciting them to attack the gambler with renewed fury.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:53, Mon 07 Mar 2022.

In reply to Aoife (msg # 68):

Kalima skewers a pair of rats, which then evaporate, and Benny squashes another while Norman stabs another with his spear., dispersing the pack.  The gambler is bleeding heavily.

Luck running low?

Rats dispatched and fleeing, Benny crouches down and lays a hand on the bleeding gambler, "Hermes, master of transactions, please allow me to trade my health for this man's wounds."

As the gambler heals and Benny's flesh opens and begins seeping, "Turn him over for what Ardenas?  Has he committed any crimes?"


OOC:  Using the Learned Prayer "Lay on Hands", taking his wounds.

"We don't know, since he's so reluctant to talk to us.  One might consider winning money at cards by way of demonic magic akin to other sorts of cheating -- a form of theft, at the least, though in this city that's more likely to get you murdered than sentenced.  Then again, it's self-defeating -- by this time next week, at the latest, there won't be anyone in Northport who'll get into a game of dice or cards with him except the completely ignorant and the new in town.

"I worry more about that 'devil's luck' he mentioned, and about it continuing after his death.  I expect those are the things Hadereum would be interested in, and the things the demons behind Faust's shop wanted loose in the world."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 72):

surprisingly, the man's wounds do not heal.

someone  make s demonology or theology roll

Kalima looks at Alban, and seems to remember something...

17:46, Today: Kalima rolled 7 using 3d6.  Theology 12.

In reply to Kalima (msg # 74):

Aoife may even know something too...though she is probably more concerned with the rats and finds some consolation that the gods did not heal him.

[Private to GM: Rolled 8, 6 under Druidic Theology.]

"Well young man, look like you pissed off the one god who actually might have been in your corner.  I'd look into atoning for that."


OOC:  21:18, Today: Benny Morales rolled 11 using 3d6.  Theology (Hermes) 8. – [roll=1647307102.82373.341336]
/sadtrombone.wav

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 76):

this miscreant has been excommunicated
from receiving divine grace, and has
condemned himself with his diabolical pact!

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 77):

"Serves you right...I hope those rat bites carried a disease that the priests can cure. That way, you can either get sick and die, or get things right with the gods. That will involve negating your pact, by the way... "

She remains sullen in the corner.

"Well, isn't this interesting? Because of his actions, the gods have forsaken him."

Mancini frowns. "Would any of the gods still have him?" He thinks for a second. "What of the Triune God? If Albun was sincere and renounced his pact and such, would that be enough?"

"Hard to say -- Aloysius is a different case, renouncing a birth in which he had no say.  This one knowingly gave himself over.  I suspect one would have to ask Father Robards or Aloysius, but I suspect it won't be quick and easy, at best.  Don't know, I've never been a Triunist, nor spent much time around them."

"No need to get the Triunists involved, besides, three gods who are one?  Do you even know who you're dealing with?  I'm sure Hermes would be willing to intercede for our gambler here, argue his penitence to the Olympian court, if penitent he be... As long as he's willing to pay for it."

"Benny, I'm no expert on your god Hermes, but why would Hermes intercede for this fellow? It seems he has perverted luck and gambling, two of your deity's special providences. Also, I am assuming, by paying, you mean coin at Hermes's temple. I don't know his finances, but I doubt he kept much of his ill gotten gains. In short, it's highly unlikely he can bribe a god."

23:19, Today: Mancini rolled 8 using 3d6.  Diplomacy 16.

"Hermes is the messenger, he'll always carry a message, as long as the tribute is met.  But more so, Hermes roots for the little guy, because he started out as the little guy.  He's also very big on second chances, after all he swindled, stole, and conned his way to a seat at the table on Olympus."  Benny turns back and is talking more to Alban, "I can personally attest that he'll step in for someone who has made all the mistakes, found themselves at the end of the line, and can't find the path back into the good graces of the gods.  Maybe you haven't fallen far enough to have hit rock bottom, where you'll understand how badly you needs to change your ways, but when you do young man, find me and I'll help get your plea to Hermes."

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 83):

the door to the back room opens, revealing a patron of the Wastrel's Hope with a sour expression.  His eyes take in the scene.
"I see he cheated you too! let's fini a h him!"

Nod zo faz, man

Mancini immediately jumps between Benny, Alban, and the angry gambler. Mancini quickly flashes his guild badge and says, "Name's Mancini and I am here on official guild business. I understand this gentleman has been going around cheating folk of their hard earned gamblings. I understand how that could make people very angry, especially when he has a personality of a rutabaga."

Mancini continues, "But I am a man of some means. I would prefer no one lost their lives here. Could I just cover your gambling loses to this guy instead?"

14:23, Today: Mancini rolled 7 using 3d6.  Diplomacy 16.
[top]

In reply to Mancini (msg # 86):

"Hunnert an sixty he owes me, better n a weeks pay"

"Doubling up on your losses?  I'm afraid Mancini is correct that we shouldn't let you beat him up any further."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 88):

Aoife is quiet, and just watches.

He shrugs and steps back.

Benny, still crouching, turns back to Alban, "Did you cheat this man?  Or did you win through skill and luck?"

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 91):

"I don't cheat. The cards just like me."

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 92):

"Because some demon told them too... redemption starts with acknowledgement of the truth!" Aoife responds from the corner.

Benny stands and steps between the angry gambler and Alban, "Skill and luck are all the tools one needs at the tables.  Perhaps next time don't bet beyond your means to easily lose."

In reply to Aoife (msg # 93):

as a druid, Aoife couldn't give a rat's rump about redemption,  but plenty about revenge and personal retribution

In reply to Narrator (msg # 95):

Oh, very true, but like so many, she is quite happy to frame her personal retribution in theological terms if it seems the two line up! She has been criticized quite recently about being overly concerned about revenge, so now she has the opportunity to frame the revenge as redemption, she would not miss it!

"If I'd lost my rent to you, and found out it was because you sold your soul to make 'the cards like you,' I might be pretty prone to help you along your way to Hell.

"Bad decision on his part, betting his living money, but I'm inclined to think you've done worse.  Doesn't matter how big a loser you are, getting someone else to fix the game for you is still cheating."

Sending Aoife and Benny were about to get into again, Mancini spoke up to try to diffuse the situation. "It seems to me any luck or skill not naturally obtained is cheating, and this gentleman is in fact owed money back."

Mancini reached into his coin purse and gave the amount to the angry gambler.

18:06, Today: Mancini rolled 8 using 3d6.  Diplomacy 16.

In reply to Mancini (msg # 98):

The gambler grumbles and walks off with the coin. Albus meanwhile,  points his chin in Aoife's direction.
"What about the 'Good Neighbors'? They have unnaturaluck as well."

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 99):

"What good neighbours? If you are referring to leprechauns good luck, it is part of who we are, just like the white of dumb f wits that think they can attack us to get a pot of gold that exists only in their deranged imaginations. And since it is part of who we are, any idiot that plays cards with us should expect it. It is not a human trait that we have to sell our souls to get. Are you so dimwitted that you can't tell we don't care about luck, but how you got it?"

She does not hide her condescending attitude...

"Likewise, some humans are literally born lucky -- and some unlucky.  It's a bit different getting into a game with someone you and everyone else in the tavern know has been lucky since she learned to walk, and getting into a game with someone who used to lose a lot and now literally can't lose.

"If you'd gotten an amulet that lets you read cards from the back, even you wouldn't argue with a claim that you're cheating -- but even that won't prevent you getting dealt a really bad hand.  What you have does.

"Now, I'm no diviner, but I think it's a pretty safe prediction that if you keep playing cards and winning people's pay from them, eventually one of them will kill you in a way your luck can't keep you out of.  And I don't know what good your luck will do you after you're dead.  Maybe get you a better plot in the graveyard?"

In reply to Aoife (msg # 100):

"To hear the triunists say it, your people never had souls, and some of them say your folk are damned anyway, so what is the difference?"

"Alban, are you trying to get her to kill you?

"I don't know if she has a soul or not -- I don't know if I do, though most religions would say I do.  I'd bet there are some right in this city who'd consider me soulless, though -- or at least certain humans, based mainly on the color of their skin or what language their ancestors spoke or what religion they practice.  For the most part, I'm also not sure it matters."

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 102):

"The words of ignorant fools, I am not surprised to hear them from you. How do you feel, by the way? No sicknesses from the rat bites?"

In reply to Aoife (msg # 104):

created animals cannot cause lasting afflictions-they are not created with diseases

In reply to Narrator (msg # 105):

Thank you for the info, I did not know as a player.

But does he know that? Aoife will think about it for later

In reply to Aoife (msg # 106):

make an intimidation roll at +1.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 107):

Aoife being intimidating? Interesting concept...

[Private to GM: Rolled 12, 4 under will, vs default, Will -5, so with the +1 might just make it!]

In reply to Aine Walsh (msg # 108):

the gambler pales  t the suggestion,and starts checking his bites.

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 109):

"It might be wise to start sorting out your differences with the gods..."

In reply to Aoife (msg # 110):

"I may yet have a chance to beat this."

"I wish you all the best of luck young man, may your adventure become the stuff of legend.  If you find you'd like Hermes to intercede for you, you can leave word with the local Adventurer's Guild, I believe I'll be joining their ranks."

He turns to Mancini, "Anything else we need to do here?  He has no demonic trinkets to confiscate for the Hadereum to destroy or render harmless.  Apparently simply being infernal in origin or bearing is not illegal in this city so I am unsure there is anything more we can do here legally...."

"I don't think he's even demonic in the way you suggest.  I think they just changed his basic nature in some way, in return for his soul, whatever that means -- can a human even walk around without a soul?

"Any case, if he'd become demonic, I'm pretty sure Kalima here would have done something to him by now.  She's quite good at spotting that stuff."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 113):

"He is damned, and detects as evil, although not a demon. It would be very appropriate to dispatch him to his fate, although I suspect he has a few cards up his sleeve."

In reply to Kalima (msg # 114):

If we aren't going to send him to his 'reward' then let's lock him up."

"Maybe you're right.  Perhaps the Hadereum can figure out what's up with him before his luck sets him free."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 116):

"Sounds good to me. And rest up a little before chasing whoever is next..."

Oly thinks for a moment before nodding his concurrence.

In reply to Oly (msg # 118):

"Well that stinks."

In reply to Alban the lucky (msg # 119):

"You get to choose your choices, not the consequences..."

"I think your luck's holding.  You might well be safer in a cell under the Hadereum than you would be running loose with everyone whose rent you won looking for you."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 121):

"Get a move on, you." the guard says, prodding the gambler with his spear.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:23, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

In reply to Norman (msg # 122):

" Please take him to the Haderaum Norman. Now, who is next in that ledger?"

"If no one minds, I'll accompany Norman.  Better to have two with this one, I think."

Wan me da come do?

In reply to Oly (msg # 125):

the three of you frogmarch him to the Hadereum.  Acolyte Flavius gives Alban the stinkeye.

In reply to Acolyte Flavius (msg # 126):

The rest of us go through the journal for the next name?

Ardenas explains what we know about Alban to Flavius -- including that, as far as we know, there's no object associated with his luck, it's just his luck.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 128):

"Harumph. That explains a great deal. I  will see to it that none play cards with him. into a null zone with sanctity for him!"

In reply to Aoife (msg # 127):

the next name with a "c" notaion is a Belasco

"Mancini, longshot, but have you heard of this Belasco?"

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 131):

Aoife has no idea...so waits to hear about them.

With Alban temporarily taken care of, the others scrolled for another name. He was lost in thought when Benny called out if he had heard of this Belasco. Oddly enough, he had. His well connected sources from around the city and Guild had sent him reports about Belasco, but until now, it did not dawn on him he was connected in any way to the bookstore case.

 09:39, Today: Mancini rolled 6 using 3d6.  Contact (12).

09:37, Today: Mancini rolled 3 using 3d6.  Area knowledge Northport 15.

09:37, Today: Mancini rolled 8 using 3d6.  Current Affairs (Guild)- 15.
This message was last updated by the GM at 17:17, Wed 20 Apr 2022.

In reply to Mancini (msg # 133):

Belasco is a mercenary  known for poor temper and feats of prodigious strength despite his being of slight build. He has been a known harrasser of women, and u til recently, known for being slapped and humiliated.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 134):

"Harasser of women, huh? Then why did the slapping and humiliation stop recently? Where can we find him?"

In reply to Aoife (msg # 135):

he was last seen bothering people in the street of foreign gods near Dockside and Temple

In reply to Narrator (msg # 136):

"Then we should head to the streets of foreign gods..."

"Just a hunch, but Aoife and Kalima might want to prepare themselves, if they can, to resist this man's charm.  I think I see a pattern in these last couple trades."

"Aside from increasing tension between groups, I'll admit, I'm not seeing any shape to this."

"Well, let's see.  DuFontaine got the ability to make people listen and obey; I presume he had an issue with being ignored. Felix only got material to feed his own hate.  Alban was a bad-luck loser, and suddenly he literally can't lose at cards.  This Belasco has a history of getting slapped down when he tries to push himself on women -- maybe now he's literally irresistible.  Some kind of walking charm.

"I suspect there's going to be a lot of this kind of thing in that book -- people who, for one reason or another, were unhappy with their life, and getting a narrowly focused way to reverse that one thing -- and who very likely haven't yet figured out that their lives aren't fixed."

"It's a bit presumptuous to suggest their lives weren't 'fixed' in some way.  Fontaine and Felix were living perfectly fine until we came along and disrupted their new leases on life.  It's possible Alban is the one outlier, being extremely lucky at gaming has the habit of making one someone others won't gamble with, but he could have turned that luck to other pursuits and made himself comfortable doing so.  But that wasn't who he was at his center."

He seems about to say something, stops, pats the mace/aspergillum hanging from his belt and then continues probably on a different track, "But you're right.  These people were all missing something in their lives, du Fontaine power over others, Felix a path, Alban success at the tables, and the shop provided them something that changed that.  It provided that something with a minimal cost attached, an easy path."

He laughs, "Hah, easy.  This Belasco doesn't sound like he'll be easy to deal with.  A strong mercenary?  He'll be ready to fight to keep whatever power he's gained and might not be as easy to slap around as the gambler was.  We should approach this one with a plan and a firm decision of how to proceed."

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 141):

"We should rest first, but I can take his strength away by turning him into a fish..."

"Indeed, or I can close with him, likely coldcock him before he can do much, barring a helmet he'd have trouble seeing out of -- and we can then question him once he wakes up."

"We cannot question a fish, nor someone eaten by your pet snake, chewn apart by rats, or anything else of that nature.  I recommend we find the man and observe him.  Maybe see if we can sus out what he has acquired before confronting him and becoming subjected to his will, as I suspect might be his newly acquired gift."

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 144):

"Are we going?"

"Certainly.  I think I'll have seen more of this city in one day than I've seen in the last five since I arrived."

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 146):

"Fish also do not create further problems for others. Sounds to me like he is far from innocent, and I will not contribute to his future crimes by letting him be if he has no remorse. You can share his guilt if you choose, but don't expect us to. Let's get moving, Norman."

"Yes, let's go meet with our charming brute. It seems every name on this list gets more and more and more odious."

Mancini sighs and turns to Aoife. "And please, no fish magic until we've seen for ourselves that the the rumors are true."

In reply to Mancini (msg # 148):

just an ooc reminder:
druidic spells are at -5 in urban areas except parks

In reply to Narrator (msg # 149):

Yes, I have wondered about how to get out of town missions...it seems most of my characters are very badly fitted to their missions.

OOC:  Christine, Hograth, Reanna, Clarence, and the Drakes seem to be fitting in okay...  I stopped reading the other threads though so Iim not familiar with the other's situations.

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 151):

Melchizedek would be much better suited to hunting Vampires, while Kirpich would be well suited to working with dwarves.

Clarence one skill, continual light, can be done by others in his group.

Christine, the Drake's, Aine, Reanna, Saishi and Gareth are reasonably well suited to their roles though. Sederic already changed to a more suitable thread.

In reply to Christine Bjorn (msg # 152):

"Let us go find this malefactor!"

In reply to Kalima (msg # 153):

"Indeed, lets go..."

"Yes.  I'm sure there are some near there who will be happy to see Kalima again."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 155):

you make your way out of the Wastrel's Hope's alleyway, and on your way you spot Sederic and some others, along with an ogrekin carrying an elf and an axe.

"Must have been quite the party."  Ardenas nods toward Sederic's large companion with the elf over his shoulder.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 157):

"You could say that. Managed to capture a ringleader, though got hurt doing so. None of you speak elvish by any chance?"

"Not me.  Thought you did."

"Injured again?  And I bet you're pretending it's 'nothing' again.  All right, come here young man."  Benny moves over to the other party.

He lays hands on Sederic, "Lord of the Coin, Hermes, I accept the trade of this man's wounds for my own health."

Sederic feels himself return to whole, Benny grimaces, "Ahhh, yeah, definitely faking it again.  That'll be the death of you one day."  He staggers and leans against a wall.  "Hermes, I'm a bit out of breath, so please accept my pledge of aiding the poor travelers tomorrow in lieu of restoring me today, again."  The paleness in his face begins to fade.

"That's twice in one day, Sederic, and now Hermes demands a tithe.  Ahh, what would be appropriate, oh, I know, before the sun next crosses the boundary between night and day you must find four who are too poor to feed themselves and gift them sustenance for the night."

He looks over the group Sederic is with, "Anyone else get banged up nabbing this outlaw?"

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 160):

"I was injured y these miscreants as well."

In reply to Leroy du Lac (msg # 161):

I am not sure how a Druid has Major Healing (carry over from character creation by someone else) but if GM accepted that, Aoife is happy to heal the other member 10 pnts. She does not know elvish, however.

She will insist on resting now however in order to recover.

[Private to GM: Major healing, 9 under skill, 5-2 (high skill) =3fp, 10 pnts healed.]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Sun 15 May 2022.

In reply to Aoife (msg # 162):

"I got those injuries protecting those who could not protect themselves. Is that not enough?"

Benny shrugs, "All I know is Hermes made a tithing request and I interpreted it in a manner that doesn't put money in overflowing priestly pockets."

[Private to GM: And he's lying.  If need be, I can make an Acting roll.]

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 164):

"Right. So four meals for poor folk...I can probably manage that."

He looks about for a place that sells food...

In reply to Sederic (msg # 165):

you are at the Wastrel's Hope, and JeanPaul does sell food of a sort, and many of the patrons are literally down on their luck...

In reply to JeanPaul (msg # 166):

So how hard would it be to find five who could not afford their next meal because of gambling debts (yes, one more than required) and buy them meals? How much would it cost?

In reply to Sederic (msg # 167):

you need to roll a 6 or lower for 5, 9 or lower for 4.... and make another roll for weirdness

In reply to Narrator (msg # 168):

Rolled 16 to meet folk, 13 for weirdness magnet. No one here but Cthulhu...

In reply to Sederic (msg # 169):

The others call you from across the street, where they are joined by someone with blue eyes

In reply to Narrator (msg # 170):

"I think my task with them is done for now, but I will check with them before returning to assist our mission. I did not miss any action, I assume?"

Sederic briefly returns to those on the other side.

In reply to Sederic (msg # 171):

Sederic leaves, and once the others are back from the Hadereum,  you head intodockside where it joins with the temple district.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 172):

Sederic returns shortly after leaving.

"My work with them is done. Their fight is over, and investigations are theirs to complete. I would ask if I missed anything but talking, but I think I already know the answer to that."

In reply to Sederic (msg # 173):

a collection of flower wearing, painted cultists swarm around Kalima, led by a familiar man with a painted scalp.

In reply to Molaram (msg # 174):

"Welcome back Sederic. Kalima, friends of yours, could they assist us?"

In reply to Aoife (msg # 175):

"Thank you. Who do we hunt now that the gambler is done?"

In reply to Sederic (msg # 176):

"A dastardly knight named Belasco."

In reply to Kalima (msg # 177):

"That sounds like a fight waiting to happen. Do we yet know where to find him?"

In reply to Sederic (msg # 178):

"Mancini says he has been seen about these precincts causing trouble."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:08, Wed 01 June 2022.

"From what we know of his character before his deal with Faust's handlers, causing trouble seems the least we can expect of him."

"Yes, I dread what twist this bastard has attached to his wish." Mancini thinks for a moment and then adds, "But what I don't get is why not wish to rule Northport or some such place instead of these petty wishes these scum make? I mean why take a bite of an apple when you can eat the whole thing?"

"Different people have different holes in their beings, I think.  I wouldn't have any desire to rule, but I would very much like to find my parents, or at least know what happened to them.  A child who wants nothing more than a simple toy, but can't have it because his family is too poor is probably the cleanest example -- just for pulling his sister's hair every time she prays, he gets a bouncy ball.  He gets what he wants, for doing something he's probably already prone to do.

"Felix needed only source material to do what he was already trying to do.  Du Fontaine probably couldn't get a word in edgewise at home.  A loser with a gambling problem now literally can't lose at cards.

"Now this fellow, always getting rebuffed when he tries too hard, I'd guess he has become able to seduce any woman he chooses -- but it's a much larger toy, so he gave something much greater.  Firstborn?  That would be my guess..."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 182):

"The last person I heard of who could seduce anyone was Astra Black, the nymph bard... he even charmed the assassins that a girl's father sent after him! Any newly successful Lothario might have made waves, the same way we all have heard of Marie."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:48, Thu 02 June 2022.

In reply to Norman (msg # 183):

"Heard of who?"

In reply to Aoife (msg # 184):

"Marie? She is a blue haired elf with a high body count."

"Oh, the one who helped us with Glosso and Hramina.  Except I'd have sworn her name wasn't Marie."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 186):

"Oh, a high body count? Keeping the preface, or breaking it? Did she make any dodgy demonic deals? Who are Glosso and Hramina?"

"I did not sign up to get rid of everyone in Northport. We all have our sins."

"When I met her, I think she'd just come from a job clearing some trolls out of a wine cellar for someone in the Guild.  Pretty sure she's not connected with demons in any way.

"Glosso and Hramina are a goblin and an orc -- Glosso was a qwik, a goblin jugga player, and Hramina was a cheerer for one of the Urhaqui teams, and their romance offended some orc players and spectators.  A couple weeks ago, they started busting up stuff owned by goblins, and it looked like it was headed for a full-on gang war, but once we got to the core of the matter, it was mainly that Glosso had to step up and stop sneaking around to be accepted by the Urhaqui community.

"Since then, I haven't seen not-Marie -- Christine, that was her name!  Come to that, I don't think I've ever seen the real Marie -- isn't she a tavern performer, assuming the really exists?"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 189):

"Oh. So why should we have heard of Marie or Christine? I am not sure I see the connection..."

"Well, almost everyone seems to have mistaken Christine for Marie or the other way at some point, from what I've seen.  Norman may have just assumed they're better known than they are.

"I doubt it's got anything to do with Alban, or anyone else in Faust's book."

In reply to Kalima (msg # 177):

"Kali-ma! Kali-ma! it is good to see you, sevant of the goddess! A foul knight? there has been a beastly man in armor kicking over stalls."

In reply to Molaram (msg # 192):

"Where can we find him?"

In reply to Aoife (msg # 193):

several of the Thuggees point deeper into the temple marketplace.

In reply to cultist (msg # 194):

"Thank you."

She heads off in the indicated direction to look for him.

Ardenas bows deeply to Molaram, and thanks him and his followers, before hurrying after Aoife.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 196):

as you head deeper in, you see chaos as people are screaming and you can see several stalls overturned and buring with the greenish flames of alchemical fire.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:31, Thu 09 June 2022.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 197):

OOC check, we rested for at least 30 mins after dealing with the last guy, right?
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Fri 10 June 2022.

Ardenas starts pushing through the (presumably fleeing) crowd toward the center of the disturbance.  As he goes, he readies a quarrel from his hip quiver, but keeps it against the outside of the quiver to prevent accidents.

He  just slips through, keeping his hands to himself and making sure no other thief tries anything.

Benny strides forward, brandishing his aspergillum and shouting, "LORD HERMES, HEAR MY PRAYER, LEAD THOSE IN DANGER AWAY AND AID THOSE FIGHTING THE FIRE!"



OOC:  Impromptu prayer for aid to those fleeing the flames and those rushing to fight it.
21:13, Today: Benny Morales rolled 10 using 3d6.  Religious Ritual 8, trying for a prayer to Hermes. – [roll=1654823625.33192.341336]
Didn't think he'd have a prayer ready, gonna have to put points in that skill someday, okay and now, is Hermes listening?
21:18, Today: Benny Morales rolled 11 using 3d6.  Petitioning Roll 9 (Divine Favor 10 - 1 Previous Prayer Answered) . – [roll=1654823910.83327.341336]
And no, Hermes has no time for him right now, so he'll spend the next 1d seconds praying before he get's the Divine Busy Signal.
21:20, Today: Benny Morales rolled 3 using 1d6.  How many seconds of Prayer? – [roll=1654824057.57605.341336]
So 3 seconds of (useless) prayer.

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 201):

As Benny sends thoughts and prayers to those in need, Aoife is quire rested, and Oly spots an opportunistic fellow working his way through the crowd..

Mancini meanwhile tries to buy the rest of group some time. He makes his way towards the brute throwing the alchemical fire and holds up his hand. "Sir, why are you to burn down everything in sight? If you stop for a second, maybe I can help you get you what you want "

(Ooc:13:22, Today: Mancini rolled 5 using 3d6.  Diplomacy 16. Crit!)

Oly slides over near the Opportunistic fellow and decides perhaps he should know the feeling ... he sees if he can lift some of his ill gotten gains.

[Private to GM: 10:49, Today: Oly rolled 9 using 3d6.  Pickpocket.  by 6
10:49, Today: Oly rolled 9 using 3d6.  Stealth.  by 7 ]

In reply to Oly (msg # 204):

as Oly comes into possession of a few hastily stashed items,
Mancini can see through the fray that he has the attention
 heavily armored person holding a vial aloft a burning vial some 10 yards away

Oly quickly moves to get behind this fellow with the vial... if there is going to be a fight, he prefers to start from behind the target.

In reply to Oly (msg # 206):

That might take a little doing; as there are crowds fleeing and debris from temple stalls between you, may take 3-4 seconds with a  stealth roll or two

Mancini, having gotten his attention, continues. "Name's Mancini, and you are?"

In reply to Narrator (msg # 207):

Oly uses his skill and experience to negotiate the crowds and confusion.

[Private to GM: 15:05, Today: Oly rolled 10 using 3d6.  Streetwise.    by 3
15:04, Today: Oly rolled 8 using 3d6.  Stealth.                                       by 8
15:04, Today: Oly rolled 10 using 3d6.  Stealth.                                     by 6 ]

In reply to Oly (msg # 209):

Aoife also moves away from Mancini, ready to cast a spell.

Ardenas continues moving toward the apparent source of the green flames, using Light Walk to make a steady path from shifting debris when he reaches such.

[Private to GM: 09:19, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 6 using 3d6.  Light Walk (16) to walk on debris without collapsing it further.]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 211):

ten yards from the main party, 6 yards from Ardenas and 5 yards from Oly is a lare man in heavy armor laughing, and holding a sword in one hand and a vial of alchemical fire in the other.

Benny simply keeps loudly imploring Hermes to render aid to those fleeing and to any who might fight the fire.

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 213):

Aoife makes sure there is no-one else from the party near her if he throws some fire...also circling around the offender warily but also looking at others around.

Ardenas shouts at the laughing man.  "Belasco!  Put down the sword and the vial, so we can talk!"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 215):

Sederic readies his blade, and moves to attack...

In reply to Sederic (msg # 216):

the knight throws the vial at Ardenas, doing an initial 4 points unless dodged, and if dodged it blossoms into a 2yd radius of flame immediately behing him.

Sederic needs maje a dex-2  roll for bad footing, and is starting from 10 yards out.

He continues to work his way around behind this man.


[Private to GM:  10:06, Today: Oly rolled 11 using 3d6.  Stealth.  by 5
10:06, Today: Oly rolled 6 using 3d6.  Streetwise. by 5 ]

In reply to Oly (msg # 218):

the celestial bellows out a challenge,and the armored figure turns to face her.

In reply to Kalima (msg # 219):

Sederic keeps his footing and moves up to the knight, ready to attack...

[Private to GM: I think that was too far for a move and attack. Rolled 8 with DX of 14.]

In reply to Belasco (msg # 217):

Aoife, who had moved away from the others, starts casting a familiar spell from the crowd...

[Private to GM: Shapeshift other, tuna. Rolled 12 under skill, 3 sec.]

Rather than dodge, Ardenas reaches out with a gloved hand, and ever so gently redirects the glowing vial back toward Belasco.

[Private to GM: 19:35, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 4 using 3d6.  Parry (Parry Missile Weapons) (15).  Crit!]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 222):

as sickly green flames erupt around the strange knight, it seems that he resists Aoife's attempt at transformation.

Oly stays behind him about 3 yards, waiting to see how things go; killing folks outright is not his thing at all.

In reply to Oly (msg # 224):

ignoring the flames and the others, The knight leaps prodigiously closer (a 2 yard leap over the debris of the stalls) and charges at Kalima

In reply to Belasco (msg # 225):

Sederic moves to a position outside the flames but behind the knight, sword ready...

In reply to Sederic (msg # 226):

Aoife tries that again, to check his luck...

[Private to GM: Rolled 13 under skill to cast. Do I pay for for a resisted spell?]

Ardenas leaps to intercept the armored man.


[Private to GM: 19:14, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 9 using 3d6.  Jumping (16).
(2x (1/2 Jumping skill in place of Basic Move) - 3) halved for no prep time = 6 1/2 feet, 2 yards, landing ready to run or fight.]

Oly holds back, as there is already a rugby scrum on this guy...

Benny stops his loud prayers as the celestial busy signal reaches him.  His shoulders slump a moment, but then he just moves towards the burning cart, unslinging his shield and grasping it by the straps.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 228):

The knight pushes at Ardenas, making ST by 12. defend against. he is on fire.

the transformation spell again fizzles, and a successful casting costs even if resisted. (you get the Poof! but not the change)

Ardenas sets his feet and bends at the waist, and simply doesn't move in response to the push.  He then Pushes the armored, burning man (toward an open space, by preference).

[Private to GM: 16:27, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 11 using 3d6.  Immovable Stance (16).
16:28, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 11 using 3d6.  Push (16).
16:32, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 10 using 2d6+2. Double = 20, knockback only = 1 yard for ea ch full multiple of Belasco's ST-2 -- we may have a stalemate here.]

In reply to Narrator (msg # 231):

Frustrated at things not working, Aoife changes tactics and casts a different spell...

[Private to GM: Cool, cost for previous spells paid. Cast lightning, skill 20, rolled 17...not sure of result?]

In reply to Aoife (msg # 233):

Having moved in behind him, Sederic stabs at his vitals...

[Private to GM: Rolled 4 under to hit vitals, 6 imp damage after DR, Pussiance +1.]

Still at a safe distance, Mancini quickly scans the debris to see if there was anything from the overturned stalls that could be used to aid his group.

In reply to Sederic (msg # 234):

I don't recall you running after his charge,which would require another dx-2 roll...
if you make that, then DR is 5, so that would be 1 pt impaling adjusted for loction.

the push roll is a stalemate,

17 is a simple failure at skill 20, but you are at -5 to skill due to city so that may be a crit if skill wasn't  25

In reply to Narrator (msg # 236):

Message #226 was a move action to follow him, though no DX roll made until now. [Private to GM: Rolled 6 under DX] so that would be a hit 1x3 = 3 points of damage then, as it was vitals.

Skill of 20-5, so that is a critical failure for Aoife?

In reply to Sederic (msg # 237):

the chaos knight winces at your strike, meanwhile, that was a critical faure for Aoife, she cannot cast that spell for an hour.

ignoring Ardenas, the knight surges forward, knocking aside Kalima's spear and getting into sword's reach of her.

Mancini spots a prayer wheel in the rubble

In reply to Belasco (msg # 238):

All three of her eyes snap open in surprise! "This one is damned! His soul is forfeit and he is blessed infernally"

Seems like time to jump in and protect Kalima.
He moves forward quickly and strikes from Belasco's rear, swinging at his Sword Arm [Right arm I presume]

[Private to GM:   10:27, Today: Oly rolled 15 using 3d6.  Long Knife Swing.  Skill 18 -2 for called shot; hits.
10:28, Today: Oly rolled 7 using 2d6+2. ]

In reply to Oly (msg # 240):

despite the heavy armor, that does some damage, but not enough to cripple the arm

OOC:  Is the burning cart in any danger of setting anything else on fire?  Like neighboring carts, buildings, trapped people,  etc?

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 242):

the fire is soreading wherever the knight steps,and is spreading from one tumbled cart to one accross from it, that is festooned with paper Mandalas

Should he turn, Oly does a retreating defense ... if he doesn't turn, Oly goes for a neck stab.

[Private to GM: I am assuming this is not a surprise backstab now, if it is, his striking and damage go up significantly.

12:44, Today: Oly rolled 8 using 3d6.  Stab to neck.  That is 10 under skill, except for the -2 to hit the neck.
12:47, Today: Oly rolled 2 using 1d6-1.  Knife Thrust. It's a 4 if this is a Back Stab.]

Benny moves to get to where he can push the first cart into the middle of the street (using his shield) or at least away from the buildings, he'll worry about the mandala sales cart next...

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 245):

Sederic will swing for his neck, but misses.

[Private to GM: Rolled 15, skill 18-5(neck)=13]

In reply to Sederic (msg # 246):

Furious at how her magic is letting her down, Aoife will move to where she can attack the damned knight, beside Sederic.

Ardenas launches a flying kick at the knight's neck, leaping high enough to clear others gathered to attack him.  His timing is off, however, and the kick lands on Belasco's armored groin instead.

[Private to GM: 18:01, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 7 using 3d6.  Jumping (16).
18:08, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 10 using 3d6.  Karate (15 - 2 for kick - 5 for neck = 8).  Zeel-zeel's blessing makes it miss by 1 -- non-targeted hit?
18:11, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 11 using 3d6.  Hit location. Groin.
18:12, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 3 using 1d6+1.  Damage (1d+1 cr) .  Not enough to hurt myself, but probably doesn't penetrate his heavy armor.]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 248):

due to heavy armor, no damage is apparent, but each of you in close range may be affected by the flames...what is the DR on hands/feet?

The evil knight chops down at Ardenas (being in between him and Kalima, and does 9 points cutting to the torso unless dodged

Oly Steps back and looks at the man, obviously his armor is more than they can deal with, so they need a nothwer way...He looks through his gear for Holy Water, then looks around in hope of seeing some...

In reply to Oly (msg # 250):

Sederic swings at his neck once again. This is a better attack...

[Private to GM: Rolled 9 under skill, 4 under for location, for a swing attack on the neck, 9 cut damage.]
Sederics boots and heavy leather leggings are DR2. Gloves are DR1
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Tue 21 June 2022.

In reply to Sederic (msg # 251):

Unable to approach due to the flames, Aoife casts a different spell, staying away from the flames.

[Private to GM: Spell Geyser, 5 seconds casting time, radius 1 at knights location. Rolled 8 under effective skill of 15. Actual skill 20.]

Ardenas tries to parry the descending blade with his (knuckleduster equipped) left hand, but it doesn't quite work out; blood sprays as the blade collides with the knuckleduster, which goes flying.

He falls to the ground, stunned, also dropping the quarrel he'd been holding.

[Private to GM: 18:44, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 12 using 3d6.  Parry (Karate, skill 15, parry 10).
18:56, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 17 using 3d6.  HT vs. Knockdown (from crippling injury) (11).
Looks like a dismemberment (B421), damage was more than 2x crippling.]

OOC: DR 2 on both hands and feet, half due to Tough Skin.  Weaponless parry transfers the damage to the parrying hand on a fail, correct?  (9 points - 2 DR) * 1.5 = 10.5 (rounds to 11); cripples/dismembers the hand, but total injury can't exceed minimum to cripple, 1/3 of 10, rounds up to 4 HP.  Also adds One Hand disadvantage...

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 253):

As Meikka cuts into the knight's gorget, the ground begins to rumble.
(4 seconds left on casting geyser)

Ardenas cradles his stump and looks on as the knight staggers away from the savage blow of the magic sword, and turns to face Sederic, ready to parry any further strike

Oly backs away from the two Sword Swingers.

Ardenas snaps out of his shock and attempts a leg sweep, but without success.

[Private to GM: 17:50, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 12 using 3d6.  HT 11 (stun recovery). (Zeelzeel's blessing makes this a success by 0).
17:56, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 10 using 3d6.  Judo (15 - 4 on ground - 3 sweep = 8).]

Oly digs in his small pack and pulls out a jar, which he opens..


[Private to GM: I am assuming this is good with you, if not I guess he should spill it.]

In reply to Belasco (msg # 254):

Sederics swings the blade high, bringing it down onto the knights head. Or at least, that was t the intention. It has more power than finesse, though, and is not well aimed.

[Private to GM: Rolled 2 under skill to hit skull, so 5 over with hit location penalty. Chance of glancing off shoulder for cinematic effect?]

In reply to Sederic (msg # 258):

Aoife moves back as she continues the casting

[Private to GM: At what point do I have to target the spell?]

Having shoved one cart away from any buildings, Benny moves to the other cart and prepares to begin shoving it into further from the nearby buildings.

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 260):

having raised his blade to parry the head shot, the flaming unholy warrior swings at Sederic- cutting for 13pts before DR if not defended against.

He steps close behind Belasco and douses him with a cup or so of holy water.

Ardenas, favoring his left hand but not yet truly aware of the extent of the injury, kips to his feet and launches a kick at Belasco's back as he completes his swing at Sederic.

[Private to GM: 19:04, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 14 using 3d6.  Acrobatics (14) to kip to standing.
19:05, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 8 using 3d6.  Karate (15 - 2 for kick).
19:06, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  Damage (1d+1 cr).
19:06, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 10 using 3d6.  Hit location.]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 263):

Sederic, focused on the fight at hand, artfully dodges the blow, sweeping his blade in the space his opponents skull should be.

[Private to GM: Rolled 2 under dodge, 1 under to hit skull, 7 cut dam ]
This message was last updated by the player at 13:28, Sat 25 June 2022.

In reply to Sederic (msg # 264):

Aoife continues to cast the spell, targeting the dark knight... round 3?

In reply to Sederic (msg # 264):

as Ardenas kicks the knight, his foot takes 2pts burning before DR.

Belasco blocks Sederic's blow and makes his own strike for 16 points cutting to the torso.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 266):

The Holy Water [msg 262] had no effect?

In reply to Oly (msg # 267):

Sederic retreats back just in time, stepping out of reach as he feints...

[Private to GM: Retreaqting Dodge, 1 under I think. (Retreating dodge is +2 or +3 from memory? Rolled 1 over regular dodge anyway.) Not familiar with feint, what do I roll against for that? Failed anyway, I think. Skill 18, rolled 17 though...]

His shoe (and trained-in toughness) having protected his foot, Ardenas steps out of sword reach and digs in his pouch.

[Private to GM: Readying the spell pebble gotten from the sorcerer with the demon(s) in Cultists by the Docks.]

In reply to Oly (msg # 267):

damned though he is, and outside the reach of the gods, Belasco is still mortal, and unlike Vampires and demons and their kin, the holy wayer serves only to extinguish the infernal alchemical fire.

The unhy warrior slashes at Kalima, and despite her attempt to parry, inflicts a grevious wound upon her torso, and the celestial is knocked back by the force of the blow, but keeps her wits about her.

[Private to Ardenas Barehand:if that is a spellstone of Banishment, it may not work on him if he is native to this plane]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:03, Mon 27 June 2022.

Can i please get an answer to 262 as requested in 267?

In reply to Oly (msg # 271):

So Aoife is in round 4? She moves back as she casts...warning others to do the same.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:38, Tue 28 June 2022.

Ardenas looks at the little green stone, thinking back to how the sorcerer used the other one he saw -- then drops it back in his pouch.  Rather, he begins to concentrate, a low, soft growl starting in his throat.

[Private to GM: Turn 1 concentrating on Power Blow. reduces skill penalty from -10 to -5.]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 273):

Angry at being ignored, Sederic steps forward and tries to cut this head in half!

[Private to GM: If he has turned away from me, does he get a defence? Rolled 3 under to hit skull hit location, 9 cut damage to skull, x4 multiplier after DR... retreating dodge rolled 2 under regular dodge, + retreating bonus.]

In reply to Sederic (msg # 274):

you would be attacking his flank and knows very well that you are there...
nevertheless, he takes the hit, but resists collapse.

Slowly he turns from Kalima and faces Sederic again.

Ardenas continues concentrating, the growl in his throat growing.

[Private to GM: Turn 2 of concentration on Power Blow, reduces penalty from -5 to -4.]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 276):

And the geyser as Aoife completes the spell, aimed at the knight?

"Get back everyone!"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:49, Tue 28 June 2022.

In reply to Aoife (msg # 277):

what radius is the geyser?

In reply to Narrator (msg # 278):

Minimum, 1. More not needed.

Ardenas ignores the dimly heard shout from Aoife as he releases the chi he has gathered in the form of a high side kick aimed at Belasco's neck.

[Private to GM: 19:37, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 12 using 3d6.  Power Blow (14 - 4 = 10).  Sigh.
19:38, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 5 using 3d6.  Karate (15 - 2 for kick - 5 for neck = 8).
19:39, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 7 using 1d6+1.  Damage (1d+1 cr) (x 1.5 after DR for neck hit).]

Benny having gotten into position begins pushing the mandala cart away from anything else flammable.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 280):

as Ardenas' kick lands, the ground between them errupts, and scalding hot water blasts the knight to the side. Ardenas and the knight take 4pts damage; make a dx-5 roll.  Belasco falls prone.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 282):

Sederic, seeing him prone, once again slashes to take the top of his head off, more determined than before. After the blow, he will get back, to observe how the geyser deals with the fires...

[Private to GM: Rolled Attack minus hit location, so hit without factoring the determined attack. 7 cut damage, then getting back further...]

Ardenas, feet firmly planted once more, rides out the eruption and, seeing Belasco fall, shouts "Get him!"

[Private to GM: 18:39, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 8 using 3d6.  Immovable Stance (16) (in place of DX - 5).
Leathers + Tough Skin DR 2, so net 2 points damage.]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 284):

the geyser continues spraying upward...
Belasco ceases struggling, but is breathing raspily.

Seeing his situation Oly moves to do what he knows best, moving close and waving Sedric back for a moment, he strikes at Belasco's neck.

[Private to GM:  12:38, Today: Oly rolled 11 using 3d6.  Knife strike to neck. skill 18 -2 for slayer training to strike neck
12:42, Today: Oly rolled 12 using 1d6+6.  Backstab = 1D +1, +4 backstab, +1 for fine Orichalcum long Knife. ]

In reply to Oly (msg # 286):

Sederic, noting the geysers, now gets well back... several yards!

In reply to Oly (msg # 286):

Oly manages to finally cut the throat of the fallen foe.

the first drops of bouling water his downward- Oly and Ardenas, a retreating dodge would be in order.

Ardenas dances away from the boiling water as the fountain peaks and the water begins to fall back.

[Private to GM: 15:54, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 10 using 3d6.  Retreating Dodge (9 + 3 retreating).]

Oly wheezes slightly ... Dad were cloze

[Private to GM:  13:19, Today: Oly rolled 14 using 3d6.  Retreating Dodge (11 + 3 retreating).]

In reply to Oly (msg # 290):

the deluge of steaming water plinks repeatedly on the dead knight's armor, rinsing away the blood...

Benny finishes pushing the mandala cart away from any buildings.  Is there anything else on fire?

"Won't argue with that, Oly, I took a pretty good hit to my -- " Ardenas voice just stops as he holds up what's left of his left hand and finally has a second to spare to look at the damage.  "Gaaah!"  He grabs his wrist with his right hand.  "I need a healer!"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 293):

"Far too close for comfort...at least the water should put out the rest of the fires. But how do we know what he bargained for? Perhaps he is not dead? We should grab his sword when the water clears..."

In reply to Sederic (msg # 294):

Exhausted, she turns to her friend

"Kalima, are you OK? I think we all need some healing in one way or another."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:14, Tue 05 July 2022.

In reply to Aoife (msg # 295):

"If I could have drained his blood I would be fine... perhaps we could buy some livestock if no foes remain."

Benny hustles over to Ardenas, claps his hands on him and says, "Hermes, please transfer this traveler's wounds onto me that he may be spared!"  Benny immediately yelps as the wounds transfer...


OOC:  Learned Prayer Lay On Hands.  It can explicitly heal crippled limbs, but this is dismembered!  So we needs a GM rules call if dismemberment is a severity beyond Lay On Hands capacity.

Regardless, Ardenas you heal 4 HP, and despite taking 4 points of injury, Benny's hand isn't crippled (Lay on Hands only transfers damage/injury, not the secondary effects like crippling, blindness, stunning, etc)

"Oh, thank you, Benny."

OOC: that's enough to fully heal the hand, pending a ruling on dismemberment vs. Lay On Hands, but there are also a couple points of burns on his foot and lower leg.

OOC:  How much total?

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 298):

the nearest clergy that might be able to restore your hand (a search roll will find it) is the Cathedral of the Triunist church.


occ Benny, which publication has learned prayers in it?

OOC:  For Lay on Hands, it's in GURPS 4e Powers: Divine Favor, and in my Divine Favor PM thread.  All of Benny's Learned Prayers are copied into there, I'll bump it for you.

OOC: Benny, just two more points for the leg burns.

OOC:  /thumbsup.jpg

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 303):

Your particular prayer cannot, unfortunately, replace or regrow the hand.


meanwhile, the suit of aremor sinks in on itself slightly. although damaged, it looks saleable or useable.

Benny pats Ardenas' shoulder.  "I'm sorry my boy, my fast prayers aren't enough to replace the hand.  But bring it with, once we've rested and have a safe place, I'll take the time to talk Hermes into maybe, hmmm, maybe leading your wayward hand back onto your body, ye olde 'lost traveler invocation' with a twist?"  He rubs at his bald head.  "Mmmph.  Maybe a transaction of some sort will need to be tossed into the deal, to sweeten it on His side.  I'll have to consult with My Lord of Coins to see what he'll require, but know that it's not a lost cause and I'll finagle some way to convince Him."

He stops, looks aloft and quietly prays, "Swiftest Hermes, please accept my prior and future deeds done in Your name and lead these pains away from me."

Then he starts looking about for Ardenas' hand, if he finds it he wraps it in a cloth and returns it to Ardenas for safe keeping.

While he's looking about, he remarks, "That armor still looks to be in decent shape, you boys did a right job of just hitting him in the head."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:17, Fri 08 July 2022.

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 305):

After the geyser subsides and hopefully puts out most of the fires, Sederic moves to remove the sword, then the armour from the fallen knight.

"It would have been good to talk to him but he just did not seem interested in talking. Pity."

"Thank you, Benny.  I fear becoming indebted to a god, but otherwise I'd have to raise more money than I've ever seen to pay the Hadereum -- or change my name from Barehand to Onehand.

"Say, was the other silver knuck there as well?  I saw it fly and didn't register it was most of my hand going with it.

"I don't know about Sederic, but I figured I wouldn't get anything through that armor anyway, so I aimed for the thin places."  He smirks a little.  "Did I tell you about the time I kicked a slorn to death?  And before you start, Oly was there!"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 307):

the knucleduster was still on the hand.

within the armor is a skinny unattractive youth with a nearly severed head. Some sell themsives for beauty, this one seemed to ask for great strength and possibly resistance to magic.

the armor is in damaged condition, but repairable and still worth coin. the sword is fine.

In reply to Belasco (msg # 308):

"Can anyone question the dead, or is it not worth the coin it would cost?"

She stops to recover her energy while others rectify the scene in front of them.

Oly checks the body for a purse or anything else of value.

[Private to GM:  14:36, Today: Oly rolled 16 using 3d6.  Search Body.  Well feather dusters...]

"I'm pretty sure the Hadereum can question the dead, if there's a good reason, and they'd be the ones most interested here.  I wonder, though, if they can get anything from these guys who sold their souls?  I recall those cultists -- the ones who sacrificed a demon to try to summon something worse -- had done something that prevented getting anything from them once they died."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 311):

"May as well give them the chance. Once you have dealt with the body, let's deliver him to them.

I wonder if this armour has anything special about it? Who would know?"

"Some priests can feel 'evil', not me, never felt a thing but I can give it try, and a mage should be able to sense if it's enchanted."

Benny sets his hands upon the armor and sword, running them across the suit of armor and grasping the sword...


OOC:  Nope, nada, zilch.  Benny has no Power Investiture, so none of the "divine feels or senses".
He does however give the armor and sword the once over for appraisal... and does a quick pat down for valuables.

20:02, Today: Benny Morales rolled 11 using 3d6.  Merchant 13, quick appraisal of sword and armor. – [roll=1657497746.18814.341336]
20:03, Today: Benny Morales rolled 14 using 3d6.  Pickpocket 14, ye olde quick pat down. – [roll=1657497792.13963.341336]

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 313):

the armor if repaired, has a base value of $5400. as it s currently damaged,the %of resale is negatively affected.

the sword is fine and ornate, so worth around $3500

In reply to Narrator (msg # 314):

Sederic will check them for magic...

[Private to GM: Rolled 6 under Detect Magic skill...]

In reply to Sederic (msg # 315):

neither item is magical.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 316):

Sederic will relay that to the group. What are the armour stats? Anyone else want the sword? Sederic will not...

"If he indeed acquired those from the Shop of Desire, the Hadereum might be interested in them as well.  Is it possible they've been subjected to some Sanctity-based (or the demonic equivalent) enhancements that a mage wouldn't detect?"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 318):

"If they were, I would expect them to detect as good or evil...the source of the power."

"The sword, if it isn't evil, is worth a fair amount, the armor, well, it's seen better days, but again, as long as it isn't infernal... well, there was a time I could get a good amount for it.  Before I took up the calling."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 318):

"I can see nothing of hell about the items. perhaps he had wished for coin as well.  I  need to get a sheep or a goat...alrhough a demon would be best."

"I think it's likely we could find an animal for sale around here; some of these faiths sacrifice them to their gods.  I'd be willing to contribute for that."

Ardenas looks around while listening for bleating and sniffing for livestock dung.

[Private to GM: 15:39, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 8 using 3d6.  Per (looking for livestock offered for sale in this square) (10).]

Oly looks around the mess created by this buffoon to see if any animals were in the mess created.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:31, Thu 14 July 2022.

In reply to Oly (msg # 323):

Aoife looks for where there might be some animals.

In reply to Aoife (msg # 324):

there is one nervous looking fellow with three goats accross from you...

Hey Mizder, you zellin' a goad?

In reply to Farmer (msg # 325):

Aoife will approach him gently.

"You look like you are having a difficult day. How much do you want for your goats?"