Session 1, Scene 3
Ascending Fire 16, RY 768

Nala Ry stared at Gou silently for a several seconds with a blank expression.

-You tell the truth, she said finally. And that confirm what my daugther heard on the docks.

She put the scroll down.

-Now I think we can begin our negociations. I could offer you large sums of golds for your cargo, but I think you maybe prefer to pay differrently. So what do you want?
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:51, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

"Well, I think money always helps. But what I had in mind was some land and a home to call our own. Whatever we intend to do in the future, we'll need somewhere to put our heads down and firm footing for our next step. So I was wondering if we could trade some of the contents of our holds for a residence and the right to live there."

Session 1, Scene 3
Ascending Fire 16, RY 768

-There are several estates who were seized from the Scarlets, the Realm sympathizers. They are technically the property of the city, but for a small interest, I can buy one and sell it to you.

She paused with frown.

-I can think of one who can be of use for you. A manor outside the city, surrounded by a plantation. There are accommodations for fifty workers outside, but no one currently lives here.

Ry let the informations be absorbed before continuing.

-Si vous voulez quelque chose dans la ville, je peux essayer de trouver, mais une place pour tout un équipage de galère est rare. Et ils ne viennent pas avec un moyen de subsistance comme la plantation.

[OOC: And that my 100th posts. We need to celebrate that.
And here is the translation of my last sentence:
-If you want something in the city, I can try to find it, but a place for a whole galley crew is rare. And they don't come with a livelihood like aplantation.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:51, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

"That seems... quite reasonable." Gou thinks - would such a plantation be enough for everyone? Is he missing out on something?

He glances to Nilas. "What do you think? Have I missed out on something?"

OOC: Congrats! :D

Session 1, Scene 3
Ascending Fire 16, RY 768

-We need to see the plantation to be sure, answered Nilas. And inspect its state after disuse. But if the accomodation are for fifty, with the manor we will have enought of place for our fifty-four crew.

He glanced toward Moro.

-We need to be sure if the plantation is exploitable and huge enought to occupe everyone, said the old priest. But it would be a great start, and as Lady said, we wouldn't have to search a work for everyone.

Ry coughted to focus the attetion on her.

-If you wish I can organise a visite. This afternoon after the lunch perhaps? I would not have problem of host you until then.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:51, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

"That sounds good to me," Gou nods. "What do you think, gents?" he says, turning to Moro and Nilas.

Session 1, Scene 3
Ascending Fire 16, RY 768

The two compagnion of Gou approved of their leader.

-Excellent, said Ry. I will be busy until miday but my servants will give you access to the garden and the library.

She stood up from her chair.

-We will meet again for lunch, until them enjoy your stay here, she added before departing.

[OOC: We can either skip to the visit or we can do the lunch so you can try social influences. What do you prefer?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou decides to take a look in the library, but he suddenly realises something important.

I can't read...

With a sigh, he turns back to Nilas and Romo.

"I really do need to pick up this reading stuff at some point..."

OOC: Hmmm... let's just skip, Gou is pretty much a rabbit in front of a wolf when it comes to Nala...

Session 1, Scene 4
Ascending Fire 16, RY 768

The rest of the morning passed pleasantly, and Gou tasted to the life of the wealthy. Everything in the palace of Lady Ry was built with comfort in mind, unlike the slave’s quarters where Gou had lived until recently.

When the lunch came their host was absentee because of a minor emergency but her servants presented her excuses and took care of Gou, Moro and Nilas.

Finally, at two in the afternoon, Lady Ry joined the group of ex-slaves, and they took the direction of the plantation by the water ways. Not only they crisscrossed the city, dividing the different neighbourhood, the network extended to the landscape around the city, separating plot of land allowing easy transport for the goods toward the city markets or harbour.

The group arrived after 10 minutes of travel on a land plot and docked. The docks where on the East side and near a warehouse and the worker's habitation. The two where in wood and seemed in good state. Several river boats where landed and they too appeared in good shape.

The group visited next the plantation of Marangia, a tree of the region whose fruit, the Marang, where a delicacy that the general populace reserved for Saturnday lunch but common on the table of wealthier people.

-The plantation is not in a bad state, said Nilas after having a look. One or two weeks of work and we should have cleared most of the weed. And since we are in the season, we can begin the harvest immediately.

-We have someone who worked in a plantation of Marang before, remembered Moro. He should be able to direct our effort.

After the plantation, Lady Ry led the group to the manor who was on the South side, the farthest from the city. It was made of yellow stones, like very stone building on the island, and had two floors.

The first was obviously created for social events. It was built around a hall with a staircase toward the next floor, and had the kitchen, a large ballroom, a large dining room, a kitchen and two smaller lounges. The second floor was more private with six chambers, two studies linked to a library and a living room opening on large balcony. A basement served as cellar. Outside, the manor had a terrace opened on the ballroom and a bathhouse with exterior and interior baths heated by firestones. Everything seemed in good state, except for the dust, three broken windows and the lack of supplies.

-Satisfied gentlemen? asked Nala Ry at the end of the visit. Like I said earlier, I can buy this place from the city and sell it to you. For an extra I can have the manor cleaned and repair and I can find someone to restock the cellar.

[OOC: Really long post but I am happy with it, I hope I didn't make spelling mistakes. You could rise Linguistic to 1 with 3xp and a week of free time.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou is hard-pressed to keep a look of starry-eyed admiration at bay as he looks around the plantation and the manor. Each of the rooms in the place is bigger than the headman's hut back on his island, and the only place on this island which has outmatched them so far is Nala Ry's own estate.

"Nice place, don't you think?" he whispers to Moro and Nilas.

In general he is very impressed by the place. There honetly isn't anythign he can complain about here, so it will be up to Moro and Nilas to raise any objections. So far, however, he's happy with the place.

"I am satisfied, at least. But I am not very knowledgeable, so I will await the decision of my comrades," Gou says as he indicates Moro and Nilas.

OOC: I kind of want to live in that place now. Like, in IRL. Just put in an internet connection and it'll be perfect.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:23, Sat 26 Feb 2022.

Session 1, Scene 4
Ascending Fire 16, RY 768

Moro and Nilas exhcanged a glance before nodding.

-This place look like a good idea for us, said the ex-secretary.

-Indeed, approved Moro. We can install ourself here quickly.

Nala Ry had a little grin.

-Well it seem that the we had a deal? she asked toward Gou.

[OOC: I have in the idea to give a downtime so you can train something and that your crew take residence in the plantation. That okay for you?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou smiles and nods.

"It seems like we do."

OOC: Aw yeah training time!

Session 1, Scene 5
Resplendent Fire 14, RY 768

After Gou accepted the deal made Nala Ry, the merchant took three days to arrange for the transfer of property of the plantation and began to inhabit their new home.

The plantation was not in bad shape and after a week, they cleaned up weeds and began to produce Marang. As it was, Ajima worked in a similar plantation and easily fell in the role of supervisor.

In truth, the work was not that different from their previous lives as slaves. But one thing was making a difference, they were working for themselves this time.

But with their newfound wealth, they began to debate on how manage their treasury, some wanted to divide the totality between the crew while other wanted to keep at least one half as a collective reserve to be managed by public consensus. Same with money they made with selling Marangs, some wanted to divide the money earned while other wanted to funnel part of it in a shared fund. Evidently, Gou decision was the decisive one.

As Gou and the ex-slaves slowly adapted to their new lives, one month passed and they received a missive of Nala Ry who wanted to visit and see if her investment was paying.

[OOC: You can describe how do you passed the month and your training and what do you decided with the money.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Most of Gou's time is spent in honest labor with the rest of the crew, and he's there with the others when the issue of how to handle money comes up. He's personally for saving up half the funds from selling the plantation's crops, but he won't touch anything that anyone else by virtue of their own abilities, which becomes quite relevant when one of the lads finds a huge pearl by the sea and manages to sell it for a pretty penny.

He spends his nights honing his senses on hunts, preying on various animals to drink their heart's blood and improve the versatility of his shapeshifting.

The missive from Nala is a little unexpected, but Nilas already told him the moneymen always wanted to see if their money was growing. Hopefully, the old dame would be satisfied...

Session 1, Scene 5
Resplendent Fire 14, RY 768

A new day began for Gou and his band of escaped slaves, and the young could see everyone working with a vigor they never showed under the Realm rule.

Sol approached the zenith as the Lunar was waiting with Moro and Nilas at the dock of the plantation for their sponsor, Nala Ry. They didn’t wait long as a small boat arrived soon enough, and the merchant princess stepped of it in company of a secretary and two bodyguards.

As they exchanged greetings, no one saw a shadow creeping from under the boat and along the dock, moving against any kind of light sources. Studently, the shadow detached itself from the ground to become a humanoid mass of shadowy ichor with one arm taking the shape of a deadly sword.

Cries of alarm were only beginning that the sword-arm was already moving to strike Nala but it found the flesh of one her bodyguard who reacted just in time to push his charge away from the blow.

[OOC: The creature (who is a first circle demon) had four successes on the stealth roll against your 3 on your perception roll, so it did one attack first.

Next is the fight:  The demon has 8ini, the surviving bodyguard has 7ini and Nala Ry has 7. I let you roll your JB and post your reaction to the attack and the reaction of your followers.

Next post: 06/05.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

The large Lunar is talking to Nala about life on the plantation thus far and it just so happens that he is glancing over to her when he sees the black blade-arm rising to strike. However, Nala's man is just as fast as he is, and he pushes her away (and into Gou's arms) just as the creature strikes. Though she's probably twice his age, it's nice to have a woman in his arms, but there is little time to appreciate the sensation as his eyes narrow and he quickly rights her.

"Moro, Nilas, fall back with Lady Nala to the plantation house. Go with her guards. I'll take care of this."

With that, he cracks his knuckles and reaches for the shadow, hoping that if it's real enough to hurt the guard, it's real enough to be seized.

OOC: Wits 5 Awareness 3 Fast Reflexes 1 Stunt 1 Excellency 2 (from Personal)

08:55, Today: Gou Jira rolled 5 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,3,1,7,8,8,6,6,1,8,6,9.  Join Battle.

5 successes + 3 = 8 initiative, same as the demon. Gou will go for a grab.

Dex 5 Martial Arts 3 Spec 1 Stunt 1 Excellency 2 (from Personal)

08:56, Today: Gou Jira rolled 4 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,9,5,10,2,6,5,6,5,6,4,9.  Grab.

If it lands, here's a grapple control roll:

Str 5 Brawl 3 Spec 1

09:04, Today: Gou Jira rolled 2 successes using 9d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,4,4,7,2,7,5,5,4.  Grapple control roll.

Bugger.

Session 1, Scene 5
Resplendent Fire 14, RY 768

The shadow tried to move to reach Nala but was intercepted by Gou. His hand tried to seize the being, but he found no hold and the shadow escaped his grip and his sword-arm slashed toward the Lunar.

But it escapes of the grip of Gou had unbalanced it and the momentum from his strike made it trip on a rope on the dock. The Shadow fell on the ground.

Nala backed off from the docks, followed by her surviving bodyguard who was drawing his sword and the two crewmates of Gou.

[OOC: The shadow attack you, 5s/10d on the hit roll and it botch the damage roll. Since you made a Gambit you go to init 7 and the Shadow go to init 3. The Shadow is prone until next turn. End Round 1.
Round 2, Init roster: Gou (7), Nala (7), Soldier (7), Shadow (3).
Next post: 10/05.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:53, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

"That's right, stay down," Gou says as he raises his foot and brings it down on the shadow like an avalanche.

OOC: Withering attack: Dex 5 MA 3 Spec 1 Stunt 1 (2d) Excellency 2 Accuracy 4 = 17d.

10:32, Today: Gou Jira rolled 6 successes using 17d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,4,1,3,8,4,8,5,4,5,7,6,2,10,4,3,9.  Withering Attack.

Damage is 12 + extra successes - soak, I'll let you handle that.

Session 1, Scene 5
Resplendent Fire 14, RY 768

Gou falls on the Shadow who blurred for a moment as it raised, hissing.

Behind the two combatants, Nala had reached the end of the dock with Moro and Nilas, while her bodyguard stayed close behind, his sword raised and ready to defend his charge.

[OCC: The shadow has an Evasion of 4 (-2 for being Prone but it uses a charm to waive all penalties on Evasion) so 2 extra successes.
With a soak of 4 this makes 10 dices. 5 successes, the Shadow go -2 init and you gain 6 init +5 for Crashing it. You go 18 init.
The Shadow Rise from Prone, since you are in close range it need a Dex+Dodge roll with difficulty 2 (it pass 4s/5s).
Next turn: Gou (18), Bodyguard (7), Nala (7), Demon (-2).]

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:53, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

"Put a sword into this son of a bitch!" Gou shouts as he reaches down to grab and pin the shadowy creature. The boards of the dock creak under his feet as he opens with a quick kick to distract the creature before reaching down with his tree-trunk arms to turn the thing into a pretzel.

OOC: Sorry. Gou's going for another grapple. This time he'll use Grizzly Bear Embrace (2m), Mangling Grasp Might (8m) and 2m from the Dex Excellency on it.

Dex 5 Martial Arts 3 Spec 1 Stunt 1 Excellency 2 (from Personal) = 12d

11:15, Today: Gou Jira rolled 6 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7.  Grapple attack.

I assume that with the penalty for being prone, I'll have a good chance of hitting.

GBE adds overflow successes to the grapple establish roll, not sure how much that is, but Gou should have 18-2 = 16 dice to try and establish a roll.

11:16, Today: Gou Jira rolled 5 successes using 16d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7.  Grapple established.

Grapple control roll: Str 5 Martial Arts 3 Spec 1 Stunt 1 GBE 3 = 13d

11:22, Today: Gou Jira rolled 3 successes using 13d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 1,5,2,5,6,3,4,9,6,8,8,1,6.  Grapple Control.

If Gou gets it, he'll proceed to sacrifice all rounds of control to empower a decisive slam, with +1 die and double 9s from Mangling Grasp Might.

Session 1, Scene 5
Resplendent Fire 14, RY 768

The strong hands of Gou managed to grip the living shadow and slammed it on the wood deck of the docks, making wood splinter fly and creature howl in pain.

Behind the Lunar, some of his companions had arrived but keep their distance while sheltering Nala and her guard.

With another growl, the shadow stood up, flowing naturally and tried to create distance between itself and the obviously strong man.

[OOC: Only 4 damage on a roll of 17 dices, bad luck. The demon tries a flurry: Rise from Prone and Disengage, he succeeds the first action (3 success on 5 dices, difficulty2) but fail the second (4 success on 5 dice against your 5 successes on 8 dices). Your turn, the demon and you are at 3 initiatives. Nala and her guard are now out of combat.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:53, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

"Get back here!" Gou snarls, putting a foot on a nearby mooring post and launching himself into the air before bringing a mighty elbow down on the creature like the beak of a descending mospid. His looming shadow eclipses the demon's own as he bears down on it...

OOC:

Using Striking Mospid Method (3m from Personal) and 1d of Dex Excellency, total of 4m spent from Personal.

Attack roll is Dex 5 MA 3 Spec 1 Stunt 1 (2d) Excellency 1 Accuracy 4 = 16d.

10:56, Today: Gou Jira rolled 6 successes using 16d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,1,7,6,8,2,5,7,9,4,1,6,4,5,3,3.  Withering Attack.

10:56, Today: Gou Jira failed (no successes) using 1d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4.  Striking Mospid Method reroll .

Damage, if any is 7+extra succceses...

Session 1, Scene 5
Resplendent Fire 14, RY 768

As the Shadow continued to try to retreat from Gou, the Lunar pressed his attack. The creature could only try to evade but even bending unnaturally his body was not enough to escape from the human and soon it found itself corner against the canal.

[OOC: The Shadow use a charm to have his evasion at full but it’s not enough to evade your attack. You make 4 successes on the damage roll, which is enough to send it to -1 in crash and you to 13.
The Demon try again to disengage but fail at 1 success against 4 for you.
Next turn: Gou (13ini) > Shadow (-1ini)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:53, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Seeing as how grabbing the demon isn't doing much, Gou decides to physically beat the thing to death. His hand briefly shapeshifts into a tiget's paw and he stabs it into the shadow's body, feeling around for something inside it he can tear to bits.

OOC: I honestly thought I replied to this, sorry :(

Decisive attack: Dex 5 Abl 3 Spec 1 Stunt 2, enhanced by Finding the Needle's Eye. (3m, Target defense -1, reroll 3 1s on attack roll.)

09:59, Today: Gou Jira rolled 9 successes using 11d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,7,1,10,4,4,3,7,6,8,10.  Decisive Attack for realsies.

Welp. Damage is 7 successes. Shadow should be ded maybe?

09:59, Today: Gou Jira rolled 9 successes using 13d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,6,10,9,10,8,2,1,4,8,8,2,4.

Session 1, Scene 5
Resplendent Fire 14, RY 768

The claws of Gou’s shapeshifted tore through the shadowy flesh of the creature who shrieked as his body loss consistency and flowed out in a black pool. In a handful of heartbeat nothing remained of the assassin and calm returned on the dock of Gou’s plantation.

Nala approached the Lunar, followed by her surviving bodyguard, Moro and to other armed ex-slaves.

-I thank you for saving my life, she said before kissing him on the cheek. We will need to discuss a reward.

She turned toward the body of her bodyguard.

-I will need to have one for his family too.

Moro knelt down near the body and closed his eyes while muttering a quick prayer.

-It was not an ordinary assassin, he said. It was obviously a demon even if I am unsure of his kind. And it would be not surprising if it was the killer who terrorized the city.

-This remain to be seen, said Nala. But if it’s true you had done a great service for the city and the reward will increase dramatically.

Moro shook his head.

-I fear that the true menace would be the summoner of this demon. They don’t cross from their world without help.

As they talked, Gou saw something from the corner of his eyes. The silhouette of a cloaked woman, early similar to the one he saw when I arrived in Nalahu, on the other side of the water way. But when he turned his head, it was already gone.

[OOC: Yep, the demon is dead. I let you wrap the aftermath of the battle and discuss the reward before continuing the story.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:53, Tue 29 Nov 2022.