(Sure thing-- it's going around, as of course are other things.)






At the front door of the town hall, a member of the town council hands a letter to the two adventurers. "This came-- tied to the leg of a buzzard."

It's a request to send "heroes" to the southwest. The nomads of the Ossain desert are in danger. A sandstorm has uncovered the Lost City of Anadi, and all sorts of things from the long-dead Anadi empire are appearing-- as if they just stepped out of history-- many of these things are dangerous.

"And these also showed up," says the council member.

"These" turn out to be steeds: two giant lizards with saddles.

https://www.deviantart.com/lin...zard-rider-545608923

https://cg0.cgsociety.org/uplo...-1-42410ab8-reyf.jpg

"Wow, are these steeds for us to get to the desert ?"

Evan looks to the lizards with a bit of amazement. His patron perks up at this quest.
"Is the buzzard still here or did it fly off ?"

Yes, the letter makes it clear.




"It's still here, actually."

Myra examines the lizards thoughtfully, then looks at Evan.

"Somehow they knew to send two mounts for us," she says. "Hmm. Things may not entirely be as they appear. We should definitely be careful." She pauses a beat, before adding, "... more careful, I mean. Than our normal level of careful. Which is quite high. Of course! Because we wouldn't be successful adventurers if we weren't very careful already, right?" She looks around, and, deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, simply stands in a heroic stance, with her hands on her hips and her cape billowing behind her, while she waits for Evan to finish doing whatever he plans to do with the buzzard.

Evan smiled listening to Myra go on about being careful, "Oh most certainly. Though I am excited in equal measure."

Evan tries to make a perch for the buzzard so it could return with them. Adding it to the large lizards saddle.

"Ok, let's buy food, water and snacks for the trip."

"The lizards' saddlebags have food and water," notes the town councilman. "We encourage you to give Hanging Tree's many fine eateries and supply stores your patronage for light snacking inventory, of course."

In reply to The GM (msg # 6):

Myra nods solemnly to the councilman's suggestion.

"That is an excellent idea," she says, and nudges Evan. "We can grab some things on the way out of town."

She carefully mounts the lizard, then looks back at the town. "Not only shall we aid the nomads, we shall also spread the story of Dread Pirate Harkaway... and the town where his eternal voyage began, Hanging Tree!" Somehow, she manages to strike a dramatic pose even on the back of her lizard as her cape billows behind her. "We're off! First to get snacks, and then... to the Ossain desert and... the Lost City of... Anadi!"

Somehow she manages to get the lizard moving down the street. Once they're out of earshot of the town council, Myra looks at Evan expectantly.

"So... how do we get there?"

Evan will make sure to buy some snacks and get directions.

He smiles to Myra, "You are one of the most optimistic people I know."
"I got the directions, so were set." Shows her a map.

(Okay-- write me a post where y'all gear up and leave town and get on the road. The official adventure won't start until you get to your destination but we're gonna have a little easy, atmospheric flavor-text fun on the way.)

Evan packed up his clothes and other belongings. Securing them to the lizard.
He headed for the shops in hanging tree. Buying some salted jerky for them and for the buzzard. He also bought some fruit juice and snacks for everyone. When he saw some rock candy he got some of that.

After his shopping and haggling he came out and handed some of the things to Myra.

"I am going to get us some umbrella's the desert is probably going to be very hot."

Going into the general store he haggled for the umbrella's and ended up with one umbrella and one parasol. He came out with them and looked to Myra holding the parasol out to her.

(Okay, well, that's the first part-- now write me a post where y'all leave town and get on the road. The official adventure won't start until you get to your destination but we're gonna have a little easy, atmospheric flavor-text fun on the way.)

Myra doesn't have a lot of things to secure; most of what she has she can carry on her person. However, when Evan mentions the idea of going shopping, she enthusiastically agrees, and goes her own way for a while. When the two of them meet up again she's procured a nice backpack -- one that hangs heavy with several bound books and a nice box. She smiles with gratitude as Evan shared his purchases with her. She shows him the extra waterskins that she bought for each of them -- "Because, as you said, deserts are hot," she explains with a smile -- then shyly shows her purchases.

"They're stories," she explains. "Ones that I haven't written yet." She opens the box to reveal a padded interior containing several quills and a bottle of ink, each wrapped and cushioned with rag scraps. She also opens one of the books. All of its pages are blank, except for the first... upon which is written in a neat, flowing style:

Bold Crew Chronicles: The Tale of the Dread Pirate Harkaway

"That's us," she explains, as she carefully puts everything back into her bag. "You and me. We're the Bold Crew!" She pauses and looks at Evan with concern. "I mean, if you don't like it, we can change it. It's a work in progress, you know? But 'A Myra and Evan Adventure' seemed kinda... I dunno -- small. And should it be 'Myra and Evan' or 'Evan and Myra'? And that's not even getting into whether or not we should include Downytouch, right? Cause he was with us then, but he's not with us now." She shrugs. "Anyway giving ourselves a proper name seemed like a good idea." She waits to see Evan's reaction with clear anticipation on her face.

"Oh I think we should include Downey, even if he is not with us anymore. Myra and Evan are ok, and who knows we might pick up a new crew member in the desert."  He smiled, "Heh a crew in the desert, now that is funny."

The lizards don't walk, but they don't gallop. It's a little slower than trotting... but not by much. They get going well when they get going.

After three hours, though, they pull over to what turns out to be a small fig orchard. The bark of the trees is bone-white.

The lizards happily eat the figs off the trees, and at the foot of the trees that's fallen.

There's no one around... except one guy, a little bearded human guy with a backpack dressed in beige and maroon silk robes. He's inspecting the trees and shaking his head.

He looks up when he sees you, and sort of gives you a look like I hope these lizard-riders are friendly. (They look friendly...?)

"Greetings, sir!" Myra says cheerfully, ignoring her lizard as it munches on these figs. "Perhaps you could tell us how far we are from the Ossain desert?"

The small man walks over. "Ah... it is many hours ride that way." He gestures in the direction you've been heading. "With such fine lizards, you should get there tomorrow before dark. Ah... but... might I ask your purpose in going there...?"

"I don't see why not. A city has been unearthed and we are off to explore it." He smiled to the man and tilted his tri corner hat.

"Ah... Have you... heard... I don't suppose... rumors... about the dangers there...? Because I have..."

"Quite dangerous," Myra agrees. "But the people in the area need our help -- and SO THE BOLD CREW RIDES!" Myra looks up at the tree tops, then glances at Evan. "Yeah, ok, maybe it needs work."

After a second she looks back at the man. "What rumors have you heard?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:41, Sun 13 Nov 2022.

"That things from the ancient past, the forgotten-by-most Anadi Empire, are magically returning from out of time... mad, dangerous things from the end of the Empire, mostly, shortly before it fell apart. If it were even a little less dangerous, I would go and bear witness myself-- I-- Pardon me. I have not introduced myself. I am the Sage Harran."

In reply to The GM (msg # 20):

"Greetings, Sage Harran," Myra replies. "I'm Myra and that's Evan... and together we are -- THE BOLD CREW! Or something, we haven't quite settled on the name yet." She shrugs, then leans forward with curiosity on her face. "You are familiar with the Anadi Empire? I'd love to hear more of your expertise on it. What should we expect?"

Evan nods, "Our crew was a bit larger. Sage Harran, why not share a meal with us and we can talk more. Always good to share tales."

"Certainly, certainly. These figs should have been harvested already, but those who would normally do so have apparently fled the area. Unfortunate, but at least your lizards are enjoying them-- and we can, too."

Myra nods at Evan's suggestion.

"That's a great idea!" She climbs down from her lizard, and takes a few moments to tie it (and Evan's, if he wants) to one of the trees before pulling out some of the rations to share with the Sage. "It's not fancy, but we're happy to share."

"Yes, please," says Harran. "My own rations are, well, meager. Their key characteristics are 'don't take up too much space' and 'won't go bad for a very long time.' You'll notice that I didn't mention 'yummy' on that short list."

"Thank you, Sir. We have to get used to food from out the deserts way and I am pretty sure they won't be very yummy either."

He helps set up the impromptu pic-nic.

"Ah, well, it just depends. The nomadic tribes eat very well when they're entertaining company."


(Harran's pic is not 100% the way I wanted it, but it's the best I've been able to find.)

"So, Sage, what is your specialty? What is your favorite subject?"
He relaxed back and shared some of their own food as well and tried some figs.

"I am a student of culture-- both the cultures of history, and of the present-day."

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 29):

Myra looks like she's bursting with questions, but she spares a wry glance at Evan. "We should definitely tell him the Tale of the Dread Pirate Harkaway," she says, before turning back to Harran. "But first... you said that you've studied the Anadi Empire? And that they created dangerous, mad things before the Empire fell? What happened to them? Why is the city such a threat?"

Harran spreads his empty hands. "No one really knows. Although based on what's happening now, I'm guessing that it involved magic getting out of hand. But whether that was the usual arcane magic or the divine magic of the gods-- or whether what's going on now involves either..." He shakes his head.



"Those were dangerous times, especially when the empire was collapsing. They had magical constructs that they used as war machines, or to enforce their theocratic law systems... They probably, among other things, made those a bit too powerful, or made too many of them, or perhaps both."

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 31):

Myra nods as she nibbles at her food absentmindedly. "They sound like they were magically powerful..." She pauses to think about this before asking her next question. "Do you think that the Lost City is simply displaced through time? Or is it a portal to the distant past?  I mean -- do you think there's a chance that visitors could get stuck there?"

"Boy, I hope not. Though constructs would be a different sort of thing then we are used to huh Myra ?" His eyebrows rose.

In reply to Evan (msg # 33):

"... yeah." Myra shudders as the memory of a ghost-infused set of armor crosses her mind.

Shaking it off, she looks back at Harran. "Anything else you can share with us would be very appreciated," she says. "And we'd be happy to share some of our stories with you as well. Have you ever visited the town of Hanging Tree?"

"I do not know. I can make no guarantees. But since you are asking my professional opinion-- my guess is that no, the whole city is not lost in time. One of-- you see..." Harran sighs. "Theology is very important for understanding the lost Empire. Without knowledge of their theology, it's harder to understand the rest. Most of their gods wouldn't mean much to many people alive today. Moridin, Master of Coils. Sati-Arjun, the Arbiter. Meheli, the Twisted Weaver. Only Noric, Lord of Freedom is still active today, or at least he's the only one still called by his original name of Noric. But the god of the sun was N'resh, The Shining, and he was pretty important. If the large sandstorm that was reported a couple of weeks ago uncovered... something... that, say, operated by having sunlight shine on it... that might have been enough to start setting certain events into motion..."



"Well, do you have any other questions...?"



"I have, once or twice, yes..."

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 35):

Myra nods as she sees what Harran could be describing.

"So, if there were some kind of focus for sunlight -- for N'resh's power -- it might be what's causing these things!" She looks at Evan as she speaks. "Maybe it's not that the city is lost in time, but instead some kind of magical device is now being powered, and it's continuing with a task that's no longer relevant to the world. Hmm." She looks back at Harran, nodding again in appreciation.

"We owe you a story," she says, "and since you've been to Hanging Tree, then you'll appreciate this one all the more." She opens her mouth to begin, but then looks at Evan. "Wait, did you have any more questions about the city?"

"I am not sure, I guess are there any old magics that still effect how things work in the city ?  Any lore that might affect those destined to walk within it ?" He glanced to Myra.

"That's certainly possible."




"I'm not sure about the first part. As for lore... yes, I could tell you many things... so many, it's hard to know where to begin..." Harran frowns, thinking...

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 38):

Myra nods her approval of Evan's line of thinking.

"Well, you could start with things that would definitely keep us from coming out again -- like deadly poisons, or mind control, or sticky plants that slowly sap your will to run away? And then move to less and less dangerous things after that?" She smiles brightly at the sage as she speaks, clearly quite interested in whatever he has to share with them.

"'Coming out again'? ...Oh! I see, 'in one piece' you mean. Er. Well. Yes. Um."

(Roll Charming, please-- not to convince him to talk, but to try to spark/inspire his memory...)

I had to go back and look over the rule changes! Is it ok for me to update my character sheet?

Myra nods enthusiastically, and leaps to her feet, allowing her cape to billow in the wind behind her.

"It wouldn't be a proper adventure if the Bold Crew did not return in one piece, right?" She glances down at herself, then at Evan. "Well, two pieces ideally... err, that is, one piece each. Like we are right now."

Charming Roll: 14:50, Today: Myra rolled 7 using 3d4 ((1,4,2)).

(Yes)



Harran thinks. "Well the biggest thing will be the animated brass armor... Then, um, there's bound to be some clerics of the old gods, and for all I know, their miracles will still work even in this modern age... there might be some military folks running around, though if it's the last days of the Empire, those'll probably be spread pretty thin... then there may be, um, crocodiles... Er..." Harran frowns. "Um... if I came with you... do you two think you could keep me safe...?"

"We would love to have you along. You could gain more knowledge of the place and we should be able to keep you safe !" Evan says with some confidence.

Harran gets excited. "I really want to do this. It'll be the learning experience of a lifetime-- and if I can help you, I can try to help make sure that history remains history. I'm going to trust you two to keep me safe-- you just feel like experienced professional adventurers to me..."

(When you're ready to leave this fig-grove-lunching-area, Harran will come with you.)

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 44):

Myra nods as Harran starts his descriptions; then, when he asks about keeping him safe, her face freezes. At Evan's confident response, however, she suddenly nods in agreement. And, when Harran says that they feel like experienced professional adventurers, her nodding somehow becomes even more enthusiastic, almost to the point of threatening to send her head sailing from her shoulders.

"Of course!" she adds enthusiastically, and strikes another majestic pose as her cape flutters in the (non-existent) breeze behind her. "We ARE experienced professional adventurers! And with your knowledge and wisdom, this will be our most compelling adventure series yet!"

She lets the image soak in for a moment or two, before grinning at Harran. "Great! And we can tell you all about our previous adventures on the way!"

OOC: I'm ready to move on! And if Harran isn't impressed with the Tale of the Dread Pirate Harkaway, Myra is not above making up additional adventures that are suitably impressive.

Evan adds to Myra's tales with a bit of magic to add to the impressiveness of it.

Crashes of thunder, a flash of lightning or two, and his own additions seemingly having as much fun as an entertainer as an adventurer.

Harran is suitably impressed. Near the end of the Harkaway tale he even gets out a little notebook and starts taking notes.

(Just let me know when it's time to move on. No rush tho.)

"Well we can talk more along the way. We can gather some of the fruit here to help us out with food stuffs." Evan starts helping pack up letting Harran write his notes.

You move on... Harran rides on the lizard behind Myra.

You don't see anything unusual until you come to a large (25 or 30 feet, or somewhere in-between) wicker effigy of a horse.

"Slow down, slow down," says Harran. "Just a moment, this is important..."

Myra looks at the wicker horse with suspicion.

"Are there people inside? I heard a story once about how an army tricked a city by gifting them a huge horse with people inside..."

"People, inside that ? Nah that's crazy."

Evan looks to Myra.

"No no-- this was made in the past... or by people who've come here from the past... but it would be empty.

The nomad tribes around here-- in the present, I mean-- don't make such things... this was made by followers of one of the ancient gods... Rashida, the Eternal, goddess of silence. See that turquoise dye around the hooves? Rashida was honored by meditating at the front feet of such horses. I... would like to try it. 20 minutes should be enough to appease... anyone... watching. I'm not saying I believe Rashida is watching... but I wonder if the people who made this horse might be nearby, observing..." Harran eyes the foothills around you. You don't see anyone... but maybe that's because they don't want to be seen...?

Joins Harran in his harmless activity.

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 52):

Myra nods, and begins looking around the area carefully.

"Ok, you all do that, and I'll keep an eye out. And when you're done, maybe I'll go next, and you all can watch over me. You know, just in case."

"You got it Myra." Evan gives her a thumbs up.

Harran goes and sits at the foot of the horse... he sort of sways back and forth...

This goes on for ten minutes... fifteen... tw--

Uh-oh.

A hawk suddenly flies down from the sky, diving straight for Harran.

Except this is no ordinary hawk-- this one is made of brass. It's some sort of magical creation.

Well, for now, the point is, it has sharp claws, and it's about to attack Harran...

(Either of you can run over and get there in time, if you wish. Or for all I remember you have missile weapons or magic that you could maybe use. Whatever!)

Evan was right there with Harran so he wants to use a burst of lightning on the brass falcon to knock it away.


14:26, Today: Evan rolled 3 using 2d4 with rolls of 1,2.  Lightning Zap.

This message was last edited by the player at 21:27, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

Evan zaps the hawk strongly... but it crashes into Evan.

Evan's bracers magically protect Evan... BUT... Evan is traumatized... Evan starts having flashbacks of one of the scariest moments of the ship graveyard... (Which moment, Evan?)


(GM rolls die: Evan's Charming stat is reduced to 1 for now...)

(Also: Later, Evan finds that the magical Healing Pill is now lost...)

At least Harran is safe and the brass hawk is defeated...?

That shark seal thing he was pretty scared of that so flash backs of what could have happened with that. The Hawks talons like the sharks teeth mix in his mind.

He stays where he is arms above him trembling forgetting to ask if Harran is ok.

In reply to Evan (msg # 59):

Myra had not been paying much attention after so much time had passed in such a boring manner, so she's caught by surprise when the bird appears out of nowhere. It takes her a moment to dismount from the lizard, and by the time she's down it's all over. She rushes over to check on the duo.

"Are you ok? What happened?" She looks back and forth between Evan and Harran in surprise and worry.... especially since Evan does not seem to be responding. She notices him trembling in fear, and wraps an arm around him. "It's gone, you're safe, it's ok...." she whispers to him. "It's broken; it can't hurt you anymore... you're safe."


OOC: Attempting to Console Evan by being Insightful.
19:34, Today: Myra rolled 6 using 2d4 ((3,3)).

Ooof. So... let's get rid of the Trauma penalty, but deal with an attack!

(Evan's trauma is fixed!

That's the good news!)

"Look out!" says Harran, pointing behind you (as he backs up even farther away from what's behind you).

(GM rolls dice on his secret list of encounters...)

A thing like a jellyfish-- two-foot pink semi-transparent glob, four-foot trailing tentacles-- is floating in the air near you. It's silent, so it snuck up on you...

The tentacles reach out for you...

(Time for more violence!)

"Huh what ? Yeah yeah thanks Myra." Shakes his head.

"What is THAT."

Looks at the jellyfish.

Evan tries to make up for zoning out and tries to slash at it with his scimitar.


19:24, Today: Evan rolled 7 using 2d4 with rolls of 4,3.  Forceful attacks on Jelly.

OOC: Not sure if this is separate or an assist, but here goes!

At Harran's warning, Myra springs to her feet, and her eyes grow wide at the sudden appearance of the creature that almost snuck up on them.

"Nevermore!" she says as she draws her rapier, and with it she executes three quick thrusts into the creature's center of mass.

OOC:
Get Violent (Agile):
23:29, Today: Myra rolled 5 using 2d6 ((4,1)).

(Evan went first, and got a 4, so Evan got it.

In future, though, Myra-- it's d4s, not d6s. But no harm no foul this time!

Anyway, Evan:

--On a roll of 4, you defeat the enemy. Narrate how this happens!)

The jelly fish thing keeps getting closer and closer and Evan keeps chopping each slice reducing the Jelly by bits till the dry sand is covered in shiney quivering bits of jelly and things that had been floating in the creature's tummy.

(Well-done! You may now Loot The Area if you like... also, Harran has a special thing to point out (when you're ready, just let me know).)

In reply to The GM (msg # 64):

DOH! Sorry about that!

Loot the area: 23:52, Today: Myra rolled 5 using 2d4 ((2,3)).


Myra, finding that Evan has successfully chopped the creature to bits, looks over the mess... then heads back to examine the body of the metal thing that crashed into Evan earlier.

"What is this?" she asks Harran.

Myra finds what Harran tells her is "royal sand ginger." "Normal sand ginger is a peppery and slightly-sweet root used in many nomad dishes and dyes. Royal sand ginger is the same, but sweeter, and makes for better dyes. Any of the nomad tribes around here... normally, I mean-- would pay you well for this. Probably nomad tribes that are from the ancient past, would, too."

(The royal sand ginger root is worth 2 Loot.)




"A steam hawk. Created by the clerics of Laresh, the Shining, ancient god of the sun. He had a vendetta against the goddess of silence... among others. Ah well... but look what else showed up!"

Harran points. There is a... what is that thing? It looks like a huge snail with a dark purple shell that spirals to a point in back. It's big enough to ride on-- indeed, it comes with a saddle... "It's a land whelk! This particular subspecies is extinct, now! And it's fast enough to keep up with your lizards! I can ride it! Isn't it great?!"

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 68):

Myra hands the spice to Evan, then goes over to examine the land whelk.

"But whose is it?" she asks. "Won't someone be upset if you take their ride?" She looks at the horse again. "So, in doing your thing with the horse, did we make enemies of the sun god and his followers?"

Evan takes the spices and secures them to the saddle of his lizard.

"Ahhh there we go." He shakes away the last lingering shadows of the sharkseal from his mind.

"It is a cool snail, maybe that is where the hawk came from too, Myra is right might be someone else out here."

"Or maybe the hawk and jellyfish got to them before we got here."

"No... whelks are completely silent, you see. I think it was either sent by the goddess of silence... or else it's just luck. Either way, I don't think anyone will object."




"In my opinion, no. More likely the brass hawk was just enchanted to attack people sitting at the foot of such horses. Also, Laresh (the Shining) wasn't supposed to be an evil god as such... Although I suppose only time will tell..."

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 71):

Myra looks somewhat skeptical at Harran's explanation, but she nods.

"Ok, then I guess we can head out whenever you two are done with the horse? I think I'll pass on taking a turn, though." She looks at the sky carefully, searching for more attack hawks.

"I am more then ready to move on."

He mounts up.

(GM rolls dice...)

The two lizard-riders and one mollusk-rider head on down the path.

When the whelk moves, it rises up by extending 8 long legs/tentacles/pseudopods below it, and it moves on those. It is, as predicted, completely silent.

As the trio presses forward, the path they are on starts turning into more of a road. "See!" says Harran. "It's paved with paving-stones now and then! That shouldn't be... those should've been covered by dirt and sand many decades ago...!"

And then... the trio comes to what is obviously a graveyard... more-or-less-evenly-spaced graves and/or cairns marked with the upward-pointing arrows that are meant to entrust the bodies to Noric, god of the sky and freedom...

...But here and there amongst the cairns, figures can be seen... Pale gray beings with hollow eyes... "Dangerous," Harran says more quietly. "Should we try to run for it...? Or, well... you two are hero adventurers... do you want to deal with this threat so others who pass this way don't have to...?"

"I think it more important to find the source of this madness and stop it, don't you?"

Myra looks at Evan for his thoughts.

Evan nodded, "I agree, we can dissmount and deal with them as we will need to deal with them eventually. Or did you mean you think their is something animating them Myra ? Something else we should deal with first ?"

In reply to Evan (msg # 76):

"I mean let's go deal with whatever is bringing all these old things back to life," she says.

"Ahh dealing with the heart of the problem, alright agreed. Let's move on see what we can find and what we can do about it."

The riders ride on...

...after about 20 minutes, a group of... people? are blocking the road ahead, in that they're using it to travel in your direction...

They have two legs, but they have chitinous exoskeletons and scorpion-tails. They're wearing red clothing. There are four of them... One, carrying a spear, seems like the leader.

"Scorpion-kin," says Harran. "Extinct, yet back. They might not be hostile. Indeed, they might have useful information."

"You want to talk with them, Myra ? You have the cloak and it might help."
He dismounts anyway to go with her just in case things get less then pleasant.

In reply to Evan (msg # 80):

Myra nods and dismounts. She leaves Nevermore sheathed, and walks toward the scorpion-kin with empty hands and a smile on her face.

"Greetings and well met," she says, and bows respectfully before striking a pose that allows her cape to flutter in the breeze behind her. "We are simple travelers seeking to find the L-- err, the City of Anadi... perhaps you could help us?"

OOC: Myra's trying to "Talk It Over" with them.
19:59, Today: Myra rolled 7 using 3d4 ((4,1,2)).

"Yess," says the leader of the scorpion-kin. "Road leadss." He(?) points back behind him(?). "Ssome danger. Not bad for uss. Maybe not bad for you. Then barbarianss. They sspoke to uss with resspect, alsso. Then little more danger, not bad. Then city of Anadi. Barbarianss eassy to sspot, on this sside of road." He indicates to your left. "When road curvess other way, city not long after that." Pause. "City very dangerouss, though. More now than ever. Fighting. Magic. God thingss. Ssometimess sseemss quiet... but alwayss, danger waitss."

OOC: Sorry for the long delay; last Saturday was my father's memorial service, after which I evidently caught Covid. I've been sick in bed for the past week.

Myra nods at their description of the road and the dangers upon it. "Thank you kindly, gentlebeings! We shall be careful." She pauses for a moment, then looks at them conspiratorially. "Say... you wouldn't happen to know anyone who might be interested in earning a bit of dosh as guard-protectors, would you?"

(Roll Charming (again), Myra...)

Oops, sorry!
22:15, Today: Myra rolled 7 using 3d4 ((1,3,3)).

One of the scorpion-men steps forward. "I would be interessted in that offer, actually... but I would want ssomething up front az advanzed payment."

In reply to The GM (msg # 86):

Myra nods thoughtfully, then reaches into the bag at her belt to pull out two items -- a small seashell and a piece of bone carved into a bear. She holds them up, offering the seashell to the scorpion man. "These two beautiful pieces of artwork for your services -- one now, and one once we're inside the city."

The scorpion-man takes the bear carving. "Thiss now. I am Utuzi, the spear-warrior. I will come with you."

You've gained a new companion!

"Welcome to our crew." Evan says with a nod to Utuzi.

Utuzi bows. "We go now?"

Myra nods, and mounts back onto the lizard, and waves goodbye to the other scorpion-folk.

"Yeah, let's go!" she says, making sure to ride at a pace that Utuzi can comfortably keep up.

Mounts up again and also keeps pace with their new companion.


GM do we still roll to move ahead and if so 2d4 now ?

(One of you roll 2d4 to Move Ahead, yeah.)

Sorry everyone we fall in a Sarloc pit
12:24, Today: Evan rolled 2 using 2d4 with rolls of 1,1.  Move Forward.

Suddenly, a toad the size of horse (I mean, more or less) jumps out from behind a large rock!

There's a guy on its back! He starts making mystical gestures at you!

"Toad-cultisst!" hisses Utuzi. "Danger! Attack him before he casstss!"

(Time to Get Violent!)

"Ok Utuzi !"

Takes out his Scimitar speaks his own mystic words releasing desert sands at the cultist.


12:40, Today: Evan rolled 5 using 2d4 with rolls of 1,4.  Get Violent.
I figure it fits well as a genie warlock
I don't know how people add now I will let them roll if they add to that.

(No no, you got 'im!
--On a roll of 4, you defeat the enemy. Narrate (a little more) how this happens!

(but don't hurt the actual toad-- I want to use it as Utuzi's new mount.))

The winds swirl up and surround the cultist drawing in the moisture from him and drying his mouth before he can finish his dark prayer. A dehydrated corpse falls from the toad to the ground.

Evan blinks surprised how well that worked but smiles.

Turns out the toad has an elaborate system of leather straps that Utuzi knows how to use. "Exccellent, I can ride thiss. Now I can keep up with you three at your besst sspeed."

(The toad does not count as loot. Y'all may roll to Loot the Area if you wish.)

Myra's surprised by the sudden appearance of the cultist on the toad, but smiles when Evan handily dispatches him.

"Yeah, Utuzi, he's the guy we're most concerned about," she says, pointing at Harran. "So definitely keep an eye on protecting him."

After a moment, she walks over to pat down the corpse as well, before climbing back onto her lizard.

"We ride!"

OOC: Loot the area: 23:50, Today: Myra rolled 4 using 2d4 ((1,3)).

Move Forward: 23:51, Today: Myra rolled 4 using 2d4 ((2,2)). Oof.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:52, Tue 14 Feb 2023.

In a pocket of the cultist's robes, Myra finds a tiny, solid gold toad statuette. (It's worth 1 Loot.)

But as the two lizards, one whelk, and one toad bear their respective riders toward the city... A brass... well, sort of a brass box with legs... it's as big as two horses put together... runs out from behind a large rock.

Well, it limps. Something's wrong with one of its legs. It's very tarnished, and very dented and even melted on one side, a bit... but it's still big and heavy and charging at you, though...

"Land-husk!" calls Harran. "An elegant magically-animated war beast for a less-civilized age!"

(Time to Get Violent!)

Myra dismounts her steed with flair as Harran calls out his warning.

"Good against a  floating practice ball is one thing. We must be good against a living!"

She draws her rapier as she advances on the beast with quick, dancing steps. "Nevermore!" With several deft stabs, she sinks the rapier's tip into the box's leg joints, hobbling its ability to move, before finally sinking the blade deep into the ornate lock on the front. The war beast shudders for a moment, then falls still.

She moves back to her lizard while gesturing to the now broken lock on the box. "Anything inside?" she asks as she cleans her blade using some scrap cloth from her bag.

OOC: Get Violent using Agility:
14:14, Today: Myra rolled 7 using 2d4 ((3,4)).

Evan gets to Loot the Area and Move Forward next!

Evan blinks and smiles at Myra and goes to see what he can find before moving them forward.


12:23, Today: Evan rolled 4 using 2d4 with rolls of 1,3.  Looty McLooter.

12:23, Today: Evan rolled 2 using 2d4 with rolls of 1,1.  Move Forward.
You sure you want me to move us ahead ?

A panel is opened, and the inner workings of the magically-animated warbeast are revealed. Its heart is a beautiful crystalline thing.

(Loot acquired: large rose quartz crystal carved in the shape of a heart, worth 2 Loot.)

The party (and companions) continue down the road...

Suddenly, the lizards stop. So does the toad, and the whelk. "Um... I don't know why they've stopped. They must sense something..."

Utuzi points at... nothing. Thin air, in the road ahead. "Can you not ssee it? Time Ghosst!"

You see nothing.

...Well... wait... no, there is something... a... form... Up ahead, a little bigger than a man... I mean, there's nothing there, but... it's now afternoon... but there's a shape up ahead where, when you look through it, you see the morning sky, with the clouds on the horizon that burned off hours ago...

--And while you're squinting, trying to define that shape with your eyes-- it rushes toward you...

The lizards, toad, and whelk scatter. They don't want that SOMETHING touching them!

But it chases whoever's nearest...

(Time to Get Violent! The Time Ghost can be almost-invisible or visible as it pleases, depending on its moods and whims...)

OOC: Sorry for the delay; this weekend ended up being *very* full.

Get Violent with Agility: 12:02, Today: Myra rolled 4 using 2d4 ((3,1)).

Myra peers at the road with a frown. "But what's a--" she starts, but then her lizard lurches sideways to get away, and she's tossed off of its back. Amazingly, she manages to roll into a crouch. "How do we fight a Time Ghost?!" After a second, she snaps her fingers. "Magic! Of course! Evan, I'll keep it busy, while you find a way to dispatch it!"

She draws her blade and begins a series of dancing feints, seeking to draw the thing's attention while hopefully keeping it from touching her. "Nevermore!"

Evan watched Myra dance for a bit then he swirled his scimitar around and round.  The ghost must have been watching her too.

A wind began to swirl in a bit of a sand storm. As the ghost flickered in and out of time the sand appeared in and out of the same space as the ghost.

The sand seemed to hop in time with the ghost till the ghost stopped phasing coughing sand and blood as it's body was hit by the magically enchanted sand storm. The winds died down as the temporal flow seemed to return to normal.

"I think, maybe.. I got it ?"

As the time ghost wails in defeat, it lunges forward and-- Myra has a memory.

(15:19, Today: The GM rolled 3 using 1d3 with rolls of 3.  Agile: 1 Insightful: 2 Charming: 3.

Myra takes Trauma-- her Charming Stat is temporarily lowered until the trauma is dealt with.

Considering it was a Time Ghost, it was just too logical that it would cause a traumatic memory.

Myra, what traumatic memory does the Time Ghost's attack bring up?)

As the ghost flickers and fades, a flash of lightning shines through it, illuminating the deck of a ship stuck on a rocky outcropping. In the corner, a large plant with spiky leaves drops several seedlings, which come scuttling out of the time ghost's figure before fading away into nothingness.

Even still, Myra throws up her hands and falls backwards. "Not again! Not again!"

"What, what is wrong?  Myra.  MYRA !" He runs to check on her to see what is wrong looking to see if she is hurt in some way and inspecting the ground around her.

Myra does not respond; her hands are up shielding her face and arms, and she's writhing as if she's dodging something that only she can see. Her rapier lies forgotten on the ground next to her.

"Hey Myra, it's me, it's Evan. I am not a monster. It's ok, your safe, there are no monsters here." He tries to hug her.


He is forceful and charming
19:14, Today: Evan rolled 6 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,4.  Trying to help Myra recover.

Myra's attention slowly turns toward Evan, and she seems to recognize him.

"Evan? Evan!" Her eyes dart to where the time ghost had been, but now everything has returned to normal, and it's clear that she's surprised by what she's seeing -- or, not seeing, as the case may be. "What happened? That-- thing opened up, and suddenly I was back on the ship, being attacked by those poisonous plants again!" She looks around one last time for good measure, then lets out a sigh of relief.

"Let's try to avoid any more time ghosts from here on out," she says as she picks up her rapier and slides it back into the scabbard.

"Yeah that was a most unusual and nasty opponent. All kinds of crazy time effects." He knew Myra had helped him when he had lost it in the past so he wasn't about to make her feel any worse by dwelling on it.

He remounted his lizard mount.

OOC: Loot the Area -- 18:32, Today: Myra rolled 3 using 2d4 ((1,2)). Oof.

On her way back to her mount, Myra stubs her toe on a rock. "OOOOO FU----" she says heatedly, and hops around for a bit before finally shaking it off. "Ugh -- the sooner we get away from this place, the better."

Myra doesn't find anything but annoyance, this time.

Well, after all, it figures that not every threat is guarding treasure... how silly would that be, if every time one killed a giant insect or some sort of fish-monster, it dropped gold coins?

(Welp, roll to Move Forward, someone...)

Evan led them forward as they headed deeper into the desert.


08:54, Today: Evan rolled 5 using 2d4 with rolls of 3,2.  Move Forward.

You travel on... Utuzi slows down a bit, and the rest of you slow down some, too.

You're about to ask Utuzi why he slowed down when you hear something-- people, over to the side, shouting at you. Humans! They wear very light brown robes. There are five of them-- four adults, and one child, a boy.

They stop shouting when they see Utuzi. "You came back?" they say.

"You got a toad!" says the boy. He points at Harran. "And a snail!"

"Greetingss again," says Utuzi. He turns to you. "Thesse people dwell here. In thiss, your time, I mean. My people and I passsed them earlier."

"Those lizards came from our chieftain," says a man. "You must be the heroes that were sent for, yes?"

"Yes, we were sent these fine lizards and a letter. It is good to see the people who sent these to us." Evan dismounts to shake hands with them.

"I am Evan, this is Myra, that is Utuzi who you seem to know already and lastly this is the Sage Harran."

"No no, you may stay mounted if you wish-- or you can walk your mounts, but either way, we shall lead you to our chieftain, he will wish to speak with you. Come, this way!"

They lead you off the road, over the hill, to the west...

(Pausing for reaction posts if any)

Myra dismounts to shake hands as well.

"Thank you kindly for your assistance," she says, gesturing toward the lizards. When the man indicates that they'll lead the way to the chief, she nods and begins leading her lizard from on foot.

"How did you hear of us?" she asks as they walk.

"Noric, god of freedom, said something to our priest," says one of the nomads.

Myra nods at the nomads as if this makes perfect sense, but then she gives Evan a thoughtful glance -- one that suggests that she's curious about this development.

Eyes widen hearing that but continues to follow along.

Over the hill, a large town's worth of tents can be seen-- some quite large and elaborate, with central tent-poles. It is to one of these that the adventuring party is led.

A man with a fulsome beard, the chieftain, comes out of the largest tent, and invites you to enter and break bread with him, which it turns out means to eat.

Outside the tent, the steeds are also offered water and given food of their preference.

"We are glad you have come so quickly," says the chieftain. "This city from the past is very dangerous."

"And an affront to Noric," says the tribe's priest of Noric, dressed in a faded robe of green and blue colors.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:33, Mon 13 Mar 2023.

As the chieftain welcomes them in and thanks them for arriving quickly, Myra strikes a pose, letting her cape flutter in the desert winds.

"The BOLD CREW is here to help!" she exclaims. A second later, she shrugs again. "Yeah, it's a work in progress. Anyway, I'm Myra, and this is Evan. That is Harran, and I guess you know Utuzi... Thank you for the meal!"

As they eat, she finds time to ask, "Harran is a sage, and he's helping us understand the Anandi Empire historically. But your people have had to deal with them in a living way. What can you tell us about the situation now?"

"First it was terrible: we had to fight strange things from another time with no warning. Then it remained terrible for a while, but at least we were no longer taken by surprise. We began moving away from the city-- because our scouts reported that a lost city had appeared to the north, and so we came west, and a bit south. Then things seemed like they might settle down, so we stopped and pitched our tents once more, here. But things are slowly getting worse again, as you have probably seen for yourself. We will probably pack up as soon as you set out for the lost city, and continue to the southwest, even though that grows increasingly mountainous, and is not at all our usual territory. Indeed, this spot is not our usual territory this time of year. But the southwest can only be better than to remain here-- at least, until some heroes can resolve the situation..."

Evan listened to them quietly and could see why they were so upset they had been pushed from their homes by these events. He looked to Myra during the speech and then back to the speaker.
"Did something immediately precede this event perhaps triggering it?"

Evan listened to them quietly and could see why they were so upset they had been pushed from their homes by these events. He looked to Myra during the speech and then back to the speaker.
"Did something immediately precede this event perhaps triggering it?"

"No, nothing we know of."

"Wait a moment," says Harran. "I understand relocating this community, but what if the heroes need to retreat from the city and have a safe place to heal up and rest?"

The chieftain strokes his beard in thought. "I will leave fighters behind, near the lost city's south gates. A priest of Noric will also be there, and a merchant to re-supply you if needed. I can do no more."

Harran is satisfied. "Thank you, sir. We cannot ask for more."

Myra nods at Evan's question, and smiles at Harran's request.

"Splendid!" she says. "We shall set off at first light to deal with this scourge and help your people!"

The nomads conclude that this is reasonable, and so the rest of the evening is spent with much good food, music, and resting.

Nothing bad happens during the night, and with dawn's light, the party (with allies) sets out for the lost city.

The nomadic guides lead the way, and about five hills later, you come to the top of a particularly large hill-- and down there is a lost city, sure enough-- still partly covered by sand, but also mostly not. It's laid out in a circular fashion... high walls (it varies, but at least 15 feet all around) protect its outer reaches, but there's a large gate near you with only one of two doors still in place.

(Ready to head the remaining half-mile or so down to the gate?)

"The open gate looks like the most obvious way in especially since we have riding animals. What say we head for that, unless you know of a break in the city wall we can't see from here."

The nomad guards shake their heads and reply that the gate in question does seem like the best entry point in their opinion as well.

Myra studies the city from where she is, trying to get a sense of where a sun powered artifact might be located. She figures it's probably high up -- on an important looking tower, or maybe a church steeple?

"Do you know which portion of the city was first uncovered?" she asks the guides.

Sadly, they do not. As far as they can guess, the center of the city, since there was no sign of the walls on the edges of the city until after they realized that most of the city was uncovered.

Evan nods, "Alright then towards the gates."

Evan leads them towards the one open gate. He urges his lizard mount forward.
Keeping alert for any of the weird creatures the like of which they have encountered.



09:18, Today: Evan rolled 5 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,3.  Move Forward.

· You find a clue here about something nearby. Take +1 die toward your next Move Forward roll (yes, even above the usual maximum).

I feel like asking you: What sort of clue do you find about what you'll find on the other side of the gates?

OOC: How about robes, or other clothing that the group could use to disguise themselves for getting into the city?

Also, sorry for being kind of slow -- I've got family in town so there's a lot going on.

Near the gates, you find that a battle has recently taken place-- four men in black robes have been killed battling a brass rhino-like automaton like the one you fought earlier.

They have no weapons to speak of, but they destroyed the brass creature, so you suspect magic may have been involved.

"Perhaps we should take the robes, and wear them as disguises?" suggests Harran. "They're big and loose enough to hide your weapons, but to also allow you to draw them quickly as needed. "They've got a bit of blood on them," he added, examining them more closely, "but since they're black, it really doesn't show."

Utuzi agrees that this seems as good an idea as any.

The nomads want you to leave the lizards with them, at the gates. "We can watch your whelk and your toad, too," they offer. "Or you can take them in, if you want. But the lizards belong to the tribe."

"I think we might as well leave all the steeds here," says Harran. "They won't actually fight for us, after all. But I'm open to other opinions..."

Myra nods her agreement at using the robes, as well as at leaving the mounts at the gate.

"We'll probably blend in better on foot anyway," she says. Her attention, however, is mostly on how to wear both the robes and her snazzy cape, and eventually she ends up sadly packing the cape into her pack before donning the drab black robes instead.

"It would stand out," she explains -- mostly to Evan. "This way our disguise will be more complete, and less memorable."

Once everyone is ready, she leads the way through the city gates.

OOC: Move Forward
12:46, Today: Myra rolled 8 using 3d4 ((4,1,3)).

Edit: Oh, I get to choose -- let's go with.... something valuable!
This message was last edited by the player at 16:48, Mon 03 Apr 2023.

Inside the gates, all seems quiet-- for now.

Something catches your eye, though...

Up there-- on a third-story window-ledge. There's a stone-- a flat, round, gray-green stone... it probably weighs a pound.

But it shimmers with light. "See that? That's treasure! Magic! It would be very useful if we could get that thing, if it's what I think it is! Can one of you climb up there?" says Harran. He squints at that building's open doorway. "Of course, we could go in and look for stairs up to that window... but it looks awfully dark in there..."

"I can give it a try."

Evan saw what Harran was indicating and tried to climb up to it to bring it down to the others.


12:27, Today: Evan rolled 7 using 2d4 with rolls of 4,3.  Climbing.


"Sharp eyes Harran."

Evan climbs up and retrieves the stone, and shows it to Harran. "Yes! Yes! Look! It has-- can you see them in this light? Well, you really can't very well with this thing shimmering... I'll turn it down." The stone's shimmering light grows dimmer, and dimmer, and stops. "This is a, um, it doesn't translate well, I guess you'd call it a Children's Stone. Making a shimmering light once a day is just its secondary power-- its main thing is, if you concentrate, you can make a target childlike for a little while! Imagine a horrible giant who suddenly just wants candy! Or a huge wolf that suddenly just wants to play fetch! It's great! ...When it works. Doesn't work very well on most undead, or things without minds as such. But for a lot of normal, living opponents, it's very useful!"

(New Magic Item: Children's Stone. Say that you want to try to use the stone, and the GM will tell you how many 1d4s to roll (if any). A dumb goblin would probably be like 4d4. Smarter (or more mindless) creatures would get less dice for a possible success. Worth 3 loot!)

"Nice, plus it lights up which can be handy too. Thanks for letting us know about this Harran. Myra do you want to hold on to this or should I ?"

In reply to Evan (msg # 144):

"Ooh, pretty," Myra says when she sees the stone, but she waits patiently for Evan to climb up and retrieve it, and for Harran to describe its uses. "You'd better hold onto it, Evan." After checking to make sure that everyone's ready, she leads the way deeper into the city, looking for tall landmarks.

Move Forward:
14:57, Today: Myra rolled 4 using 2d4 ((1,3)).

The four of you move forward through the streets of the city-- but you've barely gone a block when you're spotted by... someone else in a black robe, coming right toward you!

"Greetings, brothe-- ah, sisters and brothers," they say as they get a better look at you and see that you're not all men. It's a woman, with very pale whitish skin and strikingly-blue eyes. "I am pleased to see you well and in one piece, considering the chaos that engulfs the city. What news? What have you seen?" She thinks you're in whatever group she's in, that wears the black robes...

"We did not get far before brass lions attacked but we saw time ghosts beyond that."

(Hmmmm... Roll Charming, Evan (2d4)...)

13:32, Today: Evan rolled 5 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,3.  Charming.
Forceful and Charming were the two areas he was good at.

(3, hmmmmm...)

The stranger nods. "...This is a different type of battle than The Broken Sword generally loves," she frowns scornfully.

Harran's face lights up. "That has been our focus, of late," he says with the ardor of a man who's suddenly figured out what the woman in front of him has been talking about all this time. "Watching for signs of devotion of the Emerald Followers. Haven't seen any today, but we defeated two a couple of days ago."

The stranger raises an eyebrow, impressed. "Good, good. You are doing the righteous work. Do you have any questions for me? Or any assignments from the high priestess?"

Harran glances at Evan and Myra, clearly asking for suggestions on how to proceed.

Myra takes the hint from Harran.

"We're heading back to check in now," she says. "We thought we saw troubling signs to the East and wanted to report. Has anyone else seen strange things about?"

Charming (w/o the cape *sobs*): 18:17, Today: Myra rolled 6 using 2d4 ((2,4)).

The woman draws a short sword and some sort of small crystal ball. "'...Heading back?' To 'check in?' ...Who are you people, really?!"

(Roll for Violence!)

In reply to The GM (msg # 152):

---

Spoiler for Pending edit upon GM review of above....: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

OOC: Awwww....
Get Violent: 22:53, Today: Myra rolled 3 using 2d4 ((1,2)).
Double awww..... Can our companions help with this?


Myra sighs as she draws her rapier. "And I was hoping to keep things civil..."

---

This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Mon 17 Apr 2023.

(So anyway, sorry for the confusion)

"There's lots of strange things. The Empire is ending, it feels like. What sort of things do you mean?"

OOC: No worries -- sorry for the delay; it's the end of the semester and final grades are due....

"It does," Myra agrees, and hitches a thumb at Harran. "But he says that some of this is beyond what the Emerald Followers can do... or should be able to do, that is. If they have mastered some strange new power...." Myra throws her hands wide, helpless and concerned, as she looks for the other woman to catch onto the implications of what she's implying.

"Ah. Well. The gods are all at war with one another, or so many are at war that the effects are more than bad enough. What are mortals to do, but try to survive... and to not hold back?" She frowns, slightly (though not at you). "Have you seen anything suggesting...? I mean... if we thought our enemies had some sort of heretofore unknown magical item or holy relic...?" The woman smiles a little-- "...Then I suppose it would be our duty to try to take it from them... Or, failing that, to destroy it, if that could be done safely..."

In reply to The GM (msg # 156):

Myra gives Harran a significant look to prompt him to follow up on this comment.

"That sounds very worth following up on," says Harran, taking the hint from Myra. "But where should we look?"

The woman thinks. "The answer to where might be the Broken Sword's temple," she says, spitting on the ground in scorn at the mention of such a place. "But there might be a good answer to who, as well." She turns and points deeper into the city, at a bright-green-painted steeple. "I want to check on someone I know on the north side of the city. You go see if anything strange is happening at the temple. All right?"

Nods to the woman, "We will go check on that, thanks for the advice."

"Understood. If you need to ask others about me by name-- I am Alara. May we meet again."

Harran repeats it, nodding, as if he says it every day: "May we meet again."

Alara leaves.

Smiling and nodding, Harran watches her go.

Once she's well out of sight and earshot, he lets out a deep breath. "...Whoo! I realized just in time what that was all about... or enough of it. I think that Alara, there, is a follower of Yinthar, the Warden, god of Law. His signature color was black, after all. But what really gave it away was that followers of Yinthar totally hated the followers of Kahori, the Broken Sword, goddess of War. Their color was emerald green... they're a pretty lawless and evil bunch who played by their own rules and fought dirty, so of course they're anathema to the god of Laws..."

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 160):

Myra just only manages to not say "Bu-bye now!" as the lady leaves, but she does visibly sag once she's gone. She straightens as Harran explains the politics behind the encounter.

"I see," she says after a bit of thought. "Are there any other factions we should know about before we check out that temple?" She turns to look at the green steeple in the distance.

"Pfff. A lot. How much time do you want to spend hearing about them?"

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 162):

Myra grins and rolls her eyes. "Let's start with the ones that might try to kill us," she says. "You can tell us on the way." She begins weaving a path toward the emerald spire in the distance.

OOC: Move Forward! 12:38, Today: Myra rolled 5 using 2d4 ((2,3)).

"Mm. Well, there's:

--Caom, the Devoted Queen, goddess of the Underworld. Her color is silver. Her followers honor her by amassing riches, but they're evil, so they typically kill you in the process of robbing you.

--Meheli, the Twisted Weaver, goddess of Conquest. Her color is gold, and her followers honor her by burning heretics, which is pretty much anyone who isn't them.

And then Kahori, the Broken Sword, I mentioned already. Her followers and Caom's usually don't get along, which is good, because it'd be terrible if they teamed up..."



(Hmmmmmm... Let's go with something hidden. It's not loot, but it's of interest... what is it, Myra (since you rolled), how did you happen to find it, and why is it interesting?)

OOC: Sorry for the delay -- this week has been rough enough to sap all of my creativity.

As for the item of interest, how about...

Myra is mostly listening to Harran as they make their way through the streets, but a lot of her attention is focused on avoiding any of the folks that might want to try to kill them -- ie, the folks that he's describing. At several points she leads the group sideways, along smaller streets or into narrow and twisty alleys, so as not to run into potential adversaries. One of these alleys lead to a dead end. Frustrated, she slaps the wall... and luckily slaps a secret button, causing the wall to open into a small room. In the center of the room is a small pedestal holding a pair of seemingly identical keys... but to what?

"Good find Myra !  How did you know there was a secret door there?" Evan smiles brightly looking to the keys, "I bet those will be useful."

Gathers the keys handing one to Myra.

(Okay, I'm cool with that... unlabelled mystery keys (seemingly all alike, but that may or may not be true). I'm sure we'll see what they're for later on...

For now, roll Move Forward, I think...?)

In reply to The GM (msg # 167):

Your turn, Evan!

Evan took the lead and cautiously moved forward now alerted to their being secret doors he occasionally searched for those as well. His root to the temple they were heading for was a bit more direct then Myra's approach.




05:01, Today: Evan rolled 8 using 2d4 with rolls of 4,4.  Moving Ahead.

quote:

Move Forward:
When you move to a new area of the dungeon, make a roll, adding 1 extra die for each teammate's Insightful Stat that helps (max of 3).

--On a roll of 4, choose one thing from the following list.

· There is a person, some persons, a monster, or some monsters here! On a 4, you spot them first. On a 3, they spot you first. On a 2 or lower, they spot you first and will always attack!
· There is something valuable here! (It might be hard to get ahold of it, though...)
· You find something hidden here! (It may or may not be Loot, but it will be of interest...)
· You find a clue here about something nearby. Take +1 die toward your next Move Forward roll (yes, even above the usual maximum).

The GM will narrate the results.

06:39, Today: Evan rolled 6 using 3d4 with rolls of 4,1,1.  Moving Forward.
Finding a monster first would be good.

(You already rolled successfully, but since you just pulled it off again, I'll try to make it extra-juicy for ya.)

As the adventurers turn the corner, they see... another brass automata. This one is in the form of some sort of vulture or buzzard-- but instead of a bird's neck and head, it has the brass head of a bearded man.

The exciting part is that it's covered in jewels. Wow, expensive!

It hasn't seen you yet.

"That's an Arguer," says Harran. "It's like a flying judge. Don't attack it-- it flies, it's fast, and it's immune to attack by magic. It attacks with magic of its own-- it'll try to accuse you of crimes-- weapons without a permit, jaywalking, loitering, anything. Resisting judgment, even. It's a battle of wits-- if you can out-argue it, you'll destroy it. ...And then we could take the jewels... Or you could just go around..."

Myra shares a look with Evan, then nods and gestures to the others. "You two follow me, and Evan will bring up the rear." Then she starts picking a wide path around the Arguer-bird-thingy, seeking to avoid it's attention.

I'm assuming this would be Avoid Danger, right?
22:55, Today: Myra rolled 6 using 2d4 ((2,4)).


At one point she's not sure if she can do it... but she notices a man sitting in a chair leaned against a wall. Picking up a small rock, she tosses it in that direction, making a loud clatter. Both the Arguer and the man look up at this noise, and their eyes lock. Then the Arguer races after him, leaving the way clear for their group to proceed.

"Ok you lead the sneaking. I will stand ready to distract it if I have too."

He will help with whipping up the wind slightly in case he needs to make the distraction.

(Roll of 4 is total success!)

The brass Arguer is completely distracted, and the party is free to move on, unbothered.

(I wouldn't stop to Loot The Area, though! Best for one of you to just roll to Move Forward.)

In reply to The GM (msg # 175):

Quick question on Move Forward -- can we still add Insightful for every character in the group? That's what the description says, but I don't remember if that portion was updated or not.

(Good question, but I'm going to say yes, you may-- two PCs, 1 extra die-- unless someone's Insightful stat gets damaged.)

Move Forward: 19:57, Today: Myra rolled 9 using 3d4 ((3,2,4)).

Evan, why don't you choose what we get?

The group moves down a road away from the construct and finds a pit dug into the ground. A trap from long ago. A desiccated skeleton rests on spikes at the bottom of the pit and a bit of shine beams off something on the skeleton from the sunlight.

(If she chooses, Myra may roll 2d4 (because she's more agile) to try to safely retrieve the shiny thing...)

In reply to Evan (msg # 179):

Myra looks down into the pit and nods.

"I think I can get it," she says, and starts carefully climbing down.

OOC:
15:46, Today: Myra rolled 5 using 2d4 ((3,2)).

If this is an alternate "Loot the Area" roll, then it's ok.... otherwise, Uh Oh...

(Nah-- with the highest number being a 3, you get it without getting hurt-- it's just a little mid.

You have gotten a new non-magical treasure, worth 1 Loot! What is it?)

"Good work !" Smiles at Myra.

Myra scrambles back up out of the pit; it's only once she's safe at the top that she looks at what she grabbed.

"It's a..." She looks it over as she tries to figure out what it is. "... tiny silver box? With a rotating handle on one side?" She turns the small handle on the side, and a series of musical notes come out of it. "Oh, it's a music box!"

Myra plays with it bit longer, then hands it to Harran. "Keep it secret; keep it safe!"

"Nice find, the people hear certainly like mechanical devices."

Moving right along trying to take back roads towards the structure we seek.


19:02, Today: Evan rolled 5 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,3.  Moving Forward.

(· You find a clue here about something nearby. Take +1 die toward your next Move Forward roll (yes, even above the usual maximum).)

The next street over is quiet and deserted.

But not too quiet, because there's something going on around the corner. Something kind of loud. Sounds like a fight? Swords on swords? And maybe... something worse that's hard to identify? Maybe another brass creature? Sure is a ruckus, that's for sure.

"Do we have any mirrors to look around the corner ?"

Myra pats herself down, check her pockets for loose change; finally, she pulls out a silver-inlaid razor.

"Maybe this could do? It's small -- you might not be able to see much, but it'll be hard for anyone else to notice, too."

She shrugs, and hands it over to Evan.

Nods with a smile and looks around the corner with it to see what all the noise is.

Wow, what a fight. Humans are fighting against some sort of... mushroom-men? With swords? No-- the humans have swords, the mushroom-men have, like, crowbars and picks and shovels and big hammers and things.

The humans move faster, but the mushroom men seem very hard to damage, so it's sort of a stalemate so far...?

Tells Myra what he sees looking surprised.

Myra's face screws up.

"They're already trying to kill each other -- who are we to intervene, right?" she reasons. "Besides, I have a feeling that if we step out there, they'll put aside their differences in order to deal with us! Let's just sneak down this other alley and cross the street a bit further down the way..."

Quietly, she leads the group around, giving the ongoing battle a wide margin...


Avoiding Danger with Agile: 4
21:08, Today: Myra rolled 6 using 2d4 ((2,4)).

This message was last edited by the player at 02:10, Fri 23 Feb.

Nods and follows Myra.

(Hm. Sounds more like a "Move Elsewhere" roll.

Not that that bothers me terribly, since you rolled a 4.

I'm gonna treat it like a Move Forward (Somewhere Else) roll. So, since you got a 4, pick one of the following Myra:


· There is a person, some persons, a monster, or some monsters here! On a 4, you spot them first. On a 3, they spot you first. On a 2 or lower, they spot you first and will always attack!
· There is something valuable here! (It might be hard to get ahold of it, though...)
· You find something hidden here! (It may or may not be Loot, but it will be of interest...)
· You find a clue here about something nearby. Take +1 die toward your next Move Forward roll (yes, even above the usual maximum).)

Ah, I figured we were avoiding the danger of getting into their combat, but this also works!

I'll choose... the clue!

You come to a large courtyard.

Here, next to a dried-up fountain, is a large... boar-man. His head and skin and hooves are like that of a boar, but his arms and legs and torso are like those of a human. Well, a large human. If he stood up he'd be at least 8 feet tall. He's also wearing clothes-- a voluminous robe of purple with blue trim.

He's kneeling down, with his eyes closed. In two bowls in front of him are burning incense. By his side, leaning against the side of the dry fountain, is a large two-sided battleax.

When your party comes into view, he opens his eyes. "I greet you," he says with a small bow, though he doesn't get up. "How fare your souls?"

Harran fields this one: "He means, are we good or evil or what," Harran whispers to you loudly. "It's like he's asking 'Friend or foe?' but a way that's both more casual and, um, more spritual."

"Well, I think I am good." Looks in thought.

(Was that loud enough that Mr. Boar was meant to hear? I'm not sure.)

It was normal volume so he could have possibly heard it but it was directed at his friends.

(I'm going with hearing it.)

"Good, good. It is good to be good. But do you, ah, speak for your companions?"

He looks to them for nods or any indication.

Myra nods, both to Evan and the boar man, as she pulls up her knowledge of stories and tales to formulate her answer.

"We greet thee, sir, and our souls are good. How fare thee?"

"My soul struggles against the darkness, but it takes joy in doing so. I am content. These are strange times, when the powers of darkness and evil rise, and my heart sings to smite them. I am Estrop, a warrior dedicated to both Noric, Lord of Freedom, and Sirtnu, the glorious. I ask that you folk grace me with knowledge of yourselves."

"Myra, you seem to know the proper etiquette, perhaps you should go first and we will follow."

"Errr...." Myra looks at Harran for assistance. "We are travelers and seekers, dedicated to providing assistance to those less fortunate than us. Currently, we are trying to find..." She looks at Harran again.

I remember that the city was brought forward in time from the past (and has been threatening the surrounding tribes, who were quite nice), but I don't remember what we figured out in terms of undoing the effect.

"We wonder if there might not be a magical object here in the city that is causing problems with time, causing different eras to appear at the same time. Something that needs the light or heat of the sun, or both? And so... something visible to the sky? Perhaps on a rooftop? Or perhaps the ground, but... this is something that we-- well, that I personally think-- might have been covered up by sand, but recently uncovered by a sandstorm..."

Estrop listens with interest. "In this city, the god of the sun was Laresh, the shining. Amoth, the Far-Walker, is-- or was-- the god of time, and magic. Neither is evil. But the gods war with one another, and Amoth has fallen-- I fear that the same fate may have befallen Laresh. But the high priestess of Amoth is a woman named Belit, and I think that the fall of Amoth may have driven her mad." Estrop closes his eyes again briefly, presses his hands together in supplication, then stands up. He's big. "I lost track of her two days ago and felt that perhaps it was for the best, but now... I wonder if she might be at the temple of Laresh, to steal more power? For with Laresh fallen, there is more to steal... His temple is..." Estrop picks up his axe, and points behind him and to his right-- "that way."

"We can go with you, Estrop if you wish."

"Thank you for the offer, but where I go, I must go alone-- for the moment. It is something only I might be able to do. Besides, the veneration for Noric is incense, which I have done today-- but the veneration preferred by Sirtnu... is theft. If I am successful, I may be able to bring something that might help against Belit. If so, I will meet you at the temple with it..."

"Thank you Estrop, for your help. Best of luck to you."

To the others, "Shall we continue on to the temple ?"

(Roll to move forward when you're ready! You get a bonus die for it! (You know where you're headed now!)

Also: someone remind me: how many minibosses have we done for this city so far? Two? Three?? One?? Zero??)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:36, Sun 25 Feb.

Myra nods, and gives a little bow to Estrop before he leaves.

"We thank you for your assistance -- we hope to meet you again in good stead."

To Evan, she nods, and leads the way in the direction that Estrop indicated.

OOC: Move Forward: 3 (oof)
22:36, Today: Myra rolled 6 using 3d4 ((2,1,3)).

Um... at least one, but I'm guessing we'll be seeing another one quite soon... *gulp*

"--Hey!" This from a dwarf at the next intersection. He is alone there. It looks like there's been a riot. Maybe the mushroom-men fight started here and moved southward?

The dwarf appears to be slowly eating coal from an overturned cart. His clothes, once silver-gray, are now so dirty as to be almost a faded sort of black. He wears a matching conical hat on his head. "...Where do you think you're going...?" he asks suspiciously...

"Why are you eating coal !?!?"

"'Why are you eating coal!?!?'" he mocks in a high-pitched voice. "Why would the Dwarf of Endak be eating coal?! Why would the Dwarf of Endak be eating anything? Caom isn't just the Devoted Queen of the Underworld, you know! Well, I mean she is, but that doesn't just mean dead people! She's in charge of the wealth of the underworld, too! Crystals! Gems! Jewels! Precious metals! Who's gonna report where the good stuff is without a taste-tester, eh? I think you folk don't have the proper respect for my title and position!" He gets up and starts making threatening sorcerous gestures at you!

"He means business! He's attacking!" Harran warns...

(Time to Get Violent!)

OOC: Ok, now I'm starting to get this system confused with the other one! I've gotta admit, I like that FLAME system better than the one we're using here.

I can even see how Magical Loot could basically be treated kind of like a Heritage...

Myra draws her rapier as the dwarf begins casting -- even before Harran gave his warning.

"Nevermore!" she says, and jumps into the fray... unfortunately, even with her speed and agility, she doesn't manage to interrupt the spell he's casting!

OOC: Get Violent: 3
18:27, Today: Myra rolled 5 using 3d4 ((1,3,1)).

(--On a roll of 3, you defeat them, but you take Harm or Trauma or lose an item, too (the GM decides which).)

Myra jumps at the Dwarf of Endak-- but is caught by his spell.

Invisible hands grab and hold Myra in midair-- turn her upside down, and shake her.

Most of her loot falls out of her pack.

"Ooh, silver!" says the Dwarf of Endak, and he scurries forward and starts eating the solid silver candlestick... just as Myra falls to the ground.

Myra jumps back up and attacks the Dwarf of Endak... "Ummmph!!" he mumbles around his candlestick, and he makes a mystical gesture and--

--POP! He's gone. Magically sent himself somewhere else. For good, one hopes.

Myra starts picking up the rest of her dropped loot from the street...

"That was one of the most chaotic things I have ever seen!"

Evan will of course help Myra up.

"You ok ?"

Myra grumbles as she picks stuff up, sneaking evil glances toward where the dwarf vanished.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she says. "Just a bit shaken, but thankfully not stirred."

17:57, Today: Evan rolled 4 using 2d4 with rolls of 3,1.  Searching the area for things the dwarve might have missed. –

Evan searches around the area.

(--On a roll of 3, you find a little loot, or maybe just one Minor Item.)

In a sack, in a doorway, you find a little box with three small glass corked bottles of powdered stuff. Harran takes a look... uncorks a bottle... sniffs carefully... And, surprisingly, hands the bottle and box to Utuzi. "Is this what I think it is?"

Utuzi holds the uncorked bottle up to his face... and does a happy little stamp of his leg. "Yes. Spices. For cooking meat. Among my people, quite valuable."

"Not bad to sell to humans, either-- in the ancient past, or what I call the present, either way."

(Added Yummy Scorpion-Folk Spices to Loot list-- 1 Loot)
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:30, Sun 03 Mar.

The party sets forth again...

At the next intersection, a winged brass lion swoops down from the sky. "Who approacheth the temple of the sun?! You are not amongst the elected! Begone, or face my wrath!"

(He does look like he's already a bit damaged, though-- a piece of brass armor is missing from his left side, and from the right side of his head/mane, and from his right rear leg. You can see gears and cogs and things turning furiously inside...)

"What?" Myra says crossly, crossing her arms as she stared down the lion. "Are you so damaged that you cannot see for yourself that we are supposed to be here? Why do you think we have this stupid disguises on?! Belit has come through already, hasn't she?" As she tugs as the robes to draw attention to them, they pull out of arrangement, looking very odd.

"Oh great!" she says, further irritated. "Now look what you've made me do! It'll be on your head if this all goes wrong!"

She looks at the lion as if she expects him to immediately get out of the group's way so that they could get on with their very important business... then after a moment or two, she huffs out a sigh of exasperation. "Harran, explain the situation -- in small words that he can understand."

OOC: Assuming that Harran backs her up with something that sounds plausible... Rolling Fellowship, Bardic Knowledge (to put on airs of authority properly, based on what she's observed so far), Insightful, Lucky, and Disguise: ewww! Ok, stressing her disguise (and ruining it?) as well as Fellowship (she really did kind of put Harran on the spot....) for 2 hits.
15:46, Today: Myra rolled 15 using 5d6 ((3,1,3,4,4)).

(Since you're stressing an asset, it's a success.

And yes it's perfectly fine to tag Harran for a non-combat, not-exactly-physical-type roll.)

"We are part of a mission to take out two of your enemies at once, by setting them against each other. It is very important that you let us pass, so that we can finish tricking your enemies into destroying each other," Harran tells the brass lion.

The brass lion opens its mouth and steam escapes... not as an attack... it's just thinking hard. "...All right. But I better see lots of dead enemies of Laresh by dusk." More steam (well, a little more). "...I need more water." The lion flaps away.

"Whew! Turns out he's still loyal to Laresh, the sun god, after all. Probably hoping we'll help destroy Belit. Well, this is sort of our plan..." says Harran...

(Pausing for possible reaction posts...)

"Well that went better than I thought it would. Good work guys !"

Evan smiles and relaxes from the tense stance he had been in.

Myra keeps her scowl on until the lion is out of sight, then sags against the door.

"Whew, that was close," she says, and nods at both Harran and Evan. "Glad that worked." She struggles a bit with her disguise, but then shrugs. "Probably not really worth trying to fix it -- let's hurry!" Pointing, she leads the way into the building.

Nods and jogs along wanting to get to the building and off the streets.

TRAP!

A pit opens, and all four of you fall...

(I was NOT suggesting that you were almost to the temple of the sun! I've got more minibosses to throw at you first!

So in the meantime-- anyone got any magic to help slow your fall before you hit bottom?

Roll for it!)

As the pit opened, Myra's reflexes react automatically, and she grabs hold of the nearest person's hand as she kicks off the edge of the pit.

"Ride the wall down!" she yells, and pushes whoever she grabbed toward the nearest wall as she aims herself at the wall on the far side.

OOC: Fellowship, Lore(Traps), Attribute(Agile), and Magic(Lucky): 2 hits
12:16, Today: Myra rolled 17 using 4d6 ((6,2,5,4)).

After the first 20 or 30 feet, the pit walls start to angle, turning into a steep slide. Myra's quick thinking and commands help everyone manage to come to a stop just before they crash into stone spikes.

Of course, the spikes have also been broken off, so no one would have actually gotten impaled, but it would have really hurt.

You're now pretty deep under the city... two torches on the walls show that this is... it looks a bit like an empty wine cellar, actually. Most of the shelves are in splinters, but one is intact... there are no intact bottles, but yeah, this was for holding wine bottles, or things like them (holy water? Nah, probably wine.) Maybe it was for something else before that (torture chamber? other?), but at some point this was a wine cellar.

There are two doors out of this area-- one north, one south...

"Wow, thanks Myra that was quick thinking."

Evan took out his oil lamp and lit it up to help light the way in this underground chamber.
"Hmmmm wine ? Too bad we can't find any."

Myra looks around as the oil lap adds its light to the torches.

"I'm just glad we're all ok. Which direction were we going, again?" She tries to get her bearings, to try to figure out the way to the temple.

She then begins poking around a bit, looking for anything useful or interesting in the dank cellar that they've dropped into.

Lowers the oil lamp to help Myra look below the wine racks and other low places.

You find one intact bottle of wine. Myra notes that runes have been gently scratched into the glass to make it unbreakable... and mmmmmaybe to keep it from accidentally turning to vinegar or whatever, too.

Looks like it's never been opened so far...

"Alright that has got to be worth something, when we get back to civilization. So which way do you think we should go ?"

Myra points in the direction she guesses that they'd been traveling on the streets above.

Nods and heads off in that direction.

"Alright sounds good."

Keeps alert to things holding the lamp higher at this point.

Evan opens the northern door.

The party comes upon a woman, walking slowly and cautiously across this next room from east to west. She wears a long, dark blue dress and matching slippers, and a gold necklace and a sort of gold tiara thing.

She's startled as heck when Evan opens the door, and she quickly tries to size up if these four new arrivals will be hostile or what.

Evan notes where the woman stepped since it looked deliberate.

"Hello Miss." He gives a warm smile.

She's slightly (pleasantly) surprised. "Um... who are you folk...?"

"We just dropped in," Myra can't help but interjected, but then she looks back at Evan to continue the conversation. She looks around this new room with interest.

"Um... So ah... do you know the way out...?"

(Sorry, my fault. It's just a sort of empty hallway, with cobblestone floors and walls and ceiling. There's your door, here in the middle, and another west and east. The woman is facing west, like she just came in here through the east door.)

"Well come this way, this direction allows a way to the city above."

"Eh? Which way?"

Gives Myra an odd look because of this woman.

Myra glances back at Evan, then points back behind the group.

"We came in from the surface back that way," she says. "Um... if you don't mind me asking... how did you get down here?"

"Oh, good. Will you show me? Is it far?"



"Oh. Um. Well. Some... priests grabbed me off the... street... I think maybe they were going to sacrifice me? But before they could do anything, some different priests attacked them. I went through a doorway to hide... but the priests who grabbed me retreated into the room where I was, so I went through the next door I saw... I couldn't lock any of them behind me... And it got really bad and I got scared so I just kept going... down some stairs, and... there are traps, and I fell through a trap door... Now I'm lost."

"Sounds like you have been through a lot. I guess it is easy to get turned around underground. Sorry that some horrible priests planned to sacrifice you, that is very disturbing."

"Yes, but I am relieved to hear that you are not lost-- that you know the way by which you came down to this point... is the exit to the surface very far...?"

Myra glances at Evan again, then smiles apologetically.

"Well, no... but... you might need to be able to climb a bit. When I said we just dropped in, I meant it kind of literally. We fell through a trap door." She shrugs. "We're looking for a way out, too. If you'd like to walk with us..." She looks around at the others to see if they're ok with this woman accompanying them.

"...Oh. Yeah. Traps. All right then. Well, yes, I would like to accompany you... But, if it's okay... Maybe I could walk in the back...?"

"Certainly, it probably is safer back there and you can talk with Harran, he is well educated about many things."

Looks to Myra, "Let's mark our way."

The woman glances at Harran... seems to calculate something... "Um... that's good... but... Maybe one of you ladies should be in the back with me, just in case something comes up behind us...?"

Myra nods at Evan, but looks askance at the woman.

"Ok, sure?" she says. "I'll walk in the very back. Evan, lead the way!"

Evan gives Myra a be careful look but then turns to lead them. Knowing the woman came from one direction he will mark the wall with his scimitar or a smokey smudge from his oil lamp and chose the direction the woman was heading when we came upon her.

((Do we still roll to move ahead ?))

(Normally no, but right now I want Myra to roll with whatever she's got that she thinks would help with perception/caution/awareness of her surroundings...)

OOC: Fellowship (Utuzi, who is near the back with her), Lore (Traps), Attributes (Insightful), Magic (Preternatural Perception): 2 hits
15:30, Today: Myra rolled 17 using 4d6 ((6,4,1,6)).

The party of 5 sneaks through the west door... which just leads to another tunnel headed north, and another door that leads to a longer tunnel north... and then...

Myra... NOTICES THAT THE WOMAN HAS FANGS OUT SUDDENLY AND IS ABOUT TO BITE HER!

VAMPIRE!  (GET 'ER!)

Myra's been thinking that the woman is a bit strange -- that's why she hadn't shared their names when they'd met, and why she's been keeping an eye on the woman since, even as she's also tried to keep an eye out for other dangers. So when she found herself suddenly under attack, Myra wasn't quite as surprised as she might have been if she'd trusted the woman's story completely.

As she twists out of the woman's reach, Myra draws her rapier as she quickly struggles to remember what she knows about dealing with vampires -- especially considering that she currently has no stakes, garlic, or sunlight readily at hand.

"Evan! Utuzi! HELP!" she cries as she uses Nevermore to keep the vampire woman at a distance.

OOC: Fellowship (everyone!), Lore (Bardic Knowledge), Attributes (Agile), Magic (Lucky Combatant), Equipment (Nevermore): 3 hits!
13:46, Today: Myra rolled 21 using 5d6 ((1,3,6,6,5)).

The vampire woman is cut on her left arm, her leg, stabbed in the stomach... she backs off toward the far wall (near the door you just came in by), hissing...

(Since all you said was to hold her off, that's what happened, but with three hits, I had you do some damage, too. You, naturally, didn't get a scratch on yourself, let alone get bitten.)

Evan wants to use his oil lamp and magic to carry the flames to the woman.

He had thought it a bit odd such an ornately dressed woman with jewelry being picked as a sacrifice victim but he was surprised at the nature of the woman during her attack.


Building my die pool.

Utuzi, Myra hopefully, Djinn Magic, Masters Lamp and forceful

16:42, Today: Evan rolled 11 using 5d6 with rolls of 2,3,2,3,1.  Flaming winds.
I got no hits and a 1.

With rapid speed, the woman attacks RIGHT before Evan can finish setting up the magical attack-- grabbing Evan by the neck and slamming him against the far wall, OW!

(Evan gets the Djinn Magic asset stressed!

Also-- You can only roll with F L A M and E once per roll... but it looks like you did A M and E but used F twice... can't do that!

But it failed anyway...

VAMP'S TURN!

13:40, Today: The GM rolled 13 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,5,5.  Vamp attack!

2 hits!

Vamp stresses Evan's Scimitar and Magic Knowledge assets!)

The vampire (vampiress?) tosses Evan diagonally toward the ceiling (and away from the group)-- Evan is rattled further, and drops the scimitar...!

"Harran -- check on Evan!"

Myra advances quickly on the vampire lady, and her rapier flicks back and forth in a dizzying array of moves as she attempts to drive her away from Evan.

"Why the bad blood between us? You're a dead ringer for a friend of mine," she says in a deadpan tone to the woman. "Compared to her, though, your style sucks. I mean, it really bites hard. Too much vamp, not enough class. That outfit is holy inappropriate! But maybe one day you'll gar-lick your tendency toward fashion faux-pas. Just something you should reflect on. In a mirror."

OOC: Fellowship (Harran), Lore(Bardic Knowledge -- coming up with annoying puns to distract the lady and mess with her ability to defend), Lucky Combatant, Agile, Nevermore: 2 hits and can't stress any of the others for a third hit, unfortunately...
16:17, Today: Myra rolled 15 using 5d6 ((1,5,1,6,2)).

(1. The vampiress loses her TOUGH asset and her STRONG asset


2. Myra, you said "drive away" again...

Since you got two hits, I'll give you a choice:

--The vampire, wounded, runs through a far door and flees (for now)

OR

--The vampire, wounded, is very focused on attacking you again, but at least you've made her stop beating on Evan for at least the next two rounds)

In reply to The GM (msg # 263):

Well.... I really should choose the first, but I don't want her coming back to attack us later on, so... the second please!

The vampiress attacks Myra...

(12:38, Today: The GM rolled 4 using 2d6 ((1,3)).)

Fail! She was fast, but not too fast for Myra! She gets another stabbin' from Myra!

(She loses her FAST asset!

Your turn!)

Myra, remembering something she read about once, puts one hand behind her back as she shifts into what appears to be a more defensive stance.

"It's just a matter of time now," she says, supremely confident as she gestures to Harran with the hand that's behind her back. Perhaps Harran understands, or maybe he does not, but when he moves in response -- however he moves -- he draws the Vampire's gaze for just a second... and in that singular moment, at just the right time, Myra lunges, striking for the kill!

OOC: Fellowship(Harran, perhaps unwittingly), Lore(Bardic Knowledge -- a potential fighting trick), Attribute(Insightful), Magic(Preternatural Perception), Equipment(Nevermore): 4(!) hits
16:14, Today: Myra rolled 25 using 5d6 ((5,3,5,6,6)).