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Post by Rule Hound on May 16, 2016 18:14:59 GMT
Alfonso, Severus, Symeon
In a nutshell, we would like to find Morrigan. Not to kill her, but rather to take her as a blood-bound hostage as leverage over Raetus. To that end, Severus will be acquiring the scry ritual, I believe he had sent in the xp expenditure pm to you guys yesterday. We scry her a few times (spread out over time so we ideally get her in different spots) and then try to figure out from any conversations/environmental visuals or clues we she is.
Severus and Symeon were given the option of Assisting Alfonso or fulfilling contract as offered by the Setites. They Chose Alfonso.
Severus
Scry: paper, rock, scissors (Tie-loss, Win, Win)
Us/Morrigan : S, S, P
1st) Morrigan preparing what seems to be a scry ritual
2nd) There are 3 Morrigans. working in a Laboratory. They seem to be trying to construct some item.
3rd) Raetus and Morrigan talking about their being held captive by the Ard Rhi. That he is unsure about their current status with him. But that he is going to go check and make sure Nunzio is where he is supposed to be and not plotting with Alfonso as they seem overly close. Morrigan tells him to send in her maids when he leaves.
Normal tests: scissors, rock, paper, paper, scissors.
Us : S, R, R, S, P
Symeon: Paper, Paper, Rock, Scissors, Scissors
Us : S, S, S, P, S
Alfonso: Paper, Paper,Rock, Paper, Scissors
Us : S, S, R, P, S
Confrontation with the Ard Rhi and his special protection force. He swore his protection to Raetus given the circumstances.
2 outright failures will result in death.
2 ties = 1 outright failure.
The only way to succeed is by outright winning every test.
I will right a story to narrate the scene.
ST Note: I am very not happy with players plotting to take another character out of commission and then not show up to the next game. In essence telling that player that there is no point in them coming to play next game either as they will not have their character. I am thinking that we need to discuss adding to the story vs being out for your personal glory that does nothing to enhance the overall game for anyone except yourself. There is more than just killing as an option.
ST Note: Had an idea. Not really happy with probably just killing 3 character. Maybe we can find a way to give them their own little Domain where they can do their own things and live or die by their actions being beholden to themselves?
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Post by Rule Hound on May 16, 2016 18:16:52 GMT
Results:
Alfonso - Loss, Loss, Tie, Tie, Tie
Severus - Tie, Tie, Win
Symeon - Loss, Loss, Win
2 deaths probably 3.
I think we will come up with a story, they can be beaten by the Ard Rhi and then he will offer clemency with some strict conditions and spell out point blank what they did wrong.
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Post by Rule Hound on May 24, 2016 5:33:55 GMT
Severus informs you that Raetus is heading out to check on Nunzio as they are not fully sure of his currently loyalties. The time has come.
Taking the hands of your fellow conspirators you open a passageway and step into the abyss.
(Alfonso - Failed test) - 6 aggravated each
6 hrs latter you step out into Morrigans Laboratory, unfortunately she is not there at this point. You can feel the pressure of the sun, dawn is near.
Knowing this may be your only chance and that any attempt to step back into the Abyss could be your full and utter destruction.
Moving forward knowing Morrigan's personal quarters are near here and that Raetus is usually early to bed you Quietly make your way down the hall.
After checking the door and noticing it to be locked Symeon steps forward using his knowledge of security to quickly bypass it and grant you entrance. And then transforms into a giant snake.
As you step in you notice that there is a fire in the hearth and a lantern on the wall casting light. Surprising her Morrigan looks up and is about to scream. Severus taking matters into his own hands quickly changes her mind and she remains silent.
It is then that you notice there are 3 Morrigan's in the room (go figure, Vicissitude). Severus having already empowered himself with his thaumaturgy quickly locks gazes with he one on the left, Symeon strike the one on the right, grappling her while Alfonso calls some Arms of the abyss into being to attack the one in the center, flailing away she quickly drops.
A scream erupts from the one that is in Symeons grapple. As you look back towards the one held by Severus's gaze its shadow which is strangely between her and the light gains solidity and takes the shape of Didaskalos. His voice issues from it's throat.
"The Master knows, he see's what I see. You write your own doom. You shall not touch her."
The Morrigan behind him (as the gaze is now broken and no exceptional success) awakens and steps back to her table and grabs her pouches.
[initiative] Alfonso
Moving your sword into line and beginning to feel the fear of realization. You have heard fairy tales of such creatures but really nothing else as you focused on your marital skills rather than Lore (you really do not know much more than your next level of obtenebration that you can buy and about the general rules within the Lasombra and hierarchy).
Since you can not get past you attack the Dark Hunter. He accepts your blow and laughs.
Severus and Symeon take note that a new Shadow steps forth. Your own shadow detaches and forms into another simulacrum of the Ard Rhi. This one even having taken a simple action to form raises its hand and the entire room goes dark as a shroud of night descends.
Severus being near the door attempts to flee and discovers himself attacked and then grappled by tentacles.
Shortly there after Symeon finds himself so assaulted and grappled. Alfonso attempting to flail and attack something finds himself useless, even unable to call forth more arms as there is no more real shadow within the room, only the substance of the abyss.
Didaskalos:
Unsworn ones. You, Alfonso, the Duke turned over as his duty and oaths to me demanded. You call him honorless. Yet you, as the only accused, could have stepped forth and begged pardon. I offered it to you and you turned up your nose and drag your vassals, also released and as such unsworn in MY DOMAIN. You convince them to attack.
You claim honor but have none. You may have been released from your fealty to Raetus but you betray your own honor and oaths, you swore on YOUR OATH to protect this domain and my greater domain. Yet YOU kill my vassal, your choice. YOU weaken my domain and bring trouble back to this one. Then YOU choose to lead these fools astray and try to weaken it further. Where is this honor you preach so loudly of?
[ooc) by the way, this is also going to be a morality check for Alfonso and possibly others when you come to game next. You broke your oaths. Raetus did not order you to kill Balaam. You did it. You killed your liege's liege's sworn man. You were sworn to protect Trento and Gaul. Your choice brought harm to Trento and Gaul thus breaking your oath]
Silence fool. Raetus is paying for his part, be a Cainite of honor and own your own choices. I don't care that you robbed and killed mortals. I DO CARE THAT YOU KILLED MY DODGE AND HERALD!
You know Loki was there, do you really think that because you wore another face he wouldn't discover who wore it? He even warned you, destroyed some of your forces to show you.
[Didaskalos is actually here through a Shadow Avatar, so is his Dark Hunter and the Elite forces he sent with the Imperial troops at his command]
My first thought is to simply destroy you, what service can warrant your survival? I still might, and your "friends" with you. But, it seems I have a problem. Archer has been brought in. And there are issues to the west and North. And then there is the Crusades. Unfortunately, you are tied to them.
So, I am of the mind to give you a chance, assuming you and your cohorts survive and return.
You will swear fealty to Loki. You will be given a fallen border fort and a small town. You, your associates and room and enough sustenance for one other Cainite, will go there and protect the trade route. You might die, you might succeed. Perhaps you are more clever than I give you credit for. Either way you will have many battles and demons to face. If you are still alive when Nicodemus and his master have been brought to bay then perhaps you have earned my respect.
[the cloud drops and you see the two shadow Ard Rhi's]
One speaks: You shall plainly swear that you shall cause no harm to MY domain.
The other speaks: You shall be fully bound to Loki, to ensure your oath to him and me through him.
Together: At least if you survive the crusades you can return a Baron.
[With that several other individuals appear and beat you three into torpor]
When you (Alfonso) awakes, you are being held by the throat from the battlements of a recently sacked hill fort with blood trickling into your mouth.
[Loki stares into your eyes and offers you the choice.]
What is your decision?
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Post by Rule Hound on May 24, 2016 5:42:37 GMT
We realize this is a pretty harsh scene and judgment. This has come about for multiple reasons yet we are really trying to find a way to offer you a way to play your way without taking away from the rest of the game.
Unfortunately, you failed your tests miserably and the original set up/protective trap that you walked into could have easily ended in death. 2 failures or a failure and multiple ties. With the death of any individual it became more likely for the others to die.
Events in place prior to your plan to attack Morrigan
Prior to you ever having planned to kidnap or attack her (immediately after the scene with Didaskalos) the Ard Rhi was paid to protect her and he swore to do so even should something happen to Raetus. Interestingly, Raetus had no special protection other than basically what he can call forth himself and a small possibility that the special forces might have been in the area (a test, not guaranteed)
Unfortunately, you chose to target Morrigan, whom Raetus had paid to have protected. Then you were going to attack Raetus who despite everything is still Didaskalos's sworn vassal (thus repeating the same error of killing his vassal that caused this problem in the first place). Raetus also has immunity as granted by fulfilling the Ard Rhi's command to turn over the one responsible for his Herald and Doge's death. Even though you successfully used your status to make his word in it no publicly valid he had still upheld the order as issued by the Ard Rhi thus Didaskalos has to keep his end of the agreement (which in the future we may choose to rework any such missives if they are needed).
By all reckoning Didaskalos (Ard Rhi) should simply (and we as ST's) have killed you. But, we are really trying to let people play their own style of game and yours is mostly physical.
As a ST starting your own game I hope you can sympathize with this.
You were willing to kidnap a player character, that travels from another city like you and then not being able to make it to game thus making it impossible for her to play her character.
There is a point where a character is no longer adding to the story and is taking away from it. As ST's we have to consider every player and the greater story and time invested by each player when we make decisions. Alfonso was on this line. He was taking away more than adding to the overall.
However, we are really trying not to simply bring out the big ST stick (even though you chose to walk into a situation where you had no chance) and kill off characters that their players have invested themselves into, unless absolutely necessary or they have played themselves into position where the NPC's HAVE to react in that way.
We were very lost as what to do. Severus and Symeon sided with Alfonso putting them in a position where it is unlikely they would have been accepted into another Dukedom.
We spent a very long time considering how we could find a way to spare all of you, offer you a way to remain in the greater area of Gaul without automatic death and to attend gatherings.
What we did in the end was re-write a series of events that were to come in the future and adapt them in such a way as to include you more directly into their story. Letting you and your coterie remain together, keep you as a Baron but independent to the PC Dukes.
Though the scene is harsh you are benefiting from it immensely. You are being offered a Barony of your own (not a dukedom just a barony) where you and up to three others can still come to game and hopefully survive and still get to play your characters. There are very obvious physical threats in the region and you are basically being assigned to deal with them which if played right will provide you plenty of personal combat.
You will still as a group and individually get to interact with all the Dukedoms, Free City and other characters in what ever manner you choose. Good roleplay can make opportunities unlimited.
There are still possible IC consequences to deal with as the cat is out of the bag on Balaam but it could provide some great scenes.
As far as we, the ST's are concerned, the matter will be settled (for any NPC's) with your return from the Crusade and taking the position/fort offered. What happens after that is solely based on your characters decisions and actions.
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Post by Rule Hound on May 26, 2016 20:45:22 GMT
Sent To Morrigan:
Alfonso, Severus amd Symeon open the "locked" door to your private chambers and step inside.
As they do so they are 3 Morrigan's in the room (go figure, Vicissitude). Severus locks gazes with the you on the left, Symeon appearing as a giant snake, strikes the one on the right, grappling her while Alfonso calls some Arms of the abyss into being to attack the one in the center, flailing away she quickly drops.
A scream erupts from the one that is in Symeons grapple. Your shadow, which is strangely between you and the light, gains solidity and takes the shape of Didaskalos. His voice issues from it's throat.
"The Master knows, he see's what I see. You write your own doom. You shall not touch her."
Being released from Severus's gaze (as the gaze is now broken and no exceptional success) awaken and step back to her table grabbing your spell components.
[initiative] Alfonso
Alfonso, unable to get past attacks the Dark Hunter. The Dark hunter accepts his blow and laughs.
Alfonso's own shadow detaches, gains solidity steps forth and forms into another simulacrum of the Ard Rhi. This one, even having taken a simple action to form, raises its hand and the entire room goes dark as a shroud of night descends.
Didaskalos's voice issues through the cloud, plain and clear:
Unsworn ones. You, Alfonso, the Duke turned over as his duty and oaths to me demanded. You call him honorless. Yet you, as the only accused, could have stepped forth and begged pardon. I offered it to you and you turned up your nose and drag your vassals, also released and as such unsworn in MY DOMAIN. You convince them to attack.
You claim honor but have none. You may have been released from your fealty to Raetus but you betray your own honor and oaths, you swore on YOUR OATH to protect this domain and my greater domain. Yet YOU kill my vassal, your choice. YOU weaken my domain and bring trouble back to this one. Then YOU choose to lead these fools astray and try to weaken it further. Where is this honor you preach so loudly of?
Silence fool. Raetus is paying for his part, be a Cainite of honor and own your own choices. I don't care that you robbed and killed mortals. I DO CARE THAT YOU KILLED MY DODGE AND HERALD!
You know Loki was there, do you really think that because you wore another face he wouldn't discover who wore it? He even warned you, destroyed some of your forces to show you.
My first thought is to simply destroy you, what service can warrant your survival? I still might, and your "friends" with you. But, it seems I have a problem. Archer has been brought in. And there are issues to the west and North. And then there is the Crusades. Unfortunately, you are tied to them.
So, I am of the mind to give you a chance, assuming you and your cohorts survive and return.
You will swear fealty to Loki. You will be given a fallen border fort and a small town. You, your associates and room and enough sustenance for one other Cainite, will go there and protect the trade route. You might die, you might succeed. Perhaps you are more clever than I give you credit for. Either way you will have many battles and demons to face. If you are still alive when Nicodemus and his master have been brought to bay then perhaps you have earned my respect.
[the cloud drops and you see the two shadow Ard Rhi's]
One speaks: You shall plainly swear that you shall cause no harm to MY domain.
The other speaks: You shall be fully bound to Loki, to ensure your oath to him and me through him.
Together: At least if you survive the crusades you can return a Baron.
[With that several other individuals appear and beat the three into torpor. A vortex opens into the abyss and they all step through]
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