A new game in the wings, finally.

Essentially, I'm not truly sure what I want to do with him/it. It's proxy is Deus, the representative pledging help to Vinland in it's arms race and competition with their neighbors. But I'm not sure what I want the Lord to be, a spirit or mad god, First Age Solar, a human thaumaturge taken over by an Artifact, some Thing of unknown intentions, hell maybe something like the Combine from Half Life 2, residing in his citadel in the middle of Deandsor. I even had a thought for it to be a super intelligent construct of the First Age.


I have plenty of time, because the characters have to deal with Deus first and all that jazz. I'm just indecisive as to what I want it to be and then the question of what power does it wield? What can it do to the PCs in their quests after it finds them as adversaries?
 
Denandsor's self-repair automata, who over the centuries have found it necessary to develop a greater amount of leeway and self-control in their approach to the ever-increasing problems of maintenance and self-replication. The end result is a sentient city inhabited by thousands of tiny, minimally aware crablike robots who scurry through service ducts cleaning and repairing the city, whose consciousness is a gestalt of the sum total of their tiny minds.


Sorry if this is completely inappropriate, I'm on my lunch-break from work and can't be bothered reading the whole thread. But if you're talking Denandsor, you're talking gestalt robot consciousness as far as I'm concerned.
 
I was going somewhere along those lines. Perhaps when the DB governor activated the defenses of the city, clearly they were Celestial, if not Solar made. Therefore out of control in the hands of the DB. So, the effect gets laid on the city and the human and Exalt population goes right out of the window. I'm thinking perhaps some of the robotic stewards evolved in their patterns of thought and possibly form. Then...something else came along, that part of the plot I'm still thinking up.


Has anyone seen the opening to the Hellboy movie? The part where they open the dimensional gateway? I'm thinking something along those lines maybe...any thoughts?
 
*Bump* Just wondering if anyone had ideas on the villain I could use perhaps ^^; Because I have those ideas seen above, but am undecided which seems like a good plausable one to use? All of them could be within reason, but what does anyone else think?
 
Stubborn aren't I ^_^ ; But is there any advice on the villain issue from anyone? I wrote down the ideas I had for it like three posts back but I'm having a hard time figuring out which would be best. It's a toughie in a way.


Any ideas? Forn Clakes? Stillborn? Hanat-Osul? *invokes the powers of the dark Gods* Oh devious Jakk Bey? Have any of you two cents to throw in? ^_^ please?
 
It is intruiging really, in an odd partial way, the city itself is the intelligence, all of it's maintenance bots are the mind of it, the city it's' body. Interesting...but now I must be compelled as to think of a way adn reason of why?
 
Warning: Long post explanations ahead!


Well gentlemen, it's been a month of straight playing and I've had at least eight sessions and it's going GREAT! I thank everyone for the ideas you all handed in and so graciously gave. *bows* Your kung-fu is best. But here's the sit-rep.


I've changed a few plot ideas and fleshed out the region greatly: The Duns are a Realm friendly nation, part of the Confederation, but on good terms with Lila's Gate, the only Realm garrison in the region of an ancient First Age bridge spanning about 10 miles of river and guarding a small settlement and mining town, home of one of the only Realm orichalcum mines in the East. Home to over 2,500 legionnaires and three Terrestrials. They man the large bridge and the tolls across it's span. It is a mighty standard, the last the Realm has in these lands.


The Duns are in a time of tumult as par the rest of the world, though to many, it appears not. The vast decadent face and proud military heritage dating back to the Realm invasions of the First Century of the Second Age stand tall, hiding the decay coming on the inside. An unknown foe has cropped up under their noses wiping out a small kingdom in their borders in a matter of years, the Duns secretly keeping it quiet, letting legend and superstition take precedent. A ploy of unknown powers? Or perhaps foul play and a wicked alliance? The "hollow men" walk the forests, none walk those paths except the brave soul of Mithradates, mercenary, Anathema, former Red Piss grunt.


An Exalt blessed by the Sun at the auspicious age of 50. He along with his Terrestrial friends and long time companions, leads a mercenary company of Red Piss defectors accompanying a greedy Guild master along the tainted and haunted woods of the Fell. Visiting the opulent cities of the Duns, they decide a tidy profit from an easy job in a land Mithrdates hadn't been in so long (former son of Vinland taken by the Realm as a slave/squire for a particularly kind Terrestrial after a war with the people 40 years ago).


Set upon constantly by these odd things so resemblance of men of Lookshy, they fought on, into the hastily on setting winter, and in three weeks of hell and blood, fought on to the Gap, a long fortification between the mountains of the Duns and Vinland. After getting his dues and then some, plus an addition to the ranks; the men took the safe roads on the Vinland side of the mountains to Fallia, a free and neutral nation tiered into the mountains between the two smoldering nations. A town of wealth, trade and parties, Mithradates made himself known there, throwing a grand party in his name for the people and men at arms in the town.


Thousands arrive after the banners are raised and trumpets blarred, a long evening of drink and social ties being made. Dusk Wayland, an Eclipse who knows not his past made himself known at this party to Mithrdates, keeping his Exaltation in secret, as the representatives of the Realm garrison came to hobknob with local high class patrons. He is hunted by the Wyld Hunt, scouring the region looking for their prey. He has taken refuge in Fallia for the next few days when he heard of the party. A born drinker and patron son of the god Zidane, the lord of the vine and celebrations.


Dusk Wayland is a representative of the spirit courts, a surpassingly handsome man for all to flow to like the ocean waters. Mithrdates met Lady Lila, the Terrestrial whom after the bridge is named after, the rather cold woman will be a stepping stone in his campaign to establish himself in this region. He attempts to woo the woman, later using his sorcery to influence her dreams. The party yields fruit for Mithrdates and his allies, aside from a good woman and drink for the night. His numbers swell, and his advisors, Pharnaces and Demosthenes, two Terrestrial Exalted old in their years, bid him be careful in his rise to power. It may bring unwanted attention. That and they have heard rumor the past few days that something of a First Age wreck or manse lies somewhere in the few mountains that Falia is nestled in.


So gathering his Terrestrials, his new friend Dusk and a few of his mercenaries and scouts, they departed. Heading into the mountain passes they found the scatered remains of many a Scavenger Lord party. Suddenly, they were assaulted by a rock slide, angry earth elementals smashing their fists into the valley wall, nay hurting the Exalts but killing one of the men and injuring two others, substantially slowing them. Snows began to fall anew, blanketing the region. But Archaeleus, Wood aspect and chief scout for Mithrdates found the path through the mountains along with his new Solar companion. Together they came forth into a wider valley and beheld six towers, one large and sitting directly in the center of the valley, a commanding view of miles in either direction in Vinland or the Duns.


They fan out and begin to explore, Mithrdates taking the watchtower, along with Wayland, Pharnaces and Boagrius, a former Seventh Legionarre Earth Aspect and his personal siege engineer. The entire entryway is shrouded in darkness, a voice whispered in the dark and Pharnaces, a Terrestrial of well over a hundred years, long time trainer of Mithrdates fled, along with Boagrius. Mithrdates stood his ground with Dusk as a dark thing came walking down the stairs. It greeted them and found their true nature, bowing low. The darkness shied away back into the Watchman, revealing the eight Ermyanthoi poised to jump in and kill on sight.
 
The Watchman informed them of its duties to protect this region and those towers at the behest of it's former master. A Solar Twilight, his name lost to the ages, who had summoned him long ago through a variant of demon summoning, the Twilight was a necromancer, one of the first. Mithrdates and Draven showed no outward unease until the creature vanished into the tower later. It informed them of the purpose and need of the tower, to watch over the Celestial gate beneath these ruins, and to keep an eye on the Three Hills freehold across the river some two hundred miles away. The Twilight and his Circle made their home in the other towers.


After and thorough search of the towers, Dusk found that this was where his former incarnation once lived long ago in the First Age. He also found the comely demoness his former self indulged in, waiting for him in his bed chambers of the Tower of Eclipse. The Tower of Twilight was inaccessable, knocked in half by some long forgotten incident. The Tower of the Blazing Sun, Mithrdates found something of untold import and portent, lost books of the religion of the Solar Delibrative, the true Immaculate Order, the Dragons hold up and help make shine the Celestials and their Solar lords. The religion of the Unconquered Sun that reigned over the whole of Creation. For a month, he locked himself away, while his men fortified the entire valley, building a huge stone wall and gate across the Vinland mouth of the area. He left the tower after that month to give his men a sermon on how the world use to be. How the Sun shined and all was right.


Dusk Wayland, meanwhile, took this time to head into the forests some one hundred miles away, on a mission from the local spirit courts to find out the fate of a spirit court in the Fell. He found out that the Lintha were behind the raids of the hollow men, in some odd plot to gain a foothold in this land and it's rivers. Mithrdates was informed that the Lintha had arrived in the Duns capital of Varsi, under a banner of good will and open trade. He traveled to Nexus and had Demosthenes try to get a hearing with the Guild over the Lintha incursion. He traveled the markets, picking up trinkets and old chaff wreckage of the First Age. In the Night Market he was met by a mysterious old beggar, handing him a piece of Opal glass, setting off a vision in his mind of the last days of a great city somewhere in Creation. When he came to, the man was gone, and hours of searching with Lysander brought no fruit. Days later, his thoughts troubled by the event, he came forth before the Council of Entities, a deal he knew not that Demosthenes could put together. They pleaded their case before the odd and powerful entities hidden in the dark around them. With a vague assurance that the Lintha would be dealt with, tey returned home.


The Eclipse escaped the Fell without completing his mission and retreated to the city of Bouganville, where worries and rumor of the hollow men had reached, bringing with him a captive Lintha he had bested in single combat. Now that the news was out, the word is spreading slowly about what is happening and who is behind it. But will it hold weight in Varsi? Would people truly believe the Lintha are even behind this, when not even half the nation know who they are? Time will tell.


A new ally had joined the cause, the guardian of the Celestial Gate below, a Celestial Lion, Lysander. He had pledged his claws and teeth as the bodyguard of this noble Solar and a fighter of his cause. The lion and Solar traded information, long discussions of Heaven and the state of the world were at hand. Wayland's journey home was marred by two outcaste Terrestrials who had been hired by the Hunt to assist them in the killing of Dusk. Shaken, but alive, he left his now dead foes behind him and came home. Dusk and Mithrdates learned of a long lost sect of Celestial Exalted, the Siderials, and their hand in the fall of the Sun's Blessed Children.
 
Dusk and Mithrdates soon rejoined and traveled aloft to the nation of Vinland, in time to reach Puyo, the capital, for the Celebration of the Gods. Along with Lysander and the protection of the sorceror Pharnaces, they rode to Puyo. A festival held on the solstices, tens of thousands arrived from the countryside and other points of Vinland and the Scavenger Lands. The entire temple district was abuzz with parades, mass worship of the gods and decadence. Spirits walked openly, greeting and meeting with their worshippers. It was a time of praise, worship, remembrance and of bonds of fellowship.


The first thing the group noticed on the approach to Puyo was the impressive structure dominating the Realm of Gods and Ancestors, the 30-story pillars of the ancient Manse of Aduenai, to the rest of Creation, the Unconquered Sun. The Manse is the seat of the Throne of Ages, the symbol of power and unification in Vinland, not sat in for over forty years. Mithrdates has come to claim this throne, for he is the lost son of the last king who sat in the chair, his death in 748 during a war against the Realm broke the line of kings. It is whispered the Throne keeps it's king alive against all attempts of assassination. It is divine right to those it accepts, they are obeyed unerringly, closely resembling the scepter of the Perfect, but designed for succession and unity, rather than personal power.


The region has been ruled by the Averni chieftains in the Council of Elders for more than forty years, no man has been able to sit on the Throne. Any who has tried has died a terrible death for trying to foresake prophecy for greed and power. It is foreseen a man of two fathers and who shall arrive when Mars will eclipse Jupiter shall take the throne, not man, nor god, but something more.


As the small quartet arrives in the city of 500,000, they walk towards the temple of the Sun. Tens of thousands are on it's spires and it's steps and around it's blocks, worshipping. The most prominent feature are the great polished gold mirrors atop each spire and the golden statue of the Sun, rising 50 feet into the air. A wondrous hold over from the First Age. Wandering Immaculates from the temples on the other side of the city are shoved aside and ignored when preaching against this heresy. A column of fiery light encircles the statue, said to incinerate any who is not blessed by the Sun. Draven and Mithrdates walked boldytoward the light and stepped in, embraced by the warmth of the great god they serve. Bowing low, they offer prayers and Mithrdates does something unbidden, he begins praying in the tongues of the First Religion, the Sun's Tomes. The entire Manse begins to thrum to life, the polished marble and silver glowed with blue and gold energy, coalescing into a beam shining into the sky.


The city stood still for some time. All eyes watched for many, many leagues as the light reached into the sky, small motes of violet light, the prayers of the people were carried directly to Heaven, calling to their god. A long used site of prayer became an even grander shrine to their god, directing their prayers and words to his ear directly. In Heaven, walls shook with the echoes and chants of prayers long unheard of in the air. The Bronze trembled, and the Gold rejoiced.
 
A long night of celebration and fervent talk occured, in which the mercenary leader snuck off once more to the Throne of Ages to unlock it's secrets. He was to reclaim his birthright. Meanwhile, Draven awoke in the morning to find himself alone but surrounded by people recovering from the night's worship of Zidane. He stumbled through the area, moving through the large throngs of citizens, worshippers, partiers, merchants, and pickpockets. Leaving the religious district, he walked into town and found several wanted ads for his unmistakable face and wolfen eyes. Seeing that there were a few legionarres in the crowd, he panicked, heading toward the garden parks outside the Most Auspicious Citadel of Law, a ten story building where the ruling Council of Elders lie. The parks were vast, taking about twenty acres as a public walk. It was there that Draven's blood ran cold, he saw huge banners of three Great Houses. His hunters had arrived, the Wyld Hunt was in Puyo.


Meanwhile, Mithrdates had whiled the night away inside the great throne room under the temple. The shining ebon and ivory chair, tinged in orichalcum and silver, sat in a single column of light sheltered above by a huge crystal underneath the the statue of the Unconquered Sun above. Near he found the great Codex of Kings. The lineage and names and deeds of all the kings of Vinland, the last being his father, a prophecy written in by one of his last magi, thaumaturges who divined for the king, the return of the lost son of two fathers. He knew now what he must do.


Meanwhile, Dusk stalked his hunters, despite the impressive show they made. Five hunters, an elder gentleman leading them all, his skin like auburn leaves and scales of the dragon around his eyes. Dusk took the next few hours, buying new clothes and dying his hair black. Then he lie in wait for one of his hunters, the old man, jumping him in an alleyway as he went on his way to a pair of informants. The battle was quick, neither being hurt in the show of Exalted power and skill. The elder Immaculate bid his quarry farewell, racing up and off across the roofs of Puyo. Soon the Hunt was on, Dusk hiding and darting into buildings as two of the Dragon Blood flew overhead in their sorcerous chariot.


He lost himself on a thoroughfare and hid under the wheelwell of a vast wagon being pulled by oxen down the road, only to be stopped at a roadblock. Getting through that one in no trouble, he was distracted by a woman of immense beauty as he jumped off a few blocks away. Only to find as she turned around, she was a Huntress. The soldiers and bankmen loading tribute into a wagon for the Realm garrison of Lila's Gate all looked on in shock. All paused as the soldiers drew arms to engage the Anathema and the two young hunters squared off. In a flurry of blows and whip cracks from Dusk and the woman, they drew no where. In a surprise turn, the female of House Ragara called out vicious slanders and a proclamation of her brother being her enemy. The young Earth aspect looked at his sister in confused shock as Dusk's blow guided toward him, a victim of Safety Amongst Enemies. Whispering his sister's name when the orichalcum blade clove his head from his body, Dusk flew into a rage.


"Have you NO honor!? You are sick and pathetic!" The woman was cowed by the display of Celestial might from Dusk, his Eclipse Caste mark shining brightly. Evading javelins thrown by the few Realm soldiers nearby and few sword blows from conscripted militia, he took the young Dragon Blooded's head. He dashed off, dozens of soldiers were charging him from the road block a few blocks back, their Terrestrial commander leading them in his chariot. Dusk gave his legs the speed of the lightning in the skies as dashed away. As he knew he was far from the men and had isolated the Dragon Blooded, he took to the roofs, leaving hundreds in the bazaar breathless.


Dusk found himself faced off with an imposing figure of 6'5" and built like a lithe tank of a man. Clad in glossy black plates of jade. Wielding a wickely edged scythe, face hidden behind an ornate red jade and amber oni mask, Dusk has met the most bizarre and possibly most disturbing member of the Hunt. No lips could be seen, only the baleful glare of those dead grey eyes. "You will pay for the precious blood you spilt," the raspy and echoing voice of the Dragon Blood chilled Dusk as he leapt into the air, a loud bang distracting him as the Terrestrial cut open his duster and charred his flesh on his chest. The Solar fell back, screaming in pain, launching wildly into his foe, sparks flying off his armor as he landed a few hits, red blood blending with the plates.


The Crushing Wave spread his stance and sucked in a mighty breath blowing out flame from his mask. The Solar avoided the flames, flicking his blade to the Dynast's scythe, flicking it upward and smacking it's blade across the Dynast's throat. The Dragon Blood leapt from the battle, badly wounded. Dusk, trying to make pursuit, leapt down as well, collapsing to his knees in pain, trying to hobble after the Terrestrial, following the blood trail down an alleyway. He had lost him somehow. The bazaar was a flame with people looking on in awe, screaming or trying to get away with petty theft and the like. Dozens crowded about Wayland, trying to touch the glowing and shining caste mark on his forehead. They wished to touch the power of their god and know it. The sounds of militia and Immaculates coming to calm the crowd and find the Anathema caught Dusk's attention, seeing them a few blocks away. "They come to subdue me! Please stop them, in the name of the Sun!" People were in awe of this divine one speaking to them, asking for mere man's help. People cried out in challenge and rushed the oncoming foes of the divine one. Overzealous, a bloody riot soon broke out as Dusk was carried off to a safe home by a dozen folk.
 
Meanwhile, Mithrdates exited the temple quickly after Pharnaces broke in, proclaiming havoc and arms have been taken up. He exited the temple finding hundreds of people standing tall before him, all of the tribes represented and standing against a few hundred militia and legionarres led by an imposing Terrestrial in full plate standing in his chariot, another of the large Wyld Hunt. "What goes on here!?" The shining, terrible figure of Mithrdates shone before all and the people cowered and stood in awe of this avatar of the Gods.


The people soon dispearsed when smoke from the markets was seen, Mithrdates took to his horse, using his Charms to disperse the violent crowds and the fighting. After a half hour of calming the people and riding about the streets, it was over. He returned to the temple after the situation calmed. It was learned a day later that over three hundred had died in the fighting and half of that were trampled in the fleeing and rushing people. With a heavy sigh he sat next to Pharnaces. Both looked out over the city in a new eye. They had been there only three days and so much had changed, what they were sitting on was a beacon with vast, unimaginable consequences. They looked off toward the setting sun with trepidation, and also excitement at what the next day would bring...
 
And so begins the task of planning from here, I have a few months of planning ahead and I know I wrote a lot, but anyone's thoughts and help would be most appreciated. Current events will be escalating trouble with the Lintha, the tribes are unsettled by what is going on in Puyo, so several tribes will take up arms and try and oust the Averni after thier subsequent rule over the nation. Some will flock to the Solars and the Realm and the powerful Wyld Hunt still lurk about. An assassination attempt was successful in The Duns: some of it's leading council were ambushed and killed by a few dozen unknown assailants, fingers were pointed to Vinland. And as the curtain will rise upon my next gaming session, in hte Western skies, Mars will eclipse Jupiter and a bright comet shall appear in the skies...


How does that sound? I'd really like some feedback and all from anyone and everyone. Please, it would be most appreciated.
 
By the way, could someone give some insight to what the tactics would be for the Realm to take over the Duns as a new Satrapy? I know they'd send in Terrestrials and such. But I'm wondering of the bureaucratic ordeal and the logistics, such as taking over the Manses and military of the region. Any advice on how to cover it?
 
To be honest, you wrote too much for me to process it in any casual manner. I spend 99% of my time on this site at work, which means things need to be short and sweet, or I'm going to get distracted half way through.


-S
 
Hmm, let's see if we can shod it down, basically you have a Solar Zenith coming back to Vinland with his mercenaries, all defectors from the Vermillion legion. Long backstory short (long version above) he's the sole heir to the mystical Throne of Ages in Vinland, and if he claims it and restores the line of kings, he can unite the nation. Well things are complicated at the moment, Dusk, an Eclipse friend of his caused a bit of a stir and attracted the Wyld Hunt's attention. He got two of them but there are eight Terrestrials still after them. Plus they've found out of a plan or something akin to it that the Lintha are pulling, trying to get ahold of possible trading rights in The Twelve Duns. But my players know something is up and have encountered a few demons. Plus a flashback or two to their former lives and they've found a small stronghold in the mountains near Fallia. So at the moment, things are teetering. The entire region is destabilized by the Wyld Hunt's fighting with the Solars is Puyo, so war is near.
 
Anyways, I was wondering if someone could help me flesh out a thaumaturge warlord, I plan on him being my Solar's rivals in taking over Vinland, along with a few other minor NPCs. He's an influential and rather powerful warlord over the southern region of Vinland and the Persian tribes. He's a weather worker and I was hoping if some of you could help me dream up scenarios where he is battling it out with my character. Also what faction may be helping him? He is actively seeking help from many sources, he also holds a contingent of Lookshy troops as mercenaries. I was thinking he'd be looking for help from possibly local gods, the Realm, Ma-Ha-Suchi, who's lair isn't really THAT far away, or possibly...the dead?


Please any help would be awesome and most appreciated ^_^
 
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