Dice Exalted Essence: The Young Exalts and the Sea OOC

[jaydude]

Sojiro did rush this round and is ordinarily untargetable for ranged attacks, but I don't mind using a stunted defense given that our foe is having to eat a total of minus 6 for the effort already.

Oh yeah, forgot your Daiklave can do that. In that case, you can safely assume the volley will miss Sojiro.

 

[Sherwood]

Is there a physical component to the attacks that I might be able to stunt shooting down the incoming fire with an attack of my own? If not, I'll come up with something else.

 

[jaydude]

Is there a physical component to the attacks that I might be able to stunt shooting down the incoming fire with an attack of my own? If not, I'll come up with something else.

Cool idea, so I say go ahead. They're essentially blasts of energy.

 

[jaydude]

The Tepet shikari finally lands upon the ground grinning ear to ear at the fervor his strike incited. Taking his stand on a broken rooftop, he swats aside each flailing minion with the full force of a tempest behind each swing. "Air superiority huh? That'll teach him... Shouldn't be long before one of those garrison slackers wakes up and sees the spectacle and clear bleeding shot they've got at this bastard now."

I don't mind having it so that Sojiro's epic decisive attack took him out of the palace grounds and into the city proper. That said, Aigaion isn't necessarily backing off in the direction of Castle Vasong and its two Implosion Bows.

 

[Rykon]

I don't mind having it so that Sojiro's epic decisive attack took him out of the palace grounds and into the city proper.

I wasn't exactly sure what was underneath the behemoth when he received his pirate credentials so I tried being vague. It could be a building in the city or a structure within the palace grounds, I've no specific whims on this point.

That said, Aigaion isn't necessarily backing off in the direction of Castle Vasong and its two Implosion Bows.

Surely a realm garrison is within range to identify and react to a threat to a dynastic Satrap in a timely manner when their entire purpose is the protection and enforcement of the Satrap and her authority. Being outside of the visual range of a nearly iconic anima flare smells like an incredibly suspect oversight to make after the first time this behemoth went on a rampage as well.

If this is still the case, Sojiro will enjoy ranting at the garrison over the abject failure of whatever protocols established these decisions.

 

[jaydude]

Surely a realm garrison is within range to identify and react to a threat to a dynastic Satrap in a timely manner when their entire purpose is the protection and enforcement of the Satrap and her authority. Being outside of the visual range of a nearly iconic anima flare smells like an incredibly suspect oversight to make after the first time this behemoth went on a rampage as well.

Good point.

 

[Random Word]

Well now I'm torn With Excellent Strike being uncapped, and Rykon being so successful, now it seems like we should murder the final boss in the first fight (Cue This Isn't Even My Final Form!). If EbonChevalier hits it with Guard Breaking Technique its Soak drops to 4 and it takes even more damage. If Ijara refills Sojiro's Power and he does that again... well, it's dead. The trick is getting within range again.

jaydude does it seem possible to get within range of Aigaion again, or is it just too fast or has too much of a lead for Misja to catch it? Do the penalties Sojiro is inflicting apply to Aigaion if there's a roll-off for a chase?

 

[Rykon]

I'm fine with either an immediate take-down or a climactic rematch at some point.

As for the questions, ST has the final call as always, but some relevant facts to note to save some time... Certain move actions while mounted change things only slightly and the wording of Storm-Calling Strategies says the penalties apply to "physical actions taken in combat."

To clarify on mounted movement, sprint becomes a reflexive move action and rush adds the additional range band. I presume the sprint rule is an abstraction of the mount simple action sprinting and the rider having their simple action. So without a contest of speed, it would likely end up as just two combatants sprinting into the horizon without closing the gap until one side quits the standoff.

Much as I'd really like to get Sojiro Eagle-Wing Style and fly up there on his own power, that's a few Essence bumps out if memory serves. Outside of that, anima flux may pose an annoying obstacle either with a flying steed or even with an impressive roll at aiming a catapult.

 

[Random Word]

Look, if Garda Birds were Pokemon they would definitely be Fire/Flying, so they should be immune to Air Anima Flux . Okay, so this comes down to whether or not it's some kind of rolled contest of speed, there's no official mechanic for catching someone in combat unless you can get within 1 range band to Rush already. Got it.

 

[jaydude]

Right now, all I can say is that I'm currently thinking of just moving you all out of combat time for the moment. I kinda want to reorganize things in regards to where some PC's are positioned, EbonChevalier wants to have their character help get civilians to safety, and as Rykon pointed out, not having garrison staff show up around the ruined palace is arguably going to become a somewhat large plot hole very soon.

 

[Random Word]

Only if they aren't currently fighting for their lives against a horde of Aigonites.

 

[jaydude]

Before I post anything else, apologies if there are any problems or delays on my end.

Besides general RL stuff, my autism means that my mind will often get at least a little f***** up if things don't quite go entirely the way I expect, such as one of my players managing to badly wound the monster which the Corebook indicated would greatly outclass them. In such circumstances, I feel it's best for me to take a quick breather of sorts - at least a couple of hours away from the game, and possibly a walk outside - to let my mind cool down and give me time to reorganize and reconsider how things can go from here. Otherwise, I won't be in any condition at all to write and DM to the best of my abilities, which is what you all deserve.

As an added note, I in no way resent any of you for acting outside the boundaries of my expectations. I think that such resentment would be grossly unfair of me, and I do enjoy the whole idea of "play to find out what happens", and seeing what each of you do with your own creative abilities. Just understand that on some occasions, it may take me longer to react than it does on others.

 

[Sherwood]

The danger of issuing stats to an encounter is that it makes it possible to kill the critter. The same kind of thing applies too the Celestial Gods when they gave them numbers in 2e

 

[Psychie]

jaydude I believe that I speak for us all when I say take all the time you need to in order to get your head into the right frame of mind. We can wait.

I just wish that I had Excellent Strike for Garret so I could join in the damage rolls against that behemoth.

 

[Sherwood]

I agree with Psychie that we can take a breather for you no problem. Your mental health is more important!

I also share her feeling in that Most Assurant is under gunned compared to the others, but she is doing well taking down the little monsters so I'm not going to complain.

 

[jaydude]

The danger of issuing stats to an encounter is that it makes it possible to kill the critter. The same kind of thing applies too the Celestial Gods when they gave them numbers in 2e

Yeah, I see your meaning.

Hmm. One option I'm considering is doing a little retcon and unstatting the Aigaion. Sojiro managing to scar it can be considered a great feat, but that's it, and it'll otherwise be too powerful for you to take down, at least without the two Implosion Bows.

Otherwise, another option I can think of right now is to have Aigaion teleport away via Travel Without Distance, then come back healed, a little wiser and possibly stronger later on in the story.

Finally, I could just let either Most Assurant, Garret or Sojiro kill off the remaining Aigonites, at which point Aigaion will be outnumbered here, and thus able to use its Furious Dragon's Ire quality, i.e. take another turn in a round every time one of you takes a turn. I underline this because I imagine it would shift the current balance of power quite considerably.

 

[Psychie]

It is something to build to with xp.

 

[Sherwood]

I'm liking the option where we don't get blasted by that thing before we have a chance to spend some xp.

 

[EbonChevalier]

Also the big monster is the reason we’re not at each other’s throats

 

[EbonChevalier]

And i don’t blame you for taking a breather

 

[Rykon]

Hmm. One option I'm considering is doing a little retcon and unstatting the Aigaion. Sojiro managing to scar it can be considered a great feat, but that's it, and it'll otherwise be too powerful for you to take down, at least without the two Implosion Bows.

I'm a bit hesitant to endorse this option as Garret and Sojiro would be trivial participants in the final battle if the only means of injuring the creature are two stationary ranged weapons that aren't any of the artifacts or charms any of the PCs invested merits, abilities, or even a charm for in Maya's case. That said It'd be narratively appropriate without replacing the PCs role in resistance if the implosion bows merely softened it up to make it hurtable again. Looking back at 2E's write-up for them which is the most recent I'm aware of, they aren't too terribly impressive on their own outside of raw range and they could be used by mortal siege engineers with the right ancillary power sources.

Otherwise, another option I can think of right now is to have Aigaion teleport away via Travel Without Distance, then come back healed, a little wiser and possibly stronger later on in the story.

I prefer this option as it gives us a few threads we can chase down in the meantime.

A. How are we going to prepare a solid approach and restraint so it doesn't escape again? After all, one good final fantasy reference deserves another. We could procure a flying vessel to both mount implosion bows onto and try and secure harpoons into its flanks.

B. Many behemoths have some sort of immortal quality and the combined efforts of the legions and the empress were once thought enough to bury this beast for good. Yet they weren't. If we tried to kill it now we'd be setting ourselves to repeat the cycle without more information (unless Ijara has that information already).

C. How do we handle the chaos and aftermath within Kyoma? Garrison troops will investigate, words will be had over Garret and Maya's natures and then quickly dismissed as Sojiro would deem it dishonorable to assail Kyoma's defenders when those charged with that duty came short of the mark. If they push the issue we could make a scene and sport of an honor duel or trial by combat as befits largely bronze age society.

 

[jaydude]

I prefer this option as it gives us a few threads we can chase down in the meantime.

A. How are we going to prepare a solid approach and restraint so it doesn't escape again? After all, one good final fantasy reference deserves another. We could procure a flying vessel to both mount implosion bows onto and try and secure harpoons into its flanks.

B. Many behemoths have some sort of immortal quality and the combined efforts of the legions and the empress were once thought enough to bury this beast for good. Yet they weren't. If we tried to kill it now we'd be setting ourselves to repeat the cycle without more information (unless Ijara has that information already).

C. How do we handle the chaos and aftermath within Kyoma? Garrison troops will investigate, words will be hand over Garret and Maya's natures and then quickly dismissed as Sojiro would deem it dishonorable to assail Kyoma's defenders when those charged with that duty came short of the mark. If they push the issue we could make a scene and sport of an honor duel or trial by combat as befits largely bronze age society.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards this option myself.

I will say though that assuming significant parts of the garrison and city watch weren't wiped out in the initial bombardment, they would've been preoccupied with other matters like rescuing civilians, fighting off Aigonites or just trying to regain some semblance of order and discipline. Or at least that's the explanation I'll have people give Sojiro if he calls out their response.

 

[jaydude]

...words will be had over Garret and Maya's natures...

Do the Immaculates and Sidereals know about the Alchemicals? Most Assurant being a construct of "demon gold" aside, she might be able to get away with claiming she inhaled Sin's toxins any other origin story for her abilities if this is the case. That is, provided I don't decide to have someone try and take her apart to find out how she works.

 

[Rykon]

That is, provided I don't decide to have someone try and take her apart to find out how she works.

I've no doubt such a thing will come up eventually depending on how long we intend to play this campaign. So far we've had a really cool intro sequence and a lot of tension to push through.

As for what everyone else knows, I think it best for the current party dynamic that little is known before we have time to build some sense of comradery. We'll have enough flak asserting "No no. Play nice with the Lunar. He's on our side."

 

[jaydude]

Gonna hold off on posting for a bit, in order to give Psychie , Random Word and Sherwood a chance to respond to this change in circumstances.