O Brave New World - IC

[Random Word]

[Acekara has no DV boosting Charms, so you can safely roll against her Evasion of 7.]

 

[jaydude]

Attack roll (17 dice).

9 successes.

 

[Random Word]

[Hits with 3 net successes. Soak 10. You can assume her soak remains unchanged and go straight to rolling damage in future - if she boosts it, I'll just ignore trailing dice.]

 

[jaydude]

Atusa's raw damage is 12. That - soak + threshold successes = 5.

I believe that's one point of damage, and two more initiative for me.

Spoiler: Atusa Stats

Health Levels: -0, -1, -1,-1,-1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
Initiative: 6
Anima: Glowing

Personal Essence: 1/13
Peripheral Essence: 13/33
Committed Essence: 12
Willpower: 3/5
Offhand Charge: 2/7

Evasion 4, Parry 5
Armor: Buff Jacket (Soak 3, Mobility Penalty 0)
Natural Soak: 2
Armored Soak: 3
Hardness: 0

 

[Random Word]

Morrolan:

The Black Pyramid would be easy to catch, slowly being hauled away from the city by two harnessed siege lizards. The question is what to do when you catch it? The bulk of the enemy army is retreating in good order towards the Pyramid, and the Ruby Bey will continue to harry you with stones that bounce harmlessly off your impervious hide as you approach while your wounds close themselves. You could sever the harness that ties the Pyramid to the siege lizards, investigate or destroy the ritual circle at the top of the Pyramid, attempt to hunt the Din priests and drummers carrying out the ritual, or attempt to demolish the structure of the Pyramid itself.

Renna:

"Yes, Captain," salutes one of the uninjured cavalry beside you as they race off towards the city bearing a white flag, carefully avoiding the retreating enemy.

Wisdom's Star nods, clapping her hand on your shoulder supportively, "Yes, Captain, we got us into this mess - I should have seen it coming as well, but your incredible swordsmanship got us right back out again. Without those incredible golden warriors and the way you cut through the enemy we'd be performing a lot more than a dozen funerals tonight. You may not be perfect, but you are incredible. Before you, I'd never seen anyone else fight like that, and I don't think I ever will. Sometimes the stars curse us with misfortune, but it's all part of a greater plan. You are destined for greatness."

---

Five minutes later the rider returns. Your wounded have been laid out, and the camp physician and her attendants have begun binding wounds and affixing poultices. The rider salutes as he approaches, "Captain. The City God - the exceedingly tall glowing fellow - converys his thanks for your assistance. He insists on calling you a 'Lawgiver'. I tried to explain to him you were our Captain, but he just gave me an odd look and ignored me. Must be a local cultural thing. Regardless, the locals seem friendly enough. He said we could quarter inside the city away from the ash storms for the night if we aren't pursuing the enemy, and that he can offer medical aid."

 

[Random Word]

[Acekara drops to 9i, Atusa rises to 9i. Round ends, everyone gains 5m, Atusa is up again.]

 

[jaydude]

Acekara managed to move back enough to avoid taking a serious injury from the two orichalcum daiklaves, but they managed to leave faint scratches in her legs. Her retreat was awkward, a short hop that left her wobbling a little once she landed for a second time, and the Zenith moved forward to press her advantage, calling upon yet more of her essence as she readied her daiklaves for a pair of followup strikes against her opponent.

[Withering attack. Spending 6m Personal Essence on MA Excellency and claiming one point stunt, giving me 21 attack dice (-2 penalty for Acekara's control of the ground). 9 successes.]

Spoiler: Atusa Stats

Health Levels: -0, -1, -1,-1,-1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
Initiative: 6
Anima: Glowing

Personal Essence: 0/13
Peripheral Essence: 13/33
Committed Essence: 12
Willpower: 3/5
Offhand Charge: 2/7

Evasion 4, Parry 5
Armor: Buff Jacket (Soak 3, Mobility Penalty 0)
Natural Soak: 2
Armored Soak: 3
Hardness: 0

 

[Random Word]

Pure chaos trails behind the wounds inflicted on Acekara's legs, a shimmering varicoloured sheen over reality that fades like a dream upon waking. "My, what lovely talonsss you have, little bird." The serpent beneath Acekara's feet rises up and almost inverts, leaving her angled towards you from above. She steadies herself, coils her legs, and launches herself forward, daggers crossed to meet your blades with astonishing strength. Her eyes meet yours as orichalcum meets gossamer, and in them you see exhilaration and a fierce determination.

[Acekara will spend 1 WP on the clash, dropping her to 6/7. She's rolling 17 dice for a decisive clash. Only 5 hits. Atusa hits with 4 net successes. Acekara spends 7m to boost her soak by her remaining willpower, so soak 16. As it's a Clash, Atusa gets 3 hits on her damage roll automatically, and Acekara has an Onslaught penalty of -3. The round will end, everyone will regain 5m, and Atusa will go again immediately at 10i+]

 

[jaydude]

Both pairs of blades clashed against each other with a sound that echoed across the decks of both ships. Within Atusa's eyes, Acekara only saw a serene and controlled fury, and then triumph as the Zenith sensed two weaknesses in her opponent's posture.

She pushed against them with both her daiklaves, and the dual blade bind broke as suddenly as it had appeared, with both Acekara's hands being thrown to the sides. Atusa's blades meanwhile were still within proper striking positions, and she struck twice, giving the Raksha two more wounds on her chest and causing her to stumble back a few steps.

[Damage roll. With 4 threshold successes, Atusa can only do Overwhelming damage of 3, in addition to the auto damage of 3.]

Spoiler: Atusa Stats

Health Levels: -0, -1, -1,-1,-1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
Initiative: 6
Anima: Glowing

Personal Essence: 0/13
Peripheral Essence: 13/33
Committed Essence: 12
Willpower: 3/5
Offhand Charge: 2/7

Evasion 4, Parry 5
Armor: Buff Jacket (Soak 3, Mobility Penalty 0)
Natural Soak: 2
Armored Soak: 3
Hardness: 0

 

[Random Word]

[Atusa goes up to 13i, Acekara drops to 6i. Atusa is up again, Acekara is at Onslaught -3.]

 

[jaydude]

Again, Atusa pursued, sensing an imminent victory on her part, or at least a vast advantage. This time she pressed the flats of her daiklaves against Acekara's chest, and after taking a moment to brace herself against the serpent, pushed hard. As she did so, her Anima burst forth in an aura of warm golden light that emanated from across her entire body.

The Raksha currently had her back to the Mandjet; with any luck, she'd be forced out of the territory where she held the advantage, and into the place where Atusa did.

[Putting the 5m of regained Essence towards peripheral, spending it on my MA Excellency - bringing Anima up to burning - and attempting an "Unhorse" gambit to reposition Acekara on the deck of the Mandjet. If you'd rather they both end up somewhere else, that's okay with me. Claiming one dot stunt, giving me 15 dice to roll. 10 successes.]

Spoiler: Atusa Stats

Health Levels: -0, -1, -1,-1,-1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
Initiative: 6
Anima: Burning

Personal Essence: 0/13
Peripheral Essence: 13/33
Committed Essence: 12
Willpower: 3/5
Offhand Charge: 2/7

Evasion 4, Parry 5
Armor: Buff Jacket (Soak 3, Mobility Penalty 0)
Natural Soak: 2
Armored Soak: 3
Hardness: 0

 

[Random Word]

[Hit, go ahead and roll your initiative. Difficulty 4.]

 

[Psychie]

Morrolan:

The Black Pyramid would be easy to catch, slowly being hauled away from the city by two harnessed siege lizards. The question is what to do when you catch it? The bulk of the enemy army is retreating in good order towards the Pyramid, and the Ruby Bey will continue to harry you with stones that bounce harmlessly off your impervious hide as you approach while your wounds close themselves. You could sever the harness that ties the Pyramid to the siege lizards, investigate or destroy the ritual circle at the top of the Pyramid, attempt to hunt the Din priests and drummers carrying out the ritual, or attempt to demolish the structure of the Pyramid itself.

Renna:

"Yes, Captain," salutes one of the uninjured cavalry beside you as they race off towards the city bearing a white flag, carefully avoiding the retreating enemy.

Wisdom's Star nods, clapping her hand on your shoulder supportively, "Yes, Captain, we got us into this mess - I should have seen it coming as well, but your incredible swordsmanship got us right back out again. Without those incredible golden warriors and the way you cut through the enemy we'd be performing a lot more than a dozen funerals tonight. You may not be perfect, but you are incredible. Before you, I'd never seen anyone else fight like that, and I don't think I ever will."

---

Five minutes later the rider returns. Your wounded have been laid out, and the camp physician and her attendants have begun binding wounds and affixing poultices. The rider salutes as he approaches, "Captain. The City God - the exceedingly tall glowing fellow - converys his thanks for your assistance. He insists on calling you a 'Lawgiver'. I tried to explain to him you were our Captain, but he just gave me an odd look and ignored me. Must be a local cultural thing. Regardless, the locals seem friendly enough. He said we could quarter inside the city away from the ash storms for the night if we aren't pursuing the enemy, and that he can offer medical aid."

Morrolan lets out an angry snort. The pyramid, while obviously important, will most likely prove to be a tough nut to crack, and the men will need his guidance. It is not an easy decision to make, but one that must be made. With another angry trumpet from his trunk, he slowly backs away and returns to the rest of the Red Arms force.

When he sees how badly cut up Renna is, he gives her a wicked glare. "Renna! You must be more careful! You do not heal as fast as I do! It will take you days to fully recover, and without you, the Red Arms will be in need of a new Captain."

 

[jaydude]

Rolling damage. 13 Initiative, 7 successes.

Spoiler: Atusa Stats

Health Levels: -0, -1, -1,-1,-1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
Initiative: 6
Anima: Burning

Personal Essence: 0/13
Peripheral Essence: 13/33
Committed Essence: 12
Willpower: 3/5
Offhand Charge: 2/7

Evasion 4, Parry 5
Armor: Buff Jacket (Soak 3, Mobility Penalty 0)
Natural Soak: 2
Armored Soak: 3
Hardness: 0

 

[Random Word]

Acekara's eyes go wide as she is sent flying backwards to land hard on the second deck of the Mandjet, sailing clear over the inferno from which Sirocco glares at the naga still trapped aboard. Acekara jumps to her feet in one smooth motion to meet you with a rapid series of lightning fast thrusts to force you off balance as you land gracefully on the deck beside her. "Sssuch ssskill!" she laughs, ecstatic, "You have not forgotten how to danccce."

Spoiler: Mehcanics

Atusa drops from 13i to 9i. Acekara is up at 6i.
Acekara is now prone and must flurry a Rise from Prone and a Withering Attack.

Combat Movement: 10 - 1 (SCS) - 3 (Flurry = 6 dice; 2 hits, barely succeeds.
Withering Attack: 14 - 1 (SCS) - 3 (Flurry) = 10 dice - declare defenses

 

[jaydude]

Atusa would have made a remark about how Acekara seemed to know quite a bit about her past life, but for the moment she concentrated on parrying the storm of blows being sent her way, calling upon yet more Essence from the area around her to augment her reflexes and co-ordination.

[Spending 4m Peripheral Essence on MA Excellency to raise Parry up to 7.]

Spoiler: Atusa Stats

Health Levels: -0, -1, -1,-1,-1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
Initiative: 6
Anima: Burning

Personal Essence: 0/13
Peripheral Essence: 9/33
Committed Essence: 12
Willpower: 3/5
Offhand Charge: 2/7

Evasion 4, Parry 5
Armor: Buff Jacket (Soak 3, Mobility Penalty 0)
Natural Soak: 2
Armored Soak: 3
Hardness: 0

 

[Random Word]

Acekara recovered from a fall that would have broken a mortal's back alarmingly fast, her lightning fast counterattack is surprisingly fierce, driving you back to the edge of the deck and the inferno below.

[Rolling; Acekara hits with 0 net successes. Atusa's Soak is 5, but her Resolve is 3, so Acekara reduces her soak to 3 for 3m. Acekara's damage is 13. Acekara gains 5i, Atusa loses 4i. Everyone gains 5m, Acekara is up again at 11i, Atusa is in at 5i. Atusa has a -1 Onslaught Penalty.]

Spoiler: Acekara, Scales of Justice

Join Battle 8; Essence 2; Willpower 6/7; Personal 15/20
Movement 8
Health Levels: -0/-1x2/-2x2/-4/Incap
Soak 10/H0, Parry 3, Evasion 6
Command Battlegroup 8; Senses 11; Disguise: 12 dice; Inspire: 14 dice; Instill or Persuade: 13 dice; Read Intentions: 12 dice; Seduction: 16 dice; Senses: 12 dice; Resist Poison/Illness: 12 dice; Stealth: 11 dice; Craft (Gossamer) 8 dice
Appearance 7, Resolve 4, Guile 6

Glittering Knives - 14 dice, 13/2 damage

 

[jaydude]

Atusa yelled as one of Acekara's blades slipped past her guard and left a shallow cut on her right bicep. She was forced back, and in desperation called upon more Essence in order to try and fend off the next of the Raksha's attacks, while also attempting to move to the side so that she wasn't directly between Acekara and the edge of the deck.

[Spending another 4m of Peripheral Essence to increase Parry to 6, and claiming one-point stunt to increase it to 7.]

Spoiler: Atusa Stats

Health Levels: -0, -1, -1,-1,-1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
Initiative: 6
Anima: Burning

Personal Essence: 0/13
Peripheral Essence: 10/33
Committed Essence: 12
Willpower: 3/5
Offhand Charge: 2/7

Evasion 4, Parry 5
Armor: Buff Jacket (Soak 3, Mobility Penalty 0)
Natural Soak: 2
Armored Soak: 3
Hardness: 0

 

[Random Word]

As you manoeuvre for a better position Acekara feints high before dropping low to sweep your legs out from under you with a spinning back kick. With a raging inferno behind you have few options for evasion except up, and as you jump over her strike her hair lashes out, wraps around your ankle, and pulls. Off balance and falling she lunges at you, seizing your arm and pinning it behind your back.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Acekara is attempting a Grapple Gambit with 14-1(SCS) = 13 dice; 11 hits, rolling initiative 4 hits beats difficulty 2;
She has 9 dice to control. 7 hits.

Control pool is Strength + Brawl/Martial Arts, Atusa rolls next.

 

[jaydude]

The Zenith let out another yell, this time one of indignation at being restrained like this, and at the hands of one of such intoxicating beauty. Caught in Acekara's embrace, she struggled ferociously, desperately, her anima exploding upwards in the form of a mighty lion composed of golden light. The beast would roar and claw at the air before collapsing into a flame that reached far into the sky, a display that would be seen across miles of desert.

[Rolling Strength + MA, spending 5m of Peripheral Essence on MA Excellency, bringing Anima up to Bonfire/Iconic, and claiming one point stunt to give me 14 dice to control. 8 successes.]

Spoiler: Atusa Stats

Health Levels: -0, -1, -1,-1,-1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
Initiative: 6
Anima: Bonfire/Iconic

Personal Essence: 0/13
Peripheral Essence: 5/33
Committed Essence: 12
Willpower: 3/5
Offhand Charge: 2/7

Evasion 4, Parry 5
Armor: Buff Jacket (Soak 3, Mobility Penalty 0)
Natural Soak: 2
Armored Soak: 3
Hardness: 0

 

[Sherwood]

Now that the critically injured have been helped out as much as they can to stabilize them, Renna says, "Let the city know we will be thankful for a roof over our heads, something to eat, and a bed to sleep in, so we will happily take them up on their offer of support. Lets get moving before lethargy sets in and it becomes that much harder to rouse the men into motion." Then, once we have the troops taken care of, then I will let myself be looked over.

 

[Random Word]

Acekara's skin is inhumanly cold to the touch, but in the oppressive heat of the desert that's not unpleasant. She twists your arm behind you painfully and brings her free arm up to cup your chin, lifting your head with superhuman strength to expose your neck. "Are you sssure you want to ssstruggle?" she purrs, her breath cold against your ear. "It will feel ssso much better if..." her lips brush against your neck followed by a sudden sharp pain as her fangs pierce your skin. Ice cold venom floods your veins, and your essence surges in response, your anima exploding into a brilliant display of light and power visible for miles around.

To say it's distracting is putting it mildly, and the moment Acekara's grip loosens infinitesimally in awe you plant your swords, grab the arm in front of you, and flip forward, throwing Acekara over your shoulder with essence fuelled strength. She lands in a handspring and comes to her feet, spinning on her heel and drawing a fresh pair of knives. As the venom flows through your system it leaves not paralytic death or necrotising agony, but a tingling warmth of intoxication. It feels like being pleasantly drunk, everything seeming to matter just a little bit less, which can bring death almost as swiftly in a struggle like this.

Sirocco cries out in shock and concern, "Radiance! This monster deserves nothing but your scorn. Remember what it has done to your people."

Acekara glares at her, "Sssaysss the upjumped bonfire. You forget your placcce."

Spoiler: Mechanics

Acekara only has a single round of control, so she Decisively Savages Atusa with her fangs. She spent 2i on the grapple, so she rolls 9B. She spends 2m to flurry it with an Instill Lust, relying on the venom to weaken Atusa's Resolve. 5 Bashing damage.

Atusa takes a dose of venom with 5 rounds of -2 penalty, 2i per round damage (bashing in crash), 5 round duration. Roll Stamina + Resistance to reduce duration.

Atusa is in the last of her -1's and has a -2 penalty from venom, so a total of -3 to her Resolve. Acekara is rolling 16 - 1 so 15 dice to instill. She spends 4m on Thousand Tiny Hooks Technique to trade her 4 dice of Appearance bonus for +2 WP to resist her instill. Stunt resolve and leverage intimacies.

Sirocco is going to toss in an Charm augmented Inspire Defiance, which can be leveraged as a Defining Intimacy against anyone she has a Defining negative intimacy for. Assuming you aren't asserting Resolve, it passes automatically. If you do assert Resolve, I'll roll her 14 dice.

Acekara has 9m left, Atusa is up next at 5i. Acekara resets to 3i, but has gone this turn, so Atusa will go twice if she doesn't lose any initiative.

 

[jaydude]

"I told you...I'm not one to submit without resistance." whispered Atusa, her breathing starting to become heavy as a result of the poison, despite her body's best efforts to resist it. But for all her words and bravado, Acekara's venom wasn't just affecting her physically, it was also sapping at her mental resistance, even as she attempted to focus on her existing feelings towards Acekara specifically.

[Will try and assert Resolve. It's only 0 right now, and I don't think I can use that Major Intimacy again, so I'm using the Minor Tie towards Acekara for +2 Resolve, and claiming a one-point stunt to boost it to 3.

Stamina + Resistance is 5 dice, plus 2 more from claimed one-point stunt. 3 successes.]

Spoiler: Atusa Stats

Health Levels: X, X, X, X, X, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
Initiative: 5
Anima: Bonfire/Iconic

Personal Essence: 0/13
Peripheral Essence: 5/33
Committed Essence: 12
Willpower: 3/5
Offhand Charge: 2/7

Evasion 4, Parry 5
Armor: Buff Jacket (Soak 3, Mobility Penalty 0)
Natural Soak: 2
Armored Soak: 3
Hardness: 0

 

[Random Word]

[Sirocco gave you a Defining you can use, so that would put you up to 5 with a minor stunt. Rolling 15 dice (3 hits, Atusa resists - not quite a botch on 15 dice, but at first I thought it would be!), then Atusa is up at 5i, then the round ends and she regains 5m, then she's probably up again at 5i+]

 

[Random Word]

Renna & Morrolan:

A ragged cheer is taken up on the walls as you approach the gates now opening for you, though many simply stare in awe at the light show that is your still burning animas.

Broad shouldered and swathed head to toe in roughspun red wool, the City God of Kabir, Adjo, stands a full four metres tall, though he doesn't look it at the moment, leaning exhausted against the haft of his hammer. His dented bronze wide brimmed helm shines in the reflected light of your animas of silver and gold, softly glowing blue eyes barely visible in the darkness beneath. Behind him you see wounded being tended to, as well as some curious looking animate clay constructs with runic inscriptions. The low stout buildings you can see behind him have few windows if any and their entrances are barricaded - whether against ash or intrusion is unclear. The domes dwarf the structures around them, and presumably the entrance to the bulk of the city is concealed beneath.

He says something in the language of gods and spirits, but when you shake your head he switches to heavily accented but comprehensible Flametongue. "Seneschal," he nods to Morrolan, his voice gravelly. He looks at Renna, "Lawgiver. It's been a looong time since I've seen your kind round these parts." He pauses, considering. "You're with a Seneschal, so I'm gonna assume you're allowed to be here, and in fact I think I'll find your presence so unremarkable it ain't worth mentioning to no one. I don't want no trouble. Can't say the same for everyone, though. Goin' round making displays like that, I hope you know what you're doin'. I don't wanna sound ungrateful. You did a mighty fine thing for us, stickin' your neck out like that on our account. You may have lost the Mandate, so I don't have to do what you say no more, but I'll see you're done right by all the same. Guest custom only goes so far though, in a harsh land like this."

He descends into a brief coughing fit before recovering, looking between Renna and Morrolan, uncertain which of you is in charge. "What brings you to my little jewel in the wastes?" You can't see his mouth beneath the cloth wrapping, and can only barely make out his eyes, but you think he might be smiling slightly. "I'm Adjo, by the way. Pleasure to meet you."