Trial by Fire - IC Thread

[jaydude]

Seeing the four creatures and remembering Rhabwar describing the demons as "small, irritating beasts", Kuaidao would continue to follow Melinda past them, while keeping a hand on the handle of Stormbringer. He wasn't going to provoke an unnecessary fight, but he also wanted to be ready in case these creatures were the demons in question.

 

[Psychie]

Spider makes the quiet comment, "We have company, and they are watching us. Three or four little figures, right over there. Be on guard; there might be more of these things lurking about, getting ready to try an ambush on us."

 

[jaydude]

"Yes, I noticed." replied Kuaidao in a whisper. "I don't know if they're the demons Rhabwar warned us about, but a little bit of caution never hurt."

 

[Random Word]

Maja banks to watch the watchers from high overhead, taking a wide loop to observe them from behind, keeping an eye out for attempts to summon reinforcements.

 

[D. Rex]

Taking his lute from his back, Bard follows behind the others. Resisting the urge to pluck strings, he opts instead to drum his fingers on its body.

Bard knew a thing or two about irritating. But he never yet had the chance to out irritate a demon. Made him wonder how that would go. Did they even have music where they came from? Curious but irrelevant thoughts until the demon were pointed out to him.

"Well, they obviously know we are here. We could go say hello. Worst they could do is rip put our entrails and show us a few bandage tricks with our own intestines."

He strummed a few strings in a harmonic little note. "Best case scenario they bow before us in awe. Though. I think it's much more likely it would meet in the middle. Irritable demons, that recognize us but will likely take advantage of the rules."

"Of course... we aren't without an advantage. If they are so inclined to negotiation... perhaps we can see about ending their contract early. One last threat to protect the manor from, and they are free to return home." He suggested. "They would be very handy against the Dynasts."

 

[Sherwood]

From her position in the sky, Maja can see that there is actually five of the smallish humanoids hiding behind some rocks. One of the group slips down into a small tunnel opening in the ground and vanishes, leaving the other four behind. The creatures are about four feet tall, furry, and have rather primitive weapons on them in the form of clubs made of bone.

If no one makes any move towards the four remaining figures, they will stay behind the rocks until after those in human form have passed, then will sneak along behind.

 

[Random Word]

If they abandon their position Maja will descend and slip into the tunnel in arctic fox form (summer coat, as the bright white fur wouldn't serve as very effective camouflage underground) to investigate what the fifth one is doing while attempting to avoid detection.

 

[Sherwood]

If they abandon their position Maja will descend and slip into the tunnel in arctic fox form (summer coat, as the bright white fur wouldn't serve as very effective camouflage underground) to investigate what the fifth one is doing while attempting to avoid detection.

Go ahead and give me a Dex + Stealth roll, and a Per + Awareness roll please.

 

[Random Word]

As the skulking figures with clubs abandon their post, Maja's curiosity gets the best of her and she dives. Her wings flare at the last moment to arrest her descent and she glides silently a foot above the ground towards the hole. As she reaches the precipice she transforms in a quicksilver flash, landing softly on the paws of her arctic fox form, and puts all of her recent hunting practice to good use, changing her scent to that of a mouse as she slips into the tunnel and shadows the sentry descending into the depths. She keeps to the shadows and uses her keen hearing and scent to slip into concealment well before anyone in the darkness of the tunnels might stumble upon her.

Spoiler: Mechanics

I just bought my first dot of Stealth with the XP you gave us. Putting my 1 Stealth to good use.

My form has this merit:
Tiny Creature: Add +2 Evasion against any attack made by a larger foe. In addition, larger characters subtract two successes from any Awareness-based roll made to notice it.

Stunting in Perception to up my Dex Excellency cap from 2 to 7 and spending 7m. Spending 2m on Night Stalker Approach to silence the peripheral motes. Committing 2m to switch my scent to mouse in case anything in the tunnels has an excellent sense of smell. Arctic foxes probably stand out more.
Stealth 1 + Dex 2 + Stunt 2 + Dex Excellency 7 = 12, 6 hits
Perception 5 + Awareness 3 + Keen Hearing and Scent 3 + Stunt 2 = 13, 5 hits

Personal: 16/16
Peripheral: 26/38

 

[Sherwood]

Random Word

Maja's exploration of the tunnel shows that it runs quite a long distance in the general direction that this manor house is located, but with the lack of outside landmarks, you are not sure. Moving silently, you can start to hear the sounds of many voices speaking, along with a faint glow up ahead. As you continue to advance, you creep out into the edge of a large cavern, hundreds of feet across, with dozens of other caves leading out. In this cavern, you see at least three hundred more of these little furry beings moving about, talking to one another and going about their business. Rough structures have been constructed, most made of cloth and wood, and the dull glow is coming from what looks to be luminescent moss of some sort that lines the walls and ceiling.

Looking down into the cavern, there is a one of the furry men running through the makeshift village moving towards a larger tent in the middle of the cavern, decorated with finery, gemstones and more than a few skulls. While you are not sure, you strongly suspect that this is the same critter that you've been following.

What do you do?


For the rest of you, you are able to keep an subtle eye on the fellows currently on your tail. They are remarkably quiet and stealthy, and the only reason you know that they are there is the fact that you knew they were back there to begin with, otherwise you'd have probably not noticed them. They make no attempt to get closer or to attack, and seem content to just follow you at a distance. Melinda makes the comment that from what she remembers, you are almost at the manor, and if you continue on with your current pace, you'll be there in about an hour.

 

[Syvvaris]

"We should deal with the oddities following us before we get to the Manor?" Thallus finally speaks after a long silence.

 

[jaydude]

"Yeah, may as well try talking to them, and ask them why they're following us." replied Kuaidao in a quiet voice. "Bard, Spider, Rivers, do you three agree?"

 

[Psychie]

Spider nods. "I don't like having them tail us like that, but lets not be the first ones to draw weapons until we get a feel for what they want. If we attack them, they might show up with more of these little buggers and try to overwhelm us."

 

[Sherwood]

How do you wish to proceed? Do you just stop and turn to confront them? Or do you do something else?

HumanPlus D. Rex

 

[Psychie]

Spider is ready to simply stop and directly approach them openly, and see if they can get the group to talk to them.

 

[Random Word]

Maja's heart races from the exhilaration of stalking this creature through the dark tunnels, and the sight of her prey sprinting away sparks a primal urge to chase inside her. Before her mind has caught up with her spirit she dives off the cliff and adopts her owl form in a muted twist of silver, entering a steep dive to build speed before levelling out, rooftops blurring together scant feet beneath her as she hurtles silently through the cavern. As she burns off the speed from her dive her form twists again and she lands in her fox form without missing a stride, bounding between shadowed rooftops in the spaces between heartbeats as she thrills in the feel of the wind whipping through her fur. This isn't wise, but Tusk and Feather is it fun.

 

[jaydude]

Kuaidao stopped walking, and then looked over his shoulder in the direction of the four humanoids.

"We know that you're following us. Would you care to explain why?" he asked in calm Skytongue.

 

[Sherwood]

Kuaidao stopped walking, and then looked over his shoulder in the direction of the four humanoids.

"We know that you're following us. Would you care to explain why?" he asked in calm Skytongue.

The four figures following you suddenly freeze in place, then look to one another in surprise that they had been spotted. You can hear a quiet but urgent conversation between the four, and finally one calls out, also in Skytongue, "Who are you, and why are you here?"

 

[Sherwood]

Maja's heart races from the exhilaration of stalking this creature through the dark tunnels, and the sight of her prey sprinting away sparks a primal urge to chase inside her. Before her mind has caught up with her spirit she dives off the cliff and adopts her owl form in a muted twist of silver, entering a steep dive to build speed before levelling out, rooftops blurring together beneath scant feet beneath her as she hurtles silently through the cavern. As she burns off the speed from her dive her form twists again and she lands in her fox form without missing a stride, bounding between shadowed rooftops in the spaces between heartbeats as she thrills in the feel of the wind whipping through her fur. This isn't wise, but Tusk and Feather is it fun.

Chasing after the running figure, Maja quickly gains the attention of a large number of the small furry figures. They point and shout at you, and several leap into motion after you.

Give me another Perception + Awareness roll, please.

 

[Random Word]

Through her eyes remain locked on her prey as she hurtles forward, her ears and nose take in a great deal about the scene around her, from the heartbeats of the assembling crowd - they each have two hearts? How strange - to the smell of cook fires several streets over.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Perception 5 + Awareness 3 + Keen Hearing/Scent 3 + Stunt 2 = 13 dice; 7 hits

 

[Sherwood]

Through her eyes remain locked on her prey as she hurtles forward, her ears and nose take in a great deal about the scene around her, from the heartbeats of the assembling crowd - they each have two hearts? How strange - to the smell of cook fires several streets over.

Spoiler: Mechanics

Perception 5 + Awareness 3 + Keen Hearing/Scent 3 + Stunt 2 = 13 dice; 7 hits

As Maja leaps from hut to hut, you are able to keep track of the one creature you are following. It runs into the largest hut in the center of the crude village. Do you follow it inside?

 

[jaydude]

The four figures following you suddenly freeze in place, then look to one another in surprise that they had been spotted. You can hear a quiet but urgent conversation between the four, and finally one calls out, also in Skytongue, "Who are you, and why are you here?"

"We are simply passing through. Unless you mean to harm us, you need not fear us." Kuaidao replied. "Why do you ask? Is this your domain?"

 

[Random Word]

Do you follow it inside?

Yes.

 

[Sherwood]

"We are simply passing through. Unless you mean to harm us, you need not fear us." Kuaidao replied. "Why do you ask? Is this your domain?"

The one speaking calls out, "We have been tasked at protecting this land for many human generations. None may pass without the blessing of our Queen, Corr'Dal. If you wish to speak with her, we can guide you to her presence. It is up to her alone to decide as to your worthiness."


Random Word
When Maja bursts through the hide enclosure, you are now inside a large yurt, about forty feet across, with a full dozen of these small furry humanoids in it. But there is a figure towards the back of the room on a ornate throne that is much larger than the others, even if it has a faint resemblance to the smaller ones. This large figure more resembles a fat black slug (or maybe Jabba the Hutt from Return of the Jedi) than anything else, so overly swelled up that it does not look like it can walk under its own power any more.

The dozen fuzzy creatures in the room at the moment all leap to their feet, snarling, and form a short wall between you and the bloated figure, obviously planning on doing whatever it takes to protect it.

From behind you, you can hear that the rest of the cave's occupants are all mobilizing, and soon you will have several hundred of these things to deal with, one way or another.

What do you do?

 

[Psychie]

Spider gives off a smile before saying, "Sure. Why not take us there? I am sure we can schmooze your queen well enough to have her let us through in no time. Lead on."