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Post by Admin on Nov 19, 2013 23:21:16 GMT
[Alicia rolls a 15 for Knowledge-Planes.]
--
[Leath rolls a 22 for Heal.]
Leath notices lacerations on the man's left shoulder, and a graze wound from a crossbow bolt on his right arm. Something is clutched tightly inside a bundle of clothing, held tight to the man's chest.
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Post by kooshster on Nov 20, 2013 1:01:20 GMT
The man looks up at the crowd surrounding him with wary eyes. He pulls whatever's hidden in the folds of his robes further in. "Don't...don't touch it!" he warns in a raspy voice. "I haven't finished my analysis!"
When the others step back slowly, he relaxes. "Apologies," he says with a deep breath. "This artifact has...astonishing potential. It's wrapped in enchantments I've heard of only in the most ancient texts. This artifact dates to before the dawn of the written word. I am Psychlis Phobos of Theodosia."
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Post by jon on Nov 20, 2013 7:02:22 GMT
Hans rubs his cheek. "Yes, ma'am, it won't happen again." Well played... he thinks, staying quiet for now.
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Post by tengen on Nov 20, 2013 8:10:08 GMT
She got his attention and needed to keep him off balance, to press her advantage for at least long enough for Leathe to get back. Her recollection of what he was talking about was only a little above basic at best but it was enough to at least hopefully try to get into the mindset.
"You are forgiven"she says giving her a gentle polit nod. "For myself, I am of mortal kin and have yet to have the honor to see the Great Meade Halls of Asgarde or partake of the wilds of the Vanir." She slowly and methodically says as she slowly advances her posture proud and her eyes still intent on the father.
"We only skimmed along the surface of where Migardes branches meet on a mission far greater than any one realm.." She pauses for a moment for dramatic effect before continuing.
"I am Alicia Moon,An emissary of all realms.
she stands defiant yet friendly barely even registering the weapons pointed toward her. to her only father exists.
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Post by Admin on Nov 20, 2013 22:58:14 GMT
"Forgive us, Lady Moon," Father bows down. "But Master Surtur's laws are set in stone. Blood must flow when someone steals one of our Ancestors' artifacts, either the thief or those who failed to guard it."
"But Father, the Ancestors' Machines have stirred to life in recent days!" one of the soldiers calls. "We could have these outsiders quell them for us, so we may continue our vigil!"
Father seems to hesitate to slap the soldier, as if looking to Alicia for permission.
Alicia and Psychlis have heard of the duergars' lifestyle: they scavenge the strongholds of the First Dwarves, and worship any relic that looks particularly interesting, regardless of what it was originally used for. Their craftsmanship is but a cruder version of conventional blacksmithing, as they prefer taking or scavenging to building things themselves. When not scavenging, they raid and enslave neighbors to benefit from their greater knowledge and skills. The clan Patriarchs rule over multiple consorts and concubines, enforcing their rule ruthlessly. Even Hans can see their gear is of lower quality, and given even Father has lower quality gear, this particular unit does not seem particularly successful at raiding or scavenging.
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Post by tengen on Nov 21, 2013 7:30:02 GMT
"Stirrings you say?" she says showing her first sign of interest, if the stolen relic did not turn out to be the orb they would have to go in anyway. What could it hurt to at least investigate if the others agreed.
She makes a good show of deliberating, pacing slightly even turning her back to them at one point. She has her back to them only long enough to subtly point to Hans to send a silent message. "Use your spell as a relay to silently discuss matters of aiding them, I am voting for because even if the relic is the item in question it should turn profitable in many ways." She says in her message before turning around to coolly lock eyes back on father.
"As ripples from a stone they respond to far more terrible awakenings. Darkness looms ahead. The elders stirrings resonate from their cursed item bringing ruin and ash" Her tone slow and haunting as if summoning ghosts on a cold campfires night, her gaze goes to each one in turn but her attention always goes back to father.
She stops and seems to serenely ponder a few seconds for before she closes her eyes almost in silent prayer, "I shall be fair and I will be just." She says opening her eyes to father. "It is their lives gambled, My companions confer" She says monotonely.
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Post by jon on Nov 21, 2013 9:15:32 GMT
Hans sits down pretending to clean his musket. He tries to subtly point in the direction of Leath in a feigned brush of the length of the barrel. "We are deciding whether to help the Duregar regain their property and potentially earn their favor. Have you learned more about the item? You should be able to reply through thought."
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Post by kooshster on Nov 21, 2013 13:40:57 GMT
Seeing the confrontation from a hiding spot in the gully, he turns to Leath. "Thank you for the assistance, kind sir," he says. "I think there may be a way out of this solution diplomatically. I can use the duregar's devotion to their ancestors to our advantage. By appealing to their sense of loyalty to their ancestors, I might be able to explain to them that I seek to restore their ancestors' legacy and that they are the vanguards of such a movement, but I need this to do it."
Knowing that he'll need a gesture of good faith to get the others on board, he unveils the softly-glowing helmet kept within his robes. "From what I've read in the ancient scrolls, this helmet is wrapped with enchantments that can vastly improve the mental abilities of the wearer. From what little I've seen so far, the enchantments protect the helmet from just anyone using it. It comes with its own sort of security system: only the already-skilled can decipher them in such a way as to access its abilities."
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Post by henwen88 on Nov 21, 2013 20:32:39 GMT
"Some kind of glowing helmet that can improve one's intelligence, if one can get past the safeguards on it," Leath thinks at Hans. "Not what we were looking for, but probably valuable enough to interest you. I wouldn't mind wearing that thing, either, if we could do it safely."
[Spellcraft check on the helmet.]
"Have you deciphered them yet?" Leath asks Psychlis. "Or is this a work in progress?"
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Post by Admin on Nov 21, 2013 23:44:41 GMT
"Tell us, what is it you seek exactly?" Father asks. "The honored Ancestors built constructs to guard the Clockwork Crypt, and such machines have stayed within..."
He pauses for a moment. "But recent weeks have seen them venturing upwards to our tunnels, as if probing and attacking our defenses. I've lost my fifth wife to those clanking contraptions!"
Jiao pauses for a moment. "Tell me, Father, what do your laws literally say? Do ever they specify how much blood is demanded?"
"No..." Father muses.
---
[Leath's spellcraft=18]
Leath can tell the helmet is designed for a medium-sized creature, like a human, elf, or dwarf, and has some enchantments that improve cognition. He can tell there's still some over enchantments present, but he is unable to tell what they do.
[+2 Intelligence boost to who wears it]
---
Phobos recalls the helmet can be activated by a command word written on the side in Old Dwarven, but there are other command words he cannot decipher.
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Post by tengen on Nov 22, 2013 1:42:44 GMT
She rolls her eyes slightly at father admittance. The thought had crossed her mind when he mentioned the blood price but had shaken the preposterous thought as pure nonsense.
"It would be an orb large enough to hold in ones hands. "she says miming holding a ball with one hand and unsheathing her small dagger with the other bring the blade to her outstretched palm.
"And If this is all you require for satisfaction" She winces as she runs the blade across her palm. A superficial cut at most but enough to provide a small trickle of blood as she squeezes it.
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Post by kooshster on Nov 22, 2013 13:49:24 GMT
"Both," Psychlis tells Leath. "I've gotten the activation command, but I'll need more time and experience to decipher the more advanced functions. I think I can handle its most basic bits for now, though."
So saying, Psychlis gingerly equips the helmet and whispers the activation command. The helmet glows a blue light briefly and he shivers in response. "That...that's an experience. So much running through my head right now...but I think it may have helped me understand a way to get out of here with this helmet and the orb you seek. I just overheard Father worry about possible invasion. We may be able to get away with our skins intact. Let us go forth so that I might make my suggestion."
Psychlis emerges from the gully and walks towards the assembled group to present his proposal. He bows deeply to Father. "I sincerely apologize for not begging your favor before acquiring this item of the Ancestors. I had the same worries about the Clockwork menace that even now threatens your watch. It seems as though this great sanctuary's location has been compromised. These artifacts are no longer safe; if you would see fit to allow us to take one or two, we would move them to a more secure position to keep them safe."
[diplomacy check]
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Post by jon on Nov 22, 2013 21:45:43 GMT
Hans communicates using message to Jiao and Alicia, "The artifact is not the sphere we are after, but it does appear to be a valuable magic helm, guarded by magical wards. I would prefer to obtain it but if things turn ugly it will probably be a useful bargaining tool."
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Post by henwen88 on Nov 22, 2013 22:25:47 GMT
Leath follows Psychlis up and joins the rest of the party, feeling momentarily at ease as he watches the ongoing efforts at diplomacy. He thinks about trying on the helmet at a later date, once they've figured out how it works. More intelligence never hurts, but he'd rather watch someone else try it first, to be sure it was safe.
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Post by Admin on Nov 23, 2013 2:59:09 GMT
"The outside emissary sheds her blood for us," Father bows. "Let it be said that this blood-debt is paid. All who question me will pay with their head!"
The whispering in his unit stops. "Now, outsiders," Father says. "We can escort you to one of two places connecting to the Clockwork Crypt. You can enter our halls, but other Patriarchs would attack outsiders on sight and enslave those left standing. Another entrance is a cave connecting directly to the Clockwork Crypt from the surface, where I have sent a scout to observe. The second offers the direct approach, and I recommend it unless you urgently need supplies."
"The latter sounds more appealing to me," Jiao notes. "For I would rather avoid more unnecessary stand offs. How about the rest of you?"
"I must stay here and maintain the wards on this gate," Brandon says. "So do not worry about me. What say the rest of you?"
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