Jade and Cattle, 1/22
Jan. 23rd, 2006 12:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leticiaBrian chuckles. "Your captain remarks that he's glad that you're coast-hugging, especially as the year descends towards fall. As you travel the waterways to Chiaroscuro, you notice less and less other vessels on the waves as well, even after the storm passes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 8 dice: <2 3 3 4 5 5 5 8> for 1 success.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 8 dice: <2 2 3 7 8 9 10 10> for 7 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 8 dice: <1 2 4 6 6 8 9 9> for 3 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 8 dice: <1 1 3 4 4 5 7 8> for 2 successes.
Storyteller says "Right."
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: One blustery day, you're on deck for what we shall presume is practice in your Lore, spotting various ocean species and noting which ones are natural, and which ones are the evolved descendent of First Age Fisheries.
Storyteller says "Liu is amusing herself on the riggings, Kanfi is hitting on the female officers (again), and Phoenix Maiden is practicing spear kata."
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: As the ship travels on, bumping and shocking over the rough sea, you begin to notice that the fish seem to be going the way of other vessels-- disappearing, and hightailing it away from your vessel. Furthermore, there's a very strange green ... taint... to the waters you're traveling into. It's almost imperceptible, but it's there. Give me a Perception + Lore check, please.
<ROLL> Diamond Borealis rolls 9 dice: <1 2 3 3 5 5 5 6 7> for 1 success.
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: Oh well. You don't like the look of the taint, but you can't put your finger on what it might be. You're definitely sailing in the direction of more of it.
Diamond Borealis rolls up the scroll on which he is making notes and stuffs it into his bag. He gives the green waters another frown and then starts toward Phoenix Maiden. Making sure not to get too close to the kata, he speaks to her. "Something's up. Have you noticed the water?"
Phoenix Maiden winds up her exercise as Diamond approaches and peers at him curiously. "I try to stay away from the rail. What's wrong with it?" She glances over towards the side of the ship.
Liu wordlessly shimmies down from the middle of the main mast, and -- trying not to be too impressive -- somersaults off and pads over to Diamond and Phoenix.
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: You may also make a Perception + Lore roll. :)
<ROLL> Phoenix Maiden rolls 5 dice: <1 4 7 7 10> for 4 successes.
Storyteller [to Kanfi]: You notice your fellow Exalts gathering towards the bow.
Kanfi disengages from the crew member he's teasing, and meanders for to where his group appears to be coalescing.
Diamond Borealis gestures with his thumb. "It's green. It shouldn't' be green. It's some sort of taint, but I can't tell what. Only that there's more of it in the direction we're headed."
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: That looks like the sort of slime that comes off creatures native to the brass realm of Malfeas.
Kanfi arches an eyebrow at Diamond's description and goes to look over the side of the boat. "Goody."
<<OOC>> Kanfi says, "Can I roll?"
Storyteller <to Kanfi> chuckles. "Sure!"
<ROLL> Kanfi rolls 6 dice: <1 3 5 5 9 10> for 3 successes.
Storyteller [to Liu]: You, however, I want to make a Perception + Awareness roll.
Storyteller [to Kanfi]: Very definitely Yozi-bred yuck.
Liu leans deeply over the rail, sniffing at the air, then stands and makes a very casual look around.
<ROLL> Liu rolls 7 dice: <2 2 4 4 8 10 10> for 5 successes.
Phoenix Maiden heads to the rail and peers over - cautiously. "Definitely unpleasant stuff. Looks like slime off some Malfean beast to me."
Storyteller [to Liu]: You see greenish smoke off on the distance. It's a good thing that there really isn't a horizon here; you can almost make out what looks to be two ships off to the distance-- one of which is pluming the unwholesome smoke, the other of which appears to be harnessed to something in the water.
Liu speaks in a low voice. "We've got trouble up ahead. More than just green water."
Diamond Borealis grunts softly at hearing that. A displeased grunt. "Malfeans." He inhales slowly, eyes narrowed. "That's all we need." He walks back to the rail at Liu's words, and peers out in the direction she was looking. "Where?"
Liu turns back towards Diamond while he's looking off, not wanting for all of us to be looking at the same time. Drawing attention. "Looks like a burning ship, but the smoke's the same color as the water. Another ship, too; maybe pirates? ... Green pirates?"
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 3 dice: <2 3 10> for 2 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 4 dice: <1 7 7 9> for 3 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 5 dice: <1 1 5 8 9> for 2 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 3 dice: <4 4 7> for 1 success.
Kanfi sighs and stares out at the horizon, almost resigned to the inevitable conflict. "We're trouble magnets, aren't we?" He turns around to lean against the railing, and cast his gaze around the boat instead.
Storyteller [to Liu]: At the speed you're going, you estimate it'll be about thirty minutes before you get in range of the whatever it is
Liu grimaces. "That's what the dark man keeps telling me. Yes." She doesn't like being a trouble magnet. She's trying to help now, why should bad things still be happening?
Phoenix Maiden eyes Kanfi in amusement. "We were chosen for this; what else did you expect?"
Liu looks at Phoenix Maiden, casting her a worried look. "Should we tell the crew?"
Phoenix Maiden ponders and looks off in the direction of the ships. "...Perhaps. But would they want to just turn tail and flee?"
Diamond Borealis studies the ships on the horizon, trying to identify whether they are fighting one another, or traveling together. "They might flee. Though I have a feeling if we run into those ships...we aren't going to be able to keep our secrets."
Kanfi shrugs, half glancing over at his sister. "If they wanted to flee, could you blame them?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "And now, in what is probably a first for this game... *laughs* Everyone make valor rolls."
<ROLL> Phoenix Maiden rolls 3 dice: <1 8 10> for 3 successes.
<ROLL> Diamond Borealis rolls 3 dice: <3 3 9> for 1 success.
<ROLL> Kanfi rolls 2 dice: <2 6> for 0 successes.
<ROLL> Liu rolls 3 dice: <8 9 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "These were Great Curse rolls."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Actually, I think Kanfi was immune anyway, not having a 3 or greater valor."
Storyteller [to Phoenix; Maiden; Liu Diamond; Borealis;]: You feel something stir up inside of your souls. This is your ancient enemy out there, the blasphemous antithesis of all you hold dear and holy. Whether or not it would reveal your nature, you all feel the intense urge to fight, to slay, and to wipe clean from Creation the blasphemous taint of the Yozis' brood.
Storyteller says "Those of you who succeeded on your rolls _must_ begin making plans to take the battle to the danger on the horizon, unless you spend 1 willpower and eat a point of Limit."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "...and PM acts exactly the way she would have anyhow. >_>"
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis too. :)
<<OOC>> Kanfi SIGHS.
<<OOC>> Storyteller figured. But he really wanted to use that line. ^^
Phoenix Maiden turns a hand up as she answers Kanfi. "No. But they do not have our resources. And they would carry us away in their flight. We have a duty as the Sun's Chosen, brother."
Liu glances around the ship at the faces of the crew. Maybe they will escape after getting her Circle close enough to take on the fight. "I should go get my weapons prepared."
Diamond Borealis narrows his brow, thinking. "Besides, if we can get near to the ship, it could be of use to us. Such vessels can be the equal of anything from the First Age." There is both an intensity of hatred at the foul creatures, and a lust for the knowledge their vessel could bring in his voice.
Storyteller says "You guys have about 15 minutes before the ship is in visual range of pretty much everyone."
Storyteller says "How do you want to use that time?"
Kanfi tugs thoughtlessly at a braid. "So you'd rather put them in the way of harm because you want to rush in a destroy the creature? For all we know, it out-powers us by a magnitude." But, Kanfi knows he's fighting a losing battle, and sighs again.
<<OOC>> Liu says, "Help Kanfi! Keep us sane! Keep us people! heh, Great Curse."
<<OOC>> Kanfi is TRYING! Very, very trying.
Phoenix Maiden shrugs. "Then do you think they will survive anyhow? If the enemy is so powerful here, they are already in its power." She turns her gaze to the horizon and the ships there.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says, "We need to get the crew ready. If they have any weapons we need to get those ready. And we need to get our gear on and power up."
Kanfi gestures at the ship widely. "Unless they don't care about us. But you're planning to attack, in which case it will retaliate." But he bows his head.
Liu scampers below decks to strap on her throwing knife belt and collect her short daiklaves. Which she hasn't named yet, because a sword is an instrument, not a friend. She will leave the planning to those with heads for it. Because, she reflects, she is an instrument, too.
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: The ship has two bow-mounted heavy ballistae, and one on a swivel mount on the stern. 20 of the crew are marines, plus Liu's circus people, who you'll have to ask her about. I'm not going to do this as a usual mass-combat or sea-combat run; I'm going to focus on the actions of your characters to avoid getting bogged down.
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: So tell me in general terms what you want guys to do for the crew and strategy and such, and I'll abstract the effects as you get closer.
<<OOC>> Liu says, "The circus people are performers. They might be able to fight, but none of them are warriors. Liu wasn't when she started, but for the grace of the Unconquered Sun. They're probably clever enough."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Hmm. I thought you had some retainers amongst them who could. Never mind! ^_^ Poor memory!"
Diamond Borealis gestures toward the ship. "And by attacking first we gain surprise. It may be the only chance we have to defeat them." He turns to Phoenix, "You've got to rally the Captain and his troops. Let them know what lays ahead, and convince them to be ready. The rest of us need to be ready so that as soon as we're in range we can take the fight onto their ship. The ballistae need to open up the instant we're in range and keep opening up until the four of us can get onto the ship."
<<OOC>> Kanfi will offer to talk to the captain about prepping the ship for a fight. And then go get his weapons, because... well, not much of a choice in the matter.
<<OOC>> Kanfi says, "Never mind. >.<"
Phoenix Maiden eyes Kanfi. "We're talking about Malfeans. Do you think they have friendly intentions towards any inhabitants of Creation, whether we are present or not? It is only by fortune that we are here to combat this incursion." She nods to Diamond. "If you think they can be persuaded to courage."
Kanfi returns the look, expression studiously bland. "As you say, sister. Just remember that these are not people who signed up to fight Malfeans. They aren't OUR troops." Not that they had any. "Don't throw their lives away." He turns to gather his weapons, shoulder tense in annoyance.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "You forgot about Seven?"
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: Give me a pose for your interaction with the Captain and the crew-- abstract is fine-- and then I'll give you your stunt for your Cha + Pre roll.
<<OOC>> Kanfi says, "he's been off screen for months. Where is he anyway?"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "Presumably, since the circus is here, wagons are aboard, including Liu's, and he's stashed in it as usual."
Diamond Borealis gestures to Phoenix and Kanfi. "You two are far more adept at that than I am. I leave it in your hands. I'm going to prepare my spells and be ready on the front of the ship." He heads off that way to begin casting the Invulnerable Skin of Bronze.
<<OOC>> Liu says, "Troops are DESIGNED to be thrown away! By the Chosen of the Unconquered Sun! Hurray! What do you mean they're not our troops. They eat food grown by the Sun's light, do they not? *POWERPOWERPOWER*"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Hmm, yes."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "He is onboard."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "And unless ordered otherwise, will probably be leaping to Kanfi's defense."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Despite the whole weight problem."
<<OOC>> Kanfi says, "AUGH! ::goes and lives in a monastery::"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "Kanfi, a monastery or a abbey? :p"
Liu straps two of her lighter swords to her back, since ships offer such great opportunities for hanging off of something with one hand or foot and fighting with the other three limbs. In the tiny cabin below decks, she closes her eyes and inhales deeply, scents of ship and bilge, salt spray and taint wafting in the air. Her limbs are copper, she wills. Flexible, strong, they will not fail her. Her feet are grasping hands. Her hands are nimble feet. Her spine is a cord of silk-wrapped steel. Her purpose is pure and she will not fail. "My limbs are copper..."
Phoenix Maiden seeks out the captain and asks him to join her at the prow of the ship, where they can see the ships they approach. Pitching her voice to carry beyond just him, she announces, "There are beasts, demons, creatures of impure nature at work here; their taint surrounds us even now. But fear not! For by grace and fortune, you carry those who are granted the divine power to fight these fiends." She indicates her companions with a gesture, but carefully does not mention which sort of divine power; prejudice can be so annoying. She continues, "But you, too, have a blow to strike." She points to the ballistae. "The first blow must be yours, as we approach."
<<OOC>> Liu says, "spending 3 motes of personal for Graceful Crane Stance for the rest of the scene."
<<OOC>> Storyteller chuckles 2 point stunt to PM. Roll Charisma + Presence +2.
<<OOC>> Storyteller nodnods to Liu.
<ROLL> Phoenix Maiden rolls 11 dice: <3 4 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 8 9> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden philosophically sighs that it's better than a botch.
The crew and captain, already mainly prepped by weeks of being under Kanfi's incredible charm, are ready to follow you anywhere and to any end after Phoenix Maiden's stirring speech. The marines get to arms, and the sailors get buff jackets and cutlasses ready. The ballistae are loaded and the planks below braced in case of ramming. The captain frowns a bit and rubs his clean shaven chin. "Demon? That probably means..." He rushes off to get his spyglass and pales once he raises it to his eye, handing it off to Phoenix Maiden. Then he spits over the side. "Lintha. Cannibals."
Phoenix Maiden peers through the spyglass.
Liu retrieves Midnight-With-Stars from the hold, and rides to where Phoenix and Kanfi are waiting. It's a lot of horse for a small girl. A horse who doesn't seem overly concerned about the pitching of the ship.
Kanfi ponders it for a bit, but after retrieving Silken Strike, heads to the hold for Seven. He'd just... have to be careful about making sure the metal man didn't fall into the water.
"Then tonight they'll feast on the dead at the bottom of the sea, not on the flesh of the living." Diamond settles in at the prow and begins to cast the spell that will make his skin as strong as Bronze, the essence flowing around him, his skin beginning to glow in the bright light of the sun. The process doesn't take long and once complete he begins to put on his armor and take up his Grimcleaver.
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: In the distance you see a huge ship, about three-quarters of the size of this one. It's cut low and angly for the water, with copper-and-brass finishings over the whole length. Although the craftsmanship is incredible, the sails silk, there is something wrong with the ship-- a weird rot and almost diseased look. You _don't_ see demons at first, although the crew are ... strange to look at. Pointed ears but not fae; tattooed from head to toe. A plethora of strange hair colors. It's hard to tell from this distance, but they look very similar to each other-- all angular and elongated, carrying huge, hooked-and-serrated swords.
At the last, you spot the source of the taint. Although the ship has full silk sails, there's a huge rig of brass and ebony out in front of the ship, attached to brass chains. Those chains are anchored huge nails that are sunk deep into the oozing, bleeding flesh of a gigantic, eel or worm shaped THING that is pulling the vessel along.
Phoenix Maiden hands the spyglass over to Diamond for his comment.
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: The other ship, the one on fire, looks to be an ordinary merchanter flying the colors of the Lap. It's got several ballista bolts in the hull that are attached to chain-and-winches from the Lintha ship; they're using them to haul closer while the Infernal Worm bites and lashes against its hull.
Phoenix Maiden comments, "We may be in time to save their intended victims. Let us so hope."
Diamond Borealis takes the glass and begins to reprise his plans. "We have to attack the sails and the creature that is pulling the Linthan craft." He lowers the glass and looks round again. "I'll prepare the Obsidian Butterflies, to shred their sails." He studies the eel more closely.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden carefully doesn't worry about the fact she's never learned how to swim. Will just ...manage. Somehow.
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: No real need to roll; this is an Infernal Worm. A fairly common first circle demon that swims in the Yozi ocean Kimberry. They are fierce, angry beasts-- no intelligence, just hunger and rage. They generally need to be kept under control, which means Lintha god-blooded, Outcastes, or infernal priests. Or all of the above.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says, "Any particular weaknesses?"
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: Not really, no. They're big, ugly, and tough. No real special abilities, though.
Storyteller says "Off in the distance, you hear a strange, echoing cry from the Lintha ship. Although most of the sailors are concentrating on the beleaguered merchant vessel, squads of the pirate Yozi-worshippers have begun to line up on the port rail towards you, clustered around two centers-- you can't quite make out who or what is leading them yet, though. They've seen you. Ten minutes until you're in mutual ballista range; five minutes after that until you're in grappling/ramming range."
Liu leans down and pats Midnight-With-Stars's neck soothingly, a gesture that's come to be part of her pre-fight ritual. She clucks at him, and then grasps her orichalcum-edged blades, one to a hand, and grits her teeth.
Phoenix Maiden gestures towards the enemy ship. "They're probably grouping around their leaders." She glances at Diamond. "What happens with that beast if we kill the ones that called it here?"
Kanfi glances up at Seven, weirdly comforted by his expressionless face, and steps back to look around and take note of the crew's position.
Diamond Borealis stays near the front, ready to begin the spell just in time to release it when they come in range. "The summoner would no longer control it. We want to kill whoever is handling it, then it will be out of control and more a danger to the Lintha than a help." He explains, with a faint quirk of his lip upward. "Never call up what you can't put down. I think we are going to teach them that lesson the hard way."
Liu listens to Diamond, and takes that as her primary goal.
Storyteller says "Hmm."
Storyteller says "Liu, make an Int + Lore roll, please?"
Kanfi is not going to point out how foolhardy that idea is if THEY are in the way, because there's no point. Instead he just bounces on he balls of his feet, jittery with nervous energy.
<ROLL> Liu rolls 2 dice: <4 10> for 2 successes.
Storyteller [to Liu]: You recognize what might be a small problem in DB's plan. While the Infernal Worms are more beast than intelligent being, they also are, in a sense, related to the Lintha family.
Storyteller [to Liu]: It could go either way when they're let go. Both the Lintha and the Worms are the spawn of Kimberry.
Liu cocks her head to the side and gives Diamond a questioning look.
Diamond Borealis lifts a brow. "Problem?" He seems willing to listen. He's not a tactician.
"Old Man... the worms are Lintha. Right? If we kill the summoner, it might just as easily turn on us in rage as to turn on the Lintha in blind panic. How do we put the worm down?" She grips her swords tightly, rubbing her thumb over the Tiger's Eye in the pommel. It was an inspired thought, but she's not sure of it now.
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: How many successes did you get on the Cha + Pre roll, 4?
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "Err. Four successes."
Diamond Borealis rubs his grizzled cheek. "We've got to take out their sorcerer regardless. She'll be too dangerous in the fight. The only way to put the worm down is to attack it, and attack it ruthlessly. If we just unchain it from the boat, it just frees it to attack us. Focus our attacks on it, with one of us dealing with the one controlling it to keep the sorcerer from attacking the rest."
Phoenix Maiden eyes the water ruefully, and comments, "I've never learned to swim."
Storyteller says "Y'all are fast approaching ballista range."
Storyteller says "Any last plans before the spray of arrows and dead and such? :)"
Liu nods. "Midnight will get me on the ship. I'll dive off from there and see how well the demon floats with holes in its hide."
Storyteller [to Liu]: ... You're going to be leaping across the ships on Midnight's back?
Storyteller [to Liu]: ... I award you 1 xp for sheer and total stones and style.
<<OOC>> Liu says, "no problem. And hey! God Blooded Horse! What else do you use it for! Forgot about all the arrows and shit though... that's going to be exciting I think."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden wants to activate Fivefold Bulwark Stance. ^^
<<OOC>> Storyteller figures we're at a natural break point anyway; we resume Tuesday.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 8 dice: <2 3 3 4 5 5 5 8> for 1 success.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 8 dice: <2 2 3 7 8 9 10 10> for 7 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 8 dice: <1 2 4 6 6 8 9 9> for 3 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 8 dice: <1 1 3 4 4 5 7 8> for 2 successes.
Storyteller says "Right."
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: One blustery day, you're on deck for what we shall presume is practice in your Lore, spotting various ocean species and noting which ones are natural, and which ones are the evolved descendent of First Age Fisheries.
Storyteller says "Liu is amusing herself on the riggings, Kanfi is hitting on the female officers (again), and Phoenix Maiden is practicing spear kata."
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: As the ship travels on, bumping and shocking over the rough sea, you begin to notice that the fish seem to be going the way of other vessels-- disappearing, and hightailing it away from your vessel. Furthermore, there's a very strange green ... taint... to the waters you're traveling into. It's almost imperceptible, but it's there. Give me a Perception + Lore check, please.
<ROLL> Diamond Borealis rolls 9 dice: <1 2 3 3 5 5 5 6 7> for 1 success.
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: Oh well. You don't like the look of the taint, but you can't put your finger on what it might be. You're definitely sailing in the direction of more of it.
Diamond Borealis rolls up the scroll on which he is making notes and stuffs it into his bag. He gives the green waters another frown and then starts toward Phoenix Maiden. Making sure not to get too close to the kata, he speaks to her. "Something's up. Have you noticed the water?"
Phoenix Maiden winds up her exercise as Diamond approaches and peers at him curiously. "I try to stay away from the rail. What's wrong with it?" She glances over towards the side of the ship.
Liu wordlessly shimmies down from the middle of the main mast, and -- trying not to be too impressive -- somersaults off and pads over to Diamond and Phoenix.
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: You may also make a Perception + Lore roll. :)
<ROLL> Phoenix Maiden rolls 5 dice: <1 4 7 7 10> for 4 successes.
Storyteller [to Kanfi]: You notice your fellow Exalts gathering towards the bow.
Kanfi disengages from the crew member he's teasing, and meanders for to where his group appears to be coalescing.
Diamond Borealis gestures with his thumb. "It's green. It shouldn't' be green. It's some sort of taint, but I can't tell what. Only that there's more of it in the direction we're headed."
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: That looks like the sort of slime that comes off creatures native to the brass realm of Malfeas.
Kanfi arches an eyebrow at Diamond's description and goes to look over the side of the boat. "Goody."
<<OOC>> Kanfi says, "Can I roll?"
Storyteller <to Kanfi> chuckles. "Sure!"
<ROLL> Kanfi rolls 6 dice: <1 3 5 5 9 10> for 3 successes.
Storyteller [to Liu]: You, however, I want to make a Perception + Awareness roll.
Storyteller [to Kanfi]: Very definitely Yozi-bred yuck.
Liu leans deeply over the rail, sniffing at the air, then stands and makes a very casual look around.
<ROLL> Liu rolls 7 dice: <2 2 4 4 8 10 10> for 5 successes.
Phoenix Maiden heads to the rail and peers over - cautiously. "Definitely unpleasant stuff. Looks like slime off some Malfean beast to me."
Storyteller [to Liu]: You see greenish smoke off on the distance. It's a good thing that there really isn't a horizon here; you can almost make out what looks to be two ships off to the distance-- one of which is pluming the unwholesome smoke, the other of which appears to be harnessed to something in the water.
Liu speaks in a low voice. "We've got trouble up ahead. More than just green water."
Diamond Borealis grunts softly at hearing that. A displeased grunt. "Malfeans." He inhales slowly, eyes narrowed. "That's all we need." He walks back to the rail at Liu's words, and peers out in the direction she was looking. "Where?"
Liu turns back towards Diamond while he's looking off, not wanting for all of us to be looking at the same time. Drawing attention. "Looks like a burning ship, but the smoke's the same color as the water. Another ship, too; maybe pirates? ... Green pirates?"
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 3 dice: <2 3 10> for 2 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 4 dice: <1 7 7 9> for 3 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 5 dice: <1 1 5 8 9> for 2 successes.
<ROLL> Storyteller rolls 3 dice: <4 4 7> for 1 success.
Kanfi sighs and stares out at the horizon, almost resigned to the inevitable conflict. "We're trouble magnets, aren't we?" He turns around to lean against the railing, and cast his gaze around the boat instead.
Storyteller [to Liu]: At the speed you're going, you estimate it'll be about thirty minutes before you get in range of the whatever it is
Liu grimaces. "That's what the dark man keeps telling me. Yes." She doesn't like being a trouble magnet. She's trying to help now, why should bad things still be happening?
Phoenix Maiden eyes Kanfi in amusement. "We were chosen for this; what else did you expect?"
Liu looks at Phoenix Maiden, casting her a worried look. "Should we tell the crew?"
Phoenix Maiden ponders and looks off in the direction of the ships. "...Perhaps. But would they want to just turn tail and flee?"
Diamond Borealis studies the ships on the horizon, trying to identify whether they are fighting one another, or traveling together. "They might flee. Though I have a feeling if we run into those ships...we aren't going to be able to keep our secrets."
Kanfi shrugs, half glancing over at his sister. "If they wanted to flee, could you blame them?"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "And now, in what is probably a first for this game... *laughs* Everyone make valor rolls."
<ROLL> Phoenix Maiden rolls 3 dice: <1 8 10> for 3 successes.
<ROLL> Diamond Borealis rolls 3 dice: <3 3 9> for 1 success.
<ROLL> Kanfi rolls 2 dice: <2 6> for 0 successes.
<ROLL> Liu rolls 3 dice: <8 9 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "These were Great Curse rolls."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Actually, I think Kanfi was immune anyway, not having a 3 or greater valor."
Storyteller [to Phoenix; Maiden; Liu Diamond; Borealis;]: You feel something stir up inside of your souls. This is your ancient enemy out there, the blasphemous antithesis of all you hold dear and holy. Whether or not it would reveal your nature, you all feel the intense urge to fight, to slay, and to wipe clean from Creation the blasphemous taint of the Yozis' brood.
Storyteller says "Those of you who succeeded on your rolls _must_ begin making plans to take the battle to the danger on the horizon, unless you spend 1 willpower and eat a point of Limit."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "...and PM acts exactly the way she would have anyhow. >_>"
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis too. :)
<<OOC>> Kanfi SIGHS.
<<OOC>> Storyteller figured. But he really wanted to use that line. ^^
Phoenix Maiden turns a hand up as she answers Kanfi. "No. But they do not have our resources. And they would carry us away in their flight. We have a duty as the Sun's Chosen, brother."
Liu glances around the ship at the faces of the crew. Maybe they will escape after getting her Circle close enough to take on the fight. "I should go get my weapons prepared."
Diamond Borealis narrows his brow, thinking. "Besides, if we can get near to the ship, it could be of use to us. Such vessels can be the equal of anything from the First Age." There is both an intensity of hatred at the foul creatures, and a lust for the knowledge their vessel could bring in his voice.
Storyteller says "You guys have about 15 minutes before the ship is in visual range of pretty much everyone."
Storyteller says "How do you want to use that time?"
Kanfi tugs thoughtlessly at a braid. "So you'd rather put them in the way of harm because you want to rush in a destroy the creature? For all we know, it out-powers us by a magnitude." But, Kanfi knows he's fighting a losing battle, and sighs again.
<<OOC>> Liu says, "Help Kanfi! Keep us sane! Keep us people! heh, Great Curse."
<<OOC>> Kanfi is TRYING! Very, very trying.
Phoenix Maiden shrugs. "Then do you think they will survive anyhow? If the enemy is so powerful here, they are already in its power." She turns her gaze to the horizon and the ships there.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says, "We need to get the crew ready. If they have any weapons we need to get those ready. And we need to get our gear on and power up."
Kanfi gestures at the ship widely. "Unless they don't care about us. But you're planning to attack, in which case it will retaliate." But he bows his head.
Liu scampers below decks to strap on her throwing knife belt and collect her short daiklaves. Which she hasn't named yet, because a sword is an instrument, not a friend. She will leave the planning to those with heads for it. Because, she reflects, she is an instrument, too.
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: The ship has two bow-mounted heavy ballistae, and one on a swivel mount on the stern. 20 of the crew are marines, plus Liu's circus people, who you'll have to ask her about. I'm not going to do this as a usual mass-combat or sea-combat run; I'm going to focus on the actions of your characters to avoid getting bogged down.
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: So tell me in general terms what you want guys to do for the crew and strategy and such, and I'll abstract the effects as you get closer.
<<OOC>> Liu says, "The circus people are performers. They might be able to fight, but none of them are warriors. Liu wasn't when she started, but for the grace of the Unconquered Sun. They're probably clever enough."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Hmm. I thought you had some retainers amongst them who could. Never mind! ^_^ Poor memory!"
Diamond Borealis gestures toward the ship. "And by attacking first we gain surprise. It may be the only chance we have to defeat them." He turns to Phoenix, "You've got to rally the Captain and his troops. Let them know what lays ahead, and convince them to be ready. The rest of us need to be ready so that as soon as we're in range we can take the fight onto their ship. The ballistae need to open up the instant we're in range and keep opening up until the four of us can get onto the ship."
<<OOC>> Kanfi will offer to talk to the captain about prepping the ship for a fight. And then go get his weapons, because... well, not much of a choice in the matter.
<<OOC>> Kanfi says, "Never mind. >.<"
Phoenix Maiden eyes Kanfi. "We're talking about Malfeans. Do you think they have friendly intentions towards any inhabitants of Creation, whether we are present or not? It is only by fortune that we are here to combat this incursion." She nods to Diamond. "If you think they can be persuaded to courage."
Kanfi returns the look, expression studiously bland. "As you say, sister. Just remember that these are not people who signed up to fight Malfeans. They aren't OUR troops." Not that they had any. "Don't throw their lives away." He turns to gather his weapons, shoulder tense in annoyance.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "You forgot about Seven?"
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: Give me a pose for your interaction with the Captain and the crew-- abstract is fine-- and then I'll give you your stunt for your Cha + Pre roll.
<<OOC>> Kanfi says, "he's been off screen for months. Where is he anyway?"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "Presumably, since the circus is here, wagons are aboard, including Liu's, and he's stashed in it as usual."
Diamond Borealis gestures to Phoenix and Kanfi. "You two are far more adept at that than I am. I leave it in your hands. I'm going to prepare my spells and be ready on the front of the ship." He heads off that way to begin casting the Invulnerable Skin of Bronze.
<<OOC>> Liu says, "Troops are DESIGNED to be thrown away! By the Chosen of the Unconquered Sun! Hurray! What do you mean they're not our troops. They eat food grown by the Sun's light, do they not? *POWERPOWERPOWER*"
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Hmm, yes."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "He is onboard."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "And unless ordered otherwise, will probably be leaping to Kanfi's defense."
<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Despite the whole weight problem."
<<OOC>> Kanfi says, "AUGH! ::goes and lives in a monastery::"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "Kanfi, a monastery or a abbey? :p"
Liu straps two of her lighter swords to her back, since ships offer such great opportunities for hanging off of something with one hand or foot and fighting with the other three limbs. In the tiny cabin below decks, she closes her eyes and inhales deeply, scents of ship and bilge, salt spray and taint wafting in the air. Her limbs are copper, she wills. Flexible, strong, they will not fail her. Her feet are grasping hands. Her hands are nimble feet. Her spine is a cord of silk-wrapped steel. Her purpose is pure and she will not fail. "My limbs are copper..."
Phoenix Maiden seeks out the captain and asks him to join her at the prow of the ship, where they can see the ships they approach. Pitching her voice to carry beyond just him, she announces, "There are beasts, demons, creatures of impure nature at work here; their taint surrounds us even now. But fear not! For by grace and fortune, you carry those who are granted the divine power to fight these fiends." She indicates her companions with a gesture, but carefully does not mention which sort of divine power; prejudice can be so annoying. She continues, "But you, too, have a blow to strike." She points to the ballistae. "The first blow must be yours, as we approach."
<<OOC>> Liu says, "spending 3 motes of personal for Graceful Crane Stance for the rest of the scene."
<<OOC>> Storyteller chuckles 2 point stunt to PM. Roll Charisma + Presence +2.
<<OOC>> Storyteller nodnods to Liu.
<ROLL> Phoenix Maiden rolls 11 dice: <3 4 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 8 9> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden philosophically sighs that it's better than a botch.
The crew and captain, already mainly prepped by weeks of being under Kanfi's incredible charm, are ready to follow you anywhere and to any end after Phoenix Maiden's stirring speech. The marines get to arms, and the sailors get buff jackets and cutlasses ready. The ballistae are loaded and the planks below braced in case of ramming. The captain frowns a bit and rubs his clean shaven chin. "Demon? That probably means..." He rushes off to get his spyglass and pales once he raises it to his eye, handing it off to Phoenix Maiden. Then he spits over the side. "Lintha. Cannibals."
Phoenix Maiden peers through the spyglass.
Liu retrieves Midnight-With-Stars from the hold, and rides to where Phoenix and Kanfi are waiting. It's a lot of horse for a small girl. A horse who doesn't seem overly concerned about the pitching of the ship.
Kanfi ponders it for a bit, but after retrieving Silken Strike, heads to the hold for Seven. He'd just... have to be careful about making sure the metal man didn't fall into the water.
"Then tonight they'll feast on the dead at the bottom of the sea, not on the flesh of the living." Diamond settles in at the prow and begins to cast the spell that will make his skin as strong as Bronze, the essence flowing around him, his skin beginning to glow in the bright light of the sun. The process doesn't take long and once complete he begins to put on his armor and take up his Grimcleaver.
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: In the distance you see a huge ship, about three-quarters of the size of this one. It's cut low and angly for the water, with copper-and-brass finishings over the whole length. Although the craftsmanship is incredible, the sails silk, there is something wrong with the ship-- a weird rot and almost diseased look. You _don't_ see demons at first, although the crew are ... strange to look at. Pointed ears but not fae; tattooed from head to toe. A plethora of strange hair colors. It's hard to tell from this distance, but they look very similar to each other-- all angular and elongated, carrying huge, hooked-and-serrated swords.
At the last, you spot the source of the taint. Although the ship has full silk sails, there's a huge rig of brass and ebony out in front of the ship, attached to brass chains. Those chains are anchored huge nails that are sunk deep into the oozing, bleeding flesh of a gigantic, eel or worm shaped THING that is pulling the vessel along.
Phoenix Maiden hands the spyglass over to Diamond for his comment.
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: The other ship, the one on fire, looks to be an ordinary merchanter flying the colors of the Lap. It's got several ballista bolts in the hull that are attached to chain-and-winches from the Lintha ship; they're using them to haul closer while the Infernal Worm bites and lashes against its hull.
Phoenix Maiden comments, "We may be in time to save their intended victims. Let us so hope."
Diamond Borealis takes the glass and begins to reprise his plans. "We have to attack the sails and the creature that is pulling the Linthan craft." He lowers the glass and looks round again. "I'll prepare the Obsidian Butterflies, to shred their sails." He studies the eel more closely.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden carefully doesn't worry about the fact she's never learned how to swim. Will just ...manage. Somehow.
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: No real need to roll; this is an Infernal Worm. A fairly common first circle demon that swims in the Yozi ocean Kimberry. They are fierce, angry beasts-- no intelligence, just hunger and rage. They generally need to be kept under control, which means Lintha god-blooded, Outcastes, or infernal priests. Or all of the above.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says, "Any particular weaknesses?"
Storyteller [to Diamond Borealis]: Not really, no. They're big, ugly, and tough. No real special abilities, though.
Storyteller says "Off in the distance, you hear a strange, echoing cry from the Lintha ship. Although most of the sailors are concentrating on the beleaguered merchant vessel, squads of the pirate Yozi-worshippers have begun to line up on the port rail towards you, clustered around two centers-- you can't quite make out who or what is leading them yet, though. They've seen you. Ten minutes until you're in mutual ballista range; five minutes after that until you're in grappling/ramming range."
Liu leans down and pats Midnight-With-Stars's neck soothingly, a gesture that's come to be part of her pre-fight ritual. She clucks at him, and then grasps her orichalcum-edged blades, one to a hand, and grits her teeth.
Phoenix Maiden gestures towards the enemy ship. "They're probably grouping around their leaders." She glances at Diamond. "What happens with that beast if we kill the ones that called it here?"
Kanfi glances up at Seven, weirdly comforted by his expressionless face, and steps back to look around and take note of the crew's position.
Diamond Borealis stays near the front, ready to begin the spell just in time to release it when they come in range. "The summoner would no longer control it. We want to kill whoever is handling it, then it will be out of control and more a danger to the Lintha than a help." He explains, with a faint quirk of his lip upward. "Never call up what you can't put down. I think we are going to teach them that lesson the hard way."
Liu listens to Diamond, and takes that as her primary goal.
Storyteller says "Hmm."
Storyteller says "Liu, make an Int + Lore roll, please?"
Kanfi is not going to point out how foolhardy that idea is if THEY are in the way, because there's no point. Instead he just bounces on he balls of his feet, jittery with nervous energy.
<ROLL> Liu rolls 2 dice: <4 10> for 2 successes.
Storyteller [to Liu]: You recognize what might be a small problem in DB's plan. While the Infernal Worms are more beast than intelligent being, they also are, in a sense, related to the Lintha family.
Storyteller [to Liu]: It could go either way when they're let go. Both the Lintha and the Worms are the spawn of Kimberry.
Liu cocks her head to the side and gives Diamond a questioning look.
Diamond Borealis lifts a brow. "Problem?" He seems willing to listen. He's not a tactician.
"Old Man... the worms are Lintha. Right? If we kill the summoner, it might just as easily turn on us in rage as to turn on the Lintha in blind panic. How do we put the worm down?" She grips her swords tightly, rubbing her thumb over the Tiger's Eye in the pommel. It was an inspired thought, but she's not sure of it now.
Storyteller [to Phoenix Maiden]: How many successes did you get on the Cha + Pre roll, 4?
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says, "Err. Four successes."
Diamond Borealis rubs his grizzled cheek. "We've got to take out their sorcerer regardless. She'll be too dangerous in the fight. The only way to put the worm down is to attack it, and attack it ruthlessly. If we just unchain it from the boat, it just frees it to attack us. Focus our attacks on it, with one of us dealing with the one controlling it to keep the sorcerer from attacking the rest."
Phoenix Maiden eyes the water ruefully, and comments, "I've never learned to swim."
Storyteller says "Y'all are fast approaching ballista range."
Storyteller says "Any last plans before the spray of arrows and dead and such? :)"
Liu nods. "Midnight will get me on the ship. I'll dive off from there and see how well the demon floats with holes in its hide."
Storyteller [to Liu]: ... You're going to be leaping across the ships on Midnight's back?
Storyteller [to Liu]: ... I award you 1 xp for sheer and total stones and style.
<<OOC>> Liu says, "no problem. And hey! God Blooded Horse! What else do you use it for! Forgot about all the arrows and shit though... that's going to be exciting I think."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden wants to activate Fivefold Bulwark Stance. ^^
<<OOC>> Storyteller figures we're at a natural break point anyway; we resume Tuesday.
