Brian's Cult Game - first Prelude
Nov. 23rd, 2011 08:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leticiaBecause I'm vaguely more responsive about posting these things (pay no mind to the fact that Nothing Personal is like a year out of date - those logs are more complicated because of all the redacting) Brian has asked me to post the logs.
So since we just finished Bennu's prelude... The rest of you have no excuse not to finish now!
Brian says, "So, Kether Rock. Hidden from the eyes of men and the twists of fate, where cowardice begat failure -- but left a monolithic fortress rising in the badlands -- the place that the desert hates. The spirit of the fortress doesn't speak often, but everyone there knows that it despises failure, and will not let it stain these grounds again.
Intense, and to be frank, brutal training, starting with a duel from one of your elder Sidereal trainers that doesn't end until you drop, grinds off weakness and fear, while the pride in accomplishments and closeness to the mortals and their families around you strengthens your hearts without hardening them. By the end of your first year, Bennu, you knew successes and triumphs of will that were earned with harder coin than even the toughest Lost Egg at Pasiap's stair. By the end of your second, you owned them. Pride and waste, you know, was the weakness that turned the First Age Solars on themselves, and allowed lesser Exalts to cast them down. Pride, and waste, and cruelty, and the results were clearly inadequate for the defense, let alone the cultivation, of creation. But there is justification for pride you own. Pride you understand. Pride that did not come from someone telling you your every whim is correct, but instead for conquering over true obstacles and achieving things with struggle -- a hard and rare lesson for Solars.
The third year has been tactical and strategic. You'll never outgrow lessons, Maduka Shin says, or you'll hope to answer to her, for the pain of -that- failure will last millenia. But now it's time to put those lessons into practice. Along with Samun, your trusted sorcerer-lieutenant, and your twenty-five Tiger Warriors, you've been leading lightning raids in the little wars that rock the south. Sometimes, you've been mercenaries when the choice was to aid the least worst (or at least, most amenable to being leaned on). Sometimes, you've done it for free, when the cause was striking at the Realm, Fae, or on behalf of the truly worthy. You've shown up in glory but secrecy, a distant warrior-saint, and you've left legends in your wake.
Now, you're nearing the end of your third year. None of the others, not even the otherwise friendly and charismatic Michael, will tell you what challenges you will face in the upcoming days. It's been ten days since your last assignment, and Maduka Shin has called for you to meet her in the secret, hidden heart of the fortress, its literal wellspring and foundation -- and one weakness, the small, clear room that contains the pure spring that brings water into the fortress. It is late Night, the time of plans and secrets, and you have been instructed to come alone."
Bennu can not deny a shiver of apprehension in her heart - not after all the training of Kether Rock. But she is one of the Illuminated, and whatever reservations she holds are second to her eagerness to prove herself. She attends the Sifu at the commanded time, coming dressed not in her armor, but in the flowing white and gold robes she has earned, the ribbons of her calling fluttering. She presents herself well, as always; her acolytes have tended to her hair and it weaves a tapestry bound by bead and white cord down her back. Her swords are at her sides as always, and she neither stomps nor makes excessive attempt at stealth as she approaches the secret spring, though as always, her senses are alert.
Brian says, "Maduka Shin, the Master of Kether Rock, is a tall, intimidating woman, broad-shouldered, muscular, and beautiful. That severe beauty is not marred by the white scar running vertically over her eye, in the least; instead, it focuses the rich character in her face. As always, she is wearing her armor. If you've seen her out of it, you cannot remember the time. As you enter the spring, she nods. A small table with two chairs by it is not too far from the sadly burbling spring. On the table, a map of the South is spread out, weighted down by cartographic tools and strategic markers; Maduka Shin doesn't believe in marring maps. "Come in, Bennu. It's time for another talk.""
Bennu bows deeply. "Greetings, Sifu," she responds, and then moves over towards the table as bidden, her hands folded in front of her calmly. Her eyes flick to the map, appraising the strategic layout with a practiced eye.
Brian says, "Shin nods her head in acknowledgement, and gestures at the map. A dark, smoky stone, polished into a perfect disk, is situated many li south of Kether Rock, in the middle of an area thick with the cannibalistic Dune People. "Moontrack territory," Shin growls. "And it's not good. I was looking around for your graduation vision-quest, and fate brought the missives in not long after. There was a major breach of fate in the area, caused by tainted and necrotic Essence in the middle of Moontrack raid. Cannibals and barbarians they may be, but they aren't known for having truck with the Underworld, or anyone else outside of a very few Lunars," she says, staring at Bennu and judging her reactions. "Besides, their corpses were rotting in the sands as well. In theory, it was caught soon enough to prevent transposition into a full-blown Shadowlands; at worst, we should only have had an Underworld Demesne. The theory seems to be wrong. There is a Shadowlands there, now, though oddly, not a stable one. It's trying to take hold in the Pattern, pushing itself out even though there wasn't near enough slaughter. Something is burrowing it in, seeking to bridge the connection between our world and the shadows.""
Bennu's eyes narrow the second 'necrotic Essence' is spoken. She peers down at the map, and nods, turning a curious job to the Sifu. "And my quest?" she asks, an edge in her voice as she contemplates the dark marring stone. One of her hands finds its way to the hilt of her left sword as she examines the setup.
Brian says, "Shin stabs her index and middle fingers down onto the lens, shattering it. "Find what is causing the burrowing and destroy it, before it can spread like the cancer it is. Do it alone, do it swiftly, and do it well, and I will judge you ready to know whom among the other recruits is from your Primordial War Circle -- and when all of you have passed," she says, neither revealing how the connection was blocked, nor if any others have passed yet, "You will be sent out for independent command. There's work to be done, Bennu. Make yourself worthy of our pride -- and your own.""
Bennu bows to Maduka Shin again. "I will find it and end the contamination," she promises. "If it is within the grasp of my gifts at all." She takes one last look at the map, though she has memorized the location of the mar already. "I will depart immediately, with your permission, Sifu."
Brian says, "Maduka Shin nods gravely. "Dismissed, Bennu. Blessings of the Unconquered Sun and Mars be upon you," the Chosen of Battles tells you, and turns back to studying the map with her cold eyes."
Brian says, "The fortress stores are open to you; anything short of new artifacts is yours for the taking. You can stunt a Survival roll to see how good your preparation choices are; they're not going to do it for you."
Bennu is not a child of the deserts - no, Paragon is cradled in the bounty of the rivers that feed its farms, and that is the life she knows. None the less, she has been trained, and trained harshly by the tests of Kether Rock, and what proficiencies she lacked... she now exceeds. Too, she has listened to the stories of her subordinates, for as each walks a different journey, even a mortal may have knowledge to share, if less ability to apply it. From the stories of Samun's childhood tribe, from her training in supplying her troops, from the harsh lessons beyond the walls of the fortress with little protection she draws her knowledge of what she needs, what may be useful, and what will merely weigh her down and waste her water. She has no shame in taking either of the first two categories from the stores, for is it not gathered for the purpose of these deeds? The last category, she will shun.
Brian [to Bennu]: 2 points, hit it.
Brian says, "Int + Survival."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 9 dice: <1 1 3 5 5 6 8 10 10> for 5 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "...well at least today I'm rolling the high side of average so far..."
Brian [to Bennu]: You've got it all, and it's pretty light. Thankfully, your armor augments your strength in the first place, and it's climate controlled. You've got the necessities with no major penalties; you won't need to make endurance checks on the road and your survival rolls will be at no penalty. 5 times on the upcoming trip, you can pull something useful out of your bag of tricks for a forseeable situation in both Creation and the Underworld.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Woot. Okay. Glossing travel? Abstract pose from me?"
Brian [to Bennu]: The sight of the Moontrack massacre is south by southeast, past the badlands and back out into the open desert for several days. Give me an abstract for both planning the trip and how you plan to make the voyage.
Bennu would prefer to travel by Samun's sorcery - but she doesn't consider it; her orders are clear. She traces out the route on a map first, asking her soldiers who hail from the region she must travel through for any locations of hazards or helps, springs and rivers, bandits and monsters. While she is not opposed to fighting monsters in general, she has a specific mission that is more of a hazard to Creation.
With that knowledge added to her own, she plans a route to ensure water every day and the avoidance of any major hazards. And then she dons her armor and sets out, trusting the speed of her armor to make the miles fall away. She will run where she knows there is enough water, and walk when the springs are less frequent and she must make her supply last. And she will march the last day's travel, to ensure she is rested before she reaches the false-shadowland.
Brian [to Bennu]: This time, Perception + Survival +2. Let's see how fast you take it.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 7 dice: <1 3 4 5 6 9 9> for 2 successes.
Brian [to Bennu]: The land is a terrible test, as you well know. Your armor keeps you moving at a pace with a horseman, but without wings, you're not taking this place at a gallop. You travel mostly at night, keeping your anima banner damped but using your pure castemark for light. It works, and you get there, and you only have to climb two or three cliffs before making it into the open desert. From there, well. The armor's heavy, but it moves fast, helping to propel you rather than get you stuck in the shifting sand. Five nights from Kether Rock, and quiet warnings begin to display in the corner of your helm's visor. The local geomancy is twisted, in upheaval, and you're not even near any major landmarks -- dunes, sand, and rocks are about it.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 5 dice: <2 4 4 5 5> for 0 successes.
Bennu pays more attention to the visual displays provided by the visor as the geomancy goes wrong - the destruction is purposeful, and purpose means something to oppose. She will find it and destroy it - but she would rather find it -first-. The Adaptive Camouflage subsystems of her armor are powered on to in turn conceal -her- from anything seeking. And she moves on, grimly, tracking through the warped geomancy towards the heart of the unmaking.
Brian [to Bennu]: Make a Perception + Awareness +2 stunt roll, and a Dexterity + Stealth +1 stunt roll.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <4 5 6 6 7 9> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <3 3 9 9 9 10> for 5 successes.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 6 dice: <1 2 3 5 10 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Per."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 8 dice: <1 1 2 3 5 6 6 9> for 1 success.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Stealth."
Brian says, "The night is cold, a harsh, biting wind with more in common with salt air over a bad harbor than the clearness of the desert. It's not foggy, but the stars seem dimmer, and Luna, more grey. Clouds pass more frequently, and the night is completely silent. None of the desert hunters or their prey are about; there are no masking sounds but the harshness of the wind."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 1 2 9 9 10> for 4 successes.
Bennu has evidence of danger all around her in the twisted geomancy and the broken nature of Creation here. She is not letting her guard down, and her armor grants her unique insights into what she moves through - but she still does not trust to that. To trust one's artifacts before one's own capabilities is one of the many flaws that brought down the First Age - only one, but one she does not intend to repeat. Even with the overarching tactical knowledge, she still scans the dunes as she proceeds, with eyes and Essence sight alike, spending the Essence out of her personal pool for subtlety.
Brian [to Bennu]: You notice the five signatures that the Total Perspective Field flags as 'hostile' as soon as they become distinguishable from the essence of the Dunes. The display marks them as "Runaway slaves, return to Eternal Crimson Sunset, Xela-Cas, and offers to send a courtesy message through ERROR ADDRESS NOT FOUND' with the addendum, "Cannibal sin," and suggestions of hostile intent in your 360 degree field. Two of them are lurking ahead of you, and three of them are rapidly coming up behind you.
Bennu pauses in her forward momentum to 'kick sand off her feet', making a little bit of a display of having troubles with the dune - as if. She does not turn - not yet - though her hands are near the hilts of her swords and she is ready to react as soon as the mortals come a little... bit... closer. There is one thing more dangerous than an ambush - and it is an ambush expected. Spending personal, she activates Fivefold Bulwark Stance - because even mortals deserve some respect in combat ...and being injured by one would just be -embarrassing-.
Brian says, "The Dune People, scourge of the sands and eater of men, swarm silently out behind you, starting to move at a run, somehow without disturbing the sand. They're completely naked, wielding large, cruel-looking stone weapon, knapped to razor sharp edges; the ones ahead of you have started to move out from concealment and try to get your concentration focused on them, rather than the ones behind you. Roll Join Battle."
Brian [to Bennu]: 2-dot stunt.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <4 4 5 6 7 8> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 2 2 6 7 7> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 2 3 7 8 10> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <3 3 4 7 9 10> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 7 dice: <1 1 4 4 4 7 8> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 4 5 6 8 10> for 3 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "...I'm tellin' you. The dice have it in for me."
Brian says, "Bandits 1-3 are behind you, 4-5 are about 21 yards ahead of you."
Brian says, "Order is Bandits 3 & 4, Bandit 5, then Bennu, Bandit 1, and Bandit 2. Let me set up my battlewheel."
Brian says, "Dune Person # etc. whatever, I'm tired."
<<OOC>> penguin says "Dune Bandits."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Bune Dandits."
<<OOC>> Karma says "Sooner or later, everything's a bandit."
<<OOC>> penguin says "Bandits, pirates, Wyld Hunt, whatever. They're either with you, or trying to kill you."
Brian says, "Dune 4 says nothing, but lopes, almost on all fours, breaking into a Dash. She will go again on Tick 3, and has covered 9 yards during tick 0. She will cover 9 more during 1, and the remaining 3 during tick 2 to close to melee combat range. There is a look of utter, fanatic hatred in her eyes, rage without limits or sanity, and it is matched by the other four as well."
Brian says, "Dune 3 has a large, broad-angled blade with two handles in his hands. He leaps towards Bennu, throwing his whole body into the vicious swing at her back, followed by a cruel back-swing trying to cave in the golden helmet, with no fear or caution at all."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Needless to say, he's got no charms to use. :P"
Bennu, whose swords leapt into her hands as the bestial mortals started moving, spins on the spot, sand whirling up around her feet as the power-systems of the armor hum softly. Essence only she can see, bright gold over the tawny sands, guides the blade in her left hand, the deep crook whistling through the air to meet the crude falling blow - before it can test her sun-blessed armor.
Brian [to Bennu]: +2 stunt to your DV.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 1 7 10 10 10> for 7 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 5 dice: <3 4 7 8 9> for 3 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "DV is 12 with stunt."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "And I'd like to use my sword's special power. =p"
<<OOC>> Brian says "Spend away."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Personal Essence."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Roll your attack with the D bonus and 2 stunt."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 19 dice: <1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 10> for 8 successes.
[Brian(#64)] Brian has partially disconnected.
Brian says, "Much to the savage tribesman's surprise, the crook of your scythe reaches out in a glimmer of Essence to snatch his heavy weapon out of his hands, hurtling it off to the side as he rolls away and towards it."
Brian says, "Tick 1. Dune 5 pulls up a well-weathered, but decent quality self bow. Wood arrows with stone points, drilled as fine as their pointed teeth. He's not moving any closer any more, and he takes the moment to sight before letting fly the arrow."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 1 3 3 5 6 10> for 2 successes.
Brian says, "The arrow goes sailing to the left; it might have hit your shoulder, but it's child's play to bat it out of the air. Tick 2; you, and two Dune People close to you."
Bennu does not like these numbers - five is enough to surround, and Bennu has no intention of letting all of the mortals close on her at once. It is their own sin to attack her, at any rate, for she is Chosen - and the armor hardly makes that fact -subtle-. It without remorse that she selects a target at random (dune person 1, let us say), and brings down the full wrath of the straighter sword towards the impious flesh of her target.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Spending 4 on first via Essence Flow."
Brian says, "Dune 1 and Dune 2, each armed with long thighbones lined with stone spikes held tight with cords, begin to circle around you, one to either side. Dune 1 goes high, aiming for your neck on the right side; Dune 2 goes low, trying to slash into the joint of the armor at the underarm."
Brian [to Bennu]: 2 dot stunt.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 25 dice: <1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 10> for 12 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "And I'm going to trust in my DV for now."
Brian [to Bennu]: We'll resolve yours first. Even if you kill him, he at least gets a roll to attack, though. You hit by 9; he has a lethal soak of 1, so your raw is your base +8.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Raw is 14L."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "So I'm making a wild guess if he's an extra he's paste."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Which is his just deserts for daring to attack a Solar, of course. :p"
Brian says, "Well, even if we didn't round in favor of Exalts, that'd be 1 more health level than he's got. Kill or incapacitate?"
Brian also, forgot to do the stamina+resistance check for the one who attacked you earlier. What's your Essence?
<<OOC>> Bennu says "4"
<<OOC>> penguin says "Next on Will It Blend? Dune People!"
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <2 3 3 5 7 10 10> for 5 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "And... hrm. I suspect kill in this case."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <7 8 8 8 10 10 10> for 10 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <2 4 5 6 7 7 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "I have an artifact 5 weaponset. It will -so- blend."
Brian [to Bennu]: Dune one comes perilously close to passing your guard. Some terrible hate drives him; it's a moment that almost reaches Exalted in its pure, unadulterated power and potency. Were you a mortal, or even a Dragonblooded, his chopping strike might have severed your neck. As it is, you bat him aside with your defensive Talon, and the other stabs deep into his chest, splintering ribs and piercing his heart. There is a brief, mad cry, and he falls back, sliding off your blade. There is a horrible, shadowy -squelch- and his body sinks into a patch of swiftly-spreading black in the sand. The woman striking at your left is easily pushed aside by the downswipe of your defensive talon, leaving her staggering towards the side.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "And I am speed 4."
Brian says, "Despite the swift death of the first Dune reaver, the others still madly charge against you. Recovering from her long rush across the sands, the Dune woman first to act twists her face into a silent mask of feral fury, her pointed teeth glinting in the subdued moonlight. Her shadow sticks to the ground, the sand staying dark and ashen black even once she moves past. She's got another of the bent, sharp-angled rockswords, and she curves it around twice to slice at your side, hacking harshly."
<<OOC>> Brian says "2 attacks in a flurry. Reaction? You've still a Stunt 2 for defense."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Mmm. I'mma trust to DV 12 for now, will disarm her if I successfully parry."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 3 6 7 7 9> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 5 dice: <3 5 6 6 9> for 1 success.
Brian [to Bennu]: Roll your disarm, DV of 3
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Still ahve 2 dot stunt?"
Brian [to Bennu]: Yeah.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 19 dice: <1 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 10 10 10> for 13 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Oh sure, I finally get a high roll. Poor thing. =p"
Brian says, "The angled, chopped stone is cast swiftly to the side, flung off into the darkness and sending her scrambling after it."
Brian says, "Dune 3 has reached and is recovering his weapon, taking a Miscellaneous action to do so."
Brian says, "Tick six, you and Dune 2 again."
Bennu hisses at the sight of the tainted sands. No fool she; her blade whistles silently down towards her next selected foe, but as it falls, it falls as a ray of sunlight, and as swiftly, a radiant bar between her opponent and any future.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Hitting Dune Buggy 2, using the 1 mote ability to make it non-parryable but do bashing. XD Not that I need to do that to pull the blow but it's SHINY."
Brian says, "Dune 2 still has her sword, and is working around you, lashing out in a long, licking strike reminiscent of a lizard's tongue snapping on a fly."
Brian [to Bennu]: Roll, stunt 2.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 8 dice: <2 4 6 7 7 8 10 10> for 7 successes.
<<OOC>> Brian says "... The Dice Orphan really has gone to the side of evil."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 21 dice: <1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 7 9 9 10 10 10> for 9 successes.
<<OOC>> Brian says "You hit by 6, soak of 1, so your base +5 is...?"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Base is 14. Sorry I misspoke last time. So 19."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Actually, sorry, her bashing soak is 3, so it's 2 less than that, which is 16. Still rounds up to 6 health levels, which means you can again kill or incapacitate as you wish."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "=P Incap."
Brian says, "As she falls and crashes to the ground, her blood pools around her, stopping quickly. Her breathing is shallow and harsh, and where her blood touches the sand, the blackness spreads again. Make a Perception + Occult roll, +3 for having your Essence sight up."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 5 dice: <2 3 8 9 9> for 3 successes.
Brian [to Bennu]: Dark and twisted, the Essence around you is full of twisted, Abyssal energies. There is a necrotic surge going on around you; you are _definitely_ in the shallowing to the Underworld your sifu spoke of. It's not full Underworld, not yet, but you're plunged within a growing circle of death taint. Your essence use means that the darkness isn't spreading close to you, but. The landscape around you isn't doing so well.
Brian says, "Hatred and rage in their eyes, the Dune People notice none of this. They care neither for the fallen nor for the painful light glimmering in heated bursts Despite the GM forgetting to roll for it, like it matters each time you strike or are struck. The hatred in them is beyond thought or reason, and they will not stop coming. Tick 7."
Brian says, "The self bow-wielding Dune reaver flurries two of his shots together now, sending the whistling wood-and-stone arrows flying towards the lighter armor on your neck now, expending more of his ammunition in an attempt to bury his hate in your flesh. You still have your Stunt 2 defense."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "I'm still going to count on DV."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <2 3 7 10 10 10> for 7 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 5 dice: <2 6 6 7 9> for 2 successes.
Brian says, "Both shots are knocked aside by the swift lash of the Talon; you even cut the second shot in half."
Brian says, "The fourth dune person, and the only one still currently wielding her rocksword, grasps the bottom handle in both hands, swinging a hard overhead strike at your head, frustration getting a single bark of wroth from her."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "DV."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "I love me 5BS."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 8 dice: <2 3 6 7 9 9 9 9> for 5 successes.
Brian says, "You successfully parry the swing, catching it contemptuously with the Talon."
Brian says, "Tick 10, Bennu"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Okay, can I detect any kind of 'direction' to the taint, a stronger point away from these mortal fools?"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Essence sight, yada."
<<OOC>> Brian says "It's coming from much further in. It gets pretty thick. Roll Perception + Occult + 3."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 5 dice: <3 5 7 8 9> for 3 successes.
Brian [to Bennu]: Local reality is being pulled into an Oblivion-tainted morass, similar to but not the same as a Shadowlands, but close enough. It's as though the "surface" of local essence was crumbling and falling in upon itself, revealing the pit of the Underworld's dark mirror of Creation. The epicenter of the current crash is not the same thing as the 'center' of this muddled mess; it's closer to you than to where the massacre site should be. You can't tell much more than that.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Does the armor double dash as well as move?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "Yep."
Bennu snorts in disdain and crouches low before springing up, forward high over the head of one of the mortals, and away in a more interesting direction. There's no point in feeding their lives to the sands at this point - to further damage Creation to punish a sin against herself would be the sort of pride against which she has been counseled.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Dashing awaaaay because, really, she's not really -accomplishing- anything here. Should be moving 22 yards per tick."
Brian says, "And since you're moving more than twice the maximum they can dash, I'm going to just roll a couple of shots from archer boy. Give me..."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Hey, I'm at -1 DV!"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Since dash is -2 and 5BS only eats one of those."
Brian says, "a stunt covering being shot at 10 times before you get beyond his effective range in this light."
Bennu might find it challenging to parry shots coming from behind, if not for the tremendous overview of the battlefield her armor grants. She might even have to slow, to turn occasionally to block a shot. But this is not the case, and as she sends sprays of sand up from beneath her pounding feet, her sword reaches behind her and finds the heartbeat moments to slice backwards, counting off the pace of her 'flight' to time with the shots of the archer.
Brian says, "That works for 2, so against 11..."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <2 4 8 10 10 10 10> for 9 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <4 4 5 5 5 8 10> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <4 6 6 6 7 8 10> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <2 2 3 6 7 8 8> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 2 2 2 7 8 9> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 2 4 5 6 9 10> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 2 5 5 7 9 10> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 3 4 7 9 9 9> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 1 2 2 7 9 9> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 2 2 2 5 6 8> for 1 success.
Brian says, "The arrows are all easily knocked aside as you run, deeper and deeper into the dark desert. As you pass over the dunes, the necrotic Essence of the night swirls around, and suddenly there is a howling (but politely tinged so as not to disturb you, just alert you) from your Essence-monitoring systems. "Necrotic gulf! Necrotic gulf! Necrotic gulf!" is tactfully screamed as dark essence swirls around you. You are shifting into an area so Abyssally tainted as to be effectively a shadowlands. If you don't fight it, you'll be in the same place that a shadowlands is at night: the Underworld. Do you fight it, or follow it in?"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Mmm. Good question. Sit it out until morning, or plunge right in without hesitation?"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "How far away from the dune people am I?"
Brian says, "About 250 yards."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Which is to say not so far I could expect ot have lost them if they decide they really really wanna die today. Okay."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "I guess that inclines towards continuing on in."
So since we just finished Bennu's prelude... The rest of you have no excuse not to finish now!
Brian says, "So, Kether Rock. Hidden from the eyes of men and the twists of fate, where cowardice begat failure -- but left a monolithic fortress rising in the badlands -- the place that the desert hates. The spirit of the fortress doesn't speak often, but everyone there knows that it despises failure, and will not let it stain these grounds again.
Intense, and to be frank, brutal training, starting with a duel from one of your elder Sidereal trainers that doesn't end until you drop, grinds off weakness and fear, while the pride in accomplishments and closeness to the mortals and their families around you strengthens your hearts without hardening them. By the end of your first year, Bennu, you knew successes and triumphs of will that were earned with harder coin than even the toughest Lost Egg at Pasiap's stair. By the end of your second, you owned them. Pride and waste, you know, was the weakness that turned the First Age Solars on themselves, and allowed lesser Exalts to cast them down. Pride, and waste, and cruelty, and the results were clearly inadequate for the defense, let alone the cultivation, of creation. But there is justification for pride you own. Pride you understand. Pride that did not come from someone telling you your every whim is correct, but instead for conquering over true obstacles and achieving things with struggle -- a hard and rare lesson for Solars.
The third year has been tactical and strategic. You'll never outgrow lessons, Maduka Shin says, or you'll hope to answer to her, for the pain of -that- failure will last millenia. But now it's time to put those lessons into practice. Along with Samun, your trusted sorcerer-lieutenant, and your twenty-five Tiger Warriors, you've been leading lightning raids in the little wars that rock the south. Sometimes, you've been mercenaries when the choice was to aid the least worst (or at least, most amenable to being leaned on). Sometimes, you've done it for free, when the cause was striking at the Realm, Fae, or on behalf of the truly worthy. You've shown up in glory but secrecy, a distant warrior-saint, and you've left legends in your wake.
Now, you're nearing the end of your third year. None of the others, not even the otherwise friendly and charismatic Michael, will tell you what challenges you will face in the upcoming days. It's been ten days since your last assignment, and Maduka Shin has called for you to meet her in the secret, hidden heart of the fortress, its literal wellspring and foundation -- and one weakness, the small, clear room that contains the pure spring that brings water into the fortress. It is late Night, the time of plans and secrets, and you have been instructed to come alone."
Bennu can not deny a shiver of apprehension in her heart - not after all the training of Kether Rock. But she is one of the Illuminated, and whatever reservations she holds are second to her eagerness to prove herself. She attends the Sifu at the commanded time, coming dressed not in her armor, but in the flowing white and gold robes she has earned, the ribbons of her calling fluttering. She presents herself well, as always; her acolytes have tended to her hair and it weaves a tapestry bound by bead and white cord down her back. Her swords are at her sides as always, and she neither stomps nor makes excessive attempt at stealth as she approaches the secret spring, though as always, her senses are alert.
Brian says, "Maduka Shin, the Master of Kether Rock, is a tall, intimidating woman, broad-shouldered, muscular, and beautiful. That severe beauty is not marred by the white scar running vertically over her eye, in the least; instead, it focuses the rich character in her face. As always, she is wearing her armor. If you've seen her out of it, you cannot remember the time. As you enter the spring, she nods. A small table with two chairs by it is not too far from the sadly burbling spring. On the table, a map of the South is spread out, weighted down by cartographic tools and strategic markers; Maduka Shin doesn't believe in marring maps. "Come in, Bennu. It's time for another talk.""
Bennu bows deeply. "Greetings, Sifu," she responds, and then moves over towards the table as bidden, her hands folded in front of her calmly. Her eyes flick to the map, appraising the strategic layout with a practiced eye.
Brian says, "Shin nods her head in acknowledgement, and gestures at the map. A dark, smoky stone, polished into a perfect disk, is situated many li south of Kether Rock, in the middle of an area thick with the cannibalistic Dune People. "Moontrack territory," Shin growls. "And it's not good. I was looking around for your graduation vision-quest, and fate brought the missives in not long after. There was a major breach of fate in the area, caused by tainted and necrotic Essence in the middle of Moontrack raid. Cannibals and barbarians they may be, but they aren't known for having truck with the Underworld, or anyone else outside of a very few Lunars," she says, staring at Bennu and judging her reactions. "Besides, their corpses were rotting in the sands as well. In theory, it was caught soon enough to prevent transposition into a full-blown Shadowlands; at worst, we should only have had an Underworld Demesne. The theory seems to be wrong. There is a Shadowlands there, now, though oddly, not a stable one. It's trying to take hold in the Pattern, pushing itself out even though there wasn't near enough slaughter. Something is burrowing it in, seeking to bridge the connection between our world and the shadows.""
Bennu's eyes narrow the second 'necrotic Essence' is spoken. She peers down at the map, and nods, turning a curious job to the Sifu. "And my quest?" she asks, an edge in her voice as she contemplates the dark marring stone. One of her hands finds its way to the hilt of her left sword as she examines the setup.
Brian says, "Shin stabs her index and middle fingers down onto the lens, shattering it. "Find what is causing the burrowing and destroy it, before it can spread like the cancer it is. Do it alone, do it swiftly, and do it well, and I will judge you ready to know whom among the other recruits is from your Primordial War Circle -- and when all of you have passed," she says, neither revealing how the connection was blocked, nor if any others have passed yet, "You will be sent out for independent command. There's work to be done, Bennu. Make yourself worthy of our pride -- and your own.""
Bennu bows to Maduka Shin again. "I will find it and end the contamination," she promises. "If it is within the grasp of my gifts at all." She takes one last look at the map, though she has memorized the location of the mar already. "I will depart immediately, with your permission, Sifu."
Brian says, "Maduka Shin nods gravely. "Dismissed, Bennu. Blessings of the Unconquered Sun and Mars be upon you," the Chosen of Battles tells you, and turns back to studying the map with her cold eyes."
Brian says, "The fortress stores are open to you; anything short of new artifacts is yours for the taking. You can stunt a Survival roll to see how good your preparation choices are; they're not going to do it for you."
Bennu is not a child of the deserts - no, Paragon is cradled in the bounty of the rivers that feed its farms, and that is the life she knows. None the less, she has been trained, and trained harshly by the tests of Kether Rock, and what proficiencies she lacked... she now exceeds. Too, she has listened to the stories of her subordinates, for as each walks a different journey, even a mortal may have knowledge to share, if less ability to apply it. From the stories of Samun's childhood tribe, from her training in supplying her troops, from the harsh lessons beyond the walls of the fortress with little protection she draws her knowledge of what she needs, what may be useful, and what will merely weigh her down and waste her water. She has no shame in taking either of the first two categories from the stores, for is it not gathered for the purpose of these deeds? The last category, she will shun.
Brian [to Bennu]: 2 points, hit it.
Brian says, "Int + Survival."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 9 dice: <1 1 3 5 5 6 8 10 10> for 5 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "...well at least today I'm rolling the high side of average so far..."
Brian [to Bennu]: You've got it all, and it's pretty light. Thankfully, your armor augments your strength in the first place, and it's climate controlled. You've got the necessities with no major penalties; you won't need to make endurance checks on the road and your survival rolls will be at no penalty. 5 times on the upcoming trip, you can pull something useful out of your bag of tricks for a forseeable situation in both Creation and the Underworld.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Woot. Okay. Glossing travel? Abstract pose from me?"
Brian [to Bennu]: The sight of the Moontrack massacre is south by southeast, past the badlands and back out into the open desert for several days. Give me an abstract for both planning the trip and how you plan to make the voyage.
Bennu would prefer to travel by Samun's sorcery - but she doesn't consider it; her orders are clear. She traces out the route on a map first, asking her soldiers who hail from the region she must travel through for any locations of hazards or helps, springs and rivers, bandits and monsters. While she is not opposed to fighting monsters in general, she has a specific mission that is more of a hazard to Creation.
With that knowledge added to her own, she plans a route to ensure water every day and the avoidance of any major hazards. And then she dons her armor and sets out, trusting the speed of her armor to make the miles fall away. She will run where she knows there is enough water, and walk when the springs are less frequent and she must make her supply last. And she will march the last day's travel, to ensure she is rested before she reaches the false-shadowland.
Brian [to Bennu]: This time, Perception + Survival +2. Let's see how fast you take it.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 7 dice: <1 3 4 5 6 9 9> for 2 successes.
Brian [to Bennu]: The land is a terrible test, as you well know. Your armor keeps you moving at a pace with a horseman, but without wings, you're not taking this place at a gallop. You travel mostly at night, keeping your anima banner damped but using your pure castemark for light. It works, and you get there, and you only have to climb two or three cliffs before making it into the open desert. From there, well. The armor's heavy, but it moves fast, helping to propel you rather than get you stuck in the shifting sand. Five nights from Kether Rock, and quiet warnings begin to display in the corner of your helm's visor. The local geomancy is twisted, in upheaval, and you're not even near any major landmarks -- dunes, sand, and rocks are about it.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 5 dice: <2 4 4 5 5> for 0 successes.
Bennu pays more attention to the visual displays provided by the visor as the geomancy goes wrong - the destruction is purposeful, and purpose means something to oppose. She will find it and destroy it - but she would rather find it -first-. The Adaptive Camouflage subsystems of her armor are powered on to in turn conceal -her- from anything seeking. And she moves on, grimly, tracking through the warped geomancy towards the heart of the unmaking.
Brian [to Bennu]: Make a Perception + Awareness +2 stunt roll, and a Dexterity + Stealth +1 stunt roll.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <4 5 6 6 7 9> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <3 3 9 9 9 10> for 5 successes.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 6 dice: <1 2 3 5 10 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Per."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 8 dice: <1 1 2 3 5 6 6 9> for 1 success.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Stealth."
Brian says, "The night is cold, a harsh, biting wind with more in common with salt air over a bad harbor than the clearness of the desert. It's not foggy, but the stars seem dimmer, and Luna, more grey. Clouds pass more frequently, and the night is completely silent. None of the desert hunters or their prey are about; there are no masking sounds but the harshness of the wind."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 1 2 9 9 10> for 4 successes.
Bennu has evidence of danger all around her in the twisted geomancy and the broken nature of Creation here. She is not letting her guard down, and her armor grants her unique insights into what she moves through - but she still does not trust to that. To trust one's artifacts before one's own capabilities is one of the many flaws that brought down the First Age - only one, but one she does not intend to repeat. Even with the overarching tactical knowledge, she still scans the dunes as she proceeds, with eyes and Essence sight alike, spending the Essence out of her personal pool for subtlety.
Brian [to Bennu]: You notice the five signatures that the Total Perspective Field flags as 'hostile' as soon as they become distinguishable from the essence of the Dunes. The display marks them as "Runaway slaves, return to Eternal Crimson Sunset, Xela-Cas, and offers to send a courtesy message through ERROR ADDRESS NOT FOUND' with the addendum, "Cannibal sin," and suggestions of hostile intent in your 360 degree field. Two of them are lurking ahead of you, and three of them are rapidly coming up behind you.
Bennu pauses in her forward momentum to 'kick sand off her feet', making a little bit of a display of having troubles with the dune - as if. She does not turn - not yet - though her hands are near the hilts of her swords and she is ready to react as soon as the mortals come a little... bit... closer. There is one thing more dangerous than an ambush - and it is an ambush expected. Spending personal, she activates Fivefold Bulwark Stance - because even mortals deserve some respect in combat ...and being injured by one would just be -embarrassing-.
Brian says, "The Dune People, scourge of the sands and eater of men, swarm silently out behind you, starting to move at a run, somehow without disturbing the sand. They're completely naked, wielding large, cruel-looking stone weapon, knapped to razor sharp edges; the ones ahead of you have started to move out from concealment and try to get your concentration focused on them, rather than the ones behind you. Roll Join Battle."
Brian [to Bennu]: 2-dot stunt.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <4 4 5 6 7 8> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 2 2 6 7 7> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 2 3 7 8 10> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <3 3 4 7 9 10> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 7 dice: <1 1 4 4 4 7 8> for 2 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 4 5 6 8 10> for 3 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "...I'm tellin' you. The dice have it in for me."
Brian says, "Bandits 1-3 are behind you, 4-5 are about 21 yards ahead of you."
Brian says, "Order is Bandits 3 & 4, Bandit 5, then Bennu, Bandit 1, and Bandit 2. Let me set up my battlewheel."
Brian says, "Dune Person # etc. whatever, I'm tired."
<<OOC>> penguin says "Dune Bandits."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Bune Dandits."
<<OOC>> Karma says "Sooner or later, everything's a bandit."
<<OOC>> penguin says "Bandits, pirates, Wyld Hunt, whatever. They're either with you, or trying to kill you."
Brian says, "Dune 4 says nothing, but lopes, almost on all fours, breaking into a Dash. She will go again on Tick 3, and has covered 9 yards during tick 0. She will cover 9 more during 1, and the remaining 3 during tick 2 to close to melee combat range. There is a look of utter, fanatic hatred in her eyes, rage without limits or sanity, and it is matched by the other four as well."
Brian says, "Dune 3 has a large, broad-angled blade with two handles in his hands. He leaps towards Bennu, throwing his whole body into the vicious swing at her back, followed by a cruel back-swing trying to cave in the golden helmet, with no fear or caution at all."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Needless to say, he's got no charms to use. :P"
Bennu, whose swords leapt into her hands as the bestial mortals started moving, spins on the spot, sand whirling up around her feet as the power-systems of the armor hum softly. Essence only she can see, bright gold over the tawny sands, guides the blade in her left hand, the deep crook whistling through the air to meet the crude falling blow - before it can test her sun-blessed armor.
Brian [to Bennu]: +2 stunt to your DV.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 1 7 10 10 10> for 7 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 5 dice: <3 4 7 8 9> for 3 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "DV is 12 with stunt."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "And I'd like to use my sword's special power. =p"
<<OOC>> Brian says "Spend away."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Personal Essence."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Roll your attack with the D bonus and 2 stunt."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 19 dice: <1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 10> for 8 successes.
[Brian(#64)] Brian has partially disconnected.
Brian says, "Much to the savage tribesman's surprise, the crook of your scythe reaches out in a glimmer of Essence to snatch his heavy weapon out of his hands, hurtling it off to the side as he rolls away and towards it."
Brian says, "Tick 1. Dune 5 pulls up a well-weathered, but decent quality self bow. Wood arrows with stone points, drilled as fine as their pointed teeth. He's not moving any closer any more, and he takes the moment to sight before letting fly the arrow."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 1 3 3 5 6 10> for 2 successes.
Brian says, "The arrow goes sailing to the left; it might have hit your shoulder, but it's child's play to bat it out of the air. Tick 2; you, and two Dune People close to you."
Bennu does not like these numbers - five is enough to surround, and Bennu has no intention of letting all of the mortals close on her at once. It is their own sin to attack her, at any rate, for she is Chosen - and the armor hardly makes that fact -subtle-. It without remorse that she selects a target at random (dune person 1, let us say), and brings down the full wrath of the straighter sword towards the impious flesh of her target.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Spending 4 on first via Essence Flow."
Brian says, "Dune 1 and Dune 2, each armed with long thighbones lined with stone spikes held tight with cords, begin to circle around you, one to either side. Dune 1 goes high, aiming for your neck on the right side; Dune 2 goes low, trying to slash into the joint of the armor at the underarm."
Brian [to Bennu]: 2 dot stunt.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 25 dice: <1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 9 10> for 12 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "And I'm going to trust in my DV for now."
Brian [to Bennu]: We'll resolve yours first. Even if you kill him, he at least gets a roll to attack, though. You hit by 9; he has a lethal soak of 1, so your raw is your base +8.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Raw is 14L."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "So I'm making a wild guess if he's an extra he's paste."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Which is his just deserts for daring to attack a Solar, of course. :p"
Brian says, "Well, even if we didn't round in favor of Exalts, that'd be 1 more health level than he's got. Kill or incapacitate?"
Brian also, forgot to do the stamina+resistance check for the one who attacked you earlier. What's your Essence?
<<OOC>> Bennu says "4"
<<OOC>> penguin says "Next on Will It Blend? Dune People!"
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <2 3 3 5 7 10 10> for 5 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "And... hrm. I suspect kill in this case."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <7 8 8 8 10 10 10> for 10 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <2 4 5 6 7 7 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "I have an artifact 5 weaponset. It will -so- blend."
Brian [to Bennu]: Dune one comes perilously close to passing your guard. Some terrible hate drives him; it's a moment that almost reaches Exalted in its pure, unadulterated power and potency. Were you a mortal, or even a Dragonblooded, his chopping strike might have severed your neck. As it is, you bat him aside with your defensive Talon, and the other stabs deep into his chest, splintering ribs and piercing his heart. There is a brief, mad cry, and he falls back, sliding off your blade. There is a horrible, shadowy -squelch- and his body sinks into a patch of swiftly-spreading black in the sand. The woman striking at your left is easily pushed aside by the downswipe of your defensive talon, leaving her staggering towards the side.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "And I am speed 4."
Brian says, "Despite the swift death of the first Dune reaver, the others still madly charge against you. Recovering from her long rush across the sands, the Dune woman first to act twists her face into a silent mask of feral fury, her pointed teeth glinting in the subdued moonlight. Her shadow sticks to the ground, the sand staying dark and ashen black even once she moves past. She's got another of the bent, sharp-angled rockswords, and she curves it around twice to slice at your side, hacking harshly."
<<OOC>> Brian says "2 attacks in a flurry. Reaction? You've still a Stunt 2 for defense."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Mmm. I'mma trust to DV 12 for now, will disarm her if I successfully parry."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <1 3 6 7 7 9> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 5 dice: <3 5 6 6 9> for 1 success.
Brian [to Bennu]: Roll your disarm, DV of 3
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Still ahve 2 dot stunt?"
Brian [to Bennu]: Yeah.
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 19 dice: <1 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 10 10 10> for 13 successes.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Oh sure, I finally get a high roll. Poor thing. =p"
Brian says, "The angled, chopped stone is cast swiftly to the side, flung off into the darkness and sending her scrambling after it."
Brian says, "Dune 3 has reached and is recovering his weapon, taking a Miscellaneous action to do so."
Brian says, "Tick six, you and Dune 2 again."
Bennu hisses at the sight of the tainted sands. No fool she; her blade whistles silently down towards her next selected foe, but as it falls, it falls as a ray of sunlight, and as swiftly, a radiant bar between her opponent and any future.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Hitting Dune Buggy 2, using the 1 mote ability to make it non-parryable but do bashing. XD Not that I need to do that to pull the blow but it's SHINY."
Brian says, "Dune 2 still has her sword, and is working around you, lashing out in a long, licking strike reminiscent of a lizard's tongue snapping on a fly."
Brian [to Bennu]: Roll, stunt 2.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 8 dice: <2 4 6 7 7 8 10 10> for 7 successes.
<<OOC>> Brian says "... The Dice Orphan really has gone to the side of evil."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 21 dice: <1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 7 9 9 10 10 10> for 9 successes.
<<OOC>> Brian says "You hit by 6, soak of 1, so your base +5 is...?"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Base is 14. Sorry I misspoke last time. So 19."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Actually, sorry, her bashing soak is 3, so it's 2 less than that, which is 16. Still rounds up to 6 health levels, which means you can again kill or incapacitate as you wish."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "=P Incap."
Brian says, "As she falls and crashes to the ground, her blood pools around her, stopping quickly. Her breathing is shallow and harsh, and where her blood touches the sand, the blackness spreads again. Make a Perception + Occult roll, +3 for having your Essence sight up."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 5 dice: <2 3 8 9 9> for 3 successes.
Brian [to Bennu]: Dark and twisted, the Essence around you is full of twisted, Abyssal energies. There is a necrotic surge going on around you; you are _definitely_ in the shallowing to the Underworld your sifu spoke of. It's not full Underworld, not yet, but you're plunged within a growing circle of death taint. Your essence use means that the darkness isn't spreading close to you, but. The landscape around you isn't doing so well.
Brian says, "Hatred and rage in their eyes, the Dune People notice none of this. They care neither for the fallen nor for the painful light glimmering in heated bursts Despite the GM forgetting to roll for it, like it matters each time you strike or are struck. The hatred in them is beyond thought or reason, and they will not stop coming. Tick 7."
Brian says, "The self bow-wielding Dune reaver flurries two of his shots together now, sending the whistling wood-and-stone arrows flying towards the lighter armor on your neck now, expending more of his ammunition in an attempt to bury his hate in your flesh. You still have your Stunt 2 defense."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "I'm still going to count on DV."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 6 dice: <2 3 7 10 10 10> for 7 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 5 dice: <2 6 6 7 9> for 2 successes.
Brian says, "Both shots are knocked aside by the swift lash of the Talon; you even cut the second shot in half."
Brian says, "The fourth dune person, and the only one still currently wielding her rocksword, grasps the bottom handle in both hands, swinging a hard overhead strike at your head, frustration getting a single bark of wroth from her."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "DV."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "I love me 5BS."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 8 dice: <2 3 6 7 9 9 9 9> for 5 successes.
Brian says, "You successfully parry the swing, catching it contemptuously with the Talon."
Brian says, "Tick 10, Bennu"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Okay, can I detect any kind of 'direction' to the taint, a stronger point away from these mortal fools?"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Essence sight, yada."
<<OOC>> Brian says "It's coming from much further in. It gets pretty thick. Roll Perception + Occult + 3."
<<DICE>> Bennu rolls 5 dice: <3 5 7 8 9> for 3 successes.
Brian [to Bennu]: Local reality is being pulled into an Oblivion-tainted morass, similar to but not the same as a Shadowlands, but close enough. It's as though the "surface" of local essence was crumbling and falling in upon itself, revealing the pit of the Underworld's dark mirror of Creation. The epicenter of the current crash is not the same thing as the 'center' of this muddled mess; it's closer to you than to where the massacre site should be. You can't tell much more than that.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Does the armor double dash as well as move?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "Yep."
Bennu snorts in disdain and crouches low before springing up, forward high over the head of one of the mortals, and away in a more interesting direction. There's no point in feeding their lives to the sands at this point - to further damage Creation to punish a sin against herself would be the sort of pride against which she has been counseled.
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Dashing awaaaay because, really, she's not really -accomplishing- anything here. Should be moving 22 yards per tick."
Brian says, "And since you're moving more than twice the maximum they can dash, I'm going to just roll a couple of shots from archer boy. Give me..."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Hey, I'm at -1 DV!"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Since dash is -2 and 5BS only eats one of those."
Brian says, "a stunt covering being shot at 10 times before you get beyond his effective range in this light."
Bennu might find it challenging to parry shots coming from behind, if not for the tremendous overview of the battlefield her armor grants. She might even have to slow, to turn occasionally to block a shot. But this is not the case, and as she sends sprays of sand up from beneath her pounding feet, her sword reaches behind her and finds the heartbeat moments to slice backwards, counting off the pace of her 'flight' to time with the shots of the archer.
Brian says, "That works for 2, so against 11..."
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <2 4 8 10 10 10 10> for 9 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <4 4 5 5 5 8 10> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <4 6 6 6 7 8 10> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <2 2 3 6 7 8 8> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 2 2 2 7 8 9> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 2 4 5 6 9 10> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 2 5 5 7 9 10> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 3 4 7 9 9 9> for 4 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 1 2 2 7 9 9> for 3 successes.
<<DICE>> Brian rolls 7 dice: <1 2 2 2 5 6 8> for 1 success.
Brian says, "The arrows are all easily knocked aside as you run, deeper and deeper into the dark desert. As you pass over the dunes, the necrotic Essence of the night swirls around, and suddenly there is a howling (but politely tinged so as not to disturb you, just alert you) from your Essence-monitoring systems. "Necrotic gulf! Necrotic gulf! Necrotic gulf!" is tactfully screamed as dark essence swirls around you. You are shifting into an area so Abyssally tainted as to be effectively a shadowlands. If you don't fight it, you'll be in the same place that a shadowlands is at night: the Underworld. Do you fight it, or follow it in?"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Mmm. Good question. Sit it out until morning, or plunge right in without hesitation?"
<<OOC>> Bennu says "How far away from the dune people am I?"
Brian says, "About 250 yards."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "Which is to say not so far I could expect ot have lost them if they decide they really really wanna die today. Okay."
<<OOC>> Bennu says "I guess that inclines towards continuing on in."
