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1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend. If you disappear for more than 24 hours, especially during combat, I will simply place your character on infinite delay just to keep things moving.
2) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.
3) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.
4) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.
5) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.
6) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.
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"Acorn!"
Having gotten lost - or rather, in his meanderings, remained so as a more perpetual state - our tiny hero spots the seed to a mighty tree - what's it doing out this far? - the reader may ask, and yet, the thought not-crosses the whimsical mind of the brown sprite, who, built it seems to resemble, or mock, the male form, in miniature: but sporting inverted cloven hooves for feet, a backspiral horns protruding from his head, with ugly, mothen wings sprouted from his shoulders.
Walking along with steps proportional to his full one feet of height, and leaving a gentle trail of ash in his wake...
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Your adventure finds you in Bloodcove, recovering at a Lodging House called The Drake's Den. Word of your exploits must have gotten around for you receive an invitation to meet with Aayah Stronch from the Aspis Consortium regarding a potential job. This invitation includes few details but does not arouse suspicions, simply instructing you to meet her at sunrise in a tavern called The Pelican’s Kiss. You arrive at the Pelican's Kiss at sunrise and find that Aayah is a dark-skinned human woman sporting an elaborately braided updo and a pressed scarlet uniform. Her demeanor is polite yet forthright. As you approach, Aayah gestures for you to seat yourselves across the table. She makes eye contact with the tavern keeper, who approaches to offer you coffee and biscuits.
"Thank you for answering my summons. My name is Aayah Stronch, and I represent the Aspis Consortium, which as you no doubt are aware oversees several trade operations throughout the Mwangi Expanse. This morning, the Consortium is scheduled to receive several shipments. We routinely hire adventurers such as yourselves to inspect incoming cargo for traps and potential hazards before they are sent to the warehouses, which is why I’ve summoned you here. You will, of course, be compensated for your work."
The woman's face is covered in white ash, smothered with water and smeared as a thin layer across herself. Beside her ruby red leather armor is a coiled whip.
I can't believe I'm helping <them>. I have to focus. Know thy enemy.
"Greetings, Stronch. I am known as the Carnelian Signet. My regular employer does not need my services. Unfortunately my stomach and my landlord still do. So that brings me here. Rest assured, your shipment will be safe once we are done inspecting it."
"What will the cargo look like? I want to make sure we are looking at your responsibilities." She grins, eager for any information she can get.
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The woman with red hair stands ready, her plate armor having been polished to a gleaming shine. She has a large mallet on her back that you doubt is used for battle. She also carries a quiver of javelins. On one side a dagger hangs from its sheath. Her belt appears to be a solid strip of thin metal ending in a leather handle which is tucked aside. Resting, coiled beside her is an emerald colored snake.
"Is your cargo normally trapped? I'd think about getting a different supplier if they are leaving those sorts of surprises in your shipments. Anyways. I'm Akame Chiba. I'm a long way from home, but you'll find me quite capable. This charming little fellow here is Naga-kun. He'll keep your warehouse free of rats and other vermin. The meal will be payment enough for him."
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"Trapped cargo does sound dangerous, if not unwise," concedes Athelsted. The red-haired young man gestures enthusiastically. "But, I am well-versed in detecting magic!" A holy symbol of Shelyn bounces up and down on a chain around his neck as he continues to demonstrate with excitement. "I am happy to help in any way I can, so if there are magical locks or snares, I'll find them one way or another!"
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Joining all of you here is a rather strange "person" - looking like someone wrapped a suit of armor around a collection of thick vines that then grew mostly straight upwards through it nearly six and a half feet tall, but with limbs enough to carry a large steel shield bearing a stylized spiral upon it. On the being's other side is a very strange looking sword that appears to be able to separate into elongated segments.
Nestled at the neck of the armor is an orb, so dark purple it's almost black, flecked with tiny pinpricks of light. You can only really tell when it's looking at you because it awkwardly wears a steel helmet as part of its plate armor kit, so when it rotates some 200-degrees around to look at you, you know you have its attention.
The orb creates a pleasant hum and soft warble whenever it speaks.
"Greetings. We are Standarii, and we are pleased to meet you! We have worked for the Aspis Consortium before, and hope that there will be significantly fewer conflicts than during our previous experiences."
They then remain relatively silent, taking in everyone else's questions.
"Good to meet all of you. Big-" she glances at Standarii, "And Small. Let's protect some cargo."
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Always worth finding out what they're up to. Cal thinks whilst listening to the Aspis woman.
"I was down in this part of the world, so getting paid seemed like an obvious thing to do. Any clues as to what the danger will be?" says a blond human man. He is tall, around four inches over six feet, powerfully built and wearing shiny half-plate. He is a handsome man with an old but well-made bastard sword at his side. His pack has a violin and polytool strapped to the outside.
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"Ah! Well then. The cargo will take the form of crates and containers that you need to examine just to make sure they're not dangerous. As you know, there are those who seek to undermine or harm the Aspis Consortium. The traps they set are often designed to activate in our warehouses and target our inventory"
All kinds of cargo move through Bloodcove — not just standard trade goods but rarer things like arcane reagents and live creatures. Therefore, inspecting the containers will require expertise in various skills.
If you rolled 28 and above:
If you rolled 8 and below:
"Hmm. Sounds simple enough." She stands up. "Secure your cargo from competition, make sure it doesn't sabotage the delivery."
Ah, just like home. She sighs. You can't go to bed without checking for a dagger in your pillow. Is this the life Aspis leads?
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Aayah leads the way through the winding streets of Bloodcove, which bend and twist around the sprawling roots of the looming mangrove trees. The sun, which bloomed over the horizon just minutes ago like an orange-red flower, rises in the morning sky. As she makes her way to the docks, long shadows stretch lazily beneath the orange rays and then recede as the sky awakens into a vibrant, sapphire blue. Laborers and mariners unload crates and barrels onto the water-worn docks, unaffected by the crimson waters that gently lap against the timbers.
Aayah sees it on your faces and gestures to the bloodred waters that give the city its name, adding with a slight smile, "The water here flows from the Vanji River, made red from the iron-rich clay along its banks. Newcomers find it unsettling, but it’s the one thing that never fails to make me feel at home."
Before leaving, Aayah adds, "Proceed at your discretion. I must address other matters, but I will return to receive your verbal report." As she departs, passersby part and nod to her deferentially. A small crowd begins to gather and observe the inspection from nearby streets.
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"As you know, there are those who seek to undermine or harm the Aspis Consortium. The traps they set are often designed to activate in our warehouses and target our inventory"
"Undermine the Aspis Consortium? Whatever for?" Athelsted asks naively.
Upon spying the red river, he pauses for a moment, noting. "It is beautiful in its own way, I suppose, if also a bit unsettling."
At the docks, he follows Akame and casts detect magic to see if he notes anything out of the ordinary.
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The conrasu seems quite cheery looking around after Aayah departs. "We are glad to be back here. This was the first city we encountered after the Aspis agents awakened us to our current body while they" (air quotes) "liberated the contents of that temple in the Mwangi Expanse!"
They join Akame and Althelsted at the large container.
"So then, let's see what's in this box."
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With a heave, Standarii forces the container open. The inside of the container is reinforced with bars. At first, there appears to be nothing inside except ficus trees and wood substrate.
You realize that the container contains chameleons, which are legendary for their ability to change their skin color in response to their surroundings.
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As Cal shouts his warning, something large and seemingly invisible surges out from inside the shipping crate.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
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Those with ** may go
**Issil Telfae/Carnelian Signet - AC 19, 38/38
**Standarii - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 46/46;
**Maruta - AC 18, 27/27
GM
Athelstead Everwell - AC 17, 32/32
GM
Callistos - AC 21, 41/41
Akame Chiba - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 41/41; Naga-Kun AC 19, 27/27
"Trees and... hmm. Wait, chameleons?" The Carnelian Signet tilts her head just as something begins moving around the inspectors.
"Never a dull moment. Time to earn our pay."
She first tries to Seek the creature's location.
Then she uncoils her whip.
Finally, she conjures a >Shield< in the shape of a flaming kiss.
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Standarii and The Carnelian Signet both draw weapons and raise shields.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
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Those with ** may go
Issil Telfae/Carnelian Signet - AC 19, 38/38 (AC 20)
Standarii - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 46/46 (AC 23)
**Maruta - AC 18, 27/27
GM
Athelstead Everwell - AC 17, 32/32
GM
Callistos - AC 21, 41/41
Akame Chiba - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 41/41; Naga-Kun AC 19, 27/27
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Digging his heals into the ground, our tiny hero begins to glow with pale green primal energy, and touching the ground with an elongated finger, causes the ground to open, and lo, a strange winged insect emerges and takes flight.
"Bug!"
◆◆◆) Summon Animal
◆) Seek
◆) Fly
Appearing in the square just NE of Maruta, and smelling the air for blood, the tiny creature's eyes glow red, and commanded by magic, it flies in a counterclockwise circle, perhaps bumping into a form inside the crate?
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Maruta's Insect Friend senses the presence of the chameleons. But as it exits the container it suddenly disappears as a mouth full of teeth snaps forward at the bug.
It then turns and tries to bite
Standarii immediately reacts, calling on his deity to alleviate the damage on Athelstead.
Blue suddenly disappears from view, blending in with the surrounding terrain.
Your attack roll will be as if Blue is visible, since for all intents and purposes, it would have camouflaged itself after your strike
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Blue - Hidden to all
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Those with ** may go
Issil Telfae/Carnelian Signet - AC 19, 38/38 (AC 20)
Standarii - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 46/46 (AC 23; Retributive Strike pending)
Maruta - AC 18, 27/27
Blue
**Athelstead Everwell - AC 17, 19/32
GM
Callistos - AC 21, 41/41
Akame Chiba - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 41/41; Naga-Kun AC 19, 27/27
Taking a Step back, the Carnelian Signet grins. "I can't see you. Time to return the favor!"
A dazzling flash of light fills the crate and the chameleon. The Signet finds herself blinded by the light, until only smoke remains.
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"Wha-wha?" Athelsted cries, clearly confused by the events transpiring before him. Concluding he was attacked by something unseen, he attempts to locate his attacker.
color spray (two action; DC 18)
...swallowed whole, the bugs red-glowing eyes disappear into an invisible maw!...
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Standarii attempts to strike at Blue but his asp coil only bounces off the chameleon's tough hide. Suddenly another set of jaws snaps forward and attacks:
The jaws miss completely and the chameleon changes color again.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1-2
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Blue - Hidden to all
Red - Hidden to all
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Those with ** may go
-2-
**Carnelian Signet - AC 19, 38/38 (AC 20)
**Standarii - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 46/46 (AC 23)
**Maruta - AC 18, 27/27
Blue
Athelstead Everwell - AC 17, 19/32
Red
-1-
**Callistos - AC 21, 41/41
**Akame Chiba - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 41/41; Naga-Kun AC 19, 27/27
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Akame reaches a hand over to Athelstead, most of his wounds close. She then raises her shield and commands her companion.
Na-kun, she says pointing at the place red blended into the terrain.
◆ Lay on Hands (Athelstead heals 12 and gets +2 to AC for 1 round.)
◆ Raise Shield
◆ Command Minion
Naga-kun
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
↺ Glimpse of Redemption
If an ally within 15 of Akame is struck by an enemy within 15 feet of Akame. The enemy chooses one:
* Deal no damage
* Gain Enfeebled 2 for 1 round after the attack is resolved. The ally gains resistance 5 all vs the triggering damage.
The Carnelian Signet would love to blind the chameleons, but she can't aim her light without blinding one of her allies.
So instead she lights herself aflame and raises a magical shield. "If anyone specializes in fire, now's the time to burn these lizards." Embers dance harmlessly above her armor, obscuring her vision.
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An ashen tear shed's from the sprite's eye...
...he dashes under Naga-kun's slithering body - hopping with a flutter over it's muscular middle - and again primal power surges around Maruta, springing forth from his finger, he touches the snake in it's heart - it's teeth begin to elongate and it's neck to swell with strength and flexibility.
"Serpent!"
◆) Stride
◆◆) Magic Fang
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Callistos draws his sword and tries to find the lizard. Maruta empowers Naga-kun with stronger fangs. Standarii strikes out at the last place he saw the chameleon but he guesses wrong. Akame heals Althelsted and commands Naga-kun to attack. The serpent manages to locate the Chameleon but unfortunately fails to bite it.