Dungeon World PBP play (Inactive)

Game Master Elsine

I was going for icing over the second tentacle thing, but if Roshan's now riding it, that seems problematic. So we'll go with ice bridge. Also, it it's close enough for Roshan to leap to that'd trigger my elemental command roll above, I think.

damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
As Roshan begins to burrow her way into the soft creature's body, the shield maidens launch Danse into range, then ready their short bows.
Hack & Slash: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 6) + 2 = 14
Smite: 1d8 + 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + (4) + 2 = 11

Arrows shear in the air, splitting into splinters that pepper the creature's hide with puncture wounds. Roshan's blade digs deep, and Danse wrestles the barbed tentacle into temporary, unobtrusive submission.

Out of curiosity, is the dead one floating, or sinking?

Belym

sounds good. and okay, wasn't sure if it had to be attacking you before the elemental intervened

Roshan

The sadist in my wants to say sinking, but given whet I know of squid, it is floating

You carve away more of the rubbery flesh, and come across a strange, pulsing organ. a quick blow to that, and the beast begins writhing it's last. what do you do?

I hadn't actually jumped in yet. Both are dead and there is an ice bridge?

Gain 2 gambit but it looks like fight is over.

Commander, get your men across on the double! Move!

Ron unties the rope from his waist and throws an end to Roshan. He asks Beldroth and Merrick to pull the corpse back to the platform. Ron helps everyone out of the water. He pulls another line of rope out and tosses it to where Tom went under.

He asks Conwall to assist, and when he is within range, Ron puts out a hand to Conwall's armor.

Cast Prestidigitation: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 = 8

Plus 2 more if bless is still active. I don't think it is.

Take -1 ongoing to cast if bless is no longer active.

Conwall's armor sheds the muck and grime as if coated in hydrophobic material.

Damage: 1d8 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 - 2 = 7

Tom now underwater knows he must get to the surface, but isn't panicked. He knows that most creatures will let go to passive prey thinking they have been drowned, he just needs to relax and wait for his opportunity to escape when the tentacles are no longer tensed.

I stand beside Ron and start towing the creature to shore

Is there a roll to this? Also, what is the purpose of your spell on my armor Ron?

I stand beside Ron and start towing the creature to shore

Is there a roll to this? Also, what is the purpose of your spell on my armor Ron?

Prestidigitation allows me to magically clean items. Your armor shines like new.

As I heave and pull on the the rope, I see the muck wash off me.

Thank you Ron, for your assistance! I was quite upset at spoiling my armor on the very first day!

I look down into the water to see Tom floating there. If he's easily in reach I'll help him up.

When she gets the rope from Ron, Roshan and Danse begin to haul themselves out of the creature's carcass. Her clothes are awash in the thick white blood, leaving the red demon blood like tongues of flames in the folds and on the back. Her back is also dark with her own blood.

Still, she keeps the rope tied around her, and watches the bubbles rise around where Tom is.

Ron

The soldiers start across the bridge, as quickly as caution permits. Fortunately, there don't seem to be any surprises remaining in the area. When you get to the other side, you see the soldiers at a fork in the road. what do you do

Conwall

You get out, and you armour is cleaned, but something feels off, your elf-senses are tingling. Might be asmodeans. what do you do?

Tom

It gets a little touch and go, but you get back onto the platform. at the crossroads, you sense the godslayer is found at the straight path, not the turn. what do you do?

Roshan

once back up (Your clothing will need quite the wash tonight, let me tell you) and over the bridge, you see the fork (Possible turn, I am not sure exactly what this term it. it's like T-shaped, with you guys on the top of the t, and the turn the bottom). You recognize the turn in question, it leads to the hellmouth you almost stopped.

Danyal would have stopped them. He should be the one alive right now A little voice in the back of your head says.

What do you do?

Belym

Everyone gets over your bridge easily enough, but you feel uneasy, it's like your conduit is being constricted. have you ever felt this before? What do you do?

This way, Tom says pointing at the direction of the Godslayer.

Roshan, I can clean your armor like Conwall's armor. Would you allow it?

Roshan eyes Conwall and Ron's spear. Looking down at her clothes, she sees the thick, black grime shedding from the white stains. The muck she might be able to get out, but the white seems to have some qualities of resin. She would never get it out. "This isn't my color. If it is not too much to ask, I would appreciate it. I do not know how fine your control is, or how strong the cleansing magic, but the red of the blood or the tan of the wool would be preferable to white. I have not earned it."

Danse has already painted a skull on his face in the stark white blood.

As the others collect themselves to march along, Roshan pauses to regard the intersection. Time is of the essence, and so much has already been wasted, but unfinished business, and unanswered questions burn in Roshan.

Taking out her knife, she presses it to her forearm for considering diverting a holy quest for a personal vendetta.
Penance: 1d4 ⇒ 1

~~~~~~~~~~~~Deep in a Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Belym makes her way along a forest path, through tall trees. Gradually, she becomes aware of a deep, unnatural quiet. Through the trees, she senses a creature approaching, and the light of the noon sun behind to fade. She panics, and reaches for her new power; the channel is nearly closed, and the mental effort to draw on it causes her entire being to scream with pain, but she manages to launch a stream of stones at the unseen menace. The presence withdraws, and some miles away, her scream and the crash of earth reach the ears of an elf on patrol...

~~~~~~~~In the swamp~~~~~~~

" Something is wrong here" Belym tells Conwall and Ron. She moves a little way in each direction at the fork, trying to determine if the effect is coming from a particular direction.

Ron nods at Roshan and places a hand on her armor.

Cast Prestidigitation: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7

Forget spell.

The white blood and the swamp's grime flake off to the ground, leaving the red blood stains behind. His work complete, Ron stares out into the swamp in sullen silence, trying to understand how Einora expects him to proceed.

Trying to trigger Battle of Wits. I assume Einora is watching at least through her agents in our party.

I reach my senses deep into my sword for guidance. Why am I feeling so off? Is there danger?

heirloom: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 1 = 3

Oh hell

I reach my senses deep into my sword for guidance. Why am I feeling so off? Is there danger?

[dice=heirloom]2d6+1

Oh hell

There is now!

Belym

Thats a nice detail to know about the elven forests

Ron

you look over, and can feel the palpable malice in the land. Einora is waiting for you, she expects you to rush to her, walk right into her strong hold.

Walking right into a trap again, leading another army to their deaths. Some things never change, General Strong, and some people never learn

what do you do?

Conwall

The voice of Yvette emanates you from the blade What have you done?What have you become, Conwall? A kinslayer? Adulterer? Deserter? If I had known what you were, what you did to Larrissa, and Collette... What's going on With you, why have you betrayed us all?

What do you do?

Is something wrong? A crossroads is not a good place t' hold our position for long...

Did moving 15-20 feet down each branch of the path indicate that this constriction came from any particular direction, or yield no useful information?

Ron pulls out a map of the area. Mark 1 use of adventuring gear.

He glances at it for a moment and shows it to Tom. This is her stronghold. Does it feel like she awaits us there? She expects us to travel straight towards her. Perhaps there is a better way ...

Trying to get a sense of whether she is currently in the stronghold that Roshan learned about in her first interrogation, near the altar.

I just know the direction to go to bring myself to her, I cannot tell you if it is as the crow flies.

I give my head a hearty shake. The sword has it all wrong, and Yvette would never speak to me that way, even if I did deserve it (which I did not). I give my head a shake, convincing myself that it's the demon speaking in her voice.

defy danger Wis: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

I wonder for a moment if I ever heard two voices in there at all, or if it's always been the demon haunting me.

Something is not right, but Tom is correct. We shouldn't tarry. The demon-queen is the master of lies and deceit. I think a forward assault is the last thing she'll expect. We should continue forward.

Roshan makes a reflexive noise, and stifles herself. Then, when she sees people looking at her, she forges ahead. "It is only... there is one path to their stronghold they could not expect..." She's stoked and re-stoked her confidence, but she still thinks she is about to say something profoundly stupid. "Down that path is one of their doorways. No doubt, there is another in their stronghold. We need not fear getting lost on the other side, as Tom can guide us, and... I am not so foreign as you to those ravaged lands."

Quickly, she recants. "I was only sharing my deductions, such a plan would be... ill-advised."

"S'all right, luv, you can say it. It's suicide." Francis chuckles darkly.

I tell ye Conwall. She knows we march on her and expects the frontal assault...

Ron thinks back to what he knows of demonic arts. Could passage be possible?

Spout Lore (Does it work like this? Could we survive?): 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3) + 3 = 9

Conwall, have the elves ever attempted such a passage. #AidFishing

So I totally love the idea of using her dark passageways as a shortcut. Didn't Perrin do something similar (WoT)?

I look back into my memory. Have the Elves ever tried something like this before?

2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 1 = 8

Ron

You have heard about mage teleportation, and from what you understand (It is a lost art), it involves traveling alog another dimention, because distance works differently on other planes. it is entirely possible that two portals that are distant in this world would be close by in theirs.

Conwall

A dozen or so elves have gone through hellmouths, and the accounts of the three who returned are well known among your kind. If you do this, you will have to travel, however briefly, though a dangerous landscape

Roshan, Would you kindly tell me about what hell is like?

So we are considering taking a shortcut through hell to surprise attack a goddess. How can we NOT attempt this? Maybe we could send a strike team through hell to destroy the altar while the main force attempts the frontal assault as the goddess expects. Yes, that is my favorite sentence I've ever written.

When they say Hell is a pit, they mean its denizens fight like honorless gladiators. Hell is a place of towers built on towers without foundation. On the one end is the tower of death from which hell's rivers rise. At the other end, the towers of hell's nobility scrape the burning sky.

Roshan spent much of her childhood in the middle, above the bleakwood, but below the paved streets of the Buraupolis. She was sent as a messenger of Sephrahime to the court of <poison god> on a few occasions, and while the route will no doubt be different on this journey, she knows what dangers to expect from the Hellborn (goblinoids) and the Transgressors (demonoids). As long as they don't run into a Primordial of Hell, they should be fine... if no one has a problem with a little heresy. Peity reeks in the plane of sin.

When they say Hell is a pit, they mean its denizens fight like honorless gladiators. Hell is a place of towers built on towers without foundation. On the one end is the tower of death from which hell's rivers rise. At the other end, the towers of hell's nobility scrape the burning sky.

Roshan spent much of her childhood in the middle, above the bleakwood, but below the paved streets of the Buraupolis. She was sent as a messenger of Sephrahime to the court of <poison god> on a few occasions, and while the route will no doubt be different on this journey, she knows what dangers to expect from the Hellborn (goblinoids) and the Transgressors (demonoids). As long as they don't run into a Primordial of Hell, they should be fine... if no one has a problem with a little heresy. Peity reeks in the plane of sin.

I didn't realize you were literally raised in hell.

My fate is t' face the Godslayer. If we wish t' split our forces, then I go t' face the priestess.

Is discern realities the best roll for a situation like this; to see if the plan makes sense?

I didn't realize you were literally raised in hell.

Hell and/or a sewer, they were much the same.

This sounds like the best possible plan. I love it

I share what I remember with the rest of the group. It's not a good plan, but it's the best we have.

I love this plan!

do you guys go straight, or right? Just want to be clear.

"Sun-addled surfacers, the lot of you. And yet..."

Belym thinks y'all are nuts, but this sounds like fun. Are we going through hell en masse, or splitting the party? And are we telling the militia what we're doing before we bring them through the gate?

If we were to split up I'd think we'd send Tom and Conwall in main force straight towards Einora because Quest/magic weapon and chance Catastrophe can hurt a god. Roshan and Belym to hell because been there before/bending power to destroy altar. Hirelings with hell group. Doubt we can get militia to go through hell. Not sure where I'd be best suited. Prob militia so I can protect Conwall and Tom in fight against Einora.

As they consider the mad plan, Ron thinks back to the tower where the prior altar was destroyed ...

Spout Lore (will destroying her altar weaken Einora?): 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10

While he ponders, Ron motions for Larune to join him on a walk a short distance away from the group.

He puts his hand on her shoulder.

By our Lady's command, I will lead these fools straight to hell. You must go tell Lady Einora of this victory.

He watches her carefully for a response that indicates anything other than surprise and fury.

I just had an even madder idea. I have invis prepped. What if we send Roshan through hell on a solo mission? Maybe with Larune's help I could stretch the spell to affect both Roshan and Belym.

Without Tom we don't know how to get to the portal. We kinda need him to cross just to prove there is one. These hellmouths showed up recently. Why do we think the frontal assault has a better chance of facing Einora directly?

Roshan is cagey with the details. She won't lie and say she gets her intel from her training, but she's not telling anyone she used to be a thrall. When Tom puts forward his intentions, Roshan speeks up, perhaps misunderstanding. "I know the dangers, yes, but I cannot guide you to the other gate. I do not even know if there is another gate. The men know the directions to the town, and what side is most vulnerable. Besides, Einora expects the gate, if there is one, to be her escape route. It won't be guarded. It may not be the shortest route, but it should prove to have fewer obstacles."

I don't know if we can trust Roshan on a solo mission... What if her sword breaks?

What if I go and purify the altar? It would take some time but I can potentially do worse than breaking it, and then we can break it afterwards just to make triply sure. The altar was the subject of what I saw in my big horrible vision, and then again when Einora created those snake demons. I think I could be swayed to strike there first and hard and then take on Einora knowing I can track her literally anywhere if she runs.

Ron

Without knowing exactly how Einora ascended, you couldn't say for certain, but if she has truly stolen the divinity of another god, then destroying the altar will simply take a powerful tool from her.

as for Larune, can I get an unspecified defy danger?

I am mostly letting you guys work out this plan solo, tell me when it is finalized

Defy Danger without mods: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

Ron

You treasonous bastard! Larune shouts as she shoves you to the edge, you keep your feet, and barely budge under her onslaught. You demon loving cultist! Burn in hell!. Others are taking notice, what do you do?

Everyone else

Larune is shouting about Ron being a traitor, and trying to shove him into the bog, what do you do?

Ron, did you let the others in on this plan?

I don't remember being told about a plan. Ron, please correct me before I act

He told Larune he was a traitor.

Don't be daft, woman. Ron and Conwall are in competition about how many of these demons they can slay.

Oh, I understand the plan. But Conwall doesn't (he dumb)

I'm winning, by the way.

I'd never believe that Ron was a cultist, and it doesn't seem like he's in any danger from Larune. I'll get involved if that changes.

The way I see it, the men won't siege the walls without a PC, probably Ron. The helldiving is bust if it doesn't include Roshan and Tom. Whoever is with Tom will reach Einora first, and Conwall is set on fighting her personally. It's up to Belym which group to follow. It's up to the guards if they'll consider helldiving crazier than laying siege to a bronze wall, but likely, most of them would rather not see hell, so there must be a siege team. So...

Belym and Ron should lead the men to the wall, and Tom and Conwall should follow Roshan while invisible.

Roshan's dancing blades are out as soon as Larune raises hands against Ron. "Commander." Roshan has shed all meekness from her tone. "Please explain this conflict you have." Maris followed Roshan, though she didn't have the nerve to draw her blade against Ron.

Ron remains in a passive stance and smiles. Aye Belym! I told ye she were true! I'm sorry Larune, I had to be sure of ye allegiance.

He tilts his head to expose his neck. Strike me down if ye don't believe me. Else, let's be on to kill a false goddess.

And Conwall. He raises a finger. Eyestalk demon. Another finger. Quetzal demon. A third finger. Vessel demon. Ye've fallen behind me friend.

I didn't tell anyone of this plan.

If we are arbitrarily keeping track of killing blows on demons I had kill-steals on those three.

Roshan waits for Larune to back down before sheathing her swords, then gives Ron and Conwall a blank look. "Are- are the two of you counting kills? How..." The templar cannot articulate an appropriately derisive adjective. "Such competition cannot be healthy... especially if you are counting slain demons in my presence."

"I'm glad to hear it. Had me worried there for a moment," Belym replies.

I generally agree with Roshan's analysis. Plus, Belym's as close as we get to siege weaponry, which may be needed at the wall. I figure we basically have two options to try and coordinate timing: either the group we think will be faster uses the Farsight Stone to watch the other group, or it's 'attack when you hear the racket'.