Dungeon World PBP play (Inactive)

Game Master Elsine

Belym accompanies her friends.

Roshan follows, keeping an eye out for cultists.

The residence of Zandil gives off a strong odor of inscence. Roshan and Ron know for sure that these are irrelevant to her "Abilities", if they are existent at all.

She has clients inside with her, and more waiting outside. how do you approach?

As they're approaching, Roshan sees the line of 'clients' and snarls. "Every one of them should be tried for treason."

Ron whispers to the group. I'll take care of the line. He huddles with the cultist for a moment.

Cast Light on my Armor with Cultist Assistance: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 6) + 3 = 10

Ron and the Cultist light up with a brilliant green light as they approach the group in line.

The cultist begins speaking. Friends, friends. Let me introduce you to Lord Bucanero, Archbishop of the Lady Larune, Advisor to the Lady Commander of Norwhich, and, as you may know him. Godslayer.

The Cultist's Minstrel 2 says "When you enter a place of food, drink, or entertainment with a minstrel you will be treated as a friend by everyone present (unless your actions prove otherwise)". Maybe that sort of applies here?

Ron nods gravely and looks at each of his future converts in turn. Lady Larune, the Emerald, the Sun, blesses ye this day. Take heart, for she has tasked her Godslayers with cleansing the air of suffering that affects this town. I promise ye.

As Ron continues to preach, the cultist passes out pamphlets describing the Godslaying and the ascendance of Larune, as well as a variety of tenets that Ron made up during the hike back to town.

The Emerald welcomes you into her arms. I speak for her on this plane, and shall accept yer petitions.

I wouldn't call this entertainment

a not insubstantial section of the crowd runs when you arrive, while others seem paralyzed with fear... this is not the usual reaction.

Ron really starts to get into it as the line clears. There is nothing to fear! The Emerald Lady is merciful. Ye have been misled. This ... He points at the medium's home. is not the answer. Come, sit.

Ron takes a knee, and the Cardinal sits. I've decided this is a better reference than "cultist".

Ron glances for a moment at the rest of the group, and tilts his head toward the door.

I'm really just trying to get them to clear the hell out, and that seems to be working.

Wait, Ron has a(nother) cultist buddy?

There are too many runners for Roshan to catch them all, and their objective was the mystic. Instead, she gives Conwall and Belym a signal suggesting she'll circle around in case the mystic takes a back door or window.

It is the acolyte that I charmed while imprisoned by the aboleth cult. The one I stole the Kriss from. We escaped together, and then I uncharmed him and gave him a choice to serve Larune with me, to die attacking me, or to go back to the stupid cult. He chose wisely, but apparently has some severe side effects. Cardinal plus Cassandra, sitting in a tree ...

Roshan

as you circle around, you find an older woman, in long, flowing, and apparently rather impractical robes, climbing out the window and attempting to dislodge her robe from a nail

Cardinal plus Cassandra, sitting in a tree ...

ef el eh why eye en gee

Lifting the demonic crossbow from the chain at her side, Roshan positions herself below the window and behind the struggling woman. "Zandil, I presume?" A burning bolt buries itself in the wall beside the window.

I follow closely behind.

We don’t want to hurt you. We just want to talk. But...hurting isn’t entirely off the table.

"Slip of the finger." Roshan lies obviously.

I nod enthusiastically She does that sometimes. Very jumpy. The sooner we get you somewhere quiet to talk, the sooner we can get her to put that scary hand away.

Damn it all Zandil says, still struggling to free her robe from. Your apearance here signifies the begining of a prophecy of ruin.

as she freesherself, she raises her hands slowly shall we speak in my shop?

Our appearance often does

I shrug. That seems risky for us. Why don't we chat out here. Roshan, go get the others, I'll stay with Zandil and make sure that she doesn't do anything foolish.

I suppose I have no choice Zandil says, kneelng down, hands still on their head.

what do you do?

Roshan returns to Belym and Ron, informing them that Zandil has been found.

Ron nods. I trust ye'll be getting the information that we need then. Do ye need me t' help?

I whisper to my prisoner hurriedly. Quick, before she comes back. My partner is a maniac. Tell us what we need to know as soon as they get back and I can protect you.

Is that a parley with Roshan as leverage?

Sure.
Parley: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 1) + 1 = 7

"I... think that Conwall is playing friend to my foe. I am exercising restraint. Informing you was a pretense, and a courtesy. Please, forgive my interruption, Archbishop. I'll get back to the unsavory work, and let you get back to counting sheep." Roshan pulls her knife from her belt and stalks back toward Zandil...

You godslayers let your guise drop so easily, call off your mad dog, and I'll speak quietly Zandill says, her voice laced with contempt.

I nod, and try to stay Roshan from carving up our prisoner.

"You make a business of flaying heathens: your work is never done; you make one skin shield: your job often does itself." She sheaths the knife.

"So? This prophesy say where, exactly, we go to end the plague, or the world, or whatever?"

As he continues to preach, Ron keeps an eye out for any signs that Zandill has called for reinforcements.

It was given to me that the appearance of the Godslayers would herald ruin for the country, and another victory for the forces of chaos.

I mean...we weren't the FIRST godslayers. We slayed the god that the first godslayer became. Could that be who you were talking about?

Belym pipes up. "Plague, traitors in the court... Seems like chaos was doing just fine before we showed up. Got anything helpful? "

Leave now, and you may yet spare these people. Zandil continues, not heeding your question. at this point, she is hamming it up pretty well Otherwise, you will bring doom down upon them!

We had a deal Zandil. You answer our questions oooooooor I look to Roshan.

I have. you asked for confirmation, I confirmed that you will indeed doom these people. the dwarf asked for something helpful,a nd I gave you a way to perhaps subvert the prophecy zandill says, paling a little as Conwall gestures to Roshan Why have you come here?

"Let me explain something to you Zandil. You serve entities which are not human. Understand that they have told you certain things in certain ways so that you will understand the circumstances as they affect these inhuman masters and their hold on our world. Yes, the world will fall to 'chaos' because it will not be controlled by these umbral creatures. That is a matter of semantics. They don't even have to lie if it's true from their perspective. Now, there seem to have been two external powers at play in court: your masters, and demons whose representatives have been routed... yet the plague persists. Do your masters know of any additional players? What do you know, objectively, about the plague as it relates to your masters? Dates and numbers, please. We may know what else was happening, globally, on those days."

Let me explain something. I serve higher powers, who have privy to knowledge you could not comprehend, I know of things you could not understand. the plague is of little import, there are forces at work here. wheels are turning, open your eyes! she says

Were she truely cut from a religious cloth, she might argue with Zandil to her own proclaimed end times. Instead she turns to Conwall. "Did I mention the shield?" She makes sure Zandil gets a good look at it. "She wasn't even the one I was upset with."

From outside, Ron's voice picks up. Something about the Emerald Lady cleansing the taint from this land.

We will not bow to threats Zandil says What is begun is unstoppable. you do not, and could not, understand. Open your eyes and see. She says, words frantic

I shrug. I tried. Do your thing, Roshan

Behind a spoiler, if you don't mind. I get that torture is required for your powers to work, but I find the idea distasteful. If you veil it up, I just won't look.

Roshan picks the woman up by her robes and begins dragging her into an alley. From her torture kit, she draws out a pair of pliers.

Inquisitor: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 6) + 3 = 11

[occ]I'm going to assume the pliers were to open the jars of tacky nail polish and she's going to paint Zandil's with a tint inappropriate for her skin tone. YOU MONSTER[/ooc]

Those bottles can be so stubborn sometimes.

After Roshan finished with one set of nails (a ghastly bog-green on a clear Summer, followed up bu neon orange polka dots) she starts spilling her guts.

My allies have infiltrated this country to the highest levels true

The plague is their vengeance upon a world that forgot them

They can enter your mind, and twist it to their purposes, they are unstoppable

Roshan needs to guess the lie? Is that the way the move works? If so, I sincerely hope that the third is the lie, otherwise I think we should pack up and run away.

Truth isn't the same as fact. The only reason I hesitate here is that we've put all our chips on either the demons or the aboleths causing the plague without any concrete evidence, and suddenly we're given a 50/50 split between "the aboleths are causing the plague" or "they're psionic and unstoppable". We know they're psionic, and suspect they're causing the plague, and being unstopable could be an honestly held opinion, and therefore 'true'. However, something here is a lie, meaning either she knows the Aboleths are as confused by the plague as we are (which I'm not sure they would share with their thrall) or she's aware of how they might be stopped (which she could only have learned on her own). Faced with this, I have to press the choice that gives us the most actionable information, true or not...

"Zandil, you know something you aren't telling me. You know very well how they are to be stopped. My friends say the Aboleths were stopped before. No God nor demon, nor aberration shall wrest the earth from the reign of humanity, and you will tell me how it is to be done." She draws her knife. "I'm afraid it's you who needs to open your eyes."
Choosing the third.

Elves too. Not just humanity. Dwarves also, I guess...

I know they are unstoppable. god-killing abominations, not unlike yourself, but older, and wiser, with armies of thralls. They will bury you in abominations, until your strength gives out, and you beg to be made mindless!. Zandil says, a gleeful malice in her eyes.

So... The plague is maybe not related to the Aboleths, and I think we need to consider invading/escaping to hell.

Roshan drops her knife. "S-sarah?!" Panic and confusion are writ on her face as she turns about, patting her belt pouches. "Cassie!" Her eyes find Conwall. "We have to leave. There is truly n-nothing left on this world which can stop them."

There is a pause as the magnitude of the situation settles in. "All of that fighting for naught. I need to talk to Seprahim. -to Hebron. We need to get our peoples to safety. Where is Ron?"