"So you both would terminate me? That was not the response I was expecting." Her voice broke as she added, "Good to know.
As Lady d'Deneith whirled around Palisade found itself reaching out with a hesitant arm, then froze in place as it realized the gesture its body had taken as if on its own. The 'forged found itself staring at its own half-outreached arm in deep puzzlement, as if it didn't recognize the arm as its own. Slowly and methodically it began flexing each of the fingers one by one, cataloguing the intent and the observed reaction. This time, the arm behaved according to instructions, but if so, why...
Bastion, having come to sit on his little brother's shoulder witnessed Palisade's upcoming existential crisis with apparent interest, issuing a clicking, whirring purr before nodding its tiny head at a job well done and took an experiential nibble at the closest corner of Palisade's faceplate, just to make sure it hadn't spontaneously become edible.
"Conversion seems reasonable." agreed Squeak. "As for the inscriptions, I have approximately 22 square feet of surface area. 325 square inches. About..." he pauses "45000 words in 6 point font."
Palisade stood stock still as the brilliance of unit Squeak's insight blinded it. Inscription. It had never considered inscription! The 'forged looked down on its own body, all smooth steel plate where it wasn't marred by scratches and dents, what passed for scars on a 'forged.
It saw its own body as a plank slate ready to be filled with words of wisdom and comfort.
"Awed declaration. That is a most wonderful idea, unit Squeak," Palisade said, fighting down the momentary strange urge to shake the other 'forged's hand. "This one will have to look into finding a skilled engraver upon our arrival in Sharn."
I'll let Lucina some time to chime in before moving things along later tonight.
I don't want to overwhelm a new player and all that. :)
If they hadn't been in the goblin city, Bronwyn would have stormed off but even though she was flighty at times she still recognized the danger of going off alone here. Instead, she distanced herself as much as she could from the two 'forged and turned her back. Part of her was surprised to learn that she was actually hurt by the fact that they didn't actually like her and that she was just an assignment.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
PS: I recapped but really didn't move this forward because there's good RPing happening...
Lucina just watched back and forth as the wizard got upset and the warforged looked to be on the verge of mentally overheating. After a moment of quiet, she broke the silence with some advice for the warforged. "Emotions are not as complicated as you might think. It is simply a matter of knowing the name of the current reaction." She tapped the warforged on the chest. "Confused" she explained, and then pointed towards Bronwyn, "Upset."
--
Lucina said little before the night's rest, other than to nod at Bronwyn. "That would be useful...You all seem more trustworthy than my...previous companions..." Turning in for the night she contemplates the problem ahead. An army...Seems rather mundane...But their goal?...Far more curious....and far more dangerous...This could be the kind of mission I've been looking for.
--
In the morning, Lucina seemed a bit grumpy, saying little as she ate her breakfast. Seeing the train did not improve her mood. Great. Sharn... "So what are your plans in the city?" she asks the others, "Your friend's concerns seem serious."
Lucina: Don't worry about it. I'll add your responses to the next turn recap and others layers can act on them.
You're doing fine. This style of play takes a little time to get used to but it sure keeps the game lively and moving along. :)
Vi: you may raise DEX to 19.
So no Dark Sun fans then?
So no Dark Sun fans then?
Sorry, kid, I don't have enough brain power to learn another setting, or play another game. Good luck with it!
Action 1.5
“Awed declaration. That is a most wonderful idea, unit Squeak,” Palisade said, fighting down the momentary strange urge to shake the other 'forged's hand. “This one will have to look into finding a skilled engraver upon our arrival in Sharn.”
Val grinned. "I know just the gal for you. Gnome tinker, long green hair, magic fingers. She's got a great eye for detail, I'm sure she could do the work you're looking for.
Action 3
Val shook his head. "Nope, I'm not taking a shift. I plan on sleeping. We can share a room, that's fine. But I am still stiff and sore, and I want some zzzz's.
Action 4
Vi was right behind Bronwyn in the bathing room. It felt good to scrub Val away. Sinking down into the bubbles, she emerged again wearing the human face of Vi, Bronwyn's old friend. She wanted to be girly and frilly for a while, and trust that nothing on the train was going to attack them.
She had no decent clothes to wear, and didn't want to put her dirty things back on and rely on her Sleeves for disguise. She said a quiet word in one of the porter's ears and slipped her a few coins. Ten minutes later, she returned with a simple but lovely silk dress.
Joining Bronwyn on the couch, Vi relaxed for a few minutes, then said, "Okay, unless Squeak has any chocolate hidden away somewhere, it's time for us to visit the dining car."
Squeak looked at the floor as Bronwyn was led away. 'Would I?' he wondered. 'At the moment my orders would prevent it anyway. But what if they didn't? Would I disobey orders? Become defective?' Squeak continued to look at the floor, motionless, as he contemplated the hypothetical. He'd been a hair away from being declared defective when he was made - the source of his name was his defect. His entire life's goal had been to ensure it would never happen again. The concept filled him with a dread he couldn't shake.
"It will require specialised tools in order to engrave my Adamantine." Squeak apologised. "Will this gnome have such tools, or need to borrow mine? I confess I was hoping to start engraving immediately. We will be days on the train, and it seems like a good time to start. Palisade, how many words will the Holy Book require? Would it be possible to use some sort of printed type, or embossing?"
"That is true" acknowledged Squeak. "I wonder, then, what a Peaceforged would look like?"
"We are very trustworthy." Squeak acknowledged Lucina, with a head bob copied from an obsequious waiter in Sharn. "We are very unlikely to kill you while you sleep."
"I was thinking we could do a trial inscription." Squeak suggested to Palisade. [b]"I saw a man with words on his knuckles. It was very inefficient. I was thinking perhaps we could start by inscribing the Quality Control section?
Don't want to push things on you Palisade. I was thinking the equivalent on a section on judgement day (or the speech from Pulp Fiction) cast as a section on the need for quality control procedures, the recycling of the defective, and the possibility of salvation repair for those whose defects were under a certain quality threshold.
I'm not sure I can get the great language you had though, and I might be misinterpreting it.
@Fabian: I love your games, but in my head one of your games takes about as much commitment as three normal games! They also average much better than the normal 50% survival rate. Two is as many as I can commit to.
Action 1:
Bronwyn didn't return Val's hug and she was listless as he tried to cheer her. The continued silence of both 'forged twisted the emotional knife even deeper. "Fine, whatever, it doesn't matter. Let's just go."
Action 2:
Elaydren was in no mood to argue, specially to two hulking warforged. She nodded, “I guess there’s merit to your arguments but you were still designed for war.”[/b]
Bronwyn shook her head slightly. "I'm not sure if that's completely true. Since knowing Palisade and Squeak, they've protected more than they've warred. Squeak has prepared some of the best food I've ever had and Palisade is one of the most devout faithful I've ever met. Not exactly the actions of mindless fighters."
Action 3:
Bronwyn smiled at Lucina, "Of course we're more trustworthy but I'm not sure if that says much considering your previous company consisted of evil undead."
Addressing the 'forged the wizard added, "I'm with Vi. I plan to sleep and only sleep. Consider it your penance for making me feel badly earlier."
Action 4:
Bronwyn's stomach rumbled louder than one's should when considered to be dainty. "I could eat. Lucina?"
"So what are your plans in the city?" she asks the others, "Your friend's concerns seem serious."
Bronwyn shrugged, "Not sure what the plans are once we're back in Sharn. I would love to get some shopping in. It'll also be nice to see Lady E safely to her destination and put that schema business behind us. Are you going to see your family? I'm sure Vi will want to see hers."
So no Dark Sun fans then?Sorry, kid, I don't have enough brain power to learn another setting, or play another game. Good luck with it!
Dark Sun
@Fabian: I love your games, but in my head one of your games takes about as much commitment as three normal games! They also average much better than the normal 50% survival rate. Two is as many as I can commit to.
But, but... I want to run a third game! And I need committed players ('decent'). :)
I also just got the new Predation Setting (Cypher System), which also looks awesome. There's the new Starfinder coming out, which also looks awesome.
And there's Dark Sun, one of first loves... (awesome as well).
Seriously, I just need to put out a call for committed players and then figure what I GM.
"Emotions are not as complicated as you might think. It is simply a matter of knowing the name of the current reaction." She tapped the warforged on the chest. "Confused" she explained, and then pointed towards Bronwyn, "Upset."
”Confused….” the ‘forged murmured, the light in its eye dimming as it considered the explanation. That much it could understand – the ways and motivations of humans ended up confusing the logically-minded warrior priests almost on a daily basis. Was confusion an emotion? It had always considered it a state of mind. Or perhaps the failure on its part to properly understand the world it existed in. Was there a relation from that into these emotions its living and breathing companions seemed adamant it possessed despite its own protests.
Val grinned. "I know just the gal for you. Gnome tinker, long green hair, magic fingers. She's got a great eye for detail, I'm sure she could do the work you're looking for.
"Will this gnome have such tools, or need to borrow mine? I confess I was hoping to start engraving immediately. We will be days on the train, and it seems like a good time to start. Palisade, how many words will the Holy Book require? Would it be possible to use some sort of printed type, or embossing?"
"Prompt answer. The Worker’s Manual consists of 371 pages, including the process charts and helpful illustrations,” Palisade said, its single eye gleaming.
"We are very trustworthy." Squeak acknowledged Lucina, with a head bob copied from an obsequious waiter in Sharn. "We are very unlikely to kill you while you sleep."
Palisade nodded. ”Out of consideration for the assistance in protecting Lady d’Deneith, this one is willing to promise that, should eliminating you at a later date become relevant, this one will attack you openly and proceed to crush your skull with its warhammer. Unless you would want to log in a request ahead of time to allow surprise attacks. This one understands death during sleep is a painless way to end one’s life.”
"I was thinking we could do a trial inscription." Squeak suggested to Palisade. "I saw a man with words on his knuckles. It was very inefficient. I was thinking perhaps we could start by inscribing the Quality Control section?
”Your body plating, your call, unit Squeak,” Palisade replied. ”Query. Did you have any particular passage or verse in mind?”
Yeah, that's the Starfinder game I mentioned above.
Thinking logically, that is where my largest pool of players will be. Not for a dead game like Dark Sun and not for a Cypher System game no matter how god it is.
My only reservation with Starfinder is that it won't be 'real sci-fi', it is more like science fantasy (which is OK). I guess I'll just have to wait and see. The rulebooks come out in August sometime...
Lucina sighed deeply at Bronwyn's plans for Sharn. "Shop and forget, huh? So, this schema business does not concern you?" she murmured, getting lost in dark thoughts of invasions and destruction for a moment as she looked out the train window, almost missing the follow up question. "Huh, what? Oh. My family? Well...yes. I suppose if we are going to Sharn, I guess I'll have stop by. If I don't someone might recognize me...and these things ALWAYS seem to get back to my mother somehow. Ugh...She'd hunt me down and I'd never hear the end of it..."
I hear you, all of you. And I rather you stay committed to one game than half-ass more than one.
You'll have to excuse me if I ask again every once in a while to see if your time and interest have changed. :)
It really is hard to find a satisfying game.
Game on!
Loot: I've updated and linked the spreadsheet to the campaign tab.
I still used my 'soft' prices, which are a lot easier to calculate.
The money you have to spend (or save) in Sharn is as follows:
Bronwyn - 800 gp,
Lucina - 1,700 gp,
Palisade - 600 gp,
Squeak - 4,000 gp, and
Vi - 1,000 gp.
Spend away...
You're staying in Sharn as far as you know so go and RP your fashionista. :)
Action 1:
Bronwyn still wasn't completely over the previous conversation when she finally realized that after all these years, she was still only an assignment to the two 'forged. They hadn't even realized that she wasn't 'fine' but in there defense, there were a lot of fleshie males who didn't understand that when a woman said she was fine that she was anything but fine.
When Palisade spoke to Lucina about helping to protect Bronwyn, the wizard muttered snarkily under her breath, "Don't worry, it's never personal."
Action 3:
“Huh, what? Oh. My family? Well...yes. I suppose if we are going to Sharn, I guess I'll have stop by. If I don't someone might recognize me...and these things ALWAYS seem to get back to my mother somehow. Ugh...She'd hunt me down and I'd never hear the end of it...”
Bronwyn leaned in as Lucina said something that piqued her interest. "Now that sounds somewhat distressing. Would she be hunting you down out of love or out of duty? She must be well connected if the information gets back to her so readily, Sharn is large enough that people come here specifically to get lost or remain anonymous."
Action 4:
Once back in Sharn, everyone had their own list of things they wanted to accomplish. Bronwyn turned to Vi and said, "Normally I'd suggest that we go shopping but I think I should spend some time studying. Magic doesn't learn itself and I'm pretty sure that I could get a handle on a few spells that were previously too difficult if I could just do a little research. Since you're our local guide, can you take me to a wizard's library of some sort?"
Action 3
Vi frowned at Lucina's comment. "I wouldn't say that it doesn't concern us. But I think there are people better suited to tracking down an entire cult of insane warforged, or a powerful vampire with an undead army at his side. We're only 5 people, and we've almost died more times than I care to remember. I'm happy to pass this off to House Cannith, and go home."
Bronwyn leaned in as Lucina said something that piqued her interest. "Now that sounds somewhat distressing. Would she be hunting you down out of love or out of duty? She must be well connected if the information gets back to her so readily, Sharn is large enough that people come here specifically to get lost or remain anonymous."
Looking at the quiet woman, Vi said, "So, were you born here? You seem like somebody better suited to the wilds or the woods, rather than the towers. Do you and your mother not get along?" That made Vi feel sad for her; she couldn't imagine a life without the support of her family. Speaking of, she was very much looking forward to going home.
The wind whipped Vi's hair into her face, and snow like knives seemed to slash her skin. She pulled a thin cloak around herself, hoping to cut the stinging wind, but it was nowhere near thick enough to help.
The changeling stumbled through the snow, her eyes watering and her breath sharp in her throat. She knew that if she didn't find shelter soon, the winter would kill her. The cold was like a living beast, like an evil demon, that sought out the weak, the unprepared, and sucked the life from them. Vi had very little time left.
Footsteps behind her, in the snow. A crunch she barely heard above the moan of the wind. Her instincts saved her; numb hands grabbed her dagger, and she spun around. The person - the creature? - was right behind her, and she knew it meant her death. It was tall, and vaguely humanoid, but it had no face. With a cry of desperation, she plunged the dagger into its chest.
Vi woke up with a strangled cry. Her body was coated in sweat, and she was shaking. It was the third night in a row she'd had the same dream, ever since they'd left Failin behind. Vi forced a few calm breaths until the shaking stopped. Her skin still felt cold, and she snuggled down under the covers, hoping to feel warm again. Without realizing it, her hand crept to her new dagger, and she held the hilt in her hand, gaining courage from it. Finally, as the sky began to lighten, she fell asleep again.
Action 4
Vi felt her body relax more and more as the spires of Sharn grew closer. She hadn't realized how much tension she'd been holding onto, even while on the lightning rail. As the rail slowed in the station, a huge grin lit her face, before turning into another yawn. "Home, thank the Host. I'm home."
Once back in Sharn, everyone had their own list of things they wanted to accomplish. Bronwyn turned to Vi and said, "Normally I'd suggest that we go shopping but I think I should spend some time studying. Magic doesn't learn itself and I'm pretty sure that I could get a handle on a few spells that were previously too difficult if I could just do a little research. Since you're our local guide, can you take me to a wizard's library of some sort?"
"Definitely," Vi said. "We'll go to the university. They'll have everything you need there, I'm sure. Then, I'm going to go home, eat some of my dad's stew, and stay up all night telling Mae about our adventure." And maybe finally get a good night sleep.
Action 3:
Lucina shifted uncomfortably when the others probed deeper about her family. "I guess it's an exaggeration to say she'd track me. It just sometimes feels like she knows every damn person in Sharn. You're probably right though. Maybe I could just pass through unnoticed..." Turning to respond to Vi, she lets out a sigh, "I wouldn't say that we don't get along...but I don't know...Maybe we don't. We just don't share a lot interests..and she wishes I was more...friendly to people...But like you said...I'm happier alone in some wasteland than surrounded by all these...people... "
Trying to change the subject, she looks at Vi with curious eyes. "So...I wasn't going to say anything...but what's with the constant...er...wardrobe changes?"
Action 4:
Lucina's attention peaked at the mention of the library. "I may join you. That library is one of the few tolerable places in this city."
Trying to change the subject, she looks at Vi with curious eyes. "So...I wasn't going to say anything...but what's with the constant...er...wardrobe changes?"
Vi laughed. "That's a subtle way of putting it. Have you never known a changeling before?" She let her form relax into her natural shape. Thin body, grey skin, white hair and white pupil-less eyes. "I guarantee, there are lots of us in Sharn. But by and large, we go disguised most of the time. We could be your hairdresser, your waiter, your best friend. But it's rare for us to reveal ourselves, because there is so much prejudice against our kind."
"Before I met these guys, I had a few regular Faces, as we call them, and several jobs. That's how we met - I was being Arleth, a known city guide." She concentrated on Arleth's Face, and she slowly changed her features. Tan skin, black hair tied back in braids, the slightly slanted eyes and pointed ears of a half-elf. "I wasn't ever planning on revealing my true nature, but I came very close to death, and my body reverted to my natural form. To my surprise, they accepted that. After I apologized for lying, of course."
Returning to Viara's Face, she said, "It's still habit for me to take a form that feels comfortable to me, and appropriate to the situation. When we were away from Sharn, I was okay being me for a while, but you won't see my true Face while I'm in the city. Even when I'm with my family, we live as half-elves."
She paused a moment, then a slow smile came over her face. "You know, that's the first time I've ever told a stranger any of this. Not that you're really a stranger any more, but still. I assume you don't mind being friends with a Changeling."
"I may join you. That library is one of the few tolerable places in this city."
Bronwyn grinned, "Tolerable, yes. Having you there will help keep me awake. It's not very exciting but one of those necessities if you want to learn and get better."
I'm going to wait for our Australian warforged to post before recapping.
However, I won;t be moving this forward so we'll still have plenty of time for downtime.
Vi: nice nightmare. :) Thank you.
Questions?
Game on!
Lucina's expression turned to one of interest and understanding, when Vi shape-shifted to her base form. Ah. A Changeling. That xplains how she was able to change so quickly and thoroughly. However, as the woman kept talking, Lucina expression turned dark. "See? This is what I don't about the city!" she rants, "Different is dangerous. Dark is sinister. Only the gods know what most of them would do if they encountered something TRULY sinister..." she trailed off and looked away, realizing that she was getting heated. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to Vi. "If I was you, I would look however I wanted. To hell with what any of them think. You can be whoever you want in the flash of an eye. They are stuck with their boring, shallow little lives..."
--
Lucina nodded at Bronwyn. "I've been told that keeping people awake isn't my strongest suit...but I suppose I can poke you with a book if you nod off..." Trailing off she mutters to herself, "Though I don't really understand why people think the library is so dull..."
“Prompt answer. The Worker’s Manual consists of 371 pages, including the process charts and helpful illustrations,” Palisade said, its single eye gleaming.
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm" Squeak hummed for a moment. "That IS a lot of inscriptions per square inch. Only Adamantine can be trusted to hold that kind of information density, and even then a decent battle could ruin it. Still, worth it, though."
"I will gladly undertake such penance." Squeak answered, glad Bronwyn seemed to be negotiating forgiveness for the previous topic.
Squeak looked off into the distance. "Section Twelve; Zero Defect Policy. All items for sale must be defect-free. Manufactured items should be judged for defects by the Quality Assurance Officer. A defective item must be broken into parts, which are then tested. Any part that contains a defect must be scrapped. Parts that are without defect should be sent for re-use. It is preferable to scrap a hundred parts than allow one defect to contaminate the inventory. Addendum; at the Duty Engineer's discretion an item with a defect may have that defect repaired where it is cost-effective to do so."
Squeak shivered, and spoke on, the subtle tones of shame in his voice. "That part always spoke to me. I... I had a defect. As you know. They'd started to disassemble me when the Duty Engineer said I could be repaired. He nearly gave up on me, but I WAS fixed, Palisade. I am defect-free." desperately he pulled open his torso, and removed a small plate engraved with "Certified Defect-Free" - but missing the inspector's identity. "But I was shipped out without my inspection plate being stamped. I am defect free, aren't I, Palisade?" Squeak asked desperately "The Quality Assurance officer declared me defective, but the Duty Engineer repaired me. He said I was Good."
Squeak looked on in curiosity. He started to say something, then stopped. All this talk of 'Family'. Of fitting in. It was alien to him - but valuable information nevertheless.
"Palisade and I will need some time to perform inscribing. I'm sure we can primarily do that while you sleep. Vi, if possible could we make contact with your gnomish friend?" Squeak nodded to Bronwyn "Palisade and I would like to accompany you to the library. I'm sure we can find quiet preparations to do there." he turned to back to Vi "You are welcome to stay at my house." he patted the straw-wrapped bundle of loot he'd taken from House Cannith "I'm keen to have you help me test what can be done with this when I have access to a market full of fresh food."
"But I was shipped out without my inspection plate being stamped. I am defect free, aren't I, Palisade?" Squeak asked desperately "The Quality Assurance officer declared me defective, but the Duty Engineer repaired me. He said I was Good."
"You have entered the heat of battle numerous times, been quenched in the oil of many fallen enemies and emerged victorious. Declaration. Were you defective, you would have failed to overcome the obstacles on your path. Thus, empirical data would prove you more than fit for service," Palisade said, laying a comforting hand on its squad mate's shoulder. "There can be no arguing with such rigorous field-testing."
"Different is dangerous. Dark is sinister. Only the gods know what most of them would do if they encountered something TRULY sinister..." she trailed off and looked away, realizing that she was getting heated. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to Vi. "If I was you, I would look however I wanted. To hell with what any of them think. You can be whoever you want in the flash of an eye. They are stuck with their boring, shallow little lives..."
"Analysis of comparative religious literature would suggest smiting with great fury," Palisade answered promptly, with a certain approving undertone in its voice. As far as it was concerned, it was most prudent to answer to any threat with overwhelming force. "Of course, most of said literature is written by mortal followers and thus subject to their prejudices and limited understanding."
The 'forged took a moment to consider Vi's transformations as she unveiled her true nature to Lucina then shrugged its broad shoulders. "From personal experience, this one has found you particularly trustworthy, companion Vi Olaro. If you encounter individuals unable to accept you as you are, this one invites you to forward them to this one for consultation. It will be pleased to educate them about your many merits. With a hammer if necessary." After all, one thing it had been taught time and time again during the War was to look after its companions, be they black, blue or covered with fur. It was what was inside that mattered, not what it was wrapped in.
Keep the sending stone.
I'll added the warforged repair kit.
4,000 gp for mighty fists (undead bane) is fine.
What do you mean about a weapon? if it's a regular weapon then by all means you can have it.
More questions?
Game on!
Action 3:
Listening to all the plans for the day, Bronwyn suggested, "Maybe we should make plans on where to meet tomorrow. It sounds like Vi and Lucina will visit their families so they won't be at Squeak's house overnight, plus Lucina would need to know where that is."
The wizard looked first at Vi and then the 'forged. "I don't see the point of you guys wasting your time coming to the library. Since Lucina grew up here, she can take us. That leaves Vi more time with her family and the 'forged more time to do their inscriptions. I think it'll take you longer than you think. Plus, if you use Vi's gnome contact then she'll have working hours that you need to adhere to."
Bronwyn stared the two 'forged down. "Since the two of you enjoy orders, I order you to do what you want to do and not what you think you have to do. I know Squeak would rather cook than go to the library and I know that Palisade would rather have his armor altered to removed the Emerald Claw emblems."
The wizard picked up the haversack. "Is it ok if I borrow this? I may need to check-out some books at the library and I don't want to be lugging them around Sharn."
Action 2:
Bronwyn threw her arm around Vi and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Vi knows how we all feel about her. She also knows that anyone who messes with her will meet my full fiery wrath. But after years and years of being treated a certain way, I think baby steps are most logical. The fact that she revealed her true nature to Lucina so quickly is huge progress. Maybe someday everyone will be able to walk down the street in their true forms and not have to worry about small-minded individuals...warforged, changelings, even certain undead because not all undead are necessarily evil. Sadly, today is not that day but society does continue to slowly change."
"Analysis of comparative religious literature would suggest smiting with great fury," Palisade answered promptly, with a certain approving undertone in its voice. As far as it was concerned, it was most prudent to answer to any threat with overwhelming force. "Of course, most of said literature is written by mortal followers and thus subject to their prejudices and limited understanding."
Lucina frowned. With a grumbling tone, she replied, "You are probably right. A simplistic solution for simplistic minds. The trouble is, like you said, the limits of mortal understanding. Smiting is perhaps an appropriate response to some evils...but inappropriate or ineffective for many other scenarios. Will they know the difference? I suspect not."
Action 3:
"Yes, I suppose I could lead you to the library." Lucina mumbled. Am I going to have to make small talk? She gave the seemingly outgoing wizard an assessing look and sighed. Yes. Probably... Turning to the others, she asked, "I guess the main thing I need to know is when and where is your next meeting regarding the schema. As I have mentioned, I have concerns about how this issue will be handled..."
How about you mix the two?
Abbot of Quality Control...
Pureness Officer...
Taking a deep breath, she turned back to Vi. “If I was you, I would look however I wanted. To hell with what any of them think. You can be whoever you want in the flash of an eye. They are stuck with their boring, shallow little lives...”
Vi grinned. "That's exactly how I think. Most of the time. However, it's still prudent to hide myself when walking about, lest I be surrounded by the boring and the shallow. Besides, living lots of lives with lots of Faces is just so much fun!"
Eyeing Lucina, she said, "What about you? How did you do the vulture trick? Is that a family thing? Can you become other animals? That's super cool, I'd love to be able to shift into a bear or something."
The 'forged took a moment to consider Vi's transformations as she unveiled her true nature to Lucina then shrugged its broad shoulders. "From personal experience, this one has found you particularly trustworthy, companion Vi Olaro. If you encounter individuals unable to accept you as you are, this one invites you to forward them to this one for consultation. It will be pleased to educate them about your many merits. With a hammer if necessary." After all, one thing it had been taught time and time again during the War was to look after its companions, be they black, blue or covered with fur. It was what was inside that mattered, not what it was wrapped in. [Bronwyn threw her arm around Vi and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Vi knows how we all feel about her. She also knows that anyone who messes with her will meet my full fiery wrath.
Vi's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. "Aw, thanks, you guys. That's probably the nicest thing anybody's ever said about me. My family excepting, of course." She returned Bronwyn's hug, then threw her arms, carefully, around Palisade's midriff. "What does it say in your manual about hugging?"
“Palisade and I will need some time to perform inscribing. I'm sure we can primarily do that while you sleep. Vi, if possible could we make contact with your gnomish friend?”
He turned to back to Vi, “You are welcome to stay at my house.” He patted the straw-wrapped bundle of loot he'd taken from House Cannith, “I'm keen to have you help me test what can be done with this when I have access to a market full of fresh food.”
Vi nodded. "I'll take you there now. The university library is on the way, and I can head home after that. I'll meet you at your place tomorrow morning, and we can experiment with breakfast."
Lucina stared right back at Vi. Determining the woman seemed to be honestly curious and not just mocking her, she tried to give her a real answer. "It ancient druidic magic," she explained. "I was taught by..." she paused for a moment, as if catching herself. "...other druids out in the Eldeen Reaches. My skill level if fairly low, though. Performing it fatigues me easily, so I cannot do it often and a creature as large as a bear would be very difficult to shift into. I have never managed it." She looked thoughtful for a moment, "It certainly can be done, though...with practice."
Action 3:
Determined to become better informed for the possible trials ahead, Lucina begins plodding off towards the library. "This way." she mutters backwards.
"What about you? How did you do the vulture trick? Is that a family thing? Can you become other animals? That's super cool, I'd love to be able to shift into a bear or something."
Bronwyn was thinking quietly for just a second before she added her opinion, "A bear is terrifying but something super small, like a gnat, would be better. Your foes wouldn't be able to find you so you'd essentially be invisible."
Listening to Lucina's answer she then asked, "So what do you prefer? Is the vulture like your spirit animal or something? What other animals have you turned yourself into?"
Action 3:
Lucina begins plodding off towards the library. "This way." she mutters backwards.
Bronwyn slung the haversack across her body and practically skipped her way up to Lucina, excited to be back in Sharn. The wizard didn't particularly like walking in silence so she kept a steady string of questions directed at Lucina. "So, do you have any siblings? How about pets? Oooh, does it confuse other animals when you change into an animal? What are you looking for at the library? Do you like shopping?"
Bronwyn was thinking quietly for just a second before she added her opinion, "A bear is terrifying but something super small, like a gnat, would be better. Your foes wouldn't be able to find you so you'd essentially be invisible."
Listening to Lucina's answer she then asked, "So what do you prefer? Is the vulture like your spirit animal or something? What other animals have you turned yourself into?"
Lucina gave Bronwyn a deadpan expression. "My spirit animal? It does not work like that. I could shift into a great number of creatures. It is mainly size that I struggle with. A gnat would be nice. Dark. Small. Unnoticeable...but shrinking myself so small would be...close to impossible..."
Action 3:
Lucina sighed as she tried to respond to the woman's questions as succinctly as possible. "No...No...Sometimes, I guess...Research. Probably about vampires and warforged history... and No..." It's neverending...When did the library get so far away?...Perhaps if I ask her about herself, she'll just...talk... "Er...So, do you have...uh...family..."
Squeak sagged under its squad mate's hand. "Thank you, Deacon. That means a great deal. Your judgement has proven statistically relevant in the past." he hesitated again "I was" his voice clicked a few times "troubled when Bronwyn asked if we would destroy her. I realise it was a hypothetical question, and almost impossible to forsee circumstances in which it would occur. I am... not sure I would."
Squeak wandered along, lost in his own dark thoughts, as the others talked around him. 'What would it be like to be able to transform into a bear' he wondered 'Really, with some spring loaded, snap-down claws, and perhaps serrated teeth, I could come close. Combine that with a fur cloak, and perhaps some sort of spring loaded spikes to push the fur out?'
At Bronwyn's command, Squeak paused "We will trust comrade Lucina to protect you then. She should be aware that if you die, she also is dead."
How about you mix the two?
Abbot of Quality Control...
Pureness Officer...
Lo, behold your doom, for I am Garimanthea the Mighty, the Flail of Righteousness, the Breaker of Strong Men, the Destroyer of Prosperity, for I am barrister, solicitor, notary public and attorney at law
Vi rolled her eyes. "A gnat would be fine, until a bat or a frog or a spider gobbled you up. Or the wind blew you away. Or a raindrop pounded you into the ground. No thanks. I'll take bear any day."
** Lost track of where this goes...**
As the 'forged talked about religion, Vi had a thought. "Hey, Palisade, do you think your Creator-Goddess would keep an eye out on mortals too? I mean, changelings traditionally choose the Traveller, but my family has never been very religious. I got this," she fingered the Traveller's holy symbol she now wore around her neck, "in case we run into the vampire again. But I'd rather have one of yours, if you'd allow it." She cast her eyes down, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. This meant more to her than she realized.