Will post tonight. Any thoughts on how this poison should be rolled. I plan on spending my day prepping/creating the poison.
only 2 out of 5, waiting for some more posters...
Action 1 Continued
With Agia backing her up, Altha positioned herself in sight of the scanning guard, trying to hide without being obvious about it and watched him curiously for a moment.
She couldn't find a particularly good spot to 'hide' in and was forced to circle around to a different spot where she sat down to review some paperwork she'd brought with her from the kitchen - stores notes, possible menus and other such planning notes because of the Noblewoman's presence. Altha was out of the way and seemingly working as she tried to think through the nature of the helmet the guard was wearing.
Finally, there was nothing else to it but to try to speak to the Machine that was the helmet. She'd considered walking up to offer the Noble her assistance but if her attempt did in fact work... the link was too obvious for her tastes. It was better if they might think the helmet shut down because of some breakthrough.
Tentatively reaching out, Altha's awareness brushed against the presence of the helmet, playing along the circuitry in exploration, looking for whatever ghost or programming was hidden within. Quietly, she whispered into the code, <Play a game with me... tell me you hear me by blinking off, little one.>
Action 2
Altha chuckled when Agia stuffed the cylinder under a pillow and nodded her agreement - the icy Nano had the right idea. "I agree, tell him about the lady... and that we found the tablet, we just need to extract it without actually damaging the thing or starting a fight."
She listened to the ensuing conversation before pulling the scroll out and got Agia's help in preparing a response along the lines of what they'd discussed. It was clear, either way, their group was irritated with the woman's presence.
Action 1:
Ianaga nodded eagerly at Altha's suggestion. "That's an excellent idea. I am itching to do something. As a more frontal assault seems to be out, I feel like I am not exactly suited for a more subtle approach." She chuckled, draping her cloak around herself as she prepared to go find Zyzyx. "I shall see that we get a good price on the items that we require."
With a list of things in hand, Ianaga departed for the streets of Uxphon, knowing her way around the city. Most of the vendors were located in the darkest of pipes, dim glowglobes providing light as she haggled with the merchants. Walking back to Tichronus' estate, she was lost in thought. She envied the rest of the mercenaries, the two nanos. They seemed so free and independent, unfazed by the ultimate power nobles held over the likes of her and Zyzyx. Women who had traveled in the Beyond, crossing the Black Riage to come here. Who knows where else they would go? To have that freedom...
She returned to the mansion, just in time to see the nanos receive a message through a curious numenera.
Action 2:
"Really?", Ianaga burst out when Agia casually invited her to join them if they had to run. She would. "I'd join you! I so would!" She was touched by the invitation. A girlish giggle escaped the young glaive, before she turned to the matter at hand. She agreed to the discussed plan how much information to provide to Dorial. "You probably don't need to mention that your previous companions buggered off. He must believe everything is under control. Maybe he knows if the lady is even supposed to be here. In fact, maybe I should look into her story, if she's really meant to be Tichronus' wife. Either way, we need to get rid of her."
Zyzyx, kicked from the house, went to the stable. As he left he passed Balanders in the hall. They're kicking me from the house. I'll have to remain outside. I'm going to be in the stables waiting. Once everyone has finished their work for the day have them meet me there.
After he left the house he went into town to buy any supplies he might need for his poison making. He hoped to be back by that evening.
I specifically made both scenes for Actions 2 and 3 to occur outside the house so that you can all participate.
I have some idea of the message to Dorial but what about Ricci? Will you say anything to him?
I intend to recap later today.
Questions?
Game on!
Turn 062 is up.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, pass, minor effect
, fail
, fail
, fail
, fail
Message to Ricci
As they ate together out among the animal pens, Agia frowned at the missive from Ricci. "We'd best tell him all we've figured out so far. We got nothin' to hide from him and lying might be risky. Given his love for buzzers and crawlies he might have tha whole place bugged." She glanced suspiciously at a beetle crawling over a nearby pile of fresh dung.
...
Investigating the panel
The poison would be ready soon, but it wouldn't do much good if they hadn't figure out the panel by then. Agia installed herself in the upper study as if she was cataloging the books there, but this time she had brought a book of her own. It contained the portions of her people's oral history that had been committed to synthpaper over the course of generations. In particular it dealt with the rituals they used to interact with the numenera,so that this vital knowledge might remain even if their tune was lost.
Licking her finger, Agia reverently turned to the portion that dealt with words of power. Scraggly sigils printed with stabilized charcoal documented scraps of the old tongues that sometimes activated ancient magic and sometimes did not. These words were organized into phonetic rhyming chants so that a wide variety could be tried quickly, as one never knew which ones might do the trick.
If the Lady was using magic words, it made sense that she would guard them. Indeed, she'd likely guard them well enough that Agia reasoned that it would be safer to simply try and discover the nature of the words herself. She had prepared one of the longer chants, known as The Finding Mash. It was tricky, and involved strange, incongruous sounds that rarely fit together easily, but it was known for working on a wide variety of objects while tending to provoke mild enough effects that the user usually survived. It had the best chance of yielding a desirable result, though Agia worried that she might be discovered due to the ritual's alarming length.
Well, I thought it required a roll because you're not just activating something that you normally would control. You are intruding on someone else's control of a device and I thought that needed some sort of difficulty.
If the machine was something you could activate uncontested while up close then you could use your 'distance activation' without a roll.
Fair?
You don't expect it would be easy to turn off any old war machine you guys might find, do you? :)
Yeah, that sounds about right and yes, you're right in that in this case your assets should have been two.
Game on!
The new day was bright and early for Altha as she rose with the sun, the light streaming through the window rousing her from unpleasant dreams. Still, when they broke their fasts, the Nano was eager to begin the day – they had the supplies for the poison and a plan was beginning to form in her head. She knew she could muck with Drast's helmet and that would buy them time – it was a vision-enhancing device and thus nothing particularly worrisome as far as she was concerned.
At their morning meal, Altha eagerly stuffed her face and then plopped down on a bale of hay to address the group. ”Zyzyx and Agia should concoct the sleeping agent and we'll administer it at the midday meal. Balanders and I will work on getting the tablet first then fiddling the panel – at this point I think subtlety is going to take too long. Ianage will keep watch and run interference if need be,” Altha smiled at the woman at this point, ”You've proven yourself better able to navigate that woman's flights of fancy so perhaps you can talk your way through trouble. Zyzyx and Agia will back you up. I'm sure Ricci will be able to cover his tracks, it's probably why he's using us as middlemen since we're technically disposable as far as he's concerned. I say we drug the noble and her guards, tie them up good and tight, then go in and take the tablet and brute force the panel. I can try to turn it off if nothing else and see if that disengages whatever it's locking up behind it.”
She sipped from her flagon of water then wiped it from her mouth, ”My patience is growing thin and that transmission is due to hit the tablet today too. I want to be there when it triggers. And we need to tell Ricci that we're on it... possibly ask for dirt on the noblewoman we can use in negotiations.”
The nano ticked off her thoughts on her fingers as she repeated them, ”First Agia and Zyzyx make the poison, Ianaga and I spend the interm time watching her, when the potion is done drug them, and then make haste in getting our stuff and finding Balander's friend before they wake up. Anyone object?”
He had waited to long as it was. He went to the pigeon, cooing as he approached, and removed the tiny scroll from it's leg. Turning it over he began writing. Ricci. Need more time. Hit a snag. There are to many cooks in the kitchen. Don't worry. I'll handle it. I'll write again in a days time. Moving tonight with the mercs you sent before me. Good people. -Zyzyx.[/b]
Zyzyx met Agia briefly to take the pot for poison crafting. Thank you he said. They were well away from the grounds but Zyzyx wanted to make sure he wasn't being watched. We need to move soon. I'll be near the stables come night fall. Send for me once that b%$#@ is asleep. We need to check to tablet again and I can unlock the door. Also, we need to keep working on that panel. We move tonight. I will not keep waiting. We're wasting our time with her bull shit.
Zyzyx began work on the poison, working tirelessly. Once his concoction was complete he waited for Altha, Agia, or Ianaga to return for the poison. [i]Tonight. Tonight we finish this damned thing.
Turn 063 is up.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
Ianaga...
, A=5
, B=5
, C=8
Poison level = 6 but given the couple of high rolls, we'll say that you obtain 6 doses of level 7 knockout poison
She hadn't been expecting to hear the lady's murmurings as she watched over the woman, thinking on how best and effectively to poison the noble... but Isalda was either getting sloppy or losing any degree of care she might have had before. Either way, when the low chant of 'circle, green, em, water' became audible, Altha shifted in surprise and bit her lip thoughtfully. This was new! A sequence? But Isalda must have been whispering it all over the house to no avail.... so perhaps it wasn't an auditory key?
Altha left immediately after that, waiting just long enough to confirm that the sequence was only four digits long. It was nearing the midday meal and they still needed the poison so she took a quick detour to find Zyzyx. He looked quite pleased with himself when she finally located him and grinned, expecting good news, ”I trust you've concocted something useful then? How potent is it?”
When they reconvened in the Stables, Altha was excited. They had their poison and she'd finally overheard the noblewoman's ramblings. Plopping down in her usual spot, the Nano kicked her legs and looked over those assembled, ”Lunch approaches... we make our move then. Just need to figure out how to get the poison in the meal for all three – is it strong enough to prick the guards and put them under or do they have to consume it? She hasn't been taste-testing anything at meals so she should be simple enough to drug.... Ideas?”
Altha waved her hands, ”Also! I heard what she was saying, finally! I think it's some sort of key or clue or riddle... she was saying 'circle, green, em, water'. But since that hasn't triggered anything, I'm wondering if talking isn't the right route for whatever she's looking for.”
”Lunch approaches... we make our move then. Just need to figure out how to get the poison in the meal for all three – is it strong enough to prick the guards and put them under or do they have to consume it? She hasn't been taste-testing anything at meals so she should be simple enough to drug.... Ideas?”
Agia chuckled, then coughed. Her voice was scratchy from all her chanting, and the others had to lean in to hear her clearly. "Tha cook's been botherin' me to make somethin' I told 'em about, as the lady loves her treats and they're runnin' out of ideas ta please 'er. It comes together quick, I just take some cream, mix in a some fruit, then freeze the whole mess so fast it goes all smooth. Real tasty. I could volunteer to make some for lunch and add in tha poison real easy saying it's the special ingredient. She won't have tasted quite its like before so any unexpected flavours won't tip 'er off. I could serve it myself to make sure they all have some, though I'll hardly be able to keep a straight face knowing what happens next."
Altha waved her hands, ”Also! I heard what she was saying, finally! I think it's some sort of key or clue or riddle... she was saying 'circle, green, em, water'. But since that hasn't triggered anything, I'm wondering if talking isn't the right route for whatever she's looking for.”
"Yep, I spent almost an hour using words of power on tha thing without so much as a flicker, but when I got around to just mashing on it would light up a little when I tapped a circle. If that's the first part of the chant, then tha other symbols must be the rest of tha lady's ritual."
"Which means we can get into tha baron's secrets. We should grab the tablet in case we need to make a quick getaway, then meet in the study and finally find out what he's been hiding."
Balanders, Ianaga, Zyzyx?
Everyone: please try and keep up the one per day minimum posting schedule.
Game on!
Altha liked the idea of the frozen cream treat spiked with knockout poison and nodded, "That sounds like a plan, Agia. Do you think the guards will try it too? Either way, I think we should be ready for a fight if things go south..." She glanced to Balanders and Zyzyx for confirmation that they would help.
She blinked as Agia told them of her small success, obviously pleased by the news, "Well, if you got the first of the sequence and that's the first part of her chant, I certainly agree it's most likely the key to the panel. Anybody disagree? We feed them the treat, grab the tablet, and meet in the study for the panel."
Ianaga rubbed her chin as she listened to Agia's suggestion. "I wouldn't be surprised if she actually uses the guards as tasters, but it's also entirely possible she doesn't expect anything. She's mighty full of herself." Lady Isalda's continued presence seemed to have worn down Ianaga's patience, no matter how much she seemed to be the only one to flatter and cater to the lady.
"If you want, I'll be serving the treat to her, especially if you're thinking you might not keep a straight face. Besides, if the poison acts fast and the guards get a clue, I might fend them off until I have alarmed the rest of you. How will it knock her out anyway, how long does it take?" She looked at the others in turn.
"As for that panel, great if it's a code, hope that will have us figure the thing out so we can actually get out." Maybe the life of a spy in Uxphon was not something Ianaga was as suited for as she had hoped to be.
Zyzyx nodded at Agia's plan, handing her the vial of poison. Sounds perfect. It shouldn't take more then half to knock out the 3 of them. I expect the rest of that back. Also, I think Altha or Ianaga to get farther as far as serving the dish is concerned. The nobles don't take kindly to those who live of the land like ourselves Agia. Besides, they have a way with words. Perhaps she can tempt the guards to try it as well. Zyzyx glanced around the room. Once they are put to sleep come get me. We'll retrieve the tablet and check behind the panel. Did anyone check the tablet for the response yet? If not I'd be happy to once we meet up this evening. If you go to lock pick it know I left have a broken pick in the key hole. You wont get anywhere till you remove it.
Turn 064 is up.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, pass
Action 1
Altha was positively thrilled when their sleeping potion worked like a charm.... only the servants were now freaking out, something she hadn't actually considered. On a whim, and flying by the seat of her pants, the Nano tried to calm the servants with a white lie.
“Ah, I know that if you eat too much of the treat, sometimes sensitive people will fall asleep. Something about the cooling of the head makes you drowsy – it happened to me the first time Agia made it for our group! We'll just have to clean her up and let her rest...” Altha looked about for an appropriate cloth to offer the servants, "You have gentler hands then me. We can say she fainted, or had a reaction... it's very uncommon such a reaction, but it's not lethal by any means, and waking someone before their time generally puts them in a terrible mood. Something like drinking too many spirits. I'm sure your Lord has had late nights with the bottle, yes?"
She glanced at Agia meaningfully, silently asking for assistance in deflating the problem. If nothing else, her group would answer for the trouble, assuming they'd found the things they needed.
Action 2
After the trouble with the servants was settled for the time being, she fetched Balanders and Zyzyx, "Go time, friends! Zyzyx, Balanders, get the tablet from up stairs and meet us in the study. We've got a code we can try this time to get to the bottom of this - we're so close Balanders!" She grinned then disappeared back inside to help contain the servants as best as she could while they waited for the Jack and Glaive.
Action 1
Agia made a show of striding among the sleeping figures, checking their pulses and temperatures. She gently picked up the lady's head and leaned her back in the chair with a poorly concealed snigger, wiping the cream off her face with a napkin while making a royal mess of her delicate makeup. Satisfied that their vitals were stable, she nodded to Altha and the hand-wringing servants. "Yup, they'll be fine. No telling how long they'll be out, but it should let ya get a headstart on the dishes."
With that, she motioned for the servants to begin clearing the table, and gave Altha a wink, figuring that the evidence would be long gone before the Isalda awoke.
Action 2
Striding upstairs ahead of Balanders, Agia politely asked him to wait for just a moment while she tried something. Striding purposefully across the room, placed her hands upon the polished foreign wood and felt around with her mind's eye for the moisture that lived within it.
OOC: My computer died today, and I am off work for a week which means I am posting from my phone right now. I hope to get my computer fixed ASAP but it might be a couple of days. I tried to install an SSD and now it won't turn on anymore, gah. Sorry. :(
Guys, this isn't working out here and, unless we make some changes, this game will fold.
I need at least three committed players who will post every day for this game to continue.
Please take a look at your time and see if you want and are able to continue with the game.
And I'm not talking about vacation or other unusual situations but, barring those, I do really expect for you to post every day.
Agia and Altha are complying just fine.
Balanders, Ianaga, Zyzyx: do you guys have the time and desire to continue?
Questions?
Game on!
FYI, Zyzyx PMed me and told me that he does not have the time right now for the game.
I'm waiting on responses from Balanders and Ianaga to figure out where we go from here.
Questions?
Game on!
Thank for letting us know.
Unfortunately, unless I get some committed players in addition to you and Agia, I'll have to fold this game. Seven players came and went in this game. :(
I like the system and setting but if there aren't players then there's not much I can do.
We'll see but you can rest assured that I won't disappear; I'll let you all know what's going on.
Questions?
Game on!
Well, it's shame since I really do like the system and setting but I am officially ending this game. I can't play without players. :(
I wish everyone the best of luck and maybe we'll meet up in some other game.
I may try this again some other time when the new Cypher Setting Predation comes along next year.
Game on!
Thanks again to both of you. I'm sure we'll meet up again some other time.
BTW, I'm starting a Pathfinder Game soon. Different rules and setting but same style of play so PM me if interested.
Game on!