I am ready to proceed to the next scene as soon as more then half the parties (4) agrees.
Your foreseen by the GM options would be Hotel Leningrad or the Arena.
Willow is lost in thought attempting to pull up mental images of books that describe Earther height. Absently, she nods to Eric's suggestion.
Roberta looks up from trying to punt Bob's head into a nearby hole and nods her agreement. "Might as well see what the all the noise is about."
"Seems like a fine tree to bark up to me" Jasper sounds in agreement. "Are we thinking we wanna play nice or go in with hardball in mind?" he questions.
Your trip through the middle city is uneventfull, for Alyushinnyrran standards. You now stand 120 feet away from the entrance the the "Hotel Leningrad".
The everchaning nature of the Abyss apparently resulted in some changes, what probably looked like a simple spire now looks like a massive blocky structure, riddled with many windows in rows upon rows.
You believe that some sticks are sticking out from some windows, but from the distance you cannot quite tell.
Two guards stand at the outside, one tall and burly and looking like this:
Burly Burlyovich Burlyovsky, the other one being seemingly elder, calmer, and perhaps more overall dangerous.
You notice that other demon or mortal passer bys give them a 30-60 foot berth. One very feminine Demon with wings walks up to them, blows the burly guy a kiss, looks at the other guy for some seconds, shows him something and is let in.
Maybe we should just talk to them and tell them that we want to find and kill a couple of Nazis? Since they are enemies. Perhaps we will even get some additional benefit. Gold, artifacts, new means of war...
Their group had stopped, staring at the tower. But there are things to be learned, or at least done so experimenting can continue. "direct approach with honesty, lying to get what we want, straight violence, or an attempt at stealth?" she catagorizes the options as she sees them, counting down her fingers as she does.
Eric looks thoughtfully at the strange structure. As usual, only the first point and the last contradict each other... Of course, I'd rather just kill them all and take those guns for myself. We can try to talk, and if something goes wrong or we really want to kill them, we will attack and kill them. The only question is, to speak honestly or to lie? But what is there to lie about? Any ideas?
"If there's anything to lie about, it might be us. It's not like we have a powerful reputation or anything, or a name by which to develop the reputation." Ashleaf pulls an invisible cord as if were seemingly attached to a bell, which actually rings. "Who's calling? Well-Endowed Prime ****ers from the Inn and Out? At best that's waiting room material. Stole our boat? Kinda makes us sound weak...
"How about we say we're here for the breakfast special? And then they say what breakfast special, and we say Natzee tartare with a shot of Vodka?"
Willow looks in curiosity at her fellows as they talk "The what of the lie is not as important as the goal of it. Or more to the point, the goal helps shape the what." she smiles, a lovely one, where it is obvious that she is in a memory, one meant only for herself. "If all we want to do is get in the place and see what is there to define future decisions, then we would go in attempting to do whatever that delightful demon did, twisting every bit of information they give off until they open that door and let us in." she taps her chin "If we want to fool them into giving away inforation that we need, we lie about why we are there, buying guns of course, to crack crush and batter to various nether realms anyone we want." she settles for a moment on her heels and then back "Or we tell them we are after information and wish to barter for it... the boring truth." no smiles for that one.
Having changed back to his formal attire Cenna pipes in "I don't see a reason to lie here, it seems that our goals are likely aligned and its easier to back off of a truth that's unfriendly than a lie discovered. But if you all wish to I suppose we can."
Willow looks at Cenna for a moment, and then shrugs. She gestures for the man to do as he will.
@Willow: Everyone in Alyushinyrra is opportunistically, at best, attached to concepts such as truth or objective reality. Bluff and Diplomacy are somewhat more interchangeable then usually. If you are outright lying, its bluff, if there is no lie in your statement its more diplomacy, but I am generally fine with allowing players to choose which they use, somewhat flavored by what they are saying.
@Ashleaf: Indeed Vodka!
You can all roll some Kn. Local check on the recent addition to Alyushinnyrran booze markets!
Vodka is some pretty strong Earth Realmer booze
It is favored by the Sov''yets, who look down on their more Beer drinking Nah'tzee adversaries.
They sell special "Archangelskaya" which can make a Demon Drunk! Its pretty pricey though.
The Archangelskaya is stolen from heaven! Or maybe from Eylsium!
Question to Radio Abyss-Yerevan:
Is Archangelskaya Vodka really stolen from Archangels?
Answer: In principle yes, but not Elysium from Earth, not stolen but traded for hookers and drugs, and not from an Archangel, but from a military depot in a city ironically enough called Arkhangelsk.
Snappy marketing campaign though.
Roberta stops eyeing up the older, calmer guard at the mention of Vodka.
"Sounds like a good idea Ashleaf. You're buying the Archangelskaya."
Eric stands silently with his arms crossed.
Purposes of Business/Visit? Says the elder guard as you approach the building.
He seems to be scanning you magically, given your various spells and equipment auras a glance over.
Cenna approaches and starts "We were interested in possibly procuring some Vodka and learning the lay of the land here." he pauses for a moment letting the other catch up before adding anything more
"I am curious if the flavor is akin to the secretions of pungent neeth, or smoother. Does it have hint of pepper, I have heard of its use in alcohol." she has many questions and peppers the guard with them.
You want to make reconnaissance of our cunning trade secret? Yes I can make tell. We have made heretic breakthrough and found how to make good vodka with aid of Potatos! The elder guard answers enthusiastically with a big grin.
The younger big guard gasps at this heresy.
This is how to make Arkhangelskaya.
Step 1: Capture Angel
Step 2: Apply Potato
Step 3: Harvest Angel tears
Step 4: Apply more Potato
Step 5: Harvest more Angel tears
Step 6: Filtrate Angel Tears
Step 7: Use Filtrated Angel Tears as Water equivalent for future Arkhangeskaya
Step 8: Secret
Step 9: Secret
Step 10: Apply Potato
Step 11: Harvest more angel Tears
Step 12: Secret
Step 13: Secret
Step 14: Have bottle of excellent Arkhangeskaya Vodka!
Starshij Seargent Platov Bluff:
8 skill ranks + 3 class skill + 2 attribute bonus +5 regional trait bonus for talking s%%~ about booze
Private Pavlov, assist in Bluff by making shocked face at admission of heresy
2 skill ranks, 3 class skill, 3 attribute bonus
Private Pavlov is helpfull, is he not, as such Platov gets a +3 to his bluff.
Private Pavlov, diplomacy to make request of helping his Seargent with educationary expenses.
But Starshij Seargant, you have to collect bribe money before making tell! How will you make pay of money to get your daughter into Alu-Demon-Highschool now? The Younger Guard asks.
The old seargent is talking s~&%, although more with the aim of amusement rather then to actively troll you. It may also be part of a rumor spreading viral marketing campaign, assistance in which could be a cheeky little thing you can offer.
Apparently, the elder seargent indeed has an Alu Demon Daughter, this Demons are born if a mortal willingly beds a Succubus, in her true shape, and in the Abyss. Paying some money is another way.
@Willow, forgot you have brewing, you can use your brewing instead for the sense motive. I think that gets you to 33?
Good. What about killing a couple of Nazis? We have some plans in this regard. And someone inside could give us some information. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
So, The elder guard speaks.
You have a possible Nazi problem, you require a degree of assistance from us, you are in such a hurry that you did not synchronize your story, which implies a degree of desperation, and you decided to basically walk in the front door. Eh, reasonably direct, but disorganized? I can work with that. Any Nazi sightings go upstairs but
Polkovnik Strelka is currently
You hear several loud noises, a whining sound, and then half a Glabrezu flies out of the building several stores up, before crashing on an unfortunate Dretch Ice Cream vendor.
Used to much abuse, the Small Dretch manages, heavily wounded, to extricate himself from the wreckage, only see the shadow of the remaining Glabrezu half falling him him.
He makes the fatal decision to look up, rathern the jump away and
and is splatily erased from existence.
Eh, Barry's Ice cream tasted like fart anyway The burly guard says. Offering a fairly objective assessment of the situation.
I heard it was popular among the Omox population? The elderly one answers.
Then why sell it here? the younger one asks.
Because an Omox would eat his icecream, and then him? the elder answers. Before looking at some device on his wrist and saying.
As it happens, Polkovnik Strelkas appointment with Mr. Cryxzahax concerning a "protection agreement" got He pauses for effect
Cut rather short. Her office is if you enter frontally, to the left, past the toilet, then 2 floors upstairs, and then just follow the probably loud Russian swearing on account of He takes a look at the Glabrezu.
Presumably having a Glabrezu claw stuck in her Chainsaw.
I do not regard you current spells as hostile, but dont cast any inside the building and.... Dont threaten her.
Willow gets distracted for a moment, looking at the dretch guts mixed in with flatulence ice cream. She purses her lips and wiggles her nose, in thought before turning back "Slight misconception on your statement, not specifically disorganization on all fronts, but more of parallel purposes. Will there be this vodka at the meeting?"
Seriously? Says the Burly guard
I think the Omox population in the city is too high, on account of Succubi not wanting to f$%% them, that essentially being immune to one of the most common death causes in this city. I prefer to, what is polite term? Minimize my interaktions with the local s@*~-demon population?
He continues before being interrupted
Semyon Ivanovich The elder guard says sternly adressing the burly guard.
Do not demand of others what you are unwilling to do yourself. The elder guard continues as if giving a leadership lesson.
If you wish for the Succubus population to regulate the Omox population, then bravely lead by example, I think that self appointed "Supreme S$$&lord of Alyushinyrra" under our toilet got annoying again. He says smugly.
I have no idea how a Succubus fanboy like you survives in this city, even less how you managed to have 3 Alu-Demon Girls, all with the same Demoness, and still be alive. The burly guy says, shrugging.
Because she prefers killing my slowly with matrimony payments The elderly guard deadpans.
Eric shrugs his shoulders, makes a short polite bow as is customary among the nobles of Warsaw and goes inside to Polkovnik Strelka.
Willow follows the conversation with some interest, considers asking if he needs Alu-demon daughters, and if he would be willing to sell one for experimental needs, but decides, reluctantly, that he might take offense.
"Inside then." she smiles fleetingly at the guards, before lifting her skirts a bit to step into the building behind Eric.
@Cena, @Ashleaf, also walking in, if yes, you can cast buffs before you enter. The elderly seargent knows what he is doing, if you cast anything that is rounds per level he will react, minutes per level he will knock an eyebrow, longer durations he will not particularly care.
I will move the scene ahead within 48 hours.
Roberta shrugs and follows the others. All this is new to her and she is unsure what is going on, so she keeps quiet and just observes for new.
Sorry!
Cenna follows in.
Botting Ashleaf along!
Erik and Roberta lead the group, just seconds before the pass the toilet door they hear shooting noises from the toilet, and an extremely unlucky Soviet private, clutching a tome titled "Deep operations" in one hand and some type of firearm with a cylinder magazine in the other, stumbles out backwards out of the Toilet, firing his firearm wildly into a mass of excrement.
The cover of the book is mismatched! It appears to actually be a certain book called "The 66 unauthorized acts of Iomedae and Nocticula" with a different cover put on top of it. It is exceedingly well illustrated, and can further be used to personal heating, as anyone who shows this book to a Iomedean inquisitor will likely be crispy for the rest of his live
The Demon, clearly an Omox, eyes you before it annoucnes!
The time of rule by S!!% has come, I will eat you, I will turn you to s#*&, and then you will rule as a part of me!
Дермократия cannot be stopped!
I will effing smesh whoever used our wartime propaganda as toilet paper the hapless Soviet annoucnes with perhaps typical fatalism.
Initiative!
Initiative Order:
Erik
---------------
Bad guy
---------------
Everyone else, you can move in any order.
NPC last
The knowledge roll to know about this Demon is planes.
@Erik and Roberta, you are within 10 feet of the demon and the hapless grunt. Everyone else is at least 15 feet away. I am assuming that brawlers move in the front unless you say something different.
@Erik, the demon seems to be strongly focused on the hapless grunt right now
That gets you one question!
Which is what you remember from Demonology 101.
Its Strong Save is Fort, its weak save is will!
Exact things may differ!
Eric takes a step forward. Now you really see that it is more (or less - depends on your attitude) than a person - there is something vampiric about him. His skin pales, his eyes become darker and get a reddish hue, and he grins his mouth, where two fangs instantly grow - obviously in order to make it easier to bite someone's neck.
Soldier! Retreat to the second rank! Живо! Eric himself takes a step forward. You're half demon, half s@!&. Come here!
He gets into a fighting stance (without taking out his sword) and calls for help from the Lords of the Abyss of Zura and Nocticula!
THIS MORSEL IS MINE! AND YOU WILL BE NEXT! The Omox is still focused on the hapless soldier.
Hits
Hits
The Omox envelops the soldier and flows over his face, he is now suffocating.
Omoxes dont actually have anything that would make them not be grappled while it is grappling someone (other then accepting a -20 on its grab attempts, which this one opted to not do), so it is now grappled as well!
Rest of the party is up!
"Omox demon. Semi solid making it resistant to most attacks, no organs so targeting weak points..." Willow drones on like she is reading from a book, mentioning its immunities and resistances before getting to its favor profile, ending with "Spreads easily on crackers."
As she had talked the wizard swished behind Roberta. Foul words like fingers on a chalkboard and greasy smoke came out of the wizard's mouth, streaming toward the Omox and then back to Roberta. "Breath it in" she suggested to the tiefling.
RARRRGHH, FOOLISH MORTAL! SOON YOU WILL SWALLOW MORE OF ME THEN THIS WBAHAHAHA
Willow penetrates to Omoxes spell resistance, but its fiendish fortitude protects it from the worst aspects of the spell! Still, its Strength seems to sap somewhat!