Cobrateen's page

My party ran into a succubus (random encounter, she was disguised as a human) while she was out walking her sphinx. Actually she was out looking for them, because they claimed a hex she wanted to control. Her intention was simply to offer one of them a profane gift and slowly work her way in, to eventually destroy the party from within as revenge. However, one of the party saw through her disguise and pulled a weapon on her, so she dominated him (for eight days) and gave him the profane gift. The rest of party didn't make their Sense Motive checks to realize he was acting strangely, and the succubus walked off.

So now I've got this succubus controlling a party member, an Investigator named Monty. The kingdom round is 3 days away and that Withdrawal step looks tempting. If he withdraws all 18 BP from the treasury, at best the kingdom has 1 unrest and the succubus gains 36K gp. At worst the party also fails the loyalty check (I think they have to roll 7 or higher on a d20) and ends up with 19 unrest, one step away from exactly the kind of destruction the succubus wanted. And the succubus can simply run away with all that gold.

Is this a good plan? Monty is Dominated and has a Profane Gift, so she can see everything he does, speak to him from any distance, and he has to do everything she wants unless it is against his nature or directly threatens his life. He's the Royal Assassin, so I believe he has to convince the Treasurer to withdraw the build points, but he's built for that kind of deception.

Bonus question: assuming magic items are more transportable than gold, what should the succubus have him buy for her? Again, the build points can be withdrawn for 36K gp. The kingdom base value is 2,200 gp, though I allow them to buy things from metropolis cities outside the kingdom (base value 16K gp) for a 10% delivery fee. I'm considering items such as: a Ring of Retribution, a Decoy Ring, a Security Belt, or maybe some Improved Shadow Armor. What else would a succubus love to have?

You wake as the wood-paneled shutters open above you, a little steam rising along with them; looking around, you find yourself laid out flat on a firm and comfortable cot. You feel weak as a newborn but in other respects fine, and otherwise there is very little in your head but the words you think.

A screen lowers from above you on a clockwork arm of gently clicking gears, the arm connected to the ceiling from a track that allows it to move about the white walled room. For a moment you can see your face reflected in the screen's dark surface: stern jaw, slight stubble, angular nose, sloped forehead, snow-white hair and piercing blue eyes. Despite how you may feel, you look like a highly intelligent, sophisticated gentleman, no older perhaps than middle to late twenties.

The screen turns on with a slight click and then a steady hum, and a face exactly like your own appears on it. This man however appears more worn and haggard, and there is a distasteful fear somewhere deep in his eyes. He greets you with a nod, “Good morning Clone 2654, I am Clone 132. There has been a s-s-s,” he stutters on the word and you can't help but feel the corners of your lips pull back a little in disgust, “slight problem with the mas-s-s-ster copy. Namely, he has been infected with Dread. Full contamination procedures are in effect, this must not s-s-s-spread.”

“In the meantime, we are in the process of finding a s-s-s-suitable replacement by process of elimination; in other words, you will be eliminated if you s-s-s-suffer any genetic abnormalities. I am obviously not s-s-s-suitable, but I have been chosen to moderate the elimination process after the mas-s-s-ster copy could not continue. He is now in deep freeze, and the winner of this little game will acquire full memory and personhood rights. Please exit this room and join the others, and … good luck.” The screen shuts off again and slips back up toward the ceiling. And wouldn't you know, you feel strong enough now to stand!

Zack wakes slowly, the bright sun from outside lighting up the room even through the closed curtains of his room's one window. He panics for a moment since his alarm didn't wake him, but then remembers that today is the day. Today, he sets out to become the best, better even than Cody. A yawn from the Slakoth stretched out near his feet nearly puts him back to sleep, but excitement for today wins out.

The synchronized stomping outside his door is the only warning he gets, before his parents swing open the door. Both already have their eyes covered with one hand, and with the other wave enthusiastically as they continue to jog in place. Their megawatt smiles only leave their faces when they speak, which they do perfectly in synch, “Morning dear!”

_______________

The population counter on the town's sign drops by one, to 359 now, as Clay exits the town limits. The fading sign sports a Tauros and a Miltank, Miltiad town's mascots. The day is cloudy and looks ready to rain, which may explain why the plain dirt country road is so empty, but as Clay looks up at the sky he notices a bird Pokemon shooting across the sky. It's hard to tell from this distance what species, and the Pokemon is gone before he can identify it, but it looked to have been a bright yellow color and split the clouds like a knife.

Today's mission: collect the Styler waiting for him at the Vitalian Pokemart, Vitalian being the next town over and home to the closest Mart. The Styler should come with instructions for how to use it and where to go next, but so far the Rangers have been pretty light in giving orders to their newest member. But then, everyone starts at the bottom. An ominous rustling in some nearby bushes interrupts the morning silence as something unseen and possibly human-sized stands up within them.