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I liked Noma a lot too, enough so that my next SF character might be an SRO or other robotic being. I hadn't considered that Ezorod was made by other Outer God cultists--I had assumed the portal to Aucturne was them worming their way in instead of being a maintenance hatch. Does that mean that Eshtayiv's attention is freed up--at least from the bubbles in Mataras? Another spooky hook for the setting!
Questions I have as a player: 1) What is/was NOMA? Are they connected to the Aballonians or something else entirely? What was wrong with the city? It seemed unwell in a way that I don't think had anything to do with the Legion. 2) Is there additional lore on the Eshtayiv/Ezorod? An eldritch horror of the hungry dark imprisoned inside a star is a fantastic concept and I'd love to know more.
Cellion, thank you so very much for the game, and for sticking with us all these years during it! I had a great time and have much admiration for your GMing--if/when you decide on a new game I will happily submit a character!
Ordyt formally accepts a commission from the Church of Sarenrae as an officer in their militant arm, and joins Flint in his drive to explore Mataras. He's a relentless advocate for deeper cooperation between the polities and organizations of the region, urging the Pact Worlds, the Church, and the DCI to cooperate in the construction of large specialized vessels for exploring the sun, capable of fighting off potential dangers but also able to support a large contingent of researchers and specialists for long-range missions. He starts sending remittances home to the mining communities he left behind, and makes an effort to visit once or twice a year to make sure they're doing alright. He even asks around about the possibility of funneling greater investment into the mining colonies of the Diaspora--anything to make their lives a bit less difficult and dangerous.
Easy to have a god complex when you actually are a (demi)god, I guess. The arrogance doesn't really surprise me, Ordyt just isn't a character who would take the deal being offered. Kargas Stormscar probably would've, though.
"Because she lost," Ordyt growls at the back of the retreating emissary. "It's a very big multiverse, and there are greater powers than her." He tabs the symbol of Sarenrae on his breastplate for emphasis, then shakes his head. "Well...If nothing else, I guess it's good to have the reminder that we'll have a powerful enemy out there somewhere, for the rest of our lives." He doesn't sound very happy about it though.
"Step into my parlor, said the the spider to the fly" I can definitely see a version of this scene working, but not with Ordyt & the Malikah. We have no reason to trust anything we're told, her emissary directly informed us she thinks she's above such things so we can't trust any assurances she makes even if she bothered to make them. As far as Ordyt (and his player!) is concerned she's a creature of raw might-makes-right, which makes going to her palace just a creative form a suicide. And at this point, we directly wrecked her bid for full divinity so we probably can't get any more on her shit list than we already are.
Actually, do we know if the Pact Worlds and The Malikah are negotiating? There was a mention of captured efreet before, is there a system in place for exchanges/ransoming of POWs or other agreements?
Ordyt's mirth melts away as he realizes the efreet is entirely serious. He gives the messenger a grim stare and squares his shoulders to face the genie fully. "Here's my answer: The Malikah is not an honored foe, she's a despot and a murderess and I won't be setting foot in her palace. She launched an unprovoked invasion of Mataras and lost, tough shit. She can treat with us and with the Pact Worlds if she wants to talk, but she's not in a position to dictate terms and her trick with the divine concealment won't work twice. She knows where to find us whenever she's serious about a dialogue."
"The Malikah requests your presence in her palace atop Sakalayo Peak." Ordyt barks a laugh. "Yeah I bet she does, and would love nothing more than to "honor" us to ash. Why would we ever agree to step into the heart of her power? The Legion demonstrated no regard for the rights of prisoners or the laws of war, I have no faith that any of you would honor guest right or flag of truce--which, I see, you have not even bothered to invoke. She can send a formal emissary if she wants to talk terms."
Ordyt joins in on cheering for Bel as enthusiastically as anyone in the crowd, clapping and letting out a single whoop before dialing it back with a self-conscious grin. "Well earned, Bel--we're proud of you!"
Ordyt moves through the party carefully, glad to see so many smiling faces after the trials of the past few months, but he's not a big partier. Even Lurian's drunken tirades don't put him off much, he's just glad to see them all still alive. Director Nokorokt's offer to stay on with the DCI is a tempting one; Ordyt doesn't commit to a yes right away though. "I think the DCI has proven its worth to the whole Pact Worlds alliance, doc, and before long you'll have more offers than you'll know what to do with. I put very good odds that we'll be seeing more of each other no matter what--Mataras is a new frontier, now." He brightens at hearing from Taeress and Nib and that the anassanoi haven't closed themselves off entirely. He asks them about Noma and if they think it might be a danger to itself, or other inhabitants of the star--he hopes not. He joins them in speculating about the strange black spheres that held Ezorod and the Crucible--if there were two, it seemed likely there were more out there somewhere, perhaps many more. And somewhere in the back of his mind, he tries not to think about the demigoddess who's ascension he and his companions thwarted, whose servants they had killed and whose plans they had shredded. He tried not to think about what she might do for revenge.
I think we established at the time that the Corona bubbles are artifact-tier; repairing them would probably be beyond the scope of this AP but maybe I'm wrong about that. I second Flint's priorities, and Ordyt would also want to as Khalannal if they wanted to open an embassy in the Archipelago. And maybe building a "psychic tight beam" for communications would be a good long-term project?
At some point, Ordyt would get around to checking on the verthani woman we rescued from Ezorod, to see if she's recovering okay--prognosis was not good at the time. He'd also go find whatever holding cell Vessu is in and give him the bad news of his brother's death in person. Vessu betrayed us but it came from a place of love for family, and Ordyt would want to deliver the news personally.
haha well I went back and looked and yes the name was Mims. Who started out as our--well, not enemy but certainly a misguided opponent.
Meepo! I hope she survived all of this
I've gone back and forth a bit about it but I don't think Ordyt has any loose ends in the Archipelago he needs a scene to tie up. I think he'd probably send a message to his people back in the Diaspora letting them know what he's been up to, but I don't think he's heading back there anytime soon. It's more of an epilogue thing, but I think Ordyt would like to liaise with Khalannal and Noma, and help search for other bubble cities. Beyond the scope of this AP but "who built cities inside the sun?" is a mystery worth chasing!
At first Ordyt feels awkward and out of place in the ritual--his formal education with the Church of Sarenrae was informal at best, the rituals and hierarchies of the organization coming in a distant second to the necessities of survival out in the Diaspora. Before long, however, the genuine warmth and friendliness of High Priestess Novaheart and her attendants win him over, and he finds that his involvement just feels right, somehow. As Flint returns to the mortal world, hale and hearty and standing before them them in the middle of the circle the oread lets out a whoop of joy. He hangs back as Bel rushes forward, letting the couple have their moment. "It's good to have you back, Captain," Ordyt steps up and enfolds the two in a bear hug.
Ordyt sticks with Bel, offering to provide a report to the Church of Sarenrae as well as the DCI. He holds nothing back--transponder data, ship logs, personal testimony--he figures the more that is known about the wonders and dangers of Mataras' interior, the safer the folk of the Archipelago will be.
"They captured efreet? And the genies talked about us? Huh." Ordyt leans over Bel's seat, watching the Archipelago grow closer in the display screens. "I hope everyone at the Institute is okay--they're going to lose their minds about Khalannal and the Crucible." He gives Belmarniss a comradely squeeze on the shoulder. "Seems like the war is over, so now comes the hard part: rebuilding."
I am definitely game for a bonus chapter--I'm pleased to report that this is my first completed AP by PBP, all the more impressive because it went beginning to end! Thank *you* Cellion for running this game for us, you're an excellent GM and I've had a fantastic time with this campaign.
"Sound off--everyone okay?" Odyt groans as he pushes back to his feet from the corner he'd been thrown into. "I think--I hope--that was the Wishing Engine's death throes. And maybe...a miracle, too."
"Uh? What kind of scary things Popoko?" Ordyt shouts as he sprints for the gunnery compartment. Swiveling the particle beam around, he waits just long enough for the Torrent to lift off before raking the landing bay with warship-grade firepower.
"Secondary team, get ready for a counterpush. I'll cover in 3...2...1..." Activating his forcefield, Ordyt checks the load of MkII frag grenades in his launcher. Leaning out around the corner just a tiny amount, he sends a volley of low-yield explosives down the hall to harry the Legion security team.
"And we picked up another passenger--she's not a friend, but she's not an enemy either," Ordyt glances at Old Nanite in a right? sort of way. "Anyway--please hurry."
Ordyt flips to a private channel on his headset. "I don't think that's a good idea, Bel. If the Cauldron answers to her, I don't want either of us any more beholden to her. Let's just get out of here." He also opens up his comms to message the ship. "Torrent of Embers this is Ordyt, do you copy? Get the ship ready to make a break for it, I think the Wishing Engine is unraveling."
"There's always a choice, Old Nanite," Ordyt reaches up with one hand to unclasp the cloak, pulling it from his shoulders and holding it out to her. "This, too, is a choice. I've killed a lot of people today, I'm choosing not to kill any more, if you'll let me."
"You can't be serious," Ordyt tries to snarl, but it comes out as a gasp. Letting Flint's body fall, the oread takes up his rifle and bayonet and wearily stalks towards the hag. "We tried to talk your sisters out of their madness--Goddess knows, we tried. They refused to see reason and now they are dead. Will you echo their mistake? We've won, Old Nanite--General Khaim is dead, Nurleth is dead. Your cloaks are here, I took them off her corpse, claim them and we can all walk away." Closing in, he gestures to indicate both his weapon and the cloak. "What's it going to be?"
OH THAT'S RIGHT Thank you Bel, that would absolutely change Ordyt's approach
"You can't be serious," Ordyt tries to snarl, but it comes out as a gasp. Letting Flint's body fall, the oread takes up his rifle and bayonet and wearily stalks towards the hag. "We tried to talk your sisters out of their madness--Goddess knows, we tried. They refused to see reason and now they are dead. Will you echo their mistake? We've won, Old Nanite--General Khaim is dead, Nurleth is dead. Your cloaks are below, go claim them and we'll all walk away." Closing with
Focusing on one step and then another and another, Ordyt follows Bel to the elevator that leads back up into the Crucible proper. "I don't think my messages to the Torrent were getting through, can you raise them?"
"Seven sec--? Oh shit! Bel, run!" Ordyt turns and pushes away from the Wishing Engine, something in him feeling a bone-deep relief to be getting further away from the device. He's knows on some level that it's a ward but it spurs him on anyway. Coming around towards the remnants of their battle the oread goes into a slide, snagging his fallen captain by the elbow and heaving the body up across his shoulders as he rises to his feet with a grunt.
Ordyt waits quietly while Bel works her way through complicated logical paradoxes and contradictions, anxiously wishing there was a readout or screen that could tell him if it was working--the Wishing Engine's opacity was driving him to distraction.
When the technomancer finally winds down, the Ordyt gives her an encouraging nod. "That was good stuff, Bel! I can't say I understood all of it, but I had some time to think while you were working on it, and I think we need to call in the really big guns. This thing says it has layers of divine protections on its functions, and why would the Malikah bother if she doesn't think it's likely that one or more gods would act to stop her? We need a miracle to stop the Malikah and save the Pact Worlds, and I think I know how to get one." He turns to face the Wishing Engine and squares his shoulders. "Computer, end function on all nested consecrations in order from most recently established to oldest, then end operation of all antipathy fields."
First of all--thank you for the clarification, GM! I feel a lot better with our progress so far and appreciate the extra context. Mysticism is Ordyt's best skill, but also he's a Sarenite through and through. He turns to his goddess for just about everything, I don't think there's any way he wouldn't try to turn to her in this as well. I think for both mechanical and RP reasons his tactic will be to try and unwind the various anti-divinity protections and hope that here in the heart of Mataras Sarenrae will be able to take notice and intervene. Deus maior quam machina, if you will.
Ordyt raps his knuckles against the visor of his helmet in frustration. "Bel, do you think we could order it to turn off the anti-divinity protections? We could surely use a miracle." "Where does this device draw its power from? Is it possible for either the Wishing Engine to be turned off, or for the deific protections to be turned off?"
I think we can figure out a resolution, but I'm not a computer expert so I (the player) am not sure what kind of questions to ask. @GM are we at least on the right track? My other idea is to ask about the Engine's power sources and see if we can just pull the metaphorical plug to stop it that way.
"First--does retracting a wish mitigate the risk of system destabilization? Second-tell me more about these protections from deific interference." Leaning over closer to Bel, he stage-whispers, "I think I'm getting the hang of this!"
"Pause processing on current wish. Is there a mechanism for amending wishes once made, or safely aborting a queued wish without triggering, uh, Paradox Exposure?" The oread snaps his fingers as another thought occurs to him. "A second question: What's the mechanism by which the current wish can be fulfilled? Divine ascension can't simply be wished for or there'd be hundreds of billions of divinities."
"Well...crap." Ordyt lets out a sharp sigh as Bel translates the tech-speak. "It was talking before about how contracts are viable until the "wishgranter" is dead, could we tell it General Khaim is gone to end the current wish safely?" He clenches his hands into fists and turns back to the Wishing Engine. "What are the likely consequences of a full system destabilization?"
Sorry Bel, didn't mean to jump the gun on your post--it wasn't showing for me yesterday when I wrote my own, and then I didn't get a chance to look at this until today. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!
Ordyt exchanges a look with Bel, gives her arm a reassuring squeeze and then looks back towards the Wishing Engine. "I'd like to submit a new wish at immediate priority, resolving before all other contracts in queue: restore...restore the human Flint Connors and the onkushu known as Uzmat to life, then end all remaining contracts."
"Can you make a new wish and instruct it to prioritize yours over the current queue? You're literally a computer wizard, I'm out of my depth."
If so, we're out of luck, his body tumbled out into the sun's core and is probably so much dissipating plasma now.
"What's the limit? Will canceling wishes in the queue free up new contracts, or waste them? I don't know how much we can repurpose this thing."
"We've always been a good team, Bel," Ordyt helps his wounded companion up with a grunt and supports her as the two of them hobble towards the Wishing Engine. "It doesn't seem like your wish shut it down--I guess it has to go in order? Paradox Truancy, nested consecrations...it might as well be Aklo to me. See if you can do something with it, I need to signal the Torrent."
Flipping open a channel to the ship, Ordyt hesitates a heartbeat. "Torrent of Embers, this is Ordyt. It was a close thing, but...we won. General Khaim is dead, the Wishing Engine is being shut down. If you haven't listened to my last message yet, uh, just delete it. If you have, well..." He glances over his shoulder at Bel and lowers his voice. "Please don't blow us up."
I see "Serum of Healing (MK1-5)" does that mean you have five of them?
Oh wow, out of curiosity what was that cloak? @Bel do you have any healing serums left?
Panting, exhausted, Ordyt longs to take his helmet off but doesn't know if the void ritual would hold if he did. Stumbling as the adrenaline drains away, the oread drops to a knee by Bel and pats the technomancer down, hoping for one last healing serum. Wishing Engine, status report. He casts his thoughts toward the strange egglike device, a little blossom of hope unfolding in his heart.
I'm okay* with it if we all die but I really really want to take Khaim down.
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