Sorry I haven't caught up with the trends of the thread yet, but I've been busy reading the doot and doing things. Like that banner idea up the page but I have something else in mind, which I've talked about quite a bit.
The first ever proper Storm of Magic since the Incursion (the Incursion is kinda the granddaddy Storm of Magic) has begun to blow down from the Chaos Gate to provide a huge enhancement to our Runes. We've also found an Active Arcane Fulcrum which will add another enhancement to that and enable the use of all of these enhancements.
I really want to go fullbore on crafting with this, because it has a powerful narrative resonance;
The Runelord through cleverness and wit and the guidance of his Master finds a locus of power and in the turning of his thousandth year during the first Storm of Magic the world has ever seen he takes that power and uses it to forge a Wonder for the Ages.
There's a strong possibility that with the right runes what we make might be a Mythic like Barak Azamar.
So I present an item meant to create a Set with Barak Azamar and Zharrgal which evokes the power of the Primordial World I've discussed previously, seen in Snorri's visions:
Skarrenbakraz
Furious Sky
A deep black-grey length of supple and iron tough Dragon Ogre Shaggoth hide, treated to get rid of that abominable static, and dyed a deep and familiar red like a sunset forms the basis for this long hooded cloak. The hide descends from three larger plates of Adamant, designed to fit to the back of a Dwarfen gorget and shoulder pauldrons so keenly their edges seem to blend together into a beautiful whole, and about its edges are donated Brana feathers that compliment the colors. Upon the plates are carved the stormy sky of the King of the Sky's domain and nestled within those glowering anvil clouds are three great Runes, with the Master Rune of Grungni taking pride of place on the middle plate. Atop the hide of the cloak and woven into it are Adamant scales the size of a thumb, a testament to the workman's craftsmanship and sheer strength. Upon these scales are carved images of the people of Kraka Drakk, and as the cloak moves they seem to move as well as they go about their lives, and a trick of keen carving makes the cloak shimmer like it is sparking with lightning that highlights these dwarfs.
The Runes I had in mind for this were to use the Banner Master Rune of Grungni, the Rune of Lighting, and the Rune of Fury. The purpose of these runes is to create a combo that channels the furious power and damaging energy of a thunderstorm and to tap into the storm imagery seen in some of Snorri's visions.
We need to start with a general storm concept. The only runes we have that have something to do with wind are Grungni's runes, the Master Rune of Currents (and that only tangentially), and the Master Rune of Blizzards, and the only general storm runes we have are Grungni's runes which is notable on Stormwrath. The Master Rune thus forms the basis for the combo. We don't have any upgrade materials for it, but that's fine since its a Master Rune and already very powerful in its own right, and in the case of the other two runes their ingredients are meant to add conceptual notes and raise them up to fit with the ambition of this project.
For the Rune of Lightning I've chosen to use Kholek's Brain for a couple of reasons. Kholek was a lightning using, magic using entity who directed his powers with his thoughts and will, and his mind witnessed the dark pact of immortality between the Dragon Ogres and the Chaos Gods. Because of this pact they sleep through the ages until lightning fills their brains and bodies and awakens them, filling them with furious energy and vigor.
Because he is a lightning using entity I don't think its going to break the rune, because the elements in question align and regular runes normally have reagents below our level of abstraction and aren't as finicky as Master Runes. I'm hoping that since Dragon Ogre's brains and minds are empowered by lightning they draw in, if we use it in this rune like this it might give us the ability to be empowered by lightning as well which would let Snorri draw power from the Throng-Storm of Kraka Drakk. Or perhaps something to simply direct and coordinate the absurd amount of power going into this, since the Banner-Cloak is being forged with Barak Azamar and Zharrgal as tools.
However, if folks don't want to go that far a Dragon Ogre Shaggoth Heart should work, though the connotations would be different as Soul has explained with Hearts being power cores/produce energy. The standard ingredient of the Master Rune of Thunderbolts is the Tier 3 Dragon Ogre Shaggoth Blood, and a Tier 4 Dragon Ogre Shaggoth Heart is an replacement over their blood, which focuses more on producing energy and putting in another source of power in this set next to Barak Azamar.
As for the Rune of Fury I want to use the Sky King's Feather. The reason for this actually circles around to the Master Rune of Grimnir which I'd bet my left shoe has the Rune of Fury as one of its components and the Master Rune of Grimnir takes tier 2 Griffon Feathers as its ingredient. With the Sky King being such a powerful griffon that should improve the Rune of Fury, and because he is also a magical griffon who rules over storm and thunder I hope to use his Feather to tie the Rune of Fury to his furious storm themes.
Thus my plan below!
[] Plan We Have a Fulcrum, Let's Make a Lever
-[] Render Aid:
[Cost: 1 retainer action] Can be taken multiple times. Roll for usefulness, additional actions apply bonus to roll. Gain reputation and +2 bonus per action to Recruitment Dice. You formed these Hearthguard to combat all the ills that befall the dwarfen people. Send them out, render aid, earn goodwill and spread the word of your retainers and their stated mission beyond the borders of Kraka Drakk.
--[] The Throng is Mustered:
[Cost: 1 retainer action] Can be taken multiple times. Gain Bonus to Throng Rolls against Fimir, additional actions apply bonus to roll. Chance for Casualties/Fatalities. The King of Kraka Drakk calls the Throng to war, lend the might of your Retainers to his cause. You have no real clue as to how developed the Fimir presence is, but given the corpse Rudil dragged back you have a feeling they've been here a while.
2 Retainer Action.
--[] Waywarding:
[Cost: 1 action or retainer action] Gain bonus to Waystone rolls and update on status of Waystones. Can be taken multiple times. 1 Retainer Action.
-[] [Difficult] Write In, Skarrenbakraz, Banner-Cloak Pt. 1:
[Cost: 1 action] If a rune you want requires special ingredients that you don't have access to I will alert you. Apply optional Rune Ingredients here. A deep black-grey length of supple and iron tough Dragon Ogre Shaggoth hide, treated to get rid of that abominable static, and dyed a deep and familiar red like a sunset forms the basis for this long hooded cloak. The hide descends from three larger plates of Adamant, designed to fit to the back of a Dwarfen gorget and shoulder pauldrons so keenly their edges seem to blend together into a beautiful whole, and about its edges are donated Brana feathers that compliment the colors. Upon the plates are carved the stormy sky of the King of the Sky's domain and nestled within those glowering anvil clouds are three great Runes, with the Master Rune of Grungni taking pride of place on the middle plate. Atop the hide of the cloak and woven into it are Adamant scales the size of a thumb, a testament to the workman's craftsmanship and sheer strength. Upon these scales are carved images of the people of Kraka Drakk, and as the cloak moves they seem to move as well as they go about their lives, and a trick of keen carving makes the cloak shimmer like it is sparking with lightning that highlights these dwarfs.
1 action pt 1, 3 Actions pt 2, Use Barak Azamar, Zharrgal, and the Anvil of the Earth.
--[] Choose: Master Rune of Grungni (Oathgold), Rune of Lightning (Kholek's Brain), Rune of Fury (Sky King's Crest Feather)
Unfortunately due to the timing, we have to do a "rush job" on this compared to our usual pace in order to take advantage of the peak power of the Storm and can't do part one now and then part 2 next turn. This means we'll be putting 3 actions into part 2, which will grow into at least 5 actions, which may become as many as eight if the Peerless Production procs max out and so I don't really think we need to worry about the 'rush job' part.
Aside from using Kholek's Brain in the Rune of Lightning the only other thing of particular note is that I have our Retainers spread out between two actions on Throng Mobilization because we need to deal with the Fimir quick like, and Waywarding to keep things secure. Take pressure of the Western Waystones with this set up.
After this fullbore crafting session I'd also like to do Eltharin on turn 45, there's a good number of salient reasons to do it as soon as possible.
I don't really care what folks take for the out of plan options and I'm just going to go for what I want at some point when voting opens. Odd would be interesting is my only recomendation.
E: Adjusted the design to make use of Dragon Ogre Shaggoth hide. And while I don't think we need to specify the split of actions I've done so just in case.
E2:
on the suggestion and clarification of others, Thank You!, I added in T3 Oathgold for Master Rune of Grungni.
E3: Apparently T3 Oathgold is impossible in 0 turns so nixed that.
