- Location
- washington
here's to hoping our various countries don't go to post world war 1 german levels
Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Crossover Fantasy
BoredMan
Maintaining the Agenda is our top priority
Doesn't splitting it up this way leave the Hidden Halls without a healer though? Sophia and Tiffany are the only healers.
I can move Sophia to Hidden Halls, and I am fairly sure that we have one Sanctuary mage without known specialization. We could stunt them being a combat medic. Point is, Molly needs a healer much less than mortals, and Tiffany shouldn't be exposed to denarians as much as possible.
Arcana aren't gods, so we don't have a system for it.
The security for Chicago could be better, but in the context of what we're dealing with right now this isn't an effective use of time even if it was a single AP. If we hadn't made all the commitments we have then experimenting would be fine, but we did make them and now we have stuff that needs done asap.
So we've upgraded from mortal craft at least. We don't actually know that the black court would have succeeded. I doubt the exalt who built godbot failed to consider what would happen if it broke or was killed.
I feel pretty comfortable with my assertions on security, because the solar spark was only ever obscure to us and the general public. For the purposes of the setting all the engaged opposition should damn well know exactly where it is and how it works, but are choosing not to poke it. If that blampire trick worked then the Denarians or whoever should have taken it literal ages ago.
^^^
This exactly.
Thunder's Arrow helped banish the demon lord, so he's probably a Summoning/Warding primary. He's not a combat medic, because when we had that encounter with the wizard ambush and there were two injured wizards, he didnt rush to help Tiffany.
He certainly doesnt have the resources to heal on the scale that either Sophia or Tiffany can.
And there's no Path Sorcery Im aware of that allows you to heal people in combat time.
Expecting him to handle the potential casualties of a clash with a Denarian seems unwise.
Furthermore, Sophia is the only one here who breaks mind control quickly.
Thats why Im sending her to Paris, where all the mind-controlled wizards appear to be going.
Salvaging the Warden Captain Luccio and a lot of the junior Wardens is contingent on her being there.
You havent given any reason why Tiffany shouldnt be exposed to Denarians when she's got Exalted backup.
She's literally just met a demonlord.
And Im pretty sure Namshiel has known she's here since we showed up.
Furthermore, Tiffany is mechanically a WoD Demon. That means this is an innate power:
Supernatural Awareness
The fallen are inherently attuned to the fabric of real-
ity, and they are sensitive to energies and influences beyond
the awareness of mortals. Players can make a Perception +
Awareness rolls for demons to get a "feel" of the supernatural
qualities of a given area. A hospital room might emanate
a sense of pain and loss, imprinted by the emotions of the
patients and doctors who've struggled and died within its
walls. An otherwise unassuming basement might reek of
the foul rituals performed there days before. Additionally
an alert demon can sense the use of supernatural energies
within her general vicinity. The fabric of reality distorts
momentarily when powers are used, and the fallen can feel
the ripples caused by this brief disturbance. Highly perceptive
demons can draw extensive information from these ripples,
gaining a sense of where the supernatural event took place.
Demons can sense supernatural energies at work
within an area equal to their Faith score in miles (so a
fallen with a Faith of 5 can sense energies within five
miles). If a character wishes to sense the energies at work
in her area, make a successful Perception + Alertness roll
(difficulty 7). If the roll succeeds, your character detects
the momentary distortion caused by these energies. Ad-
ditional successes provide further detail.
One success: The demon knows that something has
occurred (or is occurring) in the vicinity and a general
idea of how powerful the effect was or is.
Two successes: The demon gains a rough idea as
to the direction from which the distortion emanates.
Three successes: The demon knows without a
doubt the direction from which the distortion emanates,
and he has a rough idea of the distance.
Four or more successes: The demon knows pre-
cisely how far away the disturbance is, and in what
direction. If she knows the area well, she can work
out exactly where the event took place or now occurs.
While demons can gain a sense of where an event
occurs, it's impossible to tell from a distance exactly
what kind of power or evocation is used. If they want
more details they must investigate in person or send
their agents to learn what they can.
While a demon's supernatural awareness usually func-
tions only when the character actively searches for signs
of distortion, the Storyteller can, at her discretion, make
a reflexive roll on the character's behalf in the event of
an exceptionally large flare of power in the vicinity
The fallen are inherently attuned to the fabric of real-
ity, and they are sensitive to energies and influences beyond
the awareness of mortals. Players can make a Perception +
Awareness rolls for demons to get a "feel" of the supernatural
qualities of a given area. A hospital room might emanate
a sense of pain and loss, imprinted by the emotions of the
patients and doctors who've struggled and died within its
walls. An otherwise unassuming basement might reek of
the foul rituals performed there days before. Additionally
an alert demon can sense the use of supernatural energies
within her general vicinity. The fabric of reality distorts
momentarily when powers are used, and the fallen can feel
the ripples caused by this brief disturbance. Highly perceptive
demons can draw extensive information from these ripples,
gaining a sense of where the supernatural event took place.
Demons can sense supernatural energies at work
within an area equal to their Faith score in miles (so a
fallen with a Faith of 5 can sense energies within five
miles). If a character wishes to sense the energies at work
in her area, make a successful Perception + Alertness roll
(difficulty 7). If the roll succeeds, your character detects
the momentary distortion caused by these energies. Ad-
ditional successes provide further detail.
One success: The demon knows that something has
occurred (or is occurring) in the vicinity and a general
idea of how powerful the effect was or is.
Two successes: The demon gains a rough idea as
to the direction from which the distortion emanates.
Three successes: The demon knows without a
doubt the direction from which the distortion emanates,
and he has a rough idea of the distance.
Four or more successes: The demon knows pre-
cisely how far away the disturbance is, and in what
direction. If she knows the area well, she can work
out exactly where the event took place or now occurs.
While demons can gain a sense of where an event
occurs, it's impossible to tell from a distance exactly
what kind of power or evocation is used. If they want
more details they must investigate in person or send
their agents to learn what they can.
While a demon's supernatural awareness usually func-
tions only when the character actively searches for signs
of distortion, the Storyteller can, at her discretion, make
a reflexive roll on the character's behalf in the event of
an exceptionally large flare of power in the vicinity
She, Lydia and Sophia are the only people who do, and both Sophia and Lydia need to be in Paris.
[X]Plan Divided Command
-[X]Sanctuary Reinforcements: 2x squads/20x troops + supplies
-[X]Tiffany: Lore of Flesh 5: Soak Agg Damage to Harry: 1 Faith
-[X] Split up again
--[X]Team Namshiel: Molly + Tiffany + Olivia + Carlos + Carlos Wardens + Sanctuary Team 1
--[X]Team Paris: Lydia + Sophia + McCoy + Dresden + Morgan + Team Morgan + Sanctuary Team 2
--[X]Team Mai/War Room: Ancient Mai + Wizards + Sanctuary Team 3
-[X]Sanctuary Reinforcements: 2x squads/20x troops + supplies
-[X]Tiffany: Lore of Flesh 5: Soak Agg Damage to Harry: 1 Faith
-[X] Split up again
--[X]Team Namshiel: Molly + Tiffany + Olivia + Carlos + Carlos Wardens + Sanctuary Team 1
--[X]Team Paris: Lydia + Sophia + McCoy + Dresden + Morgan + Team Morgan + Sanctuary Team 2
--[X]Team Mai/War Room: Ancient Mai + Wizards + Sanctuary Team 3
Least gods are arcana, as shown by the Bane we made. 5+ projects are extensions of normal projects, not something separate, as shown by Tiffany. There's no basis to assume that entirely new category of requirements will be required.
The motivation and priority is an entirely separate argument. I consider us drastically overextended and our homefront to be underdefended. City god is a good, quick, and cheap way to ameliorate the issue, and almost certainly a required foundation or at least something useful for manse raising project.
I will concede that the statue is likely exalted craft, but the security around it is mortal grade. And that's not enough.
I disagree with your assertion on security. It is very demonstrably not enough. Now more so. Assuming that almost everyone knew about it is also strange at best - as far as we can tell, no faction involved in Vegas was aware of solar exaltation's presence. If Nemesis was aware of it, preparations would have been made. "Solar exalts to stop the end of the world" was literally the prophecy of the cult and why it was in Vegas. It was good guys hidden trump card. As far as we can tell, bad guys didn't have a hidden hidden trump card that was meant to trump it.
Even if we accept that argument, Arcana have crafting requirements. Ephemera/Emanations in particular just require things that are simple for us to get. Dots 1-4 require something that's either of great financial or emotional value; unfortunately financial value isn't given a dot rating here unlike simulacra are literally right below them. 5 dots require the anchor be almost any magical item. We treat this like it's basically nothing because Molly can make a qualifying prodigy to use as an anchor with 2 hours, 10 motes, and any random garbage at hand.
Assuming you scale up the requirements with the size of the god producing an appropriate anchor would probably be somewhat tricky.
It's not that I don't want to do this project, it's just that I don't think it's wise to stop to install a sump pump in the basement while the kitchen is on fire.
Why is it strange to assume? Godbot existed. The spark existed and was deployed as a security measure at the Vegas gate in a situation just like the one we were pulled into.
The gate moved from Egypt to Vegas sometime after it got slammed shut by the solar. There it got a new guardian and we lose track of the old one for a bit before it pops back up at the same gate it was last deployed to defend.
The Outsiders have had Nemesis and agents like it in reality for as long as the Outer Gates have stood.
Part of Nemesis' plot even sort of seemed to depend on the situation. If it won the gate opens for a bit, and if it couldn't stick the landing it could still destroy all nations in a line stretching from Vegas down into Central America one way or another.
The opposition isn't stupid. I don't think it's credible for parties they've seen before to show up in the same context they were originally encountered in while essentially waving a sign announcing their identity and get missed.
Personally, I would propose using Little Chicago, but if Dresden is not up for it, we could relatively easily find something like the first stone of modern Chicago or some such. This is an AP taking action, obviously. Possibly even 2 AP worth of it. It's also part of establishing foundations and firming up our base that is sorely needed.
Because there's zero evidence for this. Godbot was discovered by mortals, then some of those mortals formed a small cult around it, and had a prophecy that led them to Vegas. This was a major attack by Nemesis to breach Outer Gates. We see no evidence at all that Sandra or any other Outsider agent other than Black Court, who ran an independent op, knew about the solar shard.
The opposition is not stupid. I see no evidence of them behaving like they knew solar shard prison in a vicinity was a thing. All the text I read seems to indicate that they had no idea it was a thing at all.
BoredMan
Maintaining the Agenda is our top priority
How do you think they'd react if they knew it was there? In my mind they'd steer clear of and ignore it. If they somehow destroyed Godbot that may end up releasing it and the Outsiders know about Exalted. All they'd be doing is waking an enemy of theirs up before they're ready.
The Gate was in Vegas though so they had to attack there but if their enemy has a superweapon and they don't have a counter for it ready before the Gate opens why would they disturb it? They could've known it was there, I don't see how that would've changed their actions.
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BoredMan
Maintaining the Agenda is our top priority
But the SoulGaze?
She does look enough to be polite, not enough to cause a soulgaze.
Vote closed.
Subvert or at least infiltrate the cult, ideally to have it move away from Las Vegas - the godbot is not mobile, and the mortal prophecies can be distorted. Steal godbot, like Black Court attempted. Prepare kill squads ready to hunt down E1 solars immediately after exaltation. They are mighty, but should be inexperienced and could be mote tapped. Keep the cult and godbot under surveliance and ready to be attacked if the exaltation is released - they are the young solar-to-be's support network, and should be eliminated. Have rituals and infrastructure prepared to capture solar shard after it's released but before it's implanted. That should be doable. Eliminate potential exalts in the area (the general profile of an exalt-to-be of a Dawn caste is known) immediately before the event, while flooding the area with candidates loyal to them. Have abyssal exaltation worthy cultists in the area ready to be murdered ritualistically to attrach the abyssal shard.
Those are from the top of my head. We saw no evidence that the cult was under Outsider-aligned survelience. We saw no evidence it was being subverted or infiltrator (have to check later). We saw no wild hunt like killsquads optimized to fight exalts, even baby exalts, during any combat engagements. We saw no rituals prepared to mess with essence manipulation or solaroids.
Basically, we saw no evidence at all that bad guys knew about solar shard being in play potentially. But they almost certainly know now.
BoredMan
Maintaining the Agenda is our top priority
This is a wall of text but I'll try to respond to everything.
- They may have tried that. We don't know. The Godbot was in Vegas because of the Gate. It wasn't going anywhere regardless of the cult.
- The Godbot was mobile onscreen. It attacked us.
- That Blampire tried to shoot a piece off of it. We've no indication that he tried to steal the entire thing and given that Godbot had enough power to threeshot an E3 exalted that would've failed.
- With what assets? The Outsiders gave it everything they had. Their power projection inside reality has limits. Sandra's assets were very limited and we don't know how long she had access to Rampires to begin with. Of course an E1 would cut straight through them and that's after the Godbot gets through with them. We don't know how strong it is either we didn't see much of it.
- They may have been under some level of surveillance. The fact that a Blampire snuck in could mean as much.
- They have limited assets and those people would get pasted if the thing behind the Gate gets released and glasses good portion of America.
- Again limited assets. Why do you think they'd have something capable of containing a shard to begin with?
- Limited assets and they'd need a method to find those potential exalts to begin with. Meanwhile an E3 Exalted and her party were also in Vegas obviously hunting for Sandra.
- Assuming they were aware of the Abyssal shard's connection to the solar one.
1) As far as I can tell, godbot has no strategic mobility. It might move to attack and perhaps even move to the next room, but not travel to a different state or continent. Stealing it was considered a viable plan, which imples its mobility is limited. As far as I understand, it is mostly (>99.9% time) an immobile statue
2) I'll have to reread the scene. My understanding / memory was that it was a theft attempt, and that godbot's power supply was limited. I'll have to do a reread
3) As mentioned above we have very different understanding of godbot's capabilities. As to resources - no. Outsiders had at least True Magi, almost certainly had lesser walkers. They did have lesser outsiders.
4) The blampire was using the Gate's timing, and was using his own special circumstances (its human self being associated with the godbot, and likely having some way to bypass parts of the security).
Everything can be explained, but the simplest explanation that requires least amount of additional assumptions is that no one was aware of the solar shard - it was well hidden. But this cannot be guaranteed now at all.
Not to mention that we need to visit Vegas anyway.
BoredMan
Maintaining the Agenda is our top priority
1) Seems like a baseless presumption. It was in Vegas for the Gate. It has no reason to go anywhere else. Perhaps they weren't aware that the statue could actually move and defend itself and relocate if need be.
2) I recall there being some manner of apparent damage but that's about it. Maybe your right though. I'd have to reread as well.
3) Fact- The Outsiders have limited asset projection inside of reality.
Fact- They do not act uncontested.
Fact- They expended much more assets than usual to keep people occupied at the Outer Gates like the Knights of the Cross which should've been in Vegas with us.
Fact- We did not encounter any of these lesser walkers or other things they supposedly had access to even though it would've made sense to sick them on us.
4) I actually forgot about that odd relation he had. Maybe the plan was to use it to convince Godbot to relocate. Though given the fact that the entire point of it being there was in case the Gate gets released, which was happening, I seriously doubt that was possible.
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Arc 14 Post 41: The Trouble With Diplomats
The Trouble With Diplomats
18th of February 2007 A.D.
"I'm going to need some reinforcements..." you find yourself thinking aloud, going through the math in your head. It's not that you think even the most advanced of Sanctuary's tech can face one of the Fallen head on, but what can't kill can still distract.
"Though it pains me to refuse aid honestly given miss Carpenter I cannot allow a passage to an uncharted realm inside the Halls not without a vote of the Senior Council." It's funny, Ancient Mai sounds entirely reasonable even while every word coming out of her mouth is nonsense, you wonder if that is what you sound like to people sometimes.
"You have a Denarian loose and you don't know where he's going or what he's doing...." you start, following along up the stairs and onto the first landing. Someone with a particular love of medieval unicorns, the ones that look distressingly goat-like had carved the balustrade here, you realize by touch alone, every sense screaming that you have to move now.
"And we aim to find out," she motions for the wizards to follow her, at least all the wizards not named Harry Dresden. The charitable read of the gesture would be that she assumed Harry would be more comfortable with the Chicago gan.. group. 'Chicago gang' will never not sound like a D list movie about the mob. The less charitable one... let's not get into that now.
"There are no words I can say at this late an hour," Beside the ones I am saying right now that is, irony does not escape you, it is just shoved to the side so hard it leaves an indentation in the metaphorical wall. "You either trust us or you do not and I think we have done quite enough to earn the former over the latter."
McCoy is about to open his mouth, from his expression to agree.
"I do not know how the wards would react to the attempt to draw such an opening. These halls once belonged to the Earlking, they are his no more, generations of wizards have worked to ensure he left no hidden openings, intended or no."
"It does not seem to have worked very well given your visitor and the fact that two of them almost got away." Tiffany points out 'innocently'.
"Quite," Ancient Mai agrees. "I cannot approve the opening of a Way inside the halls because you are too valued of an ally to lose Miss Carpenter."
That's... not what you were expecting. Truth be told 'I could get hurt' is very far down the list of mental considerations in this moment. You know you can take more punishment than anyone else here and not by a small margin.
"Magic is an unpredictable force force Majesty." You can tell Usum has to fight himself to even imply you might not win any confrontation. "The work of many hands, be they small and insignificant can trouble even the great, even you."
"Do you think I'll get hurt if I do this?" bluntly as you can you counter. Time is slipping by. Where is the Gatekeeper when you need him?
"On the balance likely not," he replies reluctantly. "One does not lightly bar a queen from her own hall and wards meant to withstand the bastard children of the Raksha would fail before your flame."
Looking at McCoy you read annoyance on his face, but also doubt, it's not hard to guess why, the Council's senior diplomat had just made a point about an important alliance. Grim as things are he'd probably loath to contradict her off the cuff. Not to mention at the top of his mind there's probably that little bit of doubt that you will smash head-first into the walls of reality. Harry has to have learned his worrying ways from someone and it was definitely not his first teacher.
What do you do?
[] It's not like any of the wizards can stop you from seeking the sanctuary of your own soul, step though and bring help, if it breaks the wards, you'll get them better ones, without traitor fast-passes
[] Fine, you'll make due with what you have
[] Write in
OOC: Yes the implication here is that Ancient Mai is willing to risk the Merlin not getting help in time vs Molly getting tele-fraged by the wards. Diplomats are the foremost practitioners of realpolitik.
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