Rolls
What Molly figures out
(other rolls hidden and yes 7 successes are not enough for the full story)
What Molly figures out
(other rolls hidden and yes 7 successes are not enough for the full story)
Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Crossover Fantasy
Ivar
Dark Reaper
- Location
- Russia Moscow
I honestly don't know of any candidates for an invitation from the dead other than the Neverborn or the Deadlords. It's no wonder these attempts were unsuccessful... Although the Abyssals themselves are candidates, but that's doubtful.
In any case, a very creepy place in every sense. But the lore is extremely interesting
In any case, a very creepy place in every sense. But the lore is extremely interesting
Yeah, this is a proper horror story of the lovecraftian nature. People who hide themselves underground in the ancient cursed catacombs, the whole community breeding themselves for the express purpose of dying, willingly, the only reason their master not having destroyed the world being their overeagerness to kill themselves...
Neverborn are foul, pitiful, disgusting things.
Neverborn are foul, pitiful, disgusting things.
[X] Try to keep Necro-Bob talking, as long as he thinks he's torturing he'll have a reason to keep going
-[X] Try to engage it in occult debate - at the core of its self it is a spirit of knowledge arcane and foul in equal measure, playing to its nature should keep it engaged
-[X] Occult, Empathy or Subterfuge excellency, whichever one is more appropriate
-[X] STUNT: "Ah, herr spirit, should I make you a bird then, to fly away, or perhaps a goat?" you tease, making the appropriate figures on the wall of this foul tomb with your hands, the practice you had entertaining your younger siblings helping you in the most unexpected ways. "The shadow of a thing is way too easily manipulated, if one has an appropriate light source. What was the sun that cast these shadows, don't you wonder?"
-[X] Try to engage it in occult debate - at the core of its self it is a spirit of knowledge arcane and foul in equal measure, playing to its nature should keep it engaged
-[X] Occult, Empathy or Subterfuge excellency, whichever one is more appropriate
-[X] STUNT: "Ah, herr spirit, should I make you a bird then, to fly away, or perhaps a goat?" you tease, making the appropriate figures on the wall of this foul tomb with your hands, the practice you had entertaining your younger siblings helping you in the most unexpected ways. "The shadow of a thing is way too easily manipulated, if one has an appropriate light source. What was the sun that cast these shadows, don't you wonder?"
[X] Yog
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[x] Try to keep Necro-Bob talking, as long as he thinks he's torturing he'll have a reason to keep going
-[X] Try to engage it in occult debate - at the core of its self it is a spirit of knowledge arcane and foul in equal measure, playing to its nature should keep it engaged
-[X] Occult, Empathy or Subterfuge excellency, whichever one is more appropriate
-[X] STUNT: "Ah, herr spirit, should I make you a bird then, to fly away, or perhaps a goat?" you tease, making the appropriate figures on the wall of this foul tomb with your hands, the practice you had entertaining your younger siblings helping you in the most unexpected ways. "The shadow of a thing is way too easily manipulated, if one has an appropriate light source. What was the sun that cast these shadows, don't you wonder?"
I'm honestly very confused but… this seems reasonable?
-[X] Try to engage it in occult debate - at the core of its self it is a spirit of knowledge arcane and foul in equal measure, playing to its nature should keep it engaged
-[X] Occult, Empathy or Subterfuge excellency, whichever one is more appropriate
-[X] STUNT: "Ah, herr spirit, should I make you a bird then, to fly away, or perhaps a goat?" you tease, making the appropriate figures on the wall of this foul tomb with your hands, the practice you had entertaining your younger siblings helping you in the most unexpected ways. "The shadow of a thing is way too easily manipulated, if one has an appropriate light source. What was the sun that cast these shadows, don't you wonder?"
I'm honestly very confused but… this seems reasonable?
We can't call anti-Bob Bob backwards because that's just Bob. We should ether iterate the first letter to Cob or invert the name to Obo.
Well that's horrific.
Though it makes me wonder if this place represents a vulnerability to the remaining blamps and anything associated with them. DF magic is big on association based thaumaturgy, and this hellhole is the place where those freaks were given form.
We were told that making this place into splendor is probably not viable, but that doesn't necessarily preclude adding one to it. Like an after market focusing lens for the Death Star, or our own line to the invitation offered here.
I'm particularly curious about what could be done if we integrated an Invincible Assertion splendor into the environment, tuned to allow a mortal wizard to cast thaumaturgy on things touched by this place. With the right set up we could make the sort of rituals that shake the world reasonably easy to execute, then get a Essence using wizard like Harry to pump free successes into it to make things even worse.
Who knows what we could do to these assholes with a mad science project like that?
Though it makes me wonder if this place represents a vulnerability to the remaining blamps and anything associated with them. DF magic is big on association based thaumaturgy, and this hellhole is the place where those freaks were given form.
We were told that making this place into splendor is probably not viable, but that doesn't necessarily preclude adding one to it. Like an after market focusing lens for the Death Star, or our own line to the invitation offered here.
I'm particularly curious about what could be done if we integrated an Invincible Assertion splendor into the environment, tuned to allow a mortal wizard to cast thaumaturgy on things touched by this place. With the right set up we could make the sort of rituals that shake the world reasonably easy to execute, then get a Essence using wizard like Harry to pump free successes into it to make things even worse.
Who knows what we could do to these assholes with a mad science project like that?
You would first have to figure out how to bring mortals here without melting their insides, right now all you have are highly enhanced cyborgs used to operating in hostile environments
Anyway good night guys, see you tomorrow with ancient horrors man was not meant to know but had a hand in.
So you're saying there's a chance?
[X] Yog
We could call him boB if you'd like.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
What about b0b?
If it is a manse, it should have a heartstone. If we can get that, we probably can use it for something for Lydia.
Depending on how strongly connected it is to Black Court, the list of ambitious applications would be:
1) Have Lydia consume this place and the whole of the Black Court to boost her to either Celestial tier, or Elder Essence.
2) Have Lydia take control over the whole Black Court. Apply Command the Dead through the Heartstone in the same way she commanded proto-blamps as a single whole.
3) Transform the whole of Black Court into something new. If I understand the last update correctly, Black Court is actually a failure - they are the result of cultists being too eager to kill themselves and the ritual to bring in / make some eldrich horror being incomplete. If they are incomplete, they should be malleable, like the Forge was malleable. The ways to do this can be different:
3a) Blampires to WoD vampires. At one point we got a ruling that we could make a splendor to make kindred. Flipping Black Court to kindred would be an improvement - the latter are at least capable of having a functioning society
3b) A more ambitious plan would be to flip the polarity. Do the Solar to Abyssal thing, but in reverse. I am not sure what the end result would be. I want to say WoD mummies, but I am unsure. Making Black Court into a warriors for balance and guardians of death would be a hilariously huge achievement, though.
You could combine 2 and 3, and it would be a huge achievement for Lydia.
So, this seems a very appropriate time to return to designing Lydia's panoply, especially since I think I got a great idea for an armor that's far more interesting than "now you are immune to everything". I couldn't grant Lydia Crown of Eyes, but I got her the next best thing, I think, and in a thematically appropriate way. It's also something that would be very in theme to be made from liberated artefacts from this place. Or even using the Heartstone of this manse as the core (though in that case, it'll probably need to be more powerful). Anyway, behold:
@DragonParadox I would like to request a review of the design.
I'll revisit Judge's Deadly Noose later. I am in general satisfied with the narrative of the weapon, but not with bannermen of Annwn build. I'll almost certainly remove Flight feature and probably Fast Feature. Probably add Legend merit.
The Splendor takes the form of something that is evocative of death. It might be a funeral
garment, or an old bone, or decorated with skulls. It might be smeared with crematory ash. This
Element defines the Splendor's physical form and gives it a character, and that character is
aligned with the power of death. Other Elements may draw upon this fact.
The Splendor can be summoned directly into the Underworld when made to manifest, if its
owner desires. As the basis for an Adornment, it grants its user the ability to see and interact with
ghosts on the other side of the Shroud. As the basis for a Fascination, it can interact with both the
land of the living and the Underworld.
garment, or an old bone, or decorated with skulls. It might be smeared with crematory ash. This
Element defines the Splendor's physical form and gives it a character, and that character is
aligned with the power of death. Other Elements may draw upon this fact.
The Splendor can be summoned directly into the Underworld when made to manifest, if its
owner desires. As the basis for an Adornment, it grants its user the ability to see and interact with
ghosts on the other side of the Shroud. As the basis for a Fascination, it can interact with both the
land of the living and the Underworld.
The Splendor takes the form of something that is solid and durable and sturdy. It might be made
of stone, metal, or mineral deposits. It might be a crystal or gemstone. It might be dirty and
roadworn. This Element defines the Splendor's physical form and gives it a character, and that
character is aligned with the elemental power of earth. Other Elements may draw upon this fact.
The Splendor is extremely rugged, and the first attempt to damage or destroy it in any scene
automatically fails. As an Adornment, it grants its user one extra die of soak. As the basis for a
Fascination, it may generate the creator's choice of: useful tools for a certain kind of work; an
aura of quiet and serenity; periodic foreboding tremors in the earth.
of stone, metal, or mineral deposits. It might be a crystal or gemstone. It might be dirty and
roadworn. This Element defines the Splendor's physical form and gives it a character, and that
character is aligned with the elemental power of earth. Other Elements may draw upon this fact.
The Splendor is extremely rugged, and the first attempt to damage or destroy it in any scene
automatically fails. As an Adornment, it grants its user one extra die of soak. As the basis for a
Fascination, it may generate the creator's choice of: useful tools for a certain kind of work; an
aura of quiet and serenity; periodic foreboding tremors in the earth.
The Splendor takes the form of something otherworldly. It may be a religious symbol, an overtly
magical object such as a wand or pentacle, or a strange haze. It may be an inchoate thing of
coalesced light which can be held and touched. This Element defines the Splendor's physical
form and gives it a character, and that character is aligned with the power of the Spirit World.
Other Elements may draw upon this fact.
The Splendor can be summoned directly into the Umbra when made to manifest, if its owner
desires. As the basis for an Adornment, it grants its user the ability to see and interact with spirits
on the other side of the Gauntlet. As the basis for a Fascination, it can interact with both the
physical world and the Spirit World.
magical object such as a wand or pentacle, or a strange haze. It may be an inchoate thing of
coalesced light which can be held and touched. This Element defines the Splendor's physical
form and gives it a character, and that character is aligned with the power of the Spirit World.
Other Elements may draw upon this fact.
The Splendor can be summoned directly into the Umbra when made to manifest, if its owner
desires. As the basis for an Adornment, it grants its user the ability to see and interact with spirits
on the other side of the Gauntlet. As the basis for a Fascination, it can interact with both the
physical world and the Spirit World.
This Splendor defines that which cannot threaten those within its influence, according to the
Splendor's character as defined by appropriate Form Elements.
It provides immunity to damage from wind, cold, and electricity (air); being crushed, cut, or
pierced by stone or metal (earth); being burned (fire); being drowned (water); being poisoned or
struck by wooden objects (wood); disease (death); possession (spirit); or the twisting of the mind
by supernatural powers (dreams). If its protection is bestowed by a Fascination, it lasts for a
number of hours equal to the Splendor's rating, and may be set to persist indefinitely while
within the Splendor's influence in the case of Forms such as Form of the Hearth.
If more than one characteristic is drawn upon when this Element grants its Protection, then
instead of invincibility, damage is simply downgraded from aggravated to lethal, lethal to
bashing, and bashing damage cut in half after soak (round down), while immunity to possession
and thought alteration become the ability to make a Willpower roll at difficulty (10 – Splendor's
rating) to immediately shake the effect off, and immunity to disease becomes the ability to make
a Stamina roll at difficulty (10 – Splendor's rating) to immediately shake the infection off.
Splendor's character as defined by appropriate Form Elements.
It provides immunity to damage from wind, cold, and electricity (air); being crushed, cut, or
pierced by stone or metal (earth); being burned (fire); being drowned (water); being poisoned or
struck by wooden objects (wood); disease (death); possession (spirit); or the twisting of the mind
by supernatural powers (dreams). If its protection is bestowed by a Fascination, it lasts for a
number of hours equal to the Splendor's rating, and may be set to persist indefinitely while
within the Splendor's influence in the case of Forms such as Form of the Hearth.
If more than one characteristic is drawn upon when this Element grants its Protection, then
instead of invincibility, damage is simply downgraded from aggravated to lethal, lethal to
bashing, and bashing damage cut in half after soak (round down), while immunity to possession
and thought alteration become the ability to make a Willpower roll at difficulty (10 – Splendor's
rating) to immediately shake the effect off, and immunity to disease becomes the ability to make
a Stamina roll at difficulty (10 – Splendor's rating) to immediately shake the infection off.
This Splendor manifests the resources of a Background, chosen at the time of the Splendor's
creation. The Background is either Arsenal or Library (see M20, p. 318).
As an Adornment, the character may spend a turn and a point of Willpower to simply manifest
whatever equipment or research materials they desire from their Arsenal or Library. They have
an effective rating in the Background equal to the Splendor's rating while wearing it.
As a Fascination, Panoply of Wonders requires that the Splendor also have a location-type Form
Element such as Form of the Hearth. The chosen Background has a dot rating equal to the
Splendor's rating, and manifests throughout the affected area.
creation. The Background is either Arsenal or Library (see M20, p. 318).
As an Adornment, the character may spend a turn and a point of Willpower to simply manifest
whatever equipment or research materials they desire from their Arsenal or Library. They have
an effective rating in the Background equal to the Splendor's rating while wearing it.
As a Fascination, Panoply of Wonders requires that the Splendor also have a location-type Form
Element such as Form of the Hearth. The chosen Background has a dot rating equal to the
Splendor's rating, and manifests throughout the affected area.
The Splendor is shrouded in a psychic ward that makes it unthinkable to even consider harming
it in any way. Anyone attempting to do so must succeed at a Willpower roll against difficulty (4
+ Splendor's rating) and then spend a Willpower point on each turn in which they attempt to do
harm to the Splendor.
it in any way. Anyone attempting to do so must succeed at a Willpower roll against difficulty (4
+ Splendor's rating) and then spend a Willpower point on each turn in which they attempt to do
harm to the Splendor.
This Element can only be part of an Adornment.
The Splendor stokes the fires of the Exalt's Essence whenever she affirms her innermost self.
When she regains Willpower from fulfilling her Nature, she also refills her Essence pool.
The Splendor stokes the fires of the Exalt's Essence whenever she affirms her innermost self.
When she regains Willpower from fulfilling her Nature, she also refills her Essence pool.
"Three can keep a secret, if two are dead" goes the saying that exists in all mortal cultures of Creation. The dead outnumber the living by far more than two to one, and they guard their knowledge jealously. Only to the Chosen of Death, Heir and Guardian both, they grant their benedictions, a pact between the subjects and the liege, clad in the holy vestments.
When the power of this Splendor is called upon, the form of the Chosen is covered by the long strips of cloth in the manner not unlike the embalmed nobles of Kemet of the ancient past, when Ra himself descended upon Creation, and the foul work of the nameless city was conceived hidden below Black Earth. Each strip of cloth is seemingly of finest silk, and yet the keen eye will note the unnatural gleam of the threads, and on closer examination discover that they are somehow, impossibly made of stone, somehow shaped into flexible strands. An even more observant investigator, gifted in the long-forbidden arts of necromancy as it was originally conceived of, the divination through remnants of deceased, may discover that the stone threads, are, in fact, petrified nerves of long-dead beings, human and dragon both, their endings seemingly coalescing from shadows they themselves create.
Upon each strip of cloth flows the curved black script of the dead, the transcript of whispers and wisdom beyond mortal ken. To attempt to strike at it is to know that you are a betrayer of your ancestors, the defiler of everything that came before you - be it the noble bloodline stretching no the era of golden kings, or the demonic ancestry that has ever tried to tear Creation apart. To the bearer of the Splendor, however, the script is an endless font of knowledge that can, in time, provide answer to almost any question, and a source of strength, the gentle affirmation of the sacred nature of her duty.
When the power of this Splendor is called upon, the form of the Chosen is covered by the long strips of cloth in the manner not unlike the embalmed nobles of Kemet of the ancient past, when Ra himself descended upon Creation, and the foul work of the nameless city was conceived hidden below Black Earth. Each strip of cloth is seemingly of finest silk, and yet the keen eye will note the unnatural gleam of the threads, and on closer examination discover that they are somehow, impossibly made of stone, somehow shaped into flexible strands. An even more observant investigator, gifted in the long-forbidden arts of necromancy as it was originally conceived of, the divination through remnants of deceased, may discover that the stone threads, are, in fact, petrified nerves of long-dead beings, human and dragon both, their endings seemingly coalescing from shadows they themselves create.
Upon each strip of cloth flows the curved black script of the dead, the transcript of whispers and wisdom beyond mortal ken. To attempt to strike at it is to know that you are a betrayer of your ancestors, the defiler of everything that came before you - be it the noble bloodline stretching no the era of golden kings, or the demonic ancestry that has ever tried to tear Creation apart. To the bearer of the Splendor, however, the script is an endless font of knowledge that can, in time, provide answer to almost any question, and a source of strength, the gentle affirmation of the sacred nature of her duty.
- +3 soak dice (+2 dice manufacturing + 1 die from Form of Steadfast Earth: since @DragonParadox said that "perfectly negate first attack of the scene" is too strong, so I changed the bonus from Form of Steadfast Earth). No Dexterity penalties
- Perfect defense against being crushed, cut, or pierced by stone or metal, possession and disease.
- If more than one characteristic is drawn upon when this Element grants its Protection, then instead of invincibility, damage is simply downgraded from aggravated to lethal, lethal to bashing, and bashing damage cut in half after soak (round down), while immunity to possession become the ability to make a Willpower roll at difficulty 6 (5 if 5 dot upgrade is taken) to immediately shake the effect off, and immunity to disease becomes the ability to make a Stamina roll at difficulty 6 (5 if 5 dot upgrade is taken) to immediately shake the infection off.
- Anyone trying to damage the vestments, which includes attacking Lydia by piercing them, must succeed at Willpower roll at DC 7 (capped by ruling of QM), and spend 1 willpower per turn to keep attacking
- Lydia gets access to a Library background at 4 (5 if the upgrade is taken), which represents the collective knowledge of the dead called upon by this splendor. Normally access to all the knowledge of the dead would probably be a 10 dot Library rating, but there is no translation provided, so Lydia would need to spend time and effort finding, translating and understanding the information. Since the feature represents connection to and communication with the dead spirits and their knowledge, it benefits from Authority of the Psychopomp charm. This feature also synergies with Akashic Root Methodology charm of hers.
- When the splendor is upgraded to 5 dot rating, Lydia regains full essence when fulfilling her nature as the Chosen of Death and regaining Willpower from it
I'll revisit Judge's Deadly Noose later. I am in general satisfied with the narrative of the weapon, but not with bannermen of Annwn build. I'll almost certainly remove Flight feature and probably Fast Feature. Probably add Legend merit.
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[X] Yog
I think DC 9 willpower to attack her is a bit high even for a five dot essence. 7 I could see at most. Other than that seems fine.