The light calls to you. It soothes you –– gives you strength. "Come and take your destiny," the indeterminate, but powerful, male voice says. "Come, take your place on the throne. Our exchange is nearly complete."
"You are sending your thoughts to me as a meaning. My mind only processes them and instantly recognizes a sentence and the message you try to convey, adjusting it to a format I can understand. For an example, you probably hear me speak your language, don't you?"
Hey, their guard laughed at our defeat when he took us prisoner. Turnabout is fair play etc etc.
Eh. He is right in one thing, we need to find something better and stronger to kill. Killing rats is fine as a baby's first quest, but one does not make a career out of it. Not unless they wanted to be a cat.
[x] Shrug.
We might need a new name to distinguish ourselves from our Cesimir the merchant self. Drow already have Vahadarr and DeVir, Vader would fit right in.
I don't want to force the matter with our master - as long as he is willing to teach we'll nod and go along with him - but I surely won't make Cesimir rethink his ways just because someone tells him they are amoral. You don't say?
First the voice says 'Awaken, my child', and now it tells us to embrace the glory that is our birthright? I am watching you, voice!
Does he talk normally when it's telepathic, or was it a momentary slip on his part?
Hey, their guard laughed at our defeat when he took us prisoner. Turnabout is fair play etc etc.
Eh. He is right in one thing, we need to find something better and stronger to kill. Killing rats is fine as a baby's first quest, but one does not make a career out of it. Not unless they wanted to be a cat.
[x] Shrug.
We might need a new name to distinguish ourselves from our Cesimir the merchant self. Drow already have Vahadarr and DeVir, Vader would fit right in.
I don't want to force the matter with our master - as long as he is willing to teach we'll nod and go along with him - but I surely won't make Cesimir rethink his ways just because someone tells him they are amoral. You don't say?
We shouldn't want to piss of Yoda's expy, given just how much we can learn. Also we were just being pointlessly violent in the latest update, rather than using it to achieve something. Using their deaths as soul/blood/death magic, OK suits the character, enslave them, sure that's fine, kill them for laughs? It's neither smart nor wise.
As for the chapter itself, I was looking forward to the city of Intrigues interlude and hope you continue. I was expecting for some of Casemir's weapons/equipment to come up in the dialogue though, given just how expensive they were they'd surely be reused.
[X] Shrug.
-[x] it seems the Kobolds have tasted enough of your power? Maybe you should just enslave or use diplomacy/intimidation with/against the 12 tribes to bow to your rule and punish them if they failed in their task instead of just killing them outright?
I mean either way it' a fantasy world. So maybe that does exist but the authors sorta forgot about? I' sure that happens in D&D. Things get so big and complicated that you forget details.
His words hit you. You release the enthralled kobolds, who, as soon as they realize they are free of the mental bondage, begin to scream like wild beasts, drop their weapons to rid themselves of unnecessary weight, and run away as fast as they can in horrid panic, gasping for their lives and probably crying from excess fear and pain.
You look at Malcer.
DC: 25
Roll: 10+3+7=20
Failure!
"Look, I'm... I'm..." You open your mouth to speak, but stop mid-sentence, causing you to sigh and look around in frustration. Malcer would quirk an eyebrow if he could, so instead, he raises his eyestalks in anticipation. You try again, "I'm... s-s-s..." You can't let the word pass through your mouth, as it is too alien. Finally, you gather the mental resolve and say, "I'm... sorry...?"
Malcer's eyestalks scrunch up in pure disgust. Although your apology was almost heartfelt, he senses only dishonesty. "Teach you no more, I will," Malcer answers.
"I just said I'm sorry." You're somewhere between scoffing and pointing out the obvious.
"I just said, teach you no more, I will," he mimics with a degree of firm dislike. Malcer turns 180-degrees. "If this is what knowledge, you use for, no more of it you will receive. The end of times, on your own, you will face."
"I just said I'm sorry," you repeat for the second time, hoping to get the argument through his head.
"That means nothing," Malcer answers, gravely disappointed. "Your apology is not to the crime you committed, but to me. Shame for ruining life, you do not feel, but for ruining your chance to obtain more power. Power ––– the only ambition that drives you, that is."
You clench your fists, because you know he's right. Your chest gets heavy. You puff out some air, trying to control yourself, but it becomes difficult. Years of social conditioning taught you to be cruel, vindictive, vengeful, and most of all:
DC: 20
Roll: 4+2=6
Failure!
Superior.
You lead your open hand's palm to your former teacher. You extend your mental influence and Malcer's floating shape stops. You grin, confident that you killed him. Until suddenly.
DC: 26
Roll: 3+2=5
Failure!
Damage?: 11 HP.
You drop flat on your chest, your whole body convulses with pain. You moan with an open mouth, your saliva foaming at the rims of your lips and your eyes shocked with the amount of power running through your brain. You feel like your mind is burning, giving you the god of all migraines. You clutch your hands around your head, hoping to physically contain the pain, but it is just a useless, subconscious gesture. Trace amounts of blood pour from your nose, as Malcer looms over you.
"You should know, Cesimir, that a smart choice, attacking me, is not." Malcer blinks and watches as you convulse in mental pain.
This continues for several seconds until you regain your control. You lay on the rocky ground for several seconds, with a tired expression. You feel inwardly exhausted as if your very thought process was fatigued. Every image that passes through your brain is lethargic and it takes you some time to process what Malcer just said.
In response, you blink emptily and ask with a blank tone, "What?..."
"I have turned your own attack against you," Malcer explains. "A child's trick, it is, for one of my age and power. Again, we will not see each other, prodigal son. Return to Lolth's children, you will. Continue your conquests as you see fit," he adds, then blinks. Malcer turns away, while you are still processing his first sentence in your mind. "Goodbye," Malcer flies away.
So much for trying to be good. Perhaps good is not as rewarding as you thought.
After five minutes, you regain cognitive function at roughly seventy percent capacity. You stand up, cursing, "Damned jellyfish..."
[] Accept this punishment and go back to the City of Intrigues. (+1 Good, +1 Lawful.)
[] Return to the City of Intrigues, harboring only a minor grudge.
[] Seek vengeance, later. (+2 Evil.)
[] Seek terrible vengeance, later. (+3 Evil, +1 Chaotic.)
[] Write-in. (GM decides moral changes.)
You go through the caves. The Flumphs are not here. Malcer must have ordered them to migrate elsewhere. You shrug, trying not to think about it, and go to the place where you set your camp. It takes you a good few minutes in the tunnels to find the right cavern, but you eventually do.
You take your prized possessions and look through them. You discard the ones you definitely won't need, like the ones required for camping, and only take the items necessary to assure you return to the city safely, as well as your diary and kobold bone souvenir to remind you of this tiring, but equally refreshing ordeal. You've used at least half of your magic for today, so you'd need to meditate a little and recharge.
Regardless, you set out. You cross countless ravines, caves, cairns, and other such places. You try to guide yourself toward the city using psychic imprints left here by travellers from as long as months ago. Having psychic power is surpisingly handy.
On the way there...
DC: 15
Roll: 7+2+6+2=17
Success!
+150 XP!
Your eyes twitch, as you notice movement. You narrowly hop to the left, avoiding an arrow. You hide behind a stalagmite, taking cover. You reach out mentally toward the attacker, momentarily doubling your own range of telepathy. "Who are you?"
...
No response. So they're your enemy. You did give them a chance to self-identify. Let them reap the benefits. You peek out of cover and see the enemy.
A skeleton. A lonely undead drone, here? In a cave? Whatever. A trifle to beat.
You run out of cover, jumping and spinning to masterfully dodge another arrow from the drawn bow. Before the monster can reach back into his quiver, you thrust your spear in his bridge bone, but he survives. As he reaches for his sword, you spin and deliver another slash with the spear, cutting his ribs apart. One more blow to the skull proves to be his end.
You stare at the body for a moment.
"Weird," you exclaim. As you stare, you get an idea and get on one knee. You touch the skull with your hand and focus, trying to get an impression from the body.
He was controlled. It seems the necromancer ordered it to simply roam and patrol the caves and pick off stragglers. The skeleton was a sentry, but his destruction is yet undetected. That's when you remember a key detail about the undead...
You were killed by one of them.
[] Find the necromancer and kill him, but only to get rid of the undead menace rather than as vengeance. (+1 Lawful.)
[] Find the necromancer and kill him painfully.
[] Find the necromancer and kill him very painfully. I mean torture-the-fucker-for-days-by-digging-knives-under-his-nails-and-ripping-them-off kind of torture. (+1 Evil.)
[] Write-in. (GM decides moral changes.)
QM Note: Yes, there is a reason why there are so many choices that alter morality in this chapter.
[X] Accept this punishment and go back to the City of Intrigues. (+1 Good, +1 Lawful.)
[X] Find the necromancer and kill him very painfully. I mean torture-the-fucker-for-days-by-digging-knives-under-his-nails-and-ripping-them-off kind of torture. (+1 Evil.)
An so we return to our City we aim to take it over. First with our Family. Then we takeover our Family. Oh and find some cults that want to play ball with us.
EDIT: King has a point. Lets take it out on the Necromancer. This guy sucks and killed us first. We've already killed enough Kobolds to salve our wounds/ego for them capturing us.
Rejected even after we apologized. I think we have a right to be angry.
[X] Seek terrible vengeance, later. (+3 Evil, +1 Chaotic.)
[X] Find the necromancer and kill him very painfully. I mean torture-the-fucker-for-days-by-digging-knives-under-his-nails-and-ripping-them-off kind of torture. (+1 Evil.)
Also, ATTENTION EVERYONE! Cesimir has survived a hit! We must celebrate!!
Escpecially considering that, were it not for CON, we'd be playing dead yet again, though I suppose Malcer wouldn't kill us. More fool him!
[x] Return to the City of Intrigues, harboring only a minor grudge.
Eh, we got psychic powers, so the whole affair was a wash. Bonus points, we were taught the method, so we can experiment at our leisure.
[x] Find the necromancer and kill him painfully.
Will our luck hold out? Or will we suffer two hits and perish ignobly? Let's find out!
So what are the chances of us taking over the city with our family?
@Birdsie Some questions that I was hoping Cesimar would know because of his activities/status as a key player for our family.
1. Who is the #1 Family in the City (Drow part)?
2. Are all cities independant of each other with 1 family ruling it's city?
3. Who are the top 3 families in the City?
Btw hows that Darksong Knight doing? Is she still alive and wrecking stuff or is she departling like Moses with citizens who've had enough of this crazy city?
You'd be very surprised. You were three possible hit points that he was willing to give you away from a terrible demise. He's aware you have Fate points and can resurrect and he would have done it just to teach you the lesson that attacking powerful, underground psionic critters is not a good idea, both morally and literally.
You'd be very surprised. You were three possible hit points that he was willing to give you away from a terrible demise. He's aware you have Fate points and can resurrect and he would have done it just to teach you the lesson that attacking powerful, underground psionic critters is not a good idea, both morally and literally.
[X] Accept this punishment and go back to the City of Intrigues. (+1 Good, +1 Lawful.)
[X] Find the necromancer and kill him, but only to get rid of the undead menace rather than as vengeance. (+1 Lawful.)
Can we stop being Evil Stupid now? I'd prefer at least True Neutral.
So what are the chances of us taking over the city with our family?
@Birdsie Some questions that I was hoping Cesimar would know because of his activities/status as a key player for our family.
1. Who is the #1 Family in the City (Drow part)?
2. Are all cities independant of each other with 1 family ruling it's city?
3. Who are the top 3 families in the City?
Roughly 26%, but I'm willing to spare up to 10% more if you exploit the chaos.
1. House Ludenwick (You,) but only in terms of favor from the clergy. Financially, you are one of the top contestants but not the very top, especially after Cesimir died and was gone for weeks now, funds are getting somewhat tight. Technically, House Oussrett is equal or higher than you, because the High-Priestess is its Matron Mother.
2. Yes. A High-Priestess is the leading ruler of a drow city here, and they are city-states independent of each other. There have been attempts to unify cities in the past, but the results were... uh... you can guess.
3. #1: Ludenwick/Oussrett, tied. #2: Teken'th. #3: A'Darael. I can give you a closer dissection of them if you want.
[X] Accept this punishment and go back to the City of Intrigues. (+1 Good, +1 Lawful.)
[X] Find the necromancer and kill him, but only to get rid of the undead menace rather than as vengeance. (+1 Lawful.)
Can we stop being Evil Stupid now? I'd prefer at least True Neutral.
The MC is far from mature (and thus Evil Stupid; something I admit) because he is a spoiled piece of shit up to getting away with harassing women in a matriarchal society simply because he represents his mommy's interest and has her protection, so if anyone tries to as much as lay a finger on the valuableincome-generating demigod drow with limitlesspotential for growth as a tool, they get shanked brutally, have their gonads twisted the other way, and are then burnt on a stake and sacrificed to Lolth and he sticks out his tongue at them as they burn. He's megalomaniacal and was taught he can do anything he wants if he does it with appropriate care.
Admittedly, this chapter made him maybe 11% more mature, not that it's much of a difference.
So to the path of maturity we shall henceforth empower the family! But first how do we convince our Mother to forget that we were once literally dead? An not like a zombie with the current predicament?
Hmmm
New idea (I love making ideas!)
What if we kill the Necromancer and then start looking for the competing cults that Hate Lolth? There's that one God that was her son who we can use and maybe Elly if we can make a partnership with them. From there launch an assault on the Clergy? I mean killing the clergy is kinda the important bit for our Family. Especially now since we are gone.
An picks stupid fights. Instead of using your influence for stupid stuff like getting some chick thrown in jail or risking your butt for amusement you should be planning for the future. It's like having the power of invisibility but using it only to prank your sister. An not like find a way to help you get something (robbing a bank) or help peole in need (super hero) or help people for a price (mercenary).
So to the path of maturity we shall henceforth empower the family! But first how do we convince our Mother to forget that we were once literally dead? An not like a zombie with the current predicament?
Oussrett: Matron Mother, with six highly subordinate children, all of whom are important clergy members, save for her two sons; one of them is a successful scholar and the other was turned into a drider and then exiled as punishment for a crime. Rules the city with iron and intimidation, but in the light of recent events, they are slowly losing support and it looks like some major power plays are about to take place.
Teken'th: Famous for producing sorcerers and sorceresses. They strive to collect spelltomes and scrolls and gain domination through arcane might and they have a good share of success in doing so. They often poison rivals, or just use magic, curses, or demons to destroy them. Matron Mother and eight children, half of which are male.
A'Darael: The contenders for being the richest house in the city, they own a vast majority of the mercenary raiding parties that go to the surface to hunt for slaves and you, yourself, have often bought from them. According to them, poison goes with everything; breakfast, dinner, and supper, and also daggers and arrows; lots of daggers and arrows. Matron Mother and four children, three of which are female.
Having a temper is stupid, in addition, @Lord Hater has already raised several points I, too, was going to raise. Cesimir is beyond decadent; he wastes his gifts and the power available to him for short-term pleasure.
[X] Accept this punishment and go back to the City of Intrigues. (+1 Good, +1 Lawful.)
[X] Find the necromancer and use your psychic powers on him to extract information
May as well try and take advantage of our new psychic skills, and ideally learn about necromancy in the process and what this necromancers agenda is. We'd incidentally also learn about any stashes or treasures he has, which would be benefical too.
