Ascensions and Transgressions: the Tales of Keris Dulmeadokht (Exalted game)

[firefrog600]

1. please edit your previous post instead of double posting.

2. Is there a reason why you feel the need to clutter the thread with questions only tangentially related to the story the thread is about? we have an Exalted thread on this forum.

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because this is about this game in particular where their clearly using an au system? I'm trying to understand how things work and that takes a lot for a decade long campaign sorry.

 

[Chloe Sullivan]

because this is about this game in particular where their clearly using an au system? I'm trying to understand how things work and that takes a lot for a decade long campaign sorry.

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then take some time to organize your throughts and present a coherent single post instead of this shotgunning.

or, y'know go back and read the thread the the google docs sheet where most of this has been answered already.

 

[firefrog600]

then take some time to organize your throughts and present a coherent single post instead of this shotgunning.

or, y'know go back and read the thread the the google docs sheet where most of this has been answered already.

Click to shrink...

FInished some of said google docs already if its there I don't think it actually says the upper limit for things. The kerishacks doesn't say the upper limit of artifacts I don't think. But, I guess your right about the shotgunning thing.

I went through kerishacks and all associated links on kerishacks including the really really long demons of the yozis list. Now I'm on to the character sheet and looking at some of the formatting for various sites this is hosted on and discovering how to read stuff and if I'm missing anything by crossreferencing between sites.

 

[Aleph]

The thing I really like about this little diversion of a plot arc is that... Keris says, every time it comes up (and often when it doesn't), that she'd do anything for her children. That her family always comes first. That she prioritises her loved ones above her mission. That if her babies need help, any kind of help, for any reason, at any time, they can call on her and she will come.

But it doesn't get shown much, because, y'know, they're all demon lords. So I do really enjoy it when - as with Vali getting captured by Kalathais, and as with Haneyl now, she gets the chance to put her money where her mouth is. Because Keris has plans for this year. A lot of plans. She wants to beat the Hui Cha back into shape and stop the growing issues in male and female social roles that are developing from becoming problems, she wants to strike at the Dhul Republic and claim a foothold in the Delikado March. All things that require time. Time she has in very short supply.

But now Haneyl needs her. And so she has to make a choice. Which matters more? Her daughter running into trouble, or having to rewrite half her plans for late Air and Water to account for her having to go off and kill an elemental dragon? Will she throw her entire five-month plan into the garbage, or leave her big grown-up demon lord daughter to handle things herself?

Water 776 shows pretty conclusively that her promises aren't just empty talk.

Extras!

<Great Mother's Gift>
ST rolled 11d10s7c10+5 = 10 <7; 6; 1; 8; 4; 8; 1; 2; 7; 5; 9> #Efforts from Captain Neride
EarthScorpion: So you basically have a choice here of who you want to sacrifice the ship (and surplus cargo and crew) to, since Neride got enough successes to get something that's valuable but not stand-out in any way.
EarthScorpion: Actually, hmm. Didn't you say you were looking to teach Suriani a certain Yozi's charms? (I can't remember which one.) You could do that by stunting this sacrifice appropriately (well, showing Suriani how to do it).
Aleph: Yessss, I wanted to initiate her into the Spiteful Sea Tincture tree that leads to Ichor Flux Tendrils. Because TENTACLES are never a bad choice.
EarthScorpion: 3 dot stunt, Resources 4 sacrifice.
ST rolled 7d10s7c10+3 = 7 <9; 3; 4; 3; 9; 8; 9> #How brave is Suriani feeling?
Aleph: Persuasion 5 + Expression 5 + 3 (Spirit-Charming Supplicant + Time-Strung Harpist + Utz Semivir) Style + 3 stunt + 10 Kimmy ExD {endlessly giving, no restraint in tormenting enemies, great artist, disturbing art} = 26.
Aleph: Diff 7 - Res 4 - 1 Tidal Renewal Discipline = Diff 2.
Keris rolled 26d10s7c10 = 10 <8; 4; 1; 1; 4; 1; 7; 9; 9; 7; 5; 10; 5; 1; 8; 5; 6; 2; 7; 4; 1; 3; 9; 3; 1; 6> #Keris Giving Mama Kimbery A Present
EarthScorpion: 10 sux, therefore 8 threshold. It is an excellent, awe-inspiring prayer that also does a magnificent job to motivating/inspiring/terrifying your demon underlings and reminding them precisely who they work for
Aleph: ^_^
Aleph: don't worry suriani
Aleph: i'm pretty sure pekhijira aimed the ichor flux tendrils to slam down on the bits of the deck you weren't standing on
Aleph: i'm trying to drown you, not crush you to death
ST rolled 16d10s7c10+3 = 12 <2; 4; 9; 7; 7; 2; 5; 7; 7; 6; 5; 10; 10; 3; 3; 4> #Suriani surviving what just happened, 8 + 8 ExD + 3 MSM sux
EarthScorpion: Kimbery says you can have Mariner's Monstrous Misfortune, as a birthing gift for your cute little baby
Aleph: yaaaaay~ ^_^
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 8 <7; 1; 5; 10; 9; 6; 2; 2; 2; 4; 10; 1; 8; 8> #just a roll, don't question it
Aleph: … I am questioning that roll. Was that Keris's resistance roll? Or Suriani's Learning Things roll?
EarthScorpion: don't worry about it
EarthScorpion: (it was a roll for Kimbery's least attention)
EarthScorpion: (don't worry about it)
Aleph: …
Aleph: I am worrying about it

---

<Flux et Reflex>
EarthScorpion: btw what I'm looking here from you is a bit of a Keris lecture as to what Needles-and-Spires Style means (both as a "science", but honestly more what it means to Keris, because it's one of her foundational styles and also one of her main "medical" styles)
Aleph: Hmm. Yeah. Yeah, okay.
Aleph: I have something cool for this. : 3

---

<Dammit Suriani>
ST rolled 11d10s7c10 = 4 <3; 1; 4; 8; 3; 6; 5; 9; 6; 8; 9> #Biqi playing the ingenue
ST rolled 8d10s7c10 = 4 <10; 2; 6; 4; 7; 7; 3; 5> #how does Suriani take it
ST rolled 8d10s7c10+2 = 4 <6; 4; 4; 2; 3; 6; 9; 8> #Cog + Occult, what does Suriani understand here, 2ExS
ST rolled 10d10s7c9c10 = 4 <8; 4; 2; 3; 7; 2; 4; 4; 3; 9> #Biqi's bullshitting, enhanced by Well Fed Courtesan
ST rolled 9d10s7c10+2 = 3 <4; 6; 1; 4; 5; 5; 9; 4; 4> #Suriani reading this bullshit, enhanced by WtD
EarthScorpion: Suriani failgirls and fails to see through the lies despite having 2 autosux from WTD
Aleph: facepalm
EarthScorpion: OK, right, so let's get this down on paper - who among the Keris extended cast is Keris taking with her to for the Haneyl issue?
Aleph: Keris will be taking:

• Vali
• Suriani
• Mele
• technically Biqi too but she will not be taking part (she is there for morale and moral support)
• pretty sure that's it

EarthScorpion: Yeah, Vali knows Mele more recently too, since Air 774 has "Teams up with Viscount Mele and some other tidal raiders to go off and be/fight pirates" as his action.
Aleph:
ST rolled 9d10s7c10 = 3 <1; 9; 10; 5; 6; 5; 3; 2; 5> #Suriani seeing Vali
ST rolled 8d10s7c10 = 5 <7; 2; 5; 8; 8; 7; 8; 4> #Vali's pretence, +2 for gear
EarthScorpion: Suriani successfully failgirls into not realising that Vali is Keris's son
Aleph: AS EXPECTED
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 11 <8; 6; 10; 3; 9; 2; 1; 10; 7; 9; 1; 9; 9; 7> #Vali vs Suriani casual sparring - S
ST rolled 11d10s7c10 = 6 <1; 10; 3; 2; 5; 3; 7; 8; 8; 8; 1> #Vali vs Suriani casual sparring - V
ST rolled 18d10s7c10 = 16 <7; 10; 10; 9; 7; 7; 10; 9; 5; 10; 2; 2; 3; 5; 9; 10; 2; 6> #Suriani flirting
ST rolled 20d10s7c10 = 12 <5; 1; 3; 4; 8; 7; 10; 9; 5; 3; 9; 5; 8; 2; 9; 9; 9; 4; 4; 10> #Haneyl showing off, using Kerisian Excellence and channelling Secondary Resources
ST rolled 18d10s7c10 = 10 <10; 6; 6; 6; 3; 6; 10; 1; 9; 7; 5; 10; 4; 4; 7; 4; 8; 4> #Suriani studying her, using 9 XD

---

<Abhorrent Flower>
Aleph: So, to make sure I've understood correctly, of Haneyl's sinister subordinates and awful allies:

• Jamahidaya, Wicked Flame and Impure River are on the salt dragon team
• Jianling and Gageku are dealing with the lesser elemental mob control
• Hiskesh is on wyld-watching duty
• Abhorrent Flower is sitting it out?

EarthScorpion: She isn't so much sitting it out as watching along with her other disciples, having lent two. Keris can guess that she probably intended to step in if it was needed to extract more concessions, but this is rather thwarted by Keris showing up with rather more muscle. When she finds Keris is there, she might provide extra help to claim extra shares of the victory.
Aleph: lol
EarthScorpion: Is there anything else you want to discuss with Haneyl here? If not, you can basically have a trivial to do one of the following:

• further your corruption efforts on one of the DBs.
• investigate what Abhorrent Flower is up to
• scout/investigate the island where the dragon is.
• some kind of destressing/downtime activity of your choice

Aleph: … ugh, you're going to make me choose? I want to do all of those things!
EarthScorpion: Alas. Oh cruel time, that chains you so.
Aleph: Blugh. Well, as much as I'd like to go scout out Gythenes, I'm not doing it when Abhorrent Flower is getting up to some shady shit right next door. I'll investigate her.
EarthScorpion: OK, right, so we'll be doing this as a venture rather than full RP/rolling it out. So what is Keris's broad approach for finding out what Abhorrent Flower is up to?
Aleph: Hmm. So Keris knows that Abhorrent Flower can pick her out when Keris is prodding at her from stealth. So she can either accept that and go in very carefully under LSD/backstage disguise as one of her disciples and see what she can hear, or she can go in openly as Lady Keris Dulmeadokht of Hell and try prodding the woman directly to see if any cracks show, since even Abhorrent Flower probably won't be able to straight-up say "no" to a demon princess who shows up for an unexpected, unannounced tour.
Aleph: The latter will mean her guard is up and she'll be using social charms to hide things, and will also let her know I'm prodding at her. But... hmm.
Aleph: It's also the... how to put this.
Aleph: If I go in under stealth and she catches me, she'll know that I consider her a threat. If I go in openly, I won't seem quite as much like I'm taking her super-seriously.
Aleph: Mmm. Yeah. Okay. I'll go in loud and demand a tour while dressed up in full demon princess. We've already been passingly introduced, but I didn't get a chance to talk to her directly back in Ta Vuzi, so that's all the justification I need.
EarthScorpion: Ok, so the first roll is Per + Pres, swanning in as the imperious figure who expects to be obeyed and is throwing her weight around without, so much, actually caring what she finds. Stunt your looks and aesthetic for your approach, then roll - remember this is a Venture so no XD
Aleph: Okay, 5 + 5 + 3 {Exotic Beauty/Princess of Hell/Wolf-as-Lamb} + 2 stunt = 15. Keris will be enhancing with Attention-Holding Grace so that all eyes are on her (and so that it's hard for anyone to give quick orders to hide certain things) and Beauty-Over-Truth.
Keris rolled 15d10s7c10 = 8 <7; 10; 3; 9; 8; 9; 6; 2; 2; 9; 6; 3; 8; 6; 5> #Demon Princess Keris Wants A Tour
ST rolled 12d10s7c9c10 = 7 <1; 4; 3; 10; 7; 5; 3; 3; 2; 6; 10; 10> #base 12 + can't use Followers because of AHD, but does use Fume Serpent Deception for double 9s
EarthScorpion: She does an almost-good-enough job of covering it up, but Keris makes some progress:

• base success - Abhorrent Flower does not want help and is not interested in even such a graceful demon princess's assistance no matter how elegantly it is offered. But she does let slip that she is after something, and maybe doesn't realise she let it slip.

EarthScorpion: Therefore you have 1 advantage, which is one of:

• +1 to next roll
• Identify a good disguise to use for when you break in
• Accurately profile her, getting +1 equipment bonus to Politics rolls against her for the rest of the season

Aleph: hmm
Aleph: ... I will go for the profile
Aleph: Physique 5 + Subterfuge 5 + 3 Silver Willow + 2 stunt. Keris will be using Loom Snarling Deception, Behind the Role and a bit of Hidden Predator Camouflage when necessary to snoop.
Keris rolled 15d10s7c10 = 3 <6; 6; 2; 1; 5; 3; 5; 5; 6; 1; 3; 7; 9; 1; 8> #Keris SNOOP
Aleph: urk
EarthScorpion: Fortunately this means that only the Followers are on watch because of the stealth Charms, so...
ST rolled 7d10s7c10 = 1 <2; 9; 1; 2; 6; 3; 3> #Followers watchfulness
EarthScorpion: ... and they go and Suriani themselves shamefully.
Aleph: *snrrk*
Aleph: ur so cruel to that woman
Aleph: stop verbing her
EarthScorpion: OK, so Keris has succeeded. She has a fascinating rummage through certain of the notes and documents, copying them out even though they're ciphered. Additionally, she has 2 advantages:

• Discover some other thing that Abhorrent Blossom is planning elsewhere in the Anarchy (2)
• Learn a secret of one of her followers (2)
• Steal a Spell (2)
• +2 to next roll (2)

Aleph: ... I would like a spell. I would also like dirt on one of her followers.
Aleph: BUT I WANT HER SECRETS MORE
Aleph: GIMME GIMME GIMME THE FIRST ONE
EarthScorpion: And the final roll is a Cog + Lore + Shaded Script Style, with a +3 bonus for borrowed Mata and you can also essentially "rush job" it, get it done overnight, and use Peerless Aide to eat the consequence of doing a rush job
Aleph: Keris is able to use her Cog 4 for this, since it's lab work with an art style and she has Mata to keep her focused, so 4 + 2 + 3 Shaded Script + 2 stunt + 3 Mata = 14. -1 Diff since I'm decrypting a cipher.
Keris rolled 14d10s7c10 = 9 <10; 3; 2; 1; 7; 10; 9; 1; 10; 5; 4; 4; 5; 7> #Decrypting Abhorrent Flower's Notes
EarthScorpion: So, this was Diff 7, working on a complex cipher created by a depraved sorceress, reduced to Diff 6 by the style. Keris thus fucking smashes through it with 3 threshold successes. I'll offer you Advantages once I tell you what I find.
EarthScorpion: Advantages are:

• There is a thing Abhorrent Flower has missed in her notes, but Keris has not (3)
• Observe/Deduce an important thing about the magic and its effects (1 per observation)
• There's notes of a spell in the margins (2)
• Mata gains a Secondary pool of "Shaded Script Style" (2)
• You really covered up your presence well (1 per +1 diff to see the tampering)

Aleph: u r very mean 2 me
Aleph: giving me things i want for less than all my advantages
Aleph: and then a thing i want more for all of them
Aleph: it is one of ur favourite tricks and i am not having it
Aleph: i choose option 1
Aleph: u bastard

---

<Be Vewy Quiet…>
ST rolled 13d10s7c10 = 6 <9; 7; 8; 4; 3; 6; 7; 5; 4; 8; 5; 1; 7> #Haneyl plan of attack, assisted by her maid Mata. Neurotic Imperial Princess + Stunt + 2 assistance
EarthScorpion: Okay, so Haneyl passed the check to get people to shore safely. Additionally, with her 2 advantages, she's buying that the dragon is sleepy and dozing at this point, penalising rolls for it to realise what's going on until he wakes up properly by -2
Aleph: Excellent.
Aleph: Also, beaksnouts?
EarthScorpion: Rhamphorhynchus - Wikipedia
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 13 <9; 2; 5; 1; 8; 10; 9; 9; 8; 10; 3; 9; 9; 10> #Jianling securing a beachhead, 9 + 2 + 3(background), consequences will be likely people who are meant to fight the dragon having to step in
EarthScorpion: 13 sx vs diff 5 - a very well done landing. 4 sux are spent on removing a battlegroup of whitescales from the area, 3 on a +3 defensive fortress, and +1 on a bonus to the next roll. Jianling is very impressive to Keris, and showing her professionalism as a deserter Lost Egg.
EarthScorpion: Roll me Reaction + (lower of Survival and Subterfuge) for scouting/tracking in this alien landscape.
Aleph: 5 + 2 + 2 stunt + 7 Metagaos ExD {voracious hunter, predation, no escape} = 16
Keris rolled 16d10s7c10 = 6 <5; 2; 6; 6; 9; 1; 3; 5; 6; 5; 9; 4; 7; 10; 9; 1> #Serpent Hunts Dragon
ST rolled 6d10s7c10 = 4 <4; 9; 8; 1; 4; 10> #Slumbering Dragon awareness at -2
EarthScorpion: OK, so, hmm. I guess the provocation is art here?
Aleph: Vile art, yeah.
EarthScorpion: OK, in that case, that's your roll to make it.
Aleph: What bonus do I get from Abhorrent Flower and her nuns?
EarthScorpion: They're pretty fucking blasphemous, so +5.
Aleph: ... also what's my actual pool? Persuasion + Expression, I guess, for persuading him to come out and get mad?
EarthScorpion: Yes.
Aleph: Does Pelagic Muse Artistry count? That is to say, is this "a roll to create an object or structure"? Hmm. Well, honestly, I'm probably putting together a Lintha-esque shrine to the Demon Sea and then blasphemously consecrating it, so presumably yes.
Aleph: So 5 + 5 + 3 {Malfean Scholar & Utz Semivar} + 2 stunt + 5 blasphemous assistance + 4 PMA autosux = 20 (+4).
Keris rolled 20d10s7c10+4 = 13 <2; 9; 2; 10; 5; 3; 6; 3; 1; 10; 7; 5; 7; 6; 9; 5; 2; 5; 7; 6> #Buildin' and Blessin' a Kimmy Shrine~
Aleph: ... I guess this also serves as a "thank you for your present of a new charm, mama~"

---

<We're Hunting Dwagons!>
ST rolled 9d10s7c10 = 4 <4; 3; 4; 9; 2; 8; 10; 6; 2> #Vali JB
ST rolled 9d10s7c10 = 3 <1; 7; 1; 5; 4; 9; 6; 6; 8> #Haneyl JB
ST rolled 8d10s7c10 = 2 <7; 2; 5; 4; 5; 4; 2; 7> #AF JB
ST rolled 7d10s7c10 = 3 <8; 7; 5; 1; 1; 8; 4> #Dragon main JB
Keris rolled 14d10s7c10 = 6 <3; 3; 9; 1; 3; 7; 8; 5; 2; 8; 10; 2; 6; 3> #Keris Join Battle
EarthScorpion: OK, right. So the JB says it's Keris's turn first, but Gythenes uses one of his extra actions to act first. He starts on the building hillside, but he moves one range band into the salt-coated dead woods. He then tears up a handful of dead trees and tosses them at the range band that Keris, Haneyl and Vali are in, tasting their foulness. This is a withering attack.
ST rolled 12d10s7c10 = 8 <3; 8; 7; 2; 10; 7; 7; 4; 1; 9; 9; 4> #Handful of logs, withering
EarthScorpion: The lowest DV in the area is Vali, who has 6 - so it doesn't matter what Keris does. The dragon picks up 3 power from this.
Aleph: Persuasion 5 + Presence 5 + 3 Cat Style + 3 stunt = 16 to taunt him with, uh, all of the most rage-inducing parts of his past that Haneyl found out about in researching his history. (Also Keris currently looks a lot like a Lunar Anathema.)
Keris rolled 16d10s7c10 = 6 <8; 6; 3; 6; 1; 9; 9; 4; 1; 3; 10; 9; 3; 2; 2; 2> #Taunt, taunt, taunt the feral dragon~
EarthScorpion: Keris gains 4 points of Power.
ST rolled 14d10s7c10+1 = 7 <7; 9; 5; 6; 7; 6; 1; 9; 7; 1; 3; 8; 5; 6> #Vali withering hefting a rock
EarthScorpion: Vali gains 4 power. Haneyl moves back one range band, shouting out orders - keen green eyes.
ST rolled 11d10s7c10 = 9 <5; 10; 10; 3; 10; 4; 8; 5; 7; 6; 7> #Haneyl Build Power, Keen Green Eyes + stunt
EarthScorpion: Pleasingly for her she gets 7 power from it
ST rolled 9d10s7c10 = 6 <9; 7; 3; 4; 2; 8; 10; 8; 4> #Molten Salt attack on Keris, Withering again
EarthScorpion: Gythenes misses a Withering on Keris, gains 1 Power from Overwhelming 1.
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 9 <7; 2; 10; 2; 2; 2; 10; 10; 8; 8; 2; 1; 6; 5> #Abhorrent Flower - Gather Will
EarthScorpion: Abhorrent Flower, Gather Will - 7 gained
ST rolled 8d10s7c10 = 1 <2; 5; 3; 9; 3; 2; 5; 1> #Gythenes Build Power Embracing the madness
EarthScorpion: Gythenes - fails Build Power
EarthScorpion: Top of the round, back to Keris.
Aleph: Withering attack: Physique 5 + Ranged 2 + Flawlessly Fatal Friseur Style 3 + stunt 2 + 5 Szoreny Excellency = 17.
EarthScorpion: You also have 2 autosux from using a Light thrown weapon like needles
Keris rolled 17d10s7c10+2 = 14 <4; 7; 7; 8; 4; 7; 2; 7; 9; 9; 10; 2; 8; 1; 2; 10; 3> #He Seems Angry. I Will Throw Knives At His Eyes.
EarthScorpion: Keris goes to 10 power. However, you can't move Vali like that, and that's a problem, because Gythenes uses one of his extra actions now to Rush in and attack Vali with the club. Fortunately, he doesn't have enough power to get past Vali's Hardness so it has to be Withering
Aleph: shit
Aleph: yeah, that was more a "tug Vali to try to get him to come with"
Aleph: so, sigh
Aleph: he just stood his ground and refused to let his mum take him out of the fight ¬_¬
ST rolled 17d10s7c10 = 10 <6; 1; 8; 3; 1; 7; 7; 8; 9; 1; 3; 9; 8; 4; 10; 2; 9> #Gythenes Rush, swinging the huge club at Vali
ST rolled 15d10s7c8c9c10 = 15 <3; 2; 4; 10; 10; 2; 2; 9; 8; 8; 5; 1; 7; 9; 8> #Vali - Gambit, Knockback - spending 4 Power - using Thunder Dragon Strength to ignore the Legendary Size limits for Knockback and get double-8s
EarthScorpion: Vali does a Knockback Gambit spending 4 power and using one of his Qualities to knockback a Legendary Size thing, moving Gythenes into the trap range zone
Aleph: ....
Aleph: Vali gets a prize when this is over.
Aleph: Actually I guess this is Vali's prize, holy shit, I have been underusing him.
EarthScorpion: this is what he does
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 10 <2; 9; 6; 3; 10; 6; 10; 1; 10; 10; 8; 4; 5; 1> #Haneyl - Reveal Weakness gambit, spending 3 power
EarthScorpion: Haneyl does a Reveal Weakness gambit, reducing Gythenes Soak from 10 to 5 for the next 6 rounds (as it's greater than 5, which means she halves it rather than reduce by 2)
EarthScorpion: He's making a Decisive attack on Keris, pool 12, wagering 10 power. He needs to beat or exceed her Defence to hit her. What do you do?
Aleph: Okay, he is very slightly likely to fail to beat my DV on average. Hmm. Which of my charms are applicable here? I have my stunt/Excellency to enhance, Who Strikes the Wind and Bitter Heart Unbleeding as a 2e 2/7 filter, and... I think that's it? What effects will those have?
EarthScorpion: We'll treat them as XS Portentous Warding Defence, which is "roll Attribute + Close Combat, add successes to Defence".
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 7 <1; 2; 6; 9; 9; 6; 3; 4; 5; 10; 8; 7; 5; 9> #Decisive attack on Keris, base pool 12, 2 dice stunt, wagering 10 power
EarthScorpion: bare hit on Defence 7, so roll Phys + Melee
Aleph: Physique 5 + Melee/Athletics 5 (same difference) + 3 Friagem Serpent = 13
Keris rolled 13d10s7c10 = 6 <9; 10; 1; 7; 5; 2; 6; 4; 4; 6; 2; 9; 9> #OH SHIT DODGE
ST rolled 18d10s7c10 = 7 <1; 2; 7; 1; 7; 6; 7; 2; 8; 8; 1; 9; 6; 2; 1; 7; 6; 5> #Abhorrent Flower casts Theft of Memory on the Dragon, which counts as a Pilfer gambit
EarthScorpion: Abhorrent Flower uses Theft of Memory to steal some memory from the dragon.
Aleph: ... shit.
EarthScorpion: He responds with a Decisive salt blast at Abhorrent Flower, Wagering 5 Power.
ST rolled 11d10s7c10 = 6 <4; 3; 3; 10; 3; 10; 5; 4; 6; 9; 7> #Molten salt blast at Abhorrent Flower
EarthScorpion: Hits with 2 threshold - therefore salt blast has pool of 5 + 2 + 1s.
ST rolled 7d10s7c10+1 = 6 <8; 10; 6; 9; 5; 7; 4> #salt blast damage roll
EarthScorpion: Soak = 4, therefore 2HLs done
EarthScorpion: and before we get around to the top again...
ST rolled 10d10s7c10 = 4 <1; 4; 5; 1; 7; 8; 2; 2; 9; 9> #Down comes the trap?
EarthScorpion: it's enough
Aleph: whew
EarthScorpion: ...
EarthScorpion: We forgot Suriani exists.
Aleph: … whoops.
Aleph: … god. God. GOD.
Aleph: She's such a wet cat girlfailure that we left her on the boat and nobody noticed.
Aleph: She slept in and no-one missed her in the headcount.
Aleph: We fucking Home Alone'd her.
Aleph: This is so fucking funny. Oh my god. Poor Suriani. The patheticest wet cat girlfail.
Aleph: Okay, so how are we fitting her into the turn order?
ST rolled 13d10s7c10 = 12 <7; 10; 4; 4; 6; 3; 10; 10; 8; 9; 9; 7; 9> #Suriani JB
ST rolled 9d10s7c10 = 5 <2; 6; 6; 3; 8; 10; 5; 3; 10> #Suriani hiding - Build Power
ST rolled 13d10s7c10 = 9 <8; 1; 10; 2; 7; 4; 8; 9; 8; 6; 4; 10; 4> #Suriani looking for where to strike - Build Power
EarthScorpion: Suriani appears from shadows - leaping for his throat. She has 10 power and is using the excellency.
Aleph: Suriani nom (could use less salt). Legendary Size doesn't kick in?
EarthScorpion: So, as written, no, because she has magic supplementing it. But we can reduce it down if you want it? Quarter it?
Aleph: I mean, I'm not complaining, I was just curious.
EarthScorpion: Yeah, I think... this is so much larger than a Legendary Size Tyrant Lizard that this does need a reduction.
Aleph: She doesn't have the "eat any amount without ever getting full" charm, so there's a finite limit to how much of a bite she can take out of his throat.
EarthScorpion: That or we move her from the throat to a limb and let her cripple a limb as Mutilation Feast Method does do in 2e.
Aleph: Flip for which?
EarthScorpion: Nah I think the limb is fitting. Also helps be a little clearer as to how Suriani is not Keris, because Suriani has had Metagaos from the start.
Aleph: Yeah, cool.
ST rolled 15d10s7c10 = 9 <1; 5; 8; 5; 10; 9; 7; 2; 10; 6; 8; 3; 9; 6; 6> #Suriani decisive, wagering 10 power
EarthScorpion: Hits by 3, therefore damage pool is 10 + 3 + 1s, and she's enhancing this with Mutilation Feast Method (which for the moment is modelled as Wrath Stoked Onslaught) so that's an extra 5 dice
ST rolled 18d10s7c10+1 = 13 <4; 10; 3; 9; 3; 3; 6; 1; 6; 7; 9; 1; 10; 8; 9; 8; 10; 5> #Suriani om nom nom
EarthScorpion: 13 damage reduced by 5 soak (thanks to Haneyl) - 8 damage, jesus christ she's just eaten a huge chunk out of him, given he has 30 HLs
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 7 <1; 5; 6; 5; 10; 6; 7; 1; 10; 1; 10; 3; 5; 5> #Gythenes Decisive on Suriani, body-crush her using his bulk - counts as heavy weapon, wagering all 4 of his Power
EarthScorpion: Hits by 2 threshold - pool is 4 + 2 + 3s + 2s Terrifying Bulk
ST rolled 6d10s7c10+5 = 8 <8; 9; 4; 5; 8; 6> #Crush the Suriani - damage
EarthScorpion: Taken to 5 damage, she's pretty badly hurt by this and pinned under him.
Aleph: Well, her girlbossing was nice while it lasted.
Aleph: This, Suriani, is why we don't charge in without having an exit strategy.
Aleph: Although I will tell her she did very well because crippling one of his legs is very useful.
Aleph: Spending 4 Power on a Disarm Gambit, enhanced with All Things Imperfect and World-Weathering Incandescence.
EarthScorpion: OK, well, make an attack roll against defence and if successful you disarm it and destroy the disarmed weapon
Aleph: Physique 5 + Melee 5 + Wild Alleycat 3 + stunt 2 = 15. Wait, does Vipera benefit this, or is that just damage?
EarthScorpion: Add the accuracy in - would you describe her as a light or a medium weapon? Probably medium, in which case +2s from being an artefact medium.
Keris rolled 15d10s7c10+2 = 9 <5; 8; 4; 9; 8; 8; 5; 9; 5; 1; 3; 2; 8; 2; 7> #Getting Rid Of The Pillar
EarthScorpion: Yeah, you hit.
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 10 <8; 9; 1; 9; 8; 2; 5; 3; 9; 5; 10; 7; 8; 7> #Vali feat of strength to save Suriani
ST rolled 12d10s7c10 = 4 <5; 10; 1; 5; 1; 9; 9; 6; 4; 3; 3; 3> #withering attack on Keris, breath throwing her off balance
EarthScorpion: He spends an attack on a Withering against Keris, and misses.
Aleph: mwaa haa
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 9 <10; 5; 3; 10; 5; 7; 4; 5; 7; 6; 10; 6; 1; 8> #Haneyl Build Power, calling up binding vines, to transfer Power to Keris.
EarthScorpion: Haneyl transfers 4 power to Keris and keeps 3 for herself
ST rolled 16d10s7c9c10 = 9 <7; 8; 6; 4; 1; 2; 9; 2; 6; 10; 5; 6; 7; 9; 6; 1> #Gythenes build power, trying to tear loose
EarthScorpion: Gythenes builds 7 power
ST rolled 11d10s7c10+1 = 3 <5; 4; 1; 6; 4; 5; 1; 1; 7; 7; 3> #Abhorrent Flower Elemental Bold Attack Build Power
EarthScorpion: She generates 2 power due to Overwhelming, but it's a bit of a disappointment
ST rolled 9d10s7c10 = 6 <8; 9; 2; 9; 9; 9; 5; 8; 4> #Suriani getting her breath back, Build Power
EarthScorpion: Suriani builds 4 Power
ST rolled 12d10s7c10 = 6 <8; 2; 9; 5; 6; 10; 3; 6; 7; 2; 6; 7> #Decisive attack on Keris from G, wagering 5 Power on it
EarthScorpion: Gythenes misses Keris, burning 1 Power
EarthScorpion: Keris has 10 power ATM because of Haneyl's help, and it's her action to take.
Aleph: DECISIVE
Aleph: She's gonna parkour up his leg and past his jaws onto his back, then cover Vipera in Kimmy poisons and stab deep under his broken scales, enhancing with her Adorjani bleed-proc charm.
EarthScorpion: So you're wagering 10 power. Roll me your attack, with +2s from Vipera.
Aleph: Physique 5 + Melee 5 + Friagem Serpent 3 + 2 stunt + 2 autosux
Keris rolled 15d10s7c10+2 = 10 <4; 7; 6; 9; 8; 9; 2; 9; 2; 3; 9; 2; 8; 7; 2> #Snake Bites The Dragon's Back
EarthScorpion: Beat Defence by 6, so your damage pool is 6 + 10 + 2 sux. Roll me 16 + 2x.
Aleph: This is damage, so no double-10s?
EarthScorpion: Nah you do get double 10s in XS.
Keris rolled 16d10s7c10+2 = 8 <3; 3; 3; 10; 3; 1; 6; 3; 7; 4; 1; 7; 10; 5; 4; 2> #Vipera Backstab Damage
Aleph: Sweet. Keris is going to leave Vipera in the wound, wriggling deeper in and continuing to cause poison and bleeding (not with a mechanical impact, but she's basically letting her evil autonomous serpent-spear go full murder-parasite) and switch to Calibration as she falls back.
EarthScorpion: 1 HL done due to Legendary Size - this isn't doing much...
EarthScorpion: Well actually this is 3 HL done due to soak, because that 8 damage is soaked by 5 soak. Anyway write in the Vipera thing.
EarthScorpion: Gythenes uses an area gambit against everyone in the Behind the River Range Band, creating a hazard there as he sprays burning salt there. He spends 5 power on this to create a hazard with the stats of Lava. This hits Suriani, Vali, Haneyl, Abhorrent Flower, and Jamahidaya (potentially).
ST rolled 10d10s7c10 = 4 <2; 8; 2; 4; 10; 1; 1; 8; 3; 4> #Suriani resisting molten salt, using Excellency to boost
EarthScorpion: she takes 3 damage and is taken out.
ST rolled 16d10s7c10 = 7 <7; 2; 8; 3; 4; 2; 10; 2; 1; 9; 9; 2; 3; 2; 1; 7> #Vali is very tough and well suited in his armour to resist molten salt
EarthScorpion: he takes no damage
ST rolled 13d10s7c10 = 7 <5; 9; 6; 8; 5; 9; 10; 2; 4; 9; 8; 1; 4> #Haneyl using Kerisian Excellence, resisting salt
EarthScorpion: she takes no damage
ST rolled 11d10s7c10 = 3 <4; 5; 7; 9; 7; 2; 6; 1; 3; 5; 2> #Abhorrent Flower resisting
EarthScorpion: she takes 4 damage
ST rolled 8d10s7c10 = 6 <2; 3; 4; 10; 10; 7; 4; 8> #Jamahidaya resisting
EarthScorpion: she takes 1 damage
Aleph: crap
Aleph: goddammit why did I bring Suriani into this fight fuck fuck fuck
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 9 <8; 9; 7; 9; 10; 7; 3; 5; 3; 2; 8; 9; 6; 1> #Haneyl making herself a target - Build Power
EarthScorpion: Haneyl transfers all 7 power gained from that to Keris and gives her 3 of the Power she had already, putting Keris back up to 10.
Aleph: haneyl no why are you making yourself a target fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck
ST rolled 12d10s7c10 = 4 <8; 3; 4; 10; 2; 5; 6; 9; 2; 1; 4; 1> #Gythenes Withering on Haneyl
ST rolled 14d10s7c10+2 = 11 <10; 10; 4; 2; 1; 5; 10; 4; 10; 3; 4; 2; 8; 6> #Abhorrent Flower Withering on him, building power off targetting the already-wounded arm.
EarthScorpion: Would gain 7 power normally, gains 4 because of Legendary Size. Keris's turn.
Aleph: Decisive attack using Calibration at the back of his neck, wagering 10 Power
EarthScorpion: Ok, go on.
Aleph: Pool is Physique 5 + Melee 5 + ARGH STILL NO STYLE + 2 stunt + 5 Malfean Excellency = 17. Calibration is a heavy artefact executioner's sword; what does that get me?
EarthScorpion: That'll be +1x accuracy, +4x damage (Heavy + Atrefact + Two Handed), so 17+1x to hit.
Aleph: Kickass. Or cutneck, as it were.
Keris rolled 17d10s7c10+1 = 11 <9; 7; 10; 8; 1; 10; 2; 5; 3; 1; 2; 8; 1; 7; 7; 4; 6> #Cursed Blade To The Neck
EarthScorpion: Hit by 7. Therefore damage pool is 7 + 10 + 5 (from GSNF's XS equivalent) + 4x = 22 + 4x.
Keris rolled 22d10s7c10+4 = 15 <9; 2; 1; 6; 10; 7; 5; 5; 5; 5; 9; 9; 3; 9; 1; 9; 4; 6; 1; 8; 10; 3> #Calibration Spine-Cutter
EarthScorpion: 5 soak. 10 HLs done.
EarthScorpion: OK, we're leaving conventional combat time. He's got out of the trap, but he's down to 9/30 HLs so he's just running away, losing what sanity he has in the face of pain he's never known before. Not in a long time, at least.
Aleph: Yeesh. I can imagine.
ST rolled 14d10s7c10 = 8 <1; 4; 2; 7; 8; 10; 7; 1; 7; 9; 8; 1; 5; 3> #Shaking this damn pest on his back
EarthScorpion: So roll me Endurance + Athletics for hanging on for dear life.
Aleph: 3 + 5 + 2 stunt + 5 Malfean Excellency = 15
EarthScorpion: You can have +3 dice for being able to sink your blade in as a piton.
Aleph: 18 dice, then.
Keris rolled 18d10s7c10 = 12 <10; 7; 1; 2; 3; 10; 7; 8; 3; 2; 8; 6; 10; 2; 1; 7; 8; 2> #You Can't Shake Me Off
EarthScorpion: Okay, normal roll, give me a Cog + Occult + Needles and Spires roll to see how successful this impromptu innovation is.
Aleph: Do I get a 3-die stunt?
EarthScorpion: You're coup-de-gracing a hill-sized elemental dragon using an untested Jyuken strike from your sinister evil demon hand while clinging to his back as he rampages mindlessly across the island. Yes, you get a 3-die stunt.
Aleph: 4 + 5 + 3 Needles and Spires + 3 stunt + 8 Adorjan Excellency {unconsidered variable, kills because it is in her nature to hurt everything she touches, lays low the proud} = 23.
Keris rolled 23d10s7c10 = 15 <3; 6; 7; 6; 4; 7; 10; 7; 1; 7; 9; 10; 2; 5; 9; 5; 2; 7; 5; 8; 10; 1; 8> #A Gentle And Murderous Fist
ST rolled 15d10s7c10 = 7 <7; 10; 1; 3; 3; 5; 9; 3; 9; 2; 3; 5; 6; 8; 8> #can he endure
EarthScorpion: No. No he cannot.

---

<Keeping the Corpse>
EarthScorpion: OK, roll me Phys + Occult + appropriate style, more successes means you get it done faster, basically.
Aleph: I really need to pick up a stomach bottle bug surgery style, okay, 5+5+2 stunt+5 Szoreny ExSux {steal, trophies of old glories} = 12+5.
Keris rolled 12d10s7c10+5 = 12 <5; 8; 8; 3; 10; 2; 2; 2; 9; 1; 7; 9> #Patching Up The Body
Keris The Broken-Winged Crane. The cause of, and solution to, all of an Infernal's problems.
EarthScorpion: Ok, this is actually a short duration venture, where you're trying to find what you need before Mele shows up and looks disapprovingly at you/you get distracted by Jianling.
EarthScorpion: It's a Cog + Lore + Malfean Scholar Style research action under pressure, base Diff 7. What charms are you using for this?
Aleph: Siren Shadow Knowledge, so I believe you mean it's a Diff 3 roll, since this is a research venture that:

• pertains to demons or the Yozis
• makes use of knowledge gained through an act of depravity (reading the Crane)
• makes use of censored knowledge (the Crane)
• is made by someone with an Intimacy expressing her fascination or obsession with forbidden secrets and prohibited lore

Aleph: : 3
Aleph: Also No-Sleep Nootropic, so Keris gets a +1 autosux.
EarthScorpion: o keris
Aleph: The power of FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE and DRUGS! ^_^
Aleph: also also, Mele can't look disapprovingly at me; he can't tell I'm on the mercury-drugs again just at a glance!
Aleph: oh wait you mean for playing with the Crane
Aleph: … okay yeah that's fair
Aleph: Anyway, that's 4 + 2 + 3 Malfean Scholar + 2 stunt + 1 NSN autosux = 11+1, and it's a Venture so no Excellencies.
Keris rolled 11d10s7c10+1 = 5 <1; 5; 6; 6; 6; 6; 8; 7; 8; 8; 6> #Solving the Puzzlebox
EarthScorpion: Two advantages - she's found what she's looking for, now roll a Cog + Occult research roll to try to understand it at +2
Aleph: Do my Styles still apply?
EarthScorpion: Yes, Malfean Scholar again.
Aleph: 4 + 5 + 3 Malfean Scholar + 2 stunt + 2 Venture bonus = 16
Keris rolled 16d10s7c10 = 7 <9; 5; 5; 4; 7; 1; 10; 1; 2; 8; 7; 4; 5; 4; 8; 5> #Deciphering The Spell
EarthScorpion: Ok, you beat the reduced Diff by 3. So with 3 advantages, basically, you can't determine exactly what variant you get and its quirks, but you can give me a broad set of suitably "evil infernalist" vibes for the spell and what Anchor you want to use.
Aleph: Cursed Artefact. I will rend great tears in Creation's fabric with the dark blade Calibration~ ^_^
EarthScorpion: Variant found - The Gate of Liberation

• The Gate of Liberation (Anchor - Cursed/Demonic Artefact, Essence Aspect - Hellish) - Invoking the fate of Yu Shan in the world of the Shattered Annex, the sorcerer calls up a mocking facsimilia of the Calibration gate which leads to Hell, which is opened with the power of the cursed anchor. The ritual location must be desecrated with an act of depravity (by the standards of the Laws of Yu Shan). This act of depravity counts as making the location resonant with the Yozis. With a suitably grand or dramatic ritual act of depravity, the dimensions of the hellgate may be increased for the first scene after the casting, after which it decreases to the standard size.

EarthScorpion: How's this?
Aleph: Very good! Mwaa haa.
Aleph: Okay, Per+Pres for luring Jianling back with me, offering her a pact with me and a visit to Hell to be richly rewarded for the aid she's given me and maybe we can have that alone time I promised etc etc etc.
Aleph: 5 + 5 + 3 (Perfumed Smoke, First Scarlet, Wolf-as-Lamb) + 2 stunt = 15. Enhancing with My Dark Lady to reduce Persuade costs and Hidden Depths Temptress to double successes on getting her to make this bargain with me - loyal service for riches and Keris's attention.
EarthScorpion: Ok, roll 'em
Keris rolled 15d10s7c10 = 6 <1; 9; 4; 3; 8; 2; 9; 5; 5; 3; 5; 7; 8; 3; 7> #x2 HDT - Convincing Jianling
Aleph: 12 sux
EarthScorpion: Resolve 4, boosted by 2 by Enduring Earth Cognition, reduced by 4 due to "I Love Pretty Women" Intimacy, increased by 3 due to "I'm no one's dog" - yeah, that's Threshold 7. Even with "I'm No One's Dog" increasing the cost of the second purchase of Persuade to 4, it's enough to coax her into this - and get an Instil of "Desire" for Keris.
EarthScorpion: (This is something that, uh, can sort of show the course of her life - she's no one's dog, except when a pretty woman is involved, which caused problems in two directions before she deserted.)
EarthScorpion: OK, roll me Per + Expression + Malfean Scholar Style (with the first style bonus applying) and yes I guess you get the bonus for my stunt
Aleph: 5 + 5 + 3 + 1 bonus + 2 + 3 assistance = 19.
Keris rolled 19d10s7c10 = 10 <8; 8; 2; 5; 8; 10; 3; 2; 9; 6; 9; 2; 4; 1; 7; 4; 5; 7; 9> #A Wicked Wedding
EarthScorpion: Diff was 4, 6 threshold. Advantages are:

• +1 to next roll (1 per purchase)
• Jianling gains 3-dot Intimacy "I am a bride of Hell" (3)
• Declare one fact about this magic that doesn't contradict previous points (4)
• Sanctify this marriage to a specific Yozi (1-5, greater effect the more points spent on it)
• A hellish artefact wedding ring spontaneously appears on Jianling's finger (3 for tertiary, 6 for secondary)

Aleph: ... I'mma go with the tertiary wedding ring, lol, and... +3 to my next roll, because that's probably going to be the bulk summoning.
EarthScorpion: Now you have to Name the Gate - Composure + Occult + Malfean Scholar Style
Aleph: 3+5+3+1 bonus+3 Advantage = 15
Keris rolled 15d10s7c10 = 10 <7; 3; 4; 2; 10; 6; 9; 1; 7; 6; 4; 7; 7; 10; 9> #Naming The Gate
EarthScorpion: vs Diff 5, 5 threshold. And honestly I'll just assume you want to spend the 5 advantages on:
conceal the type of magic you work from later investigation, i.e. a Solar Charm won't show as Solar magic unless investigator uses magic and wins opposed Essence roll off (5 successes)
Aleph: yesssss

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[CeBrudras]

Somehow I am strongly associating new chapters for this story with weekends, so seeing this notification just now genuinely felt weird lol

 

[nathanwe]

"Scream, she wants to put the two women together and see if they get alone. If they don't, that's no great loss - " should this be get along?

Also the notes seems to have spoilers for the beginning of next chapter. This chapter ends just as they get through the gate with none of the journey through the desert.

 

[Aleph]

Also the notes seems to have spoilers for the beginning of next chapter. This chapter ends just as they get through the gate with none of the journey through the desert.

Click to shrink...

I had actually left that in deliberately as a teaser and because we rolled it out before starting the next session, but since two people have brought it up as a possible error, I've removed it again and will include it in the next chapter.

 

[DarkLight140]

When Suriani started flirting with Vali my brain immediately went "oh no, she's going to get herself pregnant by him the moment she realizes that Keris has a huge family complex and she could join her family that way".

But fortunately that didn't happen, and instead we only have to worry about a Dragonblooded woman marrying the Ebon Dragon in a mystical ritual invoking the Yozi's escape from hell. That'll be totally harmless and have no long-term consequences at all, surely.

 

[Indivisible]

Oh hey is that the Mother and five Daughters manses from years ago? Nice.

 

[Aleph]

Yup! And now that Keris knows they exist and has a lead, she can start looking for them. : 3