Blaze of Glory (Exalted)
- Thread starter Guancyto
- Start date
- Fantasy
[X] - Deal with the smell. You can try to sniff the blood out first and cut the offending part out of your coat. It's going to be hard to do subtly, but it's a lot less obvious than leaving the rows.
[X] - The Spire. Speed. Outrun the guards and the ghost, hope it lasts long enough to see you clear of both.
Only Autochtonia and the North use them as a primary armament however.
[X] - The Spire. Speed. Outrun the guards and the ghost, hope it lasts long enough to see you clear of both.
Crossbows aren't that complicate, any sufficiently urban area can make them, and Gem sure as hell is urbanized enough to make them cheaply.
Only Autochtonia and the North use them as a primary armament however.
In 2E yes, that's true. In 3E they get stats in the base book and Haslanti is called out as a place that simply favours using it rather than has exclusive rights. Haslanti Mechanisms are mentioned n a few places , which suggests the things Haslanti exclusively make now are a bit more impressive than a crossbow. They've not got into what those are yet, but they like to leave it vague in 3e so that may be intentional.
Crossbows are still a pretty unusual weapon to see and expensive though, which is why Sharell mentions people would turn heads if they saw them showing up in the streets. It's a bit like carrying around a Firewand anywhere else but Gem.
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- Location
- Vermont
[X] - Play it cool. You can wait a sermon out and then get clear. The sweet smell of the blue flowers will hopefully disguise the smell long enough.
[X] - The Spire. Speed. Outrun the guards and the ghost, hope it lasts long enough to see you clear of both.
We don't really have enough larceny to pull off anything too sneaky, and I'd rather not advertise the fact that someone snuck into a funeral. And if it goes badly? I definitely don't want to rely on standard tricks to try and outrun a skilled, mercenary ghost jumped up on prayer and blood offerings.
[X] - The Spire. Speed. Outrun the guards and the ghost, hope it lasts long enough to see you clear of both.
We don't really have enough larceny to pull off anything too sneaky, and I'd rather not advertise the fact that someone snuck into a funeral. And if it goes badly? I definitely don't want to rely on standard tricks to try and outrun a skilled, mercenary ghost jumped up on prayer and blood offerings.
[X] - Play it cool. You can wait a sermon out and then get clear. The sweet smell of the blue flowers will hopefully disguise the smell long enough.
[X] - The Spire. Speed. Outrun the guards and the ghost, hope it lasts long enough to see you clear of both.
I'm thinking we can just be honest and mention we personally saw Cheshago's body if we get noticed. It really doesn't seem like the worst thing if we just stay calm. And yeah being sneaky is not Sharell's strong suit. Though if things do go south lets get out of there with superhuman speed.
[X] - The Spire. Speed. Outrun the guards and the ghost, hope it lasts long enough to see you clear of both.
I'm thinking we can just be honest and mention we personally saw Cheshago's body if we get noticed. It really doesn't seem like the worst thing if we just stay calm. And yeah being sneaky is not Sharell's strong suit. Though if things do go south lets get out of there with superhuman speed.
PurpleProse
Squishy Purple Unicorn
Are we just doing a grand tour of 'Things In Creation That Can Horribly Fuck Up A Mortal's Day,' or are we just that unlucky? Only way this could get worse is if someone from the Immaculate Faith shows up to start kung-fu-ing the nonbelievers.
[X] - Deal with the smell. You can try to sniff the blood out first and cut the offending part out of your coat. It's going to be hard to do subtly, but it's a lot less obvious than leaving the rows.
[X] - The Spire. Speed. Outrun the guards and the ghost, hope it lasts long enough to see you clear of both.
There's no way we're going to outrun a well-fed ghost with just smoke bombs and two feet. Cut out the blood splatter to keep it from following if we need to book it, and ready our trap card to expedite our retreat.
[X] - Deal with the smell. You can try to sniff the blood out first and cut the offending part out of your coat. It's going to be hard to do subtly, but it's a lot less obvious than leaving the rows.
[X] - The Spire. Speed. Outrun the guards and the ghost, hope it lasts long enough to see you clear of both.
There's no way we're going to outrun a well-fed ghost with just smoke bombs and two feet. Cut out the blood splatter to keep it from following if we need to book it, and ready our trap card to expedite our retreat.
- Location
- In Your DNA
Pretty much every faction in this has something that can horribly fuck up a mortal's day, including the one you're currently aligned with. Those "arrange to hinder or destroy faction" actions ain't just for show!
- Location
- St. Petersburg
So long as it is their own I don't see the issue. It is their own, right?
The tiny problem with that is that we wouldn't be allowed to see the body if we weren't working for the Guild... or the Despot, but we have no proof of the latter. And they definitely equate the Guild and Cheshago, while this is a funeral for one of Cheshago's victims. While it isn't impossible to talk our way out of this, getting disappeared with none the wiser in an insular group such as this is not something I'd rule out.
I am not sure if our visit here was a bust or not. We've learned that they have ties to ghosts, but what does that give us? Seeing how they themselves are unsure of Cheshago's death it wasn't one of their own who did him in. Then what are we trying to accomplish here?
It might be a red herring after all. I suppose it could still be a curse or something, but does it bring us closer to Cheshago's killer? Unless they hired one, but what would they even pay them with?
[x] - Deal with the smell. You can try to sniff the blood out first and cut the offending part out of your coat. It's going to be hard to do subtly, but it's a lot less obvious than leaving the rows.
[x] - The Spire. Speed. Outrun the guards and the ghost, hope it lasts long enough to see you clear of both.
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Night 3.1: Out Damned Spot
- Location
- In Your DNA
Cut It Out 4
Play It Cool 2
Spire Escape 6
Play It Cool 2
Spire Escape 6
Mishri is giving an impassioned speech but it's impossible to focus on it with the sound of your own heart drumming in your ears. Swallowing a lump in your throat you fall back on what's kept you alive all these years. Taking a breath when you need to and thinking fast. A blood spot from the crime scene will be hard to find, but if you think out the options you might stand a chance. You've been absolutely pelted with rain so the outside of the coat seems unlikely and all your other clothes are different to what you wore that day. Most likely the hem of your coat brushed against the blood at some point in that mad scramble to get out. So all you have to do is find the stain, surreptitiously cut it off and drop it in a nearby fire and you'll never get found out at all. Casually, as if just working life back into your legs you flutter your coat to check the edges.
Perception 3 + Investigation 4 = Zero successes. Straight failure.
There's no stain, there's no stain. FUCK. There's no stain! How in the silent winds of hell are you going to-
Wits 2 + Integrity 3 vs Perception ? + Investigation ? = botch vs 2 successes. We give ourselves away pretty thoroughly but it's not the end of the world.
You look up from the hem of your coat and stare right into a pale face inches away from your own. Black pitch bleeding from his eyes and skin sallow, the whole face is elongated like someone has grabbed the jaw and just pulled incredibly hard. You let out a terrified and completely undignified squawk that stops proceedings cold. Mishri looks at you, looks at the ghost (whose face is definitely just a face now) and just gives him a look and you really hope it means "please stop terrifying the poor woman it's not funny" but looks are an incredibly versatile means of communication and you don't know either of them well enough to interpret.
Your heart is pounding in your chest as the sermon continues and the ghost's grim face slowly breaks into a smile and then a deep belly laugh. He offers you a drink which you immediately decline, even though your throat is probably the driest thing from here to the pole of Fire.
"Quite the reaction," he says, and you don't even pretend to focus on the sermon as you carefully watch his every move just in case he suddenly becomes hostile. He notices of course, but doesn't seem bothered by it as he takes a drink. You brace yourself to prevent flinching if it'll pour right back out of him and your nerves are incredibly thankful it doesn't.
"I won't insult you by telling you to relax," he says as he swishes the bottle in the air, "but you have nothing to fear here if you mean no harm to these people. Live and let live?"
You swallow hard, "you'll excuse me if I don't take your word for it."
"Wise. A body does live longer if the wearer is careful," he acknowledges, tipping the bottle your way for emphasis, "so let's build a little trust. I am Dreams of Red Sands. Just Red to my friends and to mysterious strangers in fine coats."
Red stares at you as he picks at the edges of your coat as if expecting he'd get a reply, you know you should humour him but you're busy furiously calculating if you should say your name or not and the moment passes.
"Don't worry dear, I'll pick out a name for you if you've mislaid it." Red says with a sly smile, "but while we're getting friendly I would like to know what relation you might have to a late Guild Prince. I think you know the one I mean."
Manipulation 3 + Presence 1 + 2 clue (knows Cheshago's business) vs Perception ? + Investigation ? = botch vs 4 successes. Did not fool him.
"Who, me?" you say, pressing a hand to your chest and giving Red a shocked look, "I wouldn't know a thing about him, I'm only looking into his death because it's such a fascinating case! I'm an investigator for fun!"
He gives you a look and yeah you wouldn't have bought that either. A failure of a bluff that spectacular is like ice water straight into the veins, you can see his patience wearing thin and you don't want to know what happens when it snaps.
"All right, the Guild wants to know who killed him, so they hired me. I'm not really one of them though. Just a freelancer. Four days ago I was still finding people's cats."
Dreams of Red Sands chews on his tongue for a bit, sending shivers down your spine as you can't discern if they're actually damaging it. "I wondered who they would appoint," he says once he's made up his mind about you. "A cat-catcher sent after a lion. Why, it's almost like they don't want the killer found. You did at least see the body?"
Honesty is working and you don't think you're really giving away more than you already have so you keep it up.
"They might have done better to send a real chirurgeon, I made a good mess of things."
Red takes a bit to think about that too. You don't like the smile he gets when he's done. "Something happened that drew your blood too, didn't it? Yours and his, blended together. There's more steel in your spine than first meets the eye, cat-catcher."
He takes a swig of his drink and then leans forward pressing it into your grip. You sniff at the bottle he handed you and wrinkle your nose. It smells awful, if he thinks you're going to drink it, he'll have to hold you down first.
"You're clearly not here to mourn," he says when you pass up the chance, "so you've came for the same reason as the Despot's hound. Following a trail blindly, now the Hound they follow their nose and bite whatever lies at the end. A cat-catcher though, they might know better than to risk getting scratched. If I were at the end of one of those trails, I think it might be you I should worry about."
He claws at the air and laughs again, it's a little annoying that it's actually a nice laugh, under better conditions maybe even infectious. In books being acknowledged as an equal by a killer is a point of pride for an investigator but as you look at his crooked smile you can't help but feel a gnawing sense of dread that something terrifying has suddenly deigned to truly acknowledge you.
"Are you at the end of one of those trails?" you ask, determined to get at least something out of this.
Manipulation 3 + Investigation 4 = 4 successes. Worked!
Red shakes his head and laughs again. Apparently blunt is the way to go with this guy. "Nothing so dramatic. Like you, I am a free lance often thrust into places I don't belong. A tool of those with the means to buy my soul, for a time. If you ever find yourself in possession of great wealth or a spare pint of blood, you'll find that my services are well worth the price."
However you were expecting this conversation to go, it wasn't like this. "And these guys? I figured you were one of them." You gesture to the ceremony and the sermon.
"I died far too early to make the cut, but they do something that people should have long ago. They're building a kingdom that will one day welcome them all as the heroes they truly are. They've been kind enough to lend a sheltering wing to soldiers who died forgotten by those who promised them the heavens. Their enemies are my enemies."
Enough beating around the bush. If your cards are already on the table you might as well make a bet.
"Did they hire you to kill Cheshago?"
"There are no shortage of killers in the Underworld. You sold your soul to the Guild, so you know who has deep pockets in this city," he laughs and shakes his head again, looking back to Mishri, "do they look like they could afford that?"
"It's an expensive funeral, Dreams of Red Sands," you say, not giving up on this so easily or willing to go along with their cute nicknames, "and I've seen the steel they have, it isn't cheap. Money is coming in from somewhere."
"It is coming in certainly, but soon there will be another funeral. Then another. They've no coin to waste chasing justice in this life, when there's a far better waiting for them soon enough."
"But plenty of blood, I know they donate that," you say, tapping your wrist where you'd learned they drained themselves.
"Blood is power, true, but I'd be a fool to sell myself so cheaply. You don't kill a Guild Prince just to fill your belly. There's far easier meals to be had if you're that desperate."
"But you are a killer?" you say, pressing them for a straight answer.
"You're in the company of Soldiers, cat-catcher. We're all killers. Even kind Mishri has made widows and orphans. We've argued about it before, if he's really just wanting his Brothers' dues, or if he's afraid of who might be waiting for them when that final day comes."
"Red!" Mishri calls as if summoned by his own name. His sermon must have ended at some point but you were far too distracted to notice. "Are you putting the fright on a guest?"
Dreams of Red Sands smiles at Mishri and takes back his drink off you, offering it out to the man. "Perhaps we should be the ones who are frightened, Mishri old friend. Come, I've quite a tale to tell you."
Mishri gives you an apologetic glance as he's dragged away and you ease up your fingers over the card you'd had in a death grip in your pocket. Somehow you got out of that without needing to use it and you don't waste the opportunity to leave before Mishri and Dreams of Red Sands come back with more questions. You don't have any answers they'll enjoy hearing.
Sharell doesn't get much more sleep that night for obvious reasons but escaping with the card unused isn't so bad, on to a new day!
As usual pick two targets for investigation and as many parts underneath it as you want unless it says otherwise.
Raicho has moved out of the Midnight Tales option if you're looking for her and is now in the Wagon Robbery instead. This isn't an important thing, it's just to avoid a wasted action when you find out she isn't on duty today. Also cleared up some actions that could easily be covered by others just to try to shorten the list a little.
This investigation phase runs from early morning until just after midday, so sleep isn't an option right now.
[ ] DIAMOND IN YOUR KNAPSACK
-[ ] Diamond in your Knapsack and Cheshago had a deal, confront him about it and shake something loose.
-[ ] Diamond in your Knapsack is at war with Wave Crashes Against the Rocks. Pretend to be on his side, find out what you can.
-[ ] Diamond in your Knapsack is at war with Wave Crashes Against the Rocks. See what you can get for actually switching sides.
-[ ] Blackmail him. You have dirt on him, maybe you can force him to cooperate with you fully.
-[ ] What is with that name anyway? Find out the story and find out what you're really dealing with.
[ ] WAGON ROBBERY
PICK ONE
-[ ] Track down the driver and assistant who got paid off. Try to subtly convince them to give up their side of the story.
-[ ] Raicho knows the mercenary life, find her and ask her if she knows any of the three people who did the hit.
-[ ] Wave Crashes Against the Rocks surely knows her wagon got hit, but you know a bit more of the story than she does. Find out if it'd be of any help to her.
[ ] MIDNIGHT TALES
-[ ] Go back and yell at the guy who locked you in. A lot. Then get him to talk.
-[ ] Investigate them legally. Ask contacts around the city about them. Gather rumour.
-[ ] Investigate them illegally. Break into offices, find out what you can.
[ ] THE GILDED CHEST AND THE GOLD LION KEY
PICK ONE
-[ ] You've got a special key that unlocks a very specific chest. Searching seemed to work better in the sun, wrap up and get all the water you can then go searching at high noon.
-[ ] You're not a poet, these books must still hold some secrets. Samet of Iblan is well read, he might be able to make more sense of it than you can.
-[ ] You're not a poet, these books must still hold some secrets. See how Niall's rats are doing and pick his occult mind.
[ ] LOST SOUL AT THE SUN MARKET
-[ ] Go pay Steals Kisses and the rest of your friends a visit and make sure they're all right after being shook down. You need some friends you can trust right now.
-[ ] The Honest Merchant is such a charming fellow. You need another crack at his goods if you're going to survive this.
[ ] OLD BROTHERS
-[ ] Suspicious. As. Hell. Get Waves to hire some mercenaries to harass their camp, while you take advantage of the distraction to find what you can find.
-[ ] J'accuse! They are clearly the murderers. Tell Waves that you've found the killer and let her deal with them. (If this action is chosen no other Old Brother actions will be taken)
-[ ] A pint of blood can go a long way. Pay Dreams of Red Sands' price (Write in what you ask for).
-[ ] Great wealth, huh? The Guild owes you one, it can pay you so you can pay Red. (Write in what you ask for and go big; this will use your Guild Favor)
[ ] THE DESPOT
-[ ] You got proof the Guild is surely going beyond what he'd find acceptable. Present your findings and let him bring fire and blood.
-[ ] The Despot has a low-key ghost cult operating right under his nose. Is that good? Is that bad? Is that something you can use? Do some research with Samet of Iblan and his mountain of legal precedent to find out if that's illegal or not.
[ ] THE VAULT
-[ ] The Old Brothers found the gold chest at a dig outside the city. Could that be where the Vault is also? Hire a cheap horse and go poke around.
[ ] TEN FEATHERS
PICK ONE
-[ ] You know who they are and some notion of what they're about, but you need more information in case you run into them again. Keep a low profile and ask around.
-[ ] They have information you need about this case. Stalk them, find out what they're up to and where they're going.
-[ ] They have information you need about this case. Find out where they live, break in and toss the place.
-[ ] Cut the bullshit. You know they're heavily involved in this, and even what their status is - go find them and ask them directly what they're playing at.
-[ ] No, seriously, cut the bullshit. Ask Waves Crashes Upon the Rocks to see that they meet with an accident. (This will use your Guild Favor)
[ ] Other
-[ ] Write in (If your write in isn't chosen first time round it'll be added as an option in future investigation rounds to an appropriate category, as long as it still makes sense to pursue.)
And one final free choice, unlocked by our new points of occult.
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[ ] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
-[ ] Don't buy salt. You've met a lot of ghosts, but it's been a while since one tried to kill you. The coin might be more useful later on.
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EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
Lol that was terrible
I need to beat Guan to rolling dice for Sharell's sake. The dice hate Guan so much.
- Location
- Bed
Yeesh, these rolls are really bad. Also, I'm somewhat concerned that the ghost telling us we sold our soul may be less metaphorical than the rest of what Red said.
[X] THE DESPOT
-[X] The Despot has a low-key ghost cult operating right under his nose. Is that good? Is that bad? Is that something you can use? Do some research with Samet of Iblan and his mountain of legal precedent to find out if that's illegal or not.
[X] TEN FEATHERS
PICK ONE
-[X] You know who they are and some notion of what they're about, but you need more information in case you run into them again. Keep a low profile and ask around.
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
- One ghost encounter is enough to take out a mortal. More? Yeah, better prepared than prematurely demised. (Ouch, that one was a stretch.)
[X] THE DESPOT
-[X] The Despot has a low-key ghost cult operating right under his nose. Is that good? Is that bad? Is that something you can use? Do some research with Samet of Iblan and his mountain of legal precedent to find out if that's illegal or not.
[X] TEN FEATHERS
PICK ONE
-[X] You know who they are and some notion of what they're about, but you need more information in case you run into them again. Keep a low profile and ask around.
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
- One ghost encounter is enough to take out a mortal. More? Yeah, better prepared than prematurely demised. (Ouch, that one was a stretch.)
- Location
- Vermont
[X] MIDNIGHT TALES
-[X] Go back and yell at the guy who locked you in. A lot. Then get him to talk.
-[X] Investigate them legally. Ask contacts around the city about them. Gather rumour.
-[X] Investigate them illegally. Break into offices, find out what you can.
[X] THE GILDED CHEST AND THE GOLD LION KEY
PICK ONE
-[X] You're not a poet, these books must still hold some secrets. See how Niall's rats are doing and pick his occult mind.
-[X] Go back and yell at the guy who locked you in. A lot. Then get him to talk.
-[X] Investigate them legally. Ask contacts around the city about them. Gather rumour.
-[X] Investigate them illegally. Break into offices, find out what you can.
[X] THE GILDED CHEST AND THE GOLD LION KEY
PICK ONE
-[X] You're not a poet, these books must still hold some secrets. See how Niall's rats are doing and pick his occult mind.
[X] THE GILDED CHEST AND THE GOLD LION KEY
PICK ONE
-[X] You're not a poet, these books must still hold some secrets. See how Niall's rats are doing and pick his occult mind.
[X] THE DESPOT
-[X] The Despot has a low-key ghost cult operating right under his nose. Is that good? Is that bad? Is that something you can use? Do some research with Samet of Iblan and his mountain of legal precedent to find out if that's illegal or not.
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
PICK ONE
-[X] You're not a poet, these books must still hold some secrets. See how Niall's rats are doing and pick his occult mind.
[X] THE DESPOT
-[X] The Despot has a low-key ghost cult operating right under his nose. Is that good? Is that bad? Is that something you can use? Do some research with Samet of Iblan and his mountain of legal precedent to find out if that's illegal or not.
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
PurpleProse
Squishy Purple Unicorn
[X] WAGON ROBBERY
PICK ONE
-[X] Raicho knows the mercenary life, find her and ask her if she knows any of the three people who did the hit.
[X] MIDNIGHT TALES
-[X] Go back and yell at the guy who locked you in. A lot. Then get him to talk.
-[X] Investigate them legally. Ask contacts around the city about them. Gather rumour.
Edit: changing my vote
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
The more countermeasures we have against spooky shit, the better.
PICK ONE
-[X] Raicho knows the mercenary life, find her and ask her if she knows any of the three people who did the hit.
[X] MIDNIGHT TALES
-[X] Go back and yell at the guy who locked you in. A lot. Then get him to talk.
-[X] Investigate them legally. Ask contacts around the city about them. Gather rumour.
Edit: changing my vote
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
The more countermeasures we have against spooky shit, the better.
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- Location
- St. Petersburg
Ha. So less like a red herring, and more like potential hired help. I don't know if their involvement goes farther than discovering the Chest, but they don't seem to be connected to the murder... not directly at least. There is a lot going on in the city besides that though, so they could still surprise us.
Dreams of Red Sands was... decent. An honest mercenary. Dead mercenary, too. Maybe these two facts are related. But really, if we need a companion for something not terribly important, I don't think we'd find a more trustworthy one.
[X] THE GILDED CHEST AND THE GOLD LION KEY
-[X] You're not a poet, these books must still hold some secrets. See how Niall's rats are doing and pick his occult mind.
[X] MIDNIGHT TALES
-[X] Go back and yell at the guy who locked you in. A lot. Then get him to talk.
-[X] Investigate them legally. Ask contacts around the city about them. Gather rumour.
-[X] Investigate them illegally. Break into offices, find out what you can.
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
Dreams of Red Sands was... decent. An honest mercenary. Dead mercenary, too. Maybe these two facts are related. But really, if we need a companion for something not terribly important, I don't think we'd find a more trustworthy one.
What is the intent behind the option? How do you "use" a ghost cult? So what if it's illegal? I am afraid I do not follow Sharell's reasoning here.
[X] THE GILDED CHEST AND THE GOLD LION KEY
-[X] You're not a poet, these books must still hold some secrets. See how Niall's rats are doing and pick his occult mind.
[X] MIDNIGHT TALES
-[X] Go back and yell at the guy who locked you in. A lot. Then get him to talk.
-[X] Investigate them legally. Ask contacts around the city about them. Gather rumour.
-[X] Investigate them illegally. Break into offices, find out what you can.
I noticed that a couple options to bluff Midnight Tales into talking about the Chest and the Words that Would Open the Way are gone. Have they been moved to pressing the guy who locked us in the room with the hungry ghost, or are they covered by something else? What?
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
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Generally Despot actions will be about using a crime someone has committed (By the laws of Gem anyway) to drop them in a whole lot of trouble. It'll let you close out a mystery you've solved if you feel you're done with it, or that you might get some benefit out of really ruining a groups day. It may also be a sneaky way of us reminding you what's happened as the big mystery gets more complex but shhh don't tell anyone.
In this case though it's finding out if it's even a crime to be running a ghost cult in Gem before you do it and also getting to maybe hear a bit about what Samet thinks of ghost cults in general.
Investigating the Midnight Tales may turn up things about any of those three, or none of them. Honestly it's mainly just because they were all just "Bluff and hope" and it seemed a bit bleh as a trio of choices when the list is already pretty big. Want to try keep them more on the side of things you know while also being interesting things to pick apart.
Don't worry though, if you commit to going after the Midnight Tales we won't avoid Sharell asking something that she would find useful to ask, unless she gets into a situation, which to be fair she does a lot. They might turn back up later if Sharell has something specific to use as leverage against them.
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I was quite worried there for a bit. Especially since Nevill made a good point about working for the guild but I'm glad to see my first instinct about these soldiers turned out to be okay. Even if it was probably more luck than wisdom. We really need something to deal with all these ghosts though.
[X] WAGON ROBBERY
PICK ONE
-[X] Track down the driver and assistant who got paid off. Try to subtly convince them to give up their side of the story.
[X] MIDNIGHT TALES
-[X] Go back and yell at the guy who locked you in. A lot. Then get him to talk.
-[X] Investigate them legally. Ask contacts around the city about them. Gather rumour.
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
So... lets move away from the occult parts of this investigation and deal with the things that kill in ways you can reasonably defend against. We do still need to find dirt on Diamond in your Knapsack. I just know Wave Crashes against the Rocks will argue, if we find the treasure, that Sharell didn't fulfil the contract of getting proof of Diamond's actions.
[X] WAGON ROBBERY
PICK ONE
-[X] Track down the driver and assistant who got paid off. Try to subtly convince them to give up their side of the story.
[X] MIDNIGHT TALES
-[X] Go back and yell at the guy who locked you in. A lot. Then get him to talk.
-[X] Investigate them legally. Ask contacts around the city about them. Gather rumour.
TEARS OF THE SEA
-[X] Buy salt. You need a lot of it if you're going to be dealing with ghosts again. It'll help you sleep a lot easier if nothing else. (Your Resource dot will be temporarily expended on this. It will recover if you get a future payout or sell something of value.)
So... lets move away from the occult parts of this investigation and deal with the things that kill in ways you can reasonably defend against. We do still need to find dirt on Diamond in your Knapsack. I just know Wave Crashes against the Rocks will argue, if we find the treasure, that Sharell didn't fulfil the contract of getting proof of Diamond's actions.
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- Location
- St. Petersburg
Hmm... current leads are Midnight Tales investigation and... rat diplomacy? Okay.
The investigation approach is split 50/50 between limiting ourselves to legal means, and a bit of extra. What do people think about both?
I kinda feel we let them off the hook for a while, so I am willing to cut a few corners to catch up... and we didn't get a lot of leverage to press them with. What are your reasons?
The investigation approach is split 50/50 between limiting ourselves to legal means, and a bit of extra. What do people think about both?
I kinda feel we let them off the hook for a while, so I am willing to cut a few corners to catch up... and we didn't get a lot of leverage to press them with. What are your reasons?
Day 4: Smelling a Rat
- Location
- In Your DNA
Take the Book to Niall 3
Midnight Tales Investigation - Legal 2
Midnight Tales Investigation - Illegal 2 Sudden death round!
Despot - Investigate Brothers' Legality 2
Investigate Feathers 1
Buy Salt 5
Midnight Tales Investigation - Legal 2
Midnight Tales Investigation - Illegal 2 Sudden death round!
Despot - Investigate Brothers' Legality 2
Investigate Feathers 1
Buy Salt 5
A fitful attempt at catching some sleep ends unsuccessfully when Leviathan climbs up onto the bed, sits on your chest and mewls until you get up to feed him. You consider taking him with you today as punishment, but as amusing as it would be to see how a cat reacts to Niall's shrine, it's just a little too cruel for you to go through with. Slicing up some pears and adding a dash of milk, you resolve to pick up some proper food for him now that he seems happy to be sticking around.
You sneak out while Leviathan is still eating the sticky smell of the superbloom still thick in the air. The Temple of Pan Yon is seeing a rare moment of popularity: as the goddess of free goods, her temple is usually only visited by the occasional desperate beggar or citizens down on their luck, but with a rainstorm of free water followed by streets full of free flowers people are making sure they put in their thanks just in case she decides they aren't appreciating it properly and makes moves to take it away.
The Eatery only ever really sees that kind of surge in popularity when plague or famine hit Gem hard and bodies in the streets become such a problem that you need the gods of vermin, insects and jackals to step in. Keeping clear of the drone hum of the hive Temple, you edge round the square and slip in Templeton's house, now bone dry with pews and tables set back where they should be and once again covered thick with swarms of furry rats. It's rare to see anyone else here this early, but a woman is already waiting, a few large black rats on her lap that she's feeding with bits of bread she's picking off a rather hard looking loaf.
She has an interesting get-up, brightly coloured strips of cloth tied around her in loops, some forming belts and other skirts or shawls in a messy riot of colours. It works somehow, though her shaggy black hair does spoil the effect; no amount of beaded necklaces woven into it to give it shape can hide how much of a greasy mess it is.
"He'll be back shortly," she says, not looking up from her feeding. "Don't be scared to push off a few rats off and take a seat.."
You take her up on it, nudging a few of the smaller greys and browns out onto the floor and sitting quickly before they can get back. You've known Niall long enough to learn his rats are cleaner than most people in the city and are very careful about disease. How they're so well behaved is a mystery you're still working on, Niall loves to turn that question into more attempts to push religious teachings into your head so you figure it's just God Stuff at work.
"Sharell" you say, giving a nod. "I've been a friend of Niall's for ages, I know they don't bite."
This seems to amuse her and she looks up from her feeding finally.
"You're quite confident about that, usually feeling sure something won't hurt you is a good way to get hurt," she says, stroking the black rats gathered up in her lap. "I'm Misery."
"Misery?" you say, already a little unsettled. "That short for something?"
"No."
Right, of course it isn't. You could have maybe gone a few hours without meeting someone new and creepy.
Misery: Charisma 4 + Performance 4. Sharell has a -1 Resolve Penalty currently for reasons. So this succeeds super easily.
She sees your discomfort and smiles wider, gathering up the rats on her laps in her arms and putting one up on her shoulder with a little ruffle of its fur and a chittering squeak that's the closest a rat is going to get to giggles. The rest she scatters on the floor, before dusting off her hands. The air's sweet with flowers instead of the smell of rat for a change here and it's hard to not be amused at the sight of a shoulder pet rat, the fat thing looking absolutely bemused about what it was meant to do up there, whiskers twitching furiously.
"I didn't pick the name," she says, "it doesn't really suit me anymore, but I'm not sure if I should get rid of it just yet. Who knows what the future holds, you know?"
"Absolutely. Sometimes I feel quite like Sharell and sometimes I barely feel it at all," you nod.
She pulls a face at you.
"Hey! You're the one who wants to share all with Sharell," you say, delighting in how she recoils from the pun.
"You sure you're a friend of Niall's? This seems a little too cruel for him."
"Until I run out of rat jokes, which I never will," you say, "it's how I kept my nerve at first, before I learned to relax around him."
"Rat Jokes?"
"Hey it works, jokes make things easier to cope with."
"Ah, well I'm not good at that," she says, one finger idly playing with the rat on her shoulder as she looks up to the ceiling.
"Coping?"
"Jokes."
That gets an awkward silence between the pair of you, one you can't help but fill.
"You know further down South they have rats that are crossed with elephants. Want to know what they're called?"
"If this is a joke I'm going to will them to bite you."
"Ah yeah. That's fair. It's not r-elephant anyway."
Intelligence 2 + Integrity 4. 3 Successes, she succeeds
She wiggles a hand at you while staring daggers, but you somehow miraculously remain unbitten and just smirk back, very proud of yourself right now.
"Sharell!" Niall calls as he comes into the temple, holding a large basket in both arms. "You're back already? Did my sermons touch your heart at last?"
"It's about ghosts and poetry."
"Of course it is. Well, come help me with this first. Oh, have you met Misery?"
"I was just making friends with her," you say as you get up to go help him bring the basket in.
"No, I was making friends," Misery says, "Sharell has instead made an enemy"
"Oh sorry Misery, I'm all full up on those. But I have space for a friend."
Niall laughs as you hoist the basket onto the table and begins to unpack the groceries there, rats lining up eagerly to see if they're going to get anything.
"Well you're both in good spirits, so I'll try not to worry about it. Let's deal with the ghosts first, poetry isn't something we can rush. I trust you took my sage advice and did not go and try mess with souls?" Niall says as he shucks some corn and lays it out for the expectant rats.
"I'm an investigator not a necromancer Niall, you know I wouldn't. But they do keep turning up and it's starting to worry me."
Niall fishes into his bag of groceries and comes out with a bag of salt, tossing it into your arms. You catch it, but it's pretty darn heavy.
"Ghosts can't cross salt or germinated grain, circle the room you're in if you're worried about them and they'll leave be. Most ghosts are more confused than trouble, so whatever you're doing to antagonize them I would ask you to stop if you could. You'll thank me for it! A donation would be appreciated as well, Salt's not cheap and now I'll need to get more later," Niall says, clearly a little concerned for you.
"How did you get into trouble with ghosts?" Misery asks casually, back in her seat with her rats now.
You don't really want to land them in further trouble, so you deflect a little.
"I had a fright with one a little while back, I just want to be sure."
Misery: Perception 5 + Socialize 2 = Botch! She gives something up instead.
"They can be quite frightening," she says with a nod. She says it with such certainty that you're immediately suspicious she's speaking from experience. You never did ask why she was here exactly.
"Also I found a book that I think has some interesting secrets in it," you say, returning your attention to Niall. "Would you mind taking a look at it? It's a bit old and strange, but I think it might actually be really important?"
"Of course," Niall says, "not right now. Misery and I have some business to attend to before the sun gets too high."
"Business?" you say, "I thought she was here to mourn?"
"No no!" Niall says, shaking his head "Did she not tell you?"
Perception 3 + Socialize 1 = 1 Success. Nope!
"Oh! You're dating! Wow, congratulations! She seems nice," you say clapping your hands together.
The pair of them choke in unison, which makes being wrong totally worth it.
"No! Heaven above no Sharell, she's half my age!"
Misery gives him a look.
"Ah! I mean the age difference is of course far greater than simply half, I didn't mean to insinuate you were old," Niall says, "Poetry! Yes, please Sharell."
You take out the Collected Poetry of the Avana Lineage and he leafs through it, picking a few pages at random.
"Maidens? Ah sutras, my tutor taught us the few he knew but they were all about Endings, this seems a lot more broad. You think this relevant?"
You nod. "Incredibly. I've put bookmarks on the pages, I could really use a better explanation of it."
"Would you mind me helping?" Misery asks, the rats on her swirling in her lap and then off to the ground as she stands. She's just a little taller than you but that isn't anything to brag about.
Perception 3 + Socialize 1 = 1 Success. Still nope!
"If Niall is okay with it, then I don't see why not," you say, choosing to trust Niall's judgement of character. From the sounds of it, the two will be talking anyway, so it's not like saying no will really do much.
"I've not read poetry in a long time, but I might have some insights."
"Part of your studies?" Niall says "Oh yes! Misery here is an Exorcist and old friend, she comes by to help me check on the tombs when it's our turn in the Eatery to go down there and make sure all is laying as it should."
You look at her suspiciously, you've never heard about this. But then your time with Niall is pretty infrequent on account of all the rats. It's not impossible you've just missed her until now.
"Well it'd be a help for certain. Any Exorcist tips?"
"Don't fight ghosts? Leave it to the experts," Misery says.
"Oh thanks, you're a big help."
"You're one of the few who can say that."
It's your turn to pull a face at her, taking out a purse and putting it beside Niall's basket. "For the salt and to buy some treats for the rats. Thank you for this, will it take you long to get to?"
"Assuming you don't live in a crate I can visit you later," Misery says, "and tell you if your taste in poetry is any better than your jokes."
"And I set such a high bar! If I'd known I'd have saved up the good stuff," you say, giving a little bow and getting out there before she really does work out how to get the rats to eat you.
It's been several days since you were last at the Midnight House of the Thousand Tales. It's one thing to drop by at night when business has closed down and all sensible folk are asleep in their beds but quite another to visit during the day. Jackal-masked guards are out in force and you don't see the relatively friendly shape of Raicho anywhere to make this easy. Instead you're temporarily accosted by an entirely new wall of meat and you're a little low on smokes, so it's worrisome for a moment if you're going to be able to bribe them for entry, but they let you past after only a little bit of checking inside so either you're expected or you've caught them at a better time.
Which of those is clear almost immediately, as the merchant who handled you before and did a fair job of trying to kill you is brought out to meet you in the front hall. He's wearing a new pair of dark glasses that are propped up on a nose that's sporting a real beauty of a purple bruise, - your guess is it's had one or two days to heal and it still looks like shit. You know two people who have paid him a visit since you left and apparently one of them really didn't like what they heard.
"Ah, miss…" he spreads his arms wide like he's greeting an old friend - undermined pretty much immediately when he blanks on your name. You're going to fucking kill him.
Manipulation 3 + Presence 1 = 4 successes. Bullshit successfully cut.
"Zenteno," you say, "as in, you have ten zeconds until I shove firedust down your throat and light it up."
You met one person today who appreciated your jokes (probably) but the groan he gives is of a very different sort.
"Meet me in my office," he says, sounding almost resigned and turning to go before you step in front of him. The guards flinch and move their hands to their weapons, but you haven't actually done anything hostile yet.
"In a parlor, or on a balcony - somewhere where we can be seen. You tried to kill me, you miserable son of a bitch. You think I'm going to your office?"
"I didn't know that was going to happen! How could I have? How should I have?" He's babbling, if he doesn't stop soon you might have to slap him.
"Now."
…
It's quite a lovely balcony - the carpet of blue flowers stretches across the city and the wind drifts in bringing the mouthwatering smell of a nearby bakery, where elegant chairs have been set up, tea is being served by a girl with long legs and a frilly black-and-white outfit, and although everyone is too far to hear what you're saying, half the city can see you talk.
You are stone-faced - the merchant is wringing his hands and rubbing his neck and trying to wipe away the sweat on his brow, and he smiles at you like that's going to engender some kind of reaction. But you are iron - and if you have to be honest, you're really enjoying seeing him sweat.
"Why did you lock me in with a hungry ghost?"
"It's standard procedure! We couldn't have you running about the place. So many valuables that could just go missing."
"Wrong answer." You take one of your nail bombs out of your coat and start gently tossing and catching it. "Why did you lock me in with a hungry ghost?"
His eyes are shaded by the glasses but you can see just the edge of them tracking the bomb, up and down, up and down, up and down.
"If I tell you, will you put that away?"
"Oh this?" you say, turning the converted toy ball in your hand. "You don't like toys?"
"I don't like those ones."
"Been checking up on me have you, Teleji?" you say with a smile as he flinches at you using his name. It'd been pretty easy to ask around for it, but it was clear he didn't like you'd been doing it.
"Just due diligence. It's... it's part of my job."
"And is locking me up with killer ghosts also part of your job?" you say, rolling the ball along your palms with the little metal striker clattering as it runs over your fingers.. He really doesn't like the clicking sound it makes.
"No! That was not my intention, I swear. You have to believe me," he says, pressed firmly back into his seat.
"Depends on what you tell me. Because from my end it looked like you did it on purpose."
"I know this looks bad. But it's worse, so much worse! He was under our protection. He was in our house!"
"You're rambling," you start to toss it from hand to hand.
"Ten Feathers is a brute, you know! An awful, terrible, torturing brute and when I was expecting them, well you turn up instead! I had no idea who you were, but the Guild felt you were important enough to send and they're little better than the Despot. So I thought, well I thought what if the pair of you meet up? Better to keep you separated or you'd start fighting over the crime scene or even worse, you'd start collaborating."
Is this guy capable of digging himself out of the hole he's in? Aren't merchants supposed to be smart?
"Obviously I had no idea that a man killed so soon would rise as a monster. How could I have known? And and and! We suffered a great deal of damages from it! A whole shelf of dream diaries from Chiaroscuro, totally torched. We're still refurbishing the room, and it certainly won't be cheap!"
"How very tragic for you." you say, putting on a pout for them "But please, let's do dig into that. When did Cheshago die? The way you're so interested in covering your ass, I'm starting to think you might have tried to cover that up too."
"W-w-w-we reported it as soon as we found out, of course. H-he requested the use of one of our private rooms and bought one of our dreamstones-"
"Why?" and when you see him hesitate toss the nail bomb forward and bounce it off his forehead, catching it right back in your palm. He tries to raise his arms to shield his face far too late, spilling his tea and dropping his cup.
The servant in the frilly dress who is trying to serve you both takes it with surprisingly good grace, putting out a new cup for him and pouring as you lean over him, studiously ignoring everything that doesn't involve her very direct duties.
Manipulation 3 + Investigation 4 = 4 successes. Rolled him like a cheap cigar.
"T-t-there, there was," he starts as soon as he's caught his breath, "I am given to understand, an individual - dead or alive, it wasn't clear - who he needed to find out something from. Dreamstones will let you collect or experience dreams - we sell pleasant dreams and nightmares to anyone who wants a new experience. We told him they couldn't do anything for memories but he didn't seem to care."
"And did he collect anything with that dreamstone? Memories or otherwise?"
"Certainly I don't know that! Why would I know that?"
You're running short on ideas on how to string this guy along with the threat of violence, so you just bare your teeth. He grimaces - how badly did Ten Feathers or Mishri work this guy over? (It was probably Ten Feathers, but after last night you're trying not to make assumptions.)
"If he did happen to have a dreamstone it was of course our property, since he hadn't paid for it yet. They're incredibly valuable, we can't just leave something like that lying about."
"I knew you'd cleaned up that crime scene a little. Do you still have it?"
"I…" he's nodding his head slightly like a man coming to a decision, "miss…"
Oh for fuck's sake. "Zenteno. Write it down, Teleji."
"Miss Zenteno, am I given to understand that you're in the Guild's good graces?"
The sound of your harrumph startles even the so far impassive servant, who blushes as she stands waiting. Lucky for her Teleji is far too focused on you to notice.
"W-well, if you are, or were, or could be… the Despot's personal Hound has taken an interest in our affairs even though we are most certainly completely innocent in everything we are accused of, and the Hound, well…"
"...doesn't care as much about guilt as they should, right?" The memory of the faeblood casually twirling their firewand, the flame-spewing rifle spinning like a staff, comes unbidden.
"Yes! It's only sensible of us to protect ourselves. If I could perhaps help you smooth this whole matter over and prove our undeniable innocence then I could see fit to… lend you a dreamstone or two. Until your investigation is concluded. Whether a Guild Prince happened to mishandle it in the past is none of my affair, but it is my hope that you will see your way to seeing this most heinous shadow we are under past?"
You are considering just calling that mess of a lie out, but as he leans forward and his glasses slip onto his nose, you notice dark circles under his eyes - guy hasn't slept in days. No wonder he's been such a stumbling mess.
"Stone first," you hold up a finger and shove those glasses right back into his face, "if it's any good, maybe I can have a personal word with Waves Crash Against the Rocks about helping you out. But if I have to come back because you cheated me Teleji you're going to lie down to sleep and set off twenty of these."
You give it one last toss before you pocket it. "Boom."
…
It's not one stone, but two in your hands as you walk away from the Midnight House of the Thousand Tales. Speckled things, about the size of a fist, crystal with rainbow shadows and sparkling flecks inside and patterns that swirl inside like twining ribbons. The one, the red one, you are told may be of some use in your investigation. The other, of a purple so deep it's almost black, you are told is complimentary. In hopes of a bright future together.
You pocket them both, and after a complimentary tour (always with doors open and clear lines of sight), you leave the place richer in both information and actual riches.
But he was still shady as hell, and you still feel like he wasn't telling you everything. Partly on purpose and partly because he was tripping so hard over his own tongue. You'd made him take you right through the building and even shown you a convenient balcony entrance. Before Misery is done with her poetry interpretation, you feel like there might be time for just one more quick caper.
Are you satisfied with that?
[ ] Good enough for now. Your tour was a friendly tour, if a tense one. No need to resort to anything drastic - if you've missed anything the Guild can leverage it out of them.
[ ] Hell no. "Tour" nothing, you were casing the place to break in. Time to go find out what they're really hiding.
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PurpleProse
Squishy Purple Unicorn
[X] Hell no. "Tour" nothing, you were casing the place to break in. Time to go find out what they're really hiding.
If there's ever a time for us to press our luck, it's right now.
If there's ever a time for us to press our luck, it's right now.
- Location
- Bed
[X] Hell no. "Tour" nothing, you were casing the place to break in. Time to go find out what they're really hiding.
- This guy is way too suspicious, so odds are good he's not guilty. Well, not guilty of this. He's 100% done way too many crimes to count, but that's besides the point. Either way, keep on investigating nonetheless. If we accept the guided tour and think that's it then we won't get much of anywhere, really.
- This guy is way too suspicious, so odds are good he's not guilty. Well, not guilty of this. He's 100% done way too many crimes to count, but that's besides the point. Either way, keep on investigating nonetheless. If we accept the guided tour and think that's it then we won't get much of anywhere, really.