Earth Bet: House of the Sun (Cultist Simulator/Worm)
- Thread starter Witherbrine26
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Yay, double application. And also influences, but those are hard to get.
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- She/her
Woohoo! We have our generalist rituals! And you know what this means guys?
On-command Grail Influences.
Also nice to see the search DC isn't too bad. I assume it's decreased due to roping the SH guy in on it, but DC 50 - 60 is still within the realm of plausiblity if we're sending out non-SH summons to search for us (like the Dappled Wings).
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Yeah, we could teach them and then show them a practical demonstration right after. Seeing is believing after all.
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- She/her
Moth, Grail, and Heart are actually pretty easy to get for us, since the cellar gives a free +30 to ritual rolls that invoke those three Lores. Like it's still pretty unlikely for us to get a maximum intensity Influence, but we're guaranteed to get at least a first intensity Influence, highly likely to get at least second intensity, and something like coinflip odds to get at least third intensity from what I remember when I was checking the odds - at least when it comes to Moth, Heart, or Grail (esp. once Heart hits Level 2).
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I honestly forgot about those bonuses.
So we roll(for Moth, Grail and Heart):
+30(Cellar) + 10(Emir's current Piety) + 5(Intuitive) +7(Cadre, I missed having one so much)= 52.
The lowest DC is 60 so we have... 92% chance to get a first level Influence in those 3 lores. So high!
Edit: Whoops, forgot the actual lore bonuses. Thank you, Greymere. So it would be 72 for Moth and Grail and 62 for Heart till we get it to Level 2.
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- She/her
You're missing the bonus from our Lore levels too. If we hit Heart 2 this turn (pretty likely), our modifier for calling a Grail, Heart, or Moth Influence will be +72.
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I think Attention of the Laws can't since it explicitly says it is a Application boost and hurdles are not exactly "Application" rolls.
Influences always help though, so we could go for a Heart one.
If we're not telling the Cult about it, then we might as well give it a go. We've got decent levels in the Lores we have ready access to, and given what the trail starts with, I strongly suspect we'll have at least one Lore applicable to any obstacles.
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- She/her
Being useless at a third of the Lores with no ability to otherwise compensate (e.g. artifacts) does not strike me as being adequately prepared to go on a medium-difficulty Mansus expedition. Or appropriate for the cult's ritualist, for that matter (the lacking Lores, not the Mansus expedition).
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I believe we should go for a short Wake expedition first, just to get a feel for it. As for Mansus, I think it is high time to climb higher.
Bah, we got the Wounds necessary for a little risk taking.
Eh, the further we climb the further we get from our Society's foundations, the Woods-domain of the Malachite. There is much to be found and much to be learned, should the Velvet permit it.
Personally I really want to find the Temple of the Wheel, given our heritage.
Yes, I'm very interested in any potential Heart Heirloom that could be inside.
Turn 6 - Results, Part 3
New
[X] Plan: Preparing for a Heart Ritual - Dappled Wing helping
-[X] On work and the people you preach to.
--[X] You'll end a few minutes early, subtly of course (Gain an extra action)
-[X] On the goal, of rites, rituals and summoned creatures
--[X] Search out a Ritual (Ask for cult's SH follower)
--[X] Search the Woods for summonable creatures
-[X] On learning the Lores.
--[X] Lady Mylissa is willing to teach, request a lesson
---[X] What lore? (Heart)
-[X] The Mansus, a place of contradictions. It calls to you, reach out.
--[X] Explore the Woods and it's many secrets
-[X] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions might never be available again)
--[X] Get involved Damsel of Distresses planning (There will be a vote on how to approach this later.)
-[X] [Dappled Wing] Ensure our planning meeting with DoD stays secret
--[X] You'll end a few minutes early, subtly of course (Gain an extra action)
-[X] On the goal, of rites, rituals and summoned creatures
--[X] Search out a Ritual (Ask for cult's SH follower)
--[X] Search the Woods for summonable creatures
--[X] Lady Mylissa is willing to teach, request a lesson
---[X] What lore? (Heart)
-[X] The Mansus, a place of contradictions. It calls to you, reach out.
--[X] Explore the Woods and it's many secrets
--[X] Get involved Damsel of Distresses planning (There will be a vote on how to approach this later.)
-[X] [Dappled Wing] Ensure our planning meeting with DoD stays secret
[Searching for Spirits]
[Roll: 14+12(Intrigue)+10(Secret Histories) = 36]
You strode through the woods with a clear and resolute purpose, the shadows between the trees flickering and shifting in the dim light. The undergrowth crunched beneath your feet as you navigated deeper into the thickets, your mind focused on one thing—finding another spirit. The Dappled Wings you had summoned earlier had proven themselves useful, their eerie presence a valuable asset in your growing arsenal, but you knew there was more to be uncovered. This place, these Woods, held secrets. Spirits lingered in the shadows, hidden within the folds of the underbrush, and you could sense them.
You moved with care, though your pace was deliberate. You had already passed through a patch of brambles, the thorns snagging at your clothes, your feet slipping into the muck beneath you. The Woods weren't yielding their secrets easily, but you pressed on, determined. Something stirred in the air, a faint scent—almost metallic, bitter, but somehow enticing. It was that scent that pulled you forward, guiding your steps toward what you knew, deep down, could only be the Luster Drowned Well.
Your feet carried you toward it, driven by something beyond curiosity, a quiet, gnawing urge that tugged at your insides. You weren't entirely sure what it was, but you had a feeling there was something lurking nearby, something waiting.
Then, you stopped dead in your tracks.
The faintest rustle from above caught your ear, and as you lifted your head, you saw it—something, a shadow, dropping from the treetops like a stone. It fell silently at first, the weight of its descent disturbing the branches just enough to cause a shiver in the leaves. Then came the sound—a soft tearing noise, followed by the unmistakable splash as the thing disappeared into the well's dark, sloshing liquid deep under the ground.
Your body tensed, every muscle coiled as your breath hitched in your throat. You forced yourself to move, slowly at first, toward the well. The scent grew stronger, metallic and cloying, filling your nostrils as you neared. You peered down, heart pounding, the liquid inside rippling with movement as something shifted beneath the surface. You strained your eyes, trying to make out what lurked in the depths, but all you could see was the red sheen of the liquid, dark and viscous, and the faint sloshing sounds of whatever it was drinking.
Then, you saw it.
Two empty sockets, staring up from the well's depths. They were hollow, surrounded by sagging, leathery flesh that clung to the edges of a mostly bare skull. The thing, whatever it was, was drinking from the well, bathing in it. Slowly, methodically. You stood frozen, your heart hammering in your chest as dread seeped into your bones.
Without thinking, you took a step back. Then another. The urge to run was overwhelming, but you were rooted in place for a moment longer, unable to tear your eyes away from the horrific sight. And then, you turned, your body breaking into a run as fear gripped you, the ground slick and treacherous beneath your feet.
[Escaping the Hungry Thing: DC 50]
[Roll: 18+1(Edge)-10(Frightened) = 9]
A loud shriek pierced the air behind you, the sound of something scurrying after you sending a jolt of terror down your spine. Your feet slipped in the mud as you stumbled forward, pulling on branches, your heart racing faster with each frantic step. The ringing in your ears grew louder, a high-pitched whine that made it harder to think, harder to focus—
London.
You tripped, your legs giving way beneath you as that cursed noise grew louder, splitting through your thoughts, and with it came the memories—memories that dragged you down, that clawed at you like hands pulling you back.
"Please stay!"
Pain shot through your stomach as something hit you, hard, knocking the air from your lungs. You landed on your back with a thud, the impact rattling your bones as you gasped for breath. You felt it then—the sharp, biting sensation of something sinking into your flesh, something pulling at you, draining the warmth from your body as it drank deep.
Your eyes, wide and panicked, darted toward the creature. It was gnarled, its flesh hanging in loose folds over brittle bones, its body grotesque and skeletal. And yet, as it tore strips of your skin away and greedily consumed your blood, you saw it begin to change. It was inflating, restoring itself, piece by piece, with every drop it took. You tried to fight it, your hands weakly pushing at its bony frame, but the ringing in your ears grew louder, drowning out everything else. The memories tugged at you, pulling you under as you fought to stay conscious.
There she was, singing.
The creature stopped suddenly, its head jerking to the side as if hearing something you couldn't. It looked down at you, at your chest, for a long moment, and you could see it twitch. It then jumped off you in a fluid motion, its bloated form moving with an unsettling grace as it scuttled away on all fours, disappearing into the trees.
You lay there, your body trembling, your heart pounding, and your blood seeping into the muck beneath you. The world around you blurred, the pain dulling into a distant throb as exhaustion took over. The ringing in your ears finally began to fade, the memories loosening their grip on you. You were bleeding—badly—but at that moment, all you felt was a deep, overwhelming weariness.
You closed your eyes, letting the darkness take you. For now, you would rest.
You closed your eyes, and just rested.
[Emir loses One Health, Five remains]
You wandered close to the Luster Drowned Well, searching for spirits to summon. You glimpsed one, a wretched, starving thing that plunged into the depths of the well. It saw you as well.
You fled, yet you could not escape. It drank of your blood and ate of your flesh this time; it may not be so kind in the future.
[Exploring the Woods]
[Roll: 8+10(Piety)+20(Moth) = 38]
The Woods were a place unlike any other, their ancient presence thrumming in the air like a forgotten song. The trees stood tall and proud, their leaves rustling softly above, casting shifting patterns of light that danced across your path as you moved. There was a smile tugging at your lips and a quiet hum in your chest—a resonance that came from being in a place both familiar and foreign.
Some nights, these Woods filled you with dread, a visceral fear that clawed at your throat and sent you running, breathless, as shadows seemed to reach out and pull at your ankles. The lights, those soft dapples, would turn sharp, their brightness alien and unnerving. But tonight, the atmosphere was different. It felt more like an adventure, a midnight wander into a place half-forgotten by the world but alive with mystery. The air was cool, the night still, and your steps were slow, measured, as you meandered deeper into the heart of this strange, unfathomable place.
You weren't entirely sure what you were searching for tonight. Perhaps it was a creature, perhaps a place—or perhaps something else entirely that you hadn't yet identified. You had seen a horrible spirit the other night, and so tonight you stayed away from the well. So tonight you simply walked. The stillness around you felt alive, pulsing with possibility, and your mind wandered with it.
Your thoughts turned to the tesseracts. They had fascinated you, those impossible shapes that spiraled up beyond the trees, folding back in on themselves in ways that defied comprehension. They seemed to stretch into eternity, a constant flux of geometry and space that toyed with the very fabric of reality.
One in particular caught your eye—a faint red glow emanating from deep within, pulsating softly like the steady beat of a heart. It was embedded within a large chunk of black glass, the tesseract itself twisting and folding in ways that made your eyes water if you looked at it for too long. The glow was mesmerizing, casting strange shadows that seemed to flicker and shift with every beat.
You leaned closer, curiosity getting the better of you. The red light shimmered, the glass reflecting it back out into the Woods, creating a bizarre dance of color and shadow that made your heart race. As you peered into the depths of the tesseract, you thought you saw something—something alive, something pulsing in time with the glow. It beckoned you, a silent call that tugged at the edges of your mind, urging you to look closer
So you did. You leaned in further, eyes locked on the mysterious, pulsing shape at the heart of the tesseract, your breath caught in your throat. For a moment, it felt as though the world around you had stilled completely, the air heavy and thick with anticipation. Then, without warning, the ground beneath your feet shifted.
You gasped as your balance faltered, your feet slipping out from under you. Before you could react, you were falling—tumbling headlong into the tesseract, the world spinning around you as the red glow swallowed you whole
It was alone
It was hungry.
Mother had died
It was hungry.
It was alone.
Its host grew.
It was hungry.
It was alone.
Something spoke to it.
It listened.
It cracked, it splintered, it feasted.
It was no longer alone.
[Escaping the Tesseract: DC 90]
[Roll: 85+12(Intrigue)+10(Secret Histories) = 94]
You jolted awake with a sharp gasp, heart pounding in your chest, and shot upright in bed. The room was dark, the quiet only broken by the faint ticking of a clock somewhere in the distance. Your stomach gave a low rumble, but the hunger gnawing at you was far from your mind as your nose twitched, catching the lingering scent of something... unfamiliar. You tried to shake it off, pushing the sensation aside, though it gnawed at you like a distant echo from a place you didn't fully understand.
What were the tesseracts? What in the world was that black glass you'd seen? Your mind raced, replaying fragments of the strange, twisted geometry that had spiraled in on itself, glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light. But it wasn't just a trick of the eye—no, those things were alive. You knew it. You had felt it. They were alive, and the one you encountered… it was hungry.
Something had whispered to it, deep within the tesseract's core. Secrets, perhaps. Words you couldn't hear or understand, but they had seeped into the cracks, offering it knowledge—knowledge that would allow it to survive, to feast. The details were a blur in your memory, obscured by the crackling red lightning that had flashed before your eyes, and those horrifying things. The things that squirmed and writhed, weaving their way through the tesseract's shell like parasitic threads worming beneath the skin. You breathed in and-
[Resisting Dread: DC 60]
[Roll: 51+8(Martial)+1(Winter) = 60]
-and merely shuddered at the thought, remembering the way they moved, the way they burrowed into the living, breathing thing that was the tesseract. They told it how to feed, how to sate its ravenous hunger, and yet despite everything it devoured—despite feasting on its own kin, brother and sister alike—it was never truly sated.
Your legs swung over the side of the bed, feet touching the cold floor, and you rose slowly, padding quietly into the kitchen. The darkness felt heavier than usual tonight, pressing in around you as you moved, but you ignored it, focusing instead on the small, simple task ahead. You needed something to eat before you went back to bed, something to fill that hollow feeling in your gut, even if only for a little while.
The faint glow of the refrigerator light bathed you in a pale, sterile hue as you rummaged through its contents, searching for something to sate your own hunger. Your mind wandered back to the tesseract, to the strange and terrible thing it had shown you—those writhing shapes, the way they fed—and you shivered.
As you pulled out a small snack, your eyes caught sight of the scissors lying on the counter. You froze for a moment, an odd twinge of unease settling in your chest. It was strange, irrational even, but the thought of them unsettled you. Keeping your gaze fixed on them, you slowly pushed them farther away, far out of reach. You didn't want them anywhere near you tonight. Not after what you'd seen. Not after the things you felt crawling beneath within that tesseract and its own hunger.
You have witnessed one of the tesseracts, its hunger and how it feasted. However, you kept your cool, resisting the innate urge to flee even when it communed with squirming, writhing things. Gain 1 scrap of Winter lore.
Winter lore is now Level 1
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- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him
You know what? One health was a decent price for a Lore scrap and a possible new summon.
So the shards outside the network were influenced by worms that taught them to devour their fellows instead of dying.
Perhaps the worms did this in order to use the Shard bodies as a direct route to mansus, bypassing the usual defenses.
We were plunged into the depths of a well and devoured, and the knowledge of how to be eaten is clearly the knowledge of the Grail.
At the same time, we let our blood flow in mansus, and that made us think of the knowledge of the heart last time.
Perhaps the worms did this in order to use the Shard bodies as a direct route to mansus, bypassing the usual defenses.
Shouldn't we be getting a fragment of the grail or a heart?
We were plunged into the depths of a well and devoured, and the knowledge of how to be eaten is clearly the knowledge of the Grail.
At the same time, we let our blood flow in mansus, and that made us think of the knowledge of the heart last time.
Not necessarily. After all, while we were consumed, there was nothing of desire or hunger in our minds, we merely were assaulted, overwhelmed, and fed upon. We did not learn anything of value ourselves.
As for Heart… our Heart is much higher than it was last time, isn't it? I think that would impact what we can learn and from where. It would be strange if a Heart 6 6/7 character could learn a scrap of Heart just by getting injured in The Mansus… It doesn't feel like a lessen that they need to learn anymore…
The fact remains that we were being devoured, and doing so not somewhere, but in the very well from which the Grail was born. It's too symbolic a combination for us not to get anything.
In addition, the grail is not about reason and awareness, but about feelings and desires that come from places that precede reason. As long as our body remembers the experience, then it's enough to be enough.
I doubt it. After all, Grail is about passion and experience, desire and sensation. It is aching need and hungering pain, and also blissful pleasure beyond belief.
This has nothing of desire, we were overwhelmed by memories during the experience. That's Winters domain. We did not willingly give ourselves over to consumption or being consumed, nor did we consume in turn.
We learned nothing. We either were too high level to gain insight into the Lore of Grail from that experience, were too distracted by our memories to gain any insight from the experience, or the component necessary to actually gain a scrap from such an act was missing. Regardless, it doesn't surprise me, as Scraps of Lore are scraps of knowledge and represent insight. There was no insight or new understanding obtained, so it makes sense to me that we learned nothing.
This has nothing of desire, we were overwhelmed by memories during the experience. That's Winters domain. We did not willingly give ourselves over to consumption or being consumed, nor did we consume in turn.
We learned nothing. We either were too high level to gain insight into the Lore of Grail from that experience, were too distracted by our memories to gain any insight from the experience, or the component necessary to actually gain a scrap from such an act was missing. Regardless, it doesn't surprise me, as Scraps of Lore are scraps of knowledge and represent insight. There was no insight or new understanding obtained, so it makes sense to me that we learned nothing.
It is not necessary to realize or remember your passions and desires in order for them to be valid. Remember the description of Chalice Murmurous.
| On those nights when we drink from the chalice, we are not certain, afterwards, what we have done. But, we may be assured, it is what always has been done, and if we do not remember, our children will, in their redmost dreams. |
You can't survive an experience, especially when it comes in the form of a wound, and remain unchanged. We weren't just wounded we were devoured now we know what it's like to be reduced to nourish someone else. We don't have to like it or dislike it, but we've felt the process.