Remove ads

Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)

Reader mode
uju32 said:
The QM made a mistake.
Its literally in the text of the charm that it activates reflexively.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
You might have noticed that the word "reflexivly" comes up often in various Charms.

It does not mean that it activates automatically, just that you can activate it outside of your own turn and without spending an action on it.
You can still fail to activate it in some circumstances, for example you can't use a perfect defence Charm against an attack you weren't aware of (unless you have other option to negate surprises) and you might also fail to activate IPM against a Mind-spell that is too subtle for you to notice, or one like Gorefel used, that makes it hard to even remember he cast anything.
 
Last edited:
@uju32 my only objection with with your plan now is the reflexive activation of IPM. If it outright activates it or even better spends WP to activate it, then I would vote for it.
 
I think trying to use our Subterfuge Excellency to trick her into trying to possess Molly if she's grapples is a good idea, perhaps that should be worked into the stunt?
 
uju32 said:
1) With wraiths flying around and making attacks of opportunity, you do not throw away the item that reduces your Parry DC from DC6 to DC4. We're tough, but not quite that tough.

2)Molly has no ability to see the structure of the portal. No Sight, and pisspoor magic senses: Awareness 0, Alertness 0.
No idea how big it is, no odea how wide, or where the borders are.
Visual lightshow does not delineate magical structure.

For all we know its displaced a foot to the side, or is much slimmer, or expands when people and objects come close.
And the Capriocorpus was very good at veils in canon.
Molly would be throwing blind in the hope that it has an effect, something thats frankly really unwise given her tactical situation.

3)The Capriocorpus is a full blown wizard with more than two hundred years of life.
She can literally open a new NeverNever portal with an act of will; its not difficult for a wizard of her experience. Dresden used to do much the same thing, with no tools. Even success costs us a shield we'll need in exchange for something she can undo quite readily.


All in all, shield throws are a terrible idea in this tactical situation.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
1) Which is why I decided to throw the shield right before engaging Capriocorpus. We have to get rid of it anyway, might as well do it in a useful way. Grappling while holding both the shield and the sword is aterrible idea
2) The portal is behind the door. There is a physical door present. Jam it, so it can't be opened.
3) This is clearly not the case, otherwise the whole situation wouldn't make any sense. She made Lydia come here specifically, and is going for this specific portal instead of disappearing into NeverNever right after jacking Lydia's body.
 
Yog said:
1) Which is why I decided to throw the shield right before engaging Capriocorpus. We have to get rid of it anyway, might as well do it in a useful way. Grappling while holding both the shield and the sword is aterrible idea
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

The problem is that throwing the shield eats multiple action penalties.
 
LightLan said:
My single change is immediate IPM activation instead of reflexive.
Corpsetaker is very good at veils and I do not want to have to roll for if Molly notices the necessity of activating it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
IPM has nothing to do with veils.

Artemis1992 said:
YOu might have noticed that the word "reflexivly" comes up often in various Charms. It does not mean that it activates automatically, just that you can activate it outside of your own turn and without spending an action on it.

You can still fail to activate it in some circumstances, for example you can't use a perfect defence Charm against an attack you weren't aware of (unless you have other option to negate surprises) and you might also fail to activate IPM against a Mind-spell that is too subtle for you to notice, or one like Gorefel used, that makes it hard to even remember he cast anything.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I know how reflexive functions; its a cornerstone of Ex2 mechanics.
System transparency means that you always have the option to activate your reflexives

You can choose not to do so, to conserve Essence, because you dont think its necessary, even for drama.
But its a choice you make; the default is autoactivate if necessary.
Thats how, for example, Integrity Protection Prana works for Solars. And Raw Edged Paranoia Principle for Infernals.

Anyway, its a moot point, because our anima banner is active.
All attacks, ambushes and strikes are Obvious because the Crown of Eyes anima power is active.
So any mental attack will be obvious.
Yzarc said:
@uju32 my only objection with with your plan now is the reflexive activation of IPM. If it outright activates it or even better spends WP to activate it, then I would vote for it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
-See above.
Our anima banner is active, so all attacks are obvious. Because of all the eyes everywhere.

-We're at 6/9 WP. I am not entirely comfortable with burning WP for this, before Kattrin and her time fuckery.
Especially since the QM has not awarded WP for events that I thought for sure would give us WP, like recovering Cindy or meeting an elemental guardian of a proto-Dragons Nest.

Are you sure?
Yog said:
1) Which is why I decided to throw the shield right before engaging Capriocorpus. We have to get rid of it anyway, might as well do it in a useful way. Grappling while holding both the shield and the sword is aterrible idea
2) The portal is behind the door. There is a physical door present. Jam it, so it can't be opened.
3) This is clearly not the case, otherwise the whole situation wouldn't make any sense. She made Lydia come here specifically, and is going for this specific portal instead of disappearing into NeverNever right after jacking Lydia's body.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
1)No we dont. It is collapsible for a reason.
The referent for our shield design are the collapsing shields in God of War, or some of the bucklers in RL.
And l posted a video with people grappling while armed with sword and buckler. They didnt drop either.

2)In order
-One, I'd appreciate a citation for it being a physical door.
-Two, she has entire swarms of wraiths to move any obstruction; some are attacking us now.
If they're strong enough to deal physical attacks, they are strong enough to move physical objects.
-Three, when embodied she is a scary powerful wizard. Cowl-tier power. She stole the body of the White Council's army/police commander in a face to face confrontation.

Even weakened, she is a person of mass destruction, and she is running off the power generation of a death god scion. Bob panicked at the name for good reason.
You dont jam a door against that sort of person; she is probably quite capable of turning it into high energy physics.

3)Because she is familiar with the portal and where it leads. Other Ways will be slower, or less direct, or more dangerous.
You can open a Way anywhere, but barring existing maps, you cant be sure where it leads.
Thats how the NeverNevr works.

When she's under attack, she isnt going to be quite as choosy.
Dresden never opened a path to the NeverNever in his home until Changes, but it was the work of seconds to do so.
 
Last edited:
given dresden files veils probably have different methods depending on the user generally its probably some kind of mind stuff though not of the law breaking kind. Usually at least I'm sure this good old gal doesn't have qualms about law breaking veils. Some wizard who specializes in light or projections of some kind could probably make veils too.
 
uju32 said:
-One, I'd appreciate a citation for it being a physical door.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Here is the initial description of the scene:
DragonParadox said:
It's getting really cold down here now, cold enough that you feel like you might almost be able to draw power from it when, suddenly the spirit veers hard left into what looks like an old wine cellar of all things with one of those fancy spiral stairs like a medieval castle leading upwards towards faint white light.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Here I ask if we can see what's on the other side of the portal, since I also thought it was "a hole in the air" or somethng like that:
Yog said:
Do we know where the portal leads (can we see what's on the other side)? Does it look stable? If it's going to collapse after something passes through, we could throw our sword through it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Here DragonParadox clarifies that the portal is behind a physical door at the top of the stairs:
DragonParadox said:
You cannot, no mystical senses to speak of right now. All you can see is light peeking through the door at the top of the stairs.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

uju32 said:
-Two, she has entire swarms of wraiths to move any obstruction; some are attacking us now.
If they're strong enough to deal physical attacks, they are strong enough to move physical objects.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
We were told that it's possible to make the throw. Ghosts also have to react in time to deflect the shield. And they are, from what I understand, mostly on the ground level.
uju32 said:
-Three, when embodied she is a scary powerful wizard. Cowl-tier power. She stole the body of the White Council's army/police commander in a face to face confrontation.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
How is this relevant to getting rid of the shield? Her powers and abilities are concentrated in the field of necromancy and possession.

Also, by this logic, we should be letting her go and prioritizing protecting Cindy.
uju32 said:
3)Because she is familiar with the portal and where it leads. Other Ways will be slower, or less direct, or more dangerous.
You can open a Way anywhere, but barring existing maps, you cant be sure where it leads.
Thats how the NeverNevr works.

When she's under attack, she isnt going to be quite as choosy.
Dresden never opened a path to the NeverNever in his home until Changes, but it was the work of seconds to do so.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
She spent a non-inconsiderable amount of time and effort getting through the underground to here. There were certainly easier ways to get to the NeverNever if that was her goal. No, she almost certainly needs this specific portal for something. Preventing her from getting to it is important.
 
Yog said:
Here is the initial description of the scene:

Here I ask if we can see what's on the other side of the portal, since I also thought it was "a hole in the air" or somethng like that:

Here DragonParadox clarifies that the portal is behind a physical door at the top of the stairs:



We were told that it's possible to make the throw. Ghosts also have to react in time to deflect the shield. And they are, from what I understand, mostly on the ground level.

How is this relevant to getting rid of the shield? Her powers and abilities are concentrated in the field of necromancy and possession.

Also, by this logic, we should be letting her go and prioritizing protecting Cindy.

She spent a non-inconsiderable amount of time and effort getting through the underground to here. There were certainly easier ways to get to the NeverNever if that was her goal. No, she almost certainly needs this specific portal for something. Preventing her from getting to it is important.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
being honest a shield hitting said portal might just make it enter said portal, or fiss out, or blow up, or it could work out. Honestly our skillsets not amazing for this who knows maybe gard has something shes a motherfucking valkyrie with knowledge of runes some of those definitely have to do with the nevernever. Having allies is useful who knows maybe one of them will do something useful though maybe they'll also be prone to smash the problem like a cliche valkyrie I think their pretty smart though.

Edit: Also the cheapskate in me doesn't wanna lose said shield even if said losing might be temporary we are dealing with a portal it might be permanent.
 
firefrog600 said:
being honest a shield hitting said portal might just make it enter said portal, or fiss out, or blow up, or it could work out. Honestly our skillsets not amazing for this who knows maybe gard has something shes a motherfucking valkyrie with knowledge of runes some of those definitely have to do with the nevernever. Having allies is useful who knows maybe one of them will do something useful though maybe they'll also be prone to smash the problem like a cliche valkyrie I think their pretty smart though.

Edit: Also the cheapskate in me doesn't wanna lose said shield even if said losing might be temporary we are dealing with a portal it might be permanent.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Which is why I am aiming at the door's frame. The idea is to make it so in order to open the door one has to dislodge the shield from the frame. Which would take strength and time.
 
Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Sep 17, 2022 at 6:21 AM, finished with 122 posts and 22 votes.
  • [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X]Ask the stone elemental to try and counterspell any stone/earth magic that Lydia or Capi attempts near it
    -[X]Reflexive IPM activation if necessary
    -[X]Activate Melee Excellency. -1 Essence
    -[X]Sprint up the stone into close combat range, grab, and either clinch + drag or tackle them off the staircase. Maintain hold.
    -[X]STUNT: "Block her magic" you whisper to the elemental below you before vaulting off, anima banner screaming to life around you like a declaration of war. Feet pounding, you charge up the shaky edifice of concrete and steel, wraiths rattling off your shield like hail. Lydia, no, the Capriocorpus, begins to back up, her look of triumph replaced by focus as she pilots her stolen body...to do what, you cant tell. And you adjust your trajectory.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X]Ask the stone elemental to try and counterspell any stone/earth magic that Lydia or Capi attempts near it
    -[X] Activate IPM
    -[X]Activate Melee Excellency. -1 Essence
    -[X]Sprint up the stone into close combat range, grab, and either clinch + drag or tackle them off the staircase. Maintain hold.
    -[X]STUNT: "Block her magic" you whisper to the elemental below you before vaulting off, anima banner screaming to life around you like a declaration of war. Feet pounding, you charge up the shaky edifice of concrete and steel, wraiths rattling off your shield like hail. Lydia, no, the Capriocorpus, begins to back up, her look of triumph replaced by focus as she pilots her stolen body...to do what, you cant tell. And you adjust your trajectory.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil"
    -[X] Trust your father to deal with the possession. Trust Gard to deal with the spirits. It's your job to ensure the bastard doesn't get away with his hostage. Tackle her to the ground and grapple her.
    -[X] Activate IPM
    -[X] Spend additional WP for success
    -[X] If successful taunt the bastard with "The only way out for you is through ME you bastard!" Try to trick him into trying to possess you.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil"
    -[X] Trust your father to deal with the possession. Trust Gard to deal with the spirits. It's your job to ensure the bastard doesn't get away with his hostage. Tackle her to the ground and grapple her.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil"
    -[X] Trust your father to deal with the possession. Trust Gard to deal with the spirits. It's your job to ensure the bastard doesn't get away with his hostage. Tackle her to the ground and grapple her.
    -[X] If successful taunt the bastard with "The only way out for you is through ME you bastard!" Try to trick him into trying to possess you.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] (STUNT) You fluidly rise rise from your seat and jump onto the Earth-Wyrm's nose in a single motion, landing in a crouch. "Throw me," you hiss, and are immediately launched upwards, adding your own jump to increase the height you reach. Specters reach out to stop you, but you use their momentary tangibility against them to use them as stepping stones, throwing your shield to embed in the stone of the gateway as you reach the level Lydia and her possessor are on. "Only way out is through ME," you growl as she turns back towards you in shock.
    -[X] Activate IPM
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X]Ask the stone elemental to try and counterspell any stone/earth magic that Lydia or Capi attempts near it
    -[X]Reflexive IPM activation if necessary
    -[X]Activate Melee Excellency. -1 Essence
    -[X]Sprint up the stone into close combat range, grab, and either clinch + drag or tackle them off the staircase. Maintain hold.
    -[X] Throw your shield at the door's frame to prevent the door from being opened
    -[X]STUNT: "Block her magic" you whisper to the elemental below you before vaulting off, anima banner screaming to life around you like a declaration of war. Feet pounding, you charge up the shaky edifice of concrete and steel, wraiths rattling off your shield like hail. Lydia, no, the Capriocorpus, begins to back up, her look of triumph replaced by focus as she pilots her stolen body...to do what, you cant tell. You adjust your trajectory, and as you close your distance, you discard your shield, throwing it like a discus at the door the necromancer is trying to escape through in an attempt to prevent it from being opened.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] (STUNT) You do not move, you move and the world trembles, knowing better than to oppose you. The air parts, sound muffling, light bending, all giving way to you. You see a rain of blows falling down on you but you persevere. Resisting spectral hands to get at your prize.
    -[X] Activate IPM
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] Draw Usum and activate melee excellency, attempt to trip Lydia up or knock her down without causing lasting harm.
    -[X] Reserve the second essence point for this turn for IPM
    [X] (Stunt) As you draw Usum and take your first step forward the cold seems to seep into your bones, bringing power with it. Then you blur forward with a flash of brass and an echo of hissing fire.
Click to expand...
 
uju32 said:
1)I see where your error is. Thing is, Corpsetaker is not trying to flee.
I repeat: Corpsetaker is not trying to flee.

By WoQM, the portal is one turn away from her position. After Michael flubbed our surprise round, we apparently rolled Initiative and she got to act first. But instead of bolting across the portal and slammimg the door, which would have her and her hostage in safety and the rest of us sucking dust, she spends her action making a necromancy attack with a fright of spectres to see who she can kill.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Where's that WoQM? I just skimmed the last few pages and I don't see it.

My read was that this was her reflexive response to Micheal's attack, intended to slow us down so she could escape cleanly.

DP did say that talking is combat is allowed, though I still think that's weird since this isn't showing off or giving a dramatic speech, it's communication that exists purely for attempting to acquire combat benefits.

2) That's what I meant by dog in the fight; he was deeply invested in the scenario itself, and could have been flipped to express that interest in a different way. Our wyrm friend isn't nearly so committed to anything here. We just seem more trustworthy than a necromancer.

4) Fair enough to an extent. Exalted showing off is one thing, but I still think speech that matters should actually mean something to action expenditure. You could drop the actual talking and just go with invoking abilities and that scene would still work, you can't drop the part where you give orders and still have people receive them.

The ruling is the ruling though.

I think you're wrong on the worst he can say is no bit. He could say yes and the charge is a lot for it, or be less cooperative going forward because he doesn't want to get involved in our fights again.

Which is a cost we pay by asking even if he can't or won't do anything. Innate earth powers doesn't mean he can counterspell, or that he has the strength to contest corpsetaker/Lydia outside his place of power.
 
BronzeTongue said:
Where's that WoQM? I just skimmed the last few pages and I don't see it.

My read was that this was her reflexive response to Micheal's attack, intended to slow us down so she could escape cleanly.

DP did say that talking is combat is allowed, though I still think that's weird since this isn't showing off or giving a dramatic speech, it's communication that exists purely for attempting to acquire combat benefits.

2) That's what I meant by dog in the fight; he was deeply invested in the scenario itself, and could have been flipped to express that interest in a different way. Our wyrm friend isn't nearly so committed to anything here. We just seem more trustworthy than a necromancer.

4) Fair enough to an extent. Exalted showing off is one thing, but I still think speech that matters should actually mean something to action expenditure. You could drop the actual talking and just go with invoking abilities and that scene would still work, you can't drop the part where you give orders and still have people receive them.

The ruling is the ruling though.

I think you're wrong on the worst he can say is no bit. He could say yes and the charge is a lot for it, or be less cooperative going forward because he doesn't want to get involved in our fights again.

Which is a cost we pay by asking even if he can't or won't do anything. Innate earth powers doesn't mean he can counterspell, or that he has the strength to contest corpsetaker/Lydia outside his place of power.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Ehhh not much of anything has been able to invoke a cost just based on questions. Now responses to said questions definitely not the questions themselves though.
 
BronzeTongue said:
Where's that WoQM? I just skimmed the last few pages and I don't see it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Citation:
DragonParadox said:
  1. She is about twenty feet off the ground and she can spring the rest of the way to the top in a single turn so if you want to stop her you either do it this round or beat her initiative next round
  2. The terrain is flat dusty floor with a few broken barrels and benches thrown in. You do not really have the room to get a running start
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
 
firefrog600 said:
Ehhh not much of anything has been able to invoke a cost just based on questions. Now responses to said questions definitely not the questions themselves though.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
You're mixing up points that I'm making. I don't expect it to invoke a debt, magically backed or otherwise, unless it actually does something tangible.

I do expect our first encounter to shape his impression of us. So regardless of what he does, he'll remember and react to what we say and do. That is the sort of cost I'm talking about being present regardless of how he responds.

uju32 said:
Citation:
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
That is a lot of extrapolation; they might simply not believe they could shake us unless they leave a distraction before legging it, or some other consideration that we aren't aware of yet.

Corpsetaker's only motive and path to personal benefit here is escaping. Gambling addiction or not it's still reasonable to assume that she's going to dip out as soon as she can.
 
Last edited:
Winning Vote
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Sep 17, 2022 at 6:21 AM, finished with 122 posts and 22 votes.
  • [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X]Ask the stone elemental to try and counterspell any stone/earth magic that Lydia or Capi attempts near it
    -[X]Reflexive IPM activation if necessary
    -[X]Activate Melee Excellency. -1 Essence
    -[X]Sprint up the stone into close combat range, grab, and either clinch + drag or tackle them off the staircase. Maintain hold.
    -[X]STUNT: "Block her magic" you whisper to the elemental below you before vaulting off, anima banner screaming to life around you like a declaration of war. Feet pounding, you charge up the shaky edifice of concrete and steel, wraiths rattling off your shield like hail. Lydia, no, the Capriocorpus, begins to back up, her look of triumph replaced by focus as she pilots her stolen body...to do what, you cant tell. And you adjust your trajectory.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X]Ask the stone elemental to try and counterspell any stone/earth magic that Lydia or Capi attempts near it
    -[X] Activate IPM
    -[X]Activate Melee Excellency. -1 Essence
    -[X]Sprint up the stone into close combat range, grab, and either clinch + drag or tackle them off the staircase. Maintain hold.
    -[X]STUNT: "Block her magic" you whisper to the elemental below you before vaulting off, anima banner screaming to life around you like a declaration of war. Feet pounding, you charge up the shaky edifice of concrete and steel, wraiths rattling off your shield like hail. Lydia, no, the Capriocorpus, begins to back up, her look of triumph replaced by focus as she pilots her stolen body...to do what, you cant tell. And you adjust your trajectory.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil"
    -[X] Trust your father to deal with the possession. Trust Gard to deal with the spirits. It's your job to ensure the bastard doesn't get away with his hostage. Tackle her to the ground and grapple her.
    -[X] Activate IPM
    -[X] Spend additional WP for success
    -[X] If successful taunt the bastard with "The only way out for you is through ME you bastard!" Try to trick him into trying to possess you.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil"
    -[X] Trust your father to deal with the possession. Trust Gard to deal with the spirits. It's your job to ensure the bastard doesn't get away with his hostage. Tackle her to the ground and grapple her.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil"
    -[X] Trust your father to deal with the possession. Trust Gard to deal with the spirits. It's your job to ensure the bastard doesn't get away with his hostage. Tackle her to the ground and grapple her.
    -[X] If successful taunt the bastard with "The only way out for you is through ME you bastard!" Try to trick him into trying to possess you.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] (STUNT) You fluidly rise rise from your seat and jump onto the Earth-Wyrm's nose in a single motion, landing in a crouch. "Throw me," you hiss, and are immediately launched upwards, adding your own jump to increase the height you reach. Specters reach out to stop you, but you use their momentary tangibility against them to use them as stepping stones, throwing your shield to embed in the stone of the gateway as you reach the level Lydia and her possessor are on. "Only way out is through ME," you growl as she turns back towards you in shock.
    -[X] Activate IPM
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X]Ask the stone elemental to try and counterspell any stone/earth magic that Lydia or Capi attempts near it
    -[X]Reflexive IPM activation if necessary
    -[X]Activate Melee Excellency. -1 Essence
    -[X]Sprint up the stone into close combat range, grab, and either clinch + drag or tackle them off the staircase. Maintain hold.
    -[X] Throw your shield at the door's frame to prevent the door from being opened
    -[X]STUNT: "Block her magic" you whisper to the elemental below you before vaulting off, anima banner screaming to life around you like a declaration of war. Feet pounding, you charge up the shaky edifice of concrete and steel, wraiths rattling off your shield like hail. Lydia, no, the Capriocorpus, begins to back up, her look of triumph replaced by focus as she pilots her stolen body...to do what, you cant tell. You adjust your trajectory, and as you close your distance, you discard your shield, throwing it like a discus at the door the necromancer is trying to escape through in an attempt to prevent it from being opened.
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] (STUNT) You do not move, you move and the world trembles, knowing better than to oppose you. The air parts, sound muffling, light bending, all giving way to you. You see a rain of blows falling down on you but you persevere. Resisting spectral hands to get at your prize.
    -[X] Activate IPM
    [X] Ignore the ghosts, you are tough, go after Lydia
    -[X] Draw Usum and activate melee excellency, attempt to trip Lydia up or knock her down without causing lasting harm.
    -[X] Reserve the second essence point for this turn for IPM
    [X] (Stunt) As you draw Usum and take your first step forward the cold seems to seep into your bones, bringing power with it. Then you blur forward with a flash of brass and an echo of hissing fire.
Click to expand...
 
Remove ads
Arc 2 Post 40: Of Gods Old and New
  • Threadmarks
    • Of Gods Old and New ​

    22st of July 2006 A.D.

    "Block her magic," you call to the elemntal over the roaring of the dead. Whatever answer he might give, if he had even heard you you do not hear. The world does not so much slow as you dive off its stone back as it grows clearer, all that may have drawn you away within and without fading away in the rush of cold air. And cold is your purpose diving through the storm of forsaken souls,

    Lost 1 Essence -> Now at 5/12

    Here a shield raises against against the rusted blade of a bayonet out of the Revolutionary War, there your sword clashing against a heavy meat cleaver, stitched on to a bloody arm in dreams of death. You hear the rattle of a Tommy Gun and turn aside bullets not of metal but just as lethal with instincts honed in wars beyond imagination. Whips cracks and fists fly, yet each meets its counter, it feels like and eternity, it is hardly a heartbeat.

    Then at last you feel the stone under your feet, though you do not see it, from memory from guesswork you run, you almost slip, but you can feel the hollow heart of the storm above you, a thing so old in malice that even hatred had curdled into disdain for all that lives, so certain in its existence that it had deny an honest prayer spoken upon the Sword of Love.

    She's already running behind the veil of its slaves, it has its prize and it does not mean to stay and fight...

    Not fast enough

    You tackle her by throwing your full weight against her back and looping the sword lopped around her low to the ground to sweep the legs from under her without cutting. With a final crack the worm-eaten railing breaks as 'Lydia' grasps for the broken end tearing her jacket to shreds as it catches.

    The hard part for you is 'catching' the ground without any broken bones. Rolling until you are under her left hand outstretched shield and all to catch the ground. Heck of a parry is that. It comes to as you bounce off it with your full weight while keeping your right arm looked around Lydia.

    Through the mist you can see dad moving closer with Gard as his side trying to beat the dead off him, but to no avail, they seem to have only grown more savage from being denied the chance to hurt you, ripping and tearing and screaming in broken voices. Blood drips down your father's face, from his nose, from his ears and even from his eyes as he chants once more a prayer of exorcism the hilt of the sword growing brighter and brighter and brighter in his hands the nail painfully clear against the radiance.

    Michael takes 5 Bashing Damage

    "Never!" the thing inside Lydia screams with her voice harsh and dissonant. "I do not belong to Him, I belong to none!"

    "Then I shall take ye!" Gard calls out, her voice harsh as a raven's caw as she slices runes of red fire in the air, the darkness bleeding the light of distant twilight

    Lydia gives an ugly cough, you can feel it through her chest, though her bones as a lifeless vapor spills from her lips, not merely grey, but seeming to leech the color from the world as it emerges. You see, or think you see it form into the guise of a hooded figure, crescent scars along her cheeks, her eyes the color of bright jade, then she locks her hands one against the other in a mockery of prayer, a wind picks her up and she is gone.

    You do not even have time to curse her escape as the maddened dead descend on you. They seem to know to fear the edge of your burning blade, but Gard is more willy slicing off the head of the man with the cleaver arm. And the Sword of Love? It burns all the brighter in the hands of a wounded knight, driving back the specters as a lantern drives back the shadows of evening. Where is touches there the dead are not.

    Looking around you are surprised to see Cindy in the middle of a sort of 'fort' made from the body of your new elemental friend. She is pale and scared but otherwise none the worst for wear.

    "We need to get out of here, now," Gard says grimly. "That many dead will have riled up every predator in this part of the Undercity."

    "But... we have to go after that thing or it will come back," you answer automatically.

    "One wounded," she points at your dad. "One child..." then at Cindy. "And one unconscious scion that she might still have some affinity to reclaim depending on how she came to be there."

    Dad looks like he very much wants to argue that he is still able to fight, but the blood on his face does not lie.

    What do you do?

    [] Argue to open a Way right now to chase after Capricorpus
    -[] Write in stunt

    [] Agree that it's more important to get everyone to safety

    [] Write in

    OOC: Michael just had the worst luck with those ghosts, though it was not helped by the fact that he cannot parry and exorcise because battle prayer like that really isn't his forte. If he did not have the sword as a focus he could not do it at all.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Agree that it's more important to get everyone to safety
    -[X] Check everyone for possession, including Cindy

    Wouldn't be the first time Corpsetaker switched a body mid battle.
     
    Last edited:
    It's better to take what victory we have. We've saved two young girls from hideous fates, we can't afford to expose them to harm chasing the ghost of a necromancer.

    A bird in the hand and all that.

    [X] Agree that it's more important to get everyone to safety
     
    [X] Agree that it's more important to get everyone to safety
    -[X] Check everyone for possession, including Cindy

    Keep in mind that Kathrina is still on her way. Lets call it a day and escape.
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top