Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Crossover Fantasy
I quote:
If you look at the rolls, Lydia rolled 4 successes on her Investigation roll, only one success short of Legendary.
Same 4 successes that Michael rolled on figuring out that the boaters might be disrupting the ritual.
So there's pretty good odds there is something there.
That one of the other three people whos death could have stopped the semi-finals saw something.
Enough to pick up the phone and let that Social work a little for us.
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[X] uju32
Yeah, if we have the time more prep work is better.
Edit: If we have time at the end of all of this I think we should make the effort to steal the cult's financial web.
Either to assist the people who'll have suddenly find their retirement community shutting down, or to take over the place outright and have cyber devils run it through the shell companies.
Yeah, if we have the time more prep work is better.
Edit: If we have time at the end of all of this I think we should make the effort to steal the cult's financial web.
Either to assist the people who'll have suddenly find their retirement community shutting down, or to take over the place outright and have cyber devils run it through the shell companies.
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If we want to be thorough, we should go contact local spernaturals at least a bit, before confronting the man. Have Lydia call some wildfae ( @DragonParadox am I right that she can, in fact, do summoning? That seems reanoable based on how she called Corspetaker) - she also needs XP. Find some local practitioners who lived their whole life in the town and talk to them. Go to a local church (actually, that's an idea - talking to the local priest). Meet the reds while it's daylight outside. In fact, and thinking more about it, talking to the reds is important, lest we bump into each other again.
Lydia cannot summon fey unfortunately, she was never thought for obvious reasons and her father still counsels her to keep well away from the affairs of the fey as best she can
- Location
- Germany
We really kinda bloated the last arc with this kind of over-preparing.
I'd say we can take a handfull of Formori-like assholes if it comes down to it.
Hell, with two Exalted and a Knight of the Cross I'd say we can even take the ancient monster.
I'd say we can take a handfull of Formori-like assholes if it comes down to it.
Hell, with two Exalted and a Knight of the Cross I'd say we can even take the ancient monster.
The only thing we really need is some way to get to the doctor without raising alarms immediately.
Also, I kinda fully expect this to end with us having to fight the raksha one way or another.
There's probably some sort of community around but the way that the reds just rolled in without apparent opposition, coupled with the fact that the cult picked this area for its low key operation, implies to me that it's weak and/or dysfunctional.
We probably cant steal it.
But there's a good chance we can arrange for it to be taken over by the state. Especially if we can demonstrate the use of unapproved drugs on the residents.
I've been thinking it over, and I think we got the Jack the reporter's phone number for more reason than just embarassing Molly.
QM bolded it.
The timing suggests things are going down today or tomorrow.
So no time to go digging for the local versions of Bock's or MacAnally's and attempting to raise a posse.
Lydia doesnt really have facility with the fae, and even if she did, strange city.
There are three related but plot threads Im looking at clearing up before leaving Cleveland
1)Iku Turso/Pathfinders. Subthreads of avoiding harm to the elderly
2)Red Court vampires. Subthread of avoiding collateral to all the people who have been exposed to Rampires
3)Supernatural Cleveland police corruption.
We are likely looking at bribery/blackmail of some sort at fairly high levels, since there's over 1200 cops in the PD.
The first is immediately time-sensitive, coming to a head in the next 48 hours.
The other two dont seem quite so immediate.
And are much easier to deal with, if we can get the Pathfinder thing done.
Did we? Its worth remembering that Michael got crippled and we got shot in the head last time.
I'd prefer to avoid collateral damage and party member damage.
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- Location
- Germany
Michael got beaten up by some ghosts, but it was only bashing damage and he was fine the next day.
If his contribution to the final battle had been necessary he could have risked his life and by spending willpower and trusting in god (and the Sword) propably gotten out fine. We just played it safe.
As for the headshot, that was ultimatly still minor damage, particularly since we immediatly went into Shintai for a much bigger and unscratched healthtrack.
We were barely in real danger for most of the arc. Even in the extreme case of Evil Bob dragging us to the Nevernever we had the girl with the way-opener with us.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
You know, we might be focusing on the wrong threat here. We could be assuming Soul's Rest and the Pathfinders are what Michael was sent to deal with, but it may actually be the Reds and their infiltration of the Cleveland PD that is the greatest long-term threat.
With the war going on, the Reds getting a significant foothold in the legal apparatus of a major US city could be very bad news.
With the war going on, the Reds getting a significant foothold in the legal apparatus of a major US city could be very bad news.
- Location
- Germany
Going by our very scared new friend the Reds are focussing soley on short-term influence and the cost of any longer investment here.
Unless he is totally wrong, was decieved or has decieved us that sounds like the Reds are not the real problem here.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
He probably told us exactly what he believed, but that doesn't mean it's truth. He might not have even been deceived, just not informed of further reaching plans.
I just don't see why the Reds would bother withdrawing from Cleveland if they get a solid foothold. There's a war on, and the police force from a major city is not an insignificant resource if the right people are suborned. Considering how militarized many large urban PDs have become in the past couple decades, they could basically secure the use of a small army here in Cleveland. Sure, it wouldn't be something they could really use more than once, but that could do plenty of damage if used at the right time.
In the meantime, there are plenty of minor ways having unfettered access to the Cleveland PD could prove helpful to the Reds operating in the US.
Michael was crippled.
5HLs of bashing damage put him at -3 wound penalty IIRC. Yes he was fine the next day, but he was not combat capable.
And in a city with a Red Court Vampire presence, you dont want to be non combat capable.
Especially since he's our only magical support.
Willpower would not have permitted him to wade through another battle, and the Sword does not guarantee safety.
Canon Michael got shot and KO'd by Nicodemus in Death Rites and Dresden had to haul him in armor through deep water.
Also by Tessa in Small Favor, and that almost killed him. Did end his career.
We havent been at mortal risk yet.
Most of our allies and party members have. So have civilians.
This matters for roleplaying and XP reasons.
Our scared new friend is very low down on the totem pole, and has no way of knowing what contingencies his boss was sent north with. There is a reason why I've tried to verify everything he told us via independent means.
Possible. Removing the Reds is doable once we deal with the chtonic entity.
Killimg them is straightforward if we can find them.
Getting rid of their allies/patsies in law enforcement will be harder.
I do worry about the Reds attempting a Lets You and Them Fight and then jumpimg the victor while they are still tired.
A foothold like this isn't of much value. They're in the middle of a war, and this place is very far from their center of power. Resources invested here extend their reach in direction that doesn't help with their immediate problems and makes whoever they plunk down their vulnerable to being picked off.
That said, we should drive off or kill the reds before leaving town to minimize the slavery and murder they can get up to here.
I can't quite remember; are knights of the cross forbidden from using additional magical items? IIRC no, but it's been years.
Well yeah.
I think that goes without saying. Its not just backup, either; Dresden uses it to call up wyldfae for investigations all the time.
Summoning/Wards, Fortune and Alchemy are all potentially 3-dot purchases I'd prioritize once we build out our core build.
They dont, actually.
Different classes of beings doesnt mean you need different Paths. Just like you dont need to buy multiple Paths in order to use Hellfire Path as fire, ice, decay/entropy, wind, etc. Just that many sorcerers specialize in particular classes of beings.
Depends on what you think their goals are.
To create a new, sustainable holding? No. To create a distraction that forces the White Council and its allies to expend resources and time to stomp on it or else let it grow larger? Potentially yes.
If you have a senior enough Rampire who can infect people, its not all that difficult to double or quadruple the 18x you came north with with anywhere from 2-4x their numbers in new fledgelings as meatshields. Add thralls. Then create a provocation that makes the WC have to respond.
All he needs is setup funds in the high six or low seven figures.
It was why I was side-eying their choice of a nightclub as a base.It is a place where lots of people go to consume lots of legal and illegal drugs for recreation, and where you have lots of civilian collateral to dissuade assault. If you control the place, its relatively straightforward to introduce Rampire slobber into a regulars drug of choice until they're hooked.
It remains to be seen of its just Don Phillipe's ego, or something more sinister.
Because, to be clear, if they were just looking to keep a low profile they'd have just rented a bunch of houses for six months.
At two grand per residence to give each Blood Pack a primary residence and a fallback safehouse, the cost of six months rent paid upfront is about seventy two kay. Which is dirtcheap considering.
Its much easier to litter the freeway than it is to clean it up.
No they arent.
They just seldom have the need. And there generally arent all that many magical items lying around.
Potentially yes.
But we could just do it by focusing on the person whose phone we put the devil on, and cut out the middleman.
:le shrug:
Current tally:
We are missing a stunt. That's not great.
I am stumbling over this bit of text, and if there is a clarifying bit that no, this isn't actually a problem, that is great. Or if I am experiencing persistent reading comprehension failure. That could happen.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
This is a serious concern, IMO. The Reds are among the most duplicitous of the supernatural factions, and opportunistic as well. There is a very good chance they will attack us after we deal with the Pathfinder situation.
The reverse is not likely, however, as those folks shouldn't be aware of us unless the Reds have blabbed to them. That's possible, but unlikely, since we haven't been in town long and haven't really done anything to earn their overt enmity. The Pathfinders' resources are probably centralized to Soul's Rest, whereas the Reds definitely have enough personnel, and minions among the PD, to cover a lot of ground if they want to come at us when we're not expecting trouble or exhausted.
That's why I think we should consider dealing with the Reds first, unless we absolutely can't due to timing issues. That an unfortunate possibility given the way Knights get their guidance.
1)Will fix that in the next half an hour. Thanks for reminding me.
2)Its not your fault, its that different books say subtly different things about Summoning, Warding and Binding.
Sorcerer Revised says things a little different from Sorcerer Paths of Power which is subtly different from M20 Sorcerer.
For the purposes of this quest, I doubt the QM is going to make us buy and rebuy the same dot 4x different times.
At most, I expect he'll tell us to add different groups at each dot(Ghosts at 1 dot, Gosts + Astrals at 2 dots etc).
Thats the risk.Ultimately though, the Pathfinders unleashing a primordial Finnish monster/notRaksha into the world is a much more pressing risk to the mortal world than the Reds longer term corruption.
When they backstab us, we'll deal.
And well, we're an Infernal.
Against us, they do need the handicap. Even if they dont know it yet
[]STUNT: "What are the odds the Reds try to jump us after we deal with the Pathfinders?" you ask your father as you lace up your Tims, black mailshirt reassuringly cool on the damp skin underneath your second least favorite flannel shirt. "Two to one" comes the reply after some consideration. "The Red Court has not, to my knowledge, enjoyed a reputation for being overly scrupulous." "Dad says ten to one, sir" offers Lydia, checking the pockets of a familiar jacket for cellphone and knuckles. "He says the Reds have ever been quick to stick knifes in the back of their nominal allies, let alone their enemies. And they're definitely watching the place."
Your father nods to her, acknowledging the point. "True. But the Lord has never sent us a burden heavier than we can bear."
And with that he stands, the long duffelbag you know conceals Amoracchius over his shoulder.
"Ladies?" And with that you rise to your feet, pulling on a baseball cap. "Ready."
I suspect de Leon has a set of approved contingencies based on what conditions he finds on the ground.
And since email, cellphones and encrypted satellite phones are a thing, he can communciate with home base pretty quickly and get approval for a change in plans.
You can be sure he's called home since he was told Michael showed up.
As for Venatori, note there arent that many.
I think a number of around 200 was given in canon of the true Venatori who hide inside the larger organization, though dont quote me. Entirely possible that once Ivy realised Michael was on the case, she decided not to activate anyone.
Your father nods to her, acknowledging the point. "True. But the Lord has never sent us a burden heavier than we can bear."
And with that he stands, the long duffelbag you know conceals Amoracchius over his shoulder.
"Ladies?" And with that you rise to your feet, pulling on a baseball cap. "Ready."
If they could, certainly.
I suspect de Leon has a set of approved contingencies based on what conditions he finds on the ground.
And since email, cellphones and encrypted satellite phones are a thing, he can communciate with home base pretty quickly and get approval for a change in plans.
You can be sure he's called home since he was told Michael showed up.
As for Venatori, note there arent that many.
I think a number of around 200 was given in canon of the true Venatori who hide inside the larger organization, though dont quote me. Entirely possible that once Ivy realised Michael was on the case, she decided not to activate anyone.
None of this, and nothing of your vote in general that I can see addresses the meat of the problem: what do we do to gain access to dr. Niemi and how do we handle the meeting (ie intimidate him, knock him out and abduct him, etc).