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Mare Internum: An Exalted Quest

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[X] Review your inventory. Maybe your ring will want to talk to you?
 
Jack vile Ripper said:
They were patrolling then? Not sleeping on the room next door?

Target of opportunity? Maybe they needed to escape fast and those two were on the way.

Terror tactic. Unlikely, it would've been more gruesome and there'd be more emphasis on 'presentation' to deteriorate morale.

Or just simple bad luck. The assailant encounters them and needed for both of them to keep hush-hush. And now they're be taking the info to Stygia.
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It sounds like they were on watch. Smart military commanders post rings of scout parties (pickets) around the main body of their troops to detect an incoming force in time to get everyone ready to fight. Or flee, if need be. It's probably standard Legion doctrine.

As to why someone would kill scouts, they were probably trying to track the camp down and succeeded but were spotted, so they killed the scouts in order to exfiltrate and report back to their commander.

Unless it's supernatural weirdness instead. This is Exalted. Hopefully neither of them have missing hearts, although a Lunar would probably be less careless.
 
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I'm going to take a couple of days off, back soon.

I'll post inventory with the next post. I have item descriptions but I haven't come up with a good way to integrate the equipment with skills like Disco does, so their effects are purely narrative/function based at the moment. That may change when the story opens up a bit later and more options become available.
 
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The Proud Do Not Endure 43
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    • Parabola said:
    [X] Review your inventory.
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    You rummage through your belongings on your way down the stairs. Is everything here?
    APPAREL
    Officer's Tunic (Apparel, Chest) - A light summer-cut tunic in scarlet linen, legion officer issue. It's too small for you, but it fills you with a warm, patriotic glow.
    Brazen Gauntlets (Apparel, Gloves) - A fine pair of brass-plated steel gauntlets. Surprisingly cosy, if a little tight across the knuckles.
    Floral Jacket (Apparel, Coat) - A yellow jacket of quilted cotton, wax-printed with white flowers. It smells unsavoury, but it could save you a nasty injury, and helps distribute the weight of heavier armour.
    Looted Hauberk (Apparel, Armour) - A fine fish-scaled steel hauberk. An elite, finely worked item that exudes an aura of wealth and privilege. Its previous owner is stupid and dead, and you are smart and well protected.
    Ragged Tunic (Apparel, Chest) - It's damp and it has holes in it. At some point it has been soaked in grain alohol and vomited on. It's like your life in tunic form.
    Ruined Boots (Apparel, Shoes) - Once-fine leather footwear ruined by hard use and a lengthy soaking in the sea. If these boots could tell stories they would probably be very long and tedious with occasional bouts of kicking things.
    Sturdy Breeches (Apparel, Legs) - A hard-wearing sheepskin garment, covering the legs down to mid-calf. Uncomfortable and damp, but endued with admirable structural probity.

    WEAPONS:
    Hawk Sword (Weapon) - A curved, heavy-pommeled cavalry sabre used by elite Raigi cavalry. It has some strange insights about the weather. ([ ] Interact with Hawk Sword)
    Traitor Hatchet (Weapon - It's a beautiful hatchet with a carved ivory haft and a silvered head. It tried to kill you, and now it's yours.
    Brazen Buckler (Weapon) - A brass-plated buckler made to match your gauntlets. Skillfully used it could deflect all but the heaviest attacks.

    OTHER:
    Imperial Seal - This heavy jade signet ring marks its bearer as an imperial magistrate acting under the plenipotentiary authority of the Scarlet Empress. Who in their right mind would give you such a thing? ([ ] Interact with Imperial Seal)
    Etched Flask - An unremarkable copper water flask that someone has scratched an Immaculate mantra into. It's dented, as though it was used as a projectile at some point.
    Borrowed Spyglass - A brass spyglass capable of magnifying distant objects. An unadorned, non-folding model, but still well beyond the means of most. Faint notes of mint and pipe smoke.
    Fingers - These are your fingers. One of them is missing. It's a mystery. ([ ] Interact with fingers.)
    Reflection - This is a face that you are in and you hate it. ([ ] Interact with reflection.)

    TaliesinSkye said:
    [X] Follow her, carrying the rest of your gear in your arms.
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    Fincher glances back at you as you stumble down the stairs barefoot, wearing an unbuckled hauberk and your arms laden with your possessions. You see some amused glances from other legionaries while they are making their own preparations. Toothsome gives you two thumbs up. Is that sarcasm? You're not sure. Fincher sighs.

    FINCHER: "Brindle, help the lady get dressed."

    Brindle gives a quick salute and hurries to assist you.

    FINCHER: "Alright everyone, we're in a hurry, so I'll keep it short. Nost and Collier are dead, and we have to assume we've been discovered. We're too close to the enemy camp to take any risks. Loot what you can, linen, firewood, nails, whatever. Fill up on fresh water and get the horses saddled, we need to find a new camp, preferably before sunrise."

    ORISON: "Marching orders?"

    FINCHER: "Keep it tight, triple rank, scouts at a quarter mile. We don't want to lose anyone else. I'll talk to the Paleans and keep them with me." she glances to you. "You too, boss. We'll take a bit to get ready, finish whatever you need and then come find me."

    She leaves to move through the crowd.

    Orison looks lost in thought, and Toothsome looks like he's trying to get your attention. Brindle finishes buckling your hauberk.

    BRINDLE: "All done, lady. Can I help you with anything else?"

    [ ] Talk to Toothsome.
    [ ] Talk to Orison.
    [ ] Talk to Brindle.
    [ ] Avoid all of them.

    Pardon the delay, should be good to go now.

    Here's the new quest image featuring the MC, and a bonus Fincher as well.


     
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    • [X] Talk to Toothsome.

    He wants our attention, might as well. I'd like to ask him or anyone else what Fincher meant about the state of the scouts being bad. Was there anything odd about how they were killed?
     
    The Proud Do Not Endure 44
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    • TaliesinSkye said:
    [X] Talk to Toothsome.
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    You thank Brindle and send him on his way. You return Toothsome's gaze and gesture that he should approach.

    TOOTHSOME: "Hey lady, how's things?"

    "I have had a wide range of experiences."

    TOOTHSOME: "Hah, yeah, right."

    An awkward pause.

    TOOTHSOME: "Okay, so... you look a bit twitchy. I was wondering if you, you know, need anything. Something you can't get anywhere else, you know? Something to help get through the day." He winks, ostentatiously.

    [ ] Are you talking about sex?
    [ ] Are you talking about drugs?
    [ ] Are you talking about booze?
    [ ] Are you talking about fighting?
    [ ] Are you talking about subversive political pamphlets?
    [ ] Are you talking about arcane lore?
     
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    • [x] Are you talking about subversive political pamphlets?

    This is why I love Disco Elysium
     
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    The Proud Do Not Endure 45
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    • JustGazzer said:
    [x] Are you talking about subversive political pamphlets?
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    "Are you talking about subversive political pamphlets?"

    TOOTHSOME: "Hey hey, don't try to get me involved in that stuff. I mean, if that's what you need, I can see about getting my hands on something like that later. But this is a good honest drug deal! I can hook you up. I have all sorts, just say the word."

    "What if I don't want drugs?"

    INTEGRITY: You do though, you desperately want drugs. The thought of a hit of opium melting your sensory cortex into wisps of smoke fills you with longing, with need. The bitter red of rosetree honey lifting up your mind to new and glorious heights, a sample of ergot rye setting afire your nerves, a pinch of dreamfish meal filling the world with those peerless colours you long to see again.

    INTEGRITY: The poisons cannot kill you, but they will make you feel alive.

    Toothsome looks expectantly at you, correctly ascertaining that your question was rhetorical.

    [ ] No, I don't want any of this. I like my brain how it is.
    [ ] Maybe something small for later.
    [ ] Show me everything.
     
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    • Now, if I recall, there are Martial Arts you can learn that make Drugs Good For You

    Maybe we know one of those?

    EDIT: [ORGIASTIC FUGITIVE STYLE] that's the one
     
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    [X] No, I don't want any of this. I like my brain how it is.

    Drugs would be a really bad idea. Even if our prior self indulged, that's all the more reason not to get started again.

    Edit:
    Also, I've got my eye on you, INTEGRITY. XD
     
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    I'm writing more, I just wanted to say that all of the drugs I mentioned are real and were used in antiquity.

    Rosetree is a translation of rhododendron, the source of the so-called mad honey that was used both as a battlefield weapon and a recreational euphoriant drug. Ergot is a violently hallucinogenic fungus with some rather horrific side effects. There are multiple "dreamfish" containing hallucinogenic compounds, including the sea bream Sarpa salpa, which was known to the Romans.

    I do not recommend you try any of these, but if you only don't try one, make it ergot.

    JustGazzer said:
    Now, if I recall, there are Martial Arts you can learn that make Drugs Good For You

    Maybe we know one of those?

    EDIT: [ORGIASTIC FUGITIVE STYLE] that's the one
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    In third edition, Orgiastic Fugitive is being split into two styles, the drunken boxing Seven Drunken Gods and the drug-focused Devil-Pipe.
     
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    The Proud Do Not Endure 46
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    • TaliesinSkye said:
    [X] No, I don't want any of this. I like my brain how it is.
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    "No, I don't want any of this. I like my brain how it is."

    PRESENCE: VERY DIFFICULT
    3 3
    CHECK: FAILED

    You deliver the words through clenched teeth, eyes bulging like a wounded animal, sweat beading on your forehead. The objective lie is so obviously a lie that Toothsome looks over his shoulder to make sure there are no officers within earshot.

    TOOTHSOME: "Uh... are you alright, lady?"

    "Yes. I'm having a fantastic day, and now I'm having no drugs, which is, as should be obvious, also fantastic."

    TOOTHSOME: "Er... alright then." he backs off, slowly. "Let me know if you change your mind. I'll let you know about them pamphlets, will I?"

    He withraws to the safety of the crowd.

    It's probably for the best. We don't want anyone to suspect that we are losing our grip on reality. Now, where were we?

    JustGazzer said:
    [X] Interact with fingers
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    Ah yes.

    "So what's up with you?"

    FINGER 1: We do your bidding as always, mother. Direct us to point, poke, lift, or to other actions besides!

    FINGER 3: But our brother is slain, murdered! Repay our loyalty, and avenge us!

    "Wait, why are you male, and also my children?"

    FINGER 6: The lurid intricacies of your psychosocial fixations are not the purpose of this hallucination, mother!

    FINGER 3: You must find the one who murdered our brother! Only then will we be at peace!

    THUMB 1: I don't think this is going to be relevant to anything.

    FINGER 7: Pay no attention to the thumb! It is foolish and half-formed, and cannot grasp the matter at hand!

    THUMB 2: Maybe we should just get a replacement finger and stop worrying about it.

    FINGER 8: Blasphemy! Betrayal! We shall never accept an outsider into our midst. Some articulated facsimile would forever be an unloved outsider among our fraternity. The ongoing consequences among your fingers could be dire. Dire!

    [ ] I agree with the fingers, I should find the person who cut off Finger 2 years ago and make them pay.
    [ ] I agree with the thumbs, I should just get a prosthetic finger or something.
    [ ] Why am I even talking to you? This is stupid.
     
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    • [X] I agree with the thumbs, I should just get a prosthetic finger or something.

    these thumbs seem reasonable folk
     
    It appears our Fingers are to consumed with tides of practicality and vengeance to provide their wisdom.

    I Am off the opinion we should get a false finger. As we are already about as much magical material as woman anyway.

    We can be rebuilt. :V
     
    Kymme said:
    Spoilers: It's prolly the Scarlet Empress.
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    Maybe, although some of that work is awfully advanced for the Age of Sorrows. It might be Sidereal in origin. The Empress and the Bronze faction have a working relationship, so we could primarily be an agent of either of them while having support from the other.

    Edit: I really wish we could spend some essence and find out what our anima looks like. That would settle some outstanding questions.
     
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    The Proud Do Not Endure 47
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    • JustGazzer said:
    [X] I agree with the thumbs, I should just get a prosthetic finger or something.
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    "It's okay, I'll get you a new brother, even better than the one you lost. It'll be fine!"

    Your fingers are still screaming in outrage when you put your gauntlets back on, muffling them.

    OPTIONAL OBJECTIVE GAINED: FIND A REPLACEMENT FINGER

    Several nearby legionaries are staring at you.

    "What?"

    They hurriedly resume their preparations.

    Orison and Brindle are nowhere to be seen, presumably they have other duties to deal with. You have no other pressing matters to occupy you, so you go to find Fincher. You spot her conversing with the dour-faced Palean auxilliaries in rapid-fire Riverspeak.

    EMBASSY: NORMAL
    4 5
    CHECK PASSED

    You find that you have no difficulty following along. The leader of the Paleans, a rangy, red-headed man with brass caps on his breastplate to mark him as some kind of officer, is complaining that his group are being given inferior quality rations. Fincher is trying to explain the supply situation and also give the marching orders. After a few moments of this, the officer throws his hands up in frustration and storms off back into the hall.

    Fincher looks over her shoulder and spots you.

    FINCHER: "Joys of command, right? Come on, boss, we need to have a quick talk. Kitchen should be free."

    You follow her into the kitchen. An unlit fireplace, blackened with smoke, dominates the room. It is devoid of any utensils, meathooks, cookpots, firewood or other identifying features, which you realize must have already been packed up by Fincher's people or, more likely, by the farmhouse's former owners when they fled.

    FINCHER: "It's not all bad, this place. I think the villas they give to retiring legion officers are something like this, with a little plot of land by the Empress' grace. A little something to look forward to."

    "How long until you retire?"

    FINCHER: "Forty-eight years." She chuckles. "And five months."

    Again, no hesitation. A number she was thinking about.

    "We'll get through it."

    FINCHER: "Yeah... I hope so."

    Fincher falls silent. The room is filled with the clatter of metal and murmur of conversation from the legion, and heavy footfalls on the boards upstairs.

    [ ] I just had a conversation with my fingers in front of your people.
    [ ] Toothsome just tried to sell me drugs.
    [ ] Toothsome just tried to sell me drugs and subversive pamphlets.
    [ ] You said the bodies were 'bad', what did you mean by that?
    [ ] Do you know where we're headed?
     
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    • [X] You said the bodies were 'bad', what did you mean by that?

    Maybe if our fingers had had anything helpful to say. Foolish fingers.
     
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