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Mare Internum: An Exalted Quest

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For A Better World 10
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    • (XXVII) CREATION: -forget to take care of y-

    The room returns to focus by degrees, gray outlines and garish color-shadows coalescing into a coherent image. The tinnitus whine of the blackout fades.

    SAGACITY: I thought I told you not to do that.

    Sorry, we're in a hurry. Now, where were we?

    Tzarnal said:
    [X] Plan your escape.
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    Right, we were going to escape! How are we going to do that?

    You hear a subtle metal-on-metal clink from beyond the dividing curtain. A weapon? You had better think fast.

    [ ] Pretend you are still asleep and surprise your attacker.
    [ ] Pull the stake free and use it as an improvised weapon.
    [ ] Kick over the incense and start a fire as a distraction.
    [ ] Pretend to be sick to catch your jailor off-guard.
     
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    • For A Better World 11
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    • glyph said:
    [X] Pretend to be sick to catch your jailor off-guard.
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    PRESENCE: Right, no time to waste, let's use the power of acting. I believe in you.

    PRESENCE: DIFFICULT
    1 3
    CHECK FAILED

    "Oh no!" you shout, trying your best to project confidence. "I'm shitting! I can't stop shitting."

    PRESENCE: I was a fool to believe in you. Why are you like this?

    Cinammon pulls back the dividing curtain, holding a metal tea tray on one arm. She stares at you. You stare back.

    CINNAMON: "Uh, hello, um, Vesper? You're awake. And... unwell?"

    PRESENCE: This is an intolerable misstep. You must convince this teenager you are cool.

    "No, I'm fine," you explain, rallying quickly, "I was just trying to confuse my attacker."

    CINNAMON: "Oh, I see."

    She looks around the tent, cautiously.

    CINNAMON: "Did it work?"

    "Yes, I thinks so."

    She nods, satisfied.

    PRESENCE: Okay, good save.

    CINNAMON: "Would you, um, like some tea?"

    CRAFT: It's ginseng.

    "Yes please."

    [ ] So, what happened to my arm?
    [ ] What are you doing here?
    [ ] Where's Logris?
    [ ] Where's Fincher?
    [ ] What time is it?
    [ ] Actually, I need to get out of here right now.
     
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    • For A Better World 12
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    • JustGazzer said:
    [X] So, what happened to my arm
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    "So, what happened to my arm?"

    Cinnamon pauses in pouring the tea. She looks sheepishly at you.

    CINNAMON: "Oh, uh... miss Fincher said you, er..."

    She mumbles something and finishes pouring the tea.

    "I'm sorry, I didn't hear that."

    AWARENESS: We heard it, she just didn't say anything that was a word.

    She clears her throat.

    CINNAMON: "Miss Fincher said you punched a tree?"

    "Wow, that's so weird."

    CINNAMON: "I, uh, I might have misheard her, there was, um, a lot of shouting."

    She passes you the metal cup with your tea. It's hot, and you can't quite sit up properly to sip it with your right arm fixed in place, but you make do.

    [ ] Why would I punch a tree? That doesn't sound like something I would do.
    [ ] Who was Fincher shouting at?
    [ ] Isn't this Logris' tent?
    [ ] I think I have an appointment somewhere.
     
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    • For A Better World 13
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    • etranger01 said:
    [X] Who was Fincher shouting at?
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    "Who was Fincher shouting at?"

    CINNAMON: "Oh, uh... Dragonlord Mei."

    EMBASSY: Not even Cinnamon is going to call Mei "miss".

    "Oh, huh."

    CINNAMON: "They were shouting at each other quite a lot."

    You sip your tea, thoughtfully.

    "Are you sure they weren't shouting at me? That's how it usually goes."

    CINNAMON: "I don't think so? You were comatose at the time. Miss Fincher was helping carry you on a stretcher. Well, uh, dragging you, really."

    PHYSIQUE: I bet Logris was there. Logris is not going to be any help carrying anything.

    "Hah, yeah, that sounds like me. Wait, what were they shouting about?"

    CINNAMON: "I'm, uh, I don't know, I didn't follow a lot of it. I think Miss Fincher was in trouble for doing something she shouldn't have? And she was shouting at Dragonlord Mei for something else."

    "Wait, what kind of trouble?"

    CINNAMON: "I'm sorry, I don't know. I think she got taken away by camp guards, though, so it was probably pretty bad."

    PRESENCE: Maybe Fincher was lying about getting permission to accompany you?

    WAR: Detaining an officer doesn't happen that often in imperial camps, but disobeying direct orders is one thing that they can't really let go. Or maybe it was just the insubordination of arguing. Mei seems to have a low tolerance for that.

    PHYSIQUE: Maybe Mei was angry because you got your arm broken and missed your duel.

    [ ] Say, do you know where they keep detained officers in this camp?
    [ ] Do you have any lockpicks that I can use one-handed?
    [ ] Can I have my sword back?
    [ ] Thanks for the tea, I have to go.
    [ ] Who are you, again?
     
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    • For A Better World 14
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    • TenMoreMiles said:
    [x ] Do you have any lockpicks that I can use one-handed?
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    "Do you have any lockpicks that I can use one-handed?"

    CINNAMON: "Oh, uh, no, sorry. I don't know anything about lockpicks. Captain Logris might, though?"

    "Oh yeah?"

    CINNAMON: "Well, she got your chest unlocked really fast. I don't know, maybe she has a key, I didn't see."

    "Anything good in there?"

    Cinnamon immediately blushes.

    CINNAMON: "I didn't look! It's your private chest!"

    INTEGRITY: She definitely looked.

    "Don't worry about it. I should probably look through it, but I'm in a hurry."

    CINNAMON: "Oh, uh, Captain Logris told me to tell you to stay here until she gets back."

    "I have a pressing appointment with a burning monster cloud."

    CINNAMON: "A what?"

    "Don't worry about it."

    [ ] How long is Logris going to be?
    [ ] Do you know where Fincher is?
    [ ] I really need to go now, can you help me get my stuff?
     
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    • For A Better World 15
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    • Broken25 said:
    [X] I really need to go now, can you help me get my stuff?
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    "I really need to go now, can you help me get my stuff?"

    CINNAMON: "I, uh... okay."

    "It's okay, I won't tell Logris you helped."

    CINNAMON: "Well, alright."

    She moves away from the entryway for a moment and returns with a small knife and a roll of linen bandages.

    CINNAMON: "You'll need to get your arm in a sling if you are going anywhere."

    SAGACITY: It's true. You'll make the break worse if you just carry it hanging in the splint.

    "Okay then, quick as you can."

    Cinnamon cuts the rope binding your splint to the stake and helps you sit up. Your ribs creak and your back muscles protest. It's more than fatigue, you feel fresh bruises around your upper back and shoulder and a deep ache in your spine.

    PHYSIQUE: Did you throw out our back too? We must have hit that tree pretty hard. Great job!

    Cinnamon binds your splint to your torso with a few loops of bandage over the shoulder. It pulls at your injured muscles, but it does the job.

    "Looks good to me. Are you a medic, then?"

    CINNAMON: "I just know a little, from primary school."

    EMBASSY: Primary schools are exclusive to the Realm upper classes. She is almost certainly a patrician or dynast. Cinnamon is an unusual given name for someone of high social class, though.

    No time to pull at that thread now, though.

    "I had a sword. And a hammer."

    CINNAMON: "Yes, right, your hammer, it's just over here. Just, uh, give me a minute."

    She disappears back through the curtain, leaving you alone.

    You look to your chest. Cinnamon said Logris unlocked it. You could spend some time looking through it, but you're not sure how much you have to spend.

    [ ] Search the chest thoroughly.
    [ ] Have a quick look through.
    [ ] Ignore it and follow Cinnamon into the main tent.
     
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