Ohmaigah
Man be Vibin
- Location
- Ask Carmen Sandiego or Waldo
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Uh, that might be a problem with Frollo running the place.
Prince Aladdin Quest (Disney Villains *Almost* Victorious)
- Thread starter TempestK
- Start date
- Crossover Fantasy
Uh, that might be a problem with Frollo running the place.
- Location
- Somewhere
It can be done, Frollo is human it's DVV that screwed him over into something else.
I'm just not sure if throwing Pete in is possible this late into the game. As, if the QM already has France built up and solid, would it work?
Ohmaigah
Man be Vibin
- Location
- Ask Carmen Sandiego or Waldo
- Pronouns
- He/Him
No I was thinking more like..if he got his "King Of France" ending, if that's the direction you're going in, it would be kinda weird to have the place split into two different factions.
But if you're thinking more like Pete remaining in his "Captain Of The Musketeer" role or going back to his Bandit ways with the Beagle Boys, it could be an interesting side story
But if you're thinking more like Pete remaining in his "Captain Of The Musketeer" role or going back to his Bandit ways with the Beagle Boys, it could be an interesting side story
- Location
- Somewhere
Pope and King are different roles. You're thinking that Frollo is the leader of France's region, but I could go with a shadow war between the two groups. Or have them work together towards the same goals. Two normal people without magic in a world of wonders.
I personally think this version both fits better in the setting and explains better why the nobility isn't putting up a fuss. I also love the idea of Tim Curry as Frollo's reluctant subordinate as he realizes there are meaner dogs on the block now. What do you guys think? The Three Musketeers (1993 film) - Wikipedia
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- Pronouns
- He
Hades said the less said about Russia, the better. What is exactly going on in Russia?
- Location
- California,USA
In a word the Devil Runs it.
In slightly More words,
Chernabog I think Killed God and is Ruling Russia with a Malice only seen in the depths of hell itself.
Also I don't think the people living there can die and are tormented by demons forever...so that sucks for them.
- Location
- Somewhere
Probably not that. We did get told a monk is somehow involved in Russia. We are an AU of DVV after all, where the villains are overall more positive than negative.
- Location
- California,USA
Its my headcanon until we get more information. we don't know whats going on up there and we can agree on that.
- Location
- Wherever I feel like being
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Think about what "monk" is most famously associated with Russia for a second.
- Location
- California,USA
I already know about the Resputin nonsense, its just what else is going on that's all.
Or, alternatively:
But no matter the song, Russia's havin' a bad time...
- Location
- California,USA
When has Russia ever looked like it didn't come out of a fistfight with a bear? Politically speaking.
...Um...well, shit, you got me.
Although 'living under the Terror-Rule of an Undead Sorcerer-Monk who unleashes Zombies' still takes it to a new Level.
- Location
- California,USA
Its a new one that's for sure...but then again, The Tsars were pretty cruel in their own ways.
- Location
- Wherever I feel like being
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Loyalty is more of a narrative effect here, in that it determines how much a person is willing to open up to Aladdin. What they're willing to reveal about themselves and the places they came from. Of course, this has the potential to open up new Adventures or new options while interacting with said persons.
As for why Will's hasn't changed; a couple of his personal actions have been more quality of life and aimed at allowing him to operate easier, rather than actually being Aladdin facilitating his search or otherwise helping him personally.
As for why Will's hasn't changed; a couple of his personal actions have been more quality of life and aimed at allowing him to operate easier, rather than actually being Aladdin facilitating his search or otherwise helping him personally.
- Location
- USA
Did lending him carpet help his loyalty then?
Turn 6: Ring in the New Year
- Location
- Wherever I feel like being
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It was decided. The Northern Satraps were to be pacified and brought to heel, their bandit plague eradicated where it couldn't be pacified. And the so-called 'rulers' of those areas would be dealt with. One way or another. For the first time, Ababwa marched to battle.
Aladdin bit back a snarl as he blocked a blow from the bandit attempting to rush him. This past month had been interminable. The army of Ababwa had marched out at the start of the campaign, grimly determined to bring the bandits to heel... and to make the rulers of the Satraps who had failed so miserably in their duties keenly aware that their neighbors would act if they did not.
The Ababwan forces seemed to be tailor-made for this campaign, able to move fast, strike quickly, keeping just ahead of news of their coming. At each city they were welcomed with open arms... until Aladdin made it clear to the rulers there that they were here to rescue the people, not the nobility. Aladdin had seen a lot as an urchin in Agrabah, but even that harsh life hadn't prepared him for the tragedies he would bear witness to.
He had also gained an entirely new appreciation for the Sultan of Agrabah. Say what you will about the man's judgement of Jafar's character, and his almost childish delight in toys when he was de-stressing. He didn't use and abuse the populace as the deposed princes that Aladdin left in his wake. The people weren't snatched up at random to provide entertainment or to serve him at the ruler's whim. The majority of Agrabah's residents didn't starve while he stuffed himself on delicacies and then threw out whatever was left to be fought over by the huddled masses.
At each city, a garrison of Ababwan troops had been set up, and their commander ceded control over the city until a proper administrator could be found for the area. And so as the Northern Satraps were freed, Aladdin's army was winnowed down by the light casualties (very few deaths thankfully, not that it helped Aladdin sleep any better), and the constant peeling off of forces to hold the taken territory.
Now, at the extreme northern edge of the Satraps, it seemed that Aladdin and his men's luck had run out. The local bandits had managed to seize the city and turn it into a fortress, the decaying heads mounted at the gates a grim indicator of what had happened to the ruler and his nobles. So instead of being able to use their superior speed and range to run the bandits down; they were instead forced to siege the city. Ahmed's tent was invaluable as they had set up camp, the massive tent appearing out of nowhere unnerving the bandits and hiding the troop's movements from their eyes.
The situation had held for a few days, but it seemed that the bandits had done as they were wont to when they had a prize, and squandered it. Sounds of anger and conflict came over the walls, indications that the bandits were taking even the food of the residents to feed themselves. Finally though, the situation changed, though by the actions of a third party. As dawn broke on the fifth day of the siege, Aladdin was alerted by the night watch. Someone had opened the gate! Wasting no time, he'd rallied his men, Ahmed at his side as the two surged for the open gate; their forces, especially the specially trained cadre of swordsmen, were right on their heels.
Inside the city they found pandemonium, as the citizens seemed to have finally been pushed past the breaking point. Laundry poles and baker's boards were wielded as polearms to give their users greater reach against their foes. Children and teens on the rooftops used scraps of cloth as slings and shards of rock for ammunition to pelt the bandits. Women wielded carving knives and skewers, while one big heavily muscled man was swinging around a hammer that could just as easily be described as a block of iron on a stick, smashing skulls and caving in chests with each blow.
But even the blacksmith's efforts paled in comparison to a robed figure that was absolutely tearing the bandits to pieces! Precise punches, kicks and strikes with the knees and elbows laid them low. Every gap in their defences was picked apart, dismantling entire groups at a time. When the fighter was hard pressed and the bandits had brought in spears, he actually ran up the wall and then kicked off, sailing over their heads to land at their backs with only the faintest of whispers, before lashing out with pinpoint strikes to the backs of the spearmen. Unless Aladdin's eyes were playing tricks on him in the heat of battle, each strike was accompanied by a faint wash of blue light emanating from the point of contact, before the person struck dropped in a convulsing heap.
After that Aladdin lost track of the warrior, forced to focus on his own battles. After a seeming eternity though, the city was cleared, the bandits turning and fighting like cornered rats when they couldn't break past the Ababwans to freedom.Thankfully righteous anger and grim determination won the day, and the last of the bandits were dealt with. Aladdin was receiving a report from Ahmed, even as he was having a slice along one arm checked by the medic, when two of his soldiers approached him.
"Sir, the stranger that was fighting the bandits earlier wants to talk to you." Aladdin nodded, fatigue dragging at his mind and muscles. The robed and cowled figure was led in, and Aladdin tilted his head to one side in a questioning manner.
"I hear you wanted to see me?" The figure nodded. The voice that issued from within the hood was deep and flowing, his Arabic having an accent that reminded Aladdin of the ambassadors from Xiang-Wu.
"Yes your Highness. I have heard much about this kingdom of yours. This 'Ababwa'. A place for new beginnings, a place where one can try to find peace, to start again. And a place," he looks meaningfully around at the soldiers who are helping the residents of the city clean up from their protracted occupation, "That will not brook evil men to rampage at their leisure." Aladdin nodded, brow furrowing.
"Yeah, that sounds about right. I take it you're interested in becoming a citizen?" The robed figure nodded, broad shoulders stooping slightly.. A confused sounding sigh rasped out.
"I have been wandering for the last year. Thinking over choices I have made. The lessons I was taught and those I failed to learn. I felt like less than nothing. Until I came here, and was able to help these people. I was the one that opened the gate. And held the bandits back until your men could make the breach. I think that your kingdom would be a good place to rethink many things about my life, if you will have me."
Aladdin nodded, smiling wryly. "After seeing you fight? I'd be glad to have you as a citizen, so long as you promised to protect others like you did today. What's your name?"
The figure paused, then grasped the edges of his hood with gloved hands, pulling it down, and causing Aladdin and his troops to boggle at the craggy brow and almost sheepish expression upon the muzzle of the humanoid snow leopard that stood before them, sighing in satisfaction as he removed his gloves to reveal the furred paws they had concealed. Once they were removed, the Snow Leopard clapped them in front of him and bowed deeply at the waist.
"I am called Tai Lung, my Prince."
Hero Gained!
Martial: 20 - Tai Lung's entire life has been fixated around combat, especially the unarmed styles known collectively as "Kung Fu".
Stewardship: 8 - All of his life, Tai Lung's needs were taken care of by the temple he lived in with his adoptive father and master. He knows how to ration his money a bit, but he's not going to be running a farm anytime soon. Let alone a kingdom.
Diplomacy: 16 - Tai Lung can actually be rather polished, urbane and even charming, so long as he can keep his temper in check.
Intrigue: 10 - Tai Lung can generally spot falsehoods, but he's a very straightforward person at heart, and tends to get tripped up by metaphorical puzzles and koans.
Learning: 15 - Tai Lung is by no means stupid, but his area of study is very focused.
Occult: 19 - Having been on the receiving end of, and developing his own, esoteric techniques using chi, Tai Lung is very aware of the supernatural.
Traits:
Master of a Thousand Scrolls - +15 to Learning actions involving herbal medicine, acupuncture, nerve strikes, or deciphering the use of Martial-related items. +20 to Martial when Tai Lung engages in combat personally.
Neverchosen - Tai Lung takes a -20 to Diplomacy when dealing with entities that have insulted him or those he has deigned to call friends and allies; or their capabilities.
Dark Secret - Tai Lung has the air of a man with heavy thoughts...
Leopard's Claw - Gains +10 to Martial to take enemies or targets down alive; using his specialized chi attack he developed from experiencing Oogway's strikes that felled him. These same techniques can also be used to "unlock" the chi of others; but even they they will need to train in its use to get more than a passive benefit from it.
Diamond in the Rough activates, Aladdin gains +1 Martial.
While the Prince was away overseeing his campaign, Sinbad was hard at work setting up logistics lines with the Elite Global Huntsman's Club. Most of which involved speaking to the old man Amos, as well as the owner of the incredible creation; Muntz, about materials needed. Lady Waltham had deigned to stay behind as a translator for the two as they made repairs upon their airship, while the majority of the Club had gone to Xiang-Wu by way of camel caravan.
The majority of what they needed seemed to be raw materials, though some of the purposes that they could be put to eluded Sinbad. Coke, very fine strained sand with no other particulate in it, the purest copper that they could find... the old Porter hadn't the first clue what those things could be used for. But they were willing to trade gold and gems for the materials. A good amount of preserved fruits, especially citrus were also on the list.
While a few of the members of the Club made Sinbad wary, the greater majority seemed to be decent people. If a bit skittish, like that young blonde lass that seemed to shadow Lady Waltham everywhere. The woman and girl had taken to visiting Schezrehade between translation sessions, and the diplomat was tending to show them around the bazaars and the menagerie. Shaking his head to roust the idle thoughts, he focused back on the list of requested supplies.
...
What in Allah's name was haggis?
Resupply drop and trade outlet set up for the Elite Global Huntsman's Club, they will return to Ababwa semi-frequently with rare items and finds for trade.
The Elite Global Huntsman's Club had made good time, returning shortly after Aladdin had returned from the North. They'd left on camels, but returned in horse-drawn wagons. Aladdin kept his face neutral as the Club bragged about their success, showing teeth, claws, and even a horn that had been harvested from the Dreaded One. They had also had several preserved organs and pieces of organs, as well as several long swatches of hide that had been taken.
These were received by Leah for her master. The young woman's own face was set in a politely neutral expression as she took the items. But Aladdin could see a green tinge in her cheeks when the hunters were preoccupied with their boasting.about the fight. The hero of the hour was apparently Gaston, who had managed to shoot through the roof of the creature's mouth as it was opening to breathe fire, striking the soft palate in just the right spot to puncture the thin bone into the base of the brain and kill the beast.
The hunters had all claimed their own trophies, with an oddly subdued Gaston merely electing to take a single fang. But beyond the dragon itself, the men had brought back much more! Apparently it had been hoarding treasures for a long time, raw and cut gems, gold ingots, ore and coinage, weapons from a number of different time periods (most of them bearing a sheen that spoke of having been bathed in dragonfire). The citizens of Xiang-Wu had been incredibly grateful, and anything not traceable to a living owner had been ceded to the Club. Not only that, but the Dreaded One had had a prisoner! A gaunt old man that had apparently been captured after the Upheaval, and had been forced to tell stories to the evil dragon in return for his life being continually spared.
The old man was in pretty bad shape, that he'd even survived the trip was a testament to his fortitude. The offer of rest and recuperation at the university under the care of trained physicians had been gratefully accepted before the man had drifted off to sleep. The majority of the hunters seemed thankful as well, not believing that they had the equipment and skill to take care of him, while the physicians in Xiang-Wu had thought that the best they could do was make him comfortable. So, Aladdin ordered him taken to the University to be given a private room and medical care. But not before he'd gotten the old man's name thanks to Schezrehade.
José Faria.
Hero gained! Abbe José Faria!
Martial:13 5 - though he knows much about swordplay and the use of a blade, his age and malnourishment have left him vastly weakened and unable to do much more than use a punch dagger if someone gets close to him.
Stewardship: 13 - Faria knows well the importance of rationing and portion control, lessons hard-learned during his time imprisoned. But he has little knowledge of how to run larger enterprises.
Diplomacy: 22 - Faria is an incredibly learned man, and knows several languages including Latin, French, Arabic, Greek and English. He also has a vast well of patience to draw upon, built up over his time in prison. His calm, patient attitude can wear down even the toughest negotiators as a river erodes a stone.
Intrigue: 14 - Though his reputation as being "mad" helped him be overlooked, he has some skills at deception that helped him hide his attempts at tunneling out of the prison he'd been placed in.
Learning: 25 - Faria is a practical font of information, facts, and lore. And what he doesn't know he'll gladly look up, or even pretend he doesn't know just to have a book in his hands once again.
Occult: 4 - Faria was a pious man, but the portal opening beneath him as he was about to be crushed by rocks has certainly set his world on end. Being held by a dragon as their personal storyteller even more so!
Traits:
The Children I Never Had - Faria can take on a Hero as his "apprentice". Each turn they are his Apprentice, roll a d4. On a 1 they get a +1 to Learning, on a 2 a +1 to Diplomacy on a 3 a +1 to Martial, on a 4 a +2 to Diplomacy. Every turn that he has an apprentice, they will gain a stat until they hit their natural limit. When apprenticed, Faria must go with his apprentice when they are assigned to an adventure, and uses up one Hero slot. While under his tutelage, neither the apprentice nor Faria can take National actions as all their attention is on their training. When on an Adventure, on a critical Faria can turn an encounter into a teaching moment and give a +1 to the relevant stat for all parties except himself.
These Old Bones - Faria has suffered prolonged imprisonment and periods of malnourishment. He will need to be gently brought back to the fullness of health that the doctors of Ababwa can achieve. Faria suffers a -8 penalty to his Martial as well as to all rolls taken during an Adventure aside from Diplomacy and Learning.
Rusted Bones, Iron Mind - Faria's memory is a monstrously powerful thing. Once the man has read something, he is able to recall it with crystal clarity. Has no malus on recalling written words and dictating them verbatim.
"Lifer" - Faria spent much of his life as a prisoner inside the Chateau D'if, and knows the prison better than anyone alive. He gains +15 to all rolls when at the prison.
The hunters had also brought the majority of the hoard back with them, and Muntz humbly presented it as payment for all of the materials they'd already taken. It was a vast jumble, and would need to be properly sorted and catalogued to figure out the actual worth of the contents, but it was a major boon to the coffers of Ababwa in the long term. And a clever tactic on the part of the Club. The hoard was large, and more importantly; heavy. It had taken several carts to carry it, and weight was an important factor for their airship. If they'd tried to take the hoard with them it could have weighed them down quite a bit, using up more of whatever fuel it was that the machine used to keep aloft.
Diamond in the Rough activates, Aladdin gains +1 to Diplomacy
Relations with Xiang-Wu at an all-time high. Relations with Elite Global Huntsman's Club improved.
Gained "Unsorted Dragon's Hoard"
Gained "Dragon Reagents"
Gained "Dragon Skin"
Late at night in his offices, Haroud was finishing writing up the field reports from his men for the prince. A lot of brigands had become very cooperative once it had been made clear that they could either work under him, or be given over to the army for judgement. Haroud's lips pulled back in a smile, now his network extended all the way to the northern edge of the Satraps.
More information meant more power, more wealth, and more kudos from the Prince. Being appreciated for his skills was a new experience, but one that Haroud was finding he quite enjoyed. Turning his attention back to the reports, his eye wandered to a trinket on his desk, a small sphere of silver, before he sat up straight. Movement behind him, reflected in the sphere (and the reason he kept it there in the first place).
"If you're here to kill me, you really should have tried something a little less direct." His grip tightened slightly on the steel tipped stylus that he'd gotten from Chiron. Much easier to hold than a quill, and didn't need to constantly be trimmed either. The tip was also exceedingly sharp.
A bass chuckle was the response of the hooded and cowled figure that had entered through the window to the rear of Haroud's desk. Not directly behind him of course, but offset to one side to allow a nice bit of breeze while still keeping his back and head from being a direct target for some enterprising assassin with a bow. "If I wanted you dead. I'd have left a tracing of iocane powder in your pillowcase to inhale as you slept." Haroud managed to keep from swallowing heavily, barely.
"A painless death. Generous. What can this humble spymaster do for you...?" Haroud kept his voice calm and professional. Whoever this was, they wanted something. Another chuckle as the man leaned nonchalantly against the wall, putting him out of direct view of the window and thus from any guards that could have looked in.
"Your men and their operations intrigued me. I decided to see who sat at the center of the web that even now expands to ensnare the Northern Satraps." The man's deep voice was laced with sardonic humor, and his eyes were assessing above the cowl. "As well as to see the kind of kingdom he served. As for who I am..." The man gave a mocking half-bow, never taking his eyes off of Haroud. "The King of Thieves."
Haroud felt his heart almost stutter to a stop before his mind immediately began burning with plans and ideas, forming and discarding them almost as quickly as they came. "So what can I do for you, your Majesty?" In Haroud's experience, when someone gave themselves a title it was best to humor them until safely out of stabbing range. And anyone stupid enough to pretend to be the leader of the legendary Forty Thieves would be dead in days. The thieves' reputation was well-earned, and they didn't tolerate pretenders.
A bandit chief that had tried to bring on Haroud had tried to play off of their fame, claiming to be a member. They found him in pieces the next morning, seemingly cut up by a beast's claws. Haroud had left immediately while the other bandits had started squabbling about who was the new leader, and the knives were coming out.
"I came to see this city, how it was ruled, the manner of man that Haroud the Shadow Hand would call 'master'. I must say, the boy seems to have a talent for bringing together the strange and unusual. A bandit, a porter,a centaur, a living Sirrush? And now he's off conquering the Northern Satraps because the manner the 'nobility' there acted apparently offended him." There was a dark note of amusement there now.
"I find myself intrigued by your ruler. And, perhaps, he and I may conduct business at some point. The Forty Thieves are no one's servants, but... we can be convinced to do contract work, if the price is right. It's a whole new world, and we're adapting just as you are." The King of Thieves flipped a coin at Haroud, who easily snatched it out of the air. Examining it curiously. It was a thick piece of gold, with an impression of an open hand, palm out, engraved into it.
"Use that as a seal on messages that you or your prince wish to send me. They'll get to me, eventually." The smug smile in his voice was plain to hear, even as he made his way back to the window.
"We'll be in touch." And with that, the mysterious figure was gone. Haroud examined the coin in the candlelight, watching the gleam travel across the metal.
"Well, this is an interesting development..."
Haroud has made contact with the Forty Thieves! New Options Unlocked!
While Chiron's preparations and observations are done meticulously, Mother Nature decides to intervene. The second month, storms begin rolling in; obscuring the sky for several days at a time as they intermittently dump rain on the forest and city. Chiron is forced to abandon the endeavor halfway though in order to preserve and collate the notes that he managed to take. Hopefully once the weather clears he'll be able to try again and finish the charting project. What he's found so far though seems to indicate that most of the constellations appear to be the same, but until the project is complete he won't be able to give a definitive report.
DC of When You Wish Upon a Star lowered to 65
"Leah" narrowed her eyes as she focused on the small plot of earth. She'd managed to slowly coax growth out of plants after that initial explosions of power. Apparently she'd infused her emotional energy into the soil as she'd used it to help relieve the stress of the situation. A year now. A year since she had had to leave her home. A Year since the loss of... She ruthlessly shoved the thoughts away, focusing instead on the seeds in the soil, attempting to get the same explosive growth that had happened before. So far all she'd been able to do consciously was to speed the growth of plants, bringing them to maturity in days, rather than weeks.
For making sure people were fed and could quickly create shelter, it was a powerful ability. But for adventuring? For immediate defense and attack it was useless. Even if she'd known about this power, as she'd been then, it wouldn't have done any good. Her father still would have- once again she crushed the thought back into the back of her mind. She knew that her friends were well aware of what she was doing. That "Cade" especially was worried about her. She couldn't help the snort. He was an idiot. A sweet, charming, thoughtful idiot who was growing to be surprisingly handsome, but still an idiot. She was perfectly fine, thank you very much.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a strange sound, like something very tiny screaming. As well as the flapping of wings. Looking around, she spotted a large crow that had managed to somehow sneak into the greenhouse through the doors, chasing some kind of floating pink light that was zigging and zagging for all it was worth. Leah didn't hesitate as she stood, gesturing towards the light.
"Here, come here!" The light reoriented and zipped towards her. As it got closer, Leah saw that it wasn't merely a light, but a tiny winged child, face a mask of fear and tears before barely avoiding smacking into Leah's face, and instead zipping behind her hair to hide at the nape of the young woman's neck. The crow, not to be denied, cawed harshly, diving at Leah.
"Stop that! Stop that this instant!" The bird didn't appear inclined to do so, and as it came in for another dive, Leah saw that its eyes were pure pools of red that trailed wisps of black smoke. "Ah! Get away! Get away!" Leah swatted at the not-bird, earning a vicious peck to her hands, before it darted around, clawing at her hair in an attempt to drive the tiny pixie out of hiding.
"Leave her alone!" Leah's voice carried a snap of command as green light flared through her blue eyes, and into her hands. When she went to swat the crow, this time it was accompanied by the sound of crumbling dirt and then a whistling noise as one of the plants she'd been trying to grow, a type of reed from Xiang-Wu called "bamboo" shot out of the ground like a spear, the thin tip of the plant smashing into the breast of the crow so hard that it was actually impaled!
The avian facsimile gave a hauntingly human scream, before it's form seemed to deflate, black smoke streaming from the empty corpse and gathering into a noxious ball of fog. Red eyes lit from within the fog, and focused on Leah. It spoke then, with a harsh rasp while sounding like it came from a long distance.
"Sooooo, a neophyte druid, all the way out here? How very iiiiinteresting. Heheheh. Quite a few will be interested to know about you my dear... though you could perhaps buy my silence. Hand over the child, and your secret shall stay safe."
Leah could feel the tiny fae trembling against her neck. She scowled up at the spirit. "Not a chance." There was a tiny gasp from near her ear, and the smoky shadow chuckled ominously.
"Ohhhh, so unwise..."
"Incarcem Spiritus Noxum!"
The spirit shrieked as it was caged within a cube of light, which contracted down swiftly, turning into a solid cube of what appeared to be marble, roughly an inch on a side. It drifted through the air, into the outstretched palm of her mentor and friend. From within the hood he still wore, she saw a glint of glasses and concern behind them, only Cade and herself allowed to see past the illusion that masked him and the rest of her dear friends.
"I think that this fellow is going to be taking some time to think over his choices." An approving smile then. "Well done by the way." He gestured at the bamboo with the empty crow skin still atop it like a macabre flag. "You figured out what the problem was?" Leah recognized it for the redirection from the spirit's threat that it was, but took it nonetheless.
"I think so, yes. It's not enough to just concentrate, there has to be purpose behind it. Nothing in nature happens for no reason. Even the unexpected and chaotic are folded into the cycle of renewal. Every fallen stone is ground to sand and soil, every fallen tree feeds the forest."
"You're really smart." Leah shook herself out of her introspection as the little fae that had been hiding under her hair shyly moved into view. "An pretty too." Getting a good look at the tiny little fae now, Leah could honestly say that she was absolutely adorable.
"Well hello there little one," her mentor leaned forward, a soft smile barely visible in the shadows of his hood. "And who might you be?" The little fae clasped her hands together, swinging them back and forth like any other child would.
"Um, not 'sposed to tell my True Name. But I like Hollyhock flowers... So you c'n call me that! Oh, or jus' Holly!" She finished with a large smile and a nod on her face.
Leah smiled at the young fae.
"Well then Holly, while I can't use my own True Name either, you can call me Leah." The young woman couldn't help the smile as the fae hugged her neck, thanking Leah for saving her from the spirit that had been hunting Hollyhock. Leah smiled gently, even as she felt a surge of protectiveness. So small, and fragile, but still sweet and good. Something in this world well worth protecting.
Gained Leah as a Hero Unit!
Martial: 15 - Leah is surprisingly adept with a sword, shield and bow, The only things holding her back from being even better with them is her current lack of reach and height against most opponents, as well as not having an apparent style specifically suited for her.
Stewardship: 16- Leah has excellent organizational skills and a good eye for delegation as well. All she lacks at the moment is experience.
Diplomacy: 19 - Leah is well versed in several languages, has a thorough grasp of etiquette, and can easily distinguish which fork to use during which course of a meal.
Intrigue: 13 - Leah has some basic cunning and ability to pull tricks, but she's not capable of pulling off grand deceptions on her own.
Learning: 14 - Leah is more than capable of learning, but she finds it dull unless the teacher is able to find some way to capture her interest.
Occult: 21 - With the studying that she's undertaken with her master, and now the acquaintance of the Fairy known as "Holly" (short for Hollyhock apparently), she's beginning to really learn the power that has lain dormant in her blood; and tap into its potential.
Hidden Depths - Leah's background is as mysterious as that of the Mage. There may be more to find out there...
Fae-Friend - Leah's experiments with magic led to her being found by a displaced faerie called Hollyhock. The very young fae has latched onto Leah as a protector and safe haven in the maddened world she finds herself adrift in. Leah gains a +10 Diplomacy bonus when interacting with Fae creatures, and Fae creatures will not automatically attack her unless ordered by a superior.
Blood of the Earth - Leah's bloodline apparently contained latent potential for what is known in her homeland as "druidic magic", though many here would say shamanism and call it a day. She gains a +10 to occult in dealing with magical plants and animals, as well as having extra options to circumvent obstacles presented by plants, animals or the earth. If performing a Learning action involving plants or animals, add half that boost to her Learning.
Red in Tooth and Claw - If Leah is placed in a high stress situation, a composure check of 1d100+Martial with a DC of 35 will be rolled. On a failure her magic lashes out outside her control to try and end the threat, or remove her from the area.
Aladdin examined the bottles and vials in the room curiously, even as the Mage puttered around. Aladdin was still recovering from the brutally swift campaign that he and his troops had embarked on, and while Dastan saw to getting Tai Lung settled, he had elected to try and visit the Mage. The strange man had been in his employ for a year now, and to his shame Aladdin didn't even know his name.
"So what do all of these do?" It had been a bit of a surprise to find that the Mage had been studying Arabic alongside Cade, but he was now capable of communicating on his own, though his accent was still rather thick. It was nice to be able to converse with him now, but Aladdin couldn't help but feel guilty about how he was forcing the other people to change to suit him. Once again he reminded himself of the importance of learning the language that so many of the people that he'd brought into the kingdom called their native tongue.
"Alambics and flasks. As well as crucibles and coils. I was lucky to find a glass-blower in the city that was able to make some of my requests." Aladdin very carefully withdrew his fingers, best not to tempt fate and accidentally break something that was needed. "Between them and the assistance of Master Chiron, I have everything I need for the brewing and distillation of potions and other concoctions." He sounded quite pleased with himself.
"That's really great to hear, that invisibility potion alone was something else." That got a chuckle out of the man.
"I was honestly a little surprised it worked. Some of my attempts have, er, occasionally backfired. Or, er, been a bit too specialized." At Aladdin's curious look, the mage laughed awkwardly. "One of my first attempts was a hair-color changing potion. It worked... but it only changed the color of a single hair on the body." Aladdin chuckled along with the mage.
"So do you have any ideas on what you're going to try to brew first?" The mage pondered that, scratching his chin and giving the faint sound of bristles. He either had a very short beard or a shadow of one it seemed. Finally, the mage gave a shrug.
"It all depends on what we have need of. I'm honestly dealing with a few of these reagents and ingredients for the first time in person. Others..." he gaze seemed to be drawn to the shelf where the jars of dragon parts were stored. "Others I'd never though I'd ever have cause to use. But the least I can do is honor the life of the dragon, even if it was evil, but trying to find something properly useful for its remains will give his death some meaning." Aladdin looked a bit shocked at that, raising one brow.
"You're sad he died?" The mage looked up to the taller youth. His head cocked to the side quizzically.
"You're not? Prince; dragons are incredibly rare creatures, potent forces of magic, and often thinking beings in their own right. I mourn their death just as I do any other person; if for no other reason than the lost potential that was cut short." The mage gave a sorrowful sigh as he clasped his hands in the sleeves of his robe.
"I guess I never thought about it like that," Aladdin admitted. From that perspective, it really was a tragedy that the Dreaded One had died, instead of being driven off, or even talked down. For a brief moment, he pictured the dragon as it had been described, agreeing to reparations and coming to Ababwa. Frosting would have had kittens, he was sure.
Aladdin gathered his thoughts up as he looked at the man that had worked for him for the better part of a yeah. "I actually have a few questions. About things besides alchemy. Which is why I came down here." The mage settled in a chair, making a 'go on' gesture. "Well, It's just that you've been here for almost a year now, and I recently realized that... I don't even know your name. And you've been an incredible help, not just with Leah, or the Greenhouses, but no matter what I've asked you to assist with, you've helped out with no complaints."
"Oh. Oh my. It completely slipped my own mind." The mage reached into his hood, producing a pair of spectacles and polishing them with his sleeve for several moments before putting them back. "You're a very good man, Aladdin. And you've respected mine and my friends' wish for privacy. I respect that very much. There are some things that I can't tell you, or aren't my secrets... but at the very least I can tell you my name. I'm known as Zummi."
Relationship with the Mage increased heavily, Learned the Mage's name is Zummi.
"I gotta tell ya kid, this place has Agrabah beat hands down. Plenty of sunshine but it ain't too hot. A great view, and all kinds of stuff to snack on..." The parrot paused his running commentary to toss back a few grapes from the bunch Aladdin had bought for the two of them as they went through the city, letting out a sigh of satisfaction. "And best of all, I don't have to pretend to be some dumb bird repeatin' everything else being said around me." Aladdin heard the deep well of bitterness in that last statement, and decided to capitalize on it.
"Why did you have to pretend to be dumb? I mean, you're pretty much as smart as a human. Why didn't you try to con whoever captured you into letting you go? Or try to get bought by the palace. Jasmine would have probably loved to have someone to complain to that actually got the whole 'caged bird' thing." The parrot gave a bitter laugh.
"C'mon kid, you know as well as I do that the second I'd opened my beak and actually started talkin' instead of just repeating stuff; I'd have been whisked away to be some trade baron's personal trophy pet. An' then after Jafar bought me... Well I don't recall exactly where I came from before kid, but I knew I was a long, long way from home. I'd been passed from smuggler to smuggler, been through crime dens you wouldn't even believe... and I'd gotten used to that sort of thing. To thinking like the people I saw constantly. Scheming how to get my big break, how to make the most of a situation for myself. Honestly that's why I ended up stayin' with Jafar. He had just started at the Palace as the Vizier, and he had the same sort of mindset. I was giving it some time before I tried to make a break for it, and listening to him talk to himself while he was plannin' clued me in on how he looked at the world. So I took a gamble." Iago gave a gusty sigh and shook his head.
"Seemed like it had paid off initially. Jafar was pretty much runnin' the city, the Sultan was preoccupied with his toys. The only real fly in the ointment was the Princess. She really hated Jafar. Thought he was bossin' around her dad. Which, yeah is kind of what he was doin' with the hypnosis so the Sultan would leave things in his hands and focus on less pressing matters." The parrot ruffled his feathers before preening them back into place. "But she was pretty much determined to drive me an' him outta town at the least. Or worse," one wing came up to rub at his throat with a grimace, as if imagining a headsman's axe. Aladdin grimaced as well.
"You know Jasmine wouldn't have done that. Banishment, probably, but she wasn't the type to just casually have someone killed." Aladdin defended his... intended? Yes, intended worked, to the parrot. Iago rolled his eyes.
"Sure thing kid. Look, either way things shook out the way they did. I'm here, you're here, Jafar is hopefully far far away from here, let's just enjoy life." His eyes glinted as he spotted a vendor nearby. "Speaking of enjoying life, check it out kid, candied orange slices!" Aladdin let the very obvious change of subject go, he'd already gotten more out of the parrot than he expected.
Iago's loyalty increased slightly.
Iago is now familiar with Ababwa and suffers no chance of becoming lost in the city on his own.
Will's trip to the west, to the coastal Satraps bordering the Caspian sea had been much shorter than he had envisioned, thanks to the assistance of Carpet. The Satraps he'd focused on were the ones that touched on the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf; not only searching for out of place salt lakes like the one he'd appeared in, but for any hint of other crewmen from the Black Pearl. For Elizabeth, hells he'd even take Norrington at this point!
His expedition had borne some small fruit though. He'd heard of a gangly man with a wooden eye, and a bald rotund man that had headed to the west; Pintel and Ragetti, there was no mistaking their descriptions or antics. But they'd passed through months ago; the trail was long cold. He also heard more of what that bastard Jones had been up to. Creating an entirely new Brethren Court after the old one haid failed him; claiming the title of Pirate King. And between the Dutchman and his Kraken, who would be willing to gainsay him?
What he'd heard of this "Sinbad" though put him in mind of Jack, albeit one who drank a bit less and talked a bit more (and what a terrifying thought that was). As well as rumors of a pirate whose ship sailed under the water, but was not Jones. Most people seemed to think it was hearsay and tall tales, but... Will looked down at the animated carpet that he was seated upon. Honestly at this point anything was possible.
Will has gained intelligence on the two nearest Pirate Lords.
Will has gained information on the whereabouts of Pintel and Ragetti.
Will's loyalty has increased.
Carpet was happy to make a friend.
Turn Start City Funds: 20,000
City income This turn: 14,000
Turn End City Coffers: 18,000
[X] Great Preparation, and the Northern Rep
- [X][Martial] Take What You Can
-[X][Stewardship] One Stop Shop
- [X][Diplomacy] Since You're in the Area...
-[X][Intrigue] Now Hiring!
--[X]Have Haroud focus on a specific region
---[X] Northern Satraps
-[X][Learning] When you wish upon a Star
- [X][Occult]Call of the Wild
-[X][Personal] Getting to Know You (Better)
--[X] The Mage
-[X][Personal] Get to know a Hero better
--[X] Iago
-[X][Will Personal] Missing the Sea
--[X] Loan Carpet and suggest heading West to find out what's been going on with the seas. Couldn't hurt for Will to have some added mobility. (And the fact Carpet is needed for the Adventure, so him getting a good grasp/rapport going would be useful ahead of time.)
- [X][Iago Personal] Wallowing in the Lap of Luxury
-[X][Adventure] None right now.
- [X][Martial] Take What You Can
-[X][Stewardship] One Stop Shop
- [X][Diplomacy] Since You're in the Area...
-[X][Intrigue] Now Hiring!
--[X]Have Haroud focus on a specific region
---[X] Northern Satraps
-[X][Learning] When you wish upon a Star
- [X][Occult]Call of the Wild
-[X][Personal] Getting to Know You (Better)
--[X] The Mage
-[X][Personal] Get to know a Hero better
--[X] Iago
-[X][Will Personal] Missing the Sea
--[X] Loan Carpet and suggest heading West to find out what's been going on with the seas. Couldn't hurt for Will to have some added mobility. (And the fact Carpet is needed for the Adventure, so him getting a good grasp/rapport going would be useful ahead of time.)
- [X][Iago Personal] Wallowing in the Lap of Luxury
-[X][Adventure] None right now.
Aladdin bit back a snarl as he blocked a blow from the bandit attempting to rush him. This past month had been interminable. The army of Ababwa had marched out at the start of the campaign, grimly determined to bring the bandits to heel... and to make the rulers of the Satraps who had failed so miserably in their duties keenly aware that their neighbors would act if they did not.
The Ababwan forces seemed to be tailor-made for this campaign, able to move fast, strike quickly, keeping just ahead of news of their coming. At each city they were welcomed with open arms... until Aladdin made it clear to the rulers there that they were here to rescue the people, not the nobility. Aladdin had seen a lot as an urchin in Agrabah, but even that harsh life hadn't prepared him for the tragedies he would bear witness to.
He had also gained an entirely new appreciation for the Sultan of Agrabah. Say what you will about the man's judgement of Jafar's character, and his almost childish delight in toys when he was de-stressing. He didn't use and abuse the populace as the deposed princes that Aladdin left in his wake. The people weren't snatched up at random to provide entertainment or to serve him at the ruler's whim. The majority of Agrabah's residents didn't starve while he stuffed himself on delicacies and then threw out whatever was left to be fought over by the huddled masses.
At each city, a garrison of Ababwan troops had been set up, and their commander ceded control over the city until a proper administrator could be found for the area. And so as the Northern Satraps were freed, Aladdin's army was winnowed down by the light casualties (very few deaths thankfully, not that it helped Aladdin sleep any better), and the constant peeling off of forces to hold the taken territory.
Now, at the extreme northern edge of the Satraps, it seemed that Aladdin and his men's luck had run out. The local bandits had managed to seize the city and turn it into a fortress, the decaying heads mounted at the gates a grim indicator of what had happened to the ruler and his nobles. So instead of being able to use their superior speed and range to run the bandits down; they were instead forced to siege the city. Ahmed's tent was invaluable as they had set up camp, the massive tent appearing out of nowhere unnerving the bandits and hiding the troop's movements from their eyes.
The situation had held for a few days, but it seemed that the bandits had done as they were wont to when they had a prize, and squandered it. Sounds of anger and conflict came over the walls, indications that the bandits were taking even the food of the residents to feed themselves. Finally though, the situation changed, though by the actions of a third party. As dawn broke on the fifth day of the siege, Aladdin was alerted by the night watch. Someone had opened the gate! Wasting no time, he'd rallied his men, Ahmed at his side as the two surged for the open gate; their forces, especially the specially trained cadre of swordsmen, were right on their heels.
Inside the city they found pandemonium, as the citizens seemed to have finally been pushed past the breaking point. Laundry poles and baker's boards were wielded as polearms to give their users greater reach against their foes. Children and teens on the rooftops used scraps of cloth as slings and shards of rock for ammunition to pelt the bandits. Women wielded carving knives and skewers, while one big heavily muscled man was swinging around a hammer that could just as easily be described as a block of iron on a stick, smashing skulls and caving in chests with each blow.
But even the blacksmith's efforts paled in comparison to a robed figure that was absolutely tearing the bandits to pieces! Precise punches, kicks and strikes with the knees and elbows laid them low. Every gap in their defences was picked apart, dismantling entire groups at a time. When the fighter was hard pressed and the bandits had brought in spears, he actually ran up the wall and then kicked off, sailing over their heads to land at their backs with only the faintest of whispers, before lashing out with pinpoint strikes to the backs of the spearmen. Unless Aladdin's eyes were playing tricks on him in the heat of battle, each strike was accompanied by a faint wash of blue light emanating from the point of contact, before the person struck dropped in a convulsing heap.
After that Aladdin lost track of the warrior, forced to focus on his own battles. After a seeming eternity though, the city was cleared, the bandits turning and fighting like cornered rats when they couldn't break past the Ababwans to freedom.Thankfully righteous anger and grim determination won the day, and the last of the bandits were dealt with. Aladdin was receiving a report from Ahmed, even as he was having a slice along one arm checked by the medic, when two of his soldiers approached him.
"Sir, the stranger that was fighting the bandits earlier wants to talk to you." Aladdin nodded, fatigue dragging at his mind and muscles. The robed and cowled figure was led in, and Aladdin tilted his head to one side in a questioning manner.
"I hear you wanted to see me?" The figure nodded. The voice that issued from within the hood was deep and flowing, his Arabic having an accent that reminded Aladdin of the ambassadors from Xiang-Wu.
"Yes your Highness. I have heard much about this kingdom of yours. This 'Ababwa'. A place for new beginnings, a place where one can try to find peace, to start again. And a place," he looks meaningfully around at the soldiers who are helping the residents of the city clean up from their protracted occupation, "That will not brook evil men to rampage at their leisure." Aladdin nodded, brow furrowing.
"Yeah, that sounds about right. I take it you're interested in becoming a citizen?" The robed figure nodded, broad shoulders stooping slightly.. A confused sounding sigh rasped out.
"I have been wandering for the last year. Thinking over choices I have made. The lessons I was taught and those I failed to learn. I felt like less than nothing. Until I came here, and was able to help these people. I was the one that opened the gate. And held the bandits back until your men could make the breach. I think that your kingdom would be a good place to rethink many things about my life, if you will have me."
Aladdin nodded, smiling wryly. "After seeing you fight? I'd be glad to have you as a citizen, so long as you promised to protect others like you did today. What's your name?"
The figure paused, then grasped the edges of his hood with gloved hands, pulling it down, and causing Aladdin and his troops to boggle at the craggy brow and almost sheepish expression upon the muzzle of the humanoid snow leopard that stood before them, sighing in satisfaction as he removed his gloves to reveal the furred paws they had concealed. Once they were removed, the Snow Leopard clapped them in front of him and bowed deeply at the waist.
"I am called Tai Lung, my Prince."
Hero Gained!
Martial: 20 - Tai Lung's entire life has been fixated around combat, especially the unarmed styles known collectively as "Kung Fu".
Stewardship: 8 - All of his life, Tai Lung's needs were taken care of by the temple he lived in with his adoptive father and master. He knows how to ration his money a bit, but he's not going to be running a farm anytime soon. Let alone a kingdom.
Diplomacy: 16 - Tai Lung can actually be rather polished, urbane and even charming, so long as he can keep his temper in check.
Intrigue: 10 - Tai Lung can generally spot falsehoods, but he's a very straightforward person at heart, and tends to get tripped up by metaphorical puzzles and koans.
Learning: 15 - Tai Lung is by no means stupid, but his area of study is very focused.
Occult: 19 - Having been on the receiving end of, and developing his own, esoteric techniques using chi, Tai Lung is very aware of the supernatural.
Traits:
Master of a Thousand Scrolls - +15 to Learning actions involving herbal medicine, acupuncture, nerve strikes, or deciphering the use of Martial-related items. +20 to Martial when Tai Lung engages in combat personally.
Neverchosen - Tai Lung takes a -20 to Diplomacy when dealing with entities that have insulted him or those he has deigned to call friends and allies; or their capabilities.
Dark Secret - Tai Lung has the air of a man with heavy thoughts...
Leopard's Claw - Gains +10 to Martial to take enemies or targets down alive; using his specialized chi attack he developed from experiencing Oogway's strikes that felled him. These same techniques can also be used to "unlock" the chi of others; but even they they will need to train in its use to get more than a passive benefit from it.
Diamond in the Rough activates, Aladdin gains +1 Martial.
- [][Martial] Take What You Can
It's obvious that the chieftains and princes controlling the Northern Satraps are in over their heads. Their forces can't seem to contain or counter the bandits and marauders that plague their people. So perhaps it's time someone else stepped in. Send your forces to occupy and protect the Satraps, both to get the people on your side, and as a show of force to their rulers. Will bring in the Northern Satraps as territories, allows them to be made into protectorates.
DC: 40
Cost: 2000 Gold, 1000 Gold Upkeep per turn to keep the territories occupied and defended until the Satraps become protectorates, and the army is expanded to cover the territory.
Unlocks new options, new income sources.
Rolled: 100 + 10 (Ahmed) + 17 (Aladdin) + 3 (XP) =130 (CRIT!) +58 = 188
It's obvious that the chieftains and princes controlling the Northern Satraps are in over their heads. Their forces can't seem to contain or counter the bandits and marauders that plague their people. So perhaps it's time someone else stepped in. Send your forces to occupy and protect the Satraps, both to get the people on your side, and as a show of force to their rulers. Will bring in the Northern Satraps as territories, allows them to be made into protectorates.
DC: 40
Cost: 2000 Gold, 1000 Gold Upkeep per turn to keep the territories occupied and defended until the Satraps become protectorates, and the army is expanded to cover the territory.
Unlocks new options, new income sources.
Rolled: 100 + 10 (Ahmed) + 17 (Aladdin) + 3 (XP) =130 (CRIT!) +58 = 188
While the Prince was away overseeing his campaign, Sinbad was hard at work setting up logistics lines with the Elite Global Huntsman's Club. Most of which involved speaking to the old man Amos, as well as the owner of the incredible creation; Muntz, about materials needed. Lady Waltham had deigned to stay behind as a translator for the two as they made repairs upon their airship, while the majority of the Club had gone to Xiang-Wu by way of camel caravan.
The majority of what they needed seemed to be raw materials, though some of the purposes that they could be put to eluded Sinbad. Coke, very fine strained sand with no other particulate in it, the purest copper that they could find... the old Porter hadn't the first clue what those things could be used for. But they were willing to trade gold and gems for the materials. A good amount of preserved fruits, especially citrus were also on the list.
While a few of the members of the Club made Sinbad wary, the greater majority seemed to be decent people. If a bit skittish, like that young blonde lass that seemed to shadow Lady Waltham everywhere. The woman and girl had taken to visiting Schezrehade between translation sessions, and the diplomat was tending to show them around the bazaars and the menagerie. Shaking his head to roust the idle thoughts, he focused back on the list of requested supplies.
...
What in Allah's name was haggis?
Resupply drop and trade outlet set up for the Elite Global Huntsman's Club, they will return to Ababwa semi-frequently with rare items and finds for trade.
- [][Stewardship] One Stop Shop
It appears that the Hunter's Club isn't as bad as they had seemed. And their hunts apparently tend to yield some very interesting hides, horns and other miscellaneous parts of various creatures that could be valuable or prove of interest to Chiron or the Mage. Maybe allow them to make Ababwa a port of call and a resupply stop? Allows intermittent visits from the Elite Global Huntsman's Club and the possibility of buying rare or valuable items and artifacts from them.
DC: 65
Cost: 1500 Gold
Rolled: 46 + 15 (Sinbad) + 11 (Aladdin) + 15 (XP) = 87
It appears that the Hunter's Club isn't as bad as they had seemed. And their hunts apparently tend to yield some very interesting hides, horns and other miscellaneous parts of various creatures that could be valuable or prove of interest to Chiron or the Mage. Maybe allow them to make Ababwa a port of call and a resupply stop? Allows intermittent visits from the Elite Global Huntsman's Club and the possibility of buying rare or valuable items and artifacts from them.
DC: 65
Cost: 1500 Gold
Rolled: 46 + 15 (Sinbad) + 11 (Aladdin) + 15 (XP) = 87
The Elite Global Huntsman's Club had made good time, returning shortly after Aladdin had returned from the North. They'd left on camels, but returned in horse-drawn wagons. Aladdin kept his face neutral as the Club bragged about their success, showing teeth, claws, and even a horn that had been harvested from the Dreaded One. They had also had several preserved organs and pieces of organs, as well as several long swatches of hide that had been taken.
These were received by Leah for her master. The young woman's own face was set in a politely neutral expression as she took the items. But Aladdin could see a green tinge in her cheeks when the hunters were preoccupied with their boasting.about the fight. The hero of the hour was apparently Gaston, who had managed to shoot through the roof of the creature's mouth as it was opening to breathe fire, striking the soft palate in just the right spot to puncture the thin bone into the base of the brain and kill the beast.
The hunters had all claimed their own trophies, with an oddly subdued Gaston merely electing to take a single fang. But beyond the dragon itself, the men had brought back much more! Apparently it had been hoarding treasures for a long time, raw and cut gems, gold ingots, ore and coinage, weapons from a number of different time periods (most of them bearing a sheen that spoke of having been bathed in dragonfire). The citizens of Xiang-Wu had been incredibly grateful, and anything not traceable to a living owner had been ceded to the Club. Not only that, but the Dreaded One had had a prisoner! A gaunt old man that had apparently been captured after the Upheaval, and had been forced to tell stories to the evil dragon in return for his life being continually spared.
The old man was in pretty bad shape, that he'd even survived the trip was a testament to his fortitude. The offer of rest and recuperation at the university under the care of trained physicians had been gratefully accepted before the man had drifted off to sleep. The majority of the hunters seemed thankful as well, not believing that they had the equipment and skill to take care of him, while the physicians in Xiang-Wu had thought that the best they could do was make him comfortable. So, Aladdin ordered him taken to the University to be given a private room and medical care. But not before he'd gotten the old man's name thanks to Schezrehade.
José Faria.
Hero gained! Abbe José Faria!
Martial:
Stewardship: 13 - Faria knows well the importance of rationing and portion control, lessons hard-learned during his time imprisoned. But he has little knowledge of how to run larger enterprises.
Diplomacy: 22 - Faria is an incredibly learned man, and knows several languages including Latin, French, Arabic, Greek and English. He also has a vast well of patience to draw upon, built up over his time in prison. His calm, patient attitude can wear down even the toughest negotiators as a river erodes a stone.
Intrigue: 14 - Though his reputation as being "mad" helped him be overlooked, he has some skills at deception that helped him hide his attempts at tunneling out of the prison he'd been placed in.
Learning: 25 - Faria is a practical font of information, facts, and lore. And what he doesn't know he'll gladly look up, or even pretend he doesn't know just to have a book in his hands once again.
Occult: 4 - Faria was a pious man, but the portal opening beneath him as he was about to be crushed by rocks has certainly set his world on end. Being held by a dragon as their personal storyteller even more so!
Traits:
The Children I Never Had - Faria can take on a Hero as his "apprentice". Each turn they are his Apprentice, roll a d4. On a 1 they get a +1 to Learning, on a 2 a +1 to Diplomacy on a 3 a +1 to Martial, on a 4 a +2 to Diplomacy. Every turn that he has an apprentice, they will gain a stat until they hit their natural limit. When apprenticed, Faria must go with his apprentice when they are assigned to an adventure, and uses up one Hero slot. While under his tutelage, neither the apprentice nor Faria can take National actions as all their attention is on their training. When on an Adventure, on a critical Faria can turn an encounter into a teaching moment and give a +1 to the relevant stat for all parties except himself.
These Old Bones - Faria has suffered prolonged imprisonment and periods of malnourishment. He will need to be gently brought back to the fullness of health that the doctors of Ababwa can achieve. Faria suffers a -8 penalty to his Martial as well as to all rolls taken during an Adventure aside from Diplomacy and Learning.
Rusted Bones, Iron Mind - Faria's memory is a monstrously powerful thing. Once the man has read something, he is able to recall it with crystal clarity. Has no malus on recalling written words and dictating them verbatim.
"Lifer" - Faria spent much of his life as a prisoner inside the Chateau D'if, and knows the prison better than anyone alive. He gains +15 to all rolls when at the prison.
The hunters had also brought the majority of the hoard back with them, and Muntz humbly presented it as payment for all of the materials they'd already taken. It was a vast jumble, and would need to be properly sorted and catalogued to figure out the actual worth of the contents, but it was a major boon to the coffers of Ababwa in the long term. And a clever tactic on the part of the Club. The hoard was large, and more importantly; heavy. It had taken several carts to carry it, and weight was an important factor for their airship. If they'd tried to take the hoard with them it could have weighed them down quite a bit, using up more of whatever fuel it was that the machine used to keep aloft.
Diamond in the Rough activates, Aladdin gains +1 to Diplomacy
Relations with Xiang-Wu at an all-time high. Relations with Elite Global Huntsman's Club improved.
Gained "Unsorted Dragon's Hoard"
Gained "Dragon Reagents"
Gained "Dragon Skin"
- [][Diplomacy] Since You're in the Area...
The Elite Global Huntsman's Club hunts monsters. Xiang Wu has a specific monster problem. Let's play middle-man and make some connections. The Elite Global Huntsman's Club dispatches in an attempt to kill the Dreaded One. Improved relations with Elite Global Huntsman's Club and Xiang-Wu, removal of major threat to Xiang-Wu.
DC: 70
Cost: 2,500
Rolled: 97 + 25 (Schezrehade) + 17 (Aladdin) + 15 (XP) = 154 (CRIT) + 100 (CRIT) = 254 + 43 = 297
The Elite Global Huntsman's Club hunts monsters. Xiang Wu has a specific monster problem. Let's play middle-man and make some connections. The Elite Global Huntsman's Club dispatches in an attempt to kill the Dreaded One. Improved relations with Elite Global Huntsman's Club and Xiang-Wu, removal of major threat to Xiang-Wu.
DC: 70
Cost: 2,500
Rolled: 97 + 25 (Schezrehade) + 17 (Aladdin) + 15 (XP) = 154 (CRIT) + 100 (CRIT) = 254 + 43 = 297
Late at night in his offices, Haroud was finishing writing up the field reports from his men for the prince. A lot of brigands had become very cooperative once it had been made clear that they could either work under him, or be given over to the army for judgement. Haroud's lips pulled back in a smile, now his network extended all the way to the northern edge of the Satraps.
More information meant more power, more wealth, and more kudos from the Prince. Being appreciated for his skills was a new experience, but one that Haroud was finding he quite enjoyed. Turning his attention back to the reports, his eye wandered to a trinket on his desk, a small sphere of silver, before he sat up straight. Movement behind him, reflected in the sphere (and the reason he kept it there in the first place).
"If you're here to kill me, you really should have tried something a little less direct." His grip tightened slightly on the steel tipped stylus that he'd gotten from Chiron. Much easier to hold than a quill, and didn't need to constantly be trimmed either. The tip was also exceedingly sharp.
A bass chuckle was the response of the hooded and cowled figure that had entered through the window to the rear of Haroud's desk. Not directly behind him of course, but offset to one side to allow a nice bit of breeze while still keeping his back and head from being a direct target for some enterprising assassin with a bow. "If I wanted you dead. I'd have left a tracing of iocane powder in your pillowcase to inhale as you slept." Haroud managed to keep from swallowing heavily, barely.
"A painless death. Generous. What can this humble spymaster do for you...?" Haroud kept his voice calm and professional. Whoever this was, they wanted something. Another chuckle as the man leaned nonchalantly against the wall, putting him out of direct view of the window and thus from any guards that could have looked in.
"Your men and their operations intrigued me. I decided to see who sat at the center of the web that even now expands to ensnare the Northern Satraps." The man's deep voice was laced with sardonic humor, and his eyes were assessing above the cowl. "As well as to see the kind of kingdom he served. As for who I am..." The man gave a mocking half-bow, never taking his eyes off of Haroud. "The King of Thieves."
Haroud felt his heart almost stutter to a stop before his mind immediately began burning with plans and ideas, forming and discarding them almost as quickly as they came. "So what can I do for you, your Majesty?" In Haroud's experience, when someone gave themselves a title it was best to humor them until safely out of stabbing range. And anyone stupid enough to pretend to be the leader of the legendary Forty Thieves would be dead in days. The thieves' reputation was well-earned, and they didn't tolerate pretenders.
A bandit chief that had tried to bring on Haroud had tried to play off of their fame, claiming to be a member. They found him in pieces the next morning, seemingly cut up by a beast's claws. Haroud had left immediately while the other bandits had started squabbling about who was the new leader, and the knives were coming out.
"I came to see this city, how it was ruled, the manner of man that Haroud the Shadow Hand would call 'master'. I must say, the boy seems to have a talent for bringing together the strange and unusual. A bandit, a porter,a centaur, a living Sirrush? And now he's off conquering the Northern Satraps because the manner the 'nobility' there acted apparently offended him." There was a dark note of amusement there now.
"I find myself intrigued by your ruler. And, perhaps, he and I may conduct business at some point. The Forty Thieves are no one's servants, but... we can be convinced to do contract work, if the price is right. It's a whole new world, and we're adapting just as you are." The King of Thieves flipped a coin at Haroud, who easily snatched it out of the air. Examining it curiously. It was a thick piece of gold, with an impression of an open hand, palm out, engraved into it.
"Use that as a seal on messages that you or your prince wish to send me. They'll get to me, eventually." The smug smile in his voice was plain to hear, even as he made his way back to the window.
"We'll be in touch." And with that, the mysterious figure was gone. Haroud examined the coin in the candlelight, watching the gleam travel across the metal.
"Well, this is an interesting development..."
Haroud has made contact with the Forty Thieves! New Options Unlocked!
- [][Intrigue] Now Hiring!
Haroud is adamant that he needs more people, both to help expand out his network, as well as
to see if he can find people that are good enough to be used for special assignments. Potential discovery of new Heros, may also gain extra information on an area. Repeatable.
--[]Have Haroud focus on a specific region
---[] North
DC: Variable
Cost: 1,500 Gold
Rolled: 45 + 20 (Haroud) +20 (Spider in his Web) + 27 (Aladdin) + 8 (XP) = 120
Haroud is adamant that he needs more people, both to help expand out his network, as well as
to see if he can find people that are good enough to be used for special assignments. Potential discovery of new Heros, may also gain extra information on an area. Repeatable.
--[]Have Haroud focus on a specific region
---[] North
DC: Variable
Cost: 1,500 Gold
Rolled: 45 + 20 (Haroud) +20 (Spider in his Web) + 27 (Aladdin) + 8 (XP) = 120
While Chiron's preparations and observations are done meticulously, Mother Nature decides to intervene. The second month, storms begin rolling in; obscuring the sky for several days at a time as they intermittently dump rain on the forest and city. Chiron is forced to abandon the endeavor halfway though in order to preserve and collate the notes that he managed to take. Hopefully once the weather clears he'll be able to try again and finish the charting project. What he's found so far though seems to indicate that most of the constellations appear to be the same, but until the project is complete he won't be able to give a definitive report.
DC of When You Wish Upon a Star lowered to 65
- [][Learning] When you wish upon a Star
According to Chiron, ever since the Great Disturbance, the stars themselves don't even look right. He wants to request a royal commission to remap the stars and create new star charts for navigation and charting the seasons. Perhaps that will help explain why the African Savannahs seem to be drying out unnaturally fast as if beset by a great Dry Season.
DC: 80
Cost: 4,000
Rolled: 24 + 30 (Chiron) + 11 (Aladdin) + 11 (XP) = 76
According to Chiron, ever since the Great Disturbance, the stars themselves don't even look right. He wants to request a royal commission to remap the stars and create new star charts for navigation and charting the seasons. Perhaps that will help explain why the African Savannahs seem to be drying out unnaturally fast as if beset by a great Dry Season.
DC: 80
Cost: 4,000
Rolled: 24 + 30 (Chiron) + 11 (Aladdin) + 11 (XP) = 76
"Leah" narrowed her eyes as she focused on the small plot of earth. She'd managed to slowly coax growth out of plants after that initial explosions of power. Apparently she'd infused her emotional energy into the soil as she'd used it to help relieve the stress of the situation. A year now. A year since she had had to leave her home. A Year since the loss of... She ruthlessly shoved the thoughts away, focusing instead on the seeds in the soil, attempting to get the same explosive growth that had happened before. So far all she'd been able to do consciously was to speed the growth of plants, bringing them to maturity in days, rather than weeks.
For making sure people were fed and could quickly create shelter, it was a powerful ability. But for adventuring? For immediate defense and attack it was useless. Even if she'd known about this power, as she'd been then, it wouldn't have done any good. Her father still would have- once again she crushed the thought back into the back of her mind. She knew that her friends were well aware of what she was doing. That "Cade" especially was worried about her. She couldn't help the snort. He was an idiot. A sweet, charming, thoughtful idiot who was growing to be surprisingly handsome, but still an idiot. She was perfectly fine, thank you very much.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a strange sound, like something very tiny screaming. As well as the flapping of wings. Looking around, she spotted a large crow that had managed to somehow sneak into the greenhouse through the doors, chasing some kind of floating pink light that was zigging and zagging for all it was worth. Leah didn't hesitate as she stood, gesturing towards the light.
"Here, come here!" The light reoriented and zipped towards her. As it got closer, Leah saw that it wasn't merely a light, but a tiny winged child, face a mask of fear and tears before barely avoiding smacking into Leah's face, and instead zipping behind her hair to hide at the nape of the young woman's neck. The crow, not to be denied, cawed harshly, diving at Leah.
"Stop that! Stop that this instant!" The bird didn't appear inclined to do so, and as it came in for another dive, Leah saw that its eyes were pure pools of red that trailed wisps of black smoke. "Ah! Get away! Get away!" Leah swatted at the not-bird, earning a vicious peck to her hands, before it darted around, clawing at her hair in an attempt to drive the tiny pixie out of hiding.
"Leave her alone!" Leah's voice carried a snap of command as green light flared through her blue eyes, and into her hands. When she went to swat the crow, this time it was accompanied by the sound of crumbling dirt and then a whistling noise as one of the plants she'd been trying to grow, a type of reed from Xiang-Wu called "bamboo" shot out of the ground like a spear, the thin tip of the plant smashing into the breast of the crow so hard that it was actually impaled!
The avian facsimile gave a hauntingly human scream, before it's form seemed to deflate, black smoke streaming from the empty corpse and gathering into a noxious ball of fog. Red eyes lit from within the fog, and focused on Leah. It spoke then, with a harsh rasp while sounding like it came from a long distance.
"Sooooo, a neophyte druid, all the way out here? How very iiiiinteresting. Heheheh. Quite a few will be interested to know about you my dear... though you could perhaps buy my silence. Hand over the child, and your secret shall stay safe."
Leah could feel the tiny fae trembling against her neck. She scowled up at the spirit. "Not a chance." There was a tiny gasp from near her ear, and the smoky shadow chuckled ominously.
"Ohhhh, so unwise..."
"Incarcem Spiritus Noxum!"
The spirit shrieked as it was caged within a cube of light, which contracted down swiftly, turning into a solid cube of what appeared to be marble, roughly an inch on a side. It drifted through the air, into the outstretched palm of her mentor and friend. From within the hood he still wore, she saw a glint of glasses and concern behind them, only Cade and herself allowed to see past the illusion that masked him and the rest of her dear friends.
"I think that this fellow is going to be taking some time to think over his choices." An approving smile then. "Well done by the way." He gestured at the bamboo with the empty crow skin still atop it like a macabre flag. "You figured out what the problem was?" Leah recognized it for the redirection from the spirit's threat that it was, but took it nonetheless.
"I think so, yes. It's not enough to just concentrate, there has to be purpose behind it. Nothing in nature happens for no reason. Even the unexpected and chaotic are folded into the cycle of renewal. Every fallen stone is ground to sand and soil, every fallen tree feeds the forest."
"You're really smart." Leah shook herself out of her introspection as the little fae that had been hiding under her hair shyly moved into view. "An pretty too." Getting a good look at the tiny little fae now, Leah could honestly say that she was absolutely adorable.
"Well hello there little one," her mentor leaned forward, a soft smile barely visible in the shadows of his hood. "And who might you be?" The little fae clasped her hands together, swinging them back and forth like any other child would.
"Um, not 'sposed to tell my True Name. But I like Hollyhock flowers... So you c'n call me that! Oh, or jus' Holly!" She finished with a large smile and a nod on her face.
Leah smiled at the young fae.
"Well then Holly, while I can't use my own True Name either, you can call me Leah." The young woman couldn't help the smile as the fae hugged her neck, thanking Leah for saving her from the spirit that had been hunting Hollyhock. Leah smiled gently, even as she felt a surge of protectiveness. So small, and fragile, but still sweet and good. Something in this world well worth protecting.
Gained Leah as a Hero Unit!
Martial: 15 - Leah is surprisingly adept with a sword, shield and bow, The only things holding her back from being even better with them is her current lack of reach and height against most opponents, as well as not having an apparent style specifically suited for her.
Stewardship: 16- Leah has excellent organizational skills and a good eye for delegation as well. All she lacks at the moment is experience.
Diplomacy: 19 - Leah is well versed in several languages, has a thorough grasp of etiquette, and can easily distinguish which fork to use during which course of a meal.
Intrigue: 13 - Leah has some basic cunning and ability to pull tricks, but she's not capable of pulling off grand deceptions on her own.
Learning: 14 - Leah is more than capable of learning, but she finds it dull unless the teacher is able to find some way to capture her interest.
Occult: 21 - With the studying that she's undertaken with her master, and now the acquaintance of the Fairy known as "Holly" (short for Hollyhock apparently), she's beginning to really learn the power that has lain dormant in her blood; and tap into its potential.
Hidden Depths - Leah's background is as mysterious as that of the Mage. There may be more to find out there...
Fae-Friend - Leah's experiments with magic led to her being found by a displaced faerie called Hollyhock. The very young fae has latched onto Leah as a protector and safe haven in the maddened world she finds herself adrift in. Leah gains a +10 Diplomacy bonus when interacting with Fae creatures, and Fae creatures will not automatically attack her unless ordered by a superior.
Blood of the Earth - Leah's bloodline apparently contained latent potential for what is known in her homeland as "druidic magic", though many here would say shamanism and call it a day. She gains a +10 to occult in dealing with magical plants and animals, as well as having extra options to circumvent obstacles presented by plants, animals or the earth. If performing a Learning action involving plants or animals, add half that boost to her Learning.
Red in Tooth and Claw - If Leah is placed in a high stress situation, a composure check of 1d100+Martial with a DC of 35 will be rolled. On a failure her magic lashes out outside her control to try and end the threat, or remove her from the area.
- [][Occult]Call of the Wild
Apparently Leah's power is something known as Druidism, an innate connection to the land, especially plants and animals. Have the mage focus on training her to utilize this power in a more controlled fashion. Makes progress towards Leah being an independent Hero unit.
DC: 55
Cost: 500 Gold
Rolled: 98 + 30 (Mage) + 12 (Aladdin) + 5 (XP) = (145 CRIT) + 84 = 229
Apparently Leah's power is something known as Druidism, an innate connection to the land, especially plants and animals. Have the mage focus on training her to utilize this power in a more controlled fashion. Makes progress towards Leah being an independent Hero unit.
DC: 55
Cost: 500 Gold
Rolled: 98 + 30 (Mage) + 12 (Aladdin) + 5 (XP) = (145 CRIT) + 84 = 229
Aladdin examined the bottles and vials in the room curiously, even as the Mage puttered around. Aladdin was still recovering from the brutally swift campaign that he and his troops had embarked on, and while Dastan saw to getting Tai Lung settled, he had elected to try and visit the Mage. The strange man had been in his employ for a year now, and to his shame Aladdin didn't even know his name.
"So what do all of these do?" It had been a bit of a surprise to find that the Mage had been studying Arabic alongside Cade, but he was now capable of communicating on his own, though his accent was still rather thick. It was nice to be able to converse with him now, but Aladdin couldn't help but feel guilty about how he was forcing the other people to change to suit him. Once again he reminded himself of the importance of learning the language that so many of the people that he'd brought into the kingdom called their native tongue.
"Alambics and flasks. As well as crucibles and coils. I was lucky to find a glass-blower in the city that was able to make some of my requests." Aladdin very carefully withdrew his fingers, best not to tempt fate and accidentally break something that was needed. "Between them and the assistance of Master Chiron, I have everything I need for the brewing and distillation of potions and other concoctions." He sounded quite pleased with himself.
"That's really great to hear, that invisibility potion alone was something else." That got a chuckle out of the man.
"I was honestly a little surprised it worked. Some of my attempts have, er, occasionally backfired. Or, er, been a bit too specialized." At Aladdin's curious look, the mage laughed awkwardly. "One of my first attempts was a hair-color changing potion. It worked... but it only changed the color of a single hair on the body." Aladdin chuckled along with the mage.
"So do you have any ideas on what you're going to try to brew first?" The mage pondered that, scratching his chin and giving the faint sound of bristles. He either had a very short beard or a shadow of one it seemed. Finally, the mage gave a shrug.
"It all depends on what we have need of. I'm honestly dealing with a few of these reagents and ingredients for the first time in person. Others..." he gaze seemed to be drawn to the shelf where the jars of dragon parts were stored. "Others I'd never though I'd ever have cause to use. But the least I can do is honor the life of the dragon, even if it was evil, but trying to find something properly useful for its remains will give his death some meaning." Aladdin looked a bit shocked at that, raising one brow.
"You're sad he died?" The mage looked up to the taller youth. His head cocked to the side quizzically.
"You're not? Prince; dragons are incredibly rare creatures, potent forces of magic, and often thinking beings in their own right. I mourn their death just as I do any other person; if for no other reason than the lost potential that was cut short." The mage gave a sorrowful sigh as he clasped his hands in the sleeves of his robe.
"I guess I never thought about it like that," Aladdin admitted. From that perspective, it really was a tragedy that the Dreaded One had died, instead of being driven off, or even talked down. For a brief moment, he pictured the dragon as it had been described, agreeing to reparations and coming to Ababwa. Frosting would have had kittens, he was sure.
Aladdin gathered his thoughts up as he looked at the man that had worked for him for the better part of a yeah. "I actually have a few questions. About things besides alchemy. Which is why I came down here." The mage settled in a chair, making a 'go on' gesture. "Well, It's just that you've been here for almost a year now, and I recently realized that... I don't even know your name. And you've been an incredible help, not just with Leah, or the Greenhouses, but no matter what I've asked you to assist with, you've helped out with no complaints."
"Oh. Oh my. It completely slipped my own mind." The mage reached into his hood, producing a pair of spectacles and polishing them with his sleeve for several moments before putting them back. "You're a very good man, Aladdin. And you've respected mine and my friends' wish for privacy. I respect that very much. There are some things that I can't tell you, or aren't my secrets... but at the very least I can tell you my name. I'm known as Zummi."
Relationship with the Mage increased heavily, Learned the Mage's name is Zummi.
- [][Personal] Getting to Know You (Better)
While Aladdin is generally familiar with his advisors now, talking to them a bit more could uncover new sides to them, or new insights into how they see the world.
-- [] Mage
DC: Variable
Cost: 0 Gold
Rolled: 62 + 15 (XP) = 77
While Aladdin is generally familiar with his advisors now, talking to them a bit more could uncover new sides to them, or new insights into how they see the world.
-- [] Mage
DC: Variable
Cost: 0 Gold
Rolled: 62 + 15 (XP) = 77
"I gotta tell ya kid, this place has Agrabah beat hands down. Plenty of sunshine but it ain't too hot. A great view, and all kinds of stuff to snack on..." The parrot paused his running commentary to toss back a few grapes from the bunch Aladdin had bought for the two of them as they went through the city, letting out a sigh of satisfaction. "And best of all, I don't have to pretend to be some dumb bird repeatin' everything else being said around me." Aladdin heard the deep well of bitterness in that last statement, and decided to capitalize on it.
"Why did you have to pretend to be dumb? I mean, you're pretty much as smart as a human. Why didn't you try to con whoever captured you into letting you go? Or try to get bought by the palace. Jasmine would have probably loved to have someone to complain to that actually got the whole 'caged bird' thing." The parrot gave a bitter laugh.
"C'mon kid, you know as well as I do that the second I'd opened my beak and actually started talkin' instead of just repeating stuff; I'd have been whisked away to be some trade baron's personal trophy pet. An' then after Jafar bought me... Well I don't recall exactly where I came from before kid, but I knew I was a long, long way from home. I'd been passed from smuggler to smuggler, been through crime dens you wouldn't even believe... and I'd gotten used to that sort of thing. To thinking like the people I saw constantly. Scheming how to get my big break, how to make the most of a situation for myself. Honestly that's why I ended up stayin' with Jafar. He had just started at the Palace as the Vizier, and he had the same sort of mindset. I was giving it some time before I tried to make a break for it, and listening to him talk to himself while he was plannin' clued me in on how he looked at the world. So I took a gamble." Iago gave a gusty sigh and shook his head.
"Seemed like it had paid off initially. Jafar was pretty much runnin' the city, the Sultan was preoccupied with his toys. The only real fly in the ointment was the Princess. She really hated Jafar. Thought he was bossin' around her dad. Which, yeah is kind of what he was doin' with the hypnosis so the Sultan would leave things in his hands and focus on less pressing matters." The parrot ruffled his feathers before preening them back into place. "But she was pretty much determined to drive me an' him outta town at the least. Or worse," one wing came up to rub at his throat with a grimace, as if imagining a headsman's axe. Aladdin grimaced as well.
"You know Jasmine wouldn't have done that. Banishment, probably, but she wasn't the type to just casually have someone killed." Aladdin defended his... intended? Yes, intended worked, to the parrot. Iago rolled his eyes.
"Sure thing kid. Look, either way things shook out the way they did. I'm here, you're here, Jafar is hopefully far far away from here, let's just enjoy life." His eyes glinted as he spotted a vendor nearby. "Speaking of enjoying life, check it out kid, candied orange slices!" Aladdin let the very obvious change of subject go, he'd already gotten more out of the parrot than he expected.
Iago's loyalty increased slightly.
Iago is now familiar with Ababwa and suffers no chance of becoming lost in the city on his own.
- [][Personal] Get to know a Hero better
This may give you greater insights into their past, provide clues in how to help them with their personal goals, and increase their personal loyalty to Aladdin.
--[] Iago
DC: Variable
Rolled: 67 + 13 (XP) = 80
- [][Iago Personal] Wallowing in the Lap of Luxury
Iago's used to the Palace of Agrabah, he lived there for years after all. But Ababwa is an entirely new experience. He's intent on making sure he knows every nook and cranny of the place as well as he knew his old haunts. Familiarizes Iago with Ababwa.
Learning DC: 45
Rolled: 71 + 16 (Iago) = 87
This may give you greater insights into their past, provide clues in how to help them with their personal goals, and increase their personal loyalty to Aladdin.
--[] Iago
DC: Variable
Rolled: 67 + 13 (XP) = 80
- [][Iago Personal] Wallowing in the Lap of Luxury
Iago's used to the Palace of Agrabah, he lived there for years after all. But Ababwa is an entirely new experience. He's intent on making sure he knows every nook and cranny of the place as well as he knew his old haunts. Familiarizes Iago with Ababwa.
Learning DC: 45
Rolled: 71 + 16 (Iago) = 87
Will's trip to the west, to the coastal Satraps bordering the Caspian sea had been much shorter than he had envisioned, thanks to the assistance of Carpet. The Satraps he'd focused on were the ones that touched on the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf; not only searching for out of place salt lakes like the one he'd appeared in, but for any hint of other crewmen from the Black Pearl. For Elizabeth, hells he'd even take Norrington at this point!
His expedition had borne some small fruit though. He'd heard of a gangly man with a wooden eye, and a bald rotund man that had headed to the west; Pintel and Ragetti, there was no mistaking their descriptions or antics. But they'd passed through months ago; the trail was long cold. He also heard more of what that bastard Jones had been up to. Creating an entirely new Brethren Court after the old one haid failed him; claiming the title of Pirate King. And between the Dutchman and his Kraken, who would be willing to gainsay him?
What he'd heard of this "Sinbad" though put him in mind of Jack, albeit one who drank a bit less and talked a bit more (and what a terrifying thought that was). As well as rumors of a pirate whose ship sailed under the water, but was not Jones. Most people seemed to think it was hearsay and tall tales, but... Will looked down at the animated carpet that he was seated upon. Honestly at this point anything was possible.
Will has gained intelligence on the two nearest Pirate Lords.
Will has gained information on the whereabouts of Pintel and Ragetti.
Will's loyalty has increased.
Carpet was happy to make a friend.
- [][Will Personal] Missing the Sea
Will's melancholy is getting to many of the advisors. Perhaps a trip to the shore would be just the thing to help perk him up? May provide Will with insight or information he can't get out of a book.
--[X] Loan Carpet and suggest heading West to find out what's been going on with the seas. Couldn't hurt for Will to have some added mobility. (And the fact Carpet is needed for the Adventure, so him getting a good grasp/rapport going would be useful ahead of time.)
Intrigue DC: 65 - 5 (Carpet travel) = DC 60
Rolled: 43 + 13 (William) +8 (XP) = 64
Will's melancholy is getting to many of the advisors. Perhaps a trip to the shore would be just the thing to help perk him up? May provide Will with insight or information he can't get out of a book.
--[X] Loan Carpet and suggest heading West to find out what's been going on with the seas. Couldn't hurt for Will to have some added mobility. (And the fact Carpet is needed for the Adventure, so him getting a good grasp/rapport going would be useful ahead of time.)
Intrigue DC: 65 - 5 (Carpet travel) = DC 60
Rolled: 43 + 13 (William) +8 (XP) = 64
Turn Start City Funds: 20,000
City income This turn: 14,000
- 8,000 Medicines, plants, rare animals, pelts and dyes
- 500 Increased trade from housing expansion
- 500 Increased Tax Revenue
- 1500 Trade with Xiang-Wu
- 500 Taxes from integration of Mongols.
- 3000 Salt harvesting
- Current Upkeep costs: 3000 Greenhouse, 1,000 Salt Harvesting
- 4,000 Upkeep total
- Actual Income: 10,000
Turn End City Coffers: 18,000
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
Excellent gains. Tai lung was a great get, and Jose is interesting. Honestly, i'm curious what would happen if we had jose take tai as an apprentice in swordsmanship. Tai lung might be interested in learning a weapon focused martial art.
ConfusedCanuck
Where did it all go wrong?
- Location
- Neverland
Well now this turn was eventful several new hero units for us and our "dad" made contact with our spy master. Though him getting to our spy master in the first place tells me we still have to improve said spy-ring's. Which I will recommend we do that or continue to expand it to other parts of the world.
And I wonder now if it's possible for our magisters or wizards to create a wizard school of some sort down the line when the current two are fully trained and have some experience as well. It'd be useful to have a school of them for magic support on the battlefield and off of it.
And I wonder now if it's possible for our magisters or wizards to create a wizard school of some sort down the line when the current two are fully trained and have some experience as well. It'd be useful to have a school of them for magic support on the battlefield and off of it.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
Looking at it, both tai lung AND José can provide buffs to hero units. If we use this right by having tai unlock our and our units chi we will have a massive force multiplier.
Maybe José can use his chi being unlocked to regain some of his youth, as chi is often used to keep old masters in fighting strength
Will and Tai will be excellent sparing partners.
We have a lot of stuff to work with here
Maybe José can use his chi being unlocked to regain some of his youth, as chi is often used to keep old masters in fighting strength
Will and Tai will be excellent sparing partners.
We have a lot of stuff to work with here
Lifeandlice
Practitioning side-character
- Location
- Usa
Not gonna lie. I read this and audibly gasped and said 'oh shit!'.
Bloody amazing turn, 10/10
PHHHTTTTTTTT!!! TAI FUCKING LUNG!? We got HIM!? YEESSSIRR!!
And the King of Thieves also appear. Hello Dad!!
Seriously though. These results are GREAT! Expected nothing less from multi crits.
And the King of Thieves also appear. Hello Dad!!
Seriously though. These results are GREAT! Expected nothing less from multi crits.
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