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Shadows of the Past

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[X] Go to the Wise Mens Place
-[X] Ask if they would appreciate it if we help with the problems the workers are having
 
[X] Do something entirely different.
-[X]Go to Xoxo and try to help with the spirit problem
 
[X] Go to the Wise Mens Place
-[X] Ask if they would appreciate it if we help with the problems the workers are having
 
[X] Do something entirely different.
-[X]Go to Xoxo and try to help with the spirit problem
 
[X] Go to the Wise Mens Place
-[X] Ask if they would appreciate it if we help with the problems the workers are having
 
[X] Go to the Wise Mens Place
-[X] Askif they would appreciate it if we help with the problems the workers are having
 
Vote closed. To the Wise Men it is.

And the dice decreed that it will be a memorable event.
Adhoc vote count started by Azel on Jan 11, 2018 at 3:05 PM, finished with 659 posts and 14 votes.
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Chapter 5: Unexpected
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Go to the Wise Mens Place
    -[X] Ask if they would appreciate it if we help with the problems the workers are having

    1.6.17.10.7.16 - 16th day of Water​

    As the kind herb trader advised you, you rise very early today. Some faint light shines near the horizon as you get up, and by the time the sun peeks over the horizon you are already at the marketplace. The hustle and bustle from yesterday is completely absent as you walk past empty stalls, and the city reminds you far more of the ruins in their stillness than when you came here. A few early risers are out already and prepare themselves for another day of the organized madness you've seen yesterday, but you pay them no mind and head on to the entrance to the thicket. Not a soul seems to be there as you step into the shadowed path, and for a moment you hope that you are actually the first. This dream quickly fades as you step back out into a clearing.

    A few pillars of stone mark a rough oval stretching from you towards the Wise Men's palace before more of the overgrown plants block you view further. A path leads from the opposite side to one of the stairs you've seen, and to the left and right of the oval two other paths lead further, probably to the other gates. At the far side of this clearing, you spot a small dais with a stone bench on top of it. What mostly demands your attention, and makes you slightly dread what is to come, are all the people. Small knots of men and woman dot the view. Some are wearing what you grudgingly declared 'tribal garb' in the privacy of your mind, while others wear the capes and skirts more common in the city. Most are rather threadbare and simple, but a few can be obviously identified as fine cotton and are dyed in many vibrant colors. Traders, probably, or they wouldn't be able to afford those fancy clothes.

    Of the orderly line you've heard about, you see nothing and so you decide to just go to the middle of the place and hope to get a good spot. It would yet be a while before the Wise Men came to offer their wisdom to those present and probably a good while longer even for you to get your turn.


    Who is on duty today?
    4 / 100

    It's that guy.

    The place had filled up even more while you waited, and the din of talking people begun to fill the air. You on the other hand had sat down in the middle of the place and decided to glare at that stone bench to pass the time since there was little else to do and you certainly didn't want to be distracted in the moment when everyone started to shove their way to the front. As such you are the first to spot the small procession coming down the path behind said bench.

    Two guards walk in front. Broad-shouldered men like you are used to, but there end the similarities to any caravan guard you've seen. They wear not just one piece of metal, but are covered by it. Armor wrought from gleaming, golden metal cover their chests and strapped to their arms and legs are further plates of the material. On their left sides they carry richly embroidered leather sheaths which hide long blades of more bronze if the grip and pommel is anything to go by. In their right hands they carry finely-wrought spears from dark wood, tipped in more metal. You've heard the prices for gear that couldn't even compare to the craftsmanship of this and your mind boggles at what a fortune these two men are casually wearing.

    The tall figure between them looks plain in comparison, especially with the muted colors, and yet it's obvious that it's fine made fabrics garbing this person. He wears a night black cloak under which you can glimpse light grey robe covering him from head to toe. The cowl is raised and instead of a face, only a white mask can be seen beneath it. Two small slits are where the eyes should be and another near the mouth, but otherwise it has no features at all. Almost forlornly, a group of people in much plainer grey robes and cowls walk behind. They too wear masks, but they are clearly just wood painted in more of a light gray than white.

    While you take in the view, you loose your advantageous spot almost. A good dozen men and woman form a line before you and you hastily jump at the end of it before others claim your place. As you look again at the dais, the figure in the robes has already seated himself on the bench and is now flanked by the warriors. The others stand back a bit further and seem to wait for the proceedings to begin. On an unseen signal, the first man in the line steps forwards to the dais and bows deeply before the seated person before they seem to lapse into talk. The others keep a respectful distance as this happens and patiently await their turn. One by one those in front of you step forward and have their questions answered. Some seem happy, others despondent as they return. One of them is sent back to the waiting people and you curiously watch as he takes off his cloak and has a deep wound in his arm tended to.

    It feels like eternity until it's your turn, especially while you are the first in the line. Then the woman who came before you is going away and you slowly step forwards. You are quite gladly to not have been the first one to go, since the old lady yesterday forgot to mention that you had to bow. As you rise again, the man on the bench speaks to you. His voice is strangely warped by his mask and has a deep and slightly creepy timber.

    "What do you wish to know from the Wise Men?" The words are spoken with the certainty and slight weariness that only rote repetition can produce. How often he will have to speak these words again today? However, that's not what you are hear to ask.

    "I wish to know how I might earn the right to learn from you." You incline your head a bit with that to imply another bow.

    "Many say that and yet so very few prove worthy of the effort it takes to test them. Why should we spend our time on you?"

    It's a bit hard to tell with his distorted voice, but it kind of doesn't sound like he even expects an answer to that question. However, you did think about this and you won't be rebuffed that easily. "Would it please you if I make myself useful to your city? I could travel to Xoxo to look for the spirits, my--"

    He sounds pretty resigned as he cuts you off and somehow wields said resignation like a fine blade against you. "Oh dear. A tribal chasing spirits for us. You are not even the first one today who offers to hunt figments and tall tales to curry favor with us."

    The dismissal rankles you a bit, but your didn't train for years to be ready for the journey here to give up now. "Maybe. But I can--"

    Again you are interrupted, but this time he isn't even making an attempt to hide his derision. "Track them by their scent? Make them obey your commands? Kill them with your bare hands? Please don't bother with those three, since I hear them often enough to be quite sick of it. Unless you have a new one for me? Or something else you deem impressive enough to waste my time with?"

    You can't really tell with that mask if he noticed how your features slipped for a moment. Maybe he would actually be impressed if you could get rid of the spirits in Xoxo, but convincing him that you where more then a braggart without tangible proof seems pretty impossible. A different track then. "My master taught me about herb--"

    You obviously can't see him roll his eyes, but you can feel it radiating off him with every fiber of your being. "So another little jungle shaman that thinks he can cure the ails of the world? There are five well trained healers standing behind me and I doubt any of your hackneyed concoctions will compare to their work. But maybe you have a good recipe for meat seasoning at least?"

    Would the guards object if you call him an asshole? It was quite tempting to find out. "I--"

    "Have wasted quite enough of my time. Yes. Indeed. You will get the riddle for the trials and then go and make room for the next person. I doubt that the next question will be any less pointless then this discussion, but I can at least hope. Listen now, for I will not repeat this and I dearly hope to not see you here tomorrow for clarifications or hints." You bite your tongue to not say something unproductive and wait for him to start his recital.

    "In the beginning, there is balance. The gate may be locked, but might shall open the path to greatness. Yet when you reach the top, the power is intoxicating. Knowledge and control will show you the path to venture forth and not fall into the darkness. The end, though, is always bleak as time unmakes what you have raised. To be steadfast in these dark hours of uncertainty is the only thing that can carry you forth."

    You ponder his words for a moment. Balance, Power, Bleakness... No. Not bleakness, Unmaking. With a start, you realize that it is a reference to the ritual calendar. Your master had taught you that 7 meant power and was a good day for Alchemy, while the 13 was called the number of unmaking and a bad day for it. Then...

    "I'm sure you will need a good long while to figure that out, so I would kindly ask you to do that somewhere else. It is rather undignified if I shout at the next one to come forth just to get rid of you."

    "But I--"

    "Am still here. Please bother the others who conduct the trials if you figure it out and not me."

    Knowing a losing battle when you see one, you trod off. Your expectations about Wise Men where somehow a bit... different...

    What now?
    [] Go to Xoxo. He will have to take you seriously if you can fix their problems.
    [] Go to the artisan district. You came here for two reasons after all and it might cheer you up.
    [] Try to find a group that wishes to hunt bandits. Those are definitely there and he might take you more seriously if you help to get rid of them.
    [] Something entirely diffent:
    -[] Write-In


    AN: That was surprisingly fun to write.

    For the record, offering to go to Xoxo wasn't was caused this. He had plenty of other material. :p
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Try to find a group that wishes to hunt bandits. Those are definitely there and he might take you more seriously if you help to get rid of them.

    We might as well kill something, even if it's not that guy... yet
     
    @Azel, did Yaxkin seriously already figure out the riddle?

    I'm glad this happened. Now IC she gets a rude wakeup call to people being assholes for no reason whatsoever and learns to keep her guard up. And the best part is that this didn't have significant lashback. We can talk to actual recruiters to get in.

    Also, @Azel, look at that. I was completely right to fear discrimination for being dressed as a tribal. Who would've thought? :facepalm:

    EDIT: We're getting those clothes. I'm fighting for this the next opportunity we get.
     
    Duesal said:
    @Azel, did Yaxkin seriously already figure out the riddle?

    I'm glad this happened. Now IC she gets a rude wakeup call to people being assholes for no reason whatsoever and learns to keep her guard up. And the best part is that this didn't have significant lashback. We can talk to actual recruiters to get in.

    Also, @Azel, look at that. I was completely right to fear discrimination for being dressed as a tribal. Who would've thought? :facepalm:

    EDIT: We're getting those clothes. I'm fighting for this the next opportunity we get.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    I noticed too late that I never dropped that bit about Alchemy back in the prologue, so the riddle was unsolvable for you without Yaxkin supplying a strong hint. It's pretty damn difficult for anyone without the right skill-set to get it without aid.

    And no, the tribal clothes weren't a problem either. Or being a woman. Or what you said. Or that you where among the first. Or the day of the year.
    That guy is just an asshole. :p
     
    Azel said:
    I noticed too late that I never dropped that bit about Alchemy back in the prologue, so the riddle was unsolvable for you without Yaxkin supplying a strong hint. It's pretty damn difficult for anyone without the right skill-set to get it without aid.

    And no, the tribal clothes weren't a problem either. Or being a woman. Or what you said. Or that you where among the first. Or the day of the year.
    That guy is just an asshole. :p
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    ... Okay, now I'm with @DragonParadox, this guy will die one way or another.
     
    [X] Go to the artisan district. You came here for two reasons after all and it might cheer you up.
     
    So obviously we can't stab this guy right now, but Yaxkin has been blessed with the long memory of players who keep grudges and have Threadmarks to go back to to remind themselves of said grudges.

    For now though I don't mind the idea of bandit hunting, but we might as well do in town stuff before we head back out into the wilds.
    [X] Go to the artisan district. You came here for two reasons after all and it might cheer you up.
     
    I would have preferred it if Yaxkin, to spite him, had said the answer before walking off.

    Leave the guy with egg on his face, as it were, infront of his underlings.

    [X] Go to the artisan district. You came here for two reasons after all and it might cheer you up.

    I'd like to see if they have any Bronze, Iron or Steel weapons we could use to kill spirits with.
     
    kahn1234 said:
    I would have preferred it if Yaxkin, to spite him, had said the answer before walking off.

    Leave the guy with egg on his face, as it were, infront of his underlings.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    He wouldn't have listened anyway, that much was obvious to Yaxkin.


    Since I've alluded to the good and bad days for Alchemy here, I've added a calendar segment for the remainder of this and the next month to the front page.
     
    So did we solve the riddle till the end, or are there parts we aren't clear on? We basically managed to deduct two numbers from key words, which may imply date or something similar. I'm not sure to what Balance is refers, since it could be anything from something being in a pair, to First/Third Moon Phase. Likewise I'm worried by other keywords in the riddle, like might and uncertainty.
     
    So, I think we need to fill:
    Balance.Might.7.Knowledge/Control/Darkness.13.Steadfastness/Certainty

    Six sentences in the riddle, six numbers in the calendar.
     
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