The Torches Rise (RWBY/CKII, After The End)
- Location
- Nebraska
The Darkest Estate (Canon)
Powerofmind
In Madness Fallen
- Location
- United States
The Darkest Estate
So begins this record, my descent into depravity... and madness. I leave these memoirs and journals now, with my mind free of the tempting fog, in the hopes that my successor learns from my foolishness, and does not repeat my... unmentionable errors.
My tale begins as any other headstrong Carrion Lord, a Knight inheriting my father's estate. I was brash, curious, and used to a life of ease and pleasure. I hosted parties, ruled recklessly, delved into forgotten tomes and caroused with women of ill-repute, a slave to my desires...
Who could know that during this time of plenty, this period of decadence, the whispered words of a mysterious courtier would be my undoing.
~~~~
The attached scraps of paper chill your bones. Uncle had always seemed eccentric, even touched, but now, with his death and the arrival of the seal of title as well as an innocuous letter, written in his hand, you had reason to believe he was perhaps worse than you'd believed.
Still, the trip to his estate would be quick enough. Surely whatever indiscretions your Uncle had committed in his youth were not so bad, his tortured ramblings merely the fears of the old and dying when they reflected on their regrets.
~~~~
Lured by promises of power and knowledge, I sought out forbidden things. Ancient records of the deranged and the power-mad were acquired and added to my study, where I read them with a voracity and hunger unmatched by any Grimm. Treatises on the nature of the soul, the afterlife, and the fundamental components of life itself stole my sleep and reason alike. I brought seekers of the occult and the forgotten into my web.
When I had felt I knew enough, I opted to test my theories, to discern the measure of all things. I committed... heinous acts, in my pursuit of the truth.
~~~~
Your arrival held little fanfare, the estate's largest city - if it even deserved the title - a cesspit of misery and hushed whispers. The mayor had long been ousted in a fit of your Uncle's apparent tyranny, and in his place a mere Majordomo, a caretaker, installed. You would have to rectify that once you officially took your place in the seat of the Knighthood's power, the keep.
You could just make out the imposing structure, some days travel away but built upon a high enough cliff that it's ramparts could be seen over the drooping foliage. You announced your intent, but the hollow faces of your subjects became animated with absolute, primal terror.
~~~~
Capturing Grimm was no challenging task for one of my wit and cunning, and my expanding laboratories had infinite uses for the monstrous beasts. My assistants and handlers thought me mad, but I paid well enough that their silence was all but assured, even as I found new heights of folly to reach for...
~~~~
The road was rife with what you dared call Grimm, your personal retainers fighting valiantly despite the horrific state of the abominations, masses of shadowed flesh that seemed almost tormented, despite their soullessness, their unfeeling drive to hunt humanity. Their otherwise black furs and hides were coated with greenish pustules and weeping sores, their shapes contorted into terrible amalgams. Before one dissolved, one of your retainers, Dismas, shrieked, swearing up and down that the bones within were nearly... human.
Barristan calmed him after the fighting, but your men are on edge, and so are you. Some were well-versed in the slaying of Grimm, but with much trepidation and suspicion they admitted these particular beasts were unknown to them.
It is no matter. You will square your shoulders and set your jaw. Even if the keep is abandoned, you will claim your family's birthright.
- Location
- Nebraska
Burn the place to the ground, salt the earth, and get a priest to exorcise any spirits.
Raiu
Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Location
- United States
It spreads. Poor Patch. Poor, poor, Patch.
I'll send you a list of Omake Rewards once I get off the plane.
Raiu
Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Location
- United States
I really should have changed that to when I found a stale internet connection. But, I got to see Hamilton, which was a lot of fun. The main leitmotif of the play is actually a really good fit for a CK2 game.
So, now I'm giving you all a New York post. Lets go down the list.
"Ah, explosions, mostly. Nearly lost an eye ball when I was a kid, messing around with Burn Dust. Word of wisdom to you, Double Boss," Muriel leaned in closer, "Always underload, unless you want a larger blast than you thought. Keeps you from losing fingers."
The four members of the team all looked at Alex for an answer, getting gibbers in response. This continued for a moment before Balthazar poked him, causing the insider to flail about. "Ah! A thousand apologies, oh Noble Lady And Regent Ravenswood. Please pardon this poor, foolish phesant for disrespecting you out of ignorance." He bowed constantly, leaving you a pretty good picture of the nobility of Ma Aquaan.
Eventually he managed to calm down enough to answer. "I beg mercy-" "Stop kissing my ass, Alex." You cut in. "This isn't Dab, so just answer the question."
"Very well then. There is no secret tunnel, nor is there a back entrance. The only ways to get into the hospital would be to either climb the walls or go through the gate, both of which are dangerous in different ways. The holding is in the center of a plain, more of a shrub plain really, so cover is... rare, but possible to find. If the tribesmen had any sense, they would have destroyed their siege ladders when the first Grimm pack showed up, but we could get lucky.
Oh, this could be important. Unlike your lands, no rivers run through Dab, so all travel will need to be overland, at least once we get there."
Balthazar spoke up then. "Ship to nearby port. Two horses after. Each. Will take seven days, one way."
Dieter spoke up. "Well, none when we weren't the one doing the siegeing. It will be a good challenge."
Balthazar coughed.
So, now I'm giving you all a New York post. Lets go down the list.
"Ah, explosions, mostly. Nearly lost an eye ball when I was a kid, messing around with Burn Dust. Word of wisdom to you, Double Boss," Muriel leaned in closer, "Always underload, unless you want a larger blast than you thought. Keeps you from losing fingers."
The four members of the team all looked at Alex for an answer, getting gibbers in response. This continued for a moment before Balthazar poked him, causing the insider to flail about. "Ah! A thousand apologies, oh Noble Lady And Regent Ravenswood. Please pardon this poor, foolish phesant for disrespecting you out of ignorance." He bowed constantly, leaving you a pretty good picture of the nobility of Ma Aquaan.
Eventually he managed to calm down enough to answer. "I beg mercy-" "Stop kissing my ass, Alex." You cut in. "This isn't Dab, so just answer the question."
"Very well then. There is no secret tunnel, nor is there a back entrance. The only ways to get into the hospital would be to either climb the walls or go through the gate, both of which are dangerous in different ways. The holding is in the center of a plain, more of a shrub plain really, so cover is... rare, but possible to find. If the tribesmen had any sense, they would have destroyed their siege ladders when the first Grimm pack showed up, but we could get lucky.
Oh, this could be important. Unlike your lands, no rivers run through Dab, so all travel will need to be overland, at least once we get there."
Balthazar spoke up then. "Ship to nearby port. Two horses after. Each. Will take seven days, one way."
Dieter spoke up. "Well, none when we weren't the one doing the siegeing. It will be a good challenge."
Balthazar coughed.
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Raiu
Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Location
- United States
@Powerofmind Now for your rewards. I think I'll make most of them public from now on.
The Rewards are one of the following:
- A bonus to a related action.
- A Question Answered
- An Omake where you suggest the topic.
- A chatacter sheet.
King Alrich Asad
Dr. Merlot
Knight Cilmi of Donna
Dr. Merlot
Knight Cilmi of Donna
Powerofmind
In Madness Fallen
- Location
- United States
Hmm, the dice are most boring and fickle things. I suppose I'll take whichever character sheet you find most pleasing to reveal.
Raiu
Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Location
- United States
Welcome to an entirely different scale. By the way, on this scale, Cilmi would get a B in Intelligence, while Skye would be a B+ in Military Acumen.
Dr. MERLOT, Psycological Assessment
Business Acumen: B
Fellowship: C
Inteligence: S+
Military Acumen: C
Piety: F
Secrecy: A
Traits: Twisted Genius, Doctorate of Biology and Medicine from the University of Vale, Businessman, Grimm Studies, Before Times Native, Augmented, Experimental Fetish, No Price Too Large, The Experiments Must Go On.
Business Acumen: B
Fellowship: C
Inteligence: S+
Military Acumen: C
Piety: F
Secrecy: A
Traits: Twisted Genius, Doctorate of Biology and Medicine from the University of Vale, Businessman, Grimm Studies, Before Times Native, Augmented, Experimental Fetish, No Price Too Large, The Experiments Must Go On.
Doctor Merlot was an unsung genius of his timr, with intellect far surpassing even the greatest scholar of this degenerate age. Though his field of study is truly esoteric, finding his research notes would reveal the research methods of the Before Times, a boon that would accelerate our rise. All else is secondary.
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- Location
- Nebraska
Merlot's augmented trait makes me suspect that he may still be kicking as a cyborg.
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Raiu
Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Location
- United States
No matter how augmented, even if they were just a brain in a jar, a
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- Location
- Nebraska
Well in that case it dependa how long he was alive for because if he survived the fall who knows what experiments he got up to with no one to stop him with the collapse of society it probably would have been a glorious time for him.
On that note what would be the longevity of the brain in the jar option? 500 years? 200 years?
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Raiu
Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Location
- United States
If you wanted active, about 200. If you wanted longevity... Well, there are still brains floating in Formaldehyde.
- Location
- Nebraska
Okay that's something to look into later.
Now for the important question The lab that Merlot had nearby how big is it?
because if it's were he kept a lot of his experiments I don't want to touch the place or let anyone into it. Nothing ruins everyone's day like a mutated Grimm horde that by now have to be very old and very mad. On the other hand I really want to know what happened to him and his research so I don't know what to do.
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Raiu
Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Location
- United States
For all it matters, it could be the size of a closet or the size of the shattered moon. Skye has more immediate concerns, mostly in planning how to get doctors out.
Let me help out this vote.
[] Write-In Plan (The more specific, the better.)
[] Go Loud.
[] Go Quiet.
- Location
- United States of America
[X] Go Quiet
[X] Go Quiet.
If we wanted to Go Loud we would have an army (or maybe some of our Huntsmen) available to act as a distraction for the team while they sneak inside.
Raiu have we made arrangements for a specific doctor to be available to be extracted by our team? Or are they going to figure out who to grab once they get inside? Because if we've already been corresponding with a doctor inside the hospital and he's ready to bail as soon as the team makes contact with him, that will be a lot less trouble for the team.
If we wanted to Go Loud we would have an army (or maybe some of our Huntsmen) available to act as a distraction for the team while they sneak inside.
Raiu have we made arrangements for a specific doctor to be available to be extracted by our team? Or are they going to figure out who to grab once they get inside? Because if we've already been corresponding with a doctor inside the hospital and he's ready to bail as soon as the team makes contact with him, that will be a lot less trouble for the team.
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Cmd. Frost
The last one standing.
- Location
- The Summer Stretch
Running The Grimm, The First Wall, Talk of the Town, The Last Wall, Dab Royale, and The Escape.
So, in order: An over land blockade run. A climb or a bomb. A really fucking good distraction. Another climb or a Bomb. *Insert Bond Theme song here* and another distraction followed by running like hell's at our heels because lets be honest here, it will be.
Where I'm from we call that a damn good Friday night, as long as you replace Bombs with fire works, or with and, and hell with the fuzz.
[X] Plan I've run out of heist movie references.
Phase1- Assemble the levies and our retinue, send messages to Dab that we will attempt to lift the siege if we can make use of the doctor's skills afterwards. Fast march our forces to Dab, make lots of dust bombs. If whoever's running Dab agree's to our terms move to Phase2A, if they refuse move to Phase2B,
2A- Have our forces engage the Grimm around the Hospital, draw the attention of as many as we can then tactically retreat, have the area we retreat across mined with dust bombs. The crew slips past the Grimm while they're chasing the main force to go commit decapitating strikes on the Tribals move to 3A
2B- same as 2A, exept the Crew heads for the walls, with climbing gear. 3B
3A- Our army continues tactically retreating across the bomb laden lands until they fell confident enough for a counter charge on the Grimm, the crew goes saba-touring through the tribal camps, bombs, fires, they will raise hell until forced to withdraw or the tribals retreat. Victory
3B- Our army continues tactically retreating across the bomb laden lands until they feel confident enough for a counter charge on the Grimm, once the crew is inside the wall go quiet.
The crew should attempt to grab as many personnel as possible but Doctor Nail Of Galcain is to be the main target.
So, in order: An over land blockade run. A climb or a bomb. A really fucking good distraction. Another climb or a Bomb. *Insert Bond Theme song here* and another distraction followed by running like hell's at our heels because lets be honest here, it will be.
Where I'm from we call that a damn good Friday night, as long as you replace Bombs with fire works, or with and, and hell with the fuzz.
[X] Plan I've run out of heist movie references.
Phase1- Assemble the levies and our retinue, send messages to Dab that we will attempt to lift the siege if we can make use of the doctor's skills afterwards. Fast march our forces to Dab, make lots of dust bombs. If whoever's running Dab agree's to our terms move to Phase2A, if they refuse move to Phase2B,
2A- Have our forces engage the Grimm around the Hospital, draw the attention of as many as we can then tactically retreat, have the area we retreat across mined with dust bombs. The crew slips past the Grimm while they're chasing the main force to go commit decapitating strikes on the Tribals move to 3A
2B- same as 2A, exept the Crew heads for the walls, with climbing gear. 3B
3A- Our army continues tactically retreating across the bomb laden lands until they fell confident enough for a counter charge on the Grimm, the crew goes saba-touring through the tribal camps, bombs, fires, they will raise hell until forced to withdraw or the tribals retreat. Victory
3B- Our army continues tactically retreating across the bomb laden lands until they feel confident enough for a counter charge on the Grimm, once the crew is inside the wall go quiet.
The crew should attempt to grab as many personnel as possible but Doctor Nail Of Galcain is to be the main target.
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Raiu
Per Aspera Ad Astra
- Location
- United States
Alex: "Ah, no. Correspondence is rather difficult in these times, but we know of doctors who would be open to such arrangements. Of those doctors, we have confirmed that Doctor Nail Of Galcain is present, and he had long feuded with the ruling lord over his... Honestly, his theories are heretical. He believes the plague is not spread by the miasma of Grimm, but by invisible creatures. Truthfully, Lady Skye, it may be better for us to kidnap a few of the lesser, more orthodox doctors. That way we won't waste leaches."
Target Revealed: Dr. Nail or lesser, orthodox doctors.
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Cmd. Frost
The last one standing.
- Location
- The Summer Stretch
...waste leaches?! Just how fucking far did the world fall anyway, when you said it was CK2 I thought you were just using that because more people knew of it over EU, I didn't know you were taking it that far.
Anyway we should get some pets, a cat and a dog to be exact.
Anyway we should get some pets, a cat and a dog to be exact.
Powerofmind
In Madness Fallen
- Location
- United States
At the bottom, things are no better than medieval Europe. But for the especially rich and the dedicated, it's possible to get your hands on advanced weapons, power generators good enough to fuel a town, and even proper medicine. They lack the proper infrastructure to make regular use of these things, however, unless an actual King-tier ruler decides it's a very important project.