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Twisted Branches: A Time-branching Stormtouched Quest (Twisted Cogs, canon)

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Hi! I've been enjoying Twisted Cogs and this looks pretty fun as well.

[ ] Whip the tomahawk around at leg-level. Easier to dodge, but non-lethal.
[0.5] Whip the tomahawk around at stomach-level. If it hits, he'll probably die from the wound, but not for some time.
[ ] Whip the tomahawk around at head-level. Unexpected and, if it hits, instantly lethal.
[ ] Try to rest up for the next day's journey
[0.25] Try to stay awake for as long as you can. Something about the night makes you uneasy, and you want to be on your guard
[1] Go see if Arkekeetah is awake, and talk to him
[ ] Go see if Minya is awake, and talk to him
[ ] Go see if Phoebe is awake, and talk to her
[ ] Go see if Nashoba is awake, and talk to her
 
The question is, do we really want to stay up late out of a nebulous fear, and keep someone else awake too, and have two people tired and too drained to function properly when dawn breaks and we start moving again?
 
Yes we do, if the fear turns out to be grounded in something. The alternative is being beset by whatever is causing it while we are asleep and unprepared.

It is a lot like a 'do we really need to stand watch over a camp? the ones on sentry duty might get tired!' line of argument.

If you suspect something isn't right, talk to people and set up a schedule where one person stays awake for a few hours.
 
I mean, that's fair, I just want to point out that 'stay up' is not a cost-less option, and could hamper whatever actions Nahiosi wants to take tomorrow.
 
This looks like a fun idea for a quest. Especially because if there's ever a serious voting disagreement in one of the timelines, it's quite likely the alternative timeline will dissolvdissolve. For instance, right now someone could vote in such a way as to collapse one of the timeliness (by voting for 2 attack options or 2 talking options). Also reminded me of a good story I should go catch up on :)

[ ] Whip the tomahawk around at leg-level. Easier to dodge, but non-lethal.
[0.5] Whip the tomahawk around at stomach-level. If it hits, he'll probably die from the wound, but not for some time.
[ ] Whip the tomahawk around at head-level. Unexpected and, if it hits, instantly lethal.
[ ] Try to rest up for the next day's journey
[ ] Try to stay awake for as long as you can. Something about the night makes you uneasy, and you want to be on your guard
[ ] Go see if Arkekeetah is awake, and talk to him
[ ] Go see if Minya is awake, and talk to him
[ ] Go see if Phoebe is awake, and talk to her
[1] Go see if Nashoba is awake, and talk to her
Rational for choices: we're fighting someone who will likely kill us and has some combat advantage (if sight, then they'll have a chance to attempt a dodge), our best bet is to go for the surest hit (stomach). Also, right now the player base's main disadvantage is not knowing enough about the setting (I think) talking to Nashoba should get us information on Ganatlai. Also she probably has better night senses (wolf) than Arkekeetah (hawk).

If we're approximately a half day's travel away from the village we should be ok tonight, but we seriously ought to set up a watch of some sort. We have 10 able bodies, so it shouldn't be too strenuous on anyone if we just have three shifts and people only take a shift once every three days or so.

Wild mass guessing:
My guess is that this story takes place in a wild region far from Twisted Cogs civilization (likely Asia or North America if TC is set in Europe). It seems storms have different effects on different cultures. I'm excited to see how this plays out (and if we ever interacts directly with Twisted Cogs). Because of the presence of Phoebe, I'm fairly confident it at least takes place in a similar timeframe.
 
[X] Whip the tomahawk around at leg-level. Easier to dodge, but non-lethal
[X] Go see if Nashoba is awake, and talk to her
 
Sorry everyone, my baby was born on Wednesday, and this is the first full day we've had him home. I'm going to have to push the quest update out just a tad.

Update/add to your votes in the meantime if you like, and I'll tally and update when I can!
 
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Turn 5
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    • Author's Note: Thanks for the patience over the skipped update, players! The newborn is happy and healthy, not letting us sleep much but hey, what is caffeine for. Now back to our regularly scheduled quest!



    Votes​
    (1+1-coinflip = 2-) Whip the tomahawk around at leg-level. Easier to dodge, but non-lethal.
    (1+0.5+0.5+coinflip = 2+) Whip the tomahawk around at stomach-level. If it hits, he'll probably die from the wound, but not for some time.
    (0.5+0.5 = 1) Whip the tomahawk around at head-level. Unexpected and, if it hits, instantly lethal.
    (0) Try to rest up for the next day's journey
    (0.5+0.25 = 0.75) Try to stay awake for as long as you can. Something about the night makes you uneasy, and you want to be on your guard
    (1) Go see if Arkekeetah is awake, and talk to him
    (0) Go see if Minya is awake, and talk to him
    (0) Go see if Phoebe is awake, and talk to her
    (1+0.25+1+1 = 3.25) Go see if Nashoba is awake, and talk to her



    1-5. Whip the tomahawk around at stomach-level

    Your sudden attack certainly catches the man off-guard, but he has very good reflexes. He jumps back as your tomahawk whistles through the air, but not fast enough. The head of the hatchet sinks into his gut with a wet "thwack", and the attacker doubles over as he falls, clutching at his stomach. Unlucky for him that you aimed for his stomach.

    Definitely not Ugidali, then.

    The sun has gone down by this point, but luckily the moon overhead shines brightly through the treetops, casting enough light to see the attacker by. He is wearing a hood of leather dyed dark red, with wide slots cut for eyes, but he claws at it with one hand to pull it away, the other still clutching at the weapon in his gut

    You don't recognize the man beneath the mask. His skin is light for one of the People, although he isn't a paleface. Even through the hurt, his face twisted in pain, the man watches you carefully, breathing raggedly but not screaming. You can still faintly hear the sounds of the attack on the village in the distance, yells and screams and the clash of weapons. Somehow, even with those noises in your ears, the tableau seems quiet.

    That pseudo-silence is suddenly broken by a much closer scream. Instinctively you reach for the bow and arrows slung across your back, cursing yourself for not being careful and assuming only one attacker. The woman, just as pale as the attacker, seems utterly unconcerned with you. She rushes to the bleeding man on the ground, clutching her own side at the same place where the tomahawk is buried in him.

    Between her fingers, her side is starting to unravel, shedding strands like the golden hair from a husk of corn. She is definitely a Soi, then, the Soi of the man you just put down, and he's definitely not going to survive this. The Soi suddenly snaps her attention up, to your face, and the sorrow and pain in her expression vanishes to be replaced by pure unbridled hatred.

    "You'll wish you saved that tomahawk for yourself, by the time we're done with you," the Soi spats, then leaps to her feet and charges back toward the village, yelling at the top of her lungs. "Help! One of them here! They killed Tabahotah!"

    It's easy for you to step in the Soi's way and block her from running toward the village, but even easier for her to run right through you as if you aren't there. She doesn't even slow, although you're treated to a disorienting moment.

    Na was running so fast and hits the other Soi so hard that she lifts the girl off of her feet, and the two travel a few paces before Na slams the attacker's Soi into a tree.

    "Look at her side, Nahiosi," Na rams her arm against the other Soi's mouth to quiet her. "You don't have much time if you want answers from the hooded one."

    Sure enough, the attacker's Soi is beginning to unravel even faster, 'bleeding' from the side like a child's cornsilk doll being pulled apart. You turn back to the attacker. You have time to ask one, maybe two questions, and you have to know

    [ ] Why this violence is necessary. Why are they attacking this village?
    [ ] Something about the man. Who are these attackers?
    [ ] The attackers' strength. How many more Stormtouched are attacking?
    [ ] What the attacker is thinking. Does he have any last words?



    2-5. Go see if Nashoba is awake, and talk to her if so

    The moon overhead shines brightly through the treetops. It's not bright enough to blame for why you can't sleep, but it's enough to light your way around the giant rock that you're camped around.

    Of everyone who you travel with, Nashoba seems the most measured, careful, and calm. If there's anyone you should talk to about the situation, it's her.
    You can see that she's also awake as you approach, sitting with her back against a tree and braiding a length of rawhide straps. Your trapping instincts mean your footsteps are naturally quiet, and she isn't aware of you yet.

    From between the trees to your left, a deep, primal snarl startles you to your very roots. It's the sort of sound to provoke stories of monsters told around a fire, the sort of sound that reminds mankind that he is only at the top of the food chain as long as he has the tools and the circumstances.

    Now that you've been alerted to its presence, you can see the wolf in the dappled shadows of the trees, crouched low, eyes locked on you. It's always been larger than any wolf you've seen before, but that fact hasn't always been quite so terrifying.

    Nashoba snaps her fingers, and the wolf stops growling before the sound of the snap has died away. She points next to her, and the huge creature pads over to lay in the spot she pointed.

    "Thanks," you say, approaching and sitting a few feet away, "I don't think he appreciated me sneaking up on you."

    Nashoba smiles down at the monster laying next to her with a mixed expression of fondness and annoyance, and flicks him on the nose. A wild wolf would've taken her arm off. Nashoba's merely huffs out a breath of air.

    "And thank you for supporting me, when we were discussing things earlier," you add. Nashoba shrugs and continues braiding the rawhide. "Why did you? I mean just out of curiosity."

    Nashoba sets down the rawhide and frowns, musing over the question. After a few moments, she points at where Arkekeetah sleeps, then Phoebe, and taps her temple with a knowing look. She then indicates you and herself, and taps her chest, over her heart.

    "They use their minds, we use our intuition?" you guess, "so you're more likely to take my intuitions seriously?" Nashoba smiles and nods. You don't know why some members of your tribe find it hard talking to Nashoba, you've never had much difficulty.

    "That intuition is telling me there's something not quite right, right now," you confide, "something grim is about to happen."

    Nashoba nods again before you're even finished. She stretches her hands out wide.

    "Something big, yeah," you agree. "Would you mind keeping watch with me?"

    Nashoba frowns. She taps her heart again, the indicates the moon, moving her finger to track its imaginary rise and fall several times.

    "Your intuition is that the danger will be present over a long time...many moons," you say.

    Nashoba nods, indicates the two of you, and points to her eyes.

    "So, you think we should have a staring contest?"

    Nashoba blinks, thrown off for a moment, until she realizes that you're joking. With a mixed expression of amusement and annoyance she reaches out and flicks you on the nose.

    "Alright, alright," you smile. "I'll help you keep an eye out for some larger danger in the next many moons. But I'm feeling worried about tonight, so you have to help me keep watch tonight. Deal?"

    Nashoba nods, and taps her wolf to get its attention. Making a circle with her fingers, she points toward the edges of the clearing, then lays her hand flat. The wolf slips into the shadows as if made of campfire smoke, moving in the direction of the first waypoint she indicated. You feel sorry for anyone foolish enough to try attacking the camp tonight.

    Nashoba, meanwhile, pulls from her pack a finished version of the item she's working on. It's a bracelet of braided leather, dyed a deep blue. For a split-second, the sight of the dyed leather brings up a flicker of an image, akin to a memory. A dyed red hood, eye holes ripped in the cracked leather...you shake your head, dismissing the image. Nashoba's face is serious enough that you can tell this gift requires your full attention.

    [ ] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and wear it
    [ ] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and stow it away among
    [ ] Decline the blue-dyed bracelet



    Each player gets one 1-weight vote, one 0.5-weight vote, one 0.25-weight vote​
    [ ] Ask about the violence. Why are they attacking this village?
    [ ] Ask about the man. Who are these attackers?
    [ ] Ask about the attackers. How many more Stormtouched are attacking?
    [ ] Ask about for the masked man's last words
    [ ] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and wear it
    [ ] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and stow it away among
    [ ] Decline the blue-dyed bracelet
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Voting for Turn 5 is now open!

    Voting (probably) closes at 12:01AM CST, September 23rd
     
    [X] Why this violence is necessary. Why are they attacking this village?

    [X] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and wear it
     
    [0.5] Why this violence is necessary. Why are they attacking this village?
    [1] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and wear it
     
    [1] Why this violence is necessary. Why are they attacking this village?
    [0.5] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and wear it

    As much as I would like to ask multiple questions, I would rather not put both our branches near the danger.
     
    Maddirose said:
    [0.25] Ask about the violence. Why are they attacking this village?
    [0.5] Ask about the man. Who are these attackers?
    [ ] Ask about the attackers. How many more Stormtouched are attacking?
    [ ] Ask about for the masked man's last words
    [1] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and wear it
    [ ] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and stow it away among
    [ ] Decline the blue-dyed bracelet
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    I agree with Foyada that we should make sure that we stay at the camp in one timeline. It would be rude to do anything other accept the bracelet and wear it (unless there's something we don't know which means we shouldn't be wearing it, but there's nothing we can do about that). The first two questions seem linked and are probably the most important. Depending on the answer I'd ask about numbers if we get a second question.
     
    [1] Ask about the violence. Why are they attacking this village?
    [ ] Ask about the man. Who are these attackers?
    [ ] Ask about the attackers. How many more Stormtouched are attacking?
    [0.25] Ask about for the masked man's last words
    [0.5] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and wear it
    [ ] Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and stow it away among
    [ ] Decline the blue-dyed bracelet    [
     
    Sorry this turn is a little late everyone, had to take the new baby to the hospital multiple times over the past few days. He is fine now, and the turn should be up tomorrow
     
    Turn 6
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    • Author's Note: Welp, I'm up at 4am anyway, might as well update :)



    Votes​
    (1+0.5+1+1+0.25+1 = 4.75) Why this violence is necessary. Why are they attacking this village?
    (0.5) Something about the man. Who are these attackers?
    (0) The attackers' strength. How many more Stormtouched are attacking?
    (0.25) What the attacker is thinking. Does he have any last words?
    (0.5+1+0.5+0.5+1+0.5 = 4) Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and wear it
    (0) Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and stow it away among
    (0) Decline the blue-dyed bracelet


    1-6. Ask about the violence. Why are they attacking the village?

    "Why is the violence on this village necessary?" You put force behind the question, but are careful not to be too loud. The red hood attacker's Soi had just shouted for help, and the last thing you need to do is give away your position if you don't need to.

    Tabahotah's breaths are coming out in ragged gasps, but he apparently has enough left in him to fix you with a glare. Beyond the rough breathing, you might've believed that he isn't in bad shape, but another glance at his Soi betrays him. Her entire midsection has unravelled, and the rest of her is fast following. The man is not long for this world.

    "Tell me," you press.

    "You have no idea," the man says, haltingly. "Do you always...shove your hatchet...into business...you know nothing of? Nahiosi, your Soi called you? Nahiosi…" he tastes the name on his tongue for a few moments, "what is that, Cherokee?"

    You nod, wordless. Looking at his Soi again would betray what a hurry you're in, but it's hard not to.

    "On your way to the Grand Storm's Council, no doubt." Tabahotah closes his eyes, each breath an effort. "Nahiosi. Cherokee. That's good. you won't have to worry about us, then."

    "Focus," you snap. The man's life is slipping away in front of your eyes, and unless you do something you'll lose him before he answers your question. Steeling yourself and gritting your teeth, you retrieve your tomahawk with a sudden swift motion. The man's eyes open wide in shock, and he hisses in pain, suddenly lucid.

    "Why are you attacking this village?" you ask again. Tabahotah seems to muster all of his strength to grab the front of your tunic with bloodied hands and draws you closer, and when he speaks his voice is barely a murmur.

    "Our tribe only has one enemy," he whispers, "and we will hunt it to extinction wherever we can."

    "Your tribe-" you begin, but with a rictus smile the man presses a finger to your lips and shakes his head.

    "Our tribe," he corrects you. "Mine and yours, Nahiosi. Mine and yours."

    When the man suddenly collapses, the full weight of his body pulls out of your grip. A glance up at Na reveals that the attacker's companion has dissolved completely, your Soi is brushing the last strands off of her sleeve. The two of you stand in silence for a few moments, before a rustle in the trees grabs your attention.

    "Nahiosi?" Kotori, the eldest of the goyadv, peers through the foliage at you, "Meoquanee told us about the attack, are you alright?" He alights on the ground next to you as lightly as a bird, his gaze travelling from the corpse in the leaves to your blood-covered form, and then he shoots a glance in the direction of the noise and light of the burning village.

    "What do we do?" he asks.

    [ ] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to help you escape quickly
    [ ] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to help you return to the village to investigate further
    [ ] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to go investigate the village without you slowing them down


    2-6. Accept the blue-dyed bracelet and wear it

    The leather is cool on your wrist, but more interesting is how Nashoba reacts to you accepting it. When you take it from her, she gives you an uncharacteristic smile in return, and she wears an embarrassed but pleased expression as you slip it on.

    With Nashoba's wolf keeping watch around the perimeter, a creature with more strength and keener senses than you, there's no real reason to stay up. Even with the worried feeling gnawing at the pit of your stomach, the fear of some danger and flashes of burning and violence that intrude in your mind...you realize you should get some sleep.

    You're just about to do just that when a wolf's howl breaks the stillness of the night.

    Nashoba is on her feet before the sound has died away, and you have your tomahawk at the ready almost as quickly. Around the camp the others wake and hastily grab weapons as well. The howling has given way to snarling and snapping, to scuffling leaves and a long, guttural growl by the time you all rise.

    The growl continues on unabated, but draws slowly closer to your clearing, accompanied by the crunch of footsteps through the leaves. To your left, Nashoba has fitted a stone into the sling she carries, and Minya stands ready to hurl his hawk in the direction of the sound. To your right, Phoebe has one of her spiral arrows nocked and drawn tight, and Arkekeeta holds his bow a little less steadily, though no doubt pointed exactly at the approaching footsteps.

    "There's eight of them," Arkekeeta whispers, "very close, headed straight for-"

    "So ready for ambush and attack," a dry voice says from the edge of the forest, "have you really been raided so often since we've seen you last?"

    The four Tsaligu of your tribe emerge into the clearing almost as one. Their Soi lurk in the shadows of the trees, circling around the edges rather than stepping into the moonlight like their Stormtouched.

    "I'd personally be worried, providing such a welcome for danger," Cetan continues, brushing her long loose hair from her face, "lest danger accepts your invitation."

    On closer inspection, Cetan only has one hand free. The other arm is locked in the jaws of Nashoba's wolf. The creature is clamped so tight that its giant teeth have sunk into Cetan's skin by a whole inch, and with each step the Tsaligu has to drag the wolf along leaving claw marks in the dirt behind it. She doesn't seem to mind, moving with the same steady, heavy plod that the others do.

    Nashoba makes a motion, and the wolf releases. Cetan doesn't stumble, barely even changes her gait, and in a few steps it becomes clear that the group has no interest in stopping to talk to yours. The Tsaligu continue through the clearing as if this happens to just be the straightest path between two points, and join their Soi on the other side when they slip back into tree cover.

    Cetan pauses at the edge of the clearing. "I believe our instructions were 'don't be the last to arrive'. We weren't quite sure if that meant 'don't let our tribe be the last of all tribes', or 'don't be the group in our tribe that arrives last, but either way," she raises an eyebrow, "I'm surprised to find you so at-ease about your pace."
    Your little group remains quiet for a few minutes after the crunch of the Tsaligu's footsteps fades out of earshot. When you do start talking, several people speak at once.

    "Screw that-" Phoebe begins, just as Arkekeeta says "I suppose she's right-"

    "If we're well-rested, we can better deal with the challenges when we actually reach the council," Phoebe points out.

    "Salali wouldn't have said 'don't be last' if she didn't mean it," Arkekeeta says.

    "Arkekeeta is right, we should break camp and journey through the night too," Minya agrees, but Nashoba is already shaking her head, making a sleeping motion with her hands.

    The group turns almost in unison to you, the tie-breaker.

    [ ] Vote to travel through the night to try to reach the Grand Storm's Council sooner
    [ ] Vote to get a good night's rest with the wolf keeping guard
    [ ] Refuse to play tie-breaker, make the others decide


    Each player gets one 1-weight vote, one 0.5-weight vote, one 0.25-weight vote​
    [ ] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to help you escape quickly
    [ ] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to help you return to the village to investigate further
    [ ] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to go investigate the village without you slowing them down
    [ ] Vote to travel through the night to try to reach the Grand Storm's Council sooner
    [ ] Vote to get a good night's rest with the wolf keeping guard
    [ ] Refuse to play tie-breaker, make the others decide
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to go investigate the village without you slowing them down
    [X] Vote to travel through the night to try to reach the Grand Storm's Council sooner
     
    Not having read the original work, I have no idea about tribe dynamics and the various kinds of Stormtouched. It appears there are six common Storms, and some rarer ones, of which we are one of the... uh, carriers? owners? whatever. No idea if one's Soi depends on the Storm type, but it does not appear this way. Does not look like the type of Storm is hereditary.

    Anyway, I reread the prologue, and though it mentions 'aunts and uncles', it makes no mention of our parents. Coupled with the words about 'our tribe' the stranger uttered, it makes me wonder about our origins and if our Storm may be not all that unique.

    As for the second timeline... Tough choice. Personally, I am entirely with Nashoba on this one.
    [0.5] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to help you return to the village to investigate further
    [1] Vote to get a good night's rest with the wolf keeping guard
     
    I kind of want to retroactively unkill Tabahotah, as we have a lot to think about with "our tribe"

    Let's collapse the timeline?

    [ 1 ] Vote to travel through the night to try to reach the Grand Storm's Council sooner
    [ .5 ] Vote to get a good night's rest with the wolf keeping guard
     
    Note that collapsing the timelines is possible at any moment. Doing it now would deprive us of a lot more information, including both the nature of the enemy and our own business with the Storm's Council (since we are likely to be the first ones if we continue traveling with the goyadv).

    And nothing we can do in the 2nd timeline depends on this new information that would justify the collapse in favor of a new split. Yet.
     
    To account for the day-late update, I'm going to push the update out by a day.

    Voting closes September 27th
     
    [ ] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to help you escape quickly
    [0.25] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to help you return to the village to investigate further
    [1] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to go investigate the village without you slowing them down
    [0.5] Vote to travel through the night to try to reach the Grand Storm's Council sooner
    [ ] Vote to get a good night's rest with the wolf keeping guard
    [ ] Refuse to play tie-breaker, make the others decide
     
    Yikes...okay, new plan, will update Friday so that we're back on schedule. Sorry about the delay, all!
     
    [0.5] Ask Kotori and the goyadv to help you return to the village to investigate further
    [1] Vote to get a good night's rest with the wolf keeping guard
     
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