2019-04-20: Amen Break
- Log: Amen Break
- Cast: Ratatoskr, Lorelei Calice, Naelle Sylkirk, Amaterasu, Marivel Armitage
- Where: Mi'ihen Highroad
- Date: April 20, 2019
- Summary: An assortment of Drifters and ne'er-do-wells investigate the mysterious Cult of the Amen God!
DG: A party led by Ratatoskr is now entering Cult of the Amen God. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
===============================================<* Cult of the Amen God *>===============================================
==========================================<* CHALLENGE - The Climb-in Guard *>==========================================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
Rumours suggest the so-called Cult of the Amen God has set up in the ruins
of the old Mi'ihen Highroad - the original walked by Lord Mi'ihen, the
founder of the Crusaders, on his way to Bevelle to answer the challenge that
his group was a threat to Yevon. Strange lights can be seen in the crevasse
underneath Rin's Travel Agency... and a peek down the cliffs reveals a
gathering in progress right now!
It seems the cultists below are moving toward the gathering in small groups
of three to seven, approaching a manned barricade that prevents further
access into the Highroad. Climbing down the cliffs is treacherous, but
possible - and you might avoid the guard post if you can pull it off.
After all, as the great god says - the term fallen angel sounds very
aesthetic, but I think angels that have lost their wings are no longer
angels. My grandpa always said flouting one's former title is disliked even
among the old folks.
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Treasure=======================================
<Pose Tracker> Ratatoskr has posed.
Spira's a weird place and, outside of those with access to native people here who are willing to accomodate all these weird 'outlanders' coming onto their shores, there's almost no center piece of information to work from. Supposedly Sin is dealt with in cycles by Summoners, and yet, Sin left Spira's shores to go destroy Azado.
Of all the mysteries this strange land presents...
...A strange cult congregating in a crevasse underneath Rin's Travel Agency is probably not related to anyone's more pressing interests, and yet...
In the dark of night, a squirrel-like Hyadean with a prominent horn peers out from over the cliffs, leaning down on his hands and knees as his tail swishes with building excitement.
"So... there is a great 'God'?" Ratatoskr doesn't even repeat this as an exclamation. "Down there? Down there!" Okay, that one he does. He doesn't seem to care as to whether anyone hears, or follows, because one thing is for sure - there is probably an awesome fight waiting down there to go with this weird bit of uncovered history.
Ratatoskr is a Hyadean remnant who has a concerning love for fighting for seemingly its own sake and threw in his lot with Odessa when Vinsfeld Rhadamanthus revealed his aims to the world. Him doing anything is a cause for concern no matter the context or his ultimate intents.
Either way, the way forward is down - down the cliffs, where one can see a gathering of small groups moving through a manned barricade. There is clearly something organized going on down there, something established.
There is also a puff of light when Ratatoskr holds a damaged-looking crystalline thing-a-ma-bob which promises to give him a head start (unless it dumps him in mid-air or somewhere else dangerous). That's not good.
DG: Ratatoskr has used his Tool Teleporter Fragment toward his party's challenge, The Climb-in Guard.
<Pose Tracker> Lorelei Calice has posed.
"I didn't realize there was more than one god in Spira," Lorelei Calice muses, tapping a delicate fingertip against her cheek. "Aside from the obvious, I mean."
She muses quietly, of course. It's relatively dark out.
Also she doesn't have much of a hand to spare. She blushes and returns it to the cliff face a second later as her other handhold lets out a faint crackle. "O-oh Granas, how uncomfortable," she whispers mostly to herself as she gingerly makes her way down the cliff, handhold by handhold. Craning her neck, the big-haired Beastwoman looks down the rock face.
The lights from the camp can be made out below. She presses her lips together with a hiss of breath through her nose. If these are what she expects they are, then something needs to be done.
"I don't know if there really is one. But we'll find out," she whispers to the Hyadean as she reaches briefly down, adjusting one of her boots. Despite their sassily-high heels, they're actually making the climb easier. The heels are set up just right that either the toe or the sharp heel can catch on little hitches in the rock and brace her a moment.
Coming down not far behind Lorelei, Mignonette - shorter, with glasses and a short, severe haircut - is silent, descending with care by a rope of her own.
DG: Lorelei Calice has used her Tool Sassy Boots toward her party's challenge, The Climb-in Guard.
<Pose Tracker> Naelle Sylkirk has posed.
Naelle's curiosity has her on a mission. That mission? To find out things she doesn't know!
In this case, apparently, her curiosity has led her to investigate this other cat-person and the squirrel-person-demon, because she's clambering down the cliff with cat-like prowess after them.
She hasn't said anything yet, though. She's not sure between her and Lorelei who ranks higher in cat hierarchy. It would be bad if she spoke to an inferior as an equal, but also bad if she spoke to a superior from a position of insolence.
Naelle's thinking about these things as she climbs. Her tail switches back and forth.
Apparently she *does* understand rules and ranks and such, and discipline, when it comes to cats, anyway. Who'd have thunk?
DG: Naelle Sylkirk has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Climb-in Guard.
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
Per the Veruni dinner meeting, the plan was set, their purpose clear: without a means home and with the very potent threat posed by Sin -- to them personally and for Lord Volsung's design -- their goal was to kill it.
By whatever means necessary. Amaterasu had pledged her spear to her sister's alliances, and that was sufficient alone, but the fact still remains that they are strangers in a strange land.
So thus the solution is to make it less strange. The Veruni soldier has set forth upon the road in her own investigation, leaving Luca and its comforts well behind. In doing so, she has come across a veritable curiosity.
"Hm," Amaterasu muses, atop the rock, by herself. One heeled boot clicks against the stone.
And she jumps, sailing over the edge. Boots meet the stone face. There they fix: this wall is as a highway to her.
She thus runs at speed and does not stop to what appears to await below.
DG: Amaterasu has used her Tool All-Surface Boots toward her party's challenge, The Climb-in Guard.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel Armitage drinks some 'tomato juice'.
Marivel arrived on her own--she knows little else anyone here (unless you count Naelle and Ratatoskr, which Marivel does not). She figures she should use the opportunity to try and get another look at what these weird cultists are up to. She ends up climbing down the cliff, fully shrouded as she so often is, only to pause as Amaterasu super jumps and runs at full speed and is like FWOOOOOOSH.
Marivel doesn't need to breathe, but she still takes a long breath all the same and lets out slowly before hopping down and jogging after her in an attempt to catch up.
She doesn't comment vocally too much lest they alert the guards. She's not worried about them trying to hurt her, they're worried about them being friendly...and she'd rather take a few spears than face that again.
DG: Marivel Armitage has used her Tool Tomato Juice For Grownups toward her party's challenge, The Climb-in Guard.
===============================================<* Cult of the Amen God *>===============================================
==========================================<* CHALLENGE - The Climb-in Guard *>==========================================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
Rumours suggest the so-called Cult of the Amen God has set up in the ruins
of the old Mi'ihen Highroad - the original walked by Lord Mi'ihen, the
founder of the Crusaders, on his way to Bevelle to answer the challenge that
his group was a threat to Yevon. Strange lights can be seen in the crevasse
underneath Rin's Travel Agency... and a peek down the cliffs reveals a
gathering in progress right now!
It seems the cultists below are moving toward the gathering in small groups
of three to seven, approaching a manned barricade that prevents further
access into the Highroad. Climbing down the cliffs is treacherous, but
possible - and you might avoid the guard post if you can pull it off.
After all, as the great god says - the term fallen angel sounds very
aesthetic, but I think angels that have lost their wings are no longer
angels. My grandpa always said flouting one's former title is disliked even
among the old folks.
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate, Treasure=======================================
==========================================<* Cult of the Amen God - Round 1 *>========================================== ============================================< Results - The Climb-in Guard >============================================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ratatoskr 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Teleporter Fragment 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lorelei Calice 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sassy Boots 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Naelle Sylkirk 0 --(0)--> 0 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marivel Armitage 0 --(0)--> 0 Fail Tomato Juice For Grownups 1 Agility Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amaterasu 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass All-Surface Boots 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Ratatoskr 0 --(25)--> 25 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(2)|Treasure(1) Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1) ===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: The party led by Ratatoskr has passed this challenge! The party gained 25 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Lorelei Calice has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Cult of the Amen God *>============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - The Armed Todd *>=========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
As you move through the cultist gathering, the tides of the party shift,
depositing you among a different group of people.
Oh no, not this guy.
A large and burly cultist steps forward and plants his feet, blocking your
path. He seems very angry about something, and starts ranting and raving at
you about how he's had enough of your lies - perhaps a case of mistaken
identity? Whether it is or not is irrelevant - this guy is mad, and he's
throwing blitzballs at your face.
You can probably defend yourself without tipping off the other cultists...
but you probably shouldn't kill this guy.
After all, as the great god says - There once was a drill instructor named
Driller of the castle guards called the Fenrir Knights. As his name
suggests, he drilled and drilled the recruits with no mercy. A name
describing that person is a good thing, but a name needs to be more poetic
that Driller. This is a day to remind us of this lesson.
=Dungeon Conditions: Wound====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ratatoskr has posed.
The cliffside is a dangerous bit of terrain, but these are all some very dangerous people. Ratatoskr abruptly teleports down atop an overhanging banner and immediately starts getting in a fight with it. It gets torn into shreds, which - coincidentally - can work as makeshift cultist robes.
Lorelei descends with sass and class, and the cliff side is a red carpet willing to host such a graceful descent. Mignonette isn't far behind.
Naelle will take a short fall as Amaterasu's incredibly gutsy descent might take a foothold out from under her, but Naelle can land on her feet easily enough.
Marivel's grace goes unchallenged except for one thing once she makes it to the bottom, as Ratatoskr fights his way outside of the shredded banner.
"Hey, did you see them?" He asks of who is technically his enemy. "I was fighting someone in here," no he wasn't, he was fighting a banner, "they gave me the slip..."
...because there was never anyone in there.
These are obvious disturbances to those manning the barricade, but they do not move to interrupt or deter. No. They are welcoming. All too welcoming. Especially if one takes the care to wear their former banner, now makeshift robes provided in the ruins of Ratatoskr's, um, 'fighting.'
Their willingness to include one (or six) into the fold may not really be considered a boon, though.
<Pose Tracker> Lorelei Calice has posed.
Sometimes, all you need are a pair of sassy boots.
With a click of her heels, Lorelei touches down, whipping her hair back in a spray of rosy curls as she draws herself up. "Well, then. Let's press onward," she invites with a smile and a wiggle of striped, feline ears. As Mignonette touches down with her, Lorelei strides forward, her tail flicking behind her.
She doesn't make it far. There is a loud 'THUMP' as a huge boot plants againt the turf.
Looming directly in the path of the little group, a huge, burly cultist scowls down at them, several Blitzballs tucked under one arm. The massive man - far taller than anyone in the Drifter gathering - jabs a sausage-like finger forward.
"YOU," he growls.
"Us?" Lorelei asks with a blink, touching a hand to her collar.
"YOU!" the big man bellows. "I BET YOU DIDN'T EVEN GET YOUR VISITORS' PASSES STAMPED AT THE FRONT DESK, DID YOU, MAGGOTS?"
Lorelei widens her eyes slightly. "Goodness, there are visitor's passes? Who knew? Of course, this is all a misunderstanding. I'm sure if you show us the right way--"
"I BET YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION IS, DO YOU?!" yells the huge man, even louder.
Lorelei opens her mouth slightly, then lowers her eyelids a little above a Cupid's-bow smile. "...I have zero bugs, actually, but I'm told my features are absolutely dazzling."
"THAT'S A LIE AND I'M TIRED OF YOUR LIES," screams the huge cultist.
Lorelei raises a finger sagely. "No, my features are dazzling, actualy," she says, before darting to the side with a yelp as the huge man whips a Blitzball past her.
The huge man keeps throwing Blitzballs. They're coming fast. Lorelei squeaks as she dips and darts around them. "O-oh gosh-" she gasps. "What'll we doooo~"
To one side of her, Mignonette sighs and pops a pill. "I have a headache already."
Lorelei suddenly brightens. "--Oh! Right!" Then she reaches back --
What she comes out with is a sleek, silvery ARM, streamlined and with a large underslung drum of some sort. There's an elaborate targeting mechanism mounted on one side, off the centreline. The elite Etone brings it to bear.
SPECIALIST ARM OF ELITE ETONE
" A B L E A R C H E R M A R K I I
"Here! Have a stamp!" Lorelei coos as she swings the Able Archer Mark II forward and fires a rapid burst of blue-white energy centre-of-mass at the angry, angry man.
DG: Lorelei Calice has used her Tool Curious Capsule toward her party's challenge, The Armed Todd.
<Pose Tracker> Naelle Sylkirk has posed.
The blitzball whipped past Lorelei smacks Naelle directly in the face. "Nyaowch!" she exclaims, and falls over.
A moment later, she's back on her feet, and she's caterwauling up a storm.
"What is WRONG with you people and your STUPID BLITZBALL sport?! It's ALL WET and people keep throwing the BALLS at my FACE! It's the dumbest thing! Ugh!" Naelle wipes away some blood from her nose. "Look! My nose is bleeding! At least it isn't broken this time--but that's not gonna save you from an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! PREPARE FOR MANUAL OVERRIDE!"
Naelle pulls her wrench off her back and makes for some tutelary dentistry. With a wrench.
DG: Naelle Sylkirk has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Armed Todd.
<Pose Tracker> Ratatoskr has posed.
When you are a Hyadean born of Mother's evil machinations, fighting is in your blood. Your blood is also oftentimes in other places outside of you, but even so, there is fighting in it. Sometimes there is more fighting than blood.
Ratatoskr lifts up his arms and one leg in his fighitng stance as it starts to become clear that this loud guy wants a fight, but then... a blitzball.
Ratatoskr deftly catches it and holds onto it. The solid yellows of his eyes light up ever more (very eerie because he is now wrapped up in a fake cultist robe), a clawed hand gingerly holding it aloft.
"Stupid Blitzball? Stupid Blitzball!!" Ratatoskr snaps over at Naelle. "Do you know what you're standing before?!" Ratatoskr holds the Blitzball closer. "This is just like at Besaid..."
Beat.
"This one..."
Beat.
"...is one of the legendary warrior order, the Besaid Aurochs...!" Ratatoskr speaks with hushed reverence and mounting excitement as his segmented metal-plated tail swishes around so much under the robe that it's at risk of yanking the whole damn thing off.
Somewhere in the background there's this weird droning on and on about someone named Driller, which Ratatoskr immediately misinterprets.
"...Legendary Besaid Auroch, Driller...!" The held Blitzball lowers into Parts Known As Inventory But Otherwise Unknown Outside Of this, and the squirrel-like Hyadean's grin widens ever more. "Fight me...!"
It's a flurry of fists, elbows, knees, feet, and occasional blasts of compressed air, which is probably going to go exactly as one expects.
DG: Ratatoskr has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Armed Todd.
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
A simple leap and flip is sufficient to see Amaterasu remove herself from the wall she runs down and then land -- in a pose that would put a professional gymnast to shame -- down here amongst the mysterious outcropping.
"Interesting. It seems this place is inhabited after all," she comments coolly, green eyes scanning the area in which they've landed. And she is indeed now a they to judge by the group she has found herself amongst. "...You two again," she says, her gaze landing on first Marivel, then Naelle--
Before a shouting erupts from the path ahead, and there is too suddenly flung a Blitzball.
It bounces off Naelle.
Here is the point where the cut-in of just Amaterasu's eyes flashes across the screen; she lunges, spear telescoping outwards, blade erupting in a burst of light.
And swings, for the ball alone.
"Move," she informs the massive man there after.
She brings the sizzling hissing spear of light down before her.
"Or I will move you myself."
DG: Amaterasu has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Armed Todd.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel says, "Us two again." to Amaterasu. "Though I'm not really affiliated with anybody here." She considers the Veruni. "Were you able to find your sister? I elected to return the manuscript to her considering that I had made an oath and was low on time. I imagine you would accept extenuating circumstances up to a point, but I prefer to keep my promises."
She pauses a moment before adding with a gesture of her hand. "Of course, I thought it would be easier to return it to you so it's quite something that I found her first. A bit of a roundabout way of keeping a promise. I hope she told you I fulfilled my part of the bargain."
Ratatoskr asks Marivel a question. he quirks an eyebrow at him and says, "Mayhaps he's hiding in another banner elsewhere in this area. Such opponents can be very crafty."
Marivel seems to preserve her strength but this doesn't stop her from pulling on the cultist's ear when he starts shouting.
"No thank you." Marivel says before letting go, as simple as that.
DG: Marivel Armitage has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Armed Todd.
============================<* Cult of the Amen God *>============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - The Armed Todd *>=========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
As you move through the cultist gathering, the tides of the party shift,
depositing you among a different group of people.
Oh no, not this guy.
A large and burly cultist steps forward and plants his feet, blocking your
path. He seems very angry about something, and starts ranting and raving at
you about how he's had enough of your lies - perhaps a case of mistaken
identity? Whether it is or not is irrelevant - this guy is mad, and he's
throwing blitzballs at your face.
You can probably defend yourself without tipping off the other cultists...
but you probably shouldn't kill this guy.
After all, as the great god says - There once was a drill instructor named
Driller of the castle guards called the Fenrir Knights. As his name
suggests, he drilled and drilled the recruits with no mercy. A name
describing that person is a good thing, but a name needs to be more poetic
that Driller. This is a day to remind us of this lesson.
=Dungeon Conditions: Wound====================================================
=======================<* Cult of the Amen God - Round 2 *>======================= ===========================< Results - The Armed Todd >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratatoskr 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lorelei Calice 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Curious Capsule 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naelle Sylkirk 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amaterasu 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------- Leader: Ratatoskr 25 --(20)--> 45 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(1)|Wound(2) Effects: Cleanse ================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: The party led by Ratatoskr has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Lorelei Calice has posed.
The honest truth is that Lorelei Calice has never played Blitzball. Apparently neither has Naelle.
'Nyaouch!'
Lorelei pauses, just long enough to curl her hand at her mouth and laugh richly. "Ohohohoho~"
But it turns out that Ratatoskr knows something important! Mignonette stares intently at the Hyadean for a moment. "Why would a sportsball player be with a cult," she begins to ask, before frowning and folding her arms. "...This feels very strange for some reason."
Then she gets hit in the face with a Blitzball and falls over. Her legs twitch in the air. She's wearing normal boots.
With a gasp, Lorelei whirls to look back at her apprentice. Then she scowls. Her eyes darken with a sudden surge of anger.
More Blitzballs fly. One of them arcs at Marivel. He jerks aside when she tries to pull his ear. "HANDS WHERE THEY BELONG, MAGGOT," Driller screams.
And attempts to throw Marivel at Naelle, bodily, to try and intercept her wrench!
Amaterasu manaes to take a ball down. It erupts in a spray of water, splattering across her - but it doesn't hit anyone else. And it clears the way for Ratatoskr. The wiry Hyadean lunges in with a flurry of blows and blasts, forcing the big baller steadily back.
Behind him, a scowling Lorelei raises one hand.
"Be chastised in the name of Granas, dog."
There is a sudden SURGE of magic rolling down the Etone's arm - and a blast of flame and light lances out from her palm with a screech. It slams into the big cultist. Ratatoskr's compressed-air blow hits at the exact same time. With a bellow, the cultist sails up into the air, smoking, before coming down with a thud.
"Owwwwhhhh," he manages to groan - out of the fight, but alive.
DG: Amaterasu has drawn a new Challenge.
===========================<* Cult of the Amen God *>===========================
========================<* CHALLENGE - The Alm in God *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
As you move through the cultist gathering, the tides of the party shift,
depositing you among a different group of people.
Or, rather, a line of politely chatting people. A few more cultists form up
behind you, so clearly this is a line /to/ somewhere. Quick glances around
reveal the line leading to a small table, where the people at the front are
tossing coins and other valuables into large sacks held by armed cultists.
It seems you've stumbled into the donation line. You'll need to think fast
to get away from here with your wallet intact!
After all, as the great god says - The broth that seeps out of the rich and
chubby sinners makes a good soup base.
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
DG: Lorelei Calice has used her Tool Mignonette's Hot Tips toward her party's challenge, The Alm in God.
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
Ever so slightly, Amaterasu tilts her head as she regards Marivel.
"Yes," she answers. "I did. Thank you for doing as I requested." There is a briefy pause; her gaze shifts towards the brutish man blocking passage ahead, but then returns to Marivel. "Kaguya informed me of your actions when we reunited."
Shortly thereafter, a small bit of chaos is unleashed.
Water soon drips from Amaterasu's armor. Her brow lines; she frowns however slight the expression may be.
But it will dry.
Once felled, she leaves the ogre of a man behind, treading ahead with nary a glance back.
"A religious gathering, perhaps," is her comment once she enters the chamber within. The flickering blade of her weapon dims and with a twist of the wrist, the shaft of the spear collapses upon itself. Her gaze shifts ahead.
To the sack, filling with riches.
"...Hm."
She glances back at the others.
"Make a distraction," she says. "I don't have time for this."
...Before simply exiting the line herself, in defiance of social norms (and the armed guards).
DG: Amaterasu has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Alm in God.
<Pose Tracker> Naelle Sylkirk has posed.
Naelle yanks out her book of blueprints, glances around suspiciously, then pretends it's a holy text. She does this by apparently reading aloud from it while chanting gibberish.
This should not work.
DG: Naelle Sylkirk has used her Tool Big Book o'Blueprints toward her party's challenge, The Alm in God.
<Pose Tracker> Ratatoskr has posed.
The rowdy man defeated, Ratatoskr moves in for the kill...!
...No, he just puts the Blitzball back in his hands and wraps it around it, because it is a sacred weapon of this famed order (IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THIS, to any and all parts of that sentence!!!).
"Sooooo," Ratatoskr says as he somehow comprehends the nature of what's going on in reasonable enough terms. It's a line where offerings are being given. His 'robe' does a poor job of hiding him, because he has a horn and also a tail. Also, creepy solid yellow eyes and a sharp-toothy grin, "do we get destroyed by the Amen God if we don't offer anything?"
"Because if so, cool."
This is an important question he's making that may or may not help save lives! Or... not...
DG: Ratatoskr has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Alm in God.
<Pose Tracker> Lorelei Calice has posed.
Lorelei widens her eyes as she looks over to Amaterasu. "It certainly is a gathering! I wonder what they want the donations for...." She taps a finger against her lower lip.
Then she purses her lips, watching as the donation plate draws ever nearer...!
It gets to someone else first. "We are but poor paupers whose donation is our simple faith and hope," Mignonette says dryly, lowering her eyelids. "Praise be in the holy name of the Amen God. Amen, amen, amen."
The Etone trainee bows her head, folds her hands, and manages to look extremely pious.
Lorelei blinks, then bows her head and folds her hands.
(Please work,) she reflects. (I'd rather not give money to the Fake God.)
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel explodes into a fine collection of mist upon being thrown and lands on her feet somewhat behind Naelle after passing 'through' her.
"People need to learn their manners," Marivel shakes her head as she looks back to Amaterasu. "And no problem at all. I did tell her about the video we had scene. It seemed only right." Also she was worried about her heading down a dangerous path. Now she's probably still going down a dangerous path but it might not be quite so bad but that's not exactly Marivel's problem. Yet.
Marivel draws out a small book into her hand labeled 'Wisdom of the Crimson Nobles by M. Armitage' and starts reading aloud.
"You have shown nobility of spirit, and action, and you have behaved in a manner which has drawn our attention. We wish to encourage you to behave in these noble ways more often. Nobility is a sense of innate virtue, or being able to do what is best and right within circumstances that would have been easier had we simply fallen into step iwth the prevailing thinking. You have helped the helpless. You have protected one who was weaker. you have spoken for the voiceless. You have been virtuous with no thought of reward. But this is the reward you did not ask for, but deserve. For you are as a Knight, or Lady, in the most chivalrous of tales, and you have lived with grace, and are becoming a more refined being with every day."
"We wish to honour you now, and say, you have done well. Accept the acknowledgement. And know that the good deeds you have done so selflessly will ripple out into the world and make changes you may never see, but your soul will know you made all the difference to one who was helpless, and to whom you gave your aid. We honour you, noble Sir, noble Lady."
And with that she provides a test of short as she says, "Red Skill: (Gil)la Crazy."
Money immediately starts falling from the heavens near and around the donation box but also all over the place. Coins come crashing down on cultists everywhere and provide a surfeit of wealth upon them as if out of thin air.
Will charity remain? Or will charity become something of a beast in which one seeking to do the most charity becomes quite brutal in their pursuit of it? Thus is the question asked by Marivel Armitage.
and such is the question she pays little answer to because she is following after Amaterasu.
DG: Marivel Armitage has used her Tool Wisdom of the Crimson Nobles by M. Armitage toward her party's challenge, The Alm in God.
===========================<* Cult of the Amen God *>===========================
========================<* CHALLENGE - The Alm in God *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
As you move through the cultist gathering, the tides of the party shift,
depositing you among a different group of people.
Or, rather, a line of politely chatting people. A few more cultists form up
behind you, so clearly this is a line /to/ somewhere. Quick glances around
reveal the line leading to a small table, where the people at the front are
tossing coins and other valuables into large sacks held by armed cultists.
It seems you've stumbled into the donation line. You'll need to think fast
to get away from here with your wallet intact!
After all, as the great god says - The broth that seeps out of the rich and
chubby sinners makes a good soup base.
=Dungeon Conditions: Bad Luck=================================================
======================<* Cult of the Amen God - Round 3 *>====================== ==========================< Results - The Alm in God >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratatoskr 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lorelei Calice 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Mignonette's Hot Tips 1 Wits Effects: Enlighten and Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naelle Sylkirk 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Big Book o'Blueprints 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Wisdom of the Crimson Nobles by M. 3 Wits Effects: Fanfare -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amaterasu 5 --(5)--> 10 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Ratatoskr 45 --(15)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(2) Effects: Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Ratatoskr has passed this challenge! The party gained 15 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
It's worth stating that Amaterasu basically immediately gets stopped by the guards. Her eyes narrow. One by one, her gaze settles on each in turn, sizing them up. Her hand reaches towards the place where her weapon is stowed.
For an instant, this whole scene looks like it might be about to get ugly.
Ratatoskr's question quite possibly also... might not help; a few guards part from Amaterasu and move towards him as the priests slowly turn their attention upon him. "Invoke not the wrath of the Amen God, lest ye be cast unto the timeless place," one intones gravely.
Before Naelle's run together words from her book start to fill the air, distracting those in line.
"What's that from? What verse is that? It doesn't sound familar--"
Until Mignonette claims that she doesn't have any money. Others in line join in.
"Hey, yeah, me neither!"
"I gave everything I had to that O'aka guy!"
"I'm not paid until next week!"
Until Marivel vocalizes the contents from her book, which seems to resonate with more than few here.
"...That's right, I helped those kids out in Luca. What am I doing here?"
And until the point where glittering gold seems to fill the air.
Pandemonium ensues. It's a good time to make a break for it.
Amaterasu, breaking from the guards in an absence of violence, vanishes in the chaos for a nearby passage.
DG: Ratatoskr has drawn a new Challenge.
===============================================<* Cult of the Amen God *>===============================================
============================================<* CHALLENGE - The Amen Shod *>=============================================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
As you move through the cultist gathering, the tides of the party shift,
depositing you among a different group of people.
Or, rather, a fire pit! It seems the believers of the Amen God are proving
their faith by walking across beds of hot coals, trusting in their belief to
protect them! You probably don't want to do that, but you want to get past
this group quickly. Maybe there's a way to protect your feet around here...
After all, as the great god says - A dragon's mouth smells like sulphur
because it breathes fire. Once, an old lady mistook the smell for a hot
spring, and dove into the dragon's mouth. Luckily for her, the dragon had a
kind heart. He gave her warmth with his breath and let her go unharmed.
How's that for a dragon heart?
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ratatoskr has posed.
Ratatoskr's eyes light up a bit more as he receives a HOT TIP (actually a threat). "The 'timeless place...'" He repeats this in a more hushed tone. His grin doesn't fade any. There's a whole lot of chaos that comes about self-realization and money. Money, everywhere! Money that actually doesn't spend in this place but it looks all shiny and coin-y so of course the cultists are going to err on the side of capitalistic greed.
Ratatoskr gets out a thin slab of something or another - actually a Hyadean datapad - and looks at it intently as he just idly walks along behind some cultists walking with their bare feet on hot coals. They yelp, they yowl, they do all sorts of perfectly reasonable human things in response to pain. Pain is a great teacher. It tells them not to do things.
"So then... I have to find this 'timeless place,'" Ratatoskr grins a bit more as he doesn't pay attention to where he's walking. This is even more dangerous for him than it looks, even if he is one of the few surviving members of a conquered and repurposed warrior race. It's not the sensation of pain that fails to register as 'bad' as his digitigrade feet navigate the coals. He has compressed air stashed inside his limbs. If any of that expands from exposure to heat...
...well he's too pre-occupied with his personal search for something that doesn't exist on his records to notice or think about it. Ignorace! Bliss! One might have to have the heart of a dragon to brave the firey coal pits ahead.
...Oh, speaking of dragon hearts, there's someone reciting something about a dragon's mouth and what it smells like somewhere. Huh.
DG: Ratatoskr has used his Tool Corrupted Records toward his party's challenge, The Amen Shod.
<Pose Tracker> Lorelei Calice has posed.
"I wonder how dear Rosaline would handle a situation like this," Lorelei muses as she continues on, leaving the donor class to fight over the money.
Mignonette looks up at the curvier Etone. "We need to talk about that, Dame Calice," she notes quietly. "I wasn't aware you had any siblings."
"Well, technically I don't know if I do. But we were close as sisters growing up," Lorelei explains, ears wiggling. "I never actually thought our paths would cross again...."
For a moment, Lorelei sinks into thought, her eyes distant as she grapples with a tide of memories - but the sound of yelping soon jerks her back to reality. The Etone Elite blinks and touches a delicate hand to her cheek, watching the cultists before her shriek and writhe as they try to do something most people would not do.
Lorelei presses her lips together slightly before glancing towards Ratatoskr. "Please don't get tossed into the timeless place. We really should stick together. Though they're clearly expecting us to do this...."
Mignonette leans in and lowers her voice, whispering something to Lorelei. The big-haired Etone widens her eyes. Confidence blooms rapidly in her expression, and she draws herself up with a dramatic flick of her hair, starting forward and holding a hand out.
"Excuse me!" she declares with a certain airy pomp. "O ye of little faith, please behold what true, abiding faith can achieve! Watch closely now--"
And with an adept step, Lorelei steps out onto the hot coals.
And proceeds to stroll across them. She has a certain swagger in her step, casually strutting over them and making her way to the far side.
Mignonette watches with a slight dipping of her lashes before leaning over to Marivel. "The toe section of those boots is heat-resilient polyfiber. The heels are... high enough."
If she reaches the far end of the coals, Lorelei will strut back for good measure. She'll even blow some kisses as she does it.
DG: Lorelei Calice has used her Tool Mignonette's Hot Tips toward her party's challenge, The Amen Shod.
<Pose Tracker> Naelle Sylkirk has posed.
Naelle scoffs at the foolishness of these cultists. If they had a proper goddess like Althena this wouldn't be happening! But when it comes to walking across fire, she's got a tool for that!
Or at least, a blueprint for a tool for that.
Trouble is, Naelle doesn't have any of the tools on hand.
Fortunately, one of the cultists has abandoned shoes that look like they might just do the trick!
"Behold, I have taken off my shoes," Naelle says, holding up her shoes for those around to see, "And I shall now walk across the coals!
She took off her shoes and put on someone else's.
It's not cheating. It's using her wits, which...
Wait, her blueprints just say to not walk barefoot across hot coals, you dummy, put on heavy shoes?!
...maybe nobody will notice. She *is* waving her own shoes around still.
Nyahahaha! Genius Naelle.
DG: Naelle Sylkirk has used her Tool Big Book o'Blueprints toward her party's challenge, The Amen Shod.
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
Further and further, they delve into the depths of the apparent cult.
"I had been under the impression that the local religion was that of 'Yevon'," the Veruni soldier comments to Lorelei, perhaps following up on the woman's comment on the topic of the donations previously. "Apparently, it is not so."
Well, at this point Yevon, and soon to be Althena, if her read of the situation unfolding is correct. A holy war, how quaint.
They emerge at length into a room redolent with the scent of... sulfur?
"A means to prove one's devotion. I have heard of monastic orders that practice such." Her eyes hood. "A means of testing the self, of putting mind over matter."
She glances hither and yon, as if to determine what is being expected of them now. "Hm. 'Cast into the timeless place', is it. ...But very well. I will refrain from causing a disturbance," she says again to Lorelei.
If the intent is to walk across these coals...
The point is to walk across them barefoot.
Amaterasu does not take off her boots. This would be an endeavor in and of itself, besides.
Thus still clad in Veruni armor, she strides across the coals.
"Is that sufficient?" she asks of the attendants. "If you would prefer, I can walk across them once again."
You know, the way that Lorelei is doing.
DG: Amaterasu has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Amen Shod.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
"You're welcome!" Marivel tells Amaterasu but then elects to stop bothering her for the moment. There are other people here, after all, like ... Ratatoskr. Ngggh. Naelle? She literally saw her chasing after lasers, maybe...maybe not. Lorelei? She just said 'oh ye of little faith' so maybe not that either.
Mignonette starts talking to her, though, and Marivel decides this is whom she is going to bother now. "Is that so?" Marivel asks of Mignonette. "Even so, to make use of those boots to walk cleanly over hot coal is a tricky endeavour indeed."
She crosses her arms. "It must take exceptional balance and confidence to manage without accidentally burning a heel--and once that happens, it's all over."
A cultist walks over to Marivel and says, "Would you like to have a go at it as well?"
"No." Marivel says.
"Ah but in the tenants of our religion."
"I am a hell-demon. You don't want me to do this. It would ruin your whole religion!"
The cultist stammers, "Ah um..."
"I think you should ask forgiveness from Amen God that you hoisted this tradition on someone else without so much asking if they might be inherently blasphemous."
"I'm sorry I--" The cultist pauses. "Wait why am I apologizing?"
Marivel has quietly stepped behind Mignonette while the cultist wasn't looking.
DG: Marivel Armitage has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Amen Shod.
===============================================<* Cult of the Amen God *>===============================================
============================================<* CHALLENGE - The Amen Shod *>=============================================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
As you move through the cultist gathering, the tides of the party shift,
depositing you among a different group of people.
Or, rather, a fire pit! It seems the believers of the Amen God are proving
their faith by walking across beds of hot coals, trusting in their belief to
protect them! You probably don't want to do that, but you want to get past
this group quickly. Maybe there's a way to protect your feet around here...
After all, as the great god says - A dragon's mouth smells like sulphur
because it breathes fire. Once, an old lady mistook the smell for a hot
spring, and dove into the dragon's mouth. Luckily for her, the dragon had a
kind heart. He gave her warmth with his breath and let her go unharmed.
How's that for a dragon heart?
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust==================================================
==========================================<* Cult of the Amen God - Round 4 *>========================================== ==============================================< Results - The Amen Shod >=============================================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ratatoskr 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Corrupted Records 2 Wits Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lorelei Calice 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Mignonette's Hot Tips 1 Wits Effects: Enlighten and Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Naelle Sylkirk 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Big Book o'Blueprints 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marivel Armitage 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Amaterasu 10 --(0)--> 10 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Ratatoskr 60 --(15)--> 75 Pass Conditions: Bad Luck(1)|Exhaust(1) Effects: Enlighten(1) ===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: The party led by Ratatoskr has passed this challenge! The party gained 15 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Lorelei Calice has posed.
Mignonette lowers her eyelids slightly. "Dame Calice is fairly flexible. And I think she enjoys being a showoff in this fashion."
There's a beat. The Etone trainee sighs and touches a hand to her forehead as she watches Lorelei blow kisses to the cultists from atop the coals. "...No, I know she does. But at least it's useful sometimes."
The cultist backs down from Marivel. Mignonette folds her hand and clears her throat. "Because you've sinned, my child. Turn around and say ten rounds of prayers and give a sizable tithe. Yea, so it shall be. Amen, amen, amen." Her tone is incredibly dry.
Adjusting her big round glasses, Mignonette throws Marivel a sidelong glance. She dips her lashes slightly, as if to silently convey mild annoyance at it all.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
"Amen amen amen..." The cultist is mesmirized and completely taken in! "Amen amen amen amen amen god!"
<Pose Tracker> Ratatoskr has posed.
Eyes fall upon Lorelei as she takes to the walkwa-- fire pit, and oh wow does she work it, going back and forth and sometimes being told that she should jump into a dragon's mouth. (It doesn't sound like a threat? There's no disapproving stares or pointed weapons or anything.)
It makes it much easier for Naelle to outright cheat as she waves her shoes up in the air to draw eyes away from the feet that are currently draped in LIES, but she nimbly makes it across without issue.
Amaterasu is indeed told to 'walk across them again,' which is a huge display of courage to tell that to a Veruni. (They don't know what a Veruni is.) Before they can interject about why they need to walk again...
Marivel runs interference by pointing out her sacrilegious nature (...is it, to the Amen God, whoever that is?) and the ensuing theological discussion helps ensure that once Amaterasu walks the coals, she's not bothered again even though she's still wearing something over her feet.
Ratatoskr continues walking forward, completely unaware of what he was just a part of because he is so hyped about finding this 'timeless place' for reasons that probably only will ever make sense to him, and even then that's a stretch.
The gathering may yet take a climactic turn, when...!
DG: Lorelei Calice has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Cult of the Amen God *>============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - The Amen Gourd *>=========================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
Eventually the cultists come together in a circle; a man in a bright white
robe - the leader of the Cult! - steps forward, holding his hands up for
silence. "MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!" he booms. "The great Amen God has seen
us, united in our faith, and has seen fit to grant us with the gift of...
THIS HOLY RELIC!" he bellows, waving a sheet of paper overhead.
"A RELIIIIIIC!" cry the multitudes.
"And in my wisdom, I shall grant this boon to you, my worthy followers - or,
at least, any who dare to accept this last test of your faith..."
(A drum rolls in the background.)
"THE DRINKING OF THE FISH WINE!" the man bellows, as people roll forward a
very large barrel of... wait, how do you /make/ wine out of fish?
"Come now, step forward, my children!" the head cultist shouts, beckoning in
your general direction. "Don't be shy!"
After all, as the great god says - I had a friend who used to blend squash
into his drinks before imbibing them. When I asked him why he liked it, he
just said he likes things squashed.
=Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Exhaust=====================================
<Pose Tracker> Lorelei Calice has posed.
Stepping off the coals, Lorelei brushes down her dress with a smooth movement of her hands, smiling a neat little smile. "Well! That was certainly interesting! I had a feeling a little show of, ah, catlike grace might impress them, ohoho~"
"Dame Calice, we really should continue onward," Mignonette points out, folding her hands respectfully. "We need to figure out the nature of this cult."
Quickly snapping back into something resembling dutifulness, Lorelei draws her shoulders back. "You're right, of course. Let's continue," she says, falling in with the rest of the group. Mainly she's fallen in with Amaterasu. "We'd assumed that Yevon was the only religion too. This new cult seems to be something... well... new. We're not exactly sure where it came from, but it feels like a lot of the rituals could have been lifted from any book on pagan religious practices--"
"MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!" a huge male voice suddenly booms.
"Oh Granas's cornhole, what now," huffs the alleged Etone.
A man in a dazzling white robe has stepped up into a circle of cultists. "The great Amen God has seen us, united in our faith, and has seen fit to grant us with the gift of... THIS HOLY RELIC!!" He's holding up a sheet of paper.
Lorelei and Mignonette both squint at it.
A drum begins to roll. "And in my wisdom," the cult leader says, "I shall grant this boon to you, my worthy followers - or, at least, any who dare to accept this last test of your faith..."...
There is a dramatic pause, before several cultists roll forth a huge barrel of something.
"...THE DRINKING OF THE FISH WINE!!" the cult leader roars as someone opens the barrel.
What is inside can be smelled from here. It reeks of... well... fish.
Lorelei immediately cups her hands over her mouth and nose, her cheeks taking on a green tinge. "Oh no, it smells like someone's fermenting herring!"
Mignonette has also covered her mouth. "Aren't you a cat, Dame Calice? I thought cats loved fish."
"Mignonette!" Lorelei huffs. "No doing a racism in front of the cult."
DG: Lorelei Calice has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Amen Gourd.
<Pose Tracker> Naelle Sylkirk has posed.
Naelle's ears have perked up.
Her tail sticks straight upwards. "Fishy wine? Fishy wine! Nya ha ha ha ha!"
She is delighted. She's first in line, beaming and chanting "Fishy wine, fishy wine! Fishy fishy fishy wine!" in a singsong voice. It's not singing, it's chanting in a singsong voice. Very technical distinction.
Someone shoves her, so she smacks them with her wrench. Nobody gets to try the fishy wine before Naelle does!
It's like Lorelei isn't even there.
DG: Naelle Sylkirk has used her Tool Trusty Wrench toward her party's challenge, The Amen Gourd.
<Pose Tracker> Ratatoskr has posed.
Ratatoskr's head turns at the voice. Could it be the Amen God?! His posture starts looking more bestial, more eager-- oh, no, that's not the so-called Amen God.
Then they hold up a sheet of paper, and Ratatoskr's eyes go alight again, but his grin softens a bit.
"Wait. That paper? That paper...!" Uh oh, does he know of its incredible depth of significance? His voice tone levels, and his eyes return to the usual level of luminosity (which is still freakin' alien). "That looks like stationery from--"
He doesn't get to answer, because FISH WINE. People are very enthusiastic* about this next ritual piece, and Ratatoskr makes a beeline forward--
Where, in spite of being comparatively huge in terms of dimensions to the average person, finds himself crowded around and shunted about as the various cultists gathered come to enjoy** their share of Fish Wine.
* - lies
** - physically impossible
"Hraaaaaaah...!" Ratatoskr reaches out with an arm into the open air, trying to reach out and grab THE ARTIFACT. He comes up way too short. Eventually it turns into something of a mosh pit and Ratatoskr disappears into the line, until...
Suddenly, a gun-blade ARM of ancient make but no further interesting detail aside from its base conceits of existence reaches out to try and spear the paper so he can retrieve it, just as his face gets dunked into a barrel of FISH WINE
(this will not end well)
(in fact this will begin)
(and it will begin poorly)
DG: Ratatoskr has used his Tool Derelict Relic toward his party's challenge, The Amen Gourd.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
Marivel has no idea if she's actually sacriligious or not because she thinks all religions are pretty bogus. This one is just even more bizarre than most other religions. It's not that she particularly hates them or anything, she just thinks it's pretty dumb to believe in things that aren't real. Proven real. Ect.
Now, does she think it's important to know about religions because despite being full of falsehoods they often have some hidden truths to them? Yes, she does, and that is why she keeps going on these ventures.
Marivel smiles innocently at Mignonette.... but yeah, she doesn't care enough to drink fish wine.
She continues to use this new friend??? as a literal body guard.
She does cock her head curiously as Ratatoskr summons a blade out of nowhere.
DG: Marivel Armitage has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Amen Gourd.
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
"You are quite welcome," Amaterasu answers Marivel, in those moments before they arrive in the hall of the coal-walking test.
Wherein she is presented with a challenge to, indeed, do it again. She fixes the speaker with a long, penetrating stare. "Show me how you do it," she says, BUT FORTUNATELY
A distraction ensues, courtesy again of Marivel. With a nod the Crimson Noble's way, Amaterasu takes the opportunity to venture on, ducking (literally) into a passageway before anyone takes notice. It would not be a problem to walk again...
...but she would like to finish her explorations unimpeded by the cult's demands.
"Perhaps it is suggestive of something amiss in this land. I have heard of schisms when a nation is divided."
Indeed, her people are experiencing their own at the moment.
"Yevon will likely use their force against it before long."
Because that's the natural reaction to a disruptive element in one's own nation.
It is the reason behind her own occupation.
But further conversation is itself disrupted. They appear to have found themselves in the innermost sanctum, an apparent key tenet of the faith born by the apparent leader, and to be presented to the worthy.
...Which is, apparently, whosoever can drink this wine. Amaterasu can smell it from here.
Something about her eye twitches.
"..."
And yet she reaches for the barrel.
She reaches for the barrel as the armor about her forearm begins to glow.
Her armor, which protects her hand and forearm both.
Her hand and forearm, which she drives into the side of the barrel.
DG: Amaterasu has used her Tool Shielding Module toward her party's challenge, The Amen Gourd.
============================<* Cult of the Amen God *>============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - The Amen Gourd *>=========================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
Eventually the cultists come together in a circle; a man in a bright white
robe - the leader of the Cult! - steps forward, holding his hands up for
silence. "MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!" he booms. "The great Amen God has seen
us, united in our faith, and has seen fit to grant us with the gift of...
THIS HOLY RELIC!" he bellows, waving a sheet of paper overhead.
"A RELIIIIIIC!" cry the multitudes.
"And in my wisdom, I shall grant this boon to you, my worthy followers - or,
at least, any who dare to accept this last test of your faith..."
(A drum rolls in the background.)
"THE DRINKING OF THE FISH WINE!" the man bellows, as people roll forward a
very large barrel of... wait, how do you /make/ wine out of fish?
"Come now, step forward, my children!" the head cultist shouts, beckoning in
your general direction. "Don't be shy!"
After all, as the great god says - I had a friend who used to blend squash
into his drinks before imbibing them. When I asked him why he liked it, he
just said he likes things squashed.
=Dungeon Conditions: Overzealous, Exhaust=====================================
=======================<* Cult of the Amen God - Round 5 *>======================= ===========================< Results - The Amen Gourd >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratatoskr 5 --(100)--> 105 Fail Derelict Relic 2 Brute Effects: Stalwart ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lorelei Calice 0 --(100)--> 100 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naelle Sylkirk 5 --(100)--> 105 Pass Trusty Wrench 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marivel Armitage 5 --(100)--> 105 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amaterasu 10 --(100)--> 110 Fail Shielding Module 1 Brute Effects: Rally and Resilient ------------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------- Leader: Ratatoskr 75 --(10)--> 85 Fail Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Overzealous(2) Effects: Resilient(1)|Strengthen(1) ================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: Ratatoskr is too exhausted to continue! DG: Naelle Sylkirk is too exhausted to continue! DG: Marivel Armitage is too exhausted to continue! DG: Amaterasu is too exhausted to continue! DG: The party led by Ratatoskr has failed this challenge! The party gained 10 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Lorelei Calice has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Cult of the Amen God *>============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - The Amen Guard *>=========================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
"HERETICS AMONG US!"
Crap, it looks like your cover is blown - weapons come out, and most of the
cultists scatter to the four winds. Most, but not all - a dozen or so draw
weapons of some kind, stepping forward into a hastily-forming open space in
the centre of the gathering.
Behind them is a man in a bright white robe - the leader of the Cult! -
tucking a sheet of paper into his robes, for safekeeping. "SEIZE THEM, MY
GUARDIANS!" the cult leader shouts. "WE MUST PROTECT THE RELIC!" The
Guardians close, and the fight is one.
After all, as the great god says - In the garden, there was a rooster, a
hen, a weathercock, and three turtles. The chickens and the turtles didn't
get along at all. The weathercock kept the peace between them, but one
night, both parties found him to be the most irritating of all and was
bludgeoned by both sides. Power struggles can be so gruesome.
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Exhaust==========================================
<Pose Tracker> Lorelei Calice has posed.
If nothing else, Mignonette seems not to mind Marivel. She lowers her hand just enough to smile faintly at the Crimson Noble, before she goes back to holding her nose.
Lorelei, for her part, stares in complete amazement as Naelle just dives at the wine barrel, cooing about fishy wine the whole while.
It's pretty putrid. The smell is abominable. It's an entire gourd full of the brine in which someone's been fermenting herring for far too long.
Naelle Sylkirk just guzzles much of it. She doesn't even blink. The cultists do, however, begin to grumble - mostly because she clocked someone with her wrench.
"That's not part of the ritual," the cult leader objects - and then Ratatoskr makes a grab for the paper, and Amaterasu wades in to reach for the barrel, with glowing forearm.
The barrel shatters beneath her blow. Disgusting herring brine sprays across her, gruesomely. The scent of it is like putting one's face next to an open sewer and breathing deeply.
The cultists react with sudden fury. A mob of angry religious zealots suddenly turns on the group. Several of them mob Ratatoskr and begin to pull him away. More of them whirl on Amaterasu, drawing weapons. She'll be tangled in quite the battle. Still more cluster around Naelle, trying to drag her away, while more menace Marivel and Mignonette.
Lorelei's left unmolested. The cult leader folds the sheet of paper into his robe. "SEIZE THEM, MY GUARDIANS!" he roars. "WE MUST PROTECT THE RELIC!!"
The leader ducks back, and a dozen more cultists draw blades, advancing on Lorelei. The pink-haired Etone presses her lips together and takes a step back.
Then she dips her hand to her side. She comes out with a handful of something, then touches her hand to her mouth. Inhaling, she seems to check something.
The breath she breathes in is much clearer.
Drawing herself up, Lorelei holds one hand above her head and raises her voice. It rings like a bell.
"Behold the Light."
Flame, wind and light EXPLODE around her as Lorelei brings her hand down. The entire camp is illuminated by a sudden burst of golden fire. Gusting wind screams out from around her, strong enough to hurl men like paper dolls. Tongues of fire and light roar out from around her, searing towards cultists without relent. She's no longer bothering for subtlety - just destructive power.
DG: Lorelei Calice has used her Tool Curious Capsule toward her party's challenge, The Amen Guard.
============================<* Cult of the Amen God *>============================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - The Amen Guard *>=========================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
"HERETICS AMONG US!"
Crap, it looks like your cover is blown - weapons come out, and most of the
cultists scatter to the four winds. Most, but not all - a dozen or so draw
weapons of some kind, stepping forward into a hastily-forming open space in
the centre of the gathering.
Behind them is a man in a bright white robe - the leader of the Cult! -
tucking a sheet of paper into his robes, for safekeeping. "SEIZE THEM, MY
GUARDIANS!" the cult leader shouts. "WE MUST PROTECT THE RELIC!" The
Guardians close, and the fight is one.
After all, as the great god says - In the garden, there was a rooster, a
hen, a weathercock, and three turtles. The chickens and the turtles didn't
get along at all. The weathercock kept the peace between them, but one
night, both parties found him to be the most irritating of all and was
bludgeoned by both sides. Power struggles can be so gruesome.
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Exhaust==========================================
=======================<* Cult of the Amen God - Round 6 *>=======================
===========================< Results - The Amen Guard >===========================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratatoskr 105 --(X)--> X
Effects:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lorelei Calice 100 --(0)--> 100 Pass
Curious Capsule 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naelle Sylkirk 105 --(X)--> X
Effects:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marivel Armitage 105 --(X)--> X
Effects:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amaterasu 110 --(X)--> X
Effects:
------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------
Leader: Ratatoskr 85 --(35)--> 120 Pass
Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Fright(2)|Overzealous(1)
Effects: Cleanse
================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Ratatoskr has successfully explored Cult of the Amen God!
============================<* Cult of the Amen God *>============================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - Xenobia's Bromide *>========================
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
----------------------------< Challenge Information: >----------------------------
Success! You have triumphed over the Cult of the Amen God, whether by
strength of arms or strength of belly. And as you step forward to claim the
strange paper that is your reward, you find...
Well, this:
http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/psx/lsssc/items/bromides/xenobia.jpg
...maybe these people aren't a threat after all.
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Naelle Sylkirk has posed.
Naelle staggers up to Lorelei, wiping her mouth--she'd had a bit more of the fish after the barrel was smashed.
"Hey. You don't think there was alcohol in that fish wine, do you? I'm going to be in trouble if there was. Hey, does anyone know if there was any--is there any wine in the fish wine? Come on, people! I need an answer!"
<Pose Tracker> Ratatoskr has posed.
Ratatoskr has a face full of FISH WINE. As an individual who seems to exist in an emotional state of 'excitable youngster' and 'battle-thirsty warrior,' the experience as it registers on his face is a revelation that he has zero idea as to how to take what is happening. He doesn't have a word for the feeling in his stomach deciding it doesn't want to have anything inside of it, or what it's like to have an opinion of this stimulus.
It's weird. He stammers uncharacterfully as he's dragged along...
Marivel will notice the gun-blade ARM thing does not match any Hyadean make. It seems to literally be something he just picked up off the ground in some ruin somewhere and kept with him, and it is in terrible shape.
While Ratatoskr's stomach is trying to pick a fight with its trespassers, his head turns towards the incredible display of blinding, deafening, burning power at Lorelei's disposal, and he emotionally anchors to a thought to pull him out of this deeply uncomfortable situation.
"...Whoa." He grins.
The immense power on display hurls him out of sight as it washes over his captors.
<Pose Tracker> Amaterasu has posed.
The barrel is struck!
The intention had been to 'accidently' cause a fracture and thereby a leak.
Unfortunately, Amaterasu is quite strong; the contents slosh across the floor and, regrettably, onto her armor. This earns her immediate aggro, as one might put it, from the priests and officiants present. Drawing her weapon soon after, combat is initiated here amidst the foul-smelling room.
Surrounded by many, Amaterasu makes good use of her weapon but is still pushed back into a side passageway by the sheer number of the crowd. When light and flame erupt, she is no longer in this chamber.
<Pose Tracker> Marivel Armitage has posed.
So what does Marivel do when people start shouting that they're heretics?
Wait where is Marivel?
Yeah, she teleported away in the confusion.
She's sometimes something of a jerk, friends.
<Pose Tracker> Lorelei Calice has posed.
The cultists are reasonably well-armed. They're zealous. They've got the advantage of numbers.
They have absolutely no chance. The power of the Elite Etone shines like the pure light and flame of Granas. The first row of cultists go down smouldering - alive, maybe, but not moving. The second are hurled away, robes blazing and tattered. The leader tumbles ass over teakettle, ablaze, blown into a rock with an uncomfortable crack of snapping bones. He sprawls over it with a groan, the paper dropping from his hand and fluttering across the ground.
The light slowly fades, but sparks of it swirl in Lorelei's wide eyes for a moment longer. Then, finally, she lowers her hand. The last of the wind teases at her dress and overrobe before settling altogether.
She tosses her head with a little sigh. "I really didn't want to have to do that, but the choice was hardly mine," she muses before looking back towards Mignonette, checking on her wellbeing with a quiet smile. The others are next to get a bit of a check-up.
Naelle swaggers up and Lorelei frowns. "...I have no idea?"
"I would expect not," Mignonette opines levelly. "From the smell, I would suspect it was some form of brine in which sea fish had been fermenting for an extended period. That process doesn't usually produce alcohol."
For her part, Lorelei steps forward and picks up the paper. "So let's see what this holy relic is," she says as she holds the document up--
Lorelei and Mignonette both stare at the bromide pinup of a blonde woman in a bikini-dress lounging on some big cats.
"I'm beginning to think these people are idiots," Mignonette sighs.
Lorelei moues her lips. "...I don't know. She has a unique style. And the markings!"
"Where did everyone else go?" Mignonette asks with a blink. She was sure Marivel was here a minute ago....
DC: Lily Keil switches forms to The Red Witch!