"Oh, it was pretty neat. It talked to me without really talking - it communicated like an AI, kept referencing other things when it was communicating, like if it mentioned bodies it'd say 'see flesh, bone, reproduction', stuff like that. It wanted me to give connections to it, whatever those are. I gave two and I got some good stuff in return. Uh... yeah not really much beyond that. I also think I know how to do magic now - well not quite yet, but soon. Now then, if you'll excuse me, I need to go rob the majordomo."
Go climb back up the chain to get out of the well. Pay no mind to the dude and Mr. Erikson, they can resolve their own business.
Then go approach someone - a guard or something - and ask where I can find the majordomo. I have to clarify something with him.
Hm. Very intriguing information, and she would like it if you could elaborate a little more, but you do what you gotta do, magic people-eating man. She knows better than to interfere.
Good, you suppose as you walk over to the exit, only to find that some ungodly bastard appears to have lifted the chain you used to descend, putting something of a damper on your plans of escape. Mr. Erikson uses your moment of contemplation to utilize you as portable cover while he tries to sic you on his new glass-throwing friend. You give your interpretation of a fatherly look as you handily lift him up and put him back in plain sight to disabuse him of any such silly notions.
Huh. Is it just you, or did the shaft of moonlight coming down the well suddenly brighten about tenfold? The sky is looking awfully blue, too.
Right, time to burn the world. Aim at the 'outer earthworks' and show 'em some SUNlight.
The best part about the sun is that it illuminates as well as burns, making it perfect for the situation. As well as any situation, probably. Your stone appears to agree with this assessment.
SUN
[Word: 6]
You raise your arms to the sky and call the sun. Northward you face, and from the north it rises, the sky growing red, then bright blue as the day returns in the space of a minute, the sun streaking across the sky, flying low and hot. A dry, sweltering heat starts to build as it rises high and bright, banishing the clouds as they begin to turn to invisible steam again.
[Will of the New State: 4]
You look at the stoats down below, still keeping themselves moving and attempting to hide until you give them another opening. You see no real concentrations of them to blast, though there are quite a few of them having trouble finding good spots to hide from your false sun. There seems to be no organized protocol to deal with the sun rising in the night while they're being bombarded by death rays while all avenues of retreat have been set on fire, but they are dealing admirably well regardless.
Thomas sighed. "Albany? A city, of course Capital of New York? Of the United States of America?" He sighed again, rubbing his eyes. "I don't know. I awoke being dragged about naked in a sack here in this area, with no idea how I got here. All I want to do is get back to Albany so I can see just how badly I've missed my meeting with Mr. Munderly, who I am sure is very upset with me right now. I'm just trying to get home, is all."
Expansion on a concept
None of this is ringing any bells, she's afraid, unless the geopolitics of the known world have drastically rearranged themselves in the past five years or so. They may have, of course. But it sounds like you expect anyone to know these things.
That taken with you suddenly waking up naked in a sack, well... she can't really think of any rational explanation. Might be just her coming down from a fit of inspired drunkenness, of course, and the slight headache she's got. She's heard of other naked people wandering around, though. Something weird is going on here, she says and scratches her head. Shouldn't be any way for strangers to get in, really... although maybe the minders did it? Tell one of the guard to bring a minder over here. Maybe one of them can explain. She's the bloody queen, it's her job to know about these things well in advance of them becoming actual problems, dammit!
You notice a conspicuously bright outline of a window behind the copious drapes of the queen's quarters. More special effects, no doubt.
"Please," I plead, trying to convince her. "This could be the difference between living another day or being brutally murdered by an army of stoats. It is a dark and disturbing place, but we have to be brave."
[Before the Great Unknown: 6]
She bites her lip, eyes wide with trepidation, breathing deeply to try and relax. She... she could go, yes. But there are still other matters, she looks at the panel. If she were to go with you, and something were to happen...
... could you do something for her first, she asks as she comes closer again, looking simultaneously hopeful and uncomfortable. She leans her head over your shoulder gently, turning to whisper in your ear. The master. He needs an apprentice. He depends on her. Now more than ever. A single questioning knock issues from the central panel. Claire's whispers take on a hint of urgency. If you could find another apprentice... it would go a long way to settle her mind and all of her matters.
She wants another apprentice to take her place, you ask, Claire urging you to keep your voice down. No, she replies. She needs another apprentice to go
inside, beneath the panel. She did not. She could not. But it cannot be avoided, ultimately - it is essential for the final preparations. The master's life's work.
She withdraws a little, nodding her head as she looks in your eyes, seeking unspoken agreement.
"Hell if I know, girl. He's dead set trying to sell those shards of possibly blue bottle to me. Violently. I don't believe we have met. Leif Erikson is my name. Nice to meet. Any idea where I can find minders? Living ones, I mean, these three under my feet are already dead."
"Oh hey Daniels, fancy seeing you here. Have you eaten any more peole yet? You could try that one over there, I recommend him actually. Probably well seasoned."
Use Daniels as a shield and encourage him to eat the aggressive salesman. Failing that, dive behind the door. That should provide sufficient protection.
You are in luck! She happens to be
the minder of Anglefork Castle at the moment. The mistress of the tower, that's her. Most senior and skilled minder in 50 miles, definitely.
The fact that she is clearly no more than twelve does not fill you with confidence, but you suppose this sort of thing is to be expected with sudden vacancies in top leadership positions. Anyway, you decide to take cover behind the inimitable Mr. Daniels to prevent yet more blood loss.
[Human Shielding: 2]
Mr. Daniels, however, chooses not to take such treatment and lifts you up by the scruff of your neck with a single hand, placing you some three feet away without displaying any signs of exertion. The look on his face is one of dwindling patience for your shit.
[Everything Must Go: 3 vs. 2]
You are about to say more, but another well-aimed shard of a possibly blue bottle catches you in the right lung, sliding in past the ribs and causing you considerable discomfort. Shadowbastard sure can pick his targets, you'll give him that.
Eric Codeburn, COMPUTISTICS SPECIALIST
- Wounds: 1
- Body Count: 8
- Floral Nightgown (worn, burnt)
- A Word: SUN
- A Word: MOON
- Anglefork Castle: Minister of Moronic Affairs
- The Impromptu Prophecy: Child of the Sun and Moon
- Adherents of the Great House: Enemy of Memory
- Well and Truly Narked Upon: 1
- Friends in Low Places: a Successful Transaction
- Subordinate Shining Stone (2 tons, emotional)
- Army of the New State: 561 Stoatmen
- Army of the New State: Dread Dawn
- The Good Doctor: the Solitary Candidate
- A Splendid View: the Tower of the Mind
Leif Erikson, Miner
- Wounds: 2
- Reappropriated, Clean Skirt
- 1 gp
- Anglefork Castle: A Free Man
- The Box: an Amicable Parting
- Tower of the Mind: Number Two
- Induced Lucidity: An Example Realm
- The Prison Stone
- Elongated Affairs: A Noble Task
- Elongated Affairs: The Numbers of the Stoat
- Dubious Acquaintances: the Broken Bottle
Eileen Minett, Vinyl Collector
- A Word: HUNGER
- A Weapon: Explosive Cysts
- Queenly Garments: the Humble Dress (damaged)
- Sticks: 0.95 (total)
- Rat Pantheon: Disliked
- Traces of Mischief: Mouthful of Blackness
- The New Queen: ?
- Origins: Witness to Dissolution
- Tower of the Mind: There's Something To Remember
- Gross Incandescence: Highly Illuminated
- Inscribed Brick ('Water')
- The Voracious Dark: Two Connections Given
- Body Count: 1
- Never In: a Whispered Request
Jack Daniels, Karate Man
- Wounds: 1
- Voluntarily Naked
- Uncoupled: Strength
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: the Sword of Destiny
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: Something Priceless?
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: Something Purple?
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: A Profane Megalith
- Tower of the Mind: Many Questions, Many Questions Indeed!
- Doomstones: ?
- A Place In History: Emergent Abomination
- Anglefork Castle: the Great Serpent
- 2 rats, crushed
- 1 rat, strangled
- 1 rat, live
- Gross Incandescence: Unilluminated
- Travels In The Fourth Dimension: Sunday ± 2 Days
- The Impromptu Prophecy: ?
- The Voracious Dark: Two Connections Given
- Body Count: 1
Thomas Minstep, Insurance Agent
- Anglefork Castle: Deluded Resident
- Traces of Mischief: Sandy Groin
- Gross Incandescence: Partly Illuminated
- Tight Leather Pants
- Travels In The Fourth Dimension: Friday, July 23rd, 409 S.D.
- The Majordomo: Happy to Help
- The Queen's Guard: Permission to Leave Immediately
- The New Queen: An Honest Attempt