Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Glass]

Octavian responds in a similarly inaudible manner.
"I don't believe you understand us, Inquisitor. We have no desire to rule the world. To bring it into a golden age is a desirable goal, but it should be the mortals that do so, with our guidance and teachings, so that they can become as great as we are.
Aside from that, we are sworn to avenge the murder of Sind. But many of us would much rather you reform your ways, step into the role you were made for. Champions and protectors of the people, not conquerors and subjugators of the masses.
There is so much good Cisharni and Sindari together could do if you would listen to the will of the people rather than bending them to your will."

[chubby2man]

The Inquisitor chuckles,

“The will of the people? They are to us as they are to sheep. With a mere thought I could bend these men to my will. They struggle and fight among themselves, bringing war and poverty with each blunder they make. Cisharn made us better, and while you Sindari are imitations made by a vengeful Sind, the people will be better off under our hands.”

[Glass]

Octavian made note of the Inquisitor’s misstatement - saying that he and the Cisharni were like sheep - but made no outward expression of his amusement.

“I will not argue that mortals can be foolish, but they strive to better themselves. What they need is guidance, not total control; champions to lead them, not masters to drive them like cattle.
Besides, you claim all the Cisharni are so much better, but does not the Pharoah and his plans raise concerns among your ranks? When the mortals make mistakes, there are consequences, but when we do, those consequences are so much worse, and it is not us alone that bear the burden of our follies.
The people will be better off with our hands behind them, guiding them, not over them, ready to strike. Show them what their weaknesses are, and help them to overcome. That is how we may usher in a golden era.”

[chubby2man]

(Ahh geez, now I can’t go back and fix that mistake )

The Inquisitor’s face remained impassive. “It is a pity that you won’t  open your eyes to the truth. If you won’t face reason, why should we suffer your attempts to undermine the empire we are building any longer?”

[Glass]

"I hadn't been of the impression that you had.
It's clear that neither of us is going to convince the other. I'm sorry.
May we have the privilege to meet again in a kinder age."

[chubby2man]

The Inquisitor gave a tight smile in reply. He looked at the General Emries and nodded. The General finished, "Either you will accept our offer, or we will take this fortress and with it the rest of your Empire!"

Prince Tal angrily replied "I will take your offer to the Dragon Emperor. If he finds your terms favorable we will inform you."

With that both parties nodded, and begun to ride back to their side.

[chubby2man]

The party rides back to the fortress, hearts heavy. The Atlanteans drop the teleportation block over the fortress for a day, to allow for messages to be sent. Prince Tal asks Octavian to deliver the offer to the Dragon Emperor. He doesn’t know if he will take it. If he doesn’t, it is likely that the fortress will be taken, and then the terms of peace could be much worse. He asks for all the Sindari’s opinion.

Amelia, Masamune, and Octavian are at the fortress currently. This may be the last chance to teleport away. Does your character leave, and if they stay what is their plan if the fortress is attacked (fight as long as possible, try to flee, etc.)

[Glass]

Octavian will deliver the offer.
I'd like to know if said offer changed at all between when the Inquisitor and I started and ended our discussion, however.

[chubby2man]

No, the offer didn’t change. They see themselves as holding the power in this situation, and didn’t feel the need to change their terms.

[Glass]

Also, when Octavian meets with the Emperor, he will inform him of the situation with the Pharaoh, and the fact that this Cisharni apparently needs to be able to use one of three certain temples/holy areas/whatever they were that are presently in Chinese territory in order to complete their ritual to do Something Bad^TM, and then ask what the Emperor thinks should be done about this.

[Chevaleresse]

Masamune set to work; it was possible to maintain the fort as long as possible and still escape, if only he could work out the correct enchantment in time. . .

Masamune will delay as long as possible so he can work on an enchantment that counteracts the teleportation blockers that the Cisharni use; should he not create one in time he'll take the offer and teleport out. He's using 13 Enchanting and 10 Damping magic to do this, and he has 10 Willpower and 8 Intelligence.

[Glass]

Octavian will teleport out any Sindari that wish to be evacuated.

[Tiruin]

Noting the single day of retrieving the dead, and the open teleblockers that gave an opportunity to escape...

Amelia does not decide to escape at the moment--instead staying and holding the fortress, relaying to Masamune to study the teleblockers to break their 'code' for a quick escape later with Octavian, and for Octavian to bring them directly to the Chinese Emperor to explain the situation (alongside WHY the Sindari are not letting the Chinese into the Cisharni hands, especially because of Serrana's information about having infiltrated China).

Instead she coordinates an organized evacuation, given that the siege will take long with her skill in engineering having reinforced the whole fortress, and in the later moments, priming the whole area to explode, utilizing both her enchantment skill and engineering expertise. She hopes her works will also change the terrain, collapsing entry areas of the whole pass, and disabling long range teleportation from the Cisharni lands. Using Masamune's ranged weapons to great effectiveness, she also ensures that none of his works are collectable by the enemy, and uses Chinese warfare culture to aid the soldiers against these greater numbers (deception like crafted enchanted dummies, the weather, or terrain, to beleaguer morale.

Her Nu-Sindari also aid with their skills--a scout commander and a teleporting Nu-Sindari.

Spoiler: Amelia, The Builder; 7th turn (10 year turn). 110 years since Sindari creation (click to show/hide)

Name: Amelia
Alias: The Builder
Appearance: Amelia will always appear as a young woman of varying sturdy build, with a light brown complexion, dark colored hair, and golden hued irises.
[In the 70th decade, she reappears as a young woman, having discarded the visage of age since her travel from overseas]
Class: Bandorin
Abilities:
+ Alchemy | This skill enables transmutation of material to other materials; as with all god-given skills, transmuted items may be sensed as magical.
+ Artificer | Amelia may create items that provide bonuses to attributes, or imbue items that will aid in certain tasks; based primarily on her enchanting skill, she is able to lessen time needed to imbue items, and can even imbue buildings and fortifications with potent magical characteristics.

Attributes:
Strength*:4
Agility:2
Intelligence*:16
Willpower*:10 [16]
Perception:2
Presence:2

Influence: 0
Followers (Not including Family/Worshippers): 20,380
Worshipers/Power: 7001; +10

> An elite scouting corps, headed by the imbued-Sindari Sirius, acts as pioneers of the field of information and reconnaissance.
> A full set of mundane-looking artificed armor and artificed quarterstaff
+45 Wealth modifier
10 Soul Gems [All set to be used for Artificer work]

> +10 Worship points invested into Artificer, with these details upgrading it:
- Able to apply Enchantment skill*2 into armor/weapons
- A full set of armor/weapons takes a week to artifice.
- I am able to add basic enchantments without using a soul gem (basic being anything that's subtle, like being on fire, small increase in attributes, non-overt characteristics that denote a magical item; until level 6 spellpower [WILL]) and enchantments that do use a soul gem are extremely difficult to burn out (requiring extreme circumstances)
- I am able to inset "God" level enchantments, utilizing a soul gem; this takes the same amount of time.

Family: 1
> Tala; Wife. Nu-Sindari since the 41st year (6/6) [69 years since Nu-Sindari]
* Ability: Alchemy
- Cooking 13; Administration 10; Persuasion 10; Herbalism 13; Teaching 13; Bending 6; Animal Training 4; Performance 3; Enchanting 7; Warding 2
Attributes:
Strength*:2
Agility:2
Intelligence*:12
Willpower*:8
Perception:2
Presence:2

> Malaya; Nu-Sindari since 98th year (6/6) [12 years since Nu-Sindari]
* Ability: Teleport: After an hour’s preparation, can teleport anywhere they, or a friendly Sindari, has gone.
- Herbalism 3; Ranger 2; Marksmanship 2; Doctor 2; Warding 2; Teaching 2
Attributes:
Strength:2
Agility*:4
Intelligence*:4
Willpower:2
Perception*:2
Presence:2

> Sirius; since 91st year (3/6) [19 years]
- Ranger 6; Leadership 6; Teaching 2; Stealth 3; Warding 2
Attributes:
Strength*:4
Agility:2
Intelligence*:4
Willpower*:2
Perception:2
Presence:2

Engineering: 15    [Legendary+]
**Bending: 15    [Legendary+]
Mining: 13          [Legendary]
Enchanting: 13      [Legendary]
Persuasion: 13      [Legendary]
Teaching: 13      [Grand Master]
Scholar: 13      [Grand Master]
Administration: 13  [High Master]
Performance: 7      [Professional]
Warding: 6
Diplomacy: 6
Doctor: 7      [Adept]

**This is a combat skill, 'Bending' is a mixture of martial arts/magic

Aboveground
> A Developing Fortified City difficult to see from the skies is entrenched into a valley enclosure, where the entrance to the underground base starts. Terraced farmland paint the landscape of the mountain range.  A Trade Company exists, with its many buildings set in a dedicated zone, with specialized buildings and facilities using and producing refined and dedicated tools for ease of use for the population. The whole area is particularly modernized for the time, with a road network and an information network spread out by the numerous academies around.
Underground
> The underground is a natural, hollowed cavern. Thoroughly mapped out, fault lines and danger zones are well-known due to Amelia's Bandorin insight--it can currently hold 100,000 people in full comfort to their needs, with graceful decorations and multiple facilities providing various amenities akin to wealthy above-ground structures and service areas. Recent adjustments enable both enchantment and engineering at a wider scale, making larger structures or expansion to be safely done.
- Defences within the underground encompass the local region, boasting refined teleportation blockers attuned to the Cisharni, with the long term refinement goal being subtle in their effect that renders such enchantment near impalpable to others' perceptions.
- Other defenses include the local Spirit of Harmony, alongside a Soul Gem network from the ancestors and renowned deceased of the population, with the network embedded on the cavern ceiling to reflect the skies and stars aboveground.
> Specialized quarters for the Sindari and their families/worshippers/followers exist within, providing a comfortable and stable climate within the mountain. A teleporter to the Japanese Empress' Castle is also present therein, acting as a transport of materials and personnel to Masamune's smithy.
> A Grand Temple is hewn from majestic rock, placed near an opening to the vale, where the moving winds create both music and an atmosphere of tranquility and serenity. It is a place of general worship, housing a local Spirit of Harmony, which aids the local attitude and personal growth.
> A Soul Gem Network is taking root; structured to reflect the constellations of the skies, it is an artificial process to aid natural defenses and provide a pathway for both natural magic and the sentient energies of all people within.
General Area
> The archipelago of what is known to us as the Philippines is equivalent to a renaissance of learning and enlightenment. Academies are present in all inhabited islands, with the local ruling class being guided by wisdom from thoughtful and considerate advisors. Instead of monarchy, the archipelago is governed by a council created by the people, and for the people.
> Trade with China and Japan brings prosperity; refugees from war-torn areas in these places are openly welcomed. There are considerable measures in place to ensure that refugees are not Atlantean spies, and several measures are being devised and refined to further this plan--monoliths at sea, bordering the archipelago, are planned to prevent hostile teleportation.

> The region my character is in, in our history is Ifugao.

***This world is of a similar, but different timeline than our own, having roots with physical and understandable magic as part of its physics and natural laws; one major indicator is the differing tech levels that equal an advance of society despite it being the relative BC period. (Map (12th century))

[chubby2man]

Octavian and Amelia stand before the Dragon Emperor in his great hall. His great length lays coiled around the dais, upon which stands an ornate throne. His scales glow gold in the light.

Octavian informs the Dragon of Atlantis’s offer, which consists of surrender of territory they conquered, payment of a massive tribute, exchange of hostages, and the exile of the Sindari in exchange for peace and assistance with the plague.

Steam rises from his nostrils at this. He growls, “These terms are not to my liking, but my generals are afraid, and worry we do not have the strength to beat them. What are your thoughts on the matter?”

Octavian also tells him of the Pharoah’s plan to infiltrate one of the nexus of magical energy in China, and that disaster of an unknown form would result. The Dragon Emperor eyes narrow.

“My duty over these lands are to protect these nexus. You have done well to bring this to my attention.”

[Glass]

I do not like their terms either, but Prince Tal was not able to negotiate them lower at all, so it's either the terms or continued warfare. Based on the events of the recent battle, I would have to agree with your generals.
However, Masamune is of the opinion that he should be able to hold the fort. It would likely be best to let him inform you of how he plans to do so.
[Octavian is willing to channel Masamune through the mental link for this purpose.]


Regarding the nexuses. I understand that it is your duty to protect them, but we are reasonably certain that if the locations were destroyed, the Pharaoh would be unable to conduct his rituals. It is certainly a situation that is far less than ideal, but if it should come to the point where we don't believe we could stop them, would we have permission to destroy the nexuses to prevent them falling into Cisharni hands?
I promise, I ask this only as a worst-case, last-resort hypothetical. If we figure out another way, or if you have a way to stop the rituals or prevent their use, we will gladly avoid using this method.