Gather up the octahedrons and the metal rods. Then, help get other barrels open.
"Hey hey, don't go hogging all the material to yourself. Sharing is caring, you know. I don't suppose I could interest you in trading half of those octahedrons and a metal rod for either of these two things still in the barrel? Going 50/50 with the stuff in the barrels seems fair, don't'cha think?"
Poke the pinecone thing and the coiled snake thing with the handle of my shovel. If they don't really do anything, stuff them in my satchel. If they do react to poking, don't pick them up yet.
Regardless, help with opening the other barrels.
Name: Clate
Race: Shluck
Description: Being a Shluck, Clate is rarely seen outside of his environmental suit. Inside, he is the standard albino mollusk, with his only true defining characteristic being the alternating white/borwn pattern of his beak, much like on a nautilus shell. His environmental suit and exoskeltons are full of scuff marks and small blemishes from work, but the knowledgable observer will notice that it is mechanically kept in tip-top shape. He wears a toolbelt and a satchel to store his tools and other knickknacks, and has a blue cap perched on top of his helmet.
Goal: To create great works of craftsmanship and become filthy rich in the process.
Stats
Str: 8
Dex: 10
Spe: 8
End: 10
Awa: 9
Cun: 16 (+3)
Kno: 12
Ner:10
Skills
Electronics 1
Mechanical 1
Biological 1
Chemical 1
Occult 1
Weaponsmith 1
Armorsmith 1
Stealth 1
Steal 1
Explosives 1
Inventory
Clothing: A tool belt that can be modified to fit the exoskeleton, a satchel and a blue cap with "If it ain't broke, fix it" embroidered on.
Bladed Shovel
Silk rope (100ft)
TNT x3
Dynamo lantern
Field lighter
Path markers x10
1 structural junk
5 Fathoms
Gather up the octahedrons and the metal rods. Then, help get other barrels open.
Name: Harmony “Harm” Li
Description: Lean and broody looking. This woman has short black hair and is partially covered in interlocking black tattoos. She wears simple black clothes, with a knee-length Maggot Wool Coat overtop.
Goal: Overall, Harm would like to find a place where refugees and travelers could seek refuge without dealing with the dogmatic influence of the church. Right now, though, she just wants to get away.
Stats
Str:10
Dex:11
Spe:10
End:10
Awa:10
Cun:12
Kno:10
Ner:10
Skills
Weapon smith (3)
Mechanical (2)
Lucky Shot (1)
Inventory
A couple dozen octahedrons
3 metal rods
Several large chunks of blue crystal
Lucky Shot (7 rounds)
Field Lighter
10 Path Markers
2 units structural junk
2 units mechanical junk
Lupanian, Don't add things to your inventory until you actually pick them up. Especially not in my games were every attempt to grab loot could end up with you returning with less than you started with, if you catch my drift.
[15, 12] Double fail but Harm failed by less so he goes first.
[6] Harm, perhaps overcome by greed, sticks both hands into the barrel, grabbing at the goodies. She doesn't even get the chance to touch anything inside before the coiled snake lashes out at her with astonishing speed. She manages to jerk her hands back just in time as it flashes across the inside of the barrel and coils itself against the other end. The caltrop points scrape and click at high speed, creating a screeching rattle.
Clate sees this and decides...not to stick his hands or his shovel into the barrel. He likes both of them and prefers they remain undamaged. He moves on to the other, so far unopened barrel and hits it with his shovel. [14,18]The blade of the shovel glances off with a violent CLANG that rattles his bones. Harm tries next, borrowing the shovel. Her blow Clangs off as well but apparently the combined efforts are having an effect; the cracks are widening and a small hole about 2 inches across has opened up.
Observe the ruins from afar. Do I see anything interesting in that direction? Any living beings?
Name: Lokam Pilgrim
Description: Lokam is an Ethral Aspirant of the Tenebrous Chruch currently on pilgrimage. His soft fur is pale yellow, his large and fuzzy mane is golden and antennae and wings are dark purple with white details. His antennae, unlike most Ethral, are also very long and fluffy. Most of the time, he's wearing his silky church robes, which also have a hood included. His mask is very dark purple, with bright yellow spirals and curves, similar to tentacles.
Goal: His goal is to just complete his pilgrimage and ascend in the chruch. He wishes to go as deep as possible and someday become a Living Saint, Stygian or even a member of the Council. But his dream is to someday go deeper than everyone, reach the center and finally find God.
Stats:
Str: 7
Dex: 12
Spe: 10
End: 8
Awa: 7
Cun: 13
Kno: 13
Ner: 13
Skills:
Diving: 3
Caving: 1
Navigation: 1
Survival: 1
Translate: 1
Inventory:
The Black Book (Real)
Black Flame
Bag of Path Markers
Silk Aspirant Gray Robes
Purple Mask
You can clearly see a rope leading down from the bore, which has parked itself up above the ruins. You can see the star dragon thing still grinding away on the far wall. And you think, just maybe, you can see people inside the structure, through a doorway, but you might be imagining it.
Contemplate Diving to complete my bridge.
1) Contemplate using two Dive - one to change some of the rock into steel and the other to alter the shape of the steel into a lattice walkway and rebar for reinforcing the stone structure. The lattice walkway only needs to extend 40-45 feet from the current precipice to reach the nearest tower top, if I remember correctly.
2) contemplate using one Dive to achieve the same effect.
Goal is to get a feel for these two Dive options and how many reinforcements of spheres would be ideal. I have listed the rolls I think might be good, and wantto find out how I would need to tweak the spells for best effect.
Additional goal is to determine the risk to my nerve and the likely effects of failure.
Dive options are in the Spoilers
First Dive
Material: Akhmah (to affect the stone)
Action: Hel (to transmute the stone to steel)
Path: 2 rolls (Akhmah -> Es -> Hel)
Reinforce Akhmah 4, Hel 3
Final Nerve roll, Final Akhmah roll. 11 rolls total
Second Dive:
Material: Balaram (to affect the steel, which is no longer a natural material, but an object made with purpose)
Action: Sige (to shape the steel into a latticework
Path: 4 rolls (Akhmah -> Balaram -> Yengenze -> Es -> Sige)
Reinforce Balaram 2, Sige 3
Final Nerve roll, Final Balaram roll. 11 rolls total
Material: Akhmah (to shape and transmute the stone)
Actions: Sige, Hel
Path: 5 Rolls (Akhmah -> Balaram -> Yengenze -> Es -> Sige -> Hel)
Reinforce Akhmah 4, Sige 3, Hel 3
Final Nerve roll, Final Akhmah roll. 17 rolls total
Name: AsHul
Description:Former human. Awful, ugly, indifferent
Goal:To find God
Stats
Str:9 Dex:8 Spe:8 End:10 Awa:12 Cun:10 Kno:10 Ner:16
Skills
Diving: 3
Animal Handling: 2
Survival: 1
Inventory
Relic Fragment
Black Book (copy)
1 Silent Night - calming. gives advantage on diving rolls
4 Worm Blood - steadies nerves
2 Occult Junks
2 Fathoms (One magnetically welded to the wall of his room in the Bore)
[15]
You have no fucking clue about any of this. Not a one. Nothing. Why the fuck did you get out of the bore and do this? WHY did you take that stupid fucking drug. Christ your head hurts and that Aspirant wants to try and fuck around in your skull like a brain surgeon with an angle grinder. Won't even give up his copy of the Black book as collateral. All the fucking freedom, none of the consequences. This sucks.
[rolled it out. your withdrawl effects end next turn, but you're still addicted]
Drett chitters, almost excitedly as he snaps back to reality. This is... Not good.
I understand, Kara. I would hardly trust you with my own, but given the circumstances it appears to be that or die.
While our mutual acquaintance appears to be a lost cause, I would rather not lose anyone else to this... he waves his hands in the air, mess the diver has gotten themselves and us into. I may know something about this issue.
Knowledge time!
Knowledge the possession. wtf is going on?
Knowledge the construct. Still an interesting piece of information.
Ponder how much damage the possessed will probably be in thanks to the possession. Might I get to play Doktor?
Desc: Coated wholly in downy white bugfur, he is crowned with two fuzzy antennae and collared by a just-as-fluffy mane. His limbs are dainty, almost gangly if it weren't for his 4 hand a half foot stature. His cloak is a mottled light gray, able to blend in better with the environment than his alabaster being. A silver mask adorns his face, with a circle carve in the top third, stylized lightrays splitting the mask in half and coming down in symmetrical angles. The eyeslits are angled, almost malevolent looking.
Goal: Concerned with the Light of Knowledge, Drett has taken it upon himself to study the complexities of biological organisms, and lesser so, how those organisms may bond and interact with the world around them. Having learned all he could of Ethrals, he has signed onto the bore in order to better understand those species he coexists with
Str:7 Dex:12 Spe:10 End:8 Awa:7 Cun:14 Kno:15 Ner:10
Medical +2
Biological +2
Mechanical +1
Chemical +1
Occult +1
Archeology +1
1x Doctor's Bag - 25
1x Field Lighter -3
6x Cave Spider Venom - 18
Fathoms - 10
[15]
It appears that She's under the power of something from Es. Those metal wires are a distinct feature of that sphere. As to what its attempting to do with her, you have no idea. If you had to hazard a guess, its probably after the same thing the rest of you are. Everyone wants shiny things.
[15] (skin of your teeth again)
We've seen several constructs. Which one? Little one that Kara carried away? Seems to have something to do with traversal of the structure, if its properties are any indication. It doesn't seem to do much otherwise or have any sort of appendages or design for other work. Maybe it can manipulate stone via the same unknown method as the Gemstone people? If thats the case it could be doing almost anything from keeping the structure repaired to forming new rooms.
[15] (wow, really?)
Assuming no one shoots her, the damage will probably be minor, restricted to the injuries the wires made in her. The possession probably won't hurt her in the process of moving her around...probably.
Stick with the group.
Name: Alex Wells
Description: A middle aged man standing 5'7" feet tall. He has short brown hair and an unkempt beard.
Goal: Exploring the depths and collecting its wealth.
Stats:
Str: 11
Dex: 10
Spe: 10
End: 10
Awa: 10
Cun: 12
Kno: 10
Ner: 10
Skills:
Explosives 2
Mechanical 1
Survival 1
Caving 1
Chemical 2
Geology 1
Inventory:
Dynamo Lantern
Field Lighter
3 TNT
Bladed Shovel
Mail Shirt
8 Fathoms
Keep following the others.
Continue onward.
Muse on the nature of beings that possess divers and how their connection to this world/dimension works, perhaps that could give me ideas on how to sever that connection.
"I can't- I can't just trust a bunch of strangers with my life. If they chose someone like me or a Diver stupid enough to get possessed or-" Kara stopped herself before she started giving examples about those present "-how can I know anyone is competent? Or even sane?"
"Don't worry too much about it, your instincts told you to try and help a companion, that's a solid reaction. Just keep your eyes open and stay aware of what's going on and what people are doing, and try not to act too rashly, and I'm sure you'll be fine." he finished, his faint smile having returned.
Name: Adam Blavatsky Darvaza
Description: A young man of slightly pale complexion and eternal 9 o’clock shadow, he was raised in a small village. While the village priest and passing mystics droned with endless sermons of the Church and their teachings, what had always captivated young Adam’s attention more were the stories of his Granny.
Old stories of the world as it once was, before people were forced to flee to the caves and crannies of this damp hell. Of warm days where pleasant green plants tickled your feet as you walked through them and a cool breeze blew through your hair. Where food was plentiful, nature was benign and endless vistas reached as far as they eye could see.
Adam was nominally a card-carrying member of the church, though he mostly did it for the connections and perks that brought. They were powerful and had ancient lore, all things he would need to fulfill his true heart’s desire: to return to the surface, vanquish the madness that tainted their homeland and reconquer paradise.
Goal: Plunge the secrets of the depths below to find an answer to the horrors above.
Stats
Str: 10
Dex: 10
Spe: 10
End: 10
Awa: 10
Cun: 10
Kno: 10
Ner: 13
Skills
Diving: +3
Stealth: +2
Occult: +1
Inventory
Clothing: simple priest robes, shortened a bit so as to less restrict his movements
1 minor artifact
1 black book copy
1 black flame
1 Silent Night
1 field lighter
17 fathoms
(loaned 6 fathoms to aigre)
[17]
Uh. Well. Maybe if they get what they want they'll go away?
Follow the rest of the group and remain in alert.
"Just how far they went? If we are truly talking about some sort of possession, could they be preparing an ambush or trap and luring us towards it?"
"Could be better."
Well, proceed with the rest of the group.
Name: Wiellste Gunsmithy
Description: A young Ethral, no taller than 4 feet. Her fur is unpatterned and a milky white. Usually wears a rather plain quilted brown silk cloak, and a polished copper mask with symmetrical, spiraling lines etched on the sides.
Goal: Wiellste is like many Ethral in that she seeks to gather knowledge about the world before all else. Though being an Ethral from Knot, her skills are largely more on the practical building side than the scholarly side. She isn't particularly invested in the teachings of the Tenebrous Church, but the idea of the spheres intrigues her, especially Balarim, with it's writings and technology.
Stats:
Str: 7
Dex: 12
Spe: 10
End: 8
Awa: 7
Cun: 15
Kno: 13
Ner: 11
Skills:
Weaponsmith 2
Diving 2
Pistol 1
Bore 1
Translate 1
Stealth 1
Inventory:
Silk cloak
Copper mask
Ethral revolver 6/6
1 Fathom
Continue climbing up the cave, making haste for the sounds of cracking stones. Don't get too far ahead, though, stay within line of sight of the others at the very least.
"Do not worry, young one. Even if the artifact is destroyed, your life will be preserved. I do not intend to allow our captors to return you to their masters, and the collars can be deactivated by divers. Divers more competent than a metallic creature incapable of speech. This artifact is mostly important as a Chthonic marvel, and to placate our captors; if it is destroyed, we will simply have to explain the failure of our mission. They will not trap us down here, their masters would never tolerate such a waste of valuable slaves."
Name: Nyw'geuq Otin Sunam; calls himself "The Lords' Child"
Description:
((Without the murakumos.))
Goal: Inscrutable, which is code for "Explicitly stated goals are a boring way to get across what should be plain by roleplay".
Stats:Str:14
Dex:8
Spe:10
End:14
Awa:13
Cun:8
Kno:6
Ner:10
Skills:Unarmed: +1
Defense Skill: +3 (Full Plate)
Vehicle Skill: +1
Caving: +1
Navigation: +1
Inventory:
Full Plate Armor (Protective 4)
Ornamental Mask of the Child
"I'm sorry, I- Thank you for trying to calm me and protect me. It's just..."
Kara sighed.
"I can't- I can't just trust a bunch of strangers with my life. If they chose someone like me or a Diver stupid enough to get possessed or-" Kara stopped herself before she started giving examples about those present "-how can I know anyone is competent? Or even sane?"
Try experimenting with my Crystal Friend. Could I stick its legs in the wall and use it as an anchor to help me and the others climb? I know it's a long shot, but if I'm lucky the legs will be more Resistant to perpendicular than vertical forces or this surface will offer better traction or something.
Regardless, climb up towards the noise. Every time I reach a landing, wait and help the others get up before moving on.
Name: "Kara" is what most humans call her, though the closest pronunciation would be Kr'ra-Kax
Race: Corven (advantage for climb, disadvantage for falls)
Appearance: She is a crow-like Corven with matte-black feathers. A bit short. Constantly moves her head around, examining her surroundings. Moves her tail up and down whenever she's excited.
Age: Adult, but just barely
Goal: Wants to find artifacts and experiences that she can use to make an (under)world-famous museum. Wants to prove herself to her mother and piss off her brother with her success (both financially and socially).
StatsStr:8
Dex:13
Spe:13
End:6
Awa:12
Cun:10
Kno:8 + 3 = 11
Ner:10
SkillsRifle: 1
Medical: 1
Translate: 1
Acrobatics: 1
Caving: 1
Machine Control: 1
Stealth: 1
Geology: 1
Archeology: 1
Navigation: 1
InventoryCrystal Friend (wearing shirt)
Ethral Rifle (rifle 3, pierce 3) 7/7
Field Lighter (Fire 2)
Simple Clothes (no shirt)
Kara's Diary
Kara places the crystal thing down and it immediately tries to take off up the spiral. Much to her surprise when she grabs hold and tries to slow it down, it just keeps going completely unabated. She puts her whole weight behind it and nothing, it just keeps going, dragging her along with it. It apparently has somewhere it would very much like to be and that place is at the top of this spiral. Kara quickly signals the rest of the group via some panicked squawking and clings onto the crystal as it skitters up the spiral. The rest of the group follows behind; they have a harder time dealing with the steep ascent but they manage to keep going, if nowhere near as fast as Kara and her new mount.
The crystal follows the spiral up, ignoring any side paths, and eventually comes to its end at what is apparently the zenith of the tower. There is another solid doorway here, but it has been blown open, much like the one before, and leads out to a walkway. The walkway stretches out like a strand of petrified spider web, connecting this tower to others. The towers rise like knife blades from the molten lake below and this walkway connects to dozens of others that crisscross erratically between them. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to how the walkways are arranged and they look equally organic and crystalline as everything else.
The crystal walks over to the damaged door and stops, almost as though it is staring at the structure. Slowly the stone begins to flow, cracks knitting and chunks rolling back and connecting to the whole. Out across the walkways, Kara spots the possessed lady, gliding up a nearby walkway towards the central tower.
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Topic: DIG: Heresy (Read 410554 times)