[LP] The Way of the Tiger. (Complete)

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Omegonthesane
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Post by Omegonthesane »

Smuggle him out, maybe we can get him some bandages before he unfreezes.
Kaelik wrote:Because powerful men get away with terrible shit, and even the public domain ones get ignored, and then, when the floodgates open, it turns out there was a goddam flood behind it.

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Darth Rabbitt
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Post by Darth Rabbitt »

None of these options seem great if we want to rescue Hengeist, but smuggling him out seems the most likely to work that doesn't just involve leaving him.
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Mr Shine
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Post by Mr Shine »

Carry him out and hope the timey-wimey effect doesn't affect us and continues to affect him until we can get Greystaff to make himself useful again.
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Avarice
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Post by Avarice »

And dont forget to take that dump on Sol's desk
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angelfromanotherpin
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Post by angelfromanotherpin »

You ease Grandmaster Hengist onto your back and make your way back out of the room.

(Avenger has the skill of Picking Locks, Detecting and Disarming Traps.)
You hasten along the corridor of still pendulums. It is not long before you are back outside in the bright sunshine, garnering curious stares as you carry the Grandmaster of the Temple to Kwon along the street. Then you feel Hengist start to stir. Whatever spell held him seems to be starting to wear off, however you fear that his wound will finish him when it does. You break into a lung-bursting run with him on your back, pushing yourself to your limits to get to the Temple to Kwon, but another idea strikes you as you race past the Palace crier's podium onto Cross Street: the Temple to Avatar is closer.

The healers of Avatar recognize you and Hengist and usher you inside. You wait awhile as the healers tend to Hengist on the white marble floor, casting spells of healing and working to stem the wound. You wait until you are sure Hengist is stable. The healers still have much to do, but one emerges with a small golden hourglass that Hengist had on his person; in his weakened state, it was all he could do to ask it be passed on to you in thanks.

Note on your Character Sheet that you have a Golden Hourglass. You may also restore up to 10 lost Endurance at the temple, and you may also restore any lost Inner Force due to your devotion in rescuing a Grandmaster of Kwon. You leave the temple with the intent to stop briefly by the Temple to Kwon and tell them the news of their Grandmaster. Hengist will not be brought to his temple or to assist in the cause until he has recovered. It is time to plan your next move.
Hm, makes me feel a little bad that we bypassed all danger with a Disable Device check. My guess is that this is the ideal second mission.
(Avenger is not returning from his second expedition since conferring with the Demagogue and Greystaff.)

Your expedition has brought you to the afternoon and you return to the Temple to Kwon to grab a hasty meal of porridge and consider your options. You are advised by one of the monks that Xlatoc has not yet returned with the thief who may know a secret way to infiltrate the Palace. You are also counseled that the Temple to Dama is said to be closed to all as final preparations take place for them to lead the army of Irsmuncast to the Rift, and it will avail you none to go there.

You may only undertake a course of action that you have not already tried.
• Visit Antocidas to try to get him to fully commit his forces?
Go to the Temple to Time to learn what happened to Grandmaster Hengist?
• Slip into the Temple to Nemesis to try to force Lackland to support you?
• Undertake some daytime reconnaissance on the Palace to see what forces you may face?
Omegonthesane
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Post by Omegonthesane »

Reconnaisance sounds useful; suspect Antocidas will either side with us or side with the winner, while Lackland is almost certainly a trap.
Kaelik wrote:Because powerful men get away with terrible shit, and even the public domain ones get ignored, and then, when the floodgates open, it turns out there was a goddam flood behind it.

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Mr Shine
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Post by Mr Shine »

Sure, reconnaisance.
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Darth Rabbitt
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Post by Darth Rabbitt »

Yeah, if anything Antiocidas and Lackland are probably in on whatever's going on and will rat us out for cash and Nemesis cred, respectively.

Recon on the palace.
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angelfromanotherpin
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Post by angelfromanotherpin »

You dress as an everyday citizen, hiding your emerald eye under a bandage and, listening to the chirping birdsong, you pick a handful of flowers from the park around the Temple to Kwon. You take to the roads, keeping the Edgeside wall in sight, until you reach the cemetery where stands the tomb of Lord Kalmon. You pass through the carved portals at the entrance, descending the dark steps until you are knee deep in water. It is true, the secret passages below the Palace have been flooded.

Back outside, you leave your flowers by a grave and set off to inspect the forces guarding the Palace.

• Walk along the streets surrounding the Palace, stealing glances at the guards and their patterns?
• Seek to climb the windmill in the north-east of the city to get an elevated yet distant view of the defenses?
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Avarice
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Post by Avarice »

If the copycat has issued specific warnings to the various temples for us, it is safe to assume the palace guards have also been told to be on the lookout.

Windmill
Last edited by Avarice on Mon Jun 20, 2016 3:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mr Shine
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Post by Mr Shine »

I think we're more likely to capitalise on something useful if we're there to do it. Palace.
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Darth Rabbitt
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Post by Darth Rabbitt »

I doubt that unnamed guards will be perceptive enough to both spot a master of stealth and disguise and recognize who he is, so palace.
Pseudo Stupidity wrote:This Applebees fucking sucks, much like all Applebees. I wanted to go to Femboy Hooters (communism).
Omegonthesane
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Post by Omegonthesane »

They weren't on the look out for Steve the Crap-Covered One-Eyed Peasant. Palace.
Kaelik wrote:Because powerful men get away with terrible shit, and even the public domain ones get ignored, and then, when the floodgates open, it turns out there was a goddam flood behind it.

Zak S, Zak Smith, Dndwithpornstars, Zak Sabbath, Justin Bieber, shitmuffin
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angelfromanotherpin
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Post by angelfromanotherpin »

You saunter around the busy streets, your right eye inspecting the defenses and patrols of the forces of Dama on the ground and those of Nemesis peering over the walls. Force-Lady Gwyneth – if indeed she is still in charge of them – has drilled them well, for there is little to exploit, but you do find some weaknesses. You commit their numbers and routines to memory, using it along with your knowledge of the Palace to form a plan of infiltration in your head. Once out of sight you sketch rough plans for infiltration on a piece of cloth with a bit of charcoal you appropriate when passing a market stall. Note the Charcoal Map on your Character Sheet.

You take a circuitous route back to the Temple to Kwon to ensure you are not followed.
(Avenger is returning from his second expedition since having conference with the Demagogue and Greystaff.)
You return to the Temple to Kwon again. It is late afternoon and the sun blazes lower in the sky. As you approach through the park you see the agitated figure of the Demagogue waiting for you, wringing his hands by the gate. he rushes over.

'Overlord, one of my most trusted people just brought me terrible news. Doré le Jeune has been arrested at the Palace trying to force an entrance to see you. They mean to execute him tonight!'

You can barely believe the Paladin has survived the depths of the Rift only to be sentenced to death here in your own city.

'We must hurry,' the Demagogue continues. 'Xlatoc has found the thief who will help you into the Palace.' You follow him inside.
You and the Demagogue hasten into the Inner Sanctum of the Temple to Kwon, where Greystaff awaits with a young woman. She is clothed in loose fitting apparel the color of russet, and beneath her auburn hair is a silver headband tied with a blue ribbon. On her back she wears a thin short sword.

'This is Csaky, Overlord,' Greystaff says, 'the thief who made it into the Palace.'

Her eyes flash. 'I am no thief. I am the daughter of a Loremaster of Serakub.'

Your questioning look is answered by the Demagogue. 'She claims to be your cousin, Overlord, the daughter of your father's brother.'

'I am your cousin. I sought you out when I heard your success at stabilizing the city. I found an inhospitable welcome at the Palace, and so I sought a way in known only to the blood of our family.'

You say that introductions will have to wait, since you mean to make your move on the Palace at once before any misfortune befalls Doré.

If you have acquired any allies in your preparations, you dispatch monks of Kwon to tell them you will be on the move immediately. If you are injured, you can ask Greystaff to cast a spell of healing. Although still drained from his earlier miistrations of you this morning, he can restore up to 5 lost Endurance. When ready, you ask Csaky to explain her secrets.

'My father worshiped Kwon,' she says, 'and it was he who taught me the secret way entrusted to him. My mother, though, instructed me in the ways of Béatan the Free. I am skilled at getting into and out of places, but I am no thief. More of a wanderer, perhaps.'

You ask her what she knows of the Palace.

'I will not tell you, but I can show you if you come with me to the Palace roof, as only a true heir of the Szeged bloodline can open the secret entrance. I have to know for myself if you are indeed the true Overlord of Irsmuncast or an imposter.'
You bid Greystaff and the Demagogue farewell and step out onto the city's streets with Csaky. It is approaching dusk, and the city is permeated with the radiance of the setting sun, casting long shadows. You walk to the Palace Road, and then behind a closed market stall you change back into your ninja costume, the Sceptre strapped to your back, ready to reclaim your throne.

'We must climb the wall beside the donjon,' Csaky says, 'then I can show you the secret way in. We have to wait until nightfall, there are too many sets of eyes upon us in daylight.'

You respond that you cannot wait until nightfall in case they decide to execute Doré. Soldiers of Dama guard the gates of the Palace with their customary diligence. On the walls are some troops of Nemesis.

(Avenger does not have the support of Antocidas noted on his Character Sheet.)
(Avenger does not carry a Bloodstained Diary.)
(Avenger does carry a Charcoal Map.)
You set fire to a market stall upwind of the Palace and watch as smoke drifts to obscure the view of the guards. With your reconnaissance information, you have a chance to use your knowledge of the patrols to slip by. Csaky sends her grappling hook up to the castle wall. You climb it and she follows.

You must make a Fate roll, with a +2 addition to your Modifier for this roll only.
6+4, Fate smiles.
You use the smoke as cover to creep forward across the battlements.. Out of the swirl steps an Orc guard and you slip behind to garrotte him. Ordinarily you would feel no remorse at such an act, but this Orc was a citizen of your city as any other, and you can only hope that this event does not portend blood to come. The deed done, you then make it along the battlements, Csaky still trailing you.
Csaky urges you to part of the wall of the northeast tower. It is late and the last sliver of the sun presents the city a baleful orange glow. She crouches and points to a hippogriff symbol carved onto one of the bricks.

'Only a true blood of our lineage can open this secret stairway,' she says. 'It was designed by your father's magicians as a means to allow the Overlord to secretly ascend to look out across his city and think of his people. Now, prove to me that you are really my cousin.'

You place a hand on the brick bearing the symbol and a secret stone hatchway opens. Each step in the narrow staircase is carved with a rune from the Catechism of the Redeemer, known dearly to the faithful of Kwon.

Csaky closes the hatchway, and then places her hand on the brick. The hatch opens again. 'I will help you any way I can, cousin.' Csaky leads the way down the narrow staircase that is built secretly into the windowless wall of the donjon. At the base of the stairway you exit another secret hatchway into the corridor. Csaky picks the lock of the main door of the Donjon and you check for any prisoners. There are none.

You share a glance. A silent moment passes as you consider where else an important figure could be held. The underground passages may be flooded, but they are also extensive, and you resolve to investigate them. The hidden entrance to those passages from the Throne Room is out of reach for now, as you must ensure Doré is safe before you can risk approaching the throne. You know other secrets, however.

• Go via the servants' quarters to a secret entrance on the ground floor?
• Go via the processional route used for foreign dignitaries to a secret stairwell on the higher floors?
Omegonthesane
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Post by Omegonthesane »

People keep track of foreign dignitaries. Servants' quarters it is.

Interesting that we actually could have got Antocidas' support for this specific mission.
Kaelik wrote:Because powerful men get away with terrible shit, and even the public domain ones get ignored, and then, when the floodgates open, it turns out there was a goddam flood behind it.

Zak S, Zak Smith, Dndwithpornstars, Zak Sabbath, Justin Bieber, shitmuffin
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Avarice
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Post by Avarice »

I think this is the 3rd time we've had a health refill while full.
Are there no potions in this universe? How is it so hard to get a basic run of the mill healing potion. They should sell them in bulk in every fantasy setting. Its common sense.

Even as Overlord we are given 0 extra help before setting on a 1-man-assault on a ninja hideout with the goal of assassinating a grandmaster and thats BEFORE we go to th ends of nowhere swimming through kraken pools and fighting artifact guarding bosses.
What - we didnt have enough of a budget as a king to buy tea herbs? We pay for palace expenses in talents - a unit of gold as heavy as an adult man. A single talent should be enough for us to take healing potion bath, we we still get diddly-squat.

Bottom line: give us some mama-flippin potions
Low profile and waiting have been the way to go in the game so far, why stop now.

Servant HQ
Mr Shine
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Post by Mr Shine »

My gut says that as servant quarters sounds so obviously right, then dignitaries is the way to go; but servant quarters makes more sense so go with it.
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Darth Rabbitt
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Post by Darth Rabbitt »

Servant quarters.
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angelfromanotherpin
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Post by angelfromanotherpin »

You and Csaky pass through a side door into a narrow corridor. This itself is flanked by a series of wooden doors and comes to an end with a single larger door.

'Hardly the homecoming you expected, I wager,' Csaky says.

'All will be set right,' you promise.

'Have you been along this way before?'

You shake your head. This was not the path for an Overlord to walk – its existence was merely a point of information. Numerous voices and clanking sounds from the door at the end of the corridor tell you that you are heading in the correct direction. The odor of spice emanates: ahead are the Palace kitchens. Csaky makes a brief check of one of the side doors to reveal a cramped cluttered sleeping-room littered with discarded clothes.

'It seems we have little choice but onward through the kitchens,' Csaky says. 'I could dress as a servant and try to empty the kitchens if you do not want to be spotted.'

• Agree Csaky should head in first alone to try to do what she can?
• Enter with Csaky, ready to command the Palace staff, if necessary as their Overlord?
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Darth Rabbitt
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Post by Darth Rabbitt »

Letting her scout ahead seems like a better idea than blowing our disguise.
Pseudo Stupidity wrote:This Applebees fucking sucks, much like all Applebees. I wanted to go to Femboy Hooters (communism).
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Post by Mr Shine »

Yeah let's not just march in telling everyone "Hi, it's me, Avenger I. Remember me?"
Omegonthesane
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Post by Omegonthesane »

Sneaky is best in this series. Let Csaky go first.
Kaelik wrote:Because powerful men get away with terrible shit, and even the public domain ones get ignored, and then, when the floodgates open, it turns out there was a goddam flood behind it.

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SGamerz
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Post by SGamerz »

Send in the doomed companion.
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angelfromanotherpin
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Post by angelfromanotherpin »

Csaky throws on a servant's discarded robes and enters the kitchens whilst you wait in the side room and make a slow count to twenty. You only reach sixteen before you hear cries of 'FIRE!' and footsteps f people pouring out along the corridor. A moment later, Csaky opens the door to your side room with a grin, casting the sooty robes back onto a bed.

'I even got some directions first, by claiming I had to fetch food for the prisoner,' she says.

You comment that with a few more such family members, you could no doubt conquer the Rift itself, as you gesture for Csaky to lead the way on to the dungeons.

You pass beyond the kitchens and dining room, into a wide corridor with a hippogriff mosaic on the floor. Shortly you come across the secret entrance revealed to you during your reign, a swinging section of wall. You descend the stone steps to the dungeons, lit by guttering torches, and your senses strain for any sign of danger as you see it is apparently used but unguarded. The first few stone cells are knee deep in water, and then the corridor sloped downward to become completely flooded.

Bones float on the water, possibly former occupants, or victims of the cruel Usurprer's reign. Through a door of iron bars you see Doré le Jeune slumped on a wooden bench: he has been badly beaten, but lives. As soon as he sees you, he holds his right hand to his mouth in a gesture of silence. Csaky looks over to you, and at your direction she gets to work picking the lock.

(Avenger did not replace Doré's left hand with a silver gauntlet.)
Csaky helps Doré out of his cell, but he grabs the sword from her back and plunges into the corridor water, stabbing at some unseen foe beneath the surface, which turns a putrid yellow. The water in the corridor stirs in a whirlpool and a horrific man-like torso erupts from it, knocking Doré back. The stench makes you want to retch and the sight of it is utterly repulsice: its skinless form is a pulsating mass of yellow veins, pale sinews, and sanguineous muscles. A single eye-like dark maelstrom is set in the center of its featureless face, and seems to draw you closer. It has no arms, but along its back are numerous barbed whip-like appendages that now lash across the corridor, blocking the way out.

You have no choice but to fight your way free, though you may deduct 8 from its endurance of 26 due to Doré's berserker attack. Doré slumps barely conscious and Csaky drags him back to his cell out of the way to prevent him from drowning. You must fight on alone.

• Iron Fist punch?
• Winged Horse kick?
• Teeth of the Tiger throw?
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Avarice
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Post by Avarice »

Kick it with inner force.

Also, please do tell what happens if dore was, indeed, a paladin of the silver hand. (kudos if you get this)
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