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

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 5:56 pm

You announce yourself.

'Avenger...?' he says, sightless head unmoving. Then he chortles. 'So the gods are cruel enough to send you to finish me. Be quick, then.'

You ask what has happened to him.

'What happened? I led the cream of Doomover on a long march only to be defeated by a ragtag rabble led by a man who worships that babbler of half-truths, Kwon. My humiliation was complete, none would follow me. I cannot complain about my punishment, I have put out a man's eyes for far less.'

You say nothing.

'Come on then, assassin. Why do you wait? Take your revenge and be done with it.'

• Challenge him to combat?
• Garrotte him?
• Ask him where his blade Sorcerak is?
• Ask him why he returned here?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:36 pm

Ask him about Sorcerak. It was useful before. Assuming we can ask a follow up question ask why he's here. After that whip out the garrote and finally finish what we started 6 books ago.

Avarice · Post by **Avarice** » Wed Jun 15, 2016 8:41 pm

Ditto.

Sorcerak->Why you here

Mr Shine · Post by **Mr Shine** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 6:13 am

Sounds good to me. Ask about Sorcerak. If that doesn't provoke a fight, ask why he's here if possible then if the only options that remain are a fair fight, garrote or leaving him alone choose garrotte.

Avarice · Post by **Avarice** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 7:19 am

Im gona add to the action sequence and vote against the garrotte. He is broken, alone and no threat to anyone.

This book is called Redeemer and we are likely to get punished for what is essentially murder.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 7:31 am

Continue querying until he gets bored, then leave him be.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:10 pm

Yeah, the disappearance of the sword was one of the unsolved mysteries from previous books. Let's resolve this one.

angelfromanotherpin · Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:11 pm

'Sorcerak is lost to me,' Honoric says. 'The blade only stays with the strong. You think it was my own men who blinded me? No, it was the blade, for I had outlived my use to it. I was discarded as easily as a warrior does a whetstone when it comes to battle.'

You ask him where the blade is now.

'It found another host, of that you can be sure, Avenger. Oh, and it will remember you. One day you will awaken with that sword in your gut. It was forged an age ago in the Garden of the Gods and sent by Vasch-Ro himself to be washed up on the stony shores of the Endless Sea. It is eternal, and against it even you will fall.'

• Challenge him to a fight?
• Garrotte him?
• Leave him be and continue on?

Man, an epic vendetta of man vs malevolent magic sword is something I would read the hell out of. Anyway, of the follow-up options expressed, it's two for garrotte and two for walking away, so make your arguments and vote again.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:45 pm

Yeah, the whole Sorcerak thing is pretty rad.

Thematically speaking, I'm still for garroting Honoric. He's the BBEG of most of the series, so killing him seems like an appropriate way to finish it off.

But I guess the real question is if he's more likely to try to stab us if we strangle him to death or if we straight up leave. And given that he's blind I'm pretty sure that it's the former.

Avarice · Post by **Avarice** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 12:51 pm

Im assuming the paragraph for leaving is the same as the one where you have killed him in book 5.

If its different, leave

If its the same, then with the goal of coaxing more conversation with the man, I vote challenge.

Mr Shine · Post by **Mr Shine** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 1:59 pm

OK, somehow I missed the line about him being blind before, "fair fight" indeed

I vote to let him go. It's probably the wrong in-universe choice for Orb as a whole, but for this book there doesn't appear much profit in vengeance, despite it still being our name.

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Thu Jun 16, 2016 5:32 pm

We've been plenty avenged for the harm Honoric's done to us. Leave him to find his own sharp objects.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 2:09 am

You turn and set off at a jog for Irsmuncast and home. It took your several days to march from the battlefield back to Irsmuncast, but without all the paraphernalia of an army you make far quicker progress across the verdant countryside. You feel a lightness to your stride, almost a return to your training days running on the Island of Tranquil Dreams, with the weight of command and expectation lifted from you.

As night falls you find yourself on a stone outcrop on the outskirts of a forest and sleep lightly. You awaken shortly before the dawn, the stars shining in a brightening sky as you jog on.

You travel on throughout the next day, stopping only for water and to pick some apples from the forest to eat. You may restore up to 4 lost Endurance for all the rest taken on your journey. By the end of the day an uplifting sight on the horizon lends vigor to your weary stride: the dull red walls of Irsmuncast nigh Edge, the last city of man before the Rift.

You change out of your ninja costume and into some threadbare clothes of a commoner. You walk past the farmland and meadows of various colored plants used in dyes, joining the last of the peasants returning to the city through the Great South Gate. They pass underneath the triumphal arch commemorating the victories of the people of the city over the forces of the Rift, and you allow yourself a wry smile at your successful return. Against all odds, you have made it home.

A half dozen Halvorc guards armed with pikes oversee the entrants to the city, under the watchful gaze of two Shieldmaidens of Dama.

• Announce yourself to the gate guard and ask for soldiers to escort you back to your Palace?
• Hide your identity, entering as humbly as you did when you first came upon the city?

MisterDee · Post by **MisterDee** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 3:30 am

Hide. Maybe Gwyneth went mad with power.

(more likely, I suspect some final tricksies.)

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:24 am

Sneak in, assess the situation, the official announcement can wait. I mean, we have the Sceptre but we're really not dressed for the occasion.

Avarice · Post by **Avarice** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 9:11 am

The following illustrates both the public opinion towards Avenger AND my vote regarding the situation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahUo8bo ... tu.be&t=2s

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:29 am

"Wait and see what's going on before taking action/announcing yourself" has been the best course of action throughout the entire series. So do a bit more spy work before announcing Avenger's glorious return.

Avarice · Post by **Avarice** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:38 am

I know subtelty is the more prudent choice.

I just really wanted to make that joke.

SGamerz · Post by **SGamerz** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 1:57 pm

Stick to being the sneaky ninja that we are.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:01 pm

You cut the skin above your left eyebrow with a fingernail, and then place a hand over your eye. To the guards, you will look as if you have accidentally cut yourself, and by cradling it you hide the emerald Orb that would mark you out. No one bars your progress as you enter the city, and you cannot help but muse that it seems like an age since you first entered the city barefoot seeking your birthright.

You walk along a rutted road, heading by the Green, which is dark and empty at this time, pavilions closed for the night. The mood of the city seems calm, with a little revelry spilling out from a nearby inn. The streets are lit by lamps hanging outside houses, a duty of every citizen after sunset. Unusually, you do not see any patrols from the city garrison.

• Head north to return to your private chambers in the Palace?
• Head east to attend the late night prayer service at the Temple to Kwon, to give thanks for your escape from the Rift?

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 5:41 pm

Give thanks to Kwon, because his Spirit Tiger literally saved our ass.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:20 pm

(...And instead, we'll walk in on a memorial service for Avenger who, as far as anyone knows, has heroically died in the Rift, with the throne usurped by someone else yet again.)

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:57 pm

Agreed. Pray to Kwon.

Mr Shine · Post by **Mr Shine** » Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:44 pm

Follow the plot to Kwon's temple.

angelfromanotherpin · Fri Jun 17, 2016 10:26 pm

You hasten east along the Edgeway and then turn into the park, moving closer to the cloistered monastery adjoining a church to Kwon the Redeemer, lit by torchlight. A monk nods at you at the monastery gate and opens it to admit you, and you bask in the familiar feeling of belonging in this temple. The monk begins to watch you closely. He seems somewhat hesitant, but accompanies you to the Inner Sanctum where the Song of Kwon is inscribed in silver on the walls. A group of monks stand awaiting you on the rush matting.

You ask to see Grandmaster Hengist.

'He has not yet returned from the Temple to Time,' the bald monk you recognize as Ederic says. 'He has been gone too long. Perhaps you know something of it? Although you look like Avenger, we cannot be too trusting.'

You heft the Sceptre and tell them that you are Avenger, rightful Lord of Irsmuncast, just returned from the Rift.

'The Overlord warned of an imposter's coming,' Ederic replies, 'and today none may leave or enter the Palace. It is at this time that you, who look to be the Overlord, appear to us. Yet I see Kwon's light shine in your eyes.'

You say that you know Ederic and most of these monks, for you helped to train them in combat. You point out a bearded monk that you do not know.

'I am Xlatoc, an itenerant monk visiting to develop my mastery of unarmed combat,' the bearded monk speaks out. 'I have heard that Avenger is a master of Taijutsu, having defeated Yaemon in combat. If you are indeed Avenger, then convince us.' The other monks step to the side as Xlatoc adopts a martial stance.

You must convince Xlatoc of your skill. You set down your Sceptre and other encumbering items, and then adopt your own martial stance. You must pick a move from your available list (such as an Iron Fist punch). Xlatoc does not trust you and your life may be in true peril. Still, as this is a demonstration against a brother monk of Kwon, you will not be using Inner Force.

The three forks from this page are 'punch,' 'kick,' and 'throw,' but before we turn to them we have to pick a specific move.