Final Fantasy: Crystal Quest

[Verdigris]

Wasting no time, August pads over to the door and examines it.

"Is everyone prepared? I expect once we open that door there will be no going back."

When all are ready, he slides the wooden door open on its hinges and steps through with his spear ready.

[Fawkes]

The door doesn't budge. It must be locked.

[Vox Clamantis]

Kormanser

I can ask S-scarlet to bash the door for us. Sh-she's pretty strong, kupo!

Kormanser appears to develop a slight stutter when he's very excited. Weird how that never seems to happen during a performance. At his command, the blood-red serpent reappears in the courtyard and smashes her tail into the door.

Spoiler

Show

I'm not entirely certain how Task Checks work. The wiki is a bit unclear. I do know that Scarlet has a Strength attribute rating of 80, so I'll just roll and let you figure out the results.

Task check: (1d100)[54] vs ???

[Glyphic]

Chara

Looking about the courtyard, Chara takes a moment to place one of Cornelia's treasured blossoms, and slides it into her hair. Looking to Eunos with a twisted smile, she requests, "When we do barge in, I hope you will announce us as heroes.."

[Emong]

Eunos

Eunos returns Chara's smile with one of his own.

"Oh, rest assured milady I will, I will."

Following that he flexes his shoulders and says to Scarlet:

"Hurry it up will you? I could have burnt the door down by now! "

[Fawkes]

At the crack of Scarlet's tail, the door splits, crashing inward. On the other side of door lies the entry hall, one of the larger rooms of the castle, with a very high ceiling. There is a corridor to the left and right of the hall, and the far side of the hall transforms into steps that funnel up to a corridor on the second floor.

As you enter the hall, you see Clemens and the princess, still in her formal gown, running into the left corridor. Before you can follow, you notice Cagnazzo running into the right corridor, also followed by the princess.

Two princesses?

[Glyphic]

Chara

Chara slinks quietly into the hall, her lips issuing soft whispers as she reaches to the folds of her clothes, "Reflections! Ah, weather unknown twins or impostors, the world muddles."

Though she keeps her eyes tilted forward, she draws a single silver card, smirks at it, then shuffles it away, "If we choose to follow only one, the princess, star boarded. We have the numbers to follow each."

Spoiler

Show

Making an Awareness roll. Rating of 50, trying to spot the princess. The tarot is just for show, unless Mecha deems otherwise. I apparently wrote down 'tarot' as a lore. (I understand many DM's wish to make awareness/hide/intuition in secret. Any qualms, Mecha?)
(1d100)[67]

[Emong]

Eunos

When the door is opened Eunos opens his mouth intending to fulfill Chara's request before closing it again in bemusement.

"Well, that's... odd to say the very least."

He rubs his eyes for a second before reaching a decision.

"I'm going after the one that went right, if anyone wants to come with me you had better hurry."

Eunos then charges to the right after Cagnazzo intending to stop him and figure out what the hell is going on.

[littlebottom]

"Unless some one can explain to me, which is the real princess. I'm going right too." Nowe says, and sharply follows on the heels of Eunos.

[Fawkes]

Chara is unable to determine the authenticity of either princess.

[Vox Clamantis]

Kormanser

Absently patting Scarlet on the head and dismissing her, Kormanser runs inside just in time to see both princesses.

I'll take the left, kupo!

He takes a moment to shed his peasant outfit, whipping his signature red cape out of nowhere and settling it over his shoulders. His confidence restored, he runs off down the left hallway.

[Hecore]

Pomog

"Two Princesses? Don't worry, I know what to do!"

"City streets and townships, yield unto me the secrets locked in your cobblestones - Mindia Rabbit!"

Spoiler

Show

Geomancy ability for level 1-8 for Town is Mindia Rabbit, which functions like Scan. I'll focus on the princess to the right, as it only works on one foe.

Oh, and as far as I'm concerned it requires little speeches like these to invoke Geomancy - because I know it doesn't really fit into the character otherwise, and I really want to give these 'invoking' sentences.

[Fawkes]

Scan Results

Spoiler

Show

Princess?
HP 10/10 MP 0/0
Weak: Bio

[Glyphic]

Chara

Turning her head back, she mouths to the moogle as her feet carry her away, "Kupo!"

Spoiler

Show

Best scan results ever, Mecha.

[Verdigris]

Somewhat aghast, August springs forward in an attempt to close the distance between him and the fleeing princesses. Following Kormanser, he will pursue Clemens and the leftmost princess.

"Wait!" He calls out. "We are not your enemies! Hold a moment, and let us offer our assistance!"

Spoiler

Show

Out of curiosity, how are you handling the practical concern of Jumping indoors? If you allow it, I would like to try and use it to close the distance between myself and the fleeing princess.

[Fawkes]

Eunos, Nowe, and Chara head off after Cagnazzo.

Halfway down the corridor, he realizes he's being followed. He spins around and draws his sword, as the princess cowers behind him.
"Stay back! I'm warning you!"

Kormanser, August, Kuna, and Pomog head off after Clemens.

Clemens and the princess come out of the other side of the corridor and are cut off by a group of three guards.
"It's the princess! Get them!"
The guards rush and grab them.
"Wait a minute... this isn't the princess!"
"Wait, please, no!"
The guards cut both of them down before noticing the party.
"Hey, who are you? Stop right there!"

Battle!
Initiative
Guard 1: 8+9=17
Kuna: 6+9=15
Kormanser: 3+9=12
Pomog: 7+4=11
Guard 2: 8+2=10
Guard 3: 8+1=9
August: 7+2=9

The first guard attacks August, dealing 8 damage.

Stats
August HP 37/45 MP 0/0
Kormanser HP 38/38 MP 28/28
Kuna HP 45/45 MP 11/21
Pomog HP 43/43 MP 0/0

[Vox Clamantis]

Kormanser

Shouting aloud in the language of magical beasts, Kormanser summons Valefor, the brightly plumed raptor. Even as its summoner fades into the ether, the feather beast raises its beak and gives voice to a shriek that echoes gratingly off the walls. Bolts of lightning play off its wings and then blast into one of the guards.

Spoiler

Show

Summon Valefor, who acts immediately.
Casting Thunder at Guard 2.
Damage (1d8+44)[47].
Magic Accuracy is 109. (1d100)[90]

Valefor is at 42/57 HP.
MP 21/28

[Northforce]

Kuna wastes no time in countering August's assailant.
"Burning sand and arid heights! Flame Strike!"

Spoiler

Show

Flame Strike 5MP
Hit: (1d100)[86]
DMG: (1d12+18)[25]

[Glyphic]

Halfway down the corridor, he realizes he's being followed. He spins around and draws his sword, as the princess cowers behind him.
"Stay back! I'm warning you!"

With her whip tucked about her waist, Chara eases forward speaking softly, "Hush.. let the moonlight calm your soul, and gleam our intention." Just beyond sword-reach, she genuflects to the Princess and the 'Noble' man. "We are guided by destiny and moved by the hope and honor in our hearts. See the way we shine."

"We come bearing no malice. We are to shine boldly on the blackest of nights."

Spoiler

Show

Can we see what's happening down the hall?

[Emong]

"We come bearing no malice. We are to shine boldly on the blackest of nights."

"Or at least no malice towards the princess" Eunos says glaring as harshly as possible at the 'noble'.

"However we are quite interested in why there are apparently two princesses now."

[Fawkes]

Cagnazzo cautiously lowers his blade. "...Decoys." He looks at the party suspiciously. "Who are you?"

Spoiler

Show

100 exp each for Eunos and Chara

[littlebottom]

Nowe steps forward and asks, "Decoys? Implying that neither we saw, are infact the princess? So where is the real princess?"

Spoiler

Show

(d100)[98]
do i need to roll this now? or would he tell us openly?

[Fawkes]

He tightens his grip on his sword, and repeats, testily, "Who are you?"

[littlebottom]

Nowe answers, to save trouble " I am Nowe, this is Chara, and Eunos. We are here as we are practically the only ones who seemed to care for anything other than our own lives. We have come to help save the princess." After this, Nowe hopes that cagnazzo would answer his last question too.

[Glyphic]

Chara

"Such an artless display. Why not just mug him instead?"

After shooting a stern frown at Eunos and Nowe, Chara redirects her attention to Cagnazzo, "I am Chara Moon-fang, and I follow the whispers of the Celestial Orb." She points a slender finger as she speaks, "These two are Eunos, and Nowe. Along with my companions down the hall, we number seven."


Still unable to discern her reality, Chara makes an effort to smile and gaze upon the Princess,"We aim to protect Her Highness, as the shadows grow and darkness unfolds upon our world. With Corneria's might, the evils Proteus and Hiryuu might accomplish are unimaginable, and yet the threat of such is no shadow."

"We would like very much to see Her Highness safe, and to restore order to this World and city."

Spoiler

Show

If we need a social check after that botch, here we go.
(1d100)[41]

[Emong]

Eunos returns Chara's frown with a look that's a bizarre mix of incredulous and frustrated.

"I would introduce myself but it would appear that my compatriots here have taken care of that for me."

At this point Eunos draws his sword and glares at the noble for a second.

"You have no idea how much I wish to strike you down for the way you have treated others."

He sheathes his sword once more and lets out a sigh.

"But, at the moment it seems we are in need of your knowledge, so could please answer Nowe's question?"

Spoiler

Show

Let's see this seems a good place for a negotiation roll, eh?

(1d100)[73] against 50

[Fawkes]

Cagnazzo scowls at Nowe.

"The only ones? You think you're the only ones who care? There are people all over this castle giving their lives because they care! There's a bloody riot going on outside because people care! Councilman Halim is up on the damn balcony having a fistfight with one of the toughest men in the kingdom because he cares! If he makes it out of this alive, go up and tell him you're the only ones who cared. This girl's dressed up like the princess and running around the castle, knowing that they're going to kill her when they find her, just to buy some time for the princess. And I'm running with her, even after my own damn bodyguards turned on me. And now, while I'm busy fighting for my life, some holier-than-thou prick has the audacity to tell me that he's the only one who cares?"

He breathes heavily and turns to Eunos.

"And you can just go to hell."

[Emong]

Eunos quirks his eyebrow slightly at Cagnazzo's last remark

"And I'll be sure to let them know you're coming when I get there. However the problem we have now is that these decoys won't do anything more than delay the inevitable, unless the real princess can get to the other side of the continent within a day or two."

He sighs and gives a sad smile.

"But I suppose that you people already have a plan for that no don't you?"

[Hecore]

Pomog

Pomog lifts the little bronze bell with one paw and strikes it with the other. As before, a deep rumbling ring is heard and a moment later the ground around one of the guards is turned from fine marble into deadly stone fragments.

Spoiler

Show

Attacking Guard 2 unless it's already down, otherwise attacking Guard 1.

Accuracy: (1d100)[86] + 95 ACC
Damage: (1d8+24)[26] + 10%, Magic, Earth Damage

[littlebottom]

Nowe sighs at the cagnazzo. "when i said about us careing, i meant out of all those in the plaza, there was only us and the bangaa that even tried to help, i did not mean you" Nowe pauses slightly, his tone changing to a much more sirious one. "But, this is not helping at all. NOW either help us help the princess, or complain to us about your misunderstandings and let them kill, kidnap or do whatever they want to the princess... and it will be all your fault... get my meaning?"