Gouger's Gulch (IC)

[Darian Redrath]

So soon to action? Darian asks. I don't mind. I'm always ready for the fight.

[Rhyvurg]

"Very well, we shall press on. I have horses if you need them, all you'll need to worry about is protecting my cargo. I have one wagon here in town, and we'll be picking up another one in a few days. If you need to do anything before we go, then do it. I'll be at the north end of town when you're ready." He tips his hat and leaves the tavern.

[Ralasha]

Jan merely follows, having already dealt with her pre-trip business.

[Iamyourking]

Serpent nods and follows as well.

[Darian Redrath]

Darian shifts the weight o his shoulders, now a comfort rather than a hindrance after a few years, and follows suit.

[Rhyvurg]

Their employer's small caravan consisted of himself, several unclaimed horses, a driver, and a wagon carrying a large metal container, featuring thirteen locks and wrapped in chains made of tarnished brass. "Simple work, no one touches the wagon, make sure we get where we're going. If someone gets curious, get rid of them. Savvy?" He mounts up.

[Iamyourking]

As you wish. Serpent shoulders his staff and takes up a position near the cart. Any intruders will go for the obvious warriors first, giving him ample opportunity to take them by surprise. While he's at it, he does his best to analyze the mysterious chest; in particular by using the use of brass for the chains as evidence that it may be demonic in nature.

Spoiler

Show

Int 5+Lore/Occult 4(9d10)[3][8][4][6][4][1][5][9][10](50), stunt (3d10)[7][9][10](26). Subtract two for Perception or one for Investigation if necessary.

[Darian Redrath]

What? This is all? Should be easy enough. Darian smiles as he mounts and looks around as if distracted as his eyes dart around to catch every detail.

[Ralasha]

Jan shrugs and prepares to follow on foot.

[Rhyvurg]

Spoiler: Occult check

Show

I don't think that's really a stunt, so Serpent knows these chains must have been made by, or from, demons.

The small caravan heads out, winding through the maze of canyons. After several hours, they're clear of the mountains. Chiracousco can be seen in the distance, like a gigantic glittering gemstone. their path heads northeast, towards Nexus, Lookshy, and the remnants of Thorns...

Spoiler

Show

Assume downtime in anyone wants to spend some xp.

[OracleofSilence]

Nasul keeps pace with the wagon as the Gulch is left behind, his mind more focused on the conflicted villagers then his current job. "Serpent, I'm curious. What do you think will come of this mercenary work? Why agree to it so easily?"

[Iamyourking]

Everything happens for a reason. We are buoyed upon the strands of fate, and although our kind possess the rare power to break them I find it is often best to simply follow where they lead. Gouger knows more than he lets on, and although you should not trust him either neither should you discount his advice. Still, he decides to consult his Gem of Omens to search for portents; focusing on the patterns of dust kicked up by the caravan to see if danger approaches. ((9d10)[1][2][6][10][6][10][4][7][5](51), possible stunt (3d10)[7][8][9](24))

Spoiler

Show

How difficult would it be to conduct a ritual augury to Mercury for omens of the trip to supplement the Gem? I'll offer to do that if it is something that Serpent could do without much trouble.

Serpent spends the next week taking advantage of having long stretches of time without distraction to think. He visualizes the patterns Essence forms when woven into a spell, putting his eidetic memory to work by firmly seizing every intricate detail of his most recent subject of study in his mind and methodically piecing it together through practice. Finally, he has a breakthrough and is able to create a small Essence construct that will swiftly fly to wherever he commands it and relay a message. No more will he have to rely on messenger services to relay his reports back to his overseers, and he promptly puts it to use. Although not really expecting a response unless it should prove truly important, letting them know his current status and providing as best of a report as he can on the cargo will provide potentially useful information for other Sidereals in the area.

Spoiler

Show

-10 XP on Infallible Messenger. Saving the other 4 for now.

While traveling, he also sets up a routine of evoking the Methodology of Secrets every night for insight on the upcoming day.

Spoiler

Show

You don't have to describe any visions that aren't especially important, I'll just assume they were convenient in some minor fashion.

[Ralasha]

Jan focuses on her surroundings, answering only firect conversation with anything other than a distracted response.

((I had a charm I was planning on learning, but cannot look it up.))

She still stops to perform her prayers to The Unconquered sun durring their journey at every proper, scheduled time. Occassionally having to rush to catch up to the caravan as a direct consequence.

[Darian Redrath]

Darian spends the days at every resting spot training with his daiklave to swing with greater strength and assured form. His nights, after more strenuous training, were filled with some light gambling with the caravan members and with light sleep.

Spoiler

Show

Grabbing Impressions of strength with Undeniable Might and spending two more XP to get Rock-To-Pebbles Attitude

[Ralasha]

Rawr? Jan begins exercising daily, generally performing Calisthenics when not otherwise occupied, learning to infuse her viscera with Essence.

After three days, she stops, somehow appearing to be in a far healthier state after such a short period than should be attainable in that time frame. ((Got access to resource needed.))

[Rhyvurg]

The group proceeds unmolested for three days, until they come to a river. Normally, there is a bridge here. But it seems to be...missing. The road terminates at the edge of the small ravine the water is rushing through, as if the bridge was sliced away by a gigantic knife. Their employer rides to the edge and peers down. "Weeeeeelp, that's unfortunate." At the moment, an arrow hits the wagon driver in the shoulder, making him cry out and fall sideways on the seat.

[Ralasha]

Which direction the arrow came from: (6d10)[7][9][1][10][6][10](43) Yay!
Enemies in that direction: (6d10)[4][5][1][4][1][10](25) Ouch!
Join battle? (9d10)[1][1][5][4][5][2][3][2][2](25) Crud!

Jan remains atop the wagon.

I botched with 9 dice!

[Iamyourking]

With the arrow only half way to its target, a premonition spurs Serpent to action; whirling his staff around into a ready position and scanning the horizon for the threat. Barring charms, arrows tend to move in a straight line; so a quick analysis of the angle it is protruding from the driver on should give a good starting point to look for the shooter.

Spoiler

Show

Join Combat: (1d10)[8](8), five auto successes due to Secrets of Future Strife.

[Darian Redrath]

Darian grabs his sword and prepares to jump to the ground.
(5d10)[8][4][3][4][7](26)

[Rhyvurg]

Serpent traces the arrow's path back to...a tree? standing at the top of a small hill next to the road. But the wagon is, for now, immobile. There's only a moment of silence before they're rushes, six men in chain shirts, holding a mixture of swords, spears, and a massive sledgehammer charge onto the road.

Spoiler: order of battle

Show

Serpent
Mysterious employer
Attackers
Darian
Jan and Nasul

[Iamyourking]

Serpent crosses his arms in front of him and releases them with a burst of green Essence, activating his Jupiter's Aegis technique and both giving his skin the toughness of mail and attuning himself to the fates of the attackers. Every blow will be met with one in turn.

Spoiler

Show

Combo of Joy in Adversity Stance and Optimistic Security Practices. Compassion is 3 for determining how many shields he gets. So you don't have to look it up; that's +6 to all soaks, 3 of the enemy's positive intimacies will be lost if they attack without spending willpower, and every successful dodge adds +1 dice to his next attack.

[Rhyvurg]

The hooded gunman draws his repeaters and slides off his horse. "Come on, are you lads the best Bloodthorn can do? Let's have a go, then!" He fires, but the human with the sledgehammer ducks his shot.

[OracleofSilence]

Nasul draws his sword, focuses briefly and then settles into complete stillness, interposed cleanly between the cart and the attackers.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Spending 5m 1wp to activate Fivefold Bulwark Stance. Until the scene ends, his Parry DV is immune to penalties.

Peripheral: 32/41 (9 committed)
Personal: 14/19
Willpower: 9/10

[Rhyvurg]

The mortals crash into them, hammering away with their weapons. Two are attacking Serpent, but are completely unable to touch him. The one with the hammer goes for Jan, swinging wildly. One spearman goes for the driver, who barely manages to throw himself off the wagon seat. One squares off with Darian, jabbing at him with his blade. The last two attack Nasul, moving to flank him and break his defenses.

[Ralasha]

?Jan spends 11 motes. And attempts to uppercut mister hammer.
Accuracy: (18d10)[10][3][7][6][7][8][9][7][10][4][3][5][5][6][4][7][1][9](111)sux counted twice when determining damage. 9 sux
Damage: (13d10)[10][8][10][3][10][8][6][2][5][4][7][9][8](90)sux counted thrice, and added to 20 to determine yards vertical distance achieved. 53 yards vertical distance.

[Iamyourking]

Mail provides excellent protection against blunt strikes, but a shirt leaves far too many spots uncovered. As their blows go sailing past, Serpent drops into a crouch and kicks one in the knee with crippling force before rising into a swing to the other's overextended elbow. Both should be more than enough to take them out of the fight without killing them; as a living foe can always be interrogated afterwards and they don't pose enough of a threat to warrant lethal force.

Kick: (10 Base+2 from dodging-1 flurry=11) (11d10)[2][4][4][7][5][1][2][5][9][2][3](44). 6 successes. (See OOC)
Damage: (5d10)[2][1][8][10][4](25)+successes. 2 successes+6 from attack
Staff: (13 base-2 flurry=11) (11d10)[9][1][8][9][6][8][9][1][10][8][3](72). 8 successes
Damage: (8d10)[9][7][7][1][8][1][5][4](42)+successes. 4 successes+8 from attack
Stunt: (3d10)[5][5][6](16).

[OracleofSilence]

"Cute. I don't want to kill you though." It was so easy, he could feel his body perfectly maintaining its balance, his stance fluidly shifting to remove any opening, as he launches a fluid sweeping attack at one of the bandits before allowing its momentum to carry his arm around, slashing twice across his second attackers abdomen. They had armor. The would probably live.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Flurry of three attacks, one at the first attacker, two at the second. Comboing Second melee excellency, and Hungry tiger strike. Spending 2 motes (personal) on the second melee excellency, and three on Hungry Tiger Strike (once per attack)

Attack 1 (15d10)[6][10][4][4][3][5][4][5][9][10][8][9][4][3][5](89) +1 succ, remaining successes count double for damage (8 succ)
Attack 2 (14d10)[1][9][6][7][9][9][9][10][2][8][9][10][9][2](100) remaining successes count double for damage (12 succ)
Attack 3 (13d10)[10][1][8][10][4][2][3][9][5][7][8][4][4](75) remaining successes count double for damage (8 succ)

Damage 1: (6d10)[6][8][7][1][9][5](36), 3+(8-DV)*2, minimum 2
Damage 2: (6d10)[7][5][4][5][3][4](28), 1+(8-DV)*2, minimum 2
Damage 3: (6d10)[6][1][3][5][10][4](29), 3+(8-DV)*2 minimum 2

Stunt: (3d10)[5][10][2](17)

PDV: 7
Personal: 9/19
Peripheral: 31/42 (9 committed)
Willpower: 9/10

[Darian Redrath]

Darian grins knowing that this poor human is in far over his head. His reaper flows out between the two to bailout the man's block in so much better form than he had when training as a youngster.

Darian's arms swell with strength as he swings his daiklave into the poor man.

He never was taught to take it easy on an enemy.

[spoiler]First strength excellency: 4 motes.
Accuracy: (18d10)[2][9][6][10][8][1][10][8][3][7][8][4][5][9][10][10][2][3](115)
Damage: (12d10)[3][7][3][4][5][2][2][9][5][6][4][8](58)

[Rhyvurg]

Jan sends her attacker hurling into the air, the unfortunate mortal flailing uselessly. A second later he crashes into the ground, very much dead.

Serpent deftly disables his targets, both men falling to the ground in pain but still alive.

Nasul downs both men, one of them probably dead but the other on his feet. His weapon drops from nerveless fingers, and he's losing blood.

Darian's vicious strike rips the man apart, the halves of his body spinning to the dirt.

Their employer doesn't concern himself with the wounded driver, his attention seems to be on the trees along the side of the road. He barely manages to duck another arrow coming from nowhere.

[Iamyourking]

Leaving his crippled foes, Serpent advances on this sagittarian tree, keeping his staff at the ready to deflect any arrows that come his way. If sorcery is involved he can try to dispel it, but getting a closer look is the best way to determine if this is necessary.