Age of Ruin OOC: Facing down destiny

[Lycar]

Yes Noblesavage, Orin is indeed trying to get Kaleff out of the way to better milk Ismal for imformation chitchat with a fellow noble.

Of course, it's Kaleff's own fault if he lets Orin get away with it.

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

At some point, someone's going to read those documents, so here they are for whoever does:

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There is a document dated a few days ago, explaining how the dominated Orin is going to be used to whip up support for the Wizard's Guild, saying he couldn't have killed Ravan Zere without their help, so that the Guild can continue to rule without consulting the elected Mayor. It tells Saigon that he should tell his students to help in the celebrations of Orin's deed.
There is a document about the crown that Orin brought back, that it's purpose is unknown, but that it radiates great power, and that on today's date, in the evening, all masters who think they might be able to help are to join the head of the guild in trying to find out its purpose.
There is a document about the murder of Orin and Sumner Kesh, and how the masters should tell everyone that it must have been Davethrans eager to weaken Qusa, and remind people that only the Guild can protect them. It also reminds masters to try and find out who actually sent the Devils.
There is a document, dated from today, telling how Ral Misari, the capital city of Khadoth has been attacked by some form of magic, killing nearly every inhabitant and animating them as zombies temporarily. The King has not been heard of since, and is assumed dead. A few survivors have brought the Prince, who is 10 years old, to Shavar, the biggest city in the country, and he is now under the protection of the local Archmage. Basically, he's a puppet ruler. This is of course a very long way away, but masters should stay on top of the news.

[NobleSavage]

As in that place we just passed, under 'quarentene' right?

[Ozzy_G]

Yes, that's the place.

[Ozzy_G]

Well, Draven, it looks like we've stumbled across the answer to why Khaldoth was quarantined; it was hit with some sort of magic, killing and then animating as zombies, almost everyone inside.

To avoid confusion, you might want to change this to

Well, Draven, it looks like we've stumbled across the answer to why Ral Misari was quarantined; it was hit with some sort of magic, killing and then animating as zombies, almost everyone inside.

It wasn't the whole country of Khadoth, just the capital city, Ral Misari, which you were told was quarintined. After all, you travelled through the country, you just didn't go to that particular city, as it was quarantined, you instead went east of it to find the small village where Azakan was.

[Lycar]

So who's this Moxa Kul guy and who was archmage of Shavar 10 years ago?

Or rather, who was archmage the last time Orin was around to know such things...

Know. Nobility: (1d20+10)[24]

Lycar

[Toliudar]

Moxa Kul is warrior caste in Ralm, an enforcer for his brother Desha, who is a powerful sorcerer, head of the archmage's secret police, and notorious torturer. As I recall (always dangerous) Moxa has a reputation as an amoral killer. And for that to be your reputation in the circle of Davethran nobility...

[Lycar]

Ah thanks.

Also Orin would love to know who his 'wife' is. Because he can't for the life of him remember having been married...

Oh well, a lot of things can happen in 10 years.

Lycar

[The Great Skenardo]

Probably Ismal has either forgotten/never believed that you travelled forward ten years, and is referring to the former Lady Stillwater, which might be an aunt or your mother, perhaps.

[Lycar]

Nope, not mother. Definitly not mother.

Ismal should prepare to be engaged in more chitchat later...

Lycar

[Toliudar]

What? Ten years? How long has Orin been gone from Ralm?

[The Great Skenardo]

Sounds like an IC question to me

[Lycar]

What? Ten years? How long has Orin been gone from Ralm?

... you may want to re-read post #531 very carefully...

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Ten years ago, Orin didn't know who the Archmage of Shavar was, since people in Davethra didn't get a great deal of information from Khadoth, the country where it is, since there's a big desert between them. The only practical method of going there was by teleportation, which of course isn't available to most.

[Toliudar]

... you may want to re-read post #531 very carefully...

Lycar

Ismal has some vague sense that Kaleff and Sumner did something ten years ago, but Kaleff's never talked with her about how old he is, and Sumner is...old. "The decade we were shot out of" could, as far as she is concerned, mean just about any previous decade. Hell, we can't even reach consensus about whether or not we died in that tavern three weeks ago - or whether it was a week ago, or three.

And on top of that, she's not even clear whether Orin is from this world or the alternate, or the timeline of those events. If he really hasn't been in Ralm for ten years - Ozzy, can I get confirmation of that - Ismal might well be surprised that he wasn't declared dead years and years ago. If there really was time travel, he certainly wouldn't have been registering as "alive" during that period, right?

[NobleSavage]

And on top of that, she's not even clear whether Orin is from this world or the alternate, or the timeline of those events.

I think I can help you out with this one. You must have missed this:

Eventually you reach a large hall. In the middle, on a stone slab, covered by a glass case, lies the corpse of Orin Stillwater. He is wearing fabulous robes in the Qusan style, and is bedecked with golden jewellery, and he wears a tightly trimmed, black goatee. You cannot see any wounds, but the robes are closed at the front, unusually for the style.

Clear everything up?

[Ozzy_G]

Black goatees are indeed how you recognise evil alternate-dimension twins. Also, occasionally eyepatches.

[The Great Skenardo]

Indeed. Ismal and Co. know that Orin went on a job for an archmage about ten years ago and when everything went wrong, he vanished. They also know that he was impossible to locate magically during that time, and that spies had only recently picked up a message between Khorik and Gareth, two of Orin's old associates. They were sent to find them at the rendezvous at the Bronze Cauldron.
...We may have gotten a little off-track

[Ozzy_G]

Tell me when your characters have finished chatting.

[Lycar]

Well Orin could grill Ismal for hours.. he has 10 years to catch up on... but we need to rest too so once Draven answers, Orin will be good until the next morning.

Lycar

[Toliudar]

Indeed. Ismal and Co. know that Orin went on a job for an archmage about ten years ago and when everything went wrong, he vanished. They also know that he was impossible to locate magically during that time, and that spies had only recently picked up a message between Khorik and Gareth, two of Orin's old associates. They were sent to find them at the rendezvous at the Bronze Cauldron.
...We may have gotten a little off-track

I love your optimism, TGS.

Since I'm pretty sure that Ismal & Draven have never spoken about what they were doing at the cauldron, then, we would have had no idea that Orin actually was at the Cauldron that night - or was he? Nor would Kaleff & Sumner have known that we were initially sent to apprehend their companion. Am I reading that right?

And, Ozzy, seriously - why wasn't Orin labelled dead after a year or so?

[The Great Skenardo]

Ismal and Co. refers, now, to Draven and Ismal.
The contact they had at the beginning explained that

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They'd tried passing the role of Magus onto the next available puppet relative, but it wouldn't happen because apparently the proper scion (Orin) still existed. somewhere. somewhen.

EDIT: Actually, you mentioned it in Goramesh that you were there looking for an Orin Stillwater, and Sumner informed you that it must have been to complete a ritual to summon more demons on behalf of the Archmage. Though how he knows, he hasn't said.

[knewsom]

Draven has also mentioned their purpose to Azakan in the presence of Orin as Bren, but spoke distastefully about it, and especially about Desha.

[Lycar]

Yes yes, it's complicated... maybe Ismal happens to have heard about things taking place roughly... oh.. 10,5 year ago at Govan's court. It's complicated ...

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

we would have had no idea that Orin actually was at the Cauldron that night - or was he?

Thinking back to it, he didn't seem to be.
There was a manacled man who looked very similar, and now that you've seen the slightly older, now dead Orin, you can realise that it was him.
But the real Orin you are talking to now, he didn't seem to be there.

Is Sumner ready to return now?

[Toliudar]

Ismal will circle down once Orin and Draven finish their conversation.

[The Great Skenardo]

Sure thing. Just have to finish gathering my ki reminiscing.

[Lycar]

We are taking Tharok's backpack with us of course. It is full of... stuff after all. Draven or Sumner could take it?

Lycar

[Toliudar]

TGS, just in case I'm missing something: since the fight, has Sumner given any indication of whether he still intends to participate in the ritual (or assist his "guest" in doing so)?

I'd rather assumed that with the "No more demons" comment, that he'd changed his mind. But, what with the dead and then alive again, there's things that get missed.

[The Great Skenardo]

Why don't you try asking?