Niu's New Resistance Team

[Kish]

We're done with the Azure City Resistance thread, I think.

That doesn't mean Niu won't show up again. But it does mean she won't show up in charge of another Azure City Resistance group.

[Roland Itiative]

Originally Posted by Ron Miel

Surely there are at least two other resistance cells.

They formed a unified residence here, but that doesn't mean they were all in the same place. And small, separate cells is a basic technique for resistance fighters. There are, therefore, likely still to be other resistance cells she can join.

Considering the leaders of the past separate groups were all in the same place when RC attacked, I'd be inclined to think they did all join the same base after merging the groups, no matter how bad a decision this is.

[Ron Miel]

Originally Posted by Roland Itiative

Considering the leaders of the past separate groups were all in the same place when RC attacked, I'd be inclined to think they did all join the same base after merging the groups, no matter how bad a decision this is.

Not the leaders. Representatives.

I see no indication that they all moved to the same place. And even a 1st level rogue would know that's a bad idea.

[t209]

Originally Posted by Ron Miel

Not the leaders. Representatives.

I see no indication that they all moved to the same place. And even a 1st level rogue would know that's a bad idea.

Also maybe Redcloak have attacked the different cells due to his Genre Savviness about the resistance or Thanh is dumb enough to move to a same place.

[Flame of Anor]

Originally Posted by thisisnotspam

Her new resistance team will include:

1 Dashing Swordsman and his airship crew
1 Dwarven female cleric of Loki
2 Contract killers (1 human 1 dwarf)
1 Gnome Druid and 1 Half elf wizard
1 Human wizard girl and her ghost dad
1 Human male cleric of Loki
2 Lawyers
1 Paladin without a bard servant

Originally Posted by Draconi Redfir

Ohhh now that would be fun until Redcloak massacred them all

Fixed that for you.

[Doxkid]

[quote=Mutant Sheep;12528546
This, to get a human level 5 fighter/rogue. Who could be a poly morphed spy.[/QUOTE]

Well...there are a lot of ways this is correct:

* She would need to be of some significance to bother entering enemy territory at all for. A general, a commander, powerful by her own ability, connected to someone powerful, knowledgeable about someone powerful...

* They would not need to actually go to her to get any and all information she has. Teleport is a 5th level spell. So is Sending. And Dream. and Nightmare.

While Teleport is the most common of those spells for an arcane caster, likely to be taken by any that can get it, Sending is also a well known and well used. Added to that, Sending is on the Cleric spell list as well. As a 4th level spell.

Basically, instead of even thinking about having someone cast a Teleport, the smart thing would be to load everyone up with Sending one morning and have them cast it at her all day long. She can even talk normally; they'll have spells to spare.

Run out of Sendings? Do it again tomorrow. And the day after that.

* Now, someone said finding out whether she is a spy is easy...and it could be, if you have the right spells/items/people. How will you check though? Teleport to her?

Getting directions for the Teleport would take a Sending in and of itself, then you have to worry about an epic lich and a city of Goblins one shotting you. Not worth it.

[Draconi Redfir]

Originally Posted by Flame of Anor

Fixed that for you.

Maybe more as a general adventuring party then a resistance group then.

Originally Posted by Doxkid

Getting directions for the Teleport would take a Sending in and of itself, then you have to worry about an epic lich and a city of Goblins one shotting you. Not worth it.

Wich would be exactly why she is leaving the city.

[archon_huskie]

Originally Posted by Mutant Sheep

I direct you to this neat list of the resources required.

This, to get a human level 5 fighter/rogue. Who could be a poly morphed spy.

Again. Neglible.

No reason not to do it for one's allies.

[Adoendithas]

Originally Posted by Flame of Anor

Fixed that for you.

But how would Redcloak be able to kill Eugene or Julia? The blood oath is still binding them to kill Xykon. Plus, Eugene's already dead.

And the lawyers have a restraining order. You can't beat that.

[Kish]

Belkar did.

So Redcloak would probably need to call in Xykon to deal with the lawyers.

[The Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by Ron Miel

Not the leaders. Representatives.

I see no indication that they all moved to the same place. And even a 1st level rogue would know that's a bad idea.

Thanh said "the Resistance is dead". That's a pretty clear indicator that there are no more cells.

[Dr.Epic]

Originally Posted by t209

Maybe curious adventurers, risktakers, nomads, exiled warrior clans or dumb dudes.

"Oh, hello there. My entire resistance group was easily exterminated by the enemy who number in the thousands and are commanded by (near-)epic level, evil spell casters. They are highly organized, and our number will only be in the dozens. Want to risk your life and possible soul venturing into enemy lands on a mission with virtually no chance of success and no payoff?

"Why are you fleeing away from me?"

[t209]

Originally Posted by Dr.Epic

"Oh, hello there. My entire resistance group was easily exterminated by the enemy who number in the thousands and are commanded by (near-)epic level, evil spell casters. They are highly organized, and our number will only be in the dozens. Want to risk your life and possible soul venturing into enemy lands on a mission with virtually no chance of success and no payoff?

"Why are you fleeing away from me?"

Maybe an escape party like in Left 4 dead and LEft 4 dead 2 (like running through hostile area by hiding, nomading, and running to other countries.

[Draconi Redfir]

Originally Posted by t209

Maybe an escape party like in Left 4 dead and LEft 4 dead 2 (like running through hostile area by hiding, nomading, and running to other countries.

She's already outside of the city as far as we can tell (fleeing the mountains, pretty sure azure city did not include mountains) So with exception to perhaps outer-city goblinoid patrols and/or goblinoid civilians setting up farms or such, all of which she could easily sneak past, there really is no point. Really all she needs to do is leave Gobbotopia boarders and she's home free. (Considering the fact that as far as we know Redcloak doesn't know she's still alive, and if he does he just doesn’t care)


Honestly i think she's just going to make her way to the closest human port-city, most likely cliffport, use the scroll to contact Hinjo, and include were she is so one of the fleet ships can come pick her up.

[martianmister]

Mongolian hordes. Lots of lots of mongolian hordes. With a mongolian warrior chief. They will conquer Gobbotopia and rename it as Mongolitopia. Because that makes so much sense.

Also ponies.

[skaddix]

Originally Posted by Kish

Belkar did.

So Redcloak would probably need to call in Xykon to deal with the lawyers.

belkar is chaotic evil, restraining orders have no effect. redcloak is lawful evil so it does affect him but yeah no problem for Xykon

[t209]

So Niu will go

Spoiler

My name is Niu and I will have my revenge!

[SoC175]

Originally Posted by AniThyng

and they'll overlook the whole human slavery bit by making half hearted entreaties to change it via "economic engagement"

Rather they do not care at all about the whole human slavery as long as they can have trade and profit. "But we're really trying to change them via economic engagement" is just standard excuse a nation gives to third parties that are calling them out for having trade relationships with dictatorships.

[Gift Jeraff]

Heh. Funny thread title if you've been pronouncing Niu the same way I have. ("Nyoo")

Originally Posted by thisisnotspam

Her new resistance team will include:

1 Dashing Swordsman and his airship crew
1 Dwarven female cleric of Loki
2 Contract killers (1 human 1 dwarf)
1 Gnome Druid and 1 Half elf wizard
1 Human wizard girl and her ghost dad
1 Human male cleric of Loki
2 Lawyers
1 Paladin without a bard servant

Don't forget:

1 Elven wizard and his/her kobold ranger sidekick
2 Bounty hunters (1 lizardfolk 1 half-dragon)
2 Flumph lawyers
1 Half-orc barbarian and a riding dog
1 Goblin female raised by non-goblins

[Flame of Anor]

Originally Posted by Adoendithas

But how would Redcloak be able to kill Eugene or Julia? The blood oath is still binding them to kill Xykon.

So? It's not like a Blood Oath means you can't be killed except for by the subject.

[Dr.Epic]

Originally Posted by t209

Maybe an escape party like in Left 4 dead and LEft 4 dead 2 (like running through hostile area by hiding, nomading, and running to other countries.

Still doesn't change the risk involved. Very little people are going to join this crusade going into enemy lands.

The last resistance group lived in the occupied area and were there when they took over. They were compelled to fight back as it was their home and they were flung into the conflict.

[Narren]

Originally Posted by Ron Miel

Surely there are at least two other resistance cells.

They formed a unified residence here, but that doesn't mean they were all in the same place. And small, separate cells is a basic technique for resistance fighters. There are, therefore, likely still to be other resistance cells she can join.

I agree that this is a good idea, but Thanh explicitly states that the resistance is dead. I think we can interpret that to mean that there aren't two other cells biding their time.

Originally Posted by Doxkid

Well...there are a lot of ways this is correct:

* She would need to be of some significance to bother entering enemy territory at all for. A general, a commander, powerful by her own ability, connected to someone powerful, knowledgeable about someone powerful...

* They would not need to actually go to her to get any and all information she has. Teleport is a 5th level spell. So is Sending. And Dream. and Nightmare.

While Teleport is the most common of those spells for an arcane caster, likely to be taken by any that can get it, Sending is also a well known and well used. Added to that, Sending is on the Cleric spell list as well. As a 4th level spell.

Basically, instead of even thinking about having someone cast a Teleport, the smart thing would be to load everyone up with Sending one morning and have them cast it at her all day long. She can even talk normally; they'll have spells to spare.

Run out of Sendings? Do it again tomorrow. And the day after that.

* Now, someone said finding out whether she is a spy is easy...and it could be, if you have the right spells/items/people. How will you check though? Teleport to her?

Getting directions for the Teleport would take a Sending in and of itself, then you have to worry about an epic lich and a city of Goblins one shotting you. Not worth it.

How is spamming sending each day easier than just retrieving her and debriefing her. And if they suspect that she's a spy, there are plenty of ways to discern her identity. And if she is, great! You caught a spy!

[Yendor]

Nobody's contacting Niu with Sending or anything like it; she's had Cloister cast on her every few weeks. Oh, and Cliffport is over a thousand miles away, so she's not getting there any time soon.

[Doxkid]

Originally Posted by Narren

How is spamming sending each day easier than just retrieving her and debriefing her. And if they suspect that she's a spy, there are plenty of ways to discern her identity. And if she is, great! You caught a spy!

Scry and die tactics are limited, so whoever is teleporting would be going in blind. If it was a spy, they would be dead before they could feel betrayed, with little chance of getting Raised since their bodies are behind enemy lines. If what kills them isn't a caster that could kill all of them in one go, its a vary large number of Goblinoids. Even if they are all level 1 goblins, there is a threat there. If they are above level 1 goblins, well...

Here is what the target of her Sending WILL know, whether it is some kingdom or a group of paladins, etc. After all, if this is common knowledge to other kingdoms, you would think it would spread to militant groups like paladins, etc so there shouldn't be anyone out of the loop that she could want to contact:

The area owned by an Epic caster
It is filled with an army of mooks led by a second caster who is a very high level.
Someone wants them to teleport over to get picked up.
Scrying on the area is impossible.

That just looks like a bad idea for me. Mostly because of the threat of this scenario:
-
*Party Teleports in*
"Hi. I'm Xykon. Know what rhymes with 'Inappropriate epic encounter?'"
"Um..."
"Surprise rounds and quickened 9th level spells."
"That doesn't..."
*Quickened Meteor swarm. Meteor swarm* Total of 62d6 damage
-
Whether or not it's possible from what we know of Xykon's casting doesnt matter. In all honesty, you could replace the Quickened Meteor swarm with basically any quickened spell...Chain Lightning, Fireball, Enervation on the caster, Scorching ray...the list goes on and the outcome is always a party wipe. And that's just with evocation spells and Enervation, Xykons favored tactics.

Teleporting in to a dangerous area to get one-shot by a guy that wont even notice the spell slots he used to do it are gone seems... Vaarsuvius-ish, you know?
---
As Yendor pointed out, the Cloister was renewed semi-recently so we have weeks if not months before anyone would be able to Send back to her.

Would you be able to, in good conscience, ask a party to Teleport into hostile territory without any/much/useful recon knowing what I listed as common knowledge? For someone that could just as easily be Paladin Mook with a great sword #87, or bait for a trap, or a spy, or Xykon himself, or...

If so, I suppose we now know why there aren't many high level casters left, to paraphrase a certain imp.

[G-Man Graves]

To all the people saying things to the effect of "Nomads" or "Hordes" (Surprisingly, not just t209), let me just draw your attention to one thing. There WERE nomad equivalents living on the edge of society in this setting. They aren't going to help retake Azure City. Can you guess why? Answered spoilered, wouldn't want to make this quiz too easy.

Spoiler

If you guessed "They aren't going to retake the city because they are the goblonoids who took it from the Azurites in the first place, congratulations, you've won! Private message me to redeem your coupon for one (1) internet!

[t209]

Originally Posted by G-Man Graves

To all the people saying things to the effect of "Nomads" or "Hordes" (Surprisingly, not just t209), let me just draw your attention to one thing. There WERE nomad equivalents living on the edge of society in this setting. They aren't going to help retake Azure City. Can you guess why? Answered spoilered, wouldn't want to make this quiz too easy.

Spoiler

If you guessed "They aren't going to retake the city because they are the goblonoids who took it from the Azurites in the first place, congratulations, you've won! Private message me to redeem your coupon for one (1) internet!

How about a) False Flag Operation b) Bribe c) reward then backstab?

[G-Man Graves]

Originally Posted by t209

How about a) False Flag Operation b) Bribe c) reward then backstab?

d) None of the above are applicable.

Now, if you could explain what any of that means, as opposed to throwing around buzzwords that are loosely related to realpolitik, then I might be willing to consider what you are saying.

[t209]

Originally Posted by G-Man Graves

d) None of the above are applicable.

Now, if you could explain what any of that means, as opposed to throwing around buzzwords that are loosely related to realpolitik, then I might be willing to consider what you are saying.

False Flag Operation: Get an elf team to disguise themselves as Goblins and attack a nomadic horde who will (foolishly) attack Gobbotopia
Bribe: Persuade the nomadic horde to fight for Azurites in return of gold (or land).
Reward and Backstab: This is same as bribe but let them fight with goblin so much that they will be too weak to fight the azurites (especially the nobles).

[Gift Jeraff]

It seems you got G-Man's quiz wrong. The only horde living on the outskirts of Azure City that has been seen or mentioned is the same horde that took over Azure City.

I also checked the Azure City travel guide thingy in WaXP to see if maybe that's where the idea of nomadic tribes came from, and I noticed a part that says the paladins pursuing individuals into other countries has given Azure City a negative reputation. Yeah, other human nations helping out is looking less and less likely...

Though now that I think about it, those orcs were kinda on good terms with the Azurites. Would be kinda neat if they have to rely on "monsters" to earn their happy ending, but the island seemed very small so it's unlikely.

[Flame of Anor]

Originally Posted by Doxkid

*Party Teleports in*
"Hi. I'm Xykon. Know what rhymes with 'Inappropriate epic encounter?'"
"Um..."
"Surprise rounds and quickened 9th level spells."
"That doesn't..."
*Quickened Meteor swarm. Meteor swarm* Total of 62d6 damage

Wait...why would Xykon have a surprise round?