I was mostly joking, yeah (and perhaps fishing for hints )
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I'd need to go back over the thread to figure out what (if any) Intimacy this scene should be building, but she can hardly fault Eris for being secretive and nosy. That's basically her job description too.
That's one of the reasons Eris is feeling a certain degree of sympathy mingled with the tension/fear/anger. Along with the sense of this-wasn't-quite-in-the-plan that she got from Sagacious Reading of Intent.
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Oh yes, definitely. If a Solar is eyeing you suspiciously, you want to know what they're thinking.
Heh. Good (from a personal-amusement perspective). And Isa knows Eris was running a lie-detector charm, then, as well.
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What, on the first date?
Pfft, you already have positive Intimacies to each other. I'm not withdrawing my bet.
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Isa probably didn't plan to reveal as much as she did either... but they already knew the basics, and Skandi would've been happy to elaborate (and get it wrong!) if she hadn't. Plus, Eris has high Charisma and lots of Investigation and Socialize.
Yeah, once Skandi walked into the room, Child and Isa's options for keeping information-that's-general-knowledge-for-Lunars away from Zhou and Orchid pretty much vanished. Which is actually probably a really good thing, because if the Sidereals stonewalled her, Orchid would have shrugged and gone to trade with Lunars for those data (Chimes actively wants to give her that info, and she also has a Silver Pact sorceress as a Major Contact). And if Sidereals had been refusing to tell her critical information, then she might have considered information on their identities/resplendencies/mission to be fair currency in those trades.
(And even if she kept their secrets assiduously, honestly, would you really want to let Symphony of Chimes dictate what Zhou and Orchid know - or think they know - about Sidereals?)
Also Isa did get some trust points with Eris by answering her questions; it's already made her more forthcoming regarding her own motivations and it will probably make the upcoming conversation easier.
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Ye-esss. It's been a... busy couple of days.
I have found it very entertaining though
EDIT: @Maugan, I had a rather longer post written (although, probably thankfully, not as long as the first time she recounted her backstory) but thought I'd stop and let Zhou get some reaction in - if he just wants to listen, though, let me know and I'll continue
__________________ PCs:
Spoiler
Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
(And even if she kept their secrets assiduously, honestly, would you really want to let Symphony of Chimes dictate what Zhou and Orchid know - or think they know - about Sidereals?)
Well, yeah, but Isa doesn't know she was going to talk to Chimes (or didn't until Eris mentioned it). I don't think Isa knows who Symphony of Chimes is, actually, which would be really bad if he weren't equally ignorant of her. But yeah; in-the-moment reasons aside, Zhou and Orchid know enough to start asking questions, and Isa wants to make sure they get the proper answers.
... some of the proper answers.
Also, just realized I forgot to address this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ifni
I'm wondering if Orchid's going to talk to Symphony or Isa first. Could make a difference, especially if she asks Symphony about who "the Old Man, possibly also known as Chejop" might be. Do you have a preference / would Isa have asked Orchid if they could talk sooner rather than later? (she did ask Isa if they could chat afterward, before she took off to the library with Zhou)
No real preference. OOC, if Orchid and Zhou finish talking before Isa is done with the others, it'd probably be more efficient to go see Chimes first. IC, I don't think they set up a meeting place other than Stormwrack's house. Of course, Orchid's house is public knowledge, so it'd be easy enough for Isa to show up on the doorstep later today.
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Avatar by Ifni. Thanks!
Last edited by The_Snark : 11-13-2012 at 07:21 AM.
You'll have to forgive Zhou his momentary incoherence. He's suffering from Charm envy
(Seriously, storing weapons Elsewhere is incredibly useful, but the Dragon-Blooded don't get anything like it. Well, there's a thrown charm that sort of does that, I think, but it's pretty much limited to throwing weapons)
__________________
"Not trusting me might be the smartest decision you made since getting off of your horse."
Kharal Zhou, Fire Aspect of Lookshy:
Image and avatar by Ifni, who is rightly awesome.
You'll have to forgive Zhou his momentary incoherence. He's suffering from Charm envy
(Seriously, storing weapons Elsewhere is incredibly useful, but the Dragon-Blooded don't get anything like it. Well, there's a thrown charm that sort of does that, I think, but it's pretty much limited to throwing weapons)
I'm not actually using a Charm, I'm using a 4-dot artifact (the Lab Coat of Infinite Pockets, aka orichalcum/starmetal infinite resplendence amulet). I have a ton worth of storage space (literally) in my delicious Elsewhere pockets, and I can store anything that can get through a foot-wide pocket. Fortunately, grand daiklave blades are ~ a foot across.
If you want to store backup weapons or just gear, I'm happy to donate space in the Pockets of Holding
(I mean, yes, I could use Summoning the Loyal Steel, but I didn't have room for Melee charms )
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Originally Posted by industrious
7 out of 10 Dragon-Bloods suffer from Charm Envy.
Thankfully, the boys at Malfeas Industries have the perfect solution! Akuma! Apply directly to the soul!
No! Bad! Leave the subjects of allll my positive Intimacies alone!
*needs to get E3 and learn Enemy-Castigating Solar Judgement*
__________________ PCs:
Spoiler
Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Every time I look away, OH LOOK A PAGE OF DIALOGUE @_@
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ifni
I'm not actually using a Charm, I'm using a 4-dot artifact (the Lab Coat of Infinite Pockets, aka orichalcum/starmetal infinite resplendence amulet). I have a ton worth of storage space (literally) in my delicious Elsewhere pockets, and I can store anything that can get through a foot-wide pocket. Fortunately, grand daiklave blades are ~ a foot across.
If you want to store backup weapons or just gear, I'm happy to donate space in the Pockets of Holding
Pft. When I designed a four-dot elsewhere storage space, my focus group insisted it was underpowered til it served as an elsewhere HOUSE with five rooms and implied plumbing.
I ship you/Anyone./Infernal Gardevoir from outside the playground, by Recaiden//ExtendedSig
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
It's not normal, of course, and what's actually happening in Comet Kicker's brain is that she's using regular murder as therapy for worse murder. There's a breakdown in the works and all it needs is one good, hard kick.
Every time I look away, OH LOOK A PAGE OF DIALOGUE @_@
Pft. When I designed a four-dot elsewhere storage space, my focus group insisted it was underpowered til it served as an elsewhere HOUSE with five rooms and implied plumbing.
Aww, that's awesome. I'm not confident in my ability to balance artifacts, so I just used the canon one - it does give me +4 Appearance as well, when I need it, and some nifty little benefits. I was tempted to go for the 5-dot version (more equipment-based soak that stacks with armor, and a nice uniform that helps in mass combat and is appropriate for a Dragon-Blooded officer and oh no Eris isn't indulging childhood dreams at all) - but I couldn't see a way to fit it into the backstory I'd written.
__________________ PCs:
Spoiler
Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Still. You're playing a Social Fu character here, and you've found yourself in a tremendously mixed party. Make the best of it. Remember - You're a Solar. Impossible is nothing.
[insert other inspiring phrases here]
Not that I expect the plot to allow us to seriously complete this idea, but forging an inter-Exalt alliance is a decent goal to work towards anyway.
__________________
"Not trusting me might be the smartest decision you made since getting off of your horse."
Kharal Zhou, Fire Aspect of Lookshy:
Image and avatar by Ifni, who is rightly awesome.
Aww, that's awesome. I'm not confident in my ability to balance artifacts, so I just used the canon one - it does give me +4 Appearance as well, when I need it, and some nifty little benefits. I was tempted to go for the 5-dot version (more equipment-based soak that stacks with armor, and a nice uniform that helps in mass combat and is appropriate for a Dragon-Blooded officer and oh no Eris isn't indulging childhood dreams at all) - but I couldn't see a way to fit it into the backstory I'd written.
I ship you/Anyone./Infernal Gardevoir from outside the playground, by Recaiden//ExtendedSig
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
It's not normal, of course, and what's actually happening in Comet Kicker's brain is that she's using regular murder as therapy for worse murder. There's a breakdown in the works and all it needs is one good, hard kick.
Still. You're playing a Social Fu character here, and you've found yourself in a tremendously mixed party. Make the best of it. Remember - You're a Solar. Impossible is nothing.
[insert other inspiring phrases here]
Not that I expect the plot to allow us to seriously complete this idea, but forging an inter-Exalt alliance is a decent goal to work towards anyway.
This is actually - more or less explicitly - what she wants to do. It's why she's been spending the last few years getting to know power-brokers in the region and (more recently) making friends with outcastes, it's why she took the risk of trying to befriend a soldier of Lookshy (er, no offense, Zhou). It's why she has Lunar contacts. It's why her reputation in Nexus is that she's interested in any news out of Thorns, and any news of the Anathema. It's why she regards the Cleansing as an opportunity as well as a threat, and it's why she's very interested in any clue as to what the Deathlords are planning.
(Okay, she hasn't been as efficient about it as you might expect from a Solar, but she had to adjust to living in an entirely new world, she was terrified of doing something that might reveal her identity and get her sister into trouble, traveling out East to talk to Lunars takes time, and the Cleansing is a really recent development - I had to get the timeline to work out, or I might have had a shorter gap between her Exaltation and the present day.)
I mean, it's not just Thorns, anymore - she wants to end the lies, more broadly (her Motivation is to reconcile the Dragon-Blooded with the Celestials). But certainly Thorns would be a good rallying point... (and her sister probably has a Thorns- or Deathlords-oriented Motivation, and of course Eris will help her).
Anyway, this conversation got Zhou to suggest doing everything she wanted and offer to help, so I think I'll chalk that up as a victory for Charisma 5 + Manipulation 4 + Presence 5 (plus of course Zhou being awesome) The actual aim was just to get him to regard the Cleansing and the Realm as potential allies not just as faceless bad guys, and I think she's done that as well. Yay! Honesty has benefits!
__________________ PCs:
Spoiler
Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
I ship you/Anyone./Infernal Gardevoir from outside the playground, by Recaiden//ExtendedSig
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thanqol
It's not normal, of course, and what's actually happening in Comet Kicker's brain is that she's using regular murder as therapy for worse murder. There's a breakdown in the works and all it needs is one good, hard kick.
Anyway, this conversation got Zhou to suggest doing everything she wanted and offer to help, so I think I'll chalk that up as a victory for Charisma 5 + Manipulation 4 + Presence 5 (plus of course Zhou being awesome) The actual aim was just to get him to regard the Cleansing and the Realm as potential allies not just as faceless bad guys, and I think she's done that as well. Yay! Honesty has benefits!
...wait. So what you're saying is, you've just gotten me to suggest that we work together on a project, which is exactly what you wanted us to be working on, while letting me/Zhou believe it was our own idea?
Well, damn. Apparently, I just got played. Congratulations.
(Seriously, that's hilarious)
__________________
"Not trusting me might be the smartest decision you made since getting off of your horse."
Kharal Zhou, Fire Aspect of Lookshy:
Image and avatar by Ifni, who is rightly awesome.
...wait. So what you're saying is, you've just gotten me to suggest that we work together on a project, which is exactly what you wanted us to be working on, while letting me/Zhou believe it was our own idea?
Well, damn. Apparently, I just got played. Congratulations.
(Seriously, that's hilarious)
Thank you, and I reiterate that Zhou is awesome Albeit it was kind of accidental... (I mean, he just suggested that they complete her Ally's likely Motivation on the way to completing her own Motivation - her original goal in this conversation was just to let him know where she stood with regard to the Realm, and to smooth over any future interactions with her sister)
But she doesn't want there to be any dishonesty between them, any more, so she's not going to try to pretend this is a brand-new idea to her - she's just incredibly happy right now that Zhou came up with the same idea independently, and that he wants to help. And he is genuinely getting her to think along new lines, and increasing her enthusiasm with his own passion for the idea, and he has resources/skills to throw at the problem that she doesn't have (I mean, for one thing he's actually a soldier) - her attitude is not "just as planned", more "this is more awesome than I could possibly have hoped for". Consequently, excited happy Solar hugs
(But yeah, the whole reason she's been trying to build relationships with outcastes and Lunars, and then moved on to talking to the friendly Lookshyan and trying to probe for Lookshy attitudes toward Celestials, was to advance her long-term goal of re-unifying the Exalted Host. And... then she found out about Sidereals. Sigh.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lix Lorn
Chejop Kejak: Wait, ****, really? Man have I screwed THIS up.
For Eris, being honest has very literal benefits, she gets +4 on social attacks when she's telling the plain truth (And hey, Chejop is perfectly honest about his beliefs, as a rule Less honest / more secretive about many other things, admittedly...)
EDIT: Pfeh, crushing bear hugs, I have Solar Resistance charms!
__________________ PCs:
Spoiler
Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Now, I'm halfway expecting to be greeted just outside by a strike team of Abyssals. Or possibly a detachment of the Cleansing - there is, after all, a Terrestrial charm that allows you to ignore intervening walls for listening in, and they'd probably speak Old Realm.
...I should probably stop with the jinxing, huh?
__________________
"Not trusting me might be the smartest decision you made since getting off of your horse."
Kharal Zhou, Fire Aspect of Lookshy:
Image and avatar by Ifni, who is rightly awesome.
Well, yeah, actually they won't I just discovered that the errata for Iron Skin Concentration included a change in the prerequisite from E2 to E3 (I did look at the Scroll of Errata for my Resistance charms, of course, I just missed that line...)
So, need a new Charm (I PMed industrious, he said to just pick a new one). I am currently leaning toward either Essence-Gathering Temper (since without ISC I can't cut ping down to zero, but if I'm going to get beaten up I can at least try to get some benefits out of it), or Taboo Inflicting Diatribe or Wise-Eyed Courtier Method because I just reread them and bloody hell. Also they might be useful in resolving Burning Waters' problem (using them on Nexus itself is probably asking for DENIED, but using them to redesign the major gangs in Firewander or some other related group seems like it should be possible). Any thoughts?
(If I have to pick right away I'll probably go with Taboo Inflicting Diatribe because it seems to open up more opportunities, but if people have comments/suggestions, happy to listen.)
Also, thank you for the XP industrious Power through hugs!
EDIT: Also, just a note, I made a huge edit to my previous IC post, because it occurred to me that I have a lovely excuse to use a Charm I haven't played with yet Thus, I am writing up a draft report on the scene of the fight (like I promised I would!), and including a nice encrypted surprise-social-attack message for Chimes (which may be completely redundant, depending on what exactly he was planning to do... Orchid's view of him is of a Guildsman who likes blackmail and has a clue as to what she is, which is coloring her reactions) I'll roll here in the OOC, assuming Zhou is okay with Eris taking the time to write up a quick report.
__________________ PCs:
Spoiler
Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
I'd just like to say that if Skandi knew you sent that letter, he would be cheering like mad and probably dancing around in circles, too. That's precisely the level of mind-control that Chimes needs, except he needs it on a more permanent basis.
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Quote:
Franks find that bloodshed and strife
Occupy most of their life--
The proper reward
For serving a lord
While ardently courting his wife.
I'd just like to say that if Skandi knew you sent that letter, he would be cheering like mad and probably dancing around in circles, too. That's precisely the level of mind-control that Chimes needs, except he needs it on a more permanent basis.
Aww, thank you
Although it's not mind control, it's just natural mental influence i.e. mundane persuasion... even if it'll probably cost 5WP to resist, if he fails the roll to negate surprise and doesn't resort to a Charm in defense. Or, y'know, he can take her very reasonable suggestion and play nice And this does assume he reads the report when she hands it to him - and that the meeting gets to that point - she's not sending this ahead.
(Eris doesn't dislike Chimes. She just trusts him about as far as she could throw a yeddim. But she's hoping he'll take her up on this; she would much rather work with him than against him.)
Now that I won't be double-posting, let's do some rolls, for future reference (if they don't come up due to e.g. Chimes not reading the report, that's fine of course). If I have any of the mechanics wrong, let me know.
Roll for surprise: (7d10)[4][8][1][6][3][5][3](30) Manipulation+Socialize
+ possible (3d10)[10][9][8](27) stunt
+5 sux from Letter-Within-A-Letter Technique
EDIT: ... wow. 1 sux on 7 followed by 4 sux on 3? I can haz stunt, please? That's 6 sux with no stunt, 8 sux with a 1-die, 9 sux with a 2-die, 10 sux with a 3-die.
Roll for social attack: (10d10)[5][7][8][2][5][9][6][2][9][10](63) Presence+Charisma
+ (3d10)[6][10][5](21) Negotiation specialty
+ (4d10)[8][10][4][8](30) Stone of Humble Glory (applies when she's telling the truth without exaggeration or deception, which she is doing here - she's perfectly willing to deal with Chimes, if he'll reciprocate)
+ possible (3d10)[8][2][10](20) stunt
EDIT: Now that's more like it. 12 sux base, 13 with a 1- or 2-die stunt, 15 with a 3-die stunt.
EDIT2: Or alternatively if it's just one stunt that applies to the whole action based on what I wrote, even better - in that case it would be 12/14/15/16 for 0/1/2/3-die stunt.
__________________ PCs:
Spoiler
Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Okay, so 9 sux to establish surprise (opposed by his Perception+Investigation roll), then 13-15 sux on the social attack (depending on whether I roll stunt dice separately for the two rolls, or not).
Reclaiming motes from the stunt, so that'll largely recoup the cost of the Charm, and I should regenerate the remaining 2m and the cost of the JET in the library scene over the course of writing the report + the walk to Chimes' place (I need about 20 minutes to recover 5m, and writing the report probably took 10-15, I figure the walk over will take at least 5-10).
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Are you going to Chimes's place or heading back to the group?
IC, Orchid could easily do either. OOC, I felt like maybe this would be a good time to talk to Chimes? But if other players - or you, industrious - would prefer us to come back there for reasons of OOC convenience, I would be happy to do that instead.
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Spoiler
Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
I think we're heading to go see Chimes. And I for one am still expecting to be attacked by something. The longer everything seems to be going well, the worse the eventual disaster is going to be...
__________________
"Not trusting me might be the smartest decision you made since getting off of your horse."
Kharal Zhou, Fire Aspect of Lookshy:
Image and avatar by Ifni, who is rightly awesome.
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Also, what's the bet the odd patterns on Chimes' house are, in fact, magical protective wards of some kind?
And/or messages of some kind, but yeah, the ward idea seems quite likely.
*whistles*
/clueless Occult 0 Solar
EDIT: Also, gigglefits at Mr. Subtlety Kharal Zhou. He's a good foil for Orchid.
__________________ PCs:
Spoiler
Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Aevylmar, I have to ask, is Skandi intentionally spreading misinformation?
__________________
He fears his fate too much, and his reward is small, who will not put it to the touch, to win or lose it all.
-James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
Satomi by Elagune
EDIT: Also, gigglefits at Mr. Subtlety Kharal Zhou. He's a good foil for Orchid.
What is this 'subtle' thing you speak of?
Zhou is mostly an experiment for me in playing a new character type. Normally, I play evil characters, either charismatic and manipulative (I once got a Paladin worshipping Asmodeus with nothing more than roleplay) or stealthy and murderous.
Zhou is shaping up as a much more straight-forwards kind of guy and, surprisingly, a good character. I don't normally enjoy playing good characters, but Zhou is proving to be tremendous fun.
__________________
"Not trusting me might be the smartest decision you made since getting off of your horse."
Kharal Zhou, Fire Aspect of Lookshy:
Image and avatar by Ifni, who is rightly awesome.
I can tell already, I'll be adding another scene to my Magnificent Bastard positive Intimacy for Chimes
How did that register to Judge's Ear Technique? All partial truths, again?
Also, just to note: she didn't mention her birth name to Zhou, she hasn't spoken her birth name (or her sister's full name) to anyone since leaving Thorns. In front of her god contact she and Fireva just called each other by nicknames. I guess Ro knows it, because he was posted in Thorns when she Exalted, and he acted as a go-between for her and her sister. So it's totally fine if he got it from Ro or based on information out of Thorns, or if he was watching last time her sister visited and figured out who she was (or used Charms to do the equivalent of any of these things) - just there are a rather limited number of places he could have gotten it, and each suggests something about his own resources.
__________________ PCs:
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Word:
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Snark
I must not argue on the Internet.
Internet argument is the mind-killer.
It is the little death that brings total aggravation.
I will face my annoyance.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
When it has gone past I will turn my inner eye to see its path.
Where the irritation has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
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Re: The Return of the Scarlet Empress OOC
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by Recaiden//
Albeit it was kind of accidental... (I mean, he just suggested that they complete her Ally's likely Motivation on the way to completing her own Motivation - her original goal in this conversation was just to let him know where she stood with regard to the Realm, and to smooth over any future interactions with her sister)
(I did look at the Scroll of Errata for my Resistance charms, of course, I just missed that line...)
