JimBee Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 "I wouldn't call in any favors with the Bonies after wiping out their secret military base. And assassinating one of their admirals. And stealing his ship." "How about saving the rest of the fleet from being attacked by necromancers controlling this base?" Hybros rotates the first slot to ship.
Scubacarrot Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 "I wouldn't call in any favors with the Bonies after wiping out their secret military base. And assassinating one of their admirals. And stealing his ship." "By all accounts their admiral is in league with or is controlled by a fanatic cult. I doubt they're going to give us grief over bringing him to justice for his crimes. You're underestimating the Bonapartes' understanding of how Heroica operates."
UsernameMDM Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 Hoke couldn't help but peek over his shoulder. "Try rotating the 3rd slot to what you want, then the second, then the first."
Myrddyn Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 "Hmm..." Erik peers at the rotating tiles, then puts some of his potions on the floor in groups of three. "I think -" He looks up at the combination lock. "Oh, you've done it have you? Well done."
UsernameMDM Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 Hoke hears Hybros click the last slot right as he gave his advice.
UsernameMDM Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 FYI - Hoke's levels are measured in fifths now. So, it should be Level then . (Point) 2/4/6/8.
CMP Posted June 18, 2015 Author Posted June 18, 2015 "How about saving the rest of the fleet from being attacked by necromancers controlling this base?" Hybros rotates the first slot to ship. The lock clicks, and the door unlocks. "According to the cadets they've been sitting around here for three days. Whatever they want, I don't think the Bonapartes proper have anything to do with it." "By all accounts their admiral is in league with or is controlled by a fanatic cult. I doubt they're going to give us grief over bringing him to justice for his crimes. You're underestimating the Bonapartes' understanding of how Heroica operates." "Maybe. I just have no interest in dealing with them when me and my crew are still wanted. But I suppose once we're gone you can do what you like." The party enters the office...and the room is in pretty stark contrast to the unrelenting darkness of the torture chamber many of them have now seen. A simple desk sits in the corner, and a Bonaparte banner hangs off the wall. The only truly troubling item was a staff sitting in the center room, darkness coalesced around it, the red end pulsating not unlike a beating, emaciated heart.
-obelix- Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 Thalion approaches and picks up the staff and silver sparkling thing on the left side of the room. Then he moves to the right and inspects the crate and barrel.
UsernameMDM Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 (edited) "Not sure I would pick that up Thalion." Hoke inspects the desk (cup, document, gloves, candle & possible drawers/compartments), banner and wall behind the banner. Edited June 18, 2015 by UsernameMDM
Emjajoas Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 Mortimer walks up to the desk, inspecting what's on it. He picks up the gloves in order to get to what looks like paper underneath.
Myrddyn Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 Erik tries to approach the staff before Thalion, and spends an ether point trying to feel what kind of enchantments or spells are in it with his spellcasting skills.
CMP Posted June 19, 2015 Author Posted June 19, 2015 One at a time, jeez. Thalion approaches and picks up the staff and silver sparkling thing on the left side of the room. Then he moves to the right and inspects the crate and barrel. As Thalion touched the staff, his fingers became numb. The image of an impossibly dark void flooded his mind, leaving him permanently afraid for the foreseeable future. I examine behind the banner. To Dyric's surprise, there's actually nothing behind the banner. Hoke inspects the desk (cup, document, gloves, candle & possible drawers/compartments), banner and wall behind the banner. Hoke finds a small stack of paper labelled Memoirs - The Story of Rear Admiral Herman Melville, authored by Rear Admiral Herman Melville. There are no drawers. Mortimer walks up to the desk, inspecting what's on it. He picks up the gloves in order to get to what looks like paper underneath. Mortimer picks up the gloves. Carpenter's Gloves (Enhancement is automatically successful, traps deal double damage, handwear, suitable for artisans) Erik tries to approach the staff before Thalion, and spends an ether point trying to feel what kind of enchantments or spells are in it with his spellcasting skills. Erik doesn't make it in time to help out Thalion, but he spends 1 ether probing the staff for spells. His mind is nearly overwhelmed by the number of disturbing, some ancient enchantments that have been placed upon it. This weapon is clearly at least a thousand years old, but the sheer amount of dark magic surrounding it makes it hard to tell exactly when. He does determine that the 'heart' at the end of the staff might not be too far off a metaphor. In fact, his shamanistic blood magic tells him there might be more than just that lying around. The staff pulsates, exuding an excessively cold black aura that chills the entire party...and also reveals some questionable renovations Melville seems to have made to his office at some point. Knife-Tongue is speechless. Melvin mumbles something under his breath in dwarvish and looks away from the scene. "...This- this is- what the hell is this?"
UsernameMDM Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 "I don't think sanity is in this place anymore." Hoke looks over the document for any useful information.
The Legonater Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 I balk at the sight, but let my investigative background take over. Does anyone recognize those circles? They mathematical in nature, maybe something nautical?
UsernameMDM Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 (edited) "I'm assuming those are Cold Circles," Hoke quips as he continues to study the manuscript. Edited June 19, 2015 by UsernameMDM
JimBee Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 Hybros frowns at the spectacle and gives Thalion a hand up, careful not to touch the staff that seemed to have strongly affected the elf. "There must be ancient and powerful magic at work here... unless this insanity is of his own making... The same symbol over and over again. Perhaps this Bonaparte admiral took his own interest in these dark arts too far..." While still supporting Thalion by pushing up on his torso (Hybros was too small to lean on), he looks over at the silver objects to try to determine what they were without touching them. "I'm assuming those are Cold Circles," Hoke quips as he continues to study the manuscript. "I never took the words so literally, eheh..."
CMP Posted June 19, 2015 Author Posted June 19, 2015 (edited) While still supporting Thalion by pushing up on his torso (Hybros was too small to lean on), he looks over at the silver objects to try to determine what they were without touching them. Hybros can't tell what most of them are. A few of them have the strange sigil carved into them. He spots a few clamps that on close inspection appear to be about the size of the haft of the staff on the table. Melville appears to have been experimenting on the staff. Illdria walks over, glancing at the instruments and at the weapon with a bit of a wince. "That looks...a little bit like the staff Jules used to carry, but it was just a staff back then, not...whatever this is." He manages to dig up a scrap of hastily scribbled-on parchment. The increasingly familiar sigil of the Circle is scrawled on it, with some other additions. "I don't think sanity is in this place anymore." Hoke looks over the document for any useful information. "Ye can say that again." Melvin shivers. Hoke leafs through the memoirs. The earliest details Melville's life (in excruciatingly boring detail) as the son of peasant farmers in the Low Kingdoms. Notable incidents include a chance encounter with a seagull whom he dubs Soonavask who he describes as 'speaking' to him on occasions, and joining the Paladin Order. He doesn't get far before his strict adherence to the rules get the recruits he was in charge of killed. Melville advances quickly through the ranks by following orders to the letter and getting the job done no matter the cost. One page catches the dragoon's eye. He trains with Jules for several months before the senior necromancer vanishes mysteriously. Soonavask gets him into direct contact with the Cold Circle through unclear means, and they inform him Jules has left the Circle. Soonavask continues training him, also through means unclear. Hoke flips to the last page. A large, bulky envelope with a small note attached is sitting underneath the unfinished manuscript. Omen sits silently next to Hoke as he reads through the whole thing. Edited June 19, 2015 by CallMePie
UsernameMDM Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 (edited) As inconspicuously as possible, Hoke signals to Torc to advance towards him and Omen. He reads the small note and opens the envelope. Edited June 19, 2015 by UsernameMDM
Emjajoas Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 Mortimer pockets the gloves and leans towards Hoke, wondering what the dragoon found.
UsernameMDM Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 Hoke hands the manuscrpt to Mortimer as he opens the envelope.
Emjajoas Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 The warden squints at the manuscript, leafing through it gently. Scowling slightly, barely able to make heads or tails of the document, he glances around the room, trying to keep watch.
Myrddyn Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 (edited) Having seen Thalion's reaction, Erik is prepared for some nasty magic, but he still staggers back a pace. After the mental onslaught, he doesn't take his eyes off the staff, only glancing away when he hears Illdria say it might belong to Jules. The shaman reaches out a hand, clearly considering trying to pick it up. "Maybe... we should take it to him?" Wait is Thalion still holding the staff, or did he drop it when he got hit by the first psychic blast? Edited June 20, 2015 by Myrddyn
Scubacarrot Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 "Yeah... So that staff is clearly bad news. We should figure out a safe way to carry it." Guts inspects the clamps, to see if they would be used to attach other objects to the staff.
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