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Boretos has connected.
Boretos:
|
Is it just cris and me?
|
DM:
|
yup. Keenan isn't around today, and he
is still on his solo mission
|
DM:
|
In theory, this will wrap up this
chapter, and I can move ahead into summing up my current plans in
the world builder setting.
|
Christopher has connected.
DM:
|
Any prefrences where we go after this?
|
DM:
|
I will have a reliable schedual after
this spring, but I just want to take a pulse how everyone else
feels
|
Boretos:
|
If we get some decent closure, I'll be
fine with moving on to bigger and better things. If we want to
keep following this arc, we can too, depending on how this ends.
|
Christopher:
|
Also doing another traditional
campaign is a thing I think we've all wanted to do for a while.
Just for the record.
|
DM:
|
Alright. I think this is about the
time to start prepping from something big if we choose to, so if
you guys have some time after the session to just chat, I am all
for it. Maybe invite Wesley too.
|
DM:
|
hey, does anyone know where the new
magic cheat sheet is?
|
Christopher:
|
...Facebook.
|
DM:
|
Ok, anyone feeling like the recap so
we can get this going?
|
Christopher:
|
I barely remember what happened.
|
Christopher:
|
I think we beat on God for a bit and
warped out?
|
Christopher:
|
That's where my memory ends, though.
|
Boretos:
|
and there was something about a train
assault
|
Christopher:
|
Chart's in the League page.
|
DM:
|
Wait, yes. I do remember that train
battle...
|
DM:
|
hold on, let me check my own records...
|
Boretos:
|
I think the guards were escorting the
crazy informant guy somewhere.
|
DM:
|
well, if even the DM doesn't remember
where it was going, I say we drop it in favor of the characters we
do remember. We will return to that squad of soldiers if I
remember why they were important.
|
Christopher:
|
It was Hunter's brother if that helps
at all.
|
DM:
|
Yeah, no I remember that
character...and I kind of remember what I was doing with him...
|
DM:
|
I will either come to me or it won't.
Anyhow, you two were in a tent outside HQ in case there were
daemonic scrying devices on you.
|
DM:
|
Some time has passed, and you two were
moved to a training center that was built for you in a remote
area, where you could pass on your knowlege to other Ordos
recruits.
|
Christopher:
|
Ordos is surprisingly cool with the
undead mistman.
|
Boretos:
|
That's cuz he's awesome
|
DM:
|
It serves both as a home and a lecture
hall for you, and you have most of the days to yourselves. Sadly,
the Ordos has asked that you not see your kids for now, just in
case. You talk via telagram for now.
|
DM:
|
And God returned Ignatious to normal
form I belive....
|
Christopher:
|
Oh. Yeah. I have a vague recollection
of something like that.
|
Boretos:
|
I think that's the gift I got for
going to Bliss.
|
DM:
|
Right. You return to normal state
slowly. Parts of you have lightend to a grey, and your face has
retained most of it's color. Still pretty creepy, but you are
lucky to have met a girl who doesn't frighten easy.
|
DM:
|
it has been about two weeks now.
|
DM:
|
Do you guys do anything in particular
during this time, or do you just wait for trainees and do nothing
of importance?
|
Christopher:
|
Probably research crap.
|
DM:
|
anything campaign relevent? Or just
random stuff?
|
Boretos:
|
jusy random stuff
|
DM:
|
nothing I suppose Chris?
|
Christopher:
|
I research important things, whatever
those things may be.
|
Christopher:
|
I don't fucking know anymore.
|
DM:
|
ok. Note that the endtable is covered
in books then...
|
DM:
|
So eventually some recruits show their
faces.
|
DM:
|
they are the first batch being sent to
you in order to learn from your various daemon fighting
expericances. The nature of your teachings is up to you (I promise
this has a point)
|
Christopher:
|
Perhaps teach them to use their
patience and their wits and strike only when they see a
vulnerability?
|
Boretos:
|
Or to never trust their eyes.
|
Christopher:
|
That's basically how we beat the
Wishmaster.
|
Christopher:
|
To never believe anything a daemon
says is common sense.
|
Boretos:
|
Rather, believe nothing you hear and
only half of what you see.
|
Christopher:
|
I trust we need not give them the
whole 'always an ulterior motive' shtick.
|
|
Recruit 2:
|
Is there any official policy on how to
determine if a daemon is lieing?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
If they're speaking, they're probably
lying. Even if they're not, they're still trying to manipulate you.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
They often try to make themselves look
heroic and benevolent. They may truly make life better for you...
but at the cost of feeding on your soul after you die.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
There is always an ulterior motive,
and you will always come out behind from trusting a deal with a
daemon.
|
|
Recruit 2:
|
But then what about a double
deception? How should I be sure that a deamon isn't trying to
trick me that way?
|
|
Recruit:
|
And how do you show a daemon is behind
somthing?
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
If a daemon wanted you to do what you
were doing, they wouldn't try a double deception, they'd leave you
alone.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Daemons take pride in their
manipulations. Like narccicists, they won't often deny their
nature. They revel in it.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
At the top of many odd goings on, if
you dig deep enough, the proof of daemons will become apparent.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
You just have to be able to recognize
it.
|
|
Recruit 2:
|
Thank you, Officer Stendatem.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Any other questions?
|
|
Recruit 3:
|
Can we see some of the combat styles
you two learned during your time in the Ordos? With all do
respect, I think we are trained a bit too much like scientists and
not enough like warriors...
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
*pulls out sword and hands to recruit*
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Do you know what this is?
|
|
Recruit 3:
|
Of course.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
What is the importance of the wrapping
on the handle?
|
|
Recruit 3:
|
...so you don't cut yourself?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Try again.
|
|
Recruit 5:
|
It gives you stronger grip!
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
It gives you a place to put your hands
when you swing.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Don't grab the sharp end boys!
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
And stick 'em with the pointy end.
|
|
Recruit:
|
Has that really worked against the
kind of enimies you went up against?
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
That's what I do, and I've only died
once.
|
|
Recruit:
|
How often did you need to use swords
at, say, fort Highpeak?
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Every day.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
It doesn't matter where you are.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
You should always expect to need your
sword.
|
DM:
|
Some of the recruits, with a pistol
but no sword, shift a bit.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
You take it eating, bathing, shopping,
and sleeping.
|
Boretos:
|
Doesn't this training camp have an
armory to equip them?
|
DM:
|
you might have something in the
utility closet. This place came with the most odd, but convienient
things...
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
It is unlikely all you are properly
equipped. That will be rectified in time. For now, I want all of
you to place your arms in this barrel.
|
DM:
|
what barrel are we using?
|
Tokens dropped onto map 'Training Facility' by player Boretos (Player)
DM:
|
they each stick their right hand in in
unison.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
*gives a look to constance*
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Your weapons.
|
DM:
|
wait, is the barrel full of weapons?
|
Boretos:
|
the barrel is empty.
|
Boretos:
|
they are going to fill it with their
weapons.
|
Boretos:
|
I am disarming them. Right after I
told them not to be disarmed.
|
Boretos:
|
What is in the barrel now?
|
DM:
|
mostly pistols, and a few knives. One
shortsword, one rapier
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I see someone's a kindred spirit here.
|
Boretos:
|
Enough pistols for each of them?
|
* Christopher rolls: 1d20+3 => 18 + 3 = 21
Boretos is disconnected.
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Now, you do want to keep your blade on
you at all times, but not because it has to be your primary weapon.
|
|
Recruit 5:
|
then why?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Because your firearm can't do
everything. It's all well and good training as a pistolier, but
when something closes with you, and it will, you're in a world of
trouble if you don't have a sword to fall back on.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Also I can't help but notice that not
all of these pistols are Ordos standard-issue. Who brought their
own arms and why?
|
DM:
|
they look at you in confusion.
|
|
Recruit:
|
...We aren't officers yet, mam.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I suppose I can't fault you there; I
did much the same as a trainee. Show of hands, who had the Ordos
pistols?
|
DM:
|
recruits 3 and 5 raise their hands.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I'd like to know where each one of you
kids got their weaponry, Ordos or commercial make.
|
|
Recruit 3:
|
Awarded after firearms training, sir.
|
|
Recruit 5:
|
Likewise, sir.
|
|
Recruit 4:
|
Bought it as a child, sir.
|
|
Recruit 1:
|
Sir, I honestly don't remember.
|
|
Recruit 2:
|
This is an older Ordos model from my
father, sir.
|
|
Recruit:
|
Bought mine for practice when I joined
the force.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Now how many of you can actually
reasonably use your weapon?
|
DM:
|
They look at each other, but seem
pretty confident in their own abilities.
|
DM:
|
do you follow it up with anything?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I didn't hear a single 'yes' among
you. Guess where we'll be starting?
|
DM:
|
They nod in agreement.
|
DM:
|
I assume you do some firearms training
then?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Yes, to start with.
|
DM:
|
You do anything special during it? I
will skip anything where nothing important happens...
|
Christopher:
|
conversing with adam about another
potential training exercise
|
Christopher:
|
and/or learning experience
|
DM:
|
ohh God. I didn't think you all would
have so much fun with this...
|
Christopher:
|
Oh, welcome to the training from hell.
|
Boretos has connected.
Christopher:
|
So we do our marksmanship training.
Any standouts?
|
* DM rolls: 1d6-1 => 5 - 1 = 4
Boretos:
|
Also I search high and low for swords
and swordlike objects.
|
DM:
|
you find some longswords, shortswords,
and rapiers.
|
Boretos:
|
enough for everone?
|
Christopher:
|
What comes next is obviously fencing
practice.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
If you want to fight daemons, you need
to be a cut above the rank-and-file of the Ordos.
|
Boretos:
|
Do these guys have magic abilities?
|
DM:
|
Yes. All of them are wizards.
|
Christopher:
|
and as i am a sorceror...
|
Boretos:
|
magic training!\]
|
DM:
|
Remember that sorcerers weren't really
considered a real thing in your youth.
|
DM:
|
You were assumed to just be a talented
wizard
|
Boretos:
|
Yeah, you'd best fill up their spell
books with your knowledge, chris.
|
Boretos:
|
I don't know how that works with NMS
|
Christopher:
|
nor do i, honestly
|
Christopher:
|
the logistics of playing a sorcerer
are simpler
|
DM:
|
it isn't really covered by rules here.
We will just assume you are giving them xp or somthing.
|
DM:
|
again, not important; not PCs
|
Christopher:
|
i probably give them a basic overview
of what's been useful in killing daemons so far as well
|
DM:
|
So you just do a normal training
session for the day?
|
DM:
|
Eventually they file out and are on
their way.
|
DM:
|
if you want to do anything special
now, here is your chance.
|
DM:
|
So a while passes, and more recruits
come. I assume you train them as well?
|
Boretos:
|
We'll have them all line up in the
training room again.
|
Boretos:
|
And reiterate the speech about daemons
that we opened with last time.
|
Christopher:
|
they still bleed when shot
|
Boretos:
|
where are my recruits?
|
DM:
|
pretend this is a new batch
|
Boretos:
|
are they all dudes?
|
DM:
|
Yes, actually. As was the last.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Men, it's time for you to put your
daemon detection skill to the test.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
There is a daemon among you.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
It thought it could infiltrate this
camp posing as a recruit, no doubt.
|
DM:
|
they all look amungst themselves...
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
It's up to you to determine which of
you is not genuine.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Whichever one of you figures out this
situation will be suitably commended.
|
|
Recruit 3:
|
Is this a test?
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Yes.
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( I lock the doors. ))
|
Recruit 5:
|
Perhaps we would be able to quiz the
potential daemon on Ordos knowlege?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
That's entirely up to you. We of
course already know who we want, but let's see if one of you has
the mettle to figure it out.
|
Boretos:
|
You don't have to play out this whole
exercise, since you'd be talking to yourself for a while.
|
Boretos:
|
You could skip to the end, if you
prefer.
|
DM:
|
alright, I will just give gists, as I
can talk to myself anytime I like.
|
DM:
|
The game of mafia starts with some
anecdotal accusations of daemonic details, followed by some people
asking various Ordos details to each other. Ignatious doesn't know
not being an officer, but Constance notices that a humiliating
amount of answers are wrong, from multiple people, but the
recruits asking only sometimes notice. Do you correct them?
|
Christopher:
|
I will take notes on it all and call
them out on it when the exercise is over.
|
DM:
|
It seems that most of the recruits are
just playing along disinterestedly, realizing that there is no
true daemon, and are just putting forth lines of reasoning as to
why another may be a daemon.
|
|
Recruit 1:
|
Perhaps, it's the officers in front of
us. After all, what better way to create disorder than to create
suspicions of a traitor in the midst.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Perhaps so, perhaps so.
|
|
Recruit 2:
|
Officer Stendatem, can you recite to
me the ordos policy on the safe storage and protection of magical
artifacts?
|
Christopher:
|
just for giggles, i use detect magic
|
Boretos:
|
Are these guys wizards too?
|
DM:
|
you think so. As far as you can tell,
all the ordos are wizards since you were dead
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Ordos isn't too big on storing
potentially dangerous artefacts as a general rule, but...
|
DM:
|
forgive me chris, but what is detect
magic in the new system?
|
Christopher:
|
I rattle off the vague gist of the
protocol, as best I remember it.
|
Christopher:
|
It's either Antimana or Arcana, if
memory serves.
|
Christopher:
|
I have a 50/50 chance.
|
DM:
|
the other recruits, enjoying the game,
start picking at you for details.
|
DM:
|
also, you don't detect any magic.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
While we're taking each other to task
over correct protocol... -produces list-
|
DM:
|
they look at you confused.
|
Christopher:
|
(I read off my running total of
everyone who's gotten things wrong, and what.)
|
Boretos:
|
Who among them hasn't gotten anything
wrong?
|
DM:
|
make a wisdom check to remember. It's
been a long conversation (DC 15)
|
Christopher:
|
...I was taking notes on it, remember?
|
DM:
|
3 never messed anything up.
|
DM:
|
everyone else at least got a date or
policy number way off.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
You directly in front of me, you've
done a passable job. Everyone else, you screwed up at least once
on Ordos protocol.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
-rattles off specifics-
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Commendable devotion to accuracy and
academics, to you. And to the first among you who thought to
mention that one of us could be the daemon in question, good work.
Always be prepared to question your superiors. They may not like
it, but even Ordos isn't immune to corruption and daemonic
influence.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Be vigilant. Straddle the line between
caution and paranoia. One mistake can be the end of you when
you're hunting daemons.
|
DM:
|
this speech seems to have moved the
tiny crowd pretty well, because they very soon begin to ask about
more details reguarding each of their mistakes.
|
Christopher:
|
And I gladly provide them.
|
DM:
|
Anything else in this training session?
|
Christopher:
|
probably token training-training, but
otherwise not
|
Boretos:
|
Am I still unnatural looking?
|
DM:
|
Your skin has now turned to a
off-color version of itself, but you are coming back to your old
self.
|
DM:
|
Recognisable at a glance as unhuman?
yes. The monster your children wouldn't go near? no longer..
|
Boretos:
|
And none of the recruits care?
|
DM:
|
they seem to be unsettled by it, but
perhaps they were only ordered to. It's hard to tell if someone
has accepted you, or is just being polite...
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Unfortunately, you still did not
properly identify the daemon.
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( draws pistol ))
* DM rolls: 1d20+1 => 8 + 1 = 9
* DM rolls: 1d20+1 => 10 + 1 = 11
* DM rolls: 1d20+1 => 9 + 1 = 10
* DM rolls: 1d20+1 => 8 + 1 = 9
* DM rolls: 1d20+1 => 4 + 1 = 5
* Christopher rolls: 1d20+2 => 1 + 2 = 3
* Boretos rolls: 1d20+3 => 17 + 3 = 20
Christopher:
|
*sad trombone*
|
DM:
|
as expected, you go first and get all
the luck Adan
|
DM:
|
note that drawing was the suprise roung
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( okay. ))
Ignatius Stendatem: (( puts pistol against
Recruits head ))
|
Recruit:
|
Ohh shii-
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
I'm disappointed that none off you
were able to suss him out.
|
|
Recruit 2:
|
I... thought it was just an exercise.
|
|
Recruit 4:
|
how do you know it's him?
|
DM:
|
recruit puts his hands up, but everone
else draws
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( are they aiming at anyone?
))
DM:
|
they have guns at the ready, not
pointed yet, but they are looking dead at your suspect.
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( I point out any false
information he gave, instances of incorrectly adorned uniform, his ugly
face, and smell as tell tale factors. ))
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
You thought you had us fooled, didn't
you, daemon?
|
|
Recruit (suspect):
|
This uniform is exactly correct!
|
|
Recruit (suspect):
|
There is nothing wrong with it.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Your hair is parted on the wrong side.
|
|
Recruit (suspect):
|
...what?
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
As you can see, this daemon is
completely oblivious to the proper etiquette of the Ordos.
|
|
Recruit 3:
|
Sir, anyone could have made that
mistake,
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Could they have?
|
DM:
|
hold on, there is a bluff check in
order Adam.
|
DM:
|
rolling sense motives in secret
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( finding char sheet ))
* Boretos rolls: 1d20+3 => 8 + 3 = 11
|
Recruit 3:
|
Absolutely sir. I mean, we are
responcible for upholding the law. Do we convict someone for such
weak evidence?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
This is Ordos. We're the line between
citizens and daemons. Our job is to protect the Macharian people.
|
|
Recruit 3:
|
That includes not killing the innocent.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Well spoken, recruit. That's exactly
the point.
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( retracts gun ))
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Exactly the point, indeed.
|
|
Recruit (suspect):
|
Winter's plight...
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
There are many in our order who, in
their excess of zeal, would kill a hundred innocents to get to one
cultist.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I've had to deal with a few in my time.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
I expect big things from you, Recruit
3.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
That is not what Ordos stands for. And
you must be prepared to take them to task for it.
|
|
Recruit 3:
|
My name sir, is Mmith.
|
|
Recruit 3:
|
Smith*
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Damn fine work today, Recruit Smith.
|
Christopher:
|
(extends a handshake)
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
The rest of you, it's PT time!
|
DM:
|
And the others run their laps.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Agent Smith, you're being demoted.
|
|
Agent Smith:
|
Sir?
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Good leaders are forged in servitude
to thier brothers.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Bad leaders are comfortable delegating.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Never lose your humility. Now run your
laps.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
That said? You've got a bright future,
recruit. Many of our enemies within will try to use our own dogma
against us in their quest to destroy daemons at any cost. Hunting
daemons is not the primary job of the Ordos. Defending the
citizens of Macharia is, and that includes from other parts of
Ordos.
|
|
Agent Smith:
|
Yes sir.
|
DM:
|
any other highlights of this session?
|
Christopher:
|
I definitely give young Mr. Smith a
very emphatic commendation.
|
Christopher:
|
Kid knows where it's at.
|
Boretos:
|
I think that covers all I wanted to
train for.
|
Boretos is disconnected.
Boretos is disconnected.
DM:
|
You yourselves get some impressive
commendations from commander Eron, one of the higher-ups in the
Ordos Manustra. Larger and larger groups are sent to you, and your
life here becomes more and more blissful.
|
Boretos has connected.
DM:
|
you do anything else in the following
month?
|
Boretos:
|
Ask for our kids.
|
DM:
|
DC 10, but with a +4 for Iggy and +8
for constance
|
* Boretos rolls: 1d20+4 => 18 + 4 = 22
* Christopher rolls: 1d20+8 => 4 + 8 = 12
DM:
|
do you have no base will save Chris?
|
Christopher:
|
even with other stuff, that ain't
cutting it
|
Christopher:
|
3 more for wisdom
|
Christopher:
|
unless i've gained levels since
beating the wishmaster
|
DM:
|
it has been some weeks since your
encounter with Smith, and Ignatious brings up somthing that you
two hadn't actually discussed in a while: the children you had in
his absence.
|
* Christopher rolls: 2d4+4 => 2 + 4 = 6
Christopher:
|
min health increase
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
So I noticed you had some children
since I was gone...
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Yeah. Borris, Ignatius, and Kevin.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Triplets?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Yes. Things got a bit difficult there
for a bit.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
You know, I feel like they might be
better at home, at least for now. Sextus and his nephew are good
sitters, and really, where would we keep them here?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
And how would we entertain them?
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
We have swords...
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I'd give them another couple years
before playing with swords.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
They should definitely be able to
defend themselves, though.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
I suppose you're right about this
place not being very accomidating, though. I'd just like to get to
know my kids after missing out on their lives for so long.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
There'll be time for that once Ordos
decides they don't need us here anymore. Probably won't be long.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I'll miss this, though. Shaping the
future of the order.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
We've met some really great young
minds here.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
And some not-so-great ones.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
I can't help but feel out of place
here. I'm no soldier. I'm not even in the Ordos.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I can see how that might be tough for
you. Still, you're the one who came up with the daemon exercise.
Don't sell yourself short!
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Let's hope it does them some good.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Really. I suppose we might be able to
do a vacation or something if you really want to.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I'm happy here, honestly.
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( is that a telegraph
machine or a telegraph message? ))
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
And even while we're here, we can
still stay in touch with them via telegraph.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Yes, I suppose you're right.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
What are they like, the kids, I
haven't really gotten to meet them.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
They're... honestly, it would be
easier to show you than tell you. But Borris is very much his
father's son. Ignatius, ironically, is quite different from you.
And he's always into everything.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
and Kevin?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
He's pretty quiet. Reserved. Sweet
kid. Smart, too, very much so.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Even if he does keep getting into
trouble, Ignatius does have a good heart. Much like a certain
someone I know.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
*smiles* Thanks.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
SO! What's next on the agenda?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I don't know. HQ hasn't been in
contact for a bit.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I'm disappointed, honestly. I'm liking
this training stuff.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Should we send them a message to see
what's going on?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
May as well. If we're not scheduled
for anything, maybe we can do that trip for you.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
We should only be so lucky.
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( I defer to Constance to
send the message. ))
Christopher:
|
I do so. Just a quick sort of what's
up.
|
DM:
|
Turns out a few historians want to
contact you two about the wishmaster. They want to know the
earliest avalibility.
|
DM:
|
It's a quite verbose and detailed
telegram.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Looks like we'll be headed into town,
if I interpret this correctly. Wonder if they know telegrams are
cheaper with fewer words...
|
DM:
|
I assume you ask if you are coming to
them?
|
Christopher:
|
yeah, probably should
|
DM:
|
they are perfectly happy to come to
you, actually
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Or, maybe they've already made
arrangements to come here. Looks like that trip's on hold, sorry.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
I can wait.
|
DM:
|
a day or two later, there is a knock
on the door.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Who is it?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Ah, it's our historians!
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
(whispers) Why do I have a bad feeling
about this?
|
|
Historian:
|
Professor Juilian Shwitch, master and
madam Stendatem.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Do come in, Professor.
|
|
Ignatius Stendatem:
|
Pleased to meet you.
|
DM:
|
the two companions follow silently.
|
|
Historian 2:
|
Would you mind answering a few
questions as to the incident on matters at fort highpeak some
eight years ago?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
To the best that I remember, I'll
answer.
|
Ignatius Stendatem: (( Too bad I don't know squat
about it. ))
DM:
|
ok, I assume you invite them in then
interview stuff happens?
|
|
Historian 2:
|
So about the fort there, can you
recall what was in it?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
A few old magitech defence systems,
mostly. Some basic survival equipment.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Disappointingly little of particular
interest.
|
|
Historian 2:
|
...Defense systems?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
A system of canisters that could be
loaded into a cannon that appeared to be meant to fire
automatically but never actually did anything.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Wound up using one gun's store of
canisters as a bomb to get rid of a flying house daemon the
Wishmaster was travelling in.
|
|
Historian:
|
What do you think was the best tactic
for fighting that building, all things considered?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
The small army we had with us did a
good job of bringing it down. I know that's not the most practical
solution, but... I honestly don't know what would work best. It
moved too quickly to keep up with.
|
|
Historian:
|
These did always concern me, to be
honest. How will our army be able to keep up if they were to make
a more advanced version?
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
More guns, one would assume. And you'd
have to be able to keep up with its movements on a strategic level
if it were to get past one post.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
It didn't move at train speeds,
fortunately, so we do have one edge. Mounting a cannon on a train
track wouldn't work, probably, because it could just avoid the
tracks and therefore the gun's range.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
A massive dispel field might be able
to bring it down, but you'd need a lot of casters for that.
|
|
Historian:
|
True.
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
Short of developing our own means of
flight, we'd almost always have to engage it on its terms.
Needless to say, that puts us at a disadvantage.
|
|
Historian 2:
|
Well if I were you, I would advocate
for such a technolgy. Your impressive resume sure does pull some
weight in higher command...
|
|
Officer Constance Stendatem:
|
I'll definitely take that under
advisement. Air power could give us a lot of different advantages,
in fact.
|
DM:
|
The tactical sidebar goes on for a
while, along with more questions about highpeak as well as some
other stuff reguarding what the wishmaster was all about.
|
DM:
|
do you do anything odd before they go
off on their way?
|
DM:
|
Alright. Do we want to call it a
session here, or keep going? It looks like there is going to be at
least one more in this campaign.
|
Boretos:
|
I could continue.
|
Boretos:
|
maybe something exciting will happen.
|
DM:
|
You guys seem to have missed your
clues so far...
|
DM:
|
alright. Do you arrange to journey to
see your kids now?
|
Christopher:
|
might as well
|
DM:
|
actually, I forgot about Keenan's
involvement. I think I am going to have to put this on hold until
I can get his session in. Sorry.
|
Christopher:
|
that works too
|
DM:
|
sorry for the boring session guys...
|
DM:
|
I promise this arc improves
|