DiscoDude: ---BEGIN SESSION---
DiscoDude: Session logging commenced
Ryusui|GM: So let's recap from last time!
Ryusui|GM: You're on a mission from two mysterious voices to find the shard of Etherium at the heart of an anomalous location.
Ryusui|GM: So far you've escaped a strange dungeon cell on what appeared to have been the outer edge of one of the city's tall spires and found yourself in a massive courtyard - big enough to have a cloud layer beneath you, under an archipelago of floating islands.
Ryusui|GM: After a near-mishap by Dr. Grey, you figured out the islands can move, and now you're sailing on one of them straight to what may, hopefully, be the exit to this place (and the entrance to the next portion).
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Enter the robo-hydra, right?))
Ryusui|GM: However, between you and said possible exit, a massive creature seemingly made up of gigantic writhing necks or tentacles has reached up from beneath the cloud layer!
Ryusui|GM: ASPECTS [Floating Islands][!] [A Long Way Down!]
Ryusui|GM: (I'm giving you a free invoke on the Floating Islands because you're coming into this with one in motion, under your control)
Ryusui|GM: **`ENEMY NPCS
Courtyard Watchcreature
One With Many Fingers
Plated Exterior: The Courtyard Watchcreature has Armor: 1.
Multifarious Attack: For every two unchecked Stress Boxes, the Courtyard Watchcreature gains Weapon: 1.
Good At: Biting, Encircling, Tracking
Bad At: Thinking, Strategizing, Resisting a Taunt
Stress: [1][1][1][1][1][1]** Ryusui|GM: (Okay, we're gonna test with "Popcorn Initiative" here; you three will be taking turns, but you will each decide who goes next) Ryusui|GM: (Laz has the highest Quick, so he goes first!) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((And I immediately realize Dr. Grey's stats aren't a combat-build.)) Ryusui|GM: (She can still create Aspects!) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((True.)) Coma: (Hmm... Coma's fairly smart; he should be able to realize most of this spread. Now how to use it...) Coma: (Who's got initiative? Or are we doing popcorn?) Lazarus: (( Alrighty, uhhh, guess I'll go straight with an attack aha, and it's popcorn, so after I go I choose. )) Ryusui|GM: (Laz has the first move, and he chooses who goes next) Ryusui|GM: (bear in mind he can choose the boss, too - *someone* will have to, eventually XD) Ryusui|GM: (no one can take two turns before someone else has had a move) Lazarus: Lazarus makes another gun gesture with his hand and aims directly at the beast, "Well, looks like talking is out of the question...!" He grunts as he lets jumps up into the air and fires several volleys of condensed wind at the foe. Lazarus: (( gonna roll Flashy. )) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Oh! She still has a stunt slot open: how about "**Advantageous Advice:** Aspects Dr. Grey places on the scene can be invoked by her allies for +3 instead of +2."?)) Coma: (You might need to specify a narrative restriction.) Ryusui|GM: (i would add a restriction to that yeah) Lazarus: (( also uh, is Flashy alright for my attack? :o )) Ryusui|GM: (yes, roll it) Lazarus: !f 3 DiscoDude: Lazarus rolled 4dF+3 for 7 [4dF = [+][+][+][+]] Ryusui|GM: (holy damn) Lazarus: (( HORY SHIT )) Ryusui|GM: (uh) Ryusui|GM: (<_<) Ryusui|GM: (>_>) Lazarus: (( did I just...one shot it...? )) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Roll for the Watchcreature to Defend.)) Coma: (It's okay, you can add a Minor Consequence. We won't mind.) Ryusui|GM: !f 0 DiscoDude: Ryusui|GM rolled 4dF+0 for 2 [4dF = [-][+][+][+]] Ryusui|GM: (five shifts, reduced to four damage) Ryusui|GM: (also) Lazarus: (( oh, right, Grey is up now. )) Ryusui|GM: (i'm going to spend a FATE Point on [One With Many \*Fingers\*] to reduce it further) Ryusui|GM: **Stress: [1][1][1][1][X][X]** ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((So, only a 2-stress hit?)) Ryusui|GM: (yep) Coma: (Yeah, spending a fate to reduce that is fair.) Ryusui|GM: The necks/tentacles writhe and thrash to evade your fire. You're totally a pro at this, though - you score a few direct hits. The stricken necks *shriek* like torn metal and retreat under the cloud cover. Ryusui|GM: Most of them are still above the clouds and bearing down on you, though! Ryusui|GM: (okay, go for it now, Dr. Grey!) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey, unprepared for a fight, frantically looks for an advantage her lupine associate can leverage. A weak point, maybe? ((Cleverly create an advantage against Fair (+2) difficulty.)) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: !f 3 DiscoDude: ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾ rolled 4dF+3 for 2 [4dF = [ ][-][+][-]] Ryusui|GM: !f 0 DiscoDude: Ryusui|GM rolled 4dF+0 for -1 [4dF = [-][ ][+][-]] Ryusui|GM: (that's a SWS; name it) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Oh?)) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((They're actively trying to hide it?)) Coma: (Tentacle monster isn't great at actively hiding weaknesses.) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Didn't think they'd be trying in the first place.)) Ryusui|GM: (technically maybe this should've been passive resistance but the thing *is* moving) Ryusui|GM: (it might not be able to consciously hide its weaknesses but its movements may disguise it) Ryusui|GM: (of course here it seems to have backfired XD) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey's albeit brief observations have noticed that the tendril's armor plating have ***Exposed Gaps*** to not restrict the natural flexibility of their barer. "The armour's spotty! Aim for the gaps!" Ryusui|GM: (who moves next, Grey?) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Right. Coma.)) Ryusui|GM: (your move, Coma!) Coma: (One second; need to note the aspect.) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Double free-invoke.)) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Double-free invoke?)) Ryusui|GM: (double free invoke) Coma: (Got it.) Coma: "Let me see if I at least had the foresight to pack 'heat' this morning. I don't think I'll be doing much, otherwise." Coma sets his briefcase on the ground and flips it open. He tries to carefully search through his things for a weapon, careful not to let anything spill out - having **Everything In One Briefcase** often means the way in which it's all stuffed is quite delicate. Coma: (Does rolling CAREFUL to Create an Advantage sound good?) Ryusui|GM: (sounds good; establish that gun! :3) Coma: !f 3 (CAREFUL) DiscoDude: Coma rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [+][ ][ ][-]] Ryusui|GM: (good enough for a win~) Coma: (Ah- what difficulty- I see.) Ryusui|GM: (+2, i think) Ryusui|GM: (flavor it, and then the boss gets its turn 😉 ) Coma: "Here we are... My **65. Magnum 8-Shooter [!]**. The gentleman's hand-cannon, if I do say so myself." Ryusui|GM: (boss turn?) Coma: (Yeah.) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Uhh...." Amanda is dumbfounded at the "heat" the shorty is packing. Ryusui|GM: Laz has established himself as the one with the most heat, so the creature turns its attentions (and its myriad necks) on him! Ryusui|GM: !f 2 (Good At: Biting) DiscoDude: Ryusui|GM rolled 4dF+2 for 1 [4dF = [-][+][ ][-]] Ryusui|GM: (defend, Lazarus!) Lazarus: (( would a forcefield of wind be flashy enough for attack? )) Ryusui|GM: (you're not attacking, you're defending) Lazarus: (( yea, but, it's just barrier of wind for defending )) Ryusui|GM: (okay, so, i will allow it) Lazarus: (( oh, whoops, just realized I said attack, my bad aha )) Lazarus: !f 3 DiscoDude: Lazarus rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [ ][ ][-][+]] Ryusui|GM: (gonna spend a FATE Point on my high concept for a reroll) Ryusui|GM: !f 2 DiscoDude: Ryusui|GM rolled 4dF+2 for 0 [4dF = [-][-][+][-]] Lazarus: (( welp )) Ryusui|GM: (oh damn it came out even worse XD) Ryusui|GM: (i think that gives you a boost since you SWS'd on a defense XD) Lazarus: (( hehe >:3c )) Ryusui|GM: (name the boost~) Ryusui|GM: Your swirling winds throw off the creature's attacks, Laz - and given each one has several tons of force behind it, that's quite a feat! ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((It's the option to reduce the shifts of stress by one to gain a boost.)) Ryusui|GM: (that's SWS on an attack) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Nevermind; I was thinking Attack.)) Ryusui|GM: (anyways) Ryusui|GM: (...;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾, you go next) Lazarus: Lazarus smiles as he starts jumping side from side and he feels **\*Attuned to the Wind*** Lazarus: (( That works for the boost, right? :o )) Ryusui|GM: (yeah :3) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey, regaining composure, looks around for a better vantage point from which Coma can fire. ((Cleverly create an advantage against Fair (+2) difficulty)) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: !f 3 DiscoDude: ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾ rolled 4dF+3 for 4 [4dF = [ ][ ][+][ ]] Ryusui|GM: (yeah that works, that's a clear win~) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Coma! Over there!" She points to another plot of land closer to one of the heads. "That should give you a ***Better Vantage Point***!" Ryusui|GM: (who goes next? laz or coma?) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Right. Still getting used to this. Coma.)) Coma: "It's all flat island, but I'll take your word for it... sir?" ("Sir is gender neutral enough, I think... Try not to stare at it too hard...") ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: (("Plot of land" meaning a separate island.)) Coma: (Er, will I need to roll to get there, then?) Ryusui|GM: (the aspect is made so no; let's assume the island is in safe hopping distance) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I know that female U.S. military officers are still referred to as "Sir", but Dr. Grey is British, so I'm not sure how she'd take it.)) Coma: Coma hops over to the island that the creature designated, not one to question wisdom from otherworldly beings. He crouches, only takes a moment to aim - knowing that the **Better Vantage Point [!]** is fleeting on these **Floating Islands** - and empties the round all at once! (Rolling QUICK to attack.) Coma: !f 1 (QUICK) DiscoDude: Coma rolled 4dF+1 for 0 [4dF = [-][+][ ][-]] ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Gonna need all four of those free invokes!)) Coma: (Let's wait for the enemy roll.) Ryusui|GM: One of the creature's heads/tentacles spots your attempt to flank it. It attempts a flanking maneuver of its own to counter! Ryusui|GM: !f 2 (Good At: Encircling) DiscoDude: Ryusui|GM rolled 4dF+2 for 3 [4dF = [+][ ][+][-]] Coma: (I'll use the free invoke on that vantage point, and... let's see...) Coma: (Alright, the one on the magnum, too. I view the gap advice as a separate thing, so I won't use it, but I *will* use...) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Separate thing?)) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I mean: it is a separate aspect, but it's a full aspect, so it can still be used here.)) Ryusui|GM: (you can definitely invoke the gap advice) Coma: (Like, "the gaps you pointed out only apply to the island we were all standing on at the start of the battle," IMO. That's my interpretation, and I'm sticking to it.) Ryusui|GM: (no, the point is the gaps in the armor are omnipresent) Ryusui|GM: (you can take the advantage from whenever) Ryusui|GM: (those metal plates have gaps between them) Ryusui|GM: (it's a reasonable assumption to make XD) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((^)) Coma: (Alright, sure. Both free invokes on that, with the knowledge that you'll probably use your last fate point to lessen it and give its other stunt one last chance to do something.) Ryusui|GM: (okay, that puts you at +8, right?) Coma: (In gross, yes. I'm beating it by 5 shifts in net terms, correct?) Ryusui|GM: (right, and i *will* be spending my last GM FATE Point on its high concept to blunt the blow, *a little* XD) Ryusui|GM: (so 3 overall shifts of damage) Coma: (2, actually.) Coma: (Armor.) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Last? I thought you only spent one before this.)) Ryusui|GM: (RIGHT, mb) Coma: (He spent one to reduce stress once already, and one on a bad reroll.) Ryusui|GM: The thing's *writhing* makes it hard to get off more than a couple good shots, but you manage it - the bullets sink into the gaps in its armor plating, and you're rewarded with two more necks *shrieking* and vanishing back beneath the cloud cover. Ryusui|GM: (laz next, right?) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I also remember seeing the G.M. fate point refresh each scene, rather than each session.)) Coma: (This was all in the same scene.) Ryusui|GM: (nah, this is my third GM FATE Point) Ryusui|GM: (like, right now, in this session) Lazarus: (( yea this was all during the mini boss. )) Lazarus: (( So even a scene in this context doesn't matter, GM used all their points )) Lazarus: (( also uh, guess it's my turn? :o )) Coma:Stress: [1][1][X][X][X][X] ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Or the miniboss's.)) Coma: (Imma give it to Laz.) Lazarus: (( gonna roll another set of Flashy for Attack )) Coma: ("FINISH HIM") Coma: (Describe it~) Lazarus: !f 3 DiscoDude: Lazarus rolled 4dF+3 for 6 [4dF = [+][+][+][ ]] Ryusui|GM: !f 0 DiscoDude: Ryusui|GM rolled 4dF+0 for 1 [4dF = [+][ ][-][+]] Lazarus: (( ...Jesus Christ Laz, also gonna boost )) Lazarus: (( for that overkill aha )) Ryusui|GM: It's still reeling from Coma's assault when your wind tears into it. The last few tentacles *shriek,* and retreat almost as one beneath the cloud cover. Ryusui|GM: There is a loud, long, disconsolate rumble deep beneath you all, presumably from *whatever* those tentacle-necks belonged to, but no sign of further hostility. You're free to proceed. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey breathes a sigh of relief that the monster has perished. Lazarus: Laz sits on the ground some and looks at the others, "Alright, let's get a move on, huh?" He says looking back before attempting to move that island forward towards their previous destination. Ryusui|GM: As you grow closer, you can make out the ruins more clearly: a little Stonehenge-like circle of pillars on the island ahead, like an abandoned shrine of some sort. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Yeah; let's figure out what's going on here." ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey checks her reader again. Coma: "There's not much to figure out, I've gathered? Ah- right, I almost forgot you wish to do more than simply finish the mission." Ryusui|GM: The reader tells you what you've already likely surmised, Dr. Grey: the reading is at its strongest at the center of the island up ahead. Ryusui|GM: Which you have now safely arrived at. Ryusui|GM: Your island impacts on the edge of the shrine island with a gentle *thump.* ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey, not looking up from the reader, presses forward towards the signature. Lazarus: Laz stands up and walks over to the shrine, "So, this it?" He asks, walking up to the stones. Coma: Coma follows along, keeping on the lookout for another crystal. Ryusui|GM: The stone pillars surround a small pond, at the center of which is a pedestal holding, you guessed it, a carved crystal. The pillar and crystal are identical to the ones you found in the swamp room, other than that the pillar isn't overgrown. From what you can tell, Dr. Grey, even the carvings are the same. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Not quite;" Dr. Grey responds, eyes still firmly flued to the reader's screen, "the source of the signature is in the center." Ryusui|GM: The most notable difference might be the pond, which is not brackish and exuding fumes; if you were outside, it would probably be blue, but the far-off ceiling and uncertain light source render it a cloudy grey. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Wait; I thought they were outside.)) Coma: (Pseudo-outside simulation, I think.) Ryusui|GM: (this place is somehow *indoors*; it's just a very *massive* room) Coma: "Second verse, then; same as the first?" Coma preemptively offers his hand to Laz; he's not going to be stuck holding theM Y S T E R I O U S C R E A T U R E's appendage again. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Finally looking up from her reader, Dr. Grey seems puzzled; "This crystal's no bigger than the previous one." Lazarus: "I guess so." He said, holding his hand with Coma and then extending his hand to Grey, "Come on now, just another teleportation crystal." Coma: "Were you expecting these transport crystals to get bigger somehow as we got closer to the power source?" ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Unfortunately." Dr. Grey takes Laz's fuzzy little hand; memories of her own childhood dog filling her mind. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "I was half-expecting this to be the end-goal; the prize jewel." Lazarus: "Well, it's not the end, we gotta continue." He said, looking at Coma, "Alright, press your hand onto that gem." Coma: "If you insist, kind sir." Coma hesitates, having never directly touched one of these before, but ultimately does so. "Hm, it feels-" Coma: (And 'port?) Ryusui|GM: Red, then black. Coma: (I assume all aspects but the pocket detector and revolver go away?) Ryusui|GM: (yes) Ryusui|GM: Your sense of *smell* returns before anything else. There's something spicy in the air, something floral, something...musty? There's sounds as well; a veritable cacophony of noises. Ryusui|GM: All of it coming from outside the orange fabric tent you all find yourselves in. Ryusui|GM: There's boxes in here, too, just like in the first room you were in, but they're smaller, in more varied shapes, and with text stenciled on them in a language none of you recognize. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Wait.... A jungle safari?" Dr. Grey posits. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: After a second or two of looking around, she steps out of the tent. Ryusui|GM: You find yourself in the middle of a bustling marketplace. Coma: Coma blinks, stands up, and follows the creature out of the tent. Lazarus: Laz attempts to bust open a crate before leaving the tent. Ryusui|GM: Like the "courtyard," this place appears to be contained inside another room of the "city" - there's no sun visible in the sky, but the omnipresent lighting suggests a perpetual sunset. Lazarus: (( Forecful roll for this, just basically smashing it )) Ryusui|GM: (no need to roll for that XD) Lazarus: (( ah aha )) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "\*\*\*\*!" Amanda curses as her eyes adjust to the sudden twilight. Ryusui|GM: These boxes are fairly fragile; you wouldn't be able to make a stack of *these* to stand on. The one you break appears to be full of dried fruit of some kind, preserved in sugar. Lazarus: Lazarus takes a handful and takes a bite out of one of the fruits. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey turns back to the others; "Let's get out of here before someone finds us and gets the wrong idea." Ryusui|GM: **ASPECTS
[Faceless Throng]
[A Cacophony of Sounds and Smells]
[Anything and Everything, For a Price]** Ryusui|GM: It's sweet, cloyingly so. There's a hint of some kind of spice in there, though you can't tell if it's natural or a side effect of the preservation. Coma: "Operators, can you hear us?" Coma's instincts are on fire; he might have wooped for joy, but that would be undignified. Lazarus: Lazarus turns back and quickly hauls a couple more boxes out with him, "These are actually pretty good, and I'm taking them." Ryusui|GM: The marketplace seems busy enough, but oddly you can't quite seem to get a bead on the actual *people.* It's like the platonic concept of a crowd surrounds you: there are moving shapes with mass and voices, but it's impossible to determine individuals. It's hard to say whether this is some weird perception filter, or the crowd itself is weird. Ryusui|GM: Lazarus, you do manage to find a couple more boxes like the one you smashed; you can't read the writing on them, but it's identical, so you can presume they're also full of the dried fruits. Ryusui|GM: Coma: "We've been hearing you this whole time," the second voice says, a little smirk in her voice. "Nice going with that monster fight. Sounds like you kicked its ass." Lazarus: Lazarus simply levitates the boxes behind him as he walks out, still holding some dried fruits in his arms and he comes back with the group. Ryusui|GM: "We do have to spend a little effort to communicate, so apologies for going quiet on you like that," the first voice says. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Hmm...." Dr. Grey can't help but ponder the perplexing perception present. Coma: "A question; how 'real' are objects in this facsimile of a world?" ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Let's see; maybe our 'compass' can tell us." Dr. Grey quips as she returns her gaze to her reader. Ryusui|GM: "Well. Everything's *real.* What's *not* real is the *world.* It's..." "Here, let me have a swing at it. It's like opening up a bunch of different IKEA furniture kits and assembling something out of random parts out of each of 'em, y'get it? You *might* be able to make a chair out of the parts, but odds are you're using parts that *don't quite fit together,* and if you sit too hard you're gonna smash it all to pieces." Ryusui|GM: The first voice takes a moment to regain her composure, then clarifies: "I'm not sure I agree with the *choice* of analogy, but it's...*functional.* These worlds are made up of pieces stolen from other places. On the surface they may have thematic consistency, but underneath there's no *cohesion.* You won't find histories to these places that *make sense.*" ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "And the Etherium Crystal is our screwdriver to dismantal this without breaking anything?" Ryusui|GM: "Yes." "No! Er...not quite. Think of it as more like-" "Like a single allen screw holding everything together. You take it out, everything comes apart, nice and neat." Coma: "I'm afraid that doesn't give a definite answer to the question I truly wished to ask; my apologies. To clarify; *can objects be safely taken from this place?* Namely, by my own hand?" Ryusui|GM: The first voice says nothing but she is clearly *miffed* that the second voice keeps interrupting her explanations to offer more straightforward, if glib, ones. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Then let's get our heading." ((Anything from the reader?)) Ryusui|GM: Coma: "Well. Yes. Unless of course they're protected somehow, but that applies anywhere. If there's a sacred idol beyond a wall of spikes or a guillotine trap, obviously you'll need to deal with whatever's in the way first. But you're not going to break the laws of reality - such as they are - by stealing an apple off of a cart or something." Ryusui|GM: "The owner of the cart might have something to say, though!" the second voice chimes in. Ryusui|GM: ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: For whatever it's worth, your theory about the crystals may have failed to pan out, but the signals *are* overall getting stronger. The strongest one, naturally, is somewhere in the market to the east, through the throng. Coma: "Oh... O-oh my." The urge to woop is strong, but Coma must be stronger still. "I think I shall have to see what this market has to offer, then..." ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Alright; this way!" Dr. Grey begins pushing through the anonymous cut-outs, towards the signal's source. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "You'll let us know if you pick up on anything dangerous, right?" Dr. Grey asks of the voices. Ryusui|GM: "We're working off of maps that apparently don't mean anything anymore and your reports. We know where you are in the broad sense and what you're supposed to be looking for, but, uh...hate to tell you this, but we're just about as blind going into this as you are." "Audrey, don't *tell* them that!" ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "That's Good (+3) to know. Don't want to get over-confidant." Ryusui|GM: ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Proceeding through the market is *tricky.* You might not be able to clearly make out the denizens of this marketplace, but it's like *they* can't see *you* at all. Pushing your way through without getting pinned or booted out entirely is going to take some effort. (Which is to say, you will need to figure out a way to deal with or circumvent them!) Coma: "No need to worry; this is a mosh pit for primitive rabble, but a market nonetheless." Coma turns up his snout, almost as though he's subtly sniffing out a deal somewhere. "In other words; my playing field." Lazarus: Lazarus meanwhile is in the back eating some fruit that he had opened, "You guys should try some of these..." ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Lead the way." ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "I'm not sure that's the safest thing for me, right now." Ryusui|GM: That's right, Coma. This is your domain. The others see elusive shapes; you see the elusive shapes of *customers.* ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Business Kobold 😃)) Lazarus: "Why's that? You don't like sugary dried fruit?" He says, looking at Grey. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey responds, "I don't know what they'll do if I eat one; this is completely uncharted territory for me. The mere air here could be slowly poisoning me as we speak, for all I know." Amanda's voice gradually gets more distraught as she moves throw that line of logic. Coma: "Enough chatter, if you would. To me, compatriots!" Coma begins to subtly weave his way through the crowd, leveraging knowledge of every quirk a market has... while keeping an eye out for any side-ventures that can finally make this forced misadventure worth his time. ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Right away." Dr. Grey follows. Lazarus: Lazarus looks at her with a raised brow, "Well I'm fine, you should be too." He says before following Coma Coma: (I aim to use CLEVER to overcome; he's not quite calm enough for CAREFUL.) Ryusui|GM: (fire away!) Coma: !f 2 (CLEVER) DiscoDude: Coma rolled 4dF+2 for 4 [4dF = [+][+][-][+]] Coma: (WOOP WOOP WOOP) Ryusui|GM: (oh that's more than enough XD) Coma: (SWS?) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Funnily enough, I was about to roll Dr. Grey's Careful before Coma spoke up.)) Ryusui|GM: (...what the hey, let's call it that; this is your element) Ryusui|GM: (so a difficulty of +0 makes sense) Coma: (I was thinking +1, but either way.) Coma: (I get to describe a boost, correct?) Ryusui|GM: (yes 😉 ) Coma: (Alternatively; an aspect with no invokes?) Ryusui|GM: (just a boost) Coma: (Aw. Guess I'll have to go out of my way for loot/treasure, then. XD) ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Well, at least they aren't a *murder* hobo.)) Ryusui|GM:"Twelve for three! That's twelve klodvoskis for just three dinchmel!"`"You'll get 400 for that, and not an dinchmel more!" "Exotic fruit! Exotic spices! Exotic wares! All the finest of the southern road right here!"
Ryusui|GM: To the other two, it's still a mess of noises and shapes, but to you, Coma, it's like...the crowd is starting to resolve. It's like your business sense is somehow clearing away the fog.
Ryusui|GM: You're able to navigate the throng like a pilot boat.
Ryusui|GM: (for you, and you alone, the aspect [Faceless Throng] becomes [Crowd of Commerce]!)
Coma: "Ah, you there, I have preserved fruit to trade!" He spots a food vendor near the end of the street they're navigating. "Make way!" Through the inertia of business needing to be done, the crowd parts like the Red Sea before Moses. He even gets *Some Nebulous Starting Capital* for completing the exchange as a courtesy. It's... a little indistinct, and despite his acumen, he can't put his finger on whether the vendor called the faceless coins shuplap or kodo or whatever, but whatever they are, he suspects the vendor got the raw end of the deal...
Coma: (Does Laz have a reaction to having some of his fruit taken? XD)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Well....that works." Dr. Grey is impressed.
Lazarus: Laz was reluctant to have his delicious fruit taken away, but for progress he begrudgingly hands it over.
Ryusui|GM: Dr. Grey, your reader is definitely indicating a stronger signal ahead. As it happens, the market expands into a plaza, ringed with sandstone pillars. At the center of the plaza is a pedestal, and atop the pedestal is...
Ryusui|GM: ...a golden lamp.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Any chance they genie in there has the next crystal?" Amanda snidely remarks to the other two.
Ryusui|GM: "This precious relic from the ruins of Tabazia was recovered by a team of five adventurous explorers - only two of which came back with the treasure, and the tale!" says the woman standing beside it, a fennec-lady in suitable attire. Laz, Dr. Grey, you can see - and hear - her clearly.
Ryusui|GM: She raises a hand: "We will start the bidding at 50 shuplap! Do I hear 60?" "Sixty!" "Do I hear 70?"
Coma: "85!"
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Hmm...." Dr. Grey ponders for a moment. "Maybe they're one of the pieces that got incorporated into this Frankenstein build."
Ryusui|GM: "85, from the handsome foreigner!" the fennec says with a smile and a gesture. There's actually quite a pile of goods behind her - apparently, she's auctioning off quite a haul of treasure here.
Ryusui|GM: The pedestal is currently being used as an auction block.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey tries to get a look at the rest of the goods from this distance.
Coma: "I imagine the crystal is somewhere in the treasure - we'll just need to participate until the auction is done, then we can go. But oh joyous occasion - this whole endeavor shan't be a complete waste of my time!"
Coma: (Aaaaand I just realized who this lady's a reference to. XD)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((????))
Ryusui|GM: (it's Jocelyn! from the Cthulhu game XD)
Coma: (Different campaign you weren't in.)
Ryusui|GM: (yeah, revo would recognize her though XD)
Ryusui|GM: "A hundred and ten!" "That's 110, from the well-dressed cockroach in the corner!"
Ryusui|GM: Again, Laz, Dr. Grey, you can't hear the bids, but you can hear the auctioneer's responses.
Coma: "150!"
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Let's not get sidetracked, Coma." Dr. Grey advises, "We'll need plenty of cash left over if we expect to purchase the crystal legitimately."
Coma: "I'm not sure if the crystal is being auctioned. Even if it is, there's nothing stopping Laz from taking us to it before it's been sold; we just need to touch it, correct?"
Coma takes stock of roughly how many coins his bag holds.
Ryusui|GM: It's a lot. The bag you were handed contains what might be thousands of pea-sized coins. If each one is a shuplap, you're loaded.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Well, I guess laws from a non-existent land technically aren't binding."
Coma: (Basically; I'll only go through it all if I have to spend the boost, is what you're saying.)
Ryusui|GM: (yeah)
Coma: "This appears to be starting at a pittance anyway, and to be frank, I simply refuse to walk away from this inter-dimensional farce empty-handed."
Coma: (Will we be reaching a Mild Milestone after this? I just got an idea for an Aspect change.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((First thought was for Dr. Grey to immediately put her hand in Coma's, but she's not nearly as pun-loving as Rachelle.))
Coma: (Coma would have been greatly distressed by this. XD)
Coma: (Anyway, I've yet to receive a response to my second bid.)
Ryusui|GM: "150 from the foreigner!" the fennec chirps. "Any higher? Going, going...sold!" She lets out a piercing whistle, in lieu of banging a gavel. At a nod from her, a hulking rhino-man - standing watch over all the goods, no doubt - trundles forward and gives you your prize.
Ryusui|GM: It's beautiful. It's bejeweled. And no matter how much you rub it, a genie does not come out of it.
Ryusui|GM: The fennec-lady eagerly traipses over to receive payment for the item. She holds up an ornately-stitched bag, already jingling with tiny coins.
Ryusui|GM: If the plan is to search the pile of goods for the crystal before it comes up for auction, you will need to figure out a way to distract both the auctioneer and the guard!
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "I continue to be amazed by all this." Dr. Grey says, abscent-mindedly.
Coma: Coma meets them half-way, inching closer through the crowd, and quickly counts out 150 coins.
"150 shuplap. Here you go, fine lady."
Coma is already thinking of ways to preempt the auction, of course. It occurs to him that an easy way to mitigate the issue is to simply win if and/or when it comes up. And he has an idea for how to hedge his bets on that front. Play it cool for now, though; just try not to let on how disappointed you are in the lamp's mundane nature - he'll need to find something a bit more substantial to turn heads in the black markets he frequents.
Ryusui|GM: "Thank you for your custom!" the auctioneer giggles. She skips back over to the pedestal, and the hulking rhino pulls out another treasure from the pile: this one looks like a small moai, but carved out of what appears to be jade, and its mouth is stretched wide in what might best be described as an insane cackle.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Amanda recoils at the sight of the idol.
Ryusui|GM: "This one is one of the Cursed Death-Stones of Alkazara! Don't worry, there's no magic left in this thing - we're pretty sure!" An amused chuckle goes up from the crowd. "Who will give me 500 shuplap for this piece of Lost Alkazara?"
Lazarus: Laz just watches the auction and keeps his arms folded.
Coma: "I'm also willing to sell this valuable lamp for 1,000 shuplap," says Coma, just loud enough for only the crowd immediately around him to hear. "The sale goes to the first offer, so do speak up." 'A proper man of propriety knows that one must spend money to make money. With this, I'll stay ahead of the curve. I'll simply revitalize their interest and willingness to spend by making the price fixed... and very urgent.'
Coma: (Will this need a roll?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Amanda twists around to look at Coma. "I'm sorry: What?"
Coma: (I'll leave undermining the auction itself up to you two, BTW. This is just the angle Coma's taking.)
Coma: (She heard me?)
Ryusui|GM: (oh, OH)
Ryusui|GM: (i missed that part, mb)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Rather brazen, don't you think?"
Coma: "Do hush."
Ryusui|GM: "600!" "700!" Bids go up all around for the Death-Stone. As for your own private auction, Coma, there are a few shifty shapes in the back of the audience who hear your offer. "800," a pangolin in dark robes haggles. "750," says a rotund badger, grinning viciously, "and as a bonus I won't tell the guard." "1,000 shuplap. Count them if you like," offers a third buyer, a snake who holds up a sack of coin with the tip of his tail.
Ryusui|GM: Lazarus, ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾, the auction is still ongoing, and the price of the Death-Stone has passed 1,000. There is still a sizable pile of treasure to go through and the Crystal is likely somewhere in it. What do you do, while Coma is running his side hustle?
Ryusui|GM: Bear in mind, while the auctioneer may have her eyes on the crowd, the guard is casting a suspicious gaze all around!
Coma: (So I must choose between the first, the threat-maker, and the one who bothered offering the full price.)
Ryusui|GM: (also, the aspects from earlier are still in play!)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Dr. Grey is still of the mind to wait patiently for things to unfold on their own.
Lazarus: Lazarus looks around before moving over to whisper into Grey's ear, "Maybe I could throw something off that table to distract the guard and then maybe grab the crystal when he's distracted, sound good?"
Ryusui|GM: The Death-Stone appears to leer at you as you suggest this, Laz, almost as if the relic has mischief on its mind.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "No, but I won't stop you." Dr. Grey whispers back.
Lazarus: Lazarus looks in the direction of the stone and looks around, before looking back at Grey, "Do you feel like that stone is watching us...?"
Coma: "No offense to the madam auctioneer," says Coma to the badger, "but it's rather a courtesy that my associate here doesn't simply launch her and her guard over into the next block and seize what we truly want from the hoard." He gestures to Lazarus. "It would be best for everyone that you don't make a scene of this. The serpent gets the lamp; he was the first to offer at the price I stated."
Ryusui|GM: The serpent hisses in delight, and offers you the bag in exchange for the lamp. Counting 1,000 of those tiny coins would take longer than convenient, but the weight and the heft and the jingle tell you it's all there.
Coma: (Do I need a roll to convince the would-be whistleblower?)
Ryusui|GM: The badger looks at Laz. Laz sees nothing but a shape shifting near you, Coma, but the badger looks between him and you, first with confusion, then with dawning fear. He puts together a picture in his head that Laz is your bodyguard, or some such, and realizes he might be in for some personal injury if he squeals on you. He slinks as best he can back into the throng.
Lazarus: Lazarus raises an eyebrow at Coma and then sees the shape shifting figure slink back, "Aaaalrighty then."
Coma: Coma turns his attention back to the current lot up for bid, but glances back at the other two.
"I have a plan to do this legitimately, but you might want to dedicate yourselves to a more underhanded contingency, just in case."
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "A bit; yeah."
Lazarus: Laz waves at Coma before sitting down, "I wonder..." He mumbles to himself before pushing the stone slightly with his wind.
Lazarus: (( should I roll for this? ))
Ryusui|GM: "...and sold for 18,000 shuplap to the priest of Ur-Shazalan!" The elephantine figure quickly pays and accepts the Death-Stone, which he puts in a black stone box he quickly locks with a heavy chain before vanishing hurriedly into the throng. "Next, we have this matching pair of siderite scimitars, forged from meteoric iron during the reign of Kyahad, last king of Shazuba! We'll start the bidding at 1,500 shuplap..."
Coma: (Whoop, Laz got his thing off first.)
Lazarus: "Welp, there goes that thought." He says sitting back down.
Coma: (Retcon, or continue?)
Lazarus: (( continue is fine ))
Coma: "1,500 shuplap."
Ryusui|GM: (sorry, didn't seem like he was gonna do it ^_^;)
Coma: (BTW, can we reach a pausing point soon? It's bedtime now.)
Ryusui|GM: (sure, that said, i'm fine with backing up to the stones next time, if laz wants to make some mischief XD)
Ryusui|GM: (everyone else good with a pause for now?)
Lazarus: (( Well, he just wanted to push the stone slightly to see if it reacted, but ye, we can leave off for now ))
Ryusui|GM: (;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Sure; maybe even a little bit of fast-forwarding given we all want to wait for the crystal to show up without P.C. intervention.))
Coma: (Well, that side-hustle was sort of an attempt to upgrade my boost a bit, but I can put off the mechanical apsect of it until next time.)
Ryusui|GM: (ah, ah! i getcha)
Ryusui|GM: (honestly i'm feelin' like rewarding roleplay is something i should do more of)
Ryusui|GM: (in that case, let us...)
Ryusui|GM: !end
