Viridity and Saizhan (updated 10/16/09)

[Salthorae]

Originally Posted by tleilaxu

i think it may be the adversary 'rebranding' himself in the new schema. not sure though.

That's what I was thinking too, but from Mostin's descriptions it would seem to be some other "Tree" type entity... ancient, and GREEN, yet unknown to most anyone in Wyre or the Prime.

[Siuis]

wow, that is quite the impact, there. It reminds me of an imternet image, showing a meteor and some poor, offended planet entitled "I would hit it like the fist of an angry god". I find this fitting.

I'm also rather proud of Nwm. Thanks to Sep, I've found the simplest spell effects to be the easiest to counter with. Who needs massive necromantic forces, when you can SMASH at epic velocity? I remember figuiring out the rules for maximum falling damage from an object and tweaking them - and getting d6 damage expressed in scientific notation when I was done. I have since stopped counting wizardly might via d6s.

I also severly doubt the Adversary is going to do ANYTHING remotely like switching sides. While corrupting others into thinking differently of him is his gimmick, he is absolutely 100% against actually changing, because that would be admitting he was wrong at some point. If the Adversary were willing to do that, why wouldn't he just reconcile with Oronthon and get it over with. No, at heart, the Adversart is the same as those juvenile players you get who go online to munchkin up some strange power for their third level character; They know they should just listen to the DM when he says it won't fly, but dammit! Their ego won't cave until the sun implodes. That the DM of wyre (by which I mean Oronthon, not Sep, oddly enough) puts up with such a jerk player these thousands of metaphorical years is astounding. Luckily, the rest of the party is ignoring him and moving on (Green, the actual aprty, etc.).

As an aside, does anyone know where I can find the stuff Sepulchrave and Cheiromancer were working on for their epic system? I know they gave up, and I even vaguely remember why. I just don't think they deleted all traces, and want to plumb the depths for hidden gems throw around in me own games...

[Justin]

Originally Posted by Siuis

wow, that is quite the impact, there. It reminds me of an imternet image, showing a meteor and some poor, offended planet entitled "I would hit it like the fist of an angry god". I find this fitting.

I'm also rather proud of Nwm. Thanks to Sep, I've found the simplest spell effects to be the easiest to counter. Who needs massive necromantic forces, when you can SMASH at epic velocity? I remember figuiring out the rules for maximum falling damage from an object and tweaking them - and getting d6 damage expressed in scientific notation when I was done. I have since stopped counting wizardly might via d6s.

Can you imagine Temenun's reaction? "Additionally, I have powerfully warded the deific Shvar Choryati against transva...they did what?"

[Felix]

It was not a meteorite that Nwm used; rather an orbital Incredible Hulk, who has been getting increasingly GREEN and upset at the lack of oxygen.

Therefore we have witnessed a Transvalent HULK SMASH.

Therefore Hummaz is Bruce Banner.

Obviously.

[Salthorae]

Originally Posted by Siuis

As an aside, does anyone know where I can find the stuff Sepulchrave and Cheiromancer were working on for their epic system? I know they gave up, and I even vaguely remember why. I just don't think they deleted all traces, and want to plumb the depths for hidden gems throw around in me own games...

Sep & Cheiro's Epic Stuff
There are a bunch of different threads in this Dog Soul Forum in which they worked their epic machinations...

Originally Posted by Felix

It was not a meteorite that Nwm used; rather an orbital Incredible Hulk, who has been getting increasingly GREEN and upset at the lack of oxygen.

Therefore we have witnessed a Transvalent HULK SMASH.

Therefore Hummaz is Bruce Banner.

Obviously.

LMAO... Obviously that is what happened!

[Siuis]

Sweet... I do hope I don't confuse myself and lose the link again. I remember checking the epic system every which way, trying to find out what an Opus did. Thank you, Salthorae!

Originally Posted by Felix

It was not a meteorite that Nwm used; rather an orbital Incredible Hulk, who has been getting increasingly GREEN and upset at the lack of oxygen.

Therefore we have witnessed a Transvalent HULK SMASH.

Therefore Hummaz is Bruce Banner.

Obviously.

I have difficulty refuting this... No wonder Mostin had trouble discerning the web. "Civil war? Retcon? This is absurd!"

[Sepulchrave II]

Mini-Update

Which was to have been part of a longer update, but it seemed apt to post it now.



**

[Jalael]: Observe.

The imp appeared with a pop!. It bowed.

[Mostin]: That was not a conjuration. That was a fly.
[Jalael]: In a small world, transmutation is the future. What you cannot conjure, you can transform and coerce: functionally, they equate to the same thing – one dispel and they're gone.
[Mostin]: I am no mere summoner. I am the binder of the Horror. I have mastered Celestial Princes. Dukes of Hell quail at the very mention of my name.
[Jalael]: You need to move with the times. Think about it: [equation].
[Mostin]: !
[Shomei]: Greetings.
[Mostin]: Finally, you condescend. What transpires?
[Shomei]: In the last hour? Agalaierept has seized the throne room and the citadel with the second legion. Chamosh is backing his bid, citing the need to maintain order; Astaroth manipulates both of them. Belial has crowned himself emperor in Abriymoch. Azazel is undeclared but has moved the standard and two hundred legions to Avernus, including Bune and his malebranche shock troops. The Iron City is locked tighter than…no cosmic superlative is possible. None of the Antagonists are condescending to involve themselves. Yet. When that happens, things will really heat up.
[Mostin]: And you?
[Shomei]: I remain in the library, observing all with wry detachment. Hell needs a good war, in any case; cull the weak and eliminate some bureaucrats, I say. Can't be bad. The Ludjas, Mostin. Two of them, a Hazel and a Holly: they are incredibly potent. Hazel's Will…Azazel understands where the real locus of power now lies.
[Mostin]: You are advising him?
[Shomei]: I admit I have a soft spot for him.
[Mostin]: You still play the same game, Shomei.
[Shomei]: Fear not. I play well.
[Mostin] (Wrily): And who pulls your strings? A Tree?
[Shomei]: Actually, I suspect Amaimon.
[Mostin]: I saw a wyrm in the Web. Why?
[Shomei]: Qematiel is on the Prime.
[Mostin]: What? How?
[Shomei]: Hazel has taken a liking to her.
[Mostin]: What has happened, Shomei?
[Shomei]: The I has shifted Its paradigm. It has incarnated as a deity in Nizkur.
[Mostin]: Ah. More of a fey primal, really. Do you believe this is an artifice?
[Shomei]: On balance, no. But nor do I think it's permanent.

Mostin opened his wine cabinet, and poured himself a large glass of kschiff. This news would require some readjustment.


**


"What news?" Eadric asked with mock enthusiasm.

Nwm sat, and gestured toward another stool. "I suggest you do the same. Those whom Shvar Choryati ate are gone."

"Gone?" Eadric asked.

"As in not recoverable. Reincarnation is not an option. They were…snatched. As it were. They have already been afforded new forms."

"By whom?"

"The principal suspect is a fey entity named Hummaz. Mostin equates him with 'Oronthon's Adversary in the diminishing Infinity.' Mostin's terminology is odd, but I understand his gist. The transition might be likened to Teppu's; or perhaps more akin to Nehael's."

Time seemed to slow to a crawl for the Ahma. He cocked his head and looked at Nwm. "You are telling me…"

"There is no Adversary."

There is no Adversary.

"And…this…Hummaz?" The Ahma inquired.

"That is a relationship you must negotiate. He is wild; fickle; violent; passionate. And prurient."

"I think I preferred the prior iteration," Eadric sighed. "Ethics? Morals? An opposition thereto?"

"None. More accurately, such concepts are not germane. Will has become Instinct."

"Magic?" The Ahma asked tentatively.

Nwm stretched his arms apart.

Eadric groaned.

"He's laid claim to a substantial tract of forest. He has a number of servitors around him."

"Servitors?"

"But I do not believe him to be overtly political," Nwm added hastily. "He is innocent of such matters – and yes, I choose my language carefully. Eadric, if you have any remaining notions of sin, you would do best to divest yourself of them. The Axes have shifted. Wherever they're going, it's not back."

"I have only one question," Eadric spoke steadily. "Is it possible that Oronthon's Adversary – whom, lest we forget, possesses a not undeserved reputation for being the most conniving and deceitful entity in existence – has somehow duped the Tree-ludja?"

Nwm considered briefly, and nodded. "That is a good question. I suppose time will tell."

"Do you bring other good news?"

"Oh yes," Nwm nodded. "Plenty. Remain seated. A chthonic deity named Kaalaanala has taken up residence in Jashat. Orcus has withdrawn from the front: he fled from Irel over Ardan, and could be anywhere. Dhatri has settled in Thond – for the time being; she is hungry, after being carried around for so long. Two hosts have left the Temple compound: Visuit and Yeshe lead the smaller, and it will reach Fumaril in four days. The larger is bound for Thond: the demilich is moving with his deathshriekers and, I suspect, Temenun also. Aside from the goddess in residence and a few dozen priests, the Temple of Cheshne is empty."

"How do you know this?"

"Certain stones gossip too much."

"Are you suggesting an assault?" The Ahma asked.

Nwm shook his head fervently. "Quite the opposite. She would kill us all. Avoid going within ten miles, at all costs."

"We should move to intercept the smaller host. How many are there?"

"Twelve thousand, half of whom are cavalry. Plus light aerial support – succubi, mainly. And goristros – but only a few dozen: most of the temple defense is with the larger army. But Guho has joined them and there are lots of the longhairs in Visuit's train. They are currently grounded: Mulissu has made the weather uncomfortable. They are devising sorceries to counteract her spell."

"And Pazuzu?"

"Ortwine hunts him."



**

[Gulla]

*Bliss*

[Asha'man]

Originally Posted by sepulchrave ii

[shomei]: The i has shifted its paradigm. It has incarnated as a deity in nizkur.
[mostin]: Ah. More of a fey primal, really. Do you believe this is an artifice?
[shomei]: On balance, no. But nor do i think it's permanent.

...
!

[Salthorae]

This should teach me to not second guess my instincts when it come to literary interpretation I suppose...

[Mathew_Freeman]

Originally Posted by Sepulchrave II

Time seemed to slow to a crawl for the Ahma. He cocked his head and looked at Nwm. "You are telling me…"

"There is no Adversary."

There is no Adversary.

Only Sep could call an update in which the Adversary disappears "minor".

Awesome stuff, as usual. Love the Meteor Strike spell, too.

[Roman]

It seems my initial thoughts were correct about the Adversary's new identity.

[Siuis]

well Hell. Called that one wrong, didn't I? A question arises however; knowing this to be a temporary (cosmically speaking) sojourn on the part of the Nameless Adversary, has he gone green as a method of transcendence, or is it a temporary mask he dons for the sake of convenience?

Irony, in that the Adversary, smartest of the smart, has turned into a big, green smash-a-majigger. Nwm has called forth the Hulk, indeed...

[tleilaxu]

Originally Posted by Siuis

A question arises however; knowing this to be a temporary (cosmically speaking) sojourn on the part of the Nameless Adversary, has he gone green as a method of transcendence, or is it a temporary mask he dons for the sake of convenience?

yes.

[grodog]

Originally Posted by Sepulchrave II

"I have only one question," Eadric spoke steadily. "Is it possible that Oronthon's Adversary – whom, lest we forget, possesses a not undeserved reputation for being the most conniving and deceitful entity in existence – has somehow duped the Tree-ludja?"

Nwm considered briefly, and nodded. "That is a good question. I suppose time will tell."

NICE!

Originally Posted by Sepulchrave II

"And Pazuzu?"

"Ortwine hunts him."

Ah, I love it!

Thanks Sep: you keep the worlds (and the plates/balls/planes, and the words) up in the air and spinning, and everyone guessing, and you still manage to surprise us all, after eight+ years now.

Aside: we should celebrate some sort of Wyrish birthday or something, on 21 Januarys, since Lady Despina's Virtue debuted on 21 January 2002!

[Salthorae]

Seriously Grodog... if the Wyre stories were a child, it would be in the 1st grade already! We should celebrate it's b-day!

[Michael Silverbane]

Originally Posted by Salthorae

Sep & Cheiro's Epic Stuff
There are a bunch of different threads in this Dog Soul Forum in which they worked their epic machinations...

Speaking of... did anything more ever come of that work?

[Siuis]

I believe the answer, good sir, is that between the two of them, Sep and Cheiro determined that they would have an easier time making a whole new game system, rather than tweaking the epic rules into something that wouldn't defeat the purpose of rules being there in the first place. The end result to the best of my knowledge, was to call off the project after a time.

Atleast, this was the gist of the answer given to me, back when I first found the epic magic thread. I actually made this account just to try and track down Sep's rules-work, too...

Hopefully, someone will come along and cry "Nay!", and show me to the glorious golden composition that is the New Epic Magic System, but until then I must leave you with this sad news.

[Sepulchrave II]

did anything more ever come of that work?

You have to deconstruct the whole engine - nonepic magic, character wealth (=ability bonuses) - and put it back together.

I think the reason I abandoned it - and I owe Cheiro an apology for that, as I dropped the ball on him [I'm sorry, Jim] - was that realization. I also knew in my gut that 4e was around the corner (it was before the official announcement) and I pretty much saw it as a futile task, assuming that the new engine would be better than the old.

There's a Pete Seeger song that springs to mind. The 3.5 engine - most importantly to me I guess, its aesthetic - is an altogether superior model.
You just have to keep it lubricated all the time.

In any event, I'm thinking about revisiting it. There's a bunch of variant d20/3.XX systems now, and lots of good ideas out there.

[Michael Silverbane]

If you do decide to start the d20 deconstruction project, I'd be happy to lend what assistance I am able. I am currently waffling about on a similar project of my own, but keep cluttering things up by changing my design goals, starting new campaigns, tracking back to older projects, and so on.

If nothing else, I'm sure that I (and other readers of the storyhour) would like to see what you come up with.