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Twin Emperors[EPIC RPG MKIV] - Story Minute
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<blockquote data-quote="Iron Sky" data-source="post: 7122425" data-attributes="member: 60965"><p><strong>Session 8 - A Simple Plan</strong></p><p></p><p>This morning, this first sight of Aetherport after several days of hard ridding and intermittent battles: a sprawling city of gnarled wood and red stone spilling out from the massive gantries and Aethership docks jutting up all along the edge of the Great Rift. Flowing endlessly over it all, the massive reverse-waterfall of Aether pouring upwards from the Rift.</p><p></p><p>Also, Brassy Jons awaiting them on the road to the city with information to sell. </p><p></p><p>To verify Brassy Jons' presentation of the “real Nise Akuma”, Pursus probed the poor half-made man with his magics, determining that he had been the subject of two curses – the Theft of Voice and Theft of Face, both laid upon him by a two indivudals: one Namesaker Elios and someone identifiable as “Zos”. </p><p></p><p>The strangest part: Pursus could think of no way for two people to have both casting a single spell. Struggling to explain it to the others, he came up with the analogy of seeing a grape sitting on the road and being told two people both spat it out at the same time.</p><p></p><p>Questioning Nise, the man told of a beautiful woman seducing him, then awakening the next morning to see her putting on his face and speaking with his voice, leaving him with only the barest hints of either. He'd shadowed the thief for months since, searching for some way to get his stolen identity back, in the process learning only that she was “Namesaker.”</p><p></p><p>Deciding based on Pursus analysis that the rest of the information Brassy had for sale was likely also valid, the group asked her price for the location of the Twins. Her reply: “Six things – five silver Centurions and... I'm coming with you.” </p><p></p><p>After much discussion – including Eliot Sam taking her aside to assess her loyalty. Her pitch sold him: “people are like things, they're worth keeping around as long as they're useful. Be useful to me and I'll be useful to you.” </p><p></p><p>They settled on an agreement: she would join them with a full share of whatever wealth they earned in exchange for her telling what she knew of the Twins... plus a romp in the woods with “Pretty Pursus” to seal the deal.</p><p></p><p>While Pursus handled the last bit, Samara expressed her dissatisfaction with the new arrangement, taking Eliot Sam aside to tell him Brassy shouldn't be trusted much less invited to join them. She also proclaimed her displeasure that Eliot Sam wasn't leading the group as should be his “rightful place” as an Eon Baron. Eliot Sam riled her up by telling her Brassy was already coming, that he wasn't the leader, and that Samara needed to stop calling Eliot “My Lord” all the time. Just as she was about to explode at him, he smoothed everything over when he snuck in that he intended Samara be his wife some time in the future.</p><p></p><p>Samara calmed and Brassy returning from the woods satisfied with Pursus' performance, she told what she know of the Twins: departed three days ago from Aetherport onboard the ship Paradise East. Her Captain, Suvaro Cursus, swayed by what was rumored to be a full Gold Imperial – worth 10,000 Copper Wretches – paid in exchange for a one-week trip North for three horses, one Akuma, and a pair of Saitese twins.</p><p></p><p>As they walked the last few miles towards the massive under-construction outer gate of Aetherport, it was determined that raising the 3-4 gold Dynasts they'd probably need to hire an Aethership might be accomplished by selling faceless Nise's local warehouse full of rice and silks. All they needed to do was get into the city, sneak into his warehouse, and liquidate everything inside. A simple plan, but, of course, not a single part of the plan worked as intended.</p><p></p><p>They had almost reached the massive new gate to Aetherport when a squadron of Fleet Legion riders galloped past to talk with the Silver Order guards manning the gate. Even from the distance, Michkin was able to deduce they were giving descriptions of Samara and perhaps the others. </p><p></p><p>The group figured out a plan to get inside and were about to execute it when a heavy Boulderland accent boomed out behind them addressed to Nanoc. </p><p></p><p>“Boulderlander, what brings you to the Softlands and from which clan do you hail?”</p><p></p><p>What seemed to be a friendly greeting turned to a challenge when the massive approaching Boulderlander revealed himself to be Aslot Storn, a Castkin exiled from the Kinnate for some unknown dishonor, seeking to regain his honor by killing Boulderlanders in single combat. A necklace of six (unmatched) ears spoke to the progress of his plan.</p><p></p><p>Nanoc walked away at first, but turned back as Aslot loudly shouted to the passing hordes of Barony-fled refugees, Legion supply wagons, and general city traffic that Nanoc, his Borix name, and his whole Stoneborn Clan as weaklings and cowards. Pursus decried the unfairness of the challenge – Nanoc having lost his weapons during the Aetherrift battle with the tentacle beast – prompting Aslot unceremoniously strip the weapons from one of his handful of young Boulderlander-wannabee groupies that followed him around. Nanoc took his borrowed weapons and nodded his readiness as a crowd of hundreds gathered to watch.</p><p></p><p>The battle was over in seconds.</p><p></p><p>Aslot ripped his greataxe from fallen Nanoc's shoulder, drew a knife, and knelt over Nanoc's unconscious body. With hands on weapons, Eliot Sam stepped forward and suggested to Aslot he could take Nanoc's ear, but not his life. Aslot agreed and away adding Nanoc's ear to his necklace. Aslot ignored one of his groupies' cry for help after an altercation with Michkin erupted into swordplay and sent the hapless groupie running off with a maimed arm.</p><p></p><p>Pursus' magics were able to get Nanoc on his feet – barely – and the group continued with their entry plan. Brassy and Nise used their passes to get through the gate first, heading off to check out Nise's warehouse later to meet back at the Driftport Inn. Next, Pursus and Nanoc paid the entry fee – including Pursus buying a merchant's license to sell polished pebbles on a whim – and made for the Inn. </p><p></p><p>Eliot Sam and the cowled Samara were not as lucky as a suspicious Silver Order guard shouted an order at Samara. She looked to Eliot Sam who nodded. When her hood fell away, the guards swore and leapt to seize her. After a short chase and running skirmish with the Silver Order, the companions found themselves huddled around a table in the back room of a quiet bar. Eliot Sam bore his heavy wounds stoically to not give them away as the Silver Order patrols searched outside, seeking vengeance for the guardsman Eliot Sam killed during the running battle.</p><p></p><p>After a quick discussion everyone split up and headed towards the Driftwood Inn in small groups. Eliot Sam and Samara whiled the time for a bit, posing as beggars. </p><p></p><p>Another beggar stared at them long enough for them to grow worried, but when he finally approached he revealed himself to be a young Barony man tongue-tied in the presence of the legendary Eliot Sam from the first Eon War. He begged Eliot Sam to intercede in the current Barony rebellion with its many competing, disorganized factions struggling to unify in face of the come Legion. The young man showed his own fanatical determination, displaying the clay Runic tablets strapped beneath his robe, swearing others like him lay in wait throughout the city ready to take out Silver Order and Legion barracks, Imperial Cult Temples, Aethership gantries, and the Aqua-Sentinam, the giant building that supplied Aetherport's many aqueducts. The attack had been set: that very night at sunset.</p><p></p><p>Finally all convening at the Driftport Inn, the companions confirmed their original plan: head to Nise's local warehouse, break in, and sell everything inside in hopes of using the proceeds to purchase passage on an Aethership. </p><p></p><p>When they arrived, two problems: First, the warehouse was empty. Second, the brass locks on the doors were trapped with some sort of Chymestral beads. Michkin circumnavigated the second problem, taking a risky leap to the loading dock jutting out into the Great Rift as Nanoc climbed the building. With the help of some dropped ropes, the companions gained access to the warehouse without having to disable the trapped locks.</p><p></p><p>Once inside and able to rest for a while amidst the empty crates, they dispatched Pursus and Nanoc to sell their horses and the loot from the crashed Aethership. They returedn with clothes for Samara and other essentials and everyone had just agreed they must somehow acquire an Aethership when Pursus pulled out the strange etched Aether Pearl disk taken from the tentacle-beast's lair, distracted by its periodic twitches and trembles. His bush-rat familiar, CI, hissed, fur standing straight out in all directions. Brassy asked to examine the disc it to ascertain whether they might be able to sell it and Pursus handed it over. </p><p></p><p>Just before she got a hand on it, the disc revealed its true form – a familiar if tiny version of the monster that had hauled half their group down to its lair at the ship. Before anyone could react, it leapt onto Pursus' shoulder, four tentacled arms enwrapping his familiar...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Iron Sky, post: 7122425, member: 60965"] [b]Session 8 - A Simple Plan[/b] This morning, this first sight of Aetherport after several days of hard ridding and intermittent battles: a sprawling city of gnarled wood and red stone spilling out from the massive gantries and Aethership docks jutting up all along the edge of the Great Rift. Flowing endlessly over it all, the massive reverse-waterfall of Aether pouring upwards from the Rift. Also, Brassy Jons awaiting them on the road to the city with information to sell. To verify Brassy Jons' presentation of the “real Nise Akuma”, Pursus probed the poor half-made man with his magics, determining that he had been the subject of two curses – the Theft of Voice and Theft of Face, both laid upon him by a two indivudals: one Namesaker Elios and someone identifiable as “Zos”. The strangest part: Pursus could think of no way for two people to have both casting a single spell. Struggling to explain it to the others, he came up with the analogy of seeing a grape sitting on the road and being told two people both spat it out at the same time. Questioning Nise, the man told of a beautiful woman seducing him, then awakening the next morning to see her putting on his face and speaking with his voice, leaving him with only the barest hints of either. He'd shadowed the thief for months since, searching for some way to get his stolen identity back, in the process learning only that she was “Namesaker.” Deciding based on Pursus analysis that the rest of the information Brassy had for sale was likely also valid, the group asked her price for the location of the Twins. Her reply: “Six things – five silver Centurions and... I'm coming with you.” After much discussion – including Eliot Sam taking her aside to assess her loyalty. Her pitch sold him: “people are like things, they're worth keeping around as long as they're useful. Be useful to me and I'll be useful to you.” They settled on an agreement: she would join them with a full share of whatever wealth they earned in exchange for her telling what she knew of the Twins... plus a romp in the woods with “Pretty Pursus” to seal the deal. While Pursus handled the last bit, Samara expressed her dissatisfaction with the new arrangement, taking Eliot Sam aside to tell him Brassy shouldn't be trusted much less invited to join them. She also proclaimed her displeasure that Eliot Sam wasn't leading the group as should be his “rightful place” as an Eon Baron. Eliot Sam riled her up by telling her Brassy was already coming, that he wasn't the leader, and that Samara needed to stop calling Eliot “My Lord” all the time. Just as she was about to explode at him, he smoothed everything over when he snuck in that he intended Samara be his wife some time in the future. Samara calmed and Brassy returning from the woods satisfied with Pursus' performance, she told what she know of the Twins: departed three days ago from Aetherport onboard the ship Paradise East. Her Captain, Suvaro Cursus, swayed by what was rumored to be a full Gold Imperial – worth 10,000 Copper Wretches – paid in exchange for a one-week trip North for three horses, one Akuma, and a pair of Saitese twins. As they walked the last few miles towards the massive under-construction outer gate of Aetherport, it was determined that raising the 3-4 gold Dynasts they'd probably need to hire an Aethership might be accomplished by selling faceless Nise's local warehouse full of rice and silks. All they needed to do was get into the city, sneak into his warehouse, and liquidate everything inside. A simple plan, but, of course, not a single part of the plan worked as intended. They had almost reached the massive new gate to Aetherport when a squadron of Fleet Legion riders galloped past to talk with the Silver Order guards manning the gate. Even from the distance, Michkin was able to deduce they were giving descriptions of Samara and perhaps the others. The group figured out a plan to get inside and were about to execute it when a heavy Boulderland accent boomed out behind them addressed to Nanoc. “Boulderlander, what brings you to the Softlands and from which clan do you hail?” What seemed to be a friendly greeting turned to a challenge when the massive approaching Boulderlander revealed himself to be Aslot Storn, a Castkin exiled from the Kinnate for some unknown dishonor, seeking to regain his honor by killing Boulderlanders in single combat. A necklace of six (unmatched) ears spoke to the progress of his plan. Nanoc walked away at first, but turned back as Aslot loudly shouted to the passing hordes of Barony-fled refugees, Legion supply wagons, and general city traffic that Nanoc, his Borix name, and his whole Stoneborn Clan as weaklings and cowards. Pursus decried the unfairness of the challenge – Nanoc having lost his weapons during the Aetherrift battle with the tentacle beast – prompting Aslot unceremoniously strip the weapons from one of his handful of young Boulderlander-wannabee groupies that followed him around. Nanoc took his borrowed weapons and nodded his readiness as a crowd of hundreds gathered to watch. The battle was over in seconds. Aslot ripped his greataxe from fallen Nanoc's shoulder, drew a knife, and knelt over Nanoc's unconscious body. With hands on weapons, Eliot Sam stepped forward and suggested to Aslot he could take Nanoc's ear, but not his life. Aslot agreed and away adding Nanoc's ear to his necklace. Aslot ignored one of his groupies' cry for help after an altercation with Michkin erupted into swordplay and sent the hapless groupie running off with a maimed arm. Pursus' magics were able to get Nanoc on his feet – barely – and the group continued with their entry plan. Brassy and Nise used their passes to get through the gate first, heading off to check out Nise's warehouse later to meet back at the Driftport Inn. Next, Pursus and Nanoc paid the entry fee – including Pursus buying a merchant's license to sell polished pebbles on a whim – and made for the Inn. Eliot Sam and the cowled Samara were not as lucky as a suspicious Silver Order guard shouted an order at Samara. She looked to Eliot Sam who nodded. When her hood fell away, the guards swore and leapt to seize her. After a short chase and running skirmish with the Silver Order, the companions found themselves huddled around a table in the back room of a quiet bar. Eliot Sam bore his heavy wounds stoically to not give them away as the Silver Order patrols searched outside, seeking vengeance for the guardsman Eliot Sam killed during the running battle. After a quick discussion everyone split up and headed towards the Driftwood Inn in small groups. Eliot Sam and Samara whiled the time for a bit, posing as beggars. Another beggar stared at them long enough for them to grow worried, but when he finally approached he revealed himself to be a young Barony man tongue-tied in the presence of the legendary Eliot Sam from the first Eon War. He begged Eliot Sam to intercede in the current Barony rebellion with its many competing, disorganized factions struggling to unify in face of the come Legion. The young man showed his own fanatical determination, displaying the clay Runic tablets strapped beneath his robe, swearing others like him lay in wait throughout the city ready to take out Silver Order and Legion barracks, Imperial Cult Temples, Aethership gantries, and the Aqua-Sentinam, the giant building that supplied Aetherport's many aqueducts. The attack had been set: that very night at sunset. Finally all convening at the Driftport Inn, the companions confirmed their original plan: head to Nise's local warehouse, break in, and sell everything inside in hopes of using the proceeds to purchase passage on an Aethership. When they arrived, two problems: First, the warehouse was empty. Second, the brass locks on the doors were trapped with some sort of Chymestral beads. Michkin circumnavigated the second problem, taking a risky leap to the loading dock jutting out into the Great Rift as Nanoc climbed the building. With the help of some dropped ropes, the companions gained access to the warehouse without having to disable the trapped locks. Once inside and able to rest for a while amidst the empty crates, they dispatched Pursus and Nanoc to sell their horses and the loot from the crashed Aethership. They returedn with clothes for Samara and other essentials and everyone had just agreed they must somehow acquire an Aethership when Pursus pulled out the strange etched Aether Pearl disk taken from the tentacle-beast's lair, distracted by its periodic twitches and trembles. His bush-rat familiar, CI, hissed, fur standing straight out in all directions. Brassy asked to examine the disc it to ascertain whether they might be able to sell it and Pursus handed it over. Just before she got a hand on it, the disc revealed its true form – a familiar if tiny version of the monster that had hauled half their group down to its lair at the ship. Before anyone could react, it leapt onto Pursus' shoulder, four tentacled arms enwrapping his familiar... [/QUOTE]
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