>>1010243
Grey Locust Scholar does not resist this social attack.

He approaches the others to speak.
"I am Grey Locust Scholar, of the People of the Bronze Veiled Skull. I welcome you to what I hope will be a second home for all of you. I ask for your cooperation in ending the conflict which currently prevents such a thing from happening."

rolled 4, 4, 1, 7, 8, 6, 4, 10, 4, 2, 3, 9, 1, 6, 10, 9, 9, 2, 3, 10, 8, 8, 10, 6, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 3, 6, 6, 10, 1, 10, 6, 8, 9, 1, 8, 3, 10, 10, 9, 4, 3, 9, 4, 7, 3 = 307

---

>>1010496
Grey Locust Scholar quickly confers with his followers, hands flashing in discussion as to how best encapsulate the current political situation as he currently understands it. Rolling to see how much of it he understands, no excellency so probably limited to Intelligence(5)+teamwork bonus, 10 dice?

rolled 8, 7, 6, 2, 10, 1, 1, 9, 1, 4, 6, 5, 5, 1, 8, 3, 9, 4, 3, 3, 7, 10, 7, 8, 3, 4, 10, 10, 3, 7 = 165

---

Stallion shakes their head in annoyance and gets back to taking in the architecture, continuing the construction of a stairway for the party's inevitable evacuation from this dangerous mess.

Her servant delivers yet another message, on scrap paper, scrawled with careless drafts crossed out rather than discarded:
"Could you not fill our ears with loquacious moon-rot?
If we die because you couldn't stop
I'm busy
This is an expedition, not a theater.
Please give everyone time to speak."

>>1010657
Teamwork bonus unfortunately is capped by the leader's skill. In the back of your mind your coadjutor hisses bitterly: "Call yourssself 'sscholar' when your own ssimple warriorsss know more about hissstory and basssic mathematicss? Thisss one thought ssschooling could wait until after you resssolve perssssonal businesss and return to The ssCity, but ssuch a ssshameful lapse givess the ssubject new urgensscy. Whatever non-critical dreamsss you had planned for sssleep-hourss of the nexssst ssix weeks, please re-ssschedule them, massster."
> Intelligence 5, Lore 0, War 0, Stunt 1, backstory circumstance bonus +2
> rolled 4, 4, 1, 7, 8, 6, 4, 10
Lizardfolk of the Cold Sun tribe are technically independent of the Fengari (which is what the local mammalian beastfolk call themselves) but allied. In a fair pitched battle, all against all, the People of the Bronze-Veiled Skull could probably beat their combined forces. Better gear, numbers, and your tribe's priests have real magic. Best the lizards can manage is cheap tricks like flashes of light or throwing handfuls of poison powder, while dog-brothers seem to be limited to brute force and occasional plundered toys they barely understand. Mostly skirmishes, though, and one on one, the average beastfolk raider is more than a match for an average human. Can't afford to fully armor everybody. Even if you could, can't run or scout as well with it on, or gather food efficiently while sticking together in big defensible groups. Lots and lots of your people have been caught in ambushes or raids and killed, or taken as slaves, over the years.

Supposedly the Fengari royal family (the big ones with bull heads) have worthwhile supernatural powers, but nobody you know has seen firsthand. Various weird, vague, contradictory rumors about divine bread or dew or honey healing from the brink of death, an axe which can cut things normal axes can't, walking shadows, icy invisible statues, flashing eyes, floating hair. Their current leader, Kazleth Khan or something, stays in his palace deep underground, hasn't come out on a raid in at least twenty or thirty years. Claims to be personally over a century old, with a lineage of rulership predating the Scarlet Empress.

Story is, his great-great-great-grandfather, Kublai, was born to the ancient human queen Paci-something after she was seduced by the god of war, then, to conceal her adultery, exiled. Even as a newborn, Kublai clearly didn't resemble the prince-consort, but killing the boy would surely offend his real father. He and his nursemaid, at their secret refuge in a 'tomb-city,' were the only ones for a week's travel in any direction to survive the Great Contagion. A messenger of the heavens came to them, clad in violet, saying "one month ago your mother and her spouse's children went together to an unmarked grave," and delivered his rightful inheritance - or the portion of it which remained, after being made clean by seven colors of fire and salt. Not all old stories are true, but that one might be.

Your coadjutor is aware of the type of magic wielded by your tribe's priests, and agrees such techniques would most likely be sufficient to bring a "mere sssixth-generation demigod" to a quick, grisly demise if he challenged them openly. But... maybe shouldn't bet your own life on that, if gathering more information is an option. Unknown magic items, or the palace itself, could plausibly give the minotaur king an edge. Even less sure how they'd measure up against these newcomers.

You personally have the potential to greatly surpass the priests in depth of true necromantic power, but your coadjutor does not recommend trying. Even the most unquestionable lords of Hell fearfully shun such aspects of essence - and not a useful sort of fear which could be controlled, leveraged. No. When a man burns his own house down, screaming family sealed inside, then says to the magistrate only "I was afraid the plague might spread," that sort. Better by far to threaten a san-tiger with having her fur petted the wrong way, since at least then the damage would be limited to your bones and flesh. Combined powers of the Silent Wind and the Trackless Quag should be much easier and safer to master (for the wielder, if not their surroundings) and better suited to your goals besides. According to that unwoven teakettle courtier, anyway.

rolled 10, 8, 1, 3, 1, 3, 7, 10, 10, 9, 2, 2, 4, 7, 10, 6, 7, 1, 8, 9, 3, 2, 2, 3, 6, 2, 8, 3, 4, 2, 2, 5, 5, 2, 9, 6, 9, 6, 4, 6, 1, 2, 6, 1, 1, 6, 6, 10, 2, 4 = 246

---

>>1010243
> 5, 5, 6, 3, 9, 7, 3, 3, 1, 10, 2, 1, 10

From the Discord

> I would like to do it via Performance, with a six-mote second excellency, 4m from personal pool and 2 from peripheral.

Counting 9 total successes assuming there is a 2 dot stunt.

Ana has Dodge MDV of 6 normally.

"Why are you talking for hours when you could get your whole message across in an easier to digest fashion with simple prose? Because honestly, I barely even get what you are asking for other than you don't think people will listen to you."

rolled 10, 2, 9, 5, 7, 1, 9, 10, 5, 9, 7, 9, 3, 1, 10, 10, 8, 3, 10, 9, 7, 6, 8, 7, 1, 2, 10, 1, 6, 2, 4, 2, 2, 4, 2, 4, 1, 10, 10, 7, 1, 5, 4, 7, 4, 9, 10, 1, 3, 10 = 287

---

>>1010708
>>1010496
>>1010658

The courtier visibly deflates upon the realization of the fact that none of the present company seemed to regard him with any degree of overt hostility. With a rather guilty look in his eyes, he raised a warning index digit to the pair of fellows that deigned to approach him, asking for a moment's pause as he accepted the missive that was brought to him, scrutinized it and swiftly - with all the automated efficiency of a lifelong bureaucrat - penned a response on the reverse with the help of a piece of string-wrapped coal produced from a pouch on his belt, then handing it back to the emissary that delivered the note. In it, Seventeen Quills introduced himself and curtly apologized, then offering to hear out the author's thoughts and desires in full at any moment when it would be convenient for them, provided that would not intrude upon the time of other speakers. He wrote with a talented hand, in very small letters.

Upon passing the letter back to the servant of the Stallion, he once more faced and greeted the Grey Locust Scholar and the greatly overdressed figure that approached soon after the Bronze Skull representative. His gaze swept over the pair, unconsciously examining their posture, dress, attitude, and social station with the practiced ease of a career courtier His face was beaming with the joy of a man whose blind faith was just vindicated - a perfect image of an innocent soul. To imagine disappointing his faith in one's virtue was already almost physically hurtful.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, esteemed friends," He bowed with great formality. His hand moved in a deliberate, complex flourish - flakes of soot from the writing detached from the perfectly clear skin in motion and fluttered to the ground. "I am Seventeen Quills, of no particular providence worth mentioning. On behalf of the esteemed mistresses Ertha and Dhiunaire Sorel, I thank you for replying to our plea. To reiterate, in a very brief and direct fashion -" He nodded at the rag-swaddled figure that criticized his extensive verbosity, and proceeded to explain, extending his fingers as he made his points. "To the best of my knowledge, things are as such:

Firstly, the esteemed mistresses and I are all here seemingly by chance, or by the will of the fates - our intrusion did not occur through a fault of our own, and we are not at all very knowledgeable of either this land or its people and their customs.

Second, we do not mean to inflict any harm, malice, or inconvenience upon this land and its inhabitants - the construction works you see happening before your eyes were initiated solely out of an assumption, hasty though it might have been, that this site is deserted and abandoned, and there was no intent in it to infringe upon the property of a fellow man. Likewise, any insult we might have inflicted by our clueless actions here, we did not intend, and would be glad to atone for.

Thirdly, we are exceptionally grateful for your hospitality and willingness to speak to us. It would be our utmost pleasure to learn as much as you are willing to tell us about this fascinating locale and the people inhabiting it, for we hope to come as friends unto the People of the Bronze Skull and never as enemies - and, therefore, it is also very much in our interest to help, to the best of our ability, to prevent the conflict you are warning us of. Please," He focused his attention on the Grey Locust Scholar, "Explain to us the plight you are facing, and how we might assure you of our best intentions by helping to put it right."

His words flowed like liquid silver - even in when attempting to be brief, the man could not avoid a certain unwieldy sophistication of expression. Shaking off the courtly manners was difficult, but he was already making steps in the right direction. His bright eyes were ablaze with certainty - no issue existed that he could not resolve by forming a committee.

rolled 10, 9, 5, 8, 2, 9, 9, 10, 3, 8, 2, 5, 8, 2, 1, 10, 1, 3, 1, 4 = 110

---

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Fi4AqW7l99-wP-7KihPIHQZaO-tmCDSMH3YvjAiZcHg/edit?usp=sharing

Through the gap in a door, one filled with a stench a mixture of wet dog and rat odor, a burly looking woman steps. She's tall, with a rosy but pale complexion-- her muscles are pronounced, but not masculine. By her side, a puzzle box hangs from a satchel like a decorative ornament, and the satchel has a number of needles slotted into the side of the pouch.

Most notable about the woman are her number of Mutations-- she appears, on first glance, to be a Lunar with noticeable Tells. Hoof-like claws extend from her rabbit's paws, which necessitate that the Exalt not wear shoes-- her wrists are surrounded in a tuft of fur, and the ears adorning her skullcap give her an additional foot of height.

Her hair is long, nearly knee-length, and she seems to be wearing a thick leather jacket over traditional ceremonial wedding clothes-- Southern in nature, for those who happen to be familiar. Her unfocused eyes are a cool silvery-grey, wandering around the room-- seemingly at a loss. Nothing about this journey has been familiar to her, but these beasts seemed to have marked her as one of their own-- or, perhaps prey? She is genuinely interested to find out which turns true. She bites her lip... it has been a long time since she got to ply in her trade as an artist. Perhaps an opportunity...?

She has been through a lot in the past 2 weeks. Watched the love of her life die. Somehow, against all odds, killed a Dragonblooded assassin and his mortal men. Some niggling part of her knew that it wasn't against all odds, that something had unlocked within her, but she tried to push that feeling down and resist it with all her might. Afterwards... she unlocked a portal to a party of imps, and wandered out into some... desert? In a drunken stupor. And then... she was here, and surrounded by people she never knew. Dogs, really, but still people-- and yet more people began to show, in shapes more familiar to her. Other mortals? No. Something is wrong, but she can't-- she tries to identify the nearest human she can see.

>>1011150
Nearest visible human is on that ledge, maybe forty yards diagonally up from where you're standing on the sandy cavern floor.
>Intelligence 2, Lore 5, first excellency up to 7 more
>rolled 10, 9, 5, 8, 2, 9, 9, 10, 3, 8, 2, 5, 8, 2
At least seven successes, possibly as many as ten. Based on the look of his ceremonial regalia, that's the high priest of the People of the Bronze-Veiled Skull - a minor tribe from an island of stability in the southeastern Wyld. You know as much as anyone reasonably could about local geography, culture, and history, at least from an outsider's perspective.

You are 5,529 miles from Whitewall (plus or minus a couple hundred if too many of the adjacent jade obelisks failed during the fall of the Shogunate), inside... well, not the most sacred, their true oracle is said to be long-lost, but easily top five... places in their religion, listening to the setup before a sacrificial ritual. One or more live sapient prisoners are going to be shoved off that ledge, as payment to some divinity of the Underworld, in exchange for... something. The former celestial god Fou Tung, Annalist of Brigands’ Murders and Deaths, is mentioned as part of an invocation, but doesn't seem to be the actual intended final recipient of the offering? More like a witness or intercessor.

Lot of the chanting is in Old Realm, but either a weird dialect you're not familiar with, an atrociously thick accent, or garbled by phonetic memorization telephone-tag. Enough of the catechism seems to be intact, or competently reconstructed, that it'll probably do something, especially given how much raw power they seem prepared to throw around, but you would NOT want to bet on that outcome being whatever was originally intended - or anything good. Gut reaction is to simply point out apparent errors...
>rolled 1, 10, 1
...but Temperance clamps down on that, forces you to think before acting. People of the Bronze-Veiled Skull are at war with the local beastfolk, who you're currently blending in with, so even apart from the language barrier you'd need to figure out some way to get them to listen to you at all.

Guessing mostly by sound and smell, you could follow the river downstream to find agitated bats, or upstream (past some rapids) to a giant spider. Either or both would be likely be valid targets for Friendship With Animals Approach. Backtracking to contact the rat colony or explore alternate exits from those other caves would be an option too, but there's a well-guarded checkpoint in the way, and you've got no good portable light source besides flaring your anima.
Or, you could continue sticking with the squad of hyena-men for now, and see if you can strike up a conversation with those lizardfolk. Perhaps they're feral descendants of the 'dragon kings' who ruled over humanity when the world was young, supposedly retaining their full memories across incarnations, but requiring a guide to recover full sapience.

rolled 9, 1, 8, 3, 3, 2, 7, 4, 1, 6, 6, 2, 6, 6, 1, 7, 5, 7, 4, 5 = 93

---

>>1011157
Patches doesn't hesitate for too long-- as much as she doesn't want to stay and chat, she needs to go save those prisoners they're talking about. And for that, well-- the best bet is to go ask the giant spider. "(Why can I talk to... nevermind. Spider first...)" She bounds upriver, intending to go past the rapids, and uses her anima to light the way in the dark tunnel... only a candle's brightness, 3m to get Friendship With Animals going. Her goal is to convince the spider to help her web up some victims the necromancers will drop-- in other words, build a web across a chasm.

>>1011199
It's straightforward enough to ascend a rocky slope beside the rapids, but there's no convenient path further up alongside the river. You'd have to either dive in and swim against the current, or climb along the wall.

Humans up on the ledge (more of a bridge, really, now that you've gotten a better look at it) don't have line-of-sight to you from this angle, but conversation among the beastfolk trailed off, and most of them are now staring at you, with a few spears angled defensively.

Apparent leader of the reptilian group says "Self having been named G'ruk. What thou having been named? Destined purpose of thou in this holy place being?" in broken Old Realm.

rolled 7, 3, 3, 7, 2, 8, 1, 6, 5, 10, 2, 9, 10, 4, 5, 5, 8, 7, 6, 5, 8, 3, 1, 7, 4, 5, 4, 8, 3, 8, 4, 6, 4, 8, 4, 1, 4, 5, 1, 6 = 207

---

>>1011201
As grand speeches were being made to the ultimately undeserving and unappreciative Exalts in the surface, there was a shadowed figure that headed down to meet the head of their spy network in the area and principal worshiper, before waving off the initial defensive reaction.

"I apologize for my friends' behavior. They haven't exactly seen anyone quite like you before. But, what exactly brings you out here? After all, it's not every day that someone as important as you winds up out on the fringes of reality, and I imagin rarer still on accident."

The figure seemed cloaked in shadow even here in the face of a Solar's anima, with the only light on them being the smoldering tip of a cigar.

Attempting to 1, get Patches talking, and 2 build an intimacy that this new stranger appreciates how important Patches is.

rolled 5, 1, 9, 10, 6, 9, 5, 5, 8, 1, 3, 2, 2, 8, 9, 2, 10, 7, 10, 3 = 115

---

>>1011229
"I'm-- you know. It's just. Spider? And. Well. Pat--ches. Um. But. Cool cigar. That's great, this was a good talk." Patches slowly backs away, looking at the river-- gauging if she can make it before there's pursuit. "I'm, bye?" Patches just... Awkwardly shuffles towards the river, not really breaking into a run. It's incredibly unclear what her motivation is, if she had any, but spiders are presumably involved... I leave it to ST to provide any further insight.

Patches and Ridal have a conversation-- Patches reveals more about her spidery goals than intended, before agreeing that contacting the two other individuals on the surface is probably the better option. She agrees to keep Ridal secret, so long as she finds a way to the surface to help save the lives of those victims as soon and as quickly as possible. Her exact words? "I accept your terms, now hurry!" The Infernal, seemingly satisfied, attempts to grant her wish.

While the cigar-smoking shadow-person speaks with the rabbit-girl, G'ruk directs his followers to form a loose line, separating them from the hyena-headed warriors. There's some back-and-forth in the local language, which neither Patches nor Ridal understand clearly, but going by tone it sounds like G'ruk is trying to calm everyone down, de-escalate.

When an appropriate gap comes up in the conversation, G'ruk turns back to Ridal and says "Self having told the ignorant dogs this spiritual matter is being outside their territory. However, the ignorant dogs claim it might be so that this bright newcomer bears marks of having been descended of their royal line. Her name... begging forgiveness of self, who cannot be properly pronouncing. Mother of their great founder, whose father was horned god of war, her name bears the meaning 'wide-shining' or 'radiance for all' in literalness, and it is well attested that her ears were round, rather than sharply angled. Pernicious heresy claims that she was bald, tailless, and flat-faced like the Bronze Skull, who are being bitter enemies... if she had only thin soft downy fur and a very short tail and snout, like those of a rabbit, this could be neatly reconciled. It is desired by some of the ignorant dogs that further proof toward a connection to their tribe's royal line be made manifest."

Patches immediately wonders how 'the ignorant dogs' know so well what rabbits look like. She's pretty sure there aren't any leporidae native to the region.

rolled 6, 8, 7, 1, 8, 10, 2, 10, 8, 2, 1, 7, 2, 1, 5, 1, 9, 6, 10, 6, 9, 1, 7, 10, 1, 4, 3, 8, 2, 6, 2, 8, 6, 8, 3, 6, 9, 4, 9, 2, 2, 6, 7, 3, 5, 8, 8, 10, 8, 1 = 276

---

"A very quick summation of the situation, then. The People of the Bronze Veiled Skull are at war with the local beastfolk. They are a varied group, with similarly varied origins, but the ones in charge are called the Fengari. Their royal family, bull headed sorts, claim divine descent from a war god, and have inherited some number of divine toys. I don't know the details, only rumors. While the People are perhaps better equipped and trained, and have more potent magic at our disposal, a full bloody engagement of that sort would be wasteful. I am hoping your new arrival can at least stall them, if not find a diplomatic solution. With more time, I could find some potent enough assistance to shift the odds in our favor."

He pauses, looking around. "Where'd the other one go?"

He silently confers as well with his coadjutor, asking whether it knows any rituals for calling up other demons it could teach him in a couple days.

rolled 6, 4, 3, 7, 9, 3, 6, 5, 3, 5, 5, 10, 1, 3, 6, 5, 3, 6, 4, 8, 1, 5, 5, 5, 2, 1, 5, 5, 3, 8, 8, 4, 10, 8, 4, 3, 7, 8, 6, 3, 1, 10, 9, 2, 2, 6, 5, 2, 2, 3, 3, 1, 9, 4, 10, 9, 6, 4, 3, 9 = 303

---

>>1011500
"I wouldn't know anything about... well, my history..." Patches mutters. "...but unless they know Soth Aweosung, I don't think they'd know me... she passed away... I don't know my grandparents, either." Patches keeps the rest of her history mum, though. "Maybe... if you gave me a good look at the records? Or had corroborating documents... Well... no, but... it's possible... um, we have more important things to deal with, right now, right? The... the prisoners, we need to stop them from dying first. Can you tell me what you know about the captors?" Patches looks intently at G'ruk.

rolled 4, 1, 7, 8, 9, 6, 4, 3, 4, 5, 2, 9, 5, 6, 9, 5, 2, 7, 5, 3, 8, 3, 9, 3, 8, 5, 1, 10, 10, 8, 8, 1, 5, 9, 3, 3, 2, 10, 2, 7, 1, 1, 4, 7, 10, 6, 8, 5, 9, 7 = 277

---

>>1011543

"It is regrettable to know that even in such distant ends of Creation wars are so familiar to people," Seventen Quills concurs. "But if you believe that we may help minimize the bloodshed and preserve the health and livelihood of good people under the Heavens, I shall apply myself to this task to my lawful utmost! Where do the esteemed Fengari and their flock make their home? We ought to attempt to parley. What are the reasons behind your feud to begin with, and what is the general state of the hostilities? Can a raid be expected at any moment or do you agree to pitched battles beforehand? Are we currently in your territory or in theirs, in the terms of military control? What are the numbers on either side"

The man reached subconsciously for a nonexistent stationery dispenser at his left side - thin, elegant fingers daintily gripped invisible paper before curling into a fist that trembled for a brief moment before once again returning into the linked-sleeved default position.

"Oh, and, ah... esteemed mistress Ertha, could someone among your servants provide me with some amenities, at the first convenience?"

>>1011554
In addition to confirming a lot of stuff you already guessed, G'ruk can identify (or rather, provide descriptions clear enough for you to recognize) six necromancy spells the high priest of the Dark One has been seen casting: Bone Puppet Dance, Death Flies Two Sails, Iron Countermagic, Shattering Void Mirror, Soul Brand, and Sticks To Snakes. He's pretty sure the younger priests have a more limited repertoire, but any of them with a fancy hat will at least know Bone Puppet Dance.
They've also got some way to 'shrivel' or 'sour' living flesh by touch, going right through armor - in mechanical terms, a post-soak damage adder. Easy to see coming, hasn't been known to kill outright unless the target was already hurt bad, and they seldom use it during fights, especially on the defensive. Might be another spell that needs elaborate ritual setup earlier in the day, or thaumaturgy, or an expensive terrestrial martial arts technique, or something from the ghost charmset, insufficient information to be sure.

As for catching people fallen from that ledge without killing them, G'ruk seems eager to try, but not optimistic about the odds. This sort of sacrifice is, it seems, a relatively regular occurrence (though they might be doing something differently this time) - one every few months at least, apparently variable based on interpretation of omens and availability of foreign captives or internal volunteers. Usually the victims' hands are bound, and they're pushed off in such a way that they turn in mid-air to land on their heads. G'ruk has been trying to get his claws on live / intact / pure humans for at least a year without satisfactory success, as part of an effort to bypass or neutralize some sort of "troubled water," further upstream past the giant spider's web.

>>1010658
What defenses have you positioned on or around the incomplete spiral stairs as sundown approaches?

rolled 9, 2, 4, 5, 3, 2, 4, 2, 1, 1, 8, 7, 3, 7, 3, 4, 2, 4, 10, 10, 10, 6, 9, 10, 4, 5, 4, 9, 1, 2, 8, 9, 1, 6, 6, 1, 6, 4, 1, 9, 4, 3, 9, 1, 8, 5, 2, 7, 2, 4 = 247

---

Well, since Seventh Amethyst doesn't seem particularly interested in further conversation about her cursed fate, Ana isn't going to push the issue any further, and is going to just jump back down the hole, her wing arm keeping her safe even as she carries anyone that wants to go down.

She had previously seen part of the ritual, at least enough to recognize that one of them looked like Sorrel, so she headed back over to there, and simply sat down right next to the cultists.

"Could you please not go through with this ritual?" She asks in Old Realm.

>>1011555
"The palace beneath us is currently theirs, but this here is our territory. They raid us, kill and take our people as slaves, and I could not give you all the details as I do not know them myself. You really may be better off asking these questions below."

rolled 10, 6, 6, 2, 9, 10, 2, 1, 3, 6, 3, 10, 4, 2, 9, 3, 8, 5, 6, 8, 9, 3, 9, 7, 4, 9, 1, 9, 6, 2, 5, 10, 6, 8, 4, 10, 4, 4, 9, 9, 7, 2, 8, 1, 4, 3, 10, 3, 4, 8 = 291

---

>>1011555
"Exactly what amenities do you think someone would bring onto a small 'supposed to be private' camping trip? And even if there were any, we wouldn't have brought anything spare for people we weren't expecting to be here."

---------

"Alright, well I will go and get her personally." Ridal would step right up and head through the ground, popping her head up right under Ertha's robes as she explained the situation with needing a net and the situation with the sacrifices.

And so, Ertha would politely excuse herself and head down with Anafzdes offer to head down and meet up in the meeting room.

rolled 2, 6, 3, 4, 9, 5, 3, 9, 1, 9, 9, 6, 5, 9, 7, 4, 8, 1, 2, 5, 4, 7, 7, 3, 5, 9, 6, 9, 1, 9, 3, 8, 10, 7, 2, 8, 2, 4, 4, 6, 8, 1, 4, 9, 1, 1, 3, 7, 10, 5 = 270

---

>>1011555
"Exactly what amenities do you think someone would bring onto a small 'supposed to be private' camping trip? And even if there were any, we wouldn't have brought anything spare for people we weren't expecting to be here."

---------

"Alright, well I will go and get her personally." Ridal would step right up and head through the ground, popping her head up right under Ertha's robes as she explained the situation with needing a net and the situation with the sacrifices.

And so, Ertha would politely excuse herself and head down with Anafzdes offer to head down and meet up in the meeting room.

rolled 8, 9, 2, 6, 1, 10, 3, 5, 8, 5, 5, 3, 10, 7, 7, 7, 9, 3, 7, 5, 4, 10, 8, 8, 9, 7, 5, 6, 2, 9, 10, 1, 9, 6, 7, 7, 10, 1, 7, 5, 10, 10, 9, 2, 6, 5, 6, 1, 8, 6 = 314

---

>>1011555
"Exactly what amenities do you think someone would bring onto a small 'supposed to be private' camping trip? And even if there were any, we wouldn't have brought anything spare for people we weren't expecting to be here."

---------

"Alright, well I will go and get her personally." Ridal would step right up and head through the ground, popping her head up right under Ertha's robes as she explained the situation with needing a net and the situation with the sacrifices.

And so, Ertha would politely excuse herself and head down with Anafzdes offer to head down and meet up in the meeting room.

rolled 5, 2, 9, 6, 4, 3, 8, 6, 1, 4, 10, 2, 5, 3, 4, 3, 10, 6, 10, 8, 8, 7, 4, 10, 8, 8, 7, 8, 4, 10, 8, 2, 5, 2, 6, 6, 9, 10, 2, 6, 6, 4, 8, 3, 5, 4, 2, 10, 7, 2 = 290

---

>>1011555
"Exactly what amenities do you think someone would bring onto a small 'supposed to be private' camping trip? And even if there were any, we wouldn't have brought anything spare for people we weren't expecting to be here."

---------

"Alright, well I will go and get her personally." Ridal would step right up and head through the ground, popping her head up right under Ertha's robes as she explained the situation with needing a net and the situation with the sacrifices.

And so, Ertha would politely excuse herself and head down with Anafzdes offer to head down and meet up in the meeting room.

>>1011835
"Only ink and stationery and maybe some fine sand!" The bureaucrat called out to her as she was leaving, "Pencils would be welcome too! Surely you've prepared to document your trip, yes?!"

>>1011828
"How... refreshingly direct, for an ill omen." replies the high priest. "There is time yet before we must either begin, or commit to a delay. Would you come with me to the chamber of purification, and swear on the Forge-Stone therein that you are not part of some Fair One's deceptive plot?"

His dialect of Old Realm is very unusual. He definitely didn't learn it from demons or raksha, and probably doesn't practice it often, but nonetheless managed to hit almost exactly the right degree of formal respect for, say, a mayor or other senior local administrator addressing a divine messenger or Prince of the Earth from outside their chain of command... not that Ana Noel, with socialize zero, would necessarily notice such nuances, but the high priest has plenty of practice at making best use of the cavern's acoustics for dramatic effect, so anybody else in there, or near an entrance, might reasonably overhear.

The rest of the congregation seems to be mostly frozen with terror.
>Perception 2, Awareness 1, Larceny 3, Lore 3
>rolled 9, 2, 4, 5, 3, 2, 4, 2
Ana notices two of them are carrying coils of rope - heavy stuff, thicker than the average person's wrist (and thus ill-suited for restraining, or being climbed by, someone human-sized) but no more than forty feet long. There's some heavy piece of brass or bronze spliced into one end that definitely wouldn't be usable as a conventional grappling hook.

rolled 7, 9, 2, 6, 1, 6, 7, 6, 8, 1, 1, 6, 9, 1, 7, 10, 2, 3, 9, 8, 2, 5, 9, 2, 3, 1, 8, 10, 10, 2, 2, 4, 6, 10, 2, 6, 6, 2, 4, 6, 2, 6, 8, 6, 4, 5, 10, 3, 5, 3 = 261

---

>>1011841
"Alright, as long as that doesn't involve removing my robes, I absolutely will truthfully swear that I am not associated with any of the fair folk. And to the best of my knowledge I am not a part of any of their schemes." Ana simply shrugged as she stood back up, fully prepared to follow this high priest. "Maybe it would involve like, eating iron shavings as definitive proof I'm definitely not from the Wyld or something?"

Ana takes note of the rope.

"What's that weird rope for, it looks like it's too heavy for most anything other than maybe building a bridge maybe?"

>>1011832
>Wits 3, Athletics 0
>rolled 10, 6, 6
Ertha descends the half-complete spiral staircase. Beyond the point where builder bees are still extruding steps (which look like quarter-inch-thick plate glass) there's a convenient central pole to slide down to the sacrificial ledge - one hand on that and the other arm over the ragged, ominous stranger's shoulder allows a safe descent that far.

Jumping eighteen yards down through open space to the cavern floor, but those knee-high ferns call out to her wood-aspected anima and cushion the impact. She manages a reasonably dignified landing and takes only five levels of bashing damage.

rolled 18, 16, 6, 4, 13, 9, 14, 17, 16, 7, 16, 20, 13, 15, 11, 12, 20, 5, 2, 15, 9, 18, 12, 17, 4, 9, 19, 11, 10, 16, 20, 18, 16, 7, 1, 7, 5, 19, 7, 20 = 494

---

Patches silently gazes at the sheer cliff, looking for purchase or hold to grab onto. It would make her ascent simpler, in any case-- she knew that, with her mutations, scaling the cliff was only a matter of time, but she wanted to do so with a minimum of injuries and as quickly as possible. Grabbing onto thick roots, rocky ledges and grabbing at handholds might give her a leg up over the competition-- she could consider letting a rope down after, relying on Webbe, to allow her temporary companions up.
Even with bad light she can pick out a few good hand and/or footholds on a natural stone wall.
Looks like most of the cave was originally opened up by that river flowing through.
Patches nods, and starts her leap-- she figures she can jump a few handholds and scramble up the wall with some effort, using her elongated legs and dextrous fingers to make the climb from there. She can worry about her party some time after. Her anima keeps the wall illuminated, helping her so she doesn't miss her targets.
She finds herself successfully clinging to a narrow, damp lump of rock protruding the overhanging cavern ceiling, ready for the second jump up to the actual bridge.
Leaping onto the bridge, Patches turns to face the necromancers, her anima still visible, and she coughs, before speaking in clear Old Realm. "Hi. Um. I'm in this conversation... now." Her eyes drift to Ana, and she stops in her tracks. "...um. Wow. She's beautiful." Patches mutters quietly, even though this woman looks... covered in all manner of obstructive garb. It's like-- she can feel something warm inside, looking at the Lunar and her other companion. "A, anyways. The ritual is going to fail. You didn't pronounce a lot of words correctly... ... ...I have more notes."

rolled 7, 7, 2, 9, 4, 5, 8, 9, 2, 4, 1, 4, 10, 5, 8, 10, 2, 8, 2, 4, 10, 4, 6, 10, 4, 10, 8, 10, 1, 4, 4, 7, 9, 1, 1, 5, 1, 6, 3, 8 = 223

---

((Wrong dice))

rolled 7, 9, 2, 9, 10, 10, 8, 8, 2, 4, 10, 7, 9, 9, 2, 7, 10, 1, 9, 7 = 140

---

Rewind a little.
Patches notices the cultists are a little further away than she anticipated, and takes steps forwards to complete her introduction-- her light shines brighter, just in time for her to hear her footsteps make a different sound. She immediately looks downwards, but is it too late, or did she catch herself in time?
Without much time to spare, already triggering the trap and feeling it slip away underneath her and opening a chasm into the depths below, Patches sprawls backwards and reaches out, grasping at the ledge...
She scrambles back onto the ledge, pulling herself up, and resolves to try this more carefully this time, and look for traps on her way there.
She effectively walked all the way across the trapdoor and it only opened as she was stepping off of it - seems like sloppy machining tolerances rather than being deliberately designed to do that.
"...ugh. More mistakes. These cultists are unprofessional." Patches curses under her breath as she examines her way for additional traps.
She doesn't notice any other traps. There's a lit torch on the wall behind you, about forty feet away, and four guards around the corner - two on the far side of a closed door.
"Pardon. Um. I'd like to make an appointment with the head priest." Patches sheepishly asks the guards. "Can you escort me? With blades, preferably, I've been repeatedly um. Yeah. It's disappointing."

JamesLeng 2021/09/30(Thu)14:01 No. 1012064 ID: f57349
File 163303566283.png - (30.54KB , 702x191 , path to the chamber of purification.png )

"It is an anathema!" shouts one of the junior priests, pointing stiff-armed at Patches. "We must...!" then with an undignified yelp he starts to collapse. One of the assistants catches him.

"You must help Brother Amotu on his way back to the main sanctuary. Have them send a replacement to resume the preparations," says the high priest, quietly returning his mace to its belt-loop, "and make certain that Amotu's knee isn't permanently damaged. Do NOT start the ritual except at the proper time, and by the current high priest's will. If I am slain, that will be Nodjme."
He switches back to Old Realm.
"You two an-ath-em-es," (he pronounces it more like an unfamiliar technical term than a hostile epithet, conveying an implicit 'or whatever you prefer to be called') "will come with me, please."

To the east there's a polished stone tunnel, ten feet wide and roughly thirty yards long. Can't clearly see the far end but something down there stinks - possibly skunk musk. At the midpoint of the tunnel there's a grand set of double doors flanked by lit torches mounted on the north wall. Main sanctuary is apparently in there. The high priest, however, turns to the right instead, leading you into a much narrower and more rough-hewn passageway.
After barely more than a spear's length the narrow passage opens out into another chasm, crossed by a bridge which is, sure enough, held up by thick hemp ropes anchored in the rock by odd-shaped copper-alloy fittings similar to those you saw earlier. It's clearly well-crafted and carefully maintained - the planks are thick, dense, rot-resistant wood, fitted smugly together, held firm yet flexible by a tidy, efficient system of knots. Bridge as a whole is T-shaped, with the left-side handrail interrupted by an elaborate wooden archway suspended in midair. Rather than continuing straight ahead the high priest turns east again, leading you through the archway and into another narrow tunnel.

You encounter another individual coming back the other way, dressed much like one of the ceremonial assistants you saw earlier, with the addition of a bulky wicker backpack which is empty, but lined on the inside with thin leather and black dust. The acolyte hastily doubles back and ducks into a small alcove partway through the tunnel. Alcove has another torch in a sconce, unlit. The bridges are narrow enough that two people might shuffle past each other, but it'd be awkward and possibly even dangerous.

Out the other side of that ten-yard-long tunnel (apparently transfixing a wedge of stone which extends from the cavern ceiling like some titanic axe-blade aimed at a downstream section of the river), there's another bridge, longer but less elaborate, and a third relatively narrow borehole. Notably warm, dry air seems to be blowing gently out of it, contrasted with the cool damp of the river cavern, and it turns to the south, finally opening into a 30' long and 10' wide but notably high-ceilinged room with thick black curtains to the west and rusty iron bars to the east. There are two guards in bronze plate armor standing near the center of the curtains.

The high priest says something to them about 'sensitive topics' and the two promptly nod in unison. One guard spits out the gum she was chewing, stretches it into two pieces, and stuffs them in her ears (lifting her helmet out of the way and settling it back into place afterward with a well-practiced trick of the knuckles), then turns to stare intently at something in the space on the far side of the bars. The other removes a simple necklace hung with a thin carved bone, hands it over to the high priest, then turns and nonchalantly walks off the way you came in.

Up against the far wall there's a small basin of water, where the high priest performs some ablutions, pointedly turning his back on Patches and Ana Noel.

Has Patches allowed her anima flare to lapse, or is she maintaining it?

rolled 6, 5, 10, 1, 4, 8, 1, 1, 5, 2, 9, 6, 2, 3, 4, 1, 6, 1, 3, 5 = 83

---

Patches winces when the priest is hit with a stick, almost feeling the pain herself. She doesn't allow her anima to lapse as ehe follows besides... "I, um, thank you for the audience. It's just, well, you know, Anathema is a strong word, and I couldn't possibly... be that. Even if I can now jump higher, I glow, animals talk to me... ... ...okay, the evidence is admittedly mounting, but, I'm. I'm the least heretical person I know. Probably. Possibly. There's a teensy tiny chance I might maybe have Exalted. Don't worry about it too much. I'm just. Um. Okay, this, um. She's pretty, but I'm not with her, I'm here for something else." Patches points at Ana as she finishes sheepishly making a fool of herself in Old Realm. "I just came from a desert so..."

>>1010829
"Well, sir, if you'd follow me, I'll show you to a less difficult entrance than the others have chosen to use. Meanwhile, I'll leave my own people up here to defend the surface with their six new fellows."

Then, assuming no objections, Grey Locust Scholar would lead any of the remaining surface exalts down through the 'secret' entrance.

rolled 3, 3, 2, 9, 9, 2, 1, 3, 8, 9, 6, 3, 3, 9, 3, 7, 3, 5, 6, 2, 9, 9, 10, 1, 8, 3, 4, 9, 5, 3, 1, 8, 7, 10, 3, 7, 6, 6, 6, 4, 8, 6, 10, 1, 8, 2, 7, 9, 10, 7 = 283

---

>>1012064

Ana is going to pointedly also avoid looking at patches, or reacting to what she is saying regarding her manipulations for the duration of the trip. She wasn't entirely sure what it was, but she felt a strong sense of danger from the rabbit, and she needed to be contained. Plus she didn't want the Bronze Folk to think she was actually affiliated with the other person.

But, she made sure to be extra handsy with the rope the bridge is suspended on. "Oh, this is really nice rope. Before the most recent developments, I actually really liked weaving. When all that is cleared, would I be able to meet with some of the weavers of your tribe while they work?"

Ana would similarly compliment the basket weaving as they passed the big bulky basket, her personal curiosity mostly seeming to be on the weaved goods she made out. "But I think my main question about the baskets is probably about the baskets is do they lock from the inside or outside?"

Honestly perhaps more surprising is that she didn't seem to have any questions about the more obviously magical gum situation, though she did clap her gloved hands behind the guards head to see if she really was deaf now.

She definitely seemed to lack the gravitas and decorum of an apocalyptic omen even as she followed along.

Suggestion 2021/10/02(Sat)12:15 No. 1012210 ID: f57349
File 163320215327.png - (21.12KB , 479x241 , Below the Secret Entrance.png )

>>1012147
There's a guard in plate armor at the bottom of the stairs, blocking the way forward, who recognizes Grey Locust Scholar on sight.
"Heretic! By what dispensation have you returned here?"

Oh, right. That little... doctrinal dispute. See, you were going to join the priesthood, but before they'd even let you approach the sacred heart-testing flame, there's this ordeal where you have to sit out on a rock - a specific rock, miles from here, friendly territory - for a day and a night and a day, with nothing to eat or drink but rainwater and bugs. You apparently failed the test because it was too easy. Enjoying direct sunlight and the taste of cave crickets is considered 'cheating,' somehow. Hence the deed-name.

Anyway, the argument escalated pretty quickly, both sides said some regrettable things, a few of the tribe's best warriors agreed with you that particular ancient tradition didn't make any sense to them either once it was spelled out plainly, you and your followers stormed off, you exalted... and now here we all are.

rolled 1, 5, 7, 6, 10, 5, 4, 9, 6, 9, 5, 10, 2, 5, 10, 2, 7, 4, 3, 7, 4, 6, 1, 5, 7, 9, 7, 4, 3, 6, 6, 5, 10, 2, 8, 6, 9, 9, 8, 4, 9, 5, 8, 6, 7, 10, 4, 10, 1, 5 = 301

---

>>1012210
"I've come by my own dispensation, to escort these outsiders to speak with the priests before one of you attempts to assault them again and gets the lot of you killed. The six you had topside already tried that, and they're lucky I was there to stop it. Two of the outsiders didn't care to listen to me, and they've already leapt down the skylight. What is to be done about them is not a decision for you to make. Step aside so it can be made by someone in charge. And while you're at it? Get us all something to eat."
Grey Locust Scholar continues marching forward past the guard and then along the rope bridge unless physically prevented.

Attempting to persuade my way past the guard, spending 5 motes on 1st Excellency, and channeling Compassion because it's probably been a while since any of the others have had a good meal and shelter from the heat.
Should be rolling 15 dice.

>>1012237
'Someone in charge' happens to be passing by - no less than the High Priest himself. He overhears, then orders the guard to stand aside and let you pass. "Was it these two who jumped down? May as well test the whole lot of them at once."

There are actually three people following him, only one of whom was with those newcomers above. In the middle is a rabbit-woman, wearing a jacket over a damaged wedding dress, glowing with a golden aura and the brand of Twilight on her forehead.

Picking up the rear of the procession, and trying to avoid attention, is a young woman who looks almost exactly like a lower-grade version of Sorel Dhiunare. Couple inches shorter, one ear crooked, skin still approximately chocolate-colored but a vaguely unhealthy shade, more bony than muscular, pinkish-tinted pale hair disheveled rather than growing naturally into tidy angular shapes. She's naked apart from a loincloth and the bit of rope binding her wrists behind her back.

Once the others have passed she runs up to Sorel - who hesitated at the edge of the chasm, struggling with fear of heights - and whispers "Are we kin?"

I was already well aware the actual summoning isn't likely to work. Much has been lost. Even so, it gives the uninitiated something to hope for, secures favorable treatment for the souls of those sacrificed, and the scalies are less aggressive after eating.

From the fact that you are here in this place, but not screaming and melting, I see that you are not Fair Folk. At least one, and perhaps all of you must be what the Immaculates called "anathema." From the fact that I still have both my kidneys after looking away, I have learned that you do not seek my death, or at least are capable of patience.

It was said that some of your kind have been known to honor bargains, and grant terrible boons. I ask of you this:
First, that my people, those of the Bronze-Veiled Skull, be spared.
Second, that you go among the Fengari, beyond their hidden gate, and remove or destroy them, according to your nature.
I care not how, so long as whatever remains poses no ongoing threat to my people, in accordance with the first boon.
Third, that the treasures of our ancestors - the Oracle, the Deep Palace, and the Spear of Clarity - be left intact, unspoiled, and recoverable.

That those treasures be recovered by your own hands is not necessary, and I do not ask it of you.
That my own glory be advanced by these deeds is not necessary, and I do not ask it of you.
That my personal safety be preserved is not necessary, and I do not ask it of you.

For all this, what price would you ask of me?

rolled 8, 2, 3, 10, 10, 4, 5, 1, 1, 10, 2, 6, 4, 7, 1, 10, 1, 8, 2, 1, 2, 4, 10, 4, 10, 4, 4, 9, 7, 1, 7, 6, 2, 4, 2, 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 4, 9, 2, 4, 3, 2, 8, 4, 7, 1 = 237

---

>>1012300
Seventeen Quills listens intently and attentively - it is evident from the borderline heartbroken expression he bore that the man was earnestly emphatizing with the Bronze Skull's plights, almost as if he was somehow experiencing their troubles second-hand. He nodded severely as the man finished speaking, and then, seemingly surprising even himself with this sudden decisiveness, was the first to reply. He spoke in measured, imperceptibly accented Old Realm of the academical variety that men learned not from teachers, but out of old books.

"There is no denying that at times the circumstances align in such a way that sacrifices are required for the greater good," He concedes sorrowfully, "But even in the direst straits, a sacrifice of human life could only be carried out as the last resort - and certainly not by the unwilling, and not by such deceitful ways. I will lend all aid that I can render towards securing your people's safety and well-being, esteemed priest, but only on the condition that you and your people will cooperate with me in trying to resolve all troubles so that we attain solutions that make the least number of souls on either side suffer, whether in war or in peace and that we strive continuously towards virtuous and kind outcomes and never towards the vicious and consciously violent ones. That, I must firmly say, is non-negotiable, no matter how presumptuous and prudish it may sound - and I am confident that all present beside me agree."

Having finished with his bold chastisement, the courtier took a breath and continued in a much milder and brisk manner:

"If that is acceptable to you, then the only things I would ask for in return is that I and those that I associate with are allowed to exist in your domain peacefully, that we be free to learn from your people and explore, respectfully, the mysteries of this place, both those known to you and those that may still be secret, and that any disagreements and troublesome developments that may occur will be guaranteed to be resolved with talks first and any violent action a distant second. Would that be agreeable for you also?"

>>1012304
[Seventeen Quills uses Sagacious Reading of Intent for 3m peripheral, targeting the words of the High Priest to discern the motivation behind them.

He uses Mastery of Small Manners as per the wording of the charm for 1m of peripheral essence, discerning the basic motivations of everyone present with 3 automatic successes on Investigation, among other effects.

Finally, he carries out a Performance-based social attack against everyone present to compel virtuous and compassionate behavior towards one another in these negotiations. *Provisionally* it's 8 Presence, 5 Performance, 1 Stunt for a total of 14 dice, plus one automatic success from expending WP and three more from Second Performance Excellency, expending 6m from personal pool. Effective Appearance for purposes of MDV is 8, or 9 if the boost from MoSM lasts enough to make this attack.]

>>1012304
> Sagacious Reading of Intent
His intent is almost exactly as stated: that you should benefit his allies and subordinates indirectly by ruining, or at least relocating, their enemies.

He is disclaiming self-interest because of an overly-literal reading of Immaculate propaganda, interpreting what was meant to be moral advice as a more neutral empirical warning that such thoughts would cause the process to fail.

rolled 4, 8, 7, 5, 9, 6, 10, 6, 9, 8, 7, 7, 2, 2, 4, 6, 4, 3, 3, 9, 4, 5, 7, 7, 5, 7, 5, 3, 3, 6, 4, 3, 10, 3, 9, 1, 8, 4, 10, 10, 10, 10, 6, 5, 4, 5, 2, 3, 9, 7 = 294

---

>>1012300

"I'll be entirely honest, I have no leg in this race. I don't know anything about either of your societies, and I'm not interested in attacking innocent people or joining a war effort for either side."

Ana stood back up from the failed scuffle to try and put the Solar Rabbit behind bars, fully willing to head back through the bars mainly as her own protection against Patches until she can find a way to lock the other up, since it wasn't like it would be hard for her to just walk out anyway.

As far as mechanics go, she doesn't have any reason to either resist or care about the social attack from Quills.

rolled 4, 10, 7, 10, 1, 6, 10, 3, 3, 2, 1, 6, 8, 4, 4, 10, 4, 9, 1, 9, 1, 7, 9, 1, 7, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 10, 5, 1, 8, 4, 6, 7, 8, 6, 8 = 232

---

"I-- what? I'm... sorry? Okay, I'm not with them either, I-- I mean, violence isn't entirely off the... nevermind... I'll just go..." Patches, feeling pushed out of the conversation by the more charismatic solar, goes to sulk in a corner and hold her knees. She doesn't have the social skills to compete. As for her Motive, [b]Remove all obstacles to her art.[b]

Even after suplexing Ana's Dark Rider and pulling her and a wood spirit out of the dark passage she made, she doesn't feel confident.

>>1012339
>wood spirit
Hallway beyond the iron bars (which are solidly set into both floor and ceiling, with no 'cell door' or other apparent mechanism) soon turns left into a descending staircase. In the corner, perhaps seven or eight yards past that line of salt set into the floor, there's a natural stone formation which vaguely resembles a sugar-glazed tree trunk, complete with roots and branches along the floor and ceiling.
>Lore 5, Craft (Water) 1
Probably something to do with airflow and humidity making the stone incrementally dissolve and resolidify. Sounds like there's a reasonably large space behind that curtain to the west, with fires kept steadily burning - that acolyte you saw on the way in had a specialized backpack for carrying charcoal. Cold air gets drawn up those stairs and through the bars, warmed, flows out through the hole by the bridge where you came in. Gethemane, City of the Mountain Gateway, has similar sorts of problems: deep passages they'd prefer to fully seal off for security, but can't because they'd suffocate.

Anyway, staring at the tree-like rock, you get an indistinct visual impression of a humanoid figure, first struggling with the bars, then retreating, cowering, and looking toward the other passage in fear. Almost like a particularly vivid daydream.

rolled 10, 6, 3, 1, 4, 10, 3, 9, 2, 3, 1, 5, 3, 2, 6, 6, 7, 6, 9, 1, 4, 4, 9, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 10, 4, 6, 4, 3, 7, 3, 8, 7, 2, 9, 7, 1, 5, 7, 7, 4, 1, 5, 1, 10 = 243

---

>>1012304
Grey Locust Scholar nods agreeably at Seventeen Quills, eyeing the scuffle between the other Exalts with confusion.

"I agree with this on principle, but perhaps not as an absolute? I would greatly prefer peaceful solutions where possible, but I can't say for certain that all parties will be open to them. Ah, I would like some acknowledgement of greater authority in matters of vital importance. Like defending the stability of Creation from the Fair Folk. You know, since we are all standing in it right now. And yes, I have taken the Second Breath."

Grey Locust Scholar's motive is to take control of the stable pocket in the Wyld, not sure whether his reasons for doing that are something the charm would pick up on?

Also spending 3 XP, 1 for Martial Arts 2, 1 for Survival 2, and 1 towards learning the procedure for summoning a tomescu. I don't have any idea how much XP I actually have but I feel like I can be fairly confident I have 3.

>>1012304
"So, restating to be sure I understand your offer: You will put a geas on the Fengari which prevents them from attacking by ambush, and possibly also aid us in other ways yet to be defined. In exchange, we will be subject to the same geas, provide you and yours with basic hospitality indefinitely, and you will have veto power over anything involving live sacrifices.

"If this is accurate, and you would be willing to grant my successors similar veto power over questioning of anyone among the People less than twenty-five years in age, we may have the foundation of an accord. First, however, those here for whom you do not speak must have a chance to present their own bids."

rolled 5, 9, 5, 3, 10, 10, 5, 2, 1, 4, 10, 6, 10, 5, 3, 4, 2, 7, 3, 8, 9, 10, 4, 10, 7, 2, 8, 9, 1, 7, 5, 6, 6, 7, 4, 5, 6, 8, 1, 1, 10, 10, 9, 9, 3, 1, 10, 4, 1, 3, 3, 7, 2, 3, 5, 8, 2, 9, 10, 6 = 343

---

>>1012346
Patches manages to use the image of suffering to motivate herself out of the hole in her mood she dug... and tries to scoot and clamber closer to the bars. "Are you doing okay?" Patches whispers through the bars, looking at the tree. "You seem scared. ...I'm scared too. It's... okay if you don't want to talk." Patches tries to coax the tree into telling it a bit more about itself, hopefully without being overheard. She's going to rely on her investigative talents to try and discern more information, if the spirit doesn't feel comfortable.

>>1013058
There's no verbal response or even overt gesture, but you get the distinct impression that, beyond the obvious, this dryad is lost in a (by her own naive standards) shockingly hostile environment, like some rich lady's pampered little dog who accidentally wandered off onto the tundra. She wants to make like a tree and leave, but is too weak to be safely moved. She wants you (or anyone, really) to stay nearby and somehow help recover her strength.