EVENT #12: INVOCATION - COORDINATION POST (PART 2)

[abraxasmods]

Event #12 - COORDINATION ( 2 )

go to the OOC Plotting Post or IC Event Log

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This post is for coordination while the event is ongoing, to prevent the IC Event Log from being overrun by OOC mod and player communications. The comments section will contain applicable comments and forms for you to reply to as needed.

Use this post to:

◎ Coordinate event plots with the mods
◎ Request a mod dice roll
◎ Investigate or interact with a plot point
◎ Submit noticeable actions
◎ Write rapid IC exchanges

If you have any questions, see the Questions thread on the OOC Plotting Post.

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Mod Communications / Randomization

If you have something you want to do related to the event plot, you can communicate and coordinate with us here. This includes NPC meetings, requesting large resources, destroying the environment, or anything else that may require mod permission to proceed. If we can't accommodate a request for any reason, we'll do our best to offer an alternative!

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Interactions

Several interactions are available. For Part 2, there are fewer mysteries to uncover, but plenty to interact with to see what happens. You can interact with something as many times as you want, as long as there's a reasonable explanation for your character making their second attempt. Note that interactions might carry IC consequences, though we'll try to telegraph when characters are at high risk of triggering something. To interact, fill out the form, then comment under the corresponding item.

Interact

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Other characters involved:</b> <b>Action:</b> (Describe what your character is attempting to do and how. If multiple characters are taking action, include their actions.) <b>Thread:</b> <a href="urlhere">Thread</a> (Link to a top level or any other relevant threads. This is so we can review what the characters involved have been doing to best flavor the investigation outcome for you!) <b>Notes:</b> (Anything else)

IC Exchanges

Use this option if you have an interaction you'd like to play out, but setting up a standard IC thread would be impracticable. For example, if your character wants to speak to several people about an event they witnessed together, you might want to do an IC exchange.

Treat this like an informal IC network thread done in person, where character reactions, snippets of dialogue, and other details can be quickly played out and concluded in-game without committing to a full log thread. Exchanges are game canon, and can count towards Activity Check under the category of a Network thread.

Start an IC exchange

Using the provided form is optional. Begin a thread freeform if you prefer.

<b>Where & when:</b> (Where and when is this exchange taking place?) <b>Purpose:</b> (What's the reason for this exchange?) <b>THREAD START</b> (Write the scenario, your character's actions, and any dialogue as usual)

Notable Actions

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Comments

[ofthesword]

Butting in as Dee has invited Nero to be one of the 3:

Nero and Steve will go with the Acolyte to the top, bringing one of the wounded native NPCs with them. Steve is going for reconnaissance, and Nero's going to test the idea he might get some power back out of the pit. There they will communicate with the retrieval/spared team where they are and the lay of the land. Nero will attempt to fly up to get a bird's eye view of where they are, as he can manifest working wings. Let me know how far he might manage/what he could see! (If he falls Steve will catch him)

From discussions with participating players, the idea is a chunk of the retrieval team would then like to separate into two groups: 1. a negotiation team who goes up to the top where the tunnel leads out to communicate with the Acolytes/Summoned escaping, and to serve as a distraction while 2. a second group attempts to get into the tunnel towards the others in order to pull out people for escape and healing.

This is kind of a general pitch for what is happening all at the same time, but will let the other groups know (negotiation and sneaking teams) if they need to poke in for additional information!

[abraxasmods]

Although some powers would return upon exiting the cavern, flight would take longer to come back in full. However, Nero may fly above the island for a few seconds before his wings disappeared. Steve will have to catch him. While up there, he would glimpse a large moving shadow in the distance, possibly the turtle that will come rescue them later. He could also see in the far distance one very long leg belonging to the shrine creature.

The Acolytes bringing the captives up cannot be negotiated with much more as they've already struck a deal and have little sway over the faithful Acolytes keeping the rest of the Lost captive.

The negotiating team will need to attract the attention of the other Acolytes to begin negotiations. Though players are not limited to these options, we have two suggestions:

1. They enter directly through the main warded entrance described in the event log. Characters have Thornean and Solvunn mages, Wanda's patron god, and other resources to accomplish this. Once through, with enough show of force, they can convince the Acolytes to negotiate their surrender.

2. They take the Acolytes helping the 3 captives escape hostage (either as a ploy or without the agreement of said Acolytes) and go through the secret tunnel, using those Acolytes as leverage. Although the faithful Acolytes serve their cause first, they do share bonds with each other and may reconsider their stance when faced with a difficult choice.

The first option prevents any prisoners from being snuck out by the infiltration team while the second option may risk the other Acolytes allowing their comrades held hostage to perish.

Other scenarios are possible. Players are welcome to offer any ideas they'd like to explore.

[hextechhead]

Hello mods, I'm being tagged back in after putting out a thing to the whole group on plurk! 

We are going to pick option #1 you offered. Jayce, Rhy, Lenore, and Wanda (and possibly others) will approach the main warded entrance with the Thornean and Solvunn mages/NPCs. Kira says Wanda will use her patron god connection to help with the wards too if that works. If they can then get the ward down using the mages and Wanda's assistance, they will continue on down to try and get the attention of the acolytes so they will come up. 

Since they know the altar room is actually pretty deep, Wanda will be using her abilities to more or less aggressively and loudly slam at the entrance and the tunnel leading in to get their attention. Lenore has supernatural strength as well. They will be making as much noise as possible so the acolytes cannot ignore them. 

If this succeeds in getting them to investigate, Jayce and Rhy will say they are there to negotiate the surrender of their base and the people in it. They are flanked by some very powerful magic users so. You should listen!

As per our conversation before, the idea is that while they are distracting some of the acolytes, there will be an infiltration group that goes in through the tunnel Steve and Nero got through. They will be attempting to go through the sneaky route to find the captured people and see if there is a way out. 

We assume there will be people and monsters in the way of them doing that, which the infiltration team is interested in engaging with. Please let us know what next steps there will be!

Thank you!

[abraxasmods]

Breaking the Wards
Wanda may break the wards using her patron god. To accomplish this feat, she will need to draw on the power of a human corpse. There are many she can call on around them. The corpse will reanimate itself. Once directed by Wanda to destroy the wards, the corpse glows with the runes of Soris Immaneus. It then approaches the warding and will begin to stretch its body over the surface of the invisible warding, turning itself into a human paste. The ward trembles, then dissolves with the body itself.

The Thornean mages with them are clearly disturbed, with the curious exception of Jolene Sybell.

Negotiating with the Acolytes
Three Acolytes will arrive, one of whom is clearly the leader. He tells them only the gods are deserving of their fear. They are not afraid to die. He asks whether Rhy and Jayce are willing to risk the same of their friends. He adds that it is too late to stop them, and that Josselyn has fled. She will rebuild her flock somewhere else.

Jayce and Rhy can use this opportunity to offer their terms. Their best chance is to use the information Himeka learned about the Mysterious Acolyte and her past. Not even the Acolytes know of her history. Therefore, they may interpret this as a sign that the Spared have the aid of the gods.

Wanda may demonstrate this, as well, by calling on her patron once more.

Note that any terms offered are for flavor. To help facilitate movement in the plot, you may consider their negotiations successful in the end.

Negotiation Outcomes
Once the Acolytes agree to the terms, afraid to anger the gods who have sided with the Summoned, they will go down into the tunnels to open up some pathways. Most importantly, they will join the infiltration team and open the altar room, preventing those inside from drowning when the cave collapses.

[hextechhead]

Okay went over this with the others:

Once the three of them arrive, Jayce, Rhy, and Lenore will be stepping forward to talk for the group. Jayce will not blink an eye about the threat to their friends and tell them that if they fear gods, they are putting themselves in the path of the wrath of the divine. He will say that Wanda is beloved of Soris Immaneus and just broke their ward, gesturing to her.

Wanda will then display some of her impressive Chaos magic and say that if they dare go against the Goddess of Dark Blessings and her chosen, they will have no defenses against darker troubles. The goddess will turn her back on them.

Rhy will then bring up that they have a Summoned who is blessed by the gods with foresight and visions. In one she saw the truth of the Acolyte named Hydnellia and her brother Esmond. She was once known as Lorelai, friend to Josselyn Creed, and she had been seeking a cure for their ailing grandfather. The gods showed the Summoned this.

Jayce then says that Hydnellia and Esmond were allowed to escape because of the gods' favor on the Summoned and if they wish to have the same chance, they should lay down their arms now and make amends.

Lenore adds persuasively that even though Josselyn led them astray, using deception to claim she had the favor of the gods, they can still be forgiven.

Rhy adds that if they agree to release the prisoners, they will inform the authorities that they worked with them in the end. And that the gods will be informed by their chosen too. They don't want any more bloodshed.

The other Summoned confirmed with them are Robin, Eddie, and Michael. Just so we know where everyone is!

[abraxasmods]

Thank you for the details! We will take them into account. The Acolytes will at first claim that their god Nikodaemus has not abandoned them, but it is evident they're beginning to doubt themselves.

Eventually, they will surrender to the terms provided by the Negotiation Team. The island will break apart shortly after this, and the Summoned will have the opportunity to save some of the Acolytes who surrendered, as well as capture the ones who remain faithful. It appears to them that the collapse of the island is an additional sign that the gods are angry.

All surviving Acolytes will be brought back to Nocwich for judgment.

[aquaveiled]

And I am hopping on on behalf of the Infiltration Team!

If the Negotiation Team is successful in getting the attention of a few (?) Acolytes with Option 1, then the Infiltration Team would like to use the same path that Nero and Steve left from. They understand that it's very narrow so they would be going in one by one.

They all will try not to garner attention as they make their way to the Altar Room but they are prepared to deal with any obstacles that come in their way, whether that be monsters or other Acolytes roaming about.
- Notably Alucard is planning on descending in his bat form and using that to slip by unnoticed.
- Himeka will try to cast her "Sleep" spell on a few of the Acolytes if she can. (The spell itself only lasts 30 seconds in game and anyone can be woken up if they're hit.)
- Thancred and Natasha are both skilled in stealth.
- Sam, Jo, and Dean also canonically are used to sneaking around places.

There is some interest (Thancred and Alucard) in fighting the Bone Serpent if he's still around. Some of us were also curious if the ceiling monster is about and available for combat too, or any other beasties roused by the activity.

In total the group is eight people trying to rescue nine (this is excluding Steve and Nero). Do we know how many people they would successfully be able to get out before the flooding starts, if at all? What would the Acolytes try to do if the Team is interrupted in sneaking people out?

[abraxasmods]

Infiltrating the Tunnel
Alucard can use his bat form to enter successfully. Himeka may use her Sleep spell, though a falling rock or two might strike one of those she's put to sleep, waking them up.

While the remainder can successfully sneak in to a degree, they will soon be intercepted by the Bone Serpent. They can fight and injure it as players decide, though the monster is difficult to kill. They will see for the first time its full appearance rather than only its legs.

During this fight, the ceiling monster will also break free of of the rocks trapping it at this time. It will attack the Bone Serpent and the Acolytes, creating a distraction that characters can take advantage of.

Remaining Acolytes
The faithful Acolytes will attack the Infiltration Team when they're alerted by the Bone Serpent. They rely heavily on illusion magic to strike. Their weapons are daggers. However, the Bone Serpent and the ceiling monster will attack indiscriminately, so they will struggle with the monsters at the same time.

Retrieving the Lost
Under the cover of chaos, the Infiltration Team can lead three characters up towards the tunnel path. One character can make it out entirely to the surface. The remaining two will be inside the tunnel when the cavern system collapses, and will need to be rescued.

The character who reaches the surface can join Steve, Nero, and the Negotiation Team. The surface group will be out of the main path of destruction during the collapse, meaning they will have a higher chance of reaching the turtle first, uninjured. They can best help anyone who was inside the island's cave, many of whom will be in the water.

Note that in the middle of all this, the Acolytes who have agreed to surrender to the Negotiation Team will be returning to release the Lost held inside the altar room. You can choose when this happens to best suit the timeline of your plans.