Kyrian flicks the suds of what passes for soap in the citadel from his hands, drying them quickly with a rag. He scoops up his pack, waving to the kitchen crew as he takes off at a sprint after Trystane. As he catches up he, slows to a trot next to the man. "Think it'll be a difficult run? They've been getting more difficult recently. Surely we're due for a stroke of good luck, right?"
Trystane glances at Kyrian, his expression thoughtful. "Difficult? Probably," he replies, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "But luck has a way of shifting, doesn't it? We've faced our fair share of challenges, but we've also come out on top more times than not. Let's stay focused and keep our wits about us. Who knows? Maybe this time, luck will finally be on our side."
Pipilla smiles. "It is neither as complex, nor as simple as you may think. The playhouse is but a single building, but the illusions of its Darklord hold entire worlds. If you head there, you won't be acting. You'll be fighting for your life."
Trystane listens attentively as Pipilla presents their options, weighing each one carefully in his mind. The prospect of journeying to Ghastria, with its lush island bursting with life, is enticing. He can almost taste the fresh supplies they could gather, providing much-needed sustenance for him ... and, of course, the Citadel's inhabitants. But as his gaze falls upon the card depicting the pair of spectacled eyes of Markovia, a different kind of excitement stirs within him. The hunt for Dr. Frantisek Markov's twisted creation offers a chance for more than just supplies—it presents an opportunity to confront a formidable foe, one that could potentially still another aspect of his appetite. Trystane's hunger for growth and mastery pushes him towards what he believes is the more challenging task. With a determined nod, he points to the card representing Markovia, his resolve firm as he prepares to embark on a journey that promises both danger and opportunity.
He takes a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. Then, with a firm voice, he addresses Pipilla and the rest of the Mistdrifters. "Look, I know supplies are crucial, and Ghastria sounds promising - and I'm also not one for chasing illusions and uncertain outcomes either. But for me, it's more about long-term goals. I'm looking at the bigger picture here. Facing Markov's creation might just give us the edge we need to break free from Ravenloft for good. That's where my priorities lie. That creation might be powerful enough to become a Dark Lord? Then, perhaps, it holds a secret to get out of the place for good. Who knows."
Kyrian, unable to see the cards, stands back. He mulls the propositions over in his head, weighing them. At Trystane's words he frowns "I think it's more likely that a Darklord's talisman will be useful in helping us escape the mist. We're guaranteed to at least get something useful out of it if we can succeed. In addition...well, it sounds like the most difficult job there. I know that means little, but I think we should at least try to pick the hardest one. So that the other Drifters don't have to."
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“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"I would pick the supply run or the monster first as I mentioned, as I believe we will come back hungry and with no supplies from the world of illusions. There are other people here who depend on us for supplies as well."
After the party magically and psychically decides on a course of action, Papilla nods. "I'll let the other 'Drifters know. Kyrian, you've been tending to Jed, do you think he's good to go anytime soon? I could also send for Dallat's group, but they're mostly all engaged in other, minor tasks at the moment, if I recall correctly."
She then turns back to the table. "I have a few more cards to turn, a bit more guidance to offer, courtesy of the Benefactor. Three cards represent points of interest, not necessarily good or bad, but things to be considered. Another, a boon, something beneficial. Another, a bane, something to be watched out for." She turns over the first card.
"The Nine of Stars. The conjurer. The coming of an unexpected supernatural threat; those who think of themselves as gods."
"A-ha. I knew there must be some reason why this play in particular was... unusual. Something, or someone, is aiding Juste, adding their influence to his abilities. They seem to be capable of influencing the Mists in some way, bringing this place to their attention and causing the creation of this talisman. Be on the lookout for another player who seems out of place, who perhaps seems to be aiding the illusion as well. It is up to you to make friend or foe of them, the cards are unclear on this matter."
"Your second card."
"The seer. Inspiration and keen intellect; a future event, the outcome of which will hinge on a clever mind."
"I see a riddle to be unwoven, a task to be solved. Juste's play will be a mystery, and its resolution will come with its unraveling. If you wish to hasten the end of his play, guiding the players to these clues, or taking up a role and finding them yourself, will be to your advantage. In addition, you may find guidance in Juste's own papers, through which he writes the play. To find the script and decipher it may be just as useful as finding the clues themselves."
"Your third card."
"The six of glyphs. The anarchist. A fundamental change brought on by one whose beliefs are being put to the test."
"This is the one you must watch out for. They are the one who will disrupt the play, an actor gone rogue, who may plunge Juste into an incendiary rage. You cannot kill them, for that would disrupt the plot. Instead, be aware of the one with fiery hair, distract them, drag them away from anything that might allow them to interrupt the facade. If you can influence the plot in such a way that makes them disposable, this is another option."
"Your fourth card, and your boon."
"The five of stars. The elementalist. The triumph of nature over civilization; natural disasters and bountiful harvests."
"How strange... ordinarily, Juste's illusions should have no substance, and yet... I see a harvest on the horizon. Perhaps whatever magic of the Mists is allowing him to create this token may additionally be bringing more things into reality. I see nature and verdancy bending themselves to you, and a great crop to be harvested. This may be a mission from which you can bring back supplies after all. Moreover, I advise you to use the environment to your advantage during this quest. Opportunities will be presented, it is up to you to make use of them."
"Your fifth card, and your bane."
"The beast. Great rage or passion; something bestial or malevolent hiding in plain sight or lurking just below the surface."
She frowns. "I fear that Juste may conjure up some creature, to populate his play, and serve as its driving force. It would ordinarily be just an illusion, but the Powers or whoever it is that is aiding Juste have their eyes on Scaena. You all know how quickly the insubstantial may become terrifyingly real, when the Mists are in action. Be extremely careful, or this stalking thing may become truly unstoppable."
She lets the cards sit for a second, looking up at you. "Any questions? I have few snippets besides what I've already said, but I may be able to aid in other aspects before you head off."
Kyrian grimaces, shaking his head "No, not until that wound closes up. His team might agree to go on a run if you give them a replacement, but he won't like that much."
Kyrian listens carefully as she lists the cards, memorizing each one in turn. Not for the first time, he curses his inability to see, knowing how important the fortunes can be. As she finishes, Kyrian speaks up "Do you have any more information on the illusion itself? It'd be good to know what we're getting into here. What is the setting for the play?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"The illusion takes place on the stage of the playhouse. Touch it, and you will be integrated into the illusion and become an "actor." By actor, of course, I mean survivor. Ordinarily, this is something to be avoided, but if you wish to influence the events on stage without inciting the Darklord's anger, you will likely have to. All events and injuries on stage are illusory, but that will unfortunately not make them any less real to you. The same goes for the space, as it will feel much, much larger on stage than it really is. Unlike most domains, you will likely be actively interacting with the Darklord from the get-go. He sees all that happens on stage, and will adapt his script to suit the events. However, if things go too far off-script... he is likely to be upset. He may even join you on stage.
"As for the exact events of the play and its setting, I am unsure. It will be somewhere verdant and wild, certainly, if the elementalist card is anything to go off of. Be prepared to survive the elements. Of course, what's new there?"
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"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Trill grins wryly "Nothing new at all." His expression becomes more introspective "I assume we want to avoid annoying him enough to have him enter the stage? Seems like asking for trouble."
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“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"You mentioned that we could try to find the script and manipulate it to our needs but it also sounds like the Darklord is doing the same. You mean we could snatch it from them? Or are there more copies? This sounds like a certain way to aggravate the situation."
"Also it sounds like there are different levels of activity, you mention that we may enter the play as actors and that suggest that otherwise we are spectators, and that we can manipulate the play as spectators, too? Do you mean we can try to suggest action to the actors or that we can manipulate the stage more directly? If the play is specifically the illusion, the playhouse is real, isn't it? Is there something you can tell us about the playhouse itself? Will there be more spectators, for instance? Or personell? A backstage? I would expect that we find clues about the plot, that is Juste's papers or scripts, in the playhouse and not on stage. Do you think it would be possible to move between forth and back between the stage to the playhouse proper, though, I'd expect that to provoke the Darklord's ire."
Papilla shrugs. "You're asking a lot of very specific questions, I really only know what I've been told. Perhaps you may find snippets of the script here and there, perhaps he may make copies, I'm unsure. As spectators, I don't think you'll be able to actually change what happens on stage, except through perhaps influencing Juste himself. I do believe there are others, but I've no way to tell you how many will be earnest spectators, outsiders caught in Juste's thrall, or just more illusions. It could be possible to escape the illusion, but I suspect it will be hard. Disbelieving an ordinary illusion is one thing, but in a domain built around it... you might as well consider it teleportation to another realm entirely."
"This will be something for to to find out. I am envisioning the illusion to be complete, and if the playwright is there...perhaps the ability to see invisibility will allow us to spot him if he is hiding. We may find his office is linked somehow to the illusion and we can break into it and grab the papers."
"Better a question remains unanswered than unasked," offers Trystane for justifying his questions. "It's said that Juste's plays always end in slaughter, and the talisman will be created when the play concludes. To get it and to make it out alive, that alone sounds like quite the conundrum. I wonder if it would make sense to work in teams. Perhaps two who try to get the script in the playhouse and find clues in it or outright manipulate the course of the play, and the other two follow the play and try to stack the odds in our favour from inside and perhaps, in doing so keep Juste distracted from the happenings outside his play. What do you think?"
"Krueglarin and Zania are the most stealthy ones of us, perhaps, they'd have it easiest to sneak around places they aren't supposed to go to. I would certainly be disruptive for such an approach."
"It sounds like the playhouse itself is quite small and we will only be caught in illusions. This means, we might be able to communicate with Krueglarin's Message, or do you think it would be disrupted by illusionary distance? In my experience spectator-to-stage view isn't blocked in any meaningful way and not very far, otherwise what would be the point of the work?"
(OOC: What I propose is this, Krueg and Zania could stay spectator side and scout out the playhouse looking for the script, the Darklord and other clues. Meanwhile, Kyrian and Trystane try to follow along the plot to keep appearances up but also try to figure out how they could advance the plot in our favour and they try to keep the Darklord on his toes for the other two to remain better hidden. Normally, I'd say its best to stay together but it seems to me that in this specific scenario we might be able to regroup quickly given the small venue and the nature of a theatre show, that is that it should be observable to the spectators. Of course, once inside we will have to adapt. Any plan is only as good as its ability to adapt imho.)
"That would make sense," she says, then adds a bit sheepishly. "And... I won't lie, I'm not exactly be opposed to having an excuse not to be right in the middle of the mad bard's witchcraft. Hopefully he hasn't decided to be the type of 'genius' who makes everything up as he goes along for his magnum opus..."
Papilla shakes her head. "From what I'm aware, that's a common rumor among the Citadel. We do have survivors of Juste's plays. They're just few and far between."
(Van Richten's did Scaena dirty, for a lot of these minor realms I'm using an adapted version of the 2e Domains of Dread, in which the whole 'everything ends in slaughter' is not really a party of it. I'll be damned if I don't do my research.)
"Well, lets make damn sure that we're among the survivors, eh?"Kyrian says with a chuckle. "And when we have that talisman, we get the hell out of there. No hanging around."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
„Heck, another one I’ve fallen for. A Detect Rumor spell would work wonders in my kitchen, I guess, or some confidence meter that let us see when someone’s telling tall tales. I’ve never been to the place myself. Well, I guess, that’s about to change.”
(yeah, I’ve only checked van Richten’s. It’s disappointing that when they re-publish old stuff that they don’t try to keep it as close as possible to the already published material.)
"Assuming we aren't thrust into the play immediately I think this is worth a shot. I also should note that in terms of actual "Acting" I have some ability....if it comes to that."
"I've never exactly acted before, you don't exactly get much opportunity for that in the Citadel, but I am a pretty good talker as well. Perhaps it'll be a new calling. Think we'd get permission to set up a stage in the courtyard Papilla?" Kyrian says, mischief written all over his expression.
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
Kyrian, unable to see the cards, stands back. He mulls the propositions over in his head, weighing them. At Trystane's words he frowns "I think it's more likely that a Darklord's talisman will be useful in helping us escape the mist. We're guaranteed to at least get something useful out of it if we can succeed. In addition...well, it sounds like the most difficult job there. I know that means little, but I think we should at least try to pick the hardest one. So that the other Drifters don't have to."
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Zania nods along with Kyrian's suggestion.
"That sound like the best suggestion to me. If anyone can pull it this off, it would be us."
"I would pick the supply run or the monster first as I mentioned, as I believe we will come back hungry and with no supplies from the world of illusions. There are other people here who depend on us for supplies as well."
After the party magically and psychically decides on a course of action, Papilla nods. "I'll let the other 'Drifters know. Kyrian, you've been tending to Jed, do you think he's good to go anytime soon? I could also send for Dallat's group, but they're mostly all engaged in other, minor tasks at the moment, if I recall correctly."
She then turns back to the table. "I have a few more cards to turn, a bit more guidance to offer, courtesy of the Benefactor. Three cards represent points of interest, not necessarily good or bad, but things to be considered. Another, a boon, something beneficial. Another, a bane, something to be watched out for." She turns over the first card.
She lets the cards sit for a second, looking up at you. "Any questions? I have few snippets besides what I've already said, but I may be able to aid in other aspects before you head off."
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Kyrian grimaces, shaking his head "No, not until that wound closes up. His team might agree to go on a run if you give them a replacement, but he won't like that much."
Kyrian listens carefully as she lists the cards, memorizing each one in turn. Not for the first time, he curses his inability to see, knowing how important the fortunes can be. As she finishes, Kyrian speaks up "Do you have any more information on the illusion itself? It'd be good to know what we're getting into here. What is the setting for the play?"
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"The illusion takes place on the stage of the playhouse. Touch it, and you will be integrated into the illusion and become an "actor." By actor, of course, I mean survivor. Ordinarily, this is something to be avoided, but if you wish to influence the events on stage without inciting the Darklord's anger, you will likely have to. All events and injuries on stage are illusory, but that will unfortunately not make them any less real to you. The same goes for the space, as it will feel much, much larger on stage than it really is. Unlike most domains, you will likely be actively interacting with the Darklord from the get-go. He sees all that happens on stage, and will adapt his script to suit the events. However, if things go too far off-script... he is likely to be upset. He may even join you on stage.
"As for the exact events of the play and its setting, I am unsure. It will be somewhere verdant and wild, certainly, if the elementalist card is anything to go off of. Be prepared to survive the elements. Of course, what's new there?"
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"In this illusion, will our magic react as expected?"
Papilla smiles and shrugs.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Trill grins wryly "Nothing new at all." His expression becomes more introspective "I assume we want to avoid annoying him enough to have him enter the stage? Seems like asking for trouble."
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
"You mentioned that we could try to find the script and manipulate it to our needs but it also sounds like the Darklord is doing the same. You mean we could snatch it from them? Or are there more copies? This sounds like a certain way to aggravate the situation."
"Also it sounds like there are different levels of activity, you mention that we may enter the play as actors and that suggest that otherwise we are spectators, and that we can manipulate the play as spectators, too? Do you mean we can try to suggest action to the actors or that we can manipulate the stage more directly? If the play is specifically the illusion, the playhouse is real, isn't it? Is there something you can tell us about the playhouse itself? Will there be more spectators, for instance? Or personell? A backstage? I would expect that we find clues about the plot, that is Juste's papers or scripts, in the playhouse and not on stage. Do you think it would be possible to move between forth and back between the stage to the playhouse proper, though, I'd expect that to provoke the Darklord's ire."
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
Papilla shrugs. "You're asking a lot of very specific questions, I really only know what I've been told. Perhaps you may find snippets of the script here and there, perhaps he may make copies, I'm unsure. As spectators, I don't think you'll be able to actually change what happens on stage, except through perhaps influencing Juste himself. I do believe there are others, but I've no way to tell you how many will be earnest spectators, outsiders caught in Juste's thrall, or just more illusions. It could be possible to escape the illusion, but I suspect it will be hard. Disbelieving an ordinary illusion is one thing, but in a domain built around it... you might as well consider it teleportation to another realm entirely."
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"This will be something for to to find out. I am envisioning the illusion to be complete, and if the playwright is there...perhaps the ability to see invisibility will allow us to spot him if he is hiding. We may find his office is linked somehow to the illusion and we can break into it and grab the papers."
"Better a question remains unanswered than unasked," offers Trystane for justifying his questions. "It's said that Juste's plays always end in slaughter, and the talisman will be created when the play concludes. To get it and to make it out alive, that alone sounds like quite the conundrum. I wonder if it would make sense to work in teams. Perhaps two who try to get the script in the playhouse and find clues in it or outright manipulate the course of the play, and the other two follow the play and try to stack the odds in our favour from inside and perhaps, in doing so keep Juste distracted from the happenings outside his play. What do you think?"
"Krueglarin and Zania are the most stealthy ones of us, perhaps, they'd have it easiest to sneak around places they aren't supposed to go to. I would certainly be disruptive for such an approach."
"It sounds like the playhouse itself is quite small and we will only be caught in illusions. This means, we might be able to communicate with Krueglarin's Message, or do you think it would be disrupted by illusionary distance? In my experience spectator-to-stage view isn't blocked in any meaningful way and not very far, otherwise what would be the point of the work?"
(OOC: What I propose is this, Krueg and Zania could stay spectator side and scout out the playhouse looking for the script, the Darklord and other clues. Meanwhile, Kyrian and Trystane try to follow along the plot to keep appearances up but also try to figure out how they could advance the plot in our favour and they try to keep the Darklord on his toes for the other two to remain better hidden. Normally, I'd say its best to stay together but it seems to me that in this specific scenario we might be able to regroup quickly given the small venue and the nature of a theatre show, that is that it should be observable to the spectators. Of course, once inside we will have to adapt. Any plan is only as good as its ability to adapt imho.)
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
Zania nods.
"That would make sense," she says, then adds a bit sheepishly. "And... I won't lie, I'm not exactly be opposed to having an excuse not to be right in the middle of the mad bard's witchcraft. Hopefully he hasn't decided to be the type of 'genius' who makes everything up as he goes along for his magnum opus..."
Papilla shakes her head. "From what I'm aware, that's a common rumor among the Citadel. We do have survivors of Juste's plays. They're just few and far between."
(Van Richten's did Scaena dirty, for a lot of these minor realms I'm using an adapted version of the 2e Domains of Dread, in which the whole 'everything ends in slaughter' is not really a party of it. I'll be damned if I don't do my research.)
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"Well, lets make damn sure that we're among the survivors, eh?" Kyrian says with a chuckle. "And when we have that talisman, we get the hell out of there. No hanging around."
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
„Heck, another one I’ve fallen for. A Detect Rumor spell would work wonders in my kitchen, I guess, or some confidence meter that let us see when someone’s telling tall tales. I’ve never been to the place myself. Well, I guess, that’s about to change.”
(yeah, I’ve only checked van Richten’s. It’s disappointing that when they re-publish old stuff that they don’t try to keep it as close as possible to the already published material.)
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
"Assuming we aren't thrust into the play immediately I think this is worth a shot. I also should note that in terms of actual "Acting" I have some ability....if it comes to that."
"I've never exactly acted before, you don't exactly get much opportunity for that in the Citadel, but I am a pretty good talker as well. Perhaps it'll be a new calling. Think we'd get permission to set up a stage in the courtyard Papilla?" Kyrian says, mischief written all over his expression.
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.