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| Action Id: 3874 | Crisis: | Participants: Morrighan, Ailith, Arik, Delilah, Rowenova and Cillian(RIP) | |
| Status: Resolved | Submitted: March 3, 2020, 6:41 a.m. | Public: True | GM: Tenebry |
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Military Resources: 500 |
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Action by Morrighan
As sure as the tides come and go and the sun rises and sets each day, once more the Compact is in danger. There are threats at every turn, enemies at every corner, it can pull one in multiple directions, spread thin while trying to see to them all. It can be a tiresome thing, overwhelming, but Morrighan's focus is set but on one thing right now and one thing only: the Northlands.
Ever since the Battle of Last Oak, her dreams have changed, dreams of the Horned God, dreams of his desire to create a new Triarchy, and the plans that follow. There's no doubt to be had of the concern and threat that alone poses, but there's something more, something the Sword feels deep in her bones, a sense of unease that doesn't dissipate (clue: 3491, gm note). There's something terrible and wrong in the North, and it's something that's growing.
This something needs to be found. With reports of three Heralds up North, whispers of the Great Beast of Midnight having escaped and joining forces with the Horned God, and potentially a dozen Thornweavers last known heading North, to travel in the same direction is no doubt quite dangerous. Morrighan can't perform this mission alone, and so she's pulled together a small, yet highly skilled group to help with reconnaissance. With her own skillsets and abilities put into play, Morrighan will also be relying on those of the group to help track down whatever this source of unease is - and in the process keep them all out of harms way.
The objectives are thus:
- Get in and out of the Northlands with as little detection (preferably none) as possible. Acquiring the attention of any of the three major threats would be very bad news.
- Find the source. This terrible wrong, this thing that's growing, whatever _it_ is, it needs to be found, and as safely as possible.
- Avoid crossing paths and conflict with the enemy, engaging in combat with three Heralds, the Great Beast of Midnight, or a dozen Thornweavers isn't really ideal or on the agenda. Scouting and reconnaissance only.
Action by Arik
Lord Arik Halfshav has patroled Whitehold lands ever since he was a young man. Being able to judge the potential threats of not only the land but others that are traveling it was crucial to his survival. While journeying with Morrighan and the other companions he focuses all his attention on their surroundings, knowing that the abyss can do unnatural things but often leaves a sign he seeks out the disturbances to nature and the hints of odd animal activity as a precursor to any ambushes or in pursuit of the source of Morrighan's concern. Should the worst come about and the party is ambushed Arik will dedicate the bulk of his efforts to saving Dame Morrighan Marin the Sword of Farhaven then the Legate Ailith Godsworn... Everyone else definitely knew what they were getting into.
Action by Rowenova
Before the research party ever leaves Arxlandia, "The Pettening" ultimately commences: of all the Cats and all the Dogs -- ALL OF THEM -- who the Scout Rowenova can possibly find. First and Foremost, this also includes the soulful hound Sir Floppington, of course. Then, the hound-and-human duo head out to the Northern lands with their research party, doing so with the determined objective to carry out those three objectives as expressed above.
With Nova as their luck charm along with Flop as a sensitive nose, they can hopefully help with digging up something substantial with their keen senses!
Action by Delilah
Ailith is faith, Nova luck, Arik wit, Morrighan wisdom. Lilah, then, is the weird. She contributes her lore skills and ability to detect Abyssal or arcane traces (clue 1202) to help the group avoid direct encounters with their enemies: House Thornweave (theory 516, 557; clues: 3248, 3443*, 3321*, 3244); Legion; the Horned God (revelation 61); and Shaivassa (clues: 357, 2964, 3020). She blends her survival skills with the deep font of occult expertise to ensure a (relatively) safe recon mission. Focused directly on finding signs of Thornweave or this newish Abyssal activity, she communicates the interpretations of these signs so they can build a greater picture of movements and pending trouble. This includes keeping tabs and notes on active use of certain kinds of magic. Making sense of what this threat actually is and getting back to describe it is /high/ on her list of things to do.
As a secondary function, she's using an active counterintelligence strategy to keep the group hidden from their enemies' notice. For example, watching for the enchanted thickets signalling Thornweave/Sylv'alfar magic. Her approach shifts according to observed threats, working closely with Ailith if they're heavy on Abyssal or Arik/Mo/Nova if it's Adepts or such. She is coming well-protected, in various bits of fireweave, steelsilk, Mal's coat, and her alaricite bow.
Action by Ailith
There and Back Again. Ailith and her Sword Sister, Morrighan, traversed across the Compact on a mission that half relied on a plan with a hammer and the other half as a leap of faith [GM Event 1441, 1446, 1454, 1463]. When there is faith, a direction can be guided by a lit path -- all one needs to do is make the first step. Ailith shall gear up (armor and holy diamondplate sword from PRP Event 1674), pack her holy water, prayer beads, and sacred lantern -- items that have guided her through the darkest of times. She offers to the party, blessings to lend them assistance along their journey -- prayers to the Gods.
She admits to not being stealthy, a tracker, or a survivalist. What she brings is her faith -- the full trust in her gods and being at the side of her Sword Sister. She's aware of all the big threats headed in a similar direction and hasn't let that deter her from finding the source behind Morrighan's unease -- whatever this new threat is for the Compact -- She is well aware that the objective is to detect the abyssal taint that exists outside the main known forces (demons, heralds, and fiends, oh my!) and do her best to bring justice or recover the needed knowledge for justice to be done.
Action by Cillian(RIP)
Morrighan came asking for his help in a adveture she is going on to the North, speaking of the dangerous and what is going on Cillian has agreed to go up North with her. He will be doing scouting for her, its where he is most at home in the woods of the north it is where he grew up and lived till he came to Arx. He will be taking his caribou Akkar with them, he will be making sure he is set on supplies and armor before going. He will be lending his skills as a scout on this mission.
Result
They are careful and skilled. They track in a half dozen different ways. Morrighan observes at and through. Arik traces disturbances in birds and beasts. Rowenova sets Sir Floppington sniffing. Delilah looks for dark traces and thickened thickets. Ailith takes deep breaths and gives blessings every so often. Cillian and his caribou slip through the shadows.
They are careful and skilled, but without any indication of having been seen, they stumble into . . . something. The air is thick with wicked crows, crows that Floppington cannot smell, cawing mockery. The shadows buzz with anticipation. The ground seems soft and fragile under foot. They stand in the darkness and realize that there does not need to be anything growing in the north besides the Horned God and his New Triarchy, the abyss they expect rather than the abyss they don't.
And by the time they get to that point, they seem too far in. The air smells like singed paper and burning metal, like sweat and insect wings and damp fur. They turn around and what they can see of the path is unfamiliar. They are not certain how they got where they are. The path, a loose track through the woods, is growing dark, their footsteps filling with murk. The crows' laughter seems both everywhere and targeted at them. They feel vague, blurred, as if they were falling into each other, as if they were losing themselves.
They try to make it back. They avoid the filling footsteps. They cling to each other. Their vision blurs. They see fire in deep water, they feel themselves drowning. They feel themselves helpless, dying, dissolving. They raise a hand and are not sure whose it is. They are dissolving. The shadows are devouring them. Or the crows. Is there a difference? Is the darkness from without or within? They think they feel chains as far as they can feel anything, the suggestion of chains around their limbs, dragging them together. And down.
Then, suddenly, two things happen. Rowenova and Sir Floppington howl at once, and Delilah sees a path, a true path, out of the shadow, a glimmer of hope in the darkness. She and Rowenova and Floppington thread the line, and the rest of the team finds themselves step by step. Ailith blinks and sees the path like a golden thread binding herself and the Compact back together. Arik feels strong as iron and beast, his every footstep like a tree re-rooting. Cillian finds his hand on Akkar's back. He feels lighter. Freer.
Then they're back. Then the shadows are gone. They remember this place. The hut in the distance with the soft eddy of smoke. The crooked tree overhanging the gully. They can't see what they stumbled into -- whatever it is doesn't seem to be a place, at least, not a place that one can see. Not now. But Delilah feels sure that this has a direction, and Sir Floppington's nose agrees (he doesn't smell anything, but there's this . . . tingle). Toward the Gray Forest. Past Old Oak. Delilah feels that the New Triarchy wants a crown.
It's just when they're settled back into themselves that they notice they're not alone. A great winged darkness passes to their left, amorphous. The shadow does not fall on them; not this time. The trees twist in the shadow underneath, tangling together into what Morrighan's team swears is a word. "Fugue." Then the amorphous darkness wings south, and the trees relax into their normal configuration.