Chapter 1: The Black City

[hidetzugu]

Cool, if it's a BV lets set intents. Lilly goal is to swiftly floor and subdue him, ending up with her heavy metal boot holding him down. What is his intent?

I'll use my sword pommel damage, so he has +1D from weapon length. And I'm a Dwarf so he has +1D from Stride (unless he is Lame or something). What are his Reflexes? Does he have armour?

His intent is to stab and injure/kill Suen-Magir. His reflexes are B4, and he is not wearing armor. This is his camp, and he was chatting with friends prior to all this.

He does get an advantage for his 1 point of VA, though! I will roll for him right away. (Please split your dice pools and roll before viewing):

Akhom BV Attack [_4d6s4]=(1, 2, 3, 4)=1=1

Akhom BV Defense [_2d6s4]=(3, 5)=1=1

Well, he ain't winning with that roll.

General Pool [9D]:

• B5 Sword
• +1D: ForKing Brawling
• +1D: Dwarven Arms Balance Die
• +2D: Help from Sabit and and Suen

Defence only:

• +3D: Heavy chain armour

Split:

4D for Attack

8D for Defence

Edit: Suen gets a Routine Sorcery Test from this.

[hidetzugu]

Well, he ain't winning with that roll.

Seems we going on a second round. As the person with the most defense successes, I'll choose a Power test if he disagrees on a draw.

[VVhite-Crow]

Hm, maybe I'm pushing my "player conflict" limits, but Suens help, is what Farouk tried to impede. Isn't sorcery supposed loud and flashy? Not laying on your back with quite a bit of air pushed out of your lungs? Not that it mattered in this case.

[hidetzugu]

Cool, if it's a BV lets set intents. Lilly goal is to swiftly floor and subdue him, ending up with her heavy metal boot holding him down. What is his intent?

I'll use my sword pommel damage, so he has +1D from weapon length. And I'm a Dwarf so he has +1D from Stride (unless he is Lame or something). What are his Reflexes? Does he have armour?

His intent is to stab and injure/kill Suen-Magir. His reflexes are B4, and he is not wearing armor. This is his camp, and he was chatting with friends prior to all this.

He does get an advantage for his 1 point of VA, though! I will roll for him right away. (Please split your dice pools and roll before viewing):

Akhom BV Attack [_4d6s4]=(1, 2, 3, 4)=1=1

Akhom BV Defense [_2d6s4]=(3, 5)=1=1

Well, he ain't winning with that roll.

General Pool [9D]:

• B5 Sword
• +1D: ForKing Brawling
• +1D: Dwarven Arms Balance Die
• +2D: Help from Sabit and and Suen

Defence only:

• +3D: Heavy chain armour

Split:

4D for Attack

8D for Defence

Edit: Suen gets a Routine Sorcery Test from this.

As Akhom charges Suen, Lilly quickly parries his spear away, catching it with her sword guard on the rotation and directing its shaft to the inside of her arm, relying on her armour to protect her. Her plan is to control the weapon in this fashion to close on Akhom and grab his arms, but having a spear shaft between the two to use as leverage, he tries to push her aside...
(just making sure there is non-ooc description of events)

[Eric.D]

Given that we have two characters, Farouk and Herzebuh, who are attempting to stop this, perhaps we should give them a chance to interrupt round 2?

[Enoch]

Hm, maybe I'm pushing my "player conflict" limits, but Suens help, is what Farouk tried to impede. Isn't sorcery supposed loud and flashy? Not laying on your back with quite a bit of air pushed out of your lungs? Not that it mattered in this case.

Do you have a reference for this? I don't see it in either the skill description or in Art Magic. In fact, the examples under Evoke include things like preventing an enemy sorcerer from drawing a deep breath or knocking a bird off its perch, but makes no mention of what visual effects it has, if any.

[VVhite-Crow]

Hm, maybe I'm pushing my "player conflict" limits, but Suens help, is what Farouk tried to impede. Isn't sorcery supposed loud and flashy? Not laying on your back with quite a bit of air pushed out of your lungs? Not that it mattered in this case.

Do you have a reference for this? I don't see it in either the skill description or in Art Magic. In fact, the examples under Evoke include things like preventing an enemy sorcerer from drawing a deep breath or knocking a bird off its perch, but makes no mention of what visual effects it has, if any.

On page 500 BWGR there is a paragraph about idioms. That's why I was expecting Farouk to have an impact. But since we never talked about idioms I'm cool with a more subtle and swift way of casting as well.

[hidetzugu]

Given that we have two characters, Farouk and Herzebuh, who are attempting to stop this, perhaps we should give them a chance to interrupt round 2?

How misaligned is Herzebuh's Intent from mine? Just allowing Akhom to keep his pride? Now that we are moving to a Power test there is no weapons damage anyway.

[hidetzugu]

Given that we have two characters, Farouk and Herzebuh, who are attempting to stop this, perhaps we should give them a chance to interrupt round 2?

How misaligned is Herzebuh's Intent from mine? Just allowing Akhom to keep his pride? Now that we are moving to a Power test there is no weapons damage anyway.

Edit: or I'd take Brawling/Boxing if you allow me to retcon the request (don't have book near me but I think switching weapons is acceptable)

[Eric.D]

Given that we have two characters, Farouk and Herzebuh, who are attempting to stop this, perhaps we should give them a chance to interrupt round 2?

How misaligned is Herzebuh's Intent from mine? Just allowing Akhom to keep his pride? Now that we are moving to a Power test there is no weapons damage anyway.

Edit: or I'd take Brawling/Boxing if you allow me to retcon the request (don't have book near me but I think switching weapons is acceptable)

If we use a skill, it goes back to another round of violent combat. If you want to subdue him without the risk of injury or death, it needs to be a versus Power test.

Herzebuh is trying to avoid the shedding of blood. He doesn't feel the need to be gentle here, but it is very important to him that nobody gets killed.

My thought here is that Farouk and Herzebuh might convince the parties to call it a draw and go back to talking, hence why I was thinking we should let them try to take action if they are interested. Probably a singular Test of some social skill. However, if the group is uninterested, Herzebuh will Help you subdue Akhom.

[Eric.D]

Hm, maybe I'm pushing my "player conflict" limits, but Suens help, is what Farouk tried to impede. Isn't sorcery supposed loud and flashy? Not laying on your back with quite a bit of air pushed out of your lungs? Not that it mattered in this case.

Idiom is a thing in traditional sorcery. The Art Magic rules make no mention of it, but my feeling is that it should still apply. I am checking with the community to see what the consensus is more broadly before making a ruling on this question.

[hidetzugu]

Lilly and Akhom.jpg (844.66 KiB) Viewed 540 times

[VVhite-Crow]

Farouk notices the commotion behind him only peripheral. His knuckles are white from the tight grip around the robes on Suens chest and one can see the gears turning in his head.

he is friends with the outlaws and still hopes for their help; he fears Suen for his abilities but will do anything to prevent him from working his magic on any of them; he needs all of the group to have hopes to free the city; thanks to his superstitiousness he fears to break the law of hospitality

He shakes Suen and hisses emphatically,"Listen, Shaytan-kissed, you have no right nor reason to anger these men. So, stay down!

his intent is to stop Suen from interacting with the outlaws physically or with magic

[hidetzugu]

Given that we have two characters, Farouk and Herzebuh, who are attempting to stop this, perhaps we should give them a chance to interrupt round 2?

How misaligned is Herzebuh's Intent from mine? Just allowing Akhom to keep his pride? Now that we are moving to a Power test there is no weapons damage anyway.

Edit: or I'd take Brawling/Boxing if you allow me to retcon the request (don't have book near me but I think switching weapons is acceptable)

If we use a skill, it goes back to another round of violent combat. If you want to subdue him without the risk of injury or death, it needs to be a versus Power test.

Herzebuh is trying to avoid the shedding of blood. He doesn't feel the need to be gentle here, but it is very important to him that nobody gets killed.

My thought here is that Farouk and Herzebuh might convince the parties to call it a draw and go back to talking, hence why I was thinking we should let them try to take action if they are interested. Probably a singular Test of some social skill. However, if the group is uninterested, Herzebuh will Help you subdue Akhom.

I think we're taking the Power Versus Tests then since Farouk is trying to get turned into a frog.
B5 Power +1D from Herzebuh's Help:

(I'll Fate the 666 if he ties me)

[Eric.D]

I think we're taking the Power Versus Tests then since Farouk is trying to get turned into a frog.
B5 Power +1D from Herzebuh's Help:

(I'll Fate the 666 if he ties me)

Trying to get turned into a frog.

I agree, the Power Test makes sense here. His result:

Akhom Power Test [_4d6s4]=(1, 1, 4, 5)=2=2

You win! Describe your victory! Remember that Herzebuh is in fact helpful in this endeavor, since his die came up 6.

[hidetzugu]

I think we're taking the Power Versus Tests then since Farouk is trying to get turned into a frog.
B5 Power +1D from Herzebuh's Help:

(I'll Fate the 666 if he ties me)

Trying to get turned into a frog.

I agree, the Power Test makes sense here. His result:

Akhom Power Test [_4d6s4]=(1, 1, 4, 5)=2=2

You win! Describe your victory! Remember that Herzebuh is in fact helpful in this endeavor, since his die came up 6.

Lilly drops her sword wrestling Akhom for control of his spear. She forces the butt of the weapon into the inside of his, making him lose balance and grip on the weapon.

She then tackles his legs forcing them both into the floor, while he tries ineffectively to push her through her armour until Herzebuh takes control of his arms to calm him down.

Panting she grumbles "Just... Stay... Down... Listen to... Your... Friend"

[Eric.D]

Herzebuh, not wrestling with Akhom, speaks clearly and calmly.

"You must stop, Akhom. If they were demons, you would be dead now. The laws of hospitality apply. Anything else, you must speak to She Who Understands the Signs."

Akhom sputters, angrily, and continues to wrestle.

"Let me go! Tell them to let me go!"

"Once you stop fighting, I am sure they will," Herzebuh looks to Lilly for support, "And then apologies must be made to the gods above and below for our transgressions as hosts. Praise them that our guests did not respond as we did."

[VVhite-Crow]

As the long dancing shadows, cast by the fire, stop their wild imitation of the fight, Farouk softens his grip. "I think apologies should go both ways..." his eyes are wide but back on Suens chest "Akhom, I guess I should have known better than bringing alghuraba here... I didn't ment to cause such a turmoil. I'm sorry..." he lets go of Suen and offers him a quivering hand to right himself instead: "and same goes for you Suen-Magir. Living here requires to be careful with the unknown. I hope you understand and accept my apology..."

[Eric.D]

At Herzebuh's admonition, Akhom stops struggling.

"Let me go, please," his voice is still angry, with little contrition, but it is calmer, "I have been rash. I will abide by the law."

There is a mutter among the small crew as they remark on this pronouncement.

Herzebuh looks to Lilly and Suen-Magir, "He is saying that he will not harm you. I do not know if your people know the law of hospitality. Akhom has committed a great sin, and must go to She Who Understands the Signs to receive the retribution. The law says we owe a debt, and must keep you all safe here until the retribution is done or you choose to leave."

[VVhite-Crow]

Akhom has committed a great sin, and must go to She Who Understands the Signs to receive the retribution.

At this point I would rather like to know if Farouk knows more about She Who Understands the Signs and how Akhoms retribution could look like.