Chapter 1: The Black City

[VVhite-Crow]

"You are right about the timing. We would be ill advised to spend unnecessary time in the proximity of the city, when we can get in and out again within one day." Farouk throws a sceptical glance in Nutesh's direction, "But do you really think there are more cockroaches in the open than in an old tunnel?"

Potential Statement of Purpose:
"I say we take the gate and the cultists are free to join us. After all there is strength in numbers." In fact Farouk wants to act in his saviours/Suens interest, by keeping the cult around. The way through the gate is obviously in his own interest.

[hidetzugu]

Pre-Rolling Body of Argument to streamline the procedure, we'll ignore the roll if not needed

Lilly has no BoA skills, so rolling Will and taking half the successes according to p.391's 'Unskilled Body of Argument':

BoA=Will Exp + 4/2 = 6

[VVhite-Crow]

I see, Lilly is hungry for a debate. Nice roll!
Which route to take BoA: Will B4 (fix) + Persuasion B4 [_4d6s4+4]=(5, 6, 6, 3)=3=3+4=7
I spend the fate point:
BoA exploders: [_2d6s4]=(5, 5)=2=2
For a total BoA of 9.

[Marullus]

"Our greatest benefit is to remain in the light," says Nutesh, remaining seated against the market half-wall. "A sewer is darkness both night and day. It also doesn't allow us opportunity to study the runes on these buildings. I can see much before it reaches us, but only if there is a clear view from the sky." He nods poigniantly to the smoking raven that perches on the remains of an awning above.

"But I do agree, speed is also an advantage. Sabit remains here to oversee her flock while we do what we must within. Agreed, Suen?"

Nutesh disguises his shaking limbs as he pushes to his feet, walking to the walls of their market hiding place. He finds the runes engraved along each wall, studying them to find if they are to protect, to summon, or to serve some other purpose...

Belief to continue being seen as powerful: remind them of the benefits of his bird, and his power shown so far with it.

Belief to keep Sabit from making Suen do stupid things: Best to separate them and ensure Sabit doesn't come.

Belief to find knowledge in the city: Need to study these runes and find out why they're on all the buildings! This is the roll he was trying to get to.

I'm proposing Circination (assuming they relate to that discipline) with FoRKs for Philosophy (the understanding and purpose of divine/infernal in the structure of a society) Read (because they are a system of encoded knowledge), and Symbology (because they're runic symbols)...

...

Oh, now realizing this is a DoW! Can I help Farouk with disposition? Can I apply my Cold trait's ability?

[VVhite-Crow]

BoA: 9/9
Here goes Exchange Nr.1:
Volley 1:

Obfuscate

Volley 2:

Point

Volley 3:

Rebuttal

Keep in mind: Blank Stare:

No matter the emotion, the character
never shows any sign of "getting it."
The little light bulb never seems to
come on. +1 Ob to all Persuasion and
Soothing Platitudes test made against
this character

@hidetzugu If Lilly is aware of the trait is up to you. She witnessed the conversation between Mekertu and Farouk but that's no aura reading. I'm excited to see what you script for her.

[hidetzugu]

'Which Route to take' DoW:

Body of Argument: 6/6
Exchange 1:

Volley 1:

Incite

Volley 2:

Rebuttal

Volley 3:

Point

[hidetzugu]

Incite:
"Listen kid, this is adulting time now. I know you need you naps and your camel-peting time but if you do so in there you won't make it out.
Maybe an adventurer's life is not for you, maybe you should have stayed home... but! you're here now! no going back!
And the only thing standing between you and your entrails being eaten by a nether denizen... is me. So do as you're told!"

[hidetzugu]

Incite:
"Listen kid, this is adulting time now. I know you need you naps and your camel-peting time but if you do so in there you won't make it out.
Maybe an adventurer's life is not for you, maybe you should have stayed home... but! you're here now! no going back!
And the only thing standing between you and your entrails being eaten by a nether denizen... is me. So do as you're told!"

@Eric I'll assume Finnithir is willing to Help with Litany of Fools
IF he chooses to lie instead to give me 2 Help dice instead of 1, let me know...
Also if Urkazzar or some1 else takes my side I'd appreciate the extra dice (but I'm not sure bullying Farouk is within their nature)

Being Learned Intimidation (B4 Will+1D Help):

1 Success (Being Learned)

I'll wait for us to decide Help and Farouk's result before deciding if I spend Fate

[VVhite-Crow]

Volley 1 Obfuscate Obfuscate: Falsehood B2 + 1D Fork "The City of Telkomel-wise" [_3d6s4]=(5, 1, 6)=2=2

Maybe an adventurer's life is not for you, maybe you should have stayed home...

"I should've stayed home, you say?" Farouk giggles, "My kin is part of the Desert of Nor. We are nomads. This..." he gestures around, "This is our Home! My ancestors visited Telkomel in times were it was still ruled by kings, and traded their goods on its markets. My aljada- Nutesh, I told you of her tea-wisdom- even had a bracelet that was past on by generations. It was fabricated by a silversmith in Telkomel."

[Marullus]

"It is true," agrees Nutesh. "The cemetaries and memorials that dot the byways here speak to the generations of your kin that already water this soil."

+1 Helping Die from Cemetery-Wise to Farouk.

[VVhite-Crow]

"It is true," agrees Nutesh. "The cemetaries and memorials that dot the byways here speak to the generations of your kin that already water this soil."
+1 Helping Die from Cemetery-Wise to Farouk.

Obfuscate, Help from Nutesh: [_1d6s4]=(5)=1=1

Suen nods in agreement. "I've heard stories of the traders who would come and go from Telkomel back in the days of kings, before the demons came. They were famous for knowing the streets as well as they knew the dunes. It's said they can find a path anywhere. There is much we can learn from them."

+1 helping die from Obscure History.

Obfuscate, Help from Suen [_1d6s4]=(4)=1=1
for a total of 4 successes.

[Enoch]

"But I do agree, speed is also an advantage. Sabit remains here to oversee her flock while we do what we must within. Agreed, Suen?"

Suen seems hesitant, looking back and forth between Nutesh and his sister. "Surely there's strength in numbers. Would they even be safe outside? Besides, they can be of use. Teremun, here--" he gestures to an unlikely-looking man with a scraggly beard-- "Teremun worked as a gem-cutter before.
Isn't that what you said, Teremun?" He looks hopefully at the man.

Also, Suen has a Belief that the gem belongs with the Cult...which will be easier to accomplish if the cult is present when it's recovered.

[Enoch]

Volley 1 Obfuscate Obfuscate: Falsehood B2 + 1D Fork "The City of Telkomel-wise" [_3d6s4]=(5, 1, 6)=2=2

Maybe an adventurer's life is not for you, maybe you should have stayed home...

"I should've stayed home, you say?" Farouk giggles, "My kin is part of the Desert of Nor. We are nomads. This..." he gestures around, "This is our Home! My ancestors visited Telkomel in times were it was still ruled by kings, and traded their goods on its markets. My aljada- Nutesh, I told you of her tea-wisdom- even had a bracelet that was past on by generations. It was fabricated by a silversmith in Telkomel."

Suen nods in agreement. "I've heard stories of the traders who would come and go from Telkomel back in the days of kings, before the demons came. They were famous for knowing the streets as well as they knew the dunes. It's said they can find a path anywhere. There is much we can learn from them."

+1 helping die from Obscure History.

[Eric.D]

As the men begin to argue with Lilly, annoyance clearly visible, Finnithir starts to sing, softly, as though barely listening. Even quiet, the notes of his song writhe through the air—harsh, jarring, burning with menace:

"Listen well," she spoke, her eyes aglow,
"Doom awaits and dangers grow.
Men, heed my words, lest fate conspire,
To snuff your flame in folly’s fire."

He smiles, as though the music were beautiful, the lyrics soothing, the menace not obvious. "Secrecy," he murmurs, "Is the best option when you do not know what threats you face."

[VVhite-Crow]

Volley 2 Point
Point, Persuasion B4 + 1D Fork "The City of Telkomel-wise" + 2D Help precautionary in alphabetical order [_7d6s4]=(6, 3, 1, 4, 3, 6, 4)=4=4

Having his dead ancestors mentioned by Nutesh and Suen, Farouk puts one hand on his chest and pushes the other in the sand, "May the sand they came from take them back and make them an eternal part of the desert." When Finnithir's calm but discomforting chants reach his ear, Farouk looks up in confusion and turns back to Lilly: "But we digress, by speaking of times long ago... We were talking about which route into the city to take, right? I must admit, you got me a little confused there. You insist on spending time, looking for an entrance to an ancient tunnel, that may or may not be caved in, while praising the importance of speed? That's sounds a little contradictory to me. Especially because we have an open gate right at our disposal."

[hidetzugu]

Rebuttal:
"Ah, but the time we're trying to reduce is that of something conspiring to ambush us."
"There is an hourglass that gets flipped the moment a demon knows we are in the city: the time it takes for it to prepare an ambush."
"Once that happens we must be as quick as possible, but we should delay that flip as much as possible."

Let's figure out how many dice you have total before I make my division (I'll avoid clicking spoilers)

[hidetzugu]

Rebuttal:
"Ah, but the time we're trying to reduce is that of something conspiring to ambush us."
"There is an hourglass that gets flipped the moment a demon knows we are in the city: the time it takes for it to prepare an ambush."
"Once that happens we must be as quick as possible, but we should delay that flip as much as possible."

Let's figure out how many dice you have total before I make my division (I'll avoid clicking spoilers)

Being Learned Persuasion (B4 Will):
+1 Ob from losing to Obfuscate last Volley
+1 Ob due to Farouk's Blank Stare Trait
1 die on Attack

3 dice on Defence

[hidetzugu]

Volley 2 Point
Point, Persuasion B4 + 1D Fork "The City of Telkomel-wise" + 2D Help precautionary in alphabetical order [_7d6s4]=(6, 3, 1, 4, 3, 6, 4)=4=4

DING! B5 Will for Lilly! even if one of the vetos comes through

yeaa....waaaiiitt, I'm losing!

[hidetzugu]

'Which Route to take' DoW:
Exchange 1, Volley 3
BoA: 2/6

Point:
"Listen, I was heated before... I get heated around humans! Even if you're young you're not children. I know that! You're strong and fit and agile(cof, Nutesh, cof)."
"Even if we can't find a tunnel somewhere I think you could easily climb over the wall on the north side where it meets the rock face."
"Think of what make a better story for the the bards to sing about. What tales do you want to tell your grandchildren?"
"What tales did your brother told, Urkazzar?" – Coarse Persuasion (cheaty dwarven ways of getting around Farouk's Blank Stare )

@Eric I'm hoping to goat Urkazzar into helping out, as well as Finnithir. I'm rolling unskilled so, even if they don't have an appropriate skill, they can help with Will (which in Finnithir's case would be 2 dice)

[Eric.D]

@Eric I'm hoping to goat Urkazzar into helping out, as well as Finnithir. I'm rolling unskilled so, even if they don't have an appropriate skill, they can help with Will (which in Finnithir's case would be 2 dice)

I think Urkazzar isn't super invested, but he'll side with you because he likes you and Finnithir. He'll help with Ugly Truth.

"My brother told me about men who went in and never came out," Urkazzar looks at the sky, nodding to himself, "He said they sometimes find men dried like vegetables in the sun after just a night inside. Something sucks their blood, he said."

"...Be that as it may," Finnithir interjects after a heartbeat of silence, "I am sure that we will find that a safe way in is the best option. And a small group the best option for finding a secret way in."