https://docs.google.com/document/d/10VAUEYEqWYWcQ9gz4bk9uok8OkAIYl1cy50KEw2y75o

Is this one of those ones where each suggester controls their own player, or are we controlling a specific person?Assuming specific person (my participation will likely be spotty), check the back of the obelisk for anything unusual, then check the book.

>>1102618
>Is this one of those ones where each suggester controls their own player
Yes... sort of. Undirected suggestions can be heard and acted on by Ash Grey and the Seven Dwarves. Exalted second edition with extensive houserules. Character creation and OOC discussion on discord, invite link in the houserules doc.
>check the back of the obelisk for anything unusual
Moonsilver inlay is still extensively damaged, but hasn't deteriorated further since the last time you checked. Broader sides of the monolith bear the seals of Autocthon, the Great Maker and Gaia, the Emerald Mother. One narrow side holds the story of how the monument came to be emplaced - mostly abbreviated and fragmented beyond comprehensibility, where it's not obscured behind the lectern - while the other has minimal text, mostly illustrations of a youthful humanoid wielding a saw-toothed discus. Supposedly, meditating atop the monument will provide deeper insights into that style, but doing so has never worked for you.
>then check the book.
To call the marks inside "symbols" would be too charitable - a symbol has a referent, some underlying meaning which it abstractly points to. This is gibberish, a non-repeating pattern with about as much resemblance to actual informative text as forest-pattern camouflage's tiny irregular green squares have to botany.

It's clearly magical, though, and in the flickering light of the maelstrom you can occasionally see those vaguely word-shaped scribbles shifting around. Might be some sort of disguise, or esoteric lock. Spend one willpower trying to pull something out of it anyway? [Y/N]

Sammie 2025/01/26(Sun)12:19 No. 1102911 ID: 7ce054
File 173792275790.png - (1.46MB , 894x894 , a_woman_with_golden_hair_wearing_rusted_fantasy_ar.png )

>>1102707
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xcCON9sF3n4MURtvl3KeSjJc3-YGWdiqTlQXpET48cc/edit?tab=t.0

A figure in a loosely fitting hooded cloak approaches the Obelisk at a casual but committed pace while gusts of wind occasionally catch the cloak to reveal a feminine figure clad in rusted heavy armor and golden hair tapers out from underneath the hood like a bannerette. She stops just out of reach of the edifice and pulls out a slip of paper to compare the instructions with her location before tucking it away again. Would she really find a satisfying fight here? Did she need to kick the box to summon a guardian? It did look ancient and important enough for a guardian.

Lamentations 2025/01/26(Sun)19:32 No. 1102927 ID: 5cedec
File 173794877687.jpg - (22.90KB , 340x356 , Lamentations.jpg )

>>1102911

With a bang, a bright shape appears in-between the gardian provoker and her prey. The figure is surrounded by an halo of golden light, their arms crossed and a blank expression on their face as they look around. They wear a kimono made of seemingly impossible material, threads of silk, light and flowing metals, left draping from the waist and exposing the upper torso, which is in itself a sight to see. An intricate array of Orichalcum and glass takes the place of where the heart and lungs should be, leaving no doubt that the being is at least part machine. The figure asks out loud in Old Realm "Mellu, that's not a nice joke, where are you?".

An other figure, much less grandiose stands next to the first. Obviously a chosen of Mela, the woman has pure white skin and hair, and wears a thin white coat over black and red suit. One might confuse her for having a pair of horns coming up from her forehead, but closer inspection could see those are just jewelry. She's clearly the most distraught of the two, looking around in a panic as this is not at all where they are supposed to be.

[color=#cyan]For reference, sheets[/color]
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e0DxnNlEugx6quGLUuyoxqEYEj0Fyx5tTSOwD9CFQk0/edit?usp=sharing

This is a pretty confusing quest but, lets chat with the Chosen of Mela?

rolled 10, 8, 2, 9, 8, 4, 6, 3, 9, 10, 3, 3, 1, 9, 2, 1, 5 = 93

---

>>1102927
>>1102946
There are cracks and crevices all across the stone floor, and boneless creatures lurking within. The air-aspect dragonblooded has caught their attention.

Rolling Perception + Investigation + specialty + teamwork for the equivalent of Know the Soul's Price. If successes beat Michio's Manipulation + Socialize static value, the seven dwarves will learn her heart's desire - that is, the best possible bribe someone could offer to subvert her loyalty. Up to Michio's player to declare what exactly her price is, if so.

>>1102961

As a dragon-blooded from the first age, the answer is simple. Have the power and position to be the equal and not have to be the underling of the Celestials, be they Solar, Lunar or Sidereals. (Not sure if they are starting to fade from her mind because of the weird-ry from post Usurpation) Stand on her own amidst them as an equal, more so with the Twilight or No-Moon than the fighting Full Moon or priestly Zenith.

Different to the other beings around - including the clockwork efficiency of the mayor - the next arrival - or had she just hidden in the shadow of the Obelisk, only now stepping forward from behind it? - was neither tall nor clothed in shining armor. Or silk. Or jade and orichalcum. In fact, the long, grey-brownish cloak looked as if it had seen better days... It was kept reasonably clean, but that was essentially it. Patchwork connected the many-times-repaired fabric and it seemed to have been made for someone bigger than the person that was wearing it - Then ripped at the lower end and stitched together to be wearable again. She (?) wore a simple bag over her shoulder and a long rope with a sharp hook was fastened to the side of her hip. The right hand held itself onto a staff. It was hard to see anything of her face, so deep was the hood drawn and bound forward, covering the whole forehead, while a rag covered the mouth. And the way how she moved, seemingly stepping into the circle from the outside, seemed to suggest she had just been balancing... Or sneaking over something. The cloak's fabric hid nearly all of the seemingly even too-slender body... The fingers around the staff meanwhile showed an almost milky-white, tender skin... Despite the dirt under the fingernails of a kind of softness even from afar, that bordered the supernatural... The fingers long and fine-boned... An artist's hands. A mage's hands. A thief's hands. And then, of course, there were those eyes under the cloak... Moving, scanning, slowly...

My eyes did not completely catch it though. More... Azure seas. Windows into eternity in which more than one boy - or girl - would have loved to drown themselves, again and again... Eyes that could be merit and flaw to their wearer, depending on the surroundings. Her step made no sound when she glided slightly to the side.

Nevertheless, the whole movement spoke of shock and anger—somewhat like an alleycat that had suddenly been caught by a watchman's light without expecting it.

Still... Those eyes seemed to look directly into the soul...

Whoever they were, they hadn't yet said a word.

"Shit."

Ah, there was it. A lovely voice actually... If it didn't come out as such a growl...

(Looking at the whole surroundings. The mayor. The book. The Obelisk. The other people... Scanning. Keeping a distance for now. She is still disoriented and tries to find out where the heck she stumbled in. Activating All-encompassing-Sorcerer-Sight to see the deeper power, workings and hidden things around.)

>>1102973

Sammie took a half step back as two people suddenly appeared before her. Her initial instincts screamed that this was the Wyld Hunt once more, but they looked to be just as confused and they didn't give off any antipathy. On of them spoke, presumably the boss, using that same language as the spirits she fought with months ago, but she still couldn't make sense of it. Looking towards her Sammie asked in Riverspeach "Do you speak any other languages?"
Hearing another voice Sammie turned to face the fourth to appear, this one had natural beauty but needed a bath - perhaps a runaway slave? This was certainly an interesting place for a slave or anyone else to end up, and she was wondering if there were any other living souls here. Curious, Sammie turned and approached the mechanical looking mayor in hopes that it - he? - would react.

>>103004

As Scales emerges from the mists he takes a look around before noticing that this spot is outside of fate. He smiles to himself as he realizes that he is beyond the arcane curse for now. When he sees the other exalts he will give them a polite bow. He speaks in Riverspeak and his words carry with them the accent revealing him as a native of Nexus.

“I speak Riverspeak as well.”

Scales wears the robes of a wealthy merchant underneath his starmetal lamellar. The armor itself is unadorned with distinguishing marks that would denote a house or gentes but from the other artifacts he wears, he’s clearly an exalt. On Scale’s head is a fancy hat chased with small lines of starmetal, a luxurious amulet hangs from a silver chain on his neck and his hearthstone bracers carry a firey red orb. He gestures to the mayor and says

“Well we’d likely be right to talk to him. Come along then.”

Scales walks up to the mayor and gives the mechanical being the same polite bow that he gave to the other exalts. This time he speaks in Old Realm with an accent that would place him as a resident of Yu Shan. Scales is eminently polite as he says

“Greetings, would you mind introducing yourself and telling us where we are? It seems that we’ve fallen into your hospitality. This place is rather strange and I’d be greatly pleased to know what exactly is going on.”

She would not have needed to activate her magical senses to know that these people were... Dangerous.

The woman in the rusty armor would have been the least dangerous - a mercenary maybe ? - Had Sayuri's gaze not revealed her supernatural nature (even if she is unable to look through the armor's disguise, Sammie herself was undeniably awakened). Nevertheless, as the sole being without obvious Exalted background, she at least managed to catch a small, respectful nod from the tender being in the tattered clothes.

The azure eyes wandered from the Orichalcum of the loud one over the cute, yet obviously dragonblooded (One of her hands rested on the weighted rope), then to the merchant covered in a Starmetal (!) armor... Which made her freeze in her movement.

That they spoke in Old Realm (She likely recognised the language, although she did not speak it) did not improve the situation.

Her natural curiosity nevertheless would have told her to come closer when they approached the automaton... But her survival instinct let her hesitate.

On the other hand, while she could listen to that with half an ear (she likely would not understand a single word anyway), they were distracted enough for her to look at the something that naturally lured in a thief's gaze from the start.

As careful and unseen as possible, Sayuri approached the book... There was a sparkle in her eyes. She'd attempt to get a good look (making sure there were no traps and seeing what AESS could tell her about what it might be), before carefully opening it to peek inside.

>>1102973
Both women wear artifacts, which for the Dragon-Blooded might have been less obvious without AESS. The half naked one with half of her upper torso replaced has an artifact doing so. The Dragon-Blooded's arm appear to be similarly magitech replacement.

>>1103004
The radiant one stares while asking her companion in Old Realm if she understands that. The panicky one comes and tries to grab Sammie by the shoulder asking in River Speak: "WHERE IS THIS AND WHY!?"

>>1103013

Sammie comes to a stop when she feels a hand on her shoulder and turns her head to the side glancing down at the hand and following to its owner. She didn't have an angry or unhinged expression, but the calm of someone who was entirely too familiar with violence. She spoke in Riverspeach with a strong southern accent.

"We are in the middle of nowhere, clearly. I assumed that you were part of a Wyld Hunt coming to claim me, but I suppose not. If anyone knows why you are here now, then it would be the robot man, right?" She offered, gesturing towards the mayor.

>>1103021
Michio turns to Lamentations and continues in Old Realm "She's a fae!?"

"If that is what she said." shrugged off Lamentations with her arm still crossed "Would be rude to start breaking bones now, lets see what Fullmetal has to say before I need to work." She then walked towards the Mayor with everyone but keeping her surrounding clear to go into a fighting stance if needed.

rolled 3, 1, 5, 1, 3, 10, 8, 7, 7, 5, 9, 2, 10, 3, 8, 8, 6, 10, 2, 7, 5, 3, 10, 1, 10, 9, 6, 1, 3, 7, 5, 1, 10, 3, 9, 4, 1, 5, 5, 6 = 219

---

>>1103006
>As careful and unseen as possible, Sayuri approached the book... There was a sparkle in her eyes. She'd attempt to get a good look (making sure there were no traps and seeing what AESS could tell her about what it might be) before carefully opening it to peek inside.
> You rolled 1,2,5,7,8,8,9,10 for a total of 6 successes

The book appears to be some sort of tool for demonologists and sorcerers. It can cast a modified version of Slave Spawn Summons, beckoning a useful servant to be bound to your command for a year and a day. It overflows with essence, ready to share its power with it's next wielder. Surely, in the hands of a lesser being, it would be an immense treasure, yet incredibly dangerous. No doubt some infernal schemer is simply waiting for it to fall into the wrong hands and let all hell break loose on creation.

Bad break for them then, that it now belongs to you master thief, in this realm beyond realms. The forces of hell are at your command. You see beyond the meaningless scribbles of the open pages in front of you. Through sheer force of will, you force your mind to understand the deeper truth this tome describes, peeking not inside velum and ink, but inside the strands that weave the tapestry of fate. You see the instructions to pull them, this way and that, and in so perceiving, you have already done so. The sanctum is open. The call is heeded. The span of five heartbeats simultaneously occupies five days, which simultaneously occupies infinity. And as you exhale on the fifth heart beat, your first servant arrives.

It's body is small and purple, similar to that of a neomah, but with a comically oversized head that makes up for nearly a third of it's 3ft height. Two small straight horns protrude from it's forehead, curving backwards slightly- but they are completely dwarfed by ears which are somehow bigger than the creature's already massive head. Golden bracers sit just above it's hooves and hands, mimicking shackles. "Diana", as the creature calls itself, clasps it's wrists together, offering them to you as a prisoner might.

"Greetings master. It has been long since I was summoned. How might I serve you? I am versed in the arts of the fleshweavers, but I am also a skilled and knowledgeable collector of dangerous artifacts. Should you need to delve somewhere dangerous, my sisters and I would be indispensable, and we have no need for treasure, save for the treasure of time to pursue our passions."
The demon starts in Old Realm, but upon seeing Sayuri's blank face, switches over to riverspeak. In the email field, use the command "dice 40d10" to roll join debate and analyze the effects of the charm it just used on you.

>>1103021
>>1103023
"I Would Offer Finer Hospitality Than This If I Could," says the mechanical mayor, "But There Have Been Signs Of An unidentified In The Wine Cellar. Sleep Is Inadvisable While Monsters Are Near."

Those stairs descend to the center of a hexagonal room. Each flat side of the hexagon has a 12' diameter pipe, effectively a short hallway, leading to a copper-alloy wall... or possibly iris door with no immediately obvious mechanism by which it could be opened.
The one directly in front of the stairs has three segments, divided by curved seams that meet in the middle, and the surrounding stone is otherwise clean and undecorated. Proceeding clockwise:
-eleven segments, severely corroded. Surrounding wall engraved with stylized solar imagery, mixed with capering sheep and goats.
-seven segments, a few speckles of verdigris. Surrounding wall has bas-relief carving of stacked skulls, realistic enough there might be some actual skulls mixed in.
-five segments, alloy covered with dark translucent oil. Wall carved with fractal interlocking pentagrams.
-thirteen segments, clean but a slightly more reddish tint. Sides of the pipe have low-relief carving of a swirl of hands and forearms, each wrist or elbow gripped by another set of fingers.
-seventeen segments, lots of shallow scratches in sets of three or four. Surrounding wall has engravings of wolves howling at the moon.

This is sufficiently unlike any wine cellar you've ever heard of, you suspect the "mayor" doesn't actually understand what's going on well enough to provide much useful guidance.

>>1103525

Addressing the robot by leaning towards it with her arm still crossed, Lamentations inquires: "In which branch of the cellar are those monsters, we can't let them cause a ruckus in there now can we?"

>>1103536
"I dont think that he knows any more. We will have to go in and find out ourselves." With that Sammie turns around and makes for the stairwell headed down

Kurenai Gaki 2025/03/05(Wed)05:49 No. 1104561 ID: 21171d
File 174118255096.jpg - (272.61KB , 1200x1000 , 05jmjzzc6hr31.jpg )

rolled 8, 3, 9, 4, 7, 6, 4, 3, 8, 9, 7, 7, 6, 6, 10, 6, 4, 9, 7, 4, 8, 4, 5, 4, 5, 1, 3, 9, 9, 4, 4, 9, 3, 8, 7, 7, 6, 9, 3, 8, 2, 4, 10, 7, 2, 9, 7, 9, 5, 8 = 306

---

There is approximately no subtlety with the arrival of the next individual, tall enough that all but the tallest would need to be standing on the shoulders of the tallest to look her in the eyes, carrying a gourd that looks like it's made for her and a sitar that looks comically tiny on one shoulder and a bird almost as big as she is and what looks like her lunch in the form of a quartered deer carcass on her side.

She's going to get the memo on something unidentified prowling in the wine cellar, and she's going to go down (ducking as required) as indestructible as can be and slam her opened hand through the 11 segmented door, and if it seems safe (i.e. there isn't a guillotine that tries taking her hand) taking a look through the massive hole she just made

Character Sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLvOeX3zKWrM4Ip-z9GWWgEjNnvFhnhJohB_7l9Xk_o/edit?usp=sharing

Mechanically:
-8 Personal Motes:

Iron Skin Concentration for +13 to bashing and lethal soak (and +7 Hardness) for the scene

Making a punch against the 11 segment door, using Fists of Iron and Sledgehammer Punch. Dex 3 + MA 5 + Specialty 2 + Accuracy 4 + Stunt for 14+ stunt dice.

7L+Threshold Successes base damage x2 because of Sledgehammer Punch

>>1104561
Floor in front of the eleven-segment iris folds away under your feet, revealing a pit trap. It's not deep enough to cause injury, though, nor wide or slippery enough for climbing back out to be more than a momentary inconvenience - at least to someone as tough and agile as you.

Slamming your fist through the "door" creates an elbow-deep hole, but...
> Perception 2, Craft (Earth) 0
> rolled 10, 6
...doesn't reach the other side. If the echoes are anything to go by, rock behind the bronze veneer is thick enough - five yards or more - that there might not BE an "other side." Could maybe be some kinda magic portal generator thing?
> Intelligence 2, Lore 0
> rolled 4, 9
You don't think so - doesn't seem fancy enough - but definitely aren't an expert. Simplest explanation would be it's just a dead end, decorated as a decoy to lure uninformed intruders into that trap.

rolled 3, 7, 8, 10, 6, 3, 2, 10, 5, 4, 8, 1, 9, 10, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5, 4, 8, 10, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 2, 4, 3, 10, 2, 4, 4, 2, 8, 8, 3, 10, 4, 9, 3, 5, 6, 5, 3, 10, 8, 7, 2 = 292

---

>>1104576

Well, no sense wasting further motes if the walls are thick enough that it's not going to have anything on the other side.

She will hop right out of the pit, and go to the seven segment door and test it by flicking it as hard as possible to see if that one us as solid as the other one. And if that one is too thick she will test all of the doors sequentially.

Seven-segment door rings like a bell. There's definitely open space behind it.

People, too, whispering in a language you don't recognize... or possibly the yapping of small dogs.

>>1104585

"Well, the second time is the charm." She will say in her native tongue before grabbing the tops of the door in order to brace herself.

She swings up as wide as possible before launching a bright golden kick straight up through the door, aiming to make a hole big enough for herself.

Mechanically: Full Excellency Iron Fist Sledgehammer Punch kick with the Fierce Blow called shot.

16+2+3+ stunt dice with a -1 external penalty for +12L damage ×2

rolled 2, 9, 1, 6, 6, 3, 3, 6, 6, 4, 1, 4, 9, 1, 8, 10, 3, 10, 8, 2, 4, 8, 10, 5, 4, 2, 7, 3, 8, 5, 6, 8, 6, 1, 1, 9, 6, 6, 3, 8, 7, 10, 7, 6, 1, 2, 5, 3, 7, 1 = 261

---

There's a shriek as layers of corroded metal scrape past each other. Flying kick carries you straight through the space where the door was a moment earlier, over the heads of half a dozen racoon-sized humanoids in what looks like lamellar armor. One of them has climbed partway up the wall and is fiddling with some recessed mechanism, the other five have spears ready.