Kicking it off
Off to Hector’s father’s library.
Mizzle finds a catalog of books. Some are loaned out to another book collector, De Solis. Mizzle will send a list to the Gallimaufry, who value books highly.
Package for Albert Mercado, 3rd Notice. A package from De Solis.
Hector gives us a letter, we go to the post office …
We head off. Sara is disguised, but the clank may be a give-away.
The Paw Post - gives us a crate the size of a steamer trunk.
We;ve got mail!
-
Group, from Cal Brightbloom - good stuff at the mines. And owes us a commission, along with a message from the Ifla Engineer’s Guild. Inside, 300z. Another letter. A tiny copper figurine – a small horned biped.
1a. The Letter from Harland and Perth. Figurine from Scaldworth, in thanks for the squirrel who danced with him. -
Letter to the TBs – but … not from Trishenko. From Cyrus at Delmar … getting things set up for resttling at Delmar on the Hill. Okay! Supplies, etc. But … unfortunately … some purchases were mis-handled by a son. Overestimated some stuff … maybe we can use? So … camping supplies [for Camping Actions]. [2 Camping Actions … figure that out, team!]
The TBs are conflicted.
They will write a letter back.
Marketplace
Lots of stuff!
People shouting!
… and a howl of pain! … of at a merchant stall. A person.
A merchant in a bloody heap on the ground, as a squirrelkin. Who then acts meanly.
Sara: “What is wrong with you?!”
Ambra: Sneers. Then Saraid registers … and her face twists in rage. “No, no, I won’t be replaced! Those fools think they can make more just because I ran away? I’m the Successor!”
“There’s only one Ambra! Just me!”
“The only thing that’s going to be correct is that a mistake is going to be eliminated!”
Hands light up with aether.
Neko Monarch appears. “I don’t feel so good.” Then disappears … and another cat appears behind, muych larger. “Rend them!”
Mizzle studies … how she summoned the Neko Monarch! Sort of a Spell Mimicry.
- Get a FP for Villain.
- She spends UP to escape, tearing a whole in the air with her aether-dripping claw, leaving us the Cat, as big as a house.
- Neko Monarch … Champion 3, but not a Villain.
(Acorn Pixie heals the merchant.)
King of Games around chance.
Fight!
Round 1
- Mizzle: Studies. Full stats! RS Phys, IM poison … and they can change.
- NM: They gain a Meowgic Number. Game Master forbids Attacks! 10 dmg and a penalty.
- TBs: throw a crate to hinder … Slow!
- NM: 21 or Bust! - damages himself and Enraged!
- Sara: Icy Breath. “Bad Kitty! Play Fair!” Ice Damage.
- NM: Sweeping MN 3 (Fire). Paw vs. Mizzle. Misses.
Round 2
Mizzle hears their NM complain of a headache.
- Saraid - Ice Breath: More damage! Vulnerable to Ice.
- NM - MN 4 Ice - Game Master - No Skills!
- TBs: swap out for Fire, hit! Vulnerable!
- NM: MN 5 Earth - Sweeping Paw - Hits! Ouch!
- Mizzle: Air Mage’s Grimoire! Crisis! He flips the table. Recover all status. But all (incl self) is Enraged.
- NM - MN 6 (Dark) - Sore Winner - 10 dark to all.
Round 3
- TBs - Guard action over Mizzle. Resistance.
- NM - MN 1 Air. Forbidden Action - Inventory
- Mizzle - Takes the Enraged off the PCs.
- NM - MN ? Bolt - 21 or Bust! Mizzle is Dazed and loses 10 HP. Crisis!
- Saraid - Tommyknockers - vuln to Earth, so ouch!
- NM - MN 3 Fire - Sweeping Paw. Multi 2, so TBs and Saraid. Missed.
Round 4
- Saraid - Ice Breath again! Miss, FP to reroll both. And again. There we go!
- NM - MN 4 - Game Master - No Attacks!
- TBs - Shoot with Fire! Takes him down. Sad!
It roars in pain and dissipates.
Mizzle’s NM – “My head is killing me!”
We did beat him … so … gives Mizzle an Arcanum Deck!
After the Battle
Where did the Mean Squirrel Girl go?
But first we need to get back.
Back to the house. Tell Hector what happened.
Open the crate – many things!
Including a small cache fo books – including the Three Fruits of Derision which Mizzle has been looking for.
Hector gives it to him.
Mizzle cries (with happiness) - Prisma nuzzles up.
Tell Prisma.
(General fun chatter.)
Read through the books about info regarding the Eldonians. (Maybe as part of Mizzle’s inventory.)
Mizzle knows a place where the Archmagus’ Sigils were.
Mizzle wants to do a ritual to … summon Ambra. No, contact her.
She sounds scared.
Saraid assists.
Saraid and TBs help (with FP).
Mizzle definitely succeeds.
“Hey, here was our intent. We aren’t coming to replace you. We just want to help and learn.” A Divination on US (esp. Saraiod, granted to AMBRA.
Elonians were soldiers for the AM … now more commanders … developing / repurposing weapons. Like … the squirrelkin?
How are they funding this? Providing military support to the counties, and demanding tribute for same.
Have pulled a lot of magitech out of the Desert of Ruin, at Fort Valiant (speculation).
Mizzle suggests going to the north – tell the Squirrelkin up there about their kin, also Telegrod, and other things up there, including the other Ambra. Also around to Harmony, where there are nodes.
Hang out another day.
TB project - Aetheric Meter. 350z + materials on hand (150) = 500z – so 2.5 days … should certainly be done by Telegrod.
Book some passage up to Drellin Ferry.
Ambra doesn’t show up.
Mizzle can read the book.
And inquire of sailors about anything they’ve heard about impacts of the “power” being back on.
Cut Scene!
Starkly lit room … a shadowy figure stands there. A door opens. “Doctor Avis, we;re going to need --” Cuts off. “Lady Ambra, you returned.”
She stands over a body. Tastefully offscreen, but with splatters of blood on her face and dress.
The Elonian colonel takes a half-step back. “What have you done to Dr Avis?”
“He always said he wanted to replace me if I did something wrong. And someone succeeded. I’ve shown him. There won’t be any replacements now …?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Good, then we can get rid of the spares.” Her eyes are glazed and unfocused … and then tears drift down her cheek. “Yes. We’re going to kill every squirrelkin out there. Repair the Arsenal Cobra.”
And done
7 XP.
Ambra is our first Major Villain, with 10 UP.