(with apologies to the Talking Heads)
Saraid - FP!
Villain Cut-scene!
Deep in the Dancing Forest, Dotani and Clove going on about clove study and what she’s been doing to prepare for the druid trials. Cleaning up some of Serdak’s spores … panning over, we see the Watcher watching. “Serdak, what did you get yourself into?”
The Watcher begins to weave magic, causing the world around to go gray, the astral figues begin to spin backwards for several days, and there’s Fairbrand the dragon in the sky, falling to the ground, and there’s the party working to lock away Serdak, "At least you didn’t get yourself killed. Sealed away? We;ll see what we can do …
And back in the Real World
Dolremy.
Dining with Jenny’s parents.
Jenny Tarot is sleeping and resting, Prisma watching over.
We Rest!
- Saraid - Martial Practice.
- Mizzle - Cartography
- TBs - Exploration! (Scrounging!)
Bonds?
- Mizzle - Build a bond with Luxana? (TBs – support for family)
- Saraids - Dropping Serdak, adding Zenit Eyes
- TBs - Drop Wind Drakes. Add Affection for the family-less Squirrelkin.
The Next Day
Everyone is finishing up their resting / camp activities.
Whirlwind around the house - Kendra and Olilvia trying to figure out how to pack up and move.
Jenny’s amazed that people want her opinion. But a bit petulant.
Thanks from K&O. If there’s anything we can do …
Mizzle - Divination ritual with Jenny about the Sqkin … and might involve Rose, too.
Find a place … and Summon the Grimoire! The double-barrel of divinations.
What is the true nature of the role Lady Ambra wishes to succeed into?
Vision of the past … the AM rules over everything … but he’s a complex man … showing Ambra everything about the castle. … and he gives Ambra sysop access to the systems (and she is excited) … “User created and access granted. Welcome to Central, Ambra.” … looking at a power grid map of the empire … “This seems like lower power than expected.” “Let’s go investigate that …” … Ambra had access to everything he made … including his castle and his systems …
So … they want their own “Ambra” to have that control.
- Mizzle - that includes you, which is why we’re going back to Harmony.
- Saraid - Scary.
- Jenny T - … yeah, that seems like it’s too much trouble right now. (Mizzle nods approvinglyi)
- Yeah, that means Rose, too. “But the Gallimaufrey is safe for Rose if anywhere is.”
- TBs are wondering how they could disrupt that command power if need to.
On the Road Again
Or flying, as the case may be.
Off to “Ambra?” island. Six days of travel, two rolls.
First half, Medium Threat, reduced by Mizzle to D8, – TBs
Second half, open sea, so High also down to Medium, D10 - Saraid
Over forest, towns, end up a day on the beach, not far from Jenny’s childhood home.
Over the sea, its all good! Occasional ships. Prisma occasionally rests on the water.
The Island!
An island ahead! Forest, plains, tall mountain. Looks welcoming.
Followed by missiles.
Ride past them? Break the missile turrets?
Mizzle - Prisma, dive into the sea. (Seafarer Module)
Round 1
- Mizzle - guiding Prisma past the missiles. Um … FP to Continue Dodging That Shit, invoking the Gallimaufry’s resistance. Success! 1/10 ticks on the clock. By more than 6, so 3/10.
- Missile Turret A - Acorn Pixie. Ouch!
- Saraid - Theriomorphosis - +MIG and Def. Dazes them.
- Shield Turret - Static Shot on Saraid. Damaged, but now Resistant.
- TBs - Barrage and Slow the missile turrets.
Round 2
We dive into the water, wrapped up in a bubble.
- Mizzle - Healing Sarad and AP. Heals 40.
- Missile Turret A -
- TBs - Shooting at missiles/torpedos to Bypass the Turrets – FP, move to 6/10!
- Shield Turret - closing up force fields to turn back the block. Saraid intimidates it! And it get bumped 2 more!
- Saraid - Melee attack on the shield barriers coming up. Breaking the FF. MIG+MIG. Shield Turret resists.
- 3 advances! We have bypassed the turrets!
Saraid retains the form.
On the Island
Looks nice!
Prisma flops onto the grass.
Why were they shooting at us?
We need to be very careful.
… and we hear a howling bay off in the distance!
Coming out from the overgrown ruins – a small, pup … and flashbacks to Cerboros at the old aetheric waystation. Pyre maw head. Yips and barks.
Talk with Saraid.
Can we talk with my sister? Puppy is skeptical. Saraid gives him TB Treats.
(And the TBs, too)
Okay, I’ll take you to my master, but if you try anything I’ll spark you!
You’re new people. I never saw people. Big metal suit, or tiny flying thing, or not-master, or … what are you (Mizzle). Not used to visitors.
House by the shore … which we saw from the image.
Sparky runs to the door. A figure in the door … gasp, Owen?
Ambra. Excited … then disappointed.
Saraid intros everyone.
Saraid wants … to know her background, to be sure she’s happy,
“I’m safe here.” But doesn’t feel trapped. “This is my home.”
Mizzle wants to ask questions.
Go inside. Old, but well-maintained. A bit thread-bare.
Mizzle asks about the name and multiple Ambras. Welp, dunno if I can tell you any of the secrets, but will tell you wnat I know. I was created by the AM to replace someone he cared a lot about. He wanted me to be her, but it didn’t work out.
Other squirrelkin? Here’s a manuscript!
Owen is the AM. Been a long while since she’s been here. She seems sad.
He thought I was Ambra for a while, but that was just a deception.
She pages through it. It has everything we learned about the sqkin. She offers to correct anything that’s wrong.
Those people have come to the island. They came and went to Owen’s lab.
They didn’t know she existed.
Offers a sigil to get through the defense grid.
Tell her about Ambra having access to the system.
Definitely alive. Also definitely not all right.
Aren’t you at all curious about the ouside world?
Not really – no reason to go out there. Sparky keeps me company.
Elonians at lab … 25 years ago. And that’s how Dr A got the info for the Squirrelkin Project.
Can you read minds? Not really.
When AM pulled me out fo the stream, thought he was getting Ambra. Instead, he got … well, that’s a good question. Not sure what was before … maybe like your friend there (Zenit-Eyes, who nods). He gave me this body.
Mizzle studies … the AM tries to pull a soul out of the Sea of Souls, put into a new body. Only pulled off of a demon. Who tells comforting lies. Sigil on her head is holding the demon in the body.
“Do you want to keep being Ambra?” “I dunno. It’s comfortable. A little lonely, but Sparky.”
Mizzle shares some info about Owen. Such a nice man. Which he’d stuck around.
Mizzle summons the Grimoire … What was the fate of Owen, the Archmagus?
Vision of the AM times, as he interacts with this Ambra. Sitting at a table, head in hands, oh didn’t work at all, well I can continue to be Ambra if you want, no its not the same ive done too much, I know youre disappointed but I could be a companion, no (and walks out).
Cut to the inside of the AM’s keep, working on something in a lab. “Central – please record a message to send to Malcolm. (sigh) Mal, this was all a mistake. I know youve been handling things in my absence, trust you can take care of things, but this whole empire thing was a mistake, only brought me sadness and dismasy, am going to climb the stairs to heaven, trust you’ll handle everything in my stead.” Sends message, shuts everything down. “Any additional orders/” “No, just keep the lights on. Once I’m through, power down the stairs. I don’t want anyone following me.”
Great beam of light, up to the sky, steps in, then it winks out, then the lights in the castle dim … and the lava moat churns away.
Malcolm?
Mizzle: the leader of Elonia.
Look at the lab?
Sure … because the same defenses that killed the Elonians … a lot of them .. will kill you.
Sparky – one of the samples that got loose from the lab. There are a few here … most of them are fairly docile.
Ask about defenses. Descirbes lasers firing on univ8ited guests, missile launchers. Oh, and all the creatures. Um …
He and Ambra had seeded creatures (like Cerberous) through a lot of his systems.
TBs suggest we take a walk. “I appreciate your politeness, but it is completely unnecessary.”
Mizzle - go to Stone Guardian and get some sigils, to get into the lab.
Don’t want her to be taken.
Elonians were a generation ago.
TBs feel bad for Saraid.
Another piece of the puzzle. Saraid feels sorry for her.
Is she happy? Being embodied, she can live off its energy. Happy to be of service. Right now that’s taking care of Sparky.
Mizzle goes back for a few minutes. TBs - be careful.
She already knows what he wants to do.
We’re leaving the island and will be back. Will be going to my home, important book, How are they going to receive me?
Well, you’re scared of their opinions, but want their encouragement. They will receive you warmly and wonder why you left in the first place. Can’t say for sure, but I know what you know those people.
Respect you for what you are.
I think Owen would have liked you.
Time to leave … not flying. Go underwater from beach, then fly after that.
This Ambra has a sigil on forehead.
Elonians Ambra has a star of Elonia there.
And the original Ambra …
Next Time
Harmony, a day’s flight. But … with problems that can’t be rerolled out of …
We have 6+1 FP = XP!
Saraid wants to spend more time with Zenit-Eyes.
Miz’s Session 36+ agenda:
- Fly southeast to Harmony. Try to fight the Stone Guardian to obtain Archmagus Seals
- Stretch goal: hang out with Saraid’s family
- New Item : stop by Central and Starspan Tower, try to activate the AI
- Fly north to the Gallimaufry. Hand in book
- Return to Clove’s house
