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Post by Rigil Kent on Feb 20, 2016 15:12:23 GMT -6
Coming next week... Nearly two years ago, James Ross attempted to tear open a hole in reality to free something dark and terrible. He was stopped … or was he? Recent events seem to hint otherwise and the truth of the matter will alter the balance of power in Oklahoma City in a dangerous way... Seven weeks will pass since the conclusion of a "Blood Drive." - I recommend everyone check the spreadsheet for time use.
- Let me know if there is something a PC wants to start spending time on learning.
- Let me know if there is you want to spend CPs on.
- In regards to Sofia, we need to determine what kinds of conditional rituals she wants to have available. As stated during the game, I believe she could have 18 such rituals "hanging" but there exists the possibility of some blow back if you have bad rolls. Keep that in mind.
- Howard and Jack are going to have gotten a couple of new cases - one probably involving missing persons at the Boom(er) Boom(er) Club and one involving possible homicides in the boonies outside the city. At some point during these 7 weeks, one of their cases is going to have introduced Lee to an underground fight club thing going on in the city.
More as it occurs.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Feb 29, 2016 12:29:11 GMT -6
- I recommend everyone check the spreadsheet for time use.
- Let me know if there is something a PC wants to start spending time on learning.
- Let me know if there is you want to spend CPs on.
- In regards to Sofia, we need to determine what kinds of conditional rituals she wants to have available. As stated during the game, I believe she could have 18 such rituals "hanging" but there exists the possibility of some blow back if you have bad rolls. Keep that in mind.
Just a reminder.
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Post by Magman on Feb 29, 2016 20:47:15 GMT -6
I have about done everything that I want. Since the hockey is no more I changed that quirk. Jack has developed a habit of chewing on tooth picks.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 21, 2016 11:16:54 GMT -6
Occurred to me that we should probably make a list of clues obtained. If I, as the GM, am forgetting whether you've been told something, I think it is a safe bet the Players are too. So ... Clues obtained thus far ... I think I've covered everything... - Cultists with their mouths sewn shut targeted the characters who were at the conclusion of Volume I: Vengeful Whispers.
- James Ross, aka the Red Circle Murderer, has disappeared. Either he or Howard Lee was the target of above-mentioned cultists. Maybe both.
- From before (Vengeful Whispers), Sofia was able to learn that Nun’yunu’wi appears to originate from Cherokee myth and was often said to have been accompanied by four allies (or, more likely, minions.) Very little was learned about said minions.
- Nihancan (hereafter referred to as "Solomonander") has evidently been possessing Doctor Solomon for several years now, probably from the climax of Volume I. Solomonander indicated that the doctor was dead but this could be a lie.
- Solomonander clearly stated that Nihancan was not his Name.
- Solomonander indicated that he was ready to abandon Doctor Solomon's body in lieu of taking over Sofia's.
- Solomonander cast an immensely powerful spell – the Groundhog Day spell – that is beyond Sofia’s capabilities and thus should have been really beyond Solomon’s.
- When Magister Katerine cloaked Sofia with a Veil, Nihancan did not think to use Solomon’s Sight to pierce it which Sofia thinks might indicate he does not have access to all of her mentor’s thoughts or memories.
- Solomonander hit Devon Tower, specifically to snatch Robert Mankiller using a Word of Power (probably in Demontongue). They escaped through the Nevernever.
- Mat might also have referenced how both Solomonander and Mankiller recoiled from Brandon’s “sword of light.”
- From Mat’s description of Solomonander’s damaged appearance (specifically the badly burned hands), Sofia has guessed that Solomonander tapped the ley node underneath Bavinger House which is both reckless and very dangerous. She suspects that Solomonander was unable to fully control the ley node, which is why she was swept up into the GHD spell.
- Solomonander has been visiting Indian burial grounds all around the region. Many of these places are not commonly known as Indian burial grounds.
- Jack has seen nine bodies laid out in that ritualistic manner next door to the Boom(er) Boom(er) Club.
- According to Brandon, Doctor Solomon has also been interacting with evil entities and killing them; Brandon believes he has been drawing power from them somehow.
- According to Brandon, Doctor Solomon has two shadows, even when he should not.
- According to Brandon, Jack and Lee’s boss, Agent Curtmantle, has some sort of loose connection to this as he keeps showing up at the same locations.
- From Brandon, they learned that something was going down in Fairview, OK, but have since discovered it is locked down rather tightly by the before-mentioned cultists who are armed with RPGs, claymore mines, and machine guns. This has resulted in their deaths three times.
- According to Ceridwen, the Groundhog Day spell is tied closely to the form Nihancan is wearing. So he needs to be extracted from Solomon to undo the GHD spell … but in doing so, Solomon will likely be killed, thus resetting it.
- According to Ceridwen, Nihancan is formally mortal and was a ‘holy man’ (probably Catholic priest) who was suborned by ‘the Faceless King’ during the Arthurian Age (probably 5th Century.) He was killed by the ‘last true druid.’
- Nihancan wishes to free his master from a prison – this strongly implies that Nun’Yunu’Wi is the Faceless King.
- The Faceless King was an unbound Fae who the Queens of Summer and Winter waged war against when he would not bend knee before them. They could not destroy him so instead, they locked him away in a prison of lost hope and broken dreams.
- Time in Ceridwen's domain ran slightly differently than in the real world so Sofia suspects she has about 12 to 15 hours before whatever Solomonander is doing transpires. So closer to 10 or noon the following day than midnight.
Related: Sofia has access to a pair of highly skilled investigators as well as an investigative reporter/photojournalist, so it might behoove her to (this go-around) to lay everything out to them and get their professional opinions. The LEOs could treat this as a kind of murder or kidnapping investigation and perhaps suggest avenues of interest that have not occurred to her. Reviewing my list of clues, I do see a couple of angles that have not been touched - this is not to say anyone has done anything wrong; I loved the decision to go see Grandma ... I'm just really glad I had a week to plan for it!
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Post by LabRat on Mar 21, 2016 12:57:06 GMT -6
I would also add in what you told me recently about the time in the NeverNever and so Sophia is able guess that they have a little more time than originally thought
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 21, 2016 14:13:20 GMT -6
Added.
What is the next planned course of action? (Everyone can chime in here.)
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Post by LabRat on Mar 22, 2016 13:25:19 GMT -6
Things to do: - I want to ask Brandon about his sword
- When you say "very little was learned" about the minions, did you mean that the PCs didn't investigate or there wasn't any information found? If investigation is needed, then lets google that shit. The minions interest me because that could put a tag on Solomonder, Mankller, and Ross. They could be the 3 of the 4 followers/minions/whatever. But that would mean that a fourth one is missing, and it seems like Solomonder pulls rank over Mankiller. So I'm not entirely sold on the idea, but it is something to consider.
- See if there is anything specific about a type of cult that sews their mouths shut that relates to Native American Lore
- Looks like a visit to Curtmantle is in order
- When Sophia went to visit her Gran she could tell that something was happening because she felt a sensation like her skin was tightening. Ceridwen ended up killing her because Sophia was running out of time. Would she know why she was feeling that sensation when Solomonder's plan was almost completed
- I want to ask Mat about how he knows the future ramifications if we don't stop Solomonder in time
- At the very least, Sophia is going to send a message to the Council since this concerns Nun’yunu’wi. If I remember, they were quick to react when someone tried to summon him before.
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Post by LabRat on Mar 22, 2016 14:12:49 GMT -6
Addendum:
H'ok, I took the time to go back and read Chapter 1 on OP, which I highly recommend doing. So far I noticed a couple of things.
1. From reading the events of Vol. 1 Chap. 5, it seems like we have a bonafide body jumper on our hands. I think that 'something' was possessing Ross, which caused him to do all of the ritual slayings in order to bring back Nun'yunu'wi. He couldn't do it by his own magic, so he relied on rituals to try to get it done. Knowing that he was not being successful, he jumped into Solomon's body while they were having their battle on the fiery pentagram (or maybe he jumped after he realized that Brandon hit him with Holy Water), regardless, he thinks that using Solomon's magic may help bring back Nun'yunu'wi but he wasn't planning on jumping into a gimped wizard. This would also explain a few things such as why he doesn't really understand how to use all of the 'perks' of being a wizard such as Sight, or the fact that Ross went catatonic in the end. They think it was the Holy Water, but it may be because his body isn't being "occupied".
3. I imagine that Solomonder took Ross' body since we know that the Warden's Wards over him were broken. I imagine now that he possesses Solomon he would be able to do that. But why is he "collecting" people?
2. Curtmantle just got very interesting after reading the Epilogue 1. Definitely need to visit him, even though I am crossing over into metagaming. Hopefully we can explain the need to visit him in some way.
*Edit* Just read this from the answers that Sophia's Gran gave her with regards to the Solomonder's identity: The one you call Arthur ruled over Prydain. Does that answer your question? I am certain there are others who can answer that better than I. " So we need to talk to him.
3. Disregard my previous statement concerning the minions. Sophia cashed in her favor with Abioheal for information about What Ross is doing. This was her response (Vol. 1 Chap. 4): Hundreds of your years ago, a wizard of the White Council and a Knight of the Cross imprisoned a being of chaos and power. This being – Nun’Yunu’Wi as it was known – stirs in its silent grave. Your warlock seeks to free Nun’Yunu’Wi and the Four creatures imprisoned with their master. You would call them … acolytes. Or heralds. Servants of power greater than you possess. Your warlock would restore their freedom in hopes of becoming a Fifth herald of Nun’Yunu’Wi
So they can't be minions since Nun'Yunu'Wi is trapped with his acolytes.
4. OMFG, I just got an idea. Nun'Yunu'Wi prison has been described as both silent and a prison of lost hope and broken dreams. Maybe where he is isn't a tangible corporeal place. Meaning that I assume he and his acolytes would need a hosts just like the Solomonder does. That's why he is knows as the Faceless king, because he has to have host. Maybe that's why Somonder has taken Ross and has control over Mankiller as well. We know Mankiller is a demon-esque creature, and we have seen specific demons crop up from time to time relating to current events: In Mat's vision he had to fight them off, 2. Solomonder is sucking the power from demons, 3. Ross called down demons during the battle at the bombing memorial. Now I don't know if they are a particular sect of demons (if there is such a thing) but Sophia does have demonology so maybe that will help with something? Regardless, I think that is why it take Solomonder longer to complete the ritual than we originally think due to the fact that he doesn't have enough hosts.
The thing that I don't understand is that Abioheal said that Nun'Yunu'Wi was buried with his 4 acolytes or heralds, but Ceridwen stated that Solomonder was made a herald by the Faceless King. So does that mean that one escaped? Or is he a fifth herald?
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 22, 2016 14:36:51 GMT -6
When you say "very little was learned" about the minions, did you mean that the PCs didn't investigate or there wasn't any information found? Very little was found. The few references to Nun'yunu'wi indicated he/she/it utilized Four Heralds, but those references were written to seem like after-thoughts or "Oh, also..." That said, your actual research on Nun'yunu'wi did not really turn up much either so it may just be the lack of primary sources... I don't quite understand what is being asked here. Was this a complete thought/question? Or did you trail off (as I'm wont to do) and then not finish? Rephrase and repost, please. And yes, I acknowledge that I might just be having comprehension issues. I blame ... something. Addendum: H'ok, I took the time to go back and read Chapter 1 on OP, which I highly recommend doing. So far I noticed a couple of things. Heh. Sounds like the GM could do with rereading what he wrote too! Brandon could be the impetus for that. He's suspicious of S/A Curtmantle and may steer the characters in that direction; Jack has a "trust no one" quirk so he might be easily swayed and Lee is aware that Curtmantle does not have a scent like all other normal humans he's encountered, so there's that. Heh. Man, I'm glad I did not (totally) contradict myself with what Ceridwen told you. Really, really should have reread that myself. Unless one got free at some point... Aoibheal told you that Nun'yunu'wi and his Heralds were imprisoned hundreds of years ago. Ceridwen told you that the Faceless King made Solomonander a Herald in the Arthurian age, which is more than 1500 years ago. So both can be true.
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Post by LabRat on Mar 22, 2016 15:10:49 GMT -6
Rephrase and repost, please. Why would Sophia have a physical response upon the near completion of what Solomonder was doing? Would she know why? Unless one got free at some point... Okay, so if one got free, I don't think that he would be laying low for all this time. History tends to repeat itself (such as the Faceless King being reskinned as Nun’yunu’wi, and Solomonder saying that Nihancan was not his name). The question is, I am not entirely sure how to research for trends of body jumpers or demon interaction across the annals of history, that would give us clues as to how to stop Solomonder from freeing the Faceless King. Another thing, If the Faceless King is trapped in a prison, then how would people know about him enough to change his title over time? Clearly this has been done many times before but didn't come to completion. Also, just for giggles, is there a place I can go that will refresh me on what happened with Kimmler? And finally, am I even close to being on the right track, or do I need to change perspective? P.S. Why do I feel like Sophia will be up against something that is so incredibly powerful that she decides to take one out of Solomonder's book and tap a node for extra power? Ultimately this gives rise to Crispy Sophia in Mat's vision. *Note to self: Do not tap into nodes*
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 22, 2016 15:49:49 GMT -6
Why would Sophia have a physical response upon the near completion of what Solomonder was doing? Would she know why? Good questions. Note that I'm not actually answering them, but they are good questions... Okay. I'll provide a partial answer. Why would she have a physical response? No idea so this doesn't count as an answer. Why would she know? Because Ceridwen stated her time was running out which she took to mean Solomonander was nearly complete... Oh, that's easy. If you combine the things that Aoibheal told her with what Ceridwen told her, it is logical to presume that they have escaped before. Or parts of them have escaped. Or perhaps someone conflated one set of mythologies with another. Or perhaps NYW is just the name that the Cherokee gave to the FK. Or ... Try here ... although it seems I've been misspelling it. Should be Kemmler. The pertinent parts are: "Kemmler is considered to be one of the most powerful warlocks and necromancers of all time. He practiced what he called 'true magic' to control life and death. His main focus was necromancy, for which he was renowned. Kemmler has been killed by the White Council seven times over the course of a number of wars with him. The first being in 1890's, the second near the end of WW2 and most recently in 1961. It was during this last attempt that the entire White Council down to the last wizard was devoted to killing him." How would you know either way? Besides, I'm going to use the Wedge Antilles style of 'leadership' here. I'm reviewing your ideas as posted and any of them that I like better than my original plan, I'm using. So yeah, I've already made a few minor tweaks. You'll also note that I'm being very judicious in picking & choosing what I answer on the boards and what I don't... That would be ironic, wouldn't it?
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 23, 2016 12:40:17 GMT -6
Something else to consider (which Brandon, who has Common Sense, will bring up): why Mankiller? Solomonander went to a lot of trouble to obtain him.
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Post by LabRat on Mar 23, 2016 15:02:48 GMT -6
Something else to consider (which Brandon, who has Common Sense, will bring up): why Mankiller? Solomonander went to a lot of trouble to obtain him. Well what do we know about mankiller...or possibly more importantly his macuahuitl? Sophia knows that he look like Hellboy by her Sight, that his cousin was involved in one of the sacrificial rings. His grandmother knows about the Wardens, and I *think* a distant relative of his tried to raise the FK before but the White Council stopped him. That very same person sired Ross later on but Ross was raised by his mother when Elder Mankiller died...so....family reunion? (Don't know if this is right, I don't have time to check the logs as of right now).
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 24, 2016 9:57:31 GMT -6
Something else to consider (which Brandon, who has Common Sense, will bring up): why Mankiller? Solomonander went to a lot of trouble to obtain him. Well what do we know about mankiller...or possibly more importantly his macuahuitl? Sophia knows that he look like Hellboy by her Sight, that his cousin was involved in one of the sacrificial rings. His grandmother knows about the Wardens, and I *think* a distant relative of his tried to raise the FK before but the White Council stopped him. That very same person sired Ross later on but Ross was raised by his mother when Elder Mankiller died...so....family reunion? (Don't know if this is right, I don't have time to check the logs as of right now). That pretty much covers what you know. The only thing I'd add is that Mat observed a hazy distortion around Mankiller's hand when Mankiller was about to attack Solomonander and did attack Raith. Obviously, this would be the macuahuitl, but he didn't see it. As to the relationship between him and James Ross, they would be cousins. Ross' father - the dead guy who met with Wardens and lost his head ... although the official record says it was a car crash - was Robert's uncle. Ah. Also, the lot of you strongly suspect that he was the demony thing that ran around the Devon Tower in Volume III. But knowing all of that doesn't answer Brandon's "Why him?" question.
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Post by LabRat on Mar 24, 2016 14:13:00 GMT -6
But knowing all of that doesn't answer Brandon's "Why him?" question. ::Deep breath in order to say something profound:: ......Yeah, I got nothing. I think I need some help
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 30, 2016 11:12:04 GMT -6
Right. Game on for Friday. Better get my mind right. Hell, for that matter, I better reread the synopsis...
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Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 16, 2016 16:01:22 GMT -6
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