[LP] The Way of the Tiger. (Complete)

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:36 am

You approach the castle at the spot where the nearest towers on either side are a hundred feet apart. You can hear the pacing of a guard on the battlements, above the croaking of bullfrogs. You ease yourself soundlessly into the chill moat as the rain thrashes the surface around you. The noise of the bullfrogs is surprisingly loud, and it is noticeable when they stop their croaking suddenly.

(Avenger has some Essence of Firenewt.)

You empty the Essence of Firenewt powder on the surface of the moat and it stimulates the bullfrogs to recommence their croaking.

You haul yourself soundlessly from the moat and begin the difficult climb up the castle wall, using your Cat's Claws to cling onto every available crevice. You are about to peer over the battlements when the slow footsteps of a patrolling guard pass overhead. You cling motionless, flattening yourself against the wall as, unaccountably, he pauses above you to survey the moat. Your arms are aching with the strain when, after ten minutes, he walks away towards the nearest tower and you cross the battlements.

Using the grappling hook and rope, you descend quickly to the Castle Bailey below. The hook falls free at a shake of the rope and you catch it. Looking around you, you realize that you have only penetrated into the outer courtyard, another wall stands between you and the Inner Bailey which surrounds the Great Keep. There is a narrow hole in the wall used for the passing of arms and food when the gate in the wall is shut.

• If you have the skill of Escapology, you may try to wriggle through it.
• Otherwise, you may use your Climbing skills to scale the wall of the Inner Bailey. √

Once again you use the grappling hook and skim quickly and soundlessly up the wall. At the top you see a guard who has heard the dull thud of the felt-covered hook as it fell atop the wall. You climb sideways from the hhok using convenient handholds where the concrete has been washed from between the stones and vault over the wall at his side, your Garotte-wire ready between your teeth. Make an Attack Roll. His Defence as he raises his hand in alarm is 4.

(6, success)

There is the merest death rattle as the wire dissects his windpipe and you lower his body gently to the floor, before re-fixing the grappling hook and sliding down to the grass of the Inner Bailey which surrounds the Great Keep.

Avenger, Grandmaster of the Five Winds
Modifiers: Fortune +1
Inner Force: 4/5
Endurance: 2/20
Techniques: Climbing, Disable Device, Poison Needles, Kwon's Flail.
Shuriken: ****
Ninja Tools: Ninja Costume, Breathing Tube, Iron Sleeves, Garotte, Flint & Tinder, Spiderfish, Blood of Nil.
Special Items: Opal Ring, Pouch with 15 Gold Pieces.

• Will you climb to the top of the Keep?
• Or climb the Keep up to the first row of windows and force an entry there?

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:09 am

I forget what we're climbing to get to, but breaking into a window sounds like it might demand a "not climbing" skill.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:39 am

Agreed, climb to the top of the keep for some reason.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:55 am

Omegonthesane wrote:I forget what we're climbing to get to, but breaking into a window sounds like it might demand a "not climbing" skill.

We need to get the magic scrolls that Yaemon plans to use to kill our god AND kill Yaemon as punishment for being a raging douche. Ganking Manse and Honoric is not mandatory.

Apparently, we climbed over the southern wall into the outer bailey, were unpleasantly surprised for no good reason by another wall, then climbed it too into the inner bailey.

This is the relevant description of the castle proper:
The main hall has a large spiral staircase which leads to the castle roof and thence to the three turrets.

I expect climbing further will bring us to the roof of the main hall, at which point we'll get to choose one of the three towers to infiltrate / bosses to kill. So let's climb.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:26 pm

Climb to the top.

angelfromanotherpin · Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:28 pm

You climb like a spider up the wall of the Great Keep, flattening yourself against the stones, clinging motionless each time the guard, walking his rounds of the Inner Bailey, is below you. The wind and the rain cover the faint scraping of your Cat's Claws as you bury them in the loose mortar that holds the stones together, and you are invisible in the darkness. At last you are at the battlements and you peep out over the flat roof of the Keep.

The three turrets, surprisingly large now that you are so close, still boast their flags which are faintly illuminated by the glow of a charcoal brazier. With his back to this stove is the Captain of the Guard, clad in black armor. Every now and then he patrols the battlements from one turret to another, before returning to warm himself at the brazier. He has taken his helmet off and is standing in the glow of the charcoals.

• Wait till he is beside the low battlements and attempt to throw him over the side?
• Use a Shuriken, aiming at his head?
• Creep up behind him and use your Garotte-wire?
• If you are skilled in Poison Needles, use one?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:58 pm

He's wearing armor, so he's going to be hard to throw, so I would not recommend that.

We already know that guard armor doesn't protect them from garroting and it'll also likely prevent him from calling for help, which we can't afford to risk fighting.

However, I would suggest spitting poison (I doubt he's strong enough to resist the poison, so that should kill him quickly and therefore also prevent him from calling help) but I wouldn't say no to a garroting or even a good shuriken headshot.

Starmaker · Post by **Starmaker** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:38 pm

Borrowing FTL terminology, let's use the blue option. If we miss with a needle due to the wind and rain, it will probably stay unnoticed (also, we have infinity needles). If we miss with a shuriken, we're bound to be seen.

angelfromanotherpin · Mon Jul 29, 2013 11:23 pm

As the wind whistles around the turrets of the Great Keep, there is a sudden keening howl. For an instant the hairs on the back of your neck prickle with fear, until you realize that it is only the wind howling through an arrow slit in one of the turrets. The Captain looks startled, and you choose this moment to pop up your head and blow a needle towards him through the swirling rain. He is lit only by the glow of the charcoal brazier, but the needle flies true to its target. He collapses to the floor with a clatter of armour as the wind howls again.

You notice that each of the three turrets has an archway leading to a spiral staircase. Which turret will you climb:

• The turret flying the Sword of Doom flag?
• The turret flying the Scarlet Mantis flag?
• The turret flying the Black Whirlpool flag?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:04 am

Go to the Scarlet Mantis; it's Yaemon's emblem, it's our life's mission to take him out, and we don't have enough health to bother with the two optional bosses.

MisterDee · Post by **MisterDee** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:15 am

I'm tempted to go for one of the minibosses, actually, on the off chance that one of them has more herbs or something. I doubt that the book will let us insta-kill Yaemon, and we're not going to survive a fight with him.

And with the sword scene - I guess we're supposed to somehow kill sword-dude, then use the sword to fuck the mage up, and then go after the big bad.

So take a shot at the Sword of Doom emblem. Hopefully we'll get an opportunity to Poison Needle Honoric like someone suggested earlier.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:36 am

I agree with Mister D. I think either boss will result in our death but by doing it in the right order they might finally give us something to stop the blood coming out of our ears. Try to kill Honoric first and hope he hates poison and loves herb collecting.

angelfromanotherpin · Tue Jul 30, 2013 12:57 pm

You cross the roof of the Great Keep until you are below the turret which flies the flag of the Sword of Doom, then climb upwards, silent as a mouse. The staircase within is lit by several torches fixed in brass brackets on the wall and at its top is a heavy oak door. Above the door is a narrow space, just large enough for you to crawl through, which leads to a dank attic.

• Carefully oil the hinges of the door before opening it?
• Examine the attic to see if you can spy on the occupant of the chamber beyond?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 1:05 pm

Let's try to spy on Honoric, or whoever's crashing in his pad, I suppose.

Oil the hinges after that.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:16 pm

You jump up and swing from the hole which leads to the attic, then squeeze through onto the planks beyond. Testing for loose boards, you crawl carefully to a crack in the ceiling. A single candle burning in the chamber below gives just enough light to see by.

Honoric is asleep, his arrogant features seem less cruel than in his waking hours and his mouth is open as he snores gently. His great sword lies unsheathed beside him. You cannot spot any traps in the chamber.

• Pour your single dose of the Blood of Nil poison down a waxed string into Honoric's mouth?
• Get back down to the staircase and go in through the door after oiling its hinges?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:26 pm

Poison the bastard and marry his sword.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:11 am

Fuck yes, feed him the juice of our scorpion god

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:30 am

Yes, yes, feed him god-scorpion-thing emissions!

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 1:17 pm

You unfurl the length of waxed string until it dangles just above the mouth of the Marshal of the Legion of Doom. You uncork the gourd which holds the blood of Nil, mouth of the Void, the most virulent poison known. It steams as the black beads run down the string and drop into Honoric's open mouth. He goes rigid and you know that he is helpless, dying of suffocation as his chest is paralyzed. You have assassinated the Marshal of the Legion of Doom, one of the most powerful men on Orb.

• Go down into the chamber and take the smoking sword, Sorcerak?
• Leave without the sword to the turret which boasts the Black Whirlpool?
• Leave without the sword to the turret with the Scarlet Mantis?

Dr_Noface · Post by **Dr_Noface** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:05 pm

I'm guessing take the sword to use on the deathmage?

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:19 pm

Take that sword.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:39 pm

The oak door grates slightly on its hinges as you enter Honoric's chamber. The fumes of poison curl like a snake from his mouth, and, overcoming the fear that emanates from the black blade, you grab it and leave the chamber as quickly as you can, taking care not to breathe until you are safely outside. You tie the great sword to your back and climb out of the turret window.

• Climb the turret with the Scarlet Mantis flag?
• Climb the turret with the Black Whirlpool flag?

Omegonthesane · Post by **Omegonthesane** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:05 pm

Shiv up the mage - that's why we got Sorcerak, and for all we know he'll have herbs and such. Or a "kill Yaemon" button, whichever.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:25 pm

Go to Black Whirlpool, kill mage with Sorcerak.

angelfromanotherpin · Post by **angelfromanotherpin** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:26 pm

You cross the roof of the Great Keep and enter the turret which flies the flag of the Black Whirlpool. With Sorcerak at your back you climbto the top of the turret. The staircase is lit by an ominous green luminescence and you see a red eye, hanging disembodied in space at the top of the stone steps. It glows and the white of the eye is horribly bloodshot. It seems to pop suddenly and disappears as you climb the last steps and throw open the door at their top.

Manse the Deathmage, still clad in his black cloak which accentuates the pallor of his features, rises from the bed as you enter. The fear which emanates from the Eldritch blade of Sorcerak sets his white hair on end. He mouths a spell, but nothing happens. You throw Sorcerak to the floor before him and he shrinks back. His eyes glow red like the one which you saw outside his chamber.

His voice is a low hiss as he threatens, 'Kill me and that fell sword will take your soul.' You ignore him and he tries one last spell as you advance, but Sorcerak dispels his magic as a bolt of fire leaves his mouth and you throw him easily to the floor. He is not strong and struggles ineffectually as you grind your heel into his neck. It snaps like a twig.

Never again will Manse the Deathmage offer up children for sacrifice to his god Nemesis. With Honoric's sword, you have rid Orb of its most powerful black magician. Leaving Sorcerak to smoke on the floor of the chamber, you descend the staircase of the turret intent on finding Yaemon and avenging your spiritual father.

Honoric and Manse the Deathmage both lie dead, but your mission is not yet completed. It still remains for you to avenge your spiritual father and kill Yaemon, Grandmaster of Flame, of the order of the Scarlet Mantis. If you fail, he will speak the word that will bind Kwon in Inferno. You walk down to the roof of the Great Keep.

As you pass through the archway at the bottom of the steps, you see Yaemon on the rood of the Great Keep. He bears the Mantis tattoo on his forehead and wears the scarelt jacket and loose trousers of the Order of the Scarlet Mantis. He is in his middle years, but his body is supple and powerful. The corded muscles on his forearms ripple as he clenches his fists. He bows to you and then says, 'You have been at your work, Ninja.'

You return his bow, saying 'My tasks are not yet done.'

He smiles and replies, 'I killed your spiritual father, as I had killed your real father wen you were but a babe-in-arms. Now, I shall kill you.' No-one has ever spoken to you of the death of your father, but Yaemon's words only cause the desire for revenge to flare stronger within you. You master your anger, and calm yourself, ready to give battle.

Yaemon has been Grandmaster of the Flame for longer than your lifetime. You could not fear to meet a more experienced adept at the deadly Way of the Mantis. His body is at a peak of perfection and his will is strong. You move towards him, realising this will be a battle like no other. Yaemon's Endurance is 20.

Avenger, Grandmaster of the Five Winds
Modifiers: Fortune +1
Inner Force: 4/5
Endurance: 2/20
Techniques: Climbing, Disable Device, Poison Needles, Kwon's Flail.
Shuriken: ****
Ninja Tools: Ninja Costume, Breathing Tube, Iron Sleeves, Garotte, Flint & Tinder, Spiderfish.
Special Items: Opal Ring, Pouch with 15 Gold Pieces.

Will you:
• Run to attack?
• Close and use Poison Needles?
• Unleash a stream of 3 Shuriken?