Vignettes (In-Character Roleplay)

The agents look surprised by Remiliano's question, suggesting that the question is related to a very obscure topic. " So you have heard of it too? ", replies the most-scared agent. " It is a mystery that we the League are trying to solve. Some gearsmen have mentioned that word. Sorry, I do not know more. Really, please, I'm being sincere here. We do not know. The captains probably know more, especially Regnar , and probably Silah too. Or now that I think about it, Zernebeth too, or Gryne . I'm not entirely sure. Please, have mercy ". [OOC: This vignette is now closed. The rest of it was played during regular sessions.]

Vignette 7: Cythrul Explains Some Items Location: In Hajoth Hakados, after successfully completing a mission for Cythrul and Lady Altouna Time: 4711, Desnus 7 The enigmatic witch and scholar Cythrul joins the Torch Bearers as they leave the Palace of Lady Altouna on their way to Cythrul's shop, to talk more. Gorim senses that this is a good time for him to show some items that he haven't figured out yet and hopefully obtain a better explanation from the witch, who has a national reputation of being an expert with Numerian advanced technology. First, he takes two almost-identical pistols colored black and yellow with a small dish-shaped tip. He humbly shows them to Cythrul and says that he obtained them while adventuring in the junkyards of Scrapwall. Cythrul immediately recognizes them, grabbing the two pistols, and explains: " These are mind burners. It's been a a while since I last saw one. When shot at someone, it dulls the senses and weakens a person's willpower. But it is only temporarily and lasts for one hour. And they are really in bad shape. This one here will not work at all, trust me. And this one has only 1 charge left and its power converter is worn out; there is no way it can be recharged. No wonder they are useless, you found them among the junk of Scrapwall. " Feeling a bit disappointed but still curious, Gorim takes out a tiny metal box, roughly smaller than a coin, that has an open slot. Again, Cythrul takes it and recognizes it, proving that she is a living library of knowledge. She proceeds: " Ah, a skillslot. Good. This is rather more complex. You see, the people of the stars that came from the crashed vessels, they crafted technological devices that could be, umm, merged with your body in a way that it could work like a part of your body. This tiny box here is one of such devices. It can be inserted into your skin and skull. Yes, it is a dangerous procedure that only a few talented people can achieve. When inserted, the box can, umm... ", she pauses, trying to simplify such a complex topic as best as possible: " it can make you more knowledgeable at something. Like, for example, suddenly you know more of engineering or astronomy. To put it simpler, it's like a tiny metal book that you insert into the box and your brain. But, the box for now is incomplete. To be able to make you smarter, it needs a special 'chip' inserted into the slot of the box. A 'chip' is another tiny sheet of metal that goes inside. Chips are extremely rare to find. But the box is not very expensive and this would cost two thousand gold pieces. " Finally, Gorim hands out a small crystal about the size of a human thumb that is adorned at one end by a metal cap fitted with prongs and plugs. The crystal's interior contains sparkling veins of glittering light. Cythrul takes it and moves it closer to her face, giving an intense examination of it that takes a minute. The room is completely silent as everybody wait and wonder why is she taking so long with this item. Then Cythrul's dark eyes and mouth open very wide and she lets out a small gasp: " haah, what?! Is this real? I can be mistaken, but this looks like a memory facet. If true, this is extremely valuable. You should not sell this! You should not lose this! ". She cannot help but to take several close looks at it, positioning it against the light of an everburning torch, and making expressions of wonder and incredulity. Cythrul then realizes that nobody else is understanding what the crystal could be and so she adds: " The people from the stars were able to create life, without magic. Only employing complex combinations of raw materials from our multiverse and incredibly complex procedures. They created the androids, who are creatures like you but made of, umm, 'artificial' meat, bones, and blood.. or chemicals that function like those. However, they also created life that did not have bodies like you and me, but were more like ghosts. It's hard to explain, but they were ghosts made not of magic or souls but made of information that takes an electronic appearance. There you go, that's the best way in which I can explain it. Those ghosts were extremely important to the people of the stars and were their most precious creations ". She hands back the crystal and continues: " I still can't believe that this is a memory facet. Must be something else. But anyway, these crystals supposedly have additional information that those ghosts can use ". She stops talking and sighs for a brief moment, feeling frustrated: " I'm sorry that I cannot explain them more. I have only known about those crystals from simple and brief diagrams that I have encountered. Perhaps someone in the Technic League can know more. But of course, don't show it to them. Or perhaps there is more information to be found within the vessels. Surely Silver Mount itself can be the place to learn more ". Cythrul lets out a question: " where did you obtain it? ". Gorim takes back the crystal and remembers where he got it: during his exploration of a small haunted vessel in Scrapwall, where the captain died, his soul transformed into a wraith, leaving behind a message in Androffan about the ship's trying to get to safety and the captain securing the facet to use on an 'AI', whatever that means. Cythrul breaks the moment of silence, really excited about the objects that the Torch Bearers brought, and gets carried away in a conversation about the marvels that the people from the stars created, particularly the androids .

Un poco decepcionado Gorim con las armas y su valor, pero al escuchar la descripción del skillslot se impresiona y luego de escucharla le pregunta: "¿Cuán difícil será conseguir ese chip y a alguien que sepa cómo se instala para que me enseñe? Esto es lo que me gusta a mi entender lo que nadie pueda entender." Al escuchar lo del memory facet gorim no sabe ni que decir, en su mente dice: "A la verdad que me queda mucho por aprender de la tecnología, yo pensaba que me lo sabía todo en Torch y es que no mucha gente conoce estas cosas. Voy a tener que decirle a Cythrul que me enseñe de lo que ella sabe." Se dirige a Cythrul: "Con esto del memory facet no se ni que decir, acepto que me falta mucho por aprender con respecto a la tecnología, es por eso que me gustaría que usted me enseñara una que otra cosa en la medida que pueda. Gracias por ayudarme a identificar estos objetos."

Cythrul feels that Gorim wants to say something again and patiently awaits for him to think. She responds upon being given the first question: " Black market seems to be the only way to get one of those chips. Or if you are lucky to find one in a starship, then great! But I will ask my contacts to see who can help. Meanwhile, I think you have some business to attend back in Torch ". But Gorim is not ready to depart yet and asks one more question, to which Cythrul responds: " Favors are done the more trust is gained. Go ahead and see that our trade deal is realized. Take our envoy Ezekiel to those ruins and allow him to confirm them to us. Then we will send some trusted merchants to see what we can extract and sell from those ruins. All with permission of Torch, of course. The merchants will give first payments as soon as they have items we can sell ". She pauses for some seconds and adds: " We will also send an envoy who is knowledgeable in creatures and inhabitants of the starships. He will only verify if there are trapped denizens in there, and we will want to escort them back to safety here in our city. This might even be good for the safety of Torch; you never know what starship creatures can do. Also, we should coordinate a caravan and some security to take the starship items and denizens back to Hajoth Hakados. We can pay a bit extra money if Torch also provides some security ". She gives an intense stare at Gorim with her pitch black eyes and raises a hand: " After all these urgent matters are sorted out, maybe I can take you as an apprentice. Maybe ". [OOC: This vignette is now closed.]

Vignette 8: Closing the Bounty [OOC: This vignette is mostly for Daemer and his background.] Daemer silently read the note again, for he could not believe it: " You won't find Daemer in Torch for the next days. He just left for Hajoth Hakados, accompanied by four more. Though he will probably return to Torch afterwards. Send my next payment to Torch’s Boarding House. ". He clenched his fist, still with the paper that he got from the dead assassin sent after him.

"How could they find me?" Daemer thought to himself. He was caught off guard, despite his best efforts of seclusion, he still couldn't escape his past. It was quite the conundrum, he didn't know what the worst part was, the fact that his hunt goes on, or the fact that the assassin knew so much about him. "Something's not right..." He said, with a swift motion of his rapier, "Was her attack coordinated with the Red Mantis'? No... They themselves said theyve never seen her, and there's no way she-" an idea popped into his mind, he unclenched the note from his hand and examined the note once again. "Torch's Boarding House!"  He recalled, now making haste towards that place

Daemer made haste as the sun setted and the dim light of dusk washed down from the wooden walls of the nine buildings that together comprised Torch's Boarding House. The buildings, close to each other around a rectangle, blocked the fading dusklight from shining upon a small park in the center of the rectangle that had verdant, lush trees arranged in two rows. The heat of this summer day started to cool and the birds and squirrels were bidding adieu to the sun and huddling together for the night. Silence befell this part of Torch, for at this hour, most people were busy preparing dinner or dining. Daemer saw that one of the buildings held a sign that read "Open All Day and Night" and its door was open. " The office ", he thought. Then he peeked around the narrow alleyways that cut among the buildings and lead to the park. No one in sight, except for a middle-aged lady that swept the floor and was about to rest the broom against a wall and perhaps walk away. [OOC: Edit: This vignette was canceled].

Vignette 9: Casandra, the Digital Prophet [OOC: This vignette happens right after this adventure: <a href="https://ghosts-of-fallen-stars.obsidianportal.com/adventure-log/finding-casandra" rel="nofollow">https://ghosts-of-fallen-stars.obsidianportal.com/adventure-log/finding-casandra</a> The vignette introduces the rumored character of Casandra, sister of Valaris (and supposedly of Hellion), who knows more of Unity and Silver Mount.] With a multitude of cuts and wounds on their arms and faces, the Torch Bearers sheathed their weapons and stood victorious among the crustaceans corpses of the alien neh-thaalgus. The leader of these invaders was dead too; a female kyton sacristan called Paajgat. Her self-mutilated body was clothed with encrusted sharp chains that ended in barbs. Her twisted and fleeced mouth had a wide smile of sadistic joy for pain and agony that never went away. Dead Paajgat still struck the Torch Bearers with the same fear and repulsiveness as when they were battling her seconds ago. The Torch Bearers scanned the torture laboratory looking for more signs of danger, but it was hard to single out threats when the entire Dominion base looked like a pulsating, slick, reeking maw ready to eat and digest them. Yet everything looked calm and part of what they grew accustomed to see in the Dominion base, except for something on the laboratory's northeastern operating table. They saw a mass of purplish tentacles entangling a small and peculiar technological device: a sheet of a semi-translucent blue crystalline material, ten inches wide and twenty inches long in a frame of coppery metal with black accents. Approaching with caution, the Torch Bearers saw within the blue sheet a flickering, static-ridden image of a beautiful woman, but her face was contorted with suffering and her mouth gaping in a silent scream. They removed the tentacles with care and disconnected the device from them, but the female image disappeared and the device shut down. Gorim hurried and took out the tiny pink crystal that Miliani gave him, thinking that this device was the rumored “Casandra Device” that the Torch Bearers came looking for in the Dominion base. The device that would tell all the secrets of the Divinity starship and the so-called deity Unity. He remembered Miliani's instructions and inserted the crystal into a hole at the bottom of the device. At this moment many letters in Androffan appeared on the device's blue sheet. Gorim paused for a few seconds, looking at his companions who were silent with anticipation and nervousness, and nodded to give the cue. Gorim touched several symbols on the blue sheet while pronouncing the word “ Ghost ”. Clarence uttered the next word: “ Insurgent ”. Drullkar added: “ Prodigal Son ”. And Remiliano said: “ Fallen Star ”. Gorim typed these command words that Miliani taught them and the device powered on again. The female figured re-appeared showing only her face, neck, and shoulders. She was without the pained expression of before. A young woman with long and curly burgundy hair, big green eyes, and lips painted turquoise, dressed with what looked like brown leather armor. Her blank stare stayed frozen for several seconds and then gave way to fear: “ Miliani?! Miliani?! Are you here? Where are you?! ”. But seeing only the unknown faces of the Torch Bearers staring at her, she asked: “ Who are you?! Why do you have a robot?! Do you serve Unity?! ” [OOC: This is what Casandra looks like:] [OOC: Edit: The rest of this vignette was played in the regular sessions].

Vignette 10: About the Eldest [OOC: This is a small vignette that concerns Remiliano only. The info here is not accessible to any other character]. Remiliano prays and prays in secret to the Eldest Ng, while his companions are busy with their own chores. He waits and waits for a portent, a dream — like it usually happens — but nothing comes. Maybe, after all, he receives no response because Ng is the Eldest of Secrets, which stop being secrets if told. So he turns to Shyka, Eldest of Time and Entropy, and prays to her. He evens does the rituals traditional to Shyka, like building something small and fragile — a small gnome statuette of sand and clay, in his case — while contemplating the fleeting nature of existence and the inevitability of entropy. Thinking of Shyka. Still no reply. It's about time that the Torch Bearers venture into Silver Mount, perhaps for their last mission. Remiliano is frustrated that he could not know the truth of this dilemma that he sees approaching. And time runs short. Yet there is not much to be done except rest for now. But as he is sleeping, Remiliano finds himself in a room with metal spheres running in spiral along canals in the cylindrical walls, with the floor spinning clockwise. Is it a dream? He gathers his thoughts, tests his conscience with complex mental exercises, then manifests his supernatural powers briefly. He is not dreaming. He then sees a woman walking counterclockwise around the floor. She has the same garments of the Shyka he saw in the Starcatcher Mountains' palace not so long ago, but this woman is a bit older, with golden skin and white hair instead. She also carries a long sword with a golden hilt. Remiliano seems to remember that sword but he's not sure. " I'm Shyka ", she says to dispel any doubts. Remiliano is somewhere else! Teleported? What if his companions find out he disappeared? Shyka then commences to talk while she walks: " I'm well aware of you seeking answers from Ng. We are friends ". " You and your friends have dealt with me before. You know I ask for something in return, like how I asked Clarence for this sword at the end of his lineage " She lifts the sword and shows it sideways, and Remiliano finally recognizes it as Calador. " What can you offer me? I have to say that I want your servitude. An agent like you, travelling between two worlds. Going into errands as I see fit. In exchange I can help you with your dilemma, and can offer you more magical powers in the future. If you reside for a long time in the First World and become useful to me, you can even gain a peculiar gift that many of our denizens have: if you die in the Material Plane your soul energy can be drawn back to the First World and reincarnate there. But I warn: don't grow complacent or foolish as you serve me, or you will lose these boons ". " Do you accept me as your new guide, as your new divinity? Will you accept instructions from me in the future? "

Remiliano lo piensa unos segundos " Shyka eldest of time and entropy, gracias por contestar y darme la oportunidad de estar ante su presencia una vez más. Su oferta suena muy interesante pero hay algo que no me llama la atención. No quiero estar atadado a algo que pueda tener conflicto con mis deseos. Estoy dispuesto a aceptar ser su agent y usted mi guía. Todas mis habilidades estaran a su orden siempre y cuando sus deseos no conflijan con quien soy yo.&nbsp; Esta usted de acuerdo a esto?

Shyka responds: " Yet you were saying in your prayers that you were being tempted by Zon-Kuthon's powers and embrace. Does that conflict with you? Is that what you are then? Someone to follow and accept the god of misery and pain? I'm not here to judge that. I don't let morality bind me. I just want to know who are you. ". " And bear in mind that the information and help that you want, is of the highest order. Hence I want something in return. I can get my hands on many things, but useful worshippers and agents, those are hard to come by. I cannot simply will them into existence ".

Remiliano le responde " Tu eres la diosa del tiempo y NG de los secretos de que me vale ocultar el sentimiento mortal que me ha llenado?( en este caso lo es la tentación) Más sin embargo he buscado en otros dioses una guía, un camino, y con eso te dejo ver quien soy. Lo que necesitas es seguidores y agentes, no tan solo pudiera ser tu agente más fuerte, puedo conseguirte seguidores en ambos mundos. Lo único que pidoes que tal y como tu no estas (bind) a la moral, yo no quiero estar binded a ti.

" Remiliano, you cannot be my puppet. You won't be my mindless servant. It doesn't work that way. Or else we the powerful, we the Eldest, would just mind-control everyone on a whim. There would be no worshippers to rob from other faiths, no switched allegiances, not a pantheon with multiple deities to commune ". " But I want you to work for me. Especially in the face of the dilemma that is near. As you were asking to whom you should give the energy, I now tell you to give it to me. That is the kind of collaboration I want from you. But I don't want you to gain nothing from this. So that is why I offer power and knowledge. And if you become a denizen of the First World, you can also be reincarnated there, should you die. As I said earlier ".

Pq tu sobre los demas? Contesta Remiliano&nbsp;

" Why me? " " My best worshippers know that I quietly shepherd existence along the best possible timeline, away from those branches that would be disastrous, and that I have already prevented the destruction of reality too many times to count. You could say that now we are heading to another disastrous timeline, and you can help prevent it ". " Besides, you are tempted by the Midnight Lord, the bringer of pain and misery. But why me over him? My blessings will not mean your destruction, as in the case with Zon-Kuthon. You can turn down my offer and go with him, but oh Remiliano, I pity you if you do ". " Stay here in the First World, from where your ancient ancestors came. Stay with Queen Nevenda. I know all of this you wish. And welcome me as your guiding Eldest in the First World ".

But what about Pharasma? Aroden? And Clarence?

" Are you trying to extract that information without committing to collaboration? Like I said, this is information of the highest order. I cannot simply give it to anyone without commitment ". " Trust me. Collaboration will be good. I sense that your faith in me is weak "

Remiliano mira hacia el suelo, da un suspiro y responde. " Desde un comienzo una persona (Silveron) comenzó a meter en mi mente los antiguos dioses. Esa misma persona me traicionó... Yo nunca he había buscado de ustedes, el poder lo he alcanzado por mi esfuerzo. Pelee contra un demi-god (Hellion), me he enfrentado a los Kythons de Zun Kuthon, he ayudado a seguidores de Iomedae, me voy a enfrentar a otro demi- god (Unity). Sin embargo he visto como los dioses necesitan más de mi que yo de ustedes... Zon Kuthon me pidio la esencia, Pharasma se la pidio a los Torch Bearers, Aroden necesita de Clarence y ahora tu... Creo que mi desición va a ser mantenerme como siempre lo he hecho... fuera de esto de los dioses. Te recomiendo te le aparezcas a Clarence, maybe a él si logras convencerlo."&nbsp; Remiliano le da la espalda preparado para partir.

" You are being foolish. Like I said, the timeline is starting to head to a disaster, which you will probably not survive. You can help prevent it ". " Besides, you might not need much now, but you want more. You came to us asking for the truth and power. You wish to live in the First World. I'm just guiding you towards attaining all of that. I can give you that knowledge and power: I already told you a few things. You can come and live in the First World and already be hosted by me. And I'm giving you a new concern by telling you that I want that energy to prevent a disastrous timeline ". " But I cannot force your hand or your mind. I cannot control you the moment that you are in front of such divine fragment and thinking whether to grab it and transport it to me. That's why I need your commitment to that. "

"Cuando llegué el momento que tengamos la esencia de frente, se que vamos a saber cual es la desición correcta. Tienes razón en que deseo poder, conocimiento y volver donde Queen Nevenda pero usted no es la ùnica forma de obtenerlo. Le doy mi palabra en algo, si de alguna manera yo me doy cuenta que usted es la persona indicada para obtener la esencia, se la llevaré. Si otro dios hace una mejor oferta o me doy cuenta que alguien más conviene tenerla eso voy a hacer."&nbsp;

Shyka laughs from Remiliano's words and continues: " So you say I am not the only one who can give you what you desire? You might be partially true in regards to the knowledge and power. But about coming to the First World, my dear gnome, I can ban you from doing that if I wish. You make an Eldest angry and you simply won't be able to live in the First World. " " But finally, you give your word that you will give the essence to the best entity. That is what I have been asking. Your assessment of who is the best entity needs more information, though. I will give it to you now. But don't use this knowledge for destruction, or I will take revenge. Just remember that as I brought you here instantly, I can dispose of you through many similar ways ". " Let me tell you what is going on. " " About Zon-Kuthon, long ago he was possessed and twisted by something -- I admit I don't even know -- that wants the universe destroyed. I suspect this thing is linked to ancient gods, who are utterly alien and won't care about this universe at all. Cthulhu, Nyarlatothep, Yog-Sothoth, are some of the names of those ancient gods. So, maybe Zon-Kuthon is not alone in his desire to cause more destruction. " " Zon-Kuthon, and whoever might be with him, might be looking to free the apocalypse beast, Rovagug. But the divine energies of Aroden, fragmented all over the world, and the shattering of the prophecy portfolio (which Pharasma engineered), strengthen the seals that keep Rovagug imprisoned ". " You can go to Zon-Kuthon and ask him for power, indeed. Lots of it. But remember he is the god of misery and pain. He will give you lots of power but along with eternal misery and pain. Only Zon-Kuthon finds joy in that ironic and tragic state of affairs, when he bestows it to others. You might eventually become so powerful to be a lord among his world of ashes, but never above him and never without his chains of torment and misery. Think carefully if that is what you want ". " Regarding Pharasma, she is correct. Keeping the essence out of reach of other hands can prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Which might be the hands, or the worshippers' hands, of Zon-Kuthon or the ancient gods. There is no 100% knowledge that this might be the way, but its a good bet. " " As for Iomedae and his worphipper Clarence, Iomedae seems to want collect these essences to resurrect Aroden. Now, I said 'seem', because there are no direct confirmations. There are people among his worshippers who want that. But it is not known if those are orders of Iomedae. And no, Ng won't tell. He is the god of secrets after all. " " No matter who is ordering this, Aroden could be resurrected. And if Aroden resurrects, his prophecy of a golden age can come true. And if that prophecy can come true, then the prophecy of end of times by Rovagug can come true. That is why Pharasma planned the shattering of her prophecy portfolio, so that they don't occur. Although we anyway don't know if Aroden and his golden age could stop Rovagug from being freed. " " The Lady of Graves is not too clear here. She is guarding secrets too. So there are gaps in the information. And we are also talking about possibilities , not concrete futures. I cannot see this timeline well and have not traversed it completely -- there are some events obscured by time fog -- , but I have seen destruction in the future ". " And if you are wondering why not give the essence to Pharasma instead of me, let me tell you this. It's very simple. With me, the essence will be guarded, tucked away in corners of the First World where no worshippers of the Material Plane can reach it. I give you my word. But, with me you will get rewards for that. Pharasma won't care and will probably just tell you 'thank you'. She has never given you any word. Have you ever spoken to her? No. I can strike a better deal for you. " " Finally, let me warn you of something. You came looking for information. Now you have very vital information of the highest order. You use it to destroy, I will be one to hunt you down ".

Remiliano sonrie " Gracias por confiar la información Shyka, lo hicistes sin ninguna garantìa de recibir algo de vuelta y eso es muy contrario a quien usted es, lo cual demuestra que en el fondo tiene co fianza en mi. Ahora con su explicación estoy más claro pero despertaron dudas en mi. Los otros dioses no tienen acceso al First World? Guardar el fragmento aquí no traeria más peligros al First World y por ende para mi amada Queen Nevenda?

" Of course I trust you. Why do you think I snatched you here in the middle of the night? And I gave you the information because I believe it's for our mutual interests. Plus I have made my deal appealing and I think you already have bound yourself too much to my objective ". " Now, regarding the gods of your realm vising the First World, they could in theory. But they will be very powerless here. They abandoned the First World aeons ago, in the early times of our Universe, and their power has mostly vanished there ".

Me da temor poner en riesgo a Queen Nevenda teniendo ese fragmento solamente aquí.&nbsp; Si entre tu y yo contactaramos a Pharasma, i'm willing to become the champion of both Shyka and Pharasma and the protector of the Arodens essence. With the guidance and help of both of you I think we can keep both worlds safe. And i can still help you to fi d worshipers and agents.

" I appreciate your enthusiasm Remiliano. But don't worry about worshippers and agents for now. " " And I will contact Pharasma directly. I have the means to get to her without having to die ". Shyka lets out a light chuckle, thinking of the powerlessness of mortals. " Go. Get that essence for me. We will all be safe here. Don't worry. I will be waiting for your return with a magical gift ".