[HQ Ignorance] Re : Scene 51: "Après moi, le déluge"

[Lev Lafayette]

Thanks Loran... I hoped you'd enjoy this post. It
seems that it has succeeded beyond my expectations.
:-)

No need for you to spend the Hero Point with Jareena's
timely intervention. However, if you do you can
convert a tie to a marginal victory.

You might want to keep it tho'...


--- Loran <aillet_l at yahoo.fr> wrote:

> Grandiose !!!! Lev, it's like a novel !
> 
> Of course Azhur spent 1 HP for entering the HQ (it
> was impossible without it).
> 
> If I read well, Azhur has still 1 HP.
> What hapens if it is spent here:
> 
> The crowds howls of protest turned to cheers with
> Azhur's easy victory, although many still seemed
> troubled [11, success, bumped to critical, versus 9,
> success, bumped to critical, minor defeat overall].
> Clearly they would fight under the leadership of the
> heretic and they would willingly do so alongside the
> Telmori and Aldryami. But they could not believe
> that their beloved Theoblanc would be of such a
> nature, or was under some sort of spell of control.
> In battle, though Aalmon, this could prove to be a
> problem.
> 
> Loran
> 
> ----- Message d'origine ----
> De : Lev Lafayette <lev_lafayette at yahoo.com.au>
> À : HeroQuest Glorantha <ignorance at mimesisrpg.com>
> Envoyé le : Mardi, 29 Janvier 2008, 13h20mn 12s
> Objet : Scene 51: "Après moi, le déluge"
> 
> Scene 51: "Après moi, le déluge" 
> 
> Having no means by which Icthya, Kalen and Baros to
> receive messages from the rump Fellowship, a
> mind-link
> is received by the latter that Aalmon and Knarl are
> on
> their way to the thrice-walled city as the Far-Rider
> enters the forest. Icthya realises that time is of
> the
> essence, excuses his pun, and calls for runners to
> aid
> their journey. The sentient shrubberies gather in
> their numbers and lift the dam-builders into their
> branches and take off in the forest at great speed,
> much to the most vocal displeasure of Kalen. "Faith
> and begorrah!", he exclaimed "To be carried at this
> pace by foliage is unnatural... If only there was a
> path paved in stone I could travel without fear in a
> straight line using something manufactured... with
> wheels!". In contrast Icthya could barely contain
> his
> laughter.
> 
> One suspected however, that much of Kalen's protests
> were actually show. The journey was remarkably
> comfortably and speedy as the arms of the runners
> bent
> with great flexibility with every bump along the
> way,
> even more so than a spring made of the finest Mostal
> craft. Within hours they arrived at the City almost
> simultaneously with Knarl and Aalmon, where they
> were
> ushered by the Aldryami to the entrance hole of
> ingress beyond the walls.
> 
> Once again Kalen was greeted to Rotterex, the
> talking
> Bazak, and his colony, who quickly explained the
> course of events and how Anzhur had appeared "like
> an
> Angel of Malkion" before them and that he requires
> Dwarven speaking tubes to amplify his voice and as
> quickly as possible. Kalen, with skill and tools,
> set
> to work working as quickly as possible with
> assistance
> from the bazak who brought pieces of metal [skill
> -5,
> success, vs failure, minor victory overall].
> 
> In the mean, Aalmon Far Rider took his prisoner far
> into the tower, where Anzhur had practised the rites
> and arguments that would prepare him for his debate.
> Aalmon threw the militia soldier roughly upon the
> rooftop stones and commanding that he speak;
> initially
> there was some resistance, but Aalmon called upon
> Starfire Spirit to Reveal Secrets [success (10) vs
> success (5), marginal failure]. Still the militia
> soldier stuttered, resisting the calls to reveal his
> new cultic membership and their secrets.
> 
> Kalen Ironhand, aided by other members of the
> Fellowship acted with great speed in placing the
> Dwarven Speaking Tubes in place, and tho' Anzhur
> seemed oblivious to their acts, doubtless they would
> be appreciated. His voice spoke clearly across the
> Thrice Walled City [success, roll of 2 vs success
> roll
> of 3, marginal victory], and the inhabitants stopped
> in wonder and strained their ears to listen at the
> speech of the form that bore the symbols of their
> King, yet spoke of unity with heretics and war
> against
> their Pope.
> 
> And Anzhur Daymare, Bane of Sinners, spoke that the
> Southern Army of Seshnela had fallen to Vampires, a
> story which caused great wailing and gnashing of
> teeth
> among the thrice-walled city. Although it pained
> Anzhur, known Slayer of Werewolves, to say so, he
> also
> suggested alliance with the Telmori which generated
> murmurs of approval. But when he spoke of alliance
> with the Aldryami, the assembled throng called back
> 'Did they not surround our lands with forest? Are we
> not held as prisoners in these walls as the walking
> trees lay seige?'. To whit, Anzhur argued that the
> Aldryami had actually offered great protection in
> building a new Forest, for if it did not exist, the
> Vampires would be upon them already.
> 
> Then Anzhur spoke of great betrayal, and how those
> who
> appear most loyal to the people and Kingdom of
> Seshnela had betrayed them; and there was murmurs of
> acceptance, for the people had become long used to
> the
> byzantine politics and expected revelation that
> their
> King himself had betrayed his own land for powers or
> wealth unimaginable: But no! Anzhur claimed that
> Pope
> Theoblanc himself was secretly the leader of the
> Vampiric horde that confronted their lands and this
> the crowd reacted with cat-cries and screams of
> denial.
> 
> On the ground Karala attempted to convince some
> women
> that Anzhur spoke the truth with her charismatic
> presence and ability to convince others.
> Unfortunately
> the women she chose were Noble attendants to the
> Rokari church, of the Wizard caste [fumble 20, vs
> success 7, total defeat]. The women set upon the
> pagan
> and casting spells of binding and silence, dragged
> her
> away [Whoops! Sorry Dougie!].
> 
> But in that moment, Anzhur with flashing eyes
> command
> the Nolos militia soldier to speak [critical 2,
> success 8, minor victory] and when faced directly
> with
> a HeroQuester, the soldier found his tongue. He
> spoke
> of how Theoblanc believed that true Rokari could not
> be touched by Chaos, and that the most pure of faith
> were protected by Malkion himself. Solace itself
> could
> be found on the Mortal Plane in the form of the
> Undead, who were only wicked due to their pagan
> heresies. The militia soldier, now fearless, began
> to
> rant, Chaos and sin within oneself can be expelled
> into the world, itself Sinful, and tho' beasts of
> Chaos will be created from this expulsion, the
> Boristi
> remain pure! With new howls of protest coming from
> the
> congregation, the soldier heaved and vomited up a
> blob
> of primeval chaos itself and rose above the
> battlements to confront Anzhur.
> 
> The battle was short and swift; Aalmon, Kalen and
> the
> others were quite capable of dispatching the Gorp
> and
> Anzhur far outmatched the Boristi initiate, cutting
> him down with his True Silver Sword. Yet a wave of
> unease, swept over Anzhur not like he'd experienced
> for some months. He felt no Chaos within the
> Borosti,
> indeed, he seemed pure. Could it be that he spoke
> the
> truth? That the Borosti were indeed capable of
> literally expelling sin and chaos from their
> essence?
> 
> The crowds howls of protest turned to cheers with
> Anzhur's easy victory, although many still seemed
> troubled [11, success, bumped to critical, versus 9,
> success, bumped to critical, minor defeat overall].
> Clearly they would fight under the leadership of the
> heretic and they would willingly do so alongside the
> Telmori and Aldryami. But they could not believe
> that
> their beloved Theoblanc would be of such a nature,
> or
> was under some sort of spell of control. In battle,
> though Aalmon, this could prove to be a problem.
> 
> Anzhur rose slightly above the tower stones, and
> prepared for the great crossing into the Essence
> Planes, recalling the Sixth Malkioni Ecclesiatical
> Council [success 9 (bump to critical) vs failure 19,
> bumped up two to critical success, bump Anzhur down
> to
> normal success, Anzhur must spend 1 HP to continue -
> which I presume you do!]. Surrounded by a holy aura,
> filled with the Holy Spirit, bearing the King of
> Seshnela's regalia, he spoke of the need for all
> true
> Malkioni to unite and even be led by those they have
> hitherto considered heretics most foolish, for their
> differences were minor compared to that of their
> former guardian, Pope Theoblanc, and his army of
> Vampires. 
> 
> Now in the form of Prince Hrestol, Anzhur argued
> with
> Aarolin that there could be mobility between the
> castes, a debate which he won, which was entirely
> probable given that those present were rulers of the
> land [failure 20, bumped to success vs success 18,
> bumped to critical, marginal failure overall],
> although Aarolin was prepared to cede that some
> mobility had to endorsed by Malkion, otherwise
> HeroQuests themselves would not be possible for
> surely
> they represented stepping beyond one's caste and
> even
> more. [The Rokari priests will eventually decide
> that
> brevet caste can be allocated and technically with
> no
> time limit].
> 
> Then Anzhur/Hrestoli spoke of a vindication of the
> rights of women, and proffered proofs of their
> equality and difference. "Their weakness and
> suspectibility to Chaos is a result of their social
> standing, not that their social standing is a result
> of their weakness and Chaotic nature". Surprisingly,
> this debate was successful [Roll 2, critical vs roll
> 3, marginal success. The Rokari Priests will allow
> women to become members of the Wizard and Knightly
> castes].
> 
> In the third debate Anzhur offered salvation,
> repentance and benevolence against Aarolin's
> arguments
> of eternal damnation through heresy, paganism and
> deviance. This argument was easily one by Anzhur
> [roll
> 9, critical vs roll 15 failure, total victory. The
> Rokari Priests will allow salvation and repentence
> through deeds and will open up the Church for
> debate].
> 
> In the final argument, Anzhur argued that the proof
> of
> Rokar's divine recognition could not be denied; but
> the rules he set were appropriate for that time
> only.
> "A Church that does not have a living Faith must
> inevitably have a dying one - you must move with the
> times!. [Roll 2(!) critical vs roll 6 bumped to
> critical, marginal success; the Rokari Priests will
> hold another Council to debate their old rules and
> their contemporary relevance].
> 
> Sain Hrestol left the Council, and Anzhur returned
> to
> earth and the mundane world faded back into view. No
> longer glowing with the Holy Spirit, Anzhur was,
> once
> again, but a man. He had engaged in one of the most
> powerful attempts to convert one of the most
> conservative faiths in all Glorantha; he had not
> achieved an absolute success, insofar they were not
> flocking to become members of the new Hrestoli
> Church,
> but the door was now open for reconciliation between
> the two faiths long estranged.
> 
> Anzhur looked upon the many hundreds of Knights,
> Wizards and Nobles of Seshnela. He considered the
> Telmori, lying in wait for the new Dawn. He thought
> of
> the dam built by Icthya, Kalen and Baros and the
> mighty torrent of Holy Water that would rush into
> the
> lowlands. He thought of the thousands of Nolos
> soldiers, mercenaries and the multitude of undead
> raised from the Red Ruins and Asgolan Fields. He
> thought of the incredible scale of the battle that
> lay
> ahead, outnumbered five to one at least, but with
> some
> unexpected advantages on their side.
> 
> "Après moi, le déluge"
> 
> And he still carried the regalia of the King of
> Seshnela.
> 
> 
>      
>
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