Editing 07/07/2024 -- Operation First Hook

* Date: 10 Knewidi 715AR. Starring Charon (commander), Andreas (marshal), Fidelis (quartermaster), Thomas (spymaster), Angel (lorekeeper), George, and Seth.
* We pick up with Fidelis making his way to Corania’s workshop beneath the Alchemist’s Burrow, having been summoned there. He’s a mix of very nervous and very excited, and is more than a little determined to make sure whatever he does, he does well. He enters an underground room with a large central device, a masterwork of interweaving gears and metal with very fine arcane inscriptions along the side. Corania is pacing and fiddling with the device, but she sees him and gives him a smile.
* She welcomes him, and he bows, asking why he was summoned here. She says it’s partially to help with the completion of the Hook, but she asked for him early to discuss some matters.
** “You kept the faith while you were here despite much darkness. But yet, you also fell quite far. It is not in my nature to berate those under my tutelage in front of others, but your actions certainly leave much to be desired. And yet, I have equal reason to raise you to a position of high authority and to execute you. It is a very delicate position. Do you understand?”
* She asks what he has to say about his actions – the dealing with devils, the sacrificing of lives, and so much more.
** “I’m… deeply sorry about what happened, and if I could do anything to change how they happened, I would. But we are here now, and I can only promise that they will never happen in any such capacity.”
** “Have you made such promises before?”
** “Not since the last action.”
* She asks if he knows how long it takes for diamonds to form naturally, and says it takes an average of 2.4 billion years on the Primordial Ring. A broken diamond can still have its uses, but to mend the diamond is impossible, so if they have a spell or a ritual that requires a whole diamond, it’s a problem. She says they have many diamonds here, and Fidelis will stop breaking them, but she doesn’t expect this to happen without guidance. Therefore, she will keep him by her side as her assistant.
* He thanks her, and she tells him not to thank her yet, but is cut off before she can continue as the rest of the party enters. She looks to him, and says they must discuss the matter of Anahi another time. The rest of the party sees the device for the first time, after Corania has been working on it for a day and a half. She welcomes the group, and says she’s pleased they answered her call for aid. She begins her rundown of the Hook.
* The Hook, once powered and active, will lock onto the unique aetheric signature of a creature, and create a portal to it, so we can retrieve them from across the cosmic stack. The Hook should obscure the signatures of those traveling through the portals, so enemies shouldn’t find us when it’s at full capacity, but with the lack of emeralds, it is not at full capacity. With each successive jump, there’s a higher chance of Ishin and Zolona finding us. Currently, she expects the Hook to be able to shroud 2 individuals per emerald used, and will need a full emerald for the target(s) of the Hook, as their signature is likely to be under closer watch. The initial test jump should be fine, but finding emeralds in the future should be a top priority if we’re going to continue to pull our missing friends here.
* There’s a second problem – We need to create DLPs (Dimensional Life Preservers). They’ll be jackets allowing the Hook to latch onto the signature of the creature wearing them, and should cut down on the noticing of our magic. She asks us to help create these, and hands the blueprints to Fidelis. She says there need to be polymer, tin, and platinum alloys woven in, and there needs to be a space in the center for an emerald piece to be placed. It also needs to be covered with precise runes, and she tells us not to differ by more than 1mm. The only scrap material we have is what she’s provided, so if we expend the supply, we’ll have to postpone going forward. She gives us the rest of the day to do this.
* We start a skill challenge, with one catch – spirit is not allowed. Fidelis starts weaving the alloys together (3 successes). Charon starts carving the runes (mental – 4 successes), while Andreas holds the pieces in place for her (phys – 3 successes). Angel sews/molds the jackets into shape (phys – 3 successes), and George is told to go look for shiny rocks (2 hero points). Thomas shapes and bends the emerald setpieces (phys – 3 successes), and Seth puts the pieces onto the life preservers (phys – 1 success), leaving the party 1 success short.
* George sees runes flickering where they aren’t supposed to, and starts making noises and pointing (phys – 4 successes). Charon picks George up and spins him around, celebrating. Corania sees the monkey being swung around, and asks if we’re done yet. When told that we are, she snaps her fingers, and the DLPs are magically hung on racks. She says the Hook should be good for its first firing, and tells us to prepare ourselves and return when we’re ready to proceed for the test. She specifies that this ''is'' just a test firing in a random direction, not at a specific person, because we don’t know what will happen when the Hook fires. Andreas wants to go find the Maiden, and tells Corania that the Maiden is dying. Corania says that we can see about doing something about the Maiden after the test, and tells us to look for emeralds where we end up. 
* Andreas goes to the Bitter Swill, while Angel and Charon go to see Margaux for spirit wards. They find her propped up in a cot reading a book, and she asks what’s going on now. Charon says we’re getting ready to test Lady Corania’s creation, in the hopes of finding the Maiden, and she offers the two her spirit wards. Charon asks how she is. She says about as good as can be expected – the hole in her leg is patching up, and she can see the sun again. Charon offers to come play cards with her after.
* Margaux asks if after the Maiden, we’ll be finding Enola anytime soon, and says that if we could find her, she’d appreciate it a great deal. Charon asks if she’s worried in a friendly sort of way, or..? And Margaux says of course, strictly friends – she was always nice. Charon makes a spirit check to read into this, and on 2 successes, gets that she seems very fond of Enola. Charon pulls out a book of mythology, and gives it to Margaux to keep her occupied. Margaux accepts it, and begins to read through it very excitedly. The pair then leave.
* Roles for the mission are assigned, and the spymaster gains 8 intel. The quartermaster spends 2 build points to set up a way to have a reliable source of clean water, and starts to build a system that’s a mix of raincatch and filtration. The project costs 3 points to be fully completed, and the quartermaster contributes 1 to it. Charon is equipped with the binoculars. The marshal doesn’t need to make an engagement roll, but gets 2 hero points for taking the position.
* We spend 4 intel. We’re told the danger level is 2-3, and that we can find scrap & supply. We’re told we’re up in the cosmic stack, above layer 15 (and that each time we ask this, we can narrow it down further). The Maiden is in the Meadows, a dimension on layer 8.
* Seth pulls Andreas and Thomas aside, and tells them they’re his most trusted friends, and he wants them to join his pack and have the Mantle of the Hunt (a group boon). They both accept, and there’s a swelling of primordial energy as Seth closes his eyes. Both Thomas and Andreas’s features sharpen a bit, their senses increase, and their muscles become just a bit more toned. 
* George wants the binoculars, so Charon gives them to him, and they hoot at each other, while George signs wildly. Corania looks to Angel.
** “And here I thought you would be the biggest problem. My apologies.”
* Corania tells us all to put on the DLPs and get ready for the jump. Seth transforms, and Corania begins to fire up the Hook. She smiles at Fidelis before throwing a switch, and the mechanisms and gears begin to activate. Blinding light fills the area, and a portal begins to appear. She tells us to tap the return glyph when we’re ready to return, not to die, and to take copious notes. Fidelis realizes that she never explained what the return glyph was, and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of glyphs on the jackets. We all feel ourselves get sucked into the portal, and feel ourselves rushing around the cosmic stack as a bead of energy in a vast cosmos, before we eventually find ourselves falling and landing.
* We look around to see massive ruins rising out of the sand, with crumbling structures on all sides. A hot wind blows through. We’re not sure where we are, but we’re all together and in one piece. The space seems to have been hit with pretty violent energy and winds, and one column seems to have been thrown aside, but there was no massive fireball when we entered. Charon takes a moment to try to determine which the return glyph is, and with 2 successes, narrows it down to 8-10 possible ones, though 3 might set us on fire. She instructs us to stay together, and be aware of what’s above us, as the structures don’t look very stable. We should be careful and quiet, and once we’ve found some stuff, we’ll find the return button and head home.
* Fidelis picks up a spice-like smell, like cooking spices. It seems to be coming from the buildings and materials. It’s nice, if a bit overpowering. Angel makes a mental check to recognize the architectural style, but with 3 successes, gets nothing. 
* Seth makes the first rummage check, and gets a 6. He picks up +6 scrap, but as he’s beginning to shift through things, hears a crunching and grinding along the walls, and sees the shadow of something moving through the corridors. It’s fairly large, larger than him. With Stealthy Guide, Charon helps usher the group away, and it counts as some noise escaping, but the creature hasn’t found us (though it is looking). It moves into some of the higher levels with a screech. With 1 success, Charon doesn’t recognize it.
* Angel gets a 3 on the next rummage check. Seth sniffs the air and guides the party to a storage room. Most of the metal here is rusted and unusable, but we find +1 emerald, +1 diamond, +3 silver ingots. Andreas gets a 2 on his rummage check, and comes to a door that seems locked and sealed, though it has scratches on it. The lock is a bit rusted but still usable, so he tries to use a dagger to get it open (physical – 4 successes). Another rummage check is required to see if he can do it silently, with the threshold being 1-4. He gets a 5.
* The sound reverberates out, and we go downstairs into a larger room that hasn’t been picked over. We get +2 supply and +1 emerald. Seth hears the screeching again, before it goes silent. Andreas looks up to see a hideous humanoid creature. It drops down, with its mouth wide open. The Razor Troll (RT1) has found us. Combat begins.
* Initiative: Thomas → Razor Troll(s) → Charon → Seth → Angel → George → Fidelis → Andreas
* We find out quickly that they have Res I to normal dmg. Another Razor Troll appears, and this one (RT2) swallows Fidelis whole after he fails a phys save. We also find out some of their attacks have Sheer I, and exploding dmg. Seth is the first to take a health block from one (RT1).
* On Fidelis’s turn, he takes 50 acid dmg while in its stomach (cost: 1 armor block). He tries to give it literal heartburn, by cloaking himself in fire, but that heals it. Thomas takes 2 health blocks from RT2, attacking the claw marks Seth left behind. Its skin is incredibly hot, 180-190 degrees under the surface.
* Angel and Andreas are also swallowed (by RT2 and RT1 respectively). George loses a health block and is blinded. RT1 heals in front of Charon.
** “I hate you. I hate you more than I’ve hated another creature. You are fucking disgusting.” - Charon
* On Angel’s turn, they take 50 acid dmg (cost: 1ab). They kick and thrash around to make the Troll throw them up, and it fails the save against their power score, throwing them up. It costs an action.
* Fidelis takes 50 acid dmg (cost: 1 health block) and gets Detriment I for his minor injury. He tries to cut his way out of the stomach with the battleax, but finds out the inside of the stomach has Res IV to nonmagic dmg. Nothing happens. Andreas also tries to force his Troll to throw him up, but it succeeds on its save.
* Thomas injures RT1 on his first attack, then manages to cut the stomach open with his knife (2hb). Andreas comes tumbling out. Angel is swallowed again by RT2. Charon takes 2hb from RT2. Fidelis takes a major injury on his turn, and Thomas runs over to rip out RT2’s stomach (4hb). Fidelis comes tumbling out, and Thomas runs back over to RT1.
* RT1 attacks Thomas, nearly killing him, but Charon snaps its fingers and uses Strength From Beyond to save him. RT2 seems ready to flee, but Charon runs up to it, ripping its stomach open to get Angel out. She uses her bg action to press Angel’s return button, and they begin to flash and flicker, but it takes a minute to return. On Fidelis’ turn, he presses his own return button, and uses his action to stand.
* Andreas places a forcefield between RT2 and Charon and Angel, then moves further down the battlefield to block RT1, in case it decides not to run. Thomas moves to stand with Charon and Angel, staring down the Troll to try to intimidate it into leaving. RT2 uses an unsuccessful acid spray against the forcefield before fleeing. RT1 also leaves.
* Everyone else presses their buttons, and we hear more Trolls crying out in the distance, but there’s a flash of color and light, and we’re all sucked back through the cosmic stack. We end up standing in front of Corania, who looks us all up and down and asks us what the fuck happened. We tell her what we ran into, and she tells us they’re Razor Trolls, a common infestation in warmer environments. We tell her we took notes like she asked, and that the area wasn’t overly devastated by our arrival.
* She tells us the Hook can be used at will, but the powering-up sequence takes about a day, day and a half. We could attempt to activate it hot and fresh right now, but without the emeralds, it’d be a risk. We tell her we found 2, and she tells us that’d be enough for 2 individuals to go, and have 1 for the Maiden if we find her. Charon and Andreas volunteer.
* Corania tells us the Meadows is a very peaceful and safe place. Mostly wildlife, with the occasional bear or rogue element, but nothing exceptionally dangerous. She tells us this might be dicey, though – locking into the location, even a small miscalculation could send the Hook off by anywhere from a few miles to a few dimensions. If we go now, the next closest date we could reasonably attempt a rescue is late on the 13th or 14th of Knewidi.
* Charon says she doesn’t care what happens to her, and Corania tells her that’s not a very healthy mindset for a rescuer. Charon says it doesn’t care, and it’ll go if Andreas is ready. She also says to take Angel and Fidelis (neither of whom can walk) to the infirmary, and Corania says that before that happens, they might be able to help with the locking on. It needs energy, as well as something cherished by the individual, and a person with a strong memory of them so that we can further lock in on them. Energy might be able to be provided by those not going on the trip.
* Charon volunteers for the memory, and Andreas mentions the Maiden’s shrine. He sends Seth to go get it. Seth gets 6 successes, and scales up the side of the command building to break in and grab the shrine, returning in only a few minutes. Corania says that whoever has excess energy they would like to pour into this attempt, they can do so – players are free to contribute stamina.
* Fidelis gives 26, Angel gives 35, Seth and Thomas give 60 apiece, Charon gives 10, and Andreas gives 34, putting the total at 225. Corania wishes us luck, and they burn the 2 emeralds. She says she has a lock, and tells Seth to hold the lever. She throws a switch as the Hook activates, and both Charon and Andreas are pulled inside. They find themselves in a beautiful world of flowers as the energy dies away. The air smells floral, and there’s a soft breeze.
* Andreas helps Charon up, before looking for the Maiden (Phys B1 – 5 successes). 100 yards out, they see a small black figure laying on their side. Both of them dash over, with Charon invoking magical transformation for the extra movement. They see it’s the Maiden, but something is wrong. She’s breathing, and there are tears running down her face, but there’s nothing else on the face, no sign or recognition that she’s seen them. Charon puts all her energy into an illusion of the soft chirping of frogs, and places a hand on her shoulder, asking if she’s still with us. There’s no response. 
* Andreas sits next to the Maiden, rubbing her shoulder in a comforting gesture, before gently picking her up. She’s limp in his arms – the body is alive, but the heart is dead. He begs for her to come back, and says they came for her. Charon says they’ll fix this, and tells her she’s saved all of them, now it’s their turn to save her. 
* They look around for anything useful before they leave, but don’t find anything. Andreas turns to Charon.
** “To be honest with you, Charon, how I knew that the Maiden was in danger… when I was teleported away by the devil, I saw a shadowy figure, and a woman. A woman who I believe is the uncorrupted form of Ishin. She begged me to save the Maiden, told me she was dying, and told me that she had placed a great burden on me. I… I swore I would save her, and I will save Ishin.”
* Andreas then addresses the Maiden.
** “She wanted me to give you a message, Maiden. I do not know if it’s the right or wrong thing to say right now. I wish I did. I wish I could take all your pain away. But she told me to tell you that she loves you, and I will not rest, Maiden, until we have saved her. This is my promise. This is my promise as Andreas Wolfgang. I am not special, I’m just an ordinary human, and I, too, am broken. We all are. But we can always try and be better, right, Charon? We can always come back. We love you.”
* They look down at her, and maybe there’s some part of her that heard it, but this is a grief that has been building for hundreds, if not thousands of years, a sorrow so deep that it cuts sharper than any blade. In her catatonic state, they don’t know if the Maiden has enough of herself left to really understand or parse their words. They can only hope they provide any type of comfort.
* Andreas turns to Charon, and asks if she’s ready. Charon picks some of the flowers quickly, and they agree to take care of her for as long and as much as it takes, together. With that, the Hook activates, and they’re brought back to Corania and the rest. People come to check on the Maiden, and Corania offers to take the Maiden to the command building herself to rest. Andreas refuses, but thanks her, and says he’ll do it. He invites the rest to come help make the room ready.
* Andreas decides to tell people the Maiden is back, but needs a lot of space to heal. He stands outside her door to deter people. Charon requests for its book to be left in the room, which is obliged. Everyone gets a level-up.