Dagger Silent: Vex

Prince Toad · #1

Current Mission: Training

You have been led blindfolded to the underground headquarters of the Bjensfir Tong. The expansive complex is insulated by the layers of snow above and the fires burning in the numerous hearths scattered about. Rough hands remove your head covering, and you find the dim light to be little better than your previous darkness. Peering to your right, you find one other whose blindfold is being removed. You hear a very faint song which compels you to move into one of the various halls leading from this room. You absently note the other approaching a nearby hall.

You enter the hall to find an old, short woman with braided silvery hair and runes covering her face. She seems to emit a dim light, but you can only see it out of the corners of your eyes-- when you focus, it disappears. She was playing a small flute, but she has now let go. It dangles from an ornate necklace.

Woman: Ah, child, do you happen to know what day it is?
Vex: But of course. The moons have set in the north.

She nods very slightly at the code phrase.

Woman: Very well. You've come to seek the Tong, and this you have found. What is your name, child?
Vex: My name is Vex, and I'm 32 years old, I'm hardly a child.
Woman: Most people are children to me... few have seen as many summers as I. Hm... yes... I see. I am called Ilsya the Vague by some. After long years of service to the Tong, I've chosen now to retreat and practice my Snowsong and train novices, which are known as Snowflakes here. Now, to the point, as it were... will you be so kind as to unlock this?

She digs into a large purse and locates something. She pulls it out and hands you a lock.

Ilsya: Oh... do you know how to pick locks, child?
Vex: Uh... barely.
Ilsya: There was a time when I could unlock any lock I saw, but that has passed with my age. Now I can only pass the knowledge onto you. I will teach you what I can remember-- but it is only a shard of what I have known, and what you may yet know. Remember well.

She puts the flute to her mouth and blows into it. You seem to sense the music, but no sound is heard. You pass into a dreamlike state briefly before waking up, some new knowledge implanted into your head.

Vex: Huh... wha...
Ilsya: Fear not, I've only told you how to pick some locks and disarm some traps, as well as more common signs of a trap. Here, take this.

Going back into her purse, she digs around until she finds a box, which she gives to you. You open it and find various tools of the stealthy trade, some of which you feel as though you've always known how to use.

Vex: Er... thank you.
Ilsya: Yes, think nothing of it. Are you versed in the lore of... toxins, as we say?
Vex: Aye, somewhat.
Ilsya: Well, a brief refresher, if you don't mind.
Vex: Sure.

Once more she plays the silent music, and your knowledge of poisons is augmented further. You are quite sure that venoms are used through injection-- stabbing, needles, etc.-- or ingestion-- drinking or eating. You also know that applied poisons are either used by contact with skin or when a target breathes in. Naturally, you find yourself concluding that venoms are easier to use, but applied poisons can sometimes be more deadly.

Ilsya: Oh my. It does appear I've pricked myself on this poisonous needle. Be a dear and get me some antidote? You'll find my... coworker Stodbril through that hall there, but be careful-- traps everywhere. Request antidote for birdsong flower. Be quick, though, I believe I've only an hour left if you don't hurry.

You enter the hall. What do you want to do?

[ October 25, 2004, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: Prince Toad ]

Blake · #2

I'll check for shops, if there aren't any, I'll train.

Prince Toad · #3

Uh... no. I guess I didn't explain well. Or at all. This is kind of a trial. You're in a trap-filled hall, and there's a door somewhere (probably on the other side of the hall) leading to Stodbril, who has antidote for Ilsya. It's about five feet by twenty feet. You see a door on the far end of the northern wall. Do what?

Blake · #4

oh, alright. Well I'll look and see if there is anything on the walls, floor, and ceiling to see if there seems to be anything suspicious.

Prince Toad · #5

Barely one foot ahead of you, you find a tripwire strung across the hall, wall-to-wall. Do what?

Blake · #6

can I jump or crawl under it? If it seems impossible to cross, do I have any skills in disarming the trap?

Prince Toad · #7

It's low, you think you can jump over it. You can't disarm a tripwire at your Stealth Proficiency... I guess you could try, but you'd almost definitely fail.

Blake · #8

Alright, I'll jump over the trap and see what happens from there.

Prince Toad · #9

You're on the other side. Now what?

Blake · #10

I'll slowly creep over to the door, watching where I step and walk

Prince Toad · #11

You take one step forward, looking to the ground. You immediately notice another fine wire stretched wall to wall, and what's more, another one about a foot farther away from you than the other one. You think you could jump over both, or possibly between them and then over the second, although there's the chance you could trip. Do what?

By the way, I gave you a move called Snowsketch because you have Curse Magic Prof. 2.

Snowsketch: Available to all of Curse Magic Prof. 2. Draws a low-quality representation of the target, but extremely fast: it only takes two turns.

It's kinda good since you didn't have any way of making representation otherwise.

[ November 14, 2004, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: Prince Toad ]

Blake · #12

I'll try jumping through both of them one at a time

Prince Toad · #13

You clear them. Now what?