Summer:
3) Sandor, dark secret, questions of birth (magic/magic/choice) challenge:9- some of the peasants in Siderno are commenting that Sandor doesn't look much like his supposed father, who is rumored to be invalid, and are consulting a hedge witch to determine his parentage. First cycle magic- Lady A has to quickly deal with this, Sandor, Danaƫ will be asked, [strike]Pazzino if he may[/strike], and 2 of Lady A's servants, Gervassio stand-in and Colette stand-in. She will beg the participants to keep this matter quiet.
The informants for the Praesidium are always alert for relevant scuttlebutt, and thus they learn of a particularly cranky and contrary town elder in Siderno, Raffio, who has been complaining loudly about his lot, including Lady A in his ire. Apparently he is an ill-tempered lout, but he has been loud and incessant in his complaints, and has even boasted of knowing a supposed seeress two villages over. He has convinced some of the riffraff after a night of drunkenness to go with him and speak to this person because he is "concerned" the Brat of Siderno is a bastard, say, isn't his dad supposed to have lost his, ahem, working parts, over yonder in the Holy Land ? Is he even alive, who here has seen him in the past few years? That Lady A consorts with sorcerers! "Uhh, aren't we going to see a witch?" "Not the same thing, my fellow, not the same thing!" quickly exclaims Raffio.
Danae and company are gathered in a mission most delicate by Lady Agniezka. It was inevitable that this would happen, after the mighty magics had spiraled out of Evandrus's control a few years back. The spawn of that disaster was a blessing to Lady A, a son after all this time! This was a gift horse whose mouth no one would look into! And he did look like Severinus, didn't he; she certainly presented him to look so. But his "father", her husband was a crippled recluse who would not even deign to acknowledge the little boy's presence.
They ask around and quickly locate the likely abode of this hedge magician, Magic Lore success. Lady A wonders how oracular powers work within a Hermetic context; this would be a wonderful subject for research. She quickly deduces this might not be an ordinary Gifted individual. Such powers have not worked accurately since the birth of the lord savior Jesus Christ. Perhaps this witch is adept at a Corpus equivalent, to get a feeling for whatever arcane connection to Sandor they might have procured? Magic Theory success Meanwhile, Sandor doesn't really get what's going on, except that someone's making fun of his father and himself. That makes him so mad! But mother just wants to talk, always talk-talk. The disembodied voice of Wahabb the Mightily Stoic warns them there are spying spirits about, little nothing ghosts. Second Sight success
The rustic farm where the this alleged sorceress appears deserted. But the air is tense, and suddenly GervassioStand-in grabs Lady A quite forcefully, pulling her behind him, a black-feathered shaft decorates his shield. Premonitions success A great hound with a ghostly appearance bears down upon Danaƫ, and snaps at Sandor fiercely. Apparently the alleged hedge magician a member of a gang of bandits, and they are not going to be taken alive! But Wahabb grapples with the beast and tosses it aside violently, and it smashes its back against a tree. It turns into a naked man, a pot bellied unattractive fellow. He starts to change again, but Wahabb turns him to stone, and everyone gasps. Flesh to Stone success. "It will only last until dusk" The other bandits surrender or flee, Wahabb creates hands of stone that grapple and terrify the outlaws. Ruler of Earth success
In a nearby cottage they find the actual bandit lair. Some members of the Siderno community are found tied up and stripped of their possessions. They are beyond grateful for the rescue, and are surprised that it's their Lady come to deliver them! And the future lord! The men are safely returned to Siderno, and several days are spent with Lady A consolidating her power here and identifying troublemakers, the hedge magician is let go to warn others about messing with Siderno or the Praesidium, he hands over his meager store of vis. Intrigue success Lady A then assumes the persona of her husband and visits the town elders, speaking with all, letting himself be seen at all hours, speaking glowingly of his wife and son. Sandor is alternately baffled, thrilled, and terrified! Persona success. But he will rule! They then take stock of the situation to see who are the holdouts, who and why they don't support Lady A or Sandor. She has stamped such talk, for now. Folk Ken success
Sandor just thinks:
Stoopid peasants!
1st cycle Magic
1)Danae Magic Lore 4 + 3 Pre + 3 Aid (Lady A 5 traditions/Collette 3) + _: 1D10 = [10] = 10, a bad beginning, _: 1D10 = [3] = 3, no botch = 10, success
2)Lady A Magic Theory 10 + Com 1 + _: 1D10 = [8] = 8 = 19, success
3)Wahabb Second Sight 4 + Per 2 + Aid 1(Danae 3) + _: 1D10 = [2] = 2 = 9 success
2nd cycle Magic
1)Gervassio Premonitions (violence) 6 + 3 Quik + _: 1D10 = [4] = 4 = 13, success
2)Wahabb's Flesh to Stone, no roll, magnitude 7, only 3 required success
3)Wahabb's Ruler of Earth, no roll, magnitude 3, 3 required success
3rd cycle Social
1)Danae Intrigue 5 + Dex 3 + 3 Aid (Collette 4/Lady A 3) + _: 1D10 = [7] = 7 = 18, success
2)Lady A Persona (Severinus) 5 + Sta 5 + _: 1D10 = [9] = 9 = 19, success
3)Lady A Folk Ken 4 + Int 3 + 4 Aid (Gervassio 2/Danae 2/Sandor 2/Colette 3) + _: 1D10 = [2] = 2 = 13, success
So complete success, crisis averted...for now. Adventure takes 12 days, provides 8 xp, Lady A, Danae, Sandor, Wahabb gain 3 Confidence, 6 rewards:
ā¢Sandor, to Dark Secret notch
ā¢Sandor, +1 reputation as Rightful Heir of Siderno
ā¢Lady A, + 1 reputation as canny ruler
ā¢DanaĆ«, 3 Vim vis
ā¢Lady A correspondence Bargain
ā¢DanaĆ« reputation with Jinn
[strike]Story to come.[/strike]
Note: The notes in the dice roll says per was used. Obviously, its already been used, so we'll use quickness instead. And that makes it fail!