Been busy and distracted 
This is where I need dice. But there are no dice on the train
But anyways, playing a hunch, Robert attempts to spont "Unravelling the Fabric of Mentem", Perdo Vim versus a presumed Hermetic Mentem spell controlling her.
so...
:mrgreen:
Feel free to roll dice for me, or I will get around to Cyotecode that up later 
Since you're physically engaged with her, spontcasting will be difficult, and require a concentration check. Do you want to risk this?
No. I have a better idea. I will roll physical dice at home and post tonight. On my honor. If acceptable.
Roberto wil instead first cast Incantation of Paralyzation. Then contact Cidito to find Wirth for some expert Perso Vim assistance. Then while waiting, put somme clothes on both of us.
[strike]So, starting with a Cncentration roll...
Int +2, Concentration 3 (spells),and the intended spell is Mastered 2 Impeterubable.
Honest die rolls at home...
And I roll a 2.
Total of 10. Do I have any Confidence available from defeating Attumah? Fortune?
Not sure of the ease factor, so to continue...
ReCo20 Incantation of Parayzation.
Sta +1, Rego 10, Corpus 5, Mastered 2, Aura +3, Shouting +1, No Hands -5
Die roll 7, for a total of 24.
Minus level equals 4
Plus ?? (Penetration 2, muliplied by ? (he certainly has an AC worth ? and uses her true names and nick names for sympathy)
Ahh! Sloppy calculations and failure to refrence rules. Serfs Parma![/strike]
Moment of clarity.
Whilst Roberto is restraining Soteria, he gazes deep into her eyes with a look of pure innocent True Love[sup]TM[/sup], pulls her in closer, locks her in his iron embrace and kisses her with the full fire of his passion.
Yeah, that's the ticket :mrgreen:
Well done! *
Soteira struggles a little, until, suddenly, she drops the dagger, which hits the floor, and returns Roberto's embrace with passion, her body relaxing to cling to his.
After a while, you both catch a breath
Oh, Roberto! I am so, so sorry!
She sobs
I never wanted to hurt you, I knew something was wrong, yet I had to kill you, and couldn't resist the command...
I didn't know magi could do this... This is horrible. I feel, I feel... soiled. I should have been stronger, I should have been able to resist him.
[color=red]We live in a world surrounded by supernatural forces. Magi can have strange powers. As can magical monsters and faerie beings.
And then there are demons. Infernal forces are especially suited for manipulating thoughts and emotions. If, as I suspect, my old enemy Leolinus is behind this, a combination of the Infernal and Magical is to blame.
Don't underestimate your own power concerning hearts and minds. Your people depend on it, and I have full faith in you.
Soteira relaxes a little, tension leaving her face and body.
Thank you. You are a most noble man, which is yet another reason for me to love you.
This Leolinus... I do not look kindly upon those who would assault my beloved. Yet, today, he brought ruin to my people and kingdom. This was a huge mistake. In doing to, he made ennemies of Herakleion as well.
But not today. Today, I just want to forget him
Wanting to wrap this up, this has dragged for ages, and I'm not really available at the moment 
It seems sensible, and in character, for Soteira to propose Roberto. Yet, this would, to me, bring some changes to him, imbuing it with the power of Faerie. Since this is a more collaborative game, here's my choice for you:
Afterwards, I'll just put on some quick notes about what happened "behind the scènes" and handle xp.
Ooh, if Roberto becomes king, can Lucas, Acutus, and Wirth become Knights of Herakleion or something like that?
Never thought about it, but this totally makes sense.
Truth be told, I had a very specific picture in my mind which goes right along with this 
If Roberto was king he would elevate you all to Duke. You are all caballeros in his eyes, and higaldo in spirit if not blood.
But he wouldn't be king.
Regardless of titles and promises and whatnot, he would always be "Mr. Queen", and that doesn't sit well. To tell the truth, he was half hoping that the end results would have been to rescue the Princess and let her and her followers seek refuge on Ibiza.
I will need to contemplate a reaction. But if you want to set up a scene and play it out, let's go for it.
Well, I had the start, the reasons, and let it flow depending on your actions and what seems sensible.
I thought you were gonna mount a rebellion, not kill attumah rightly Roberto is too heroic!
I concurr that he could be "Mr Queen", but there are other ways to look at it.
If soteira is the queen, ruling the kingdom underseas, Roberto would be the king, ambassador to the surface world, defender of the realm
I also let my actions as Roberto flow from the surrounding context. My primary intent was to provide distraction for as long as it took Lucas and Sotiera to get to safety. I tried to inspire a grass roods rebellion amongst the soldiers. I did not then realize I was up against mind control magic and now see myself fortunate that I stirred them enough to remain inactive! Fought off Barbarians, then Attumah was on me before I coulld escape! So I threw down! I (as Roberto) was ready to sell my life (in character) to buy the time needed. And once engaged there was no safe escape he could think of (though I can now).
But anyway...
(presuming that while in private, Sotiera has made her proposal, phrased as befitting Roberto's response...)
[color=red]Sotiera my love, my princess, your grace, Queen of Heracleion...
You shall ever be the love of my life. I will always be your friemd and lover and champion, for as long as you would have me in any role.
But I cannot be your king or consort. Your people would never accept me. Not only am I a surface dweller, I am Christian and devoutly Catholic. Even if I could gain a modicum of acceptance, it would not last long. I would eventually transgress your culture unknowingly, or be forced into transgression by adhearance to my faith.
Even aside from all that, there is a large gap in social class. My father was but a mercenary Caballero Villano. A commoner. I am even lower, an almogavar and a wanderer, warrior in practice and wizard in study. Perhaps one day, when I gain the title of Archmagus, we will be more equal in class status.
But for now, though it pains me more than a thousand cuts, I cannot marry you. I would only drag you down and my destiny would remain unfufilled.
Yes, I noticed 
I was as heavy-handed as I could, but it was almost too late.
Roberto sees the light, the hope, extinguish itself in Soteira's eyes.
But she was raised princess of a mighty people, and she is a queen now, so she straighten herself, looking frankly at Roberto
I... See.
These hold no importance to me, but I can understand the feeling.
A dry smile
You'd better do everything you can, then. I love you, and forever will, but I have a duty to my people, and I won't be able to put it aside forever. For every queen needs a king, every realm a defender, every people a protector. I don't want to marry anyone other than you, but if I must, I will.
So if you are truly sincere in your intent? I expect you to study our lore and history. To become whatever an Archmagus is. To gain the heart and soul of my people as you've gained mine. And then, to become the greatest king Herakleion as ever known.
(which ain't bad, in a way, since I may have some more potential stories related to herakleion, that I was ready to spring on Lucas or Acutus. Mind you, I could have put them on you anyway, as the king, but it's maybe better that way.
If you want to reply, or do somethign special, please do, else, I think we can wrap this up with xp and "behind the scènes" info).
My heart is breaking! if Roberto exists somewhere out there in another dimension, created by my fabulist imagination, and he ever learns of my existance, he is gonna wanna kick my a$$
Drawing ideas from Heinlein's "The Cat who could Walk through Walls", and from the movie "Last Action Hero".
Let us close this up and draw the tale to a close. This has got to be the longest single story in PbP history! We all deserve like a hundred xp!
:mrgreen:
Yeah
I tried to leave it vague enough, so that it could motivate Roberto to get into further stories, yet avoid a deadline. After all, a reasonnable delay to take a husband might be 50 years, for example.
Okay, so...
[Edit: I had begun to write the end, but it's taking me too long, I won't be able to finish it now. It's coming, though
50 years is minor for an immortal faerie queen 
But for Roberto, I suppose he should start longevity. Funny thing, I/he never thought about being an Archmagus until this just now. I have been trying to keep the character simple and humble. Been playing him 8 years now! Three different campaigns. I would go so far as to say that this has been the most extensively well developed and organic character I have ever played in an RPG.
Good to hear!
I'm very, very glad if this story helped Roberto evolve somewhat
So................. (I hate writing big, clunky wall of text....)
Days pass, bittersweet for Roberto and his beloved, strange and wondrous for Wirth and Lucas ("Look, we're in an undersea kingdom!"), especially once they discover Herakleion's vistas.
They feel quite boring to Acutus ("Yeah, I'm under the ocean, so what?"), until he is asked by Nera to help hunt down the remnants of Attumah's barbarians, a task he proves himself quite adept to, thus quickly earning the respect of the city guards and the warrior woman.
All the while, the preparations for Soteira's coronation are underway, meaning the future queen has less and less moments to spend with her beloved. The magi are mostly left to their own devices, although they are still pestered by tailors and servants who want to dress them in the best clothes, and make sure they’ll know what to do and where to stand, basically explain them "you'll stay here, shut up, and move when asked. That's it".
Then, the day finally comes. Hours before, the magi have been woken, dressed and prepared, having them wait inside the palace with Riad (Who's been fetched from his village, and is as wide-eyed as can be expected), Nera, Tulha and several score of other resistance fighters, who found themselves outside Leolinus enchantment, all amidst a larger contingent of city officals and nobles.
Finally, the order is given, and all walk through the palace doors, taking the northern road to the Church of Poseidon.
All the merfolk from the city outskirts have come, and it is amidst a massive crowd that you enter the church. The city people still look sickly and apathetic, though, something you've learned by now to associate to Leolinus's spell. Luckily, with Attumah dead, they fall back on their previous allegiance to the line of King Triton.
You reach your place, right on the left, and wait once again, the church filling up until it seems ready to explode.
Near Poseidon's statue, at the end of the church, waits Aubert, his grand priest, an old merman, palish skin clothed in a blue robe enlightened with golden lines and amber jewels. On each side, 3 priests, 3 priestesses, clothed in similar but less adorned robes, await.
You hear Soteira’s arrival before you see her, the crowd outside cheering their queen. At last, earing silvery scales, the princess enters the church, as majestic as ever, holding her father's trident, an honor guard behind her. She walks up to Aubert, settling on a stair below him, and kneels, holding the trident firm. Slowly, silence sets on the church.
People of Heracleion, foreign visitors, strikes up Aubert, his voice seemingly reverberating throught the church.
We are gathered today by the grace of Poseidon, God of the Seas, to proclaim our renewed allegiance to his divine line and will.
We have suffered much, losing in quick succession both our beloved king and queen, but also the heir apparent. This could have been enough to break our will, sunder the divine mandate given to our people. This was not to be. Our princess survived, sole heiress to the throne of our kingdom, and, Poseidon wills it, as his direct descendant, she will be our queen, and ensure our realm's survival and enduring prosperity.
Does anyone here contest her claim to the throne, by right of succession or trial by combat?
Silence reigns, as Aubert pauses for a moment.
So shall it be, then.
He gestures for one of the side priestesses, which goes toward him, holding a big conch, upon which rests the golden crown of Heracleion, last seen on king Triton's head. Aubert seizes it, raising it high above Soteira's head.
Princess Soteira, daughter of king Triton, grandaughter of mighty Poseidon, do you pledge to uphold our god's law, our people's tradition, our ancestor's will?
I do
Then, as the upholder of all that is holy and sacred to our realm, I recognize you as our blessed queen
Just as Aubert pronounces these words, you feel, rather than see, mystical waters swirl towards Soteira, not unlike what happened when Attumah tried to strike Roberto down, but wider, gentler, yet more powerful. And then, as he lowers the crown unto Soteira's head, a massive wave of mystical power explodes out of her, washing over the crowd, and expanding outward, through the church's walls.
Soteira raises herself, and turns towards the crowd. For a moment, you almost don't recognize her. She's still the same, obviously, but at the same time she looks bigger, way more forceful and regal, radiant with power, her trident shining in her hand. Rank after rank, the crowd kneels before her, just as, to your side, Nera, Thula and their soldiers do, Riad following her lead.
I'm not finished yet!
Truth be told, it is the whole Church of Posideon deal that causes Roberto the most trepidation concerning marriage to the Queen, though he does not show his discomfort. It was so much simpler when she was but a Princess. He imagined that one day he could make her part of his world on luxurious Ibiza. Truth be told further, the whole Archmagus idea was him clutching at straws for a solution. Maybe a male chauvanist need to be the partner of dominant status?
There is a lot of conflict and confusion in his mind as he matures as a man and magus.