Corco's Villa (IC)

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

It takes a day or two, but Halcyone starts putting together a structure of who was in on the job and who led it. The original ringleader is easy to determine: the high priest at the time of change, who began meddling with the composition of the relevant priests over 65 years ago. That man was an priest of architecture out on Verdaze earlier in his career.

I'll make a note to ask Holo-Maximus about him if we get a LoC.
Hm. Would Holo-Maximus even know? We might need to visit a third world.

Originally Posted by ericthered

There seems to have been a moment of crisis 46 years ago, when the guilty priests started to really press their advantage.

The current ringleaders seem to mirror the actual priestly hierarchy at this point... with the exception of a single retired priest who is the first thanked in a lot of the more recent memoires... Colutus seems to still be active, even though he is retired, and also seems to be in charge of reviewing the memoires published by the group.

Well I'm leaning towards "he's important despite not being in the hierarchy", but I suppose it could also be "he's really self-important copy editor."

Research to figure out where this guy lives:

[322] 22-02-03 15:37:29 GMT
Research
3d6 <= 15
3 + 3 + 2 = 8 ... success

Originally Posted by ericthered

The priest Halcyone is staying with notices Halcyone reading one of their books at one point. "What are you doing with my book!?"

"Reading it of course! Are you feeling left out? I could read it aloud."

That probably doesn't satisfy the priest [can we give this guy a name?]:
"OK, so the priests who have served have generally, done better than the average priest. The ones of about fifty years ago? They've done much better than that. The current Pontifex Maximus started out as a janitor! That's never happened before."

"There seems to be a lot of people who benefited from the change to Maximus's pattern and it seems doubtful only one or two people managed this. Somebody's in charge and I hope to get inside their heads by reading their memoirs."

I'd like to try using Memetics to speed up a Stockholm Syndrome like effect on the priest here.

[323] 22-02-03 15:40:00 GMT
Memetics!
3d6 <= 15
5 + 2 + 1 = 8 ... success

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

Vassarious will keep looking for full General...

second rank general means a general that commands generals... sorry for the confusion. He is one level above a full general. That's as high in the command chain as you will get without specifying a strategy and making rolls. Is the equivalent of a two-star general high enough?

When Vassarious finds his General, he will address him while in elemental form. They do not wish to change shape outside of the cavern. They do not want to take the risk of giving away their location and giving the corrupted Maximus a flag to start watching.

Thanks for the clarification.

Originally Posted by TGLS

I'll make a note to ask Holo-Maximus about him if we get a LoC.
Hm. Would Holo-Maximus even know? We might need to visit a third world.

No, Holo-Maximus only watches Lithus. It gives him a layer of stealth.

That probably doesn't satisfy the priest [can we give this guy a name?]:

Cyraelian.

Well I'm leaning towards "he's important despite not being in the hierarchy", but I suppose it could also be "he's really self-important copy editor."

Research to figure out where this guy lives:

He's 55 minutes away from the temple complex, in almost the opposite direction of Cyraelian.

"Reading it of course! Are you feeling left out? I could read it aloud."

"OK, so the priests who have served have generally, done better than the average priest. The ones of about fifty years ago? They've done much better than that. The current Pontifex Maximus started out as a janitor! That's never happened before."

"There seems to be a lot of people who benefited from the change to Maximus's pattern and it seems doubtful only one or two people managed this. Somebody's in charge and I hope to get inside their heads by reading their memoirs."

I'd like to try using Memetics to speed up a Stockholm Syndrome like effect on the priest here.

"Of course the Current Pontifex is exceptional! that's the nature of the job!"


After a little bit of thought, he recommends a memoir on the previous head of healing pilgrimage, who he says should fit the pattern. And he's right. The man's retired... but he seems to be one of the conspirators, and Cyraelian helped a little and thought through the basic accusation against the Emperor. Or rather, against the priests.

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by ericthered

second rank general means a general that commands generals... sorry for the confusion. He is one level above a full general. That's as high in the command chain as you will get without specifying a strategy and making rolls. Is the equivalent of a two-star general high enough?

I think a Two Star General should do the trick. Vassarious will invite him to bring whatever aids or guards he feels appropriate if he wishes to corroborate the situation with his superiors.

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

No, Holo-Maximus only watches Lithus. It gives him a layer of stealth.

Well, maybe he'd know if there's anything on Lithus.

Originally Posted by ericthered

"Of course the Current Pontifex is exceptional! that's the nature of the job!"

"Making a full court basket is exceptional. Thirty in a row? That's ridiculous."

Originally Posted by ericthered

After a little bit of thought, he recommends a memoir on the previous head of healing pilgrimage, who he says should fit the pattern. And he's right. The man's retired... but he seems to be one of the conspirators, and Cyraelian helped a little and thought through the basic accusation against the Emperor. Or rather, against the priests.

Well one step down the road.

Originally Posted by ericthered

He's 55 minutes away from the temple complex, in almost the opposite direction of Cyraelian.

How long to my next day off?

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

I think a Two Star General should do the trick. Vassarious will invite him to bring whatever aids or guards he feels appropriate if he wishes to corroborate the situation with his superiors.

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

"Victory is at hand, General. The secret reality of your conflict is upon the cusp of revelation, and you have but to reach out to grasp it. Once this mystery is unraveled, the path to your people's deliverance will be made to be clear to you. You have allies you have not even imagined standing ready to fight. I have traveled here to invite you to come to learn the truth of things, so that our efforts may be combined to bring a swift resolution to this conflict."

General Marcellus slowly zips up his pants and stares at the air elemental in the small space.



"Umm... are you the emperor? or am I hallucinating?"

Originally Posted by TGLS

Well, maybe he'd know if there's anything on Lithus.

Yeah, if the apparent ringleader (Fericus) spent time on Lithus Holo-Maximus would know some about that.

"Making a full court basket is exceptional. Thirty in a row? That's ridiculous."

Well one step down the road.

The sports metaphor is completely lost on Cyraelian, but he agrees that the current high priest's elevation is exceptional even for the course of high-priests.

"I've only met him a few times. I'd be shocked if he was behind all this."

How long to my next day off?

You're waiting for a day off? rolling... 3 days.

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by ericthered

General Marcellus slowly zips up his pants and stares at the air elemental in the small space.



"Umm... are you the emperor? or am I hallucinating?"

"Finish what you have come to do and we can discuss further..."

A few moments later...

"I am not the Emporer, nor are you hallucinating. I am acting as an emissary of the true spirit of the Emporer. Please accompany me, and all will be revealed."

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Yeah, if the apparent ringleader (Fericus) spent time on Lithus Holo-Maximus would know some about that.

Originally Posted by ericthered

The sports metaphor is completely lost on Cyraelian, but he agrees that the current high priest's elevation is exceptional even for the course of high-priests.

"I've only met him a few times. I'd be shocked if he was behind all this."

Originally Posted by ericthered

You're waiting for a day off? rolling... 3 days.

Well unless I'm sure Cyraelian won't call the cops as soon as I untie him and leave.

I suppose the job rolls I made for the temple carry over?

I'll start reading up about the area where Fericus lives. Is it another gated community like this? I'll try to make some contacts who might be able to get me his exact address and maybe entry to his community.

[325] 22-02-07 17:36:14 GMT
Streetwise
3d6 <= 15
4 + 4 + 2 = 10 ... success
[324] 22-02-07 17:35:29 GMT
Research
3d6 <= 15
3 + 3 + 6 = 12 ... success

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

"Finish what you have come to do and we can discuss further..."

A few moments later...

"I am not the Emporer, nor are you hallucinating. I am acting as an emissary of the true spirit of the Emporer. Please accompany me, and all will be revealed."

"Umm... how far are we going? How long will this take?"

Originally Posted by TGLS

Well unless I'm sure Cyraelian won't call the cops as soon as I untie him and leave.

I suppose the job rolls I made for the temple carry over?

Yes.

I'll start reading up about the area where Fericus lives. Is it another gated community like this? I'll try to make some contacts who might be able to get me his exact address and maybe entry to his community.

No, he lives in a miniature estate. They have excellent police coverage, and each home has its own walls and security system.



What sort of "Contacts" are you looking for?

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by ericthered

"Umm... how far are we going? How long will this take?"

"The trip will take but a few hours. We will travel to the Caves of Calythone, where you will hear the words of the Emporer."

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

No, he lives in a miniature estate. They have excellent police coverage, and each home has its own walls and security system.

What sort of "Contacts" are you looking for?

Well if his house is like that... I guess I'd be looking for someone who knows about or is a live-in servant or something like that. Maybe I could bribe them into taking a "vacation"?