Fantasy FATE (IC)

[Sorceress]

Castle Town, Two Months Ago

This is the story of how the heroes met for the first time, and how they saved the life of High King Artus.

The Royal Opera House

For flavor, not necessarily precisely representative:


http://www.europeanoperatours.com/operahouse/TheSemperOpera.jpg

http://www.idesignarch.com/wp-content/uploads/Palais-Garnier-Paris-Opera-House_1.jpeg

Zones:

Balcony Box Seats (each private balcony is its own zone).
Gothic Stairs (linking the main floor to the Balcony Box Seats).
The Main Floor (where all the main seating is).
The Orchestra Pit (where the orchestra is tuning up).
The Stage (where the Opera is to be performed)
Backstage (including where the actors and actresses have their dressing rooms)
The Lobby (including the entrance and the box office)



Scene Aspects:

Theatrical Rigging (the Rigging and Lighting Overhead)
Perfect Acoustics (designed to carry voices and notes beyond perfection)
Everyone who is Anyone (a full crowd, of important and powerful people)



Situational Aspects:

High Expectations (everyone expects an amazing performance tonight)
Conspiracy to Regicide (a plot to kill the king is about to unfold)



King Artus' favorite opera, The Fall of Atraya, was to be featured tonight. The Royal Orchestra was doing the last minute tuning, and the perfectly designed hall resonated with the rich tones of their priceless instruments. Everyone who was anyone in Castle Town, in the Royal Court, or in the local Aristocracy was present, with the highest status people in the lofty array of balcony box seats. The lower aristocracy and the upper class were resigned to the theater seats below.

The Baroness Beauchard was starring as the Last Empress in tonight's performance, and this was to be the farewell performance of the beloved veteran singer. She was currently Backstage, along with the rest of the cast.

The High King and his family, as well as his Royal Bodyguards, were in the royal balcony box, with a perfect view of the stage below.

The show was about to begin!


You start this scene with a number of Fate Points equal to your Refresh rating.

Reminder: You can spend Fate Points (http://fate-srd.com/fate-accelerated/aspects-fate-points#what-do-you-do-with-aspects) to invoke or compel aspects. Please take special note that one way to compel an aspect is to cause an event to occur related to that aspect, in this way, you can add to the unfolding narrative beyond just the direct actions of your character. Also note that other PCs are fair game when it comes to this sort of thing. This is a collaborative storytelling game, and Fate Points are the economy of your control over our shared story.

Please write your characters into the scene. If you can include one of your Aspects (high concept, trouble, or your other aspect) into the reason why your character is present in this scene, you may immediately gain one Fate Point.


Link Collection:

Recruitment Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?367900-Fantasy-FATE-(FATE-Accelerated))
OOC Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?368611-Fantasy-FATE-(OOC)&p=17999866)
IC Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?368659-Fantasy-FATE-(IC)&p=18001380)

[Arjen the Red]

Theren Galendel

Theren had wanted to see this opera for quite some time. He tried to purchase tickets but they were completely out of his price range and no matter how many scalpers he talked to, tickets were impossible to come by. "I'm not letting this opportunity pass me by," he said with a grin. Invisibility, while usually frowned upon for getting entry to prestigious social events, was something he had found he could carefully utilize without reproach, even if it was because no one knew.

Theren stood under and behind a tree just in front of the opera house main doors. He closed his eyes and chanted the words, a tingling feeling of warmth rushing throughout his body. In the blink of an eye he was gone. He took a deep breath and carefully weaved his way through the scores of people getting ready for the start of the performance. "I might as well go all out," he thought to himself making his way for the balcony box seats.

The stage left balcony box was occupied by two elderly couples dressed in the finest silken evening ware. They seemed rather, stuffy, to Theren but he didn't mind. At their age they should sit quietly (perhaps even fall asleep!) and he wouldn't need to worry about them bumping in to him and cancelling his invisibility illusion.

[Grimtina]

Saskia didn't know if to be happy or slightly annoyed. When the princess had asked her to sit in the royal box with her, Saskia had tried to argue that the king wouldn't allow it, but to her surprise, it had been the king's idea. Her trying to argue that she wanted it to be a family eveing with her own family was met with laughter. "You can't probably want to listen to your aunt and mother drone on about how great the costumes are and how wonderful the baroness is," she had been told. "We will have a much better conversation."

Which was, of course, why the king had agreed to it all. No way a High King was going to want to listen to his daughter going on about one or more of the male stars in the performance, guffafing over them as if they would be possible eligible husbands. Well, one might be, come to think of it, but the truth of the matter was, Gandria was always fuzzing over boys and young men - and even some older ones - nowadays, and while Saskia's interest in that regard was substantial as well, she wouldn't dare say anything which could either contradict the princess or, worse, make it seem as if she herself had any real interest in the respective male. So it would be a night of nodding and giggling, with Saskia being able to throw in a few agreeing comments while at the same time pointing out she was, herself, not a match for whoever the topic of interest would be.

Yes, she would have preferred to listen to her family's babble just for once. But here she was, holding her green-and-gold family crested fan in front of her face as a signal she did not want anyone (but the princess of course) approaching her and waited for Gandria to finish talking with some courtier or the other. The opera was about to begin, and Gandria would have to be inside to stand up with the rest of the royals to declare the performance opened.

Finally, the talking was done and the young women went inside. Imitating Gandria's wave of the fan, she let the servants know she required some refreshment, and then she loosened her corset a little to get some more air. She was not quite as slim of build as her royal friend, but as she often had to pretend to be her for a bit (for a lot of things Gandria wanted to get out of, actually) the princess had "sugggested" a corset, and Saskia had complied.

"One day I'll be out of here," she muttered.

"What was that, dear?" Gandria asked.

"I said 'everyone seems to be here," Saskia made up.

"Yes, it will be a splendid evening, too. Did you hear about..."

...and a long evening, too, Saskia thought.

[Griffith!]

Aras Lowell

He'd always hated the opera. It wasn't that he didn't have the ear for it, or that he had no appreciation for the intricacies or history of the art. It was just too loud. The helmet didn't help. There was no accounting for taste, in the King's Guard, and the iron barbute didn't do much for comfort or, in fact, his hair, which spilled out of the bottom in a dark wave, too long and wild to be contained. Worse, the helm always seemed to reverberate with every high note - on especially loud crescendos, the thing practically vibrated.

But he was a knight, after all, and some days you got to ride into battle and fight back the enemies of the realm, and some nights, you had to stand around a bunch of stuffed shirts and ermine robes and look official. Tonight was looking to be one of the latter.

Still, the word around the seedier parts of town indicated the big event would have an extra surprise. A robbery or a kidnapping, Aras suspected. Possibly both, or neither. It wasn't very good information, but he hadn't payed for it either. Better he be here and nothing happen than the other way around.

So here he stood, resplendent in his chain and tabard looking formidable for the sake of the king, while at the same time watching the crowds with more than due caution. He wouldn't be able to leave his post unless ordered - and even if something did happen, he wouldn't be able to handle it his way - but he had his hood and sword ready at the mansion. If something did happen, he could be onto it before even the City Guard.

And then, he would handle it his way.

[Gull]

Ramiro, The Osprey
(http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?368611-Fantasy-FATE-(OOC)&p=18001059#post18001059)
Theme (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUmq1cpcglQ)

Any other man would curse his own damned, errant tongue.

Ramiro was not that other man. He was, after all, the Osprey.

This was why he found himself striding along along the ceiling of the opera hall, putting one bootheel in front of the other along the wide, oaken beams that supported the rigging and lights. High above the unaware crowds of opera-goers, he felt more like his namesake than usual, and he was someone who felt like a high-soaring bird of prey most of his life.

It had all started earlier in the evening, when he was drinking overly watered wine in the Crying Peacock and telling tall-tales, or elaborate lies, even he couldn't tell the difference at that point. He had just begun a story involving a cardinal of St. Ignatius the Apparition, a sea captain and the harem of the Caliph of Qath when Carribbus the One-Eye drew a wide-bladed dagger from his broad leather belt and stuck in the table, almost upsetting everyone's wine.

"You lie," he snarled, simply. He stood up and the greased crest of his hair almost brushed the beams of the tavern's ceiling.

"About the cardinal of St. Ignatius the Apparition, the sea captain and the harem of the Caliph of Qath?" asked Ramiro mildly. "It's a joke, Carribbus. But it is true, I assure you."

"No!" roared Carribus, his mighty thews flexing in his rage. "Before, the stories you told about yourself, in Hebralia."

"My dear friends," said Ramiro, standing as well, his hand on the pommel of the long backsword that was his primus, "when one has lived such a life as mine, there is no need at all to lie." He paused, his brows knitting momentarily. "In fact, I fear that I may have been somewhat modest in the telling of my rakish exploits. For instance, the daughter of the Ilthan diplomat? In actuality, twins. Combined with the double vision from the knock on the head I had taken earlier from fight with the entire Gottinger Street Gang, it seemed that I was in the company of not just two, but four charming-"

Ramiro was cut off again by Carribbus, enraged yet further, overturning the table.

"All talk! All you do is talk, Hebralian! You come to our city and tell us you are some mighty slayer, but all- you- do- is- TALK!"

Ramiro responded with a raised eyebrow. Carribbus was a barbarian from the northern marches, prone to such violent fits of...acting out, but he seemed particularly peeved at this point.

"Well, never let it be said that Ramiro..." and here he paused, until someone nearby offered, "The Osprey?"

"The Osprey!" he continued triumphantly, "is afraid of a challenge. What do you propose I do in order to prove myself?"

Which was why he found himself lurking above the opera, in full slayer harness, awaiting an opportunity to swoop down and present the crown princess with the pair of roses he held in each hand. One blue as the seas that surrounded his lost home, the other as yellow as the gold that flowed into it. Blue and gold, the colors of his beloved Jerethoam.

He was trying to figure out how exactly to make his introductions to the princess without getting killed when he noticed others lurking above the opera with him, apparently not having noticed him yet. Stranger still, they seemed to be carrying bows.

As said, other men would blame their tongues for getting them into such a situation. Ramiro was not one of those men. Others would blame the barbarian Carribbus for such a foolhardy challenge, but all told, the northerner was probably Ramiro's best friend. Instead, Ramiro chose not to place blame but instead give thanks to the many Martyrs worshipped in Hebralia, for placing him at such an interesting junction of destinies.

[Arjen the Red]

Theren Galendel

Theren was biding his time waiting for the opera to begin by studying the unkept ear hair of the elderly gentleman in front of him when something caught his eye up in the rafters: "Hmmm, some cats up on the cat walk. How interesting," he thought directing his gaze upwards.

[Tarren]

Edward settled into House Serren's private balcony box. He wouldn't normally be along for this family outing, but with the King here it was important the entire family make an appearance. Even so, his family's displeasure with him was evinced by where he sat. Even being the youngest child of Duke Victarion he should have had a seat with a clear view of the stage. Instead he was seated behind fat cousin Simon in the back. He couldn't even see the stage properly. Still, it was good to be out with his family. Ever since his magic had manifested his family barely tolerated his presence, for the most part. Maybe this would be an opportunity to reconnect with some of them.

He pulls at his sleeve to make sure the mark on his wrist isn't visible. Most people wouldn't know what it means, but it would only remind his family of what he was.

Edward settled down for what was sure to be a long, boring evening.

[Gospel Noctis]

"The acoustics in this place really are top notch..." The musician mused to himself quietly, as he intently listened to the orchestra as they warmed up for their performance. Nestled in the shadows of a high balcony overlooking the stage Alexander Aleczodius, a man who clearly did not belong in a pristine place such as this, stood gazing down at his target.

Unlike the nobility and other upperclass snobs dressed in their new glistening attires he stood there, leaning against a large leather case, cloaked in a long, tattered traveling coat. His rumpled shirt, heavily worn boots, and long, seemingly unkempt mane of dark hair added up to a truly disheveled appearance, so it should come as little surprise as to why the other occupants of the balcony glared at him with such disdain. Paying them little mind, Alexanders scrutinizing gaze continued to focus on the person who had captured his interest.

There he was. Not one of the actors, nor one of the stage hands. No, this man was the reason he had had to creep in through a window. Hell, he was the biggest reason he had come to Castle Town at all! And there he was, standing at the head of the Royal Orchestra, baton slicing through the air with a grace and power unmistakable to anyone who truly felt the thrum of music in their veins. Ulrich Von Kleist, The Maestro. A bard of great renown, known not for his ability to play, but for his masterful ability to conduct. It has been said that under his lead even the lousiest of musicians could produce music of such beauty as to bring a man to tears. And it was this man that Alex was here to challenge.

Looking upon the crowd gathered here his expression turns positively malicious, a bloodthirsty grin splitting his face. 'The stage is almost set. I'll let you have your moment of glory, Ulrich, but as soon as the curtain falls on this little play, the real show begins!'

[Griffith!]

Aras Lowell

It's the waiting that gets to you, Aras muses to himself, there's always so much waiting.

The royalty and sundry assorted servants were in the box now, so he adopted the pose he thought of as extra-at-attention, and studied the group from the shadows of his helm. A good guard could stand so still, shutting down just enough non-essential systems, that they become practically invisible. It was a talent shared with butlers and tigers and the occasional mime. Royalty, on the other hand, were just the opposite. Kings fill all possible spaces - and not just because so many of them are fat.

It's got something to do with crowns, Aras reflected, watching the High King carefully. Crowns have a way of making everything you do bigger. It turns tea-time wargames into strategy meetings and casual remarks into government policy. The person wearing the crown is practically an afterthought. Anyone could do the job, really - anyone with a drip of sense and a bit of courage.

Aras blinked slowly and shifted his gaze to the queen. Her Royal Majesty Marianna was a vision as always - a beautiful woman, certainly, but that hardly mattered. She was as skilled a diplomat as anyone, he'd heard. Certainly her husband's wife.

And that just left the brat.

The princess was younger than he, but not by much. They'd been to the same balls and moved in adjoining - if not identical - crowds as children. But the lowly son of a Baron had ever been beneath her notice, and so he hardly knew her as anything but the girl who threw tantrums when anyone touched her dolls. She would probably be as beautiful as the queen, but the sour looks she cast the servants tainted any resemblance. All the same, she was fully half the reason he was here tonight. Impress the princess, and by extension impress the king.

And if he were to impress enough...

Well, there'd be a crown in it for him, wouldn't there?

He made note of the princess's near-constant companion, the girl waving her fan at a servant. There could be an in there, perhaps. Or perhaps not. He knew next to nothing of her, save that her family was out of favor with much of the Baronies. So long as she was with the princess, however, the point was moot. After all, what mere guard could approach a princess? Better to settle back and hope for a moment of gallantry to develop itself.

Soon, with any luck.

[Grimtina]

"...and then she had the nerve to tell me Adrian de Cuscoran was not looking my way, but hers! Can you believe that?" Gandria let out a fake gasp of exhaustion from telling her longwinded story about the Countess Aliera and her supposed insult to the princess.

Saskia hadn't listened much. Sipping her refreshment, a mix of mint and ginger, she had turned her gaze to the roof in fake interest at the rigging, but it hadn't deterred her friend, of course. Normally, Saskia would just have nodded and sighed to show she was listening, but something seemed to be going on up there and this tingle in her body started, like something exciting or dangerous was about to happen. But strain her eyes as she might, she could not make it out, and her magic didn't give her any stronger indications, like most of the time.

Realizing the princess wanted a reaction our of her, she finally shook her head. "I don't know what to say to that!" she explaimed dramatically. "It made me speechless for a moment."

"Oh, I know you'd feel for me, dear. But you know what I did then? I said..."

Saskia kept portraying interest, nodding and smiling, while her eyes went up to the rigging again. What was going on in there?

[Gull]

Ramiro, The Osprey (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?368611-Fantasy-FATE-(OOC)&p=18001059#post18001059)

A blade flashed, a rope parted, the Osprey took flight.

Ramiro, as a member of the Slayer's Lodge, was perhaps more than a little of an assassin himself. However, he refused to let professional courtesy interfere in what was shaping up to be an absolutely incredible debut.

Besides, the Black Hand? Pffff. Bunch of amateurs.

As such, Ramiro, having slashed through a rope holding sandbag counterweights (which were themselves falling to the ground floor at a fairly worrisome pace), now found himself swinging at the assassins from the rope in one hand, the other swinging his sword.

"WHAT HO, DOGS! ALARUM, SCOUNDRELS MAKE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF THE KING!

"HAHAHAHA!"

[Sorceress]

Theren

The old woman in the booth was struggling with her opera glasses; she accused her husband of purchasing a substandard set from foreign tinkerers. There were a few more exchanges that hinted at a vague sense of racism, which shouldn't be too much of a surprise as it is so often found alongside classism. But all that considered, they didn't seem particular bad old folks, and it was clear that despite their bickering, they did care for one another a great deal.

It was also clear that they, like pretty much everyone else, were oblivious to any activity up in the rigging.


Saskia and Aras

Saskia was given a temporary reprieve from the droning when Marianna hushed at her daughter. Marianna then looked, with not a small amount of empathy, to her daughter's constant loyal companion, Saskia. When Gandria was distracted in a petulant huff, Marianna mouthed a silent "Thank you for coming," to Saskia, followed by a genuine, heart warming smile.

Artus spoke quietly. "Come now, we must present ourselves to the crowd, and sanction the opera to begin." He ushered his wife and pouty young daughter forward to the edge of the rail. They were so vulnerable there, but it was part of the role of royalty -- simply to be seen brought feelings of stability and national pride.


Ramiro

Perhaps these black clad men were the king's men, watching for trouble below? But that would seem unlikely wouldn't it, as Ramiro's own eyes noted that a few of the men were touching up their weapons with some sort of dangerous, luminescent crimson goo -- poison!

As the King and his family stepped to the rails and the Orchestra was poised to begin, any line of sight Ramiro had on the assassins was momentarily disrupted by the shifting of the riggings and the raising of the curtains.

The Show Must Go On!

I am compelling the Theatrical Rigging aspect to cut off Ramiro from the assassins. He'll have to use his first action in any conflict against them to Overcome the passive resistance of a Fair (+2) Obstacle. If you accept this compel, you gain 1 Fate Point. If you reject it, you instead lose a Fate Point, but you find a way to circumvent the obstacle immediately.


Edward

While the view was poor, the seat was extremely comfortable. Even so, while the stage was obscured by the bulk of Fat Simon, the view of the royal box was unobstructed and Edward could see the King and his family move to the edge of the railing. The Serren family respectfully rose to their feet, with a dark glance toward Edward from his father, who suspected that his troublesome youngest son would forget his manners.

What Edward would never forget, however, was the fragrant gasseous emission from Simon's hind quarter that was impulsively released as a result of his cousin's grunt-worthy efforts against gravity to achieve a standing position.


Alexander

Despite Alexander's disdain for the skills of his rivals, he would not be able to help himself but to find, in some eyes, at least a bit of admiration, in that one pregnant moment where the King himself was speaking a brief commencement, the potential energy built up in the tip of Ulrich von Kleist's baton, held up and tilted just slightly to the side. Every instrument in the orchestra, every ear in the opera house, was poised for those first notes, and, to Alexander's dismay, it was clear that von Kleist was no poseur. For only a True Master could express such power in the first note of Silence.

The curtains were raised dramatically, and with a smooth twitch, if you'd blink you'd miss it, that baton moved down, and the magic began!


Everyone

The Orchestra begins, the curtains shoot upward in a velvety wall, and Ramiro's muffled shout from above is drowned out by the clashing orchestral wave that rises like a tidal wave from the Orchestral Pit.

The only thing to give away von Kleist's sinister role in this plan is a slight twitch of his eyes upward, a knowing glance. It was the signal for the attack to begin.

In that one moment his subtle gaze whispered one thing, and one thing only. Death to Tyrants.

One can assume as heroes of virtue, the PCs are all uniquely immune to the distraction of the Orchestra, and will note immediately the muffled cry and swinging action in the rigging above the Main Floor.

The Conflict has begun. All the PCs may take one exchange.

Please use 4d3-8 as the formula for rolling dice, and then make a note of the approach you're using and its modifier.

[Gull]

Ramiro, The Osprey (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?368611-Fantasy-FATE-(OOC)&p=18001059#post18001059)
Taking the fate point, make the Overcome with a +4

Ramiro alighted upon a neighbouring catwalk as the rigging came to life with the orchestra. Where before he had been surrounded only by the susurrations of the people far below, now he was moving through tangible waves of sound in a world of rattling and shaking shrouds and lines. It was, he reflected, not unlike the ship's rigging he had played in during his youth.

Not slackening his pace, he ran across the catwalk, placed one heel on the railing and leapt again, grasping a juddering rope hauling some ungodly amount of curtain weight and let it carry him to the tackle block, dropped off and, drawing his secundus, a long, straight dagger, drove it into one of the upper curtains and rode it straight down, crashing onto the catwalk occupied by the Black Hand scoundrels.

"One at a time? Or all together? I assure you, the result will be the same."

[Arjen the Red]

Theren gasped as he saw the swinging of the rigs above the main floor and realized that something sinister was happening. "A lot of good I can do up here," he grumbled, slipping out the back of the box. He quickly rushed down the stairs to make his way to the main floor. "If someone falls, maybe I'll be able to catch them," he thought.

I quickly make my way to the main floor. Fast as possible 4d3v8

Okay, used an online roller and got a -2. +1 with my quick approach for a amazing -1!

[Apropos]

Malak Easterly

As was customary for events like this, Malak waited by the door of his client's box for the concert to finish. He might have been able to enjoy it if he were given a seat. But that wasn't what he was getting paid to do. He sighed and took in the scene. It was a nightmare. Or a wet dream depending on how you looked at it. The hall was rich with high profile targets who were incapable of defending themselves, even from an amateur, and it was sealed so that none of the pompous fools would be able to escape if you blocked the exits. There were only a few guards, regardless of how capable they were, they couldn't keep an eye on everything at once. The stage was bright and distracting, so someone could slip a blade into someones ribs, still sitting, and no one would be wiser. Most people would believe it unwise to hire just one body guard, but most people weren't Baron Raphael Ennis. Ennis wasn't richer, more popular, smarter, or even stronger than the other men in the King's court, but he had hired an ex-assassin, and that counted for a lot in deterring others in the business.

Thr Orchestra began its brilliant noise, which nearly caused Malak to miss this last important detail. Barely audible over the din of music coming from the Orchestra, he heard a voice call, "...ALARUM... ATTEMPT ON... KING." Wasting no time, he leaned towards Lord Ennis's ear and whispered, "My Lord, we need to leave, there's trouble." The baron hissed, "Are you quite certain?" Malak only nodded. Ennis rose from his friends, then said in a hushed tone, "Apologies, but an urgent matter has arisen. Perhaps another time, then?"

Though they hurried, by the time they got to the stairs, there were armed men climbing the nearest two staircases. Malak cursed and hissed, "Get behind me, now!"

[Gospel Noctis]

A content, almost whimsical smile graced the musicians face as he he sat back in his seat, eyes closed, enjoying the orchestral performance. The Maestro really was as good as the rumors had claimed, maybe even better. 'Just as well, I suppose. It will make the concert ahead that much more memorable.' He continued sitting there, trained ears picking apart every note. Slowly, his relaxed grin began the deteriorate into a grimace. 'The hell?'

Opening his eyes he stood and moved over to the railing, scanning the room. 'I could have sworn I heard-' And that's when his eyes caught sight of them. There, up in rafters, armed assailants being pursued by what seemed to be a guard. Looking over to the balcony box seat housing the King himself, only to see him being escorted out by guards of his own.

"Damnit, I was supposed to be the one crashing the party!" He cursed, drawing even more disapproving looks from the startled noblemen. Grabbing the worn leather case he'd brought with him the bard made a mad dash for the stairs leading to the main floor of the opera house, hoping to get to where the action was before things really went down.

[Sorceress]

Ramiro

His swift acrobatic maneuver was a success, and he found himself on the catwalk facing the assassins. Short, thin blades, splattered with luminescent red poison, were readied. The assassins, not a bunch for exchanging quips, simply grunted unimpressively and prepared to dispatch with this minor inconvenience.


Theren

As Theren makes his way down to the main floor, he spots several figures making their way past him and up the stairs. It wouldn't be that notable except that he spots one of them reaching beneath his cloak and grasping what might be the handle of some sort of weapon.

These are the same assassins that were compelled by Malak.


Malak

Baron Ennis was reluctant to be disturbed, and there would certainly be explanations later, as far as he was concerned. Malak's continued employment would depend on any proof he could supply that this was at all necessary. This was the social event of the season!

"Wh..wh..why, whatsoever is the meaning of this ruckus!" He garumphed at the band of assassins heading up the stairwell.


Alexander

Alexander made it to the stairs, only to note that there was some sort of traffic jam ahead. Baron Raphael Ennis and his bodyguard seemed to be holding up a group of armed men for some reason. Curiouser and curiouser it seemed.

Baron Ennis' bodyguard is Malak.


Everyone

Waiting on posts from Edward, Aras, and Sasika before I post the villainous response.

[Tarren]

Edward made a face at the noxious smell his cousin produced. He was almost excited when he noticed the commotion up in the riggings since it gave him a reason to leave. He couldn't make out exactly what was going on, but the King was in a uniquely vulnerable position right now. Maybe he could help.

Thankfully is location made it easy for him to slip out of the box unnoticed by any of his family members. Now the the opera had started it wasn't really important he be there, at least until it ended. He heads in the direction of the King's box to see if he can find some way to be useful.

[Grimtina]

Saskia was momentarily distracted by the Queen's friendly smile, something that went by the princess, as usual. But then there was a shout from up above. Saskia's first thought was that there was a malfunction in the rigging as the curtain opened, but it all seemed to work fine. And then the music began...

Did one of the King's Guard just leave the box? "Excuse me," she whispered to the princess. "I fear I had too many refreshments, I need to visit the lady's room. I'll hurry so I'll be back for the first solo piece."

The princess chuckled and nodded. "Let me know if you overhear anything interesting in there."

"Of course," Saskia muttered and left the box. Outside, she carefully looked left and right to see if there was anything going on. She kept a hold on to the door, in case she would need to rush back inside and warn anyone.

[Sorceress]

Edward

Edward reached the King's box, where he spots Saskia who is in the doorway there. He also notes a commotion further down the stairs toward the Main Floor.

The commotion is Malak confronting a gang of assassins.


Saskia

Saskia exited the box, only to see Edward coming up purposefully, and noticing some sort of commotion further down the stairs toward the Main Floor.

The commotion is Malak confronting a gang of assassins.


Current Positions:

Aras remains in the King's Box.
Saskia and Edward are both right outside the King's Box.
Theren, Malak, Alexander, and 1 Team of Black Hand Assassins are on the stairs near the Main Floor.
Ramiro and 1 Team of Black Hand Assassins are in the Rigging above the Main Floor.
Ulrich von Kleist is in the Orchestra Pit.

Enemy Actions

King's Guard Traitor One turns on Aras and pins him against the wall with a sword beneath his throat. Aras manages to get his hand up to hold Traitor One's hand to keep him from slitting his throat. The traitor hisses between gritted teeth, "Nothing personal, brother. It's just time for a regime change."

King's Guard Traitor Two kills the Unnamed Loyal King's Guardsman, driving a blade under his chin, and tossing his body aside. The Princess and the Queen both scream, but their call for help is drowned out by a perfectly timed crescendo of the opera below. Damn von Kleist!

The Black Hand Assassins in the Rigging circle around Ramiro, trying to get his flanks. They swing and balance across wires and lines, before one darts in and tries to shove a poisoned stilleto blade between Ramiro's ribs.


[roll0] + 2 for using poison.

This is an Attack action. Ramiro can Defend, choose an approach to defend with, and describe it appropriately (and awesomely). If you tie their result, they'll get a boost against you. If you beat their result, you defend. If you beat their result by 3 or more, you get a boost against them. If you roll lower than their result, you take stress and/or consequences equal to the difference.

If you wish, you can self-compel a negative aspect that you think would make it harder for you, before you roll, to take a -2 penalty to that roll. You gain a Fate Point for doing that, but you have to announce it before you roll the dice.

Also, at any time, you can give up and offer a concession, which would be some circumstance that ends up with you losing the conflict. Being knocked out, taken prisoner, left for dead, helpless caught in the rigging, or whatever.

The Black Hand Assassins in the stairs near the Main Floor attempt to force their way past Malak, using the force of numbers and the shock of surprise to try to knock him aside and throw him down the stairs.


[roll1] + 0

This is a Create Advantage action. Malek can Defend, choose an approach to defend with, and describe it appropriately (and awesomely). If you tie their result, they'll get a boost against you. If you beat their result, you defend. If you beat their result by 3 or more, you get a boost against them. If you roll lower than their result, they create the "Knocked Down the Stairs" advantage on you, which they can compel for free to impede your pursuit against them.

If you wish, you can self-compel a negative aspect that you think would make it harder for you to defend, before you roll, to take a -2 penalty to that roll. You gain a Fate Point for doing that, but you have to announce it before you roll the dice.

Ulrich von Kleist continues conducting the orchestra, maintaining the bardic spell that has made everyone oblivious to the coup that is taking place under their very noses.

That concludes the first Exchange.

Malek and Ramiro both need to Defend.

Everyone can take their actions for the next exchange. Defending doesn't count as an action, so Malek and Ramiro both also get an action in the next exchange.

[Gull]

Ramiro, The Osprey (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?368611-Fantasy-FATE-(OOC)&p=18001059#post18001059)
Got a lousy +2, going to invoke First Blade of the Hebralian Slayers, Exiled for a +2 so +4 overall.

Ramiro turned and wheeled with the circling assassins, almost contemptuously, turning a desperate defence of his life into an exhibition of the skills of a slayer. To wit: his primus, the long backsword, whirled and snapped, the point arcing from one assassin to the other in a silver blur, his wrist spinning the basket hilt with ease. His secundus, the long dagger, danced as well, flipping from a forward to reverse grip in his fist. While the sword and dagger moved from one enemy to the next, he was aware of the dextra novacula, the short, vicious blade at his elbow and the sinistra spina, the spines at his left, the spurs at the heels of his boots and thicker genua novacula blade jutting from his harness at his knee. The philosophy of the slayer was to not only be a master of all weapons, but through the fighting harness worn, be a weapon oneself, and to do it with style. His turns became a dance; his confidence, his armour; a grin borne from the knowledge that he himself had brought as many blades to this dance as his opponents. No blade could touch him, and he showed his enemies his disdain as his voice rose in song.

The Fall of Atraya was his favourite opera, so of course he sang along in a passable tenor.

[Arjen the Red]

Theren

Theren saw the gleam of steel under the coat of one of the men rushing past him and knew something was afoul. He quickly turned and followed them up the stairs. "I guess I better lose the invisibility now," he thought as he began chanting quietly to himself. He looked down the hall where the doors to the boxes were and pointed his right hand at the far end. The illusion of half a dozen armed guards appeared that took aggressive stances. "Let's see what these men make of that," he said quietly to himself.

Clever creation of the illusion, +3. 4d3-8+3

Okay, I'm not sure what I am doing wrong with the script. Used a online roller: + - - + = 0 +3 For a 3 total.

[Grimtina]

Saskia of course recognized Edward immediately. The scorned son; the princess recently made fun of him again. What was he doing here? "What's going on?" she asked, not too loudly, although with the opera started, she was sure no one could hear them anyway.

[Gospel Noctis]

It wasn't until the cry deafening crescendo that Alex finally deciphered the nature of the bardic undercurrent interwoven into the symphony. At first he had assumed that it was a basic, if masterfully executed, Show Time spell; A common and only partially mystic trick bards used to draw attention to themselves and grab a crowds attention. Completely harmless with minimal actual mental influence. This wasn't one of those, he realized. This was something a bit more insidious.

This was a spell that offered greater influence on the minds of the weak-willed. Not merely grabbing their attention, but enthralling them with the potency of the casters music. Suspicion crept into the bards mind as he began linking the chain of events. While it was possible that this was just how Kleist performed, this was his first time hearing him play, things were lining up a bit too well for him to believe it mere coincidence.

Regardless, before dealing with the Maestro himself there was a band of what appeared to be assassins before him that needed to be taken care of first. Before he could properly act the group of armed men rushed a small group of nobles, seemingly trying to overwhelm them with numbers. Without a second thought, the musician swiftly flips to latches holding his guitar case closed, before drawing his instrument, before tossing the sturdy leather case at the legs of the rushing crowd of ne'er-do-wells.

Alex tries to Quickly Create an Advantage by tripping up the crowd of assassins by chucking his empty guitar case at their legs.
[roll0]+2

[Tarren]

Edward recognized the girl exiting the King's box, the princess's companion. He'd seen her at several functions.

"I'm not sure. Some commotion up in the riggings. I thought it might be an assassination attempt-"

Edward stops when he hears the commotion down the stairs.

"-and that definitely makes me think something bad is going on. The King and his people probably didn't hear that. We should warn them."

[Grimtina]

"Right," Saskia agrees, a little panic in her voice, which is mostly a trained response. She pulls the door to the box back open with force. Part of her wants to storm back in but her court training makes her leave the first entrance to the man in the area.

[Apropos]

Malak Easterly

The assassins were fast-approaching, several in number. Trained, but not incredibly skilled or talented. Probably not seasoned. If they were, they would have tried a projectile weapon first. Probably confident in their strength as well. Pushing through an enemy while traveling uphill is no easy feat, and you'd have to be fairly big or strong to do that. Also, they two major weakness: One; without their eyes they wouldn't be able to function. Two; they were lined up on the stairs, and would have difficulty overwhelming him and would be forced to take him head on, one by one. Knocking the first down, would create a domino effect, provided the rest of them couldn't predict it. Malak's hands moved fluidly and snatched something from his belt, uncorked it and shook it at the oncoming Assassins. The liquid sprayed out towards the first black-clad man's face. The assassin halted his advance and clawed at his face gasping for breath.

Malak's abilities come from being able to manipulate water. No water, no magic, so its fair to say that he doesn't like to be without his precious sidekick. He needs at least one free hand, proximity, and concentration to maintain control, however, so he still has an easier time in duels than in fights where he's outnumbered.

Malak flicked his hand and willed the water back to his waterskin and in the same movement, drew a long curved blade, and kicked the breathless would-be assassin towards his compatriots. Much to Malak's disappointment, the rest of them already had the drop on him and were able to avoid being toppled.

Adopting a fighting stance, Malak clicked his tongue, grinning "You should never drink so much before work. Especially in a place with this many stairs. You could trip and fall, and then where would we be?"

One thing about using magic is that people don't expect you to use a sword. Or at least, they don't expect you to be any good at it. So when Malak seemed to take the Black Hand dead-on, they might have been a little confused. Of course, in Malak's case he may or may not be particularly talented, but the kids in black pajamas seemed a little unsure. Gods they were really green. Malak's fighting stance allowed him to hide his left hand behind him as he faced the group fixing a spell in his mind.

The thing about water is, its everywhere. If you look hard enough, you can find little streams in the darnedest of places. water can be found in fruits and vegetables and even blood. And even though there isn't so much in any one place, there's even water in the air. Malak began to manipulate the water in the air and attempted to condense it into frost onto the stairs. It would have to be subtle or the tension would snap and the mooks would come dashing up before he could solidify the frost. After that he'd have to play it by ear and either run with the Baron in tow or suppress the would-be killers.


I'm going to try to create a new situation aspect "Slippery Stairs"
[roll0] + 2

[Sorceress]

Location Breakdown:

Rigging Above Main Floor: Ramiro, Band of Assassins
The King's Box: Saskia, Edward
The Stairs between the Main Floor and the King's Box: Theren, Alexander, Malak



Ramiro

Ramiro deftly defended against the assault of the assassins. He found an opening to make a move of his own, if he dared to take it.

Ramiro still has an action for this exchange. Unless maybe he'd like to spend his action impressing us with his singing talent?


Saskia and Edward

They come upon a gruesome scene. Two traitorous King's Guardsmen have dispatched the loyal guardsmen in the box, and are about to turn their blades on the King and his family. The sudden arrival of the two heroes, however, has thrown a monkey wrench into the assassins' plan.

They may both still act in this exchange.


Theren, Alexander and Malak

The Assassins on the steps were oblivious and stumbling over themselves as they faced the combined trickery of the Bard, Illusionist, and Hydromancer.

Alexander succeeded with style. He gains an Advantage (you need to name it) with two free invokes/compels. Describe his skillful guitar throw.

Malak succeeded. He gains an Advantage (you need to name it) with one free invoke/compel. Describe the results of his masterful spell.

Theren succeeded with style. He gains an Advantage (you need to name it) with two free invoke/compels. Describe his clever illusion.

[Grimtina]

Not knowing what else to do right then, Saskia does what she was taught a girl has to do when faced with something like this - scream at the top of her lungs and appear helpless. Which is what she is doing, hoping Edward would use the moment to do something.

[Tarren]

Edward doesn't let the horrifying sight slow down his reaction. With he acts to separate the King and his family from the threat. He feels the heat of his power roll through him as he brings it to bare, attempting to raise a wall of fire between the King and the traitors.

[roll0] +2 Flashy to raise wall of fire

[Arjen the Red]

Theren's guards stood in perfect rank and file at the top of the stairs blocking the path to the King's box. They were clad in mail armor, dirks attached at their hips, and in hand a sword of glimmering gold. Theren's spell was particularly effective as he was able to conjure up visual accents of light glinting off the blades. Their shields were round copper, polished until it shown with almost a blood red tint. The guards' mouths were twisted into scowls that would frighten even the most battle readied men. They stood atop with a look of Go ahead! Try and get past us!


I'll invoke the advantage Frozen in place. The assassins running towards the box stop in their tracks as they see the illusion of 6 armed guards defending upon them.

[Gull]

Ramiro, The Osprey (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?368611-Fantasy-FATE-(OOC)&p=18001059#post18001059)
FP: 3

How he loved the opera.

The blood and thunder. The bravado and tragedy. The death.

If he were to die here, he could not think of a better end. Outnumbered six to one, the tumult of The Fall of Atraya crashing around him under the guidance of the known world's foremost conductor, suspended above the crowned heads of the entire Kingdom during the Baroness' last performance...perfect.

Perfect, but for the fact that aside from the aforementioned six, there was no one watching him. So, he would survive.

Poisoned blades darted like vipers, envenomed as such even, but his sword and dagger and various blades and spines admitted none into the space he had claimed for himself. He hooked one assassin's leg with a boot-spur but had to fend off the attack of the one from his left before he could capitalize on it, his backsword ringing a strident parry. Spinning, always in motion, he followed the action of the parry and swept forth with his knife, only to have to cut the attack short to duck a jabbing blade. Straightening sinuously, he hooked his arm around the one attached to said blade and drove the hooked blade at his knee into the vitals of the man who attacked him...

[Gospel Noctis]

The spinning guitar case caught the assailants completely unaware as it crashed into their ranks. Assassin after assassin was sent tumbling head-over-heels as their faces were suddenly and quite painfully introduced to the highly polished surface of the opera house floor.

'Ouch, I think one of them lost a tooth...' Alex winced sympathetically, slipping the guitar strap over his head before walking over to the group of people who weren't dressed for murder.

"Sorry 'bout that. Darn thing just slipped right out of my hands." He opened with a smirk. "So, should we start this off slow or just jump right into things?"

Let's say the aspect is called Flat on Your Face! I'll probably use a free tag of it to increase the difficulty of whatever they try to do next.

Also, I don't know crap about music, instruments, or instrument accessories. After looking it up, it turned out the case type I was thinking of was hardshell, not leather. So I'll say it's a harshell case with leather lining/coat. Not sure how practical such a thing is but lets roll with it.

[Apropos]

Malak Easterly

The stairs, now covered with a thin layer of ice, will not grant purchase to Malak's attackers. Should they proceed they will likely slip and fall, becoming easy targets.

If I'm doing this right, then I'm going to compel the Slippery Stairs aspect for free against the Black Hand Assassins' next attack.

[Grimtina]

Seeing Edward jump into action, Saskia tried to find the princess - which was easy enough as she just started screaming again, clinging to the balcony. Rushing over, Saskia shakes her, "Don't stand there, just take cover already, maybe they want to kill you, too!" And then Saskia would not have anyone at court to stick with, and fall into obscurity.

[Sorceress]

Location Breakdown

Rigging Above Main Floor: Ramiro, Band of Assassins
The King's Box: Saskia, Edward
The Stairs between the Main Floor and the King's Box: Theren, Alexander, Malak

Edward, Saskia: The King's Box

Edward's Wall of fire bursts into existence between the King and his family, and the traitorous guardsmen.

Saskia managed to find the Princess through the smoke and fire. The Princess was screaming in terror, and was contemplating jumping over the edge of the balcony to the main floor below, an unadviseable action to say the least. "There's no where to go but down!" She shrieked at her play companion.

Wall of Fire Mechanics

You have created the Wall of Fire aspect in the King's Box, and have one free invoke/compel.

I am choosing to offer you a Fate Point to compel the aspect against you. Because you have summoned a crackling wall of fire into a lavish private box balcony, the fire quickly begins to spread, growing out of control. While it still will impede the guardsmen to get through, you've also created the "On Fire" aspect for the area, that will spread to a new area each exchange until the fires are put out, or the Opera House is consumed. You may accept this complication and take a Fate Point, or you may give me a Fate Point to deny the complication and say that Edward's control over his flames prevents the conflagration from spreading.

The two guardsmen spend their exchange shouting chaotically at one another, trying to figure out how to get around the wall of fire. One of the traitors gains a +2 Teamwork bonus to overcome the Fire Wall on the next exchange.


Theren, Alexander, Malak: The Stairs

The assassins freeze in place, facing off a band of illusionary guardsmen. They find themselves unable to proceed until the overcome the illusion. Just then, then were scattered like bowling pins, by a well-aimed guitar case hurl.

*Crash*

They skittering about on slippery ice-covered stairs. To say the assassins are disrupted is an understatement.


Ramiro: In the Rigging Above the Main Floor

While his battle dance is graceful, Ramiro finds that the Assassins move in the rigging like they were born in a circus, acrobatic grace and perfect team timing resulted in a series of frustrating rebuffs, time and time again. The one opening Ramiro found himself was dodged by the assassin, but the near strike threw off their timing a bit, creating a shift in the tempo of the battle in Ramiro's temporary favor.

The Assassins, however, do not relent, and instead redouble their effort to destroy Ramiro, with skilled stabs of poisonous blades. One such blade seems particularly well aimed, striking for Ramiro's chin ....

Mechanics

Ramiro gains a "Shift in the Tempo" boost to act against the Assassins in the next exchange. The boost can be used to gain a +2 bonus to his action if necessary.

Ramiro must defend against an attack. If he scores lower than 1, he takes stress equal to the difference. If he scores a 1, he loses his boost. If he scores a 2 or 3, he defends successfully, and if he scores a 4+, he gains a second boost!

[Gull]

Ramiro, The Osprey (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?368611-Fantasy-FATE-(OOC)&p=18001059#post18001059)
FP: 3

Ramiro dodged the attack easily, the dagger biting nothing but air. He slid his body to the left to avoid the drops of poison shed by the blade and continued to pivot around the hungry weapons.

This was, it occurred to him, perhaps more of an untenable position than he had expected. They had been fighting well into the overture, and blood had yet to be drawn, and worst of all, there was still no audience. Surely such great drama deserved some recognition? Perhaps dialogue was the key.

"You know," he said conversationally, "I was rather surprised to see Black Hand assassins here. I am more than a little confused as to why someone would send you lot at all."

He ducked a swiping blade and parried another, steel ringing discordant among the crashing overture.

"It goes without saying that you kill people, that much is obvious. The masks, the cloaks, it's all so cliche. Of course you have your poison weapons. Of course you call yourselves The Black Hand. Of course you have your grim, tedious silence that your masters no doubt assured you would cow fools such as myself. But you have no statement, no philosophy, no identity."

Kicking off a railing, he swung around a rope and caught a sword on the edge of his secundus and flipped it into a parry with his primus.

"Do you know the reason that one man can stand alone against six?

"Style.

"You Black Hand killers are the worst kind. In this opera, you would be the fools, a silent chorus relying on physical comedy. You pride yourselves on being what you think assassins should be but ignore the most important thing that separates a petty killer from a bloody-handed prince.

"Face it," said Ramiro, slashing with his tongue rather than his blades, "if someone had really wanted the King dead?

"They would have hired a real killer. They would have hired a Slayer."

[Gospel Noctis]

"Well then, if I'm going to challenge Kleist after this I should probably warm up a bit, don't cha think? So how 'bout we get this party started right?!" And with that Alexanders fingers jumped into motion. His fingers flowing effortlessly up and down the neck of his instrument, becoming but a blur as he worked his bardic magic. Vibrations changed, notes bent, and pulsing waves of sound visibly twisted and altered as his magic wove it's way through the music.

"This ones called MM3, Title Screen Intro!" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jN-CIa05hg)

Alex is going to try to Flashily Create the Advantage "Time to Fight, Let's Rock!"
[roll0]+3
He'll also spend a fate point to invoke Accelerated Vibration Alteration and Harmonic Interweaving, aka, The One Man Band (Which will from now on be referred to as TOMB because holy crap I just realized how long that is) for a +2 to the roll.

[Tarren]

With the royal family safe behind a wall of fire (or as safe as you can be right next to a raging fire), Edward turns his attention to the traitorous guards.

"I think perhaps you gentleman have bitten off more than you can chew. That fire is going to attract attention pretty quickly, plenty of important people here with their own retinue of guards and others who can handle themselves. I'm sure plenty of people would like to be the one responsible for stopping an assassination attempt on the King." Edward summons a small ball of fire and begins tossing it back and forth between his hands, "So, even if you manage to get past me and pass this wall, and then kill the King, you are going to have to deal with dozens of people who want revenge, or at least want the credit for it. I don't know if your being paid to do this, or if you really believe a violent coup is the right thing to do, but If I were you, I'd be pretty damned terrified right about now."

"Now, your stuck between me", Edward makes a point of making the ball of fire in his hand larger, "and a wall of fire. That's not even counting the dozens of guards and other adventurous types who are sure to be here. So your choices are burn, burn, or surrender. Let's not forget the possibility of bludgeoning, stabbing, or other injuries once others show up."

[Grimtina]

For the first time ever, Saskia loses her temper with the princess. "You are not going to jump! What would that accomplish but your certain death, silly girl? You come with me!" Grabbing her firmly by the arms, she tries to move the panicked royalty away from impending doom, but the fire doesn't make it all that easy for her to keep her own panic down. She listens to what Edward has to say and shouts at him, all her frustrations and fears directed at the young man. "Just kill them already, they are bloody assassins for the sake of all the gods!"

The princess looks at her shocked, slowly coming back to herself. "Saskia! Such language!"

[Apropos]

Malak Easterly

When the Assassin's should have felt relieved, instead he was even more nervous. The crash towards the bottom of the stairs meant a new unknown element, and they could have it out worse for the baron. Then came the fire and then screaming. But it was coming from up stairs, near the King's box. Or maybe it was the King's box... That would make more sense, the black-suits were trying to get past Malak, but what if they were trying to pass the baron as well?

He'd deal with the newcomers after, he needed to find out what he could from the Assassins. Spilling water from two canteens out onto the nearest one, he lays a binding on the fallen man. The water congeals until it becomes solid ice, encasing most of his arms and legs...

Making a forceful approach to restrain the Assassin.
[roll0] + 2 + 2

[Arjen the Red]

I'm going to invoke the situation aspect Assassins on their asses sliding down the ice!

The guitar case bowling approach worked brilliantly. The first of the pins slide down right in front of Theren. He lifted his boot and brought it crashing down on the forehead of the closest assassin, hoping to knock him unconscious.