Volume One: Number Theory

[Bozwevial]

The man barely seemed to hear Leo's question, murmuring in a reverent voice, "I am that which cannot be extinguished, the flame which water does not quench."

[VennDygrem]

Leo shrugs and returns to Lilly and Phil. "Yeesh, what a loon. What do you make of him? He's muttering pretty cryptically, but it doesn't sound like more than just crazy-person-talk." He looks back over his shoulder at the would-be arsonist.

[veekie]

"Well, the police should deal with him as long as the rain can keep going I guess." Phil shrugs, "Maybe hes protesting something"

[Agita]

Lilly nibbled on her thumb pensively as Leo tried and failed to communicate with the guy and returned with empty hands. "Let me try for a bit." Folding her hands behind her back, she strolled up to the man with a curious smile and eyes that left no doubt she was as fascinated by the flames no-one else could see as the man. "Good morning, sir! Do you enjoy being a flame? It looks nice, doesn't it..."

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We don't have much to go on yet, so let's try and start out with a first impression and see if we can't fish something out of him.

Rapport modified by Presence (4d3-8+3=4)

Maybe something like "Fake Would-Be Convert"?

[Bozwevial]

The man turned to stare at Lilly, eyes focused directly on the center of her forehead, or perhaps several inches beyond that. "It is everything they told me it would be," he slurred. "Everything that I am, dissolving away in service. I was worried for a moment, so worried...the time to kindle the flame had nearly passed and water filled the sky."

[Agita]

Kitty nodded thoughtfully, clearly fixated on the man as well. "I see... that does sound nice." Without looking away, she made a mental note to check the time as soon as possible, and gave the man a sweet smile. "I wonder if they could tell me about it too. Wouldn't that be nice? To spread the flame. But, I don't know anything about it..." With that, she puffed her cheeks and adopted an expression every bit as crestfallen as the man had been just minutes prior.

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Okay, this is my try at getting this guy to spill something significant. In strict game terms, you could call it an indirect Assessment action. I rolled with Deceit below, assuming a tag on the theoretical first-impression aspect from the last post. If you think another skill would be more appropriate/the tag shouldn't work, just let me know and we can subtract from the roll.

Bluff, bluff, bluff the stupid ogre (4d3-8+5+2=6)

[Bozwevial]

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That tag should be fine. Sorry, didn't quite realize what you were doing first time around. Presenting a good first impression, then turning around and tagging that on an assessment attempt, yes?

So this guy is your atypical Cultist With A Compulsion. Sound good?

Kitty's new friend hesitated, a vein in his forehead looking quite agitated. "I shouldn't say. But the flame...the flame wants to spread. It can't be bad to help, can it?" His voice was almost pleading as he stared up at Kitty.

[Agita]

Kitty's expressions shifted again, to a warm, reassuring smile. "Of course not. You were worthy to become the flame, right? If they trust you enough for that, surely they trust you enough to make decisions." She skipped a little, moving a step or two to the side to make the man follow her with his gaze. "To the contrary. You're a flame now, right? Spreading lies in a flame's nature. Isn't it your duty to spread?"

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Yeah. Standard procedure for suckering NPCs into stuff.
And now I guess we turn around and try to make him tell me aspects about "them". I'm trying to tag the mildly nontrivial to invoke Compulsion here by convincing him that they want him to tattle.
Kitty Cons A Crazy: Third time's the charm (4d3-8+5+2=7)

[Bozwevial]

The man nodded dazedly, an uncertain smile on his face. "It is. And fire's time is now, the crackling flame and the hungry earth and the creeping air. They transform life to death, and death brings forth life. But only, they caution us, only when the appointed hour is at hand. Time is the fire in which we burn, and today I am both time and fire. It is the greatest honor, the one they afforded us three."

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In a turn of events that surprises absolutely no one, this man is part of some wacky Numerology Cult With An Elemental Fetish. But now you can tag it for bonuses, so it's official.

[Agita]

"I see... that sounds great, doesn't it!" Kitty clapped her hands animatedly and took a step back. "This is all really wonderful. I should see if I can talk to the earth and air too! Ah, but I shouldn't be holding you up any more. Have fun being the flame, mister!"

After separating herself from the lunatic, Lilly rejoined the other two with a grin. "Alright. I've got good news and bad news."

[VennDygrem]

Leo frowns. In his limited experience, when someone had good news and bad news, the good was always there just to soften the blow of the bad.

He sighs, then says, "Alright... give it to us straight."

[Agita]

Without skipping a beat, Kitty replied, "The bad news is, in short, that there's at least two more nutjobs like this one, plus bosses. The good news is that, after the police has carted this guy off, I'm going to be invited to lunch by you two so we can discuss the bad news in detail."

[Bozwevial]

As if Lilly's words had summoned them, several officers chose this point to walk into view. The uniformed women made a beeline for the cultist, gently helping him to his feet and cuffing his hands behind his back. One of them walked over to Lilly. "You the one who made the call? Thanks for the tip--fire probably wouldn't have caught in this weather, but best not to take any chances."

[Agita]

Turning around, Lilly smiles at the officer, spontaneously becoming the very image of a helpful model citizen. "That was me, yes! I figured as much, plus attempted still counts for something, right? Ah, do you still need me for something, questioning or the like?"

[Bozwevial]

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WALK into view. Apparently I cannot into verbs either.

The officer attempted to hide her smile at the young woman's eagerness. "We may need a formal statement from you. If you could give me your name, phone number, and address, I can have a reminder sent round." She produces a notebook from her pocket, glancing at the others. "The same goes for you, if you were here when this happened?"

[Agita]

Lilly nods. "Of course. Lilly Dachner's the name." She helpfully supplies her address and home telephone number as well.

[VennDygrem]

"Yes, my name is Leo Berenson." Leo gives the address of the residence he is staying at, but has no phone number to give. "I am sorry, I am traveling and I do not know the telephone number of my host." He attempts to speak as plainly as possible, though his accent a dead giveaway that he is not a native speaker.

[Bozwevial]

"That's perfectly fine, we can send someone around," the officer assured Leo. She turned to Phil. "And you, mister...?"

[veekie]

"Uh..Philion Quilos." He takes a moment to scribble down his work number and address, "Hope thats the last crazy of the month." Phil does not look too hopeful about the year.

[Bozwevial]

The officer thanked Kitty again before departing, strange man in tow, leaving Lilly, Phil, and Leo alone in the park.