Bad Decision #4 - Breaking into Muspelheim for Fun and Profit

[samantha_grey]

In the wake of, as yet unknown events to unfold in the conclusion of Arc 3, Samantha Grey will be taking steps along with elements of the growing conspiracy to find a means to kill a Giant or God without the aid of a god. This means that she and a few others are going to fly in the face of "it's a really bad idea to go marching into enemy territory" that we learned from the ill-fated assassination attempt on Thiazi and sneak right into Muspelheim in search of something pivotal for the success of their mission.
What do You Mean Plot to Kill a Giant? Ever since Samantha and Eridan asked a fateful question in the Cave of the Mimisbrunnr, a growing number of people have been collecting the weapons to kill a god or giant (Basically, the Kill Freya option that was not taken by the main cast earlier this year). It led them to Svartalfaheim to craft a weapon and combine ingredients acquired from Ran and the body of a Dragon from the First Battle of Ragnarok. They need one more ingredient before the steps needed can be put together.

What do they Seek? One of Idunn's Golden Apples of Eternal Youth.
How Many are Going? 6, 8 tops.
When Will This Event Occur? December 15-January 3 (Days 370-381)
What if there is a Special Event in December? Any character on this journey cannot make contact with Asgard through the end of the player plot. I am told that there will be another player plot in December, and you will almost certainly miss it with this character. Please keep this in mind. This is a long event.
What about the End of Arc 3 Event? This Player Plot is not slated to occur until after that event is done, so you're good to go.
Will this be Dangerous? Yes. All but One character will Die.

I repeat, only ONE character will survive this plot
Who Survives? This will be determined by random roll from all characters joining besides Samantha (I'm automatically assuming she will die for this plot). If you want to definitely die, just say so in your sign up post.
Who can Join? Anyone who signed up for the trip to Svartalfaheim automatically has the right to sign up. however others can sign up. they must, however, be someone that at least one of the following three characters will vouch for: Samantha Grey, Merlin or Eridan Ampora. This doesn't mean you have to be close to them, but they need to believe you'd be helpful, not turn on them, and not spill the beans afterwards.

Samantha WILL be going. Eridan and Merlin are specifically invited but not required. Anyone who went to Svart has a reason to be selected. Anyone else may ask for permission to go. They must, however, not be someone that would be considered possibly compromised, or who might spill the beans. Stealthy, Sneaky, Intelligent and Resourceful characters are preferred because this is a stealth mission. But if you're interested, hop in!

Please be aware that this is a slightly intensive plot, and will occupy your character for 11 IC days or so. It's also happening over Christmas (though obviously a lot of us will be busy on that day). So, if you don't think you can commit the time, keep that in mind when considering the plot. Posting will be similar to that in the Svartalfheim plot above.

Do I get my Powers/Runes/Potions?
-Powers: No. Gone, poof! Your bracelets don't connect to the network neither and she insists they be hidden from sight.
-Runes: Nope. Those work more in conjunction with Asgard's version of magic, not Muspelheim's.
-Potions: Possibly yes. I'm given to believe that some of these may work. I'll have specifics by the 15th.

Otherwise, it's skill, weapons and ingenuity!

What Will Happen?
Step 1 - Getting There:
This is not a cake walk. The party will go over-land half of the distance towards the Hippie Camp using a smuggled map from the library and some notes from trips to Utgard Samantha's been on. They will then turn north and move with all stealth towards Muspelheim on foot. No horses. Very few breaks. It's Long, Hard overland journeys with only intermittent stops to rest or hide from patrols and monsters. There will be some threats they face, minor but dangerous.

It takes 4 days to get to the edges of Muspelheim (because they really aren't stopping for breaks). No trains. No Utgard. No obvious points of entry. No caravans.

Step 2 - Finding the Apple:
Disguises are afforded based upon appearances of the minor Fire Giants that visit Utgard and war data. The heroes must sneak into the city, which has no walls. However, they soon learn that Muspelheim sucks. It's a violent hell hole, there's constant in-fighting, everyone wants to kill each other, and you don't just 'trade' with the locals. All the runes won't buy you what you want. You're going to have to beat the answers carefully, secretly out of someone.

They're going to have to find an abandoned house somewhere in this hell hole, bunker down, track down a foundry and apothecary, break in and get the intel they need. This Encounter has the possibility of being Lethal

It will take 3 days just to find the right place. Characters can sneak around, try to avoid detection, interact in bolt holes, etc...

Step 3 - Getting the Apple:
Congratulations! They found the Apple. It's in one of the central foundries of Muspelheim. They have to maintain a low profile as much as possible and make their way to the place. The few apples stolen by Surtr's people from Idunn's tree over the centuries are kept in this place because they're insanely valuable. Getting in is a matter of stealth, B&E and killing every last bastard that wants to keep them from stealing the damned thing.

It's as simple as that, right? Well... getting through the armada without their god-given powers and only the weapons they have on them and street smarts is going to be HARD, particularly as there WILL be a Lesser Fire Giant present that they have to deal with somehow.

This is a Lethal Encounter for all but a few of the characters.

This will take 1 day

Step 4 - Making Sure One Gets Out Alive:
They got the apple? some of them are still alive? Wonderful. Here's the good news. The foundry in question is near to Surt's palace, and this kind of commotion has finally attracted the one damned thing they didn't want. HIS ATTENTION. At this point, those characters still alive will be forced to keep Surt busy (or amused) thinking that they're the ones out to cause trouble while they serve as a diversion for the one lone character who must sneak out of the city and escape with their life and the apple.

Returning home is a desperate 3 day flight from hell. They will return home around the time that the dead begin coming to life again.

Trigger Warnings to be Aware of Throughout this Plot:
Murder, Death, Horror and War. This is not a nice plot. Did you think we'd even have the chance to maybe take down a giant without a little loss of life? Hah, nope.

Sign Up Sheet
1) Samantha Grey samantha_grey
2) Soushi discrepants
3) Desmond familyissues
4) Eridan Ampora fishdouche
5) Temari 1000tinycuts
6) -open-
7) (possible, pending interest)
8) (possible, pending interest)

Minor Note: Part of the impetus behind Samantha pushing this when she does will be a canon update happening at the end of Arc 3, right before this. More will be posted on that in about a week.

Second Note: Everything's currently mod approved, but if we need to make any changes, mods, just let me know.

Comments

Sign Up!

[samantha_grey]

Who wants to go to hell with Sam?

Remember. Odds are very high your character will die in this plot.

[discrepant]

Soushi went in the last trip, so he might as well go to the next one, but Sam has some explaining to do for him. 8|

[samantha_grey]

I have one question before continuing forward: I'd been meaning to check, but I hadn't been sure. Does Soushi still have full memories of the past?

(I'm not putting the final names down until I know if Eridan and Merlin are coming, and I want to keep things open for those who didn't make it to Svart that are interested to sign up. However, Soushi definitely has good cause.)

[discrepant]

The past in Asgard? No. He has no memory of his past in Asgard as much as he has no memory of his previous life in his canon world. However, he does know what his past self has done in this game before he arrived.

Although, I think you must be referring if he remembers the previous trip before his canon update, then yes he has full memory of it still. He should have all his current Asgardian memories in order now except the memories of the previous incarnation of Soushi with the journal onlyserves.

[samantha_grey]

Ok, that's what I needed to check. Thanks. I'll let you know in about a week. Right around when the December plots are being announced to triple check if any special Christmas events tempt you away. ^.~

[familyissues]

If Desmond finds out, he'll volunteer (after an internal debate). He'll have had some run ins with the lesser fire giants in the Mirror and can offer up some suggestions there, as well as assistance with the whole being a stealthy bastard who's armed to the teeth. Even if he's not chosen he'll see what he can do to help them prepare, out of favors owed to Merlin and Soushi for helping him and his bros after Thiazi.

[samantha_grey]

Samantha's spoken with Connor enough to know a 'little' about their Recon mission. As a result, and because she remembers some of Ezio's abilities, she's been meaning to contact one of them, test them carefully about interest.

She can contact Desmond directly once she's back in Asgard from mirror on 363 or 364, since this whole trip is definitely NOT advertised. Odin and the rest still don't know what she's up to, just faint suspicions she's up to something. I'll make a note you're interested and as long as Eridan or Merlin wouldn't veto (unlikely), I'll let you know if he's on the team in about a week or a little less.

Thanks for the interest!

[familyissues]

Sounds fantastic! Also if you'd like, I can tag Sam with Desmond while they're in the Mirror, if you'd prefer to have some prebuilt cr there with them?

[samantha_grey]

Yes, that works perfectly. Here's her open. You don't want to deal with Diffido/her depressed side for this purpose.

[dragonspeak]

Very tentative yes for now. This will be Merlin's third death if he isn't the survivor so I'll have to take that into account as well as talking it over with my cast!

Leaning toward yes because of what happened in the mirror event, though. He'll want to have that weapon on hand to take out Thiazi for sure now. If we have a thread with this discussing this, he'll probably bring that up!

[dragonspeak]

Okay, thought about it some more, and I think I'm going to sit this one out, unfortunately. IC and OOC timing are both not so great for this :(

Is there anything that Samantha would ask Merlin to do while they're away? Maybe keep tabs on everything?

He could also ask someone with drawing life to give them a messenger animal (not birds, though, apparently the giants would just kill them on sight).

[samantha_grey]

No problem. IC/OOC timing isn't perfect for everyone here, and the holiday's presence will make this not necessarily desirable for everyone. Since Eridan's just now back from thesis, I'm not sure they have the time to devote to it right off the bat. So I totally understand. *nods* I'm not surprised that you wanted to sit it out. that's perfectly fine, as if one of the three 'core' members of the original conspiracy stays back, they can keep up appearances.

What she will ask for him to do is possibly the messenger animal, but more importantly: She wants the Poison, the initial runes and the Weapon stored in the rune-sealed chest she gives him. Kept completely safe. She's going to ask Professor Snape to help keep the shop up off and on along with Sophie. Provided he has an herbal license, she might ask Merlin to fill in just a little. She'll leave a back-stock so it's not a heavy-duty thing. She just wants things kept tidy and a little stock added in.

However, the 'concealing the weaponry' is the most important part definitely, and in this sense she's glad to have someone she trusts implicitly there to help watch them and keep up appearances.

[braavado]

Sounds good to me! While he doesn't have the herbalism license, he has an alchemy one! Plus herbal knowledge in general. I don't know if that's enough, but he'd definitely watch over her shop and the other weapon parts for her.

Also, he's going to ask her if he can tell Arthur about the Plans, if that's okay?

[samantha_grey]

I think that's the license he needs, so I think you're totally good there.

As for Arthur: "Tell him to keep it quiet, but in the end he's leading the city's defense. He needs to know what we're building, and what I've done, in case this all goes south like the situation in Thrymheim."

So, yes. Frankly, if the conspiracy is 90% anti-giant after this, she will suggest they tell one of the gods eventually, once the method is fully ready. Probably Loki.

[1000tinycuts]

Oh, come on, you can't have a ninja mission with no ninja. Temari's game. And she doesn't blab. So, you need to take her.

[samantha_grey]

Oh... Gaara is so going to kill Sam for this... or Eridan is... or they can share... hah, I regret nothing!

[1000tinycuts]

What makes you think that Gaara is going to hold Sam responsible if Temari dies? This is going to be a sob in your hands moment. >

[samantha_grey]

It's often safe to assume bad things are Sam's fault. ^-^ they often are (even if this time it's totally Temari's choice to risk her neck on this.)

[1000tinycuts]

Um... Gaara knows his sister well. Trust me.

[samantha_grey]

hehe, no doubt. I think everyone who's signed up so far is very likely to get in right now due to the size of the plot (3 OOC weeks away from the network IS a biggee) but we'll see if we snag a sixth.

/puts this in the right place this time

[notaroundme]

I'd be interested in having this girl tag along if you want her.

She owes Samantha after all, and she's all for helping her friends (and she considers her one). She's also better at smart and sneaky than outright fighting, though with a decent weapon she can do that too.

If she doesn't know Elena well enough yet or thinks she isn't cut out for it, that's fine too!

hehe

[samantha_grey]

With Desmond and Temari, Samantha has a good idea of their skills either by reputation or seeing them in action. With Eridan, she'd have trouble keeping him back and has seen him in action for a while. With Soushi, he's been in the conspiracy for a bit. So I know the reasonings here.

However, I'm not refusing. I think we'll want a follow up meeting say next week, or during the Arc 3 finale that helps to set up her thinking of Elena as a possible ally for this. She has no reason to doubt her, but has just met her.

How's this: I'll tentatively say yes, and let's do something once the month is turning over to help set it up, but see if anyone else voices an interest? (There are, after all, 1-3 spots left). Sound good?

[notaroundme]

That's perfectly fair! Again, if other people are better suited, I completely understand for IC purposes. We can always find other things to do. :)

Questions?

[samantha_grey]

Any questions you have about this plot? If you're newer to the game or just it's been a long time since this plot was posted, I'll be reposting a timeline for the curious in a bit with 'how the hell did they get here?'

Timeline of the Plot for the Curious

[samantha_grey]

It all started when Conan Edogawa threw a dragon at Thiazi to celebrate Ragnarok - In the following days, Samantha snuck out to loot the body of the creature for all the material components she could get while Draco and Euri looted another of the dead dragons. This got her her armor she wears at times, but it also got her very poisonous and toxic parts that got her paranoid little mind thinking "is there anything that could really hurt one of the gods or giants that isn't us?"

-Several threads follow where she considers this, but keeps it to herself until the Salt Side trip. at this point, she begins involving Merlin and Eridan (as they're the ones watching her 'evil side' most closely.)

-But, they didn't have a clue how to do it, and breaking into the library hadn't netted them more than a little bit, that the most powerful toxins they could find would be Dragon Bile and a Hydra's Venom. So, when she went to Salt Side, she made a deal with Ran for what she thought was the first parts of the puzzle.

-And then she and Eridan just up and asked the Mimmisbrunnr how to kill a god or giant. This was, basically, the "Kill Freya" option back in Arc 2. We had a choice, and the players selected "Save Freyr," but sneaky little Sam and Eridan tried to find out how to do the Kill option on the side. The information explained a three-step process: Runic Circle, Magic Poison, Legendary Weapon Made of Special Stuff. They were on their way with the poison... but they needed ingredients for the Circle and Weapon.

-So, they ended up delving into the deep dwarven mountains for the metal and had a dwarf forge it. The weapon is currently hidden and locked up with so many runes it's not even funny.

-In the interim, the conspiracy has grown and there's been LOTS of little sneaky private plotting behind the scenes in various threads. Sam's also trying to weedle info out of the Assassin's Creed folks too.

This brings us to this stage in the game: The 'process' is nearly complete, though god only knows if a) they'll ever get the chance to use it, or b) it will even work. The Cave wasn't sure it would. And, if they want to pull this off, this is where people are going to start dying... messily.

[dragonspeak]

Leaving a slight preparatory question here, but will have to pose to the mods at some point, probably.

Will it be possible to use the Muspelheim rune spells after they do some research? Merlin will definitely want to be prepared after his runes failed so spectacularly in the Svartalfaheim trip.

snooping around here like a creeper

[asgardmods]

But the simple answer is no. The complicated answer is also fairly simple: there is no runic structure in Muspellheim. This is largely because the Fire Giants have little to no magical talent whatsoever and focus more on physical strength because they don't have the discipline to use magic. Surt himself uses raw magic over anything refined like runic arrays ( see: the Gentlemen; he literally tore open the veil to drag them in instead of throwing a rope to lasso it in the way he did when he was working with Thiazi to bring in the Darkness ), so there is no established runic system in Muspellheim.

That said, there is still magic coursing through the kingdom, it's just untapped and unrefined. There would be no research available on what works there, but you guys could try to guess and see if anything happens if you really wanted to gamble on it. If you were playing with a D20 and had to roll for whether or not your rune worked, you'd probably have to roll a 20 for success, if only because you are relying on pure dumb luck. That's just an example though, I'd have to talk to the others to get an official last word if you guys want to try this.

[samantha_grey]

Ok. Just in case the others want to try this out, let me know what the official ruling is. I appreciate the info. We will want to know what potions work either way, just to be sure.