Shadow Walker Chapter 1 (Spoilers*)

[michaelsuave]

Noticed that nobody had put up a thread for the spoilers yet.

So who thinks that Fluer will act based on the information from Kyven? How many people think that that the other governments will sit on their collective arses? I'm voting on number 2... its going to be the arcans verses the loreguard army...

[Mizriath]

Thanks Fel for the chapters from the bottom of my heart.

Since I cannot post in the Chapters forum, I have to post my thanks here.

[ANTIcarrot]

So who thinks that Fluer will act based on the information from Kyven? How many people think that that the other governments will sit on their collective arses? I'm voting on number 2... its going to be the arcans verses the loreguard army...

Just to be contrary, I'll go for a partial 1 - but it will likely take place far off screen, and thus will have limited impact on the story.

Of course if Fluer needed absolute proof... They might ask for a shaman. And then we have Clover, who can (IIRC) make crystals, and might need a quick bolt hole during the next few chapters... I can see a quick visit from her to be *very* convincing to their government. Pragmatically, the arcans will soon make better business partners, and can solve several problems they will soon face. And the Fluerians strike me s very pragmatic.

“Because they don‘t take magic to use,” he answered simply. “And I could use that. More to the point, I need the most accurate rifle you can find, Shario. Something I can use to hit a target from three hundred paces with one try.”

"Ah, Mon Amie! I have what you requested. It is the perfect thing! I present to you the SA-80. The most accurate rifle the Britons have ever produced!"

"Why is this bit falling off?"

"Oh don't worry, that part isn't important..."

[expedient]

It will be interesting to see how much panic and fear is generated when Loreguard and Loremasters start turning up missing or dead. If complete patrols were to be killed, or perhaps in a more effective tactic disappear without trace, Kyven, Clover and Shario could evoke dissent within the ranks.

Kyven talks about war having no rules, so I take that to mean he has an understanding that morals and principals get compromised. Bringing Smoke and Lucky into their cell could be a big blunder. That’s two unknowns who now know who they are and a little about how they operate. Tweak, Patches and Lightfoot all have a concrete reality to protect from the Loremasters, whilst Smoke and Lucky know only life under slavery. If captured their mission is at great risk. Better he should have taken them to Shario.


On a lighter note, I wonder how Danna is coping randomly changing form between arcan and human. It could lead to amusing situations, and a large number of ruined outfits. Though I guess Firetail could fix those...

[lapland]

If you really want to cause fear and mayham then turn up the heat a LOT by carving up your missing baddies like a sunday ham and make sure enough is missing to be thought of as palatable to those on the run. Doing so with a nife and fork instead of teeth will cause utter confusion. Especially since they know what was responsible for their disapearance.

[ANTIcarrot]

If you really want to cause fear and mayham then turn up the heat a LOT by carving up your missing baddies like a sunday ham and make sure enough is missing to be thought of as palatable to those on the run. Doing so with a nife and fork instead of teeth will cause utter confusion. Especially since they know what was responsible for their disapearance.

He might also want to order a number of 'penny rifles' along with that sniper rifle of his. Then when he shoots someone he can leave incriminating evidence at the home of the victim's rivals. Would only work a few times, until they worked out it really was a shaman, but...

[boballab]

Another good way to stir the pot would be to go out in the disguise of a Loreguard officer and assinate a Loremaster in broad daylight. We know the Loreguard escort Loremasters around and they probably wouldn't think twice if a Loreguard officer approachs them wearing a shockrod, of course the shockrod is just a prop for Kyven's Shaman powers, and he burns them down. Think of the confusion that would create for the Loremasters, they wouldn't be able to trust the Loreguard officers and troops they have guarding them is really guarding them. Then do something vice versa pretending being a Loremaster and ordering a patrol into a bad spot where Clover could ambush them. If the Leaders can't trust the troops and the troops don't trust the leaders it makes it very hard to run a war.

[lapland]

Kyven would love that one. It fits everything he is about. Cause confusion, distrust, and fear. Battle lines become blured and everyone hunkers down to see who comes out on top. All the while the neighbors get inside information and are not happy. They start a war and Kyven sits back and bask in the knowledge his people are not involved.... This allows Kyven to find out more information about the secret weapons and technology they are trying to bring back and provides methods to stop it. Also letting the commoners of his own country know some of what is about to happen would cause internal conflict and mistrust, which is already evident by how Kyven thought about the Lormasters before his transformation.

It wouldn't hurt if he started draining the crystals all over the country. Or at least for him, all over the city. Maybe others can drain them in other cities. Especially food production equipment and the collars. Spend two days draining collars and sending the slaves into the hills to be met by friends would also cause mayham. Just Kyvens faverite thing to do. Also draining crystals that produce lights would make his job much more effective. Starlight is plenty to work with.

The more angles he works from the better his chances.

[IdiotPaste]

Another approach Kyven could try would be to turn the guilds against the loremasters. As Fel has stated the guilds have a lot of power and influence. If Kyven disguised himself as a loreguard and started harassing crystal cutters or alchemists, he might be able to eventually get the guilds to start refusing work from the loremasters. If the loremasters could suddenly not get their crystals cut or supply their troops with alchemical devices it could put a serious crimp in their plans. Not to mention the fact that it would divide the loremasters attention between finding Kyven and dealing with an angry guild.

[ANTIcarrot]

Another approach Kyven could try would be to turn the guilds against the loremasters.

Disagree strongly. The crystal guild would be shocked, but are unlikely to oppose efforts to secure the remaining crystal stocks and the project to create new ones. The arcan meat and fur trade guild is VERY UNLIKELY to agree with anything that would require them to admit they have murdered millions of people. The vast majority of the citizens in this city, including guild members, will strongly emphasis with one or two of those points of view.

Kyven might inconvenience the loremasters, and force them to speedup their plans, but I can think of nothing he could tell the locals that would make them stand against the loremasters once they had a chance to think about it. The threat of massive and indiscriminate retaliation in answer to any Loremaster aggression west of the mountains might have an effect... But there is a real chance that the locals would prefer that risk to the reality and implications of an arcan nation.

[Mad Monk]

Kyven would be doing best if he targets the most reasonable and friendly of the loremasters and loreguard officers. This leaves the "socially challenged" in charge - the petty tyrants and jobsworths who really screw up the system and bring it to disrepute. This is why terrorists target aid workers - these people can act as a bridge to foster understanding.

Making official complaints through his guild, especially if he can convince others to also complain, about disruption to trade, and damage to property by the loreguard will also spread discontent.

Draining most, but not all, the power from crystals would also probably be effective. That way, the crystals are likely to fail while in use, causing additional damage and disruption.

I suspect that if he tries to raid the island again, he will face a trap. He may still attempt it, as he has mentioned trying to drain the stored crystals there.

[lapland]

Most shamen can create crystals, either perfect or more natural with flaws. Kyven hasn't been able to create any yet, and possibly won't be able to. But could he, or another cause a flaw in an already cut crystal? Kyven knows crystals and knows what each type of flaw can do for or to a crystal. If he could stratigically place a flaw in the right place within a crystal.......

[expedient]

If crystal creation is based more on skill than strength of power then we could expect Kyven with his training to be superior to other shaman. However, changing a manna crystal that is already in a stable state might require considerably more power than creating one from scratch. The crystal structure itself might resist change but "snap" into place when pouring manna energy in during creation. Similar in some way to how graphite is brittle and diamond is hard, the energy may be "fluid" and the crystals much harder to alter.

[ANTIcarrot]

However, changing a manna crystal that is already in a stable state might require considerably more power than creating one from scratch. The crystal structure itself might resist change but

Or he could use a hammer.
Just because you can use magic, doesn't mean you have to use magic for everything. Or that you have to use magic directly. Use magic to create tool or effect X and use that to achieve you effects.