“If we encounter more of those *Highest*” you continue “We’ll need her to fight them.”

“Why?” asks the Paladin-Commander, from the other side of his desk “From her report it seemed like the priestess of Konig killed the beast, not Baroness Dalvin.”

“She might be able to stop things coming to blows” you say, changing tack “She’s a skilled negotiator, able to help all sorts of people find common ground, this needn’t end in violence, we’re here for the secrets of the Necromancer-Kings – not to slaughter innocents.”

“Oh I’m well aware” he says, looking up from his paperwork, piercing blue eyes glaring at you “that she finds *common ground* with monsters, and savages and...demons. But she will not be needed, nor her endless cowardly prattle. I suggest you leave hellspawn, before I throw you out.”

>Try to convince him to find Sireyi (how?)
>Leave (no talking)
>I’m no demon, I’m an angel
>Fine! I’ll find her on my own (leave)
>Other

[Meta]

After receiving feedback, I will be posting romance/smut in a pastebin and linking in thread rather than posting directly in thread.

Todays thread will be shorter – only 5 hours or so. I gotta go places tomorrow morning but I plan on making a new thread tomorrow – perhaps 19 hours from now. I will post on twitter with a 1 hour warning.

[End Meta]

>>35153266
>I’m no demon, I’m an angel
>Fine! I’ll find her on my own (leave)

>>35153266
>Try to convince him to find Sireyi (how?)

How becoming of a purported follower of Konig, to so readily abandon his comrade when it suits his purposes.

>>35153437
This

Now then, do we have a way to divine her location and status?

>>35153266

>I'm no hellspawn. Can't you tell with your powers?
>Very well, if you do not think that lives of your men are valuable enough to prevent pointless bloodshed, I cannot force you.
>Leave.

>>35153564
Isla =/= Sireyi

You can't just roleplay them in exactly the same way.

>>35153561

We could go to the other mages. Sireyi was responsible for saving their lives at least two or three times. They'd surely spare at least one divination spell to see where she is.

>>35153437

I'd rather not announce we are going to go and look for her, else he might feel compelled to expressly ban us from doing so. Of course he could go fuck himself even if he did, but it's better if we could claim that he 'didn't say we couldn't take the friends and head out to look for her'.

>>35153644
Isla is in an emotional state right now, I doubt she's thinking what she says through that well.

>>35153644
This is a fair point

Tell him you'll find Sireyi?

Y/N

>>35153674

Good point.

>>35153693

No.

We'll instead go behind his back and see the mages, and remind them of how less-than-helpful the Konigites were in helping them recover artifacts, and how much more helpful Sireyi was in arguing their case and actually doing something than sitting and complaining and criticizing.

>>35153693
No, but I still want Isla to get mad and storm out.

Anything else would be out-of-character given her and Sireyi's relationship, and the Colonel might spot it as such and believe she's planning something.

“I am not hellspawn!” you insist “I am a part-angel, thanks to Sireyi. It’s a shame you can’t tell that with your powers”.
You take a breath “If you don’t care about lives under your command, I cannot force you to see reason – you useless sword-polishing illiterate dog-robber!”

You storm out of the Paladin-Commanders stateroom, you’ll just have to find Sireyi on your own. His angry bellow follows you as you leave, but you ignore him.

You return to Lunia and Ophilian, waiting outside.

“You” you say to Ophilian “would have been a great help in there.”

Ophilian shrugs helplessly “This is a military expedition and he has command, I can’t contradict him in public and even in private he can order me to shut up – exactly what did you want me to do?”

As you open your mouth to deliver the perfect retort, Lunia interjects “Ok, so that’s out, how do we go about finding Sireyi?”

You answer as the three of you hurry away from the Commanders stateroom, no point in giving him an opportunity to have you arrested for plotting.

>Scry (Isla alone)
>Scry (with help)
>We’re all going swimming (in the last place she was seen)
>We go on with the expedition (I have faith Sireyi will be ok)
>Other

With help means asking other mages to help find Sireyi, Isla alone means she does it without.

>>35153844
>Scry (with help)

>>35153844
>Scry (with help)

>>35153844
>>Scry (with help)
This should help, probably

Ok, roll 1d20+17 to scry

Increase is from help (good idea)

Rolled 4 + 17 (1d20 + 17)

>>35154032

Rolled 12 + 17 (1d20 + 17)

>>35154032

Rolled 12 + 17 (1d20 + 17)

>>35154032

>Partial Success

You seek out some of the expeditions mages and explain your situation, emphasising all the help Sireyi gave them before. In short order you have a half-dozen mages in a ritual circle boosting the power of your scrying spell.

You cast your spell and try to find Her. It’s hard, for the longest time you find...nothing, and then you get a sense that she still exists.

The mages around you are sweating, foreheads wrinkled with effort.

“The wards” one murmurs “They’re like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”

Indeed the wards you are all pressing your magic against are powerful and intricate, impossible to...no, there! An opening appeared, wasting no time you thread your magic into it....

You get a vision of Sireyi. She looks like she’s dead...no she’s sleeping, you saw her fingers twitch. She’s suspended underwater in some kind of giant glass talk, her hair and clothes billowing around her and her eyes are closed. You try to widen the vision to get a look at her surroundings but nothing happens.

The best you can do is get a feel for the direction – it’s towards the palace the expedition is heading for.

You could go in there and stick with the expeditions forces, or split off from the expedition once you get there.

Or you could go ahead with your allies, or do something else.

>Stick with expedition
>Go there with expedition, but split off
>Go on ahead
>Other

>>35154110
>Go there with expedition, but split off

>>35154110
>Go there with expedition, but split off

I'm sure the head mages can make up some techno-magic-babble to send us on a covert mission to disable magic defenses. Somethingsomething wards somethingsomething disable flextual arcano-capacitor enhancer impetus generators from inside the palace or cannot proceed without extreme discombobulation.

>>35154110

>Go ahead

All those military types would just get in the way with their bloodlust.

Thank the mages.

There’s no point in getting yourself into further trouble, just yet.

You thank the mages for their help and say “actually, it would be great if you could do me another favour.....”

Back in the Commanders stateroom...

“So you see my lord” explains Master Gawrith, Senior Arcanist “The rather extreme abjurative forces we encountered with our initial scrying could have an extremely deleterious effect upon any incursion, it is vital that these thaumaturgical defences be deactivated as soon as possible lest they prove extremely harmful to the expedition.”

Paladin-Commander Murrak glares suspiciously at the Master Wizard, and at you.

“Is this some foolish scheme the two of you have concocted to stop us from taking this position to engage in a futile chase for some dead pretender?”

Master Gawrith draws himself up to his full height of 5 and a half feet tall, his pudgy form trembling with indignation “Perish the thought!” He declares “You brought us with you to keep you appraised of arcane threats, and so appraised is what we have kept you, if you want to disregard professional advice then I suggest you stick it-“

“Alright!” growls Paladin-Commander Murrak “having the troublemakers out of the way sounds like a good idea, but you’ll be taking two of my men with you.”

He confers with one of his guards “Jumak and Harro will be here shortly, they will accompany you when we land, will that be all?” He adds in a tone that indicates that had better be all, or else.

>That will be all
>I’m not taking two armoured thugs with me
>Sireyi is no pretender!
>Sireyi isn’t dead!
>Other

And also, who is going with? (pick 3)

>Jianxi
>Matthias
>Ophilian
>Lunia
>Ebonsong

>>35154462
>Sireyi isn't dead!
>I'm not taking two armoured thugs with me

The only definition for 'pretender' that's coming to mind in this situation is 'claimant to the throne who is not the heir', so what does he mean?

>Ophilian
>Ebonsong
>Matthias

>>35154462
>Other

With all due respect, Commander, this will certainly be a mission that requires the utmost stealth and caution. While added muscle would certainly be welcome, it may be better for them to remain here to help secure a staging point if they are not adept at evading notice in an urban environment or a jungle environment.

If you have any followers who are adept in the use of ranged weaponry or who have extensive experience in such affairs, they would be of great help here.

>Companions

>Jianxi
Stealthy thiefy-type.

>Matthias
Muscle and tactics.

>Lunia
Priest stuff and pretty good at melee.

>>35154637
>what does he mean?

Not a *real* paladin

>>35154648
>Lunia
>Good at melee

>>35154654

Will we ever meet a Konig follower who isn't an asshole and who isn't a romanceable character/long-dead and venerated hero?

>>35154663

Er, I meant to put Ophilian there.

>>35154462
>Sireyi isn’t dead!
>Lunia
>Ophilian
>Jianxi

>>35154675
>Will we ever meet a Konig follower who isn't an asshole and who isn't a romanceable character/long-dead and venerated hero?

I live in hope anon, I live in hope...

Ophilian doesn't count?

>>35154750

She's an elf!

Writing up response now, if you don't want to take the two guards with you, please roll

1d20+1 Fellowship

And choose the tack you're taking

>Abrupt!
>Diplomatic

Abrupt is the one in my original post, diplomatic is more like
>>35154648
suggested

Rolled 2 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>35154787
>Diplomatic
Can't guarentee their safety. Given all the wild magic.

Rolled 17 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>35154787

>Isla's fellowship bonuses

hahaha oh wow.

Rolled 16 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>35154787
>Abrupt!

I'm okay with either so long as it still contains an emotional outburst at him saying Sireyi's dead at the beginning.

>>35154787

Diplomatic.

>>35154826

Don't go overboard with all this emotionality. Isla doesn't have track record of hysterics, even when Sireyi got teleported to a different plane.

>>35154776
Elves can't be romanced?

Or elves can't be assholes?

>>35154969

Elves are elves.

>>35154954
Yeah, I got the feeling I might be going a bit far a little after I posted that.

Still, I think she should react in some way to him saying Sireyi's dead, even if she doesn't get overly emotional.

“Sireyi isn’t dead!” you snap “She’s a lot tougher than you know and I wish all of you followers of Konig would stop treating her like she’s weaker than you, she’s a hero of the realm, honoured by the king himself!”

“I will not be talked to in that manner by some Hellspawn bookworm!” yells back the Paladin-Commander, coming to his feet, and leaning over his desk at you “I should have you thrown in the damn brig for your insolence!”

“Ah Commander” says Master Gawrith deferentially “The mission at hand...”

Paladin-Commander Murrak gathers himself a little and continues in a somewhat calmer tone “You have your orders.” He then sits back down, watching you but saying nothing.

You take advantage of the pause to compose yourself, and try to think what Sireyi would do

“With all due respect, Commander,” you say “this will certainly be a mission that requires the utmost stealth and caution. While added muscle would certainly be welcome, it may be better for them to remain here to help secure a staging point if they are not adept at evading notice in an urban environment or a jungle environment. “

He grunts, you don’t know if that’s in agreement or not,

“If you have any followers who are adept in the use of ranged weaponry or who have extensive experience in such affairs, they would be of great help here.” You continue.

“Are you finished?” he asks, and then continues without waiting for an answer “My orders stand.”

A pair of bulky-looking men in full plate enter the room “Ah, Jumak, Harro” says the Paladin-Commander “You are to accompany...this wizard and her companions and keep an eye on them” he gives the two a significant glance.

It’s clear that the Commander isn’t going to bend on this, so you leave, Jumak and Harro trailing behind you.

With all your companions ready to accompany you, you pick out Jianxi, Matthias and Ophilian.

“Noooooo!” wails Ebonsong, “I wanna, I wanna go an’ find big sis toooooo!” she throws her head back and forth in denial.

Agh! You’ve no experience with kids.

>Someone take over (who?)
>Sireyi would want you to behave
>You have a very important job to do
>Ok, (swap Ebby for who?)
>Other

>>35155126

You can't! You are not yet old enough to fight as those three do! And if Sireyi found I brought you into danger, she would kill me!

>>35155126
>You have a very important job to do

You have to stay here and help out Sireyi. With her gone, you and Lunia need to keep an eye out and see what's going on here so when she comes back, she'll know what's going on. Also, you need to make sure that Rising Moon stays out of trouble. This is an opportunity to show her how smart and grown-up you are.

>>35155126
>You have a very important job to do
If Sireyi wakes up and contacts you telepathically, that would prove she is alive, so you need to stay here and inform Master Gawrith if that happens.

>>35155126
>take her too

She will help, I'm sure. And telepathy? She need to be with Isla to warn people of it.

>>35155422

Who would we swap her out with, though?

We might be able to leave Matthias behind since Jumak and Harro are probably fighty-types. But they might not cooperate with us well.

>>35155422
The mages have communication spells, and those likely still work if the telepathy does.

>>35155360
Not a fan of your phrasing, since it seems to imply a chance of Sireyi dying or being dead, which would upset Ebonsong a great deal if said.

>>35155126
>Ok, (swap Ebby for who?)
>Matthias, one of them needs to look after their "kid"

>>35155360
This.

Ok, roll 1d20+1 for child-handling skills

>>35155512
It implies more she will not wake up before being found. But I suppose Ebby could understand it like that if we fail our roll or something.

Rolled 18 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>35155568
Well, lets see if Isla got the stuff to be the mother of Sireyis babies.

Rolled 6 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>35155568

Rolled 6 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>35155568

File: wtf.gif (2.6 MB, 459x459)

2.6 MB GIF

>>35154061
>>35154076

>>35155611
>>35155612


Are you me?

>Success
You hug Ebonsong, hey that’s what Sireyi does to you when you get upset. Ebby stiffens in your arms then returns the hug “you can’t Ebby” you say “You have to stay here and help out Sireyi. With her gone, you and Lunia need to keep an eye out and see what's going on here so when she comes back, she'll know what's going on. Also,” you add “you need to make sure that Rising Moon stays out of trouble. This is an opportunity to show her how smart and grown-up you are.”

“Mnmnnm” says Ebonsong.

“And” you add “If Sireyi wakes up and contacts you telepathically, you need to stay here and inform Master Gawrith if that happens, so he can send help.”

“Ok” says Ebonsong reluctantly “I’ll, I’ll be good...”

“Good girl” you say encouragingly as Ebonsong rushes off yelling “Hey Moonie! I’m in charge so you listen to me!” followed by Rising Moons cry of outrage.

“Are they going to be ok?” asks Ophilian

Jianxi shrugs “Let them sort out between themselves who is in charge, it’s the only way.”

“I’ll keep an eye on them” says Lunia, chasing after the two children – who are already taller than her.

Ophinus is likewise upset, he hovers around you nervously “Priestess Isla” he says “What did I do wrong, why has the Creator abandoned me?”

“You didn’t do anything wrong” you say “Sireyi just...leapt before she looked, and now it’s up to us to go and find her” you finish, trying to sound determined.

You’re not sure how to respond to *Priestess Isla*, still, if Ophinus wants to come, he can...

The four ships do not encounter any more resistance on their way to the palace and they dock at 2 different locations on either side of the structure and start off-loading troops.

Inside the palace the walls, floor and ceiling are covered in a heavy layer of lichen or mould of some sort, it looks like few people come here, though some corridors have clear floors – evidence that they are used perhaps?

You separate from the main party, with your companions in tow, as well as Harro and Jumak. The two...soldiers?..knights?...paladins? keep up with you, only a few steps behind your group, saying nothing.

Jianxi sidles up to you on one side, Ophilian on the other with Matthias behind as Jianxi whispers into your ear “So what’s the plan Isla, how do we ditch the twins?”

>We put up with them...for now
>I’ll talk to them, get them on our side
>One person (who?) will distract them, the others will run for it
>I’ll use a spell (what?)
>Other

From your scrying spell you *think* Sireyi is towards the centre and top of the main palace building.

Also, please roll 1d20, for reasons

>>35155653
I am thou... thou art I... From the sea of soul, I come...

Persona, the true self...

>>35155756

Does Philly know anything about Harro and Jumak? She's a follower of Konig, and might have trained with them or served with them before.

>>35155868
“Philly” you say “what can you tell me about Harro and Jumak?”

She leans in and whispers “They failed their trials for paladinhood, and almost failed the test of morality to become knights of Konig. Rumour has it that Murrak keeps them around as his personal bullyboys and hatchet men. Some say” she pauses “Some say they would have been expelled from the Church if not for his patronage. Oh, and they’re supposed to be excellent fighters” she adds as an afterthought “Though I can’t say for sure.”

>>35156014

Godammit.

How the hell does the church of Konig tolerate or even allow all of this cloak-and-dagger and obvious nepotism/corruption to go along without some pissed-off follower going on an internal inquisition or the other good gods slapping his shit for letting his church go to shit?

>20 minutes and no votes or rolls

Should we pick this up another day?

>>35155756

Well... from what Philly said, they're probably too deep within Murrak's pockets to be bribed or convinced. The only way I can see that they might abandon their post is if they decide that their lives are worth more than obeying Murrak's orders, or if we get forcibly separated by combat or by traps. But causing a rock-slide or cave-in or whatever may be too dangerous in an ancient building and may tip off whoever's in here.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>35155756
>We put up with them...for now
Sorry was distracted.

>>35155756
Keep the meatsheelds for now.

>>35156224
Sorry, I was distracted by CK2.

>>35155756
>We put up with them...for now
Diplomacy probably won't work on the Super Psycho Bros, and I'm reluctant to use someone as a distraction.

>>35155756
>We put up with them...for now

There will be opportunity to shake them off further inside the building. Either by them getting spooked by whatever's inside or otherwise.

Without Luna we don't have anyone who could cast a Underwater breath spell for us.
Isla apparently doesn't have that one.

>>35156320
She does, it's an L2 spell on her spell list.

>>35156361
Oh you're right. I somehow kept overlooking it.
Carry on then.

Putting up with the two guards is easier than trying to get rid of them, you decide to put up with them for now.

You head deeper into the building, climbing up towards the top, as you do so you notice that more and more of the corridors are cleared, rather than covered in mould and lichen.

Perhaps this place is occupi-

Yup, definitely occupied!

As you round a corner you see a large room filled with perhaps 50 or so elves, similar to the ones you saw earlier, perhaps even the same group.

They do not appear to have noticed you, seemingly occupied with gutting and cleaning a large pile of fish, quickly you and your companions back up around the corner.

Jianxi takes a quick look and then returns.

“I might be able to get us past them” she says “if we’re all invisible, though we need to avoid making noise” she adds, with a significant look at Harro and Jumak.

One of them, Harro you think, says “we’re not to be separated from you.”

You could backtrack and find a way around, which will take time, but be safer.
You could try and sneak past, though with the two heavily armoured chaperones that might be difficult
You could attack them, there’s *only* 50 of them
You could talk to them, but if your diplomacy skills aren’t great, it’ll be a fight.
Or you could try something else

>Backtrack
>Sneak past
>Attack
>Talk
>Other (what?)

>>35156502
>Sneak past
>Invisibility on everyone but the two "chaperones".

>>35156502
Our group hurries ahead invisibly. The bumbling fools try to catch up, thereby causing a distraction. The watchdogs are occupied fighting through the elves, the elves are distracted fighting the dogs. Profit is achieved.

>>35156612
That'll probably result in dead dogs and/or slaughtered elves.

It's a bit cold for Isla, or anyone else that considers themselves Sireyi's friend, and I doubt the dogs are stupid enough for that to work.

File: BCbest0418[1].gif___SQUAR(...).gif (75 KB, 437x312)

75 KB GIF

FUCK YEAH PALADIN OF JOY QUEST!
Thank you pally. Thank you so fucking much.

>>35156502

Hmm. Sneaking past stands a good chance of revealing Harro and Jumak, but that's probably a non-good thing to leave them to the tender mercies of the elves while we go on ahead. Sireyi wouldn't approve, and by extension Velya wouldn't either.

>>35156651
The elves and expedition people fight and die in droves already. Even Sireyi has killed native elves. If there is way to do this all peacefully, go ahead and suggest it. But I'll tell you this: the brawns will try to fuck this up as soon as they get the chance without killing themselves.

>>35156612
If they complain point out we told their boss we would need stealth so lose the armour or scram.

>>35156677
You're welcome Fuck Yeah guy.

If I may be so bold, what do you like about the quest?

I apologise for compliment-fishing, I'm just genuinely curious - so I know what bits to keep doing.

>>35156502
>Sneak past
>All get invisible, except the chaperones, they leave the armor here or we leave them here.

>>35156702
>The expedition killed many of the elves
>Even Sireyi killed native elves
Tell me when.

>>35156502
>Backtrack
>Sneak past with everybody invisible
>Talk

>>35156702
>Peaceful solutions
Talking, backtracking, maybe give sneaking past an honest shot?

>>35156725

Eh, I can go with this. If they won't cooperate with accomplishing the mission in an expedient manner, then they may have to fall back to where they will be more useful.

ok so sneaking past and either telling the two guards to ditch the armour or sneaking past and use the opportunity to ditch them seem to be the popular options.

So I'm going to narrow it down to:

>Ditch guards
>Remove armour

As the only options and leave voting open for a bit longer

>>35156502
>Backtrack
Guys, what are you even doing?
I leave for an hour and I come back to murderhobo bullshit?

>>35156834
>Remove armour

>>35156858

The commander guy seems to be setting us up to fail. The description of the two grunts don't exactly inspire confidence in their ability to not be backstabby or as not useful as possible.

>>35156834
>Remove armour
If they don't
>Ditch guards

I would prefer them not running after us and getting into a fight witht he elves. While convenient, its rather callous.

>>35156834
>Remove armour

>>35156743
Outside the ruins, when the elves attacked. She mostly fought the magic users. Sure, it was self-defence, but there was already a huge fight with the sea-elves. Sireyi just decided she was so far above their weight class she could show off enough for them to leave. Which worked for the moment.

In any case, that's Sireyi. These people are lead by Isla, who is protective, not bound by those rules, emotional and, most importantly, knows that Sireyi was captured by these people when she tried a peaceful solution. She has every right to consider them hostile and hate them for capturing her and putting her into a magic cylined. Given that Sireyi also just talked to her about how every single magical artifact found so far was evil and used life-energy, chances are good that they are doing nefarious things to her. Sireyi is also the best at talking to people, and the most willing to do so. After she has failed, and while trying to rescue her from the very people her diplomacy has failed against, it seems reasonable for Isla to assume the worst.

I'm too sleepy to think, so I won't write anymore about this. Good night.

>>35156890
So you want to get them and a number of elves who probably don't deserve it killed?

>>35156924

Sireyi didn't raise hand against one. The spellcasters just suffered backlash when Philly obliterated their pet squids.

>>35156834
Best if the guards leave willingly so let them come if they seem 100% ok with it otherwise tell them it's better they fall back and ditch them.

>>35156925

We're either going to get them to make themselves more stealthy so they can sneak by alongside of us, or make them think it's not worth risking their hides to watch over us during a mission that they may not be especially suited for.

If they're dumb enough to follow us without taking proper precautions, that's their problem.

>>35156971
I meant the land-elves and their ruins. When they attacked with living trees. Was too sleepy to notice that the reference to sea-elves would make that confusing. Doesn't matter anymore anyway. Everyone is already distracted from the best option, which is backtracking.

>>35157047
That weren't elves. Those were beast-folk.

>>35157047

There's too much paranoia and stuff going around right now. Usually there aren't a lot of choices here that force possible moral degradation at the expense of mission completion/character death.

Telling them to ditch the armour appears to be most popular.

Please roll 1d20+1 Fellowship

Rolled 5 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>35157134

Rolled 12 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>35157134

ARRRGH FELLOWSHIP CHECK

Rolled 8 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>35157134

“You two” you say to the guards “need to get rid of the armour if we’re to sneak past them without a fight.”

The two share a look and then one (Jumak?) says in a gruff tone “Not happening.”

“This is the quickest way past” you say “We can either get into a fight we could lose, or we take ages to circle around them.”

Maybe your impatience shows. You can’t stop thinking of what a group of mages who power their magic by draining the lives of others could be doing to your Sireyi- No, NO! You can’t think of that right now, you need to focus on the problem in front of you.

“Then we go around” says Jumak, with a shrug, like he doesn’t care about the time it’ll take.

You flick a quick glance at your companions, Matthias gives you a tiny nod, Jianxi just shifts her weight slightly and puts her hands to her knife-sheaths. Ophilian looks indecisive, like she’s not sure what to do.

>Fine, we go the long way around
>We’re going through, if you want to stay or follow, that’s your choice
>Leave, both of you
>Other

>>35157212
>We’re going through, if you want to stay or follow, that’s your choice
>Invisibility on everyone but the two.

>>35157212
>Don't even bother replying, just cast the spells on your companions and go.

>>35157212
How close are they to us?

Could we get a spell off before they could reach us?

I'm thinking of putting them in a Forcecage before we turn invisible and go past.

>>35157212

I'll second this:

>>35157274

I just want this to get going. This is excruciating.

>>35157287
>How close are they to us?

A few feet away

>Could we get a spell off before they could reach us?

Probably - for all they know, you could be casting an invisibility spell on them, after all

>>35157274
This

>>35157386
In that case, forcecage them first.

Unless anyone has a reason not to?

>>35157447
That would be kind attacking them.
We aren't obligated to waste our resources on them, but attacking them would be going too far.

>>35157480
Forcecage just imprisons them, and the entire reason to do it is so they don't follow us like idiots and get killed.

>>35157447
It's a fair question

Forcecage?

Y/N

>>35157500
Y

It's only four points of Arcane Energy and it's worth not having to worry about them chasing us and getting themselves killed.

>>35157447
If the elves find them caged it would be a bad thing.

>>35157500
N
It can easily be seen as a attack, and he is the leader of the expedition, being annoying doesn't cut it as a reason.

>>35157526
The cage is six walls of solid force, it can't be moved and doesn't allow physical attack to pass through.

On top of that, we could probably make it fade after 5-30 minutes to minimize risk.

>>35157447

We still want to leave them a way out in case they get noticed. Force-caging them might trap them in here with the elves. In addition, that would construe a hostile action against them.

If we ditch, we can at least make an excuse that they were deliberately obstructing the mission and so we proceeded without them and allowed them to rejoin the main force.

If we do decide to cast a forcecage, it would just have to block their way. That way, the elves can't chase after them, but they could still retreat back to the camp.

>>35157500
>N
They have no way out on their own. They haven't actually done anything yet.
Forcewall if possible would be a better option since it would allow them to retreat.

>>35157550
Assuming we can do that with the spell, sure.

>>35157550
>>35157586

You can do a forcecage that has a way out (backwards), yes.

>>35157548
What if an elf finds them in 4 minutes?

>>35157542
It's not really an attack, if we were going to attack them, we have better spells than that to do it with.

He isn't the leader of the expedition.

The fact that they might get themselves killed otherwise and are keeping us from taking the most efficient route to Sireyi are perfectly in-character reasons.

>>35157636
>Six walls of solid force that don't allow physical attacks through
What if anon learned to read?

>>35157586
>>35157619
Leaving a way out just means they just wlak out the moment we make it. A Forcewall blocking the entire path is better, it hinders them from following us, while allwoing them to go back.

>>35157659
>It's not really an attack
That doesn't matter at all, its ahostile action which he will see as a attack and will take the appropriate measures. And three of our companions are still in the camp. No need to escalate this.

no votes winning (2 vs 1) I'll give it a few more minutes.

>>35157665

That's what I meant.

>>35157697
Voting for Forcewall instead of Forcecage.

Wall them off. Not cage

>>35157500

Forcewall vote here.

Wall it is, writing

You don’t even bother replying you just cast your spell and summon a wall of pure force energy and have Jianxi cast a spell to render you all invisible and then you start to sneak through the room full of elves.

QM note: Jianxi-only has been removed – this was a legacy from when she couldn’t access the full spell.

One of the guards steps forward angrily and slams his fist silently on the wall several times but the other grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him back, shaking his head. The two retreat back the way you came, one guard looking back to glare at you.

None of the elves take any notice of you as you move quietly through the room and exit through the opposite side.

Once you are past them, Ophilian asks “Was that really wise Isla, I mean, they could be trouble for us later?”

“They were just holding us up” you answer airily “we could have been waiting around all day. I thought about trapping them in a cage, but the elves could have found them, this was the best option for everyone.”

“Hear hear” says Matthias, as Ophilian shakes her head.

You continue onwards through the main building, towards the top. Your journey takes many twists and turns but eventually you come to what appears to be a study of some sort. There’re long benches with dissected animal corpses on them, around the rooms are lots of jars with preserved bodies of all manner of non-humanoid creatures in them.

Several bookshelves are scattered around the room as well as some open on worktops on the large desk at the back. In one corner appears to be a preserved corpse of an old man on a wooden stand.

All this place is lacking is a creepy-looking necromancer of some kind. You wonder where he (or she) is.

This place smells of preservative fluid, and isn’t very clean, but it’s clear it has been recently used.

>Wait for the occupant to show up
>Examine books
>Examine corpse
>Examine experiments
>Leave
>Other (what?)

>>35157854
>Leave
No time for this.

>>35157854
>Leave
Finding Sireyi is far more important to Isla and the expedition will likely find anything interesting in this stuff anyway.

>>35157854
>Examine books

Sireyi was being held in some sort of liquid-filled tank, right? There might be a notebook or experimental log or something here that details how the machinery works or such.

Just give them a cursory glance, at least.

>>35157854
>>Leave
gotta find her then we can loot this place for all its worth

>>35157963
It is one of the few things Isla is really good at.

Would anyone be really opposed to spending a few moments giving a cursory glance to the open books?

I'm worried this necromancer might be the guy doing whatever he's doing to Sireyi, and I'd like to know what it is, so the most likely place to check would be the open books.

I'm >>35157940 by the way, so count this as tying the vote for the moment.

>>35158014
Ok, vote tied, waiting

Read

>>35157854
>>35157886
In the interest of moving forward, changing this to
>Examine Booksm

You casually leaf through some of the books whilst your companions stand around looking impatient.

They’re much like the anatomy books you studied back at the guild, though the writer appears to think in terms of higher and lower lifeforms and catalogues creatures by complexity and size rather than by any ordered taxonomy. Notes refer to *life reaching a vital threshold* whatever that is.

Suddenly the corpse on the stand twitches and speaks “ha ha” it says in a dried up, dusty voice “I so seldom get visitors, so forgive my lack of manners, I am Itromo. Can I get you anything to drink? Water? Blood? Formaldehyde?”

He steps down off the stand and shuffles towards you. He appears to be an old human man, very old. His face is lined with dozens of wrinkles and he has a few wisps of white hair across his mostly bald head. He is wearing a patched and stained robe and he walks hunched over and with a pronounced limp. He offers a withered claw of a hand to shake and them withdraws it when it becomes clear you’d rather not.

He peers at you myopically “huh, another- no, not quite, still, what can I do for you?”

>Introduce self
>Freak out
>What are you?
>Another what?
>I’m looking for an angel called Sireyi
>Do you serve the necromancer-kings?
>Other (what?)

Ophilian looks a little freaked, she’s half drawn her blade, Jianxi and Matthias have backed up to give themselves room to fight and Ophinus has taken flight and is circling overhead.

>>35158172
>Introduce self
>I’m looking for an angel called Sireyi

>>35158172
>Introduce self
>Another what?
>I’m looking for an angel called Sireyi

>>35158172
>Introduce self
>What are you?
>Another what?

“I am Isla Wendmore of House Wendmore” you say “what are you?”

“Just an old man who has survived long past his time” he says, a look of calm acceptance on his face “Are you lost my dear?”

“In a way” you say “What do you mean by another?”

He waves a hand dismissively “I saw something that looked a little like you, but quite different.”

Hope flares in your chest “I’m looking for an angel called Sireyi?”

“An angel?” he says, looking puzzled “What’s that?”

“Looks a little like me” you say “gold eyes, silver hair, white wings?”

“Ah” he says, appearing to understand “yes, her, I put her in the sacrificial circle in the hibernation room.”

>YOU WHAT?
>Is she ok? (calm)
>[attack]
>Other

Ophilians eyes go flat and she draws her sword fully. Matthias circles around to the old mans side, as Jianxi circles to his other side. He doesn’t seem bothered.

Option 2 will require a roll if it wins, don’t roll until asked, please.

>>35158393
>YOU WHAT?!

>>35158393
>YOU WHAT?

>>35158393

>YOU WHAT?

>>35158393
>YOU WHAT?

I sure hope that this is just because he didn't have anywhere else to put her and not a way to kill or drain the life-force out of something.

>>35158393
Why did you put her there?

Ophilians eyes go flat and she draws her sword fully. Matthias circles around to the old mans side, as Jianxi circles to his other side. He doesn’t seem bothered.

Option 2 will require a roll if it wins, don’t roll until asked, please.

“YOU WHAT?” you shriek, your voice climbing in volume and pitch.

“I put her in the sacrificial circle” he repeats “It’ll be the easiest way to get the damn thing back to sleep, by convincing It that she caused all the ruckas. Hopefully if It wakes up It’ll eat her and go back to sleep.”

“Explain” you say, mentally reviewing your spells “right now.”

“Should I explain on the way?” he asked, seemingly unperturbed at the obvious threat of violence.

At your curt nod, he shuffles out of the room, the four of you (five including Ophinus) following closely.

“The Lords of Life” he says in a lecturing tone “Ruled this plane and many others before their empire crumbled due to-”

“Get to the point!” you insist “Where is Sireyi?”

“I am” he says patiently, shuffling along “ok, the ending, the ending, ah yes. The remaining Lords of Life went into hmm, hibernation until life returned to their worlds, but they remembered their ancient foes.”

He slowly climbs a set of stairs as you almost dance with impatience “Now people have come here before, but It has barely stirred, but now I think It is waking up, and I think your...Sireyi...is the reason. So to keep It asleep, I kept her nearby It, so that if It does wake up, I can convince It that she is the reason, a lone scout and after torturing and devouring her, It will fall into slumber again.”

Sounds like there’re a lot of details missing from that summary.

>I don’t care, move FASTER (exclusive option, skips exposition)
>What is *It*?
>Fate of the Lords of Life?
>Why keep *It* asleep
>Other

>>35158749
>I don’t care, move FASTER (exclusive option, skips exposition)

>>35158749
>>I don’t care, move FASTER (exclusive option, skips exposition)
GET ON WITH OLD MAN WE GOT ANGELS TO SAVE

>>35158749

Is the exposition going to affect anything significant? Like are we dealing with time-sensitive stuff here or not?

>>35158843
In character: You don't know.

OOC: No time limit that will be affected by this, no.

>>35158749
>Other

Do you have a brochure or a condensed version of this? We're kind of in a hurry.

>>35158749
>Fate of the Lords of Life?

“Do you have a condensed version?” you ask Itromo

“Hmm” he says “Not really.”

“Then move faster” you say “We can listen to the history lesson after we free Sireyi”

“Yes” he agrees “I hope that might be the case.”

“Ah, here we are” he says after what feels like an eternity following the shuffling old man through endless corridors and passages.

You see a vast hall ahead of you, stretching away into darkness.

The hall appears unoccupied except for...some suits of armour on stands and a small glass?

No, wait...as your eyes adjust to the dim lighting you see it is a large glass tank at the other end of the hall, in which floats a winged humanoid figure – it’s too far away to see if it’s Sireyi or not. If it is those suits of humanoid armour around her are giant-sized, easily 30ft tall.

You’ve not entered the hall yet, you’re at the entrance, and the lighting here is dim. There appears to be 4 giant suits of armour, standing around a glass cylinder filled with water. None of the suits are moving.

Itromo simply shuffles forward into the room, bumbling forward without a care in the world.

What do you do?

>Rush on ahead, you have to save Sireyi! (exclusive option)
>Follow him slowly and cautiously
>Arcane Sight
>Light spell
>True Seeing
>Other spell (what?)
>Other

Ahead you sense...something that makes you sick to your stomach.

“What is this place?” asks Matthias, looking around him.

“This is where It sleeps” says Itromo enigmatically.

>>35159092
>>Arcane Sight
>>Light spell
>>True Seeing
In that order if each doesn't trigger anything worrysome.

>>35159092
>>True Seeing
We may be horrified by what we see but there is no such thing as too much information, always better off knowing more

>>35159125
These, but true seeing first. I smell shenanigans.

True seeing

Oh you brave souls.

Roll 1d20+5 Willpower

voting for other actions still open

>>35159092
Ask him what will happen if we do whatever we chose to do.

Rolled 6 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>35159190

Rolled 3 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>35159190

Rolled 7 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>35159190
>Suddenly Call of Cthulhu

>>35159092
>Follow him slowly and cautiously

Aw yess, I thought I'd miss this quest entirely today.

>>35159363
I hate to break it to you anon, but OP said he'd probably only be running for five hours.

That was five hours ago.

You stay where you are, not following Itromo into the room and cast your spell, wanting to see things as they truly are.

You see that the four suits of armour are animated and controlled each by dozens of sentient souls all fused together into a greater intelligence or hive mind.

The wall at the other end of the hall isn’t a wall at all. It is a vast living creature it is...endless hunger. It is the devourer.

You see countless thousands of lives snuffed out to feed it, their suffering nourishing it as much as their lives. Generations were raised solely to suffer and die so that this thing might live and grow.

Its powers and magic are complex beyond reasoning, your head starts to swim as you attempt to comprehend it’s multi-part nature. Not one single entity by a vast whole made of smaller parts, what was once one creature is now several linked creatures. It is life and it is death.

Blood drips down your lip from your nose.

It was old when the world was young, It represents the principle of Survival At Any Cost. It is the Black Shadow, It is the Eater of Worlds, It is-

You are lying on a cold stone floor, Ophilian is kneeling over you “Are you ok?” she asks.

“Mrnglk” you say, and then spit out a mouthful of your own blood “I think so” you croak out, “what happened?”

“You collapsed” says Ophilian, helping you to your feet “Not sure why.”

Itromo has stopped and is watching you closely.

“What will happen” you ask, still leaning on Ophilian “If we do whatever we choose to do?”

Itromo considers this “You friend might die” he says “Or perhaps your world. Now come, I need to show you something.”

>Follow him
>Ask questions (what?)
>Ignore him, free Sireyi
>Other (what?)

>>35159471
>Ask question
>How does that thing stay 'asleep'?
>What exactly is it? Can it be killed? What if sacrifices to it stop?

>>35159408

I know ;_;

But I still managed to participate a little.

>>35159471
>Follow him
>Ask Questions

These right here: >>35159521

“Wait” you say, forestalling him “How does that thing stay asleep?”

“It went into slumber long ago” he says “When this world was almost wiped clean of life, it waits until this world is once again vital and teeming with life – I have done my best to keep large numbers of living creatures away from it to keep it asleep.”

“What exactly is it?” you ask

“It is one of the Lords of Life” he says “What I believe you would call a Necromancer-King”

“Can it be killed?” You ask

“Oh yes” he says, nodding his head “Many of the Lords of Life killed one another, and a few were killed by the entities called *gods* but” he adds “It cannot be killed *here* the spells that protect it in hibernation would unleash a cataclysm on this world if was, or if tampered with.”

“What if sacrifices to it stop?” you ask

He shrugs “Eventually, it would fall into sleep again, and over many thousands of thousands of years it would dwindle to nothing.”

He continues forward and you follow, cautiously

As you get closer you see that yes, it is Sireyi in the water-filled glass tank. You’re at the back of the room, the...whatever it is behind the tank and the suits of armour.

The tank is indeed in a ritual circle of some kind. Four smaller circles surround the main circle. Within 3 of those circles is a large leather-bound tome each, the fourth is empty.

One of the tomes appears to be bound in human skin, and is the source of the sick feeling you’re experiencing.

One has colours and lights coming from inside it.

One is bound in brass and smells faintly of burning and...sulphur?

“Hmmm” says Itromo, gazing up at the thing “Only a few hours perhaps.”

“Until what?” asks Ophilian, staring up at the vast...thing. In the darkness you can’t really make out what it looks like, except that you mistook its torso for a wall.

“Until It wakes up” he says “And after that the whole plane will die – though it’s death will probably take decades” he clarifies.

“Still” he says, gazing up at the monstrosity in regret, “time enough for you to make your choice.”

“What choice?” you ask, your head still swimming from what you saw.

“It will wake up soon” he says “You could sacrifice your friend to it, and I could convince It that she was the only threat, and It will probably go back to sleep.”

“Not really fond of that option” chips in Matthias, as Ophinus lets out a squeak of horror from his perch on your shoulder.

“Or...?” you prompt

“Or you could flee” he suggests “And enjoy a few more decades of life before it destroys the world to feed itself, which do you choose, your friend, or the world.

>I’ve chosen (vote in next post)
>Tell me about the books
>How will Sireyi dying save us?
>Ask questions (what?)
>Other

>>35159746
>>I’ve chosen (vote in next post)
We save Serya and all of us together kill the cunt.

>>35159746
>I’ve chosen (vote in next post)
Sacrificing one of the greatest living weapons of good will serve no purpose, fuck this guy.

>>35159746
>Tell me about the books
>I've chosen (vote in next post)

>>35159815
Don't call Sireyi a weapon.

Champion is a far better term.

>>35159795
>>35159815
He knows more about the Lords of Life than anyone else, killing him would serve little purpose.

He might be a decent ally, and his knowledge would certainly be useful.

He's also been keeping this thing contained and asleep for gods-only-know how long, so he's most likely not on it's side.

>>35159869
“Tell me about the books” you say

“What book-” he starts and then says “Oh those books. Yes that was a project It had me start a long time ago. It wanted a servant that could be raised from an ignorant mortal to the level of supreme mystical might in a very short space of time. I designed the four books to cram as much knowledge into a candidates skull as possible in the space of a few weeks.”

“The books” he says “are there to give knowledge of life and death” he points at the one bound in human skin.

“Magic itself” he points as the one flashing with lights and colours.

“And machinery and automata” he says, pointing at the brass one.

>And the fourth book
>How do they work?
>Dangers of using?
>Other

There’s no fourth book in sight, but there is a space for it, and he did say four books.

Vote for previous post still open of course.

>>35159920
>And the fourth book
>How do they work?
>Dangers of using?

>>35159920
>And the fourth book
>How do they work?
>Dangers of using?

>>35159920
Can we take the books and work out how to kill it safely?

>>35159906
I meant the lord of life. The dude can witness a demigod slaying her lessers.

“How do they work?” you ask, intrigued by the thought of knowledge despite your situation

“You read them” he says “They can only be read once, after that the writing fades, but it impresses all of the knowledge into your head so it can never be forgotten.”

“That sounds like it could be dangerous” you say

“Knowledge changes people” he responds with a dry cough “perhaps that is dangerous, perhaps your will would be strong enough to withstand it.”

“And the fourth book?” you ask “where is that?”

“Oh that” he says “is back in my study, it’s unfinished really, I was trying to find a way to combined a Simulacrum spell with a Telepathic Bond with distributed arcane signature to allow someone to literally be in many places at once, but the duplicates keep breaking down and I don’t know why.”

Well that’s interesting, but really it’s a distraction.

“Wait” you say “Will the books tell me how to kill it safely?”

Itromo freezes, looking like an upright corpse “Possibly....” he concedes “Though not without risk I think.”

Decision time

>I’m sorry Sireyi, the needs of the many vs the needs of one....
>Save Sireyi/She’ll save us
>Save Sireyi/Screw the world, I love her
>Save/Other reason

The reason as to why you save Sireyi is important.

And the books

>Take books (which?)
>Leave books

All 4 books are up for grabs.

Other

>Ask Question (what?)

>>35160061
Remember that the Lords of Life and their minions fought against entire hosts of angels, possibly including our mother, and weren't destroyed.

Sireyi is powerful and a Saint, but that's a bad fight to pick at this point in time.

>>35160146
>Save Sireyi/Screw the world, I love her
>take books (all?)

>>35160146
>Save Sireyi/She’ll save us
Take all the books

>>35160146
>Save Sireyi/She’ll save us
>Save Sireyi/Screw the world, I love her

These are both partially true.

Isla likely believes that Sireyi will be able to save the world from the Lord of Life, but she also loves her enough that she'd save her regardless.

>Take books (all)
No point in leaving them.

>>35160146
>>Save Sireyi/She’ll save us
And we take the books to help. Fuck extraplanar threats.

>>35160146
>Save Sireyi/She’ll save us
>Save Sireyi/Screw the world, I love her
In addition, there's no guarantee that it'll go back to sleep even if Sireyi is sacrificed. These guys were gods in their own right and probably hella smart. It could probably figure out that this "servant" is trying its damndest to starve it to death, or it could just decide that the time to rise is now and start rampaging.

>Take all books

>>35160146
>Save Sireyi/Screw the world, I love her
>Take all books

Love conquers all

“I believe Sireyi can save us” you say “and I love her, if it was a choice between the world or her, I’d choose her every time.”

Itromo nods sadly “Yes, a notable flaw in your species” he says “If that is your reason, I have no choice, it is as it must be, Ylikrio!” he barks out the last word as a command and the four suits of armour shiver, and turn towards you.

“Uh oh” says Matthias as they raise massive fists.

“Yeah who didn’t see this coming?” asks Jianxi, pulling out her knives.

And end thread.

Thanks for playing and hopefully I’ll see you in 14 hours or so, please check twitter for running time.

>>35160146
>Save Sireyi/She’ll save us
>Save Sireyi/Screw the world, I love her
>Take books (All)

Letting her get eaten only guarantees doom.

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258 KB JPG

>>35160454

Why can't there ever be friendly giant robots when we need them?

>>35160538
Build some after reading the book

>>35160454
>>35160557

Aw yess, I'm getting hyped

>>35160557

But if *we* build them, they're just really tough mooks!

If an ancient civilization builds them, they're obviously huge superweapons or guardians who take a lot of effort and sacrifice to take down!

>>35160718
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LostTechnology

>>35160754

Exactly!

While we're here wondering how we're going to open up supply lines for PPCs or Beam Rifles and whether to produce the weak yet extremely cheap -1Z variant or spring for full production of the experimental model, these dudes are faffing about with Mazinkaisers and Getter Robos and Dancougars!