>>39244961

“Umm.” Marissa sniffs and hiccups loudly. “I saw t-those Occultists, t-they went to go fight what we s-s-summoned.” She looks down at her feet. “They’re still here.”

Finally some luck.

Matthias rushes over to your apprentice and wrenches her to her feet. “Then, where are they!?” He yells inches from her face.

A bitter look falls upon her face. “I-I don’t know, I had to run. Four is too many for them to deal with.”

Immediately, the sound of screaming cuts through the rain outside, but this time the panicked mob is running the opposite direction.

Now you have two directions to check, toward the guild and toward the market.

You look around the room. Splitting up would find Aya faster, but there’s really only four of you here that can fight in some capacity, everyone besides Ellie. So, it’s time to make your plan.

Choose one person to head out with.

>Matthias.

>Laurent.

>Marissa.

>Write in

Choose a direction to head toward.

>Toward the Market.

>Toward the Guild.

>Write in.

>>39245017
>>Laurent.
>Toward the Market.
He can cqc while we throw fire.

Marissa and Matthias should take the other path and Lock the door behind us. Wake Ellie up if we need to.

>>39245017
>Matthias
>Toward the Market.
If we find Aya we're going to need Matthias with us to calm her down most likely.
Also heya Auri!

Rolled 2 (1d2)

Hello, you two!
>>39245103
>>39245176
We're definitely headed toward the market, but it will have to be a roll to decide who we're taking with us.

1=Laurent
2=Matthias

>Writing the winner.

>>39245278

The market has much more people in the area around it, so if there’s a creature out terrorizing, that’s likely where it would go.

You take a deep breath. “Everyone calm down, and listen well.” You walk over to Marissa. “Four you said?”

She nods meekly.

You hesitate for a fraction of a second before asking your next question. “How big are they and did you notice anything dangerous about their morphology?”

She points at Laurent. “A-as tall as him, but b-bulkier with very pale skin. “ She sniffs and thinks for a moment. “I only saw them for a moment, but I think they had big claws.” She hiccups every now and then, but she’s calmed down significantly.

You weren’t sure what to expect, but you’re slightly relieved by her descriptions. At the very least, it sounds like they can be driven off.

You place both your hands on her shoulders. “You’re stronger than you know.” You smile at her softly. “But for that reason you’re going to have to help look for Aya too.”

She inhales to object, but only manages to hiccup loudly.

“Laurent will go with you to check the area toward the guild.” You turn back to him to see that he has something to say in protest, but your firm glance stops him. “If you run into trouble, then I give you permission to use your form without holding back.”

Her eyes suddenly light up, but you have no more time to reassure her futher.

[1/2]

>>39246092

You nod for Matthias to come with you and the two of you head for the door.

You turn back at the last moment and direct your attention to Ellie. “Lock up after we’ve left, and remember that if it comes to it, you’ll be defending something very important.”

Of course, you don’t say exactly what you meant by something important, but it’s probably better that way.

With the hood of your cloak now thrown over your head, you and Matthias dash out into the screaming storm.

Individuals run in a confused panic in every direction from the currently unseen threat, but the two of you slosh along the road with a steady pace.

The unforgiving wind whips into your side, and steals your breath as you puff along. Far in the distance, lightning cracks the sky.

Matthias yells something to you, which you don’t quite catch with the weather making so much noise.

He slows his pace. “Why would they even want her in the first place!?” He yells at the top of his lungs.

Your stomach sinks upon hearing the question. In all the commotion, you forgot that you’re actually responsible for most of this mess. You’re surprised that he hasn’t put it together yet, but in between that blow he took to the head, and his panic, he might not be thinking straight.

>Because she’s from the other realm.

>Tell him the truth.

>Write in.

>>39246132
They think she killed the asshole cause she's fire magic incarnate. As to how they figured out what she was? Probably have an item or bound spirit. We're going to fix this Matthias.

>>39246132
>>39246196
I like this and second telling the truth, but keeping on the task at hand.

>>39246196
>>39246271
Very well said.
>Writing~

>>39246325

You stop and ignore Matthias’s subsequent complaining.

“They think she killed that asshole Manolo because she’s flame incarnate!” You can barely hear yourself over the howling wind, but Matthias hangs onto your every word. “I don’t know how they figured out, but we’re going to fix this, Matthias!”

You’ve known him long enough to know just by his expression that he wants to punch you, repeatedly. But he only clenches his fists, and then shakes his head. “Let’s go!” He runs off without waiting for you.

Your emotions are in conflict; relieved that you don’t have to continue lying to Matthias, but simultaneously dreading that he won’t ever forgive you for this. But at the forefront of your thoughts is how much you dislike being out in the rain, and how much you hate running.

By the time the two of you reach the market, the weather has relented a decent amount. Although, by the look of the clouds in the distance, this storm is still far from over.

You both stop to catch your breath, thankfully the rain is still heavy enough to cover how disgusting your gasps for air are. Your left side stings and you feel like you’re going to throw up.

Well, at least you made it all the way here, all this running you’ve been doing as of late must be slowly improving your stamina.

During your personal struggle, you spot a young girl in a familiar transparent raincoat, pair of yellow boots, and trotting around in the distance, helping normal people to safety.

[1/2]

>>39247367
Matthias spots Carmina as well, and instantly recognizes her. You grab hold of his jacket before he can run off. He turns to you in outrage.

“Aya isn’t here, so you damn well better not be thinking about doing something stupid before finding out where she is first.”
You pull him back and look him square in the eyes. “I’ll talk to her.” You poke him in the chest. “You look around here, she can’t be too far.”

He snarls in anger, but listens and is off without another word.

You sigh and then run over to the young girl.

She turns at the sound of your approach, her face covered in matted and wet hair, but she still manages a bright smile despite the weather. However, the smile soon turns into a disapproving frown. “Sophia! You shouldn’t be outside now, it’s dangerous!” She grabs onto your arm and proceeds to lead you somewhere. “Our leader may have scared them away from the market, but they can still sneak ba-“

“Wait!” You call out to stop her

She listens and tilts her head slightly to one side, patiently waiting for you to explain why you’re stopping her.

Not good, in the hurry you hadn’t actually thought about what you would say to her if you found her.

You look around quickly in a desperate hope that you might see Aya, and be spared from this, but no such luck for that.

She knows where Aya is, and you need to know where Aya is. You’d be risking very much by telling her why you’re looking for her, but you’d also be risking very much by not. Here’s your bed, now do you want to lie in it, or lie about it?

>Tell her the truth.

>Write in.

>>39247419
I'm an occultist. I can handle myself. I'm looking for a friend of a friend. He's an occultist too. Describe Aya. Seems like someone had been sending monsters into other occultist's houses, mine included. So he had gotten into this world for protection and company. You seen her? He's very broken up about it.

>>39247419
>Tell her truth.
It'd probably be better in the long run, considering she probably already knows

>>39247520
>>39247598
As much as I'd REALLY rather not roll for this, seems like I have to tonight.
1=>>39247520
2=>>39247598

>Writing the winner.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>39247718
It'd help if I rolled...

1=>>39247520
2=>>39247598

>>39247742

“Actually…”

This is surprisingly difficult, but the image of Aya sleeping peacefully leaning against Matthias keeps appearing in your mind. You instantly know what you have to do.

You let out a long sigh. “I’m an Occultist, and I can handle myself.”

Revealing that you’re an Occultist as well makes Carmina’s eyes gleam with joy, but you’re not done yet.

“I’m the one that killed Manolo.” You state without giving yourself a chance to hesitate.

Her gleam is gone, now her brow furrows in great confusion.

“He had been attacking me with his pets, and I had enough.” You grab her hand tightly. “I’m the one that killed him, and I’m the one that burned down his house.” You shake your head. “Aya, the blonde girl you have is completely innocent in that regard and she needs to be set free.”

Carmina lets go of your hand.

She rubs her eyes roughly, as if trying to wake up from an unpleasant dream. This continues for a long time, with the uncaring rain continuously pouring on the both of you.

“Trailer eleven.” She finally mumbles.

Her words catch you off guard, she had been silent for so long you had begun to think you would have to continue the conversation yourself.

“Uh..” You begin.

She looks away from you and crosses her arms angrily. “With all the chaos that’s happening right now, it would be perfectly understandable if we lost track of one person to never be seen again.” She pauses for a moment. “Trailer eleven.” She repeats herself moodily.

Is this really happening? Is she really letting you just have her? You want to ask why, but you know better.

You reach and grab her hand again, without her pulling away. “Thank you.” You say, genuinely.

She sighs irritably. “I said that I take care of my friends.” She turns back to you. “Just be more careful next time…”

That’s when it appeared.

[1/2]

File: ss2.jpg (39 KB, 800x417)

39 KB JPG

>>39248914

Hulking, looming, the vapor of its breath visible in the air, rain sliding off its unnaturally pale skin. The creature walk on all fours, sizing up the two of you slowly, before finally letting out a surreal screech that makes the frame of your body ache from the noise.

Carmina let’s go of your hand again. “Go get your friend out of here, now.” The seriousness of her voice cuts deeply into you.

There isn’t even the slightest inch for protest. You know what needs to be done, and so does she. With that, you begin to run off to the market’s trailers.
Your ears catch her words as she approaches the creature. “You know... your luck ran out when you met me…”

You run past the small individual buildings noting their numbers as you pass, and you find Matthias running past the buildings without even taking note of what’s inside.

“I know where she is!” You tell him as you run past trailer seven. “Follow me!”

Trailer eight, and then nine. Turn the corner at ten…

Another creature sniffs the exterior of trailer eleven and scratches at the door. He pounds the ground furiously when he can’t get in at first, he wants what’s inside.

“She’s in there.” You state simply.

The creature stands between the two of you and the trailer. To the left of you is a large ditch several feet deep, almost filled to the top with water. A few rusted pipes lie in a lazy pile to the right of Matthias.

The rain comes down with renewed vigor as the creature finally notices the both of you.

You clutch your dagger with one hand, and your cloak in the other. All that needs to be done is to get Aya out of there, and away from the market. But there’s quite the large obstacle in your way.

You don’t feel like running anymore, but unless you come up with another clear and plausible idea quickly, that’s all you have going for you right now.

>Serve as distraction as Matthias gets Aya.

>Have Matthias serve as distraction and get Aya yourself.

>Write in.

>>39248979
>Serve as distraction as Matthias gets Aya.
We should be better at fire control compared to Matthias right now and there is a lower chance of Aya freaking out if he goes.

>>39248979
>Write in
The both of you force the creature into the ditch, and delve his ass back to where he came from.

>>39248979
>>Serve as distraction as Matthias gets Aya.
Try to channel magic like when your delved.

>>39249111
Are you saying that you want to try to delve it back while Matthias gets Aya?

>>39249157
No just see if we can channel the fire like we did back then. Memory and courage count's for a lot, after all we did it once why not again?

Alright then. I need 2d20 for you and Matthias respectively. Best of three or fewer if that's the case.

Rolled 15, 7 = 22 (2d20)

>>39249257

Rolled 9, 10 = 19 (2d20)

>>39249257
I liked my plan better but that sure as hell doesn't meant I want to fail. Go dice go

>>39249017
>>39249111
>15, 10.
Here we go~

Rolled 15, 8 = 23 (2d20)

>>39249257

>>39249370
I would've counted it, but the result's still the same.

>>39249362

You’re really hoping that this is the last consequence of killing Manolo, but the image of his sniveling grin in your mind belies your true thoughts.

You turn to Matthias. “I’ll lead it away from here, you get Aya and take her straight home!” You say with a fake veneer of confidence.

He opens his mouth to say something, but the creature lets out an unearthly screech causing the both of you to cover your ears in hope of some sanctuary. It begins to charge.

“Go!” You shout and turn to start leading the creature away.

Matthias dashes to the trailer, and tries to slide past the creature, but catches a glancing blow from its swiping bulk it calls an arm and crashes into trailer eleven.

“HEY!” You yell to catch its attention, you scramble to scoop up one of the pipes on the ground, and clumsily throw it directly at the beast.

Upon hitting the pale creature directly on the neck, an audible wet smack echoes through the air. It turns to you, as Matthias rises to his feet shakily.

Well, you have its full attention now...

Time to run.

[1/2]

>>39250124

With it hot on your trail, you flee like you’ve never have before in your life. You clamber over left behind boxes, as moments later it crashes straight through them. You almost lose your footing several times on the slippery ground, but you keep going. You have to keep going.

It’s getting closer, the slapping sound of its limbs hitting the ground grows louder, and you can practically feel the heat of its heaving breath on the back of your neck.

You’re running out of precious distance between you and the creature, you have to act, and act now. Your dagger is clenched tightly in your right hand, but it’s not going to be enough by itself. If you invoke your flame as well turn to strike it, you’re at the very least going to hit it with one of the two.

You let it get only slightly closer before invoking your flame, and gracelessly turning and slamming your right arm and dagger into its flesh.

Your eyes are clenched tightly shut, mind only envisioning those powerful blue flames from your delve. You land hard on your rear, at the same time the creature lets out a pained screech, and crashes straight into the floor.

The sight of the creature thrashing on the ground greets you, as well as a comforting blue flame. Only, the entirety of your fire is surrounding the dagger, and extends past it several inches.

Immediately, you awkwardly scoot back with your legs, not to be hit in the creature’s panic.

A horrid seared cut stretches the entirety of its upper chest, just below its neck. You’re not sure exactly how much damage you did, but for the moment it’s clearly incapacitated.

You’ve done what you needed to do, Matthias and Aya are likely long gone by now, so there’s no need to risk yourself by trying to kill it. Or is there?

>Finish it off.

>Escape from it.

>Write in.

>>39250185
>>Finish it off.

>>39250185
>Finish it off.

>>39250269
>>39250307
Roll 1d20 for the kill, best of three or fewer.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>39250409

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>39250409

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>39250409

>>39250439
That could've been bad. Looks like 15 is a lucky number.
>15
Writing

>>39250477
Was that the DC?

Also will we start getting bonuses to our rolls for experience in the rolled field and other such bonuses or will it all be lower DCs and behind the scenes stuff?

>>39250477
Finally made it in! and man, I would have voted for lying to Carmina, we even have an alibi for Aya, but it looks like it all worked out.

>>39250884
DC for a clean kill(no injury) was a 14.

Depending on your skill at the task at hand, the DC will be lower or higher.

>>39250985
Good to have you here!

>>39250477

The darkening of the sky signals that it’s late afternoon.

You rise to your feet. “Looks like I missed my delve today.” You point your dagger to the creature as it cowers away from it. “You’re partly to blame. Well, so am I, but I certainly can’t be mad at myself…”

The rain has finally stopped, so you pull off your damp hood

“What’s a girl to do, besides take her anger out on you.” You push closer with the dagger, taking care to watch its limbs.

What a fascinating creature. It couldn’t have been brought through a conventional delve. You think back to Marissa’s words.

It was summoned. Brought to this realm, from this realm. It and its three friends are the first in record, and now –everyone- knows it’s possible.

“Shame you’re too dangerous to keep.” You raise your dagger high. “But, your corpse will still be good for study.” You slam your weapon down just he begins to swipe at you. The flame easily pierces its skull and appears again at the base of its chin.

Nice try.

It sure does look heavy… How in the world are you going to bring it home? Well, you have apprentices and Laurent for that. Maybe you can bring it back in pieces?

You look around warily. There doesn’t seem to be anyone around who would steal it from you.

“Control.” A voice inside your mind whispers to you brutally.

Interesting, you now know that other things than delving can activate the Control voice. But what to put your knowledge into this time and how?

>Delving.

>Pyromancy.

>Necromancy.

>Write in.

>>39251002
>delving
gotta learn how to summon monsters

>>39251002
>>Necromancy.
Raise it's dead corpse

>>39251002
>My form is this world and others.

>>39251002
>>Necromancy.
Who needs delving when you can use bodies of your slain enemies

>>39251002
>Pyromancy
Saved our ass this time, will probably do so again in the future.

>>39251078
should be in* not is

>>39251078
>>39251136
That's really broad.

Why not say "using your delve form in the human realm" instead?

Though it doesn't seem nearly as useful as in the delving world

>>39251062
>>39251093
These are the only ones headed in the same direction.
By the way this upgrade is going to be a big one, given all the things you learned. Whether you realized it or not.

>Writing~

>>39251062
>>39251002
This, we need more muscle. We're to squishy right now.

>>39251186
Yay

4chan just fuck up for any of you?

>>39251186
To clarify...
>>39251062
>>39251092
These are the two we're going with, Necromancy. Sorry for my dumb mistake, haha. The site went down as I was trying to post this earlier.

yay

>>39251186


Perhaps the corpse in front of you is motivating you, regardless, part of you wants to be able to do more with its body than just cut it up into pieces or blow it up.

The thought of it rising to your will acts as the catalyst, and the visions rush into your mind.

The Necromancy ritual you performed so many days ago is only just one of two ways to impose your will on a corpse. So long as a creature contains part of your living essence, imposing your will to it becomes an easier task. The fresher the corpse, the better. Although, the incantation is still necessary, but the structure of the ritual is eliminated, at a cost of course.

That cost being...

Blood.

A lot of it stains your hands as you cough into them. You take a moment to catch your breath only to have a trickle of blood flow out from your nose as well.

You laugh wearily as your head pounds in pain. At least it won’t go to waste.

You crawl slowly to the corpse of the creature and shove your bloodied hands into its gaping wound under its mouth. The wet warmth of its soft pliable flesh transfers to your fingers. The harsh and guttural words of the incantation flows from your mouth and by the time you’re done the creature stirs about as energetically as you do.

Given your blood loss, and the amount of focus you have to put into simply having this large creature walk, you’re more than eager to return home to rest.

The sight of destruction in the market brings a small grin to your face. You wonder how long it will be before word of this gets to Ali. Funny that she was out of town when all of this happened.

[1/2]

>>39251360

The sun has all but set behind the clouds by the time you return to the spot where you last saw Carmina.

She’s no longer around, but the sight of what can be best described as a, horrendously imploded corpse, lies barely a few feet from where you saw it alive last.

You head back down the completely empty street toward your house with your raised creature in tow.

Halfway through the trip you come across another creature’s corpse, this time impaled to the ground with dozens of long and thin metal spikes.

“Looks like you got off easy.” You comment to the creature behind you. It, of course, doesn’t elicit a response, only continue to trudge along behind you.

Upon spotting your own house in the distance, you wonder if Matthias and Aya made it back to their own home safely.

Tomorrow, you’ll have to find out tomorrow.

You turn back to the creature, and the now quiet street that was only hours ago witness to pandemonium.

“Dangerous?” You remember Matthias’s words. “Maybe, but things are certainly going to get very interesting around here.”

~

>>39251387

Okay, that's where I'm going to end it for today. What an eventful thread! I want to thank everyone that played today. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them in the thread, and I will do my best to respond to them.

If not, then I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri

>>39251420
So what would my form write in have done?

Did Laurent and Marissa run into trouble?

>>39251420
Will it be possible in the future to combine our abilities?

Not all that applicable right now other than having a flaming undead monster but in the future i imagine they'll mesh better.

>>39251420
thx 4 runin budi gud thred

>>39251452
It would have showed you what your form in this world should/could be, and potentially how to change it.

You'll have to find out about Laurent and Marissa next thread.

>>39251459
There's not much stopping you from trying to do it now! You might be surprised at what you figure out if you're creative enough. That being said, as your abilities improve and you learn other things, the options will become more apparent.
>>39251472
You're very welcome!

>>39251420
Much love, thanks for running Auri!

>>39251545
Would the form write in help us nt have crippled wings? Would we have been able to have wings in our world? Would it have enabled shapeshifting? Will we be running into any other types of magic?

>>39251576
You're also very welcome!
>>39251610
Your wings are fully functional in your other form, they became so after you had to fly to save your life after speaking with the old man in the rock structure.
That's a possibility, but some things might be missing if you don't fully invoke the particular form you're trying to change to.
See previous sentence.
You will almost definitely run into other types of magic.

>>39251709
Well awesome then. Would it start to let us fix or alter the forms of other who delve with us? Cause that'd help Ellie a lot right now.

>>39251780
That one I can't answer because it's going to play a sizable role to play in the future of the quest. But, does Ellie really need help? We'll see!

>>39251828
Fair enough thanks for running Auri!

>>39251902
You're very welcome!

With that, I'll be stepping out. Until next time everyone!