>>42174681

You pull away from the drain, losing more ground in the process. The beast begins to engulf a huge amount of the air above the drain.

A guttural gurgling sound soon joins the heavy rumbling from deep within the drain, the metal cover shakes violently for only a brief moment before a wet huge bubble of noxious gas explodes from the drain.

Dark brown liquid splatters upon the beast’s face, forcing its way into its gaping nostrils and mouth. It quakes in confusion as it frantically tries to swipe away the mess from its face. The enormous flame on its back flares in violent and sporadic bursts, pitch black smoke rises high into the sky.

“There was less waste in here than I had expected.” Disgur’s voice calls out among the chaos. “The creature will sniff you out again soon.”

So that’s how he finds you, well, it won’t be that way for much longer. Not much time, but you think it might be enough to make your way past the creature before it recovers. But, from what you’ve seen, you think you might have a few ways of improving your chances.

Especially from…You look up high at the almost out of control flame being emitted from its back. All it needs is a little push, but you don’t know how large of an explosion might result from it, if any.

>Dash straight for the western hall.

>Ignite the dead bodies strewn about for smell cover.

>Provoke the flame inside the creature.

>Write in.

>>42174744
>Dash straight for the western hall.
Let's not detonate the gigantic fire titan, at least not without Izu nearby to shield us.

>>42174744
>>Ignite the dead bodies strewn about for smell cover.

>>42174744
>Dash straight for the western hall.

>>42174744
>>Ignite the dead bodies strewn about for smell cover.

Hello and welcome back, everyone!

>>42174776
>>42174857
These options can't be lumped together, so I will wait another minute or so before I do a tie breaker.

>>42175015
Why can't we run and ignite the bodies?

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>42175043
Well, dashing straight for a place implies not spending time to do anything else. Time is crucial here.

>>42175043
I assume it takes time and concentration

>>42175080
In case it wasn't clear 1=Dashing, 2=Igniting the bodies for cover.

So, lets get rolling.

>Writing~

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>42175113
rolling

>>42175113
>>42175161
That was poor wording on my part! I meant "Let's get started."

This start is just going places haha.

>>42175204
I am pretty sure he knew that.

>>42175113

If it’s by smell that this creature finds its targets, then it should be easy enough to take advantage of that. You hurl a low intensity flame at a few bodies nearby and hide behind the thick smoke being emitted from them.

There aren’t enough bodies for complete cover the entire way, but more than enough to confuse the beast.

You set ablaze a number of bodies not along the path you’re taking to further mask your trail.

The construct whirls around, snuffling the air around him, the moisture from the fetid bomb still clear in his nose, but he’s likely getting outside smells by now.

After igniting a few more corpses ahead of you, you proceed closer and closer to your destination. The beast turns to the sudden new smells, but doesn’t seem to recognize them as a threat. It lumbers to the area it detected you last, and begins trying to find your scent again.

There’s nothing available for cover for the final stretch, but you’re confident that you’ve got it this time. You only need wait until it’s not facing your direction…Now.

You surge ahead with all the speed you can muster, ignoring the sudden rapid movement from the creature, and find yourself safely inside the western hall. Taking no time to see just how bound that creature is to that courtyard, you ascend the lengthy flight of stairs at the end of the hall.

At the top, you spot the bewildering sight of The Empress fighting off a small squad of fearful guards. She easily weaves through them by teleporting. They frantically slash at nothing repeatedly, their rage growing along with their fear. Eventually, The Empress positions the guards so that when she teleports away, the slash against other. They soon give into their own bloodlust, and begin to tear each other apart.

While you’d very much like to know how she got here before you, there’s something more pressing in your mind.

“He’s safe.” The Empress easily answers those thoughts. “I saw him returned to manor with a few of our guards.”

[1/2]

>>42176253

Disgur comes up sliding up to the both of you with a hissing sound of anger. “We are betrayed.” He utters those words before he even forms completely. “Sivaht brutally attacked Zarn amidst the ensuing battle. Our troops our scrambling.”

The violet trials of energy reform along The Empress’s body upon hearing the news. “Slipped by me? Then it has to be the work of…her.” Her eyes carry a determined look of cold fury. “Disgur, return to the front line and rally the troops.”

He doesn’t even give a word of acknowledgement before sliding away at full speed.

After he leaves, the air itself seems to quake around you, and for brief moments, it’s as if all the mass in the space around you are disappearing all at once.

The Empress sighs in annoyance. “To think that they’d be foolish enough to use that thing.” Her voice heavy upon her last word. She turns to you. “Nahldol is sure to be somewhere on this path ahead of us.” She turns to indicate the long hallway. “But, there is a certain being, roaming somewhere along this path to our side. It would be very problematic if we were caught in between it and the palace’s forces.”

“So we split up?” You suggest.

“My thoughts exactly.” The Empress crosses her arms. “Nahldol is a skilled warrior with few matching him, and he’s sure to have a company of guards with him.” She turns back to the side path. “This being I refer to, is a relic of times most don’t even know the slightest bit of. It’s only a child, but that doesn't mean it's not a threat.

“Which path should I take?” You ask hastily.

“That depends, Sophia.” She says quietly. “Do you trust more in your skill at fighting, or your mental will?”

You answer with your first instinct.


>"I trust more in my skill at fighting."

>"I trust more in my mental will."

>Write in.

>>42176301
>>"I trust more in my mental will."

>>42176301
>>"I trust more in my mental will."

shouldn't we go for Nahldol? You know, make sure he doesn't die, etc.

>>42176467
At this point I don't think he's going to trust us

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1023 KB GIF

>>42176301
>“Sivaht brutally attacked Zarn amidst the ensuing battle.
>TFW I was the guy who wanted to bring him along.

>>42176522
Nothing to be concerned about, anon! Look toward the future.

>>42176359
>>42176423
Mind over matter.

>Writing~

>>42176522
>The sweater monster unhinges its jaws to devour its prey.

>>42176522
Trust no one, not even your comfy sweater.

>>42176575

When it comes down to it, you’ve been strong willed your entire life. Combat is something you’ve taken up only fairly recently, not that it wouldn’t be enough to soundly deal with whatever Nahldol has planned, of course.

You turn to the side path. “I trust more in my mental will.” You respond, resolute.

She’s silent as if considering the implications of your answer. “You’ll go through experiences similar to what you just felt, but it should have a weak command over its potential power. Kill it quickly so that it doesn’t have the chance to focus on you.”

“It sounds, uncontrollable. Why would they release it?” You ask before heading off.

“It is.” The violet wisps of energy coalesce into a single small orb which hovers around The Empress. “They’re desperate since this battle is almost lost for them.” She smiles faintly. “It might make you sense things you believe to be real, but trust only in your mind, and nothing else.”

You only watch for a brief moment as she rushes down the hall, before following the dimly lit path.

[1/2]

>>42177504

You’re certain that little mental quakes like what you felt earlier will be easy to beat back, so you rush ahead in hopes that you can witness what The Empress does before she finishes off Nahldol Ignisval.

The sounds of fighting can be heard from the antechamber ahead of you, and when you push yourself inside, you spot Izu dealing with a pair of guards.

He dexterously runs from the guards’ slashes. Once he has enough space, he encloses them both a solid shell of pale flame. They slash and hack at their prison repeatedly, cracking the structure, until razor sharp shards rain down upon them, stopping their fight.

“That thing you’re looking for is in the next room, Sophia.” He pulls on you firmly with both arms.

“You’re not supposed to be here.” You scold him instinctually.

“I’m sorry. He urges you further. “But we can’t stop here. It will soon start affect us.”

You look down the long hall leading a larger chamber with even less light than this dim room. You're suddenly reminded again that time is of the essence.

>Follow him.

>Tell him to go back to manor immediately.

>Write in.

>>42177557
>Follow him.

>>42177557
>Follow him.
"But stay behind me Izu."

>>42177557
>Follow him.
I wonder what he could do with the dagger.

>>42177557
>Write in.

>Ignore him, proceed normally

God damnit you guys we were literally just warned about mind fuckery in this update. Empress said she had Izu returned to the manor last update. Cmmmmoooooooonnnnnnn.

>>42177557
>>42177600
NEVERMIND.
Attack that thing.

>>42177665
Nah, I don't think so. Besides, unless we're going to take another route, there's not much point in suspecting him.

>>42177665
>>42177732
.....wait, has Izu ever called us Sophia? And does he still have his wounds?

>>42177732
His arm was injured before the blast, theres no way he could've gotten here so quickly

>>42177732
At least ask him why he's here instead of back at the manor then.

Also look for contradictions and inconsistencies like in >>42177764

But Usurpy told us
>It might make you sense things you believe to be real, but trust only in your mind, and nothing else

and also this
“He’s safe.” The Empress easily answers those thoughts. “I saw him returned to manor with a few of our guards.”

so obviously something is wrong here.

>>42177557
>>42177609
Fine, switching to examining him closely, probing(but not necessarily trusting) with the mental link, and holding him by the shoulder or hand to immolate/seal at a moment's notice.

Honestly, not much different from Sophia SOP.

>>42177764
He's never called you "Sophia" before. Although, he did call you Sophie once.

>>42177665
>>42177706
>>42177888

Doubting him, heavily.

>>42177921
>Writing of course.

>>42177954

You let your arm hang limply in his grasp. “You should be resting, Izu. Why aren’t you at the manor?”

“I knew you needed help. Now, come on!” He roughly pulls on you again with full force.

You take a quick peak at his arms, and see that they only have the scars from the ambush a few days ago.

You give him one more scolding glare, looking directly into his eyes, and watching as they seem to alternate between green and brown.

This creature isn’t nearly as clever as the Izu is, but you admit, as much as you hate to, that he did have you fooled for at least a moment. This time, however. You don’t have to stare at a grinning face of acknowledgement.

He doesn’t know.

You pull your arm way from him and walk into the dimly lit chamber, completely ignoring whatever this thing is, and deflect its attempts to grab at you again.

“Why are you being like this, Sophia?!” It finally asks as you enter the dim chamber.

You turn and smile at it, completely masking your murderous intentions. “You should know that!” You inform it, lightheartedly.

You place your hands on your hips and look around. “Now where could that thing be?” You think aloud. “There?” You look toward a dark empty corner.

Your surroundings begin to warp around you as you gaze around the room. Everything immediately returns to its proper state, as you will not let it have its way with your mind.

You can feel it trying more desperately. “There?” You turn to yet another dark corner.

In your periphery, you can see that it can no longer hold up the visual illusion of being Izu, so you put your hand on the hilt of your dagger. “Or here!?”

[1/2]

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>>42179141

You slash at the bizarrely dark creature, feeling your flaming dagger take off a sizable portion of its arm.

It screeches wildly, before frantically scurrying away from you.

It still has the shape of a human child, perhaps because it’s still trying to take on Izu’s form, or maybe that’s simply how it is. An examination of its corpse once all of this is said and done should be enlightening.

“Please! Don’t hurt me!” It pleads, still using Izu’s voice.

“DO NOT!” You shout at it, and hack off the bottom part of its leg.

Still it crawls away from you. “I…DON’T WANT…TO…FIGHT.” The creature squeals out in a new voice. Pauses punctuate its words as if they should be filled with choking sobs instead.

“Don’t want to fight?” You ask stepping closer to it, still intending to kill it. “Explain.”

“They…sealed my mind…a long time ago.” He still pauses heavily. “Bound…it can be used as a…weapon. But…they can’t…control.”

“They just aren’t using the right methods!” You scare it by slashing down near its neck. “Continue.”

“I don’t belong…here…The voice…it whispered… for a moment. I have to…reunite. I need to leave” He lets out small noise, which instantly reminds you of that moment you sensed deeper into your hairpin.

You stand up straight. This could be a ploy to distract you, but you sense genuine, almost child-like terror from the creature in front of you.

A few things about this creature has piqued your interest, greatly. It spoke of potentially being a weapon, if you were to seal this creature’s consciousness to yourself or one of your belongings, a new power could open up to you.

Then again, if what The Empress told you earlier has something to do with this creature, would it be beneficial to show some sort of benevolence to it?

Of course, it could just be lying to you, in which case, killing it outright would be the best option.

What will you do?

>Seal the creature’s consciousness within yourself.

>Let the creature go.

>Kill it.

>Write in.

>>42179194
>Seal the creature’s consciousness within yourself.
Everyone else has mind-fuckery, we need some for ourselves.

>>42179194
>Let the creature go.

>>42179194
>>Seal the creature’s consciousness within yourself.

>>42179194
would it be safer or MORE dangerous to seal it in the hairpin?

We can at least tell him we have a hint on where he needs to reunite.

>>42179339
Ugh, not the hairpin. That thing is tainted.

>>42179339
You don't know what effect sealing it in the hairpin might have. But you might not have the chance to get them close enough together before someone might interfere.

>>42179194
>Seal the creature's consciousness within yourself.

>>42179291
>>42179327
>>42179435
Welcome to your new home, little one.

>Writing~

>>42179194
>Seal the creature’s consciousness within yourself.
fuck it, we have what it wants, anyway.

>>42179456

This is too amazing of chance to pass up. Maybe through you, it will at least have the chance to visit what it wants, but you have your doubts.

You’ve back it to the wall, so you kneel down to be face to face with it. “I’ll let you go.” You finally say with perfectly painted serenity in your voice. “You just have to do one last thing for me.”

“A…Anything.” It responds.

“I wish to know more about you before you leave. Can you try your best to alter my mind one last time?” You ask with peacefully assuring tone.

It nods with the hesitant eagerness of a child. Soon the dim room around you begins to warp in space. Flashes of peaceful afternoons in your old home are all around you, a familiar warmth and voice almost begins to surround your senses.

Got you.

Your binding pulls the creature’s consciousness within your own. Your will torments and dominates it into firm submission. Once the dimly lit room surrounds you again, the body of the small creature is no longer to be seen. Only a very faint sobbing in the back of your mind lets you know that you were successful.

You click your tongue in disappointment. So much for dissecting its body.

“Now if you’ll be quiet, maybe I might be lucky enough to find some guards to test this new power on before I rejoin The Empress.” You force the small voice in your mind to be silent.

Returning back where you split off with The Empress you find just what you were looking for.

A rather large and muscular creature stalks the halls, it reminds you of those guards that were assigned to Grievermillion’s prisoner transport.

Your armor masks your presence so you can get close enough to witness your power up–close.

“Little one.” You address the silenced voice. “Him.”

[1/2]

>>42180605

A sobbing hiccup is let out from the voice, acknowledging your command.

The large guard tenses up instantly, and begins to wildly look around himself. His steps are uneasy, and he’s constantly darting his head around, as if trying to find his way back to where he was.

A simple warp of his perception of the space around him. Not as powerful as it was before, but some practice will take care of that. For now, you assume that it’s not combat ready beyond the more simple minded enemies.

You rush past the guard trapped in his mental prison, and ascend up a tower of stairs, until you’re almost certain that you’ve reached the top level of the palace.

A grand hallway with decadent décor opens before you, and staring upon the brilliant army of statues and chandeliers, you are overcome with a wave of déjà vu.

You ignore and push forward, past the now empty rooms along the hall, and toward the final room at the end.

Once again, another wave of déjà vu, as you stare upon the bare room. Its sprawling space only filled with a large table with endless papers on top, a writing desk, and a, conspicuously out of place for this room, basic bed.

You’re snapped back to reality at the sound of fighting from the enormous balcony from beyond the room, so you rush forward, only to stop when a document on the desk catches your eye.

>”From the King and Queen of Kyraen’Asils”

Those words are written on its folded face.

The combat ensues outside, as you continue to stare upon the letter.

>Read it now, and then join up with The Empress.

>Take it for later, and join up with The Empress.

>Take it, and search for other important documents.

>Write in.

>>42180655
>Read it now, and then join up with The Empress.
Hopefully it isn't EXPLOSIVE RUNES.

>>42180655
>Read it now, and then join up with The Empress

>>42180655
>Take it, and search for other important documents.

>>42180709
>>42180718
Just a quick peek.

>Writing~

>>42180970

You’re more than certain that The Empress can finish Nahldol without your help, so you turn your attention to the letter on the desk.

You open it and instantly can see that the penmanship is far too neat to be Matthias’s.

>Uncle, I’m sending this ahead to let you know that our relatives will have no problem visiting for the party, and they will be bringing guests as well. Unfortunately we do not know when your entertainment will arrive. But when they do, please Uncle, do not let your guard down around the snake charmer or her snakes. The pale snake is likely to be your favorite, but her venom is the most potent and insidious. Once again, I’m sorry that I can’t attend the festivities, but Matthias and I send our best wishes.

Love always, Aya.

The letter burns turns to ashes in your hands.

Pale snake? Cute, but it’s time that you put an end to these festivities.

You step out toward the balcony.

“I so love the craftsmanship of this level of the palace. So if you could kindly stop moving so I can kill you without breaking anything, I would appreciate it.” The Empress shouts out to Nahldol, who’s doing his best to deflect her slow moving violet energy with his intense flames.

“Your army will fall!” He roars back with confidence and a flurry of strong flame. “And you will soon be meal for thousands of hungry soldiers.”

The Empress easily teleports out of the way and perches herself on the railing of the balcony. “Nahldol, you are an excellent fighter. I don’t know where you learned it from, but it most certainly wasn’t from your father or brother.

[1/?]

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6.71 MB JPG

>>42182356

He lets out a wave of flames, behind which he unleashes a flurry of stunningly quick thrusts from his sword. Unfortunately for him, missing his target completely.

“Maybe it was from your sister? Where has she been for all this time?” She dodges the increasingly wild attacks. “Don’t tell you honestly believed she died in that war? She just saw the writing on the wall and left you all.”

“Enough!” Nahldol lunges wildly at her, only to find himself nearly launching off the balcony.

The Empress spots you once she teleports away. “Sophia! So nice of you to join us.” She fixes her slightly disheveled hair.

“You!” Nahldol yells out with recognition in his voice. He raises his sword. “You’ll find your grave to be next to your master.”

You toss a skeptical look toward The Empress who gives a bemused look back.

He’s suddenly upon you, and instinctually, you unsheathe your dagger to stop his sword. Both of your flames angrily lash out at each other.

Nahldol steps back. “Where did you find that?!” He demands.

“I see.” The Empress suddenly remembers something. “So I have you to thank for finding that rat-hole that hid the king, Sophia.”

You suddenly realize it yourself. The false king, Nahldol’s father, and Aya’s grandfather.

[2/3]

>>42182437

Nahldol’s eyes suddenly come alight. “I will take back my father’s blade and see both of your heads severed with it!” He unleashes a moving and screaming wall of flames, of which you barely manage to carve through with your own blue flames before it reaches you.

“So easy to control.” The Empress whispers, suddenly behind Nahldol. With violet energy in her hand, she grabs hold of his left leg, instantly compressing it down to the size of thin rod, with only a small squelch of blood left behind.

He collapses to the ground, but quickly uses his sword to rise up again. Another torrent of flames rush out from his hand, their flames the hottest you’ve felt, matching even your own, but they’re shot out wildly and lack direction.

You see his flames burning the flesh of his hand. “You’re like the dog in the courtyard. Your duty to this place see you both destroyed.”

He pants wildly, before losing the strength to hold himself up with his sword anymore.

“A loyal dog…but one to be put down.” The Empress turns to you. “End this however you want, Sophia. You’ve earned it.”

The severity in her voice lets you know that she expects this man to soon be dead, whether it be by your hand or hers.

>Kill him quickly and honorably.

>Kill him with agonizingly slow intent.

>Let The Empress finish him off.

>Write in.

>>42182487

>Kill him quickly and honorably.
Least we can do

>>42182487
>Kill him quickly

>>42182487
>Kill him quickly and honorably.
What a war.

>>42182487
>Kill him quickly and honorably.
If it makes you feel better, I helped your father look upon the sky one last time before he fell to the wounds of his captors.

>>42182542
>>42182576
>>42182607
>>42182630
Farewell, Nahldol Ignisval.

>Writing

>>42182747

Loyal to a fault, but he was an honorable individual.

You quietly walk over to him, and gaze upon him writhing on the floor in agony. He points his long blade at you, which you firmly knock from his hand. It takes you a moment with his large armor, but you manage to stand him up and support his body as it leans against the balcony’s railing.

“I helped your father get one last look upon the world before he died.” You adjust him so he has proper view of the entire sprawling cityscape. “Both of you were in prisons of your design, but now you will both be free.”

He solemnly nods his understanding. “Celise…Aya, I’m sorry I failed you both.”

You quickly jam your dagger through his exposed flank and pierce through rapidly beating heart. You give your blade a firm twist and continue to support Nahldol, until his body completely collapses to the balcony.

A few moments later, and The Empress walks over to the body breathing a sigh of relief. “This war is finally over, but it is only a step.” She carefully picks up Nahldol’s corpse, supporting him with her shoulder. “This is where our new base of operations will be, Sophia.”

You turn your head back to the grand room of the ruler of this palace.

“Have your eyes set right for the top?” The Empress asks, amused.

“Maybe later.” You turn your head toward the long familiar hallway. “I’m sure I can find a room down there that’s more appropriate.”

“We’ll have plenty of time for all of that. But for now, let’s share the news that the war is over.” The Empress elegantly walks away from the balcony with Nahldol’s corpse to her left, and you at her right.

~

>>42183334

Okay, that's where I'm going to end it for tonight. The siege is finally over, and I want to thank everyone that played along the way! As always, 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

>>42183367
Thanks for running! Can we comfort the little voice? After all once we learn it's tricks we know where it's home is roughly. We could arrange to send it home if it's good. Was there anyway for him? Did the usurper write that book we read to get sealing teleportation and gating?

>>42183367
thx 4 runin budi gud thred

>and people said /tg/ couldn't play evil characters

>>42183440
They rarely do.

>>42183430
You're very welcome! We can, but it would most likely be so that it's more under our control, but we don't know if it would've made it back or not.
The Usurper did indeed write that book, good on you for noticing!

>>42183440
You're also very welcome!

>>42183526
Does she have any other book out there we could peruse? What'd her reaction be that we learned a lot of our non-flame/delve magic from that book?

>>42183604
More than likely, but lots of things were lost in the war twentyish years ago, so you don't know whose hands those books are in now. You can't know what her reaction would be for certain, but there's always the option of learning without her knowing.

>>42183650
How are the other generals and casters doing? Aya's reaction to this?

>>42183712
All the other councilmembers besides Zarn and Sivaht will be in a similar state to how they were before the way. Ali, should be reporting back for her personal update soon on her mission.

While you don't know what Aya's reaction to the ending events of this war are, you know from that letter that she has less than positive feelings for you now.

>>42183756
I gathered. I'm worried Matthias died and the new king is his kid, or vice versa and Matthias is insensate.

>>42183756
>While you don't know what Aya's reaction to the ending events of this war are, you know from that letter that she has less than positive feelings for you now.
Understandable, given that we're literally one of the four heavenly generals working for the demon lord, and just finished conquering the capital of her kingdom

>>42183835
There is a concerning lack of stuff about Matthias himself, but the gestation period for Aya's child won't be much different than the average for a human.

>>42183852
The names your enemies give you stick the most, but weirdly enough, the capital of the empire will be the easiest to capture.

Alright, I'll be stepping out for the night. Until next time!

Dang, missed the crucial part. I really wanted nahldol alive.

How the hell are we killing the Usurper now, when she has a solid base of operations?