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>>42873961

You arrive at the edge of the level. Landing quickly, you immediate see the giant line of endless beasts staring back at you. Thick cords thread their skin and pulse heavily with the sound of thick fluid pumping through them. The cords all originate from a wide gutter filled with bubbling orange-red fluid, lead through the line of beasts, and wrap tightly around the towering support pillars holding up the integrity of the Sluice Gate.

You invoke your flame.

A young woman near the pool of fluid senses you. She turns and you can see that her face is heavily scarred leaving only her gently smiling mouth as her only feature. “Ah! It’s been so long. Oh, how I wish we could catch up, but I have my work to do.”

She turns toward the pool.

You instantly remember her as the woman who offered to feed you during your trip in The Maw.

“It’s a shame you didn’t accept my offer that time. It would’ve made this so much easier to make sure you didn't succeed, but I suppose you’re too late anyway.” Her smile widens. “Our home will remain so.” She slips into the bubbling fluid and is almost instantly dissolved.

[2/3]*

>>42874000

The sudden addition of fluid upsets the balance of the flowing fluid and a beast nearby quakes with activity as fluid pours from its mouth.. It’s large jaws clack together heavily, sending a few sparks into the air.

You instantly sense its intention and forcibly seal its entire body in place, as well as sealing off the source of the fluid.

They intended on destroying the entire Sluice Gate using explosions at this level. It wouldn’t have done any blows to the army itself at this point, but it will kill of most its leadership, and worse of all kill you.

You seethe quietly as you quickly formulate a plan. You need to incapacitate every single one of these dozens of beasts, and you most certainly can’t use Pyromancy to do so. It seems that sealing is your best bet to ensure that they don’t ignite the fluid already coursing through them, but will it be fast enough?

>Seal all of them as quickly as you can.

>Write in.

>>42874038
>Seal all of them as quickly as you can.

>>42874038
>http://pastebin.com/fzbjzbay
Seal the chords feeding them, stop them from getting access to the tainted liquid.

>>42874118
The source of the fluid has been sealed off, but they already have a considerable amount of fluid coursing through them.

>>42874038
Shit the only thing I can think of is
>Use sealing to kill off half of them and then use that new necromancy skill to force the other half into those corpses.

>>42874176
Maybe we can mindfuck them somehow

>>42874176
>>42874118
>>42874038
that works then.

>>42874195
But that will make them panic and set them off.

>>42874225
Not if we do it right.

Hello and welcome back to another run, everyone!

>>42874176
>>42874197

Half the work, how much result?

>Writing~

>>42874291

Killing off the entirety of them leaves too much chance that one will ignite during your work, but all of them must be disposed, so the only option is to be quicker.

What a pain. Maybe there's a way you can deal with more than one at a time…

Your mind continues to race until you latch onto something; the Necromancy lesson that you had with Justina. If you can manage to deal with half of them, you can use her technique to incapacitate the rest in one blow. The only question now is, just how many is half?

You shake your head, take off for what you think is the center of the line is, and instantly begin working.

Sealing off the expansion of their lungs will still leave them chance to ignite the fluid, so again you need a quicker method. However, these creatures may be witless enough for you to test out a new application of your skill.

You snap completely shut the main artery leading to one of the creatures brains and within a few short seconds it crumples to the ground, and you’ve already moved on to the next creature. You work your way towards one of the ends, occasionally sealing out of order if one seems more agitated than the others, but you’re able to make it to the end of the line within a short time.

Panting heavily, you fly back to the center of the beasts, and prepare yourself for the next feat. Focusing in on the will of the dozens of remaining creatures, you group them all together, and then unrestrainedly impose your will through all of them.

[1/2]

>>42875002

You're not floating anymore.

Actually, a very peculiar sensation of being pulled by something quite heavy passes through your body, and you find yourself unwillingly sliding against the rough and filthy floor. When you do manage to pull yourself up, you see that the remaining beasts have all collapsed and were successfully forced into the other corpses.

Well, it looks like you manage to eliminate more than half of them to begin with, because not a single one remains standing. Of course, the work isn’t done.

With a slight sigh, you hurry off the kill off the vacant bodies, making your way down the line as you had before, though at a slower pace from heavy fatigue.

You’re just about to finish with the end of the line before the last two of the beasts manage to return to their vacant bodies. Feeling too exhausted to seal anymore, you slice through the connection to the cords leading toward the support pillars with your dagger.

The threat to the Sluice Gate has been prevented, on this floor at least.

Panic courses through the pair, and they run off to the darkness at a great speed.

You sigh heavily. They’re not going to set off any damaging explosions, yet you could chase after them, or you could forget them and return to deal with that wall of flesh.

>Ignore them and return to wall.

>Chase the pair down and finish them off.

>Write in.

>>42875048
>Chase the pair down and finish them off.
They could have a backup plan. At the very least we don't want them reporting back.

>>42875048
I bet 5 bloodpills we're going to get ambushed

Activate stealth and move at a steady gait, no flight.

>>42875048
>Ignore them and return to wall.
I still got loads of questions.

>>42875048
>>Ignore them and return to wall.
Seal the way they left before you leave, and cut off the feeding tubes.

Votes aren't adding up with posters unless,

>>42875160
Wasn't actually his vote.

>>42875231
I deleted my old one.

>>42875231
I think one vote was deleted and replaced with a new one.

>>42875246
>>42875249
Okay, that's good to hear!

>>42875160
I want to confirm that this is a vote for Chasing down the pair, because we're at a tie if it is.

>>42875288
I don't like letting them go, but I'll switch to staying unless someone has a better idea than just stealth to help avoid an ambush.

>>42875312
Nah, just go with the wall so we can get our questions in before we have to leave.

>>42875048
>Ignore them and return to wall.

>>42875169
>>42875186
>>42875312
5 pill bet too.
>>42875373

Back to the wall.

>Writing~

>>42875396

You’ve still got plenty of questions that you wish to ask the wall, so you can’t waste time chasing down those creatures that could be anywhere by now.

But, much to your fatigued dismay, you can’t leave this disarmed trap so readily available to be reset. So you seal off the pool of volatile fluid, because cutting through all the tubes would likely take much more time than you have.

You turn back and proceed through the depths at a careful speed until finally you make it back to the flesh wall.

“You sound tired.” The wall comments as you approach.

“Not tired enough to have one last parting conversation.” You lace your voice with added sincerity.

It’s not entirely a lie, you’ll likely kill him off, but maybe you can find out a way to do so without unsealing the being that he’s guarding as well.

“Some nasty-sounding beasts that just passed by here. I’ve never heard them sound so spooked before. You’re not worried that they’ll make their way out of here?” The wall asks.

Now that you think about it, those creatures that you dealt with near the pillars are far too large to fit through the passageway leading to the upper levels.

You wave his question away. “Those things aren’t going anywhere.” You pause to think of way to lead up to ask what you want, and cross your arms. “That being you’re guarding, has it tried to harm you or affect you in any way?”

[1/2]

>>42876053

The wall takes a pensive breath. “Not since the beginning. Then it quickly realized that this wall was practically indestructible and went completely dormant with dreams of anger.”

Practically indestructible... You think on his words as you hear the commotion of a great many stamping of panicked hooves in the distance, better hurry up to make sure you don’t have any interruptions.

You slide a strand of hair from your face. “If I may ask, why did they need to place you within that wall?”

The wall chuckles lightly. “I make up the wall, actually. If I was unbound, I would die, then the wall would begin to decay, and in several years eventually crumble. But there isn’t anyone strong enough to break my allies’ seals.” He continues with confidence. “I will continue my task.”

That sounds like a challenge, to you at least. Thankfully you don’t even need for the wall to last half as long as he says.
You paint a smile on your face, even if you’re sure if the wall can see it. Perhaps it’s simply time to make sure he’s quiet for good, or maybe a few final questions before you finish him off?

>Unbind him from the wall.

>Write in.

>>42876090
I had a panicked thought. Are the boars we saw smaller than the guys we just killed?

>>42876090
>Unbind him from the wall.

>>42876164
They are.

>>42876090
Ask him if he knows where they sealed the other great beasts.

>>42876090
why would we want to do it again? We're kinda too tired to deal with it if things go south.

>>42876256
The main concern brought up was that he could serve as a potential leak for important information. Better that it gets in no ones' hands versus your enemy's.

>>42876200
So much for my fucking questions.
>Unbind him from the wall. Then make sure the boars aren't eating our army.

>>42876090
>>42876293
I feel that that is entirely too small a matter to risk long term consequences for.

>Just leave him.

>>42876090
Where are the other monsters sealed? What else do you remember of the fight and your leaders?

use Mental manipulation to make him have some happy thoughts and walk away. The knowledge he ahs is useless to the Usurper and may help her enemies, but won't affect us.

A few questions to be asked, but still tied between killing him and leaving him alive.

>>42876418
I'll change my vote>>42876311
To leaving him, so long as we hurry and go check on the army.

>>42876242
>>42876330
>>42876349
One question and then we part, leaving him.

>Writing~

>>42876491
By the way, that question is:

Ask him if he knows where they sealed the other great beasts/Where are the other monsters sealed?

>>42876509

Then again, your ultimate goal is disposing of The Empress, so perhaps it would be better to leave him alive for her enemies to find and take advantage of. At the very least, you’ll be able to come back to sort through his memories, when time is more permitting.

The sounds of the hoof beats fading into the distance signal to you that the boars are fleeing this level, so while it is long journey from here to the floor above the surface, you’ll limit yourself to one question before you part. Maybe you’re worrying too much about it, anyway.

“I too would like to make sure that these beings stay where they are.” You lie with perfect sincerity. “It’s the main reason I came down here in the first place, but now I know this seal is safe.” You pause to let the compliment settle in his mind. “Do you happen to know where any other the ancient ones were sealed, so I can go make sure of the seal’s integrity?”

“I was only present to help with one other.” He thinks quietly. “It was near the center of Envitico. It took both of our groups to bind it, and we still lost a good deal of people.” He groans in pain of the memory. “But I’m sure that it’s a paradise now that those things are gone. Isn’t it?”

It wasn’t always called The Maw, and that other name it has is rooted in something quite forgotten. But to have taken the entirety of their forces to seal, it must’ve been quite the creature.

“It’s a lovely place, I hear.” You assure him. “And I’m looking forward to spending time there soon.”

A small twinge of panic through your mind causes you to jump, but the emotion didn’t come from your own mind.

[1/2]

>>42877459

Not caring for formalities or stealth, you hastily fly back to the entrance of the level, the pair of giant creatures fleeing from your presence.

Your fatigue screams at you through your body, but you ignore it the best you can, burning through any wandering boars that have the misfortune of falling in your path.

Too many damn stairs…Too many damn boars.

Light continues to grow, and finally you burst into the second level of the Sluice Gate.

A few dimly lit and slightly flooded corridors, but it’s completely different from that forgotten place so far down. You check the halls for signs of Izu, only finding the occasional boar. Until finally you come across a small clearing.

Near the corner of the room, Izu sits with his barrier around him, deflecting a large amount of rubble falling on top of him as well as several boars slamming into his yellow flames.

You spot the source of that brief twinge of panic he let out. His leg is pinned under a heavy piece of rubble, as it seems now that the floor above you is crumbling in at this area.

He doesn’t seem to notice you as you quickly consider how to help him. Stopping the boars would be the bes-

“No!” Izu calls out from afar. “I can save myself! You said you’d let me.”

You distinctly remember saying that you’d let him be his own person, not die under a piece of-

“It matters, so let me try!” He shouts defiantly back to you. “Trust me!” He turns his focus back to withholding his barrier.

The Empress appears suddenly next to you. “He's getting older." She smiles slightly. "But he's still young." She turns to you. "He would not blame you, if I were the one to help him."

Actually, he would...

>Let him sort it out completely on his own.

>Step in to help if you think he needs it.

>Write in.

>>42877538
>Step in to help if you think he needs it.

>>42877538
>>Step in to help if you think he needs it.
But only enough to give him a good chance or if he fails. he's dear to us and we'd rather not lose him. Yes we're selfish but he already knew that.

>>42877566
>>42877617
A safety net.

>Writing~

>>42877538
Tell him about the explosions that could be happening on other floors and not having a lot of time.

>>42877930
That was restricted to the lowermost floor.

Since it help the main supports for the sluicegate.

>>42877999
Removing the leaders would be a big enough blow to the armies.

>>42877722

You don’t turn away from the scene. “Hopefully the situation won’t force my hand.”

The Empress crosses her arms. “It’s the wiser choice.” She pauses as if unsure if she should continue or not. “Sayuline wasn’t truly my daughter, and while she too wished to grow up and live her own way, it was still in service of me.”

This certainly is a surprise. To hear her lament the death of someone, even if not explicitly said, makes you wonder how much of a mask does The Empress wear. Those few words are all that she seems to wish to say on the matter, so you report your findings.

“Justina reported something similar from her floor, but at a much smaller scale, likely to assist the explosion that was to occur on your level.” She looks up at the crumbling portion of the roof. “I suspect some of their scouts had something to do with that as well.”

Rubble uncaringly continues to crash on top of Izu barrier, and begins to show signs of cracking. However, at the moment he gaze focuses in on the boars surrounding him. Suddenly his dome barrier changes shape and shoots out several large bars all around the exterior.
The morphed flames all smack into the boars, instantly knocking them unconscious, but his barrier shatters after the sudden change of shape, just as a boulder quickly plummets over his head.

[1/2]

>>42878716

You seal it in place in an instant, its size compressing significantly under the strain of your seal.

The Empress uncrosses her arms and approaches the crestfallen boy and picks him up. “If you had chosen to shape your flames to spikes, your barrier would still be standing right now.” Wisps of her pure violet energy circle over her head, instantly vaporizing any additional falling rocks.

Izu silently pouts as The Empress moves him away the collapsing roof, and you let the boulder collapse to the ground.

She places him down next to your side where he stands quietly. His face doesn’t show any anger towards you at all, but you’re not quite sure what emotion he’s showing right now. And you’re certainly not sensing any of his thoughts at the moment.

He sighs away his hidden emotion and then turns to you with a grin. “Next time I won’t need help for sure.”

“Of course.” You smile and mess up his already messy hair some more.

[2/3]*

>>42878740

~
Disgur approaches you as you prepare to lead the army through the Sluice Gate.

“Hello, Sophia.” He nods cordially. “Might I trouble you for a moment of your time, alone?”

You walk away from the soldiers packing up your transport construct and signal for Disgur to follow you on a walk.

He slides alongside you. “It pains me to part from The Empress, but at least I know she’s in capable hands.” He laughs lightly. “But she told me to see it as a chance for a good break, so I will do so. A good chance to check in some long time investments before that girl shows up with her army.”

“I hope we’ll be returning to you shortly, Disgur.” You stop to turn and watch the army fall into formation.

He sighs. “As do I, but there will be a time I can’t keep a watchful eye over The Empress, so I must pose to you a very troubling question because of it.”

“Please, go ahead.” You respond.

“Philomena’s sudden disappearance has raised my suspicions considerably, and I have reasons to suspect that Justina was responsible in that case.” He pauses. “But I can’t act on my suspicions alone, so I came to you to ask if you have any reason to believe that Justina might be a threat to our Empress.”

You turn to him. “And if I do?”

“Then I will see to her elimination.” He responds quietly and confidently.

Quite the terrible amount of trust is being placed on you, likely in response to your increasing favor with The Empress. Or is it? Perhaps this is a careful ploy to test your own loyalty?

While Justina has yet to act on her inclinations, you know for a fact that she desires to make Izu her own belonging. Is this the chance to be rid of that lingering threat?

>Lie to implicate Justina.

>Don't implicate Justina.

>Write in.

>>42878780
>Don't implicate Justina.
"She hates her, that much is obvious, but if she had a hand in it, she was wise enough to leave me out of it."

>>42878780
>Don't implicate Justina.
She's been good so far, and Izu is already chafing at us protecting him.

>>42878780
>I can't say for certain. I know she is a master necromancer which means this entire plane is a playground to one such as her. She will be at her most powerful in this place. I also remember The Empress saying she ahs a hold over Justinia's vices, which would give her no small reason. However I have not seen anything directly, and I doubt if she did kill Philomena she'd leave a trace. She can make corpses explode on her command after all.

>>42878835
I think that's coming on a bit too strongly

>>42878865
How?

>>42878802
>>42878817
>>42878835
Fingers firmly unpointed.

>Writing~

>>42878907
It's basically accusing without evidence.

>>42878997
Auri thought otherwise, soooooooo. Honestly it was a doublespeak action so we'd not get any splashback.

>>42878915

You shake your head after some thought. “She hates her, that much is obvious, but while The Empress supplies her vice, she has no reason to cause trouble.”

He considers your words heavily before accepting. “Do be careful in that place, while we don’t know if she’s an enemy or not, a master necromancer is nothing to take lightly, especially in that realm.”

“Well, hopefully she’ll put her skills to good use.” You turn away from the army. “Justina’s quite good at making corpses explode. She must be well-practiced...” You look at Disgur before you head back to your construct. “Rest assured, I will take care of The Empress.” You smile before leaving.

~

The path leading away from away from the massive Sluice Gate runs alongside the huge waterfalls of pure filth draining to a steaming unseen abyss.

“I could just die!” Justina whines firmly situated with one of her dolls right in front of her face.

That could’ve been arranged.

“If you did, we’d throw you down there.” You begin to grin, but immediately regret opening your mouth as an acrid taste sticks to the inside of your mouth.

“You fucking savages.” She sighs and leans back in defeat. “Tell me it gets better.”

You shake your head eagerly. “It doesn’t. Different, sure, but just as unpleasant.”

All of you grip the railing around you as the path the army marches upon becomes incredibly steep. You peer over the side to see that patches and thin vessels of flesh have begun to appear on the ground. The soldiers tense up as you approach the border with The Maw.

[1/2]

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>>42879655

In the construct ahead of you, The Empress begins a large ritual and the walls seem to warp and reshape around you as you pass through planes.

After several minutes of this, the ritual ends, and your construct finally clears the incline to level ground. Or semi-level ground…

Throbbing flesh quivers all around you and stretches much further than the eye can see. The ground breathes as you advance draping you in its overbearing warmth, letting you know that it’s everywhere.

“Unpleasant was too light…” Justina stares in disgust at everything around her, and the ground lets out a hot and wet breath as if in response.

A single ancient alter with a bronze plaque lies to the side of the army’s path. Whatever was built on top of the pedestal has long since disappeared, and the original writing of the sign has been smoothed away, so only a crudely written message written in dried blood remains.

“Welcome to Paradise!”

~

>>42879696
Okay, that's where I'm going to be ending it for tonight. Some really good strategies came up, which I quite enjoyed, so 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 as always, I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!

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

>>42879696
WE'RE BACK BABY

>>42879742
thx 4 runin budi gud thred
how spooked is virgil out of ten

>>42879696
Can't we just seal our sense of smell in these situations?

>>42879772
You're indeed back and are very welcome! Virgil is coasting at a solid 6 right now as it his first time in the realm.

>>42879778
You could, but other than disguising yourself, you're not a fan of placing seals on your own body.

>>42879742
Thanks for running. Where's the Usurper at?

>>42879850
You're very welcome!

The Usurper is slightly ahead of you at the front of the line, though as the rest of the army clears the path leading away from the Sluice Gate, there will be a change of formation.

>>42879896
How are the other generals handling it? How's Izu doing? We get a chance to talk to him while traveling?

>>42879937
The generals themselves are incredibly used to this. The main coucilmembers, as little as they are now, have pretty much all been seen, other than Virgil and the fill ins. Izu is curious to see the realm for his self, because all he has to go off of is your memories, and you'll be able to talk to him at the beginning of the next run.

>>42880009
How strong are we comparatively to our memories of our parents and what we've seen of the usurper? We hear anything else out about Aya other than she's marching?

>>42880072
You have no memories of your parents actually in combat, they did there best to keep that from you.

Comparatively, based off what you seen The Usurper is capable of in raw combat, I wouldn't call it very close, but I certainly wouldn't say that your only half as strong. And you've yet to hear anything else about Aya other than that.

>>42880163
Would finding a way to use those tablets as a power boost for our magic fall under delving or necromancy? We hear anything about our other friends/former cohorts?

>>42880192
In the sense of a raw power boost for your other abilities, I say that would fall more appropriately under Necromancy. You haven't heard anything about your former cohorts, but Ali certainly has, and can send word.

>>42880257
We might need them for the final conflict if the deign to come.

We see of hear anything of the OLD ONE we bound?

>>42880257
Would creating a powerful (and durable) necromantic construct with the blood tablets implanted in it to give it a source to regen/draw power from be possible?

kinda like a bodyguard?

>>42880310
They'll very likely show up at least once more before the end. The Old One you bounded is in a container to prevent any residual thoughts of his affected the weaker minded.

>>42880327
That's very possible and it would be similar to a flesh soldier but obviously stronger. However since your skills in Necromancy aren't advanced as some of your others, how you can shape it will have limits.

>>42880405
.....Light bulb, would it be possible for Ali to give the humans a the chant directions to reach Impel? Ellie could verify them and having them show up might help.

>>42880443
It could be possible, but it would require convincing their leadership and obtaining the resources to transport them all. But it would indeed help to have them on your side, their numbers grow.

>>42880506
How large and for how long can we hold our gate?

>>42880573
If you're referring to the bridge realm creation, then the size of that would equate to a very small room, and can be maintained for a few minutes. Of course this translates to immensely different values within the realm itself.

>>42880624
Not the realm, the normal plane jumping one sans realm.

>>42880682
If that's the case, then if you have ample fluid medium(blood would be best, but not absolutely required), and capable hands the ritual could be quite large(mainly limited to the amount of fluid you have) and last for several moments.

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

Dammit missed the thread.
I'm still enjoying reading this quest though. thanks for runnin' Auri!

Thanks for running, sorry i couldn't join the thread, but timezones fuck it up...
I'm starting to not want to betray the empress, is that bad?

>>42883978
I dont hate her either

>>42883978
Ali and Aya aren't going to like that.

Matthias too, but he may not be in a position to give opinions.

Whatever happens, we need to kick her ass and prove we're on top.

>>42884277
I would preffer sharing her throne/becoming her heir, but i could compromize with being on top if it either that or killing her.You know, since we don't have a romantic partner, marriage is an option...

>>42884277
Yea i agree.

We are going to assert our dominance, but i kinda doubt we'll be able to do that without killing her.

Also, anyone else kinda support her goal of cracking open the Anciliary Manta and leashing the beasts to our will?

>>42884343
Could be fun, we'll see how possible it will be with the risks and all, but as long as we do't kill/break the empress i'm fine with whatever.

>>42884343
>>42884413
Considering how much damage 1 of those things could do, and how many are held back there, that's stupid. There is a reason why the Usurper said if she fucks up there will be no one left.