>>7272561
“Then the Seraphs shall sortie the Apostol Palace.”

“Your holiness, are you sure? They have not ridden the land in centuries.”

“A thousand years of meditation and preparation were made for these days cardinal. If no more lives are to be lost, and the world we love is to remain pure it must be done. I can feel it already. Valtir still shines bright. Indeed, it shines brighter now then it ever has in a thousand years. But nature is twisting, and although his curse blesses the land, nature will protest and warp if things are left as they are.”

At a beck and call a man short but heavily clad in silver plate armour with modesty in his steps approaches the table and kneels. A plain looking long sword and flintlock pistol etched with Holy Scriptures and runes at his side. His vision suddenly turns to the window and stares into the eyes of the raven perched on the window high above. You take flight immediately and soar off into the dirty city below.

You awaken sitting upon your throne. You spy familiar surroundings, the captain’s skull suspended within a cylinder of crystal glass projecting the sea charts on the far wall. On the opposite side Catharine writing and calculating in the records, she has not noticed you stir from your slumber. Behind you hear a caw, perched on the window to the sea outside is a raven.

You are currently sailing through the straits between Albion and Midstland, what does evil will?

Belongings: Ragged robes, noble garbs, medium armour, “Kingslayer", Captain’s Skull, Kelgris Engine, “King of Black Waters”
Known Dark Arts: Soul Obliteration (Cost High), Zone of Secularity (Cost Very High), Dark Imply (Cost Low), Shadow Step (Cost Range Dependent), Dark Storm (High, Medium upkeep)
Evil Power: Nigh Human Potential
Minions of Note: Catharine (Mistress), Sailors (531), Mage neophytes - Children (23)

>>7272581
And over world map.

Awesome, glad to see you here Evil. Today's /tg/ has had far too many shitty threads and I was just about to leave /tg/ for the day.

Let's let the raven in.

And long term, let's see about finding ways to send out decoys for these Seraphs to waste their time on.

Since when do we have a familiar?

We shall name the raven "Quoth".
I'm so clever.

>>7272667
You rise from your throne and unlatch the windows, along with the sting of brine the raven takes flight into your cabin and lands on the back of your throne. It beats its wings several times and then grooms its wings before laying eyes on you again. The eyes look, unnatural and show a primitive but malicious and cunning intellect.

>>7272667
This.

Didn't this thread already happen? I remember seeing it up before going to sleep a few days past. Either way, Seraphs are coming for us, its time to step up our game and corrupt a nation.

>>7272733
I probably did, but I don't spam bump my threads when it seems an otherwise bad time to host a quest. I take the hint and do something else and wait for a better day.

So then, pleasantries aside what sorts of evil shall we get up to today?

Approaching Catharine working away at the desk she notices you awake and approaching. You immediately ask her about who and what the Seraphs are.

She regales you a story of a monastic order of warrior monks, much like her late brother, but they train to be devoid of all emotion. The only emotion they cultivate is love for peace, order, life and Valtir. They have been training and waiting for hundreds of years, so that they could protect all people's and nations loyal to the Valtir religion from any monstrous threat of evil or heresy. Then it comes to her, why do you ask so suddenly? Then you can see it in her face right away as she begins to worry.

>>7272667
>>7272733
To delay the Seraphs you need to make sure you leave cold trails for them to follow. They will no doubt ride the lands investigating and hunting you down. They may not know you by sight or name, but if they are an elite order of paladins they will surely be able to feel and smell you.

As for corrupting a nation, you'd best be getting on to deciding the next target and plan of attack and infiltration.

How well armed is our ship?

Cold trails should be pretty easy, I suggest multiple stops along the coastal towns sending out cultists in various directions to set up shop in a scatter plot of towns. This serves two purposes, one acquiring us more followers, and of course the acts of evil being carried out in our name would be in so many places it would take months to track us down. Though the set ups of cultists should be informed to co-ordinate their setting up shop so that all of the cults spring up at once.

Which direction are we sailing between the straits?

>>7273005
66 cannons on broadside 33 of each side 11 in three rows. Then 2 pursuit cannons.

>>7273013
A sound enough plan, but where and how far or stretched thin would this operation be?

>>7273043
For narrative purposes the ship has been doing a circuit along Albion and Midstland with some stops on the edge of Telreinz. Where it is sailing now is up to you.

>>7273047

It needs to be stretched far enough so that the Seraphs cannot extrapolate even a vague notion of where we are based on where we are. Hmm thinking about it we should stick to one side of that mountain range, using both sides might get the implication that we are sailing, while using the one side might give them the idea we are marching. I would say send them throughout midstland and lourenz telling them to keep to either small towns where they could conceivably convert the entire town(You know how small insular towns are) or large cities where they can operate under the radar. Though avoid large church centers, we can't let them be to easy to be found.

Let's drop off, at several small port towns along the northern coast, small groups of 3 or 4 people total. Loyal cultists, etc. They're too act subtly, with forethought. Go forth and gain power. Power is all that matters. Power can crush your enemies before you and bring you followers.

Send them out to make their own power, and when the time is right, we'll bring them back into the fold, their newly acquired power along with them.

As for us, let's stop in a good sized city somewheres around . . . that large city on the coast near Western Midstland, to the east of that mountain range. In that bay looking area.

>>7273207
I'm okay with this. We can cause some more trouble up north, and once the alarms are raised, sail on down to other areas while they're up north looking for us.

>>7273207

I like the idea of developing a rhetoric to give them. Something nice and Machiavellian would inspire them to greater feats.

>>7273207
This. Also, I recall us having quite a bit of money. Let's leave some with the most devout of our cultists in each stop.

>>7273207
>>7273167
You still have 55 of the loyal cultists from Arwenken aside from the mercenaries and criminals you have 'hired' who would not be suitable for the task. You send them out along the midland of the continent in small groups to rustle up as many followers as they are able. When they feel the time is right, they shall follow the chaos and destruction heralding your presence. Either way you may not hear from them in weeks, months, years or ever again.

The city there is a large port city of Midstland, Ostenmark. The city is separated into three distinct districts: The port of the city bustles with trade and the roads are canals, then the terrace is where the nobles and wealthy middle class merchants reside in the foot hills, then in the once long ago flood plains the common rabble live.

As mentioned before a famous Engineer resides here mostly building automatons for the amusement of the wealthy. Otherwise the land in control by the Duke of Ostmark, Leopold Calendreg.

We must stop there and have him construct a Kelgris-golem.

Let's pay the Engineer a visit. Quiet-like. I'm thinking have Catherine visit with us nearby outside, and Quoth accompanying her so we have our own eyes/ears inside.

How exactly is the Kelgris Engine being used right now? Of course, I want to put him in a monstrous battle automaton. Maybe we can get this Engineer inspired to do that through Catherine, and then feed off his despair once he sees what it's become.

>>7273382
In fact, since we're on the water, what about a giant automated battleship or submarine?

A massive shark or kraken submarine, even, with Kelgris in control, keeping the shipping lanes in a perpetual state of fear.

>>7273382
Kelgris is sitting in a storage room back on the ship.

Disembarking from the ship with Catharine and Quoth on your shoulder you motion the sailors ashore and give them free shore leave. You are not sure when you will leave, so they are to return every other night at least.

Having Catharine ask for directions while you tower menacingly behind her frightened citizens direct you through the city streets and over the canal bridges to a workshop at the base of the foot hills. By its description you can see you are getting closer, large plumes of steam and smoke arise from one building, a courtyard full of metal refuge leaving the grass and garden to grow uncontrolled and unnurtured with weeds.

Approaching the metal doors at the entrance you knock three times. There is silence for a moment before you hear the sound of pistons and release of steam and the heavy foot thick steel doors pull aside automatically.

Inside you see a collection of clocks, metal pipes furnaces anvils of various sizes and skeletal structures of birds, and small domestic animals made from metal.

Amongst the constant noise you hear the voice of a girl bellow out, "Sir! Company here!"

Emerging from a workshop with a towel wiping black liquid off his hands and face hidden behind a steel mask an old man with a slouched gait from age emerges. Pushing his mask up on top of his head you see a wrinkled old face and long white beard reaching down to his collar bone.

"And who do we have here? I wasn't expecting clients today?"

>>7273427

Oh, and capturing sailors to impress into our forces. Heck, even just starving them for a while and then loosing them en masse into a small town wouldn't be bad.

"What you have, is a delicious soul." Oblit him. See what produces.

>>7273488
Well, great. Now he's going to see what we look like. Whatever, we'll claim it's an embarrassing hereditary condition.

Let's ask to see his shop, and imply (not magically, not yet) that we want to fund him making a truly magnificent automaton.

>>7273525
NO. Not yet. He's useful now, for his brain and what he could make us.

Plus we do have Seraphs beginning their search for us, let's be a little more subtle-like.

Let's see about getting him to build us an automaton to house Kelgris in, and let's see just what he's able to make. Dark Imply if needed to get his dreams of grandeur racing.

>>7273488
"Good day sir. I've heard a very famous engineer takes residence here. And from what I see, the rumors are not all exaggerations. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important, I was merely wishing to gain an audience with the one who works such wonders. I must admit, I am -very- intrigued."

>imply that he wants to speak to us privately and tell us all about his work

>>7273595
>>7273593
>>7273549
"Another noble then is it?" The old man looks rather uninterested. "Well I've never seen the lady or you before, so you must have only heard of my works. The name is Gregov Rizzo, and this here is my workshop."

Hanging from the ceiling like a simian a girl flips down legs around a pipe from the ceiling, "Sir got a little leak in the - oh sorry."

"Never mind that Miranda, just get it fixed." The girl covered in grease pulls his weight back up by her abdomen into the labyrinthine system of pies above. Gregov continues, "Now the menagerie is not for four more months but I am already quite busy for it, every noble wants something more fancy then his rival and that just spirals out of control." He motions you into his workshop and you follow him into a room with brown and faded papers and schematics covering the wall a large table in the centre of the room. Lying on top the table is a delicate looking structure, a thin bone like structure with leather webbing. "I've been very busy getting my latest idea to work. Its a wing. I've made ducks, cats and dogs that can walk, but I've never made anything that can fly. But before I realized it, with what I have to work with it needs to be quite large. Now if you have anything in mind I can, with the money you have, get something on queue for you."

>>7273698

>imply that the work he is doing for nobles is boring and a waste of his talents. He should work on something truly grand and powerful.

Screw the automatons. I want to learn more about this system of pies.

>>7273745
This. And we could provide the funding.

Also, if he's working on a wing, well, giant kraken automaton is awesome. Even bigger dragon automaton... more awesome? Pic somewhat related.

>>7273698
Were this a different quest I'd be interested in learning more about this girl, but evil has a schedule to keep and we know Catherine doesn't appreciate sharing. And she has been far too helpful (and obviously with great potential) to cast aside.

>>7273698
"You don't say. Well, the thing is... I've come into possession of a device of amazing potential. It moves perpetually, as if it were its own power source, like the beating of a human heart if you will. Why, it feels almost alive. I believe it's the core of something greater. I'd like you to take a look at it, possibly replicate it and give it form."

Ancient Dwarf Magic Engine. We must mention having found an artifact that would interest him, also, order Kelgris to not communicate/harm him before showing him.

>>7273856
>>possibly replicate it and give it form."
>>possibly give it a truly worthy automaton to power."

Fixed.

LOOKS LIKE OP IS GONE

>>7273856
>>7273888
You explain the artifact you have to Gregor, he looks at you with one cocked eye. "Really? Dwarven you say? Even when they are defend their works with reckless abandon and hoard them away in impenetrable vaults? You'll forgive me if I don't believe you." He moves over and looks at some of his schematics while he continues the conversation not even making eye contact anymore, "Magic is a fickle thing. Makes some people special, never liked it. Can't imagine living a few thousand years ago when it was everywhere. I don't have time for it either, I said I'd make wonders better then what magic could ever do. Don't suppose I ended up doing that. I'm old now and only got so far." Pushing the papers aside he finds and moves a fresh flat of paper to an opening on the main table and looks back at you once again. "Now, if you got the funding I can make you what you want. Story of my life postponing my projects for years while I fulfil boring requests."

You put forward the idea of how to use those wings.

"Well now," his eyes light up with the first glimmer of life since meeting him, "I need quite a bit of coin to get that to work. If its that heavy it'll just be a giant statue, beat its wings, move around a bit. If I can get enough power to the wings and create enough wind, it'll prove-." Gregor sinks deep into his thoughts before looking back up at you, "Yes yes I'll need what would need about a count's income for a year to get it done though.

>>7274023
Done and done.

>>7274050
This. We have the money, right?

>>7274023
>imply we've already paid him

Do we have enough cash to fund it?

>>7274066
>>7274059
>>7274050
That's the problem, you don't.

>>7274080
Well, time for some looting and pillaging.

How much money do we have available to us? At least, in comparison to the count's income for a year is what I need a number on.

>>7274023
>>I said I'd make wonders better then what magic could ever do. Don't suppose I ended up doing that. I'm old now and only got so far.

"You can do that yet. I want to help you make a marvel that will awe the world."

>>"I need quite a bit of coin to get that to work. If its that heavy it'll just be a giant statue, beat its wings, move around a bit. If I can get enough power to the wings and create enough wind, it'll prove-."

"Let us make this something truly magnificent, something worthy of your talent. How long would it take, if you had access to all the funds you've named? How long, and how mighty could the machine be, if you had even more?"

>>7274062
Won't work, he's going to need the money to buy materials, and possibly additional labor.

I take it we're agreed on a giant flying automaton dragon with Kelgris inside? (Unless anyone else has an idea for an awesome flying metal creature of doom.)

>>7274102
>>How long

Er, that should have been asking how long to create the automaton.

Who has the money in this town?

>>7274023
>count's income
>Duke of Ostmark, Leopold Calendreg.
>the income of an entire country
"I don't think you'll have to worry about funding my good man. I simply need to collect some of my vast income from overseas."

>>7274117
Possible pic. Although, a giant winged angel or demon automaton could work as well. Tell the people it's a divine messenger, hilarity ensues.

Also, do we want to trick people into providing funding for this, or go pirate, or sack a city, or something else?

>>7274126
>>7274117
>>7274102
Exactly, he cant just use crude iron and lead for this project, he needs the expensive pure metals. If you put the Kelgris engine inside you're not completely sure what will happen, but its sure to have some profound effect. Making the basic skeletal frame doesn't take to long, but the wings will take time, then he has to do all the hard work of getting all the mechanized limbs and systems to go inside the frame. It could take months.

>>7274182

tricking people is the most low key, we have a tendency to "make a impression" when we attack overtly.

>>7274158
The wealthy merchants and nobles in the terraces of Ostenmark.

>>7274183
We are the last vestige of true evil. We will have to plan for the future, and having a badass mechanical dragon to beat our enemies into the ground will be a great asset.

I think that our goal in this city should be to acquire the man's funding and maybe some rare metals to expedite the construction.

Dragon-Kelgris is too awesome to pass up.

Let's go rob a fucking bank

Tell him to start drawing up the plans needed, with the focus on power and excellence rather than cost effectiveness. It's time for us to begin acquiring the funding needed.

Let's go visit the merchants and nobles. We'll have to not make TOO big an impression or there's going to be too much trouble/chaos in the city for our Engineer to work.

Possible other design for flying-automaton-Kelgris.

Soul obliteration is interesting. OP, are humans the only beings with souls to do this to? What about a dog?

I concur with kelgris dragon.

Have Quoth search for noble's homes and note entrances and exits. Catherine should go about learning about events at these houses.

We can masquerade as a nobleman (I think we can still pass off as human, can we?) If we can't masquerade, then let's go in Thief style and just loot everything we can carry. We need money, but since we're making use of the local businesses we can't just pillage the city.

Another option is to go loot another town. But that would leave a bigger trail than stealing from a noble.

>>7274316
oh my god not another new person who wants to oblit everyone we meet.

Please read at least the beginning threads on suptg, otherwise you will incur the anger of everyone in the thread at your stupidity.

>>7274316
Soul Obliteration is simply the name. What it does is infuse your dark energy into the form physical something form. The soul is displaced from the body and the body left behind mutates from the energy. No two results are the same, but filling a vessel with dark energy drains you big time and is like a signal flare to anyone who can sense and feel it.

>>7274327
I think we should run a protection racket. Or Dark Imply the business leaders into providing funding to crush their competitors.

>>7274342
Man, why don't you shut the fuck up. I've been here since the beginning, and as I recall, we've never tried it on an animal.

Superior Dragon Design.

Not the little girl.

>>7274365
Eh, it's alright.

>>7274315
>>7274327
Sending out Quoth brings back necklaces and jewelry, stolen from rooms of nobles and merchant's wives with open windows no doubt.

Catharine is able to discern that Midstland being the nation that it is, has a professional army levied and volunterring from the population. Nobles are no longer expected to fight and serve in battle for thier fiefdoms and rather make money by controlling the land. From Quoth stealing precious gems in only a few hours you can see where all the money goes. Rumours of a thief will no doubt spread though. The nobles and merchants must know all about the economy and money though. If they have any redeeming qualities it will be exactly that. You'll need a particularly clever scheme to separate them from their money.

>>7274418
Well, we have experience inciting underclass rebellions. Could we do that here, and loot places during the chaos?

>>7274438
A rebellion will make it impossible for the Engineer to have a safe place to build, or even want to.

While the dragon is an AWESOME INCREDIBLY GOOD IDEA, I say we test what will happen with Kelgris engine if we stick it in something.

Have our engineer give us a quote on a smaller humanoid first, that way we can have our bodyguard back and see if the dragon plan will work.
Plus we don't really need a huge dragon drawing attention to us right now...but considering the nature of the Kelgris engine where it warped space we could have the potential for a shape shifting automaton.

>>7274464
Fuck, forgot about him. One track mind tonight.

Get some kind of noble's meeting going? They'd take their best guards with them and their estates would be easier to break into and loot.

>>7274478
BALTUM SHALL FALL

>>7274488
Why would the nobles want to go to your meeting? You'll have to either invest in something legitimate or fool them something fierce.

>>7274478
>>shape shifting automaton
Kelgris, transform, and ROLL OUT! Yeah, if there's something big enough for him (it's a large engine), let's check it out. Otherwise, don't waste the Engineer's time building a test body.

I still say let's get a protection racket going. Pay us, or your life is forfeit, and be quiet about it.

>>7274527
Protection racket would take longer than looting noble's homes I think. Also could get confrontation from other crimelords.

Ok: Have Catherine get information on any social instability. Can Quoth communicate what he sees to us? If so, have him spy on nobles to try to get blackmail material.

Knowledge is power.

>>7274520
We should pretend to be Lukas Fehrwight, a representative of a powerful wine-making family that needs to get its stock out of its home state before it erupts into civil war. Let us invest in a small amount of the aforementioned wine in order to convince the nobles, and don't forget to spread rumours of an amazing wine that we will obviously be selling. We should also get some decent clothes to keep up the pretense of being a merchant.

>>7274554
>>other crimelords

Hey, here's an idea. Let's find those crimelords, and take over their organizations. Then step up money collection efforts.

God damn, this quest has gone downhill.

>>7274567

Take that a step or two farther and you've got a full Nigerian email scam setup. We've seen in the real world how well those work, and no-one here has dealt with that before.

"Oh, all my family's vast holdings were left in that city as I fled it, secured away where they wouldn't be found. If you donate to the expedition to retrieve them, I'd give you an enormous share of the recovered assets."

>>7274617
That's only because as usual when left to plan large things out /tg/ flounders. It's not the quest itself, that'll get back on the awesome once we pick something and it becomes smaller decisions again.

>>7274637
Could anything be more evil than a Nigerian scam? Let's do this.

>>7274527
>>7274554
>>7274575
Searching Ostenmark's common areas you discover a guild with vague business practices, you defiantly feel that it deals in the darker sides of business. Claiming to be a nobles from the southren fields in Midstland you arrange meeting to put in some, 'investments'. You are then brought before a congregation of three men in a guild hall, ragged leather and dagger wielding xcum sit and play cards on the tables off to the side, body guards of some sort.

A short, fat and stocky man among the other three counting counting a small bag of silver coins addresses you, "Well Mr.Fehrwight. I hear you have some money to invest. We can offer 10% increase annually, 10% to the guild of course."

We're the greatest evil left in the world and we're reduced to scams and petty thievery.

We need to do something grander than this. How about we place the order and make a down payment with anything we have, then go to another town, butcher the people and loot it like an evil power should. Then we use the spoils to pay the rest of the bill.

>>7274662
"I'd like to know more about your guild before I put my money into it. I simply seek proof that I will be seeing a return on my investment. I have no compunctions about how that occurs, but I want to see that your business plan is solid."

>>7274672
We'll do that next then, since we're already about to take over the Mafia in this town.

Cut this man's head off with our sword then. Asert our dominance over his minions.

I'm so sick and tired of this low key bullshit.

>>7274691
"New members don't need to know nothin'. You pay over the money, the guild uses it to, pay for services and the money earned gets back to you."

>>7274719
Walk up, draw our sword and stab him. Then shadow step behind the guards and kill them.

"When I ask a question, I expect an answer. You two, start talking."

>>7274702
"No I have a better investment."

You approach the table and the three bosses with disinterest call over the guards. Quick and nimble the guards try to grab hold of you by the arms, but with a jolt of red electricity smoke rises from their palms and they give a quick scream of agony before their boiling blood causes their eyes to burst trickling blood down their faces. With your strides still uninterrupted you unsheath Kingslayer and with the reach of your arm decapitate the three men in one swing, the frost seals the wounds on their necks instantly and three bodies fall to the floor without making a mess.

>>7274741
>>but with a jolt of red electricity smoke rises from their palms and they give a quick scream of agony before their boiling blood causes their eyes to burst trickling blood down their faces.

Whoa, when did we learn this?

>>7274741
Call in the person who brought us here, let them know we're in charge now.

>>7274765
Small scale of Dark Storm.

>>7274772
Well, no doubt you've created a power vacuum in the underworld, getting your hands on all of it is probably too much to hope for, but that little display should get you enough of it to make some quick silver.

>>7274772
That, and that they just got a promotion. They're going to be our speaker now. We're going to be taking a huge chunk of the cash reserves with us to get the guild into the big time, so they'd better call up the gang for us to give a proper address.

Yeah. Find the bodyguards/2nd in commands here. "You're the bosses now. But I'm your boss. Don't forget that. I'll be expecting my share in short order."

>>7274802

Just a chunk of silver? No, we're going to go for power. I second this: >>7274807

Let's get the entire guild that's within the city assembled tonight and let them know who's in charge now. Nobody is to speak of the power vacuum until then. And we'll let them know we're done with small time efforts. We're going to get everyone in the guild filthy stinking rich. Well, that's what we'll tell them.

>>7274835
By making an unprecedented decision and gathering the cells of the guild together they like the idea of more money, but they are sceptical on the how.

>>7274854
"You'll get the full details in time from your higher ups. Right now, suffice to say that the entire country is going to be funding us within the next few months."

How? HOW!? By working together. Collaboration. No longer will they squabble and compete. They will work towards the collective betterment of the group. Any dissidents will be handled accordingly. Death is the only punishment.

Target the underclass and middle classes first. Get them riled. Get them angry. Get them demanding help from the nobles. Then, target the nobles. Take away their ability to care for the lower castes. Create chaos. Sow anarchy. Get rich. Fuck bitches. Wisdom.

Show them the person we're appointing second in command, let them know that disobeying them is going to be met with harsh punishment from us.

If there are any obvious dissidents, call them out and show them what harsh punishment entails.

See. Now this is so much more fun than passing ourselves off as a noble vinter trying to sell wine.

What is wrong with you other guys?

>>7274901
>>7274903
>>7274932
By collecting the sum total of money gathered from all guild members in one place you have the money you would need to pay Gustov. Quite a few wealthy guild members would be enraged if you steal the pot though. But you don't care about that one bit I wager. Or you can keep the money investing and working.

>>7274976
Well that was easy. And quick.

In our eventual conquest, these petty scum will probably try to resist us as revenge for what we've done here. Kill them all, take the pot, build Dragon-Kelgris.

Use DK to loot mansion, then GTFO and on to a new place.

>>7274957
Well, I still like the Nigerian scam. But this is good too.

"You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me "Supreme Evil Overlord." You come into my house on the day my evil daughter is to be married and you ask me to do petty murder - for money."

>>7274976

Demand the pot. "Would any of you be so foolish and petty as to hold onto the scraps you have now when by pooling the wealth you can regain your losses twentyfold in a few short months, and a hundredfold in a year?"

>>7274976
Keep the wheels turning for a while. Get more than we need.

Promising huge returns on their investments you simply take the guild's total investments. You should have more then enough to pay Gustov, and pay the mercenaries for awhile back on the ship. Not that the investors would immediately in your presence say anything, they may think they can in the future back stab or poison you if you get out of line. Too bad you're thinking short term and they are thinking too far ahead.

Now, while Gustov works over the next few months, what does evil wish to do? Time skip or does anyone have plans to fulfil in the meantime?

>>7275055
Lets cripple the crime ring so that it's easier for us to move in later.

Also, check up on Catherine and Quoth. What have they been doing in the meantime? We might as well wreak havoc while we're here.

While he works, continue working with the mafia. Make more money with and for them. Gain their trust. Use the money that we make to outfit our crew with weapons and armor. Check out local libraries for interesting scrolls. etc

>>7275069
>>7275079
Yes!

While the dude is making our dragon for Kelgris, consolidate our power within this criminal guild. Gain the trust of a few of the crimelords. Conspire with them to eliminate the others. Once the crime lords numbers are down, take out the rest and take command of the entire operation.

>>7275055
Expenses just went up for everyone paying us.

>>7275079
>>Check out local libraries for interesting scrolls. etc

And have the guild check out local noble's houses for additional ones.

Also, lower the cost that the "members" have to pay to the guild. Gain their loyalty.

>>7275055
I remeber it being mentioned in one of the previous threads that some dude was working on a way to make magic more accessable for common people. We should go check up on that after we're done here.

Guys, we're not going to make a fucking automaton dragon. That's hardly going to help us remain discrete. What's wrong with putting Kelgris in a humanoid automaton?

>>7275176
Discrete? I say we stomp this town flat to test it out.

Kelgris can go hide out somewhere remote and we'll call him as needed.

While spring fades and summer bears heat down onto the land it is mid summer by the time Gustov is finished with his latest masterpiece. Almost on Schedule a great festival will take place in Ostenmark, the menagerie, a parade of exotic animals from far off lands and even mechanical ones, the most advanced build by Gustov for other patrons over the years. It is to celebrate Midstland's abundance and its power.

Over the past months you have worked to bend the organized crime of the city to your own ends. Although you robbed the guild blind, and have made false pretences of return wealth, you have run a pyramid scheme to postpone the eventual realization that you have embezzled all the money for yourself.

Books read of interest other then those propagated by the Valtir religion talk of philosophical and scientific theories. Magic tomes are nigh impossible to come across, magic no longer has any state funding within the kingdom.

In the south you have heard rumours of entire villages being sentenced to heresy and its populations burned at the stake. This inquisition has been gradually spreading further north over the past months and gets closer to the northern seas.

Finally the day comes, and within Gustov's workshop the creation is done. Standing 6 meters tall at the shoulder quadruped with a long metallic tail and massive folded wingspan is the dragon. It is plated in many areas with bronze covering a network of pistons and tubing, cogs and spokes idol while it lies motionless. The dead menaces with sharp spikes and two horns swept back over the rest of the head. It is a monstrous sized behemoth made of steel, bronze, lead and leather.

>>7275200
Awesome post.

Insert the Kelgris Engine.

Retrieve Kelgris' wheel from the ship. Return to the behemoth. "Use this as a power supply."

>>7275200
"Impressive, Gregov. I admit, when I first met you I had no idea your's was a mind that could conjure something so...menacing. Tell me, what was your inspiration?"

Kelgris.

BEWARE.
I.
LIVE!

We need to get some guns attached to this motherfucker. A cannon too. A full sized cannon.

>>7275246
Only if they can be reloaded by Kelgris himself.

One in the mouth would be awesome, with the shot and powder kept inside the body.

>>7275272
Yeah, and then when he gets attacked, he gets blown up, and then no more Kelgris dragon.

>>7275246
Magic guns

We should research a way to magically strengthen or shield Kelgris's body. Or have our little magelings do it.

LET'S GET A MOVE ON!

"Master. I LIVE!"

>>7275236
"An old fable I was once told by my mother. Dragons were menacing creatures, they were ruled by greed, almost human. I remembered the story of how the dragons of ancient times used to fly high in the sky to steal the golden sun in the sky. Just an allegory that there are somethings you cannot have, but you try every day reaching for it because you still fly higher every day."

Behind you the massive steel doors open and carrying a large wooden surface are four of the mercenaries. On top of the wooden plank is the Kelgris engine, cogs spinning, moving, beating like a human heart.

"Said you wanted it now boss?" One of the sailors confirms.

You motion them to move it in front of the dragon.

"What is this then?" With grey cataract eyes he adjusts his goggles to focus. "Why, this is what you were talking about earlier. What do you think you're." Gregov takes a step back suddenly as if physically shocked by something. "This is, it is magical. What is the meaning of this?"

Anticipating the animosity from the old man the sailors grab him by the arms and pull him back out of your way.

"Sir?" The girl Miranda appears out of the pipework and sees the scene before her, she attempts to run away but one of the four sailors grabs her small arm and pulls her out and holds her hands behind her back.

"What are you doing Fehrwight?"

"You've been paid Gustov. But a statue wont do me any good. You've done a fine job making the shell, but it is now time to see true marvels.

...

>>7275308
What's their status anyway? I'm assuming Catharine is looking over them?

We should have a decent bit of extra coin from the guild's earnings over the few months. But they've outlived their usefulness. Any ideas for making one last use of them, or should we just kill them off? Much as I hate to decrease evil and crime in the region, we'll be able to take up the slack I'm sure.

LETS DO THIS SHIT!

>>7275328
Give our guild orders. "It's time to make our move gentlemen. This city will be ours. Entirely ours. The noble ruling class must be eliminated. You've all been given your orders. See to it that these men are dead by sunrise, and we'll live as kings."

>>7275321

Bracing for epic

>>7275329
Give Evil time to write, it's worth waiting for.

>>7275328

I say we use the managre as a unvaling for our clockwork kelgris, and use the criminal element to take complete control of the city. With the nobles out of the way and a dragon at the helm we will own the city. The unfortunate part about this is it will draw the seraphs like a beacon. But we will be ready for them when they come.

We're going to give him the glorious metal masterpiece he's been dreaming of, even if it takes magic to do it.

Of course it goes without saying, once we return Kelgris to existance, we'll turn this engineer into something of use.

>>7275369
Since we don't know their capabilities, I assume you have a plan?

>>7275381

and his monkey girl assistant. I wonder what would happen if we put them together and SO them both at once....

>>7275407
Actually, I think both of them, or at least the girl, might be more useful working for us.

SOMEONE's going to have to repair Kelgris's body if he gets damaged.

>>7275399
Right, I don't think we should be itching for a fight with the Seraphs but we should be prepared in the event that we have to.

>>7275407
I was thinking the same thing.

Push their heads together, spike evil into both of them at the same time, like we were smashing coconuts together.

>>7275321
With the Kelgris Engine laying in wait in front of the dragon construct you begin to address the machine. "Awaken Kelgris. You've freeloaded within that shell for far too long. With this new body I have acquired for you continue on and get back to work."

Silence but the pistons, furnace and steam of the workshop before the ground begins to rumble. The stone floor and wooden cross beams of the workshop begin to creak and crack as reality warps and bends around the Kelgris Engine. Extending from the square of red cogs and axles a single tendril of mechanical chaos extends until it touches the metal skull of the dragon, the teeth, the snout the eyes. With a violent jolt the rest of the engine follows the tendril into the body of the dragon. The rumbling continues as dust falls from above and pipes are shaken loose and fall to the floor clanging amidst the hiss of released steam. A red light winds its way through the construct as new mechanical mechanisms form within the free spaces inside. From the eyes light shines as the space within the skull fills, a fire beats in the stomach as it is covered with a blackened metal sphere. Up the wings the delicate wings pulsate with power and creak and groan as they strengthen. To each of the four limbs and tail red mechanisms intertwine with the existing lead and steel. Finally in the chest a pulsating red lantern of power beats.

>>7275438
The glowing stops, and the warping brings the workshop back to normal. There is a new rumbling as the limbs of the dragon construct rise the bulk and wight of the body off the ground as the belly of the beast separated from the floor. Flicking back and forth the tail sweeps aside cabinets filled with tools. The wings try to stretch but they cannot unfurl in the cramped confines. Then lighting up in the black and shadowing eye sockets red flames of life and intelligence. They look at you and the head nods in agreement. The chest of the construct comes alive as it extends like a mighty breath is being taken in. Then a few seconds later a mighty bellow, reminiscent of clockwork clanks and clicks with the roar of a mighty beast shakes the workshop more.

The roar spreads across the city, muting the sound of the church bells ringing.

>>7275438
OHHH FUCK YES.

>>7275399

Well, turning the city to depravity should give us a significant power boost along with some troops. Calling the cultists back into the fold may also bring power. Between our new powers, new kelgris, reinforced cultists, and new city we may have enough to hold back at the very least the first wave of the seraphs. This is just a barebones plan, who knows what we will get from SO the engie or any hiccups that will inevitably come about between then and now.

>>7275450
>>7275438
>>7275321

Beautiful.

>>7275450

>>7275462

Best laid plans never get you laid the way you planned

"Kelgris, my child. Make me proud."

Soul obliterate engineer and his girl. When Kelgris does his thing, have our boys loot the weapon shops, armor shops, anything of use. Stockpiles and stockpiles. Rifles, pistols, armor. GOLD! Beautiful gold.

>>7275450

Fuck yes pet dragon

Leave the cultists in place for now. Once we get an established fortress where we'll want to stay, then we should send a call out to our faithful to return to us. I'm still in favor of an island.

>>7275499
I still think we should keep one of them as a personal fixer. Since the Engineer is old and really going to hate us for using magic with his creation (or... is he? I want to see their reactions.), let's have the girl sent to the ship for later conversion to our cause and Soul Oblit the Engineer.

Gather the engineer's constructs together.
Behead the engineer and his helper.
Feed their souls into the new construct abomination.
Laugh as the damned thing is forced to make an army of constructs for us eternally.

>>7275499
I wouldn't be so hasty. I feel like we'll still need their expertise.

>>7275530

I'm kinda hopeing by SO them both together the resulting creation would be a super fixer with multiple limbs

I have a feeling that if we soul oblit this engineer, he'll turn into some kind of tool. A tool we can use ourselves.

I feel like we're still in the middle of a cutscene, so let's see what happens.

Old man Gustav trembles in fear, "By Valtir's beard what have you done?"

You can hear the screaming outside in the town, panic has erupted in the city. Coming in through the open doors to the workshop another sailor rushes in. Hunched over and panting hard he begins speaking despite heavy breaths, "Boss *wheeze* Boss. We gots men coming to this way across the bridge. He's right shiny that one leading is, got a whole unit of soldiers wid em. Not even guards!"

>>7275555

Damn they got here to soon, Perhaps it is time for the new kelgris to prove his worth.

>>7275567

Lets see their faith shield them from automaton

>>7275555

"Kelgris, flex your new wings. Halt them at the bridge. And show them your new power."

>>7275555
"Stand guard over the engineer and his assistant. I will take care of this.

Kelgris, await my command. For the moment, I feel like going out for a stroll."

>>7275574
>>7275569
>>7275567
Wait, let's first meet them by ourselves. If we wipe them out immediately, I doubt we'll glean any information from them.

Hold the two, the engineer and his girl, as human shields for ourselves. Kelgris fucks them up.

>>7275541
>>7275542

Yeah, but we've also seen that the results of Soul Obliteration are often a little different than we'd expect. Sometimes, we don't get quite what we're hoping for, and having another intelligent, skilled helper is definitely going to be useful.

"Take these two back to the ship, steal what else of value you can from this place. Those papers are just as valuable. Then have the ship set sail."

You can hear the sounds of protest from the two engineers as the sailors carry them off while the others start collecting tools and papers and cradle them in their arms.

"Shall we Kelgris, wait before you intervene. I want to have my fun as well." You exit the workshop and as you walk the barren streets down to the bridge far away you hear the workshop crash to the ground behind you. Seems Kelgris broke the place getting out.

A few minutes walk later you come to a large stone bridge. Just having reached the opposite side some 50 meters away, a tall bulky bald man in silver amour, a runed flintlock and giant hammer on his back waits. Behind the paladin is a host of 60 other soldiers of Midstland, armed with halberd and muskets.

Pulling back his faceplate the man bellows across the bridge, "So eager and prideful to face your end so soon demon?" His voice shows no emotion despite the venom in his words.

>>7275637
>>runed flintlock

Shit. A magic gun? This could be bad.

They're all wearing metal armor? And some are carrying flintlocks? This means they must have gunpowder on them as well, to some degree.

"A demon? Is that what you think of me? So little? I am the all and the nothing. I will be the end of this world, and the start of the next. I am the alpha and the omega. I am GOD!"

Cast a lightning web over them. They're wearing METAL ARMOR which conducts electricity. The gunpowder in their packs and weapons will detonate. It will be effective.

>>7275637
"Demon? Really? I believe you have me mistaken for something else entirely. With whom do I have pleasure of conversing? I hope to change your opinion of me before the day is out."

>>His voice shows no emotion despite the venom in his words.

And we meet our first Seraph. With any luck, not the last.

>>7275663
This seems effective. Also, have Kelgris begin his approach.

>>7275663
Raising and clenching your right hand you crush a concentrated bulb of dark energy in your hand and let loose a miniature dark storm. Directing it with your will across the bridge is lashes out at the host of soldiers. Standing in front and before the host is the Seraph, and the lightning hits him full force, and he takes a full step backwards from the force. But the lightning goes no further it jumps over his armour for a few seconds before fizzling away. He takes a step back to where he was standing before.

"Indeed, my masters were correct. You are indeed powerful, but your fowl magics cannot be compared to my faith in Valtir, and by Valtir's powers you are nothing to me. He raises his hand and signals a line of muskets to kneel to each side of him. "This is your country brave Midstlanders, cleanse it."

The musketeers click back the hammer on their muskets and take aim.

>>7275727
"Kelgris, to me. Take care of the rabble. The paladin is mine."

Laugh. Laugh loud and proud. "You've already failed, you fool." Shadowstep under the bridge. ZONE OF SECULARITY! Kelgris steps the fuck in!

>>7275740
A pity it is near noon, and there are no shadows of use.

>>7275738
While the muskets take aim you beckon out with your will, and in sync with the thunder and clouds of smoke a mighty weight crashes down onto the stone bridge. The stone cracks, but does not break under the impact as the massive metal creature lands beside you. Coiling around you like a shield the tail causes sparks to fly as the lead balls ping off harmlessly. In retaliation Kelgris lets loose a mighty roar. The host of soldiers are taken off guard and too terrified to move. With a deep breath Kelgris raises his long neck and head back. Swooping down with his head like a whip a jetstream of fire screams across the bridge and slams into a group of soldiers to the right of the paladin. The shockwave and heat of the fire blows the armour skin and muscle off the men and leave behind ten flaming skeletons crumpling to the floor. The soldiers are about to turn and flee when a glimmer of white light shines in the paladin's eye and a soothing voice comes out from his lips.

"Behind you are thousands of innocents, hold your ground brave men."

Possessed, the men stand their ground and let loose a battle cry in agreement and begin to charge across the bridge, thundering toward the block of men Kelgris charges head long into them. You ignore the melee around you and you have your eyes set on the Paladin, and he does the same. With Hammer drawn and glistening in the sun he charges with the hammer over his right shoulder ready to swing.

*Duel Time, combat manoeuvres chosen are vital to counter and attack back*

SURE ISNT ZONE OF SECULARITY UP IN HERE

>>7275819
We have the advantage of maneuverability over the hammer. As he brings the hammer down, step neatly to left with the sword across our right side in case he's fast enough to give us a glancing blow. Then, SWEEP THE LEG JOHNNY.

>>7275835
You'll need time to channel brah.

>>7275853
Bounding across the stone bridge the seraph brings the hammer horizontally from his shoulder. Stepping to the left you move to the end of the blow and hold the head of the hammer at bay with Kingslayer. Now off to his side you sweep for his legs forcing him to step backwards and in awkward footing holding the hammer upwards covering his head and body.

>>7275740
>Came in WAY too late, so please don't count this as a current post, but as for what to do with the Kelgris engine, forget dragons and golems, make him the power source for your ship! Modify the ship so that it is essentially an ironclad dreadnaught, moving faster than any other ship on the seas and without relying on the fickle wind. Cross the seas faster than anything else, and be immune to all but the heaviest cannons.

>Use the engineer's wind design to build ornithopters to deploy as reconnaissance and bombers (flaming oil jars, wax-sealed jars filled with plague corpses to infect towns, etc.) He who controls the skies, controls the world.

>My two cents.

Shadowstep behind him and try to stab the back of his knee, should be nice and exposed.

>>7275899
Press our advantage. Sword hilt to the hammer, hopefully knocking him on his back.

>>7275934
It's noon. There are no shadows to step to.

>>7275934
And no bullshit about there being no shadow. Kelgris is around in his enormous dragon body. THAT produces shadow.

Alas Christmas festivities have suddenly begun. I'll have to postpone the next episode starting with the duel.

Until next time /tg/

>>7275937
This, but also try to trip him.

>>7275942

Oh right, slipped my mind, his own doesn't happen to be enough does it?

>>7275947
Goddbye Evil. We'll miss you.

>>7275947
Aw dammit. Enjoy your christmas ya evil bastid.

Great session Evil. Loved the writing. Merry Christmas.