>>41856969
Hello there beautiful!

>>41856969

In silence, the three of you contemplate the implications.

You’re certainly not going to let your efforts be stopped by a single turncoat. Quiet fury builds inside you as you think an unknown individual with the audacity to try to subvert you.

“Regardless…” Virgil’s voice breaks the quiet, and snaps you back to reality. “We still need to capture the palace, spy or not.” He turns to you. “We still need to continue this siege.”

You sigh and consider your next course of action. You’ve been considering catapulting more flesh soldiers over the walls, but the thoughts of a spy leave you wondering if their might be some sort of way to root them out.

>Restart catapulting soldiers over the walls.

>Write in.

>>41856988
Hello there anon! I think this may have been the first time anyone has beaten me before I could post the first prompt.

>>41856991
>>Restart catapulting soldiers over the walls.

Welcome back, everyone!

>>41857039
Going with the single vote to start the thread.

>Writing~

>>41857007
I usually wait for you to get everything down, breaking the chain usually erks me.

>>41856991
>Restart catapulting soldiers over the walls.
Obviously the best course of action.

>>41856991
Damnit Sophia, there's only one person it COULD be, so stop getting in her way.

>Begin leading the civilians out, as hostages and distraction should the army return sooner than expected.

Dammit I missed last thread because mountains and no service, and I forgot to catch up on it.

So be right back as I try to read it quick enough to be able to participate in this.

>>41857138
>>41857177
I'll bring these up in addition to the original plan.

>>41857178
I'm glad to have you back!

>>41857123

“Resume the catapulting.” You state firmly. “We must figure out how they’ve gotten our information, but for now it’s the best course of action.”

“We’ll break them soon.” Virgil scribbles something in his notes and then turns back to you. “Luckily we’re under no such pressure for supplies and accommodations. The nobility are wise to see what’s to come.”

The Empress’s influence stretches far, and past alliances have served your effort well.

“The more common folk could prove to be very useful as well. We should begin to round them up into a central location, leverage should their main army return sooner than expected.” You suggest.

“Or if our siege runs longer than we hope.” Virgil replies grimly. “I’ll bring it up with The Empress.”

A firm knock at the door causes the three of you to stand at attention, and shortly after, the door opens widely for The Empress to enter, followed by the noblewoman whose residence is now your main base of operations.

The three of you bow and The Empress’s gaze turns upon Virgil and Zarn, signaling for them to leave the room.

Speak of the devil…

“Come on, boy.” Zarn jabs roughly into Virgil’s arm. “Let’s go take a look at the battlefront.”

[1/2]

>>41857715

The Empress smiles politely as the two of them leave and flows into the room, her sophisticated vestments following in the air behind her.

The noblewoman squeezes into the room behind her, very carefully not stepping upon the fabric in front of her. “I’m terribly sorry for the poor accommodations, Miss.” She directs toward you, slightly flustered. “Only a few days ago, my Viviogenesis creation came back from who knows where. I wasn’t here at the time, and the servants absolutely refused to let her in, and when I came back I find all of them dead and her sobbing upon my feet. It was all so terrible for me.”

Your body reacts subtly upon mention of Viviogenesis.

The Empress holds up a hand to stop her rambling. “You’ve been a gracious host nonetheless.” She smiles kindly at her. “If could give us a moment of privacy?”

The noblewoman nods her head fervently. “Of course, of course!” She speeds for the door. “Call upon me if you need anything.”

You hear the door shut firmly and her footsteps fade away.

“What happened to her creation?” You ask, trying to mask any emotion you have toward the subject.

“Imprisoned and executed shortly thereafter.” The Empress responds frankly and then takes a seat across from you. “Why do you ask?” She smiles, unnervingly.

You don’t allow yourself to show even a fraction of an unusual reaction. You look right back into her eyes.

>”Curiosity, and to make small talk.”

>Write in.

>>41857758
>Viviogenesis
what's that again?

>A useful area of study, creating troops. Flesh soldiers are good at certain tasks, but ones that can think have their uses.

>>41857824
The process that created Izu.

>>41857824
To create specialized troops.

>Writing~

>>41857974
“Another means of creating troops. Flesh soldiers have their uses, but we would benefit from ones that could take on specialized tasks.” You respond without hesitation.

The Empress sighs and shakes her head. “They’re completely incompatible with my kind of leadership. Their unwavering loyalty to those that they are created from is…to put it as I think, dangerous.”

You brow furrows. “But isn’t that unambiguous and consistent nature something that’s easily taken advantage of?” You demand.

Izu is and always will be easy to understand.

Her gaze is one that stares upon a different world. “One might think that their masters are always in control in the relationship, but I’ve found with almost every Viviogenesis creation that they eventually come to surpass those that they are created after. This can only breed terrible things from both sides.”

…

“So, I don’t have any plans of using them as soldiers.” She finishes the topic lightly.

[1/2]

>>41858436

You’re at a loss for words and desperate to move on to a new subject, so you simply blurt the first words that come to mind. “We have a spy.”

“Oh?” Her reaction is one of curiosity and not concern. “Enlighten me.”

You quickly recount your suspicions about the Pyromancy trap set for your troops, and their lack of dissent amongst their ranks, and while doing so, your thoughts calm.

Again, her expression does not change while you inform her of your doubts, but she takes in all your words with a certain seriousness.

“A spy has a lot of benefits, even if they work for the enemy.” She brushes a long strand of her blonde hair out of her face. “Misinformation has always been one of my specialties, but to think they’re already risking this much. They must be desperate.” She chuckles softly.

You haven’t detected any desperation among the other councilmembers, but a spy knows exactly what role they must play.

“Tell me, Sophia.” The Empress leans toward you with intrigue in her voice. “Who do you suspect is our spy?”

She asks as if it’s a game. Does she already know the answer, or is she so confident in her own abilities that this isn’t a concern for her? Either way, what does she gain from your answer?

>”I don’t know, yet.”

>Write in.

>>41858463
I don't know to be honest, but if you trust your generals, and you trust the "incentives" on the others will keep them in line. Your obvious suspects would be me or our lovely hostess. I can assure you it isn't Me.

>>41858463
Whatever that blond merchant chick's name was.

>>41858521
Seconding this, lets not cause suspicion in our own side

>>41858521
>>41858603
Turning the question around a little bit.

>Writing~

>>41858621

You shake your head. “I don’t know. But, if you trust your generals, and you trust in your ability to keep them in line with incentives, then that leaves you with a few obvious suspects.” You cross your legs. “That would be me, or our generous hostess.” You lock onto her piercing blue eyes. “And I'm not the spy.
”
“Well…” The Empress leans back. “It will be dealt with soon enough, but keep your eyes open.”

A very difficult place, this spy will soon very likely find him or herself in.

“Allow me to get back to why I came here in the first place.” The Empress opens up a small pocket fan and observes its delicate frame. “What do you know of the origins of these realms?”

An odd question. “Next to nothing.” You reply.

Her fingers trace the dark wood of the fan’s frame. “I suspect that’s the case for most everyone.” Her voices trails off, pensively. “This war, and all the past wars in recorded history are only farces compared to the true horrors these lands once witnessed.”

“What do you mean?” You interest is piqued. “Was there something that came before all of these ancient cites?”

She catches your interest and grins. “Of course there was. Our troubled times were hewn by potent forces from the past, and it’s with these forces that we’ll shape our future.”

[1/2]

>>41859124

Her fingers reach the thick handle of the fan.

“What forces? Tell me, what do you mean?” You press, and then excuse yourself for the breach in etiquette.

Her blue eyes are alight with inner fire. “Soon, I will show you exactly what I mean. I will show you, and all the planes the indescribable terrors that once roamed and tormented these lands. And we will cease their power for our own.” She rises to her feet. “No one, not that flesh demon in The Maw, nor that cursed guardian will stand in the way of what I want anymore.”

Visible wisps of violet energy swirl around her as she reaches the peak of her speech, and you can’t help but look and listen in awe at the promises she makes.

“I will not be denied a single time more.” She turns to you. “We will soon risk our lives and the lives of everyone around us for what we want. Are you still with me?” Her voice demands, seemingly separate from her body.

The promise of unspeakable power causes your pulse to race, and your mind to salivate over what’s to come in the future.

>Write in.

>>41859162
To what end? What will you do with that power after making enemies of everyone else?

>>41859162
>"We will reach our deserved ends."
Crazy bitch.

>>41859162
So you would risk everything for one chance at dominion? Pardon my doubts mistress you are stronger than I by far, but if you say the truth what you desire is stronger still? What if you fail?

>>41859162
seconding >>41859236

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>41859228
>>41859256
Deciding between pressing her for her true goal = 1 and
>>41859236
>>41859280
This = 2

>Rolling and writing the winner.

Hello!
>>41859236
Seconding

>>41859671
Hello there, anon!

>>41859319
There’s something more to this conquest than just dominion, you try to take advantage of her current zeal to squeeze out some precious information.

“What will we do with our power after making enemies of everyone else?” You dare to ask.

“Strategically and thoroughly, they will be dealt with.” She smiles, her fervor calming so you quickly press on with more questions.

“And if we fail?” You demand with raised voice.

“Then our failure will be felt double by the world around us.” She’s steadily regaining her composure.

You swiftly rise from your seat and push toward her. “And when there’s no one left to stand in your way? What then?”

A heavy silence hangs over the both of you, and you begin to fear that you’ve pushed your luck too far.

“Anything, Sophia. Anything at all.” She responds with the utmost serenity and the crumpled and ruined fan drops from her hand, and lands on the hard floor.

The door bursts open suddenly, and Zarn followed by a small squad of flesh soldiers file into the room.

[1/2]

>>41859914

“Forgive me, my Empress.” He rushes, out of breath. “We’ve been ambushed! The rats, the Pyromancers are pushing our forces out of the city.”

The Empress places her hand gently upon Zarn’s shoulder to calm him. “How many are there?”

He straightens himself out “Hundreds. They’ve been in hiding since before we arrived and they’ve taken to the roofs to keep us from attacking them from underneath.”

You notice a severe burn along Zarn’s left arm, he should be in agony, but he doesn’t show the slightest bit of concern about it.

“Move our troops to surround the city and to prepare for a wide scale attack from the palace, but keep a number of them under the city on the ready.” The Empress swiftly orders. “Take the rest of the councilmembers and clear out the southern half of the city. I will take the north.”

He nods and then snarls at you. “Come now, Caelumnite. Time to show the world your secret.”

You sigh and accept your fate.

~

After unsealing your wings, the two of you rush into the southern half of the city and are immediately greeted with a torrent of fireballs.

The two of you dive for cover, where you find Disgur channeling his limbs into the side of a building. “Zarn, gather the others into a single unit. Sophia…”He looks upon your wings and smiles knowingly. “Could you clear the building across from us so Zarn can advance?”

The sounds of tearing metal and flesh sound out from above you, and only brief screams leave the Pyromancers’ mouths.

You poke your head out and observe the target. A two story building with a flat roof and plenty of cover, four pyromancers pinning your direction down, and at the least one more watching for ambush from below.

Your course of action?

>Seal who you can, and rush to pick them all off.

>Write in.

>>41859956
>Use Pyromancy to drive them out
I wonder how we measure up to these guys.

>>41859956
Come from behind n the wing seal what we can, Burn what we can't.

>>41859956
>>41859998
Seconding pyromancy usage.

>>41859998
>>41860092
Fighting fire with fire.

>Writing~

>>41860128

Let’s see how these Pyromancers measure up to your skills.

You invoke a small and agile flame in the hand, and let it brew with the anger you’ve been carrying for days. It shoots out from the palm of your hand and easily tears throw the ball of flame that was sent to block it.

The satisfying screams of beating someone at their own game is music to your ears, and you let out another bolt while the group is distracted. It hits its target, leaving only two left on the roof.

They’ve wizened up in the short battle, and begin keeping largely in deep cover. Your directed bolts are dealt are much less effective if you can’t channel them onto a visible target.

This firefight eats up a large amount of time, so Zarn snarls impatiently and rushes though, blocking the occasional fireball with his large arms.

You pick off several others on different rooves that were foolish enough to pop out their body for a strike on Zarn. But while doing so, one of the original
Pyromancers you’re dealing with snuck in a high arcing rain of fire directly above your head.

[1/2]

>>41860626

The intense heat of the flames begins to reach your skin, right before you teleport clumsily upon the roof where your assailants are hiding. One gets in a solid stomp to your stomach, but you gift her back with a dagger through the leg, and twist her body to block the shot from her companion.

A single bolt of your blue flame tears through the both of them, and they drop to the ground like dolls.

Footsteps from behind you catch your attention and you instinctively seal the would-be attacker in his place. He’s unsealed much less whole than he was a few moments ago.

They singed your hair…

From your new vantage point, you mercilessly burn through dozens upon dozens of Pyromancers before they manage to pull back out of reach.

A large explosion sends several buildings toppling in the distance. You watch as Sivaht advances through a rain of fire, protected by wall of shambling
Pyromancers, with Justina carefully channeling them from a safe distance. Sivaht advances through building after building like this, finishing them through unknown means.

You see Philomena rush far away from the rest of the group, and Zarn and Virgil advance watching each other’s backs and finish their targets with their blades.

>Advance on your own.

>Join up with Sivaht and Justina.

>Join up with Philomena.

>Join up with Zarn and Virgil.

>Write in.

>>41860653
She's the only one that's solo and I want to know more about her powers.

>>41860653
>Join up with Zarn and Virgil.
why the fuck did we try to showboat?

>>41860653
>>41860679
and of course I forgot to paste in
>Join up with Philomena.

>>41860679
Philomena's power are
>turn into giant monster that eat everything anon, remember?

>>41860653
>>Join up with Philomena.

>>41860700
that is definitely included in her powerset but
pretty sure there's a bit more to it than that

>>41860653
>Join up with Philomena.

>>41860725
And? if she going off on her own it's likely to avoid friendly fire either from us or to make sure she's not picky. Odds are we try this she'll attack us, especially since she dislikes us for tolerating Justinia.

>>41860699
>>41860709
>>41860738
Heading toward Philomena.

>Writing~

>>41860820

Philomena is on her own, likely to keep others from finding out her secret, but you already know. You carefully advance, picking off whoever stands in your way and within a few minutes, you catch up with Philomena.

She’s completely undressed herself and is squat over the ground, gently rocking her body and chanting words quietly to herself.

You quietly push forward to observe the ritual, her words become clearer and clearer until you realize she isn’t reciting an incantation at all.

“Wake up. Wake up. Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up.” Her words begin to slur together until they can hardly be considered words at all. The muscles under her bare skin begin to pulse with extreme activity. She vomits loudly and then violently bites into her arm to hold in a scream.

You watch as her entire body warps and grows in front of you. This isn’t something that’s invoked through practice, this is something innate inside her.

Your eyes quickly catch a lone Pyromancer readying a long lance of red flame to throw directly at the transforming Philomena, so you seal him in place and let his flame consume him.

Philomena turns toward your direction, suddenly sensing your presence. Her face is still slightly human, but her eyes have already turned to pitch black orbs.

“RRrrunnn” Her voice screeches and distorts with pleading emotion, and hardly a moment later she’s reached her full size, skin has turned to sickly brown color, and all reason has left her.

[1/2]

>>41861396
Told you, morons she's going to try and kill us.

>>41861396

A group of Pyromancers rush to see what the commotion is, and are immediately blitzed into pulp by the surging mass.

You decide to take her advice, but unfortunately for you, that sealing you did has left you completely without stealth and she’s terrifyingly quick.

Your crimson wings rush to take flight, but she jumps high and swats heavily down upon you. You block with your arms, and are sent crashing to the ground, where thankfully your armor took most of the impact.

Not thankfully, though, the two smallest fingers on your left hand have been twisted back. You yelp with pain as you reset them and rise to your legs.

No one can blame you for killing her, right?

You woozily ready a caustic ball of dripping blue flame, as you watch her pounce down some enemies and turn her attention back to you.

She rushes toward you, and you raise your arm waiting for the right moment.

Closer and closer, you can feel her heavy steps though the ground, and you can smell her steaming fetid breath from all the way over here.

Here’s hoping you don’t miss.

Just as your about to let loose your flames, Philomena crashes heavily into a solid barrier of pale yellow flame, and collapses to the ground.

“You’re not going to hurt her anymore!” A familiar voice shouts out.

Izu lands upon Philomena’s transformed body, just as a ball of flame barely misses you. You quickly fall back.

Two Pyromancers poke their bodies out from an alleyway and attack you with all they’ve got, you invoke flames to engulf your body in a protective armor and absorb all the fireballs without injury.

>Head immediately toward Izu.

>Finish off the Pyromancers first.

>Write in.

>>41861431
seal the mancers as you rush to save Izu

>>41861456
Backing.

>>41861456
>>41861496
Sealing on the go.

>Writing~

>>41861456
this

>>41861431
thirding >>41861456

>>41861431
damnit Izu, what you doing?

>Seal the mancers
>Bait Philo through more mancers and towards the palace.

>>41861426
>All part of the plan

>>41861574
>>41861576
>>41861578
Taking them into consideration.

>>41861426
>>41861592
I wasn't there for the vote, but this is a good excuse for us to "incidentally" be inside the palace.

>>41861611
I just want to kill off the Usurpers minions that aren't Ali. Wish we could get Justina this easy.

>>41861665
We're training a mob on her, it's a simple enough task to hide long enough to reestablish stealth then finish her off once she's dealt with the mancers.

We could also blame Izu for it all, prop him up as a hero to the enemy.

>>41861771
I don't really want Izu on Usurpy's shitlist, and killing Philomena in self defense because we didn't know about her ability is one thing, finding out about her ability, surviving, then deliberately tracking her down again to kill her is another thing entirely.

>>41861862
I was just spitballing on Izu, not really sure what his situation is.

As for Philo, there are pyromancers all around us, and she's fighting pyromancers. We have pyromancy. This is a chance, although a risky one.

I personally don't really care, because her lack of control in powered form makes her less of a threat.

>>41861573

In this moment, you don’t know which emotions are driving you right now, as there’s only your voice ordering you to remove everything in your way.

A very peculiar thing happens as you turn to seal the two extremely unlucky Pyromancers that decided to attack you in that moment of serenity. Both of their entire bodies implode into two spheres about the size of your fist. They drop to the ground with a sudden wet burst, their remains stain the alleyway.

You walk to the barrier and put a hand on it. “Let me past, Izu.”

He holds a hand up to you signaling. “Not yet.” And begins to channel wispy flames into Philomena’s body as she rises from the ground.

Immediately sensing something wrong, Philomena claws at her back. Izu reacts to each blow by putting up a small barrier, just barely keeping himself from being smashed into mush. She begins to shake violently, as your last apprentice straddles her hulking body for dear life.

You attack his huge barrier with caustics flames and watch as it cracks, but not nearly fast enough.

He’s gotten stronger.

"Izu take down the barrier, right now!" You order.

He ignores you, and his flames continue to pour into her, as he begins to channel it with both his hands. Her size begins to diminish as he focuses his purifying flames on her. Slowly, little by little, her human form becomes more visible.

It isn’t until she passes out beneath him, that he releases the barrier from in front of you.

“She didn’t want to kill you.” He says as he pushes off of her. “Whatever that was, wasn’t her.”

He pulls her unconscious body away to safety.

You stare at Izu in disbelief after he finishes. You kind of feel like hitting him, but you settle by placing a hand on his shoulder, which he quickly grabs hold of.

“You’re an idiot.” You sigh heavily.

He lightly traces your two broken fingers. “Well then, that makes two of us.” He smiles at you brilliantly. “Come on, there’s still work to do.

~

>>41861957
Okay, that's where I'm going to end it for tonight. I'm really glad to be back from that extended absence, and I had a lot of fun tonight! As always, I want to thank everyone that played, and 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

>>41861984
So what is Marisa up to?

>>41861984
Could you upload those pics of the officers but with a name attached to them?

>>41861995
You'll soon find out from Izu when things die down.
>>41862017
Give me sec, I'll have them up right now.

>>41861984
thx 4 runin budi gud thred

Has Justina seen Izu yet?

>>41861984
How'd Izu get here? How true was the Empress saying everyone who had viviogenisis done had their doubles surpass them? How is the conflict going? Where's Marissa? Has Izu been noticed by anyone else? What the fuck did we do to those seals to turn it into a bio bomb?

>>41861957
>>41861984
why is Izu so nice? He didn't get that from us.

So that's one minion disabled, although not necessarily in our favor. Wonder how we're going to make contact with Ali/Vicki, or if Aya is around here leading the mancers.

>>41862046
I think that was a passive effect from Philo. Just guessing.

>>41861984
Did we see what Izu just did well enough to replicate it?

File: gen1.jpg (269 KB, 873x1500)

269 KB JPG

>>41862030
This pic belongs to Disgur.

>>41862041
You're very welcome! Justina has seen Izu once before, at the festival, but only briefly.

>>41862046
Izu got there through delving. She didn't seem to have any reason to lie to you at the time. The conflict right now, is on a bit of a lower note because of this ambush. Marissa is still in the human realm, more details to come. Izu has not been noticed by anyone else yet. You're not quite sure, yet.

>>41862048
We designed him to be the opposite of Sophia, so technically he did get that from us, haha.

>>41862089
If your flames are compatible, then it would take time and practice.

File: gen2.png (1.07 MB, 727x1028)

1.07 MB PNG

>>41862017
This one is Virgil.

File: gen3.jpg (342 KB, 1040x1599)

342 KB JPG

>>41862017
This pic is of Zarn.

File: gen4.jpg (97 KB, 842x1191)

97 KB JPG

>>41862017
Finally, here's Sivaht.

>>41862112
Please tell you're not going self- fulfilling prophetic time-loop on us.

>>41862162
I'm not entirely sure what that is, but time-travel is a rather messy thing that I'd rather not deal with.

>>41862188
Thank god. For a second there I was worried that Izu and Sophia were a time loop Izurig and Usurper.

>>41862188
Question could the usurper be a viviogenesis'd king Izurig?

>>41862206
Now I'm thinking about the logistics of how that would all work, it's messy.

>>41862266
I won't say that it's impossible.

With that, I'll be stepping out for the night. I had a lot of fun, until next time!

>>41862323
Usurper is wingless absurdly powerful, has a unique take on viviogenisis(she fits her own views on it), and is us without nay moral compass. Izu is wingless like her and is our opposite like she was Izurig's. She also lacks wings. Her hair matches ours.

>>41862364
Our hair is silver, hers is blonde. But Izurig had wings before he was sealed in his human form. There's too many inconsistencies for that too work I think

So was our "grandpa" the exiled King? Our actual father? or just a caretaker? was he human?

>>41865246
I think he was an actual human who was skilled enough when he was an adult to Not Die and even make friends with royalty.