>>12161510
Turning to the short and fat crime lord Brem, the captain slightly turns his head toward him but keeping his eyes on you, “Now be gone from my sight scum, when I am done with….it… I will be purging this city of the likes of you.”

Brem clicking his tongue from the insult nods his head and begins to walk to the cavern’s limestone wall, “Screw you, you pasty and long eared git. You wont see me again here, I got enough here to have a better start elsewhere.” Turning to his boys he raises his fingers to his mouth and lets out a loud whistle, “Alright boys! Let’s clear out! I want to be at the new shop in a week!”

From behind your captured sailors and beside the other Elven soldiers Brem’s men line up behind him and escort him. Brem kicks over a wooden box to revel a raised stone pad. Stepping on it a door in the cavern wall opens and then closes slowly behind them.

The captain of the Elves takes his eyes off you for but a moment to confirm Brem is gone and then turns his attention back to you. With his right armed raised, should it lower it is certain the Elves will execute their next orders immediately. With an emotionless face his finally addresses you, “You pick your allies unwisely. Criminals exist in all walks of life, but they do share common goals and desires. Some time ago you slighted them in Midstland, when Brem heard of that, and after my generous offer how could he refuse? Now… I’ll be taking you to the courts so that the people will see the menace you are. They will understand and our expedition forgiven. You will then be executed for your crimes against the nature of all things of this world. Or we will bring you there dead, either is acceptable to me.”

>>12161514
Belongings: Ruined noble garbs, Ruined medium armour, “Kingslayer", Captain’s Skull (Sea map),“King of Black Waters” (Warship),Ancient Elfish book, Archsilver Foil, Main gauche, Elven Archmage staff

Known Dark Arts:
Soul Obliteration (Power cost High, Façade damage high)
Zone of Secularity (Cost Very High, Façade damage extreme)
Dark Imply (Cost Low, no Façade damage)
Shadow Step (Cost Range Dependent, Façade damage low)
Dark Storm (High, Medium upkeep, Façade damage medium)
The Caged Beast (Loss of Sanity and Humanity, Façade obliterated)
Essence Drain (Restores Power, Façade damage high)

Evil Power: Prince of Darkness (Path of the Tyrant)
Façade Status: Broken

Minions and Allies of Note: Catharine (Mistress), Kelgris (Clockwork Dragon), Sailors (531), Mage neophytes - Children (22), Andrea (Half Elf Child), Gregor and Mirada (Master Engineer and Apprentice)

>Speed bump

Sweet. Evil quest. Damn I wish Brem had stayed. We might of been able to sway him to our side again. Regardless, before we make any actions, how many elves are in full unit? How many spears are pointed at us I suppose I should ask.

Our main goal for this encounter though is to capture the Captain or at least an elf. If we can do what we did to that mage girl in the past (Control her actions) we can control one of the elves to start killing humans and get people livid at the elves. Bonus points if it's the captain since we can order elves to do it and get some intel.

>>12161681
You count between 40 or 50 outside the ship, there may be more fighting inside. there are 18 spear men before you, 12 of them lowered and pointed at you only feet away.

That's... Potentially problematic. Now I wish I remembered what most skills did. Have we recovered enough to use shadow step multiple times to step back and forth amongst the normal troops and start cutting them down? It might not work forever, but I imagine initially it would let us cause a bit of havoc.

Also, what's the terrain like? We on a wooden dock or on stone?

>>12161776
Your stamina for magic is low right now. You had to use quite a bit to shadow step your way back from the citadel without being seen. Although that doesn't mean you cannot perform any dark arts, however, you will you tire yourself out quickly if you do.

It is a limestone cave, there are wooden planks and walkways throughout the cave large enough to house a vessel like the King of Black Waters.

I'm assuming the captain is behind the spearmen pointing spears at us. Start commenting on how criminal elements such as Brem have their use despite their lack of loyalty and then in the middle of what we're saying shadow step behind the captain and launch him away/into the water with a physical attack or throw. Then we start to cut up the spearmen during their confusion at a lack of order and why their prey just disappeared.

>>12161855
Keep in mind that doing so will have dozens of your men being executed.

>>12161812
eh, whats the point of trump cards if you cant use them, lets bring ol kelgris out,, see if he cant inspire some fear in these snobby Elves

and hell, why not throw a speach in
something along the lines of "For such a 'wise' race you elves certainly are presumtuous. Whose to say im within any of your power to capture? I am a new generation not simply the spawn of a rightyfully dead evil. And I have tricks you could never Imagine. KELGRIS, YOUR MASTER BECKONS FOR YOU!"
In our scary voice

Hmmm. I suppose letting them all die without trying another tactic wouldn't be very Tyrantish of us. So be it.

I doubt it'll work but let's try to goad the captain into a duel using dark imply. Let's be frank and say we have no intention of just surrendering and outright combat would have horrendous deaths on both sides so we'll settle it with a one-on-one battle between the Captain and ourself. If we lose, we will go peacefully/dead if he kills us while if we win, he will let us go for the moment and their troops can leave. When he refuses, insult the honour of the elves, go on about how they can't win anything unless they outnumber a foe, etc etc and use dark imply to help sway the elves to want to see a fight.

>>12161966
Actually this is a pretty good plan, I would go for this before summoning Kel to turbo pwn them

>>12161514
>"You and I, my elven friend, we aren't going anywhere. You see, it's no secret that a certain lighthouse belongs to your kind. The people of this city are blissfully unaware of it's power. But, what if that power were to be awakened and used, for a scant few seconds?"

Take out the archmage staff, and gesture to the captain.

>"Look familiar? I had a rather informative visit to the lighthouse a few nights ago, you elves really know how to treat guests. You know what this little trophy of mine is, but murdering a few weaklings wasn't the reason I infiltrated your precious lighthouse. If you check the device, you will find absolutely nothing wrong. And that is because I want the lighthouse fully operational. Magic is a beautiful thing, because it is neither good nor evil, a simple diversion of control will never be detected by any of your superiors. If you insist on trying to end me, go right ahead. You kill me, I set the city ablaze with your own tool, and the humans decend upon your people with all the fury of my progenitor."

[I know we can't really activate the lighthouse, I'm bluffing because I can't think of a solution that will let us keep all of our followers alive at the moment.]
>>12161966
This might work though. Could my bluff be used to instigate a duel? Or will this end in slaughter?

You attempt to Dark Imply the elves before you, but your words stop short of the captains ears. It seems they are warded against such charms and lesser magics.

"Do not take us for meagre men that you have trampled on thus far. I am not so full of pride that I would put it before my duty. You will pay for your crimes against Elven royalty and life on this planet. If I must resort to the most low means, like conspiring with criminal scum I will do so." You can see the twitch in his elbow, ready to give the order, "You are powerless now, did you not think we would not let you travel the city above? Now that I have found you, and found you weakened I will have you undone."

You grin at the Captain," For such a 'wise' race Elves certainly are presumptuous. Who is to say I am within your power to defeat? I am a new generation. I am not simply the spawn of a dead evil." Raising your own right hand you reach out to something... " I have tricks you could never Imagine. Kelgris! Your master summons you!!"

Silence for a moment, and then a low rumbling from somewhere deep within your ship. The rumbling escalates until dust showers down from the cavern ceiling. From the deck of the ship Elves appear retreating backward thrusting their spears into the bowels of the ship. Emerging from within your own sailors armed giving chase. But they also seem just as eager to flee the ship as many of them take this time to leap into the water below.

Like lightning striking a tree the sound of splitting wood reverberates inside the cave. A metal wing unfurals from the ship tearing from the inside of the ship, and then another on the opposite end. From the ship a steel claw tears away at the deck and pulling itself from the ship and dragging itself over the deck and to the prow the clockwork dragon lowers its neck and head in bowing to you, and then realizing your peril reels back and then lashes out in a deafening roar.

>>12162126
Assuming the elves in front of us are still pointing their spears at us, I say do what I suggested earlier and shadow step behind them and disable the captain for now and start cutting the spearmen down. For sure though we need to capture an elf or two and the captain. If we can control him, we are golden.

Also, I have a question about lore. Evil monsters of the past have died out but were those creatures natural or were they artificially created?

>>12162126
"Kelgris. Sick em."
now would be a good time to draw kingslayer
damn shame about the ship though, will it still sail?

>>12162201
If we're lucky, it won't matter since we can hopefully nab us some elven ships. After what happened with the last one though, I doubt we'll be that lucky. I think we'll be stuck here awhile repairing it if we can. We have to hunt Brem down anyways. He needs a good old soul obliteration, if that's the power I remember it to be.

>>12162216
Elven boats have prooven to be rather flimsy in the past but all we really saw was a currier

and yes soul oblit is the thing that destroys targets soul and causes a random effect upon them

With a small dust cloud forming from Kelgris' wings you take the opportunity to shadow step behind the captain, with not enough time to draw your sword before he feels your presence you grab him by the back collar of his armour and throw him one handed with all your might like a hammer toss into the water. around the ship. A little too eager, Kelgris lashes out his neck and snaps his teeth shut around the captain's midsection, and his screaming cut short when Kelgris bites down and trisects the captain apart, two parts falling into the water, bloodying it, and the other swallowed to stoke the furnace inside Kelgris.

>>12162264
Oh dear. There goes that golden opportunity. We'll have to settle with whatever spearmen we can get then. Take out Kingslayer and begin slaying people. We must capture a few though so we can do what we did to the mage girl in that last city we messed up and have them cause a ruckus amongst the humans under orders from their captain of course. And by ruckus, I mean searching houses at random and killing people.

Alright, enjoy a little slice and dice, and then we should probably skip town or hide underground.

Taking the opportunity given to them your men taken hostage risk the spear points behind them to wrestle with their captures. Many of them take fatal and mortal wounds in the struggle, but with your other men wading to shore armed to help them it is a melee and not an instant slaughter.

The Elves that holding you down have already turned to have you with their spears ready, their courage is commendable, but you can see now from the entrance to the cavern more elven soldiers are flooding from above as reinforcements. Seems you were indeed followed. A wall of spear points marches toward you ready to thrust at any moment.

Are we strong enough to do our mini-Dark Storm like we did the last time someone tried to use spears on us and zap em' all?

>>12162414
Hop on Kelgris and fly out of there.

Tell the men we'll be back with reinforcements.

We won't.

>>12162414
Could Kelgis seal the entrance to the dock? Collapse the rock above it to seal the entrance? It would stop more guys from coming in at least. I believe we're on a dock right now, correct? Move back and destroy the planks as we go so if they want to keep following us, they're going to have to disrupt their formation/jump over the destroyed parts of the dock. It would eliminate the solid wall of spears and let us rip them apart when a hole appears in the wall.

>>12162448
and waste all the time we spent gathering power here?
No, these Elves can be defeated, and they wouldnt send to many about less they draw attention to themselves as well.

>>12162458
But sealing the entrance would also trap our ship, wouldn't it?
(also FUCK YES, EVIL QUEST!)

Retreating backward you draw Kingslayer and slash the etheral blade through the wooden dock and collapse part of the structure as the brittle frozen wood gives way under the strain of its own weight.

Kelgris with a fresh fire in his stomach hangs his mouth open with a deep breath lets loose a stream of fire cutting into the limestone slicing through the rock and causing hundreds of pounds of rock to collapse before the entrance to the cavern crushing some unfortunate elves and causing the others to scatter. Seeing you retreat your perusers break formation and leap across the gap in the dock to give chase.

You keep destroying the dock behind you as you approach one of the gangplanks boarding your ship. Parrying a spear thrust from an elf still standing on it you then slip the blade into his chest and flick him off it into the water beside you. Waiting on the deck of the ship with his tail flailing left and right keeping the elves at bay you grab onto Kelgris' metal hide and use the clockwork labyrinth of metal rods surrounding his machinery core to climb onto his back where you might saddle.

From this high you can see the fight is not in the favour of your men.

>>12162537
Yes but Brem used a secret passage out of here. We'll just use that for the future.

>>12162537
All we have to do is seal the one they're coming in from on foot. Then we can focus on moping up the rest

>>12162606
Alright then, have Kelgris blast that entrance shut (preferably while they're still trying to get through it).

>>12162583
If the elves are still bunched up at places, Kelgis' fire would be a nice thing to deal with them. I'm wondering if we can use dark imply to improve the fighting of our men. I know it effects their emotions but not sure if that would help here unless we made them feel fearless or unafraid but even then that might just make them die more.

>Evil Quest
>Ignored in favor of some shitty quest about a fa/tg/uy
Really /tg/? Really?

>>12162667
Berserker Rage? Would that really work?

>>12162706
>Implying Dark Imply works that way

>>12162706
Worth a try, let's do it.

>>12162706
Honestly, I don't think so. But I don't see what else we can do to drastically turn the tides at this point. If we jump in there, we're likely to get overwhelmed by sheer numbers and I'm hoping by giving them berserk rage, they might surprise the elves and cause more damage than they normally would.

fuck it then, we'll just have Kelgris fireball the cave entrance that their reinforcements are coming in from.

in the meantime, we need to find some way to turn the tide in our favor. any ideas?

>>12162762
Already done.

Although there is some precious cargo (people) still inside the ship. Its not sinking, but it is ripped apart, it probably wouldn't last in stormy seas or the deep sea.

Although the entrance from the tavern is for people to enter, there is till the entrance at the mouth of the cave which comes out into the sea around Angelfalls where the Elven navy is docked. The entrance is hidden with camouflage, but you could easily sail or fly out of the cavern that way. There will probably be some ships waiting out there though.

>>12162583
The only thing I can think of is rain terror upon the elves atop Kelgis. Make us appear more threatening than the men and have them focus on trying to take us down as we make sweeping passes and hope our men can pick up the slack as the elves get distracted. Alternatively, we could just take out a portion of the docks completely now and stop more elves from getting onto it.

>>12162839
sounds like a plan, then we can focus on how to get the fuck out of here.

>>12162839
go with this, and yea, we should try to capture some for the purpose of arbitrary search/kill parties.

and we DO need some more powerful minions for situations like this. we really should look into a way to corrupt/mutate people

>>12162871
That's why I want to know if the evil creatures of the past were natural or artificially made. I'm wondering if we soul obliterate certain things, will they turn into evil creatures similar to what was seen in the past? For a crude example, if we soul crush an elf, all of a sudden they turn into dark elves. I hope that's not the case in the elves but for the more wild creatures? That might be useful.

>>12162885
we get items and trinkets from soul obliteration. we need to get a trinket that can twist/corrupt flesh, a new Dark Art that will let us fuse beast and man, or find a way to channel our power into a lesser being that wont simply make a puppet.

>>12162871
go with this

Grabbing makeshift reigns on Kelgris you spur him on to leap from the ship and crash back down on the stone walkways around your ship. With Kelgris thrashing his tail at everything in reach and you swinging your sword down at the Elves approaching around it is becoming apparent that the Elves were not equipped to counter a man riding a dragon. You can hear the sound and feel magic being used behind the piles of rubble covering the entrance to the cave, and further down the cavern you see small oar powered boats appearing, but seeing the battle as it is going are instead picking up their own and trying to retreat.

The rubble finally gives way as a team of mages use their magics to tear open a hole large enough to make it a new entrance. Aiming their staffs they let loose a barrage against Kelgris, but the magical blasts simply bounce away like water. Seeing the futility the elves begin to fall back through this entrance as well.

They are not routing, but they are pulling back, probably trying to regroup, or starve you out by besieging this cavern.

>>12162942
Pick off the boats. The mages we can't deal with easily but atop a dragon, those boats should be easy pickings and leave lots of people for us to capture.

>>12162942
have kelgris give the mages a blast of fire, and advance to the entrance. once the cavern is clear set our sailors to rounding up wounded elves as well... we need us some puppets!

also, what are the chances of us getting some of our cultists to accept "gifts" from us in an attempt to make a more powerful combat minion? preferably something recreatable/that doesnt require our direct expenditure of power to create each new minion...

>>12162966
nah, the dragon is for dealing with mages... not our squishy sailors, they're for getting elven boats, water IS their speciality after all

>>12162982
When you have the opportunity to make a new spell to do just that.

>>12162991
As far as I know, we don't have any boats to get them with. Not to mention, our sailors aren't combat trained from what we've been seeing. I figured we can do a lot more damage taking out their men on boats now and the mages we can deal with later on when we have more stamina. Shadow step against a lot of troops vs a few mages is the way I see it althouhg I'm sure I'm over simplifying it.

Plus we could take all the nice elven loot from the soldiers on the boats and arm some people with real weapons.

>>12163015
so, sick kelgris on the mages, have our sailors start rounding up wounded of both sides and material to repair our ship with... and we shadow-step around like an evil Nightcrawler massacring elven rescue-boats? I like it!!!

>>12163034
seconding this

Kelgris is much too large to pursue the mages through the tunnel entrance to the cavern, and many of the Elven soldiers have fled on boat out the main ship entrance.

You have sustained heavy casualties, but you have taken some prisoners as well. For now things are calm.

>>12163034
thirding

Also make damn sure some sailor keeps tabs on the mechanic, his primate-girl-assistant, and our magical kids if we have time.

The mechanic especially MUST NOT escape.

>>12163167
Get the sailors to recover the wounded and see to their care as best as possible. As well, make them secure the captives so we can have our fun with them soon. Also see if we can find the remains of the captain and see if he had anything important on him. I suggest we open the secret passage and find our good friend Brem and tell him why us letting him live before was worth much more than the gold he sold us out for. And then obliterate his soul/bring him back so we can deal with him later when we have more spare time and stamina for obliterating his soul.

>>12163167
>>12163174
Andea as well, she was apart from the others.

>>12163174
excellent point
>>12163167
if their gone, have him loose a parting gout of flame, but go with the rest of the plan. once things calm down we need to look into fixing the King of Black Waters. we should be able to buy ourselves the time to accomplish this through clever use of the puppet tactic we used with the mage tower, seeing as we have multiple prisoners. We're gonna need to replenish the crew... and do something about their morale which is no doubt abysmally low right now.

Also, Brem needs to pay for this betrayal... dearly

>>12163199
Crap, that's right. We need to make sure our little half breed translator is okay.

Is the exit Bem used the same one we sealed?

>>12163239
no, that was the main exit, we still have Brems exit and the other side exit.

Check Andrea and the Mages, get the crew to gathering wood for repairs and wounded (priority to the latter) kill the elfs to far gone to survive the process of being made into puppets, as well as our sailors that are too far gone.

Fuck.

>Evil!
Evil, Brem has seen us with Cathrine right?

If so that means her cover is compromised. Lets deal with the issues at the moment but keep that in the back of our mind. We may only have a matter of hours.

Essence drain the elves that are too weak to keep.

>>12163282
Seconded. Who cares about the Facade when we are under threat.

Hey, if we ED the elves we captured, could we shadow step our remaining men somewhere safe?

>>12163239
No.

>>12163015
>>12163034
>>12163174
Your stamina is finite, and you are probably not in the condition to pursue by yourself to that degree, although you can if you really wish to risk it.

>>12163218
>>12163199
>>12163212
>>12163191

Brem should be long gone by now, although you could divert your resources into following him, it is far from guaranteed though.

You are able to round up the people you imprisoned inside your ship and they are all fine. The King of Black Waters will takes weeks to repair with adequate labour and material, which you do not have.

The Elves will not be gone for long, in all you have lost 94 of your sailors to combat 65 are gravely wounded and will most likely die over the coming days...

>>12163327
How many elves have we captured?

>>12163364
Alive: 9

>>12163327
Then we let Brem go for now. But we will not forget him. He must be tracked.

We need to strike before the elves come back and attack. Since everyone named seems to be fine, we need to make puppets out of our captured elves and have them strike out into the city and causing havoc amongst humans. If we can turn the people against the elves, it'll stop them from coming back as quick. If we have the stamina after that, we might want to go check on Catharine to make sure she's fine but priority is making sure the city is against the elves.

>>12163327
I say we essence drain our mortally wounded men while they can still be of use. Then we need to scout out the two available exits, both to see if they can be used to escape and to see if they could be used by the elves to attack.

>>12163327

As much as I hate to say this, it might be best to leave Angelfalls for the time being.

The Elves know we're here, the ship is fucked, and we're in active battlemode riding a clockwork dragon; subtlety is beyond our grasp for the foreseeable future.

I propose we instead do as much damage to the Elven leadership as possible, while giving the Nobles a chance to take back the city.

Get the ship out of the caverns and to safety, rescue Catharine at the castle, and cripple the Elven ships in the harbor.

If possible, contact the Duke and inform him that you too, hate the Elves. Tell him now is the time to strike, and if we play our cards right, we help the Duke retake the city and murder the Elves as quickly as possible.

Oh, and try to hide your burning eyes of evil as best you can whilst talking to the Nobles.

>>12163327
fuck. umm... do we have the power to hijack a smaller elven ship and lead that into our dock for canibilization? how quickly will we be able to replenish our crew/boost their morale? does it seem like Catherine is in distress?
fuckfuckfuck
how many elves will we be able to set up for turning into puppets? we are gonna need a damned good distraction damn fast if we're gonna get out of this one without a total reset of our non-character assets...

>>12162910
We need to add an amplifier Dark Art. It has no impact by itself, but it allows you to perform a ritual that boosts the power of a Dark Art by a vast degree. As well as increasing stuff like scope, etc. . .
Second, we need a brainwashing Art. Prisoners are almost useless to us if we can't convert them.
We should also gain a Shapeshifting power so we can stir up even more Chaos.
Also, I have an idea about our Drain life power. Can we invert it? This would weaken us, but it would also be pouring Pure Evil(TM) into whoever we are using it on. This would be helpful for corruptive purposes.

Finally, we should drain the most badly wounded and channel some of our power into the less wounded of our followers. That should help them heal, even if it will likely have side effects.

>>12163428
we have already done the "pour Pure Evil (TM)" into something trick... it gave us a mindless puppet. WE REALLY need a Dark Art that will let us corrupt minions into a self-sustaining breed of battle minions, some sort of inherently evil creature to act as our foot-soldiers

>>12163428
Finally, we need some sensory style Dark Arts. Surprises are bad, bad things. Being able to have an infernal insight into events will be handy, and no Evil being is complete until it can see into the Hearts of men to know what they desire most and use it to corrupt them.
Also, a Dark Pact style thing that can bind people to prevent betrayal would also be useful.

>>12163479
>>12163466
>>12163428
all longterm worries right now, we need to get the elves off our back for long enough to fix the King of Black Waters and replenish her crew. our plans here are more or less at the fruition stage anyways, we need to make it happen and gtfo

>>12163466
Yes, but that was without the finesse of a Dark Art. Plus she wasn't wounded at the time.

>Since I like the idea given out so much

You order your men to gather up the bodies and throw them into piles. With all your captives and guests under guard you are free to take this time to experiment, drastic times call for drastic methods.

It is sure to be sanity wrenching so you seclude a part of the cavern to yourself to perform it. The ingredients, the wounded and the dead.

Before you can begin and some hours later, Andrea had somehow slipped away from her guards to tell you excitedly (oblvious to the death abounding) that she has figured out the Lighthouse. You don't have time to hear it so you turn her away for now.

But for this next act, you essence drain the collected dead methodically to gain their life force and store it. It takes a lot since so many of them are close to death, but the dozens of life forces you have amassed can be used before you lose them to decay by not being able to contain it all. With soul obliteration and reversing the flow of essence drain you flood the piles of dead bodies with your energies. Many of the bodies simply cannot take the strain of the influx of energy, but the others stir and writhe. Their forms are grotesque and their eyes replaced with red flames, and you yourself tire from the ritual, but you have reanimated some of the corpses upon the piles. They slobber and gnash their teeth, coagulated blood churning again but leaking from every orifice. The few you experiment upon do not last long however, their mortal human bodies cannot continue living, and they cannot contain the energies and eventually collapse popping in a small shower of gore.

>>12163479
While a sixth sense would be nice, it makes perfect sense that Brem would betray us for a bigger payday.

We just got overconfident about our hold over individuals not fully in our thrall. We overextended.

Can we PLEASE stop fucking around with corpses when we could be using the Lighthouse to fuck up the Elves?

Listen to Andrea; we could take this city NOW if we have the Lighthouse under our control.

>>12163466
Pour darkness into their hearts you say.

Make them our loyal minons you say.

(or maybe create constructs of evil itself)

>>12163527
hmm... so we cant have an undead army, but if we place the bodies near the elven garrisons and have our crew seed the rumor that elves hide their true form... we could have a citywide riot/elfhunt on our hands once the word gets around.

Or we face the next attack with a platoon of corpse-bombs, either way...

allright, now that our response to the elves next attack is coverd, lets see what Andrea found, and apologize for not listening to her right away, we want to be her father-figure after all

>>12163539
When we chose our last power I suggested an ability that would allow us to see the evil thoughts in mens minds, you all chose ED instead.

>>12163630
Andrea has figured out how the interface for the Lighthouse works, all you need now... is the magical energy to power it.

>>12163648
so, we need to get into Gareths head, as he has mundane magic. hmm... lets go talk to him now that our damage control/freak-out session is over

>>12163648

Funny, we seem to have a city full of Elven mages.

Immediately begin draining mages where we find them; once we're at full charge, let's destroy every Elven ship in the harbor.

This will be our city.

>>12163648
>>12163648
From what I recall, powering the lighthouse required mages to sacrifice themselves to it or something. Does it have to be a willing sacrifice I wonder...

>>12163648
Would the energy of a whole bunch of near dead people be usable for powering it? If so, we need to get the elves hated by the city, take them out, have their injured placed in there and then have some fun powering the lighthouse so we can use it when the rest of the elves return.

If not... I have no clue where we're going to get that magic power at the moment. The only potential source are the mage kids and they hate us still.

>>12163648
Drain the rest of the wounded to death. Then we can use the Lighthouse to rain death on our foes by using our own power. Or is that not enough for it?

>>12163705
What about finding a way to reanimate the dead to something lich like, then having them sacrifice the power they accumulate to the Lighthouse.

>>12163709
Your magic is incompatible with it.

>>12163705
Needs to be magic power.

>>12163709
WE are unable to power it, our magic isnt compatible with the lighthouse, we need either our cabal, or some captured elves to do that for us

Well overall we're in a troublesome situation. Our boat is a wreck and won't be able to go too far. We have elves who know where we are and planning to return soon. We have no source of magic at this point to use the lighthouse as another trump card.

The only feasible thing I can see right now is to use those captured elves and get the city on our side and get them to chase the elves out on our behalf. Otherwise, we're going to have to risk an escape on our wrecked ship and I don't see that going well at all.

>>12163764
Have we sent a couple of men to scout the exits yet?

>>12163800
Seems like entire garrison of the city and the fleet is gathering up to besiege you in a no nonsense end game move.

I wonder who is still one the walls?

...

>>12163795
I agree, did we spare any live elves for our puppetmaster trick? or where they all to weak to survive that?

>>12163795
Unfortunately our power to turn people into puppets is limited at best. And the puppets are capable of resisting.

>>12163824
Wait, they've pulled the guard? Seriously? During a time of possibly imminent invasion?

>>12163824
Now I wonder how the Nobles would react to hear that the elves have not only usurped control of the city garrison, but have removed the men on the walls.

>>12163824
well shit. puppet trick is out then, do we have the power to annimate the corpse pile to keep out the infantry push AND Dark Storm the fleet? or are we gonna have to deal with the former and send Kelgris to deal with the latter?

>>12163859
Who said they know anything about it...

Almost sounds like a time to shadow step to the Warlord from the East's camp and discuss a cunning plan...

Evil is this even possible? Have, Kregus and our ship put up a bit of a siege while we see out the invading army's camp and discuss that we can turn the city over to him with little loss of his soldiers....in return purely for the lighthouse.

>>12163895
Hmm. Tell the crew to barricade and prepare a defense in the worst case scenario. It's time we tell Catharine what's going on and hope her political work has done enough to get people to help us out here.

Goddamnit, can we drop the fucking puppet idea?

You don't start researching new weapons while you're about to besieged by an entire city.

Evil, what are the chances that our kids might be able to fuel the Lighthouse? I doubt we can control the elven mages in a way that retains their magical prowess.

Additionally, send Kelgris out swimming in the harbor and start sinking Elven warships, preferably those with Elves on board. We need to start doing something about the forces arrayed against us.

>>12163897
But the guys from the east are no friends of ours though. Have to be real careful about how we do this.

>>12163939
I'm second this. We need to get to Cath and tell the nobles the elves are screwing with things they shouldn't be.

>>12163954
True. But it might be possible they would cut a deal with someone who opens the gates for them.

Shadowstepping into their camp (if possible) would confirm our presence as a being to be respected.

Just not one with an army.

This all goes to hell if their culture is the 'honorable' type, Evil do we know?

>>12163944
I like the Kelgris idea, but the kids are a longterm investment, and the re-animated corpses and our presence should be enough to hold the ground assault... we need our crew to get the ship seaworthy, and the elves will make mincemeat out of them if we have them see to the defence.
>>12163939
yea, we definitely need to get Catherine out asap

If we are going to go to Catharine then we should ED the elves, if no body has any better ideas.

Maybe interrogate the elves first, find out the names of any important mages, or commanders.

>>12163984
we dont want these easterners getting to powerful, they already displayed a vague distrust of us and I for one would rather not GIVE them ANOTHER city, since they will eventually need to be subjugated as well...

>>12163897
Those guys are hostile and over a thousand miles away.

There is Naheland, which is under their control like a puppet state now, and Midstland between you.

>>12164038
lets get Cathrine out, and finish our prepwork for the inevitable assault. we can deal with the tower once we take care of this.

>>12164016
So we stir up hatred and spite between them and their subjects. Consider. An entire city devolving into an orgy of bloodshed. First they will rebel against the Easterners. If they win, we kill off all their leaders. This will lead to bloodshed in the streets as men kill one another for scraps of power. If they fail, there will doubtless be a brutal crackdown on them, especially if we can stage several incidents.

>>12164038
We were able to send scouts out right? can we send out some men to spread rumors about the elves pulling the guard from the walls? Make it sound like they are prepping to take the city? a riot couldn't hurt right now. It would only strengthen the animosity between the elves and humans.

>>12164077
I like this, lets do that, then grab our mistress out of the hotplate shes resting her haunches on

>>12164072
We do not know haow the easterners deal with the populace of the cities they capture. For all we know they could purge the entire city and move in their own settelers.

>>12164077
Kill some people with Elven weapons. Leaving them at the scene, of course. Leave the bodies in a public area. Even if the smart people doubt, it'll piss off the masses something fierce.

>>12164104
Better idea: Kill some people with elvish weapons leave an elf corpse or 2 behind to implicate the elves. We do have 9 captives after all.

>>12164126
>>12164104
>>12164077
>>12164094
lets get to it then, time is of the essence here

Advance scouts by each entrance say that the elves are about to renew their assault. Its getting near dusk so it might be the last attack of the day before night raids. You have a few minutes to prepare.

>>12164213
get some bodies placed by then entrance for our pseudo-reanimation/body-bomb trick... we'll time that so that the elves are nearly on top of the corpses when they get up. Have Kelgris go for a swim and see how many pointy-ear boats he can sink. If any sailors are feeling balsy let them help us, lets grab Cathrine as soon as this one is over... unless our amulet thingy is giving us the impression that she needs help, then we get her now

>>12164213
Refresh my memory, do we have any freaky zombie things to send at the enemy?

>>12164213
Could we insert our sword into the ground near the entrance from which the elves will arrive and freeze the area? If we can mess the ground up, it might help but we might need Kelgis to actually destroy it when the time comes. Might also help if we can close the entrance again in the future at least temporarily.

>>12164294
they need to be animated shortly before the fight, as they dont last very long, so I'm with >>12164275 as far as their use is concerned, maybe a bit more liberally used than he is suggesting though

>>12164213
Well shit. Drain the captives, or how ever many we need to be at full strength, if we don't need all of them. Feed one or two of them to Kelgris to stoke his furnace.

>>12164213
Get the non combatants somewhere safe. make sure our men have some cover to hide behind in case of archers

How many entrances are the enemy arriving through? If it's just one, is it possible to funnel and control them? Creating a choke point of sorts, and picking them off that way? Or is that not viable?

>>12164393
we dont have the ranged capacity to do that, but a choke point would defianately be in our favor... if mages wouldnt simply undo our choke-pointifying

With the bodies piled up by one entrance and Kelgris waiting in the water near the curve in the cave that leads to the outside you wait for the oncoming assault.

You can hear in front of you the marching of boots, and behind you the splash of oars.

Your sailors arming themselves with spears stand behind you in rows by the front entrance while the others wait in hiding near the rear of the cavern. The Elves march into view in front of you with spears lowered and mages in the front. Seeing you standing before them they cast a prepared spell creating a blue wall before them, most likely a magic guard that you have seen before. With the shield up and their spear points lowered they march only in rows of three toward you.

Behind you an entire Elven galley has tried sailing into the cavern, the balista's lined on top of the deck's prow and two on each side opened and ready on the hull below the prow fire as soon as they round the corner with trailing ropes embedding and latching onto the rear of the King of Black Waters. Along these ropes deft Elves lightly armoured with enchanted boots run across the tight ropes and board the ship immediately engaging your sailors trying to hold them off.

...

As the wall of spears and magic barrier close in, you release your own spell on the corpse piles. Many of the bodies pop and explode giving a shower of gore, but crawling out from under the piles the horrid monstrosities pull themselves free. Even your own men, sailors with hardened stomachs retch and throw up, unable to hold their spear line, but they don't need to. The ghouls rush the line of elves approaching with reckless abandon, some of them fall to the ground after crossing the blue barrier exploding in gore as they hit the ground, but the others keep running. Even when the spears thrust forward, one ghoul keeps running until he reaches the elf who ran him through grabbing him by the shoulder and sinking his teeth into the elf's neck before exploding in gore splinters of bone and organs showering other nearby. The Ghouls keep attacking, and exploding pushing the elves back who begin to pull back from the pure terror, the attack fails as they begin to rout. But the suitable bodies soon run out, and few ghouls remain to give chase, and they soon dwindle to nothing all the corpses suitable used up.

cont...

>>12164499
that worked better than expected. lets get to our ship. also, give Kelgris the signal. Lets try to keep this fight quick, brutal and demoralizing for the elves

Behind you the elves rush forward running across the ropes and crash into your men who can not stand to fight against veteran elven sailors. But from below a giant steel claws rises from the water and tears open the front prow of the galley, the ropes and ballistas give way and the ropes snap sending those elves still running across into the water.

Prepared the elven fleet mages rush to the side of the boat to let loose their spells, but from the water the steel tail lashes out along the guard rails of the galley crushing the mages and slicing some in half. With all of Kelgris' weight and all his strength his other claw digs into the wooden hull and the boat slowly begins to be dragged underwater. In the water here, the water begins to turn red.

You men on the ship eventually wear away and beat the elven sailors through attrition and numbers until they are all slain, but not without more casualties.

This attack is over, but another 80 sailors are dead.

>>12164563
christy we're losing men fast. round up more ghoul-fodder for the morning attacks and extract Catherine. Maybe we would be better off trying to hijack an elven ship...

>>12164563
Shit. Any captives?

>>12164563
Sneak out some men to start spreading rumors about the elves removing the guard from the walls and why they might do so. Then get to Catharine, need to see if she's okay.

We need to get real troops... Part of me is tempted to try to kill the Duke and blame it on the elves and then try to get Catharine to be seen as a leader against the elves due to her family name. I'd suggest ourselves in that role but with our facade gone, that's not likely going to work. Alternatively, we need to try to get the Duke's loyalty to us but I don't see how that's going to happen at this point unless we luck out with soul obliteration and it makes him into a loyal servant like Kelgis is.

If we could get the loyalty of the nobles in this city though, that would be most useful...

Status report, will the elves be able to launch anymore attacks? This might be our time to gather up the kids. high tail it to the tower and start wrecking delicious vengeance a now very vulnerable elven fleet.

Think of the PR we'll get with the City and Duke when they find out we used the elves own weapon against them. We will have a VERY good bargaining chip to use for favor from the Duke.

>>12164614

Hopefully a few mages in those captives. I would love a mage to experiment on

>>12164646
Anyone with eyes should be able to tell that the entire Elven army and fleet is concentrating on you. But if the elves have what they want before them, is there a need to get in their way? If they succeed they will leave... so they say.

>>12164614
No captives this time, your men were very meticulous in killing them, probably for revenge, good for moral, maybe not for your plans.

>>12164609
Catharine has made no movement with the castle that is irregular with where you have felt her move before. Perhaps Brem didn't say anything about her, maybe they never offered to pay for that information. There is no sure answer, but here is no definite answer that is yes to her being in peril at this moment, she is probably more worried about you then you are of her.

>>12164666
They will take time to regroup and make another plan of attack given what you have thrown at them, the avenues to attack you are so narrow that with half your men left, yourself and Kelgris are hard to break through. For now they might probe your defences, but they will probably wait till at least dawn.

>>12164733
Get Kelgris out of the water and dried off as best as we are able. Don't want him getting rusty.

>>12164733
What happened to the 9 captives we already had?

>>12164733
This cavern we are in is a smugglers cove right? Did Bem leave anything left here that might be of use?

>>12164888
General supplies for the ship. As well as materials to do surface repairs. The ship was in the dock to hide and undergo maintenance, but it has taken damage that will need far more time. The interesting bit is the gunpowder and cannon balls.

>>12164777
Stainless Steel, no need to worry.

>>12164867
You still have them as captives.

>>12164926
...


FUCKING HELL I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THE CANNONS ON THE SHIP!

And now I can't think of a good way to use them. Fuck!

>>12164926
If we have until dawn, that might give us enough to time jury rig something up. Are we willing to sacrifice the ship if it gives us the chance to activate the Lighthouse?
1. We 'convince' the sailors to suicide charge out onto the water causing a distraction.
2. Get the elf kid to spill the beans on the Lighthouse ritual and gather enough sacrifi...I mean mage brats to power the Weapon.
3. Land, fire it up and cackle evilly at all the toy boats that burst into flames.

We lose alot of our stuff but have the opportunity to gain our own CITY...with a Lighthouse that SHOOTS LIGHTNING.
(Also, what do you mean they might go away if they get what they want? Pretend we're dead? That elf Captain seemed insistent on at least bringing our corpse.)

>>12165005
Set sail with the King of Black Waters and make a suicide attack against the entire Elven fleet you say while you fly up to the Lighthouse with Kelgris you say?

>>12164926
We collapsed the main entrance to the cove right? Could we blast it open again with the gunpowder and make our escape that way?

Have some of our scouts/spies try and find out if the elves are using nets in the water (to catch Kelgris is he tries to swim out.

Can we access our bird familiar?

Would it be possible for Kelgris to swim out of the cove undetected by the boats and get to safety?

What is above this cavern we are in?

>>12165089
The entrance was opened up once again when the mages escaped/helpedrescuetheelves last time.

There isnt a net prepared that they can see, but they can't get much closer without getting caught and killed or getting into a skirmish.

Your familiar is still MIA

If it was dark enough out, you might get away with it, but Kelgris does glow with that furnace of his.

Above the cavern is layers of limestone then slums built up on stilts above the sea.

>>12165149
When Kelgris was under the water did he see any underwater passages or tunnels?

>>12165149
Any idea how thick that limestone is?

>>12165182
Negative.

>>12165239
Dozens of yards probably. And then the sea cascades in.

Surrender. They'll never expect it.

>>12165149
Are there any ledges around the water in the cove that we could set cannon teams on, so as to blow any ships coming into the cove to bits?

Also, would it be possible to remove some cannons from the ship and conceal them behind/as part of the barricades we have set up in front of the entrance? So the next time the elves march a phalanx in here, prepared for horrible ghouls, their tight ranks of spearmen are instead blasted apart by near point blank cannonfire.

>>12165294
You could turn the ship sideways to reveal the broadsides or take the cannons off the ships and put them elsewhere.

>>12165255
>And then the sea cascades in.

Wait, what? How can this cove be below sea level and still be accessible through a tunnel?

>>12165318
>>12165318
Hmm. turning the ship sideways would be easier, but it leaves the hip as a prime target for mages. Could we move the cannons before dawn?

>>12165335
It is built upon on estuary that flows from a waterfall shortly upstream and through a series of canal locks that flow eventually into the ocean.

>>12165369
You defiantly could.

The Duke's army will probably arrive midday so the elves will have one final push before then, perhaps two. Unless the Duke's men decided to double march.

But I think I will save that for next time as the traffic flow has considerably decreased this late at night.

Part XIX End

>>12165403
Is the gunpowder we have access to enough to collapse the cove? and thus the slums above it?

And we have been putting out rumors about what the elves may be doing right?

(Have to say I'm not entirely clear on how access to the cove looks or functions but....)
Okay, move the cannons from one side of the ship on to land and conceal them as part of the barricade. Turn the ship so that the side that still has cannons faces the tunnel so it can fire on any elven ship that tries to enter.

Have Kelgris swim slowly through the tunnel and check for nets, but not leave, just check and come back.

May have more ideas but I need to know about the powder stockpile before I can go on.